Bonds
Chapter 1 A long day
Usually, one Kudo Shinichi very much enjoyed solving crimes. Not because people killed each other – he detested that part, really – but more because of the chase. To have only a few to none clues and to pick up all the pieces und put the puzzle together. It thrilled him to start with nothing and get everything.
Not so today.
Today wasn't just tragic and horrific, today was downright disgusting. On days like these, Kudo Shinichi actually hated his job – on day like these he wished he hadn't become a detective maybe a teacher instead. A teacher who might see signs and prevent things. Things like today's crime.
It had been a few hours since Shinichi solved the case and yet the feeling of hopelessness hadn't left him yet. It was a rather new feeling for him. Usually, he felt numb towards the pain and gore he saw at crime scenes. Usually. Today's crime was not usual though. Not at all.
Sighing, he continued on his way to the police station. He'd already been at home – though still inside the car – when Megure-keibu had called him to come to the station. Shinichi just hoped it was not another case, he'd had enough for today. (He was sure it was worse than that.)
With the little child he couldn't save still in mind, he parked the car and left for the station.
It had been raining all day today, thankfully though it had stopped a short while ago. Closing his eyes, Shinichi breathed in deeply. The air was fresh and cold but a nice change from the stuffy room air he'd spent the whole day inside.
Alright, let's see what the disaster is this time.
To be honest, all the detective wanted right now, was to go home, greet his still-not-girlfriend-but-close-enough maybe even hug her – yeah he'd really appreciate a hug from her right now – and go to bed, sleep it all off. That's what he wished for. However, as things stood, that would probably not happen for the longest time, yet.
When Shinichi entered the station, people greeted him and he smiled wearily back. There was no need to be impolite even if he was tired and really didn't want to be here, at all. He was told to go find Megure in his office – well, that's what he was going to do anyway.
The second the detective knocked on his door, a very impatient Megure ripped it open and hushed him inside.
"Now, what's the matter, Megure-keibu. This is not like you at all."
"Ah, Kudo-kun, it's really good to see you. Thank you for coming at this hour. Usually, I wouldn't have called you at this hour for something like this but there is no time to waste."
Yeah, he was usually only called for murders he needed to help solve. From the way the inspector was acting, Shinichi decided it must be a pretty bad thing. A catastrophe of category 2 probably (only 1 is worse and meant nuclear destruction, so 2 was pretty bad already).
"Now, what is it, Megure-keibu?" He really tried not to sound too harsh but dammit let the guy have some rest already.
"Well, you see, as we are here right now, I have people investigating it. Rest assured, it's just a temporary agreement but one we cannot defy as it stands right now."
Megure sighed heavily and fixated Shinichi. "Nakamori Aoko is to join your group as of now."
Blinking, Shinichi thought that that must be a joke. Bit when a second passed and then another and another and Megure-keibu still didn't laugh and pat him on the back for having come here only to be told a stupid joke, he realized that the inspector truly meant it.
"It came from the higher ups, though I cannot tell you how high, as of yet. As I said, I'm working on finding out all about it."
Kudo was ready to pull out his hair in frustration. This, indeed, was a catastrophe of category two. It wasn't that he disliked the girl, it just wasn't that he liked her. Of course, he didn't know her, not on a personal level and not enough to be able to judge her, but he was tired and had just solved a terrible case, so really, he felt in no condition to think rationally for once.
Inside the station, Nakamori Aoko was known for her rebellious way. It had started a few years back and only gotten worse over the years. He didn't know the details but rumors had it that she was stealing, doing drugs, beating up people and other things he didn't want to think about right now. Word never got out of here because there was still her father who got her out of anything and she'd never had to face any consequences so far. Surely, Shinichi didn't know for sure if that was really true.
People tended to exaggerate if they didn't like someone, even if they did, so not all could be true. But every rumor starts from somewhere. So, to have that criminal girl join his team was truly disastrous.
He had characters like Kuroba and Hattori, who were a handful but now to have to take care of that girl, as well …
Maybe he was just tired and he'd see things differently once he thought them through but right now the thought of her joining really didn't raise his mood any.
"On the bright side, Kudo-kun, that girl can be very smart, if she just wants to. She's helped us solve some cases a few times. Maybe she can help you out. Learn a bit discipline from you."
Megure stopped right there when he saw the look Shinichi gave him. "There is nothing we can do about it for now, Kudo-kun. Try to give her a chance. I don't know what the higher ups think this will accomplish but maybe they're not wrong in their decision. Of course, they'll pay her rent for the time being so money should be no problem."
The detective sighed. Right. There was nothing he could do about it now. Megure would look it why she was sent to join his team but until they knew the reason his hands were bound, if the order really came from high up there. Even he could not really defy them since they did fund his team after all. Not that he needed it. He could just as well open a detective agency and would earn enough money for everyone to live in luxury. But having connections to the police was nice and not so much a hassle.
"So, where do I pick her up then?"
Megure laughed nervously and looked away. Bad sign. Bad sign. Shinichi wanted to erase those words. Really. Take them back and flee from there. This was going from bad to worse to hellish.
"Well, you see, hehe, that's the thing, Kudo-kun. The order came after Nakamori-san was captured once again. She's being interrogated right now and he he you see … "
Shinichi pinched his nose. "What is it Megure-keibu?"
"Well. It's still her decision to join your team or not. But the other option is quite bad. This time her luck has run out and she can either join you or go to prison. That's what the higher ups have decided."
"So, there is no way she will not join my team, is that what you're trying to say?"
"Exactly."
"And what did she do this time?"
"Illegal underground fighting, but I they're also interrogating her for selling drugs. But to be honest, I can't imagine her doing that. It must be some kind of misunderstanding."
Megure turned around and walked to his desk. "I have actually prepared her file for you to study. Maybe you can find out what she did and did not. Make sure she stops doing it, especially those underground fights, it's been getting worse and more lately. I am worried about her. Even though I haven't met her often before she started her criminal career, I remember her as a decent young woman. There must be a reason why she ended like that. Of course, you also have to be cautious around her. I'd much rather not entrust her to you for both of your sakes but there is really nothing the both of us can do about it. Unless she chooses prison over your team you'll have to be really careful around her, Kudo-kun."
Shinichi nodded gravely and took the file out Megure's hands. It was rather thick and heavy, only more incriminating of her criminality.
They were a bunch of detectives and just people. He didn't want a criminal to be living with them. But Megure was also right. From what he remembers she'd been a bright and positive girl. There had to be a reason for people to change as drastically as she did.
He was probably just really tired. Usually, he gave people a lot of chances and got to know them before he judged them. But today had been really hard and the prospect of handling yet another criminal just wasn't appealing at all.
He'd look at the file later.
Better just get it over with and go home and sleep and let Ran hug me and tomorrow might look a lot better.
"So, where exactly do I find her?"
Megure smiled enthusiastically at that and patted him on the back. "Now, that's the spirit my boy."
Shinichi hardly resisted the urge to his eyes.
When Megure-keibu took him to the more secluded interrogation rooms they usually only used for the worst criminals, Shinichi started to wonder about this. Even she did drugs, there was no way they'd keep her here. She didn't kill anyone and didn't come close to it, either (not that he knew of, at least). If she really was smart enough to help solving cases, then there was good inside her as well. Why this then? She was either a worse criminal than Megure told him (or maybe he himself wanted to believe that there was still good inside of her) or someone wanted her here. Either way, he'd find out the second he opened the door and got to talk to her.
By the way, Sherlock, how do you intend to talk to her anyway? She might only join because the other option is prison and that one is not very appealing.
When Shinichi opened the door to the interrogation room, the air suddenly left him and he felt like suffocating.
Now what the fuck was going on?!
Maybe it was the little girl he couldn't save or all the blood or the fact that she was still a girl even if a criminal but at the sight his blood was boiling the same way it had been just a few hours ago when he'd found out why someone would kill a 5 year old happy-go-lucky girl.
Kudo Shinichi wasn't someone who'd shout out his rage – he'd rage silently and if he was any less noble he'd plot his revenge in darkness and make someone pay dearly.
This time, though, he was short of letting go of his values and do the worst.
He didn't, of course, but the sight of a handcuffed girl getting ruthlessly beaten by an officer who was undoubtedly misusing his power, without being able to protect herself made him seethe in rage.
It was one unnecessary death too many and he'd be damned if he let another one happen – and this was exactly where it was going.
He didn't even know how he bridged the distance in a more moment and before that officer could touch her even one more time, he'd had his wrist in a firm grip which he wouldn't let go until that bastard backed off.
He would have grinned at the incredulous look he was given if he'd not been as angry. Did this man truly believe what he was doing was the right thing? It took every ounce of Shinichi's will power and self-restraint to not hit the man across his face – the very same way he did with Nakamori-san.
But he didn't, instead Kudo turned around, his back to the officer since he was sure that man wouldn't actually hurt him – he wouldn't dare – and swallowing his anger, he smiled at the girl. She looked like hell and probably felt like it as well, so he needed to reassure her (she must have felt terrified though she didn't quite look like it – he didn't want to think about what that insinuated).
He wondered if he should ask her if she was okay and decided against it, since she, apparently, was not. Instead, he asked if she could stand up and got her out of the handcuffs. He was appalled by the way the cuffs had cut into her wrists because they were too tight.
Criminal or no criminal, no human being deserved to be treated like that and Kudo decided to give her an honest chance, after all. In this situation, she was nothing but the victim of police brutality which he couldn't and didn't tolerate in any way possible.
He tried to smile at her, telling her through that that things would be ok again, he'd make them ok and stood up to face that bastard who had the galls to violate his power. He felt disgusted with the man, the way he just didn't get that this wasn't how you're supposed to treat people even if they're supposed to be criminals.
Shinichi would have been offended that this man didn't even know who he was but he was too angry to care for once. He didn't much feel like talking to him, either. Thankfully though, Megure-keibu was right there and escorted the ex-officer out of the room.
When he looked the girl over he felt guilt and sympathy. She must be in pain, probably horrible pain what with all the blood and her swollen face. He'd probably have to take her to the hospital first. The way she looked, the surprised look with which she fixated him – now, she couldn't be that bad, right?
The way Nakamori's head looked, she might have a concussion, maybe even worse but there was her rebellious nature, telling him that she was fine enough. Well, then he'd not take her to the hospital. She'd probably tell him or anyone if she really needed to go there (he hoped at least) and instead had her go clean up before taking her with him.
He was kind of surprised when she apparently really thought about going to prison instead of with him. No one ever said she'd have to stay inside the house and never go out unless he allowed her to. He was no babysitter and he wouldn't become one. He was only supposed to make sure she didn't get into anymore trouble. Again though, he was no babysitter and he'd do a damn to change that. If she decided to be trouble then she was on her own. But if he gave her a chance and she took it he'll be the last person to reject her.
He was wary of her, of course, couldn't really tell what she was thinking – he never understood the mind of a criminal – and when she honestly asked him why he'd risk his friends, he wanted to call it off right away. It was a stupid idea from the start and she as well as he himself were both were skeptical of it working, even if he tried his hardest to not let it show on his face or in his language.
That was when Megure intervened because he probably realized what this was leading to and thankfully that man had brains to turn the situation around.
Shinichi decided to give her a chance. She might be nice enough. He'd not trust her and surely not open up to her but he'd give her an honest chance to gain his trust and find the right path in life again. He'd help her as much as he could and she'll be willing to accept.
He agreed to drive her home to get her things before returning to the base, internally already fearing the arguments Hattori will throw his way. Haibara will be another problem. Well, there was nothing he could do about it, though so he just endured the oncoming headache and hoped he'd be soon in bed and resting.
When Aoko left to get her things, the detective took out the file to study it. She'd been very quiet during the whole ride, nothing of what he'd imagined her to be. When she was like that she seemed pretty amiable.
Her file, though, showed another picture entirely. Things had started to go downhill about five years ago. First it was street fights, gang fights then it came to drugs. It looked like she actually made it to university but if she continued like this she wouldn't be able to stay. A few cases of theft those they could never really pin it to her, it were mostly assumptions.
Tche.
Assumptions were the worst. They could get an innocent into prison. They were not tangible. At least, she'd not been taken accountable for those crimes. Stealing a car and having an illegal match. Shinichi was kind of surprised at that. She'd need to know the people to get into that underground scene and he wasn't sure he liked knowing that she probably did. (Of course, how else did she get into that?) A lot more fighting, misuse of alcohol, illegal possession of guns, repeatedly. And then there were a few cases she'd apparently helped solve. They were not mane in comparison to the many crimes she'd committed and he'd have to study it more carefully to see if maybe she had an ulterior reason to do all these things.
Still, seeing it black and white on paper made him realize that this girl might be dangerous. She might have a temper and not work well with others. If she were constantly fighting with everyone then things would go down the drain pretty fast and he hadn't worked so hard to have it ruined by some criminal girl.
That's why he set some rules after she came back and before she could make it inside the house. The guys would not make it easy and if she didn't know where she stood, she'd make it even harder.
Of course, there was actually no deal saying that she'll be out the second she lands herself at the station (just thinking about it made him shudder (all the blood and violation of rules) – he'll probably not sleep well today). Still, he needed to set rules and if she knew her place, he hoped, she'd be more compliant. He really hoped that.
Well, the meeting went worse than expected and how the hell did Kuroba and Hakuba know her? On the bright side, he'd be able to get information out of the thief and also, maybe things won't be as bad if she had people who she knew.
What he didn't expect though, was for her to take her things and actually choose prison over freedom, especially after he told her that she wouldn't be restricted at all (beside the thing with the illegal stuff that is). And when she turned around and broke down his day went from worse to downright hell and all he did then was praying to God that she didn't, in the end, die on him.
When Shinichi thought back to that day, he couldn't help but shudder.
At first, he had had to solve a case where a woman killed her sister's five year old girl and then he'd had taken a 22 year old criminal woman who had massive internal bleedings but didn't say a damned word about it (she must have been in agony) to join his team because there was someone inside the police who thought it was a good idea. In retrospect it was probably what saved her life.
Again, he shuddered.
Had he left her with ex-officer Tarou, he'd have killed her for sure. If she'd been put in custody, she most likely wouldn't have made it either. Having been with him and his team was probably the only thing that actually saved her life.
It had been a close one, that's for sure. She had undergone a difficult emergency surgery but in the end she had survived. (Though, he still thought that it was more a miracle than skill.)
During the time she spent in hospital he was able to talk to his team, after he'd slept a wink – finally – and though some (Hattori) still didn't accept it, it was nonetheless decided that she'd stay with them.
Kuroba was strangely tame after she'd collapsed but he figured that the guy was worried about her and after he gave him her file he wasn't against her joining at all, anymore. Shinichi decided that Kuroba's joining must have had something to do with the girl which was the reason that Kuroba was against it at first. When he'd realized what's become of her, he'd changed his mind pretty fast.
Kudo didn't pry because he still wasn't completely sure what to make of it. Hattori gave him hell about letting a criminal join and the girls didn't complain much. He'd just wait and see. If thinks weren't working out at all and if she didn't fit in with their group then he'd just throw her out but just like he promised himself before, he'd give her a chance first.
AN: I forgot to put it up in the last chapter
This was inspired by the awesome MintChocolateLeaves story The Innocence Game. Please check it out if you liked my story and even more so if you didn't like it!
And feel free to leave a review :) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.