Chapter Text
Mob opens his eyes groggily. It’s dark. Why am I laying down? I never have the room to lay down in the closet? He sits up and realizes the plushness beneath himself. “Oh,” he utters. That’s right. I’m home. Mob frowns. He doesn’t know why, but the darkness is making his heart race horribly. He closes his eyes (which makes almost no difference) and pulls his legs up to his chest. His joints whine and groan at having to move.
Mob puts his head on his knees and stares into the darkness between. His eyes try to focus on anything, but they eventually stop. He stares, mind blank and heart racing. He doesn’t even realize, but he slips into that trance of dissociation as his heart rate doesn’t change.
He swears he can feel that collar on his neck.
~3~
~Dissociation~
After what feels like both no time and all of time, the room is now illuminated in a gray lighting and there is moving downstairs. Mob notices it, but can’t bother to move or even think about what that is. He doesn't even realize when someone knocks at his door.
The door cracks open. “Brother?”
Ritsu! Mob blinks a few times, then looks up from his fetal position void to his brother’s face.
“Mom made some eggs and bacon for breakfast. Do you want anything?” Ritsu seems antsy to give Mob a hug.
Shigeo stares at him, nothing quite getting through to him. His brain finishes grinding the information, and he perks up. Ooo eggs. Mob nods slowly. He scratches his neck, expecting to feel a collar. But no collar is there. Just a bit of prickly feelings and bruises.
“Great… Do you wanna come now?” Ritsu opens the door more. Trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap trap- Mob nods again. He shakily stands, his legs wobbling. His head suddenly feels a bit light, and the walls shift. Through the fog he can barely make out Ritsu calling out to him and catching him.
“ᵂᵒᵃʰ⁻ ʰᵉʸᵎ ᴬʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵒᵏᵃʸ, ˢʰᶦᵍᵉˀ” Mob blinks hard as his vision clears of the black fog.
“S-sorry…” He whispers.
“It’s alright, Shige. You didn’t mean to. Would you like some help downstairs?” Ritsu holds his hand out, even though Mob is already leaning on him. Mob stares at it. You can see the gears turning in his head. After a few beats, he shakily takes Ritsu’s hand. Ritsu smiles. “Alright, let’s do this.”
Ritsu helps keep Shigeo upright and from falling down the stairs. They slowly make their way downstairs and to the dinner table where mom is frying up more bacon and eggs, and dad is sitting patiently. He has his work attire on, but mom is still in her pajamas. Mob doesn’t notice though, since he is too preoccupied with not falling over.
“There we go. In the chair. All right! Nice job, Shige!” Mob flinches harshly. “Oh- sorry,” Ritsu says quieter. “Nice job!” He whispers. Mob picks at his ragged nails. Ritsu sits down next to him.
“Hey, Shigeo. How are you?” Dad asks gently. Mob stares at the grain in the wood intently as he thinks. Dad looks at mom worriedly just before Mob nods as his answer. Dad waits for more. “Good. I’m glad you’re… alright. I think.” He looks to mom for help.
She rolls her eyes. “We’re glad you got good sleep, honey.” She puts a dish of eggs and bacon down on the table. Mob’s mouth waters just by looking at the food. His stomach growls angrily at him. “Eat as much as you want, Shigeo,” she smiles at her son.
Mob’s eyes light up as he quickly dishes up with a heaping spoonful of scrambled eggs and several (five) pieces of bacon. His family watches in slight horror as he guzzles down the food, surprisingly quietly. Once Mob finishes his plate of food, he reaches for another piece of bacon, but his family stops him. They know what will happen if he eats more.
“Let the food settle down in your stomach, then you can eat more. Alright, Shige?” Mom says gently. They read the brochure about malnutrition. If he eats too much he will vomit it all up.
Mob sits back in the chair and nods slowly. “Sorry,” he whispers.
“It’s okay, honey. Just give it a few minutes.” She smiles again as she dishes up her own plate. Just as she does, dad stands up and checks his watch.
“I need to head to work. Bye, honey.” He kisses mom’s cheek. “Bye, Ritsu.” He ruffles his hair. “Bye, Shigeo.” He pulls him into a side hug. Mob just stares at the grains in the table. The only show of acknowledgment comes when dad tries to break away, but Mob’s powers pull him back. “Oop- okay, Shige! A little longer,” he laughs.
Mob picks at his nails as he sits on the couch. He stares off into some corner of the room as he zones out. He finally blinks, and turns his head. He jumps off the couch and screams as he sees a strange woman sitting on the couch next to him. WHO IS THAT?! WHEN DID SHE GET THERE?!?! Oh- oh no i screamed- no no no- Mob bites his arm and falls to the ground in the fetal position, bracing for the pain. He feels waves of chills go through his body like all the spiders under his skin are running and breathing down his spine. Oh no- no no no no- please don’t shock me- I hope they didn’t hear it-
“Kageyama, my name is Dr Munifaux. I am here to check and see if you’re okay or not. I promise, I will not hurt you.” She hasn’t moved from the couch, and speaks as if this has happened before. Has it?? “Kageyama, do you want to come sit down with me?” No!! Stranger!! I’m not safe anymore!! Where is mom- and Ritsu!!
Mob takes his arm from his mouth and crawls closer to get a look at her. He peeks over the couch arm and sees that she looks like a normal lady. But a stranger! He ducks down behind so she can’t see him.
“Shigeo- can I call you Shigeo?” She stands and slowly walks over. Mob freezes. He shoves his arm into his mouth and clamps down. “Kageyama, I have something for you.” She reaches into her bag. Mob flinches as she pulls out a- Oh, it’s a small carton of milk. Mob’s eyes widen at the sight. “Shigeo, this is for you. Would you like it?”
Mob stares at her, tears pricking his eyes as his heart rate rises. Is she safe? Why would she give me this? Who is she? He nods. She smiles and kneels down to give it to him. He takes it, and slowly stands up on shaky legs.
“Let’s sit down, Shigeo,” she offers. She sits down and pats the seat a seat away. Mob tentatively steps closer, then sits in the seat. “Hey, are you a cat person or a dog person?” She smiles so warmly Mob forgets she is a stranger.
“Cats… but- dogs- they’re good too…” he whispers under his breath. She leans in to listen.
“Oh, good answer. Can I ask how you are feeling today?” Mob notices her scribbling onto a clipboard. How did I not see the board earlier? What is she putting down?? Is she here to hurt me?! Or sell me??
“Shigeo, I want you to calm down. I am not here to hurt you. Can you tell me what upset you?” She puts the pen down, it calms him a bit.
“D-don’t sell me, p-please!!” He begs, clutching the milk.
“Shigeo Kageyama, I promise I will never ever sell you.” Mob nods as he breathes hard.
“Okay,” he whispers.
“Alright… can you answer or remember my question from before?” She asks. Mob shakes his head.
“I don’ remember….”
“That’s alright. All I asked was how do you feel today?”
He stares at his shoes to think. Am I good? No. Bad? No. Meh? Meh…. “I’m- uhm- I-I’m okay….”
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asks, acting as if he said he felt horrible. Mob’s breath goes shaky and his heart picks back up to marathon beats per minute. “Hey, it’s alright. I know it can be scary when someone new shows up. But if it helps, your dad knows me.” Mob turns to look at her slowly.
“D-dad..?”
“Yeah. He asked me personally to come and make sure you’re alright while he and your brother are gone.” Mob looks down at his knees. Dad… dad is safe. And… and dad knows her. Is she safe?? No- no she can’t be. She’s a stranger! “Shigeo, I have a few questions for you. Do you want to answer them?”
Do I? Maybe… no- no I don’t. He nods instead.
“Okay. My first questions are a little scary sometimes, so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but try your best okay?”
He nods again.
“Can you tell me about what happened to you?”
Mob’s eyes widen.
No- I don't want to!! “H…hurt- and in a closet- and no food. Quiet… quiet… then LOUD!! And not safe!! Not safe- but- but Jeanie is safe. She is nice. And a collar! They put a collar on- it hurt. I would be too loud then ZAP!! Shock. Hurt a lot. They wanted to… to sell me. Because of my powers. The house took them away.” He makes a monching motion with his hand. “Ate it all up. Now just spiders inside.” Mob scratches his neck.
“Tell me about the spiders,” she says. “Do they ever hurt you or are they nice spiders?”
“Very nice! They tickle. But… but sometimes they’re mean. They get scared. Like me. When they get scared they-“ he snaps his jaws. “All over my body. Mostly my neck. Right here.” He motions to the bruises around his neck. The spiders seem oddly calm. Despite being in the presence of a stranger.
“Oh. Well I’m glad they don’t hurt you very often.” She smiles again. She does a little wave and says, “hi spiders!” Mob grins a very tiny amount as the spiders run around in his stomach and arms. He waves back. Well- the spiders want him to wave back. “Do you ever feel numb, Shigeo?”
Mob nods. “The spiders put webs in my insides to make sure I didn’t hurt. Before they did, my heart hurt alot. But then they fixed it.” He picks at his nails again. With the spiders at ease, he finally feels like he can relax a bit. They seem to like her. Maybe she isn’t a stranger.
“I see. Well, can you tell me a few more things, then we will be done?” Mob nods. “Good, good. Have you had difficulty concentrating, Shigeo?”
Mob blinks. Not really. I feel alright. He shakes his head.
“Since the kidnapping, have you felt on edge much of the time?”
Mob thinks of all the confusion and horrible screaming and his eyes glance at his arms where they are bandaged. He slowly nods.
“Why is that, do you think?”
“I-“ the spiders bite his throat and eyes as he thinks about the scary people in his house when he first got back. He flinches and coughs. “Stop it!” He whispers at the spiders. They scurry away. He clenches his fists and suddenly yells, “Only safe people! No one unsafe!!” Wet streaks trail down Mob’s face and he starts sobbing. He grabs his hair and pulls his legs up onto the couch.
“Hey, shhh, you’re alright Shigeo.” She holds her hand out. “Take my hand.”
Mob doesn’t notice her gesture and closes his eyes. He tries to stop crying. He tries to wrap it all up. To put it away where it can’t make him sad anymore. The spiders try to help him by stringing more webs in his chest where it hurts.
The spiders all suddenly scurry away, letting their webs fall, and hide as Mob feels a hand touch his shoulder. At first he is startled, but he realizes who’s it is.
“There you go, Mob. Just focus on me. If you do that, I promise you it won't be as bad.” Dr Munifaux smiles warmly. Tears continue to stream down his face as he looks at her. “Shigeo, you’re safe now. Look around. You’re home. And home is safe from those mean people. We will make sure you don’t get hurt by them again.” Her look is so reassuring.
Mob slowly nods. He tries to wipe the tears away but more run down. He sniffs a few times. The spiders gently tip-toe out of hiding.
“Alright, do you think you’d like to see your mom now?” She asks silkily. Mob nods, thumb nail between his teeth. “Let’s go get her, then. Will you come with me?” She asks, standing and holding her hand out. Mob once again nods but not paying attention. He slides off the couch and takes her hand. He hardly notices as his legs start moving. He is too busy absentmindedly looking around as he bites and picks at his nails.
She knocks on the door to Mom’s room. Mom throws it open and blurts, “how is he?!”
She sees Mob and immediately scoops him up into her arms. He hugs around her neck and rests his head on her shoulder.
Mob relaxes and glances back at the Dr. Her mouth is moving.
“ᴴᵒʷ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʷᵉ ᵗᵃˡᵏ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᵘᶜʰ ⁿᵒʷˀ ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᶦᵒⁿˢ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʸᵉˢᵗᵉʳᵈᵃʸ.”
Mob shakes his head. “No more questions..” He begs.
“Honeʸ, ᵗʰᵉ ᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᶦᵒⁿˢ are for mᵉ. ᴺᵒᵗ you, ᵒᵏᵃʸˀ” Mom brushes some hair out of his face before he puts his head back down on her shoulder.
Mob closes his eyes groggily, despite it being morning still, as mom sits on the couch.
“ₛₒ 𝓌ₕₐₜ ₑₓₐ𝒸ₜₗᵧ ₕₐₚₚₑₙₑ𝒹 ᵧₑₛₜₑᵣ𝒹ₐᵧ 𝓌ₕₑₙ ᵧₒᵤᵣ ₛₒₙ ₕₐ𝒹 ₜₕₑ ₑₚᵢₛₒ𝒹ₑ. Dₒₙ’ₜ ₗₑₐᵥₑ ₐₙᵧ 𝒹ₑₜₐᵢₗ ₒᵤₜ.”
Mob flinches at the loud pen clicking. He groans at the loudness of mom’s voice in his ear. It gets quieter and he relaxes again. Mob hums quietly under his breath. No particular tune, just noises. What are they talking about? Just adult stuff.? Does she know mom too? She said she knew dad. Or maybe she is just making sure mom is okay too. That’s nice of her.
“-ᵗʰᵃᵗ’ˢ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʷᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵖᶦˡˡᵉᵈ milk ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ. ᴴᵉ’ˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ᶦⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵒᵘˢᵉ ʷʰᵒ ʷᵒᵘˡᵈ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᵃ ʷʰᵒˡᵉ ᶜᵃʳᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᶠ ᵐᶦˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵃ ᶜˡᵒˢᵉᵗ haha!” Is she talking about me? Why? Does the lady want to know more about me?
“ₕₐ𝒹 ᵧₒᵤ ₕₑₐᵣ𝒹 ₛ𝒸ᵣₑaming or any signs of struggle?”
“We were all outside, so no. But he struggled a lot when we tried to pull him out of the closet. He was biting his arm and he had this- this look of pure terror .” She puts her hand on Mob’s head to soothe down his hair. “I’ve never seen him so scared. He didn’t even recognize us. He yelled at Reigen saying he was some other person.”
“Do you remember the name he used?”
“No.” She keeps soothing his hair. Oh yeah… yesterday- was it yesterday- I was in the closet again. They had gotten me back, but mom and dad and master Reigen saved me. Mob smiles lightly. I’m safe with them. “ᵂʰᵉⁿ ᴵ ʰᵘᵍᵍᵉᵈ ʰᶦᵐ ʰᵉ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵉⁿᵗᶦʳᵉˡʸ ˡᶦᵐᵖ ᵃⁿᵈ ʳᵉᶠᵘˢᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵒᵛᵉ ᵒʳ ˢᵘᵖᵖᵒʳᵗ ʰᶦᵐˢᵉˡᶠ.”
I wonder where master Reigen is? Mob squints his eyes open and sits up. He must be hiding somewhere. “Master?” He calls. He wait for a moment, then calls much louder, “MASTER?!” Mob’s panic rises. Did they take him?? I don’t remember seeing him after the rescue yesterday… they got him!! They got him and they’re going to hurt him!! “MASTER REIGEN!!”
“Honey, he is at work. At the- uh- that place he works. He isn’t here.” Mom pulls Mob down from peering over the back of the couch and rubs his arm. “He is at work.”
Mob shakes his head, tears start rolling down his cheeks. “No no no- they got him!! He didn’t come back yesterday!! He got taken! They stole him- they- they’re going to hurt him!!” Mob’s entire body begins shaking. But it’s not him- it’s the spiders.
“Call whoever he is worried about. It might help if he can hear their voice.” The Dr says.
Mom nods and starts to dial Reigen’s number.
The spiders start to crawl up his throat. He knows that means he will make a loud noise, so Mob puts his arm in his mouth and bites. The spiders get stuck. They try to move up more, but Mob clamps down harder. His arm gets yanked out by someone, and all the spiders come cascading out and are carried by a scream. But it’s more of a loud crying than a scream. Mob tries to keep the spiders from crawling out by covering his mouth and biting his other arm, but none of it works.
“Hey, Mob. I heard you wanted to talk to me?” The spiders stop. Mob’s eyes grow wide. “You alright, bud? Listen, if you need anything at all, just call me and I will be there in less than ten minutes.” Reigen says over the phone.
Mob looks up at mom. She smiles and says, “see? He’s okay. Right, Reigen?”
“Yup! I’m right as rain!”
Mob takes the phone and stares at it. “M-master?” He says quietly.
“Yes, Mob?” He holds the “y” in the “yes” for longer than expected.
“I thought they took you.”
“Who? The people who took you? Nahhh! Like the new star of the paranormal world couldn’t see them coming a mile away! Don’t worry about me, Mob. Plus, Serizawa’s here.” There is a pause. “And he also wants to talk to you.”
There is a clanking noise and then, “Hi, Mob. Are you doing alright?”
“Serizawa?” Mob clutches the phone. “You’re… okay too, right?”
“Y-yes! And I came to see you yesterday! But you were asleep, so we didn’t get to talk or anything. So… how are you?”
Mob clutches the phone and stares at it. He stares, no longer moving or talking. Mom gently takes it from his hand.
“Shigeo is doing fine, but he seems a bit overwhelmed right now. So-“
“Now hang on just a second, you mean to tell me I can’t say hello to my friend?” Dimple says.
Mob jolts. He turns towards the phone and says, “Dimple..?”
“The one and only! How are ya, kid? We searched for you, ya know. For a week! Every night we would all go lookin!”
Mob’s eyes widen. “Really?” He breathes.
“Really.” Mob can hear Dimple’s smugness over the phone. Mob looks down and stares at his knees. They looked for me. “Hey, kid. Ya still there? Kid? Hellooooooo?”
“Shigeo is happy to hear your voices, all of you. He”
The talking drifts into background noise. Reigen’s alive and okay. And Serizawa, and Dimple! And they all were looking for me. Mob rests his head on mom’s shoulder. My friends are so nice.