A/N: Eh? Reigen hires 18 yr old Mob, what can go wrong? Right? Possibly slight slow burn older!mobrei later on? Idek myself. I might never continue. *shrugs*
...
Reigen Arataka yawned loudly swiping one lonely tear from his eye. Half-snoozing he looked outside the window his eyes stopping on slowly moving clouds. The sky was so pretty, vivid colours of red, orange and blue painted it over before evening would settle in.
It was almost time to close office for the day yet for some reason he didn't really feel like moving for an inch from his place by the desk. Maybe some late customer would strut in or Dimple would fly in from the corner to bug him again like he usually does. One could never know, right?
When in the next ten minutes neither happened he sighed sweeping hand through hair, his eyes zeroing on the calendar he kept on work desk. Striking red pen marking was circling today's date, screaming at him that he should've said something—or done.
After all today was the day Mob would leave Seasoning city for the university.
Yet that thought was still as surreal as the fact that Reigen became himself a pretty much a certain esper trouble magnet. Not that it wasn't counted into his line of work as it was. Spirits, poltergeists, espers, just a normal work day. He's seen a lot, by now nothing would surprise him any more, probably.
Yet Mob's absence by his side took him unawares. He's never truly noticed how much he relied on the youngster and... it stung. That day when Mob stood casually before Reigen's desk with his usual blank stare just... staring at him, slowly opening mouth with deadpan in his eyes saying that it was his last day at Spirit's and Such and that he'd be leaving the city—
Reigen was more than elated to know Shigeo was doing great in his studies, he truly was—before his own tormented thoughts settled around him that evening when he blankly stared at tv, numbly switching channels. He felt something crumble inside him, a part of one of his daily constants was bound to disappear for god known how long, if he'd ever came back.
Sniffing loudly he leaned over his desk now, fingers weaved together with same thoughts clouding his mind—staring at that goddamn calendar wasn't helping him either. What could he do about it though? He was an old conman that wasn't getting any younger, living his life day-to-day happy go lucky, grasping at any straws he could.
At some point he must've realised that Mob would just leave him behind in this scruffy, dusty office to pursue his own dreams and passions. Harsh truth was Shigeo was already eighteen years old, a proper adult in the eyes of most of the world. A man of his own value that'd finally see through every little white lie Reigen said.
It was difficult to just throw away years of partnership out of window like this though. Could he even call it a partnership? Yes, he used the boy for his own means of making money but—
"—you didn't pick up your phone?"
—somehow, at some point he grew too attached to that kid. Without meaning to do so, Mob crawled under his skin and stayed there. That bowl-cut hairdo and dead fish eyes, he could even see it now.
"Master..?"
Gods, he was probably the worst, wasn't he? After so many years of spending times together, learning, talking, eating takoyaki, and spiriting away entities all he said to Mob in the end was 'Well, good luck Mob.' He remembered how stricken Shigeo looked when he responded with that. Reigen didn't even stood up from behind his stupid, stupid, stupid desk to give that boy a proper goodbye hug—or a pat on a shoulder.
"I guess, I'll wait then" mentioned casually Mob staring at Reigen's stricken expression. His master and ex-boss seemed engrossed in some difficult internal battle.
Green blob known as Dimple flew next to Reigen's face, poking him gently. "Yeah, not even earthquake could move this guy right now."
Frowning a bit Shigeo's curiosity was piqued. Not only his master would look terrifying to any newcomers like this but he wouldn't even know he'd probably lose said possible customers. Without much thought he locked the doors with his powers before silently sitting on the sofa, patiently waiting.
Gentle breathing was filling the space, Dimple floated here and there looking over nooks and crannies hoping to find something new but in the end he gave up, all he found was way too much collected dust on the shelves.
Mob sat like a statue staring at his master, unblinking. It's not as if he wasn't interested in things one could find in the office, it was more like he already knew where each thing was stashed by memory. Thorough the years he known Reigen he could swear that the man was unchanging same as his habits—ever the same—a person he'd trust with his life and on occasions he did.
Fact stood though his master looked exactly the same way he's met him when he was a mere lost, wide-eyed kid. He liked that about master Reigen and honestly if it took the other man more than ten minutes to notice Mob sitting right there staring at him, he'd wait. He'd wait as long as it took.
"Shige, you really think this was a wise idea to come over here today?" asked Dimple clearly annoyed at stillness of the place. It was boring. "Look at the man, he's—"
A sudden snore cut through the quiet of the office. Dimple sweatdropped at that turning around towards Reigen and pointed accusing finger at him.
"—HE'S SLEEPING!"
Mob blinked and then stood up. It took him four steps to get before Reigen's desk and lean over him, his shadow falling over other male like a curtain.
"I knew something was fishy the moment we came in" mentioned Dimple nodding savagely. "He's a true master of con, that guy."
—37%
"Really, master" murmured Mob under breath, his eyes sharply cut into Reigen's orange hair. "To think you'd fall asleep instead of saying a proper goodbye—"
With a sudden impulse Mob bit his traitorously trembling lower lip before sighing. Then without much thought he flicked older man's forehead. Response was instantaneous as Reigen's eyes snapped open trying to burn holes into a well known face. Bowl-cut, dead fish eyes. It was Mob, right?
Wait—?
"Mob?" he asked blinking himself awake. It was a miracle he stayed in same position even though he fell asleep? "What are you doing here? Wasn't today—?"
Bowl-cut hair accidentally shadowed Mob's expression, he almost looked pissed. Reigen knew better then that though.
"You couldn't even say a proper goodbye to me, master?"
—43%
Mob's eyes were hard as steel waiting for an answer. Reigen gulped collecting himself.
"I thought you already left" he found himself responding before sudden yawn shook his entire body. "S—sorry."
"It's okay."
No, it wasn't okay and both of them knew it yet neither voiced it out. Tension was amicable in the office, Mob stared Reigen blinked. The question still stood between them, even more so now—as Reigen noticed that sky was already darkening.
"Why are you here Mob?"
Mob sighed clearly steeling himself and it looked almost ridiculous now that he was eighteen years old and he could make Reigen make a run for his money. Only then he noticed that Dimple was also present and was giving him a stink eye, god knew why.
"What?" he asked the green blob.
"Nothing" blob shot back, turning away with a huff and crossed arms.
Now, something was definitely up and Arataka should probably worry what was it when both Dimple and Mob were considered. Instead he patiently waited for his student to take one, two deep breaths before Shigeo startled him by dipping so low he almost crushed his head on the desk.
"MASTER PLEASE ACCEPT ME AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT SPIRITS AND SUCH CONSULTATION OFFICE!"
Wait—what?
Dimple floated down to Shigeo and patted him on the shoulder good naturedly. "Shh, shh—it's okay. I know it must've been difficult for you but it's over now."
Reigen looked at the couple troublemakers, his eyebrow ticked once. "What just happened?" he asked finally, starting to sweat.
Dimple shot him another stink eye. "Hope you're happy now, Arataka."
Gritting teeth with tandem with his rising pulse and more profusely sweating he stood up from behind his desk, hands smashing on top. "WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Mob blinked slowly—casually—as if he just didn't drop a bomb on his master. "So—" he suddenly shied away looking towards window and darkening sky behind it. "I'm not going to university after all, master" he circled his thumbs nervously. "I hoped you'd take me back as your student and worker if it was possible."
Gulping twice the anxiety Shigeo gave him, Reigen collected himself as per his usual—adult—self. He nodded twice in understanding even though he understood nothing yet.
"Ah I understand now. You want to start working for me, is that it?"
Mob looked him straight in the eye, every other person would feel intimidated by this but not Reigen who smiled instead. However that smile was very short lived as other questions and possibilities filled his mind.
"Can I ask why the sudden change in your plans?" he was curious, morbidly so.
—56%
"Don't ask insensitive questions! You should know better then that" mentioned Dimple casually floating by in-between two males.
It wasn't a staring contest, it was just a simple question. He haven't got any idea that answer might've been not so simple to it though. After what felt like forever Shigeo lowered his head a bit before biting the bullet and smiling blankly at his much older then him friend.
"It's a bit of a story, master, really. To make it short though, I'll just say: I need to earn money for studies."
From all possibilities Reigen certainly didn't take that one into equation beforehand, for it to be the reason for Shigeo's presence today in his office and not on the train ride away from Seasoning city. Money. It was so pragmatic, really. Yet he couldn't hold it against Mob no matter what.
"I see" he said instead walking towards window and looking through it outside.
It was pretty dark already, street was filled with yellowish lights and bright neon sign that wouldn't stay on for more than five minutes before it'd become seizure inducing mess. How long was Mob waiting for him to wake? He could see the tense gaze of teen in the glass, he wanted the answer instantly. Reigen felt how clammy his hands started to feel so he tucked them into his pants pockets—hoping he looked deep in thought.
The truth was he not only just few minutes ago had an emotional meltdown thinking Shigeo would leave him alone to deal with all spirits and now he wanted to become his employee—as in a proper employee, on a proper pay?
Reigen sweated.
He hasn't got enough money to take under his wing another employee as it is. Tome was doing things half-heartedly in the past like Mob did before he hit sixteen and Ritsu made him start paying him like part-timers—plus he already was employing Serizawa, he really didn't have enough earnings to take in another face to feed so to speak.
Yet Mob was waiting patiently staring at him.
—61%
"Master?"
"Oh yes, yes, of course!" he blurted out suddenly turning around to face Shigeo. "However I don't have any open positions at my office at the moment Mob. You need to understand that even with employing Serizawa it's a tight fit for our budget."
"You pay Serizawa with ramen" snipped Dimple crossing arms over his blob body. "Plus he's only part-timer. Shige wants to enrol full-time."
There was such nervous expression upon Mob's face he hoped he wouldn't break something or someone. That haven't made his position in the matter at hand any easier. He'd love to employ Shigeo but—he'd know that his 'master' was a financial criminal.
"I'd love to have you as my employee Mob but—"
"You don't understand. Please, I really need the money."
Reigen frowned at that. Mob sounded as sincere as always and it worried him immensely, it wasn't even his business in the first place yet there was that deep seated hope in Shigeo's gaze he couldn't just ignore.
He sighed heavily, scratching his chin in defeat. "Fine. When do you want to start?"
—58%
Mob's face almost glowed then, his eyes shone for a second with appreciation.
"Tomorrow's fine with me" he responded immediately, happily.
It was still such weird thing to see Mob a bit more expressive than when he was at fourteen. By any means he hasn't changed emotionally that much but on rare occasions he'd let out a really loud hearty laugh or dangerous growl nowadays.
One way or another, Reigen knew he just sealed their fates literally seconds ago—or at least his own. Once Shigeo would realise all the taxes he never bothered to pay, he knew he'd be a dead man in a blink. Oh, well. He could at least eat something warm before his ultimate demise though.
Smiling towards teen that was only couple inches shorter than him now—damnit—he reached for office keys jiggling them in the air for a second.
"Let's get some Takoyaki on the way home Mob."
In response back he's got surprised look from Shigeo before he'd collect himself next second with a slight nod.
"Okay, master."
Leading the way out of the office Reigen could only hope he wouldn't regret his decision the very next day.