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Shuichi Saihara was screwed— and he knew it. He knew it the second he had accepted such a public job. Shuichi was the type of person who froze up under pressure, under other people’s gaze, and the agency knew it. So why…
Why am I doing this to myself? He thought to the endless abyss that was his mind. It would have been quiet in the museum, if it wasn’t for the auction on the first floor, the sound of his racing heart, and the sound of the police sirens Shuichi couldn’t help but brace for. Soon, but not yet, the chase would begin.
When Shuichi finally made it to the ground floor, he crouched out of view from the windows, giving himself a minute to catch his breath. What to do now?
He furiously tapped on an earbud, trying to get the crappy thing to activate. You’d think professional theives would have better quality equipment. “Maki?” He said. Maybe it was because the earbuds were stolen. “Maki? You better ans—”
“Calm down, don’t lose your head,” she responded. Shuichi leaned back against the wall. At least he wasn’t alone in this mess. Maki always has his back (despite her… with lack of a better word, deadly childhood), and Maki’s boyfriend, Kaito, was as helpful as a kicked out astronaut trainee could be. But he had the optimism, charisma, and persistence that Shuichi and Maki lacked at times. Most times.
“Are you even paying attention to me?” Shuichi could practically hear Maki roll her eyes, “Do you seriously wanna die?”
“It’s not on the schedule, no,” Shuichi responded. “I just can’t can’t breathe in this friggin’ mask.” He was telling the truth. The mask he was wearing today was actually from one of his older sister’s elaborate anime cosplays. Tsumugi, said sister, hosts a popular blog where she give tutorials on DIY-ing your own costumes, so she has masks to spare. Not that Shuichi asked (as thieving is all he’s really good for). It wasn’t a mask designed for strenuous activities, but it did properly cover Shuichi’s entire face.
“Well, don’t take it off.”
“Wasn’t planning to, Maki,” Shuichi reassured, though he was definitely hoping to do so.
“Maki? Who’s that, your girlfriend?” An unknown voice entered the conversation. Shuichi visibly flinched, hitting his head against the wall. He took out and turned off the earbud as quickly as he could.
“Who’s there?” He asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.
“Ha! You sound like a high schooler caught smoking!” The voice said. Though Shuichi couldn’t be sure, he guessed that the voice belonged to a man.
“Don’t say that,” Shuichi mumbled, painfully aware that the situation was much worse than a teen with an unmanaged smoking problem. The man must have just been some rich, naive partygoer who didn’t know about ‘stranger danger’.
“So are you going back to the party?” The man said, stepping a bit closer to Shuichi, “C’mon, this place is closed for the night anyways.”
Shuichi flinched at the very prospect. Formal parties were his personal brand of hell. But as soon as Shuichi gets into the light, and the man sees Shuichi’s mask, how else could be explain it away? “Y-Yeah, okay let’s go.”
Shuichi’s followed the man through the next corridor and into the largest exhibit in the museum— the jewelry one. The museum was about to close down, due to the old building being minutes away from crumbling to dust, so the richest people in city were invited to bid for their lives. Shuichi couldn’t believe that his mother wasn’t invited, but thanked goodness for that. Just the generic classical music the quartet was playing was bringing up unwelcome childhood memories; Shuichi didn’t need her here.
Before he stepped into the room, he doublechecked that the stolen necklace was safely tucked away in a hidden pocket. Then he entered the room.
His eyes didn’t even have a second to adjust before a pale hand was stuck in his face. “Kokichi Ouma, nice to meetcha!”
It took Shuichi another second to see the person that the hand was attached to. Hair black, with dyed purple tips. Below average height, but around Shuichi’s age. A formal suit, with messed up hair and a colorful bow tie that definitely didn’t meet the dress code. A silver wire masquerade mask that doesn’t actually hide his face, and for good reason. It would be a crime (worse than the ones Shuichi commits) to hide those eyes, bright despite the late hour, a beautiful lavender color. Eye bags.
Shuichi blinked. Then blinked again. Then thanked god that his entire face was covered. Then he shook Kokichi’s hand.
Kokichi smirked, pulling his hand away, “Are you checking me out, beloved?”
Was that a pet name? “H-Huh? What, no— are you drunk?” Shuichi shot back, trying not to stutter.
“Not yet. But I can’t wait to change that,” Kokichi enthusiastically waved over a server. Every movement of his was so over exaggerated and cartoon-like, Shuichi couldn’t help but smile and stare, “I’m here for work, soooo totes down to ditch if you want to.”
Shuichi raised an eyebrow (not that Kokichi would see). “Yeah? And where would we go?”
“To have some fun,” Kokichi picked up a glass of wine from a nearby table and took a sip, “I’ll let you fill in the blanks.”
The implications took a minute to sink in. You are a thief. Robbing this very museum. Shuichi blinked a few more times. Get your act together.
Kokichi set the glass down, “Ew, why is it grainy? Nothing worse than a buncha rich cheapskates.” Kokichi put his, now empty, hands behind his head. Shuichi found himself just mesmerized with the man’s movements. That was the reason he didn’t hear the music shift, and the reason he didn’t react to Kokichi grabbing his hand, “Care for a dance?”
Shuichi tried not to flinch from Kokichi’s touch. He tried to say ‘no’. He tried to resist and leave the event. Key word: tried. Shuichi was dragged out onto the dance floor, justifying in his head that if someone was handing out such casual affection on a silver platter, how could he just… reject it?
Kokichi dragged them to the center of the large museum hall, right in the center of the entire gathering. Just around them, a dozen or so couples milled around them. Shuichi knew they weren’t looking at him—because they definitely weren’t… hopefully weren’t—but he was definitely giving them a reason to stare. Compared to the bright outfits of those dressing to impress, and the black suits of those more stoic, Shuichi’s thieving ensemble was a bit more… unconventional, with its flowy black cape, feathered hat, and mask that covered his entire face— mouth, eyes, and all. It looked more like one of Tsumugi’s detailed anime cosplays instead of an outfit for a formal museum masquerade ball.
Shuichi averted his eyes to the ground, thankful for the first time that night that his mask obscured part of his sight. Kokichi, evidently, didn’t like that.
“Don’t look at the floor,” he said, lifting up Shuichi’s chin with a gentle finger, “That’s how you fall. Your body wants to follow your head, so if you look down, then you’re gonna hit the floor in no time. And, believe me, I’m gonna be too busy laughing to catch you.”
“Is that actual advice?” Shuichi asked, trying not the let his thoughts mingle on the small touch— he was actively waltzing with this man, seriously, he needs to get a grip.
Kokichi grinned, “If you say it with enough confidence, anything can become true!”
“Anything is possible! All you gotta do is make it so!” Shuichi quoted Kaito. Kokichi, though he couldn’t have gotten the reference, laughed along side Shuichi.
It was very pleasant sound, despite being slightly horse-like. Shuichi wanted to hear it again.
The two of them entered a comforting silence, swaying to the music as if they’ve known each other for more than half an hour. The music then, as if on cue, decided to switch into even more of a romantic tune. Admittedly flustered, Shuichi looked down at Kokichi just to find him curled up on Shuichi’s chest. He did his best not to melt.
They gently waltzed around, Shuichi’s muscle memory kicking in, and allowing his brain to wander. Wander to a well-dressed woman’s wrist, where a shiny (and quite loose) golden bracelet hung. She was clearly intoxicated, and drunkenly flirting with a waiter, who definitely wasn’t appreciating it.
How could he have not seen it? It was so… shiny. Shuichi could already feel it— the anxiety that came before every steal. His hands started to sweat. He didn’t want the bracelet, because, honestly, Shuichi thought such a flashy accessory was the sort of money waster that his mother would consider a mark of status. But he needed it.
After seeing that Kokichi’s eyes were closed (and that he seemed very comfortable leaning on Shuichi’s chest) Shuichi gently guided them towards the lady. It look him less than a second to unclip the bracelet (the hook was magnetic) and sneak the stolen jewerly into his pants pocket. The woman was none the wiser.
But someone else was. “What was that?” Kokichi’s eyes were open. Crap.
“Ah! Nothing.” Crap, crap, crap.
“Really? I must have imagined it then!” Kokichi said, cheery as ever. He, almost casually, attempted to put his hands in Shuichi’s pockets.
Shuichi grabbed his wrists, “Don’t. There’s nothing there, see?” Shuichi made a big show of turning his pockets inside out— making sure to slip the bracelet into his sleeve before it could fall to he ground. A simple magic trick. Himiko would be proud.
Kokichi chuckled, clearly fake. “Must be seeing things then. Who knew a single sip of cheap wine can make me hallucinate?” He knows.
More silence, but this time it was less comforting. Instead, the haze of paranoid that had been chasing Shuichi the entire night finally pounced on him. He was so far from the door, but he had to get out.
Maybe Kokichi sensed Shuichi’s distress, or maybe he just wanted to rub it it, because he decided to speak up. “They call me the master of masks, y’know?” Strange brag but sure, anything to change the subject.
“Really?” Shuichi jumped at the opportunity to cut though the tension, “Are you some sort of actor?”
“Nope! I’m a detective. And I’ll tell you a secret,” he leaned in close enough for Shuichi to kis— eh, for Shuichi to smell his breath. “I’m here to catch a thief.”
Kokichi glanced pointedly at Shuichi’s sleeve, where the lady’s bracelet was still hidden.
The moment of relief shattered. Shuichi glanced around nervously, trying not to make a big scene. He had to get out. The anxiety in his chest doubled, but at least there were no eager reporters with their flashy cameras here. No cameras either, unless the security count.
“And why are you telling me this?” Shuichi chuckled. He was never a good liar, and the desperate attempt at salvaging the situation just shoved him deeper underground.
“Because you’re acting awfully suspicious.” Every single word was emphasized. Kokichi’s face was barely an inch away. “What did you say your name was again?”
That’s when the sirens from Shuichi’s nightmares became real. The police must have finally caught wind of the situation, or maybe they were already here. Whatever, doesn’t matter. Shuichi tried to pull away from Kokichi, but he was gripping onto him like a stubborn child. It was almost like a hug.
Shuichi cringed at himself. Okay bud, go get a room. “What are you trying to pull?” He exclaimed, his frustration clearly showing. Shuichi managed to get one of his hands free and put in an earbud, tapping at it until he heard Kaito and Maki’s chatter.
Kokichi must have not noticed, because he replied nonchalantly, “I’m seducing the enemy.”
“Excuse me, what?” Shuichi blurted out.
“Ey, if it works, it works.”
“Shu?” Maki’s voice came in from the earpiece, “You have to leave, now.”
“Well obviously!” That was when the police barged in, stopping the party. Kokichi looked over, as caught off guard as Shuichi was. All of Shuichi’s training led up to this moment. He took a deep breath and… kicked at Kokichi’s ankle.
“OW!” He exclaimed, jumping back, “That’s playing dirty, you bastard!”
“Ey, if it works, it works!” Shuichi called back, running out of the room. As soon as he was out of earshot, he started talking to the earbud, “Alright Maki, where am I going?”
It was Kaito who answered, “To the roof!”
“Are you kidding me? How many flights of stairs—”
“You can do it!”
Shuichi groaned, doing his best not to complain during his sprint up to the roof. If he did, then Kaito would have his ‘sidekick’ shuttle run for the next month, and Maki would spend the whole time laughing at him.
When he finally made it to the roof, Shuichi raced over to the ledge He couldn’t see the getaway car anywhere. To be fair, it was purposefully plain, and Shuichi’s eyesight was never good, but unless Maki and Kaito gave him the thumbs up, Shuichi didn’t want to risk jumping with no backup. Speaking of which…
“We’re not ready yet,” Maki said, on cue, “We need like another minute or two.”
“Dammit,” Shuichi muttered. He took off his mask for a moment of fresh air. The midnight air was chilly as expected. “Hurry up.” Maki disconnected just in time for Shuichi to hear the roof door slam open.
“Something wrong, Mr Thief?” Shuichi froze. Kokichi’s voice.
Shuichi turned around, barely remembering to shove his mask back on. “How the hell did you get up here so fa—”
“Elevator.”
“Dammit!” Shuichi threw his hands in the air. At least Maki and Kaito weren’t listening to his stupidity.
That did stop Kokichi from laughing, though. “You can steal as much as you can, but you won’t swear? What sort of enigma do I have in my hands?”
“One that you won’t catch.” Fake it ‘til you make it. Fake it ‘til you make it.
That make Kokichi laugh some more. “Seriously, I thought thieves like you would be smarter.”
He took a step closer, “But then maybe you weren’t the mastermind behind this heist.”
Kokichi was close enough to touch Shuichi’s mask. He did. “Tell me, Mr Thief, do you work alone?”
“No one is ever alone,” Shuichi replied, as calmly as he could muster, “Neither of us are.”
Kokichi tucked his fingers under Shuichi’s mask. “Is that a confession?”
Shuichi forced himself to think logically, making a mental list to keep his head on straight.
- He does not want Kokichi to take his mask off (definitely not). Then he will go to jail, and that’s not good.
- In a few minutes, the police will join the two of them on roof, as there are too many of them to use the elevator. Ghey’re getting the same workout Shuichi just ran through.
- Shuichi needs to stall until Kaito and Maki were ready for the getaway.
- Kokichi has leverage right now. He is smarter than he looks.
- Kokichi can take off Shuichi’s mask any time he wants.
Numbers ‘4’ and ‘5’ felt unfair. Shuichi is the criminal in this situation, while Kokichi has a job that practically forces him to be a law-abiding citizen. Why is Shuichi scared (and attracted) to someone with petty limitations that? He was thief. In a detective’s book, someone like him would barely pass for a wild animal.
“Is that a confession?” Kokichi repeated, holding tighter into the mask, as if it was a threat. But his hand was shaking. Wild animals are the most dangerous when cornered.
“It’s a promise,” Shuichi replied. He was, supposedly at least, the volatile one here. As long as he acted like it… he grabbed both of Kokichi’s hands.
“What are you doing?” Kokichi gasped out.
“Seducing the enemy, what else?”
Shuichi hummed an orchestral tune, pulling Kokichi into a hesitate waltz. What better way to stall until Kaito and Maki were ready to retrieve him? Shuichi could easily claim that his motive was to deter Kokichi— since if the police barged onto the roof as they should, it was appear as if Kokichi was in cahoots with some mysterious thief. But that was a lie.
Kokichi tried to scream out, but Shuichi put a gloved hand on Kokichi’s lips, not believing his audacity. “Shut up or I’ll make you,” he said, after just a second of hesitation.
“What? How?”
Oh my god, that worked. “I’ll… let you fill in the blanks.”
He spun Kokichi around, trying not to hurt him, but still holding tight onto Kokichi’s wrists. Shuichi was, undeniably, enjoying himself. Perhaps the confidence that he had stolen, not the jewelry hidden in his suit, was the most valuable thing taken tonight. He started humming louder, the hours of classical violin he was practically forced to learn finally paying off. Turns out, he was apparently a good bit stronger than Kokichi, probably due to Kaito’s incessant work outs, and was able to easily lead the waltz. If anyone walked into the two if them, then Shuichi would look like he was in control.
In reality, if Kokichi was any closer than he already was, he would hear how loud Shuichi’s thumping heart was (and not because of the aforementioned many stairs).
Kokichi stopped struggling after a few seconds, his face becoming impossibly blank and neutral. A face even the greatest gambler would be jealous of, if it weren’t for the soft dusting of pink on his cheeks. Riding the elevator must have been exhausting indeed. But he was remarkably silent. After a moment, Shuichi heard what he was listening for— the thundering of a dozen determined officers.
“Checkmate,” Kokichi finally said, slightly out of breath and hiding his face, “You’re surrounded.”
“Perfect. That’s what I want you to think,” Shuichi’s false confidence was wavering. He let go of one of Kokichi’s hands to tap on his earbud again.
“You can jump now,” Maki said, somehow sensing his fear.
“But that’s just the bitter truth,” Kokichi hummed, successfully pulling away from Shuichi.
“That’s the fun thing,” Shuichi responded, “I’m good at getting out of tight spots.”
He stepped away from Kokichi, leaving him near the center of the roof, and took a few steps towards the ledge. Shuichi jumped up, trying not to look at the traffic below him. “I’m sure we’ll meet again!” He told Kokichi, keeping eye contact through the mask as well as he could, “Thank you for the dance!” Only when Shuichi took off his hat and bowed, the detective realized what was going on.
“Wait—” Kokichi rushed forward.
And in a moment of undeniable smugness, Shuichi blew him a kiss through the mask. Then he closed his eyes, the diamond necklace and golden bracelet clenched tightly, falling backwards. Kokichi didn’t even touch him.
The adrenaline rush was real, but there was one thing better; The look of surprise, the look of disbelief that the supposed ‘master of masks’ couldn’t hide no matter how hard he tried (and he was breathing so heavily, he must have been trying). Shuichi caught only a glance and…
Needless to say, Shuichi would do anything to see that expression again.
~~~
It was about an hour later when Shuichi’s poor heart was finally starting to calm down. He was in his getaway vehicle with Kaito and Maki— the only ones keeping Shuichi together (on the outside at least).
Shuichi had jumped off roofs before, but never with someone else watching. Tonight, Shuichi was just a flashy decoy with a side mission, and he couldn’t believe that nobody got injured. Well, seriously injured. Crashing through a window tends to leave you with a few… hundred… scratches.
“Sorry ‘bout that Shuichi,” Kaito was the first to actually speak. He was driving the car, carefully, making sure not to draw any attention towards them. Maki was in the backseat with Shuichi, trying to pick out the pieces of glass stuck in Shuichi’s suit and thick cape. It was designed specifically to protect Shuichi from shards and falls.
“We didn’t realize that the police got the main entrance blocked like that, won’t let it happen again,” Kaito continued.
“Don’t worry about it,” Shuichi chuckled. Kaito grunted. “Seriously, don't,” Shuichi reassured, turning around to face Kaito and Maki, “Only thing I have to worry about is my mother seeing my scratched up face.”
“If you’re so worried about it, then run away,” Maki said, blunt as ever. Her advice was in vain.
Everyone in that car knew that Shuichi could jump off roofs, crash through windows, steal millions of dollars… but running away, like Maki from her orphanage, like Kaito from the law, was not even in the equation for him.
They drove in silence for another few minutes, until Kaito broke the silence once more. “…tell her an especially vile cat attacked you.”
Shuichi had to laugh at that, and even Maki managed a smile, “Thank you, I’ll make sure to do that. But we might have to think of a better excuse if I’m going to keep doing this.”
“You want to keep doing this?” Maki asked, surprised, “Because you don’t have to.”
Kaito made eye contact with Shuichi through the rearview mirror. “Is the risk really worth it? I mean… with your mom and sister and all.”
That was when Shuichi hid his face. He didn’t want Maki or Kaito to see his expression— the one that made it clear that a pretty pair of purple eyes were the only thing on his mind when Shuichi said:
“It’s worth it.”