Going Through the Motions - Space

The small lab was dark, silent, and empty. Shinichi sighed, pulling the door shut behind him, turning around and trudging back up the stairs, thoughts roaming through his mind without an end, a hand sliding in his pocket feeling for the coins.

I've probably enough change.

000

She'd been sitting on the uncomfortable bench for a while, staring ahead with unseeing eyes, thoughts going in circles, ideas floating through her mind. Unconsciously her hand tugged at the hood pulled over her head.

The night air was pleasant and mild against her skin. She breathed in the scent and closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the welcoming silence.

A sound. She turned. Then her eyes found the familiar and small form, standing a few meters away from her. Haibara rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?" She tugged a little harder at her hood, biting the inside of her cheek for a moment. She didn't feel up to having company right now. And that's why she had come here; a lonely bench at a deserted playground, away from the lab that sometimes felt just too suffocating.

A shrug of shoulders answered her. "Nothing much." He came forward, hopping on the bench beside her and handing her a can. "Soda." And Haibara stared at him before taking the soft drink from him. The coolness felt good against the warmth of her palm.

They sat together in silence.

"How did you know I was here?" She broke the quiet at last, and Haibara set her now empty can next to her on the wooden bench.

"I'm a detective, remember."

A flash of a cheeky grin and Haibara wished she hadn't asked, groaning inwardly. Because, of course.

"Heh." She hopped off the bench, turning around to look up at her companion. "Of course, I shouldn't have asked."

Another grin. And Haibara grabbed the empty can and turned around, ready to trudge back. Ready to get back to work.

"Hey, Haibara?"

"Mh. What?" She stopped, turning around once more.

He scratched his cheek. "You feeling better?"

She stared and arched an eyebrow, but he kept looking at her, face serious, and she let out a sigh, shoulders slumping a bit. "Yeah. I just—" she made a non-committal gesture. "Between the work and having the kids over, it's just—"

"—a bit smothering, eh." He finished for her. And Haibara nodded.

Shinichi hopped off the bench too and walked up to her. "I understand." He rubbed the back of his head with a hand. "To be honest, when I feel overwhelmed sometimes, I come here too." He glanced around. "It's a nice spot, and quiet too."

She looked at him for a short moment, hummed and turned away, gazing at the line of lights of the cars far below them.

"Yeah, it is." She breathed.

000

The rain had soaked him to the bone, his drenched shirt and jeans clinging uncomfortably to his skin. Not that he worried about that at the moment. He let his head fall back against the backrest and swiped some strands of hair out of his face, staring at the pale sky above him visible between the lush canopy of the trees, which gave him at least some coverage against the downpour.

Today, it had exactly been a year since that fateful day.

One year.

Twelve months.

twenty-five weeks

356 days.

8765.82 hours.

525 948.766 minutes.

31 556 926 seconds.

It was such a long time—too long—to be chasing after the ones that did this to him in this ridiculous small body that was holding him captive. All the while trying to keep everyone around him safe.

All the while making her wait.

God, he was so tired.

"Kudo-kun."

He somewhat rose at the sound of his name.

Haibara was standing a few meters away, umbrella in one hand, sheltering herself against the rain and frowning. She soon came forward until she was standing directly before him. He let out a breath. "What is it, Haibara."

She gave him one of her stares that probably meant she thought he was an idiot. "You're sitting here soaking in the rain. A new hobby of yours?"

A shrug if shoulders answered her. "Perhaps."

"Kudo-kun..."

He felt a spark of irritation. "I'm just tired, okay? Ran was out, Kogoro was his annoying self, and that means drunk and complaining about something, and the kids were over at the professor's place, and I just.." He waved a hand, face collapsing a little. "I just... I don't know, needed some space." He closed his eyes.

A beat.

"Come inside. I have already sent the children home."

He opened his eyes again. "You have?"

Haibara rubbed at her cheek. "I guess I felt more tired than I had thought." Her shoulders dropped an inch, a sigh leaving her. "It's been a long few months, after all."

000

"Here. Drink up."

She looked up for the book she'd been studying. A steaming hot mug was standing before her on the table.

She looked at her side and caught the flash of a grin.

And Haibara smiled softly, stiff fingers wrapping around the warmth.

"Thanks, Kudo-kun."