Summary: It might not be as traditional nor as romantic as Mamoru would've liked, but in the end it's okay... because their first date is so quintessentially *them*. Two-parter written for UsaMamoWeek2022 on Tumblr. Picks up where episode 59 of the Makaiju arc leaves off.
Dirty Laundry
by AngelMoon Girl
They're dirty.
Not just dirty. Absolutely, positively, this is going to take numerous cycles through the washer, and at least one trip to the seamstress, filthy.
That's the first thing he thinks, after the titters die out and the transformations fade, and he watches in no short measure of awe as Sailor Moon becomes Tsukino Usagi (because Kami-sama, it really is her but he's also him again and it's all still so very, very much to take in...). She looks like she's been to hell and back - jean jacket and skirt torn, hair mussed, face smudged, still looking the same as when Seijuro and Natsumi (no... Ail and An, he has to correct himself) were feeding hungrily off her energy only hours earlier. He's sure he doesn't look much different, and to add insult to injury, he appears to have lost his own green jacket sometime during the melee. He's sure it's probably still in the building somewhere, helplessly trapped under a pile of rubble. There's a twinge of sadness followed by the thought that he'll just have to buy another one, because he really did love that jacket, when Usagi's voice brings him careening back to the present.
Funny how he'd heard it so many times before, and now it's like hearing it for the first time. The butterflies scatter in his stomach with a vengeance, and Mamoru has to swallow through the sensation.
"Mama's going to kill me. I'm a wreck."
She's examining herself with the same intensity Mamoru was just moments earlier, only there's a darkly frown on her features, and Mamoru doesn't like that one bit. He quickly jumps in without even thinking his words through -
"You can stop by my apartment before you go home - use my washer, if you'd like."
It's meant as a kindness, innocent in nature, because he never in a million years would think of taking advantage of someone as young and bright and pure as Usagi. But the girls are still there, and as one, they go stiff in shock. He wants to kick himself for ever having even offered. Of course that would sound improper, no matter how earnest his intentions are. They may have been reincarnated lovers, but in this life, Mamoru hasn't so much as asked the girl out on a date. And now he's inviting her up to his apartment?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
He's about to open his mouth to say as such, when the disheveled blonde lets out a grateful cry. Her face is glowing underneath all the crusted dirt as her eyes dance enchantingly, and Mamoru marvels. Did he make her that happy, just by offering to do her laundry?
"Oh, that would be amazing! I really do feel so gross. And I'm not looking forward to the earful Mama would give me if I came home looking like I just went sludging through the sewers!"
"I mean, you could just tell her you fought off a giant energy-stealing tree," Makoto inserts with a smirk. Still, her expression is reticent as she appraises her friend. "Usagi-chan... are you sure you want to do this?"
"We have a perfectly good washer and dryer at the shrine too, you know," Rei adds, with heavy underlying meaning. The hands-on-hips stance she is affecting speaks volumes to her feelings on the matter. If Mamoru's short history with the Shinto priestess has taught him anything, it's that she is nothing if not fiercely protective of the small odango-headed blonde.
Not surprisingly, Minako is all for it. "Aw, c'mon guys... let's go... Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san have some dirty laundry to dispose of..."
Very surprisingly, the straight-laced Mizuno Ami is also on his side. She is analyzing him with the most piercing of gazes that he swears she can see right into his soul. He tries not to squirm under her x-raying eyes but can't help the nervous shift on his feet. "It's alright guys," she says softly. "Usagi-chan will be in good hands."
Mamoru wants to drop his jaw in shock, wondering how she discerned that from him, when they had barely exchanged two sentences before this. In fact, the only interactions he remembers most clearly are the ones he had with her as the Dark Kingdom's Endymion, and while that didn't exactly count it still left a sour taste in his mouth. He had tried to kill every single one of them, albeit half-heartedly, numerous times back then. And really... it wasn't that long ago. They shouldn't trust him. He wouldn't. But Ami's smiling in a way that suggests she knows exactly what he's thinking, has already picked apart the pros and cons in half the time, and even despite his faults is going to trust him with her beloved princess. Well then. No need to stare a gift horse in the mouth!
As if that settles it, Minako is already ushering the reluctant naysayers homeward, but she turns to cock a lascivious smirk Usagi's direction as Mamoru gently puts his hand on her arm.
"Tell us everything!" she mouths, far too excitedly for what Mamoru is damned certain will be the quickest load of laundry he's ever run. He awkwardly scratches his head and tries his hardest to stave off a blush when Usagi inquires,
"What does she mean? Why would she say it like that?"
The scrunched look of confusion on her face is adorable, but yet more reason why tonight will be tamer than Kodansha's weekly shonen. And yes. He only and absolutely knows about that run of manga solely from his quiet observation of all things Tsukino Usagi. Even without the pieces of himself that remembered his past with her, he had still found himself drawn to the ever exuberant blonde like moth to a flame. "Er... nothing, nothing."
Usagi shrugs, shaking her head with exasperation over the antics of her friends. He smiles. They fall into an easy rhythm as Mamoru leads the way to his apartment, every footfall punctuated by the frantic drumbeat of his heart. He's still got his hand on her arm, because she hasn't pulled away and he doesn't want to. She feels warm, so warm against his cold sweaty palm it's like she's the only thing that's real. He fears that if he withdraws from her now, this whole beautiful moment will cease to exist. They don't speak, but the air is still charged with nervous energy and their journey sprinkled with sidelong peeks.
Somehow, that hand that was guiding her shoulder drifts into her own. Usagi's breath hitches, but still, she does not let go and they do not exchange words, neither wanting to break the spell that has fallen. Mamoru marvels at so many things -
Her scarcely contained excitement, evident in the way she bobs along like a balloon untethered, all fumbling grace and purposeful clumsy. A strange dichotomy.
The vibration between them as motion creates friction, so potent it's almost like power trapped within their interlocked palms. An untapped well he is sure they will one day discover.
How, even though he's held many hands before, it's never ever felt like this. Like the whole of the universe has been encapsulated and laid bare to him, all in the form of this small stumbling girl.
It's awe-inspiring and humbling, but he doesn't have much time left to muse - his apartment building comes into view, looming overhead like some benevolent specter, promises of warmth and safety and blessed peace held within its many lit windows. It is even more welcoming now that dusk has fallen, and there's an autumnal bite to the air. Mamoru plies his own balcony with an eager half-smile, and Usagi follows his gaze.
"Feels like forever and just yesterday since we were babysitting Baby Manami, doesn't it?" she comments suddenly, eyes awash in fond memory.
Mamoru isn't sure whether to laugh or cringe. "Babysitting, or permanently scarring him for life?" he teases, remembering silly tiffs, Natsumi's overblown jealousy and a minor case of gender misidentification. He has to admire the Olympic eye roll she gives him in return.
"We didn't scar him. We taught him how to walk and talk! How many babysitters can claim to have done that!?"
Mamoru just chuckles as they enter Azabu Apartments. They cross the lobby area as one and over to the elevator, where he keys in the code to his floor. He hopes fervently as he tugs her inward that he hasn't left any messes about. When he last crossed the threshold of his quiet little studio, he certainly had no idea he'd be entertaining a guest tonight. He wonders what the Mamoru of just this morning would have thought about this, he thinks with a smile and a darting glance back down at their hands - still joined, with no plans from either to break the connection any time soon.
The doors close on them noisily. It is a direct contrast to the silence that falls upon them, different from the one before, and Mamoru lets out a slightly shaky breath as they ascend. He watches Usagi's face in the reflective metal panel. She's still thrumming like a live wire, but something has changed in her as well. Her beautiful azures catch his darker hue in the mirror and she smiles, a little shyly. If he's not mistaken, she might just be parrying the same bout of nerves Mamoru is.
It's nice to know he's not alone in that. But unlike him, fear seems to bolster Usagi.
"You know... I kind of liked the white," she says, leading him knowingly on with a coy cheshire grin. He blinks, then realizes to what she is referring.
"Really? Even the turban?"
"Mm-hm. Don't get me wrong. Tuxedo Kamen is still my favorite look. But there was something middle eastern sexy about Moonlight Knight. Makes me think of Aladdin."
Well then. He swallows tightly and files that Usa-tidbit away in the back of his mind, for a future that maybe one day might involve him surprising her at the bedroom door with full Arabian garb and a come hither crook of the finger. He hastily shoos the suggestive image away as the elevator dings their arrival.
"I'll buy a white tux just for you then," Mamoru casually replies, but deep down... he's serious. A white tuxedo and another jacket, and she could tag along to ensure it's all of the appropriate fit. Perhaps it should disturb him how little time it took to start planning out how best to fulfill her desires, but if this is the lion surrendering to the lamb he doesn't ever want to roar again. It took fierce effort to become the person he is now; a lot of grit, a lot of pain, and a lot of walls... and that girl blew in a damn door like it was no effort whatsoever, in order to show him how much lighter life can be.
A turn of the lock later and they're standing in the middle of his pristine foyer. He probably shouldn't have worried, of course there weren't any messes, his neat freak tendencies likely wouldn't have let him leave the domicile until every crumb was swept and book replaced. But the universe has a funny sense of humor, and it is just as Mamoru is thinking this that Usagi chucks her dirty shoes off with mindless abandon and they go sailing into the corner, a significant distance away from the designated mat that has undoubtedly gone unnoticed. And continues to remain unnoticed, because she just leaves them like that, all out of place and hapless disarray, not a care for order in the world as she sighs happily and wanders hungrily towards the kitchen. Mamoru simply stands there for a moment, staring at the shoes.
And then breaks into the widest grin he's had all evening.
They truly couldn't be more opposite. And yet...
She's the best thing that's ever happened to him. She's sunlight to his broody cloud. She supplements what he lacks. She'll teach him how to loosen up a bit. (And maybe he'll teach her how a shoe mat works. But not today. Today he'll welcome every discarded raiment, every dirt smudge, every fridge raid and extra crumb with the kind of swelling gratitude his heart didn't believe it was capable of anymore.)
Mamoru walks out and it hits him again just how grimy they are. She's currently nose deep into his leftover Udon, practically inhaling the noodles, and he takes the opportunity to go prepare the bathroom for her. He's hungry too of course, starving more like (when was the last time he even ate? The tea with Seijuro and Natsumi hardly counted), but he'll have his turn once she's had her fill and is settled into a nice refreshing bath. Mamoru sets the water to hot but not too hot, and takes great care to lay out all the best toiletries and towels for her. But he hesitates when he realizes that he only has one robe, and it's probably seen better days. A trip to his closet is in order, then.
Deep, deep, deep, back in the far-most recesses, Mamoru finds what he's looking for. Old pajamas, probably from his early teens. A delicate blue shade that belatedly, he recognizes will perfectly complement her eyes. He holds them up, shirt and pants, inspecting. They're a little faded, but otherwise in good shape. And if the pants happen to be a smidge big, there's a drawstring she can cinch if she needs more coverage. He nods approvingly.
On his way out, he grabs his own pajamas. He really doesn't want to test the durability of that robe in her presence quite yet, and these seem far more modest.
Mamoru is finally able to extricate Usagi from the kitchen with the promise that he'll have more food out for her when she's done in the bath. He swaps the Udon for his old pajamas.
"Hope you don't mind. I figured you'd want something comfortable to wait in while your clothes are washed. Just leave the dirties outside the door for me and I'll load them in the machine."
"That's so nice of you," Usagi practically purrs, definitely feeling the effects of a full tummy. Her eyes are all sparkle as she admires the pajamas and he feels a thrill himself that she's to be wearing his clothes. There's a territorial sort of contentment about the whole set-up, if he's being honest. She heads into the bathroom and he into the kitchen, munching on the last of the Udon as he readies a pot of tea and scours his cupboards for something yummier than cold noodles to offer her.
Ooh, Bourbon's Choco & Coffee Biscuits. His favorite. Knowing her it's a treat she'll enjoy too. It's just as he's laying a plate of the chocolate cookies out onto the coffee table that he hears the telltale creak of his bathroom door and a softly called,
"Mamoru-san?"
His head snaps up and he has to swallow thickly. Usagi is wearing his flimsy robe and only just managing to hold it shut as she leans over, pushing out the messy pile of her garments. He averts his eyes bashfully but her voice shares none of the same concern as she continues,
"I really can't thank you enough. Once I lose this pound of dirt I've been carrying around, I'm going to feel like a brand new woman!"
"It's no problem," he shrugs, still not sure where where to look and trying in vain to keep the strangled undertone from sounding too obvious. It's not until he hears the door creaking shut again that he chances a peek back up, just in time to catch the blonde beginning to drop her robe. She's back turned and quickly gone from sight, but certainly not his mind. Oh no. It'll take one cold shower to bring him any relief on that front.
He whiles away the time sating his grumbly stomach, running the laundry, and generally endeavoring not to think too much about how Usagi is naked in his bathroom right now. She finally emerges after a good half hour, rosy cheeked and grinning like a fool. A very relaxed fool. Her hand is toweling at her still wet hair, and Mamoru gapes at the curls the humidity has formed, framing her face like a lion's mane. He's never seen her with her hair down before, and he can't stop staring. It tumbles in beautiful golden waves all the way to the back of her knees. She might be wearing faded, oversized pajamas but she's never looked more like a goddess. (The fact that they're his clothes is just icing on the cake...) He probably would have stood there gawking for a whole half hour more but she prods him sweetly,
"Oh I feel so much better. Your turn!"
He shakes himself from the spell he'd been under, hurrying past Usagi and into his bathroom.
He sets the temperature about ten degrees lower than usual before jumping under the spray.
1/2
Author's Note: Written for the theme Free Day for UsaMamoWeek2022 on Tumblr. The final part will, if all goes well, arrive on Friday for the theme Reunion/"I Thought I'd Never See You Again!". I'm hoping to also tie it in with a famous R Movie flashback ;)