Chapter Text
-Ran-
Ran gazed vacantly down at the sizzling pan of eggs; her body going through the usual motions of making breakfast while her mind continued to mull over the events of the previous night. The more she thought about it, the more questions it brought up.
Like… How many people know Conan's real identity? Is Ai-chan also a shrunken teenager? Hondou Eiusuke-kun and Sera-chan were both very insistent about meeting Conan-kun when they first arrived… Are they involved somehow?? Actually… a lot of the people they'd met since Shin'ichi "disappeared" were suspicious… Is the FBI involved too? Is that why they're here?? Just how big is this thing…?
"Morning, Ran-neechan," Conan yawned as he walked passed the kitchen, startling the girl out of her thoughts.
"Good morning," She replied, finding it remarkably easy to smile, even if it wasn't 100% genuine. She moved the pan off the heat and began preparing plates for everyone.
Most of her questions could probably be answered if she just told Conan she knew the truth and asked him about his situation directly, but… that came with its own set of issues. Would he be mad at her? Would he be able to continue staying with her and her dad? Would it… put her in danger?
In the living room, when everyone was sat around the kotatsu eating breakfast, while the news reported on the heist from last night, Ran found herself watching Conan out of the corner of her eye. He looked just like a normal kid. The only thing that gave even a slight hint to the fact that there were secrets behind those spectacles, was the way he smiled ever-so-slightly every time the tv said "Kaitou Kid".
Ran couldn't help but smile as well. There was something… almost fun about knowing Conan's identity, while he was oblivious to the fact that she knew. It was certainly the perfect opportunity to tease him.
"Ah, Conan-kun, you got something on your face," she said. Before he could react, she licked her thumb and swiped it from the corner of his mouth over his cheek. He immediately recoiled, his baby-face contorting in disgust.
"Ran-neechan!" He complained, wiping the saliva off his face.
"It's gone now," she said, hiding her amusement behind a kind smile.
"You baby him too much," her dad muttered.
Two weeks later
-Still Ran-
In the time that had passed since that heist, Ran remained quiet about her knowledge, instead choosing to simply observe Conan and the people around him. She became so used to things being the way they were, that when she first saw Shin'ichi approaching their small group in the airport, her first assumption was that it wasn't Shin'ichi at all.
"Surprised?" He asked with a friendly smile.
"Y-yeah… I thought you couldn't make it…" She said, still staring as if he was a ghost. (Actually, she wasn't entirely sure he wasn't).
"My schedule cleared up at the last minute," he explained, "I arranged things with Sonoko to surprise you."
Ran glanced over her shoulder at her other friend. The rich girl grinned and held up a peace sign.
"I see… Well, it's good to see you!" She smiled.
I guess I have no reason to think he's not Shin'ichi, since I know he can change back temporarily… she thought, as they both listened to Sonoko gush about how excited she was to see Makoto. Besides, it's not like Kaitou Kid has any reason to go to Singapore.
At least, she hadn't seen any thing in the news about a heist notice, only the karate tournament. An image of the tournament poster arose in her memory; a man mid-kick, standing in front of a round, blue gem. The two dots snapped together like magnets.
-Conan-
"Was it okay?" Kaito asked, zipping the suitcase back up.
"It was fine, I just slept the whole time," Conan muttered, stretching his arms above his head and squinting his eyes against the blinding sun that scorched the tropical country. "I can't believe it worked…"
Kaito smirked, standing up with the empty suitcase at his side. "Is it the craziest thing you've ever done? Willingly being smuggled into a foreign country?"
The detective rolled his eyes. "I still think dating a criminal is the craziest thing I've ever done." His boyfriend chuckled.
-Ran-
Is this… how detectives feel when they discover the piece of evidence that ties everything together?
She had already been convinced that the Shin'ichi that had traveled with them to Singapore was actually Kuroba-kun, but seeing him with that kid… a kid that looked identical to Conan in almost every way, thoroughly confirmed her theory.
"Ran! Come here," the disguised magician had noticed her staring and waving her over.
She made direct eye-contact with him, trying her damn hardest to convey, "You smuggled your boyfriend here?!! What the hell were you thinking?!!" without words. Whether or not he got the message was unclear.
"Apparently this kid lives here," he said, gesturing to Conan-kun.
The detective smiled and introduced himself as "Hirai Arthur". Ran's shock and panic eased a little. She also had an act to keep up.
"Sorry! I was just so surprised!" She said, giving the boy an apologetic smile, "I really thought you were someone I know."
"It's okay, Shin'ichi-niichan was saying the same thing."
-Kaito-
Singapore was beautiful at night, especially from above, with someone special in your arms.
"What happened? Why are you soaking wet??" Conan asked.
Kaito sighed. "That Leon guy tazed me and flooded the place," he muttered.
"What?! Are you okay??"
"I'm fine, just a little sore," the thief assured his parter. Conan gave a sigh of relief. "I didn't get the jewel though."
"I'm just glad you're okay… I was worried about you," Conan said.
Kaito tightened his grip on the smaller boy in an attempt at a comforting hug. "I know…"
They landed on top of the Marina Bay Hotel, behind some decorative trees and shrubbery by the infinity pool, and emerged as two normal guests. A short distance away from them, Ran was laying on one of the plastic beach chairs. Her hair was wet, as if she'd been swimming already, but had since changed out of her swimsuit into a simple tank top and long, loose skirt.
"Shin'ichi, there you are," she said, getting up as they approached.
"Sorry we took so long," Kaito apologized.
Ran waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. I know you just got here, but… I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh, uh… okay."
"Come on." She grabbed his wrist and began leading him away from the pool. "It won't take long. I just need your advice on something."
Kaito glanced back at Conan. The detective simply shrugged as the thief was dragged away.
"So… what do you need advice on?" Kaito asked, following the girl through the hallway to her hotel room.
"Nothing. I just said that so Arthur-kun wouldn't follow us," she said, stopping in front of her door and opening it with the key card. She motioned for him to go in first.
"Why? Is it about love, or something? Do you have a crush on someone??" He asked, strolling into the empty room.
"No, it's not that," she said, shutting the door behind her. She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Her violet eyes caught the magician in an intense glare he'd only seen once before, on an blimp several months ago. A sliver of dread crept into his chest. "You're not Shin'ichi."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Kaito asked, remaining composed on the outside, even as his senses went on high alert and his mind began searching for a way out.
"You always seem to use his face when you're around," she accused, stepping forward. "Where were you in the last hour? Stealing the sapphire??"
"Wha-? No! Ran, I'm not Kid!" Kaito insisted, taking a couple steps back.
"I know you are," she said. "The real Shin'ichi doesn't call my dad 'Occhan', and he definitely doesn't smuggle kids over the ocean!"
Kaito's eyes widened. How does she…
"That's right," Ran approached the magician, "I know Arthur is really Conan-kun, and you had better make sure he gets back to Japan safely," she threatened, pointing a finger in his face.
Kaito gulped, both hands up in surrender, watching the karate captain as she slowly backed off. This is bad… but if she's relying on me to get Conan back, it probably means she won't-
The girl's intense aura vanished as she began laughing. "Sorry, sorry!" She giggled, "I really scared you, didn't I?"
Hesitant relief washed over the magician and he began laughing as well. "Y-yeah, I was really convinced you actually thought I was Kid for a second there. Did Sonoko put you up to this?"
Ran shook her head, her whole demeanor much more relaxed than before. "No, everything I said was true. I know you're Kaitou Kid, and I know that kid waiting for us back at the pool is not only Conan, but Shin'ichi, your boyfriend."
Kaito stared as her words registered in his head. A series of emotions flickered through him. Shock, horror, and finally, confusion.
"Wha… what?"
Ran sighed. "Yeah… I thought you should know. I wanted to assure you that I won't tell anyone. I don't think you're a bad person, and Shin'ichi obviously trusts you, so I'll trust you too." She smiled, soft and genuine.
Kaito staggered backwards and sat on the edge of the closest bed, feeling like he'd just gotten off of a rollercoaster.
"Sorry, it's probably a lot to take in all at once," the girl said, walking over to sit beside him. "Are you okay?"
"I… yeah… How… how did you…"
"Your heist two weeks ago… I followed Conan to the hotel and saw everything that happened with the witch," she explained.
"I see… and you haven't told Shin'ichi yet?" Kaito asked.
Ran shook her head. "I'm kind of afraid to… which is actually another reason I wanted to talk to you first… Kuroba-kun… is Shin'ichi okay?"
-Conan-
The detective leaned against the wall a short distance away from where everyone else was gathered outside of Sonoko's hospital room. He knew he should be working on gathering information and solving the case, but he was worried sick about Kaito. Everything had taken a turn for the worse with the discovery of Rachel's body in the room with the sapphire, and the magician wasn't responding to his texts.
He took a deep breath, rested his head back against the wall, and closed his eyes, trying to convince himself that Kaito could handle the situation.
A pair of soft footsteps approached. "Arthur-kun, are you alright?" Ran asked, kneeling down beside him.
He looked over and forced a smile. "I'm just worried about Sonoko-neechan, that's all."
"I see… for some reason I thought you might be worried about Kid-san," she said, laughing at the absurdity.
He blinked in surprise. Why would she think that? It's was true, but…
The girl shrugged and ran her fingers through her long hair sheepishly. "I guess it's just that I'm a bit worried about him…" she admitted.
"You… are?"
"Yeah, I know you've never met him before, Arthur-kun, but I've seen him a few times, and even though he's a thief he's never been the type to hurt someone… I'm certain he didn't kill that lady."
Conan stared at her, unsure exactly what to think about her strange and entirely unprompted words.
"Well, if you want to find him, you better go do it." She smiled, then stood up and left him alone again.
He watched her leave, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. She knows something… But she also right about him wanting to find Kaito, so instead of worrying about her at the moment, he took off to find his boyfriend.
-
"Kaito!! Are you okay?!!" Conan ran across the roof and fell to his knees beside the magician.
"I'm fine…" Kaito sighed, finishing up the last bit of work on his bandages.
"I can't believe they shot at you…" Conan mumbled, lifting his hand to delicately trace the edge of the white, medical tape wrapped around the thief's arm.
"I got away," Kaito shrugged.
The detective's eyes met his boyfriend's in a disbelieving glare. "They shot at you," he repeated.
"You shot at me too, at that clock tower," Kaito said with a teasing smirk.
"That is completely different," Conan muttered, "I wasn't trying to hit you…"
The magician closed the lid of the first aid kit and swiftly pulled the detective in to a tight hug. Conan tensed and held his breath, partly because he was caught off guard, and partly because his boyfriend was still shirtless.
"You're gonna solve this mystery and protect me, right?" Kaito murmured in a soft whisper. Conan sighed, relaxing and lifting his arms up around Kaito's neck.
"Of course," he replied, resting his head on the magician's shoulder, "I just… I worry about you so much…"
"I worry about you too…" his boyfriend said. "You get into so much danger. I mean, just think about how many times you've almost died! And I'm not always there to save you!"
Guilt struck Conan's heart. "I… I'm sorry, I-I never considered…"
Kaito's arms tightened around the detective in a comforting squeeze. "I love you."
"I love you too."
-Back in Japan-
-Still Conan-
Conan stared at the half empty glass of orange juice on the kotatsu in front of him. The news was on quietly in the background of the Mouri's living room, but the air between him and Ran had gone silent after she finished explaining how she'd learned his (and Kaito's) secrets.
Eventually he sighed. "I knew you were babying me more than usual… I didn't realize it was on purpose…" he muttered. His friend laughed.
"Yeah…" she said, smiling to herself. "I… I understand why you had to keep it a secret from most people, but… why from me?"
Conan sighed. "I was worried it would put you in danger… If the Black Organization finds out, they'll kill everyone that knows about them, but I guess… I've already put several people's lives at risk. First the Professor and my parents, then Hattori, then Kaito, and now you…"
Ran hummed and nodded, then she gave a reassuring smile. "I'm okay with that. And if there's anything I can do to help, just tell me."