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Being in a body again is weird. It’s always weird. Nothing ever quite fits, he’s either too big, too small; too vaporous, too solid. Dimple makes it a habit to only possess people when they really need it, or if he really needs it– like when he needed a meatbag to help get into Claw, or when those bullies were trying to pick on Mob, or the time with Mogami. Necessary times.
This time is necessary too.
His kid needs him now. No, no, there’s no outside threats, no big bad spirit to conquer. He’s just scared, is all. Honestly, Dimple’s surprised the kid hasn’t abandoned ship yet, left his own body to float in a numb void that is the world in order to escape this… this. Dimple helps him stay inside his own body, but it takes some doing. Good, good, first item on the list crossed off.
Second item: he breathes in the body that isn’t his. He fills the lungs he hasn’t owned in awhile– in, out, in, out. Oxygen floods his system, blood rushes to his head, his fingers, his toes, heart rate calming. Not his, but… his. Good, good. He’s doing good, Mob’s still there in his body, pushed aside gently so that Dimple can help.
Third item: he forces his limbs to stop shaking. He lets the muscles in his arms, his legs, his back, his chest, his neck, his jaw go slack, and he nearly topples over where he sits in bed.
Fourth item: forget the nightmare flashing through his vision. Well. Not really forget, but soothe it, ignore it, put it somewhere else for now, far away from where Mob is. Fifth item, sixth item, seventh… all items check off, one by one, and Dimple finds Mob’s spirit calmed and quieted in the shared vessel, blood pumping and chest aching.
“You good?”
Something like an affirmation from Mob’s spirit. Kid must be exhausted.
“You wanna sleep?”
Nope, nope, no he does not. Hm. Really, the best thing for him to do would be to ignore the kid and make him sleep, but that doesn’t quite sit right with Dimple, so he stands up and stretches their arms. Mob seems distantly confused.
“You don’t wanna sleep, so how about we do something? Go for a walk, or something.”
Mob doesn’t sound interested in sneaking out. Figures. Kid’s a goody-two-shoes.
Dimple waves his new hand around. “Well, what do you wanna do? There’s a lot of night left for not going back to sleep–”
The door to Mob’s room opens.
“Ah! Ritsu-chan, how’s it hangin’?”
A sneer curls the younger Kageyama’s lip. “Get out.”
“Woah, woah, woah, I’m only here because Mob asked for my help! Step on the breaks, kiddo.”
The aura already pointing at him hesitates. “...Let him say that himself.”
Dimple steps aside for a moment, letting Mob unearth himself. “It’s… fine.” He gives up the control again just as a few tremors start back up. Dimple breathes for him.
Ritsu relaxes somewhat, but enters the room, closing the door completely behind him. “...Well. Alright. Can I ask what happened?”
After Mob’s approval, Dimple explains: “Panic attack. You know how it is– you get a nightmare, the nightmare feels real, you freak out. This one was a doozy too. Never seen him so spooked.”
“Are you– is he okay now?”
“He’s getting there.” Ugh. Dimple’s tired just being in this body. He sits back down on the futon. “Anyway, what are you doing up, Ritsu-chan? Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
Ritsu sits across from him, cross legged against the wall. Mob really needs to learn how to decorate in here. “Can’t sleep either. Heard you talking, so I decided to see what was up.” A pause– he hugs his knees close. “Hey, um. Would it be weird if I asked you something, Dimple?”
Dimple leans back on Mob’s hands, cross legged himself. “Shoot. What’s on your mind?”
Ritsu fixes him with a curious look. “Were you… are you even human?”
Oh. Hm. That’s a lot to unpack. Huh.
He clears his throat. “I… was. A long time ago. I think.”
“You think?”
He waves Mob’s hand around. “It’s been awhile, man, I dunno. I had to come from somewhere, right? But, I mean. That stuff doesn’t matter anymore. I’m a spirit now, this is who I am, now, in the present–” Well. Technically he’s Mob now. He’s in control of his body. But that’s beside the point. “Either way, I don’t really like looking back on the past. It doesn’t matter.”
“Mm…” He doesn’t seem satisfied with that answer. “I guess. But… you don’t remember who you were at all?”
“Nope.”
“No name? No nothing?”
“Nada.”
“You don’t even know what you used to look like?”
Dimple leans forward, frowning Mob’s mouth. “What part of ‘it doesn’t matter anymore’ don’t you understand?”
Ritsu huffs. “Fine, fine. Whatever. Just… you’re really okay with that?”
“Kid. I’m fine. I like who I am now! Chill.”
“I’ll ‘chill’ when I know Mob’s okay and in control of his body again.”
Dimple sucks air through Mob’s teeth. “That might take awhile…”
“I can wait.”
God, these kids need to go to bed. “So you’re just gonna sit there and watch me twiddle my thumbs?”
Ritsu shrugs, eyes droopy. Dimple rolls Mob’s eyes, his own eyelids not faring much better. It’s been awhile since he’s actually felt tired. Like, tired tired. Poor kid’s been having trouble sleeping lately, and as much as he tries to hide it, it shows.
“Oi, Mob. You sure you don’t wanna sleep?”
Still a negative. Stubborn.
“You afraid you’ll have another nightmare?”
A tentative approximation of a nod. Yeah, that’s what he thought.
“I can make sure you don’t have any dreams, if you want.”
“You can do that?” Ritsu asks.
“Sure I can! The brain’s just another part of the body, you know.”
Mob hesitates. And he relents, even more exhaustion hitting his body like a sack of bricks. Dimple can barely keep his eyes open anymore.
“Well… looks like we’re headin’ to bed, Ritsu-chan. You don’t need to fret over him anymore, he’s in good hands.”
Ritsu gives him a look.
“Seriously, kid. Go get some shut eye.”
“Well… ugh. Fine.” He gets up and heads to the door, but pauses and looks back at him. “Just make sure you’re out in the morning, or else.”
The door shuts softly behind him.
Dimple puts Mob to bed, shifting the covers just so (using Mob’s powers because, hey, he’s still an evil spirit, ya know) and lets his eyes shut of their own volition. Sleep is swift for Mob… despite the little moments where adrenaline kicks up dust, only for Dimple to tamp it back down. Dimple is technically asleep, which is nice, but the sleep isn’t the same as real sleep, he thinks.
So, he considers Ritsu’s query.
Is he human? Was he human?
Does it bother him that he doesn’t remember much?
...Maybe a little bit. But whoever that guy was, before Dimple… he’s sure that’s not who he is now. Hell, he’s got no body (besides Mob’s, temporarily), so he really isn’t much of a human anymore. Well. Whatever he is, he is. Evil spirit, friend, someday god, who knows. He listens to Mob’s heartbeat, slow and steady; senses his dreamless sleep; fills his lungs, soft.
Whether he was ever human or not– he’s glad to know this little human.