This is the longest joke i have ever written. I just gotta make him suffer, it's just my nature.

Morning, Agasa's bedroom

The sun has not even rose high enough to reach Agasa's windows, yet there was some small footsteps heard already. Ai got herself a big black coffee, having slept the most amazing and time consuming nap ever - Maybe spending so much time in that place did good on her insomnia? She will have to analyze that later.

Now though she woke up the also (still) heavenly sleeping professor, his old bed creaking as he got up to stop the godawful light that shone upon him from the freshly turned on lamp.

"Morning." Ai said, her emotionless voice thick with tiredness. She gave Agasa the coffee, continuing shortly after. "It's like 7. Guess who slept in the ca-ar."

The profesor got his glasses off the table, putting them on and continuing onward to make breakfast in the kitchen. There was some left over pancakes to heat, and so the man had decided to get some ready. " I mean, isn't it interesting how these guys just get along so well? I mean come onnnnnnnnnn. Although there is one thing that may have caused this along some other things." Ai followed after the man who gingerly put her up the high counter top to continue. "I'm almost amused by how much the black organization relies on poison and venom these days. Not more than on guns, but still." She made a pause as she sipped her own coffee, the fluffy cream staying on her upper lip, the taste staying on her lips. Agasa covered the rolled pancakes so they heat on the inside too, turning fully towards the woman. " I guess i want to check on that injection wound the boy has, just to be sure and all..."

"Do you think he was... tested on? Or better, do you have any proof of anything so far?" Agasa furrowed his brow, thinking intensely about everything he had learned in the previous days as well. This whole thing was fishy and unstable ever since the beginning, something missing and incoming evident in the air.

"I have his blood from the house. I will get to it as soon as my station is unoccupied."

Agasa's eyes widened in surprise, curiosity and amusement taking over as he asked, "Who would be checking blood at this hour? And why?"

Ai nodded towards the room with a sly smirk of amusement on her own. "I don't know. Ask Hattori when he's done."

Agasa squinted again, verifying if the girl was serious. He peeked out. She was serious.

"What the hell is he doing?" Agasa asked, now scratching his head in confusion himself. Haibara looked once more, then back towards the kitchen, her eyes going over to the slightly blackened pancakes. "Professor, your pancakes."

The professor looked quickly, dismissing the boy's behavior for later and coming back to his pancakes in a fast trot.

"He is a detective after all, i can only guess he is beginning the investigation. He will probably steal my computer for a bit too - But hey, at least he asks politely."

"..."

"Kids these days, i swear."

"Yeah."

"Did you say Kudo is asleep in my car or was that my hearing playing tricks on me?"

"He's totally sleeping. I feel as if he...deserves some more nap time anyway." Agasa slid the pancakes over to her plate, as well as readying some for Kudo and his early-working friend.

"Will you show me the results once they are in? If you have such suspicions, we may need to think about either our or his safety pretty soon. -

...I fear for that boy, for his mental state and all the negative effects this danger he put himself under in such a short amount of days caused. Now i would at least have an excuse for being overprotective instead of just going with the gut... Even if we don't get anything, let's just have some caution anyway, especially since we don't know if any of it actually had any effect."

"I'm pretty surprised the kid held off so well after experiencing what the organization has in stock. Most of the kids and even adults that have a member as even family, end up in mental hospitals - Most end up being traumatized after being used for the organization as bait or simply under pressure, becoming; hostile, suicidal, depressed or dangerous."

"Right... Although i guess he could have locked his memories away as a self-defense mechanism?"

"Yeah, that works."

"Ah, i remember what it took sometimes to calm you two down from your experiences. I swear, you guys getting better is one of my better deeds."

"..."

Agasa finished the conversation with a quick pat to Ai's head, giving her the plate to deliver to Kudo. The brisk morning looked pretty from the window but deep down she knew it was cold enough to regret coming out. Shrugging, she left it on the table.

Heiji was pretty involved in getting the results quickly. He couldn't waste any more time, waste any more opportunities, waste any more information...

The thing that led him to the OB location was a series of crimes, 2 shootings and one chemical poisoning if he recalls correctly. All were solved, if by 'solved' you mean finding the identity of people that did it as just 'guys in black' and never succeeding in tracking them. That's what picked his attention that day at the precinct. The dudes were not afraid to show themselves, unlike previous majority of cases with BO involved, which meant opportunity. So he saw an opening, and took it, following.

And then he fucked up.

He looked through these cases again, remembering the names as the ones on the target list down in the base. He was sure the police figured it out too, probably starting to hunt the people once more having all the stuff from base to parse however they want. The other people from the list will hopefully be protected for the time being - although some of them may be criminals themselves, which he hopes the guys will take care of too.

Looking through his phone again as the mysterious blood from the wall was analyzed he stumbled upon another message from Kazuha. This one was newer than the last one, having been waiting for some time in his inbox.

Thinking it was going to give some more information again like the last time he prepared himself, locking the room and taking a few deep breaths. He didn't know the limits of this 'venom' the text was talking about earlier, so it was just in case. Surprisingly enough the voices were quiet when he woke up today, so he felt alright enough to try, but that was the least surprising thing that morning...

Flashback-

He feels so hot and yet so cold as he slowly awakes. It was a pretty good nap, but that's enough of that, so his eyes flutter open. Taking a second to look around, he notices that this is the professor's car - the scent of the base from earlier still lingering inside. He was wondering if it affected his sleep so much he actually took a good rest, deciding to look into it later.

There was no sun out yet so he guessed it was pretty early, if him yawning and stretching weren't a sign clear enough. Looking up, he froze.

Kudo Shinichi, leaning against the car window, his hand on Hattori's back.

'Holy Sh-' -Hattori thought as he stared motionlessly at his friend, still fast asleep and breathing evenly.

...Wait a minute, did i miss something? The last thing i remember doing was closing my eyes watching the road! I wouldn't forget... about this!...

Hattori elevated Kudo's hand from his back, instantly missing the warmth it provided. Looking curiously at the other detective he tried to understand the events that led to their predicament, giving up after a while. Seems like they both just passed out. Thinking now, it wasn't often he had an opportunity to see Kudo so relaxed and calm, no focused stare or stern expression... It was even rarer than seeing the other smile honesty, and so he stared for too long. He thought about giving the detective his hoodie to warm him up but quickly remembered that he needed it to cover his wounds instead.

Shaking himself awake once more he carefully left the car as to not wake the other, leaving the comfort behind so he can finish his work with determination.

Flashback End-

The message was easier to see this time, the words coming together way faster than before. He saw the text but the fast rush made him wait a few moments until the floor stopped shaking before actually reading.

We can have a deal for an antidote, you know? You won't walk it off, i assure you, so it will have to come to this eventually. Everyone breaks, you will be no exception. We know where your friend is living, so how about just bringing us Kudo Shinichi instead of you two dying? It's better to just get it over with instead of pointlessly searching for things you won't find...

After a bit of silence as Heiji absorbed the meaning, he cursed.

"Fucking bastards." Heiji mumbled, throwing his phone on his desk. "You think you have the upper hand? We will find all ya' rats before you even think about getting another target!" He was way more confident now, feeling a surge of motivation upon learning exactly what they are planning. The friend they talked about was probably Kazuha, because he knew from the documents it wasn't Kudou they located.

The certainty didn't last long however, as the familiar hell returned to take him over just as he unlocked the door.

Kaito was on his way to the lab he knows Shinichi is residing in currently, a spring in his step. The morning was moist and cold, the sun fooling you to exit for it's warmness but freezing you with the ground. He was walking freely now, just some basic gadgets with him as he knew the area was swarming with police ever since they found a base of the wanted and despised criminals- so no worries about unexpected attackers. He was here to talk about BO, not defending the lab.

Done all things he was due and with no heists to plan for now, the young thief came here to pay such a visit. Having knocked on the door twice to get inside and help figure stuff out he was fully ready for some action - also planning to share where BO planned to move if not for the... interruption, which he knew and will describe in all detail once he gets inside. He still wants to ask Hattori about some stuff later, even if he will have to either reveal himself or pretend to be Shinichi to do so. When no one answered his knocking, the slightly impatient guest moved towards the garage to get inside.

Turning towards the doors he entered, the huge yellow car taking most of the space. Looking around he turned on the singular light, the bulb taking a few seconds to light. Just as there was some, the thief flinched as he saw a body in the vehicle.

"What the-!"

He looked closer and relaxed as he saw the person breathing. Curious and kind of sour for spooking him, he opened the door to reveal no other than a sleeping Kudo Shinichi, the culprit. Holding the doors he thought it would be funny to repay for such a scare with an equal one, and so he slammed the car closed with a loud SLAM.

Kudo jumped in his seat, disoriented and satisfying to watch for the laughing thief. - ...Got you good. - He opened the doors once more, getting his head closer to Kudo, finishing his charades and actually getting to the question on his mind.

"So, were you locked out of the house and needed to sleep in the car? That's harsh bro. Would almost mistake you for a corpse if not for my knowledge about how cold your pals can be on the daily." He guessed offhandedly, staring unimpressed at the detective who was trying to calm his breath and sent him an angry glare at the same time. Kudo finally shot him the infamous look, finally seeing the cause of his total and unwanted awareness so early in the morning, answering with an irritated tone-

"What are you doing here? Did you learn something?" Kudo exited the car shaking, his legs stiff from sleeping in the car. Giving him a smirk, Kaito replied: "I just visited to help out, i assume you guys still need some of that. Besides, i have questions. Now let's get you out of here, 'cause i would loveeeeeee to hear a story about the oh-so-popular top-tire class detective sleeping outside in a car." Kaito gave Shinichi a hand and after he was fully out of the car, opening the garage door to the room inside.

"Wait a minute. About that..." Kudo suddenly stopped and looked around as if he was searching for something, a hint of uncertainty in his posture and eyes. He then shook his head, a lost smile on his face. "Of course he would be up already, just saves me some embarrassment. Still will be awkward thoughhhhhhgod."

Kaito was pretty much shocked for solid 2 seconds, mouth agape-

"Wait, wHAT?"

The two had walked inside, sitting near the table not long after, eagerly eating pancakes prepared earlier. Then, Kaito gave his proposition.

"I kinda came to help you guys. From what i'm seeing, this is the biggest slip up of the BO, letting someone get away and all... Might be a big chance for us." Kaito said with a piece of pancake on his fork, suddenly more serious.

"That's... true. If we act fast we just might catch them in this mess."

"Wouldn't be so sure though. They might be even more organized than ever, especially since there is a chance it's all... planned."

"You really think that? So far everything is fine -

besides, what letting him go would have given them? There wasn't any location-sharing tech on him, no strings... It might be just the miracle we were waiting for, catching them off guard when they underestimated the enemy."

"Yeah, still, if i might i would want to talk to him and ask some stuff. How did he even escape? I gotta ask. You know where he is?"

"I literally just woke up. Maybe try askin-"

Heiji opened the door, stepping out. He looked horrid and pale, even darker circles under his eyes ever since last Kudo saw him. There was a sheet of paper in his hand and a lit phone, catching the attention of the two.

"Ah, Heiji, i believe we weren't introduced properly before. Name's Kaito, your new ally." Kid stood, extending his hand for Hattori to shake. Shinichi looked at the two, curious as to what Heiji was holding and what he has found.

"...Oh, I heard about 'cha. Actually, i believe the Osaka police also got an order to catch you any chance they get..." Heiji shook his hand, the weak grip surprising Kid as he expected some more force put into it. Nevertheless, he listened to the Osakan, optimistic: "I'm glad you decided to join. And just as we have a new clue as well! What a coincidence..." Heiji grinned, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. Shinichi stood, eyeing Hattori's posture and condition for a second, then asking curiously- "Did you find something, Hattori?"

Heiji turned, a new flash of determination in his eyes. "I found a big thing, pal. An identity we can follow! The only thing left to do is just find some connections and places, which..." Heiji gave Kid a document to read on apparently some person involved with the organization to research, and announced eagerly "I want our new ally tah' check. Sounds alright?"

Kid gave him a smirk, nodding. Walking away inside the room, he closed the door loudly as he got to work.

The two detectives were left in the kitchen now, Hattori looking around through some old books Agasa kept around. Shinichi had a feeling things were finally getting better, especially when they finally have a solid continuation to their investigation. He noticed Hattori looking towards the room Kid was in, as if checking if he's doing alright.

...That's interesting. Maybe he wants to test him? Not trusting right away, huh Hattori? Not that i specifically, well, worry that Kaito would do something stupid in a friend's house when the matter is that heavy - quite the contrary - i predict he and Hattori might become a good team in time...

...Now, there is one matter i would also like to talk about...

"Hey Hattori, good job with the clue. Where was it, exactly?" Shinichi said offhandedly as he took a chair and sat across from the armchair the other detective was occupying.

Heiji looked up from some book that he found, apparently not interesting enough to keep him from a conversation, and just a bit of pride entered his eyes. Like he was prepared for the question. "Found some blood on tah' floor, a speck really, but enough. I hope that we can get something from this... And yah, thanks. Wouldn't have found nothin' if not for you all gettin me there."

"Yeah. I would say we are almost ready to start this all "chase" thing."

"Wait, what ya' mean almost? I already made the investigation official, there is literally nothin-!" Hattori cut off as Shinichi's hand landed on his forehead, surprise making his eyebrows rise. The detective was confused for a second, then his brows started furrowing.

"Uh..Kudo? Buddy, what'cha doing?" He asked, perplexed, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Checking your fever." Kudo said as he slowly removed his palm, a triumphant smile on his face, Hattori missing the hand's coolness immediately after. Kudo stood up, his chair squeaking as he did so.

Going into the kitchen, opening a cabinet and taking a basket out of it, Kudo started going through it as if searching. There was quite a few drugs and medication inside, all labeled and colorful. He went around inside it, the bottles clinking and the small boxes rustling against each other after every move. Professor always kept a lot of these things, was it for emergencies or just to stay healthy. Some of them were even self-made, as the old man worked in every direction of science he could, succeeding often.

Hattori didn't even notice as Shinichi closed in again, leaving two medium-sized pills in his hand.

"Take them, it should bring it down."

Heiji kept silent for a moment, still kinda bewildered, a question tugging at his mind.

"How did you know?"

"Well, you were a real heater last night. Certainly helped to survive the cold morning today..." Kudo looked at Hattori, who obviously caught onto what Kudo was communicating. He started his stuttering.

"Ah, I'm so s-sorry about that! ...You should have just woke me up, man!" Heiji was now blushing like a tomato, ashamed for his actions. - ...It was totally my fault, right? Aw man, i probably trapped him under myself... Couldn't i have stayed awake for just a couple' minutes longer? I'm such an idiot...

"Yah' don't even know how embarrassed i am..." Heiji looked away from an unknowingly smiling detective across from him, taking some water as he downed the pills in shame.

"It wasn't a problem, like, at all. I wouldn't have known you were so feverish, and..." Kudo stopped, his grin disappearing for a second. Then he continued, apparently deciding to keep some thought to himself. "Anyway, i guess i had a small debt to pay. I stole about 1/4 of your bed when you were first brought here, so it's only fair, right?" He locked eyes with Hattori, his blush still present at his cheeks. He found himself reddening some as well as the awkward silence lasted a few more seconds.

Then Shinichi picked up the book that his friend left earlier, opening on a random page to stop the overwhelming quiet.

"You like these books?" Shinichi asked offhandedly, reading the description.

"Not much, but my dad does. I guess we have different tastes, although i doubt he would have time to actually compare 'em."

"Huh."

Kid entered the room again, the document in his hand. "Alright guys, I got more info on this guy. The only thing to do is to follow! I- Uh-" His voice filled the room as he got all the needed info, stopping when he saw the situation. Kudo and Hattori sitting across each other, both reading books they don't like? It irked curiosity in Kaito, and so he continued quickly. "What's up with you two?"

He crossed his arms expectantly, Heiji cutting his hopes for an answer short after an extremely fast beat of nothing-happened-look.

"Nothin'. Show me what you found, you feather disaster." He walked towards the other quickly now, picking up another feather from the floor on his way. Shinichi huffed from over his chair, throwing Kaito a look saying "seriously, again?"

Kaito nodded, ignoring the other blue-eyed high-schooler as he told Hattori about his findings. Folding the document titled 'William J. Uj ' and the list of people related to him, putting it near his stuff to go, Heiji started setting up a map with Kaito still by his side. Kudo just stared at the two, mouth agape, as his predictions started coming true way quicker than expected.

Still, texting Haibara and the professor he looked towards Hattori's arm, covered once more by the thick material of his grey hoodie.

It was awkward for some time as they were about to leave, giving both friends a small signal that they should 'talk' to pass some time. Unfortunately, Hattori didn't want to talk even if Shinichi tried to get him to. He got some good coffee, set up chairs again, cleared the table and even shown him the true antitoxin again but nothing grabbed the other boy's attention.

He was kinda hoping Hattori would slip up and tell him the reason for his 'injuries', or explain his depressed remarks from the house for some time now, finally deciding to take some action and forming a plan to ease Hattori into telling him.

So he went with something he knew would grab Heiji's attention and make it easier for him to talk.

"Ow, goddammittt! " He said as he cut his finger by 'accident' on some kitchen equipment. Heiji flinched looking in his direction, a confused expression on his face. It looked like he was just reading something on his phone, the sudden voice startling him a bit. Shinichi held his hand while standing up, still bleeding and making some colorful remarks.

"You alright?" Hattori asked, getting closer. Got him. Kaito caught onto Kudo's 'accident' with amusement, and so he watched. It was also a part of his curiosity speaking to just observe, and so he did.

"Sure, but i forgot where the band-aids are..." Shinichi suggested lowly, relieved when Hattoris eyes traveled to the drawers near the medication drawer he took earlier. "Lemme find 'em for ya. No way i'm letting your bloodied hands go through all that stuff." Hattori said as he searched around, more energetic than before. Shinichi had a good feeling as he felt some connection forming, his hand slowly getting numb. Both of them injured might be a first thing he needed for Heiji to finally open the fuck up, and his friend's caring nature can help them start.

As Heiji got closer with some rubbing alcohol and a band-aid he thought about what exactly he can say to get Hattori to spill about his own injuries. His head was pretty much empty, though.

Surprisingly, Heiji talked first as he finished disinfecting the area around his fingers. "I know i didn't tell you before... but thanks for patching me up earlier. It... really helped." - Kudo looked at him surprised, quickly thinking about what to say. Leaving little time to be happy about his strategy working, Heiji continued his thought. "Even though it surely was awkward right? I don't remember it all that well..." just as he finished applying the band aid to Shinichi's hand, he found himself finally looking at his friend's face again, expecting an answer.

"N-No problem." Kudo answered, eager to try and get more answers now that Heiji was more peaceful and less stressed towards him. Then he got his words straight, bringing his slow tactic to a stop.

"Do you wounds hurt still though? Maybe i can patch you up better soon?" He lightly suggested, the unspoken fact hanging above both of them. Shinichi reached for his injured arm, a questioning look on his face, hoping to get his companion to continue. Heiji immediately shifted, looking rather... terrified? in Shinichi's general direction. He corrected his posture and tried to answer quickly with a simple; "No, it's all good." just before he went back to his previous place hurriedly, like a dog with his tail between his legs. Shinichi cursed at his failure, looking at Kaito who was still watching the two like a hawk, squinting at his completely not-hidden amusement.

Kudo started frustratingly picking at his band-aid, obviously pissed.

"I guess there is something i'm not a part of here happening, no?" The thief asked, once more checking the bags they prepared for the ride. The person that Heiji insisted would give some information about the BO went missing for a few years, just as they supposed a BO member would. He had a wife however, but that unfortunately lived in another Japanese town ever since the marriage. She had been reported for assaults and drug use, so she lives under the watchful eyes of some police now, nevertheless having some sort of knowledge about the Organization still from her husband, as she said he still visits. The thing must have messed her life up pretty bad, huh? The plan was to get her to talk about all the incidents Hattori was so curious about, trying to interrogate her even if the police failed so many times before.

Now basically the 5 of them just got ready to investigate for a longer time packing up, simply getting stuff and registering their investigation as official full on now (which was set easily ever since Kudo is a famous detective and Heiji knew most of the police protocol and decided to not leave mess for his dad to clean this time) so there was just a few things left to do and they can ride. All they knew about the guy so far was that he was tied to these guys and that he was a chemistry teacher, formerly a scientist. It fit almost perfectly ever since the BO surely had to replace Haibara or have someone take over her studies, so they were about 90% sure it had became his new position. The fact that he might be the creator of the antitoxin even she couldn't reverse was making him seem like a very important piece and a smart person, alas they planned to proceed carefully and swiftly.

The thing between these two however, Shinichi was executing with no caution whatsoever. Or maybe some, but not enough.

Kudo sighed, sitting down defeated. After a moment of silence, he murmured; "How do you make a person spill without too much pressure?"

Kaito thought for a second, a flash of some talkative policemen and loud girls spilling everything every time he was around going through his head. He also remembered his own tactics at avoiding conversation, many other teens at his school coming to mind.

"I guess it depends on a person." He says finally. "You can pressure a person just enough, assure them into a false sense of security, straight up solve the case, trap them, torture them..."

"Nah, that's not what i mean." Shinichi put his head in his hands, his normal tactics with criminals and some tactics he knew from the police also playing before his eyes. He started to understand just why it was so easy for him to destroy criminals now - he never needed to be friends with them, or care about them, or see them again at all - when here the situation is different, multiple signals telling him to back off when he simply couldn't screw things up.

"Hattori is... a friend. When he got tired enough or was occupied by some task, i heard some... less-than-healthy statements, randomly coming from him like never before. I guess you can say the situation is delicate. Touchy subject..." Kudo sighed, looking up once more.

Kaito's eyes widened, catching onto the weight of these words. He realized. At least, he thought he realized.

"Oh."

Now, Kaito knew Kudo well. Was it because of the time spent with him, his stories, conversations, or other sources. Before this fiasco with him being Conan and seeing things from such perspective, Kudo only had Ran as a true friend. (how was she, by the way?) He didn't want to call him straight up unsocial or cold, because he changed a lot since, but he figured emotions and psychology need to be on a certain level when you are planning on dealing with criminals every day, in certain directions too...

Besides, any bit of time Conan spent improving these skills he was around children, them being 'his age', or just pretending before people who were older, leaving only a small portion to improve around his type of confidants. The time he spent bored in a child's skin also took some of his ability to actually stay sane, more so learn how to keep others sane as well.

Kaito furrowed his brows, throwing any advice he had on mind just to fill the silence. "Read about it? Treat him like you would yourself is such state? Make him trust you enough?" ...Wait.

...There is one thing i wanna know before all this.

"Why do you even want to help him that bad?"

Kudo was silent, his fingers stopping texting Ran for advice and checking the internet. He looked focused, as if he was trying to figure out a fresh case with a fresh piece of evidence, and hesitatingly opened his mouth a few times - just to shut it after a second.

"You're starting to look like a fish, Kudo. - Anyway - normally you leave that kind of people to their own devices. What made you so determined to help Heiji? You think you can handle it just because he is your friend?"

"..."

"Or maybe you're guilty? Maybe some of it was your fault and now you are trying to repair some damage you overlooked?"

"..."

"Or maybe it's something you can't explain. A new thing for you. Something that..." Kaito looked back at Shinichi, staring into him like a picture. "...You can't even understand?"

Kaito gave his friend a last smirk as the phone buzzed, most probably Ran answering Kudo's messages. Leaving the detective to his own thoughts, Kaito went scavenging for some more coffee.