Happy Monday, guys! This is a new kiss, from a VERY canon moment and dynamic. Maybe the most canon thing I ever wrote. Still, it's one that's a bit more experimental. So, here, enjoy! :D
Everyone knows how that story goes. The Prince comes to rescue the defenseless princess, defeating the big bad evil that trapped her in her tower or her glass coffin or a castle made of thorns. With a kiss the spell is broken, and she finally wakes up.
His was never that story, and he loved her for it.
Throughout the years, he'd often had to explain.
Why did you take her name? He doesn't remember any women in his life being asked that question, but his was an easy answer. Because he wanted to. Protector of the Moon; he got her back, he stood behind her, this most extraordinary, strongest person in the universe.
He'd often had to defend himself, too, over the years.
Countless media articles, segments, interviews, memes, features on him that called Tuxedo Mask useless, weak, eye-candy, good for nothing.
What's he good for? Does he even have any powers? 'My job here is done - but you didn't do anything!'
It seemed when it was a man and not a woman, suddenly half the world had a very different view of the importance of the supporting character - the one to create the distractions, provide the healing and support, the one who's not strong enough to deal the finishing blows but stands by so that the person who can, gets to do just that.
He had never had that problem. As far as he was concerned, he knew that the biggest contribution he could provide in a battle was to make sure that the love of his life got there in time and knew what to hit.
He was proud of that. Proud of her.
And if he could make sure she didn't get hurt in the process, he considered his role a full success. That was, after all, the hardest part about standing back and letting those more equipped to deal do her thing: He had to watch when things got tough. Could do nothing but clutch her shoulders and provide support while she was pouring all her energy into a crystal that liked to kill her from time to time, liked to rip her away straight from under his hands.
That stupid saying… Behind every strong man…
Over the years and growing up he had been made to believe that this sentence was made to infer that the woman is equally important however the power is divided. Yet, clearly, it seemed they didn't ever actually believe that if it's one so hard to swallow when it's 'behind a strong woman' for a change.
Mamoru was the man behind the strongest woman. One he would die for in a moment's notice. Has died for multiple times and never regretted a thing about it except her tears.
It had been hard for him, sometimes. Day to day. Seeing people treat her civilian self as something less. Treating him like a wuzz because he treated her like a queen and not a princess.
Until suddenly she was, and they all started to understand.
Yes, everyone knows how the story goes. The prince comes to rescue the princess, defeating the big bad evil that trapped her in her tower or her glass coffin or a castle made of thorns. With a kiss the spell is broken, and she finally wakes up.
His will never be that story.
This was the story where the princess wasn't defenseless. It was a story where instead the princess was the defender of all, so the big bad had no more defenseless princesses to claim again forever more. Where she defeats all the bad guys on her own, one after the other after the next, standing proud and tall, sometimes absolutely alone with nothing but her heart left to do the job. It's a story where the princess finally becomes a queen. A queen who saves the whole world a dozen times over with her compassion and her empathy for others and it turned out to be the strongest fist of all.
And even when cursed eternal sleep came to claim her, came to put her in a coffin made from crystal - it was she - herself, the young princess - who got the job done with the help of other girls.
And then she got up, because she got this. And turned around to break the spell on her own and kiss her husband awake. Kiss him awake.
His eyes fluttered open, the pressure of her lips soft and gentle and familiar and forever, and she offered her hand so he may get up.
Because she was the hero of his story, and he couldn't love her more for it.
Obvious Setting Tag: R (Crystal Tokyo).
(Also, reminding you again that if Chibs says her name is Usagi Tsukino, as she did in her R introduction, one very on the nose explanation for that would be that her last name might actually be Tsukino? If you wanna fight me on this, go read my Little Moment 'Rootless' and then we'll talk lol)