A/N: *blink* This one was (mostly) quick, but uh, oddly jarring. Tried smoothing it out, but ehn. I still stand by my "perfunctory" excuse, even if the boys are viciously fighting me about it.
And boys? The more you struggle, the more torment you're getting, so quittit! *pointedly eyes Kid*
Not all heists were alike. Of course, each one was different in that they had different audiences, different goals, and different locations, but to be more precise, for Kid, each one had a different feeling. Sometimes they were simple and joyful. Sometimes, they were challenging. Other times, they were a downright pain in the ass. Once in a blue moon (thankfully), they were painful and raw. He identified his own performances less by the actual gem he took, and more by the sensation, or mood he associated with it. Or, once in a while, by a particularly extravagant magic trick he succeeded in pulling off.
This time was inducing a distinct kind of giddiness in his gut that increased several times over when he realized a certain tiny detective had taken his invitation. Heists with Tantei-kun present always had the same flavor, albeit with varying intensities. When he saw him walk into the room, he had to restrain the Kid smirk from carving itself all over his features. He really wanted to play and toss verbal witticisms at Tantei-kun to rile him up, but the best things came to those who waited, and he had important business to attend to in the mean time. Work before play, as they say.
Namely, Poker Face. Tantei-kun had an almost inhuman sensitivity to his presence, tensing every time he looked at him for too long, and shooting nervous glances around the room with scrutinizing and piercing eyes that belied his apparent age. Kid himself could feel the prickling burn of that far-too keen gaze, even in casual passing. It was mildly baffling that no one else seemed to notice. Was everyone just that daft? Well, he was fine with that. A key point about magic, as Pratchett well put it, is that it merely consisted of knowing one extra fact. Holding the cards close to his chest was just what he did. The less perceptive the audience was, all the easier. It made his performances that much more magical.
Tantei-kun was a special case that merited special attention. He was fun in his own way, and Kid was fine with that challenge. For him, it was less a magic show, and more a battle of wits. The rules of engagement between them were separate and unique. Not so much about deception, it was more about adaptation and quick thinking. Or extensive planning, which Kid also took liberal advantage of.
As usual, Nakamori-keibu was in high spirits, barking orders with the vigor and precision of someone used to the frenzy and chaos of Kid's productions. He had placed extra surveillance and spotlights on the roof, probably anticipating him to arrive and/or depart by air. Kid wondered why, because more often than not, he managed to smuggle his way in with a disguise, despite the cheek-pinching protocol.
The old man was sharp, but could only be described as running by the book. He had intense energy, but was entirely too predictable. Kid would never come by air without a lovely audience outside to greet him! And with this estate so far out in the woods, it just made common sense. He almost let a wry smile peek out from under his mask. Then again, common sense was never to be taken for granted when it came to the Heisei Lupin.
As for leaving, that was on a case-by-case basis. He never left himself with less than a dozen different possible escape routes. While leaving on his glider was preferred, being the quickest and most trademark of methods, if the risk was too great, he would slip away into the crowds. Tonight was still a toss-up, and open to any number of variables, especially with Tantei-kun influencing the movements of the police. Professionally, he was banking on Nakamori-keibu's hardheadedness to win the day. Personally, he always loved going toe-to-toe with Tantei-kun. It would be interesting to see how things panned out.
But, getting back to business. The owner had recently come into possession of a fascinating Egyptian artifact, a scarab emblazoned with a giant ruby that took up the majority of the insect's body. Complete with folding gold wings, it was a very intricate amulet, and with a rich history involving undead pharaohs, it was an ideal target for the Kaitou Kid. Currently, it was resting in a place of honor amongst a display of other historical prizes, including an authentic mummy. He'd wanted to resurrect the dead for this heist at first, but ultimately decided that lacked class. He had something a little more special in mind.
Kid shyly tittered over the shoulder of the owner, responding to a joke that he personally felt was not amusing at all. With a coy air, he flipped a lock of stray hair over his shoulder, baring it to the world. And as expected, it drew more than a few furtive glances from a number of the task force members, as well as from the now famous Mouri Kogorou. Well, it was more a blatant leer.
Sleeping Kogorou. He didn't know which was worse - pretending to be the man, or being in his presence as a highly attractive young woman. It was compounded by the fact that he really had very little makeup on, meaning his face was relatively bare. Mouri was off-putting in many, many ways, and it made Kid's stomach churn unpleasantly. At this point, he couldn't tell if it was good luck or not to have a strong resemblance to the owner's daughter. It easily got him past the cheek-pinch test, anyway.
"Hey daddy, who is that little kid? Are you sure it's okay for him to be here?" He laid his accent on thick, breaking his Japanese and stressing at odd intervals. A perfect representation of a foreigner trying to speak the language.
The owner craned his neck, peering around the disguised Kid, and pulling him closer in the process with a chubby hand on his hip. "Oh, I haven't introduced you yet, have I?" He suppressed a shudder, and smiled sweetly at his "father". And this would be another reason he was having misgivings about the resemblance to the daughter. "His guardian is an important guest. He'll be delighted to meet you." Another tug on his hip, and Kid followed, the two of them making their way over.
Kid allowed himself to stare curiously at Tantei-kun when they got close. He shifted uncomfortably, and focused on the owner instead as he spoke. For now, Kid was amused he could use the unscrupulous manner of a foreigner to make him nervous. Even if the same behavior from his "father" seemed borderline molestation. The owner was way too forward to be normal.
"Mouri-san! I'm so happy you could make it. I'd like to introduce you to my daughter here. She was born in Japan, but raised overseas. As soon as she heard that Kaitou Kid sent a notice to me, she immediately flew home. She's a big Kid fan, you see." The owner gave a chortle. A squeeze of the hip, and the hand wandered to the middle of his back.
Kid wrenched his eyes away and smiled demurely at Mouri, even giving a tiny Western-style curtsy, hoping the movement might shrug off the hand which had been on his person in some manner or another all evening. "Yamane Michiru. It's a pleasure to meet you." Tantei-kun gave him an odd look when he spoke, and for a moment, he had to concentrate on keeping his breathing even. Poker Face, Poker Face.
"Mouri Kogorou." When Kid's eyes wandered to the girl next to him with an expectant look, he continued. "This is my daughter, Ran. The freeloading runt is Edogawa Conan." The last bit was spoken with familiar disdain, and he could see the irritation flash through Tantei-kun's eyes before they widened back into childish wonder. Ran shoved a discreet elbow into her father's ribs, eliciting a short coughing fit. She turned apologetic eyes towards Kid, and he smiled in return.
After giving her a polite nod, he leaned down, giving Tantei-kun a generous eyeful of the cleavage he labored over, confident in their authentic appearance. For the first time all evening, he was finally able to escape from that invasive hand. Smiling, he shifted a bit, giving his body additions a calculated sway. He was rewarded with a faint pink dusting on Tantei-kun's nose. "Hello there, Conan-kun. Since you're here, you must want to meet Kid, yes?"
Blue eyes wandered around restlessly, before finally settling on a point somewhere between his lips and eyes. "Uhn!" Saccharine sweet, and absolutely false. Tantei-kun was good at the little kid act. He could hear the owner and Mouri striking up a conversation in his peripheral. That was fine, he much rather preferred this company, masked or not.
"Do you like Kid, too?" Kid deliberately placed an odd stress on the words to draw attention to them, taking full advantage of his foreigner disguise. A blink, and Kid could see the words sink in, then pink rose on his cheeks again. Kid almost bit his lip trying to withhold the grin. Oh, Tantei-kun. He was just too much fun to tease!
Tantei-kun licked his lips in an all too familiar nervous gesture, and for a moment, Kid was mesmerized by that flash of pink. Insistent flickering, murmurs that vibrated down his throat, ghosting fingers- Quickly, he shoved the memories to the back of his mind, forcing himself to focus on the reply. Normal reaction. I'm a boy. All boys are perverts. Poker Face, Poker Face. "He's lots of fun! I really want to capture him!"
"Oh? A little boy like you? What do you plan to do when you have him?"
His face grew serious, one Kid recognized as a distinctly Kudou Shin'ichi expression, and he looked to be carefully considering his response. His mouth opened to give it when Ran's hand rested on his shoulder, giving him a start. Glancing over, Kid found her fondly smiling at Tantei-kun. He wanted to frown, mildly annoyed their conversation had been interrupted. "Conan-kun is very bright. He might be just a child, but he's actually managed to stop Kid in the past." Kid was well aware of that - more so than she was, and he did not need her to tell him that. Tantei-kun ducked his head and pursed his lips under the praise. Pink was blooming on his cheeks again.
Hmm.
Kid swallowed his irritation, straightened, and smiled at her. He'd really wanted to know what Tantei-kun was about to say. But, he supposed, the night was still young, and he was probably getting ahead of himself. He could always bring the subject back up later, and under circumstances where he could get a mostly uncensored reply. "That's amazing!" He glanced back down at Tantei-kun, who was putting on a noteworthy performance of a bashful little kid. "I bet Kid is impressed, too."
A noisy chortle broke through their chatter, and drew his attention back to the owner, who was beckoning him over. Reluctantly, he settled back against that insufferable hand, and after a few more polite nods, jokes, and smiles, allowed himself to be led away.
Conversations aside, he had to concentrate on keeping his attention off Tantei-kun. Ever since he wandered away, he could feel that burning gaze following him. At first, he thought he may have slipped up his disguise and was discovered, but the one time he chanced a peek, he was giving Kid an odd, considering look before realizing himself, and averting his eyes. It was distracting, to say the least. Kid really did not know what to make of it.
So instead of dwelling or fretting about it, Kid poured all his focus into his work, and carried off the swipe without a hitch. The heartfelt squeal of terror he gave when the amulet just happened to spring to life and flew around the room was one of his better ones, he had to admit. He was so focused, in fact, that when he began his dance with the police, he didn't even notice Tantei-kun had disappeared.
When he finally realized things were amiss, Kid took his task force entourage on a merry little tour through the mansion, in search of him. Were it not for the trademark grin plastered on his face, he would have frowned.
He twisted his way through and around the grasping hands of the police, inspecting every room in the building. He'd even elicited a few indignant squeaks from the ladies' room, before resuming his search. Around half an hour later, he'd thoroughly scoured the place, and turned up empty-handed. His police dodging was proving easy, as well. That invisible pressure was not seeping from behind the scenes, and it felt like a normal heist sans Tantei-kun. At that point, he was beginning to get a bit worried.
What had happened to his favorite critic?
A light mist in the air cast an unseasonable chill and a shining sheen over everything in its path. As the night progressed, it formed further into a thin fog, and rolled around in uneven patches, like errant wisps from an open freezer. The coolness bleeding through the windows was welcome to the task force as they ran in fierce circles, trying to catch an elusive shadow that mockingly laughed at their futile attempts. Everyone was caught up in a chaotic dance, moving around in what could only be described as a veritable game of cops and robbers. Going against the hoarsely snarled orders of Nakamori-keibu, one unofficial member stood shivering, biting off un-pleasantries in his mind at the invading droplets, lying in wait.
Of course, he'd been inside at the beginning. Carefully, he watched the object of tonight's heist, until it was whisked away by those pale gloved fingers. After that, rather than following the directions that Nakamori-keibu yelled out, he snuck away from Ran's watchful gaze and took his own path, winding up to where he knew the best place for escape would be. The roof was guarded like a hawk this evening, so his current location was not there. No, right now, he found himself curled into a little crouch, arms wrapped around his knees in a vain effort to ward off the moist chill, eyes peeled on the cracked door to the fourth floor balcony, and patiently waiting for Kid to make his appearance. He felt guilty, running off from Ran like that, but this was Kid. As much as he could help it, he wanted to keep the two separated.
The stone-carved railing wrapped around a large patio, twin stairs curving off the edges, and melting into the gardenscape below with pompous flair. To Conan, it felt more like a giant stair landing than a balcony, but the wealthy could be as eccentric with their architecture as they wanted. It was one of the main entrances into the green labyrinth of well-manicured hedges the owner kept around their estate. It also provided an amazing overhead view of the garden and balconies below. Not that he cared too much to look. His focus was entirely on the cracked door and trying to maintain his body heat. The stone pressing around his hiding spot did little to help, leeching the heat from him with merciless tenacity, yet still he did not move. If Kid was going to take flight, this was the best place to do so.
A growing ruckus prickled his senses, and he could feel a faint vibration as the ground trembled under the feet of an oncoming storm of task force members. He tensed his arms in anticipation, and a grin grew, almost of its own volition. The thief was coming. Kid was coming. Any second now, and that infuriating equal of his would be there.
With the sleek motion of a feline, white soared through the doorway, barely making a noise. Conan curled his cold-stiffened fingers around his watch, aiming at the moving target even as he did so. The element of surprise had a very short window, so it was now or never. His finger twitched, and the sedative-laced dart went flying. Conan frowned as the dart fell off course, bouncing off a shoulder knob with a faint ping! and burying itself into the thick folds of a white cape. A mental growl rippled through him, and he reminded himself that he was always better with his feet than with his hands, especially now that they were turning an interesting shade of blue.
Kid's eyes flickered towards him, lighting up in recognition, then his smirk only grew. "Yo, Tantei-kun." The tension was palpable, and he was as taut as a newly strung bow. Conan could tell Kid was in flight-mode, and ready to flee at a moment's notice - leaned forward, weight deftly balanced on the balls of his feet, gaze wide and open to movement in his peripheral. By the sounds growing through the doorway, the other policemen would be there shortly. He almost did not like it, the lack of singular, focused attention.
Kid tilted his head and spoke in a distinct taunt, light and accusatory. "I was looking for you." Conan replied with a cocky smirk. The damn thief's eyes were laughing at him. Laughing! And he would be gone soon - he would snap open that glider of his and run. No, too soon, he still had to-
"Kid!" Conan growled out his name, as if the mere force of it could stop him from fleeing. One hand flexed into a fist, blindly grasping for an invisible, imaginary hold, anything to keep Kid there.
He raised his chin slightly, lips curling even further, enunciating the word. "Meitantei." Falling forward from the balls of his feet, he bolted past, casting Conan one more sideways glance, and vaulted himself over the railing. Instead of taking to the sky, Kid fell down, out of view. Panic passed through him, and even as the first of the task force members burst through the doorway, he rushed forward and focused only on the white form waving jauntily at him from the balcony below.
He hissed Kid's name again, and tore over the patio, racing for the stairs. A half-beat and a few piercing shouts later, and he could feel the task force following shortly behind him. It was too many people. Too many distractions - they were in the way. Conan's mood soured, mixing in with the black mass of the officers as they surged down the stairs. Kid could so easily mix into the fray, disguise himself, blend into the crowd. He wanted to be one-on-one. He did not want to deal with the extras. Not right now. Not when he still-
The trailing edge of his cape could just be seen as Kid fled, prancing his way into the garden, as the black mass spilled out over the lower balcony. Like uncontrolled flood waters, the police ricocheted off the railings, and continued their mad dash down the stairs, Conan helplessly in tow. He likened it to drowning, almost. Conan was being dragged along, whether he was willing or not. Struggling against the officers, he was barely able to gain a foothold when they finally reached the looming arches leading further into the maze.
Without hesitation, he continued forward. Kid had foregone his opportunity to take flight for some reason or another, so there had to be a purpose for leading them into the garden. While he hated dancing to Kid's tune, he had no choice at the moment. There might still be a chance to catch Kid off guard, and Conan was never one to give up without a fight. Not when he still had so many burning questions in his mind.
The task force ran around him like a small stampede, Conan's short legs not doing much to keep up. More than once in the past he'd realized this problem; he'd traded youthful fervor and energy for a distressingly short stride. Many times he wondered if it was really a fair tradeoff. While his shorter vantage point often had its perks, tonight was proving to be disadvantageous. He eyed the tall hedges ruefully, wondering if he should try worming his way through the tangled roots instead of navigating the green maze. A glance at the tightly knit branches at the base discouraged the thought, and Conan heaved a mental sigh.
What was with the filthy rich and their ridiculous penchant for eccentric décor? While the interior was not so bad, the garden ringing around the estate was on par with something out of a royal castle. Twisting and convoluted, pockmarked with an assortment of courtyards populated by fountains, statues, stone benches, and floral displays, it was an impressive labyrinth, and probably beautiful on any normal day. It was nothing short of a nuisance at the moment. Conan felt a momentary pity for the gardeners who had to take care of the whole thing. He imagined that more than one probably got lost with distressing regularity.
Around a few more bends, and Conan slowed to a stop in one of the numerous small open courtyards littered throughout the garden. He paused with his hands on his knees, taking the moment to even his breathing, before he stood straight, shoving them reflexively into his pockets. While not as cold as on the balcony, the residual chill still nipped at his fingers. The sounds of the task force forging ahead met his ears, their body gear rustling and orders being called between each other in short, clipped hollers. His lips frowned in an aborted tsking motion out of frustration. He craned his neck over to the statues at his right, narrowing his eyes. "Seriously? I mean, seriously? Kid, did you really just try to fool everyone with such an old trick? We aren't in the movies, you know."
A shadow moved in the nearby patch of stone statues, and one of the stony gray figures grinned a familiar, jarring smile. "I wouldn't say 'try', Tantei-kun, I did. Though, I must say, I'm not surprised you managed to notice. How'd you figure it out?" The statue pulled itself upright, out of its mimed pose, and with a swish, Kid was once more dressed in his usual regalia.
"All the other statues in the garden are covered in moisture, whereas you are relatively dry. Even if you had tried to cover yourself in water, it's very difficult to mimic the shimmering effect of condensation from a mist. Moreover, you aren't exactly Adonis material. Not tall enough." Conan's smirk held firm, the snark in his retort clear as day. He was trying his best to not think about how exactly Kid had managed to disguise himself as a completely naked Greek statue. More fervently, he was trying to ignore the strangely organic movement of his body, before the white swatch of his Kid uniform had replaced the stony gray. No way, even he wouldn't-
He hummed lightly in reply. "I'm far more suited to be Cupid, I think. I even have the wings to match." His eyes twinkled in unrestrained amusement, and his voice lowered into something Conan could only describe as a purr. Quiet, and almost indiscernible, surely so the nearby task force would not hear. His narrow focus had returned, and was pinned heavily on Conan, much like a physical pressure. It was familiar and thrilling. "But it's still too early to show you my face, dear Psyche, no matter what your detective friends might say."
Conan choked. And before he could voice his dissent at the implication, Kid scattered away in an explosion of butterflies. For a moment, he stood transfixed, watching the display, as they flittered in and out in a beautiful, writhing splash of color. He breathed in the cool mist, tasting the unmistakable scent of rain in the back of his throat, and looked on as the colors blurred and danced in the foggy air, each one gaining something like a silver halo, as the police search lights reflected and re-reflected off the suspended droplets. It was really a thing of beauty.
There were so many different ways to read into his words. According to myth, Psyche scared her husband Cupid away as soon as she went against his warning and discovered his identity (by the urging of her two jealous sisters), becoming accidentally ensnared by his love spell in the process. It resulted in her becoming obligated to fulfill numerous, arduous tasks just to find him again - amongst other things, traveling to the underworld and falling into a trap of eternal sleep that Cupid had to release her from. It was a story of trust, betrayal, and forgiveness.
The implication he ultimately decided to take was plain. That if Conan found his true identity, he would probably find himself mixed into whatever strange mission he was undertaking. In a way, it was a warning to stay out of Kid's business. Hadn't he once said catching him was like opening Pandora's box? He frowned. Kid was definitely hiding something. After all this time, Kid should well know it was his raison d'être to discover the truth, regardless of circumstance. If Kid was trying to protect Conan, he was doing poorly, enticing him with such cryptic messages. If anything, he was drawing him even closer. If he would just ask- nonono, he's a criminal, and I must capture him!
He shook his head and finally muttered under his breath. "We aren't married."
Color flashed in front of him, and he finally noticed the butterflies from before were not real, but made of paper. Several of them lay innocuously on the ground, soaking themselves to transparency. Blinking, he noted they must be made of rice paper. He leaned down, and picked one up, confirming his guess as it disintegrated into a sticky mess between his fingers. Given tonight's weather conditions, they wouldn't last more than a few minutes before dissolving completely. It was a remarkably eco-friendly choice, he realized with a bit of relief. The gardens, as much of a nuisance as they were at the moment, truly were beautiful.
It was then he noticed the trail of color, leading back the way he had come. His mouth opened to call out to the nearest task force member to alert them, but before voicing anything, snapped his mouth shut and pursed his lips. It was an ephemeral trail, and on purpose. Kid would never make such a dull mistake - clearly, he was presenting him a personal invite. His features twisted into a deadpan. Butterflies are symbolic of Psyche, how obvious can you be, Kid?
Well, it wouldn't hurt to follow it for a little while. With no other people around to give Kid a chance to escape, it was a good opportunity. His lips curled, and he set off running, this time to only the beat of his own feet.
For most criminals, the police breathing down their back was incredibly stressful, and enough to warrant secrecy, and the attempt to commit crimes a healthy distance from authorities. Having them actually chase you was enough to completely dishearten many, and as a result, a good deal of them gave up before taking so much as a single step. For the more brazen, it incited energetic or ingenious methods of escape with the intention of a quick and efficient road to relative safety. And then, for those who were truly driven, or just plain crazy, it felt like how Kid did at this very moment.
The tapping of shoes behind him only drew a smile on his face. Light and quick, one person alone, and there was no doubt in his mind that it was Tantei-kun on his heels, having forgone the task force. He breathed out low and even, allowing his relief to come forward. He'd nearly had a heart attack when the metallic noise of that infernal dart echoed right next to his ear. It took him a moment to recognize how close he had come to dropping unconscious, and spent several more internally composing himself. Thank the gods he had someone watching out for him, because he was not ready to be caught just yet.
It wasn't that he disliked surprises. Rather, he was quite fond of them, including on his heists, but only as long as he was given wiggle room to worm his way out of trouble. Tantei-kun was fierce in that he caused him to work near the bottom of his contingency list. For a while there, he was afraid he had dropped out of the chase completely - likely reason being that they still had some unspoken business to attend to. When he had disappeared, Kid was truly worried. Amongst his critics, he felt that Tantei-kun stood the best chance of taking the correct decisive action once he had managed to corner the guys he was after.
Nakamori-keibu had the true means of arresting the guys, but lacked the power to pin them down with their crimes. Hakuba had blinders on, and would probably try and bite off more than he could chew with an attempt at catching both parties. Kid had a nagging sense that course of action would likely result in both getting away, or someone getting seriously injured. Probably Hakuba himself, because his ego dictated that he do everything on his own. Tantei-kun knew how to prioritize properly, manipulate the police as necessary, and had a frighteningly accurate intuition. Every case he had seen him work on always had the same result - the criminal was exposed and arrested. Except himself, of course. When he was nowhere to be seen as soon as Kid appeared, the sinking feeling in his chest was terrible.
Now that Kid had found him, however, he was beginning to understand his reasons for slipping off alone. Surprise was a key factor, naturally, but by watching, he could see something more, as a plain irritation flashed through Tantei-kun's face. It was bit odd to see, as normally he had that usual scary glint and needle-sharp focus in his eyes when facing off with Kid in less crowded terms. The twirl and dance with the task force clearly illustrated how much outside his element he was when forcibly mixed in with the others. It was just his way of adapting, and choosing the most effective way of taking Kid down. Truly, with him, it was dancing with danger. And despite that he had nearly been sedated, he could feel nothing but relief to see that Tantei-kun was still actively chasing him. Even if he had some obvious shortcomings.
Kid had no problem with that, as it made Tantei-kun frustrated (he deserved it!), and his own job easier, but with a little bit of footwork, he was able to accommodate. He couldn't help it - he wasted way too much time looking for him to find his hiding spot just as he was leaving. More teasing was in order! Moreover, his revenge was still something to be addressed.
Now all that was left was finding a nice, quiet little alcove to air out their troubles and make a few confirmations that had been worrying him since earlier. A chuckle bubbled quietly in his chest, and he adjusted the listening device in his ear tuned to the police frequency. Most of the task force had followed him outside, so there should not be any trouble going back inside - it would be unexpected, as well. Kid dragged his card gun out, and attached the grapple hook before shooting it up at the railing of the second floor balcony. He paused long enough to eye Tantei-kun barreling down at him, and grinned wickedly. With a cheeky wave, he pulled himself up, and flipped over the edge.
Removing the hook and holstering his card gun back into the folds of his jacket, Kid leaned over to wave at him again. Faintly, he could hear an unpleasant curse, and clucked his tongue. "Such language, Tantei-kun." This earned him a glare, and Tantei-kun began running for the stairs.
With a grin, he half-hopped, half-skipped to the nearest window, and jimmied it open. His cape was just vanishing through the opening as Tantei-kun reached the balcony level.
Taking a tight turn, Kid slipped into one of the disused and darker rooms of the estate, and pressed himself against the wall adjacent to the opening. A few seconds later, and Tantei-kun bolted his way through the doorway, grabbing a handle of the doorjamb to take the turn as tightly as possible. As soon as he realized Kid was no longer in his line of sight, he nearly tripped over his own feet, struggling to stop his forward momentum. Quick movements of his head indicated he was trying to regain the trail, and the tensing of his shoulders gave away his confusion and alarm at the dismal state of the place. No other doors or windows, which only left one other possibility. A trap.
Kid grinned, clicking the door shut behind him. Another click, and the door was locked. The noise prompted Tantei-kun to whirl around, and his eyes narrowed against the darkness in a tense scowl. Of course, the effect was dampened by the fact that he was neatly out of breath, and panting for air.
He turned a wide grin on him, bright even in the gray darkness that lay like a thick veil in the air. Kid took careful note of the state he was in. All pink and flustered, and he still hadn't even said anything! Haggling the normally stoic and guarded detective, prodding and pushing his buttons, veritably forcing him to bend and react in telling ways, digging out all the little secrets he held. This was something Kid figured could easily become a new pastime, even if it had nothing to do with revenge. He liked this honest, sarcastic side of him. Of Kudou Shin'ichi. Like a shared secret, it was almost like an inside joke. It was something Kid could understand and appreciate wholeheartedly.
Patiently, he watched as Tantei-kun caught his breath, blue eyes pinned on him with an intense ferocity. Up close, the burning gaze was even more focused, sending sparks up Kid's defensive senses. It was a familiar twinge, the same one he felt every time when he was trying to expose his disguise - like he was trying to peel his layers away by sheer force of will. Glasses flashed dimly as he righted himself and shoved his hands into his pockets, leveling him with a pointed gaze. "Locking the door was unnecessary, Cupid-san."
A smirk rose to the surface. "Just to keep unwanted guests away." Actually, should that damn soccer ball make an appearance, it was to slow him down for when he made his escape through the hidden vent in the ceiling, but that was not anything Tantei-kun needed to know about. His eyes narrowed further. He probably knew that wasn't the real reason, but Kid would stay mum on the details.
"Earlier, you made mention of a warning." Tantei-kun shifted his weight, keeping his eyes glued on Kid. The curiosity raging under the blue veneer was plain as day. "Duly noted, but don't expect something like that to stop me."
As expected, he was incredibly sharp. To be honest, Kid wasn't sure if he would make sense of the subtext there or not. But then again, he had made passing mention of it in the past. He tilted his head, and the charm hanging from his monocle swung in a lazy circle. "Fearless, as usual. The big, bad kaitou doesn't plan on stopping either. Sure you're up to the challenge?" It was a small relief. Like a non-voiced acknowledgement. Kid wanted to keep Tantei-kun's detective prowess in play until the day he truly needed it. Moreover, he'd managed to keep all the important bits of information a secret.
Tantei-kun frowned, giving a small snort in the process. "You're hardly a threat. I have no reason to run away from you, Kid."
Kid leaned back slightly, and let his eyes slide half-shut. Not exactly the threat he was talking about, but that was fine, for now. "Oh really? None at all?" He dragged his words out, purposeful, and with multiple meanings layered in, some of which Kid knew he couldn't possibly fathom.
"Of course not," he snapped. He smirked at the backwards compliment, and decided to subtly pick up a conversation thread from much earlier in the evening. Tantei-kun wasn't aware of the disguise he had worn, but it wouldn't hurt to try and get an answer via other means. The meaning should be plain enough, given current context.
"So, what do you plan to do about it?" Kid purred the words out, injecting as much suggestiveness into the words as he could. Color rose on his cheeks. Tantei-kun licked his lips, then pursed them, brow furrowed in determination. He was giving him another intense stare, and Kid knew he had taken the hint. He cracked another grin, waiting for his reply.
Conan clenched his fists, trying to will the fire in his cheeks away. Dealing with Kid was never easy, particularly when it came to emotional things, he was discovering. They were complicated, and for Kid, infinitely more dangerous, making Conan's involvement that much more delicate. This would have been so much easier to say, if he was not so predisposed to blushing.
"I-" His voice hitched, and he cursed his stuttering, cheeks growing even warmer. He paused a moment, and cleared his throat. "I plan to take you head on." There. He'd said it, even if it was a little bit louder than he intended the proclamation to be. He hadn't shouted it, had he? His eyes darted nervously to the door, listening with intent, and hoping he had not drawn attention.
More than anything, he wanted Kid to know he would not compromise their current "relationship" in any way, and that regardless of embarrassment, he could maintain his civility. No underhanded techniques, no betrayal, no manipulation of feelings. Just a straightforward, honest chase, as always. He would not run from this, and hoped Kid would not either. They had to get this out, before they could return to their usual song and dance. He was okay with Kid's feelings, but had to let him know he would not use them against him. Conan prayed he would see the meaning of his words.
Blue flickered up, to watch his reaction. As expected, his expression was entirely unreadable, molded into that mask of a smug smile that so defined his nighttime visage. It was a frustrating thing, and Conan wanted to break down the walls, to make things transparent, so he could see and understand. If he could just piece things together, then the gnawing guilt and uncertainty would cease. Those shadows remained, and the coil in his belly tightened. He nearly jumped when Kid finally spoke.
"You know," he drawled, pausing as he sauntered closer. Kid stopped at arm's length, and peered down at him with an expression he could not quite place. Tension was still clear in his body language, however. "It's rather unfair of you."
Conan blinked, brow furrowing in confusion. "Un… fair?"
"You're in a child's body." A pang all too familiar coursed through his body, and he almost staggered from the weight of it. Thoughts briefly flashed to Ran, before flickering back to Kid. His shrunken form was a perpetual reminder to his own rash stupidity, his impatience, and hard-earned lessons that some evils in the world were not so easy to expose. He knew that.
He winced, and averted his eyes. "I-…" What could he say? Nothing could excuse his current predicament. Kudou Shin'ichi got himself into this mess, and he had to get himself out of it. The Black Organization had to go down, and someway, somehow, Haibara had to find a cure for him. His teeth gritted in a grimace. He would not apologize for trying to do the right thing.
A shuffling of fabric, and he found Kid in his face, shadows deep and long. The only light was a glimmering reflection from his monocle and a spark of light off an indigo-colored eye. Natural, no contacts. Deep in hue, and as fathomless as Kid himself. Conan found himself thinking it rather suited him. He also found himself staring.
Something in his gaze softened, and he smiled with a hint of self-admonishment. It was a genuine one, Conan noted with surprise. Warm, subtle, and it soothed over him with shocking ease. Strangely, it felt very personal. "I suppose I can live with it. I am, after all, not fair either."
That was an understatement. It could be said that Kid broke all the rules. If he wasn't already hardwired to think in tight circles, it might have given Conan a headache. As it was, it just made him curious, because behind all the pomp and flair, he could see the glimmer of something else. Kid was living by his own set of rules. What they were, how they worked, and how they applied to him - those were burning questions in his mind. To be honest, he'd never been so curious about another person before. He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted before he could get a word in.
"As such," and now his eyes were glimmering with mischief, causing an alarm to go off in Conan's head. "I will take you head on, as well. In my own way, of course." His belly fluttered at the challenge, and fought the smirk that desperately wanted to bloom over his features.
Kid leaned forward, grabbing his wrist with one hand, causing him to flinch and blink in surprise. By reflex, he reached out to grab Kid's wrist, in an effort to wrench his hand free, then found himself distracted by Kid tilting his chin up. Conan blinked in surprise again, staring at Kid, who was now entirely too close. He wasn't going to- Again-
Red shot through his face, and his stomach flipped. Realization dawned on him that he was completely vulnerable at the moment, and completely, physically outmatched. He couldn't use his belt with one arm trapped like this! The hand around his wrist tightened, and Conan's eyes widened. His own reflection stared uselessly back at him, bouncing off the surface of Kid's monocle. And Kid was… Kid was leaning in and smiling that same cocky smirk he always wore! Just like a cat who caught a canary, only he was the canary, and he was going to be-
"Ki-!" His protest cut short and both parties tensed and froze, as a storm of feet rushed past the closed door. A few paused nearby to shout out more orders into their mouthpieces. Conan's heart pulsed loudly in his ears, tongue caught in his throat. Warm breath coasted over his lips, and he could actually taste him. It smelled of something sweet, and in the idle parts of his brain, he twirled it around, trying to identify it. His senses came alive, and with another shock of surprise, he realized Kid himself radiated a floral kind of musky scent that he had never noticed before.
Kid's breathing was shallow and hot, his eyes burning unknown meanings at him. The smirk from before had vanished, and the look he was giving him now smoldered with an unvoiced plea for silence. Conan swallowed, and just stared back. His cheeks were throbbing, he could tell, and not because he could see his own flustered face bouncing back at him from Kid's eyepiece.
If anyone walked in now, he would melt into a puddle of mortification, and he would never be allowed at a Kid heist ever again. He would be corralled, and thrust into a child psychologist's office, and treated for childhood trauma. He might never be allowed at a crime scene again, and he would no longer have the means to fight the Black Organization. Kudou Shin'ichi would never be able to return, and he would forever be doomed to life as Edogawa Conan. The thought absolutely terrified him. He opened his mouth in an aborted gasp.
Only to have it swallowed by Kid, who was leveling him with tense eyes. White fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck pinned him in place, and the hand around his wrist tightened almost painfully. The sense snapped through his chest, down the base of his spine and back again like a rubber band. It quelled his rising terror, and for a moment, he actually found himself relaxing. Then, the reality of his situation came crashing down. Because, really? It felt awfully nice. And that terrified him in a totally different way. Because this was unmistakably real, unmistakably Kid, who was unmistakably kissing someone he knew to be Kudou Shin'ichi in a shrunken body. There were few times in his life he had ever felt so relieved that someone knew his true identity.
He breathed in that floral scent, and pressed back a bit, trying to communicate with his eyes. The grip he held on Kid's wrist slackened. Isn't that what you were supposed to do in that kind of situation? He had no other way to tell Kid he wouldn't scream. Kid's eyes widened slightly at the movement, before flickering in something Conan could only identify as consideration. It was then he felt the warmth of something passing over his tongue.
That bastard, he was taking advantage of the situation, and - and this really shouldn't be feeling so good. Was that chocolate mousse cake from the buffet table? Yes, Conan decided, it was. And a disturbing swirl in his gut was reminding him of the fact that he really was a teenager, with all the appropriate hormones, despite everything, and really, he should stop this insanity right now, because that felt really good, and he did not want to analyze that train of thought, because he was straight, and he had Ran, and-
His eyes popped open, wondering for a moment when they had closed. He yanked back with a start, and felt his cheek pulsing in a bright, crimson beat. He was not panting. No, he was not. He was an upstanding detective, who did not get flustered by criminals. He kept his cool in all situations. More than once, he'd been in life or death situations, remember? Focus, focus!
A shuffle of fabric, and Kid broke his train of thought with an almost silent murmur. "That- well,… Thank you." He stared at Kid, a bit surprised. Kid was pensively looking at the door, and it was then he realized the men from earlier had left. Oh. Right. For not yelling.
"U-uhn." And damnit, he was stuttering again. He straightened his back in an attempt to regain composure. Yes, he was a famous high school detective. Calm and collected. "You should get back to your escape, Michiru-san."
His eyes flickered over, one eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "When'd you figure it out?"
"From the beginning." Kid's eyes glimmered in muted amusement. Conan sighed out a slow breath, before shooting him a smug smile. "It was how you spoke. I know someone else who pretends to speak bad Japanese, so I can tell the signs. What gave you away in the end though was your use of honorifics. Foreigners typically either forget or use the catchall 'san', but you correctly called me 'Conan-kun'. You did not use honorific suffixes for anyone else, including yourself, 'Kid', despite being such a fangirl." He finished his statement with a small snort.
A hum was all he got in response. The cape swished as Kid stood, and he grinned down at Conan. "Well then. As much fun as this tryst has been, I should take my leave."
Conan's lips quirked at the comment. Blue eyes narrowed in challenge. "Get out of here, so I can chase you. Unless you want a soccer ball in your back right now, because I can arrange that."
That Cheshire grin only grew at his words, even as he tugged the brim of his hat to deepen the shadows over his features. And without any further words, he slipped silently out of the room, leaving Conan behind to contemplate exactly how he was going to face Ran after this. Taking a few steadying gulps of air, he squared his shoulders, and boldly left the room.
With a deep sigh, Kid set his hat and monocle down on the seat beside him. "Ugh, I'm tired." And he was. He'd spent a greater portion of the evening running and jumping, dodging, and overall sidestepping legions of lunging policemen. At least he knew they were just as tired as he was.
"I had expected your return much earlier, Bocchama. It is over an hour past when we agreed to meet for the trip home. I was beginning to wonder if I should step in. I do hope you did not run into trouble." Jii looked through the rearview mirror of his car, watching as Kid unclasped his cape and unbuttoned his jacket. He knew he probably looked a little ruffled, but he couldn't help it. He was tired!
Kid slanted his eyes towards Jii's reflection for moment, before continuing to tug his jacket off. He sounded concerned. Well, more than usual. "If by trouble, you mean the police, I had them taken care of long before the heist even started. Nakamori-keibu was as fun as ever, but you know he'll never be able to catch me."
Wrinkled hands audibly tightened over the steering wheel, Jii's stare burning through the mirror and into the side of his head. "I had heard that the Sleeping Kogorou had attended. If he brought his young charge along-"
"Ah, Tantei-kun?" Kid slung the jacket over his hat and loosened his tie. Jii must have been listening in on the police broadband again if he knew about that already. He tilted his head, rubbing a bit at his neck. Frowning at the feeling of fabric, he reached to pull his gloves off, as well. "Yea, he was there."
Jii made a distressed noise. "If you were having problems, I could have-"
"I had it covered, Jii-chan. Leave dealing with Tantei-kun to me."
"Bocchama, that child is very dangerous. He reminds me very much of you when you were young - quite bright and with sharp instincts." Kid grinned absently. "If you were to ever get captured, I could never forgive myself. When you were late to return, I feared the worst."
He waved his hand, dismissing the worry. "I just had some extra business to attend to, that's all."
"Please Bocchama, I wish you would contact me about such things beforehand."
Kid leaned over, resting his chin on his palm and watching the scenery pass by with half-lidded eyes. "I didn't know about it beforehand, so it was kind of played by ear." The trees flittered past in dark blurs, but Kid really wasn't paying attention to them, anyway. He could still feel it. It tingled. Frankly, he had no idea what to think about it either. It burned, it seared, it fluttered, it made him forget everything for that singular moment, and that terrified him. He muttered quietly, more to himself than for Jii's benefit. "It was a personal matter, anyway."
"Bocchama?"
Time to change subjects. No need to worry the old man about his encounter with Tantei-kun, and he didn't know why, but Kid really did not want to think about it. Not then, not while it was still so fresh. "But, tonight was a success in more than one sense!" The grin he wore was wide, and he brandished his loot so Jii could see. "Nothing to worry about, Jii-chan."
He watched as the edges of Jii's eyes crinkled from a smile. "Well, so long as you are alright." His eyes flickered from Kid, to the scarab, then back to Kid before returning to the road in front of him. He was still worried.
Kid pocketed the scarab with a quiet sigh, and let his head fall backward against the headrest. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, then let his eyes slide shut. Honestly, he was drained. It was odd, since he normally was giddy and high on adrenaline after his heists, but tonight, for some reason, he just felt like passing out. "Hey Jii-chan?"
"Yes, Bocchama?"
"Wake me up when we get home." Kid was sure it was nothing that a good rest couldn't cure.
"… Yes, Bocchama."