After midnight writing is always an exploration into the random and cracky. That is all I can say.

In Which Kaitou Kid is Caught

"I did it." Aoko blinked and her face split into a manic grin that would have done her father proud. "I actually did it. I caught Kaitou Kid!"

The thief in question just stretched out his limbs lazily. No doubt he would have stretched his arms as well, but they were currently being held captive above his head by the handcuffs she had locked around his wrists. Just looking at him all trussed like that made her want to cackle with evil glee. Of all the things to happen during the heist, she had not expected Kaitou Kid to fall into her grasp (quite literally; he'd fallen through the bathroom vent right in front of her).

Yes, Nakamori Aoko was feeling very smug indeed. Until she noticed that Kid was smiling at her.

"W-what are you smiling about?" she demanded, folding her arms and trying not to appear flustered. She was not going to let him see that he had ruffled her with that damned smile of his. Because he was not handsome. Not at all.

Kid glanced up at the handcuffs keeping him chained to the water pipe. "I just never expected you to be so kinky," he said, and then flashed her a wicked grin. "Do you always keep handcuffs in your bag?"

Aoko's cheeks burned. She spluttered something about how it wasn't like that, and that she only kept the handcuffs in her bag for emergencies (because one never knew what prank Kaito would pull next).

"Besides," she added, pointing a finger at him. "It's thanks to those handcuffs that you're now chained to that pipe."

He made a humming sound of agreement. "So, Nakamori-chan, what do you plan to do with me now that you've got me handcuffed at your feet?"

Aoko opened and closed her mouth a few times. What she wanted to tell him was that he would be handed straight to the police, courtesy of her father. Except her mind sort of fizzed when she got confronted with the cheeky little smile playing on his lips, which was just the right combination of flirtatious and suggestive to make her feel like he'd just reached inside her and stirred up a whole basket of butterflies. Combined with his "kinky" comment from earlier, and it was no wonder she went bright red.

"I—you—that's not—" She made a frustrated sound and planted her hands on her hips, raising her chin to the air. "Idiot! I told you it's not like that!"

"Too bad," he said with a mock sigh. "Would have been more fun."

Aoko didn't think her cheeks could go any redder. She vented her frustration by swatting at him with her hand. Or, at least, she tried. Gloved fingers closed around her wrist before she could actually make contact, dragging her back against a male chest. Somehow, Kid had managed to get out of the handcuffs and was now holding her trapped. Her heart pounded. She swallowed against the sudden dryness in her mouth, conscious of the solid warmth of his body pressing all up against her.

"Sorry, Nakamori-chan." Kid's voice was like the ghost of a kiss on her ear, light and teasing. "I'm afraid I can't let you catch me tonight."

Aoko could get no words out. Her body was going into overdrive, all butterflies and quickening pulse. She was pretty sure that Kid had broken her. There were no coherent thoughts left in her mind except for the words "male" and "too close, too close, too close", which were repeating over and over. And was it just her or did he smell really, really good?

Damn it, Aoko! she scolded herself. Focus!

Except, by then, it was too late. Kaitou Kid released her and she realised that her wrist was now handcuffed to the pipe. Her cheeks burned again, though for quite a different reason.

"Why you—" she began, curling her free hand into a fist.

Kid effortlessly side-stepped her punch and then tipped his hat to her, bowing with all the grace of a professional magician. "It has been a pleasure, my lady." And then he straightened and flashed her that same cheeky grin. "Next time perhaps we can put the handcuffs to better use."

Aoko blushed and threw a whole string of insults at him, along with the threat that her father would definitely catch him next time, but the thief remained unmoved. Instead, he told her to give his regards to her father, saluted with a casual "ja ne", and then jumped out the window.

Needless to say, neither of the Nakamoris managed to capture Kid the Phantom Thief that night.