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Ranpo didn't like the fetid stench strung in the air.
Yosano and Dazai had dragged him to his first club; a very bustling and far too lively club. However, they had long ditched him. He last saw Yosano sitting at the bar, drunkenly flirting with another woman over a glass of red wine; but she was no longer there. He thought he had seen Dazai wander out a side door with a familiar ginger, but he would never speak it.
Ranpo didn't think he was drunk. Maybe the bartender did when he had already downed a Strawberry Daiquiri and a Watermelon Sparkler, but he hasn't deducted that he was drunk.
The air reeked of sweat and smoke. Someone had spilled their vodka soda on him five minutes ago, and he could still feel the club soda bubbling into his hip. The cold condensation of his forgotten Pina Colada seeped into his hand and chilled him down to the bone.
His back pressed into the brick wall and he settled into a corner. In said corner, he pulled out a few stashed candies, a Snickers and a cherry lollipop to be exact. Unwrapping the candy, he popped the bite-sized piece of chocolate into his mouth and searched for a trash can as he tucked away the lollipop back into his pocket.
Upon finding the proper receptacle, he had spotted a familiar and slender figure, slumped into himself, and propped on a chair reading something. A fair-sized critter wearing a neon pink vest curled at his feet, and bangs hung in front of his pale forehead and his grayish-green eyes. Ranpo could recognize him anywhere.
After all, who brings a book to the club?
On the opposing side of the room, Edgar didn't like the chatter of the crowd.
Too, too loud, he would always say when Lucy dragged him out. She was almost ten years younger than him, yet she still convinced him to “go partying.” He doesn't know how she does it.
However this book was good, like really fucking good, so he has no gripes with that part, it’s just the independent conversations dancing around him that he has a problem with. Too, too loud. He sipped his New York Sour, staring at the ring of water it left on the wooden table, then placing it right back down into the ring.
He crossed his right leg over his left and prepared to make himself comfortable in his chair.
But he remained far too engrossed in his book that he didn’t notice Karl’s ears perking up or someone attempting to talk to him. It wasn’t until the person had lightly tapped on his thigh did he flinch to meet eyes with his harasser.
Oh. It was his dear Ranpo. Smiling brightly down at him, and probably a bit too drunk. Poe mentally swore himself off for calling Ranpo his harasser. His book could wait for Ranpo.
“Ranpo!” Poe’s grin could be heard in his voice. He set his book on the table beside him, and he stood up to meet Ranpo in the eye, only to tower above him. Karl propped himself upright at Edgar and Ranpo’s feet.
“Awh Hiya Poe!” Ranpo grinned up at him sloppily, and they both loosely and awkwardly stood there- just a bit too close to each other. Poe held on to his over-the-shoulder bag for dear life, praying Ranpo would initiate the further conversation.
But in the meantime, Edgar couldn't help but stare. Ranpo’s teeth were pearly white and straight, but his enamel tore at the seams, most likely due to excessive snacking. His eyes weren't open. His cap slowly slipping off his head. His thin eyebrows, his loosely hung tie, his hair curling at the edges. God, why couldn't Edgar stop thinking about him?
Ranpo moved to set his drink on the table next to Edgar’s and leaned down to say hello to Karl. Ranpo babbled to Karl, and Karl would chitter back like they were having a fluent conversation. Edgar just watches, his two favorite people love each other- always good to know.
"Whatcha up to here?" Ranpo looked up at him from the floor, and his cap just almost slipped off his head.
Poe pried his eyes off Ranpo and in turn, went back to his drink. He eyed it carefully as he spoke. "Lucy's in town."
Ranpo sat on his heels and propped himself up. His leisurely tone of voice always soothed him. "I knew that- Lucy's going to live fast and die young."
Poe wished his eyes tore wide open at the thought of his coworker passing. He wished he'd recoil in fear when he heard Ranpo's judgment of her fate. But he just smiled. His eyes gleamed behind his bangs and he shoved his hands into his pockets. God, he did miss Ranpo's voice.
"Poe?" Ranpo questioned him on his unruly behavior. Ah yes, all that gleams attracts unwanted attention. Fuck.
Poe quickly grinned at the prospect, (Ranpo's stunning voice) and took on the responsibility to reply to him. After all, if he didn't, Ranpo may think he is strange- and that sounds comparable to the ninth layer of hell.
"Yes, Ranpo?" Poe schemed like a middle school girl, and as he stared Ranpo down, doing his best to bear a loving and comforting gaze- he got caught.
"Are you doing alright? You're a bit red." Well goddamn it Ranpo. If you keep saying things like that I may just turn an impossibly further shade of red.
But Ranpo, the world's greatest detective and the man with the name that whenever he says it- melts calmly into his brain- the same man- can't understand romance? Had he not figured it out yet? The everlasting crush Poe has had on him for literal years?
Karl's chittering broke him from his mental prison. His raccoon stared at him- pawing his leg. He looked bored and tired of his shit. His flustered grown man shit.
In the meantime- Ranpo looked nothing but concerned at him. My, was his dear Ranpo that worried about him?
So many questions and not enough answers.
Poe rocked on his feet. "I'm alright" He spoke carefully- as if he was going to mess up a word.
"Poe" his voice was hesitant- yet slurred. Something pinkish-red crept up on his face as well. "May I do something?"
"Do as you wish."
And he was enveloped with total warmth. Ranpo had leaned into him, embraced his face, and was currently making out with him. Total acceptance and love from the guy he's been crushing on forever.
Poe rested his hands on the dips on Ranpo's hips and enjoyed the moment. Nothing else mattered in this world except him and his dear Ranpo.
Coming to terms- Poe pulled off for a breath of air, and they locked eyes. They were enveloped in their own little lovely world in the corner of this busy bar. My it was beautiful.
He longed for this moment to last.
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god no.
"Ranpo…"
"Yes, my dear?"
Good lord, it was hard to ignore that pet name.
"What did you eat in the past, I don't know, thirty minutes?" Poe's eyes were blown wide and he slowly settled back into the bar's chair and threw his head back.
Karl climbed up his leg and sat in his lap, sniffing his drink. "My old drink and one of those peanut chocolate candies… ah what was it called…?"
Poe smiled softly and Karl ventured over to Ranpo and sniffed his fingers. Alas, Karl ran over up to Poe's now disturbingly pale face and pawed at his lips, sitting on his shoulder.
"Poe, what is Karl doing?" Ranpo drew out some of his words, and that was the only thing keeping his will to live thriving. The will to tell him that he won't be able to breathe in give or take, three minutes. “Poe, what are you doing?”
“Ranpo?” It was getting hard to speak. His words came out with a scratch. “Please call an ambulance, I think I am going into anaphylactic shock. Also, my epi-pen is in the front pocket of my bag.”
What a perfect time for Ranpo to come back to reality and notice Yosano across the dance floor. What a perfect time to catch her mid-dance and ask for her help. What a perfect time to come back to Poe and see an urgent Lucy trying to talk to him and keep him conscious. What a perfect time to watch Poe struggle helplessly until he reached the brink of death. (Karl looked sad that they weren't helping, and as much as he wanted to help, he knew it was futile and they had to wait for the time.)
Poe was revived, but at least now they've got a hell of a story to tell about their first kiss.