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Ougai has never been very fond of the saying "you don't know what you have until it's gone", but he's recently been forced to admit that there's some truth to it.
This revelation is largely driven by the fact that his current condition- that is, being nearly eight months pregnant- has made getting up and moving around on his own nearly impossible most of the time. Even if he's having one of his increasingly-rare good days where he's not completely exhausted or fatigued, the shrapnel lodged in his lower back combined with the extra weight he's now carrying has made pain that he used to be able to ignore a constant problem, and the swelling in his feet and ankles makes walking, even when he can get up on his own, also a painful process.
All of that means he needs more help now more than ever; however, Ougai is nothing if not stubborn, and he'll be damned if he asks for help of his own free will without being forced to admit defeat first.
This is how he's found himself in his current predicament: it's late, he's tired, and he wants to get off the living room couch and make his way to the bedroom he shares with his husband so that they both can sleep, and he's just insisted to Yukichi (the aforementioned husband) that he can do it on his own.
To his credit, Yukichi doesn't immediately try to argue with him (if only because he knows it's useless, that Ougai will have to realize that himself, and it would only make his emotionally compromised husband more distressed, which is the last thing he wants), instead watching from where he stands in front of him as Ougai struggles uselessly for about a minute to get up on his own.
Finally, after letting out a defeated huff, Ougai falls back against the back of the couch, muttering "Alright, fine. Help me up," as he frowns, avoiding meeting Yukichi's worried gaze as frustration boils in his chest, threatening to spill out in yet another uncontrollable emotional outburst if he doesn't—
His thoughts are abruptly cut off when his husband scoops him up into his arms. Ougai lets out a soft sound that can only be called a squeak of surprise as he wraps his arms around Yukichi's neck. "What- Yukichi, put me down!"
"You told me to help you up," Yukichi says simply in response, ignoring the protesting of his husband in favor of giving him and his sore feet a much-needed break (even if Ougai won't admit he needs it). "That is what I am doing."
Ougai's face flushes a bit with embarrassment. "You know I didn't mean-"
"You were also clearly frustrated, and on the verge of tears," Yukichi continues. By now, they've reached the bedroom, and he tenderly sets his husband down on the bed, letting him arrange the "nest" of pillows and blankets he's started to maintain (especially now that he's spending more time there) before settling down next to him. "I didn't want you to get more upset with yourself than you already were."
Ougai cuddles close into Yukichi's side, resting his head on his chest as his husband wraps his arm securely around his waist, holding him even closer tucked against his side.
"I would be much less upset if I weren't so useless right now," he sighs. The frustration starts to return, his throat constricting as he tries to fight the very feelings his husband just spoke of, but it disappears as quickly as it came when Yukichi leans down a little to press a kiss against the top of his head.
"You are far from useless, Dove," Yukichi murmurs. "You may not be able to agree with me for now, but know that I could never think of you that way. Not now, and not ever."
As difficult as it's been to accept the limitations his body has put on him for now, Ougai is willing to admit that having Yukichi at his side has made admitting that far easier.
