Chapter Text
It was one of those days when they didn’t leave Spirits and Such at all. Mob sat at his desk and billed Reigen’s customers. Incense and massage oils had perfumed the air heavy and sweet, and each of the customers had a relieved smile on their faces as they paid. Mob counted the change carefully and dozed to the sound of mysterious nonsense chants and purifying bells.
”Hey Mob, let’s close up early today,” Reigen suggested, wiping sweat from his brow and rolling down his sleeves. The setting sun filled the office with a golden glow. It really didn’t feel like any more clients would show up before closing.
”Yes, Shishou.”
They work without words. It’s a comfortable routine – Reigen wiping the massage table and putting everything aside while Mob straightens up his desk. Then, while Reigen checks the day’s earnings, Mob fills up a small, froggy watering can and waters all the plants. After everything that had happened, Mob thought he’d be – he himself would be – put off by gardening. Instead, it was …peaceful to see tiny leaves shine a vibrant green, as if thanking for his care. Sort of like how he felt every time when he’d manage to do one more push-up.
Reigen must have been feeling something similar, because the pots kept multiplying. Without so much as a word about his plans, he had turned his office into a garden.
”Yosh, all done. Mob, before you go, I have something I’d like to give to you”, Reigen called from the adjacent room. His tie was still thrown over one shoulder when he strode past Mob to the window. Reigen stopped for a moment, hand on his chin, thinking about something – but Shishou didn’t really ever stand still, even now his foot was tapping and he swayed slightly. Sunlight shone through his damp shirt and caught the yellow tones in his hair. It blurred his silhouette when Reigen picked up one of the pots from the windowsill.
”Hm, it’s not actually for you, exactly. I was thinking – well, you should give this to your parents, Mob.”
Mob took the fat and content aloe vera in his hands. It was heavier than it looked, and spread out from it’s earthen pot without a care in the world.
”For… my parents?”
”Yeah. It’s easy enough to take care of, they should be fine. Don’t water it too much and keep it in a sunny spot. If it gets thin, water it more, if it browns, put it in somewhere less sunny.” Reigen wasn’t looking at him when he talked, even his gestures were pointing everywhere but at Mob or the plant.
”It’s time we made sure our work doesn’t follow you home, right? It’ll clean the air. Removes the… the evil spirit residue.”
There wasn’t a spark of power inside the plant, even though it looked a bit like an evil spirit with its tentacle-like leaves.
”That is very kind of you, Shishou. Thank you.”
The whole way back home, Mob kept idly petting the aloe. It grew slightly fatter before he pulled in his power.
”I’m home…”
”Oh, Shige, you’re early. Welcome back.”
After taking off his shoes, Mob headed to the kitchen. Mom had curry bubbling on the stove, and she was currently chopping up cherry tomatoes for the side salad.
”Mom. This is a gift from Reigen-san.”
”Hm, from that boss of yours? What does he –” She started with her usual tone for Reigen – exhaustion tinged with something Mob couldn’t quite name – but went silent when she saw the plant. Her knife clattered down on the cutting board. A tomato fell off the counter, but Mob flicked it back before it reached the floor. Mom didn’t notice. She kept staring at the aloe with a tight expression.
”It’s, um, supposed to clean the air,” Mob offered.
”Of course it is,” she sighed. Shaking her head, she finished making the salad before taking the pot out of Mob’s hands. It hit Mob, when she was in her white apron and under the artificial lights, that she looked…. old. Gray and colorless, opaque and still. When had that happened?
Without thinking, Mob checked with a tiny tendril of his aura – but no, it was not the same as with Ritsu and the shadow that had fallen on his little brother’s face. He was glad – it would be sad to notice another member of his family being troubled and going unnoticed right under his eyes. Then again, it also meant he didn’t know what had caused this, or how he could help.
”Well, it should survive on the coffee table just fine,” she muttered and touched one of the curling, thick leaves. Mob swallowed on nothing. Maybe he should ask if Reigen wanted his plant back. Mom didn’t look too happy about it. Her silence was heavy, but Mob couldn’t read it, so he waited and kept wiping his sweaty palms to his pants as subtly as possible.
”Oh, well.” She snapped one of the leaves clean off before Mob could stop her. Oh no, now that he thought about it, the message the aloe sent wasn’t very nice, wasn’t it. But it was still a gift from Shishou, and he had nurtured the plant with such care –
”No, Mom, it’s, uh –”
”What now, Shige?” She looked at him like he wasn’t making sense. Then, instead of destroying the whole plant, she put it down and walked over to him.
A hand ruffling his hair made Mob freeze in place. It felt weird but nostalgic. Reigen patted his back from time to time, but he couldn’t recall the last time Mom had done something like it. Or the last time she touched his cheek. Her hands were a bit cold and wet from handling the vegetables. Then something slimy and cool touched the side of his face.
”It’s good for your skin too, Shige”, she murmured and spread the aloe with gentle fingers. ”Should take care of that scratch in no time.”
The scratch was the remaining bit of a rash he got last time a strong opponent threw him around a parking lot. Another fight and another injury his parents never asked about.
”… thank you, Mom.”
Even though the sun had set a while ago, her smile had some of its usual gold in it.