Work Text:
While washing their clothes in the washing machine as usual, a stroke of misfortune renders the machine useless and overflowed forcing the couple to go to a laundromat. Hayate admits to his boyfriend that he has never went to a laundromat and backhome has always washed laundry by either hand or machine. Because they live in an apartment, it was quite difficult to do hand washing in comparison in a house.
They bagged their dirty clothes seperately, Mima's bags slightly fuller than the younger. Hayate offered to carry majority of the bags because his boyfriend just got home when he saw the washing machine mess. Mima refused, he didnt want to burden Hayate especially when he had a bigger and more bags. They settled it by carrying half of eachother's laundry.
They decided to walk since biking wasn't an option obviously and they didnt have a car. The laundromat wasn't far but it wasn't near either. It took about a 15 minute walk to the laundromat. The two agreed they needed to fix the washing machine soon.
Hayate and Mima wanted to hold hands throughout the walk, but since both their hands are occupied with the baggage, they stick to just standing close to eachother. As they walked, they talked about mundane things like the new tv show that just aired or how work was going. Until Mima decided to ask something.
"Hayate-kun, can I ask you something?" Mima suddenly prompted.
"What is it?"
"Yesterday, while you were at work, my sister called to check up." He says. "She says that even though we've been dating for at least 3 years, how come we're still just dating."
That question made Hayate stop his track. Mima noticed his boyfriend no longer in field view and looked back to see him just staring in shock.
"Of course, I'm not asking anything that you aren't ready for Hayate-kun! I just.. thought we should have this conversation at least once." He reassured his frozen boyfriend.
"Takayuki-san... do you ever wish for more?" Hayate quietly asks as they continue walking. His boyfriend oddly silent at that question. He's scared to hear what he would say, that he wouldn't want to take his next step with him.
"What do you think, Hayate-kun?" He smiles with loving eyes, ones that soothe Hayate's heart whenever it shakes.
"Oh, thats the laundromat. Shall we?" Hayate snaps out of his thoughts with Mima's words. Hayate nods and they walk into the laundromat together.
They were greeted by a staff out front, and when they looked at the actual laundromat inside it was empty. The staff also mentioned they opened a public bath in the back in case they wanted to use it. Though, they have already showered before leaving, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out some time in the future.
Mima placed down his bag and excused himself to the bathroom. Hayate nodded at him and did his own business. As Hayate slipped in a coin for the laundry, he thinks back into the conversation he had with Mima. Of course, sometimes when he was lying in bed either alone or with Mima he'd think about marriage. I mean, the average time someone gets married after dating is about 2-3 years and they've been dating for more than 2-3 years. Did it feel too quick? Kind of. Was it too quick? Not at all.
The swirling and circular motion of the washing machine was satisfying to watch. At least, if Hayate was paying attention to it anyway. He crouched down in thought, eyes staring into the window of the washer. Mima came back and saw the younger man crouching down silently. He came up to him and pat his head.
"A penny for your thoughts, Hayate-kun?"
Mima's sudden voice snapped him out of his daydream. He looked up at his boyfriend who was smiling as he usually does. Hayate didnt know what to say so he spluttered his words in an attempt to explain.
"Uh- uhm.. oh.. err.. it's nothing really. Mostly just thinking about what you said earlier.."
Mima realized what that meant and crouched down to be on eye level as his boyfriend. They stared at eachother for awhile before Mima opened his mouth to say that Hayate didnt need to worry about it and if he didnt want to marry yet, they wouldnt have to. Hayate broke off the eye contact to stare at the floor in silence. Mima just closed his eyes and smiled before getting up to do his own laundry. Suddenly Hayate's voice peeped out.
"What if... I dont mind it..?"
Mima immediately snapped his head towards his boyfriend, who was still crouching and face red. Mima's eyes glowed and cheeks tinged red. At the same time, Hayate's white clothes were done washing in the machine so he stood up to go open it up.
"Does that mean I can pop the question anytime soon?" Mima said as he loaded in the rest of his clothes in. Hayate left that unanswered. The silence being a nod to a yes. Mima smiled heartily at this and continued doing his business.
Suddenly, "Ah." came from Hayate.
"The pink sock went into the laundry.." obviously, dying his white t-shirts pink. Hayate just cooly placed the dyed shirts into the basket to go into the dryers. If you weren't a close friend to him or Mima, you would have thought 'oh, he handled that so well!' when in fact all he wanted to do was dig himself a hole and hide himself from shame. He had to go to work in that suit and now it's pink!
Mima chuckled to himself at his boyfriend's antics. When Hayate returned looking slummed, Mima took the opportunity and offered to lend him his shirts for the time being. Hayate refused saying that his shirts were too big on him and it would look awkward.
"Then maybe someday when we're at home alone, would you wear the shirt?"
"That's random uh.. i guess? Why though?"
"Nothing really." Cryptic, real sweet. Whatever meaning Mima had underneath his words left unnoticed by the younger man.
It was 11.30 PM when they finished, they folded and wrapped their clothes in the bag before leaving the place. The moon was shining bright, lighting up the world so it wouldnt drown in darkness. The street lamps provide a vision of the roads that would otherwise be covered by black. They spent the time walking back in chit chat and silence for the most part. When their apartment was in view, they sped up a little and ran inside to finally get some rest.
Mima pressed the elevator key and they waited together for it to arrive. Hayate placing down the bags to rest his arms for a bit, urging his boyfriend to do the same.
"These bags were quite heavy now that I realize it more." Hayate chuckled
"Definitely. Especially when we had to walk all the way back for about 15 minutes huh?" Mima continued.
They stepped in the elevator the moment it opened up, not forgetting the bags. When they reach the floor, Hayate stepped out first to slightly run to the door while Mima was still hoisting up the bags out. Hayate unlocked the door and ran back to help him. They carried the bag inside and passed out onto the sofa together.
"Man, we need to call a service guy immediately or get a car. I dont think I could ever do that again." Mima said as he wraps his arms around Hayate.
"Yeah. I feel so tired already" Hayate smiles into Mima's chest, hugging his shoulders.
"Let's head to bed soon"
"Five more minutes, Takayuki-san."