Archive of Our Own

“There’s no mistake.” Shinichi’s fingers close around the wooden bars as he hovers down, brows knitted. There’s a hint of uncertainty nevertheless, in the way his eyes flicker from the suspect’s seemingly content features to some undefined spot on the baby blue walls. As if he were hesitant of whether to voice his conclusion. Unprecedented, to say the least. Seen how the young detective has never shied away from a truth he so confidently believes in, it’s a most curious situation to find him reluctant to state one that’s so blatantly obvious to him — to anyone , at that . But denying the undeniable has just never been part of his nature, and so a soft sigh comes out of his lips when he concludes, “ You are the culprit .”

The accusation is followed by a deafening silence that’s only disrupted by the soft, tiny movement of fabric rubbing on cotton sheets, and Shinichi tilts his head to the side pensively when a pair of jade green eyes stare back at him in confusion.

“I should have noticed sooner,” The detective elaborates, somehow tentatively as he seems to be choosing his words with care. “The dark bags under her eyes, the mood swings, and that time she locked herself in the bathroom and swore to me she wasn’t crying —” He lets his words trail off, and his left hand comes ruffling the back of his hair in self-frustration. The muffled grunt on his throat earns a curious stare from his green-eyed companion. No reply comes his way, however. And the man wonders why this situation feels a little too familiar when it’s all so new to him. Resignated, he brings his attention back to the shimmering green fixed upon him and feels his heart swell with a newfound emotion that hits him by surprise. It happens so fast so sudden that it kind of overwhelms him, to his great embarrassment. Unexpected, and yet again, he should be used to it by now. Except that he’s not, and he’s starting to suspect that  this will become common occurrence. His lips twist into a half-smile that looks more like a grimace. “Alas, but it isn’t fair of me to blame it all on you, is it? I suppose I share a great deal of fault too... so that makes us both guilty.”

Once again, his words are met with silence as the room falls back into a tacit quietude. Shinichi reaches his arms out in an inviting gesture, but the green-eyed beauty remains unfazed. “And who would have known you could be such a monster, huh? Did you honestly think I’d forgive you just like that —so easily— after you made the woman I love so much, so miserable? I love you too, but don’t you reckon you’re thinking too highly of yourself…?”

Tenderly, his thumb brushes against the skin of soft, pale cheeks, and he finds himself smiling at the green-eyed monster . “So how about we give your mom a break and I take care of you for the rest of the week... huh, my little Sherlock?”

As he’s about to take the baby into his arms, a voice startles him.

“What did you just call my son?”

Shinichi lifts his gaze only to be met with a different pair of green eyes. Standing on the nursery’s doorway, Shiho’s expression is something between amused and slightly disapproving. She sports dark bags unders her eyes and with her usually impeccably-styled hair disheveled, she’s looking more like a mess than he’s ever seen her.

“I called our son by his name, Sherlock.” Shinichi challenges, gingerly picking the baby up from his wooden crib. The child kicks his small feet in excitement as his father carefully holds him against his chest.

The strawberry blonde approaches them, lips curled into a smirk. Her fingers knead delicately into a lock of her son’s raven hair as she brushes the messy strands off his forehead. "Oh, you mean Conan-kun ?"

" Oi ,” Shinichi’s face falls, cold sweat starting to form. “Ｗe've discussed it."

"Indeed, we have.” Shiho agrees nonchalantly. “And I’m not naming my son Sherlock."

Shinichi winces. "How is Kudo Conan a better name? "

She shrugs in response, and her eyes glimmer mischievously when they lock into his cobalt irises. "It brings fond memories, doesn't it?"

"It brings horrible memories." He protests, full on grimace. "The only good thing about being trapped in a child's body was actually getting to spend time with you and the children. The rest was a living nightmare."

Shinichi can’t help but frown when he’s flooded by flashbacks of  the days being chased by the organization: the neverending cases he had to suffer through while confined to his shrunken body, all the lies and deceit, the inherent fear of putting everyone’s life in danger... why would she ever want to be reminded of that, anyway?

"Mm...? So is The Great Detective of the East getting emotional? My, I didn't peg you for the sappy kind."

"Shut up." He grumbles.

She chortles softly, yet her expression quickly turns into one of concern.

"You do have a point, though. Maybe it's not a  good idea to tempt fate like that— I'd hate to see him grow up surrounded by dead bodies. That is, if our poor child is unfortunate enough to rub on your luck." She nuzzles the baby's cheek gently before placing a soft peck on his chubby face. "So what do we name you, little one? I can't believe we haven't decided on a name yet."

"It's been already decided." Shinichi pouts.

Shiho’s eyes roll back as she scoffs.

" By you. And I will not have it."

"Oh, come on! As your husband—"

"No."

"What’s wrong with Sherlock? It's a perfectly fine name."

"I told you, it's jinxed. Not risking it."

Shinichi huffs with exasperation before mocking, "What, is the greatest scientist of the twenty-first century falling into superstition now? Shame on you, Kudo Shiho. "

She glares at him with disapprovement. "Even when lacking scientific evidence or statistical studies to back up, I believe that reducing the chance percentage to a minimum value would be wise, or as they commonly say— better be safe than sorry ."

"Look, It's not like I'm fixed on the name or something—" She arches a brow in disbelief, and he's fast to reiterate with a pout, " I'm not! But until we come up with a name we both agree with, I'm calling him Sherlock in the meantime. It's a great name. Could even be a pet name, if you want."

The baby whimpers.

"See? Our son agrees."

"No, he doesn't." Shiho objects, glowering at him. Her expression softens as she looks at the bundle of joy enthusiastically kicking his legs while basking into his father’s warm embrace. "He hates it. Right, my love?"

Shaking his teeny fists into the air as the first and happiest cooing sound comes out of his mouth, the baby neither agrees nor disagrees with his mother’s statement. Both young parents gasp in awe at their son’s milestone.

"My, that was loud. You sure are a happy boy, aren't you?" Shinichi chuckles, gazing at his son adoringly.

"Happy…” Shiho hesitates for a second, her face deep in thought. “K—Kou ...?"

"Huh?"

"Kou... ichi? " With a tentative smile, Shiho ventures. " Kudo Kouichi ?"

"Eh, the lucky one? ” Shinichi grins at his wife, eyes widening.

Shiho shrugs sheepishly at him. “Seems fitting.”

“I like it.” The detective’s voice is suddenly soft, his eyes filled with so much longing that it almost brings tears to her eyes. It’s heartwarming and reassuringly easy , and he holds on to their future with a kind of conviction that leaves her no choice but to only ever hope for the best. “ Kouichi .” Shinichi breathes, testing the name in an almost-whisper.

“What do you say Kouichi-kun, would you like that name?"

Kouichi yawns and, with a last blink of his jade-green eyes, falls into a content slumber.