There were times when being a child again had advantages. No one considered children dangerous, so he could always catch people off guard, and there were fewer responsibilities, so he had plenty of free time.
The downside to being child-sized was he was child-sized. It took no effort at all to pick him up and tote him around, despite various protests and any struggling. And when your childhood crush/ psuedo-mother figure was watching you expectantly, you couldn't use your more offensive weapons (like the stun watch and ball-dispensing belt).
"Thank you so much! He'll be no trouble at all! And if you need anything, my father will still be staying here and he can help you." Ran bowed, her coat over her arm and a grateful smile on her face. Her eyes dropped to him. "Be on your best behavior, okay, Conan-kun?"
"But Ran-neechan, why can't I go with you?" He whined, squirming in the restraining arms and reaching for her.
"Conan-kun, I'll be back in the morning. I won't even miss the heist." She pressed a hand over her heart. "I promise. Besides, you were the one who wanted to come here to begin with."
"Ran-neechan!" He couldn't help his scandalized tone, because the last person he ever wanted to know that was holding him hostage. He contemplated kicking the thief's knees anyway.
"Be good for Kuroba-kun, Conan-kun." Ran waved one last time, turning on her heel and dialing her phone as she strode towards the door.
"We'll be good, Mouri-chan!" KID sang out, arms becoming a vice around Conan. "Won't we, tantei-kun?"
"How the hell did you get in here? No one outside of the officers, private detectives, and family are allowed in the main house before the heist!" Conan struggled harder, but KID wasn't letting go.
"But I was invited!"
"Heist notes don't count!"
"Well, Kuroba Kaito was invited. Aspiring magician and close friend of Nakamori Aoko. He's been asked to consult on their security before," KID explained, hauling Conan in closer and wrapping his arm around his waist, freeing his other hand to wave at the various Task Force Officers down the hall. "And as far as they know, Kuroba-kun has been with them every second since they left the office."
"So we can expect to find him in a gutter somewhere, sleeping off your knock-out gas in the woods?" Conan stopped squirming, because this was the hardest part of being a child again.
Even with his reputation as The KID Killer and apprentice of Mouri Kogoro, as long as one adult spoke against him, he would be dismissed as a starry-eyed child.
"I would never leave my number one fan in a gutter." KID opened the door to the room they would be staying.
Conan immediately focused on the small twin-bed and no cot, bedroll, or pile of blankets in sight.
"I refuse."
"You're more than welcome to join Nakamori-keibu and Mouri-tantei." Kid closed the door behind them, finally releasing Conan.
His hand went for his stun watch but the thief had already nabbed it. As well as his belt. And his shoes had been left in the genkan.
"Looks like it's my win for the night, tantei-kun," KID locked the door and placed something just over the door opening. "If you try to sneak out in the night, well... It won't hurt, but you'll never be able to look at pudding the same way again."
Conan eyed the innocuous device hanging over the door. He was tempted to take the chance anyway, but KID had the worst creative mind for traps and tricks that left you more humiliated than injured. Conan was already travel-sized. He didn't have much dignity left.
"What's your play?" Conan asked, crossing the room and planting his back against the wall. KID hummed to himself, taking off his jacket, and collapsed on the bed.
"Maybe I just wanted to spend time with you," KID ventured, crossing his hands behind his head and stretching out on the small bed. Conan glared at the non-existent space left. He'd rather sleep on the floor.
"Lie. Try again."
"Aww~ That really hurts my feelings."
"Lie." Conan crossed his arms and stared at the thief. KID kept humming, seemingly content with himself and their situation.
"Are you really going to sleep on the floor?" KID asked, five minutes later.
"I'd rather sleep on the floor than near you," Conan muttered. There was no way he'd be getting any sleep tonight. That was probably KID's goal. A lack of need for normal sleeping hours would fit into the rough profile he'd drawn of the thief. Conan just seemed to need more than usual, yet another side effect of the de-aging.
"This is ridiculous." KID sighed and rolled to his feet, stalking over to Conan. There wasn't much Conan could do to stop him, the advantage of height, speed, and strength on KID's side. KID scooped him up and tossed him on the bed, settling on his former spot on the floor.
Conan grunted at the impact and scrambled upright, tracking the thief's uncoordinated slump to the floor.
"Relax, meitantei. I won't bother you," KID said, crossing his arms and resting them on his raised knees. There would be a pout on any other person's face, but KID's blank smile served to the same effect when his eyes were so flat. It was unnerving.
"So now you'll sleep on the floor?" Conan asked, scooting until his back hit the wall. The bed was small but comfortable. If he relaxed for a second, he'd be out for the night.
"Not the worst place I've ever slept," KID said, some warmth filling his eyes.
Conan imagined KID in full regalia sleeping on some rooftop edge, hunched up like a roosting bird. He muffled his snort with one hand.
KID noticed. He'd started spinning some story, gesturing with his hands and making faces. He switched his voice effortlessly as he imitated others, pitching his voice just enough to carry without being loud. Conan couldn't help but get drawn into the story, sinking further and further on the bed until he was only fuzzily watching the thief with sleepy eyes.
He closed his eyes as KID droned on in Hakuba's voice, and the next time he opened his eyes, the room was silent. He pushed himself upright, reaching to rub his eyes and frowning when he doesn't touch his glasses. KID wasn't telling stories anymore, leaving only silence and the very faint sound of breathing in the room.
KID's upper body was sprawled over the edge of the bed, arms folded for a pillow and spine twisted so he could rest on his knees. There wasn't a blank face, just the lines of relaxation and sleep, but it was enough that he could see a dusting of makeup on KID's face, faint smudges on the blanket proof.
"Idiot," Conan whispered, touching KID's wrist and scowling when KID groaned and nuzzled deeper into his arms. "Oi. KID!"
"Nooo~" KID moaned out.
"If you're going to sleep on the bed, get on the bed." Conan pulled on the bony wrist, rolling his eyes as KID crawled on the bed and started snoring. "If you cuddle me, you won't be waking up pleasantly."
