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"Do you enjoy getting hurt?"
Maybe he was still a bit delirious. Or maybe he was projecting something but why did Serizawa sound so upset?
"....Well not particularly no I don't enjoy it"
"Then why do you keep doing this? Every. Single. Time.", he spat out.
Silence stretched between each word as Serizawa spat it out at the younger man through gritted teeth. He couldn't even look him in the eye as he spoke, concerned with wrapping bandages around a nasty cut on the other's arm.
It was another normal day at Spirits and Such of course. Another client who turned out to need actual spiritual help. On another day where Tome was left at the office due to her lack of powers but Reigen led the march. Another day of Serizawa pleading with him to stay behind and let him handle it. Another day of him coming back unscathed and Reigan holding a bag of cold peas to his eye.
Another day.
The silence felt suffocating as if Reigen's lungs were filling with water threatening to drown him where he sat. He swallowed thickly, feeling his Adam's apple bob in a nervous gesture.
Angry Serizawa was such a rarity that Reigen didn't think it was possible, almost like Mob being upset. Which turned out to be quite possible. Therefore angry Serizawa was also apparently possible.
"It's my job Serizawa. I can't exactly avoid it.
“That’s not what I’m talking about. I know you can’t avoid this but you don’t have to head in first.”
“Yes, I do. I’m your boss, what do I look like letting you handle everything while I stand on the sidelines?”
“The client doesn’t matter he-”
“Yes, they do.”
“Right but not when it comes to-”
“No buts on this. The client always comes first here, Serizawa.”
“Then you should let me go in front to han-”
“I just told you it looks bad for business to let you go first.”
“You don’t have spiritual p-”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t be the bo-”
BANG
The sound of the bandage roll slamming into the counter made Reigan jump nearly out of his skin. From his place sitting on top of said counter, he felt the shock waves of spiritual power roll over him irritating now bandaged wounds. He winced which usually would cause panic and a stream of apologies from the larger man.
No.
The roll was left abandoned on the counter as Serizawa turned away from Reigan to pace around the room. Large hands were rubbing over each other like some sinister movie villain discussing his next plot. Only this wasn’t a villain, it was Serizawa, his work partner, angrily grumbling to himself with furrowed brows.
The sound of rustling fabric filled Reigen’s ear which is how he noticed his leg starting to bounce up and down from where he sat. It was a nervous habit he thought he managed to kick but apparently, he didn’t kick it far enough. His leg moved on its own bouncing as it hung off of the counter.
"Uh, Serizawa…"
The first aid kit was lifted up from the counter as well as the few dirty dishes in the sink. They all started to float in the air surrounded by purple light. It had been a long time since Serizawa lost control of his powers or at least they acted without his permission. This didn't scare him at all but an upset Serizawa did.
"Serizawa hey listen to me"
He finally stopped both his pacing and grumbling as the objects started to gently land back into place. With the calm of someone who had practiced these techniques many times, Serizawa started to take deep breaths in and then back out. His eyes slipped close but didn't relax as he continued his breathing exercise. Slowly but surely Serizawa's shoulders relaxed.
All the fake blonde could do was watch with a growing sense of pride in his heart. Serizawa had changed a lot over his time working at Spirits and Such and this was evidence of that. The way he had developed new ways to take care of himself. To keep himself balanced despite his abilities. Despite the situation, Reigen couldn't help cracking a small smile.
"You've changed a lot you know? I remember when phone calls use to terrify you just thinking of them. Or when you didn't know how much water to add to-"
"No. Reigen-san. I'm not letting you do this. Don't distract me from you.",
The blonde's mouth snapped shut at the quick response that basically told him to shut up.
His hand felt numb from the cold peas and so did his eye socket, the swelling must have gone down by then. Soggy peas were lowered to rest on the counter followed by his eyes which stared at the floor. Now he could see the way his leg bounced. Movement hypnotizing to the eye.
Maybe if he stares long enough he can disappear somewhere like Dorothy and her red shoes.
"Reigen-san.", that voice sounded closer than before as warm hands fell to rest on his thighs. A gentle squeeze was all it took to make the small man’s leg settle. Serizawa was looking at him no doubt with anger or hatred in his eyes. Maybe this was it for them. The end of the iconic partnership. No doubt Serizawa had grown tired of taking care of him.
"Please look at me."
He couldn't. He shouldn't. It wasn't allowed.
"I need you to look at me when I speak."
Speaking. Usually, his words could get him out of things but not today.
A heavy sigh left Serizawa's lips as his fingers drummed nervously on Reigen's thighs.
"I am upset. That you run off like that into dangerous situations. It's scary. Especially when you come back looking like-'' He gestured his hand in Reigen's general direction.
Today's injuries included a lot of slashes. The exorcist duo was called to help a 4-star restaurant that recently had an angry spirit causing a lot of trouble. Apparently, it had been the spirit of a food critic that hated the owner or something. Like many of the ghosts they had encountered it was simply a petty person causing trouble. The trouble included a lot of thrown knives, pots and pans, and hot water which thankfully Serizawa managed to block with his powers.
However, he could not block the knives and pans from hitting his boss who ran blindly into the kitchen. Knives slashing through his suit and pans hitting him in the face and head. Hopefully, he didn't have a concussion.
"I refuse to let you hurt yourself like this. It isn't right or fair."
Reigen’s nose scrunched up in anger, it managed to get him out of his silent trance. "Fair? It's my life Serizawa. I can do with it as I please." He spat out in what he hoped sounded like rage but mostly like a kid's scared words. More scared than angry.
"I…", Serizawa had to pause and look down at his hands. He had to go about this carefully if he was ever going to get his point across. Taking those moments to breathe earlier reminded him of why he confronted Reigen in the first place. "I know but it seems like you don't care about your life."
Reigen opened his mouth to speak only to shut it quickly as Serizawa looked him in the eyes.
"I figured it out. A long time ago actually. Why you can't seem to rely on me."
"I can rely on you! I trust you Serizawa! You're the hardest worker I've ever met. You've changed so much for the better and I'm so proud of you, truly I am and I think- mmph!!!"
Reigen's eyes widened as Serizawa's hands were placed over his mouth. That ended that conversation. The larger man still had that intense look on his face as he stared deeply into his boss's eyes. Intense not with anger but with a strange mix of determination and sadness.
It felt strange to Serizawa, being so close to him like that. His Boss's warm breath on his hands as he breathed out heavily. Eyes tired with raw emotion coming straight through them.
If he looked closely he felt like he could see a blush on his face, a slight tint of pink against pale skin. Had to be a trick of his eyes.
With a shake of his head, he continued. "Reigen. You talk a lot. And usually, I really enjoy it but not so much right now", he spoke so earnestly that even Reigan had trouble taking the words poorly. So he didn't even attempt to speak up, only staring back.
Reigen could swear that Serizawa seemed a bit flushed but that must be his poor vision.
"You've spent so long working with…well children. Mob is strong, and so are Teru and Ritsu, all of them but they're still just kids. You can't talk to them about your problems or rely on them to help you in tough situations. Powers or no powers you've always…pushed through everything all on your own.."
Reigen stared up at him with a blank expression that was growing softer and softer as he spoke. Soft memories of young Mob hiding behind his coat at just the sight of some spirits. He used to be terrified of them, and people in general. Just a little kid.
"And I admire your strength. Reigen-san I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you. Not in school or working or leaving my room at all. You've let me lean on you so much working here", Now it was Serizawa's turn to go soft as his hands slipped down Reigen's mouth to cup his cheeks.
With the small blonde sitting on the counter the two men were nearly equal in height. And still so close to each other only a few breaths away.
"I am not a child. Reigen. I'm an adult. I'm an Esper sure but still an adult. So you don't have to stand in front of me all the time. You can rely on me to have your back not watch your back as you run into danger. You don’t have to carry this burden alone anymore."
Brown eyes met and held each other's gaze for a quiet moment.
The large warm hands cupping Reigen’s cheeks made any pain in his body nonexistent. The scrapes and bruises meant nothing if he could stay in Serizawa's hold like this forever. Bruised, bloodshot eyes started to slip closed.
"You're right….I'm sorry I made you feel like…I couldn't rely on you. I just wanted to be strong for you…", he felt so tired, so very tired all of sudden. Honestly, it must be blood loss and whatever feeling Serizawa was bringing out of him. That warmth bubbling in his stomach spreading through his whole body. Especially in his cheeks which felt so hot and warm under this man’s hands. If he could melt into a puddle of chocolate on the floor he would.
Pale, rough hands rubbed over the top of Serizawa's soft ones as Reigen held his hands close. "I want to try to rely on you more. If you'd let me."
"Always Reigen. You always can."
Not even a second could go by before Serizawa responded with those soft words and an even softer press of his forehead against the other.
They had never been this close before, even when Serizawa had to treat more delicate injuries on Reigen's chest or upper legs. Those had been awkward, not tender or warm. Whether it's the blood loss from Reigen. The tiredness of Serizawa. Or the soft feelings for each other that lies deep within the two men's hearts. This tenderness was allowed to happen.
It was so warm in fact that Reigen's face at some point had gone limp against Serizawa's hands. His body went limp against the larger of the two. Silently without a word he had fallen asleep. His forehead pressed forward followed by his nose and then by his lips. A soft press of those chapped lips against Serizawa's own.
Serizawa's eyes widened and he quickly pulled away to cover his mouth with his hand. A deep flush spread over his cheeks until it went as far as down his neck.
Reigen was his first kiss. His first kiss.
The man who took his lip virginity was now slumped against his chest, his entire body hunched into a shrimp-like shape. Blood Loss was most likely the reason behind this sudden slumber. He didn't even have time to process the kiss or really anything that was said.
"Reigen you're really something special", a soft chuckle passed through his lips as he surrounded the smaller man in a purple glow. It lifted him up off of the counter and floated him up into the sky. Large arms opened up as his boss floated right into his arms perfectly cradled.
"I just want to keep you safe, Reigen. You deserve to feel safe and comfortable. And happy all the time. When I see you smile I just want to keep it right on your face", Serizawa sighed, feeling comfortable speaking more freely to the sleeping man. He looked down looking when he felt Reigen nuzzle his face against his chest.
He's snuggling me
A deep blush spread all the way to his ears as he started to walk over to the small couch in the office. It was pretty uncomfortable to lay on so he decided to sit down on the couch, acting as a bed for Reigen to curl up against. Maybe it was a bit selfish but Serizawa felt it would be allowed.
"Y-yea you deserve a lot I just hope I can give it to you…Rei-....", a yawn made him pause his words. Leaning back into the couch and stretching his long legs out onto the counter to get more comfortable. Reigen let out a sigh nuzzling his face closer and closer into the man's chest.
"Arataka…", Serizawa whispered as he let his head fall back thinking of only slumber now. He could feel his eyes starting to get heavier and heavier and slowly starting to slip close. Just before they could he heard a small voice whisper from his lap.
"Thank…you…Katsuya."