Consequences

Conan slammed open the door to the Kudo Mansion. Stomping into the library, he flung his oversized glasses from his face and collapsed on the couch, dry sobs racking his body. With each movement, he winced, and with each wince, he moved once more. It seemed like a never ending cycle of pain.

It was eased slightly when a firm heat wrapped around him, holding him still and keeping him from jerking violently.

At some point, Conan had turned and sobbed into the other person's chest. He wasn't sure who they were right now. The only thing his mind could process was that they clearly didn't have a female bosom. His silk clothing was soft against his face and helped sooth the swelling.

"What happened?" A soft voice asked when he'd mostly stopped shaking.

A dry, sardonic laugh answered him. "I blew it." Conan whispered. "Ran was…understandably upset."

"Understandably? Your whole face is bruised, not to mention your ribs." The voice answered. "You were in pain every time you shifted." He explained.

"I lied to her…for so long. I can't blame her for being hurt. And–" Conan suddenly blinked up at him, mind finally coming to speed. "Kid!?" He yelped.

"The one and only." The white-clad man grinned.

"But–" Conan's hand drifted up to the thief's face. "What happened? Where's your monocle?" Conan's hand lingered over the messy bandaging on the right side of Kid's face.

Kid smiled emptily and held up the clover-charmed disguise. The glass was cracked and badly distorted around the edges and gone in the center, the glass splintered. "I took a bullet the wrong way." He shrugged.

"But – your eye. The bullet couldn't have gone through – you'd be dead!"

"No, no." Kid laughed hollowly. "The glass inside the monocle is thick enough to have saved me. The bullet grazed my eye, nothing more."

"Nothing more!? Just that is bad enough!"

Kaito chuckled. "The consequences I pay, Tantei-kun."

"Yeah, but…"

"We all pay a price, Tantei-kun. Sometimes its graver than others, but its equal to what we set out to do. Besides, look at the bright side. If she found out, you don't have to lie to her anymore."

"True, but at what cost?" Conan groaned. "I don't blame Ran for being mad, but I wasn't even able to tell her the whole story before she launched herself at me. I just…I wish I could've told her the complete truth."

"Yes, believe me, I know." Kid sighed solemnly.

"But your right." Conan said slowly. "No matter what we do, we always have to live up to the consequences of our actions. Just wish…it coulda been different."

"We all do at some time or another, Tantei-kun. We all do."

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This chapter was from Through the Looking Glass. It is now being expanded into a longer fic. Hope you enjoy.