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Reigen was very used to feeling helpless. He supposed it was simply a part of being human. Of being a squishy fangless, clawless creature in a world that seemed 100% dedicated to trying to kill you. There were many times in his life when he felt helpless.
When he was seven, he fell off his bike and broke his arm. There was a split second, right before he hit the pavement, where he knew he was going to break his arm. He knew it was going to hurt a lot. And, more importantly, he knew there was nothing he could do to stop it. So, he just fell. He fell and broke his arm and cried out for his mom.
When he was eleven, his grandmother died. He and his parents went to visit her in the hospital three days before she passed. He remembered standing there, listening to the beeping of machines and smelling the antiseptic that covered the hospital. He knew she was going to die, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. All he could do was stand there with a plastered on smile as she struggled to talk to him.
When he was fourteen, they had to put his dog down. He was too old and in a lot of pain. Reigen still tried to keep his parents from carrying out the deed. He tried to hide the dog in a little used room in their house. He tried to set the dog free, with the mistaken, childish belief that he’d somehow live forever out in the woods behind their home. It didn’t work. They took the dog to the vet. Reigen returned home with a collar.
There were many more times in his life when he felt helpless. During a test, he hadn’t studied for. When he worked at his previous job and had come to the realization that this was it. This was how he was spending the rest of his life. When he thought about shutting down Spirits and Such and admitting defeat.
The thing was, as useless as he felt, there was a sort of comfort in knowing that everyone experienced these sorts of things (or close enough) at least once in their life. It was a sort of trauma bonding, he supposed. All humans on Earth shared his feelings of helplessness. It was comforting. It kept him putting one foot in front of the other. It kept his head up and his mind racing with ideas. He was a helpless, squishy, clawless, fangless human being. But so was everyone else on Earth. And if they could make it, then so could he!
And he believed that wholeheartedly. Until he met Mob.
Now, not only was he a helpless, squishy, clawless, fangless human being who was subject to all the horrors of the world, he was a helpless, squishy, clawless, fangless human being who was being exposed to dangers he didn’t even know existed!
Curses were real?
Ghosts could possess you?
Psychics existed?
Now, Reigen’s world was a lot bigger, and a lot more dangerous than he ever thought possible. And here he thought avoiding Australia would be enough to ensure a long, happy, safe life.
And, what’s worse, he didn’t have the skills to defend himself against any of it. He wasn’t an esper. He wasn’t a psychic. He wasn’t a telepath. He was a human. A normal, squishy human. How was he supposed to fight against things that sometimes, he couldn’t even see?
And he hated it. He hated it so much.
He hated that he basically had to cower behind some rubble while Mob (a child) did all the work. He hated that he couldn’t do anything but sit back, bite his nails, and hope his luck hadn’t run out. He hated that nothing he could do would ever even begin to be useful in a situation like this.
Hell, even that snot bubble of a ghost was more useful than he was right now! The bastard had the gall when things started to get hairy, to look back at him with a sarcastic smirk and say, “Why don’t you sit this one out, oh great psychic? Wouldn’t want you to break a nail.”
And, as much as Reigen wanted to argue that he was perfectly capable of doing some damage, they all knew that was a lie. If he was out there, he’d be in the way. Mob, Serizawa, and Ritsu would be distracted. And distraction would cause them to make mistakes.
Which was why he was cowering behind some rubble, watching the fantastic battle take place in front of his eyes. Ghosts versus Psychics! Who would win? (Mob, obviously, but he had to entertain himself somehow).
He hated it. He hated it so much. Mob and Ritsu were children. They shouldn’t be out there fighting. It should be Reigen taking care of business. That was how the world was supposed to work. Adults protected kids. Adults did the heavy lifting. Adults did the heavy work.
And that was why he would forever be grateful that Serizawa decided to show up on his doorstep and ask for a job. At least now they had one adult getting thrown into the mix. Granted, Serizawa didn’t tend to trust his instincts meaning that in the heat of battle he preferred to ask Reigen what he should do instead of reacting and neutralizing the threat. But still, it was better than nothing.
It was also why he so desperately wanted psychic powers. True, in the past he wanted them for power (and money), but after Mob had come under his care, his reasonings changed. If he could just do something, even if it was as small as healing a scrapped knee, he wouldn’t feel so useless. He wouldn’t have to sit back, biting his nails while children did all the work. He wanted psychic powers so badly, but there was no way to get them. You had to be naturally gifted.
And Reigen was naturally boring.
A regular, squishy, clawless, fangless human being.
He winced as a ghost brought down a pile of rubble right where Ritsu and Mob were standing. Thankfully, they had barriers up and the rubble slid off it like water slides off a duck’s back.
But Reigen couldn’t help but worry. Did those barriers have weak spots? If they did have weak spots, did Ritsu and Mob know about the weak spots? Both of them were more or less self-taught. Dimple knew a lot, but he didn’t know everything and Reigen now wondered what gaps in their esper-education were going to start appearing.
He winced as yet another wave of rubble crushed the boys, crying out and jerking forward until he saw Ritsu and Mob pop back up, completely unscathed. His heart did not stop beating like a rabbit’s.
“Get back there before you get hurt,” Dimple said, floating past him as if he were going on a leisurely Sunday stroll.
“Mob and Ritsu—”
“They’re fine. See? This kind of stuff is nothing for them.”
“But, the barriers—”
“Probably work a hell of a lot better than your barrier.” Dimple laughed and floated back to the chaos to eat more evil spirits.
One of the ghosts landed right on Mob’s barrier and started punching it with almost animalistic ferocity. Once more, a strangled noise made its way up the back of Reigen’s throat as his entire body was taut with the overwhelming desire to do something. These kids shouldn’t be here. They were in danger. He had to get them out.
Just as he thought that a giant piece of rebar came right at Ritsu.
Reigen may have called out his name.
It didn’t matter because over the sound of the chaos (or maybe because Ritsu hated him) he didn’t turn around or acknowledge he heard him.
Thankfully, the barrier directed the piece of rebar away from him and his brother, impaling it deep into the floor.
Reigen did not breathe a sigh of relief or relax.
As the dust cleared, his blood ran cold. Yes, Ritsu had managed to redirect the rebar with his barrier, but, in the process, the entire back half of the thing had shattered. And he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to put it back together. Did he even know it was broken?
“Ritsu!” he called out. The damn kid had his entire back exposed.
Any ghost could swoop in there now and take him out.
Something overhead creaked. Reigen (against his will) pulled his eyes away from Ritsu and Mob for a split second to follow the sound. His eyes widened when he realized a ghost had ripped a long, metal pole out of the ground. Cackling maniacally, he pulled it back like a javelin and aimed.
Reigen did not need to follow his eyes to know where he was aiming.
Instinctually, he was on his feet, scrambling over broken bits of concrete, metal, glass, and other rubble that had been strewn about during the fight.
Hopefully none of this has asbestos in it, he thought rather numbly as the entire seemed to slow down.
He didn’t know if he would make it in time. Just like with the bike, he was helpless. Falling with no way to stop or catch himself without getting injured. All he could do now was let it happen.
His hand connected with Ritsu’s back sending the kid practically flying into Mob.
Reigen stumbled forward a few steps just as pain exploded from the right side of his abdomen. It almost felt like he was getting ripped apart from the inside out.
Just like that (or maybe he was just imagining it), everything came to a halt. All eyes were on him as he stumbled forward, struggling to keep his balance.
“Master?” Mob’s voice was quiet, shaking, and afraid.
Reigen would have given him some words of encouragement but he was currently very busy trying to get his eyes to focus. And… and, was he drooling on himself? Why was so much liquid coming out of his mouth?
He blinked enough times to get his eyes to focus. There, in his gut, was the metal pipe that had been aimed at the boys.
A hysterical laugh bubbled up to his lips. He put his hand to his stomach and then pulled it away. It was covered in blood.
“Oh look,” he laughed, “I’ve been impaled.”
Several things happened at once.
There was a burst of power, so bright and so ferocious it nearly knocked Reigen to the ground.
The only reason he didn’t faceplant onto the concrete was because someone caught in.
He could hear Ritsu screaming at Mob. Serizawa was frantically asking Dimple what to do.
And Reigen…
Reigen couldn’t think anymore.
His eyes slipped closed, and the chaos that surrounded him faded until he was aware of nothing.
*****
When Reigen came too, his immediate thoughts were, “I’m in hell.”
Because he had to be in hell. Heaven wouldn’t hurt this much. Right? And he thought that ending up in hell after saving the lives of two children was kind of a racquet. Then again… the only reason he needed to save those two boys in the first place was because he had brought them to the dangerous situation so… maybe he did belong in hell?
“Master?”
No, wait, that was Mob. And out of all of them, Mob certainly wouldn’t end up in hell. Hell, Reigen wouldn’t be surprised if Mob was some angel sent by Heaven to save the world.
“Master?”
“Hey, Reigen, wake up.” And that was Ritsu, who was definitely not an angel. If anything, he was a demon sent by Hell to muck up the world.
“Master Reigen? Are you awake?” And that was Serizawa, who was neither demon nor angel.
“Maybe I should possess him and put some pep in his step?” Dimple said.
“Don’t you dare.” Mob’s voice was still fairly monotone, but Reigen had been around the boy long enough to know that he was threatening Dimple.
Damn. If something happened to get Mob to threaten Dimple and to get Ritsu to be worried about him, he should probably open his eyes.
He let out a groan and the hushed conversation around him cut out. It took him a while, but eventually he managed to peel his eyelids open.
“Where am I?” he said, his voice slurring and his throat feeling as if he had gargled glass and gravel.
He was lying on a bed, that much was clear. And… and these weren’t his clothes. When had someone changed him? That was really creepy to think about.
He flopped his head over to Mob and Ritsu, both looking worse for wear, but thankfully unharmed.
“At a hospital, idiot,” Ritsu growled, crossing his arms and looking away from him.
Oh, he was scared. Reigen was very good at reading people and Ritsu tended to wear his heart on his sleeve. At least, more so than Mob. And, if he could figure out Mob, then he could figure out Mob’s little brother.
That explained why Mob looked like he was about to cry. And why even Dimple sounded worried.
“Hospital?” He mumbled.
“Serizawa, go get a nurse and tell them the con man’s awake,” Dimple said, nudging Serizawa forward.
“Oh, um, right. Sorry.” He bowed before quickly scampering out of the room.
“You were impaled, don’t you remember?” Mob asked quietly.
Oh. Yeah. Come to think of it, he did remember.
He winced and reached out to ruffle Mob’s hair. “Yeah. Sorry about scaring you, kid,” Reigen said.
He thought about doing the same to Ritsu, the poor kid looked like he could use a hug, but he knew they were there with their relationship. So, he kept his hands to himself.
“Why the hell did you get in the way?” Ritsu asked. Well, exploded more like.
“Brother—”
“No, he was supposed to stay back and let us handle it! And instead, he nearly got killed! What gives?”
“Your barrier broke,” Reigen said, too tired and fuzzy for lies.
This seemed to knock the wind right out of Ritsu as he gaped like a goldfish, arms shaking at his side. “Broke?”
Reigen nodded. Bad move. The room started spinning. “I was trying to get your attention. I guess the ghosts had other ideas.”
This didn’t seem to placate the boys at all. If anything, both looked more despondent than before. Damn. If his head wasn’t so fuzzy then maybe he’d be able to say something more intelligent and thought-provoking. Be the confident, cool, collected master Mob knew and loved. And Ritsu knew and tolerated.
“We’ll go get ramen later,” he said instead. “After I get out of the hospital. There’s got to be a good one around here.”
“Master—” Mob started, only to be interrupted by Serizawa returning with the nurse.
The nurse kindly but firmly shooed everyone out of the hotel room so she and the doctor could poke and prod and ask all sorts of questions. Reigen did his best to answer them without sounding like a lunatic. Eventually, the doctors and nurses seemed satisfied with his answers and left him alone to rest.
Mob, Ritsu, and Serizawa came back in for a bit longer, though it was clear all of them were uncomfortable and shaken by the incident. Reigen did his best to cheer them up but even he couldn’t con them into a better mood. In the end, visiting hours were over and all three were forced to leave.
Alone at last.
Well, almost.
“How bad was it really?” Reigen asked, closing his eyes as he felt Dimple’s presence right by his head.
“You died.”
“Apparently not,” he snorted.
“Apparently so. You died. Actually died. I think twice. Once while we were waiting for the ambulance and once more on the operating table.”
Reigen’s eyes slid open and he looked over at Dimple. “Damn. And Mob and Ritsu—”
“They were there for the first one. I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shigeo that unhinged before. I thought he was going to rip the earth apart.”
Reigen winced at that. “I was just trying to protect them.”
“No, you did the right thing. I retraced what happened. Had you not interfered, that pipe would have gone through Ritsu’s heart.”
Once more, he winced. “Good. I’m glad.” A thought occurred to him. “When we were waiting for the ambulance, how’d you guys keep me alive? I didn’t think anyone here knows CPR.”
Dimple scoffed and turned away from him. “A miracle, I guess.”
“Dimple.”
“Fine!” He threw his hands in the air and turned back to face him. “I possessed you and kept your heart beating until the paramedics could arrive. Ritsu was too busy trying to get Shigeo to calm down and Serizawa was too busy trying to deal with the rest of the ghosts.”
He chuckled and relaxed back in bed.
“Don’t think I did it for you.”
“Sure.”
“I did it for Shigeo.”
“Right.”
“He’d be crushed if you died. Lord knows why? You’re kind of useless.”
Reigen’s smile dropped and his shoulders slumped. “Yeah. I am.”
Dimple stopped his rambling and floated to it was almost like he was sitting at Reigen’s bedside. “Then again, you did save Ritsu. So you can’t be that useless.”
“No, no. I am. No need to pretend.”
“I’m not pretending. Most normal people would have peed their pants if they experienced even half the stuff you do. But, I got to hand it to you, no matter what happens, no matter how crazy everything gets, you’re always right there with the kid. Doing your best to keep up.”
“Why Dimple, I’m flattered.” He still couldn’t help but feel utterly useless.
A helpless, squishy, fangless, clawless human being.
“I’m serious, Reigen. And I’m only being nice to you because Ritsu and Mob were in serious trouble today and you saved them. You’re not an esper, but you’re not useless either. I’m not sure we’d be where we are today if it weren’t for you.”
He thought about everything that had happened. Claw. The Scars. The giant broccoli. All of it he had experienced and influenced one way or another.
“I’m still useless,” he sighed.
“Careful, my good will only extends so far.”
“No, I’m being serious, Dimple. I don’t know anything about psychics or espers. Do those barriers have weak points? What else can Mob and Ritsu do that they don’t know they can do? I feel like the blind leading the blind here sometimes.”
“You could always ask Hanazawa for help.”
“Yeah, right.” He scoffed. “That kid’s pretty self-taught as well, right?”
“I suppose so.”
“Blind leading the blind.”
“What about that redhead kid?”
“Shou? I can’t get ahold of him,” Reigen said.
Though, Shou had shown up at his apartment several times in the past, floating cheerfully outside his window (and giving Reigen a heart attack in the process) and just wanting to talk. He didn’t know what the kid wanted, but so long as he wasn’t burning down Reigen’s apartment, he was happy to entertain him. Though, he did think about buying the kid a helmet to wear when he went flying around like he did. Seriously, if you had to wear one to ride a bike, then you had to wear one to fly around. What if he ran into a duck?
“It seems like Claw is the only place that would train them. Well, was. It’s gone now. But even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t want Ritsu and Mob anywhere near those people.”
Dimple slapped him across the face.
“Hey! What was that for? I died twice and you’re slapping me around? What gives?” he cried.
“You have an ex-claw member working for you.” Dimple deadpanned.
“Who? Serizawa?”
He nodded.
“You think Serizawa should teach Mob and Ritsu some tricks?”
“You seem to be the one hung up on them getting a proper esper education.” Dimple shrugged. “He’s your best bet.”
That… that wasn’t an awful idea. He had no idea if Serizawa would be up to the task. But it would make him feel better if Mob and Ritsu (and throw Hanazawa into the mix) understood the limits of their powers.
Sure, Mob seemed all-powerful, limitless in what he could do, but after their last battle with Claw, Reigen was not so naïve. There were always threats lurking in the shadows, trying to kill them however they could. It was stupid to think that Mob wasn’t a human.
He was a human.
A normal, squishy, fangless, clawless human who could be just as helpless as Reigen if he came across the right enemy.
And that meant that Reigen would have to do whatever it took to protect the two brothers under his care. Even if he was just as useless as they were.