Work Text:
As the day goes on, the sun rises from the East and slowly makes its way to the West. Birds chirped with the clouds continuing its journey away from the sun. The TV begins to crackle with the sounds of the daily news cutting out from time to time. Not that Reigen cared that much anyways. All the TV was presenting was the news reporter chatting about the sudden heat currently ongoing and how the heat will last for the rest of the week. Which was understandable considering the summer was approaching rapidly. However, the rise of temperature was bothersome. Some days are bearable while others are scorching hot. Unfortunately, today was one of those days.
“Man, why is it so hot ?” Reigen huffed annoyingly as he picked up a couple of papers on his desk to wave it directly at his face. He felt himself grow flustered as he recognized the ac on the ceiling wasn’t doing its job and occasionally sputtered a random burst of air that barely helped, “I think we should close up for today. I can’t stand the heat.”
Serizawa turned to Reigen’s direction with a slight concern hinted at in his expression. Reigen simply stared back, tiredly as he continued to wave the papers. The other man looked to be just fine, despite him wearing a larger suit than him which was a surprise. Serizawa set down the cup of water he held in his hands on a nearby surface and replied to Reigen with a worry, “Are you sure? What about possible clients coming in?”
“I think we’ll be fine. I doubt any clients would bother coming in with this heat.” Reigen answered back with confidence in his tone. Which made Serizawa taken aback by Reigen’s willingness to miss out on business but reluctantly shook his head in agreement.
“I’ll go ahead and close up.” Serizawa admits and walks off without a second thought. Reigen grunted with approval as he watched the taller man head down to the main door down the hallway with his footsteps trailing behind.
After a few moments of silence, Reigen sighed as he stood up from his seat and wandered to his drawer as he wiped off sweat dripping from his forehead with his palms. He felt exhausted and didn’t want to do any more work. He wants to get this suit off as it was beginning to make him overheat.
Thankfully, he had spare clothes in his office for emergencies that saved him more than once. He didn’t wear it before because he wanted to be prepared in case of any sudden clients coming in. Now that Reigen and Serizawa are going to close Spirit and Such, he might as well put on a new spare of clothes and head home for the day.
As he crouched down in front of the drawers hidden on the side of the room, he pried open one of the drawers to look for the clothes. Then, he became dumbfounded as he found himself staring at items for exorcisms. Crystals, books of random made-up spells and the rest were artifacts that he brought to make himself look more convincing as he does his exorcisms. The bridge of his nose wrinkled as he recalled some memories with some clients. But quickly dismissed it as he switched to another drawer and found his designated spares.
“Here they are,” he said cheerfully as he pulled up with the sleeves of a spare shirt away from the others. He looked around the shirt with wonder to see if it was clean. No stains and looked practically brand new. He grinned and said under his breath, “perfect.”
He stood back up and looked around the office. He can hear Serizawa shoes at the end of the hallway, mumbling to himself as — what Reigen assumes him doing — put up a sign that signals that we are close for the day.
“I could try and switch shirts before Serizawa comes back.” he said to himself in a whisper, looking around in a suspicious mood. He pouted at a doubtful thought that crossed his mind. He pondered about changing somewhere that is private. Most preferably the bathroom, though, without thinking, he begins taking off his tie and suit quickly. He didn’t know why he suddenly thought this was the best idea but since he was already doing it, might as well finish it. His palms ran through the strings of his white collared shirt before landing on his smooth vest. He pushed the buttons off through the holes of his vest before he heard footsteps coming towards his direction.
“Arataka, I put up the sign.” Serizawa calls out with a huff. It wasn’t long before Reigen heard Serizawa’s shoes clank at each step as the other man headed back to the main room.
At this point, the blonde man begins to realize the timed situation he was stuck in. Reigen felt his veins grow cold as he felt himself start to panic. He grabs onto one of his sleeves to pull it away from his arm, most of which got caught on his elbow but still managed to pull his shirt off.
He grabbed the spare and began putting it on as he heard the footsteps behind him stopped. As he tidied up his shirt, he turned around and found himself staring at Serizawa with an unexplainable expression. It was plastered with concern, scared, and confusion. It made Reigen begin to worry if he had done something but his dry throat prevented him from asking what.
“Arataka,” the other man croaked, quiet enough that Reigen almost didn’t hear what he said. His face twisted to an expression of deep concern when he managed to say more, “your back…”
Reigen bit his tongue, feeling his face grow flustered with embarrassment as he felt a cold sweat drip from his forehead.
What could be on his back? A stain on his shirt? His shirt ripped or something? Many possibilities rushed through his head and he attempted to look behind himself.
“What is it? What’s on my back?” Reigen said with a crack in his voice. He recognized that his voice became high and random gibberish as tried to look over his shoulder to see what Serizawa was talking about. After a few moments, the other man approached Reigen and he stopped to look back at the other man.
“You have a scar ,” Serizawa gulped as he furrowed his brows and had a tense face. Though, before Reigen could respond, Serizawa’s eyes widened and he slapped a hand over his forehead in a guilty expression, “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have pointed that out. That was rude of me.”
Reigen gasped slightly as he realized what Serizawa was talking about. It wasn’t a sensitive topic, like what Serizawa implied. However, the relationships Serizawa had that are connected to the scar discouraging him from being honest. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about it due to the fear of triggering Serizawa’s anxiety unnecessarily. It doesn’t help that a few possible outcomes flashes in his mind and none of them were pleasant. Still, he couldn’t just stand there and be quiet. He needs to quickly end this conversation and go home.
“It wasn’t anything bad,” he said in a half truth, trying hard to figure out good enough responses to satisfy Serizawa, “It didn’t hurt.”
“‘…Didn't hurt?’” Serizawa questioned with a couple of blinks. His eyes went back to Reigen’s back that was already covered again. His eyes furrowed with more confusion than ever, “I hope you don’t mind me asking what happened.”
Reigen began to feel a sweat drip from his jaw as hundreds of responses rushed through his mind. He bit the inside of his cheek as his eyes darted around the room. He thinks it’ll be best to say ‘I do mind’ and head out the door with a goodbye. But his throat was stuck with many responses that he ended up saying, “I don’t mind.”
“Alright,” Serizawa relaxed his expression a bit as he continued on to ask, “so… what happened?”
No! No! No! Reigen’s eye twitched as he realized he accidentally agreed to talk about it. His brain jumbled up his words because of the gravity of the situation he was in and this HEAT ! His skin felt like it was burning and what’s happening now does not help. He might as well talk about this scar a little bit without giving much enough information for Serizawa to connect the pieces, then, go home.
Though, when Reigen looked at Serizawa’s eyes. He felt like he couldn’t hide the truth anymore. If he lied, how would Serizawa feel? What would he think about him? He couldn’t lie to Serizawa about this. Especially when the other man genuinely looked worried for Reigen.
“Do you remember when you used to work with Claw?” Reigen asked with a serious stare at the other man’s direction. He crossed his arms and gave a slight frown at what he’s about to say next, “I got the scar from the 7th division’s fight.”
“Ah.” Serizawa said, looking down at his shoes. Reigen mentally slapped himself as he watched Serizawa recall some bad memories from the company he used to work at. Reigen lifted his hand away from under his armpit and set it on Serizawa’s shoulder with a comforting smile.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Reigen reassured with honesty. Serizawa stiffened a sniff from the emotions rushing through him and looked up at Reigen once again with a guilty face. Reigen continued, “you weren’t even in the fight.”
“It’s not that,” Serizawa admitted with a pained face. He raised his hand and settled it on Reigen’s hand that was on his shoulder. Reigen watched Serizawa raise his head to give his full attention to the blonde man. He continued, “I’m worried that because of where you got the scar from… you think of me differently.”
“No, no!” Reigen almost said too loudly. He lowered his voice with an empathetic look directed at the other man. He moved his hand away to hold Serizawa’s hand. Reigen rubbed his thumb against the other’s knuckles to put Serizawa at ease and gave a smile, “I never did and never will think of you differently because of your past. It’s just a stupid scar. It doesn’t even hurt.”
Serizawa didn't look too convinced and looked away. Which made Reigen’s gaze grow softer and trying to make eye contact with the other man. Serizawa noticed and awkwardly shifted away to actively look away from Reigen. Reigen couldn’t help but feel his heart sting at the avoidant behavior. He needed to say something. Serizawa was beginning to shake which made Reigen’s concern for him.
“Listen…” Reigen began to reassure before he was interrupted by the other man.
“I think the scar looks badass.” Serizawa whispered that Reigen almost didn’t catch.
Reigen took a moment to process what he just heard before letting his jaw drop and eyes widen, “…. Eh? What did you say?”
As Reigen looked at Serizawa again, he found himself staring at Serizawa who was red like a tomato and overly flustered. He didn’t say anything and simply continued to look away from Reigen’s gaze. Reigen, in turn, was quiet and baffled at what Serizawa said. He wasn’t sure if he heard it completely right so he asked again.
“Can you repeat what you said?” Reigen raised both of his hands to rest on Serizawa’s shoulders. He was staring right onto the other man’s flustered cheeks.
Serizawa took a deep breath as he looked back at Reigen but did not maintain eye contact for long and began darting his eyes around the room. He was desperately avoiding looking back into Reigen’s eyes as he stuttered a few syllables. Then, once he muttered up a few words, he shut his eyes tightly.
“I think your scar looks really cool.” He muttered loud enough that it was confirmation of what Reigen heard earlier. Reigen was absolutely flabbergasted at what Serizawa just said. He didn’t expect this kind of response from his employee, ever! Not that it wasn’t welcome, just completely unexpected and nice to hear.
“I see.” It was Reigen’s turn to become flustered. He gave a few pats on Serizawa’s arms before covering his face with one of his hands to hide his face. He quickly turned away from Serizawa with crossed arms, “Thank you, Serizawa. I appreciate the compliment.”
Even though Reigen was turned away from Serizawa, he swears he can hear a smile in his tone as he replied, “just giving my honest opinion.”
The blonde man stared sternly ahead with a couple of blinks, trying to hide the fact that his face was growing more warm throughout the entire conversation. He faked a cough as he turned back around to look at Serizawa who looks calmer now, still slightly red.
“Is it me or is the room getting hotter!” Reigen exclaimed with the usual fake attitude he portrays with his customers. He grabbed his old clothes that were left in the drawer and started making his way out the door as he continued to yell, “anyways it's best if i leave now! I’ll see you tomorrow, Serizawa!”
“See you tomorrow, Reigen.” Serizawa’s response he heard as he left the office was something he didn't think he would ever forget.
…
He rushed back to his apartment with a wobbly smile plastered on his face. He was entirely expecting Serizawa to handle the truth about the scar differently. Way differently. But the way Serizawa called his back scar ‘badass’ made him happy. He has forgotten about his scar, mostly because he never got a good look at it and it never caused any sort of discomfort nor pain.
However, after this situation between both adults, he walked to his bathroom and checked out the scar himself. He lifted up his collared shirt and gently placed it on the marble counter before looking at the mirror with his back turned towards it. He raised his eyebrows as he saw the scar stretching from his spine to his left shoulder blade. It looked nasty and he now understood why Serizawa got so worried in the first place.
He attempted to touch it, but only reached the bottom part of the scar. Judging from what he could feel from the smaller part of the scar, it was rough and pink. It looked to be healed just fine yet permanently on his back. Reigen smiled as swung his hand back and took a good look at himself in the mirror.
His scar definitely looked ‘badass’.
