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Ritsu’s face is downcast, looking at the rubble on the ground around him. He doesn’t want to look up. Doesn’t want to see what he’s done. What he didn’t mean to do. It was just self-defense, that’s all he keeps saying to himself. He was scared and caught off guard. They were bigger than him, brash words and spewing threats.
It wasn’t his fault.
He’s small compared to them. Didn’t know half the mind games he himself set up. It’s all too complicated to sort out. Who the people were or what they wanted from him. He knows he didn’t throw the first punch. Young and weak in both the bullies and his own eyes.
It wasn’t his fault.
“Ritsu?”
He flinches. Taking a step backwards, stumbling as his shoe catches on torn up concrete. No. No. No. No! He felt his brother approaching before he actually saw him. If only he would have been paying better attention. But his mind had mistaken the familiar sensation of the older psychic with overwhelming safety instead of a potential threat.
What must Mob be thinking? Seeing his younger brother standing by himself, the destruction of what could possibly be his peers surrounding him.
He’s scared. So, so scared as Mob reaches out towards him.
He can’t back away in fear of falling, and wouldn’t that be embarrassing. His older brother pushes his hair out of his face. Ritsu can barely see past his tears.
“You alright?”
“I-” it’s not the question he’s expecting. Waiting for Mob to ask what happened. Why he of all people lost control. Why he was so stupid. Such a hypocrite-
“Ritsu?”
The question right. What had Mob asked? If he was alright?
No.
No, he’s not alright. He doesn’t know how to say that though.
There’s a lot going on. The adrenaline now starting to leave his system. Mob’s hand still in his hair, running through it. A part of him rationalizes that he’s probably making sure he didn’t hit his head. The other part of him is relishing in the comfort the small amount of affection is giving him.
“Are you hurt?”
Is he? Does it even matter?
His hands sting sure. He can feel the dirt underneath his nails, sharp pebbles digging into his skin. Small cuts and skinned knees uncomfortably pushing to the front of his mind. He should brush himself off, walk it off. He’s fine. Dealt with much worse in fact. Mob has gone through worse he’s sure and yet he can’t recall if his older brother has ever complained. If Mob hasn’t then Ritsu certainly shouldn’t.
But it’s scary. This drifting feeling when he realizes is only increasing. How uncomfortable minor scraps and bruises are become. He’s hurt and tired and would really like it things would just right themselves on their own.
Instead of trying to convey any of that Ritsu whimpers.
“Oh.”
A moment of realization falls over his brother’s expression one that Ritsu just barely glimpses before deciding that he rather hide, shutting his eyes closed tightly and willing himself to get a grip. It does little to help.
He almost wishes that Mob would say something else. Walk away, ask why, tell him off, something!
“It’s okay.” Shigeo takes his brother’s hands, wiping off the small stones, pressing a small kiss onto one of the small scratches. It reminds Ritsu of when they were smaller. When scraps and scratches could be kissed better by their parents and the world was alright again.
His older brother reaches up, wiping away a few stray tears. “All better now.”
Shigeo’s smiling at him.
It’s such a rare sight that it startles Ritsu for a moment. Soon followed by a warmth growing in his stomach.
He holds out his arms. He knows it’s unfair. At the very least he should use his voice and ask. But knowing what you want and asking for that same thing is a daunting task. Watches as his brother stares at him, head tilted and thoughts spinning, trying to understand. Nonverbal ques were never his strong suite. The realization of what he wants slowly dawning on him when Ritsu whines, making grabby hands despite the embarrassment that follows.
There’s no one else there to seem them. No one to judge him if he indulges in the idea of his big brother taking some of the burdens from his shoulders if only for a moment.
“I can’t carry you.”
Ritsu pouts. What’s the point of that stupid club, body builder fitness, whatever, of Shigeo’s then if he can’t be carried?
“Alright. Alright. Don’t cry.” Shigeo looks hesitant for a moment, muttering to himself, “It doesn’t really count, does it…? No. Probably not…”
He gets the sensation of floating. Mob’s using his powers on him. For a moment Ritsu thinks he’s going to be sick, until his brother’s arms come to hold him around his waist.
He’s being held on his brother’s hip a glow around him in order for the eldest to be able to handle the younger’s weight.
“There we go. This alright?”
He nods.
Despite not needing to Ritsu wraps him arms around his older brother’s neck.
“Ready?”
“Mhm.”
Ritsu tucks his face to hide away from the world. He doesn’t want to see what his powers have done as Shigeo walks past.
He closes his eyes intending to focuses on the warmth of his sibling, the rhythm of his steps as they begin walking. The feeling of comfort as exhaustion takes a hold of him. It’s not as scary, a part of his mind hazy, but not fearful. Placated by his big brother holding him. Protecting him like he used to. Like he tries now.
He’s safe.
He’s missed this feeling.
~~~
They’ve been walking for a while now. Ritsu starts to grow restless, kicking his feet back and forth. He might normally be worried about his brother dropping him, but with his older brother’s powers keeping him a float he didn’t really have to worry about that.
He squirms and Shigeo does the best he can to soothe the other. “Almost there.”
He puts his head back down and huffs. He doesn’t quite recognize the street they are on. Then again his thoughts are fuzzy and he may or may not have drifted into a daze for the past two or three previous blocks.
A bell rings, the squeak of a door opening. He pulls his head up from his brother’s shoulder, squinting at the bright florescent lights.
Wait a second…
This isn’t their home.
“Shisou, sorry I’m late.”
It takes him a moment longer to figure out where they are, giving his brother a confused stare.
“Ah, I still have work after school Ritsu.”
Ritsu pouts. He couldn’t have ditched this one time? He couldn’t have taken them home first?
He didn’t want to be here!
“Mob?”
His frown deepens at the new voice.
“I brought my baby brother. I think he’s regressed, it didn’t feel right to leave him home like this. I hope it’s alright.”
“Uh yeah. It’s an easy day, not much going on so it should be fine.”
“Thank you.”
He wasn’t exactly hiding his regression but that didn’t mean Shigeo could just go and tell the man such things!
Ritsu is not fine with this. He thought he’s spend the rest of the afternoon with his brother. He didn’t like Reigen, he didn’t want his brother working, this wasn’t fair!
He’s expecting to be laughed at. Told to grow up. Get over himself. Instead Reigen seems to soften his expression as he looks at him.
And why was Reigen not asking any questions about this? It didn’t make sense, and Ritsu didn’t have the ability to ask such questions and it upset him to no end.
So of course the regressor only had one option.
He kicked up a fuss.
So maybe trying to tip over his brother in order to get out of his hold wasn’t the best idea he’s ever had. “Whoa! Hey!”
“Ritsu!”
“Oof.” He didn’t land on the ground like he thought he would. “Easy there bubs. I’ve got you. Almost took quite the nasty tumble there.”
Reigen. Being held by the conman. He rather have fallen.
Ritsu pouted, sticking out his tongue.
For all his resistance Reigen still manages to pick him up, his pouting only gaining his hair being ruffled. “Oi none of that now. I get it I get it.” He hands the little back to his brother, Mob using his powers to help hold the regressed teen once again.
“Better now?”
He just grumbles, hiding his face away. Nope.
“Did you boys have something to eat?” Reigen asks, clearly just going to ignore Ritsu. Good.
“No. We came straight here after school.”
“How about take out? It will be my treat.”
“What do you think Ritsu?”
The regressor grumbles. “’s fine.” He mumbles, because it is, as long as he can stay with his brother he doesn’t really care what happened.
Besides, food does sound good.