Archive of Our Own

Reigen sits at his desk scrolling away on some pointless social media feed. The bored frown on his face rests flippantly on a palm while his other hand flicks the mouse wheel over and over. Nothing. Nothing...nothing. It’s all so fake and redundant. He chortles to himself when he thinks about how useful it can be to rake in unassuming clients. It’s a great tool for guys like himself. Never has it been easier to whip something together at a few taps off a finger to produce the perfect image of what you’re trying to sell.  

Whether that pitch is your business, personal work, or a perfected take on the body you live in – technology makes it all possible. Reigen scolds himself for being so late to the party, but hey, what’s an old guy like him to do?  

That’s why he’s got Mob, and more recently, several other employees to assist him with the efforts it takes to help the business flourish. As with any company, managers always know who their high performing subordinates are, and which ones are less than desired. Not that the effort wasn’t being put out; more, it’s the way certain employees conduct themselves on the daily.  

Reigen may or may not have a small pain fomenting in his head. It has a name that sounds like Ritsu Kageyama.  

This little thumbtack, which is really a suitable descriptor, makes Reigen feel irritation. A lot of it.  

The younger sibling of his star apprentice. A sneakier, more prideful twist on those powerful genes. The kid is sharp – calculating. He’s a lot meaner than Mob, though not at face. It’s an angrier static that hums underneath polite words and mannerisms that are almost too clean. Too polished.  

Ritsu puts Reigen on edge because when he thinks about it, the student is hard to read. It reminds him of his younger self. It’s worrying...Ritsu is maybe, what, fifteen now? He’s so young and already has such a wicked demeanor. If he were less a moral man, Reigen would still be inclined to pity him. Youth are meant to enjoy their lives free of dread and loneliness.  

His eyes shift to glance to his left. Sitting over there at the office table silently looking at his phone is said apprentice. He’s still in his gakkuren, face wound with ire, tip tapping away on that device. Reigen briefly wonders what exactly he’s doing. The thought of a middle schooler having a better social life than his own strikes a bitter chord. Of course, it might not be texting; he could be doing anything on his phone. It’s not really any of Reigen’s business.    

He hasn’t been any good at not making it his business unfortunately.   

“Hey,” the conman breaks the silence. “What’re you up to?” He isn’t sure he’ll get an honest answer. Worth a shot.  

Black eyes don’t budge from the screen. That chiseled face, despite touches of childlike fat clinging in spots, doesn’t change either. Not missing a beat, he continues typing away and responds in a monotone voice. “Nothing much.”  

Expected. What did Reigen think he was gonna say? Even Mob, for all his introversion and timid personality, can hold a conversation. It’s not like Ritsu isn’t capable of it, he just chooses to engage in it with literally everyone but Reigen. It’s antagonizing despite their equally charged dislike for each other.   

Which is another point that causes the older man to ruminate. Why does Ritsu hold such disdain for him? Sure, he can see right through his sales tactics, and maybe he doesn’t appreciate how Reigen kinda sorta used Mob as free labor to hoodwink honest people out of their hard-earned money. Probably also doesn’t like that Mob holds him with a special regard despite all these shortcomings.  

Reigen has thought about his Ritsu conundrum many times and still comes up empty handed. That bothers him and he isn’t completely sure why. One possible guess is that it’s because he can’t manipulate the kid as easily he can most people. It’s hard for them to work together because of this. Not like he has many options, now that Shigeo is in high school and is overwhelmingly busy. Serizawa is tied up with his own classes.  

That leaves Ritsu as his fallback.  

Reigen leans back and crosses his arms. He looks at the younger Kageyama with a wry expression, shaking his head as he decides to lambast his employee for giving him the cold shoulder. “You seem pretty intense for ‘not doing much.’ Anything wrong?” He knows how much Ritsu hates being patronized.  

“Do you have something to say to me?” Ritsu finally pauses and turns his head to give the older man a level stare. Reigen finds that Ritsu looks more mature than his older brother, despite the latter catching up in height and confidence. Maybe it’s the haircut? He needs to remind Mob again that he should switch up the bowl cut once in a while...  

He casually shrugs. “Not really. Was getting a little concerned you might wind up getting sucked into that thing quite literally.”  

“Don’t you have work to be doing?” Ritsu retorts with an equal dose of antipathy.  

“I could say the same thing y’know,” the businessman remarks. “I gave you some cases to look over for your input. How’s that task going so far?”  

Ritsu rolls his eyes. “It’s been done. I gave those back to you yesterday.”  

Reigen opens his mouth to disagree, but then glances on his desk and sure enough, the stack of pages were resting there neatly, with precise notes scribbled down in order. He rubs his tongue over the top row of his teeth before accepting defeat and smiling. He shifts his hands to put them in his pockets and crosses his legs.  

“That you did. Great job.”  

Ritsu makes a subtle face before returning silently to his phone. Then there is an awkward silence. This is what Reigen can’t stand the most about the younger Kageyama brother. It puts him on edge – for hell’s sake it’s a stupid teenager! He should be the one that feels peeved with him. Or at the very least if he is, not be so good at hiding it.  

Reigen decides in the moment that he’s had enough.  

“If you want to keep working here, you’re gonna have to lay off the cellphone.”  

Ritsu stops, and this time, throws a look of disbelief at the older man. “Huh?”  

“You heard me. Turn that thing off. We’ve got a new case to review.”  

“I don’t take orders from you,” Ritsu says with a singed tone. “I’m only here to help my brother out.”  

Reigen stands up and leniently walks over to the young student. “You ever consider doing something because it’s what you want to do? You’re always running around chasing Mob’s tail – like seriously?” He tries to make it sound more ridiculous than it really is, but...Ritsu kinda does follow Mob like a second shadow. He needs to learn how to be his own person without constantly obsessing over how it makes his older brother feel; or more specifically, how it makes his older brother feel about him.  

Ritsu appears uncomfortable that his personal space has been invaded. He maintains steady eye contact for a beat before closing them with a sigh. He shoves his phone in his pocket and moves to stand as well. “There. Happy now? What’s this new case I need to study?”  

It’s infinitely angering that the attempt to ruffle the kid’s feathers didn’t work. That or he’s ignoring what he heard. Maybe the lack of defensive vitriol is a good thing. Reigen lets out a short sigh and pats Ritsu on the shoulder.  

“How about we take a quick walk and discuss in some fresh air, eh?” He shifts to glance at the window. “Still plenty of daylight out there. I’m sure you’re busy with homework too, so we can’t make it too late.” Maybe he needs to try and be nicer to Ritsu; actually try and talk to him and understand him. Sometimes personalities can simply clash, but he concludes part of the problem is that he and Ritsu don’t get much one-on-one time.  

The kid makes an annoyed face. “Why can’t you explain it to me here? Why’re you acting so strange?”  

“I’m afraid that’s all in your head. C’mon now we’re wasting time.” Reigen flips a hand as if he were smacking away the question. He isn’t about to let Ritsu spin this onto him – oh no – he's the one asking the questions here. “Maybe we can grab some dinner while we’re at it. I’m pretty hungry.”  

Ritsu ponders for a beat. “Alright. Can’t argue with that. Haven’t had anything myself since this morning come to think of it.” He walks over to his schoolbag and picks it up, slugging it over his shoulder. “Ready whenever you are.”  

Reigen doesn’t know why it strikes him at the moment. Charcoal eyes like a well full of the stratosphere meet his own with a steady look. He shudders when it clicks that what he’s sensing is the weight behind the windows inside. Something is harboring within the psychic’s mind that one needn’t have special powers to detect. It’s out of sorts, bleak, and reminds him of one of those big parking lots: cracks in the concrete, not a vehicle in sight. It feels pointless, since it’s not doing what it was designed to do – being empty like that.  

He’s overthinking. The brat is getting along better than ever with Mob, is a star student, got powers of his own – he has nothing to feel used up about. Although, Reigen supposes that some childhood trauma still licks the silent parts of Ritsu’s mind. In a literal sense, the scar from Mob unconsciously attacking him stains his body like it’s a cute joke.   

That’s funny – a cute joke. Reigen has found another great way to describe the younger Kageyama.   

Reigen nods, offering a cool smile while he walks past Ritsu as if he wasn’t there.  “Follow me.”  

He doesn’t need to turn around to know that the student’s expression is riddled with indignation.  

It’s a pleasant late summer evening. Reigen hates it when it’s perfect outdoors like this. Not always of course, but days like today, when he thinks about where he’s at in life and what he should be spending his time doing instead. Going on holiday, paying a trip to the park, pretending he cares enough to visit family – he could even be hooking up with a potential partner to start his own family with.   

He quickly swipes his eyes over Ritsu, who is walking a person’s length away from him to his right. Something that tastes like jealousy seeps into Reigen’s mouth. The kid doesn’t know how good he has it. He still has a whole life ahead of him to learn; not make the same mistakes Reigen made when he was that age.   

Ritsu notices the quick head tilt and turns his own to acknowledge the older man. “You got something to say? You don’t need to look at me every other minute.” His voice is measured. Accusing, but not rude enough to sound delinquent. “It’s getting on my nerves.”  

“Wasn’t my intention,” Reigen serves up nonchalantly. “I’ll admit, I’m wondering how long you can maintain that nasty scowl. I know you don’t like me, but could you at least try to...I don’t know, lighten up some? It’s bringing me down.”  

“As if I care how you feel.” Ritsu scorns – sort of testy. Reigen snorts mentally, although he was the same way years ago. Teenagers.  

“Don’t be so condescending now.  I offered to buy you dinner. You can at least pretend to be happy about it.” Reigen points out, hoping a shred of appreciation is sent his way.  

“I am happy about that part. Doesn’t change how I feel hanging out around you.”   

“Care to explain what I did to earn your disapproval?”   

“Tch,” Ritsu scoffs with a rakish smirk. “Are you really asking me that?”   

“Sure,” Reigen offers. “Because the way you’re acting sure is immature for someone your age.”  

He can feel the drop in Ritsu’s grin more than see it. “Coming from someone who spends all his time hanging out with high school students instead of people his own age.”   

Ah – so he’s going for personal attacks now. Meh. It’s nothing the conman hasn’t dealt with before in copious measure.  

“And am I forcing any said high school students to be around me?” Reigen doesn’t even think – the bickering rolls right off his tongue like yesterday’s news. “In my experience, not sure why I have this effect, but it seems like they come running to me.”  

"I told you; I’m only helping you out so Shige’s workload isn’t overwhelming,” Ritsu retorts, voice raised slightly – so minute you could miss it. “As much as I don’t trust you, he’s gained a lot from your mentoring. I’m willing to offer my powers to your sham of a business if it means he can continue to do better for himself.”   

“So, what you’re saying is that Mob is employed by a sham of a business? Does that make him a sham?” Reigen shouldn’t have. He really shouldn’t go there – but dammit if there isn’t something about using the Mob-card to push under-and-into Ritsu’s skin. It works every time.  

He suddenly feels a faucet of energy submerge his form. He isn’t being physically attacked, but Ritsu is threatening him. An eerie hue of purple energy emits from the young man, intimidating Reigen to go ahead and try him again.   

“My brother is one of the most upstanding people I know. Don’t you dare try to compare him to yourself.” The bane in the student’s voice is blood-culling.   

Reigen finds relief in the fact that they’re in public. Ritsu isn’t stupid. He won’t hurt him with people around. “You’re right,” he surrenders. “I think you and I are far more alike than Mob could ever be.”  

He throws an arm out to dust off the electric feeling of psychic power – brushes it away as if he hadn’t a care in the world for his life. “In fact, I have a theory that you don’t trust me because you and I both know we're fake.”  

Ritsu looks affronted and wavers. “What-”  

“I see right through you Ritsu. Your nice guy act, your supportive little brother role. You and I both know full well how you treated Mob a few years ago. You’re the one harboring bad feelings, even now when you have powers of your own.”   

“You don’t have any idea what my feelings are-”  

“It’s sad. It’s okay to live your own life beyond what you think Mob would approve of Ritsu.” Reigen could laugh at how sincere he sounds while he tries to force detachment. A very tiny, delicate flower of hope buds in his chest – silently praying he can be truer to heart. How strange that he’s found himself once again, baring all his own demons to comfort a Kageyama.  

It’s like he’s trying to comfort himself through them. That can’t be healthy.  

Ritsu’s face drops and Reigen searches, and thinks he finds, introspection. The psychic static dissipates, and the student trains his line of sight on the ground. The red sun is beginning to sheath within the cityscape, illuminating their world with particles of warmth. Reigen always wondered why so many moments in life that are supposed to be profound, or sad, whatever, are paired with the brightest and nicest of days. It’s like an irony meant for those doomed to come last no matter how hard they try.  

He guesses it’s no better suited than for this moment between him and Ritsu.   

“What makes you say that?” Ritsu asks with a strung expression, like he’s fighting a myriad of thoughts all at once.   

Reigen hesitates, hoping the kid will elaborate. He’s offered nothing more than silence.  

“Hey, let’s go find a place to sit down and talk, okay?” He’s starving and not in the mood to have a therapy session out on the street. He needs some booze in his system to get through this.  

Ritsu blinks a few times and nods. Reigen might be crazy, but he’s not sure he’s imagining watery eyes, glimmering and seeking to hide – from what they are and from the world around them. Especially from inquiring minds and old cheating men.  

“I know a good place. Let’s go.” He pats Ritsu on the shoulder, pretending he knows how to comfort people. He also doesn’t know a good place mind you – but statements like that help get people to follow along. It stirs up a self-hating swell in his guts that Reigen, as usual, forces himself to ignore.  

The chatter is low, the lights are dim, and the sun has set. Reigen is playing with his karaage, pulling at the little pieces of chicken like he can’t decide if they’re worth the effort to consume. He and Ritsu are quietly seated in the corner of some place (Reigen can’t remember the name), and wordlessly picking at the delicious meals placed before them. Ritsu is a bit more animated, swirling oyakodon upon his chopsticks and consuming it here and there. They exchanged a few words while waiting for food, but now Reigen is grasping for what to say next.  

Reigen purses his lips and spares a glance at his glass full of alcohol; some kind of beer he can’t remember the name of. He snaps it into a tired hand and takes a big gulp or two, releasing an exasperated sound when he places it back down on the table.   

“So,” he tries for the third time now to broach the subject. “Up to you. We can talk more about business, or whatever is on your mind. Your call.”  

Ritsu peers up with a mouthful of food, brows knit with some look Reigen can’t place. He then glimpses down again and chews some more before swallowing. Reigen is a cheap date – he’s gulped down maybe half of his beer and is already feeling things spin. He’s not sure if it’s due to that, his creativity or what, but Ritsu’s look sends prickles up and down his spine – chills every vertebra.  

Shit – is he already that out of it?  

He picks up the glass and glugs it down, nearly emptying it.  

“Let’s talk about the case,” Ritsu decides, wiping his mouth with a hand instead of a napkin. “My parents are going to wonder where I’m at if I’m out for too much longer.”  

Reigen knows he’s a liar, a cheat, and a generally morally dubious individual. That makes it all the easier, though not totally devoid of guilt, when he slides the last bit of his drink over to Ritsu. “Finish this for me, will you?” He sniffs. “I’m a lightweight. No one is looking and it’s only a little bit.”  

He doesn’t think – his body simply decided that’s what it wanted to do.  

Ritsu gawks at the glass, then at Reigen, then back at the glass. He hesitates, then reaches out and collects it in two hands. He tries sniffing it and Reigen is enjoying every little twitch in the student’s demeanor as he inspects the drink.   

“Go ahead. It won’t kill you.” Reigen is surprised at how much he wants to see Ritsu do something bad.   

“I’m aware it won’t idiot.” Ritsu stabs his words at Reigen as best he can while teetering on doing something he knows is negligent. His fussy little fingers tap on the glass and Reigen gives him a smooth grin, which seems to make Ritsu nervous.  

“Come on come on-” Reigen reaches out and tilts the beverage to Ritsu’s lips, and the boy braces himself before taking several chugs. Reigen does a double take – he thought his glass was a lot emptier than that...wait...which drink is he on now? It was one, right? Only one. His stomach flip flops when Ritsu starts coughing and slides the glass across the table, causing it to clink against...another glass? Reigen is confused now. He pauses – there are two different flavors floating on his tongue. He must have gotten a little carried away.  

“Like that?” the conman asks, amusement clear as day in his voice.  

Ritsu clears his throat and narrows his eyes before nodding up and down. “It wasn’t that bad.”  

Reigen can feel it. He can feel a churn deep below his insides telling him to collect the cheque, pay, then run away as fast as he can before he says something stupid. He has a sinking feeling it’s a lot later than he imagines and he’s a lot more inebriated than he realises. It’s a bad combination that is going to end with him vomiting metaphorically and literally at the student across from him. All these things still can’t stop him from stopping himself.  

“Good. Now let’s talk feelings kid,” Reigen leans forward, leveling a stare at Ritsu that is probably way too intense, but he doesn’t stop anyway. “What’s on your mind? Your big brother can trust me, so you can do the same. I mean you no harm.”  

Lies. Reigen is a terrible influence, and he knows it. The bad part is that he doesn’t care.  

Ritsu seems uncomfortable under Reigen’s look, and the older man swears he spots a spatter of blush across those plump cheeks. “I appreciate the food, but I’d rather not get personal.” How charming. He probably thinks he sounds so grown up talking like that.  

“I’m worried about you Ritsu,” Reigen tries to sound amicable. “You rarely if ever stop to think of yourself. It’s always tied to how Mob feels.”  

“I care a lot about my brother-”  

“And that’s fine, but you gotta learn how to let him go. Like, if he didn’t exist, what would you be doing right now?”  

“Homework. Sleeping. Existing far away from you.”  

“You hurt me, in truth,” Reigen gets a pinch in heart that stings like it were bitten by a mosquito. “I sincerely apologize for anything I've said or done to make you dislike me so much.” He turns to take another swig of beer, but belatedly notices only ice and tinged water remains. Reigen consumes it anyway.   

At that, the teen’s melancholic face softens. Reigen thinks he’s studying him, but he’s not sound of mind enough to know for sure. Haunted eyes slide to study the window. It’s black out there, with a few dim lights flickering across the street. They’re in a quieter part of town, so a lot of businesses have either closed for the night or are preparing to. It dawns on Reigen that Ritsu, for all his bite and inexperience, maintains a specific conduct to his habits.   

They’re thought out, preplanned, measured.   

Or is his mind playing tricks on him again?  

“I don’t dislike you.”  

The words are like a nail gun punching its way through the conman’s brains. That’s disturbing. Why be so giddy that a teenager likes him? He’s an established adult working a productive job contributing to society. He lives a mellow life and doesn’t bother what doesn’t bother him. Damn. Getting all troubled by the fact that this strange youth doesn’t fully detest his guts. Wow he’s absolutely lost the plot.  

“I don’t dislike you either.” Reigen assures coolly. “I think sometimes I prefer your company to Mob’s.” He’s sick. He knows that he’s trying to manipulate the kid. At this point it’s a game – Reigen just wants to see if he can pull it off, since he has yet to succeed.  

Ritsu starts squirming again and Reigen would kill to varnish the sight into his mind. The psychic swallows and readjusts himself, looking anywhere but across the table. His hands have come together to pick at the skin of his nails, nerves seeping out. It’s slow, but a light flush graces his elegant face. It’s darling – and Reigen lurches internally.  

“You’re just saying that to gain my trust,” Ritsu’s defensive walls tower high once again. A crease in his brow demonstrates his ire. “Forget I said anything-”  

“I mean it,” Reigen puts his entire soul behind those words, looks Ritsu dead in the eye as the syllables fall off his tongue. “You’re worth more than you think.”  

They hold eye contact, and Reigen is sure about it when he sees it. It’s nothing one can see, not in reality at least, but something to be seen silently. Ritsu’s entire spirit shrinks – willingly.  

The kid blinks a few times and swallows, blatantly forcing ardor down his throat. Reigen distractedly catches sight of the last patrons leaving the place – huh – it is late. A waitress starts flitting around cleaning up the messes; the older man can smell the chemicals as she begins cleansing the tables. A fan somewhere on the ceiling gives him something to latch onto; he tries to count the spins and gives up after five or ten times. Clinking and clacking rattles out of the kitchen.  

Ritsu suddenly stands up and grabs his bag in a huff.  

“I need to get going. Thanks for the meal.” He thinks he gets to escape this.  

Not on Reigen’s watch. Not when he has finally captured Ritsu’s suspension of belief.  

He too stands up and snares the student’s shoulder, which is so spindly he flinches when he unconsciously compares it to his own.   

Ritsu gives him a homicidal look and jerks out of the hold. “Quit touching me.”  

Reigen retreats, hands in the air as if he were caught – was he? “Sure thing,” he measures. “How about I make you an offer instead?”  

The young psychic stays, which means he’s listening.  

“Wanna hang out for a little longer?” Reigen senses that Ritsu needs permission – for most events. Once given that, he rarely hesitates to pursue or take what he wants. That of course could be Reigen’s murky thinking these days...whether he’s strung out on caffeine with no rest, or booze, pick your poison; somehow, he has made the determination Ritsu is willingly playing along with him here. Perhaps he is, one couldn’t know for sure.  

When he doesn’t answer, Reigen pinches his cheek and tugs it playfully. “You’ve got a nice smile. You should show it off more often.”  

With that, he walks over to the counter to pay for their meal, leaving a flustered, rather startled looking Kageyama behind him.   

Here he goes again.  

It’s quarter past eleven now.   

Reigen has crossed the precipice into smashed and wasted land. He almost thinks he needs to throw up, but that would be rude when he has a guest over. What more, this is a guest who has never graced his flat – so first impressions are important. Why did he invite Ritsu over? He can’t recall – he thinks it was for a bunch of reasons. To have a talking friend, to have company, hell to be reassured he’s still alive somehow – can feel things. Stranger yet; why did Ritsu agree to come?  

The last time he felt this invigoration was on the day he saved Mob’s life by nearly throwing away his own.   

“I’ll get some tea,” Reigen gestures, stumbling around trying his best to take his shoes off at the door. “Make yourself comfortable.”  

Ritsu studies the space, sharp eyes absorbing everything around him. “So, this is where you live huh?” He sounds about as thrilled as a fish out of water. “Not gonna lie – kind of a dump.”  

Ever the wit.   

“You didn’t have to come here y’know,” Reigen slurs, grabbing at the wall attempting to stay on two feet. “Weren’t you the one whining about having to do schoolwork or whatever?”  

“I came here to make sure you didn’t die along the way,” Ritsu remarks with that typical blandness. “You’re drunk.”  

“Oh, am I?” Reigen whips around and jostles his balance, falling to grab a chair, narrowly saving himself. “If I were I’d be puking all over the place right now-”  

“Trust me, I don’t think you’re far from it.” Ritsu takes his shoes off and sets his bag down. He then raises a hand and activates his psychic powers. It’s too late when Reigen realises the student is forcing him to sit down.   

“Stay here while I get you some water.” Ritsu instructs while he steps into the space. It makes Reigen giddy.   

“Aren’t you the gentleman?” He teases. “No wonder Mob sings all the rage about you.”  

“Whatever,” Ritsu rolls his eyes. “You got any water in the fridge?  

“Yeah – bottom shelf.”  

Ritsu shuffles into the tiny kitchen and pulls open the appliance. He scrutinizes the cold box – the scarce food desert is adorned with a selection of booze – why is he not surprised? Thankfully water is in there. He snaps up a bottle and shuts the door firmly behind him.  

“I don’t need your pity,” Reigen pipes up, rubbing circles into the line of stress on his forehead. “How are you gonna get back home – you’re just a-”  

“Stop talking.” Ritsu curtly hands the water bottle to the businessman. “Drink this. You don’t want to wake up with a hangover.”  

“So responsible.” Reigen leers, tipping the weight in the chair to reach out and take the drink. “Your parents must be so proud.” He means it – the psychic is smart and can be courteous when it counts. Reigen wishes the sable-eyed youth would act like this more often; mature, upstanding, earnest. If you took away his feistiness, you’d have the poster child of one’s dreams.  

“Screw off.” Ritsu releases the plastic and Reigen jerks to catch it before it collapses to the floor.   

“Touche.” Reigen narrows his eyes, lambasting the arrogance. He hates that it tickles a sweet spot in his brain – makes him want to grab the brat and...  

“Dammit,” the conman bemoans. “I went overboard.” He takes a big gulp of water too quickly and falls into a coughing fit. Ritsu is making an unamused face, as if Reigen were an ugly beetle needing to be stepped on. Snotty punk...  

When he gathers his composure, the older man flops back in his chair and exhales – then levels an even stare towards Ritsu. “Thanks.”  

“Whatever.” The student shakes his head and moves as if he were going to sit down, but then does a double take in Reigen’s direction.   

“...What you said earlier,” he poses. “Did you mean it?”  

“Mean what exactly?"  

Ritsu hesitates, and that precious bashfulness peaks once again. It’s so sweet it’s sickening. Reigen loves to watch the internal battle take place – for the boy to attempt reconciliation with his own emotions no matter what they were. It’s as if everything is a crisis for Ritsu. He can never figure out what he wants, or he changes his mind (with enough encouragement) for it to mean nothing. Reigen supposes that’s part of being so young. For God’s sake, the kid isn’t even eighteen yet.  

“That you would rather be with me,” Ritsu says with a wobble in his voice. “Then you would be with Shige?”  

Oh.  

This is bad.  

Reigen looks blankly at Ritsu, not exposing an iota of understanding. He sighs blearily with the fatigue of a man far older than he is and digs a hand into his coat pocket to sift out a pack of cigarettes. He taps it pointedly a few times and knocks out a light. He then proceeds to lazily place the carton back where it belongs and slinks a hand into his other pocket to pull out a lighter. He purposefully snaps it back a few times while the butt hangs out of his mouth – sparks blip across his vision. When the flame sticks, he takes a long inhale.  

Ritsu’s throat works and Reigen sees it. He can hear the click if he tries hard enough. Ah. A sick stomach, worms and butterflies flitting about – he's causing quite the ruckus now, isn’t he?  

When he blows the air out, the puff of smoke swirls before vanishing into toxins the student shouldn’t be breathing. Reigen’s already committed to his vices – there's no need for him to try and pass those along to the next generation. At least, those are the sorts of things he should be concerning himself with. It’s become decidedly more challenging, the more Ritsu tests him, because of course that’s what the boy half his age or whatever is doing.  

“I said what I said.” Reigen gives; and he refuses to yield one bit further. Ritsu isn’t placated like Mob. He doesn’t deserve the same level of guidance or respect. Reigen may or may not still be miffed that Ritsu was dismissive of him earlier – glued to that stupid cellphone, acting nonchalantly. He picked the wrong man to play that game with.  

The taller of the two hoists himself to stand and slips his jacket off his shoulders to toss it somewhere on the table. He loosens his tie and steps around the furniture to walk away from Ritsu. “I’m whipped,” he mutters, pausing only to take another drag. “So, I’m hitting the sack. Feel free to knock out in the guest room if you wish.”  

Ritsu doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move. It isn’t until Reigen is reaching for the door to his room that he detects movement behind him. Before he can register it, the younger Kageyama brother is grabbing his arm.   

“Wait-”  

Reigen turns, brow piqued and expression care-free. He knows his coy attitude is forcing the boy to get desperate – and desperation is a treat Reigen loves to revel in. What he is aiming for precisely isn’t something he’s sure he isn’t going to regret for the rest of his life.  

“What is it now?” He rebukes with feigned malaise.  

“I-” Ritsu stammers like a fawn fighting to stand on four legs. “I don’t believe you.” Then comes the conclusive scowl, though it is one touched by adjure.  

“Okay.” Reigen says slowly. “That all? I got work in the morning, and don’t you have school?”  

Ritsu fidgets and releases Reigen’s sleeve. The conflict in his young form is marvelous. Reigen wants nothing more than to trap him in his arms, ensnare his willowy body and do things to it that are illegal to all heights of heaven.  

Oh fuck is he messed up.  

“You’re a creep,” Ritsu insults. “You probably get off to taking advantage of my brother, and you’re trying to do the same thing to me.”  

“Really? What makes you say that?” Reigen forgets the door and turns to face the young man.  

Ritsu looks like he’s slightly taken aback at the response, which is detached on purpose. Reigen is playing dirty, but he gets the drift that Ritsu is more than able to take it. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not – he's sure of it, and that’s all that counts. Fake it till you make it or sorts. That mantra has dictated Reigen’s life for almost as long as he can recollect. It’s bewildering how most people fall for it – even intelligent individuals like Ritsu.  

“I see how you take advantage of him, and I see how you corner him.” Ritsu speaks with a bite and rigid posture. “I could never be sure, but seeing how you’ve treated me today confirms my suspicions. You’re a horrible person that preys on innocent people-”  

“You calling yourself innocent huh?” Reigen cuts Ritsu off. “You’re a smart guy. You didn’t have to drink the alcohol I offered you. Hell, you don’t even have to come work for me. Mob’s caring enough that if you brought it up to him – that I make you uncomfortable and whatnot – he'd tell you to quit stat.” He is making an obvious point. If one person dislikes another the practical solution is to remove yourself from them. It isn’t like Ritsu doesn’t have a choice either. His excuse that ‘it’s for his brother’ is convincing but pitiful at best.  

“I’m angrier at the thought of what you may have done to him,” the psychic comments. “Shige is too trusting of people – I don’t want to think of how you may have goaded him if you succeeded in manipulating me into doing something illegal.”   

“You’re too uptight,” Reigen flicks Ritsu’s forehead and savors the face of frustration he gets in return. “And please, I didn’t force you to do anything. You willingly took that drink, thought it over, thought it over some more, and then made your decision. If anything, it’s revealed a side of you to me I didn’t think existed.”   

He leans in and extends a knowing grin to the student. “It’s alright, I get it. I know I’m a great guy and all that, but if you want my recognition all you have to do is be a good boy and ask me what I think.”  

That does the trick. Reigen watches with triumph as Ritsu’s face immediately starts to light up bright red. “That’s not what I-” he studders helplessly, voice getting stuck in his throat. “I don’t want-”  

“It’s okay to feel that way. I was the same at your age. There were some folks in my life I desperately wanted to receive approval from.” Reigen stands straight again and enjoys the worked up frenzy scrambling to form words in front of him. “Can’t win them all, so you have to focus on the most important ones.”   

He pats Ritsu on the shoulder twice to give him pause. “You’re an amazing person. Have some confidence in that.”  

Reigen doesn’t let go of him and Ritsu doesn’t try to move away. He nods silently instead, fighting back emotion as he bites his lip and his eyes water. Poor kid – he’s fought back the urge to get upset a few times now. He does a good job of it. He sniffs and rubs his nose with his sleeve and nods again, more for himself the second time.  

A beat of silence.  

Reigen doesn’t know what possesses him to do it. He doesn’t know why he would have reason to. He could blame it on being drunk, being a generally directionless man, on being a lot stupider than he thought...none of those excuses add up in the end. At the core the reason he does what he does is because Ritsu isn’t wrong. His judgements are spot on – another ‘gift’ they have in common.  

He slides his hand to delicately touch Ritsu’s neck, then the side of his face. His thumb swirls a small circle there in a soothing gesture. The boy still doesn’t move and accepts the touch, albeit while having a look of absolute shock strewn on him. Dark eyes are wide and glisten in the dim light, shining with a youthful inexperience that squeezes Reigen’s heart painfully so. They dart from Reigen’s face to somewhere a little off to the side, then down as he twitches from the gentle contact, awkwardly trying to find somewhere to settle.  

Nerves begin to fester in the pit of Reigen’s stomach – akin to larvae burrowing deep into their host. On the one hand his consciousness screams at him to stop. Ritsu is fifteen . He’s thirty – twice his age. The other more wicked voice (and the one he usually acquiesces to) rebuts the first by screaming at him to continue without a reason other than total selfishness.  

His hand slowly slides into Ritsu’s soft hair and caresses the side of his head. He holds eye contact even when Ritsu breaks it. The student licks his lips and takes a small step closer, finally lifting his gaze to stare back. His trembling hands come in front of him to fidget, hesitant and unsure where to go. It hits Reigen like a punch to the guts that Ritsu likely hasn’t even kissed anyone yet. Someone his own age – a girl – anything other than an old man like himself.  

That doesn’t stop him from leaning down and slowly but firmly pulling Ritsu into him.  

He touches his lips against the boy’s and it’s numbing.  

Soft, young, anxious, scared...there are a million ways Reigen could describe the kiss. It was anything but appropriate, anything but sexy, and yet – here he was becoming enraptured by it.  

He presses a little more firmly, nudging Ritsu’s lips with his own to see what he does. Ritsu opens them and lets out a tiny, frail noise. Reigen can smell the mint in his breath and pauses. They hover there briefly, waiting to see what the other is going to do. Reigen almost convinces himself to back off and do the right thing – be the adult in the situation.  

This comes crashing down when Ritsu moves closer but doesn’t quite close the gap.  

It’s all Reigen needs to do it for him.  

He kisses the student fully now, first by licking his lips and then by inserting his tongue. Ritsu gasps and holds his breath for a second, tensing up from the fear of doing this for what Reigen assumes is his first time. Their mouths lock and they begin properly making out. Ritsu keeps releasing faint whines and his hands fly up to grip Reigen’s wrists. The conman’s other hand joined the first in resting on the other side of Ritsu’s face, and he shivers at the gesture he gets in turn.  

The hot slickness of their tongues, the heady sounds, the atmosphere all work together to form a ball of dread in Reigen’s soul. He isn’t confident in himself to stop.  

Ritsu starts to get more heated, and his movements become firmer. His hands release Reigen’s wrists and move to grab at the back of the older man’s shoulders, pushing his way up to meet him by standing on his toes. Reigen is taken aback by this, allowing himself to be shoved back against his bedroom door. He shouldn’t be too shocked – Ritsu is the feistier Kageyama brother after all.  

He decides to return the favor and digs his hands into the boy’s flanks, feeling his ribcage even through his clothes. He tugs him against his body and then folds his arms around him, essentially trapping him. They kiss and kiss and Reigen can feel his heart beating harder – heat swells in his ears.  

When it’s too much and they have to pause for air, hot foamy heat is exchanged with every gasp. Ritsu licks some saliva off the corner of his mouth and is wearing such a horny look – which isn’t too surprising given his age. The young man then abruptly begins unbuttoning his jacket with violently shaking hands. He makes it about halfway down before it crosses Reigen’s mind – oh god, how far are they going to take this?   

Being rational hasn’t ever been his strong suit.  

When Ritsu gets to the last button he grabs Reigen’s arm and pulls him through the bedroom door and marches them both right over to the bed. He wants to say something – anything – but he’s afraid in doing so he will somehow wind-up ruining this, and for as cruel as it is, Reigen Arataka doesn’t want to do that.   

He spins Ritsu around and pushes him down onto the mattress, loosening his tie the rest of the way before joining him. Ritsu makes an amused squeak, nervously smiling and scooting himself further onto the soft bed. He may be inexperienced, but his juvenile excitement can’t be contained. It’s adorable, Reigen thinks.  

They kiss again and Reigen can’t resist touching the young body beneath him. He sneaks his hands under Ritsu’s shirt, and glides them broadly over milky flesh, feeling out every dip and bone underneath pale skin. He draws circles, squeezes, pushes – curious to see what the psychic will do in response. Rough hands smooth up to Ritsu’s chest, pulling his shirt up with him, and start lathering him with firm rubbing motions. He uses his fingertips to lightly play with dusty pink nipples, which are becoming harder.  

“Hah~” Ritsu blushes a lovely shade of red and closes his eyes, puffing his chest out a little to press against being touched for the first time. “That feels good~” He whines, face all fussed with pleasure. His hands reach up to grab the pillow under his head, seeking a way to comfort himself. 

“You’re so beautiful,” Reigen whispers with honesty. “Such a good boy.”  

Ritsu’s breathing picks up and he tilts his head to the side, exposing his neck and silently begging Reigen to touch him more.  

Reigen leans down and starts by kissing his neck gently. He grabs Ritsu’s hips and pulls them against his own when he switches to sucking hard on the student’s jugular. He’s hard and gets a pang of exhilaration when he feels Ritsu is in the same state. He makes sure to leave a mark before switching to the other side of the younger Kageyama’s neck – he's going to relish every second of this encounter in case it’s the only one he ever gets to have.  

Ritsu starts grinding against the conman, chasing pleasure he shouldn’t be receiving, not from Reigen at least. His pulse jackrabbits against Reigen’s lips, and the conman wonders if it’s bordering panic. The trembles and twitches are blended with arousal and what he figures is a sort of shock. Kid doesn’t know what he got himself into.  

He combs a hand through dark silky hair and scrapes at his scalp. He breathes against his neck and slides down, kissing and sucking spots all over the untouched, supple flesh. When Reigen reaches Ritsu’s naval, he lightly rubs his face against it before pulling back and switching to using his hands to rub his belly. The gentle, feather-light teasing has caused the psychic to wither into the sheets. He’s so flushed , eyes watery, and expression rife with ecstasy. He squeezes his eyes shut occasionally to try and compose himself, shivering from the rough hands defiling his form.  

Stop – Reigen needs to stop. He dreads it though; that it’s far too late.   

He hastily unbuttons his own dress shirt. Reigen makes note that Ritsu doesn’t move to touch him – instead lying in wait, panting and still hanging onto the pillow like it was the only thing keeping him in reality.   

“Tell me if you want to stop,” Reigen manages, voice low and weak with want. “I need to hear you say it Ritsu.”  

He’s not virtuous. He’s not giving Ritsu a choice. This is only for his own sanity when they’re done tonight.  

“N-no,” Ritsu chokes hopelessly, failing to make eye contact again. “Please keep touching me ~ ”  

Reigen goes straight away to unfastening Ritsu’s slacks. He yanks them down and off completely and pitches them to the side. He then opens Ritsu’s shirt, so he doesn’t have to keep pushing it up. He pulls Ritsu up to slide his shirt and jacket off together, and swipes those so they fall off the bed as well.  

Now nearly naked, Ritsu looks more panicked. He keeps letting out tiny whimpers. His erection strains against his undershorts – aching to be freed. Reigen suspects the student is going to blow his load any moment – it's only going to take a few pumps and he’ll be finished. Because of this, he decides he’s going to try and prolong Ritsu’s orgasm as much as he can. Mostly for his own sick amusement.  

He grabs Ritsu’s thighs and pushes his legs back to spread them wide open. The lewd gesture tears a gasp out of the kid’s mouth and his panting picks up a little more.   

“Reigen-!” He stammers nervously. The fear is getting into his consciousness now. The reality that this is really happening and is nothing like those stupid dirty porn videos he probably watches before bedtime. The thought of what sort of dirty content Ritsu likes bludgeons Reigen’s mind. Did he like girls? Boys? Washed up old guys like himself? He might still be too young to know.  

“Shh, it’s okay,” Reigen coos, rubbing his thumbs into the plump pockets of muscle behind Ritsu’s knees. He yanks the young body towards him to nestle Ritsu’s rear right against his own erection and begins grinding against him once more. Ritsu jolts, startled from feeling the aroused length pressing against his most private area.  

“I’m scared,” Ritsu whimpers with anxiety, apparently forgetting he has psychic powers and could kill Reigen on the spot if he so wished. “Reigen-”  

The conman lets go of the boy’s legs and opens his own slacks to pull out his painful hard-on. Ritsu’s eyes go wide, and a mixture of terror and awe wash over his face. His mouth is slightly agape, and he tries pressing himself back and up on his elbows to get a thorough look of what he’s going up against. His own penis can’t compare – logically, since he’s still going through puberty.   

The urge to laugh at what he’s seeing makes Reigen wonder if he’s not right in the head.  

“Don’t look so freaked out,” he tries, exhausted and really needing some physical respite. “We’ll take it slow. It’s gonna feel amazing.”  

Ritsu gradually nods, swallowing hard and laying back down.   

Reigen aptly tugs Ritsu’s shorts down before the kid realises what is happening. He’s just about got them off when Ritsu squeaks and haphazardly covers his nudity with his hands, radiating embarrassment. Reigen shakes his head and grabs skinny wrists with strong hands.   

“None of that now. Let me see you – I promise I’ll make it feel incredible.” He pries youthful modesty away to reveal Ritsu’s leaking erection – hard, a pretty pinkish red, dripping deliciously. The conman salivates and a well of hunger blankets his mind. His gaping starts to bother Ritsu and the psychic begins struggling against Reigen’s grip.  

“Please quit staring,” the boy pleads. “It’s embarrassing-!”   

“Do you hear yourself?” Reigen flatly retaliates, making a choleric face. “For someone so forward you sure find great moments to have self-doubt...”  

He removes the fabric entirely and adds it to his collection, then falls forward to taint the innocence quivering beneath his wretched form. Their mouths connect and essence is shared – none too pure. He glides his wet tongue under Ritsu’s, grazes his teeth and swallows his breath. Hiccups of hesitation and pleasure spike the air.  

Reigen is certain hell has a pit shaped for his body, somewhere near the bottom of eternity; though, he doesn’t even deserve that. He can only take and lie and ruin. He’s done it to himself enough that it fails to matter who gets trapped in his collapse along the way.  

“Hah ~ “ Ritsu moans red faced, weak and trembling with ecstasy. Some tears shimmer in his dark eyes and the heat of his panting is so hot you could eat it. “Reigen ~ I can’t-!”  

Reigen trembles when a bizarre wave of anxiety sweeps within his stomach. Is he that excited to do this? What is he doing?  

He pauses long enough to reach for the drawer near his bed. He yanks it open and digs through long forgotten things and lands on a tiny bottle of lotion. Not ideal but it’ll do.  

Reigen pours a serving onto his hand, swirls it between his fingers and becomes lost in the sensual glide. His eyes are faded – heart distant. He’s going to stick his fingers into this young man and feel every shred of guilt he doesn’t deserve. When his calloused fingers touch the fluttering pink rim the muscle seizes, and Ritsu moves with an abortive jerk, freaking out as the trails of hyperventilation start taking over.   

“Again,” Reigen placates. “This is your last chance – do you want this or not?” He could hit himself if he sounded any more worthless. Why is this becoming real? Why does he feel something gross creeping up his stomach?  

Ritsu’s face is stricken with both doubt and pining. His clavicle moves as he adjusts against the digits threatening to breach him. A fallen anger suddenly takes his features, and the look pierces an arrow of fear clean through Reigen’s lungs.  

“Just do it ,” He forces out. “I can take it.”  

That reprehensible edge. That’s what he can’t get enough of. From a child no less. He’s nothing – Reigen – nothing, that belongs to the living world at least.  

The conman pushes his fingers in and haphazardly masturbates the tight, hot walls. Ritsu winces and gasps, innocent wide eyes begging for help replace the malignant glint once more.  

“Ahh ~ It hurts!” He wails. “Wait!”  

“I’ve had enough of your act.” Reigen utters coldly. “Calm down and relax or it’ll get worse.”  

Ritsu’s lip quivers and he sniffs. Oh great. Now he’ll start crying for real. Reigen can’t take it. He has to get off and...do something – what's he going to do? About what? So much for going slow and relishing fantasy turned reality.  

The order works though. Ritsu hushes himself and puts on a tough guy act, choking back sounds and salty water threatening to spill. Sloppy, slick sounds taint the stale air as long fingers work in and out. When he feels it’s enough, Reigen pulls them out and grabs his sex to nudge it up again the probably still way-too-tight hole. One that is too small for him that he finds no care in the idea of breaking.  

He pushes his hips and the head slips in, forcing a wheezing gasp out of Ritsu’s lungs. The psychic twitches, but stays in place, spreading his legs wide open and arching down. He whines and scrambles to grab the pillows above his head. Another inch, and another, before the boy is wincing and making a face of pain, brows up-turned and miserable frown chewing at already raw-bitten lips.  

Once he’s inside, Reigen finds himself falling into a clinical series of thrusts. He doesn’t register how Ritsu may be feeling. Doesn’t want to. This is nothing like his nightmares – it's far worse. What started as an electric build up has turned into a heart-shattering letdown.  

Ritsu doesn’t love him. Ritsu doesn’t honestly like him. Ritsu couldn’t if he wanted to.  

What they have reminds Reigen of those old movies. The ones with prostitutes gifted at making their customers feel appreciated. They know all the strings to tug to get what they want. The hollow moment that realising Ritsu, in his own way, is doing the same thing, suffocates Reigen’s consciousness.  

When he hears the break, he forces himself to keep going. A muffled cry rings out quietly, but loud as a scream in the quiet of his room. He refuses to look at Ritsu’s face – one soaked with tears, hot with shame, hidden from scrutiny behind hands not meant for him to hold.  

“It’s too much ~! “ Ritsu wails as his small body is jostled back and forth, air getting punched out of his chest. “I can’t – hah – I can’t!” One strike causes him to writhe, his sex leaking and throbbing. He’s about to orgasm and Reigen doesn’t want to drag it out. He’s learned his lesson – albeit a tad too late.  

He grits his teeth and snatches Ritsu’s thin wrists once more, tight enough to leave marks, and forces them down in front of his abdomen. It’s mean, and it’s meant to hurt.  

Ritsu looks delirious, overwhelmed – the thick slide of Reigen’s erection pumping in and out of his body has sent him into a euphoric state. He pants hard, writhing and sticky, hot and dripping – any moment now. Reigen knows he’s hitting that little bump – Ritsu's prostate – likes to think he can feel it.  

“I hope you’re fuckin’ happy,” Reigen cuffs, breathing hard as he senses his own build. “You’ve ruined my life with this.” He pounds against that tight cavern of searing heat. He’s lost from alcohol, fatigue, and generally misguided choices. Ritsu’s just the closest thing available willing to participate.  

No. That’s what Reigen wants this to be.  

Ritsu sobs and squirms restlessly with pleasure – so close Reigen can taste it. He suddenly gasps hard and tenses up, spasming and finally reaching completion. Ejaculate spills all over his belly and chest. Sobbing and panting mix into a symphony Reigen will never forget. He shuts his eyes tightly and thrusts harder, forcing himself to finish as fast as he can. He shivers when he can’t hold it any longer and comes.  

Time seems to hold itself still for longer than Reigen’s ever experienced.  

They’re both breathing with exhaustion when the older man shivers and slides out. He feels gross and hopes Ritsu shares the sentiment. What does he say now? Nothing? His head hurts and he wants nothing more than to go to sleep and never wake up again.  

When he musters the courage to look at Ritsu’s face he is greeted with a dejected look of trauma. They look at each other in silence – seeking the right thing to say. Reigen’s screwed up. The biggest screw up in his life. Ritsu is shaking and a glaze washes over his eyes – he recoils and frantically grabs at the bed, jolting to the side like he’s trying to hold onto something.  

“Are you okay?” Reigen asks, voice small. He’s so full of guilt it hurts. He reaches out and touches Ritsu’s shoulder.  

Ritsu swallows hard and jerks again, shaking harder and breathing abnormally. “Reigen-!” He whelps and starts looking around frantically like he’s trying to get away from something. “What’s happening? My heart-!” He grabs at his chest and then starts crying harder. “I can’t see – what’s happening to me?” The panic in his voice is chilling – and self-hatred festers in Reigen’s soul because of it. He’s seen this before – the kid is falling victim to what looks like a severe bout of anxiety; more likely a full panic attack.  

“Shh, it’s okay-!” Reigen worriedly collects Ritsu in his arms and tries comforting him. “I’m sorry, it’s over now. You’re okay.” He combs a hand through black hair and remains still while Ritsu struggles against whatever he’s going through, crying and grabbing at Reigen in an attempt to ground himself.  

“You’re gonna be okay. I’m here.”  

A loud buzzing noise erupts from the floor. Ritsu's cell phone.  

Reigen lets go and Ritsu, still overwhelmed, falls into the bed and grabs a pillow, holding it as a source of comfort. Reigen tucks himself back in his open slacks, fastens them up, and walks over to the stack of clothes to pull the cell out of one of Ritsu’s pockets. He reads the caller ID.  

Shige.  

Reigen feels his world start to spin as he sets the device down and holds his head. If he tries hard enough, he can hear sirens blasting somewhere far away. He can feel the crawling sensation of wanting to escape enter his thoughts. He can’t run away from this. It’s a thumbtack punctured straight through his flesh. It’s dripping blood and seeping into the disguise around it. He’s irritated again and finds himself filled with the urge to hit something, but refrains.  

If only he could pull the sharp little thorn out of the palm of his hand. It would save him the pain, but the bleeding would never stop. He could stuff it full of all sorts of comforts and bandages, but none of them would suffice. Time spins backwards and forwards – and noise isn’t making any sense.  

He hangs up the phone and sits on the floor, unable to look behind, and unable to look up.  

“I’m sorry,” words come from somewhere. “It was my fault.”  

“No,” he wants to say. “It was mine.”