Chapter 2

His codename is Absinthe.

Shinichi told him the second time they met. Irish had decided to electrocute him that time; apparently, he'd been irritated that Kaito hadn't developed pneumonia from spending the entire night wet and cold. Once Irish had left again, Shinichi had been there with pain medicine and endless apologies, trying to find anyway to help him. Kaito couldn't find it in him to blame Shinichi, not with those beautiful eyes crying on his behalf.

He didn't have a choice, something rare for most members of the Black Organization, the main rivals to the organization chasing Kaito. Shinichi didn't have a choice because his father was the boss, Anokata. Shinichi told him how much he wanted to leave, but he couldn't, not if he wanted to be hunted down like a dog and everyone he'd ever interacted with killed.

While laying Kaito flat on the ground so blood wouldn't rush too fast into his heart, Shinichi explained how he was really a detective, not a murderer, and that whenever Anokata ordered him, he is to destroy evidence and derail any investigations into the BO.

Kaito ran a hand through Shinichi's hair as the boy tried to stop his stomach's bleeding. This time, Shinichi had raced in practically right after Irish, arms piled with sterile bandages. Irish had decided to draw designs on his stomach. Another jolt of pain ran through him as Shinichi tied off the bandage. "Thank you," Kaito whispered, head resting on the cold wall. As much as he usually hated the temperature of his cell, now the cool felt surprisingly nice on his heated forehead.

"Open up." Kaito opened his mouth and familiar pain pills slipped in, followed by water. He made sure to drink the entire bottle; Shinichi would fuss at him if he didn't, saying that he'd end up hurting his stomach lining if he didn't. Kaito enjoyed it when Shinichi fussed over him. It reminded him that at least someone cared about him in this retched place.

Gentle hands pulled Kaito's head away from the wall and into the crook of Shinichi's neck. Shinichi rubbed soothing circles on his chest, their breathing synchronizing. Kaito sighed. "I wish you could meet my family," he said. Shinichi's hands stopped. "You… I think they would have liked you."

"What brought this up?" Shinichi ran his hand through Kaito's hair again and he leaned into the touch.

"Irish. He… he threatened them again." Threatened to kidnap them, to torture them in front of him—"Far worse than what I've been doing to you, KID. You, I have orders to keep alive"—

Looking up at his friend, Kaito saw that Shinichi's expression had gone dark. His jaw was clenched and he glared at the wall. Kaito poked him. "Hey. Don't look so angry, okay? There's nothing you can do about it anyway."

"I—still, Irish has no right to threaten them!" Arms wrapped around his chest, carefully avoiding his wounds, and squeezed. Kaito pressed back into the hug. "I don't… you shouldn't even be here. I wish I could free you…"

"What's your family like?" Kaito asked suddenly. Shinichi blinked in surprise. "I've told you about mine, what about yours?"

Shinichi licked his lips. "My… mother was very beautiful," he stared off into the distance. "She was an actress, for a while, along with Vermouth, another one of our members. That's how she met Anokata, actually. You remind me of her—she was very free-spirited. Nothing could tie her down."

Kaito could only lean on him. "Sorry. Shouldn't have asked."

"No. I need to remember. It keeps me grounded—"

The cell door's lock clicked open and Shinichi jolted, irritating Kaito's cuts. It swung open and Irish stepped inside again, only to freeze when he saw Kaito lying on top of Shinichi. Not a sound could be heard between the three before Irish sneered and surged forward.

Kaito screamed as he was thrown off Shinichi and into the wall. "Kai—" Irish kicked Shinichi in the stomach and he could only watch the other spasm in pain as Irish grabbed him by the hair.

"Just wait 'til the boss learns what you've been doing, little boy," Irish leered. Kaito tried to stand, but collapsed. His legs were too weak. "Won't he be surprised at how traitorous his son!" Irish laughed at the idea and Kaito had never wanted to kill anyone more than him.

Dragging Shinichi by the hair, Irish ignored both their screams and left the cell. Kaito lunged for the door, but swung shut in his face. He slammed into it. He gasped for air and stumbled on his feet, the world seeming to spin around him. Cold shivers shot through his body and both his hands and legs were trembling.

Stumbling back, Kaito rammed his shoulder into the door. It was useless, but it was all he could do. Tears swam in his eyes. "Shinichi…" It became harder and harder to swallow the pain, to ignore the sensations and the voices telling him to stop, to rest, to sleep. On any other day he probably would've listened and rested to make sure he'd heal well and fast, but not today. Today was a day of pushing the limits. He rammed the door again and again, never stopping, only screaming out Shinichi's name each time the pain got too much.

Half his body felt numb while the other half screamed in agony. The sharp, burning sensation was all he could focus on. "Shinichi…" his voice was nothing more than a dull rasp now as he slumped against the metal. His head felt eerily light, everything seemed to spin around him in a blur of motion. His legs collapsed and all Kaito could do was cry, heaving sobs that shook his body and reopened his cuts. He tried to pull himself up, to try and break the door open again, but barely a finger twitched.

He was so tired. Blood soaked through his bandages while Kaito watched without comprehension. He just… needed to sleep. Just a little…

Kaito toppled over into unconsciousness.