I exist! I'm sorry about that two week gap. I was dealing with some unexpected family drama. ^^; I should be back to posting regularly again.

I gave this one a really long title. Should I start doing that style with all my chapters or keep with short titles?

Rating: K+

Warnings: BoyxBoy, Fluff

^If you haven't figured that out by now, I'm worried about you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan or, based on my naming creativity, it would be called A Teenage Genius Solving Mysteries in the Body of a Child While Staying with his Childhood Friend/Crush.

A Little Flirting Never Got Anyone Caught

(probably because no one was stupid enough to try it)

He was surrounded by law enforcement. He was like a cat surrounded by thousands of (armed) mice, ready to strike back. Not that the police made him nervous. The detectives did. Hakuba figured out his secret and it was quite possible another detective could do the same. Pokerface he reminded himself, walking through the crowd. No one will suspect a kid dragged here by Nakomori's daughter.

What was this party for again? They captured a super-criminal or something? As long as it wasn't Kid, it was of no concern. Then again, it could be Kid by the way Aoko had insisted that Kaito had to be there (especially as she had left Kaito alone; something about having to talk to Saguru). It would be the ultimate trap. Imagine; the police being clever.

So many people. Were there really that many involved in catching that guy? Kaito couldn't even find an empty table.

A blond, giggling girl lead a boy away from a table and, in effect, vacated it. Kaito was about to move in, when the boy at that next table caught his eye. He was staring into the distance, his eyes the color of blue roses. (1) The color contrasted with the thin line his lips were set into and his neatly combed hair. Not as much as the cowlick did, though, and Kaito instantly liked it.

Kaito's lips tugged up. It would be too amusing to make that serious expression disappear. Besides, he was cute. He seemed young to be an officer, too. He probably just got dragged to this party-thing as well, so it's not like there would be any danger in talking to him.

"Is something wrong?"

Kaito would have jumped if his pokerface hadn't been in place. The boy was looking right at him. Kaito, always quick to gain his bearings, offered a smile. "No, there just doesn't seem to be anywhere to sit," Kaito said, "Do you mind if I sit at your table?"

The boy stared at him and Kaito swore he could feel emptiness emanating off of the table behind him, but his smile didn't waver. The boy's head tilted, then he shrugged. "Go ahead," he said. (2)

"I'm Kaito Kuroba," Kaito said, sitting down across from the boy, "And you?"

"Shinichi Kudo."

"Nice to meet you, Kudo-kun."

Shinichi nodded. His eyes were surveying the room.

"Looking for someone?"

"Huh?" Shinichi's attention returned to Kaito, "Ah, no."

"Okay. . . Checking for a fire escape?" Kaito guessed.

A hint of smile appeared on the boy and Kaito's insides tingled. "It's just a habit," Shinichi said.

Kaito let his smile soften. "You have pretty eyes, you know."

Shinichi's mouth opened, but he paused mid-action and stared at Kaito.

"It's just that," Kaito said, ignoring Shinichi's expression, "You're not really wearing anything that brings them out."

Shinichi shook his head slightly, "Does it-"

"Hey, I know!" Kaito said, as an idea struck him. He took off his baseball cap and from it pulled three blue roses.

Shinichi shifted away, but Kaito leaned over and stuck them behind Shinichi's ear (the thorns had been removed). "Hey!" Shinichi, while attempting to struggle away, pushed his own chair over and landed on the floor with a thud – taking Kaito with him so that he was sprawled over him in a awkward pile of limbs.

"Geez," Kaito mumbled, stumbling to his feet. Once he was up and had gained his bearings, he offered his hand to Shinichi, "Sorry about that."

Before Shinichi could take or refuse the hand, a girl emerged from the crowd.

"There you are," Aoko said, "If you're done ruining strangers' lives, I need to show something."

"You're the one who-" Aoko snatched Kaito's wrist and dragged him across the room. "Sorry about Kaito!" Aoko waved to a blinking Shinichi (who was still spread on the floor).

"Someone put flowers in your hair?" Ran said, watching Shinichi tear through the kitchen.

"Yep," Shinichi said.

"And he was really annoying?" Heiji said, who was sitting next to Ran.

Shinichi turned the sink on and spoke over the water, "Yeah."

"So, you came over annoyed," Ran said.

"Tore apart Ran-san's kitchen."

"And put the flowers in a vase?"

"Um," Shincihi said, clearing his throat, "Yes?"

(1) Yes, that is the best color I could come up with. ^^;

(2) He was trying to decide if it was impolite to point out there was a table open or if Kaito might want to know.

What? The police throw parties all the time! They're like freaking frat boys/girls. . . . Yeah, that's it. . . . Er, just don't think about it, 'kay?