"You need to get a life," Kano teased, slumping back against Seto's shoulder and regarding Kido with a challenging expression, one eyebrow raised. She inhaled, gritting her teeth, and he could already tell he was getting on her last nerve.

"I just want to know where you were last night," she replied, her words clipped as she turned away, brushing her fingers through her long hair. She feigned indifference, but he knew they wouldn't be pressing for answers like this if something wasn't up. Kano came and went as he pleased, and they barely even bothered to acknowledge it.

He rolled his head back, an empty smile focused at the ceiling as he contemplated how to answer. There was nothing to tell, really. Rocking his head back further, his skull made contact with Seto's shoulder, and he paused. Kido probably wouldn't tell him this, but Seto might. "You're so nosy all of a sudden," he complained, narrowing his eyes at the dingy plaster above them. "What's up with that?"

Kano reveled in the uncomfortable silence he'd created, neither one wanting to answer. Finally, Seto spoke.

"We heard on the news—"

"Don't tell him that!" Kido hissed, leaning forward, but Seto continued clumsily.

"We heard on the news someone got mugged the other day. A stabbing, actually, not fatal though," he clarified hastily.

Kano's smile tightened at the edges, and he substituted the slight tugging of betrayal for mirth, snapping to sit up straight and lean away from Seto. He didn't look at either of them, a bright laugh bubbling up through his lips. "Seriously? You guys think I mugged someone? My my, what faith you have in me—"

"That's not it," Kido exclaimed, her voice astonished. Insulted, almost, that he'd think that. He fell silent, his smirk challenging her to tell him any different. "You wouldn't even tell us, would you?" she asked, desperate.

The pieces had not yet fallen into place, and if they had Kano didn't want to see the full picture yet. But Seto was talking again, foolishly spilling all the things Kido couldn't quite say.

"You wouldn't tell us if you got hurt, so we were worried," he insisted, and Kano didn't want to hear any more, didn't want their concern and questions and sad sad eyes. He shoved his hands into his pockets and pushed off the ground, intending to head back to his own room and not come out for a day or three.

A pair of arms wrapped around his waist and jerked him back down, and Kano's legs shot out from him with as much grace as a newborn foal. "So you're not hurt, right?" Seto asked, and Kano struggled, wriggling uselessly in his grip.

Kido watched the two of them, her expression unreadable for several moments. "He's not talking, officer," Seto joked, glancing up at her as Kano tried to slither out of his grasp again.

"Guess we'll have to use more extreme tactics," she murmured, scooting forward onto her knees. Seto's arms changed position, lifting Kano's back and behind him.

"Wait, guys, wai— Hahahaha!"

Kido started tickling him and Kano writhed, giggles he couldn't control filling the room. He tried to protest but he was laughing too hard, and Kido's fingers dipped under the hem of his shirt, dancing across his stomach and ribcage.

"Not here," she said, proclaiming his stomach free of any injuries. She withdrew her hands, and Kano breathed easy for a second, and then she was tickling him again, her fingers brushing his neck and arms and there was no way he'd gotten stabbed there but she didn't seem to care.

Kano could hardly breathe he was laughing so hard, tears starting in the corners of his eyes. Seto started laughing too, a helpless chuckle that shook them both, and Kano thought he heard Kido stifle a snort as she got further into her role.

"Gotta be thorough," she noted with a wry grin, climbing a little closer to straddle his leg and hold him in place. Kano raised his hands in surrender, as much as he was able with Seto still holding his arms in place.

"I yield, I yield! I didn't get mugged last night, promise," he gasped between dying giggles, and Kido arched an eyebrow, looking at Seto over his shoulder.

"What do you think, officer?" she asked, and Kano waited for the verdict.

"Sounds genuine to me," Seto replied cheerfully, and Kido nodded, stroking her chin in a caricature of thought.

"Alright. Release him."

Seto obeyed, and Kano stretched his sore muscles in relief. He froze when Kido inched closer, poking him in the chest with one finger. "But I've got my eye on you, mister, you hear?"

Kano could only nod dumbly.