AN: Two words in a day! Go me. A bit more silly fluff to finish off the weekend. This is one of those "art reflects life" moments, because I'm guilty of this cock-up. Anyone else have those little sayings they always botch?
Mumpsimus: (n.) Adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy.
Nathan squinted around the bedroom and frowned. He was so certain that he'd left them on the bed this morning, but after rifling through the blankets thoroughly, they were still nowhere to be seen.
"Parker," he called in the direction of the bathroom, where Audrey's had just finished her shower. "Did you move my pyjama trousers?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry I did a load of laundry before you got home," she said, her voice echoing off the ceramic tiles. "Spilled coffee on my favourite sweater. I put your pants away in the chester-drawers."
Nathan paused and raised an eyebrow. "The what?"
"The chester-drawer," she said more loudly, thinking he hadn't heard. "That's where your other pair is."
Nathan grinned. "You mean the chest-of-drawers?"
This time it was Audrey who said, "The what?"
"It's called a chest-of-drawers, Parker," he explained, unable to hide his amusement. "You know, because it's a big chest that's full of drawers."
Audrey leaned around the edge of the doorframe to peer at him in confusion, curls of damp hair falling across her face. "Really? That's weird. I always thought Chester was the guy who invented it or something."
"Sorry to disappoint," he said with a smirk, pulling his pyjama trousers from the second drawer.
"That doesn't even make sense," she said, coming out of the bathroom as she brushed her hair. "It's not even a chest. It's more like a wardrobe or a pantry."
Nathan made a noncommittal noise because he'd stopped paying attention. She was standing there in the bathroom door, her skin still bright from her shower and wearing nothing but a towel. There was a familiar flurry in his stomach and he swallowed.
Audrey must've noticed, because she smiled playfully. "So, it's a chest-of-drawers?" she clarified lightly, sweeping her hair back off of her shoulders. It left little glittering water droplets in its wake, sparkling on her shoulders.
"Right," Nathan agreed distractedly. Audrey sat down on the bed and gestured him over, and he hurried to comply, all thoughts of pyjamas and furniture forgotten.
. . . Two Weeks Later . . .
"Parker, have you seen my badge?" Nathan asked as he tucked his cell phone into his pocket. Nothing made for a more frantic morning than getting called out to a homicide before sunrise, especially on their day off. It didn't help that his partner had a bad habit of moving all his things about without warning him.
"It's on top the chester-drawer with mine," she answered from the bed, in the process of lacing up her boots.
Nathan smiled to himself as he grabbed both badges. Some things really never did change.