(no subject)
Title: Hallowe’en Games
Pairing: None
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2743
Notes: AU. Majorly AU. That is all.
Ohno set the last candle and surveyed the room critically. He nodded his satisfaction when he finished. Nothing out of place. Everything ready. Everything but his assistants. Once Aiba, Jun, and Sho arrived, they could start the summoning.
Ohno rubbed his palms on his pants and swallowed.
This time it was going to be different.
He could feel it.
------
Aiba got to his apartment first. Ohno had known that Aiba would.
Aiba looked at everything with an open and willing mind when it came to his friends; he didn’t try to hold the pretenses of disbelief that Jun did. (Jun wanted to be cool no matter what and he liked to pretend that nothing could ruffle him, so he would arrive just late enough to be on time. Sho was just always late.)
“Ohno? You here?” his voice called from the genkan.
“In the back,” Ohno called back.
The older boy heard Aiba’s footfalls coming to the room in the back of the apartment that Ohno kept purposefully empty. It was supposed to be a bedroom, but it was so full of presence that Ohno got a migraine just looking at it if there wasn’t a barrier up. It wasn’t malicious or he’ d have moved out a long time ago, but it was nearly overwhelming. Ohno slept in the living room instead.
The taller boy’s head poked inside and he shook a plastic bag at Ohno. “Mom made food.”
Ohno flashed him a distracted thumbs up as he muttered the words to the spell under his breath. Food from Aiba’s mom was always a treat.
“Leave it in the kitchen. I’m almost finished. Jun and Sho should be here soon.”
“Sho too?”
“I told him eleven.”
Aiba looked down at his watch. “It’s eleven-thirty now.”
“That’s why I told him eleven. He’s got a report due soon, and he’s been reading books,” Ohno said.
Aiba chuckled. Ohno moved on to another corner of the room and spread salt around the candle. Aiba shifted behind him.
“I’ll be right back, then.”
Ohno nodded. Aiba was pretty sure the older boy wasn’t actually paying attention to him, so he went into the kitchen and started putting the food away carefully. It wouldn’t do to leave the containers out.
He’d just closed the refrigerator door when Ohno’s front door opened and Jun appeared in the kitchen with him, leaning boredly on the table. He crossed his arms lazily.
“We’re seriously going to do this?”
“Should we not?” Aiba asked, already knowing the answer, “It’s just a Hallowe’en party game.”
Jun snorted. The taller man smiled and nudged him.
“Oh come on, spoil sport. It’s a party. Have some fun. Oh, and mom made food for later.”
The younger man rolled his eyes, but he smiled, too, and nudged Aiba.
“Sho’s here, then?” he asked.
“Of course not,” Aiba laughed as they headed out of the kitchen and to the back of the apartment.
Ohno was lighting the candles on the floor. He held up a hand to stop them from entering without turning around. It was his uncanny ability to do that, to know where people were before they called or announced themselves, that kept Jun’s indulgence in these rituals and ceremonies that Ohno was always calling for. Because if Ohno could do that, maybe this wasn’t just a waste of time.
“He’s here,” Ohno said.
“What?” Aiba asked.
“Sorry I’m late!” called Sho from the front.
The door slammed and then there were footsteps running to the back. Sho appeared seconds later, flopping heavily onto Aiba and panting. He stuck his head over Aiba’s shoulder to see what Ohno was doing.
“You’re on time, actually,” Jun said, “It’s only 11:45.”
“But Ohno said ...” Sho paused, considered, and smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. Sorry. I have a report for economics due soon, and I forgot what time it was.”
“It’s okay,” Ohno said. He waved them into the room. “Stand here. Right angles. Close to each other.”
The three entered the room obediently and stood where he pointed. They held hands without Ohno needing to ask them - though Jun complained about it later, they’d gone through this enough times that it was natural now.
“What are we summoning again?” Aiba whispered to Sho.
“I don’t know.”
“We’re not summoning anything,” Jun said immediately, “because it’s not going to work.”
The others graciously didn’t mention that he was clutching the hem of Aiba’s shirt, or that he’d been the first to enter as they took their place in the circle.
“I’ve been hearing neighbors complaining about strange noises at night; usually somewhere near plumbing.” Ohno said placidly. He flicked them with water from a glass bowl, “So we’re going to try and find the cause.”
“What, nobody thinks ‘stray cats’ anymore?” Jun asked.
“There aren’t any. I’ve checked.”
“Kids?”
Ohno shrugged. “Maybe. But isn’t it late for them to be up?”
“Oh, let’s just do this so we can eat,” Jun said, only a little irritably.
The oldest of them nodded and motioned for them to sit. He picked up a feather and began walking slowly around the circle, clock-wise. They others watched him quietly, as they always did. (Sho once confessed to Aiba and Jun that he’d gone around looking up witchcraft after they’d seen a few of Ohno’s ceremonies. He still didn’t know where Ohno got his traditions from.)
When Ohno was done with the circle, he placed the feather aside and when back around the circle with the water. When he was done the second time he checked his watch and nodded in satisfaction. He joined the other three, taking Sho’s and Jun’s free hands in his. They waited for him to mutter the same strange incantation in a language they were all pretty sure didn’t actually exist. It nonetheless had their hands tingling once he was done.
“Close your eyes. We’re seeking a strange presence,” Ohno said quietly, “It might feel like a block or obstruction. It might feel like wading in a pool. Just look for something that doesn’t quite fit.”
“This doesn’t quite fit,” Jun muttered.
“Spoil sport,” Aiba shot back.
Sho stood with his eyes closed and decided that though he was doing this with three other people, he still felt like a moron.
‘Cause you are?
“What?!” Sho’s eyes flew open and he huffed indignantly, “Oi!”
The others opened their eyes in response to Sho’s anger. Aiba and Jun looked confused. Ohno looked as though he wasn’t all there. Sho was looking at Jun, though.
“Just ‘cause we’re all standing here looking stupid doesn’t mean you have to get mean,” Sho snapped.
Jun blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you just ...” Sho stopped and reviewed. He hadn’t said out loud that he felt stupid.
Like a moron.
The voice was like a teacher correcting his vocabulary. Sho felt an overwhelming sense of amusement; like he was being laughed at.
Prob’ly ‘cause I am laughing at you.
Sho jumped visibly and looked desperately at Ohno. “Is that you?”
Jun looked uncomfortable, taking furtive glances around the room. “What? Is Ohno what?”
“Come,” said Ohno softly.
“Who?” Aiba asked, still looking confused. “What’s going on? Who said what?”
“Shit, look!” Sho said suddenly.
In the middle of their square was a shimmering. Not a light. Just a shimmering, like heat waves in the air. But it was still a crisp October temperature in the unheated room.
“Come,” said Ohno again. This time there was a definite demand in his voice.
“Ohno?” Sho asked, his voice raising in pitch, “What’s going on?”
“He’s resisting,” the older boy said.
“He?” Jun squeaked. His hands clenched around Ohno’s and Aiba’s. “There’s something here?”
They weren’t sure how it happened. Someone tried to let go of the others, maybe, or just to move. But a foot smudged away part of the barrier circle, and the shimmering became blindingly bright and everyone had to look away from it. There was a loud bang and then the light went away all at once, taking the street lamps and house lights for three blocks with it.
The four fell down with matching cries of surprise, hands reaching up to cover heads and ears.
Then the house lights all came back on and the blinding light was gone. Ohno was the first to recover and start looking around, seeking the others to see if they were okay. What he saw first was something else entirely.
He stared dumbly.
Sitting on air in the middle of what had been their circle, legs crossed as though it was perfectly normal, was a boy. He wore almost disappointingly normal clothes - loose grey pants and a yellow shirt. His hair was dark and fluffy, and his arms were crossed.
He was glaring in annoyance at Ohno. “Well?”
Ohno blinked. “Sorry?”
“Are you going to just sit there stupidly?” the boy asked.
“I ... uh ...”
“Stupid question, stupid answer. Of course.”
Sho jerked into a sitting position then, looking around frantically. He saw Ohno and crawled over to him, grabbing the hem of Ohno’s jacket. He shook the hand even as he looked for the others.
“Ohno, what the hell was that? Jun, Aiba! You okay?”
The bodies on the floor stirred right away, sitting up and rubbing heads.
“I’m alive,” Jun muttered irritably.
“He means we’re okay,” Aiba said cheerfully.
“So what the hell just happened? That’s never happened before, has it?” Sho asked, turning his attention back to the oldest of them. But Ohno wasn’t paying attention. He was staring up. Sho waved his hand in front of Ohno’s face.
“Oi! Ohno!”
Ohno pointed. Sho and Jun and Aiba all looked up at the same time. As one they stared. As one their mouths dropped open. The boy’s position hadn’t changed, though Ohno thought he looked much more annoyed than he had before.
“Oh, yes,” he said, “Let’s all just stop and stare like we’ve never seen an imp before. Lovely.”
“It talks!” Jun yelped, sliding himself backwards in a panic.
“Of course I talk,” the boy snapped, turning in mid air to face Jun, “And I’ll thank you to stop calling me ‘it’.”
“You’re an imp?” Aiba asked, getting to his knees.
“Oh, give him a gold star,” the imp said, rolling his eyes.
Sho clutched Ohno to him.
“So ... Did ... did we ...” he stopped and swallowed heavily as the boy turned back to face him. “Did we ... summon you?”
“Oh, no, I was just passing by and thought I should stop in to tell you how lame you all are,” said the imp. “Yes, you summoned me. So tell me what you want and I’ll be on my way.”
“What we want?”
“What’s with the echo? Can’t you speak on your own?”
“Could you perhaps stand?” Ohno asked, finally speaking again. The boy blinked at him, his face losing the harsh edge to confusion for a second. “It’s a little awkward talking to someone who’s ... well ... sitting on air.”
The annoyance was back right away, and Ohno privately mourned the loss of the cute expression the imp had made.
“You really haven’t ever seen an imp, have you?”
“Um ... no?”
“Oh fantastic. Just great. Of all the nutcase’s with actual power, I get pulled in by four who don’t know what they’re doing. How do you even get your hands on the rituals? No, wait, don’t answer, I really don’t want to know. It might make me cry.”
The imp uncrossed his legs and stood, walking down from the air as though he was coming down solid stairs. Aiba was standing seconds later in his excitement. Then he stopped, wide-eyed with amazement.
“You’re so short!” he burst out.
The imp whirled around on Aiba, and Sho gave an involuntary cry. But the imp was merely pointing a finger at him. At least, Ohno assumed it was a ‘merely’, because Aiba hadn’t disappeared or turned into anything strange. Ohno’s brow furrowed.
Could imps do that?
“Who asked you?” the imp demanded of Aiba.
“Nobody,” the taller man said cheerfully. He came over and grabbed the imp in his arms, lifting him off the ground in the hug, ignoring all of the imp’s loud protests. “You’re just so cute!”
“Put me down you overgrown excuse for a three year old!” the imp demanded.
But Ohno was watching the imp carefully, and he wasn’t really trying to get away. On some subconscious level, Aiba seemed to get that, because he allowed the imp’s feet to touch the floor, but he didn’t let go. He started to pet the imp’s hair instead.
“Ah! It’s so soft!” he said with delight, “It’s softer than a rabbit’s! And look, guys! His ears are pointed!”
Aiba pulled aside some of the imp’s hair. Sure enough there were gentle points at the top of the boy’s ears. Jun was on his feet now, staring incredulously at Aiba. His hand was creeping out in spite of himself. Sho looked from Jun and Aiba to Ohno, clearly uncertain whether this was really such a good idea.
“Hey, hey, this is NOT a pet-the-imp free-for-all,” the imp said huffily.
Jun backed away immediately. Aiba stopped petting him, looking down curiously.
“Will one of you tell me why you dragged me in here so I can get on with the magic and go? I’ve got ... things to do.”
Though he’d been vague, the imp looked directly at Ohno as he spoke. The older boy cleared his throat a few times, buying himself time. How did you speak to an imp, anyway?
“Are you the one disturbing people on my block?” Ohno asked.
“That’s not something you want me to do.”
“I want you to stop disturbing them.”
“Can’t stop what I don’t do. Next.”
“It’s not you?” Ohno asked, blinking.
“Didn’t I just say that?” the imp sighed, “God, they don’t make you like they used to.”
“Used to?” Aiba echoed, “What ‘used to’?”
“The last humans I dealt with had grey matter between their ears, is all. They didn’t wake up poor napping imps for no reason.”
“How old are you?” Sho asked. His face went guilty almost immediately afterwards. “Sorry, sorry. That’s rude, sorry.”
“The answer would boggle your tiny mind, anyway,” the imp said.
Ohno couldn’t help but notice that the imp’s eyes glazed over, and that his voice held none of the bite from before. Ohno would call the imp lonely, almost. Something clicked. Lonely. Imps were lonely in all the stories he’d ever been told by his mother. They wanted friends. Needed them. And this one hadn’t interacted with anyone in a long time, if Ohno was hearing correctly.
“Stay here, then.”
“What?”
The imp blinked. The others stared at Ohno, each likely wondering if he’d lost his mind. Ohno ignored them. The words had come out of his mouth before he’d even thought about them, but now that he did think about them, he didn’t want to take them back.
“Stay here. With me. This room is empty - ”
“‘Cause you’re in the living room. Weirdo.”
“ - how did you know that?”
The imp looked away, his cheeks turning red. He shrugged. “I live around here.”
“Where?” Aiba asked.
“Around. It’s not important. People can’t see me.”
“We’re looking at you now,” Jun said disbelievingly.
“I’ve been summoned, moron,” the imp shot back, “Of course you can. I’m in physical form here.”
“You can be co - incor ... unphysical?” Aiba asked in awe.
“Incorporeal,” Sho corrected absently.
The imp still wasn’t looking at them. “Something like that.”
“You!” Ohno burst out, “You’re why I can’t sleep in here!”
“... Maybe?”
“Wait,” Sho looked at Ohno, then around the room, “You live in here? In the room?”
“Sort of,” the imp said, shrugging uncomfortably, “This was their house. The people who summoned me last. I just ... didn’t leave. Didn’t have a need to be anywhere else.”
Ohno’s brow furrowed. “This house hasn’t been owned in thirty years, they said.”
“Thirty one years, four months and eighteen days to the day you bought it.”
The imp squeaked as Aiba squeezed him tightly. Sho’s hands fisted even more in Ohno’s shirt. Even Jun had completely abandoned being aloof to the being - his eyes were soft. The imp hadn’t even hesitated to recollect.
“Stay here, then,” Ohno said again, “Corporeally. That’s what I want of you.”
“You’re easy to please, aren’t you?” the imp asked.
The other three started laughing.
Ohno shrugged, grinning. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Ninomiya.”
Pairing: None
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2743
Notes: AU. Majorly AU. That is all.
Ohno set the last candle and surveyed the room critically. He nodded his satisfaction when he finished. Nothing out of place. Everything ready. Everything but his assistants. Once Aiba, Jun, and Sho arrived, they could start the summoning.
Ohno rubbed his palms on his pants and swallowed.
This time it was going to be different.
He could feel it.
------
Aiba got to his apartment first. Ohno had known that Aiba would.
Aiba looked at everything with an open and willing mind when it came to his friends; he didn’t try to hold the pretenses of disbelief that Jun did. (Jun wanted to be cool no matter what and he liked to pretend that nothing could ruffle him, so he would arrive just late enough to be on time. Sho was just always late.)
“Ohno? You here?” his voice called from the genkan.
“In the back,” Ohno called back.
The older boy heard Aiba’s footfalls coming to the room in the back of the apartment that Ohno kept purposefully empty. It was supposed to be a bedroom, but it was so full of presence that Ohno got a migraine just looking at it if there wasn’t a barrier up. It wasn’t malicious or he’ d have moved out a long time ago, but it was nearly overwhelming. Ohno slept in the living room instead.
The taller boy’s head poked inside and he shook a plastic bag at Ohno. “Mom made food.”
Ohno flashed him a distracted thumbs up as he muttered the words to the spell under his breath. Food from Aiba’s mom was always a treat.
“Leave it in the kitchen. I’m almost finished. Jun and Sho should be here soon.”
“Sho too?”
“I told him eleven.”
Aiba looked down at his watch. “It’s eleven-thirty now.”
“That’s why I told him eleven. He’s got a report due soon, and he’s been reading books,” Ohno said.
Aiba chuckled. Ohno moved on to another corner of the room and spread salt around the candle. Aiba shifted behind him.
“I’ll be right back, then.”
Ohno nodded. Aiba was pretty sure the older boy wasn’t actually paying attention to him, so he went into the kitchen and started putting the food away carefully. It wouldn’t do to leave the containers out.
He’d just closed the refrigerator door when Ohno’s front door opened and Jun appeared in the kitchen with him, leaning boredly on the table. He crossed his arms lazily.
“We’re seriously going to do this?”
“Should we not?” Aiba asked, already knowing the answer, “It’s just a Hallowe’en party game.”
Jun snorted. The taller man smiled and nudged him.
“Oh come on, spoil sport. It’s a party. Have some fun. Oh, and mom made food for later.”
The younger man rolled his eyes, but he smiled, too, and nudged Aiba.
“Sho’s here, then?” he asked.
“Of course not,” Aiba laughed as they headed out of the kitchen and to the back of the apartment.
Ohno was lighting the candles on the floor. He held up a hand to stop them from entering without turning around. It was his uncanny ability to do that, to know where people were before they called or announced themselves, that kept Jun’s indulgence in these rituals and ceremonies that Ohno was always calling for. Because if Ohno could do that, maybe this wasn’t just a waste of time.
“He’s here,” Ohno said.
“What?” Aiba asked.
“Sorry I’m late!” called Sho from the front.
The door slammed and then there were footsteps running to the back. Sho appeared seconds later, flopping heavily onto Aiba and panting. He stuck his head over Aiba’s shoulder to see what Ohno was doing.
“You’re on time, actually,” Jun said, “It’s only 11:45.”
“But Ohno said ...” Sho paused, considered, and smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. Sorry. I have a report for economics due soon, and I forgot what time it was.”
“It’s okay,” Ohno said. He waved them into the room. “Stand here. Right angles. Close to each other.”
The three entered the room obediently and stood where he pointed. They held hands without Ohno needing to ask them - though Jun complained about it later, they’d gone through this enough times that it was natural now.
“What are we summoning again?” Aiba whispered to Sho.
“I don’t know.”
“We’re not summoning anything,” Jun said immediately, “because it’s not going to work.”
The others graciously didn’t mention that he was clutching the hem of Aiba’s shirt, or that he’d been the first to enter as they took their place in the circle.
“I’ve been hearing neighbors complaining about strange noises at night; usually somewhere near plumbing.” Ohno said placidly. He flicked them with water from a glass bowl, “So we’re going to try and find the cause.”
“What, nobody thinks ‘stray cats’ anymore?” Jun asked.
“There aren’t any. I’ve checked.”
“Kids?”
Ohno shrugged. “Maybe. But isn’t it late for them to be up?”
“Oh, let’s just do this so we can eat,” Jun said, only a little irritably.
The oldest of them nodded and motioned for them to sit. He picked up a feather and began walking slowly around the circle, clock-wise. They others watched him quietly, as they always did. (Sho once confessed to Aiba and Jun that he’d gone around looking up witchcraft after they’d seen a few of Ohno’s ceremonies. He still didn’t know where Ohno got his traditions from.)
When Ohno was done with the circle, he placed the feather aside and when back around the circle with the water. When he was done the second time he checked his watch and nodded in satisfaction. He joined the other three, taking Sho’s and Jun’s free hands in his. They waited for him to mutter the same strange incantation in a language they were all pretty sure didn’t actually exist. It nonetheless had their hands tingling once he was done.
“Close your eyes. We’re seeking a strange presence,” Ohno said quietly, “It might feel like a block or obstruction. It might feel like wading in a pool. Just look for something that doesn’t quite fit.”
“This doesn’t quite fit,” Jun muttered.
“Spoil sport,” Aiba shot back.
Sho stood with his eyes closed and decided that though he was doing this with three other people, he still felt like a moron.
‘Cause you are?
“What?!” Sho’s eyes flew open and he huffed indignantly, “Oi!”
The others opened their eyes in response to Sho’s anger. Aiba and Jun looked confused. Ohno looked as though he wasn’t all there. Sho was looking at Jun, though.
“Just ‘cause we’re all standing here looking stupid doesn’t mean you have to get mean,” Sho snapped.
Jun blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you just ...” Sho stopped and reviewed. He hadn’t said out loud that he felt stupid.
Like a moron.
The voice was like a teacher correcting his vocabulary. Sho felt an overwhelming sense of amusement; like he was being laughed at.
Prob’ly ‘cause I am laughing at you.
Sho jumped visibly and looked desperately at Ohno. “Is that you?”
Jun looked uncomfortable, taking furtive glances around the room. “What? Is Ohno what?”
“Come,” said Ohno softly.
“Who?” Aiba asked, still looking confused. “What’s going on? Who said what?”
“Shit, look!” Sho said suddenly.
In the middle of their square was a shimmering. Not a light. Just a shimmering, like heat waves in the air. But it was still a crisp October temperature in the unheated room.
“Come,” said Ohno again. This time there was a definite demand in his voice.
“Ohno?” Sho asked, his voice raising in pitch, “What’s going on?”
“He’s resisting,” the older boy said.
“He?” Jun squeaked. His hands clenched around Ohno’s and Aiba’s. “There’s something here?”
They weren’t sure how it happened. Someone tried to let go of the others, maybe, or just to move. But a foot smudged away part of the barrier circle, and the shimmering became blindingly bright and everyone had to look away from it. There was a loud bang and then the light went away all at once, taking the street lamps and house lights for three blocks with it.
The four fell down with matching cries of surprise, hands reaching up to cover heads and ears.
Then the house lights all came back on and the blinding light was gone. Ohno was the first to recover and start looking around, seeking the others to see if they were okay. What he saw first was something else entirely.
He stared dumbly.
Sitting on air in the middle of what had been their circle, legs crossed as though it was perfectly normal, was a boy. He wore almost disappointingly normal clothes - loose grey pants and a yellow shirt. His hair was dark and fluffy, and his arms were crossed.
He was glaring in annoyance at Ohno. “Well?”
Ohno blinked. “Sorry?”
“Are you going to just sit there stupidly?” the boy asked.
“I ... uh ...”
“Stupid question, stupid answer. Of course.”
Sho jerked into a sitting position then, looking around frantically. He saw Ohno and crawled over to him, grabbing the hem of Ohno’s jacket. He shook the hand even as he looked for the others.
“Ohno, what the hell was that? Jun, Aiba! You okay?”
The bodies on the floor stirred right away, sitting up and rubbing heads.
“I’m alive,” Jun muttered irritably.
“He means we’re okay,” Aiba said cheerfully.
“So what the hell just happened? That’s never happened before, has it?” Sho asked, turning his attention back to the oldest of them. But Ohno wasn’t paying attention. He was staring up. Sho waved his hand in front of Ohno’s face.
“Oi! Ohno!”
Ohno pointed. Sho and Jun and Aiba all looked up at the same time. As one they stared. As one their mouths dropped open. The boy’s position hadn’t changed, though Ohno thought he looked much more annoyed than he had before.
“Oh, yes,” he said, “Let’s all just stop and stare like we’ve never seen an imp before. Lovely.”
“It talks!” Jun yelped, sliding himself backwards in a panic.
“Of course I talk,” the boy snapped, turning in mid air to face Jun, “And I’ll thank you to stop calling me ‘it’.”
“You’re an imp?” Aiba asked, getting to his knees.
“Oh, give him a gold star,” the imp said, rolling his eyes.
Sho clutched Ohno to him.
“So ... Did ... did we ...” he stopped and swallowed heavily as the boy turned back to face him. “Did we ... summon you?”
“Oh, no, I was just passing by and thought I should stop in to tell you how lame you all are,” said the imp. “Yes, you summoned me. So tell me what you want and I’ll be on my way.”
“What we want?”
“What’s with the echo? Can’t you speak on your own?”
“Could you perhaps stand?” Ohno asked, finally speaking again. The boy blinked at him, his face losing the harsh edge to confusion for a second. “It’s a little awkward talking to someone who’s ... well ... sitting on air.”
The annoyance was back right away, and Ohno privately mourned the loss of the cute expression the imp had made.
“You really haven’t ever seen an imp, have you?”
“Um ... no?”
“Oh fantastic. Just great. Of all the nutcase’s with actual power, I get pulled in by four who don’t know what they’re doing. How do you even get your hands on the rituals? No, wait, don’t answer, I really don’t want to know. It might make me cry.”
The imp uncrossed his legs and stood, walking down from the air as though he was coming down solid stairs. Aiba was standing seconds later in his excitement. Then he stopped, wide-eyed with amazement.
“You’re so short!” he burst out.
The imp whirled around on Aiba, and Sho gave an involuntary cry. But the imp was merely pointing a finger at him. At least, Ohno assumed it was a ‘merely’, because Aiba hadn’t disappeared or turned into anything strange. Ohno’s brow furrowed.
Could imps do that?
“Who asked you?” the imp demanded of Aiba.
“Nobody,” the taller man said cheerfully. He came over and grabbed the imp in his arms, lifting him off the ground in the hug, ignoring all of the imp’s loud protests. “You’re just so cute!”
“Put me down you overgrown excuse for a three year old!” the imp demanded.
But Ohno was watching the imp carefully, and he wasn’t really trying to get away. On some subconscious level, Aiba seemed to get that, because he allowed the imp’s feet to touch the floor, but he didn’t let go. He started to pet the imp’s hair instead.
“Ah! It’s so soft!” he said with delight, “It’s softer than a rabbit’s! And look, guys! His ears are pointed!”
Aiba pulled aside some of the imp’s hair. Sure enough there were gentle points at the top of the boy’s ears. Jun was on his feet now, staring incredulously at Aiba. His hand was creeping out in spite of himself. Sho looked from Jun and Aiba to Ohno, clearly uncertain whether this was really such a good idea.
“Hey, hey, this is NOT a pet-the-imp free-for-all,” the imp said huffily.
Jun backed away immediately. Aiba stopped petting him, looking down curiously.
“Will one of you tell me why you dragged me in here so I can get on with the magic and go? I’ve got ... things to do.”
Though he’d been vague, the imp looked directly at Ohno as he spoke. The older boy cleared his throat a few times, buying himself time. How did you speak to an imp, anyway?
“Are you the one disturbing people on my block?” Ohno asked.
“That’s not something you want me to do.”
“I want you to stop disturbing them.”
“Can’t stop what I don’t do. Next.”
“It’s not you?” Ohno asked, blinking.
“Didn’t I just say that?” the imp sighed, “God, they don’t make you like they used to.”
“Used to?” Aiba echoed, “What ‘used to’?”
“The last humans I dealt with had grey matter between their ears, is all. They didn’t wake up poor napping imps for no reason.”
“How old are you?” Sho asked. His face went guilty almost immediately afterwards. “Sorry, sorry. That’s rude, sorry.”
“The answer would boggle your tiny mind, anyway,” the imp said.
Ohno couldn’t help but notice that the imp’s eyes glazed over, and that his voice held none of the bite from before. Ohno would call the imp lonely, almost. Something clicked. Lonely. Imps were lonely in all the stories he’d ever been told by his mother. They wanted friends. Needed them. And this one hadn’t interacted with anyone in a long time, if Ohno was hearing correctly.
“Stay here, then.”
“What?”
The imp blinked. The others stared at Ohno, each likely wondering if he’d lost his mind. Ohno ignored them. The words had come out of his mouth before he’d even thought about them, but now that he did think about them, he didn’t want to take them back.
“Stay here. With me. This room is empty - ”
“‘Cause you’re in the living room. Weirdo.”
“ - how did you know that?”
The imp looked away, his cheeks turning red. He shrugged. “I live around here.”
“Where?” Aiba asked.
“Around. It’s not important. People can’t see me.”
“We’re looking at you now,” Jun said disbelievingly.
“I’ve been summoned, moron,” the imp shot back, “Of course you can. I’m in physical form here.”
“You can be co - incor ... unphysical?” Aiba asked in awe.
“Incorporeal,” Sho corrected absently.
The imp still wasn’t looking at them. “Something like that.”
“You!” Ohno burst out, “You’re why I can’t sleep in here!”
“... Maybe?”
“Wait,” Sho looked at Ohno, then around the room, “You live in here? In the room?”
“Sort of,” the imp said, shrugging uncomfortably, “This was their house. The people who summoned me last. I just ... didn’t leave. Didn’t have a need to be anywhere else.”
Ohno’s brow furrowed. “This house hasn’t been owned in thirty years, they said.”
“Thirty one years, four months and eighteen days to the day you bought it.”
The imp squeaked as Aiba squeezed him tightly. Sho’s hands fisted even more in Ohno’s shirt. Even Jun had completely abandoned being aloof to the being - his eyes were soft. The imp hadn’t even hesitated to recollect.
“Stay here, then,” Ohno said again, “Corporeally. That’s what I want of you.”
“You’re easy to please, aren’t you?” the imp asked.
The other three started laughing.
Ohno shrugged, grinning. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Ninomiya.”