2Welcome to my humble abode! This is such a random idea haha but whenever I imagined it, it made me giggle so I thought it might make you too~
Shinichi stumbled back into the Kudou manor, physically exhausted but mentally wide awake. The past two nights had been sleepless; taking down the black organization had been long and arduous, far from a simple task. And with the boss finally behind bars, Shinichi could relax.
Yet that was the last thing he was doing.
Hattori was already out cold in a guest room. The Osakan had also endured restless nights, tracking down Shinichi's location and worrying about what the organization might have put him through. After KID had swooped in to save the day, Hattori finally managed to get some rest. However, even with sleep, the work had taken a toll on him emotionally and physically. With victory confirmed, Hattori had headed to the mansion to sleep, under the condition that Shinichi would soon return as well.
But Shinichi lingered. He joined the FBI team in their war room, where mountains of paperwork awaited them. His hands moved swiftly as he organized files and cross-referenced evidence, all while his mind raced with a strange mix of triumph and apprehension. The agents appreciated Shinichi's help, but eventually Jodie intervened and sent him home with firm instructions to rest.
So why? After everything, had Shinichi been avoiding his own bed?
Now, with the chaos of the takedown settling, Shinichi's mind began to grapple with things he had pushed aside—namely, the person who had rescued him from the kidnapping, the Kaitou KID.
As he tiptoed past Hattori's snoring, Shinichi fought to keep his thoughts from straying to the thief. Though adrenaline still coursed through his veins, he was determined to try and get some rest.
The detective placed his hand on his bedroom door, trying vehemently to ignore the tingling on his lips as he turned the doorknob.
Shinichi's eyes widened.
KID was casually leaning back in Shinichi's desk chair, his trademark top hat casting a shadow over his wide grin. Shinichi's breath caught in his throat, a mixture of fear and excitement enveloping him.
"KID? What are you…" Shinichi stammered in trepidation.
"Hey Meitantei," KID answered, smoothly rising to his feet. The thief leisurely walked closer, making the detective's heartbeat quicken.
"KID. Why are you here?" Shinichi asked, trying to regain a semblance of control. The detective entered the room, quickly shutting the door.
When Shinichi turned around, he went still as he realised how close the thief had gotten. KID's eyes strayed towards the shut door with a gleam, "The same reason you closed the door."
Shinichi felt his cheeks pinken at the implications, "Stop joking with me. Did you… need anything?"
"Mhm," KID nodded as he leaned in slightly, whispering, "Desperately."
"Oh. And… that is?"
KID looked back at him with a mysterious smile, not answering the detective's question. His indigo eyes strayed lower to Shinichi's lips.
Shinichi sucked in a breath, "You know we can't…"
KID's eyes looked back up, pinning Shinichi with an intense gaze, "Do you want to?"
"I- It doesn't matter," Shinichi answered, avoiding eye contact. "I'm a detective, you're a thief. We can't."
"But why not?" KID countered smoothly. "If we want to-"
'We can't. What if someone found out?" Shinichi tried to reason, even though a traitorous part of his gut was dancing in agreement with the thief.
"How?"
"What?" Shinichi's eyes snapped back to KID's.
"How would they find out?" KID asked to which Shinichi didn't answer. The thief continued, "If you tell no one, and I tell no one, how will anyone know?"
Shinichi paused, actually thinking through the thief's words.
"No one will know," KID stepped closer, till their lips were inches apart. "Be selfish for once, Shinichi."
Hearing his first name come out of the thief's mouth, Shinichi felt his resolve weakening. KID made good points and… Shinichi had never been good at staying away from unsolved mysteries. Shinichi's heart raced as he felt the warmth of KID 's breath against his lips, and in that moment, he couldn't deny the overwhelming desire that surged through him.
Shinichi crashed his lips against KID, pulling him close from the collar of his shirt.
KID's hands immediately were on the detective; clutching his face, running down his neck, pushing him onto the door. Shinichi gasped when KID's gloved hands went under his shirt and glided up his back. A burst of energy dinged up the detective's spine, and Shinichi dove his hands into KID's hair, tugging.
KID moaned, "Shi-Shinichi."
"God, Kid," Shinichi groaned, pressing his lips closer.
KID sucked Shinichi's bottom lip into his mouth, running his hands up the detective's back again, making Shinichi lose all cognitive function in the pleasure.
It was safe to say Shinichi didn't get much sleep that night after all.
.- ._.-._.-._.-.
After taking down the Black Organization, Shinichi returned to his normal life. Well, as normal as it could be. The media buzzed with stories of his role in bringing down the international criminal syndicate, his undercover work with the FBI, and even candid photos of him sipping coffee at 'typical' crime scenes. If he was famous before, his name had now skyrocketed. While it made working on cases easier, with everyone now listening to him (a welcome change after his time as Conan), it also meant that countless eyes were now focused on him. They were mostly filled with awe (which was better than the alternative), however it did make Shinichi look over his shoulder more times than he could count. The hero worship from the police force, while flattering, also meant it was harder to connect with the officers.
KID still treated him the same, which was a relief. Well, the mind-blowing orgasms were new, but ahem, that was also welcome. Chasing KID as an adult had added a thrilling dimension to their cat-and-mouse game. The thief was now forced to improvise in ways that only heightened the excitement, something Shinichi was certain KID revelled in, judging by their post-heist activities… To KID's credit, their secret remained just that: a secret. Shinichi enjoyed having something just for himself, known only to the detective and the thief, although there was a part of him that wasn't entirely content.
As the taxi pulled up to the studio, Hattori nudged him from his seat next to him, pulling him back to the present, "Kudou? We're here."
"Oh, thanks," Shinichi nodded, shaking himself from his thoughts. He undid his seat belt and opened the door, stepping out. Noticing that Hattori and his girlfriend were exiting from the other door, he closed his car door. Ran emerged from the front seat, smiling at the driver, "Thank you for the ride."
"You're gonna be great, Heiji!" Kazuha grinned encouragingly. The two had stayed over at the Kudou residence the night before, and Ran had met them all in the afternoon so they could take the hired taxi together to the television studios for their interview.
Megure, who usually didn't ask for such favours, had approached him with this request. The police force needed funding for a ground-breaking new lie detector that could answer more than just yes or no questions. Nichiuri TV, seeking to capitalize on the appeal of the 'hot, young detectives,' had offered to foot the bill in exchange for an exclusive interview.
There was an irony to it, really. Before his life had taken the unexpected twist that turned him into a child detective, he had basked in the spotlight. A younger version of Shinichi would've been more than elated for a TV interview.
But now, as he looked at the tall and expensive building, his feelings about attention had changed. Shinichi suppressed a grimace as the girls ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the flashy skyscraper. Shinichi understood the importance of supporting the police department and the advancement of crime-solving techniques. It was an innovation that had the potential to revolutionize investigations, so with that in mind, the blue-eyed detective had agreed.
"Duh," Hattori gently pinched Kazuha's cheek, drawing an eyeroll from her. The Osakan leaned in and planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
"You'll be fine too, Shinichi," Ran reassured him, stepping closer. Shinichi felt grateful for his best friend. After he'd returned from being Conan, he'd confessed to everything. Ran had been more than upset at first, but afterwards, they'd grown even closer. Living as siblings for two years had forged a deep bond between them, and now she provided him with the calming comfort only a sister could offer.
Shinichi shrugged, then the corners of his lips quirked up "…Yeah." The detective wasn't nervous; talking to the press was akin to addressing a room full of people with his deductions. Shinichi was used to giving speeches, whether it was to the Detective Boys or Division One. However, if he could choose another way to spend his afternoon, he would.
Upon entering, Hattori and Shinichi's guests, Ran and Kazuha, were directed to a backstage area to relax and watch from afar. Meanwhile, the detectives were sent to the hair and makeup department for some minimal adjustments. There they met with Hakuba, who had already arrived and was sitting on a chair with a concentrated makeup artist patting some powder on his face.
"Hakuba-kun," Shinichi greeted as he entered the room. Hakuba opened his hazel eyes, his blond lashes standing out more than usual, likely due to the makeup artist's handiwork.
"Kudou-kun," Hakuba smiled, completely ignoring Hattori. "How was your journey?"
"Good, uneventful," Shinichi answered, as a worker with a radio ushered him and Hattori into their chairs.
"I'm good too, thanks," Hattori deadpanned. His eyes closed as another makeup artist, probably an assistant given her nervous demeanour, dotted white dots around his face then spread them in circular motions into his skin.
"I didn't ask," Hakuba turned his smile to the Osakan, although his gaze became patronising.
Hattori opened his eyes affronted, making the makeup artist falter in her application, "Hah? And ya say I'm rude."
"I didn't ask how Kudou-kun was either, I just asked about his journey. But sure, tell me about yours, Hattori-san. I'm sure it must be very different, despite how you took the same car."
"Uh please close your eyes, Hattori-san," the assistant makeup artist stammered. The Osakan apologised quietly and complied.
"Guys, come on," Shinichi sighed as the lead makeup artist, who had just finished with Hakuba, confidently approached him and started applying cream to his face. He closed his eyes, feeling his shoulders relax from the pampering sensations. "How was your journey, Hakuba-kun?"
"…Pleasant," Hakuba answered, slightly embarrassed at how he and the Osakan had already started arguing. "And… how are you today, Hattori-san?"
Hattori scoffed, not answering the question.
"Hattori…" Shinichi admonished; he felt like he was with the Detective Boys again.
"Kudou-san, open your eyes and look up," the lead makeup artist instructed, dipping a brush into some powder.
"Ugh sorry… Fine, good. And ya?" Hattori asked, his tone strained, as if being polite to the blond was a chore.
The worker raised her eyebrows, gaze shifting between the Osakan and Brit. She raised her radio to her mouth, "Let's put Kudou-san in the middle."
Hakuba answered, "I'm well."
"You can stop looking up," the lead makeup artist spoke firmly, unfazed by celebrities, as she continued powdering him.
"Thank you. By the way, it's nice to meet you," Shinichi offered a small smile, then introduced himself, "My name is Kudou Shinichi."
The lead makeup artist's eyebrows rose slightly, as her eyes snapped to the blue-eyed detective, "…You may call me Suneya. Hello, Kudou-san."
"Suneya-kun! Would we be able to swap places?" the assistant makeup artist asked as she held a powder brush. Hattori, seated in front of her, had a slightly ashy complexion.
Suneya glanced at the Osakan before nodding and walking over, "Yes. Next time, Amari-chan, on darker skin, use a warmer yellow-y shade and use more of the moisturising primer." The two quickly switched stations.
"Hello Amari-san, I'm Kudou Shinichi. Nice to meet you," Shinichi introduced himself with a comforting smile, deducing the makeup artist was probably nervous after her makeup mishap.
Amari tilted her head, holding a small brush that resembled a feather duster, then giggled, "I know who you are, Kudou-san. It's nice to meet you, too." She picked up a black tube, considering, "You have such nice eyes… Can I put a little mascara on you?"
Shinichi shrugged, "As long as it's not obvious."
Amari's cheeks dimpled as she smiled at Shinichi's response. The assistant makeup artist applied a minimal amount of mascara to the tips of his lashes and then used another small feathery brush dipped in clear liquid. When she turned the chair for him to examine himself in the mirror, Shinichi's eyebrows raised as he leaned in closer.
His blue eyes stood out even more than usual. His eyelashes were darker and slightly longer, but still maintained a natural appearance. Shinichi was grateful they didn't stick up like he had seen on Sonoko and Ran when they dressed up.
"Wow," Shinichi tilted his head from side to side, noticing that his skin tone looked quite even and smooth.
"I'm glad you like it," Amari spun him back around, picking up a spray bottle. "Close your eyes."
While they were getting ready, Shinichi noticed that Hattori had engaged the serious Suneya in a conversation on motorbikes. Hakuba, on the other hand, was engrossed in a book, his long legs elegantly crossed. He wore fashionable brown trousers that matched his eye colour.
"Alright, rolling in 5 minutes. Please head backstage," the worker instructed, pointing toward a black door.
"Thank you, Mitomo-san," Hakuba thanked the man, then calmly led the way. Shinichi suddenly remembered that the British detective had given interviews before, some of which he had read about in the newspapers. It was reassuring to have someone with them who was experienced in dealing with this kind of thing.
Shinichi glanced at Hattori and found him looking slightly apprehensive. He reached out and squeezed his best friend's hand before letting go.
Since the takedown, Hattori and Shinichi had only grown closer. With Shinichi able to manage his own schedule (now that he was no longer a child), they had frequent sleepovers and deep conversations about the ordeals they endured at the hands of the black organisation, it helped them work through the emotional pain.
Shinichi smiled at him, projecting an air of nonchalance, as if to convey 'we've got this.' Hattori's eyebrows rose, then relaxed as a confident gleam entered his eyes.
When it was time, the three detectives walked onto the stage, waving at the enthusiastic crowd.
The interview was quite nonconsequential. Their interviewer, Himura, had a slightly grating personality, but fortunately, they'd given the studio lists of topics such as specific Black Organisation details and personal questions they didn't want to discuss. Additionally, the detectives were informed about most of the questions beforehand, which made the process easier. Shinichi had learned some interesting facts about Hakuba's childhood in Britain, such as how his mother loved horseback riding and would occasionally take him on outings.
Eventually, however, the questions took an unexpected turn… A quite uncomfortable and definitely-not-good direction for Shinichi.
"So the next question is a fan question…" Himura grinned, making the detectives apprehensive. "Have you ever kissed the Kaitou KID?"
Shinichi's eyes widened, and the sounds of the audience faded till all he could hear was the ringing in his ears.
Shit.
Time slowed down, and he could see the interviewer's eyes move towards the audience where some girls were clutching each other's hands in excitement.
"Whaaat?!" Hattori exclaimed, frowning.
With the Osakan's voice, all the sound came back and Shinichi realised he could breathe again; he hadn't even noticed he'd stopped. Shinichi took a longer breath and critically analysed the situation. There was a way he could get out of this.
Following Hattori's example, Shinichi rolled his eyes, "Seriously?"
The blue-eyed detective looked towards Hakuba with exasperation. The blond, who had just been drinking his tea, looked up and mirrored Shinichi's annoyance in his eyes. Hakuba raised his eyebrows, then turned his head to address the interviewer, "Himura-san, is this question necessary? ...We're detectives."
"For once, I agree with ya," Hattori laughed, his frown of disbelief still stuck on his face. "And it's a strange question!"
Himura lifted an eyebrow; the osakan's comment clearly hit a bit of a nerve.
Sensing the interviewer's ire, the blue-eyed detective tried to convince her by playing on what would actually benefit her. "Wouldn't it make more sense to ask something else?" Shinichi forced a small smile on his face. "I mean aren't you kind of missing out on a chance to actually find out something interesting?"
At Shinichi's more pleasant questions, Himura relaxed, responding, "Oh, there's no harm in it, it's just a fan question and then we'll move on." She smiled with a tilt to her head, not budging.
Shinichi inwardly sweated, trying to figure out how could he keep up his unbothered appearance and still push to not answer the question.
"I'd prefer not to answer this question," Hakuba spoke up again, looking the interviewer in the eyes. The blue-eyed detective did a victory dance in his head.
"Why?" Himura asked, her expression not moving.
"It's not befitting; we're detectives," Hakuba leaned back in his chair, still holding his tea. "What are you insinuating?"
Shinichi could see the stagehands in the curtains walking around frantically. One spoke into an earpiece nervously. The blue-eyed detective noticed how Himura's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was concentrating on another voice they couldn't hear. Shinichi stifled a smirk as he thought, 'Aha got you.'
"I agree with Hakuba-kun," Shinichi added calmly.
"Me too," Hattori crossed his arms, stubbornly.
Himura reached up to her ear piece and tapped it, "Hmm.. you all feel quite strongly about this." The interviewer leaned forward slightly, her eyes confidently staring them down, "That's quite suspicious. Sounds like you have something to hide."
Shinichi's heart stuttered in panic, and he laughed, "Ha! What?"
"We just don't like da question," Hattori huffed, "What is dis?"
"It's not appropriate-" Hakuba narrowed his eyes.
"You're answering the question," Himura interrupted, with a sickly sweet smile.
With a sense of dread, Shinichi realised that he really was going to have to answer… 'no one will know', his ass. Like a prisoner on death row, Shinichi waited for Himura to open her mouth and deliver his doom.
"Thank you," Himura's smile relaxed a fraction, accepting the detectives' silence as their compliance. "Now, have you ever kissed the Kaitou KID? On the lips?"
"No," three voices simultaneously replied, to be followed by the loudest BEEP heard so far. The silent shock of the audience was deafening.
Shinichi put his face in his hands in embarrassment, feeling the contraption around his wrist shake at his lie. The blue-eyed detective didn't know how he could recover from this, what expression to make, if he could even look anyone in the eyes. Better to keep his face in his hands.
"My, oh my," Himura finally spoke, her voice full of disbelief and glee. After the interviewer broke the silence, the audience started cheering and talking amongst themselves.
Shinichi finally summoned the courage to look up. He was still alive, life goes on, he would survive. Blue eyes peeked over his hands to find Himura's gaze not focused on him like he had expected, but on the other detectives beside him. Confused, Shinichi glanced to the side to see two identical red lights on Hattori and Hakuba's lie-detector machines.
Shinichi dropped his hands and narrowed his eyes, affronted. His lips were parted as he blinked a few times, registering the fact that KID had not only kissed himself but also his best friend and Hakuba. Possibly more. His previous embarrassment was forgotten as the blue-eyed detective stared at his friends.
Hattori's face was screwed up in mortification, the dark skin of his face matching the reddish-brown colour of the interviewer's lipstick. While the Osakan was clearly uncomfortable, he wasn't hiding his face and was even looking towards the interviewer, observing her expression.
Hakuba, who had previously been a lot more confident, was hiding his face behind his teacup and avoiding eye contact. His tall posture was still present, but his body language was clearly stiffer.
Shinichi felt a painful stir within his chest.
The back of Shinichi's neck prickled as he realised his expressions were being watched: he was on TV, so he couldn't afford to show his emotions on his face. The blue-eyed detective focused on relaxing his eyebrows as he closed his mouth.
Within the safety of his mind, Shinichi let himself feel the disappointment within his heart. The blue-eyed detective didn't know what he was doing with KID or where it would lead, but… it did mean something to him. From how KID would gaze at him and stay in the Kudou manor sometimes just to talk, Shinichi had thought the thief felt the same way.
Turns out Shinichi wasn't as special to KID as he'd thought. That he had been reading more into the red roses than there was. The blue-eyed detective knew the thief was a flirt, and apparently his type was detectives. A cold blanket settled over his confusing emotions.
"I knew there was a reason you all didn't want to answer," Himura grinned, full of mirth.
"Wait, I can explain!" Hattori's face was set with determination.
"Please do," Himura gestured for the Osakan to go on.
"It was an accident! He was disguised as ma girlfriend so I kissed her I mean," Hattori explained, then screwed up his face as he corrected himself, "Him."
"Oh wow, how did KID react?" Himura tilted her head, intrigued.
"It was awkward, we were both like 'if ya don't say anything, I won't'."
"Oh my god, that's hilarious," Himura wiped away an imaginary tear, her shoulders shaking as she chuckled.
Shinichi found it pretty funny too, and… relieving. That made things make more sense. Especially with how Hattori would make a slightly constipated expression whenever KID was mentioned, or how he sometimes pinched Kazuha's cheek before kissing her. Shinichi had thought it had been something to do with their bickering relationship, like he was teasing her.
"How about you, Hakuba-san?" Himura questioned, her eyes glinting. "Should we assume that you and KID-san don't hate each other as much we think? That instead…" She trailed off as some members of the audience whooped.
"It's not like that," Hakuba responded, tiredly. "I technically haven't kissed KID but I guess the machine isn't selective…" The machine light was green; the blond wasn't lying.
"So," Himura blinked at the machine, before looking up at Hakuba with a slight frown, "the machine was wrong?"
"No, I…" Hakuba sighed, putting his tea on the table. The blond held the cup for a few seconds, eyes focused on something ahead before he let go. "There is someone I have previously suspected…" Hakuba continued, choosing his words carefully, "…of being KID."
"Oh," Himura's eyes were wide, listening to every word. The blue-eyed detective wasn't any different; while his expression was more neutral, internally Shinichi was paying a lot of attention. The interviewer remembered herself, and prompted the blond, "So… you just made out with your suspect?"
Hakuba's upper lip pulled up as his nose wrinkled; the blond looked upwards. With a quiet, frustrated groan, Hakuba looked at the interviewer, "No. We were in a group setting, playing a game, and were dared to kiss."
"So you were dared to? Why were you dared to?" Himura smirked, "Did the others think you needed to resolve something?"
"Ugh," Hakuba responded, with barely concealed disgust. "I don't know why they suggested it… Probably because we didn't like each other that much, and they thought it would be amusing."
Seeing the blond's genuine revulsion, Shinichi suppressed a smile. Imagining KID playing party games and being told to kiss someone he heavily disliked, the thief probably had a similar reaction to Hakuba, but of course way more dramatic. The blue-eyed detective wondered if Hakuba's suspect was the real one. Judging by how the machine went off, Hakuba was most likely still convinced this person was the phantom thief.
"Well, this is certainly entertaining," Himura giggled, before looking over at Shinichi.
Shinichi blinked at her sudden attention, and his eyes flicked over to Hattori and Hakuba, who were also looking straight at him, waiting for his explanation.
Ha! No way.
"Yes, I'm sure," Shinichi nodded, laughing slightly in a last-ditch effort. The blue-eyed detective hoped his nonchalant behaviour will let them skip him "So what's the next question?"
Immediately, the other two detectives spoke up in protest. "Kudou," Hattori said, just looking at him with raised eyebrows, while Hakuba had a lot more to say, "Absolutely not. We have all been embarrassed, you can't-"
"Haha of course I can tell you! I was just ahaha," Shinichi laughed, buying himself time. "You know what a joke is?" The blue-eyed detective knew he had to be careful of his words, but asking questions or making general statements was safe.
"Great, Kudou-san," Himura leaned forward, placing her chin in her hands. "Spill. I want every detail."
Shinichi nodded at the interviewer, with smile stuck on his face. The blue-eyed detective took his cup in front of him, and took a sip as he furiously thought of what to say. The audience cheered in the background of his mind.
A thought struck Shinichi. He could talk about their first kiss (how this whole mess started) and just phrase things in a way that made it seem like less than it was. Shinichi's mind cleared as he placed his cup down. He could actually pull this off.
"So," Shinichi began, feeling everyone's eyes on him but calm. The feeling was similar to how he felt when he was giving a speech to the Detective Boys; focused on what he was saying, more than the attention. "This happened during… the black organisation takedown so I can't share too much detail. Things were bad. Didn't go according to plan. I was very injured. KID.. was there. He was helping."
"KID was helping in the takedown? Officially?" Himura raised her eyebrows in wonder.
Shinichi pursed his lips slightly as he considered the interviewer, thinking of what wording would not give sensitive information away. "KID has randomly helped many causes, held heists to uncover criminal gangs, expose conspiracies…" The blue-eyed detective trailed off, hinting that the situation involving their kiss was a similar one.
"Ya shouldn't ask these questions right now," Hattori addressed Himura. The Osakan turned his upper body to face the interviewer more, slightly shielding the blue-eyed detective. "If ya want the story, let him speak."
Himura raised her eyebrows in bemusement, her chin still resting in her palms, "…Apologies, Kudou-san. Please continue."
"…Right. So… We were in a dangerous situation, literally life or death and," Shinichi sighed. His previous anxiety had creeped back in a bit from the interviewer's interruption. The blue-eyed detective leaned back in his seat, trying to appear relaxed. "We had to quickly pretend we were a couple, he was disguised as a girl and well… when you kiss, people usually look away from you."
"Oh!" Himura watched Shinichi transfixed, waiting for more.
"So as a distraction?" Hakuba asked, tilting his head slightly. "Or I guess the opposite."
"Yep," Shinichi nodded, almost relieved. The blue-eyed detective waited for his peers and the interviewer to process.
"Oh my god! Like Captain America!" Himura grinned, straightening up in her seat.
"Who?" Shinichi frowned.
"Captain America!" Hattori turned to face Shinichi with pleading eyes.
"I don't know who that is either…" Hakuba glanced at the Osakan.
"Guys! Captain America," Hattori stared at both of them.
"Repeating his name won't make us suddenly remember-" Hakuba drawled.
"Fine, I'll just educate you both later," Hattori sighed, disappointed in them. Shinichi looked over at Hakuba to find the blond already looking at him, and they both shrugged at each other.
"I'm not really surprised the Sherlockians don't know about pop culture," Himura teased, an amused glint in her eye. "But basically Kudou-san, Captain America and a character called Black Widow kiss each other as a distraction. Like you and Kaitou KID did! Oh, who kissed who? How did it happen?"
"Uh," Shinichi didn't like that the line of questioning was still open, but he supposed there wouldn't be any harm in answering this. "It was KID's idea."
"And how did it happen?" Himura repeated. Shinichi glanced over at Hattori, anxious that the interviewer was still talking. The Osakan, however, was looking at him with an analytical look in his eyes, the look he would get when he was piecing an investigation together. Uh oh. Shinichi decided it was safer to just keep looking at Himura. "Did he suddenly kiss you? Did he ask you?"
"Um, well, he didn't have time to ask with words, but he did pause for a second right before… like asking for permission and when I didn't do anything he... yeah," Shinichi shrugged, pressing his lips together.
"Oh? So you gave KID permission for him to kiss you?" Himura tilted her head, with a cheeky smile.
Shinichi sighed, not liking the deliberate way she phrased the question, "Remember this was a life-or-death situation. Like I wouldn't be here right now if… Can we move on?"
Himura pressed on, pretending to be oblivious to Shinichi's discomfort, "Yeah yeah, so tell us. Is the Kaitou KID a good kisser?"
Shinichi blinked hard, dropping his jaw with a frown, "Excuse me?"
"Well you have first-hand experience, Kudou-san. We're all dying to know. I'm guessing it wasn't a short kiss. How long did you make out? Was he good?"
Truthfully, KID was an exceptional kisser. Whenever KID suddenly sprang a kiss on the detective, Shinichi couldn't help but melt in his arms, forgetting whatever he had been doing. And their first kiss wasn't an exception; they were both left with swollen lips and dilated pupils. When they parted to breathe, they stared into each other's eyes in shock until one of them moved to kiss more and delay the conversation of "what did we just do?!'. They had continued kissing a while, well past when the black organisation members had left the area.
But Shinichi wasn't going to tell them that.
"Oh my god," Shinichi rolled his eyes in irritation, then levelled Himura with an unimpressed look. "How should I know? Remember this was a distraction. Don't you know the difference between a kiss and a show?"
"You're confusing me, Kudou-san. You did kiss, yes?"
"Yes, but you're imagining the situation very…" Shinichi pulled a face. "We were trying not to die."
Hattori suddenly gasped. Shinichi looked over at him in confusion to find his heart stop at the Osakan's wide eyes. Shinichi knew that look; Hattori had figured something out. "What?" Himura asked, her eyes moved like tennis balls between Shinichi and Hattori.
Hattori blinked for a few seconds, then slowly leaned back into his chair, "…Nothing." The lie detector beeped, shining red.
Himura decided to rest her eyes on the Osakan, looking at him expectantly. After a few seconds, Hattori opened his mouth then closed it. Shinichi's eyes widened warningly, trying to telepathically communicate to his best friend to keep his mouth shut. But Hattori wasn't looking at him, he was looking at the table.
"I just… figured out when dis was," Hattori mumbled, then looked up at Shinichi. "Ya know, you were injured, hair messier dan ever... plus he was kinda awkward."
"Yeah right, when has KID ever been awkward, Hattori?" Shinichi scoffed, trying to stop the Osakan. "I think this time your deduction is.." Shinichi trailed off with an expression partly between a grimace and an uncomfortable smile.
"At the meeting!" Hattori answered Shinichi's unintentional question.
"What meeting?" Shinichi gave up on the unbothered pretence and simply stared at the Osakan, hoping he would understand he needed to shut up.
"You know the one with the FBI where-" Hattori suddenly stopped speaking as he locked eyes with Shinichi. "I mean... what meeting? Ahaha…"
Shinichi almost facepalmed.
"KID was involved in a meeting with the FBI?! So it wasn't just rumours?" Himura put her hands to her face in delight. Hakuba, who had just been silent, was staring at a space between Hattori and Shinichi with raised eyebrows and a concentrated look in his eyes.
Right, damage control.
Shinichi sighed then leaned forward in his chair to look into the interviewer's eyes, "Himura-san. I understand this is your show. But please." The blue-eyed detective looked down to his hands in his lap, then looked up with his secret weapon; being Conan had taught him the power of his eyes. As Shinichi looked up innocently through his lashes at Himura (who was starting to blush), he asked, "Please, can you edit this out? It's confidential."
Himura opened her mouth and closed it. She looked at Shinichi like she'd never seen him before, "I- I'm sorry, Kudou-san but…"
"Please," Shinichi almost whispered, not looking away from Himura's eyes.
"Kudou-san, I would but… we're live."
Shinichi blinked. "What."
"We're live, Kudou-san."
"Ah." Shinichi leaned back in his seat, suppressing the urge to shake his hands at the sky. "That's great." The lie detector beeped in the background. "That's so great." Another beep. Shinichi glared at the Osakan who was staring back regretfully. Hattori hunched his shoulders, "I'm sorry."
Seeing his best friend look so defeated, Shinichi sighed as his anger disappeared. The blue-eyed detective reached out and placed his hand on Hattori's shoulder, "It's okay." As the lie detector stayed silent, Hattori turned his head to face Shinichi who smiled at the Osakan with exasperation. Hattori placed his hand on Shinichi's, with an apologetic but thankful smile.
The two detectives stayed there for a few seconds until Hattori sighed, "Maybe we should…" the Osakan frowned, taking his hand off Shinichi's and to his forehead. "Clarify," Shinichi nodded, finishing Hattori's sentence and turning to face the interviewer. The blue-eyed detective clasped his hands together and looked up at Himura, who was gazing at him curiously.
With a silent apology to Jodie, Shinichi tried to amend the situation, "We just want to clarify some things. It's not that… The FBI didn't officially work with KID. It was a special circumstance, KID had just saved my life and also, well… he had some important information."
"It's not the first time. KID has provided significant information to help many police cases before as well," Hakuba added helpfully.
"Exactly," Shinichi smiled gratefully at the blond.
"I have a question," Hakuba stated, his hazel eyes focused on Shinichi. "About the distraction… kiss."
"Oh okay," Shinichi answered, hesitantly.
"Did he have a mask on, or were they his real lips?"
Shinichi raised his eyebrows in response. Hakuba was asking a good question, obviously focused on uncovering information about the thief. "Well… he was wearing a disguise and…" Shinichi brought his hand to his chin, as if he was thinking back to the situation. In reality, he knew KID had had makeup on for his disguise but no mask. He also knew he couldn't share this, otherwise the next questions would be incriminating. And, as unethical it was for a detective to keep these facts to himself, Shinichi didn't want KID shut away. "His lips felt real but," Shinichi shrugged.
"Hmm," Hakuba brought his own hand to his chin, then nodded, "Thank you."
"His lips felt real? And what did those lips do?" Himura smirked, back to her confident self.
"Oh my god," Shinichi pinched between his eyebrows in exasperation, "The point wasn't to kiss, our priority was not dying if you haven't forgotten. Can we move on?"
"Last question," Himura said, with a neutral expression. Shinichi slid his fingers down his nose, and looked up at the interviewer. The blue-eyed detective took his hand off his face and waited for Himura's question.
"When you kissed KID…" Himura started asking, her neutral expression morphed back into a smirk. "Was there tongue?"
Shinichi slowly blinked at the interviewer, looking at her with narrowed eyes, "Well Himura-san, you tell me. Why don't you be the detective this time? With everything I've told you… What do you think?"
"…No?" Himura responded, her previous bravado muted.
Shinichi started clapping, "Well done!" The blue-eyed detective heard Hattori snicker next to him, Shinichi knew he was being dramatic but he didn't care. He was done, "You made a deduction!" Whether it was correct or not wasn't specified.
Truthfully, yes there had been tongue. And it had been amazing and made Shinichi's knees stop functioning for a few moments (luckily they had been leaning against a wall). But again, he wasn't going to tell them that. There would have been no professional explanation for putting his tongue in the phantom thief's mouth.
"Now that you've made us feel as uncomfortable as possible, can we move on?" Hakuba deadpanned.
"Oh, but you haven't told us about your kiss, Hakuba-san," Himura laughed light-heartedly. The audience laughed with her, as if the blond had merely been sarcastic.
"There's nothing to tell. It was less than a second," Hakuba replied, obviously wanting this topic to end.
"So there was no follow-up kiss? Or did you kiss another time, later?"
Shinichi felt his heart speed up. If Himura asked him that, he would be screwed. Thinking fast, Shinichi placed his foot over Hattori's for a few seconds then took it off. It was their code for if a question desperately needed to be avoided, Shinichi was basically telling Hattori right now that he had kissed KID again. To Shinichi's surprise, Hattori didn't really react. The Osakan's green eyes swivelled over to his, and they shared a look of understanding.
"No," Hakuba looked at her lifelessly.
"Oh that's a shame. How about you-"
"Himura-san," Hattori interrupted. 'Don't ya wanna know if Kudou and I have ever kissed?"
The interviewer suddenly stopped, her head snapping to the Osakan. Hakuba breathed in sharply, eyes wide. Shinichi frowned for a second, confused before he realised his best friend's plan. With raised eyebrows, Shinichi smiled mysteriously at Himura.
Himura narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Shinichi.
Shinichi leaned his head on Hattori's shoulder, smiling up at him innocently as he did. Hattori blinked a few times as he smiled back, trying to suppress his amusement. Their blue and green eyes looked at Himura whose jaw was dropping slightly. She raised her hand to her earpiece, before taking the tablet containing her questions.
"Next question," Himura announced, her eyes fixed on them like a predator (or a reporter wanting a scoop). The blue-eyed detective lifted his head off the Osakan, as he prepared for Himura's question. "Hattori-san, Kudou-san… and Hakuba-san. Have you ever kissed each other?"
"No," Hakuba answered, his hazel eyes watching them carefully.
"No," Hattori and Shinichi answered; the machine stayed green. The two best friends made eye contact then burst into laughter, Hattori slapped his knee then Shinichi's shoulder, "Kudou oh my god!" The blue-eyed detective tried to contain himself and pressed his lips together, but when his best friend's laugh started resembling a goat, Shinichi started again, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Okay okay, thank you," Himura said, with a sickly-sweet tone. She was obviously annoyed that they had tricked her. Her deadpanned eyes lit up for a second with an idea. "Oh… have you ever imagined kissing each other?"
That was a good question, but luckily Hattori really was just a friend to him. Well, not just a friend, his best friend. "No," Shinichi answered, calmly. The machine didn't beep.
"No?" Hattori replied, slightly unsure. The light stayed green, and the Osakan repeated, more confidently, "No."
"…No," Hakuba answered, after everyone. His machine turned red with a beep, prompting the blond to close his eyes in resignation.
After a pause, Hattori spoke up in a goading tone, "So Hakuba… Guess ya don't hate me dat much."
Hakuba immediately scoffed, "It's not you!"
"Oh," Shinichi breathed, intrigued. Hakuba's eyes snapped to his as the blond realised what he had just revealed.
Hakuba quickly looked away, as the usually well-spoken brit started rambling nervously, "It's not… It's not as if I thought about it extensively, I just. Sometimes thoughts pop into your head but they don't always mean anything, as in… I've imagined getting a cat before, but I'm not actually going to or particularly want to right now. And Watson wouldn't have liked it."
Shinichi nodded as he tried to stifle a smirk.
Himura leaned closer to Hakuba with a sympathetic smile, "It's very understandable, Hakuba-san. I mean those Betty Boop eyes he did." Shinichi blinked apprehensively at the mention of his earlier attempt to sway the interviewer. It wasn't ideal that people had witnessed it. The blue-eyed detective felt himself going more into Conan-mode, trying to seem as unsuspicious as possible.
"Actually yes, what was that?" Hakuba leapt upon the subject change with a raised eyebrow. "You're doing it now."
"Oh," Shinichi frowned, then smiled nervously, "This was an accident."
"How do you accidentally…?" Himura questioned, eyes flicking between Shinichi and the green lie detector in disbelief.
"There's no way you're making me believe that earlier was an accident," Hakuba leaned closer, clearly in his composed detective mode. Shinichi was not prepared for the blond's entry into his personal space; it only made the blue-eyed detective remember how Hakuba had imagined kissing him.
Shinichi wanted to lean back, but he also didn't want to appear guilty, so he sat rigidly as he replied, "What? Oh come on, desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Huh," Hakuba's mouth parted. Shinichi's eyes flickered down to look, briefly thinking about how the Brit took very good care of his body and of course that would include his lips. Hakuba probably used a fancy lip balm. Shinichi quickly looked away, picking up his empty mug.
"And you're changing the subject," Hattori spoke up, ironically bringing the subject away from Shinichi's eye magic. Shinichi shoved the thoughts pondering how soft Hakuba's lips could feel out of his mind.
"You're right, I was," Hakuba nodded. Despite his words, the blond's eyes gleamed with confidence. "I propose we ask the question again. I'll be honest this time."
"There's no need, Hakuba-san," Himura gathered her tablet in her arms, swiping through questions with one hand.
"Oh, I insist," Hakuba's eyes met Shinichi's with the hint of a smirk.
Shinichi suddenly realised that Hakuba knew, like the blond had somehow read his mind. The blue-eyed detective would be impressed by Hakuba's observational analysis if he wasn't so embarrassed.
"Okay… Have you ever imagined kissing each other?" Himura asked.
Hattori and Hakuba answered honestly, as Shinichi internally wrestled with himself between lying or telling the truth. The machine would reveal him either way. Resigning himself to his fate, Shinichi confessed, "…Yes."
"WHAT?" Hattori exclaimed, looking between the smug Brit and his best friend. "Kudou, ya can do so much better!"
Hakuba raised an eyebrow in annoyance, "Excuse me?"
"I'm not going to kiss him," Shinichi turned to Hattori; his voice had a firm resolve and the green light shone in confirmation.
Shinichi thought about KID; his enigmatic smile, his soft humming in the mornings to gently wake him, his indigo eyes (he'd never seen eyes like that before), and the way he convinced Shinichi to do the silliest things with him. Hakuba was good-looking, and Shinichi could even admit that, apparently, he found him attractive. But that didn't change who already had Shinichi's heart.
"Hm, how are you so sure, Kudou-kun?" Hakuba smiled charismatically, and then Shinichi suddenly realised why Hakuba was known as a gentleman and popular with the ladies. In a way, he was similar to KID, but the thief was a little more shameless…
"I'm sure," Shinichi answered, looking into the blond's hazel eyes. At the eye contact, he felt his face heat, and he looked away. Hakuba was still close. Shinichi raised his hand, "Can you move back?"
"Of course," Hakuba moved back, his voice like a pleasant hum.
"How are you so sure though?" Himura leaned closer, looking at the machine. "Does this mean we can say any statements about the future? And the lie detector will say we're not lying?"
"Oh, dat's true," Hattori frowned in thought, "I will win da lottery."
The machine beeped with a red light.
"I will never win da lottery?" Hattori said the statement as more of a question, to which the machine beeped red again.
Hakuba raised a hand to his chin, "Interesting. I will never… murder anyone." The machine's light shone green. "So it has to be things we're quite sure about," the blond's eyes drifted to Shinichi with a little frown.
Shinichi tilted his head at the new observations, then straightened up, "This could be a great way to find out how certain criminals are about their future actions! If they plan to harm anyone again, or…"
"Guess as embarrassing this interview is, it is useful," Hattori nodded, impressed.
"Question for Kudou-san, why are you so sure you won't kiss Hakuba-san?" Himura asked with a cheeky smirk, ignoring the osakan's dig. "You've obviously both thought about it."
Shinichi rolled his eyes, irritated that this line of questioning was still open. KID was going to be very jealous, especially with how the subject wasn't dropping. Even though words weren't the blue-eyed detective's strongpoint, he was going to make sure to tell KID how he only wanted to kiss him. Shinichi remembered the pain of thinking KID had been making out with all of his detectives, and he didn't want that. It was time to make it clear that what was between them wasn't something casual to Shinichi.
Then an idea struck Shinichi. An easy way to immediately reassure his thief.
Shinichi looked Himura in the eyes, answering, "Because I don't want to." Because Shinichi didn't want to hurt KID, because he wanted to kiss KID, because the thief had wormed his way into his life, and now Shinichi couldn't imagine him not in it.
As the light shone green, Himura tilted her head in confusion, "Oh? I could swear you… I thought you thought he was attractive."
Shinichi's eyes snapped to Hakuba's curious face, "Hakuba-kun is very attractive, anyone with eyes can see that… but he's a good friend. To me."
Hakuba's eyes shone warmly, then a friendly smile came across his face, a smile similar to the expression he would wear when the two would talk about Holmes for hours after investigations, "You're a good friend to me, too."
Shinichi smiled back; he felt the tension within his heart relax. A sense of relief washed over him, grateful that his and Hakuba's friendship was back to normal.
"I see, so you don't want to jeopardise the friendship…" Himura's voice had a melodious tone, and her eyes were looking between them with intrigue.
Shinichi decided to ignore her, "What's your next question? Or was that your last?" The blue-eyed detective knew he was being a little short, but Himura had publicly poked and prodded at him and his fellow detectives for the last hour. Shinichi wanted to go home.
"Oh," Himura straightened up, eyes flicking over to the time on the wall, then gestured to the audience, "Unfortunately, we've come to our last question of the night." The audience awed, not wanting the interview to end.
"Do you want to leave us with any words of advice?" Himura turned to the detectives on the sofa with a practiced smile.
"Stay in school. Don't do drugs," Hattori chirped in, like an old-timer celebrity.
Shinichi tried to contain his snort at Hattori's quip, "Don't-Don't kill people." When Shinichi and Hattori made eye contact, they both tried to suppress their chuckling, but… it was hopeless.
"Yeah please. Dat would be great," Hattori laughed, not bothering to hide his amusement.
Hakuba leaned forward, a thoughtful glint in his eyes, and quoted Sherlock Holmes, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Hattori rolled his eyes, but Shinichi leaned closer to Hakuba with a grin, "And never theorise before you have data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
"Read Agatha Christie," Hattori listed, as another piece of advice.
"I've seen too many situations where people assumed things because they didn't communicate or gather proper information, including unfortunate murders that were… misunderstandings between the victim and culprit," Shinichi continued, looking towards the audience.
"But even if it isn't a misunderstanding…" Hakuba gave a warning tone, looking at the other detectives with a humorous glint in his eyes.
"Don't kill people," Shinichi and Hattori repeated together, letting the blond in on the joke.
"And remember to accept help! Don't do everything alone," Hattori added, more seriously.
"Well, there you have it, Japan. Don't kill people," Himura grinned, with an amused tone. "Thank you and good night!"
.- ._.-._.-._.-.
"Shinichi! You did so great!" Ran immediately took him into a hug, whispering so only he could hear, "Especially with her nosy questions." As they separated, Ran gave him a warm smile, and Shinichi felt a weight lift off his shoulders. A sense of safety washed over him, finally allowing him to relax.
"Heiji!" Kazuha bounded up to her boyfriend, brimming with excitement, then halted a few inches away. "I can't believe you kissed KID! Why didn't you tell me? That's so funny."
Hattori nonchalantly shrugged, rolling his eyes as he slid one hand around her waist. "Cause I tried to erase it from ma memory."
Just then, Ran's phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller ID, her face contorting into a complex expression as her eyes darted toward Shinichi.
Shinichi raised his eyebrow in a question.
"It's Sonoko… I'll tell her you're busy," Ran replied sheepishly, while raising the phone to her ear.
Shinichi stiffened, "Uh, thanks." He didn't want to deal with Sonoko's outraged questions about her 'KID-sama'.
"Oh my god," an unfamiliar female exclaimed near Hakuba. "That was… You were great."
Shinichi glanced over to see who came to support the blond detective and spotted a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Ran, albeit with a slightly messier hairstyle. She stood beside Hakuba, her hands on her face, gushing with enthusiasm to him.
"You were a bit boring," a guy next to Hakuba playfully taunted.
Shinichi's eyes widened as he recognized the stranger. It was KID's civilian identity. His cheeky smile, his catlike indigo eyes, and the way he effortlessly carried himself—all the tell-tale signs were there. It was the same face he had seen in the mornings when KID would wake him up to breakfast. Shinichi was shocked yet captivated by the revelation.
"Kudou-kun!" Hakuba waved, motioning for Shinichi to join them.
"Uh yes?" Shinichi snapped his eyes away from the thief, walking over to the blond detective.
Hakuba smiled, introducing him to the Ran-lookalike, "Meet Nakamori Aoko, Nakamori-keibu's daughter."
"Nice to meet you, Kudou-san! I've heard so much about you from my father," Aoko bowed, her smile exuding a sweet and friendly aura reminiscent of Ayumi.
"Likewise, Nakamori-san," Shinichi bowed slightly, with a smile.
"And this is-" Hakuba continued.
"Kuroba Kaito," Kaito interrupted with a mischievous grin, "It's a pleasure."
"The pleasure's mine, Kuroba-san," Shinichi replied, his gaze steady as he met the thief's eyes. The blue-eyed detective wished he had an excuse to touch Kaito, like a handshake.
"Okay, now that introductions are over," Hakuba raised his eyebrows, and gestured between them, "You two kiss."
Shinichi's jaw dropped as he stared at the blond detective, "…What?" In the back of his mind, he noticed that his friends had gone quiet in shock.
"Hakuba, is this you trying to be a wingman?" Kaito blinked furiously as Shinichi watched his face colour in wonder. Was he actually blushing?
"What? No," Hakuba scoffed, perfectly relaxed. The blond detective turned to Shinichi," I apologise if this is uncomfortable…"
"If?!" Kaito's voice went up in pitch.
"But if you kiss, then you can tell me if his lips feel the same as…" Hakuba tilted his head with a hand gesture, insinuating that he suspected Kaito was the Kaitou KID.
"Hakuba-kun!" Aoko shouted, upset. "Stop this! Kaito is not KID. What an awful impression…"
"I'm sorry, Aoko-san," Hakuba looked away in remorse, understanding his friend's hurt. The blond detective then looked straight at Shinichi, "But I'm not the only one who thinks so. Kudou-kun does too."
"What?" Shinichi repeated, frowning as he stared back at Hakuba.
"You were staring at him. You recognised him, didn't you?" Hakuba's hazel eyes were resolute. The blond detective was correct about that, as well as about KID's identity… But like hell was Shinichi going to confirm it.
"No, I didn't," Shinichi straightened up, refuting Hakuba's claim.
"No?" Hakuba frowned in confusion. Thankfully he fully believed that Shinichi wouldn't lie to him. "Why were you staring at him then?"
"Um," Shinichi pressed his lips together, eyes sliding over to Kaito. "Because… Cause, um." God, what was he going to say?
Kaito stared at him with a neutral expression. His light brown hair was tousled; Shinichi had previously thought that it was morning bedhead, but it seemed to be a consistent hairstyle. A few locks framed his face, drawing Shinichi's attention to the thief's eyes. Shinichi momentarily stared at the thief's indigo eyes for no reason other than to admire them, then looked away in embarrassment as he thought of an excuse…
"It was because he's…" Shinichi felt his face heat up as he gestured in the direction of Kaito, "He's cute, okay?"
He heard Aoko gasp at his (not entirely) false admission. Kazuha and Ran started whispering to each other some distance away, glee evident in their hushed voices. Oh well. Almost without his consent, Shinichi's eyes darted over to see Kaito's reaction.
Kaito was grinning manically, and his eyes were lit up in delight. Shinichi watched as the tip of his tongue touched his canine. Kaito closed his mouth and looked downwards with a little smirk. The thief met Shinichi's eyes again and raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"
Shinichi stared back impassively, pretending he wasn't that affected by Kaito.
"And Kuroba-kun has a celebrity crush on you. You should kiss," Hakuba interjected, completely misreading the atmosphere.
Kaito's jaw tensed as he looked at Hakuba, with annoyance in his eyes. In a slow elegant movement, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A cloud of pink smoke surrounded the blond detective. As it cleared, it was immediately obvious that Hakuba's hair had turned pink.
Shinichi couldn't help but quirk his lips up in amusement, flattered that the unreachable thief had a 'celebrity crush' on him.
"Kuroba!" Hakuba groaned, frustrated.
"You kind of deserved that, Hakuba-kun…" Aoko muttered.
"So you have a crush on me?" Shinichi teased, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.
Kaito's eyes locked onto Shinichi's, his lips slowly spreading into a confident smirk. "Mhm, what are you going to do about it?" he replied, oozing charm and self-confidence. There was no trace of embarrassment in the thief's words, unlike most people who would be flustered if their 'celebrity crush' was exposed. Instead, Kaito used it to his advantage, playfully teasing Shinichi.
Shinichi raised his eyebrows, his eyes widening in surprise, "Huh?" He was caught slightly off guard by Kaito's bold response.
"Oh you're the cute one, Kudou," Kaito grinned shamelessly. The thief stepped closer to Shinichi, till he could easily lean in if he wanted to.
"Huh? I-" Shinichi stuttered, flustered. The blue-eyed detective took a breath in and tried to compose himself, "I'm still not kissing you. I just met you."
"Hm, I would, but I also detest being part of any of Hakuba's schemes and it's a bit fast… even for me," Kaito winked, then walked away to pick up his coat from one of the chairs.
Shinichi watched him, confused that the thief was walking away, "What are you…" Kaito slid his arms through the sleeves of his blue-purple bomber jacket, which made his eyes stand out even more.
Kaito walked back over to him, "I think we should get to know each other first. Are you hungry?"
"…Yeah," Shinichi answered, suddenly realising that, with the hustle and bustle of filming, he hadn't eaten since breakfast.
"Perfect. Let's get dinner then," Kaito smiled charmingly, facing Shinichi.
The corner of Shinichi's mouth quirked up in a little smile, "Oh? You're asking me on a date?"
Kaito nodded, his raised eyebrows and calm smile exuding an air of 'obviously,' as he waited for Shinichi's response.
Shinichi's mind worked quickly, analysing Kaito's playful words. The comment about it being too fast, even for him, seemed like a classic playboy move. Yet, in Shinichi's bedroom, the thief had also been romantic. The cheeky demeanour was a genuine side to him (that he found pretty hot…), but Shinichi also knew there was a giddy unguarded aspect to the thief. The blue-eyed detective had caught glimpses of this sweetness and vulnerability when Kaito would gush to him about random things he found interesting or the gentle way he held him after their passionate moments. Shinichi wasn't sure where Kaito wanted this date to go, but Shinichi knew what he wanted.
Shinichi beckoned the thief to step closer, then leaned close to Kaito's ear, "I'll go if, after this date… you're mine."
Kaito's eyes widened while his smile stayed fixed, "Can you clarify?" Kaito's indigo eyes shimmered with an excited and flirty glint. However, beneath that outward demeanour, Shinichi, attuned to Kaito's nuances, detected a subtle undercurrent of confused yet giddy emotions.
"I mean, no kissing other detectives, or anyone else for that matter. Mine like… my boyfriend," Shinichi whispered, his breath warm against Kaito's ear.
Kaito's poker face shattered, his complexion shooting red like a broken thermometer. His wide eyes locked onto Shinichi's with shock and something else. There was a glimmer of hope in his gaze, giving a touch of nervous energy to his subtle movements. Shinichi watched the genuine display of emotions on Kaito's face, finding it quite endearing.
"Oh my god, what did he say to Kaito?" Aoko gushed to Hakuba. The two were only a few feet away but felt like a distant presence to Shinichi and Kaito.
"So?" Shinichi leaned away a little to give the thief space to compose himself.
Kaito nodded quickly, a smile tugging at his lips as he tried to collect himself.
"Then I'll go on a date with you," Shinichi fought to control the wide grin itching to stretch across his face, managing to keep it to a close-lipped smile. Kaito said yes.
"What have I done…" Hakuba droned, putting his face in his hands.
Shinichi then remembered his friends waiting across the room from him, "Sorry, Ran, is it oka-"
"Yes, Shinichi!" Ran beamed like a proud mother. "Don't worry about us. Go!" Kazuha winked at him with a thumbs up sign, while Hattori had raised eyebrows but a pleased look in his eyes.
Shinichi looked back at Kaito, only to find the thief holding the blue-eyed detective's coat towards him. With an appreciative smile, Shinichi slipped into the coat, "Huh… what a gentleman."
"Of course," Kaito replied with a little theatrical bow, "For you." Kaito plucked a lilac rose seemingly out of thin air, presenting it to Shinichi with a flourish. A soft blush touched Shinichi's cheeks at the implication – lilac roses, love at first sight. Even though it wasn't their first encounter, it was, in a sense, their first meeting without any masks, as themselves.
"Thank you," Shinichi accepted the rose, his fingers brushing against Kaito's for a fleeting moment.
Kaito led the way for Shinichi to follow, turning to wave at Aoko and Hakuba with a grin, the latter who had a slightly constipated expression on his face. Shinichi offered them a small nod.
Just as they were about to leave the immediate vicinity, Hattori strolled closer to them. "Kudou, I'm gonna head straight to yours with Kazuha," he announced quietly, extending his hand. "I can put dis rose in the vase with da others?"
Kaito's eyes widened momentarily, a mixture of surprise and amusement flashing across his face. Shinichi's cheeks reddened, and he cleared his throat awkwardly, his eyes darting between Hattori and Kaito. It was undeniable – Hattori knew, and they knew that he knew.
Hattori's grin widened, almost teasingly. "And maybe go to Kuroba-san's place dis time?" he added, his tone light but the implications clear.
Shinichi was mortified: was Hattori implying that he'd heard- Nope. Shinichi's mind wasn't going to go there. The blue-eyed detective put the lilac rose in Hattori's hand, "Cut the bottom in a diagonal." As the pair walked away, Shinichi dismissed Hattori's huffs of laughter echoing behind him, focusing on the path ahead.
As they went through the emergency exit of the Nichiuri TV building, Kaito placed a cap on Shinichi's head, "Just in case." The hat concealed Shinichi's features just enough to ensure they wouldn't be easily recognized by paparazzi or anyone who had just been watching the detectives' interview. The city's lights painted warm patterns on the streets as a gentle breeze ruffled Kaito's hair.
"Hm, I'm hiding my face this time," Shinichi muttered, with a half-smile at the parallel.
"True. So, what do you think of my face?" Kaito teased, bumping his shoulder against the detective's. "What did you say? Oh yeah, cute."
"I said that as an excuse because I did recognise you," Shinichi rolled his eyes, to which Kaito pouted, puffing out his cheeks. The detective looked at the thief with an amused smile, "But also… yes."
"Yes?" Kaito blinked.
"Yes…" Shinichi's words trailed off deliberately. His gaze drifted to Kaito's face, his eyes traversing the thief's features with a gentle scrutiny. The sharpness of Kaito's jawline, his long eyelashes, and the inviting hue of his pink lips held Shinichi's attention for a lingering moment. Slowly, his gaze ascended, locking onto Kaito's wide indigo eyes.
Shinichi finally let the grin he'd been suppressing spread across his face. Indeed, Kaito was cute.
Kaito's eyes then narrowed, taking on a half-lidded, alluring expression. His lips curled into a wolfish grin, "My my, Meitantei. When you look at me like that… all I can think about is whisking you away straight to my place and having you all to myself… for days."
Shinichi's mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise, his eyes blinking a few times, "You mean like kidnapping me?"
"It wouldn't be called kidnapping; you're mine, right?" Kaito winked, a lightness in his step.
"Being yours doesn't grant you the license to kidnap me," Shinichi retorted, his tone a blend of reprimand and amusement.
"What if… you desire it?" Kaito's words hung tantalizingly in the air, a magnetic pull between them that seemed to thicken the charged atmosphere.
Shinichi's lips slightly parted, caught between surprise and a sudden surge of raw desire. His gaze locked onto Kaito, wide eyes betraying the helpless longing that stirred within him – an unspoken craving for what those words hinted at.
Flustered by the intensity of the moment, Shinichi's cheeks warmed as he looked away, "No." A beat of silence followed the detective's words. "Don't get me wrong, that sounds fun," Shinichi quickly rectified, mumbling the latter part of the sentence, "But I also… like you. And I want that date you asked me on."
Kaito blinked his eyes fully ,open, "…You like me?"
"No, I just ask any guy to be my boyfriend," Shinichi rolled his eyes, sarcasm in his tone.
"I like you too," Kaito lowered his chin, looking up at Shinichi with a shy smile.
In that fleeting moment, Shinichi felt his heart melt as he looked at Kaito. The urge to pull Kaito close and kiss him was almost overwhelming.
Kaito's gaze shifted to the side, a hint of vulnerability showing through, "I'm so glad you don't like Hakuba…"
"Hakuba-kun? No, of course not."
"Yeah, I know that now, I guess just with the interview. He wanted to kiss you… and you blushed and didn't move away from him," Kaito's eyes turned slightly downcast, a tinge of sadness in his voice, "I was kind of jealous, but I knew we weren't together or anything."
Shinichi's eyebrows turned down, as he felt the pain emanating from the thief, "Kaito…"
Kaito seemed to shake himself mentally, attempting to mask the rawness he had revealed. His smile returned, seemingly lighter, "But you're mine now, not his. So he can just suck it."
"Kaito, it's okay. I don't want him, I want you," Shinichi's voice cut through the evening air. He stopped their walk, turning to face Kaito fully. "When I thought you might have kissed Hattori and Hakuba-kun like you kissed me, it was… painful. I didn't realise I had feelings for you just today, you know."
"I would never," Kaito's denial was swift, his eyes reflecting his sincerity, before he admitted quietly, "I just want to kiss you."
"Me too," Shinichi smiled, softly.
Shinichi couldn't help but feel a rush of relief mixed with affection. Kaito's openness about his jealousy, his vulnerabilities laid out there, meant a lot. It was like a hidden door had swung open, bringing them closer. Standing on that busy street, a cozy assurance settled around Shinichi. It was nice to know their feelings for each other were very much mutual.
The detective resumed walking, and the thief fell in step alongside him. Shinichi, wanting to reassure Kaito, suddenly added, "Oh, by the way, I don't think Hakuba-kun actually wants to kiss me. The question was more about imagining."
Kaito's eyes quickly narrowed, "Oh, he wants to kiss you."
"I don't know… I think it was just random imagining, like intrusive thoughts?"
"Then he better watch where his thoughts wander," Kaito's voice took on a slightly lower tone, a possessive edge slipping into his words.
"Kaito!" Shinichi opened his mouth, his lips quirking up at this different side of the thief.
Kaito sighed, then grinned attractively, "Sorry. I'm just half-convinced everyone wants you."
"No it's okay-" Shinichi started to say, until he registered what the thief had said. "What?
"You're very pretty, Shinichi. And smart, hot, brave. Kind," Kaito tilted his head towards the detective, admiring him.
Shinichi pressed his lips together, blinking up at Kaito. His heart thudded in his chest as he absorbed Kaito's sincere compliments, how the thief truly perceived him. Shinichi responded with a small smile, "That's literally you."
Kaito's eyes looked down, as his grin widened. His long lashes created a shadow on his cheeks, "We're almost there."
"Hm, where are you taking me?" Shinichi asked, curious.
"It's a surprise," Kaito winked, making jazz hands playfully, before guiding the detective down a side street. After walking for a few moments, Kaito's hand strayed closer to Shinichi's, "Can I hold your hand?"
Shinichi raised an eyebrow, his smile growing at the adorable question, "Oh? So kidnapping is whatever, but hand-holding is where you ask."
Kaito looked upwards, a hint of amusement in his eyes, "I mean, I've kidnapped you before, and you were okay with it, so…"
"Really? I was okay with it?" Shinichi exclaimed, playfully feigning disbelief at Kaito's joke.
"But you might not like holding hands, so?" Kaito shrugged with exaggerated motions.
"Give me your hand," Shinichi demanded with a wry smile, extending his own hand towards Kaito.
Kaito's grin persisted as he intertwined his fingers with Shinichi's, his hand feeling unexpectedly strong and sure in the detective's grasp. The calluses on his palm spoke of countless hours spent on acrobatics, a fact that Shinichi couldn't help but notice. It was cute in an almost embarrassing way, how Kaito's hand felt in his.
"Do you use hand lotion?" Kaito asked, his thumb gently sweeping over the back of Shinichi's hand.
"No. Well, actually, sometimes out of the shower," Shinichi answered. "Body lotion. It gets on my hands."
"Oh you mean the one we used that time we…?" Kaito's eyes had a lecherous glint in them.
"…Yeah," Shinichi answered, feeling his cheeks heat at the memory of the 'massage' Kaito had given him a few weeks ago.
"Hm… In here."
Kaito's grip on Shinichi's hand tightened slightly as he tugged him towards a rather nondescript-looking building tucked amidst the bustling cityscape. With a sense of intrigue, Shinichi followed, his curiosity growing as they entered the building and headed for an inconspicuous lift. The lift ascended smoothly, the anticipation building within them both as the floors ticked by.
"You're making me very curious…" Shinichi trailed off, wondering just where the thief was taking him.
Kaito raised his eyebrows up and down cheekily, not answering Shinichi's silent question.
As the lift doors slid open with a soft chime, they stepped out onto a breathtaking rooftop. Tokyo's lights spread out below them like a sparkling sea, as the moon above cast a gentle glow. At the rooftop's edge, nestled amidst the urban skyline, was a charming restaurant. Its warm lights and tasteful decor created an inviting atmosphere that contrasted the busy streets below.
Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise, a delighted smile playing on his lips. Kaito grinned, mirroring the excitement he saw in Shinichi's expression. As they approached the restaurant's entrance, the aroma of delicious food wafted into Shinichi's nose.
"Table for two, please," Kaito requested politely to the waiter.
Once seated, Kaito made sure to position himself closest to the backdrop of stars, giving Shinichi the more enchanting view. Shinichi murmured, "I know what you're doing; you're giving me the better view."
A spark of playfulness gleamed in Kaito's eyes as he leaned slightly across the table, his gaze fixed on Shinichi. "I have to disagree, I have the best view," Kaito corrected.
Shinichi hid his smile behind his hand, "You're such a flirt."
A chuckle danced in Kaito's voice as he leaned back, his gaze never leaving Shinichi's, "How could I not be? Look at you."
Shinichi's lips pursed in an attempt to suppress a grin, but one corner couldn't help but twitch upwards. He let out a small huff of laughter. The detective found himself pleasantly amused and, if he was honest, more than a little flattered.
As the evening wore on, Kaito and Shinichi shared stories, laughter, and an exquisite meal. The night air wrapped around them, carrying their words into the darkness like whispered secrets.
"I mean… the first time we kissed, I already had a… sort of crush on you," Kaito confessed, scratching his head.
"Y-You did?" Shinichi's eyes widened, a gentle warmth spreading through him.
"Yeah… So technically, I beat you," Kaito finished, mischievously.
"What? No, I asked you to be my boyfriend so..."
"Well, I asked you on this date," Kaito countered.
Shinichi narrowed his eyes, leaning closer with a small smirk, "I think you're underestimating how much I like you."
"Guess you'll have to show me then," Kaito teased, biting his lip with a grin.
"Guess I'll take you on another date then," Shinichi propped his chin up with his hand, a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
"Ouu," Kaito's tone turned melodious, "I look forward to it."
After a beat, Kaito reached his hand across the table, his fingers gently skimming over Shinichi's. The detective looked up, a silent question in his gaze, wondering if the thief had something to say.
"Oh, there's no reason," Kaito answered Shinichi's unspoken query, a sly tone in his voice. "I just missed touching you."
Shinichi's lips parted in surprise, his gaze drifting to the thief's lips. Shinichi's fingers curled, slightly entering his own mouth, "Oh well, why don't we go…" Shinichi looked away in embarrassment, "Your place?"
Kaito's eyelids lowered as he smirked predatorily. The thief slammed some bills on the table, then grinned shark-like, "Follow me."
When Shinichi showed up to the Kudou manor the next day, he was not safe from Hattori's teasing. Even Kazuha joined in a bit, asking how their boys' sleepover was. The Osakans were easy to ignore, though, when the thief sent him photos of his doves that Shinichi had met the previous night, with the text 'they miss you, they said they want you to come back tomorrow'.
Shinichi grinned at his phone, responding playfully, 'do they now? Well, I hope they don't mind if I take their owner on a date first.'
The detective watched the three dots, signalling the magician was typing, then received a photo of a grinning Kaito with one of his doves who was somehow making a thumbs up with its of Form
Shinichi put his finger on his lips as he smiled at the picture. The detective stared at Kaito's smile, eyes gazing into the thief's as long as he wanted.
"Damn, you're whipped," Hattori whispered over his shoulder.
"Hattori! Privacy," Shinichi protested, as his best friend laughed and settled on the sofa beside Shinichi.
"What? Scared I'll see other kind of pics?" Hattori teased, as his raised eyebrows danced scandalously.
Shinichi rolled his eyes, "No. He's actually been quite romantic."
Hattori tilted his head, "Yeah? Where did he take you den?"
"A rooftop restaurant," Shinichi answered, with a slight smile.
"…I'm glad, Kudou," Hattori's voice softened, the banter giving way to genuine warmth.
As the conversation drifted, Shinichi searched for date ideas online. A brief frown of dissatisfaction crossed his face as he skimmed through suggestions. Then, an idea sparked in his mind. Shinichi scrolled through his contacts, then dialled a familiar number.
As the call connected, Shinichi took a steadying breath, then spoke in a composed tone, "Megure-keibu? I hope you're doing well. I have a rather unconventional request. Can I borrow a police helicopter tomorrow?"
Am I the only one who sometimes daydreams about Shinichi in interviews getting asked embarrassing questions about KID? Like this isn't my only idea along this theme… XD I have another idea where famous detective Shinichi and famous magician Kaito, who haven't met as civilians but know each other, have an interview together… they play the best friend game where they have to 'guess' things about each other, it turns into quite a competition. Would you be interested in that~?
Thank you to the beautiful, hilarious, golden-hearted, super intelligent NobodyInParticular123456 for beta-reading this and just generally existing. I adore you 3
When my sister was reading this (not beta-reading, just reading), she gasped a few times and laughed. I would love to know your reactions too :D I appreciate all comments, whether they're detailed eg telling me what parts you liked or adjectives/emojis.
Take care of yourself, fellow dcmk fan! See you next time!
PS:
I wonder what this universe's social media is going to look like. Imagine a picture of Shinichi with his head on Heiji's shoulder with the caption 'When me and my best friend pretend we're lesbians every time a guy approaches us'. Edits of Shinichi rolling his eyes, looking up through his eyelashes, smirking (I think all of the Gosho boys will have sexy edits). Artists will draw all of their kisses with KID, with embellishment of course. Although as we all know, it probably wouldn't really be embellishment with Shinichi ;) Someone will create a video called 'Hattori Heiji is Hilarious' and it's just moments where he says funny stuff. People are going to ship Hakuba and Shinichi, I mean after that display… (They're going to ship Shinichi with all of them haha). There will definitely be a gif of Shinichi clapping at the interviewer XD A photo of Shinichi's Betty Boop eyes with the caption 'That moment you accidentally give your friend sex eyes' ! A compilation of every time Shinichi cleverly avoided actually answering a question… If you have any ideas, do share haha. Let me live vicariously through your ideas :P This is our story now.