Work Text:
Mamoru got out of the elevator and was on his way to his apartment.
It was just after his overnight shift ended. He looked forward to getting into bed, and holding Usagi, who he knew would sleep in just as late as he would, specifically when he worked overnights.
While that was her typically when her own schedule would allow, he noted that when the news was particularly heavy on hospital incidents, her anxiety would ramp up. This would usually cause her to go into a cleaning frenzy in the middle of the night, concerned for his safety.
Last night was one of those nights, unfortunatley.
While she was quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors, at times he wondered just how closely Usagi paid attention to Makoto’s cleaning skills when everyone else (including him) thought she wasn’t paying attention.
At other times her efforts to “help” only caused him to do much more work.
He could think of the top three times her efforts to improve his life, or their space backfired immensely.
- Usagi is not allowed to mop any kind of floored surface. The broken wrist and twisted ankle the first time, because the silly woman was foolish enough to wear socks. The fractured jaw, broken glass window, and busted elbow from said glass that followed the second time spoke for her. (This time she went barefoot, thinking it provided more friction on the floor). She wasn’t entirely incorrect, but still. After winding up in his ER and seen by a colleague, she said to Mamoru that she worried how annoyed he’d be if she had to wear her house shoes in the kitchen.
- Usagi is never again allowed to clean anything that had a vent/air duct, or filter of any kind. Period, end of story, zero negotiation. Ever. This should be self-explanatory to anyone who asks. He still cringes thinking about it, as if a volcano of dust erupted in his apartment. He’s still not laughing about that.
- Usagi is never to be trusted with spray chemicals and cleaning their gas stove at the same time. Yes, of course it was accidental, but that was way too close for comfort and thank goodness he had changed the batteries on all the appropriate smoke/carbon monoxide, and gas level detectors. It also helped that though he was not in the room to witness it, Makoto (who he asked for help, because it was heavy spring cleaning time}, had walked into the kitchen at just the right moment to save all their lives.
So color him surprised when the glint of multiple moon wands caught his eye as he went to hang up his coat.
“What?” He questioned for himself.
“Oh, you like it? I thought it would be a good idea. Even if we summon them magically, they at least look to be at the ready?” Usagi asked, coming in from the kitchen with a cup of tea for him.
“Where did you come up with this idea?”
“Marie Kondo…” She replied, handing him the cup. He preferred green tea after his overnight shifts in order to sleep, rather than coffee. Coffee was for when he woke up later in the afternoon.
“I thought you didn’t like watching her stuff?”
“I like watching it, I just can’t subscribe to the ‘if it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it’ part, because that just depends on my mood.” Usagi replied.
“So? What do you think?” Usagi asked tiredly, but with some nervousness to her voice, as she hugged him hello, both mindful of the cup of tea.
“I like it, but one question: It’s not permanent, right?”
“No Baka. I at least know better than that, thank you very much. There was no drilling or power tools involved. Besides, I'm not about to wake up the neighbors.”
“I love you.”
Usagi rolled her eyes, ignoring his attempts to suck up. “Where would you like me to move it?”
Mamoru looked around. “Hmm, would you consider over the fireplace mantle?”
Usagi gave a small smile. “Ya know, that was my first choice.”
“Oh? What made you second guess yourself?”
“Aside from being at the ready, even if we don’t need it for that, there was just something about them being ‘on display’ that didn’t feel right. I think it’s because we actively use them. Sure, they’re pretty and all and would look lovely over the fireplace, but it just doesn’t sit right. Them being ‘display’ pieces is the closest reason I can give, but still am not sure that I can put my finger on it.”
“Fair enough. But wait - “ Mamoru looked back at the wands. “Aren’t those your old ones?”
Usagi shook her head. “Nope. Those are in the side table drawer, under the mirror.”
“Up for a compromise?”
“Isn’t that life?” Usagi replied softly, sweetly.
Mamoru smiled, shaking his head slightly. “Get more of those hooks. That way you can put the old wands over the fireplace, and add to it as you upgrade. Keep the current, in-use wands here by the coatrack.”
Usagi thought about his suggestion, and looked up at him. She smiled. “I like it! I’ll order more now—“
“NO!” Mamoru snapped, snatching her phone away. Usagi looked hurt, not understanding why he suddenly got very upset.
However, it was short lived, as his eyes just as quickly softened. He put his teacup down and put her cell phone just above her reach. She glared.
“What’d you do that for? Give me back my phone.”
“Usagi, it’s 7:45am. We’re both exhausted, and I know you've been up all night. I’m not about to let you order something online, thinking you’re ordering a few, but then realizing hour later that you’ve ordered over two dozen.”
“Hey! I’ve only done that twice, and one of those times I was attempting to help Mako and Motoki with her bakery, and him with the Crown. The first time, you said you wished you had hand warmers in the winter. I saw a pack of 12. It wasn’t my fault that I didn’t see that each box of those 12 individually contained 100 warmers within them! I thought it said 10! It wasn’t clear!”
“Yes it was, Usa.” Mamoru said tiredly, putting his teacup into the sink, with a quick rinse.
“Hey, you can’t be too mad: We had stocking stuffers for everyone that year. So, you can’t say some some of my mistakes didn’t work out.” Usagi pointed out.
“Fine, fine. I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”
“I love you, Mamo.”
“I love you too, Usagi.”