Chapter 7: Return

Warnings: Victim blaming, unhealthy rationalizations, self-harm thoughts.

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"Doesn't mean you necessarily hate them, huh?" Kid muttered to himself as he examined the jewel in his hand. It seemed like Hakuba nor tantei-kun could make it to this heist. Such a shame though. The heist had gone way too smoothly without them.

The wind shifted ever so slightly, and the thief stiffened. He knew, he already knew...but he still had to...

"Hmm? I wonder which one of you made it out of that rainbow leaves trap first. Nakamori-Keibu maybe? Or perhaps it's Snake? Sorry to tell you this but this jewel isn't the Pandora you're looking for.

"I don't care about jewels. I never did. However that rainbow leaves trap does sound interesting."

Kid flinched at the voice that came from directly behind him. He began to turn but stopped when he felt a cold hand resting against a certain point on his neck.

"Spider..." He swallowed softly. He remembered what Conan had said. And wondered if he was right. It was necessary. To become stronger and faster, he was taught a lesson. And it's working. He had been making less mistakes. His heists were getting more and more elaborate, and he was gaining infamy yet again. That definitely helped...yes yes it did. It was his own fault. Remember that.

"So you missed me?" The illusionist asked softly while moving closer, his hand never moving away from Kid's neck.

"...So you saw. You were there. Every heist?" Kid cursed under his breath. He had been looking around every heist. How did he not spot the man?

"You give me too much credit. Not every, but I was there for that specific heist. That brat...he's no ordinary child is he?" Kid's body went rigid. The little detective may be a pain in the ass but he was still an ally.

"Don't go near him." Kid stated calmly, though his tone was ice cold. Spider chuckled, the hand against Kid's shook slightly with mirth.

"Be at ease. I have no interested in the child. Unless..." The assassin's other arm snaked around Kid's waist, pulling the thief flush against his chest.

"...He decides to steal you away from me."

Kid shuddered at his tone while trying to inch away without being too obvious. "I'm not yours." He stated.

"When is your next heist?"

"You are with Snake, what makes you think that I would tell you?" Kid hissed back without skipping a beat. Even if his mind was raging a war against him, he's not stupid enough to let himself get walked over.

"I may work with that idiot but I'm nothing like him."

Kid snorted under his breath and refused to speak. He let out a surprised gasp when Spider appeared in front of him, and cornered the thief until he was pressed against the wall.

"What the hell are yo-" He was cut off by a pair of lips pressed against his own. Automatically his mind went blank. He wanted to push away. He wanted to throw up. He wanted to crawl away and scrub his mouth clean. He felt dirty again, and felt the need to rip the skin right off his flesh. Anything to make the filth go away. He wanted it to continue. He wanted the reminder. He was still a disappointment. Pathetic. He needed to continue getting stronger.

After a moment, Spider let go and they both stopped to take a breath.

"When and where is your next heist?" The assassin asked again.

"N-next week, the Crystal Mother..." The thief's mind was too busy rebooting to tell a lie.

Spider smiled and he reached over to ruffle Kid's hair gently.

"I'll see you then."

Then he was gone.

The thief spent a good minute standing there, staring into open space, touching his lips. What the hell was that? He was so dead set on keeping his mouth shut but after that, he couldn't make a single coherent thought. Why was he so fucking weak?

"Fuck!" He cursed out loud and picked up his abandoned top hat that was lying a few meters away. He touched his own head a few times, wondering when was the last time someone touched his head so gently. Stop, this is wrong. This is wrong. Or is it?

He could hear the taskforce finally escaping the trap, and decided it was time to go. He had already stuck around for too long.

Jumping off the building, he then proceed to glide home.

The whole time, his trembling fingers never left his lips.

/

Someone please tell Kaito this is not good.