Wings

words: 414

Over the last few months the Shounen Tantei had been walking on eggshells around him. Ever since that incident, and really Conan couldn't say he blamed them. The near permanent scowl fixed on his face when he was out of Ran's direct line of sight was enough to scare anyone off. Even Haibara was leaving him alone.

Conan's eyes were focused on the soccer ball as he bounced it nimbly from ankle to knee to toe, one foot to the other. The ball rose and fell, back and forth, in a perfectly timed arcs. His glasses lay discarded in the grass nearby with his backpack and skateboard. He'd escaped to this remote corner of the local park directly after school.

For once the kids hadn't bothered to follow him. His mood had been exceptionally foul since the Kid heist a few days ago.

Normally dealing with Kid left him feeling lightened and ready to face the world again. It was a break from the usual drudgery, but this time... it had simply left him feeling a twisted mass of annoyance and brittle anger.

Conan couldn't help but feel like everyone was tossing him away lately.

'I'm sorry, Shinichi, I... You know I love you but, I just... I refuse to do this anymore! I'm not going to let you treat me like this, do you hear me?'

Ran was right, and that's what really made him ache. He shouldn't have hung onto her like he had, strung her along when he had no idea if he could keep his promises. What hurt the worst about all this was that he hadn't realized what an utter bastard he was being.

And, so...

'You're right Ran, just... Be happy, please?'

'Sh-Shinichi...'

'No. Don't. Just... Goodbye.'

The soccer ball thumped against the ground and Conan braced one foot on it. His focus was on the grass, eyes narrowed in thought.

He might have had to let go of Ran, but he could still keep his place where Kid was concerned. He just had to keep the thieves attention.

Conan sighed, and wandered over to his things before dropping into the grass. Sometimes he really wished he could steal the thief's white wings for himself and just fly. Wished he could just leave everything behind on the ground. He suspected it was an exhilarating feeling.

Closing his eyes Conan tried to let everything go, tried to quiet his irritating brain. It was an effort in futility at best.

A NOTE ON THIS DRABBLE: I know some of you are going "Omg! That's sooo OOC for Ran." And yeah, yeah it is. At least in Gosho Aoyama's happy little world where childhood friends always fall in love, and wait forever for each other.

But, see... Ran's a strong young woman. And, honestly, Shinichi is treating her like crap doing this to her. Pure love or not I would never let a guy do this too me, and I think Ran really ought to tell him off for it. So, that's how it is in this series.

It ain't gonna happen in canon, but... this is fic. Nobody has to like it. And that's my note for this one. See you all tomorrow. Most likely, anyway.

OH! And, go read my Collabfic with Dragon-sama called "Mayonaka" if you haven't yet :D