Center
words: 353
It felt like the center had dropped out of the world because all of a sudden Conan was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
"Uh? Tantei-kun?" Kid's voice made it clear that he thought he was talking to a crazy person. It only made Conan laugh harder.
When he finally managed to get himself under control, Conan sat, shoulders twitching with suppressed mirth, before bringing his head up to give Vermouth a sharp grin. "Oh, that's rich," he snickered. "What you mean is you want me to do your dirty work for you. I see how it is. I help you get your retribution, and you'll give me the means to do it, right?"
Vermouth shrugged airily, tilting her head back as though the world before her was unimportant. "It's what you want, too, isn't it? Justice for the wrongs they've done."
Conan bit back a bitter laugh. "That's part of it."
Because he would be fooling himself if he didn't say he wanted revenge just as much anymore. They'd taken so much from him, and he wanted reprisals for it all.
"Then have we a deal? I don't have forever."
Kid was watching him with silent curiosity from beneath his monocle and hat brim, an impartial judge. Oh, man... Haibara was going to hate him for this.
"The moment you try to turn on me I'll make sure information gets to everyone that matters about who you are, and what you're up to."
Vermouth's smile was razor sharp, and she moved as if to step toward them but a shift of Kid's card gun warned her back. She sighed, giving the thief an archly amused look, "Since your little protector won't let me come over there I'll just explain from here. I need evidence to back up my story; a story where I can truthfully claim there is nothing to be had in this line of inquiry."
"You need us to put on a performance," Kid drawled. "Think you're up to it, Tantei-kun?"
Conan fought back a snicker. "I'll be fine."