Work Text:
Today Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo lost his job.
The third on in what goes of the year, work agencies have him blacklisted, he caught sight of his file during his last interview, a stamp in red ink marking him as a difficult employee, discourage to be hired. This time he lasted a little bit longer, he thinks it's due to the lack of contact he had to have with people while working inside that warehouse, three months has to be a personal best. But Mob isn't the type to laugh sardonically about his misfortune or misdeeds, instead he's mortified and shameful, another failure.
He's unemployed again and barely managed to save any money to support himself. He needs a new job and fast, if he doesn't Ritsu will worry, and Ritsu has enough with his exams to add worrying about his older brother, and his parents will look at him with patience wearing thinner by the second, the thoughts grate on him, add to his frustration and self hatred and nothing good ever comes out of that particular set of emotions getting overloaded.
Mob hadn't meant to get fired, he never does, he always does his best, he even gets praised for it, but that doesn't matter, something always manages to set him off, the treatment from other coworkers or the boss, minor misunderstandings, whenever he does something wrong, it piles up until it overwhelms him and sets off his power.
Mob had tried anything he could imagine to stop it from happening, simple methods like yoga or meditation do not work, his power is deeply tied to his emotions, repressing it had worked mostly fine for all of middle school and some of highschool and then it grew and kept growing, hindering Mob's life in a way he could no longer repress.
School work became overwhelming so all thoughts of higher education where shot out of the window, still Mob didn't want to be useless. His parents had raised him and his brother to the best of their ability, always doing their best to understand and aid them as much as possible, Mob's earlier years had been very happy ones and for that he owed them. His brother was entirely something else, Ritsu had been smart from the start, Mob didn't hold any resentment in that regard, they were built different, Ritsu was everything that was right with the world, what Mob could have been like if he had been born with no power-minus the gifted level of smarts. But the biggest flaw in Ritsu was that he cared about shigeo more than he should.
Mob wasn't stupid, just silent and slow, he observed people as best as he could, tried to learn and imitate them, and Ritsu was like no other, even as he played the normal highschool student and son Mob could tell he wasn't. Ritsu had psychic powers like him but in Ritsu they came out perfect, spoons didn't bend when he got lost in thought, energy didn't crackle around his body when he felt any kind of emotion, and Mob ought to feel jealous, instead he was relieved, Ritsu would never have to fear, that was comfort to Mob. But when he got powers Ritsu changed their roles or to be more precise adopted the role Mob should have been playing better.
Ritsu became his caretaker, running and fussing after him, cleaning up and covering up his mess, unbending the spoons, speaking calmly until the energy calmed and retreated, they were espers no one but them understood. For a while Mob had felt happy with that knowledge then his power grew beyond anything Ritsu could handle and Mob caught a glimpse of the real driving force behind his brothers caring nature, Ritsu cared more than he should, more than was normal for siblings who were forced to share most of their time together because Ritsu's brother was also his worst nightmare.
Mob lost count of the times Ritsu managed to calm him down from one of his own self induced explosions during middle school and highschool and even into adulthood, Mob hated it but he felt so relieved when Ritsu had to move away to university, then the heavy eyebags would disappear and Ritsu could study in peace, grow up to be everything amazing he already was.
Except each time Mob lost a job Ritsu would come home, talk to him calmly and stay the week, help him redo his resume and look for new jobs, in between he'd study for exams and offer they live together and Mob would take the help because he was hopeless without him but he would say no to moving out, his parents even as fed up as they were with his failures would not turn him away and they wanted Ritsu to succeed, Mob couldn't rob them of that as well.
He cannot mask it, losing a job is not something he can shrug off and move on from quickly, wheter he shows up home with his hair in a living tangle or decides to dissapear for a few days they always know, and then Ritsu finds him and tells him everything is okay.
This time Mob is too tired, it's a mistake to just go home but he can't do anything else.
The first time he lost a job his mother had comforted him, the second his father had cracked a joke and patted his back, the third they sat with him and asked what was wrong. He was unable to speak so Ritsu spoke for him and explained his psychic power to them, his parents didn't seem too happy but they accepted the explanation. The fourth they sat him down again and asked what they could do, Mob had no answer for them, and Ritsu wasn't there this time. After that they stopped asking, his mother would still shake her head in disapproval, his father would crack jokes that started to hurt and Mob would say nothing, then Ritsu would come and they'd find a new job for him.
Ritsu is close to graduating, soon he'd be a certified lawyer, Mob isn't sure why he picked that, Mob can see him in the suits and even with a briefcase but lawyers are often much put together, Ritsu's hair is too wild, Mob can't picture him with tidier hair, he will never tell him that, Ritsu is much smarter than Mob could ever hope to be, and for that reason Mob is afraid of him and for him. Ritsu took the older role and Mob has nothing to claim it back from him, his parents will tire and Ritsu will offer he live with him and eventually Mob will say yes and Ritsu's life will be ruined.
Pesimism does nothing to his mental stability so he avoids it, as soon as he's through the doors he tries to school his face, fails, he always fails but he'd like to think he's getting better, little by little, at a snail's pace. He can get another job, and another and another a get better little by little, his mother doesn't ask but Mob sees her typing on her phone, Ritsu will be here soon, and at first Ritsu won't ask, they'll play video games or watch a movie and sit on the couch like when they were children and when Mob who isn't stupid but is forgetful starts feeling like it won't be a repeat Ritsu would ask.
“Nii-san are you okay?"
And Mob will say yes, because saying no isn't easy, then Ritsu would take out his laptop and type in job offers in spice city and they will send his polished resume to every available position.
Mob will feel a bit more like crap when Ritsu starts taking out heavy text books out of his bag. And go help his mother with dinner for them all.
Routines aren't bad in Mob's opinion, he prefers them to the surprises, he can never be sure of what a surprise might cause but this particular routine Mob hates with a passion he is not allowed to feel.
He never thought it would be possible to feel this tired at 25, he does nothing, he has no hobbies or even close friends, it's not justified. Everyone else is, he's their burden after all.
Mob isn't particularly good at cooking, he's not particularly good at anything, but Ritsu praises him for the food and Mob lets himself believe it, if only for a little bit.
"You know Shigeo," his father starts, he often talks with food inside his mouth that Mob finds distasteful but has never commented on. "At this point you might as well find a job that lets you use psychic power, like be upfront say you can lift a bunch of boxes with your mind and work at a bigger warehouse."
Mob doesn't often find his father funny, right now he wants to laugh, if he could he would, he didn't think he could be cruel, how fed up must he be.
"You could be a magician Nii-san, I always found your psychic tricks so amusing when we were little, I bet you could make a lot of children happy." Ritsu smiles as he says this and Mob wants to cry.
"Be serious," his mother says to them both. She says nothing else, she used to, scold and sigh in exasperation but she doesn't anymore, Mob feels like he's disappointed her the most.
"It is a valid job," Ritsu insists. "Entertainers contribute to society and Niii-san is unique, I bet you'd do an amazing job. And you'd get to use your power for something good."
Mob is filled with the urge to tell Ritsu to shut up, but he doesn't, because he loves his little brother and he must really mean it, he was and still is his biggest supporter. Ritsu forgets that while he smiled and clapped and asked for more tricks the other kids would call him weird or get tired fast, besides Mob thinks he would not be good at it, magicians work with kids, young kids tend to be unsettled by him, and he loses control too easy, it's a terrible suggestion, the thought of a child's blood on his hands again makes Mob lose his appetite.
Ritsu was asleep on his desk when he set off for the morning, Mob watched him and wished he could pick him up and tuck him in bed like when they were little, but Ritsu was too tall and big for that.
Mob puts on the suit his parents got him after he graduated, the single tie he owns and writes down the address of the interview.
He's walking through the shopping district among signs that light up little by little, giving life and colours to buildings that look grey during the day, it's pretty Mob thinks, he's always liked colour, the brightest the best, he reads every single sign as he walks and thinks he would be a bad salesman, or a shop attendee, bartender, security, secretary, warehouse worker, construction worker, psychic…
Mob stops in the middle of the street, a sign glows white on the side of an office building, the character for ‘spirit’ drawing his attention, he hasn't seen one in a while, they tend to stay far from him, but when he was small they would stare in his direction, approach with hostility or curiosity, Mob liked them, it was one of the only good things about his power. He continues reading the sign, ‘consultation office’, his first thought is why would a spirit need a consultation office, that's something he never stopped to think too hard about, maybe they do need council, maybe they gather in that office and plan hauntings and mischief against humans. Mob's mind is filled with all sorts of silly scenarios but he's realistic, a spirit could not open an office, they can't touch things and sign paperwork for a lease, but a human could, and a human could listen to a spirit and other things, the sign is vague, the only humans who could listen to spirits are psychics.
Mob's hand shakes on the door handle, he's met psychics before, they are never friendly and they always want to fight, a part of Mob thinks it's a dumb idea to hope for the opposite, a part of Mob itches for the confrontation, a part of Mob hopes this won't be repetition. Like getting fired and getting rejected job applications and job interviews and Ritsu's weary face.
Mob latches onto hope, like he's always done, he's curious about what "such" entails, he's curious about what type of person could set up a shop like this, he's curious to know if they are successful in using their power for good and maybe someone who uses their power for something might have one or two answers. He rings the doorbell and waits.
The voice of a man beacons him inside, the person he thinks must be the owner, the psychic is turned away from him as Mob opens the door. Mob is surprised to see he is a man who doesn’t look older or younger than him, he stubs a cigarette, the office reeks of the smell of burnt tobacco, the man turns with a smile that even to Mob looks too wide, he remembers seeing a smile like that once, set on plastic masks, fake and under a spell.
“Come in, come in, welcome to Spirits and Such, whatever can I help you with?” His voice is light and friendly.
The man makes him take a seat in front of him and starts asking questions, Mob can’t sense anything from him, he can’t feel the usual hostile aura other espers put on when they catch sight of his power and the man talks about prices, he slides a flier towards him with prices detailed, Mob sees the words ‘psychic counseling’ listed, and it’s at an affordable price, he’ll have to sacrifice lunch tomorrow but if the man can offer any kind of help it will be worth it.
“I’m psychic,” Mob starts slowly. It’s been a long, long time since he last willingly admitted this, the man’s smile doesn’t so much as falter but immediately drops, a flat expression in place, Mob fidgets with his hands as he struggles to convey his troubles. In the end all he can say is that he loses control of his power often which causes him to lose jobs constantly. A part of him wants to talk about the more serious accidents, about the angry voice inside his head when his power overflows, about the fear and memories that haunt him, but the serious expression on the other man’s face makes him cower, he must be judging him, they look the same age, he leads a business, he has a neat suit and Mob is here asking for help.
“Are you fucking with me?” the man asks in a dry tone.
“So-sorry?”
“Did you just see the sign and thought ‘hey what if I fuck with a guy for a bit?’ Oh hey I am psychic, I am troubled,” his voice becomes high pitched as he ‘imitates’ Mob. “No no I know, you must be a rival, you are trying to see if I’m a threat right? Well the answer is yes, fuck off.”
“I don’t, I wasn’t intending to, I thought you might have answers.”
The man takes a cigarette pack out of his pocket and lights one. Mob’s back sticks to the couch intending to move away from the smell he hates.
“Will you pay for the consultation?”
“Y-yes.”
“Alright then,” the man takes a drag of his cigarette and lets out a thick cloud of smoke, he crosses his legs and plasters on a smile again, it’s not friendly or fake, it’s awful. “You lack confidence, that’s obvious, you let a single trait of yours dictate your life, you lose control of some magic trick? There are people out there who have uncontrollable bouts of rage or live burdened by debilitating illnesses and still manage to be productive in society! So treat it like that, like another part of you or whatever, why are psychic powers any different than, I don’t know, you being so tall you hit your head on doors, I mean if it’s real at all and you are not just fucking with me to entertain yourself. Now, pay up.” the man shows his hand, palm up, and motions.
Mob stares at the man and the man stares back, a part of him wants to stand and leave the office wordlessly, another part wants to trash the furniture and show the man just how powerful he is, another part is sad he found yet another hostile esper and wishes to express his loneliness. Mob takes out his wallet and hands the man his fee.
“Thank you, come again,” the man tilts his head and tucks the money inside his pocket, he uncrosses his legs and walks towards another room.
Mob is frozen, his limbs unresponsive, his power simmering at his fingertips, he’s exploded for less. The man comes out with a mug of something hot, he stops at the entrance finding Mob still sitting there.
“You can go now, unless you have more questions, that's another fee,” he says with a chuckle that sounds mean spirited to Mob’s ears.
Mob stands, his power coursing through his veins he needs to get out. The man gives him an impassive stare and takes a sip of his hot drink as he passes.
He spits and drops the mug.
“Hot!”
On instinct Mob catches it with his power, floats the liquid back inside the mug, his power sings with release, so he reigns it back as he floats the mug towards the man’s hand who stares at it dumbfounded for a moment before he chances to grab it.
“You said you are psychic.” asks the man slowly.
Mob nods in response, unable to utter a word.
“And you are looking for a job?”
Mob nods again.
“You are hired.”
Mob is happy he got the job but Mob is also conflicted, when he next comes to the office the man’s demeanor is different, the outright hostility even clueless Mob could sense is gone, he greets him with a smile and a mug of hot tea, the man, Reigen Arataka, asks if he smokes and when Mob says he doesn’t he tucks his pack inside his pocket again. He explains the job, the fees, he explains he can’t pay him much and then slides a contract his way, Mob doesn’t know if it’s official or not, usually he’d ask Ritsu before signing anything but Reigen is psychic and Mob needs a job, so he signs.
If the psychic work alleviates some of his excess of energy then he might get another and now that Reigen seems less hostile, his explanation being he thought Mob was a rival psychic trying to steal his business, Mob doesn’t get how psychic businesses work at all so he takes it at face value.
During the first week Mob doesn’t see a single spirit, but Reigen chats with several clients he assures have spirits on them, he takes them to a massage table and they always come out seeming more relieved and relaxed, Mob thinks there’s a lot about psychic power he doesn’t get, he never dug too deep, always too afraid to.
The pay is not good, he lies to Ritsu when he asks about it, and Ritsu goes back to his apartment, hopefully for a proper night of sleep, relief from his overbearing useless sibling. Mob keeps looking for jobs, Reigen doesn’t ask him to work full time so that’s a good thing, he gets another job at a convenience store nearby, they don’t ask many questions or look at the long list of previous jobs on his resume, that is always a good thing.
The next week Reigen throws a newspaper on his lap, a haunted spot, he explains sometimes they need to get out in the field, he talks a lot as they walk through a tunnel, completely unperturbed by the dozens of spirits staring at him as if he was food.
“Can you sense them?” Mob asks as Reigen phases through a creature that is two seconds from pouncing on him.
“Hm no, my nose is a bit stuffed and they must be super weak,” he shrugs, the creatures turn at the sound of his voice, hungry eyes and maws. “Why don’t you deal with the small fry eh new guy?” Reigen smirks, a spirit with too many limbs lunges, Mob spreads his fingers and it bursts into color, Reigen still unperturbed walks on.
The spirits sense Mob’s power and turn to him, attacking all at once, the spirits are gone in seconds, his power is left wanting, his hands shaking, but it was something, more than he’s allowed himself in days, weeks, months, he lets out a breath calming himself down, his shaking fingers still little by little, he hears Reigen scream.
In front of him is a hulking spirit surrounded by a thick aura of hostility, Reigen is yelling something about costumes and wrestling but he makes no move to exorcize it, the spirit readies an attack and Mob should hang back and watch Reigen at work but something makes him act, the spirit is gone, reduced to nothing, Mob’s fingers curl inwards, he clenches them into a shaky fist and exhales again.
“That’s what you get for-for dressing up as a pro-wrestler biker whatever the fuck!” Reigen yells at what’s left of the spirit, a mere sliver of energy that poofs out of existence.
Mob senses something more, Reigen said there was a strong spirit laying here and the dozens of hostile ones and the big blue monster weren’t powerful, something awakes at the end of the tunnel.
“That’s a wrap right? Ehh, how disappointing, I was hoping to see something more freaky, get a picture to boast about in psychic forums you know?”
Mob walks past Reigen towards the rising, pulsating energy, his hands itching in anticipation, a part of him already telling him as usual it won’t be enough. Lights blink into existence but they aren’t lights, dozens, hundreds of eyes focus on him all at once, white straight teeth part to reveal a gigantic mouth, it’s hostile, it opens its maws.
“Kageyama! Come back!”
Mob turns towards the sound of the voice and the spirit closes its jaws around him.
He can’t say being eaten is a new experience, spirits tend to do this when they feel threatened, Mob can feel even from inside its stomach that the creature is afraid and the creature is weak.
He touches the walls of the stomach that is more like a black hole instead of an organic animal one and the creature burst into multicolor, his power flows through it, tearing whatever holds it to this plane of existence to pieces, Mob lets it, the creature is gone, a heap of garbage at his feet, his power still overflowing, Mob falls to his knees and breathes, and breathes, he screws his eyes shut, reeling his psychic energy back in, locking it tight as it trashes and hisses at him in protest.
Something loud makes his eyes snap open, there are hands on his shoulders, his face, it’s very, very warm.
“Kageyama are you okay?” Reigen asks.
Mob lifts his head slowly, Reigen is on his knees in front of him, his hands are still on his face, his eyes searching his.
“Yes, I am okay.”
Reigen stares for a moment longer then lets go of his face, claps his hands in front of his face.
“Excellent job Kageyama-kun! You managed to locate and exorcize multiple threats all on your own, you certainly are qualified for this job.” Reigen stands and offers his hand to Mob. “Expect many more works like this, that is, if you are cut out for them.”
Mob stares at his hand, Reigen continues talking about work, popular haunted spots, the possibility of recording the next one, Mob wonders why he didn’t even try to exorcise a single one, why he didn’t defend himself from an attack that could have seriously wounded him, Reigen smiles down at him and something coiled inside Mob loosens, the discharge of energy making his body feel light.
“Mob.”
“What did you say?”
“You can call me Mob.”
Reigen squints his eyes. “Okay Mob, you can call me Reigen, I don’t have a nickname.”
Mob takes Reigen’s hand.
Working for Reigen is easy, Mob’s power is too great so no matter how strong the spirits are they are always gone in a flash of colour, working for Reigen doesn’t pay well at all but Mob finds himself more excited about going to Reigen’s than any other place.
Gone is the hostile man he first met, he seems animated each time, he smiles at him when he enters the office, offers him tea or snacks and asks about his day, in a way despite being his boss Mob starts thinking of him as a friend.
Months pass and Mob doesn’t sense proof of power in Reigen but Reigen seems to always sense when Mob is troubled, one day as they wait for a scheduled client to arrive Reigen figures out his troubles with his parents and Ritsu.
“Parents put all of these heavy expectations on us you know, I get it, I’m pretty sure my parents have disowned me for opening this place,” Reigen always looks into his eyes as he speaks of more serious topics, it intimidates Mob at times.
“For being psychic?” Mob asks.
“Ah no, not that, um, just well this job is useful right? We fix people’s problems no one but us can fix but it’s not the kind of job you wave around, I bet even you hesitate when your convenience store coworkers ask what’s your other job.”
Mob looks down and that is all answer Reigen needs.
“Every parent wants their kids to grow up and become a lawyer, doctor, some executive from a great company, and can you blame them? They want what's best for their kids, reason why I’m never having one myself,” Reigen takes a bite of his burguer. “I’ll fuck up a kid so fast, tell them go do whatever. Wanna leave school and join the circus? You do you! your life is your own, fuck the rest,” he chuckles, his eyes land back on Mob and he sits more straight. “What I’m saying is you are not a burden, you’ve never gone long without a job, you contribute with the expenses and food, you help around the house, you are the farthest thing from a burden Mob.”
“I didn’t say I was a burden.”
“I know,” Reigen offers his fries and Mob takes them.
“You know what they make you do when you work at a company? The drinking thing I just don’t get, the place I worked at, on my first week the boss took us drinking and one of the other new guys burst out crying after a few beers and the boss laughed at him, they called him bubbles because his tears fell in like thick, thick bubbles, it was incredibly cruel.”
“And you?” Mob asks, taking a sip of his beer, he’s been staring at Reigen’s drink for a while, something doesn’t seem quite right about it.
“I put my tie around my forehead and danced on the table, I’m the life of the party Mob-kun.”
“I can see that.” Mob says genuine.
“Shut up,” Reigen shoves him slightly, downing his lemon drink. “Hey hey another, put some alcohol in it this time, I’m gonna show this guy.”
“Are you sure Arataka-chan?” the bartender asks.
The familiarity with which this man speaks Reigen’s name doesn’t sit right with Mob.
“Yes, we’ll share the cab won’t we Mob?”
Mob nods, it's not as if they have a car to worry about and getting Mob drunk is extremely hard, nothing he has the funds for.
Reigen is out after a single drink, he starts laughing and rambling more so than usual, Mob drinks and listens, he watches his face, he’s very flushed, he asks for a second one and he undoes his tie, as expected Reigen doesn’t tie it around his head and start singing, just loosens the buttons, the room is too warm, Mob feels it too but he’s better at dealing with the discomfort, he fixates on things that distract him, like the exposed flushed skin on Reigen’s chest, or the way his mouth moves as he talks, his hands that brush against his shoulder every so often.
“That’s enough Arataka-chan.” says the bartender when Reigen asks for a third drink. “Remember the last time.”
“Do-don’t be a party pooper, I need-need to entertain my employee, we are a two man company, we need to be as loud as a hundred!”
“I think that’s enough too,” Mob says. “can you give us the tab.”
“Of course.”
“Noo, Mob, c’mon I need another and then we can go karaoke what ya say? It’s ah initiation,” Reigen throws an arm over Mob’s shoulder, his face next to his, Mob becomes hyper aware of it. “He’s my new, new guy, new employee,” Reigen slurs. “He’s the reason why I didn’ fucking quit.”
Mob looks at Reigen out of the corner of his eye, Reigen is looking at him with hazy eyes, alcohol Mob thinks, his heart starts beating faster.
“Best guy ever.” Reigen lands in a heap on his shoulder, laughing, Mob barely catches him, his breath is warm on his neck, Mob tries to get his own breathing under control.
“Want me to call you a cab hun?”
“No,” Mob says, riled up as he is, what he currently needs is air, and being away from as many people as possible, but he can’t leave Reigen alone. “I’ll take him home.
“Alright then. take care of him will you?”
Mob nods and helps Reigen to his feet.
Reigen leans heavily on his side as they walk, he does start singing, something Mob is not entirely too familiar with off tune and slurred, several others walk out of bars in similar states so no one says a thing.
Mob manages to get them inside a train, Reigen told him his address and insisted he come for a visit, Mob said yes with no hesitation.
Reigen scoots close to him on the train seat, luckily he’s not the loudest, others in suits seem to be in high spirits as well, it's saturday and the night is just starting.
“You know, you know Mob, I hate drinking so much, it turns people into idiots that think everything is funny, I mean look at those guys, can’t they see they are bothering the other passengers?” Mob doesn’t mention that up until a few seconds ago Reigen was singing loudly and obnoxiously. “And I dont, every time I drink it’s like every-everything that’s shit and fucked in my life says ‘hello there, long time no see’. Long time no see? I was moping over it three hours ago! Except-cept… right now I get it, them and I think I know why,” Reigen turns on his side, his hazy look is back. “Let’s go karaoke Mob, or some-somewhere you want, don’t leave yet.”
“I want to see you safely home,” Mob says, ignoring the part of him that is rising to the surface.
“Okay, do you like old movies? I have a collection, did I tell you? Can you stay?” Reigen doesn’t sound as usual, not the hostility of when they first met or the usual cheeriness from everyday life. “Please?”
“Yes.”
Reigen is falling asleep on his feet, not too far from the apartment he slumps over Mob’s back, Mob strains to support his weight, he’s taller than Reigen is and his shoulders are broader but that doesn’t make him stronger so he uses his powers to support him as they walk. Reigen tucks his face against his neck.
“You smell so nice, what perfume is that?” Reigen asks, his breath tickling Mob’s neck.
“It’s uh-”
“You are so big and so dependable, always there when I need you.” Reigen whispers hotly, Mob swallows as his arms encircle his chest, his palms splayed at his front, Reigen’s mouth presses to his neck and Mob freezes. “Mob…”
Reigen slumps over his shoulder and his breathing evens, it takes Mob a few minutes to realize he stopped moving, he adjusts Reigen on his back and continues walking, he feels warm and giddy as he climbs the steps to Reigen’s apartment, it must be the alcohol still traveling through his veins, the thought of sharing a night with a friend for the first time in a long time- Reigen’s hands on his chest his mouth on his neck, his warmth pressed so close…
“Reigen-san, your keys?” Mob rouses him gently, Reigen mumbles and digs inside his front pocket, Mob feels his hand at his back and then the keys fall to the floor, Mob floats them to the door and opens it.
Reigen’s apartment is cold and dark, Mob tries to feel for a light as he shakes off his shoes.
“I’m home,” Reigen mumbles, sliding off Mob’s back, he kicks off his shoes and wobbles past him, he shrugs off his jacket, at the same time tries to take off his tie and gets stuck, Mob watches as the man struggles, shaking his arms until the blazer and tie fall to the floor, Reigen starts laughing and collapses on his bed.
Mob thinks this is perhaps the best time to leave, Reigen is too drunk to do anything but sleep and Mob can’t stop feeling off- his mouth on his neck, his warmth pressed close, his hands, his hands…
Mob takes his shoes and turns to leave.
“Hey, what do you, Mob…? ” Mob turns to see Reigen, he’s on his side, half his body hanging off the bed awkwardly, smiling openly. "Come here a second."
Mob's body moves on his own, against his meager excuse of a good judgment, the shoes land next to Reigen's, usually Mob would be more polite about it, line them neatly against the wall, he looks down at Reigen, his heart hammering inside his chest, his palms itching again, Reigen rolls on his back and looks up at him through half lidded eyes. He pats the bed next to him, Mob takes a seat.
He keeps his eyes up front, towards the couch and the computer desk, the light filtering through a small crack on his curtains. Mob feels Reigen move next to him, incorporate, his warmth close and again he feels his breath on his neck.
"Drinking isn't fun,"Reigen mumbles. "Because when I drink I feel like shit and," his chin rests on his shoulder from behind, out of the corner of his eye he sees Reigen looking at him, his dazed eyes on his mouth, Mob stops breathing, afraid to disturb this. "I think things that I know aren't smart are smart. Does that-does that make sense?" Reigen asks.
His right hand presses to Mob's back, his left one open on his thigh. Mob stops himself from jumping, Reigen's hand is hot on his thigh even through his jeans, Mob becomes aware of the feel of each finger against his body, like heated iron.
Reigen's fingers creep upwards, Mob's head turns sharply towards him, Mob is never too sure about anything people do, he's read tone wrong countless times, upset or annoyed people with his lack of response.
His eyes are on his mouth, Mob stops breathing again, he's already feeling light headed, Reigen blinks slowly and leans towards his face, Mob sits still.
Mob shouldn't feel surprised when Reigen's mouth lands on his but his brain always has the bad habit of catching up late. Reigen's hand at his back moves towards his neck and curls there, Mob had noticed how long his fingers were, as he watched him give massages to clients, he wondered what they'd feel like on him and shut down that thought, right now they simply rest at his neck and Mob's heart feels like it wants to tear a hole through his ribcage and touch Reigen, his other hand presses down as he incorporates to match his height better.
Mob's mind is clouded by the scent of alcohol and lemons, Reigen's tongue licks his lower lip and his right hand moves to his face, his eyes blink open meeting Mob's, his face even more flushed, Reigen starts moving away and Mob responds all at once. He halts him in place, he's not even aware if it is by hand or by his power, he should care about this distinction more but Reigen doesn't struggle away, the fingers on his thigh grip and they lean forward together.
Mob is no stranger to kissing but he can count the amount of times he's done it with the fingers on one hand, and this is the first time he's ever kissed another man. There's no difference Mob thinks except last time he had kissed a woman he hadn't felt anything at all.
Reigen's tongue is in his mouth and Mob feels breathless and his chest warm, everything is pleasant and hot, their lips making wet sounds as they part and meet again, clouding his head with hazy warmth.
The last time had been similar, the warehouse boss had invited everyone for drinks and Mob went because he didn't want to be out of place, the secretary started calling him handsome after a few drinks, it flustered him, Mob knew he wasn't particularly attractive, that was Ritsu and Mob was okay with it, she also said his taciturn disposition hid that which Mob thinks could hold some truth, people like when others smile, he likes it. She kissed him when he helped her to a cab and Mob didn't feel anything at all, deep down he was offended by her comments, she never asked if he liked her.
He couldn't stop thinking about it as he went home,if she had asked him to go with her he would have said yes, he wanted to, he likes people, he likes when people are interested in him, he likes sex. But that didn't happen, the next day she apologized, his coworkers told him she did that to everyone, called her a tease with disdain, Mob didn't get it, she didn't ask for anything, he wasn't mad at all.
Mob wasn't sure what Reigen wanted but this time Mob was sure he wanted something. Reigen sat on his knees, pressing one between Mob's legs and grabbed his face firmly with a grace that was impressive for someone so drunk, he kissed and bit his lips hungrily, Mob returned it, warmth pooled in his stomach and sent electricity to his limbs. Reigen's skin was hot to the touch, his shirt too thin the only barrier between them, Mob had never kissed anyone like this, with pure hunger and intent, Reigen's hands on his face, his hair, his neck and shoulders, it was fast yet it lingered, pressing to his skin, searing it with fire, he found the zipper of his jacket and pulled it down.
Mob opened his eyes, Reigen's were shut, Mob wanted to see them, Reigen tried to slide the jacket off his shoulders but Mob didn't want to move his hands from his waist.
Reigen opened hazy eyes and stared into his, parting Mob took a deep gulp of air, Reigen in the exact same state.
“I’ll do what you want,” Reigen said under his breath.
“What?” Mob asked, not sure he heard it right.
“If you stay with me," Reigen kisses the corner of his mouth. "If you work for me forever," his fingers slid under the neck of his shirt, tracing his collarbones, down his chest. "I'll do what you want Mob," he pressed a kiss to his neck, his knee shifted further into the bed. "I’m good," he enunciated each word with a lingering kiss and caress. "I'm told, with my mouth, always good, never a complaint."
His hand lands gently on his belt at the same time his knee presses against his crotch.
Mob grabs his wrists, the hazy look and scent of alcohol is alluring, wonderfully tempting, Mob wants to press him into the mattress and ask for clarification on his statement, but it wouldn't be wise, a voice at the back of his head tells him losing this job cannot happen, a voice is desperate to give in, another is terrified.
Even through the haze of alcohol Mob is entirely too aware something is off about this interaction, the entire night he couldn't stop looking at him, observing every little quirk, taking him in like a starving man, and now this offer, Mob could take it, he wants to. One of Reigen's wrists escapes Mob's hold and he touches his lips with his index and middle fingers, Reigen licks his lips and Mob pushes him away, again he's not sure if his powers or himself were the ones doing it, Mob is at the door, his shoes on.
"Mob! Come back!"
Mob is through the door and out in the street, he doesn't hear the single broken plea.
"I can't remember yesterday at all, that is why alcohol is a wretched thing Mob!" Reigen leans back on his chair taking careful sips of his coffee. "Did I do something weird? Blackmail material? Climbed over tables singing and showing off my ballroom dancing skills?" His face is serious but Mob reminds himself he's joking.
“No.”
“That’s good, you still respect me then, by the way how much do I owe you for the cab?"
“We took the train."
“Eh? Did you carry me all the way?”
“A little, up the stairs.”
“Wow Mob, I didn't know you had muscles under that turtleneck," Reigen points with his chin, his eyes raking him down.
“I don’t,” Mob flushes, the ghost of last night still lingers in his memory. “It’s, uh, my power, I carried you with it."
“Funny how that takes some of the merit away. Though I do owe you something for putting up with my drunk self all that way. Did I seriously not do anything weird?”
“You sang in the train, you called other drunks idiots and… you asked me to watch a terrible movie with you.” Mob lists, he hopes he doesn't bring note to his omision, he hopes he does, he really really really hopes he brings it up on his own, Mob is too much of a coward.
“Damn, okay, you know what? I am proud of myself. I can now call myself a real boss, not only did I force you to do something you didn’t want to, I also made a fool of myself in the process, I wonder how soon I’ll start balding…” he presses two fingers to his mouth in thought.
“Reigen?”
“Yeah?”
“Nothing.”