KID sat unmoving, slumped half hidden behind the wooden crates he was attempting to take cover behind. He tried once again to shift his arm, but quickly abandoned that idea with a hiss of pain. His vision swam in and out of focus, and he knew he should probably be concerned about the growing pool of red underneath him, but he couldn't seem to muster the energy to do so.

He wasn't sure how long he stayed there, though probably not too much longer if the size of the red pool was any indication, when he heard the sound of running foot steps. Great, someone had tracked him down. He thought about trying to press himself further behind the crates, but decided it would be better to save his energy. He might need it.

He felt someone crouch in front of him and take his pulse. He blinked open blurry eyes and was met with the most brilliant blue he had ever seen.

"Tantei-kun…?"

But no, as his vision better focused, he realized he had no such luck. Standing in front of him was not his favorite critic, but rather his cousin, Kudo Shinichi.

Kudo's face looked strange. He squinted, willing his eyes to focus. He looked…concerned? Definitely concerned. KID realized a little belated that he was saying something. He tuned in to hear him say, "…You must have someone I can call for you, right? Someone that can get your wounds treated?"

He would have snorted if he had the energy, "And give up my accomplice while also giving you a way to figure out my identity? I think not."

Kudo's worry was replaced with annoyance and hurt. But that didn't make sense. Why would Kudo look hurt? Ah, but it seemed that the detective was the type to hurt those who hurt him, because without a word, he pulled off his blazer and tied it around the wound on KID's arm. Tightly. A part of KID's mind, the traitorous part, whispered that Kudo was trying to stop the bleeding, but he pushed the thought away and told himself that Kudo was just a sadist who enjoyed picking on innocent thieves.

"Kuroba Kaito, born June 21st, 18 years old. Currently lives alone with his mother, Kuroba Chikage, who spends most of her time in Vegas. Your father was the first Kaitou KID until he passed when you were just eight years of age. His death was ruled an accident, though after looking at the case file myself, I suspect otherwise. Are you going to let me help you or not?"

"…carry on," KID answered, while trying to calm his racing heart. He took advantage of the adrenaline rush from finding out that apparently Kudo Shinichi knew his name to pull his phone out of his pocket with his good hand.

Kudo opened the list of contacts. The phone wasn't his usual cell phone that he used in his civilian life; it only had one contact listed. Kudo hit dial. He held the phone to his ear and when he heard someone answer, said, "He's been hurt. Shot by the looks of it. Though, from what I can, tell the bullet went through. He needs medical attention immediately."

Kudo remained silent as he listened to the other person say something, then he frowned in annoyance. "No, I don't have the wrong number. You need to listen to me if you want to help him."

KID nudged Kudo with his knee to get the detective's attention. "Tell him the password is taradiddle."

Kudo rolled his eyes but repeated into the speaker, "Taradiddle." Then quieter, under his breath, "I swear, this whole night is one big taradiddle."

The conversation after that evidently went much smoother as Kudo gave Jii-chan their location, then listened to whatever instructions Jii appeared to be giving him. "Got it," he answered, then hung up the phone. "Your friend will be here in 10 minutes," he said, answering KID's silent question. He went to hand it back to KID, then must have remembered his injuries, and set it on the ground next to him instead. Then he settled down on the ground with him, back leaning against the wall, ready to wait.

Kudo probably would have been content to wait in silence, but all of KID's good sense had apparently abandoned him because he heard himself ask, "So once my life is no longer in danger, are you planning on turning me in?"

The question earned him another look and what the hell? Why did Kudo look so offended by such a reasonable question? Wasn't the guy a detective?

"If you really have to ask me that, you don't know me at all."

"I don't know you."

Kudo looked confused for a moment before his eyes widened. "You don't recognize…?" He trailed off and his shoulders slumped in resignation, "But no, of course you wouldn't. I always wondered… I thought maybe you might …but no, of course not." He trailed off into silence.

KID mulled over Kudo's reaction. He seemed to think KID would know him from somewhere. And from the sounds of it, it was some kind of secret that Kudo had thought KID was privy too. But the problem was KID had no idea what he was talking about.

KID tried to think, replaying what Kudo had said in his head. He always preferred making riddles over being the one to solve them. He closed his eyes to focus better.

"Oi, KID. Don't tell me you passed out. Are you okay?"

He reopened them and found Kudo had gotten much closer, leaning into him. His blue eyes filled his vision for the second time that night. KID remembered what he thought he had seen the first time, or rather who.

"Tantei-kun, it is you. But how?"

Kudo's face drifted from concerned, to surprised, to his arrogant smirk, and damn, seeing it up close was kinda hot. "Took you long enough to figure it out."

"Give me a break, the last time I saw you, you were vertically challenged. Most people don't age 10 years into their cousin over night," KID said with a shrug that he immediately regretted when the movement caused him pain, "And you haven't answered my question."

It was Kudo's turn to shrug, "It's a long story, and it's still not over. I'm afraid this isn't permanent, at least not this time. The next time you see me, I'll be as you're used to seeing me. 'Vertically challenged,' I think you said?" He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his reply.

KID hummed in answer. "And how exactly did that happen again?"

"I'm not telling you that. I won't be responsible for your death." He cocked a grin again and KID just knew what Kudo said next would piss him off. "Besides, you didn't tell me your secrets and I still figured them out. If you want to know so bad, how about you try playing detective?"

That damn smirk.

He kinda wanted to kiss it off of his face.

The thought probably should have come as a surprise to him, but it really wasn't. He blamed the blood loss dulling his brain. But really it wasn't all that strange when he thought about it. Tantei-kun had always been the only one who could keep up with him. Knowing that that brilliant mind actually belonged to someone who was both his own age and incredibly attractive on top of it?

Yeah, he didn't stand a chance.

Suddenly Kudo looked down the alley they were hiding in. "Someone's coming. Wait here, I'll go check it out."

"I'm in your hands, Tantei-kun. Or should I say, Meitantei?" KID answered, but Kudo was already gone.

Kudo came back seconds later, looking relieved. He crouched in front of KID again so that they were eye level. "I'm pretty sure that's your friend coming to help you, but I think he's reluctant to get close with me here, so this is where we part ways. Don't you dare die on me, KID. I still need to catch you someday."

He gave KID's good shoulder a squeeze, his hand warm and taking care not to be too rough; then he was gone.

"But Meitantei," he whispered, "it would seem I've already been caught?"

0-0-0-0-0

Shinichi leaned against the wall next to him, cursing his luck. He gritted his teeth, mentally willing, practically begging his body to just move a little faster, but it stubbornly refused to cooperate.

Unpredictable bouts of severe lethargy, ataxia, and occasional paresis, Haibara had called it. He called it his body being a pain in the ass. It was frustrating that even after taking the permanent antidote, his body still betrayed him. Since taking the antidote, his body had become prone to moments of near crippling weakness, making movement slow and clumsy, and activities such as running impossible. Fortunately, these episodes were short lasting, usually gone within an hour.

Time he didn't have right now.

They had thought the episodes were gone, Haibara theorizing they would go away on their own within a couple weeks. He had made it through those weeks, and tt had been days since his last episode; they had thought he was in the clear. Thought it would be safe for him to assist in the location and capture of the final Black Org members who had continued to evade arrest. Evidently they had been wrong.

Now, it might cost him his life.

And not just his own life, but also that of a certain meddling if not "well meaning" thief, if said thief wouldn't stop and listen to him already.

"Meitantei, we have to keep moving," KID murmured behind him before pulling one of Shinichi's arms over his shoulder, the thief's arm wrapping around Shinichi's waist, intending to help him walk.

Shinichi weakly shoved him away, or at least tried, the movement barely jostling KID. "Forget it, I'm not Conan-sized anymore. There's no way you're going to be able to carry me out of here before they catch up. Just help me find somewhere to hide, and you get out of here."

He didn't have to look at KID to know the man was giving one of his signature grins when he answered, "I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I did that. I do have a reputation to uphold."

"To hell with your reputation; they're catching up to us. You have to go. Now." Shinichi shot back.

KID's smile was gone now as he answered, unusually serious, "I'm not leaving here without you, Meitantei."

Shinichi clenched his fist, "I'll only slow you down. They're going to catch up to us soon."

KID's trademarked grin returned, "So we hide in plain sight~"

Something about that grin made him feel wary, and he would have taken a step back if he had been able, but of course he wasn't fast enough. A cloud of smoke covered him, blocking his vision momentarily. When it cleared, he looked down at himself. His eyebrow twitched.

"What is the point of this?" He demanded, turning his gaze back to the thief.

KID was no longer in his white attire, but was instead wearing a pair of dark trousers and a black long sleeved shirt. His hat and monocle were gone, though a cap pulled low still helped to obscure his face. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his eyes roaming up and down Shinichi's form, and he wagged his eyebrows.

Shinichi felt his cheeks pink, and he growled in an effort to distract from it. He impatiently tucked a long lock of hair from the wig behind his ear, only for it to fall back in front of his face again. He tugged on the short skirt, the breeze between his legs feeling strange. He also noticed he was now wearing a pair of strappy sandals. "You better have a good reason for this, or I will use my power up shoes the next time I kick a soccer ball at you, just as soon as the professor remakes them in my size."

KID approached him, seemingly unconcerned with Shinichi's threat, and tucked the troublesome lock of hair back behind Shinichi's ear. His fingers seemed to linger for a moment, brushing the shell of his ear. Shinichi shivered. "Simple, Tantei-kun, I need to cover that identifying cowlick of yours, but I'm afraid I only have the one hat and one wig on me right now."

"Alright, that I can understand, but why am I in the skirt when you're the one who get's a kick out of dressing as a woman to hide?"

"Because if I have to carry you out of here, wouldn't it draw more attention if a woman was seen carrying a man? The point is to not draw attention, Meitantei."

Okay, that actually made sense…

"Besides, otherwise I would have been robbed of the chance to see you in that outfit. Your legs look fantastic, by the way. Really accentuated by the skirt," he said with a leering grin.

…And there it was.

Shinichi's pink cheeks darkened to a full on blush and he found himself wishing KID had given him heels. It would have hurt more when he kicked him later.

"Oh, shut up." He turned and began to walk away from the thief, one hand still on the wall for balance. KID followed behind, grinning.

They continued moving, sticking to the shadows as much as possible, wanting to avoid detection even if they were now in disguise. Still, they weren't moving fast enough, and at this rate, they were sure to be captured. In all honesty, Shinichi was only partially concerned for his own safety; he was, after all, with the Kaitou KID. The man made it part of his night-career to escape capture. No, what had him concerned was that if they were caught by the Black Org members, those members might not fall for the trap the police set for them, ruining months of work. Shinichi frowned in determination, a steely glint in his eye. He wouldn't let that happen.

"I still think I should hide somewhere, and you go on. You could make a racket; you're good at that. Lead the stray Black Org members right into the trap the police set for them," Shinichi said, trying to sound convincing.

KID shook his head, "There's no guarantee all of them would follow me. If their group splinters off, they might still find you. Better we stick together."

Shinichi huffed, but knew it would be useless to keep arguing. Truth be told, he wasn't exactly surprised by the thief's refusal to separate from him. He would have done the same if the situation had been reversed.

"Here, I know how we can move faster," KID said before he positioned himself in front of Shinichi with his back to Shinichi's front, legs bent a little.

"I am not going to climb onto your back," he deadpanned, "If you're carrying me, your hands will be incapacitated. You might need them."

Not to mention it would be way too embarrassing.

"I don't need my hands to pull off even half of the tricks I'm carrying on me. Now you can either climb on my back, or I'll pick you up and throw you over my shoulder."

Shinichi sputtered, "Y-you wouldn't dare. Not while I'm in this skirt!" Especially one so short.

KID gave him a grin that clearly said, 'oh yes I would,' and answered, "Your choice, Tantei-kun."

Shinichi grumbled to himself, but climbed onto the thief's back without any more argument. He wrapped his arms around KID's neck and held on tight. KID's hands automatically hooked under his thighs, and both men froze for a moment. The skirt had ridden up somewhat, causing KID's hands to rest on his bare legs. KID had removed his gloves for his disguise, and Shinichi could feel the warmth of KID's hands on his legs, feel the rough callouses on KID's palms against his skin.

Shinichi felt his face burn, and was intensely grateful the thief couldn't see.

"Well then, comfy? Shall we get going?" KID asked, and to Shinichi's ears, his voice sounded just a touch overly casual.

Shinichi nodded though KID couldn't see it, but he must have felt it because he began to walk at a brisk pace.

The detective tried to focus on anything other than KID's hands on his legs, or how he was so close to the thief that he could smell him. KID smelled like roses, as always, a smell he thought he would never smell again now that his time as Conan was behind him.

"What are you thinking?" KID asked suddenly.

"W-why do you ask?" Shinichi asked, feeling like he had been caught doing something inappropriate.

KID turned his head in an effort to look at him, clearly confused, "I was wondering if you were planning some way to get us out of this."

"Right! Of course! Right!" Shinichi answered with a small nod between each word, knowing he was sounding the opposite of casual but unable to stop, "Plan A is to get to the rendezvous point with the police so that we can spring the trap."

"And Plan B?"

"Don't get caught and capture them ourselves."

"Simple, I like it. A little blurry on the details, but I've always been good at improvising. We are outmanned and outgunned, but both of us have been up against worse."

Shinichi felt the corners of his lips turn up into a weak smile, and he injected his voice with false confidence, "Actually, I think with both of us working together, they could use a few more men. Even the odds a little, you know?"

His answer caught KID by surprise, and the thief barely managed to stifle his laughter. "Couldn't agree more, Meitantei, couldn't agree more," he answered once his laughter had subsided.

They continued walking for a few more minutes in silence before KID asked again, "So you clearly hadn't been thinking about the plan, which begs the question, what were you actually thinking about?"

Shinichi didn't answer for a moment before he finally replied, "Just thinking some things never change."

"Care to elaborate?"

Shinichi shrugged his shoulders as best he could without losing his grip, "I just thought I wouldn't be carried by you anymore now that I'm no longer a child."

"Aw, did you miss it, Tantei-kun? All you have to do is ask, and I will carry you anytime you want~"

"You are the worst," Shinichi grumbled.

KID snickered for a moment before he sobered. He sounded unusually serious when he spoke again. "I missed you too."

Shinichi was surprised by KID's admission and wondered for a moment if he had misheard the other man. He had admitted to himself long ago that he enjoyed attending KID's heists, enjoyed the challenge and the magic. He could even admit that when they'd been forced to work together in the past, they made a great team. He'd wondered if KID felt the same way, but hadn't been sure, and he really hadn't expected KID to miss him as well.

It made him feel warm.

He shoved those feelings down. Now really wasn't the time.

He was spared from responding by the sound of people approaching. It had to be the Black Org members they were tracking, but the timing couldn't have been worse. They were currently walking down a long alley between two buildings with no place to go except to continue moving forward or go back the way they had come. They wouldn't reach the end of the alley before they were found, and turning back would mean running into the Black Org members. The buildings they were walking between didn't have any doors they could break open, and the windows were too high for either of them to reach in the amount of time they had. They were trapped.

KID hurriedly hid them behind a massive generator attached to one of the buildings. The generator hid them from view for now, but they would be spotted as soon as anyone walking past drew level with their hiding spot. KID had bought them time, but they weren't safe yet.

KID set Shinichi down and turned to him. "Tantei-kun, don't forget we are still in disguise."

'How could I forget?' Shinichi wondered dryly, while his attention was pulled once again to the feeling the breeze between his legs. Instead, he responded, "Right, we can hide our identities and our reason for being here. Pretend we are innocent civilians."

"Yes, but we need a reason that a young man and woman would both be out here alone, and we don't want them to question us," KID said, sounding like he was trying to mentally lead Shinichi somewhere.

Shinichi furrowed his brow. What KID said made sense, but… "You sound you already have an idea."

KID shifted his weight from one foot to another. A nervous gesture, Shinichi thought, but when he spoke his voice gave away nothing, "This location is a bit romantic, don't you think?"

"What?" Shinichi asked, momentarily thrown by the question.

"You don't see it?" KID asked, then vaguely gestured around them, "the sound of the crashing waves on the docks nearby, the moon shining bright overhead, secluded from prying eyes…"

"You're kidding me, don't tell me you're thinking… that's insane," Shinichi sputtered, face growing hot.

"I won't do it without your consent, Tantei-kun, but if you're really against it, we need to think of an alternative fast, or be prepared to fight our way out of this. They are going to see us any moment now," KID replied, the brim of his baseball hat pulled low, throwing his face in shadow.

KID was right. Shinichi could hear footsteps and the low murmur of voices drawing closer. He estimated there were five of them. Not an impossible task if they had to fight their way out, especially with the element of surprise on their hands, but it wouldn't be easy, especially if Shinichi's body still wasn't cooperating. He shifted his weight around experimentally, finding that he didn't feel quite so weak anymore but not back to full strength either.

"What's it going to be, Meitantei?" KID asked.

' This could be your only chance,' a voice whispered in the back of his head.

And there it was, the real reason he was so against KID's idea. It wasn't because he didn't want to, quite the opposite actually. Part of him wanted to jump at the excuse KID was giving him. But it wouldn't be real, would it? And it wouldn't exactly be the morally correct thing to do either.

'KID's the one who suggested it, and going along with it could save both of our lives. That's not morally wrong. It's not your fault if you happen to enjoy it as well,' that voice continued to whisper.

"Tantei-kun…" KID said in warning.

He stopped thinking and lunged forward, throwing his arms around KID's neck, and crashed their lips together. KID stumbled back a step, his arms wrapping around Shinichi automatically to steady them both. He recovered from his initial surprise, and ever the perfect performer, quickly took control of the kiss, tilting Shinichi's head just so so that they fit together a little easier.

He felt KID's tongue on his lips, and he opened a bit hesitantly, feeling unsure due to his inexperience. Actually no experience, thanks to spending the last two years of his life as a child. KID must have noticed his lack of confidence, because the kiss became slower, gentler. The kiss might have had less heat, but Shinichi found himself melting into it all the same. KID's tongue slipped into his mouth, brushing against his own, causing Shinichi to make a small noise in the back of his throat. KID's hands began to wander, and Shinichi felt them slip just under the skirt, warm palms firmly gripping his thighs. Shinichi moaned into the kiss, and KID seemed to chase after the noise.

"Oh shit, are we interrupting something," someone snickered.

Shinichi froze, remembering where they were. He tried to pull away on reflex, but KID's grip on him tightened. KID's back was to the Black Org members, shielding most of Shinichi from view. This close, Shinichi could feel KID's heart racing against his own chest.

KID gave him a little wink. Trust me.

As if he had to ask.

KID's voice was pitched lower when he retorted, "Yeah, you are, and it was startin' to get good. So you guys think you can scram?"

"Maybe I'm the type that likes to watch," said one of the members.

Shinichi tensed, but another member was already responding. "Save it, we don't have time for this. Let's go."

Shinichi heard retreating footsteps as the Black Org members left, and he breathed a sigh of relief. That had been a close call.

"Okay, I only got a glimpse over your shoulder, but those five fit the description of the Black Org members who have evaded arrest. Now to send word to the police of their location so they can spring the trap," Shinichi said, looking anywhere but at KID and his kiss-swollen lips.

He saw KID nod from the corner of his eye. "Let's catch the bad guys, Meitantei."

Shinichi returned the nod. They would catch the remaining Black Org members, and he could finally put this case behind him. Then he planned to sleep for a week, and to forget this night ever happened.

Are you sure that's what you want?

He shook the traitorous voice away, refusing to give it anymore thought.

0-0-0-0-0

Shinichi closed the door behind him and kicked his shoes off with a sigh. It was late, or was it more accurate to say early? The trap had been successful and the five Black Org members had been caught, but that hadn't meant his night was over. There had also been all of the reports to fill out afterwards.

So, so much paperwork.

He shuddered just thinking about it. He had finished the most imperative work before leaving the police station, opting to take the rest home with him. He would wrap them up and turn them in tomorrow after he had gotten some sleep.

He made is way through the dark house, not bothering to turn on any lights. He clutched a bag in his hand. It contained the wig and outfit KID had disguised him in. He wasn't sure if KID wanted it back, or how he would even return it to him. While he did know KID's civilian name, it would feel awkward if he suddenly showed up at his house, and probably unsafe for his identity as well. Maybe he could mail them? But somehow, looking up his address felt like an invasion of KID's privacy. And it wasn't like he could take it with him to the next KID heist. KID had stopped holding heists a few months ago, shortly before Shinichi had gotten his body back. He'd thought he would never see the thief again until he'd shown up tonight to offer his help.

It was likely he'd just been repaying Shinichi for the last time he'd helped the thief, that time KID had been shot while he had been under the effects of a temporary antidote. Maybe KID considered them even now. Maybe now he would never see him again.

Was his house always so cold? He would have to check that the heat was working properly tomorrow.

His bed was calling to him, but he knew that his mind was far too awake to sleep right now. He turned instead toward his library. Maybe a little reading would help him sleep.

As soon as he entered the library, his eyes immediately landed upon the white clad thief.

KID was leaning casually against a bookshelf, looking entirely too comfortable in a detective's home. Shinichi's eyes flicked to KID's lips before he could stop himself, and he saw them quirk into a grin. He remembered how soft those lips had felt, the memory making his own tingle. His mouth suddenly felt dry, and he licked his lips trying to moisten them. KID's eyes tracked the movement and his grin widened, causing Shinichi's cheeks to pink. He felt like the thief knew exactly what he was thinking.

For a moment he wondered what KID was doing waiting for him, before he remembered the plastic bag he was still holding. He held it up to offer it to the thief. "You must have been waiting a long time just to get your disguise back."

KID closed the distance between them and took the proffered bag, his fingers brushing against Shinichi's for a moment. He was wearing his gloves again, but Shinichi could still feel the warmth of his skin through the material. He remembered the way those hands had felt touching other places.

He jerked his hand away as if he had been burned.

KID disappeared the bag somewhere, and Shinichi expected him to put some distance between them, but KID didn't move. Instead he said, "I can see how you came to that deduction, but you are incorrect this time, Tantei-kun. I didn't come here to get my disguise back."

He frowned in confusion. "Then why are you here?"

"Don't you think we should talk about tonight?"

Shinichi mind immediately flashed to the kiss and he felt his face grow hot. He did not want to talk about that right now.

He searched for something else to say instead and remembered the bag, latching onto it. "Yeah, I do. If you ever put me in a skirt again, I will end you. I've solved enough murder cases that I know exactly how to get away with it."

KID winced, "You don't need to be concerned, I will never make that mistake again, or at least not when others can see you as well. I still can't believe you kicked a soccer ball at one of the Black Org members and flashed everyone in the process."

Shinichi's face was on fire now. "He escaped the police and was going to get away! I completely forgot what I was wearing; I'm not exactly in the habit of making sure I'm covered while doing extreme movements. And I thought we agreed to never talk about that again!"

"If you actually think back to that conversation, you will recall I never actually agreed to anything," KID responded with a grin.

Shinichi huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "You're the worst."

"And you're trying to distract me," KID said while stepping forward, closing a bit more of the space between them.

Shinichi swallowed, thinking how easy it would be to close the remaining distance. He took a step back instead. "Distract you? I thought you wanted to talk about tonight?"

KID took another step forward. "I do, but I want to talk about a different part of tonight."

Shinichi stepped back. "Right. Well, I really appreciate your help tonight. I would like to think that if you hadn't shown up when you did, I would have figured something out, but the truth is you most likely saved my life. So, thank you. And I guess, next time you steal a sparkly rock that you plan on returning, I'll let you get away?" He finished lamely.

"I'm retired, detective," KID reminded him before he let out a little snort, "besides, you couldn't catch me anyway."

This time Shinichi stepped forward, nearly bumping into KID's chest. "If I was being serious, in this body I could definitely catch you."

This close, he could see the way KID's eyes seemed to dance in answer to his challenge. He wondered for a moment why KID still bothered with the hat and monocle when it was just the two of them. It wasn't like they did much good when KID allowed him to get this close.

He jumped, his own confident smirk getting wiped from his face, when KID's hand darted forward and took his own, lacing their fingers together. He realized with a start that KID wasn't wearing his gloves. When had he taken them off? The heat from KID's hand seeped into him, traveling from his palm, up his arm, to the rest of him, until his whole body felt hot. He wanted to snatch his hand away. He hoped KID never let go. He had no idea what he wanted.

"But it would seem this time, the thief has caught the detective," KID said while bringing their hands up between them.

He experimentally gave his hand a tug, not putting in much effort and giving up quickly when KID didn't let go. He took a small step back, then another. KID followed.

"What exactly is this, KID?" Shinichi finally asked.

"You kissed me for real tonight," KID answered.

Shinichi bristled, "It was a distraction, a way to escape the Black Org's notice. Don't read anymore into it."

KID shook his head, "You're a terrible actor and a worse liar, Meitantei."

"I lived a lie for years while I repeated elementary school," Shinichi argued.

"Conan's secret was heavily carried on the fact that nobody in their right mind would think a teenager could turn into a child."

"You figured it out," Shinichi said pointedly, "But I suppose you did specify nobody in their right mind."

"Trying to change the subject? I never thought I would see the day a detective would run from the truth," KID responded.

KID took another step toward him. He tried to take a step back to keep the distance between them, only for his back to bump into the book shelves behind him. He hadn't even noticed that he had been backing himself into a corner. Judging by the way KID's confident smirk only grew, he had been planning this all along, the predator hunting his prey.

And suddenly Shinichi felt angry and tired. He turned his face away, unable to look at that grin any longer. That grin, which pissed him off just as much as it made him want to melt. "Don't you think you are taking things too far?" He bit out.

KID, hearing the real anger in his voice, seemed taken aback. Good, KID had been in control of the situation for far too long. Let the thief be the one to stumble in the dark for once.

His anger gave him the courage he needed to face KID again while he continued. "Yes, I did kiss you for real tonight; I've wanted to for a long time. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. Maybe that was wrong of me, to take advantage of the situation like that. But don't you think you are taking your fake flirting too far?"

KID's eyes widened. "Shinichi…"

But he wasn't done. "I know you see my feelings as fresh material for you to use to tease me with," he paused, his throat suddenly feeling tight. Dammit, he was not going to cry. He swallowed and continued, "But please, can't we just ignore them, and go back to how we were before?"

KID gave his hand a squeeze and Shinichi startled. He had forgotten for a moment that KID was still holding it. "I'm afraid I can't do that. But you have gotten many things wrong. Let me clear up a few things."

Shinichi looked at him, curious despite himself. Always the detective, eager to find the truth. KID licked his lips, a nervous gesture. Shinichi felt his anger leaving him; he'd never been one to hold onto negative emotions for long. He had been angry with KID a moment ago, but he couldn't help but give the thief's hand a small squeeze of encouragement now. KID gave him a warm smile in return.

"For one thing, you are not the only one who saw an opportunity tonight and decided to take advantage of the situation," KID said, having the grace to look mildly embarrassed.

Shinichi blinked. "Come again?"

KID waved his free hand in front of him like a ward, "I never would have gone through with it if you really seemed disgusted by it. But I mean… I could tell that despite your protests, you didn't truly seem against it?"

Shinichi blinked, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Explain."

KID smiled nervously, his free hand now rubbing the back of his neck. "Tantei-kun, I have hidden in plain sight dozens of times in brightly lit museums from my task force who are specifically trained to look for me. Do you really think I couldn't hide in a dimly lit alley from five guys who don't even know they need to be on alert?" He pulled some kind of dirty looking cloth from his pocket, finally releasing Shinich's hand and unfolding it as he went. He held it in front of him until all but his head was hidden behind the cloth. "Look, I even have the perfect color drop cloth on me, almost the exact same color as the buildings we were next to. Plaster yourself against a wall while hiding behind this, let the darkness do most of the work, and voilà, easy hiding spot."

Shinichi stared at him dumbly, feeling like his head was spinning.

"And I know that a life or death situation like that probably wasn't the best time for us to share our first kiss, but in my defense, I wasn't a hundred percent sure of your feelings for me before that! I thought maybe I was just projecting my own feelings onto you! So I thought that might be my one and only chance to kiss you. Same as you, I might add," KID was definitely rambling now, seeming to be unable to stop. It appeared the longer Shinichi stayed silent, the more he seemed to panic. Shinichi had never seen him like this.

"But then you kissed me. A real kiss! And I knew that you felt the same way! But then we had to finish out the case, and there wasn't time to talk about it…" KID trailed off. He took a deep breath before letting it out. "Please say something, Tantei-kun."

"Our first kiss?" Shinichi asked. It wasn't what KID had expected him to say, and he seemed thrown for a moment, so Shinichi elaborated. "You said it wasn't the best time for us to share our first kiss, which implies that there would be more?"

KID swallowed, looking nervous, but hopeful, "Yeah, well I figured I like you, and you like me, so I was hoping there would be more kissing in the future?"

"Could you… say that again?" Shinichi asked, almost shyly.

KID looked confused for a moment before he understood. He gave Shinichi a soft smile, and raised one hand to cup his face. "I like you, Shinichi."

Shinichi felt himself smiling as well. "I like you too."

"So does that mean more kissing?" KID asked, wagging his eyebrows.

Shinichi gripped KID's tie, using it to pull the thief closer while he leaned in himself. His smile was playful when he replied, "For someone so smart, you can be surprisingly dumb at times."

KID's smile echoed his own. He leaned in until their lips were no more than a hair's width away. "Is that a yes or…"

"Shut up, and kiss me already."

KID didn't have to be told twice.