Chapter Text
His alarm beeped in his ear, startling him from his sleep. Reigen slammed a hand onto the off button, irritatingly silencing it. He had some odd dream but he couldn’t remember what. He couldn’t really think of anything after only an hour of sleep.
6 AM is crazy work. I fucking hate this job why am i even here. Reigen rolled out of his comforter and planted his feet on the floor. He flinched in anticipation at the chill of the wood but was pleasantly surprised to find the planks almost warm. In fact, he started to realise all around him was a nice temperature. Drastically different from the frosty air he had fallen asleep in. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted into his room and he rolled his head back and breathed it in.
“Good morning Master Reigen,” Serizawa entered the room holding a mug of steaming coffee for him. “I turned the heat on and made you some breakfast for your morning meeting.” Serizawa had always been a night person but this was bordering on insomnia.
“Oh thank you Serizawa,” Reigen took his coffee out of his hands, “How’d you get in my apartment? You should be asleep right now, we have a job later and I need you functioning?” Reigen chugged his coffee in two long gulps before throwing on his slippers.
“Well I couldn’t sleep anyway and you never moved your spare key from under the mat. I knew you had this early appointment and you’ve never been the type to value nutrition, even when you have the time. I figured you’d need some food this morning,” Serizawa fiddled with the hem of his hoodie, anxiously cracking his knuckles. “Sorry I can leave if you want, you’re right it’s weird I shouldn’t be here.”
“Woah, I never said it was weird. Who am I to turn down a fresh cooked meal. Thanks Seri, now hop out for a sec I gotta get dressed.” Reigen didn’t even give Serizawa enough time to get out of the room before he started pulling off his shirt. Serizawa let out a small shriek before whirling out of the room and slamming the door behind him. “Whoops, didn’t mean to scare you, homo,” Reigen called through the bedroom door.
“Master Reigen I believe that’s unprofessional,” Serizawa flushed, calling back through the door he was pressing his back against. “I'll go get your breakfast ready sir.” Serizawa swiftly marched away from Reigen’s room, trying not to think about the glimpse of his toned back and broad shoulders he’d seen. Has he started working out? Or has he always been in shape… I SHOULDN’T BE THINKING ABOUT THIS THAT’S MY BOSS JUST MAKE SOME EGGS SERIZAWA MAKE THE EGGS! The fridge was wedged shut, something sticky sealing it together. Once Serizawa fought it open, he dug through Reigen’s fridge, searching for eggs and butter in the midst of weeks old leftovers, pints of milk with two sips left, a moldy head of broccoli, seventeen instant lasagna meals, and much more practically inedible junk. He finally fished out the last two eggs of the carton underneath three jugs of pickle juice. For some unknown reason, Reigen also stored his pots and pans in the fridge alongside his junk. A tear or two welled up in Serizawa’s eyes as he pulled a medium frying pan wedged between a carton of milk turned cheese curds and a six pack of beer.
“Don’t cook much huh,” Serizawa shuddered, trying to scrape off the spoiled milk on the side of the pan.
“Nah, I live on takeout these days,” Reigen said through a yawn as he walked into the kitchen.
“Oh Master Reigen, I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you come in,” Serizawa fumbled the egg he was cracking and it fell to the ground, unprotected by its thin fragile shell. “Shit,” He flicked a hand out and the egg froze in midair before it could hit the tile.
“Nice catch,” Reigen plucked an apple from a bowl on the counter and crunched into it, scarfing down the whole thing in seconds. Sticky apple bits stuck to his stubble but he was in too much of a rush to shave. Serizawa mumbled another apology and Reigen waved him off as he hustled to the coat rack and threw on his suit jacket. He waved his hands around and in seconds his tie was in a perfect windsor knot. Serizawa’s eyes bugged out as he marveled at his master’s psychic powers, admiring the tie that appeared out of nowhere.
“Keep the awe to a minimum Seri the eggs are burning,” Reigen yawned, still getting over his grogginess. Reigen mumbled something about caffeine and rifled through his cabinets and drawers searching for coffee grounds. Disappointed in his horrifically stocked kitchen, he wrenched open the fridge and pulled a can of beer out and started fiddling with the tab.
“Woah, Master, what are you doing? Don’t you have a meeting with a client in an hour? You shouldn’t be drinking right now.” Serizawa looked up from the egg he was trying to salvage.
“Yeah I don’t really care right now, long ass night and I need to get through this somehow.”
Serizawa flipped the burner off and faced him, inspecting his face. The bags under Reigens eyes were deep purple and his face looked a little hollow. His posture was sunken, different from his typical confident stature. His shirt was wrinkled and his hair seemed flat. Overall he was just tired.
“Hey, are you doing alright?” Serizawa handed him a plate of the scrambled eggs he’d managed to scrape from the charred bottom. Reigen took the plate from him, giving him a grateful smile and leaning against the counter to eat it. He rolled his sleeve up to check how good he was doing on time. He had about five minutes before he had to head out to the station, so he had the time to slow down and eat his eggs in more than two bites.
“Reigen? Did you hear me?” Serizawa watched him digging through his plate, looking for a bite without charcoal. He looked up and met his workers' eyes. Shakily holding his gaze, Serizawa anxiously rubbed the sleeve of his sweater, wondering if he had overstepped. Reigen finally sighed and put the plate down in the sink.
With his back to Serizawa he spoke as he rinsed the crumbs off his dish, “good enough to get by, thank you for breakfast.” He flicked his hands on the towel and gave his warm apartment one more longing look before stepping into the cold dark that awaited him through the front door.
Serizawa stood there in the kitchen, watching where Reigen had just been. Wondering if he had said anything wrong. It’s a long walk to the station. It’s so dark out too. He shouldn’t be walking alone, especially drunk. He doesn’t hold his beer too well.
He triple checked the stove was off before throwing his jacket and boots on. He plucked his umbrella from where he left it by the door and sent a quick prayer to anyone who was listening that Reigen wouldn’t beat his ass for this.
The street was still damp from the rain that had paused only an hour earlier. Reigen felt a deep pit in his stomach as he passed the streetlight flickering, moths flitting to the light. Reigen had always hated moths, he found them useless and stupid. They all fell victim to the same death, time and time again, they never learned. Soaring headfirst into the fiery ball that will kill them. Lining up to flock into the warmth, longing until their heart stops beating. He hated moths.
His vision was a little blurred, it felt almost unbearable just putting one step in front of the other. Knowing another long day awaited him. One step after another. One breath after another. One day after another. His life really seemed to slow down yet blur simultaneously. And it showed no sign of changing. The only good thing he had going for him was Mob. And now something weird was happening with him and there’s a chance Reigen couldn’t fix this one. He really couldn’t fix anything. His business was crashing, he couldn’t pay Mob and Serizawa, he could barely pay his electric bill last month.
What am I even doing this all for? He thought as he trudged through a puddle he didn’t care enough to avoid. He knew that was a stupid question. Of course he knew what he was doing this for. Mob. And Serizawa and Tome. He would push through it, one client after another, one step forward after another. If I get another meeting at 6 in the morning I’m quitting this god forsaken job though. He thought to himself, kicking a pebble down the road.
“Reigen! Wait up,” Reigen turned to see Serizawa splashing through the puddles gripping his umbrella tight with both hands.