Shinichi counted to ten in his head, trying to keep himself calm and collected. Freaking out would not help the situation. When he reached seven, Kid sneezed and shuddered pitifully.
At least Kid had a jacket and a cape.
Shinichi wrapped himself into a tighter ball under the blanket they'd found, frowning. People knew they were missing. He'd sent out a distress signal to Haibara, and she had replied before being cut off, so help was on its way.
Or it would be once the storm passed.
Kid sighed from the cabin's sofa. "You know, this actually isn't the worst Valentine's Day I've ever had."
"You're kidding," Shinichi said, shooting him a disbelieving look.
"I'm definitely not," Kid assured him. "Last year, my civilian face was a hostage in a bank robbery. The year before that, I was a little poisoned. And–"
"No, hang on, how can you be a little poisoned?" Shinichi crossed his arms. How was it that someone so lucky otherwise was so unlucky in this? It didn't seem possible.
"Well, the chocolate was meant to act as a love potion, but instead it gave me a really bad flu. I had to stay home all week. Anyway, the year before that, my best friend's dad was bewitched into shooting at me, and I was nearly forced to become a girl's slave." Kid leaned back, considering. "You know, somehow, I'm inclined to blame her for this and the bank thing, too. This was probably some weird plan of hers. Sorry, Kudou."
Shinichi blinked once. Then again. Right. He shook his head, deciding to ignore the new information for now. It was just going to confuse him.
If it was all the mystery girl's fault, he couldn't say he was sad about how it worked out. Getting to spend more time with Kid, while stressful and fraught with the potential for embarrassment, was better than spending Valentine's Day home alone, feeling sorry for himself.
All of his friends were dating, which left him as the only single friend in the group. It wasn't usually lonely, given that they were all friends, but on a lovers' holiday?
He glanced over at Kid.
He could do worse than waiting out what was probably the last winter storm with Kid.
"Well, you're better than pity chocolate and case files," Shinichi said, unthinking.
Kid laughed, surprised. "Well, that's a relief, detective. It's good to know where I stand." His eyes seemed to glitter behind the monocle. Shinichi stifled a lovestruck sigh. He was so pathetic.
The wind outside howled, the windows and doors rattling with the force. The temperature in the cabin seemed to drop further. Shinichi dropped his head to his knees, shivering.
"Kudou, I think we should probably not be on opposite ends of the room. Not when it's this cold."
Shinichi nodded, but he didn't really want to get up. It was so cold. Seeming to sense his reluctance, Shinichi heard Kid get up and shuffle over to the large chair Shinichi was curled up on. Before Shinichi could so much as lift his head, Kid was smooshing in next to him and wrapping them up together.
Shinichi ended up half on his lap, but he was already feeling warmer. Kid draped cape over them both, sealing the heat in a little more.
Shinichi closed his eyes, soaking up the warmth and contact. So pathetic. Ran's voice seemed to echo in his head: If you don't take a chance, you'll never know. Do you really want to repeat our mistakes?
Even so, he couldn't bring himself to broach the subject of his embarrassing crush. They needed to stay close. If Shinichi made everything awkward now…
He sighed.
"What's got you thinking so hard? Coming up with a brilliant escape plan?" Kid asked, voice barely managing his usual casual good humor.
Shinichi shook his head. "Just thinking." Shinichi sighed again. "I'm glad it's you I got stuck with."
Kid froze, arms tightening their hold for a moment. He laughed a little shakily.
"Could you imagine? I'm just thinking how horrible being stuck with Hakuba would be." Kid's laugh sounded a little desperate. "I thought being stuck with you would be uncomfortable, but it's been pretty nice overall. You know, despite the blizzard."
Shinichi snickered. "I don't understand what your issue with Hakuba is. He's a very kind and intelligent detective."
"Exactly, he's a detective. And also a huge show-offy jerk."
"Well, I'm a detective, and I have been told I can be both show-offy and a jerk," Shinichi said into his knees.
"Yeah, but I like you." Kid was probably rolling his eyes like the distinction should be obvious. Maybe to him it was. "Besides, you haven't even asked any invasive questions and we've been here for at least an hour. Hakuba would've dived for the monocle the moment the door was shut, just to prove a point."
"You do realize that Hakuba has no interest in capturing you, right? He puts on a big show, but…"
"No no no, Kudou, you'll wreck the illusion. Hakuba is my enemy, not my ally. He's also annoying, and if he knew I considered him a friend, he'd get all smug and I'd get in trouble for punching him."
Shinichi laughed. "The both of you are ridiculous. Someday, you'll admit to being friends."
"It'll snow in Hell first," Kid muttered darkly.
The silence settled around them, soft and warm like the blanket Shinichi was bundled under, like Kid's arms around him.
"If I had to choose," Shinichi began carefully, heart pounding in his throat, "to be stranded in a cabin in a blizzard on Valentine's Day with anyone… I'd choose you."
Kid's arms drew tight around him again. Shinichi filed the reaction away; once more would be a pattern.
"You… Really? On Valentine's Day?" Kid asked, voice uncharacteristcally soft. Shinichi wished he could see his face.
"I told you, didn't I? I was going to eat pity chocolate and work a little more after the heist tonight. I don't exactly have anyone waiting for me at home, you know?"
"I… Somehow, I always got the impression you were dating your friend, Ran. The two of you are always so close, so I thought…"
Shinichi snorted. "An understandable misconception. We did date for a little while, but it didn't exactly work out." Shinichi shifted a little, leaning further into Kid. "She's dating the girl you impersonated a while ago, Sera."
"The detective I thought was a boy? The one with the impressive kick?"
"The very same."
Kid whistled. "That's one couple you don't want to get on the wrong side of." Shinichi laughed and nodded, and they both fell silent for a moment. "I'd choose you, too."
Shinichi's breath caught.
"I… I was kind of hoping for a better moment, but since we're here and all, and I'm pretty sure you won't get weird about it, uh…" Kid fidgeted with the cape, fingers rubbing over the fabric. He took a deep breath. "I really like you, Kudou."
"Like, as a friend?" Shinichi hedged, trying not to feel too hopeful, but his cheeks felt warm and he was starting to smile.
Kid huffed. "Please don't be dense, Shinichi, we both know what I'm talking about."
The sound of his given name on Kid's lips was a new wonder that he was going to appreciate properly later. First, he needed to make several things abundantly clear to Kid.
Grinning, he turned until he was sitting more on Kid's lap and facing him properly. "I like you, too, Kid. I may have understated how happy I am to be spending Valentine's Day with you."
"Holy shit," Kid breathed, eyes wide and cheeks red. "Kuroba Kaito, please call me Kaito. Also please agree to go out with me properly when we aren't trapped here. Dinner or coffee or lunch or, I don't care, anything."
Shinichi beamed. "Dinner sounds nice." He considered Kid's–Kaito's face with interest. "Red's a good color on you," he teased. Kaito groaned, ducking his head.
"You're right, you are a jerk," Kaito complained. "I bear my soul to you, and what do I get? Snark."
Shinichi snorted. "What did you expect? I've liked you for years; it's not like I'm going to suddenly become some schmoopy romantic or something just because we're dating."
"Years, huh?" Kaito asked, meeting his eyes again. His smile grew. "I'm going to become the schmoopiest romantic imaginable. It's going to be amazing. How do you feel about flowers? Poetry?"
Shinichi groaned, pressing his face into Kaito's chest. "No," he moaned. "I've created a monster. I've made a horrible mistake. No, I've changed my mind, we can't date. Not possible. You're going to embarrass me in front of everyone, I can already tell."
"Oh, definitely. Could you imagine the look on that Osakan detective's face? Or Hakuba's?" Kaito gasped. "Oh my God, I just had a great idea."
"No," Shinichi told him, tucking his head under Kaito's chin.
"You didn't even hear my idea!"
"Don't need to. The answer is no. Leave Hakuba alone."
Kaito huffed. "My brilliance is being squandered, my talent wasted."
"Talent for dramatics maybe," Shinichi muttered.
"I guess I can leave Hakuba alone, but only if you give me a kiss."
"Okay then," Shinichi agreed amiably. "One kiss."
He pulled away from Kaito's chest to give him a lingering kiss. When he pulled away, Kaito looked dazed and pleased. He leaned in for another, but Shinichi ducked his head back into the warmth of Kaito's chest smirking.
"Nope. We agreed on one kiss. It's too cold for more."
Kaito groaned, heartfelt, but rested his cheek on top of Shinichi's head. "Fine, fine. Later, then. After our date."
"Agreed."
The moment the storm died down, Shinichi woke up to the sound of a helicopter. He shook Kaito awake, grinning.
"Help has arrived."
Kaito grumbled, "Shit, gotta switch to a disguise… But it's so cold…"
"Oh, please, you're a quick change master and your limbs are plenty warm enough for this."
Kaito smirked. "I like this, getting compliments from a critic. A magician could get used to this."
Shinichi rolled his eyes, but Kaito did get up to change, finishing just as the door opened. Shinichi stood as well, facing the door.
Ran rushed toward him, checking him immediately for injuries before handing him a coat.
"You idiot, you've had me worried sick!" Ran scolded once he was deemed safe enough. She shoved his shoulder. "If Ai hadn't told me you called for help…!"
"But she did, and I'm fine. I'm just really cold. Can we get out of here?"
"Oh, there's someone else with you," Ran noticed. "I didn't bring another jacket, hang on." She jogged back out, presumably to fetch a coat.
"What's your disguise's name?" Shinichi asked once she was out of earshot.
"Kuroba Kaito," Kaito said, smirking. Shinichi stared. "What, too early to meet your best friend? I mean, I've already met her a few times, not that she knows that…"
"No, it's fine." Shinichi smiled. "It's more than fine. We are going on a date later, after all."
"That we are," Kaito agreed, leaning closer as if to kiss him again. Shinichi tilted his head taking a step into Kaito's space.
"I got the jacket," Ran called, bursting through the door. They jumped apart, faces red. Ran glanced between them, eyes narrowed. She strode closer, handing Kaito the jacket.
She was suspiciously quiet for a long moment while Kaito put it on.
"Oh my God! The two of you–that means–but Shinichi the person you like–" Ran cut herself off, pressing her hand to her mouth. She looked ecstatic.
Shinichi felt the blush spread from his cheeks to his ears and neck. She knew too much, she was going to figure out that he–
"You've been holding out on me! When did you meet this guy? I thought you were still hung up on Kaitou Kid!"
Shinichi laughed shakily. There was no way for him to answer that.
"Oh, I'm Kuroba Kaito. We met at a heist a few years ago," he supplied brightly. "I'm a huge fan of Kid's! Especially the original, but the new guy's pretty good, too." Kaito grinned. "You must be Ran! Shinichi's told me a lot about you."
Ran hummed, a dangerous look coming into her eyes. "You met at a heist, huh?"
"Can we leave? Maybe have this conversation somewhere with indoor heating?" Shinichi asked, voice a touch desperate.
"Right, of course," Ran said, startled out of what looked alarmingly like an accurate deduction. "Let's go home."
As they walked out to the helicopter, Kaito took his hand and smiled at him. Shinichi relaxed. Whatever came next, they'd handle it together.
