Anything at All
Hello! This is a Mob Psycho 100 fic that takes place shortly after Mob’s powers first go nuts and he accidentally hurts Ritsu.
Directly inspired by the incredible frootysparkycakes’ awesome papercutting:
https://frootysparkycakes.tumblr.com/post/190955762619/ive-been-having-a-lot-of-fun-with-papercutting
Mob and Ritsu were walking through the trees toward the meadow. Ritsu’s bandage had come off the day before, and today was the first time their parents were letting Ritsu out of the house without supervision. He and Mob had decided to go fly their kite in the meadow just past the river. It wasn’t too far from the house, they wouldn’t be running, and if Ritsu got dizzy there were plenty of places they could stop to rest. Mob had insisted on carrying the kite just in case.
Ritsu wasn’t dizzy anymore, though. It had only been a light concussion. His older brother had clearly felt awful about it, even though Ritsu only remembered bits and pieces. He’d teased Mob at first, asking him to bring him this or that, or read to him, or let him watch whatever he wanted on TV. But Mob didn’t think twice about agreeing every time. Ritsu stopped pretty quickly. He was afrai – he just didn’t want Mob to feel bad. So he was extra excited to go kite flying and prove he was okay.
“Are you tired, Ritsu?” Mob asked. “We can go rest if you like.”
“You’re breathing harder than I am,” Ritsu pointed out. He reached out but held back at the last second, so he only brushed his brother’s shoulder. Static cling shocked his fingertips and he jumped.
“Ah – sorry,” Mob panted.
“Rest a minute,” Ritsu said. This time he reached out and took the kite, smiling. “Go on, lean against a – oh, or sit, sitting is fine.”
Mob had practically collapsed. Ritsu had only just managed to catch his shoulder and help him down. There wasn’t any hint of static this time. Had it really been static before? Had that been the…the shadow in his brother, and this time it hadn’t stung because Ritsu was helping him?
“Ritsu?” Mob asked.
Ritsu realized he was holding the frame of the kite a little too tightly. “Are you feeling better, Nii-san?”
“Yes. But now you look a little pale.”
“I’m okay.”
“Does your head still hurt?”
“No, it stopped hurting after the first couple of days.”
“It’s okay to rest, Nii-san. You told me to rest, yourself. Here.”
Mob patted the ground next to him. Ritsu turned awkwardly but sat next to Mob, setting the kite across his lap. Mob leaned his shoulder against Ritsu’s. Ritsu couldn’t feel the static cling through their T-shirt sleeves, but he could almost feel a humming. He glanced up at Mob. Was that a slight breeze lifting his brother’s hair, or was that –
“Are you sure you’re okay, Ritsu?” Mob asked quietly.
“I’m okay.”
“But you’re so pale.”
“Well, I have been inside a lot recently,” Ritsu pointed out. “Mom wouldn’t let me play until my head was better. How about you? Have you caught your breath?”
Mob grimaced. “Sorry I’m so weak.”
“It’s really fine,” Ritsu insisted. “You’ve been staying with me the whole time, so it makes sense that walking around would be harder for you, too. At least playing with the kite means we won’t have to run around. And the field is so close, too.”
“Mm.”
“C’mon, we’re almost there, and I can carry the kite the rest of the way. Okay?” He stood up and held out a hand. Mob smiled and took it. Ritsu could definitely feel the humming now, but before he could think about it he made himself hold Mob’s hand more tightly and headed briskly through the trees.
The forest opened after a few yards. It was one of their favorite places to play, filled with long, soft grasses that brushed their knees. Hardly anyone else came here, which made it feel private and special. Ritsu took a deep breath. The scent of fresh grass, small wildflowers, and clean, windswept air filled his lungs. He’d really missed coming here.
“You hold the string and I’ll run the kite, okay?” Ritsu said.
“Yeah!”
Ritsu handed him the spool and took off with the kite, holding it as high as he could overhead. He could see the wind ruffling the treetops and changed direction to match, leaping to help the kite catch the breeze.
It came down a second after it left his hand, though. Ritsu caught it, ran back to his brother, and tried again. And again. And again. It felt great to run – amazing, even, after so many weeks of holding still. But there was a stitch in his side and the trees had stopped moving after his sixth try.
“I don’t think there’s enough wind,” Ritsu panted. “There was such a nice breeze before, though!”
“Why don’t we switch?” Mob said, holding out the spool to Ritsu.
“I mean…we can,” Ritsu said slowly, taking it. “But don’t push yourself too hard, okay, Nii-san? It’s just a kite. If you run and trip and get hurt like last time, your powers could – oh!”
He jerked as the kite tugged itself out of his grip. It swirled and whooshed around Ritsu like a dolphin. He laughed. Then the kite shot skyward, twirling its string of yellow bows like a banner.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Ritsu said, staring up at the kite in awe. He could sort of see the glittery aura of Mob’s power surrounding the bright red fabric.
Mob smiled. “But you wanted to play with it, right, Ritsu? If I can get it high enough, there’s always wind.”
The kite was already growing smaller, and the string was unspooling in Ritsu’s hands. How high was it going to go? It looked like it was the size of an airplane now!
“I think it’ll stay now,” Mob said, lowering his hand.
“Amazing,” Ritsu breathed. “That’s amazing, Nii-san! Look at how small it is!”
“It’s not as amazing as running to launch it.”
“Anyone can do that!”
“I can’t,” Mob said, glancing at Ritsu. “I wish I was more like you.”
“Nii-san, what are you talking about? You’re incredible!” He moved closer to his brother. Something in Mob’s face made a spot hurt under Ritsu’s heart. “Really, Nii-san, you’re incredible. You lifted the kite like it was nothing! And you fought off those bullies last month!”
“I’m sorry,” Mob whispered.
Ritsu shook his head. “I told you not to apologize. It was an accident, right? I wish I had powers like you, though! I could do anything, and I wouldn’t be afraid at all!”
“I am afraid, though,” Mob said, even more quietly. The air around him shimmered almost imperceptibly.
Ritsu quickly reached out and took Mob’s hand. The shimmer vanished. “Then you can talk to me,” Ritsu said firmly. “Just like when you needed to rest a few minutes ago. If you tell me what’s wrong, I’ll always try to help you, and then you’ll feel better.”
Mob smiled a little. “I do feel better. Thank you, Nii-san. I’m really glad we came out to play today.”
“Me, too.” Ritsu gave his hand a squeeze.
“Ah, it’s falling,” Mob said, looking up. Ritsu followed his gaze and saw the kite beginning to float down, the line going slack. Mob raised a finger and a glittery halo appeared around the kite. It lifted up again. The air around it shimmered. For a moment Ritsu saw the outline of something else around the kite, something that looked like his brother but wasn’t, something that would cut his head and sting his fingers.
He held Mob’s hand a little more tightly. He loved his brother. And he had such amazing powers. Powers like that could do anything.
Anything at all.
@frootysparkycakes
