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They Stepped into existence quite a ways away from anything, and Ryou had to take a deep breath. He had never teleported as many people as this, but he wouldn’t say that out loud or let any of the adults know. He was going to help get Reigen-kun back, and no one was going to stop him. No one was going to send him away. He was going to help, and no one was going to stop him from helping. He did wish that Serizawa-kun was here though. He was pretty strong, despite being a fraidy-cat.
The spirit that had been hanging around floated a bit upwards, and up. And floated up and up and up. And then floated back down to them. Ryou tilted his head. He didn’t know exactly why the spirit hung around the offices for, but it was always around. But right now, its energy was burning like a fire, like a wildfire that wouldn’t be put out until someone else took care of it.
“Yeah, we’re actually pretty close. Your range is actually rather scary, Kid.” The spirit confirmed, and Ryou let himself grin. He was proud of his innate esper ability, and he was glad he could use it like this. He was glad he could help in this way. Getting Reigen-kun back was important, to everyone here. Ryou could feel it in their auras.
Teru-shishou’s energy was crackling like the electricity before a storm, like he was about to unleash that energy on someone and overload them. And Kageyama-san’s aura was sharp and spiky now, not like a mild cactus he usually was at the office, but instead like it was made completely of knives. The worst by far was Reigen-kun’s boss. Ryou had thought it was worse before, when it was a revolving shield and he was being protective of Reigen-kun when they were on alert about a stalker. Oh, how wrong he had been. Not for the first time either.
Now, Reigen-kun’s boss’ aura was twisting and funneling around him like the storm’s eye. It crackled with the electricity of Teru-shishou’s energy, and it was full of the sharpness of Kageyama-san’s aura. Only it was completed with the wind that going to propel all that energy and sharpness forward. It just needed a target, and Ryou had a feeling that they would find one easily enough when they found Reigen-kun.
All the frenetic energies were setting Ryou’s teeth on edge. Teru-shishou’s crackling lightning energy, Kageyama-san’s sharp and stinging energy, and Reigen-kun’s boss’ storm-like funneling energy.
Although, Ryou wasn’t much better than any of them. His own aura was crackling with repressed power, wanting to unleash it on the person who had hurt his friend. He was at least lucky to get a little energy out by teleporting them out here. Stretching his awareness out, he could feel people to the west of them, which is where they were heading anyways, and a lot of people. A building proper, but with everyone on top of each other, Ryou couldn’t tell if Reigen-kun was there or not. If they had already moved him or not. For the sake of the people that were in the building, Ryou hoped that they hadn’t moved Reigen-kun.
Reigen-kun’s boss wasn’t in the mood to be forgiving.
Then again. None of them were.
“Okay, it’s definitely that way.” Ryou pointed as he retracted his awareness back to himself. Stretching so far and Stepping so far out this way was making him a little sick, but it was worth it. Reigen-kun was counting on them, the spirit had said so. “Do you want to teleport again? Or would you rather to walk?”
“Get us to the doorstep.” Reigen-kun’s boss said, and his voice was hard to make out with the added crackle of static on the edges, but Ryou had always been good at listening. Understanding was the harder part, but he was good at listening at least. Hands held out, the rest of them latched onto Ryou again, and they Stepped right up to the doorstep.
Two people, must be guards, turned towards them. Kageyama-san’s aura flared, the sharpness growing sharper. Teru-shishou’s crackled sharply, ready to reach out the second that they took a step forward towards them. Reigen-kun’s boss’ energy grew in its intensity, the funneling storm nearly ready to be unleashed.
Before any of them could act though, lash out with their esper powers, the spirit, Dimple, was shooting forward and melding into one of the guards. Possessing him, and then turning and clocking the other man in the jaw. The other guy dropped like a rock, and Ryou let out a whistle. That wasn’t something that he perceived every day.
“Ah, I missed having an actual body.” The man’s voice said, but it definitely had the spirit’s voice overlayed.
“Why, are you possessing someone Dimple?” Reigen-kun’s boss asked. The crackle of static along the edges of the voice was lowered, due to the confusion in the man no doubt.
“I promised myself I would punch the deadbeat at least once before you had your licks.” The man fixed the tie around the neck of the body. Aaaandd, the pressure was back in the air. Great, for some reason, Reigen-kun’s boss was angry again, and Ryou could practically hear the counter of his anger growing in number.
“Why is Arataka-kun’s father here?” The static was louder, almost about to eclipse the voice.
“Because he sold the brat out.” Dimple’s voice lowered to something that could be called angry. Interesting, especially since Dimple insisted that he didn’t care about humans other than Reigen-kun’s boss. So maybe he was just a lying spirit who actually cared. “That’s the whole reason we were out here. Because that bastard deadbeat sold him to these people.”
The pressure in the air grew, and the concrete under Reigen-kun’s boss’ feet cracked as he turned towards the door. Was he doing that with the sheer pressure of his aura? That was so cool. Reigen-kun had the coolest boss.
“We’re getting him out. And then this place will be nothing but rubble.”
Hard to hear through the static, but Ryou could only agree. Teru-shishou’s aura flicked out and the doors to this place slammed inwards. Kageyama-san walked forward, his own spiky aura shooting outwards and encompassing the wall into a barrier. Teru-shishou followed and the possessed man was shoulder to shoulder with him, Ryou next, and then lastly Reigen-kun’s boss. Even with Ryou’s enhanced awareness, he couldn’t sense anyone coming. Maybe they were scared off by Reigen-kun’s boss’ aura.
That would be the smart move.
But then he sensed people up front, and he knew these people weren’t smart. They really couldn’t be smart, if they had taken Reigen-kun in the first place. Ah well, that was their own fault. Ryou just hoped that Reigen-kun’s deadbeat was still here. He wanted to get his own hits in on the guy.
“Five people coming towards us from the left corridor. Men.” Ryou let Kageyama-san know, and he nodded. The people turned the corner, a yell gracing the air, probably about to charge down the hallway–
And then they were sent flying backwards. Slamming into the wall and then being pulled away from it, and then slammed into it again. Kageyama-san was being rather brutal, and Ryou couldn’t find it in himself to be judgmental about that. He had been worse, probably, before Reigen-kun had gotten a hold of him. Maybe he should be a little upset that Reigen-kun clearly was trying to make Ryou better when his own bosses were like, but maybe he didn’t even know about this side.
“Hi.” Kageyama-san conversationally as he walked forward, his aura pinning the five men to the wall. “Don’t suppose you guys could tell us where you put Reigen Arataka, right?”
“G–go to hell.” One spat.
He slammed further into the wall.
“Don’t swear around children.” Kageyama-san tsked. “Shimazaki is here after all, and I doubt his master is too happy with you all swearing around him. I’m the nice one right now. You don’t want to deal with Hanazawa. And you definitely don’t want to deal with my big brother.”
The pressure in the air was clear enough for that last point. Tilting his head and reaching out with his awareness, Ryou could tell that Reigen-kun’s boss’ hair was floating with the power of his esper ability. Ah, he was really pissed off and going to reach a breaking point soon. Ryou kinda wanted to see it happen. But he also wanted to find Reigen-kun.
“Now.” Kageyama-san, stepping closer. “Since I’m the nice one, why don’t you tell me where you put new recruits?”
Another guy spoke up. Maybe he wasn’t someone who liked pain, or maybe he felt a little bad. Ryou wasn’t Reigen-kun, emotions weren’t his forte. Plus, Ryou couldn’t exactly see the face, but that didn’t matter to him right now. These people had taken away someone who was so important to everyone here, even Dimple.
“He’s with Mogami-san.” The guy gasped. “Which means he isn’t the boy you knew anymore.” A sharp laugh, full of meanness and anger. “He belongs to Claw now.”
More pressure in the air. More invisible numbers that were ticking up and up and up. If Ryou wasn’t on Reigen-kun’s boss’ side, he would be scared. But he was on the side of the dragon, so he was definitely safer than the men who were taunting said dragon by keeping the treasure away from it. Like some sick game of keep away. And like fools, they were ignoring the flames that were starting to fill up in the belly of the dragon that would torch them.
Lucky for them, Kageyama-san was aware of those flames, and with a quick flick of his aura, all five men were knocked out and dropped to the ground like rocks.
“Dimple? Do you know that name?” Teru-shishou asked.
“It sounds familiar, but the face ain’t pairing with the name.” Dimple shook his borrowed head. “He’s likely got some sort of mental intrusion though, or mental wipe, if they were so certain of the brat turning to Claw.”
A slow inhale, and Kageyama-boss behind Ryou closed his hand into a fist. Ryou, had he been on the opposite side, would be scared. Since he wasn’t on the opposite side, and was actively searching for Reigen-kun with his awareness on this level, he didn’t have time to be scared. He was searching for the bright whirlpool of aura that Reigen-kun liked to hide. But if he expected them to find him, he would let it out, right?
“Shigeo, don’t be so concerned. That brat probably has already taken care of whoever Mogami is. I mean, you should have seen what he did to the guy that tried to exorcize me.” Dimple rambled as they walked. “He threw a grown man over his shoulder. Whatever lessons he’s been going to, they’ve done him good.”
The fist behind Ryou relaxed. The pressure in the air relaxed ever so slightly. Ryou could relax his shoulders ever so slightly as he still searched for that bright spot of aura on this floor. It wasn’t on this floor, unfortunately. So he went up a floor, searching there. Not there either.
Hmm.
Maybe he should just search for espers then?
Ryou paused. It was a bad idea. But he was surrounded by espers, people who would protect him, and Teru-shishou definitely wouldn’t let anyone hurt him as he tried to access this and would be vulnerable to the average man.
“Ryou-kun?” Teru-shishou asked, turning his head back.
“Just a second.” Ryou muttered. The entire group stopped around him. Good. He wouldn’t get left behind then. Digging in deep, he pushed and pulled at the door in front of him, he could feel the power he needed laying behind it. He just needed a little. Just a little. He just needed to see Reigen-kun’s aura and guide everyone to him. Then he could go back to being his usual self.
Finally, the door cracked a little, and the power flooded through the crack. He just needed a little. Ryou just needed to see.
Mind’s Eye flared to life, burning into his eye sockets and making him perceive the auras of all espers in the building. It was cutting out the ordinary man, which could be dangerous, but that was why he had the adults around. They would keep watch for the people that were invisible to him for the time being.
Opening his eyelids, he could actually see the auras in front of him. Behind him. Below him. And above and above and above–
Ryou grunted and flinched to the side, nearly banging into the wall. He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the sensory input that he wasn’t used to. It would do him no good, he had brought this on himself and wouldn’t be able to cut it out until he shut off this power, but he also couldn’t stop the bodily reaction to the sensory input.
“Ryou-kun?”
“Something’s wrong with Reigen-kun.” He whispered, gripping at his head and forcing his eyelids back open. Kageyama-boss’ aura flared brighter behind him, which didn’t help the wicked migraine that was starting to develop. “He– his aura. Something’s wrong.”
“Take us there.” Kageyama-boss’ voice was back to that static crackle. Hands connected to Ryou again, and he Stepped them all to outside the range of Reigen-kun’s new intense aura. Now that they were here, he finally turned off his Mind’s Eye, breathing easier now that he was back to his normal level of sensory input.
And now that he was here and catching his breath–
What the hell? Sure, his Mind’s Eye couldn’t make Ryou see, truly see, but he could definitely sense more than he usually did. Like he could sense the true depths of power beneath the skin of the men in front of him and behind him. Kageyama-boss was still definitely the most powerful, and Kageyama-san and Teru-shishou were pretty neck-and-neck. Although Ryou would be hella biased and say that Teru-shishou would obviously win no matter what. Dimple was a powerhouse in his own right as a spirit hiding in human skin.
But Reigen-kun’s true depth of power? If this was it?
Damn it all. Why did he hold back so much? Well, Ryou shouldn’t ask that question. If Reigen-kun didn’t hold back, then no one would ever have a chance. Not if this was the true extent of his power.
Ryou really wished he could see, actually see, Reigen-kun’s aura. It had felt so strong and powerful. Somewhere in the realm between Teru-shishou’s aura and Kageyama-boss’. It felt like it was sucking in everything that was around them, like it would suck it in and destroy the entire room if it wasn’t so internally focused. But right now, Reigen-kun’s aura wasn’t internally focused. It was almost like Reigen-kun had reversed his flow and was pushing everything out and pulling everything in at the same time.
Like a vortex.
Like a storm.
Just like Kageyama Shigeo’s aura was currently.
“Is, is that Reigen?” Kageyama-san asked softly, looking in the direction of the powerful aura that Ryou had to shut his awareness to. At least his esper awareness to. He still needed his awareness of the room that Reigen-kun was in.
“Fuck, that’s– kami what the hell?” Dimple muttered in his borrowed body.
They must be seeing something that Ryou can’t see with his awareness. Damn it. He wanted to know what was going on! If Reigen-kun was here, he would explain things to Ryou! Ryou reached over and tugged on Teru-shishou’s sleeve, trying to get his attention in some sort of way.
“What’s going on? I can’t see.” Quite literally, and Reigen-kun would point that out and laugh about it with him. If he was in his right mind, he would do it. But clearly he wasn’t, because Ryou had made sure that the door was open and he was certain their voices could carry into that room. But Reigen-kun wasn’t responding, and that was scaring him. Not that he would ever admit it, but he was scared that his friend wasn’t acting like he was supposed to.
“Reigen’s aura. . . . . .” Teru-shishou muttered. “It’s way bigger than it should be. It shouldn’t be that large. It was like a whirlpool before. Small. Now it’s like. . . . . .”
“A maelstrom.” Kageyama-san finished when Teru-shishou trailed off and Ryou made an impatient noise. “It’s gotten way larger, way more powerful. The colors are way more vibrant. A storm.”
There was reverence in his voice, but fear as well. Like he was shocked and in awe at the sheer amount of power that Reigen-kun had been hiding away inside him. Obviously, none of the adults here had fought Reigen-kun before, that was just Ryou, but that also meant that none of them were really aware of what Reigen-kun was capable of.
All Ryou was hearing was that his friend was in distress and needed someone. And no one was reaching out and helping the person that always reached out and helped everyone. So that meant someone had to take the first step. None of the adults were taking that step, they were probably scared by the sight in front of them. However, Ryou didn’t get scared by sights he couldn’t see, so that meant he was going to be the one to get Reigen-kun out of the room that this organization had sequestered him away in.
So pushing past the idiot adults that weren’t doing anything, Ryou stepped into the room that Reigen-kun was in. He pressed a wave of his aura outwards, and formed his barrier. It was something that even Serizawa-kun was still jealous of, the density of his barrier. Practically nothing could get through it, and as much as Ryou liked Reigen-kun, he needed his barrier right now.
Reigen-kun’s aura lashed out to meet his aura, to lash against his barrier like a wave of the sea against the shoreline. And like a wave lashing against the shoreline, Reigen-kun’s aura wouldn’t do anything against Ryou’s own incredibly dense barrier. There was no way he could get through. But Ryou really should have remembered who he was dealing with right now. He really should have.
Because Reigen-kun’s aura phased right through his barrier. Ryou could feel it phasing through his barrier like it wasn’t even there at all! And he had just enough time to say “ah shit,” before the wave of Reigen-kun’s aura finally hit him dead in the chest. The adults didn’t even have time to reprimand him for his language before he went down.
It was strange.
Ryou knew that this despair wasn’t his own. He knew that this wasn’t his own feeling of franticness. He knew this wasn’t his own feeling of exhaustion. He knew all of this, and yet, here he was. Falling to his knees, tears streaming out of his useless eye sockets. Wails that he knew weren’t his, because these feelings weren’t his, screamed from his mouth. His heart pounded with these emotions, the power flowing through him was so immense it was like looking at the sea while being in the immediate middle of it and knowing that you could never escape from it. It would always search you out. It would always be there. These feelings would never let you be alone.
Something wrapped around his ankle and yanked him along the floor. The pain of that was absolutely nothing compared to the feelings that were surging through his body like tsunami waves, and he skidded out of the room like a pinball. He finally hit a wall and just laid there, trying to regain his breath and let his tears and cool his composure into something salvageable in front of the adults.
“Ryou-kun!?” Teru-shishou was hovering his hands over him. Ryou let out shaky breaths, inhaling shaky whispers. Now that he was out of that room, he could finally think again. He could finally use his esper powers again. God, he really liked Reigen-kun, but dammit all, his powers could really be inconvenient sometimes!
“Okay. Don’t let Reigen-kun hit you with those waves.” Ryou whispered as he pushed himself up on shaky arms. Teru-shishou helped him sit up and lean against the wall. “They’re pure emotion, and getting overwhelmed is apparently super easy.” Ryou tipped his head back and tried to steady his breaths. Tried to make his lungs cooperate with his commands again and remind himself that he was in charge of himself. As much as Reigen-kun could take control, that’s when Reigen-kun wasn’t in control of himself.
So learning to be scared of his friend would be a stupid decision from his body.
Kageyama-boss, who had been completely and utterly quiet the second that they had Stepped up here, finally made his move.
He stepped towards the room that Reigen-kun was inside.
“Wha– Shigeo are you insane!?” “Nii-san what are you doing!?” “Kageyama-kun!?”
Two different auras reached out and tried to hold Kageyama-boss back. Ryou knew it was fruitless. The man was like a natural disaster, he would go where he wanted to and nothing in his way would stop him. So he stayed on the ground, leaning against the wall as the natural disaster hiding as a man broke the two holds of telekinesis on him as if they were nothing more than simple glass and continued to march towards the room that Reigen-kun was in.
“Shigeo! He’s not in control!” Dimple tried to reach out and grab the man. Bad choice. The spirit possessing the man instead got blasted down the hall. He landed on his feet, but the man who the spirit was wearing like a meatsuit was probably going to be feeling that for like, a week.
“Nii-san! You’ll explode the second you step in the room!” Kageyama-san wasn’t so stupid to try and stop his brother, but he did try with words. Words that were immediately ignored. So that was a bust.
“Kageyama-kun! Wait and think for just a second here–!” Teru-shishou actually tried to stand up and was likely going to try and grab at Kageyama-boss too, but Ryou grabbed him instead and hid him in a barrier. “What? Ryou-kun!?”
“Kageyama-boss.” Ryou said, and the man titled his head back just the slightest. Just enough to probably look at Ryou. It was frightening to be in the crosshairs of a predator, but the man wasn’t interested in killing Ryou, so it wasn’t that scary. It was just Reigen-kun’s boss after all.
“Bring him out please.” Ryou requested. Because he knew. If anyone could bring Reigen-kun out of that room, out of that state that he was currently in, it would have to Kageyama-boss. It would have to be him, because out of them all, he was the one that Reigen-kun talked about the most at their lunches.
The one that Reigen-kun laughed the most about at their lunches. The one that he got the most embarrassed about during their lunches whenever Ryou brought up how the guy must really care for him and Reigen-kun got loud when Serizawa-kun asked if Kageyama-boss was his brother or his stepfather. The one that he planned to get the most gifts for during their lunches, talking about things that were related to frogs and rainbows and sunflowers. Because those were all things that Kageyama-boss liked, and those were things that Reigen-kun was going to buy him because they reminded him of the man.
Kageyama-boss was the one that Reigen-kun had clearly connected the most with out of everyone at the office, and Ryou knew. Ryou knew if it was anyone that could get Reigen-kun right now, it was Kageyama Shigeo.
It would have to be him.
A simple nod, and the man entered where no one else could go.
Ryou just hoped that he could pull Reigen-kun out of whatever the hell that this organization had sent him into. But then again.
If it could be anyone–
It would be Reigen-kun’s boss and most trusted friend.
~~~~~~~~~~
Shigeo was in a weird sort of state.
He was rather certain he was still in control. He was quite certain of that. He hadn’t reached one hundred yet. But he was definitely hovering around a good ninety-seven percent before he entered the room that these fools had been holding Arataka-kun in. He knew there was an incredibly high chance of his explosion should he enter the room that Arataka-kun was in, or should he run into the man that Dimple identified as Arataka-kun’s father.
But he could care less about a number on the counter meant when Arataka-kun needed him.
Arataka-kun needed him.
So Shigeo would reach out and help him.
That was just how their relationship worked. Arataka-kun needed help back in Dimple’s cult, back when he had first latched onto Shigeo’s sleeve. And then Shigeo had needed Arataka-kun’s help figuring out what was going on at Dimple’s cult. And then Arataka-kun had needed Shigeo’s help in defeating Dimple. And then Shigeo had needed Arataka-kun’s in leaving that building and getting away fast enough. And then Arataka-kun had needed Shigeo–
And then Shigeo had needed Arataka-kun–
And then Arataka-kun had needed Shigeo–
And then Shigeo had needed Arataka-kun–
And then Arataka-kun had needed Shigeo–
And then Shigeo had needed Arataka-kun–
It was just how their relationship was. They loved each other and they cared for each other and they would never let each other go.
So of course, of course Shigeo would enter the room that held Arataka-kun. Arataka-kun, who was likely spiraling out of control and feeling scared and afraid and needed someone to help him.
Hovering around that ninety-seven percent, Shigeo watched as the intense aura that Arataka-kun had now, the incredibly large maelstrom that was now swirling and pulling and storming around Arataka-kun suddenly stilled. And then the aura came rushing towards Shigeo like a storm surge. And Shigeo would likely drown under it.
Instead of running from the water, Shigeo stepped forward and embraced it. The rose gold, periwinkle, and sunset purple aura washed over Shigeo, and he didn’t even pull up a barrier to try and stop the emotions that would no doubt send him over the edge into that one hundred percent and likely into an explosion. But that was fine, because he would be alright, he would stay in control and make sure the explosion didn’t really hurt his friends. He would make sure that it didn’t hurt Arataka-kun at least.
The maelstrom slammed into his chest, sank into his chest, and Shigeo could hear the final ticks that would send him over to the explosion’s edge.
And then another wave of emotion hit him straight in the heart.
And his counter was set back to zero. Sure, he was going straight back up to the fifties nearly immediately, but it wasn’t instantaneous to the explosion.
Ah.
So that’s how this was going to work then.
Shigeo pressed forward, another wave of emotion rolling in and forcing the counter back to zero. That was fine. He may be completely wrung out by the time he gets to Arataka-kun, but that was fine. Arataka-kun needs him right now, so he’ll reach out to him and help him. Because he loves him and cares about him, and wants him to be safe.
And where he was right now? Arataka-kun wasn’t safe. Arataka-kun wouldn’t be safe until he was by Shigeo’s side and safe under his aura again.
Another wave. Another restart to the counter for another emotion.
He breathed through it, he was just a few steps away from his kid. He could get to him. Hold him. Make sure that he knew that he was safe and okay and that no one would ever hurt him again because Shigeo was here. Shigeo was here, he was here, they were both here and no one would ever touch Arataka-kun again.
A man was beside Arataka-kun’s feet. A black shirt and a brace on his arm and he was drooling at the mouth, like he was braindead or something. Whatever. He wasn’t a psychic, he didn’t have any psychic energy, he wasn’t something that was important, so Shigeo reached out and flicked him to the side of the room with his psychic ability. Maybe a little more forceful than was needed, but if he was here then he was a part of the organization that had taken Arataka-kun. So Shigeo could be allowed to be not kind to this man and a little cruel eve. And now, finally, he was right in front of Arataka-kun. He was right here, and he could reach out and touch him.
Shigeo fell to his knees in front of Arataka-kun. Arataka-kun, who wasn’t even looking up. He was just simply reacting and pressing outwards with his aura. Arataka-kun must be so scared. He must have waited so long for Shigeo to come get him. The fear that pressed outward and pressed into Shigeo’s heart, and it hurt.
He may have failed in not allowing Arataka-kun being taken, but he was here now. They both were. And he wouldn’t let Arataka-kun go anymore.
Shigeo reached out and grasped Arataka-kun’s shoulders, shoulders that the boy was already gripping. The boy let out a cry, trying to scramble away. That hurt Shigeo’s heart, but he knew he needed to do this to help Arataka-kun. So instead of letting him go, he yanked him forward and into his arms. He pressed Arataka-kun’s head into his shoulder and pressed his forehead onto the top of Arataka-kun’s head.
“I’m here Arataka-kun.” He whispered. “I’m here. I’m not letting you go.”
Shigeo was climbing back up to the eighties again, the emotion was growing inside him. But it wasn’t one that he was going to unleash that emotion on Arataka-kun while he was holding him. He held on tighter, his chest trembling with each breath coming in and out.
Arataka-kun was freezing up, the hands that were latched onto his own shoulders suddenly gripping onto the fabric of Shigeo’s jacket with an intensity that surprised Shigeo a little. A new emotion pulsing on his fingertips as they pressed tight. Now Arataka-kun’s chest was trembling, and he was pressing harder against Shigeo.
“I’m here.” Shigeo whispered against the red-gold hair. “I’m here.”
Soft, choking sounds. Shigeo’s jacket was growing wet, he could feel it.
“Bo-o-oss.” Arataka-kun whispered.
“I’m here.”
Sharp, wailing sobs. The storm was growing in intensity, and Shigeo pressed his head down harder against the top of Arataka-kun’s. He just let it all pass, letting it all flow around him like he was in the eye of a maelstrom and he was capable of hovering above it. The storm flailed and thrashed around him. Pounding at the concrete walls and refusing to go away until it calmed in its intensity.
Arataka-kun was breathing heavily, and his aura was retracting back into his body, back inside until there was no more whirlpool-like aura. The power disappeared and like that, the power that had taken the young boy by storm finally had passed. His head was heavy on Shigeo’s shoulder, and Shigeo ran his fingers through the soft hair as he slowly came down from the emotions that had taken ahold of him.
“I knew you would come and get me.” Arataka-kun whispered. “He couldn’t make me believe that you wouldn’t help me.”
Shigeo squeezed him tighter and felt the numbers increase into the high eighties.
“Nothing in this world could have stopped me.” He promised.
Soft footsteps, and Ritsu’s hand touched Shigeo’s shoulder.
“Hey brat? You ready to blow this ramen stand?” Ritsu asked, and Arataka-kun finally pulled away from Shigeo’s shoulder. His face was a mess of snot and tears, and it was probably the same on Shigeo’s shoulder, but he didn’t really care about that right now. Right now, what was needed was getting Arataka-kun out of here. And maybe ripping this place to pieces. And maybe punching Arataka-kun’s father. Shigeo really wanted to do that last one.
Arataka-kun sniffled and wiped at his nose.
“What about the guy that was in here?” He muttered, looking around. “He’s the guy that hurt Boss, he’s a powerful esper.”
Shigeo’s brow furrowed, and he pointed to the man that he had not so accidentally slammed against the wall. “Him? Arataka-kun, he doesn’t have any psychic energy. I checked, no hidden energy like you. He’s completely a normal human.”
Arataka-kun stared at the man.
“But– but he trapped me in my head. He has to be an esper.”
Ritsu was clearly perturbed by the fact that the man in the corner was a normal man, but there was also the fact that Arataka-kun wouldn’t lie to them about this. Shigeo was concerned to, and felt himself tick up into the nineties, but he bit down on the control and wouldn’t lose it here. So Ritsu just sighed and reached out and squeezed Arataka-kun’s shoulder.
“We’ll figure that out later, okay? Right now, let’s leave. Shimazaki is here, we’re going.”
Arataka-kun rubbed at his eyes. “Shimazaki-senpai is here? Why?”
“Because we wanted to come get you.” Hanazawa-kun spoke up, finally poking his head in.
“Teru-san!?”
“Sup?” Hanazawa-kun strolled into the room like he owned it. He was likely acting nonchalant in order to make Arataka-kun feel better, to give a sense of normalcy that Shigeo couldn’t right now. All Shigeo wanted to do was burn this place to the ground and reduce it to nothing but ashes. “Ready to get out of here and maybe get some food?”
“You guys. . . . . .” Arataka-kun’s eyes started to shine with tears again. He quickly swiped at them, to try and stave off the tears that were building. “Thank you. For coming and getting me.”
Shigeo ran a hand over the kid’s hair just one more time, wishing he was strong enough to just carry the kid out of this building without the use of his powers, but that wasn’t something he was capable of. Not yet anyways. One day maybe, Shigeo was getting stronger by the day as he continued to work out. Musashi-senpai, despite not having continued to be someone who had gone to the gym as religiously as he used to, was still a wealth of information for Shigeo.
Arataka-kun shivered as Shigeo helped him to his feet, and alarm quickly blared through Shigeo, making the numbers tick up just that few more numbers. It wasn’t a lot, it wasn’t enough for an explosion. But it was close. His hair was floating, and Arataka-kun had been nice enough not to ask about it, despite no doubt capable of seeing the emotion that was driving Shigeo to an explosion. He no doubt saw everything that was currently swirling through Shigeo’s aura, but he was still always so kind about not calling him out on it.
As quickly as he could, Shigeo shucked off his coat and threw it over Arataka-kun’s shoulders, kneeling again to fasten the buttons. It would be much easier if he just had brought his zipper coat, but he hadn’t been thinking about that. His mind had simply been a buzz of Arataka-kun is in danger, Arataka-kun isn’t safe, Arataka-kun needs you. Now, the buzz was Arataka-kun is here, Arataka-kun isn’t going to be hurt anymore, Arataka-kun is going to be safe now.
Arataka-kun grabbed at his coat, leaning against him as they walked out of the room. Shigeo sent one last glance at the man in the corner, who was still unconscious.
If he had hurt Arataka-kun in any way. . . . Well. Shigeo would be exploding. But he hadn’t, not really. Maybe they would talk about what all happened when he had trapped Arataka-kun in his own head, as the boy said, but that was for a later date. For now, they were just trying to get back out of here. Dimple was with Shimazaki-kun, and hopefully nothing had gone wrong in the few minutes that Hanazawa-kun had joined Shigeo and Ritsu in the room with Arataka-kun.
He shouldn’t have tempted fate.
Currently, Dimple was fist-fighting someone, and Arataka-kun froze at the sight. Shimazaki-kun was just watching, for some reason. Maybe he thought that Dimple had it well in hand.
But then Dimple slammed a knee into the man’s gut and followed it up with grabbing the man’s hair and forcing it against the wall.
And then Shigeo saw the face of the man that Dimple was fighting.
9̶̢̨̲̬̦̹̦̼͇͔̪̜͖͙̺̘͕̲̠̺͋̓̉̊̉͋̓̂̋͂͘6̶͉̰̪͖̰̙͈̖͚͚͕̰̞͓͗ͅͅ%
Arataka-kun’s hands clenched tight on the fabric under his fingers. Shimazaki-kun jumped to his feet, quickly approaching the four of them and taking Arataka-kun’s hands in his.
“Reigen-kun! I’m so glad you’re okay.” Shimazaki-kun rambled, squeezing his hands tight and pulling him closer to the older boy. “Are you okay? Do I gotta beat anyone up?”
“I- no. Why is Dimple fighting my deadbeat?” Arataka-kun mumbled, and with that confirmation, Shigeo felt his jaw clenching and his hands turning into fists. Beside him, Ritsu’s aura sharpened again from when it had softened around Arataka-kun. And on his other side, Hanazawa-kun’s aura turned into a lightning storm and was ready to lash out. They were all ready to fight this, this, this–
Arataka-kun glanced back at them, his eyes darting around.
Shigeo wrangled his emotions under control. He wanted to punch the man. He wanted to destroy him. He wanted to make sure he would never come near Arataka-kun and Reigen-san again and never bother them again. He wanted to do all of this to a man that threw away Arataka-kun for no reason, no reason other than he could. Shigeo wanted to lash out against him.
He wouldn’t do it though.
“Ritsu.” He spoke, and the static was so strong around his voice now, barely able to be understood, and Ritsu, for once, wasn’t afraid to look at him when he was so close to an explosion. Ritsu looked at him, a little disappointed. He likely wanted to rip into the deadbeat for himself.
Well lucky for him–
“You’re the nice one right now.”
Confusion, then clarity, then the slightest bit of glee flared to life in Ritsu’s eyes, and he shot forward like a rocket.
The deadbeat was lucky, he was so very lucky, that Shigeo wasn’t in control of himself right now or in his best mind. Shigeo would just end up killing the man. And Hanazawa-kun’s energy was frenetic, most likely because of the fact that Shimazaki-kun was here. So Hanazawa-kun wasn’t in control of himself or his psychic energy. Right now, Ritsu had the most control, so Ritsu would get their licks in.
Unlucky for the deadbeat, Ritsu had a hidden protective streak that could try to rival Shigeo’s.
“Is that the best idea?” Arataka-kun muttered, watching as Ritsu jumped into the fray and used telekinesis on his deadbeat. “Kageyama-otouto isn’t actually the nicest person.”
“Right now? He is.” Hanazawa-kun replied. His hand reached over, past Shigeo’s aura, and if he wasn’t someone that Shigeo trusted so much he would have taken the hand off. Hanazawa-kun quickly ruffled Arataka-kun’s hair as they watched Ritsu slam the deadbeat into a wall. “Although, maybe I should step in and make sure he shouldn’t actually kill the guy. I don’t think Otouto-kun has ever fought a normal guy before.”
“If you feel the need.” Shigeo muttered. He couldn’t fight. Not against a normal human. He would kill the deadbeat without even thinking about it right now, and it would be completely on accident. He would just be using his psychic power, and not really thinking about how a human couldn’t actually take the pressure that Shigeo put him under.
Hanazawa-kun let a wolfish smile loose and darted in, his own telekinesis burning bright and slamming the man into the ground. Dimple, having smoothed his tie back down and fixed his suit, wandered over. Arataka-kun squinted up at the man that Dimple was possessing, Shimazaki-kun still holding his hands.
“Dimple?”
“Yup?”
“Huh. I didn’t know you could possess people.” Arataka-kun muttered. “Maybe you’re useful for something after all.”
“Listen here you brat!” Dimple’s borrowed flesh knuckles rubbed into Arataka-kun’s head as he ignored the one-sided smackdown behind his back. “I’m plenty powerful, and could do a lot more than just possess someone.”
“Eh.” Arataka-kun somehow managed to convey that he didn’t believe it in one syllable.
“I’m going to possess you next, idiot brat.”
“Thank you. For punching him.” Arataka-kun muttered. “I’ve wanted to do that since I was a kid.”
Dimple and Arataka-kun studied each other for a few seconds, and Dimple nodded. “‘Course kid. I made a promise to myself to at least get a hit in because that guy was an ass. ‘s the principle of the thing.”
“Arataka-kun, you’re still a kid.” Shigeo said, his hand coming up and patting him on the head. Tangible proof that he was alright, he was okay. He was right here under Shigeo’s fingers, and he wasn’t going to go anywhere. Not if Shigeo had anything to say about it.
“I’m nearly a grown adult!”
“Reigen-kun, you’re twelve.” Shimazaki-kun let go of one of Arataka-kun’s hands to poke him on the nose. “I’m two years older than you and I’m still a kid. Let yourself be a kid too. I’m sure we still need to tease Serizawa-kun about being an old man in middle school though. He’s such an old man.”
Arataka-kun giggled, and then snapped his head up. Shimazaki-kun did as well, and someone walked around the corner as Arataka-kun’s deadbeat slammed down to the floor one last time.
A young man stood there, a grin lighting up his face when he realized what he was seeing. It wasn’t a nice grin, and it wasn’t something that Shigeo would be so inclined to deal with. That was, if he didn’t have Arataka-kun right here in front of him. If Arataka-kun hadn’t been kidnapped right out from under their noses and if this man wasn’t grinning that sadistic grin.
9̴̧̡͎͚͎̺͚̞͓̝̼̤͇͇͎͙̜̖̀̐̀͋̂̔̈́͌̿̔̍͋̔̆̾̀͝ͅ7̷̧̬̺͙̭̺͚̊͆%
“Finally. Some sort of entertainment!”
Fire started to lick at the man’s hands, psychic energy rolling off of him as the fire started to grow in intensity.
“Do you know how boring it’s been, waiting for something to happen here? I’ve been so bored and I needed something to happen. And here you guys finally are! I can finally get to work.”
Obviously, this man is a fool, because he is ignoring the rolling waves of psychic energy that were coming from Shigeo. He could feel control slipping from his fingers, he could feel the explosion that had been building since he first heard that Arataka-kun was being forced to spend time with his deadbeat father only growing in its power in his chest.
“Who the hell are you?” Hanazawa-kun asked, hands in his pockets as he walked forward to meet the guy. His yellow aura was growing as well, spreading throughout the hallway, curling out and around the man and sealing him in.
“I am Miyagawa. Prepare to be roasted alive!” Miyagawa laughed, and his pyrokinetic psychic energy flared outwards. And then slammed into Hanazawa-kun’s barrier that he had wrapped around the man. “No wait! It’s hot! Ouch ouch hot hot hot! HOT!”
“Idiot.” Hanazawa-kun muttered. He flicked his hand out and the barrier ball was sent flying down the hall and down the hall to the left. “Did he think that was going to work?”
“Apparently he did.” Ritsu scoffed, walking back to where Shigeo was so close to an explosion and where the kids were. Peering down at Arataka-kun, he frowned.
“Goldilocks? You doing okay?”
Arataka-kun was rubbing at his shoulder with his free hand, Shimazaki-kun still holding the other one. Almost like he was cold. Which, Shigeo didn’t think he could fault, these hallways were rather cold, both in feeling and in the way of air conditioning. If Shigeo could give him another jacket, he would. But Arataka-kun already had his coat, so he couldn’t really help in that sense.
“The feelings here aren’t really the nicest. It’s cold, like, really clinical.” Arataka-kun muttered. “Can we find my backpack before we leave? They took it from me.”
“Of course we can.” Shigeo said, already reaching out for something that had Arataka-kun’s latent psychic signature on it. Even when he was hiding it, Arataka-kun always left just a little bit of his aura on something that he used frequently. Like his sketchbook and his chair and his desk. His schoolbag too, now that Shigeo thought about it. So he reached out and tried to search for the aura that he knew so well and cared for, just the lasting impression of it. He hadn’t been able to do this earlier, he had been too on edge for it. He most likely would have just hurt Arataka-kun on accident if he had tried to find him with this technique.
“I think I found it.” Shigeo said, grasping onto the impression of Arataka-kun’s aura that was a few floors above.
“I can go get it!” Shimazaki-kun’s free hand went up, like he was answering a question at school.
“We all go together, or not at all.” Ritsu said sharply, before just the slightest hint of a softening in his eyes. “Are you going to be able to handle that? Or should we walk?”
“I’m fine with walking.” Hanazawa-kun interjected quickly, likely studying and seeing something in Shimazaki-kun that Shigeo couldn’t see currently. And probably wouldn’t ever be able to see, since he wasn’t as connected to Shimazaki-kun like he was to Arataka-kun. But that was fine, Shimazaki-kun was probably exhausted as well. He had teleported them all this way out here, and hadn’t complained once about what had happened. The least they could do was walk up the floors.
“I can walk too!” Arataka-kun’s hand went up quickly. “Please let me walk. I need to stretch my legs.”
Shimazaki-kun pouted, but he nodded. They all started to walk down the hallway, Hanazawa-kun turning them all to the right.
“Let’s go this way, okay?” He asked, a bright smile on his face. It looked rather fake on his face. Like a movie star smile. Shimazaki-kun tilted his head, like he was going to bring up the fact that he could teleport again, but sighed and tugged Arataka-kun towards the right.
Oh right. Hanazawa-kun had sent the flaming man to the left, hadn’t he? Ah well, not Shigeo’s problem right now. Right now, his problem was getting Arataka-kun’s backpack and getting them all out of here. Maybe they could “borrow” a car from this organization and just drive back to the city. They could pick up Reigen-san along the way and have a small slumber party in the office.
Arataka-kun was probably hungry too.
Walking up the stairs, Shigeo didn’t really speak, but Arataka-kun stuck near him. He didn’t know if it was intentional, but it soothed the beast inside him just a little bit. The explosion was put off just that few seconds more with Arataka-kun’s actions. Hanazawa-kun chatted with Shimazaki-kun and Ritsu, trying to pull Arataka-kun into it sometimes. The boy would talk a little, and Dimple would poke fun at him, but otherwise he would be quiet and near Shigeo.
Ritsu prowled down the halls, throwing open doors, and Hanazawa-kun did it on the other side of the hall with the other doors. Shigeo shook his head, almost ready to roll his eyes when Ritsu let out a triumphant noise.
Shigeo doesn’t think he’s ever seen Arataka-kun’s backpack before, but it suited him. It was a plain gray cloth one, but it looked like Reigen-san sometimes took it to add some embroidery to it. There was a shield in Shigeo’s colors, a spiked mace in Ritsu’s colors, a lightning bolt in Hanazawa-kun’s colors, what looked like a cup in Emi-san’s colors, fire in Shimazaki-kun’s colors, there was a static ball in purple and pink, and Shigeo thinks that the green and blue cloud floating in the corner of the backpack was supposed to represent Dimple.
Arataka-kun reached his hands out and took his backpack, a sigh escaping him as he swung it onto his back.
“Thanks Kageyama-otouto.”
“No problem brat. Now let’s get out of here.” Ritsu rubbed his knuckles into the top of Arataka-kun’s head, but far more gentle than a noogie. “I don’t want to stay here one moment longer.”
“Leaving so soon?”
9̵̨̨̡̙̺̹̝̤̺͖͖͍̺̜̟̭͉̰͜͜͝8̷̛̛̯̣͚̝̜̈́̅̈́̈̈́̓̀͛́̀̈͗́͛̆͋̈́̑%
Shigeo swung his head around to see the man at the end of the hall. He was a younger man, someone who Shigeo could have passed by in the streets on the way to a job or something. He was just a kid. He had scars on his face and in his hair, making his hair look patchy.
“But we’re just about to get started! I can finally smash you all to bits with the force of my great and mighty masterful gravity!”
9̶̨̡̠̙̫̙̱̻̙̘̮̳̱͉̝̜̬̟͖̘͛̈́́͒̓͆̇͜͝ͅ9̶͕̻̭̥̱͍̦̼̱͉̟͎̤̥̤͉̳̤̻̥͖̀̎̑͗̐̔͆͋͒̓̇̌̃̆͛͗̀̂̏͛́̔̍͘̚͝͝͠%
A red and purple psychic aura surrounded the man, black orbs coming from his body.
“Maybe I’ll just kill you all and present you to the Boss! That would be fine and dandy too! After all, it wouldn’t matter in the end, so long as I bring one of you to him.” The man continued to brag as the orbs started to travel closer, and Ritsu and Hanazawa-kun, and even Shimazaki-kun pushed their barriers out to try and hold whatever they were back. One of the orbs connected, slamming into Shimazaki-kun’s barrier.
Shimazaki-kun’s barrier bent in.
“Oh that’s not good.” Shimazaki-kun whispered.
“Shit.” Hanazawa-kun muttered, trying to enforce Shimazaki-kun’s barrier.
“Shimazaki, get ready for a jump!” Ritsu yelled.
“What? Why?”
100%
Shigeo finally felt the threshold being reached as Arataka-kun whimpered in what he could only assume was fear. Arataka-kun couldn’t produce a barrier, so he must be rather scared of whatever these things were.
Protective Rage
Dimple reached out and grabbed onto Shimazaki-kun. Hanazawa-kun and Ritsu pushed back on the orbs with both their barriers and got them to reverse their direction for just a few seconds before they also grabbed onto the boy. Arataka-kun was already holding onto Shimazaki-kun, or he was holding onto Arataka-kun. So he was already in the clear.
“JUMP! NOW! NII-SAN WILL DEAL WITH HIM!”
They jumped.
Shigeo’s eyes locked onto the man who had just tried to get to Arataka-kun. Who had just threatened Arataka-kun’s life. For what? Why do such a thing? Ah, there was no point in Shigeo questioning it.
“Hey, do you feel this?” Shigeo asked as he stepped forward, his aura cracking the concrete floor under him. The man almost looked scared. “This rage that envelopes me? This is your fault you know. You threatened them.”
LEt me dO it.
Something small in Shigeo asked, but it was a strong voice.
Let mE. I waNt to TaKe ouT thIS entIREe buILDInG. He’S mINE toO.THEy toOK whAT was MINE.
Shigeo contemplated it. He thought about it as he dispelled the black orbs. He came to his decision.
He closed his eyes.
???%
~~~~~~~~~~
Arataka gasped as they hit the ground outside the building that he had been held in. Checking the watch that had been his lifeline, he saw that it was only six at night. What the hell? It felt at least like it was midnight. How long had that man hidden him away in his head? How could he figure that out?
“Reigen? You good?” Kageyama-otouto squeezed his shoulder. Not the one that his snot and tear stains on it from when he had been crying into Boss’s shoulder, but when the other shoulder. He should probably take this home and clean it for Mob-boss. Kageyama-otouto had ocean-blue-concern and fuchsia-thankfulness.
“I’ll be okay.” Arataka nodded. “I’m just hungry, and I want to go home.”
He wanted to see his mom. He wanted to make sure that the world that the man had created in Arataka’s own head hadn’t been real. Yeah he knew that it wasn’t real, he had a coat that wasn’t his on and Kageyama-otouto was right here in front of him, and so was Teru-san and Shimazaki-senpai and Dimple in a body that he was possessing. And that wasn’t something that he imagined before the world in his head, so definitely, this wasn’t in his head.
But. . . . . .
He just had to make sure.
Kageyama-otouto studied him, sunset-red-thoughtfulness and steel-gray-protectiveness blending together into his aura, before he nodded.
“We’ll get ramen when we get back to the city.” Teru-san held a phone up to the sky, likely searching for a signal. “Maybe we should steal a car from these guys.”
“Do NOT talk about stealing cars in front of them!” Kageyama-otouto squawked. “You’re supposed to be a role model for Shimazaki!”
“I used to be a delinquent and wanted to start a gang.” Shimazaki-senpai said plainly, holding onto Arataka’s hand still. He must still be feeling bad from that last jump, he had looked a little green when they had hit the ground. How often did he teleport around?
“It sounds like a solid plan to me.” Dimple shrugged. “I think I could figure out how to drive a car.”
“You’re not driving a car.” Kageyama-otouto snapped. “You’re over five hundred years old, you never learned. If anyone is driving, it’s myself, Hanazawa, or–”
There was a rumble, and when Arataka turned to look at the building behind him, a lot of it was imploding. And then starting to drift upwards. Towards the atmosphere.
“–Nii-san.” Kageyama-otouto finished with a rasp, watching the rubble lift up.
“He’s fine.” Arataka whispered. His hand was clamped down on Shimazaki-senpai’s tightly. “He’s fine. He’s Boss. There’s no way he’s not okay. He’s totally fine.”
His eyes strained themselves, searching for the aura that he knew. It had to be there. Kageyama Shigeo could not lose, not to anyone. His eyes started hurting, and tears started to stream down his face from not blinking, but he wouldn’t stop. Arataka had to know. Mob-boss would be fine, but he had to know. He needed to see.
And he found it.
The white-clear-pure-dangerous ouroboros.
Oh.
“Boss exploded.” Arataka reported, finally blinking and rubbing at his eyes with his free hand.
“Yeah. That makes sense.” Ritsu sighed. “He’s been on edge since you were taken.”
[Though how he knew before Dimple got to us, I don’t know].
Arataka flinched, and pressed his free hand to his ear.
“I don’t know how he knew, maybe we can ask when he comes down?” Arataka turned to Kageyama-otouto. Who suddenly had neon-yellow-panic and baby-blue-surprise and deep-gray-confusion in his aura as he stared down at Arataka.
“I– how– Goldilocks did you just–”
He fell silent, eyes gleaming. His hand came up to cup his mouth.
[You can hear this?] Kageyama-otouto’s voice asked.
“Yeah, of course I can.” Arataka wrinkled his nose. “Quit playing around Kageyama-otouto.”
“Reigen.” Kageyama-otouto dropped his hand. “Brat. That, I wasn’t speaking.”
Huh?
Arataka blinked.
Huh?
His jaw dropped.
HUH?
That was- no way. There was no way that he could suddenly do that. Kageyama-otouto was definitely just playing with him. There was no way that Arataka was suddenly a telepath. Arataka was an empath! It wasn’t powerful and it wasn’t great, but it was his. There was no way it suddenly changed.
“Hey, chill.” Kageyama-otouto crouched and squeezed his hands. He must have grabbed the other one from Shimazaki-senpai. “Sounds like you can project them too. That’s fine. Nii-san knows a telepath from his school days, everything will be fine. We can find a way to make sure that your head will be quiet again. You’re still an empath. This is just,”
Kageyama-otouto trailed off. And then snapped his head to the side.
“What’s going on?” Mob-boss asked, his clothing a little ripped at the edges and a little frayed, his hair a little disheveled, but otherwise normal. He looked like his normal person. His aura was its normal revolving blue-pink-purple, with some heather-exhaustion and red-hot-triumph rippling through it. Neon-yellow-panic flared through it when he saw Arataka’s panicked face.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt? [Who hurt him while I was gone?] Do I need to get you something? [Do I need to repair something?]”
Arataka slammed his hands to his ears.
“Nii-san, calm down.” Kageyama-otouto stepped forward to soothe. “Reigen just,” A glance to him. “His powers just evolved in some way it sounds like. He can hear thoughts now. And send them out.”
“Oh. [Telepathy. Just telepathy. That’s fine. We can get in contact with Takenaka-kun. Oh wait, he can hear everything I’m thinking right now, can’t he?]”
“Yes.” Arataka said through gritted teeth. He found that focusing on one person made it easier to drown out everyone else. So he focused solely on Boss’ thoughts and hoped he could drown everyone out. Oh kami, how was this going to work on Monday? School was going to be a bitch to deal with.
“Arataka-kun, would you like me to try something?” Boss asked, stepped towards him and holding his hands out. Hovering them over Arataka’s own hands that were clamped over his ears and Arataka shouldn’t take advantage of this. Boss had heather-exhaustion in his aura. Arataka should say no and deal with it.
But he was so weak and eager to shut this new power off somehow. He wanted it gone.
So he nodded, practically begging for a relief, and Mob-boss’ hands came down and touched his. Revolving blue-pink-purple curled around him, and pushed into him. But it wasn’t unwelcome like that man’s had been. No, Arataka welcomed Boss’ aura into his mind, begging for some sort of relief.
And the world went quiet.
The thoughts that were pressing against his mind, the thoughts that were fighting to get through, they were gone. Silent. Blessed silence.
Arataka relaxed into the hands that were still holding his head.
“Better now?” Boss took his hands away, looking at him with royal-purple-earnestness and familial strawberry-pink-love.
“Much.” Arataka said, and then his stomach growled. Loudly.
“Okay, time to get you home and get you some food.” Kageyama-otouto sighed.
“Ramen!” Arataka cheered, and Shimazaki-senpai grabbed his hand again. He was probably clingy after everything that had happened, so Arataka let it happen. It wasn’t because he needed the skin contact too to remind himself that Shimazaki-senpai still was his friend and wanted to be around him.
“Yeah yeah. We’ll get you ramen. We should also pick your mom up too.” Kageyama-otouto looked around, and there was a honking sound.
A stereotypical white van rolled up, and Teru-san rolled down the window. “Check out what I found!”
“Oh. Time to get kidnapped again.” “Do you have free candy?” “Teru-shishou, you couldn’t have chosen a different color?”
“YOU CAN’T EVEN SEE THE COLOR YOU BRAT!”
“Can we just get in the van and leave?” Boss asked, arm wrapping around Arataka’s shoulders. “I would prefer if we get kidnapped though, that Ritsu be the driver.”
“Ha.” Raspberry-pink-smugness glittering in Kageyama-otouto’s aura, and Arataka giggling into his borrowed coat collar.
“Kageyama-kun, that’s the lowest blow you could have gone for. I feel so hurt now.” Teru-san lamented as they pulled the back doors open and piled into the row of seats behind the driver seat and the shotgun seat. Dimple looked upset to be regulated to the second row of seats, but then realized with glee that he could stretch his legs out on it. The shotgun seat was claimed by Kageyama-otouto.
“Don’t backseat drive me Otouto-kun.”
“Wouldn’t it be side-by-side driving?”
“Ryou-kun, you’re on thin ice.”
“Good thing I can fly with telekinesis!”
Arataka closed his eyes as the bickering, which was oh so familiar and missing in the world that the man had tried to trap him in, lulling him into a feeling of safety and contentment. He tilted his head to rest on Mob-boss’ shoulder, and Boss let him.
Deadbeat definitely wouldn’t have done the same thing.
Arataka drifted off to sleep in the first five minutes of the drive, surrounded by auras and people that had come to save him.
~~~~~~~~~~
Keiji swore as he pulled himself out of the rubble that used to be the containment facility.
He had finally woken up to find the ceiling closer to his face than it had any right to be, the facility completely and utterly destroyed, and his powers were gone.
That was terrifying.
That was thrilling.
Someone who had that sort of power. . . . . and to have it in the hands of a child? A kid, who wouldn’t know how to use those powers properly. A kid, whose power was still growing. A kid, who was oh so malleable.
Boss, while he wouldn’t be pleased about Keiji losing his powers, would be pleased with learning about this new power. This new psychic.
Reigen Arataka was still in the Boss’s crosshairs, whether he knew it or not.
~~~~~~~~~~
Reigen was asleep.
He had fallen asleep right after eating, completely conked out on the sofa. Nii-san hadn’t the heart to move him from his place where his head was resting on his lap, and so Reigen and both Nii-san were stuck to the couch right now. Also on the couch was Reigen-san, who was still drying the tears that she had cried after Reigen had dropped off.
Ritsu placed a blanket over the kid, tucking the corner in so the brat wouldn’t catch a chill.
“Thank you.” The woman whispered, speaking for the first time that night other than asking Reigen if he was okay. “I don’t know what I would have done, I don’t–”
“Don’t think about the what-ifs.” Ritsu advised, before sighing. “Well. I can say that all I want, but I’m also going to be haunted by them.”
And he would be. The thoughts would twist and warp his dreams into nightmares later, of being too late, of being unable to do anything, of being not enough. The thoughts of finding Reigen, but he wasn’t himself, and they weren’t enough. They would haunt him. But he wouldn’t let that taint his waking time with Reigen.
“What can I do to help?” Reigen-san asked. Ritsu turned to look at her, eyebrows raised in surprise. They should be asking her that.
Dimple, still in his borrowed body, spoke up.
“Fuckin’ therapy.”
“Dimple.” Nii-san scolded.
“Brat is asleep, other brat is close to it. Let me swear.” The spirit grumbled. “But yeah. That damn kid wanted me to leave him there while I went and grabbed Shigeo and Ritsu.”
And you did. Was Ritsu’s venomous thought, but he strangled it down. If Dimple hadn’t left, they probably wouldn’t have known. It was a quirk of fate that Reigen had accessed his telepathy, and inadvertently let Shige know that he was in danger. He couldn’t hold it against the spirit for coming and getting back up, especially if there was apparently a psychic on hand that could rivel Shige.
“I’ll look into therapists.” Reigen-san sighed. “Although I’m not going to sleep easy until this is all over.”
“Eh, I’ll watch over ya.” Dimple shrugged. Reigen-san peered close at him.
“Are you. . . . . . the spirit that my son told me about? That was bothering us?” She asked slowly.
“The very same! I’m just wearing a meatsuit because I needed to punch your ex-husband.”
“Oh.” Reigen-san blinked. “Please tell me that you at least did more than punch him.”
“I kneed him in the crotch too. The brat didn’t see that though.”
“Good enough.” Reigen-san sighed, hiding a smile.
Ritsu leaned back on his chair, watching Reigen-san and Dimple banter while Shimazaki reappeared from the kitchen with Hanazawa, both of them carrying tea for everyone. That would be wasted on Reigen and Nii-san, one of whom was asleep already, and the other who was blinking sleepily already.
We’ll be okay. He sighed in his head. He would make sure that they would be.