Expert (Wash x Reader) {Firefly}

Prompt:
-Firefly
-Hoban Washburne (Wash)
-Reader, Adorable dork face

~~~

“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it goes.”

“I think it is.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

Wash tears his eyes from the white and painfully incomplete plastic model to give you the most adorable puppy eyes and you merely smirk in kind.

“I think it’s right…” he mutters softly.

You chuckle as you shake your head. Honestly it was a hot mess. You were fairly certain as to what a stegosaurus should look like, after all you were a paleontologist. At least you had been before you stumbled across one Hoban Washburne. There wasn’t a force in all of the Verse that could keep you from following after that oddball of a man. PHDs and all other degrees forgotten you followed the dorky blonde pilot into the depths of space, growing close with the Serenity crew along the way, though out of them all Kaylee and River had always been your favorite. They were rather like the siblings you’d never had.

You laugh when yet another one of the plastic plates falls from the back of the model stegosaurus and Wash gives you a flat look. Despite your laughter you hold up your hands defensively, silently promising to not to say anything about it. Wash nods firmly towards you and he takes up the glue to reattach the slight piece. You roll your eyes with a smile as you opt to keep yourself entertained by playing with the tiny dinosaur toys Wash always kept on the console.

It’s the sound of rushed footsteps that garners both of your attention. Your newest occupant can barely contain herself as she draws near, sitting eagerly on the console beside your chair. She’s bouncing a bit, careful not to press any button, and you chuckle at her adorable antics. Kaylee has always an open book and it doesn’t take much effort to notice that the girl is elated by whatever news she’s come to relay to you and Wash.

“What’s got ya, Kaylee?” you inquire playfully as you provide her you full attention.

She squeals delightedly before replying,” Just thought I’d let you lovebirds know that Mal says we get to have the first day planetside to ourselves! Ain't that great?!”

You nod at her enthusiasm, causally looking over to your significant other. Wash grins back in kind and it’s elating to find that you’re both on the same page. Kaylee rolls her eyes playfully at the two of you, but she doesn’t mind much. The happiness of her crew members was in turn her happiness.

“What are you both gonna do?” Kaylee asks with that adorable sparkle in her eyes.

She’d always been a sucker when it came to romance and the like.

“I don’t know. What do you think, hon?” Wash inquires mirthfully.

You grin with the roll of your eyes before looking to Kaylee with your reply.

“Well…Alaria is supposed to have one of the best historical museums in the Verse.”

“A museum?” Kaylee asks as she frowns, slightly cocking her head to the side.

You gesture with your eyes towards Wash’s forgotten dinosaur model and Kaylee blinks rapidly in dismay. A sudden look of recognition flashes across her face and a wide grin raids her face.

“Aww! Ain’t that sweet! You both like them dinosaurs, dont’cha?”

You and Wash exchange knowing looks before laughing in unison. Kaylee smiles that bright smile of hers, prepping to ask what else you both had in mind, but the warm breath ghosting over the back of her neck makes her leap forward in alarm with a small ‘eep.’

River chuckles lightly before moving around to high-five both you and Wash for keeping quiet and allowing her to enact her plan. Kaylee pushes River lightly against her arm, trying her utmost to keep that mock angry look on her face.

“Almost there.” River states, peering playfully over Wash’s shoulder

“Yeah, though I’m sure you already knew that,” Wash replies as he reclines in his chair with a child-like grin.

You lean over to poke him playfully in his side and he quickly jerks away from your touch, a mirthful look of reprimanding on his face.

“Museum?” River then inquires as she gently perches herself on the edge of Wash’s chair.

“Yeah,” Kaylee states, most unsurprised by River’s intuition, “Wash and (y/n) plan on going to a museum in Alaria.”

You smile fondly at that twinkle in the raven’s eyes. Despite her ‘peculiar’ nature, often times River was as straight forward as child.

“Say River, would you like to come along! You’re welcome to join us too Kaylee.”

The grin that slips onto River’s face is answer enough. Wash gives you an upset look, clearly bummed about losing some alone time.

“Oh really! I ain’t been to a museum before!”

“You chuckle lightly, “I can’t promise you’ll like it. Museums aren’t for everyone.”

“No, no! I’m sure I’ll love it!” Kaylee exclaims gleefully as she moves behind your chair, wrapping her arms about your shoulders.

“Love what?” Mal ask as he climbs down the steps and into the room.

“The museum Daddy,” River replies sweetly, languidly leaning against Wash and robbing the man of his space.

The pilot merely chuckles as he lightly pushes her away, but with a wide grin River holds firm.

“A museum? What you all going to a museum for? Don’t tell me you plan on stealin’ nothin’ ‘cause I’ll have no part in it—!”

“Mal!” Kaylee cries with a sweet grin, “We’re just goin’ to look, just like normal folk!”

Mal’s eyes skip between you and Wash and he smirks, “Normal, huh?”

And you promptly flip the benevolent Captain off. He barks out a laugh as he turns to look out the massive window, eyes falling to the distant planet. Alaria.

“Well ladies and gents, sit tight ‘cause we’ll be landing real soon!”

You all laugh at Wash’s playful words and you place a motherly hand upon Kaylee’s arms wound around your neck, both of you grinning with eager delight.

~~~

The museum is far more breathtaking than any of you could’ve ever imagined. It’s majestic really with its flawless granite floors and elegantly engraved columns. Paintings are strewn tactfully about the wall, but what grabs Wash’s attention the utmost is the enormous skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex.

River is quick to bound inside, dragging Simon along with her. But it’s evident the Doc doesn’t mind. Seeing his sister so happy was more than he could ever ask for. So with no resistance he follows after River, who decided to play tour guide. Zoe chuckles lightly to herself as she pats Mal on the arm, wordlessly following the Tams to keep an eye on them in case anything went awry.

“You know Capt’n, you really didn’t have to come if you didn’t want to,” Kaylee says gently, an eager smile tugging at her lips.

Mal opts to say nothing and the young girl rolls her eyes. She’s already aware that he wanted to spend time with his crew.

“Good thing Jayne didn’t come along,” Wash teases, managing to get a small smirk from the captain.

“Oh, there’s no way Jayne could appreciate all of this!” Kaylee delightedly replies as she fans both her hands across the open space in front of her.

Everyone nods in agreement, slightly laughing amongst one another.

“Oh, Capt’n, look at that!” Kaylee exclaims, throwing both you and Wash a playful wink over her shoulder as she pulled Mal away.

You shake your head with a soft smile before tearing your eyes away from their retreating forms and looking to Wash.

“She really is too sweet.”

“And I am completely grateful,” Wash says with that toothy grin of his, roguishly offering an arm and with a princess-like bow you accept his gesture.

Together you both meander through the museum, enjoying all the history the place had to offer. You’d both silently decided to save the dinosaur exhibits for last. You laugh and joke around, appreciating what you both liked and mocking whatever peculiar creations that made you both question its validity as art.

But at long last you both arrive to your desired exhibit. Wash unconsciously pulls away from you, hurrying up the half steps to the second level of the exhibit. Wordlessly and with a smile you watch him wander about with a youthful glow on his face.

“They have bones from an actual velociraptor!” he whisper shouts as you move to stand beside him.

You chuckle with a nod and Wash can only grin at you before taking your hand and proceeding to escort you about the floor. He reads everything avidly and with great fervor, asking you question about anything and everything that springs to mind. Calmly you reply as best as your expertise allow, fighting back the urge to maul the man with all the affection bubbling in your chest.

The megalodon room is fairly dark, illuminated only by the blue light of the holographic screen displaying the ancient creature swimming across the wall.

“Do you think a megalodon could eat a t-rex?”

“I don’t know,” you purr as you move to wrap your arms about his waist, moving in close to rest your head on his chest.

Wash raises a curious brow, but he quickly grins and pulls you swaying lightly in place. He chuckles as he lightly kisses the top of your head. You nestle in closer moving with his rocking, peering up at him with a content smile on your face.

“(Y/N)?”

“Hmm?” you inquire, hands drifting up to rest around his neck.

“Rawr.”

You visibly blanch as you look at him mirthfully confused, “What?”

“That’s how you say I love you in dinosaur,” Wash explains before kissing your forehead.

You have to fight back a laugh as you look to him with a curious brow.

“Really? Cause I always thought it meant ‘you’re to become my meal. Accept your fate.’”

Wash snorts with laughter into your neck and the rush of warm air tickles the skin and you can’t help but laugh.

“My dinosaur expert.”

You smirk and roll your eyes playfully and proudly. Wash moves in to kiss you, a hand skimming deftly and gently through your hair. The light against his pale hair is stunning and your own hands can’t help but drift up to his own hair. There’s something passionate about his gentle touches and soft kisses.

“I’m a bit more than just a dinosaur expert.”

“Oh yeah?” Wash says playfully, tugging you close with hands resting on your waist.

You’re about to make a witty reply, but you stop short at the call of your names. You step away from Wash and you both peer out the door.

“Wash! (Y/N)!” Kaylee calls, River tailing happily behind her.

“Mommy!” River exclaims, throwing herself into your arms.

Happily you accept her embrace, fingers motherly combing through her hair. Wash chuckles at the sight and River throws him a delighted grin as she nestles close.

“It’s time to go. Mal’s getting’ antsy,” the young mechanic adds with a smile, moving over towards you and Wash.

“Guess he couldn’t handle all this either,” Wash jokes, wrapping an arm around Kaylee’s small shoulder.

You laugh before you all move forward to exit the blue lit room with both of the younger girls chatting amicably, Kaylee still under Wash’s arms and River’s arm wrapped about your waist. As they giggle and converse you and Wash look to one another with devious grins. Perhaps you’d both been interrupted again, but there was always later.