Sleeping Arrangements (Sarazanmai, ReoMabu, drabble sequence)
A/N: I was messing around with small things while giving my brain a break from my main writing projects, and this happened. Each piece is 100 words according to Scrivener.
1.
The first night they set their futons out side by side in the kōban's living quarters, it's with the heady sense they're getting away with something. It's their space, but Reo keeps thinking that someone's going to walk in and catch them making out, laughing like kids sneaking candy. They're going to get yelled at. Sent to separate rooms. Somebody's probably going to make him write a letter of apology to the chief.
Mabu has no such concerns. Mabu is, as ever, straightforward about his desires.
No one walks in, which is good, because they don't sleep much that night.
2.
It's different, sleeping with baby Sara between them, but good. Of course she fusses sometimes, and it's weird never really being alone together anymore, but—a kid. They're raising a kid.
Kind of raising. Sooner or later somebody's probably going to notice and tell them to knock it off. Reo's not sure what he'll do then. Yell, probably. Throw things. Lose his job. He's got options.
There's a contented "dish" from Sara; Mabu, sound asleep, mumbles "more sugar" in response. Reo grins like an idiot at both of them. One day at a time, and this day—this day's good.
3.
They find out their daughter is kappa eventually; this answers some questions, sort of. They find themselves kappa, sort of, and also a prince's vassals; this raises new questions and also makes Reo's skin itch.
The prince has a castle. On their first visit they're shown to luxurious quarters, as his honored guests.
There's a single bed, king sized.
Reo blinks at it, speechless. They've always been careful, in public. People aren't supposed to know—
Mabu only smiles, pulling him down into a kiss on silken sheets, and Reo thinks maybe he can learn to live with this vassal thing.
4.
Mabu has set their futons out side by side, like always.
Reo stands frozen, fingers twisting in his hair as he stares, something choking swelling up in his throat. He can't. He can't.
Quiet footsteps behind him, weight and tread exactly the same as they've always been, but Reo is rooted to the spot, blocking the door.
"Reo?" A perfectly familiar hand on his shoulder. He can't stop his flinch.
"Oh." The hand withdraws, and then silence. Then Mabu's squeezing past him, ducking to pull his bedding away to a more respectable distance.
"Sorry," he mutters.
Reo has no answer.
5.
With Otter gone, the police finally start noticing some shit. Keppi's sorting the worst of it out, but their kōban days are over. Reo's just fine with that, thanks. He's not actually sure he could go back there without throwing up.
They find a cheap hotel, using money guiltily borrowed from Sara. "One bed's enough," Mabu tells the receptionist, and ignores her startled look.
Is it? Reo bites down on the bitter question as it surges up on his tongue. Is it really?
"There's a couch," the receptionist says dubiously, not quite meeting their eyes as she hands them keys.
6.
The hotel room is small, but it's clean. There's a couch.
The bed sits in the center of the room like an elephant Reo's trying to ignore.
"Look." Reo runs a hand through his hair like he might pull the memories out: the anger, the nastiness, the moment he slapped Mabu's hand away. "I was—if you don't want—" He swallows. "I fucked up. I know. I'm—"
"Reo—"
"I'm just saying, I can take the couch, if you—"
"Reo." Mabu's finger lands gently on Reo's lips. "Come to bed. We can talk about it in the morning."
And Reo does.