Work Text:
When the sunlight hit his eyes, Mob woke up.
When Mob woke up, Shigeo Kageyama was met with the sensation of utter emptiness.
When Shigeo woke up, he was tired, yet he had to go to school.
His mind was filled with cotton, rubbing against his head with a terrible sensation as he stood to get dressed.
His mother’s voice was usually honey, but today, it resembled knives stabbing a chalkboard more than anything else.
His body felt like an empty void yet a giant weight all at once. It was like he was topheavy… and bottom-heavy. There was nothing Shigeo wanted to do other than to go straight to sleep.
Despite everything, he’d managed to get downstairs at a reasonable time and managed to eat his food while ignoring the sound of chewing and rough air hitting his face.
Outside felt like knives along his face, biting winds tearing slightly through his uniform, yet all the same, it helped him ground himself. The cold air numbed his fingers and caused his breath to stagger with the dry winter air, allowing Shigeo to focus on how cold he was rather than how painful it felt.
His uniform was more comfortable during this time either way, a piece of himself in the routine he kept for the most part.
Class droned on and on, slight irritations here and there, but Shigeo could still focus on the cold. Sure, his lunch was off, and he might have underestimated how much activity could be done in the cold, but surely, it would all be better later. Following his schedule was a comfort in itself, allowing for Shigeo to breathe, regardless of the fact that running the track took his breath away.
Walking into his job, Shigeo was automatically taken aback, a wave of heat sending fire onto his skin.
Reigen perked up from his desk with his usual greetings. Shigeo waved back, forgetting his temporary woes. Today was going to be a calm day; it was just the two of them.
There were two types of clients that Reigen once taught Shigeo about: Type one, the ones that mean business and usually were serious about this line of work, and Type two, the ones that complained and went on and on about problems in their life that were often the fault of the other person. Reigen expanding his business into counseling typically combined the two types, but Shigeo found a secret, rare third type: the one who wanted to make things harder and was determined that all their problems were the center of the universe.
Shigeo detested type three clients; constant moaning and groaning, issues that would be sympathetic if it weren’t for the trash attitude often carried.
Unfortunately, there was a type three client today, a woman well into her 40s was ‘worried’ about her son who stopped talking with her and was in his room more often. The woman was confident that she had done nothing wrong, but Reigen slowly pried into her mind, figuring that her son was dealing with something that spirituality couldn’t fix.
During the ‘interrogation,’ the woman kept butting in with comments about Shigeo.
“What a nice boy you have; Is it normal for him to be like that?”
“This is a very serious topic. I’d appreciate it if your boy would stop fumbling about.”
“It’s so hard to focus when your boy keeps on moving; won’t you tell him to stop?”
Each little comment, a jab in his brain, a small inkling of anger building up. Her tone was grating, she smelled of citrus and chemicals, this entire conversation was pointless but she insisted that ‘I’m being cursed. I tell you. My son just doesn’t love me anymore.’
It was a back and forth that Reigen seemed like he was reaching a limit, rushing through methods for a way out.
Reigen kept on talking and talking. His voice meshed with the woman’s scolding voice, a tornado of just words and noises that piled up into a mountain of incomprehensible noises.
In a flash, Shigeo was counting out change for a full service with the grateful woman in near tears. Yet, his mind was somewhere else while Shigeo tried to hide how awful it felt in the room.
His skin felt sticky and raw with the way he forced himself still, his eyes burned as the bright colors around the room popped out more vigorously, his lungs burned, holding any breath knowing that any attempt to breath would be a spark to the fire that was his body.
Everything hurt, and he hated it.
He hated it.
He hated it.
He HATED it.
Shigeo forced himself to breathe and keep still, trying to keep his mind away from the constant sensations overbearing him. His legs itched to move while his eyes moved too much. The woman’s voice was increasingly grating as she complained about issues that were her own fault.
Suddenly, he went numb, body growing cold.
He blacked out, but his eyes were opened, wide and forever staring. His ears rang loudly as his body stood straight in a last ditch effort to make everything stop. Over the loud rumbling in his brain, Shigeo heard soft cussing and multiple, rushed footsteps.
The woman was gone, he noticed. She was gone, and his ears continued to deafly ring.
The first thing he heard was his own voice, a quiet keen that drew for eternity. The second thing Shigeo registered was his balled up form, curling tightly, almost painfully, blocking out the blinding sunlight and deafening air conditioner.
Finally, Shigeo noticed one more thing, something that caught his attention: Reigen was quiet, save for shuffling that was too soft to penetrate Shigeo’s ears further.
The sounds of plastic descending hit him, darkness covering his eyelids. The flinch as his voice, running out of breath, slowed to a quiet, gone, hum.
His chest was burning.
“Hey, Mob?” Reigen’s voice whispered, “Com'on, bud, breathe with me, okay?”
His chest refused, building up with a pressure that Shigeo couldn’t identify. His face flushed with embarrassment and anger towards himself. Shigeo gripped harshly at his hair, curling up further into his form.
Reigen’s voice cut through any rising intrusive thoughts, “Shigeo, hey, snap out of it. It’s just us; you and me. I need you to just follow my breath, bud; I’ll be here, right beside you, okay?”
Nodding shakily, Shigeo tried to gather his bearings, just enough to be able to hear his teacher. “Mmmmng,” his voice whined senselessly as Reigen contemplated his next moves.
“Okay, just take a deep breath; in for 4 counts.” Shigeo’s breath continued to stutter and shake, yet Reigen continued regardless. “Good job, bud. You’re doing great, just keep trying, alright? You’re doing so good, Mob.”
For what felt like minutes, Shigeo continued to follow Reigen’s instructions, slowly coming out of his tight ball. With slow progress and many setbacks, Shigeo remained curled up but more relaxed.
Reigen had stopped talking a while ago, keeping a close eye on the kid while doing some mindless busy work. Shigeo silently appreciated the gesture, feeling a warmth in his chest.
After a few minutes of shuffling papers and taking phone calls away from the room, Reigen sat back beside Shigeo again, feigning a more relaxed position. Yet, Shigeo still felt Reigen’s eyes piercing into him.
Slowly, so slowly, Shigeo lifted his head, tears still wet on his blotchy face.
Reigen huffed a slow sigh, his face softening once Shigeo’s eyes hesitantly met Reigen’s for a split second. “Hey,” His face gave an unsure smile, “How’re you, Mob?” His hands automatically cupped Shigeo’s face, gentle yet touch still burning.
Shigeo hiccuped, closing his eyes tightly once more. “Hhhhhhhng,” he whined, pulling away from Reigen’s touch.
Quickly, Reigen set his hands down with hushed apologies and sweet nothings. “Shit–Sorry, bud. I’m so sorry.”
Shigeo curled back into himself, rocking back and forth with frustrated cries. “Ghk,” his voice struggled against his body, air trapping itself as the boy desperately tried to compose himself. With his rising, guilt-filled anger, furniture bounced along the walls, never settling unlike the two people in the room who sat still.
Reigen winced at the realization, knowing that the kid was still holding back.
“Hey Mob,” Reigen whispered, leaning closer to the kid. “I have a blanket if you want it. It’s soft and all that, and if you don’t like it, I’ll let you borrow the suit.” Reigen kept his voice steady, devoid of all the desperation that would’ve shown in any other situation.
Reigen continued to watch Shigeo’s still body, watching his hand twitch occasionally.
Reigen watched Shigeo’s head nod, noticeable enough for Reigen to start pawing at the air for the aforementioned blanket. The plush fabric hit his fingertips, barely enough to grab onto.
Shigeo sniffed once, tensing slightly at the new sensation of the blanket before allowing Reigen to wrap it around him.
“Is that good? Do you want it tighter?” Reigen smiled reassuringly, keeping his arms around the blanket.
Shigeo shook his head, leaning into Reigen’s touch slightly.
Reigen sighed in relief, rocking the two of them as Shigeo calmed down gradually. “Alright, you’re doing great, kid. It’s okay; you’re okay.”
Shigeo kept nodding, letting his body sway with Reigen’s movements. His eyes remained close, but that was the least of the elder’s concerns.
Shigeo opened his eyes, finding himself still swaddled in the blanket burrito. The shades were still down, and in the distance, the bathroom flushed, followed by the sink.
Lifting his body up, Shigeo rubbed his eyes, ridding them of sand. He looked around, seeing the room was still dark and silent for the most part. Flushing slightly, Shigeo stretched himself and folded the blanket. Reigen returned back to the room, glancing at Shigeo’s slightly hunched form.
“Hey, ‘you doing better?” His tone was an angel choir to the teen, no fragil or hesitant phrasing like his parents would do.
Shigeo nodded blankly, not knowing what to do with his newfound empty state.
No matter his attempts, Mob’s voice couldn’t return, instead staying stuck in his throat with no hope of escape. Swallowing, Mob clenched his hands slightly, feeling bits of psychic and electric sensations pulsating out of his body.
Reigen sat silently, waiting for Mob’s– and his own– next move.
With a shuddering breath, Shigeo finally felt in control of himself and nodded once more. “Yes, thank you, master.”
His mind urged him to continue, but Shigeo knew well that Reigen would be more concerned than annoyed. He managed a smile, however, and looked towards his teacher, “I appreciate that you allow me to do-” he waved his hands around, motioning emptily, “..this.”
Reigen chuckled, moving closer to Shigeo and allowing his mind to release his troubled thoughts.
“Of course, kid. Don’t worry about it.” Reigen smiled warmly, “That lady, though..She was a piece of work, huh?” Reigen sighed playfully, combing his hair back.
Shigeo nodded, shamelessly allowing his own eye roll. “I’ve never seen a customer like that in a while,” the teen giggled tiredly.
The two laughed in unison, not minding the dark room, nor the ‘Be Back in 15 Minutes’ sign on the door. They allowed themselves the brief reprieve before continuing the rest of the shift later.