Author's note: This is a Secret Santa gift for MexicanDetective on the CoAi Café discord! Themes requested included gaming, holiday shopping, post BO, meeting the family & surprise party.
I hope you like! (Watch as I insert references to the sixth movie despite not having watched it in years. Definitely still a fav'!)

Never Disappoint

"This is a terrible idea," Shinichi says. He frowns at her, slouching against the shelf full of cases, his scarf and facemask hiding the downward turn of his lips. If he shoved his hands any further down his trouser pockets Shiho is certain that they would fall down.

"It's a great idea," she replies, grabbing the box she had pointed out. She smirks. "You're just salty because you can't play video games to save your life."

"Can too!" He sputters, straightening his spine in his outrage. It never fails to fluster Shiho when she notices how much taller he is than her now, but she isn't going to let that distract her from the argument at hand.

"Oh yeah? Previous experience says otherwise." She jabs the game against his chest, moving to within an inch of his chin with a smug grin he can definitely see despite her own facemask. "Even Genta can beat you at the professor's games... And that's with you putting in a month of practice!"

He manages to grab the game before it falls as she steps back, reaching for the bigger box on the lower shelf.
"Besides," she continues, adjusting her purse strap as she fits the box under her arm. "This is absolutely the best present for your father. Constantly travelling, ravenous for puzzles? Professor Layton and a Nintendo Switch Lite will entertain him for hours! And he was involved in the development of that VR Game event we all went to. We know he at least understands how a game works."

"I won us that game!" Shinichi says, pointing dramatically. She finds it cute.

"You would have had a game over without me. Admit it."

"I don't recall it that way..." He grumbles. They're queuing in line for the till. His foot is tapping aggressively as he glares at the pimply preteen behind them.

Shiho grabs his arm and pulls him up beside her. She tiptoes up so she can reach his ear and whisper.
"I'll remind you tonight, shall I, mister perfect recall?" The huskiness in her voice causes a flustered blush to appear on his cheekbones and the tips of his ears.

There are no more complaints from Shinichi as they reach the front of the queue.

"Don't give up." She whispers. Her hand is caught in his. She has tackled him to the sofa, before dramatically rolling onto the ground. "Even without the helping characters, you are Holmes to us. There is that much ability within you."
There's a spark in her eyes that wasn't there the first time she'd said those words to him. He grins down at her, far less concerned than he had been inside the VR Cocoon simulation.
"You're going to have to be our Holmes. There are no cases that Holmes can't solve, right?" She smirks as she finishes, putting her other hand to her chest as she pretends to faint.

Shinichi loves discovering this side of Shiho. Loves to see her play and pretend. He loves the new and wonderful ways she comes up with to tease him.
"I never disappoint," he replies, dropping to the floor in turn, his fingers tickling her sides as he leans down to kiss her. She squirms and tries to retaliate, but it is not long before she surrenders to his attentions.

The shopping bag lies forgotten on the coffee table. They'll wrap up the present later.

Shinichi is still, somehow, grumpy the next day. He pouts as he dusts the shelves down. He nearly growls when Eisuke trips over the carpet, the vacuum cleaner clattering loudly. Ran and Masumi chuckle as they rearrange the tables and chairs, earning a glare from the grumpy detective. Shiho sighs.

"What's got you in such a mood?" She hisses as she grabs his arm.

"I..." Shinichi glares at the floor, his arms glued down his sides as he hides his fists in his pockets. Shiho has to force his face to turn towards hers so that she can look him in the eye. He wilts under her scolding gaze. "I don't... Really want to say."

"Is it me?" She whispers. "Something I've done?"

He shakes his head firmly before she even finishes asking.
"No! Maybe... I mean...!" He groans. He can hear Sonoko whispering playfully to Ran about a lover's spat. He wishes. "I'm just..."

His words dry up. He doesn't know how to find the right way to say it.

Shiho rolls her eyes, turns him to face her fully and places her hands firmly on his shoulders.
"Let me guess." Her voice has that quiet strength that invariably drew him to her. The one that sparks with the confidence she had struggled to embrace when they first met. Shinichi knows that she's smart, and perceptive. She demonstrates it to him every day. She proves it now. "You're nervous about me meeting your parents."

He splutters and pulls his hands out of his pockets. His fingers swiftly cover his face, embarrassment searing through him like a furnace.

"I don't know what you're worrying about," Shiho huffs. "I've met your parents before. I've had conversations with your mum."

Shinichi grumbles incoherently into his palms.

"Say that again?" Shiho snaps. He removes his hands to see the irritation clear as day on her face. Her arms are crossed, beautifully framing the curve of her breasts, the line of her neck. His blush does not abate.

"I said," he coughs. "They haven't met you since you became my girlfriend." He puts deliberate emphasis on the last word. It changes everything.

Shiho's frown deepens, before lifting as she tilts her face up to the ceiling and she... She's laughing. She's laughing loud and clear and free.

"What am I going to do with you?" She chuckles as she pulls him into a small hug. "You'd think I'm the one who ought to be nervous in this situation, not you."

Well it wasn't like Shinichi could fairly expect their positions to be reversed. The professor already treats him like a son. He grumbles some more as he sits in the desk chair, glancing around the library as it swivels. His arms are crossed and he's pouting. He's sulking and he knows it. Shiho just shakes her head and goes to help Sonoko lay out the party food trays they just had delivered.

It was a nice idea, truly. His parents were coming home in light of the pandemic making their usual globetrotter life style a lot of hassle. Staying in Los Angeles was quickly ruled out in light of the American Government's lacklustre efforts at handling the crisis, so Tokyo it was. Yukiko and Yusaku Kudo have just finished their self-imposed quarantine of two weeks in a hotel in Osaka and are currently driving home in a rental... Probably breaking several speed limits, if Shinichi knows his mother. Shiho had suggested, upon realising that she and Shinichi would now be sharing the house with his parents, organising a surprise welcome home party.

It isn't going to be a large gathering: it can't be. But they'll have Ran and her father, and the professor of course. Sonoko, Masumi and Eisuke are to leave once they finish helping with the cleaning, enjoying a small evening of merriment themselves as they belatedly celebrate Eisuke's acceptance into the Tokyo University they are all enrolled in. It is going to be a nice evening, Shinichi thinks, provided, well...

His eyes watch Shiho as she chats with Masumi, batting the tomboy's hand away from the cocktail sausages. He watches Eisuke and Ran grab at each other's arms as she guides him away from a pile of books. Sonoko, by the small blush apparent on her face, has stumbled upon his mother's romance novel collection. Shinichi feels his heart warm.

Maybe... Just maybe... It'll be alright.

It is not alright.

Shinichi is fooled for the first half of the evening... His parents regale them all with tales of their latest travels and American friends wrestling with unwieldy demands, to the Professor's bewildered fascination. Kogoro laughs and drinks generously, Yukiko playfully matching him beer for beer as Yusaku sips his sake and Ran and Shiho share a bottle of wine with Shinichi. The mood is festive and kind, but every now and then, Shinichi can't help but notice how his parents' gaze lingers a little too long on Shiho or himself.

When Ran deems that her dad has had enough, the two say their goodbyes, along with the Professor, wishing the Kudos and Shiho a pleasant evening and to enjoy the rest of their Christmas eve. Ah, yes. Shinichi had forgotten that was why Shiho had insisted on getting his parents welcome home gifts. She'd grown up in the States, was more familiar with the American version of the holiday. Shiho probably assumed that welcoming his parents with the same traditions they would have enjoyed in their preferred home abroad would meet with their approval. Shiho, as so often, is proven correct once they move to the lounge.

"I absolutely love it!" Yukiko gushes, revealing the silky shawl from its wrapping. She wastes no time in swinging it around her shoulders. The gold tassels remind Shinichi of the old Cowboy TV shows his mum used to watch on repeat, and she's clearly enamoured with the patterns and textures. "Shiho dear, this is an amazingly thoughtful gift – there's no way our boy would have thought of this on his own."

Shinichi's cheeks burn at the subtle dig. It's not his fault he's so bad at gifts. Growing up with absentee parents makes it hard to care for presents, be it for birthdays or commercial holidays.

Shiho smiles, patting Shinichi on the thigh since his arms are crossed.
"You're welcome," she says, a touch more quietly than Shinichi anticipates. He turns his gaze to her fully as he hears his father unwrap his giftbox.

"Hah!" Yusaku laughs. "Very thoughtful indeed. This should make for a very entertaining distraction. Thank you, Shiho." Yusaku nods meaningfully, but all Shinichi can see is how Shiho seems to sit straighter in her seat, how her fingers seem to flex tighter against Shinichi's trouser leg. He frowns. Then smirks. Oh, this should be entertaining...

His hands relax and he uncrosses his arms, putting one behind Shiho's shoulders as he finally reclines into the back of the sofa. Skies above he's been so tense. Shiho, obviously, notices the shift in his demeanour and subtly raises a brow at him. He puts on his most innocent smile in response.

"So..." Yukiko says, in that tone of voice that Shinichi has been expecting since his parents stepped foot into the house. "How're you finding life with our dearest Shinichi? I hope he's treating you right." Yukiko's playful glare in his direction somehow doesn't faze him as he thought it would. Shinichi's grin just broadens as he sees a blush appear on Shiho's face.

"I'm sure he doesn't disappoint." Yusaku quips, finally putting the box with his gift in down to reach for his drink. "Do you Shinichi?"

"I never disappoint," Shinichi replies, his hand grazing Shiho's sides. He's looking into her eyes with that same heat he'd shown after they'd bought that damned game, the same amount of emotion in his voice. Shiho clearly picks up on the allusion. Her face turns a delightful shade of tomato red.

"He does alright!" She squeaks... Squeaks! Shinichi bites the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Shiho slaps him in the abdomen before rushing in with a distraction. "So, did the Professor tell you about his latest contract? He..."

Thankfully, the distraction works, and Yukiko and Yusaku are keen to engage in the topic. Shiho finally relaxes and Shinichi sneaks a quick kiss to her temple as he squeezes her shoulders in comfort. When, finally, the hour grows late, the two bid his parents good night, but not without Shinichi's mother throwing in one last comment that should make Shinichi cringe but instead has him grinning.

"Don't tire our boy out too much!" Yukiko says with a meaningful wink, only slightly undermined by her tipsy sway. Yusaku's hands are already grabbing at Yukiko's waist in the manner that tells Shinichi they definitely need to leave the room now. He'd forgotten how bad his parents got with their PDA when drunk.

Shinichi rescues his spluttering girlfriend gallantly with a half-yelled "Goodnight!" directed at his parents and a shove so he can close the door on them.

"So..." Shinichi says, as Shiho glares at him in their shared bedroom. "That was fun."

"'I never disappoint' he says," Shiho's jabbing her finger at his chest again, and he laughs. "What the fuck, Kudo?!"

Oh, she's using his surname. She's irritated. He feels even more smug. He steps closer to her, hands ready to take her into his arms, seeking permission with his eyes. Thankfully, she relents, nodding as she melts into his embrace.

"And you laughed at me for being nervous," he chuckles, peppering kisses upon the top of her head.

"I forgot where you got your asshole genes from," she grumbles into his shirt. Her grip around his waist tightens.

"You know," Shinichi whispers, feeling uncharacteristically charitable, "I'd understand if you wanted to go back to staying with the professor while my parents are here. They can be a lot."

He feels Shiho shake her head. "And give them the satisfaction? No." She pulls back to smile up at him. She tiptoes up to kiss him, the heat of their embrace rising as she slips her hand beneath his shirt. When at last, they part for breath, she smirks. "I'd much rather tire you out."

Fin