It was when Shinichi was chasing a culprit that it had all gone wrong. He didn't remember the exact details, didn't want to remember anyway, but he did remember the snap of bone in his leg, and the pain that coursed through his body. He vaguely remembered the ambulance ride to the nearest hospital in Osaka, and having to stay there for so long that Shinichi thought he might go insane. He wanted to say that the day he was released was one of the best days in his life, until he found out that doing stuff with a cast was… difficult. So he had to stay with Heiji, his smug boyfriend.

"Shinichi!" Heiji called as he knocked on the door, and Shinichi rolled his eyes, turning over in bed. He could almost hear the smugness in Heiji's voice. "I'm coming in!"

"Alright," Shinichi sighed.

The door opened and the Osakan detective entered, a huge grin on his face. "I just finished a case!"

Shinichi studied Heiji's expression, noting that he looked as if he hadn't slept all night. Glancing at a clock, he confirmed it was early morning. "Come here," Shinichi sighed, pulling Heiji down into the bed despite his protests. Once his boyfriend was laid down, Shinichi wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in close.

"Wha-" Heiji started.

"Sleep," Shinichi said.

Heiji grumbled something like "I'm supposed ta be the one taking care of ya" but Shinichi studiously ignored him. Only when the detective was asleep did Shinichi get up, grabbing his crutches and awkwardly making his way to the kitchen.

At first, it was horrible, not being able to do much on his own. Shinichi was bad at moving with crutches, too used to the movements brought on by using two feet. But he adjusted, as he always did, and the main reason for that was Heiji.

Reaching the kitchen, Shinichi grabbed a few pieces of toast and stuck them in the toaster before making his way to the dining table, careful not to put too much strain on his injured leg. It was healing well, but it would still be a while before Shinichi could get out of the cast. For now, he would stay with Heiji.

Despite how annoying Heiji could be, Shinichi found that the idea still sent thrills through him.

It was midday when Heiji finally got up. As he made his way into the living room, where Shinichi sat on the couch reading a Sherlock Holmes novel, the Tokyo detective gave him a look. "You barely slept."

Heiji huffed. "At least I got some sleep."

"Would have gotten more if you didn't stay out all night solving cases."

Heiji pointed an accusing finger at him. "Ya would have done the same!"

Shinichi didn't even have a counter to that.

Heiji came and sat down next to Shinichi, grinning at the cast and crutches. "Want to go on a run?"

Shinichi elbowed him. "Oh, shut up. I'll go on a run with you once I've healed."

Heiji laughed. Shinichi could tell that the Osakan detective was having fun. Soon, though, his expression turned serious. "Ya will heal soon though… right?"

Shinichi nodded. "Yeah, it's just a broken bone. I'm not paralyzed or anything." He frowned. "Honestly, being in a wheelchair might not be the most convenient for chasing suspects, but otherwise, I think I'd be able to do my job just as well as before. Excluding the chasing suspects part."

"If ya had been paralyzed, then I would have chased the suspects for ya," Heiji said seriously.

Shinichi smiled at him. "Glad to know it."

They continued sitting on the couch, Shinichi's attention eventually returning to his book, Heiji a soft weight against his side as the other detective eventually fell asleep again.

"The doctors said that ya will be fine in a week," Heiji said, and Shinichi rolled his eyes. He swore this was the twentieth time his boyfriend had asked them about that. "Will ya still be staying with me?"

Shinichi tapped his fingers on the table. "Well, I still have college in Tokyo, you know. The teachers have been teaching me online for now, but I can't keep doing that. I have to return."

"Oh," Heiji muttered forlornly.

"I'll come back, though," Shinichi promised. "I'll come back as many times as I can, and if possible, I'll come even more."

The grin began to return to Heiji's face. "Okay."

Shinichi leaned forward and kissed him, and Heiji eagerly returned. When they broke apart, Heiji had a grin on his face, showing that he just had an epiphany. Shinichi half expected him to run around shouting "Eureka!"

"What is it?" Shinichi sighed.

"Ya know, I just realized…" Heiji drawled out. "Since ya haven't been too busy with the detective business lately…"

"No, stop, I know what you're going to say," Shinichi sighed again.

Heiji carried on. "Then you know I'm the better detective, right?"

Shinichi threw up his hands. "Sure."

Heiji grinned. "Sure?"

"Sure, you're the better detective when your competition is lying at your house, injured, with a broken leg," Shinichi clarified.

Heiji seemed to choke.

Shinichi smiled. Even though he had to leave soon, he wanted to come back here, to Heiji, more often. He didn't want to have to rely on him again, but he sure wanted to stay with him for as long as possible.

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