Work Text:
Sometimes Poe wonders why he does certain things. Why he keeps rewriting his novels over and over again, why he started making sure there's always candy in his apartment, why he spends so much time at a place, where he doesn't even work.
Usually all it takes to answer these question is looking at his side and everything is clear.
Tonight isn't any different. Because why would he ever go to a party, a work party, at a place he's definitely not employed at?
As usual, his answer is standing next to him, putting a bunch of snacks into his mouth, dressed in a grey suit, his characteristic cape nowhere to be found.
Ranpo only briefly explained that the Agency solved a case for a big company and that there's a party being organised with some of said company members invited. Then he just announced that Poe's obviously coming with him.
And that's why now he's standing awkwardly near a wall, dressed in an elegant suit, drink in his hand, scanning the room nervously, not recognising many faces. But at least Ranpo didn't abandon him this time.
"Ugh, they're disgusting." The detective's voice brings him back from watching Karl apparently having a very good time with Kyouka and Atsushi. He looks at the shorter man, who's scrunching his nose.
"What do you mean?" Poe asks.
"They're getting worse and worse every day" Ranpo just continues. Poe follows his gaze and finally finds out what causing this reaction in Ranpo.
On the other side of the room, Dazai's draped over Kunikida with a big smile on his lips, visibly nagging the man about something. At first glance Kunikida seems annoyed, but that's just the surface – his roll of eyes reveals amusement and his fond smile shows even more feelings. He finally sighs, like with defeat, and kisses Dazai, who visibly lights up, kissing back immediately.
Poe doesn't know if he should be watching this – well, it's not like they're trying to be discreet – however, something in his chest tightens at the sight of such feelings shown so carefreely, so naturally, like it's the easiest thing in the world.
He clears his throat before looking back at Ranpo. "I think they're cute. They really fit together, don't they?"
Ranpo scoffs shaking his head. "Yeah, they do. Unfortunately" he mutters. Poe raises a brow, but the detective isn't looking at him. "Seems like everyone has gone mad. Even Yosano."
Poe looks around the room to find Yosano sitting at a table, talking and laughing with a woman in a red dress, both of them visibly enjoying their conversation.
"We should get out of here" Ranpo's voice brings him back again. "To get some air or something, I don't know."
Poe furrows his brows. Ranpo can get moody from time to time, but tonight it isn't so simple. Ranpo seems annoyed and yet that's just the facade – there's something hidden much deeper, something which makes Poe worry.
He doesn't say anything, though. He's afraid it would only make Ranpo close even more. So instead Poe just makes sure Karl is okay and then nods, letting Ranpo get them out of the party.
Well, it's not like he really wanted to be here anyway.
They walk together up some stairs and it's weird without Ranpo's usual chatter. Of course he gets quiet sometimes, especially when they're both in Poe's apartment, resting after a long day. This silence isn't like this, though. There's nothing comforting it.
When they finally meet their destination – the rooftop – Poe shivers at the first feel of the chilly breeze, then breathes in slowly, enjoying the refreshing air. He looks up, then gasps quietly. Night sky never ceases to amaze him and tonight isn't any different with the way the moon and the stars shine.
Ranpo doesn't seem to be very amazed. He's leaning over a chimney wall, hands in his pockets, unreadable expression on his face.
"Is there anything wrong, Ranpo?" Poe asks finally, after a few minutes of silence. He's standing a couple steps away from the detective, trying to read anything from his face.
"Have you ever been in love?"
It's a simple question. Just a question. However, it makes Poe stop breathing for a second, his heart hammering in his chest. After the initial shock he feels the urge to laugh.
Has he ever been in love? Hasn't love consumed most of him? Hasn't he let it do that? Hasn't he just taken it, somewhat grateful?
"Yes. Have you?"
"Yes. It was horrible" Ranpo's voice is weird. It's like an echo of something deeper, angrier and sadder but the way it comes out it sounds empty, flat.
"I'm sorry to hear that. May I ask–"
Ranpo cuts in, throwing his arms with frustratiom. "It's just so stupid. It makes people turn into fools. Smart people or those who already were fools into even bigger ones." Ranpo's gaze doesn't meet Poe's. His eyes are focused on his shoes.
"Is this how it happened for you?"
"It's just–I'm–" A sigh leaves Ranpo's mouth. It's so weird to see the ususally confident and cheerful man look so... defeated. "I don't know how it fucking works. And I know how everything works. I can just figure things out. Except for this. Nothing is complicated for me and then this happens and it makes me feel so stupid. It's not worth it." Ranpo's voice starts shaking near the end.
"Everyone feels stupid sometimes. It definitely doesn't mean you are stupid" Poe says reassuringly. He wants to help him, he wants to protect him, to hold him and tell him it's going to be okay, he wants to–
He wants to rewrite the entire universe so Ranpo doesn't have to feel like that.
"No, but maybe I'm just not made for love?" Ranpo shrugs. Poe's mouth opens, he has no idea what he should say, though. For a writer, words can really disappont him sometimes. Or maybe he's the disappointment.
After a moment Ranpo finally looks up at Poe. Not for long, because his eyes are flying everywhere, like he's looking for something, seeking answers. "What about you? Is it just flowers and rainbows in your case?"
No, it's not. Often it's rainstorms and earthquakes, which make Poe's entire world shake and turn, forcing him to build a new ground for himself, again and again.
But just as often it is the only thing that grounds him.
"I've learned to respect this feeling. It hurts, sometimes. It leaves me lonely. But often it's calming, comforting, something I'm used to." Poe says after considering the question. He feels vulnerable, so open, giving away this part of himself. But wouldn't he give Ranpo everything if the detective asked?
"I don't know if this makes any sense, but for me it's a bit like watching stars. They are so far away that most of them are gone already. But they are real and present for me now. I wouldn't give up admiring them just because I can't fully grasp them. Because I can't get any closer to them. They are beautiful despite that."
Ranpo is quiet again. Poe sees him furrowing his brows, deep in thoughts. The silence is pulsing in the writer's ears as he turns his gaze back to the sky. The moon is full tonight.
"Are you in love now?" It's a quiet question. Genuine.
Poe swallows, but doesn't hesitate to answer. He's already made a choice, no matter what he gets from it. The stars are shining brightly as he opens his mouth to say "Yes."
"And how is it?"
"It makes me want to try. It makes a mess out of me. And it's worth it." It's true and simple. Because the truth, the most fundamental truth is simple, despite how complicated it feels most of the time.
"But how do you know it's love?" Ranpo's watching him carefully and Poe wonders, not for the first time, if perhaps Ranpo knows. If perhaps he's just messing with him.
And yet, he seems too honest. Too lost to show it just like that, just to anybody. His eyes are on Poe, wide open, glistening under the moon's shine, like he's only now realising what he's truly investigating.
"I don't really believe you recognize it just like that. I think you need to get used to this feeling, try to get to know it" Poe says, a small smile on his lips. "And then, you need to accept it."
Ranpo slowly walks up to him. There's unusal hesitation in his moves, but no doubt in his voice when he says "I know who you're in love with."
Poe's breath catches in his chest. He knows his hand starts shaking and yet there's no terrified voice in his head urging him to hide. He doesn't want to. This night is meant for revealing what's hidden. Nothing stays unseen in the moon's light.
"Did you just found out or did you know aleady?" Poe asks quietly.
Ranpo keeps avoiding his gaze as he shakes his head. "I think I knew, but it's just–" he sighs, a sound of frustration leaving his mouth. "It wasn't like usual."
"What do you mean?"
"It felt too easy. So I just didn't believe it was true." Ranpo's gaze finally meets Poe's. His eyes are shining, full of questions and full of trust he puts in Poe. "Can it be easy, Ed?"
Poe's heart aches at the tone of Ranpo's voice. He gets closer to him. "It can be anything you want, my dear Ranpo" he whispers, leaning in to look deep into the green eyes that haunt him on every step of his life. "What do you want?"
Ranpo's breath stutters but he doesn't lower his gaze. He stares back at Poe with confidence, with his mind already made up. His next words sound like he's fully sure of them,
"I want you to kiss me."
Poe's heart is going to get out of his heart and run away to the stars. But he's going to stay right here, as he puts one hand on Ranpo's waist, bringing him even closer and slowly leaning in. Ranpo meets him halfway, impatient and adamant about what he wants. Poe will give him exactly that.
He kisses softly and slowly, tasting the sweet flavor of Ranpo's lips. Ranpo's hands cup his face like he needs to make sure Poe's not going anywhere. As if he would ever want to.
Poe's hand is combing through Ranpo's hair and stays there after a while, while Poe's heart beats in the rhythm of it's real it's real it's real
Ranpo pulls back first. He's still holding Poe's face as he speaks, his voice full of frustration, words coming out rapidly "It felt too fucking easy. I thought I'm being a fool again, that I'm lost. That's why I–"
"It's okay now, you don't need to worry anymore" Poe says quietly, bringing his hand to smooth over Ranpo's cheek. Something in his chest tightens at how the detective leans into his touch.
"I'm in love with you, Ed. And you make it easy."
They stare at each other, so many feelings held solely in their gazes.
"I love you too, my dear. Like I could never love anyone."
Ranpo's lips are back on Poe's before he actually finishes the sentence. He doesn't mind the interruption and kisses back. He holds Ranpo close, as close as he can, and Ranpo just hums and stands on his tiptoes, hands looped around Poe's neck to kiss him deeper. Poe gasps, relishing in the sweetness od Ranpo's lips, so soft against his.
They get lost like that, but that doesn't matter, not when they know they'll find their way back together. It's so quiet and so loud at the same time. For a moment the only thing Poe hears is his beating heart.
Until...
The sound of whistling and clapping brings them back to the reality.
"See, I've told you they would figure it out in the end."
Poe turns his head to see grinning Dazai, dragging a visibly annoyed and slightly flushed Kunikida with himself near the entrance to the rooftop.
"No, I have told you that, after telling you not to get involved in someone else's business" Kunikida huffs.
"What the fuck are you doing here" Ranpo grits through his teeth, regaining his awareness faster than Poe.
"I've noticed you two left somewhere and wanted to make sure you're using this time well." Dazai shrugs innocently, like he's explaining something obvious.
"I didn't know about his plan" Kunikida adds, arms crossed on his chest defensively.
"Oh, that's true, he didn't. He thought we're just sneaking off to make out, like usual." This explanation gets Dazai a smack on the back of his head. "Ow. Anyway good job, you two. After a long and terrible to watch battle, may I add." Another smack.
"I'm so sorry for this idiot, if it makes any difference we've just come here so we didn't really see anything" Kunikida tries to explain, his face getting even more red. At least he seems genuinely upset. "I'm really sorry" he repeats, pushing Dazai through the entrance door. "But also congratulations, you are a good pair."
"We're going to have our make out session too, now~" Dazai announces as he disappears from their sight.
"I'm going to kill him" Ranpo says, staring daggers at the leaving bandaged man.
"I'm not going to stop you" Kunikida says with a sorry look on his face and goes after his significant annoyance.
Ranpo groans, leaning his head on Poe's chest. Poe feels himself blush at the action.
"I've told you they're terrible."
Poe chuckles, his hand in Ranpo's hair, petting it.
"Well, you know," he says, licking his lips, "We can be terrible too, now."
Ranpo looks up at him. The mischievous glint in his eyes and the wicked smile make Poe's heart flutter. Especially when he knows there's something more behind this teasing, something true.
"Oh, we're going to be the worst."
Poe smiles. He knows it will be the exact opposite, he knows that now, when he has Ranpo by his side nothing can be truly bad.
He leans in, feeling so much lighter, like no encountered in the future difficulties will ever scare him, like there won't be any problem they won't be able to solve together.
They kiss again under the full moon. And it's easy.