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The call had come early in the morning, Dojima-san's groggy voice had yet been alert enough to make Detective Shirogane sit up straight in bed.
A shooting… her lips had traced the horrifying words. In Inaba? Where?
“Tatsumi-kun-.”
Naoto couldn't remember a time she'd gotten dressed faster.
***
He hated hospitals. He would be practically a rabid beast no doubt, fighting with the poor medical staff, baring teeth and possibly making a few nursing aides rethink their careers.
The silent hall was therefore… off putting to say the least. Where was the roaring Naoto had been expecting to be bouncing off the walls?
Amagi Yukiko was sitting on a chair with Satonaka Chie, hands clasped, skin pallid as a nurse tended to Naoto's fellow police officer. The normally energetic Chie was it seemed, stunned in a sort of stupor.
“It-It came so fast, I barely had time to turn before the guy came at me and Kanji-kun just-!"
“Shh, Chie, its alright, its okay. Naoto-kun, please sit down-.”
She tapped the lone chair next to them but Naoto didn't move.
“He won't be awake for a few hours Naoto-kun.”
He had been shot. A mugging gone bad followed by an unfortunate recognition of a former grudge. A member of the bike gang of years past had recognized him, and of course the tedious annoyance had graduated to having an illegal firearm.
Officer Satonaka had apprehended the suspect, newly appointed, barely out of training and she'd called her fiancée to walk her through stifling the bleeding with a handkerchief Kanji-kun had luckily had in his pocket..
A job well done. Naoto’s lips were stiff, going through the motions. Soothing a frightened new coworker's first experience with the darkest side of the job.
She'd frozen and no one could blame her, of course Kanji-kun, idiotic, chivalrous,fearless moronji of a man had jumped into a police matter, fists blazing, a bent broken chair- of course!- sporting a bullet hole used as a weapon.
Of course he'd been shot. Of course he'd been hurt.
Of course.
His mother was in the room with him, Naoto heard faintly, Yukiko-kun's tired but yet kind eyes locked on Naoto's.
Chie-kun's eyes were wide and the apology that spilled from her lips rankled Detective Shirogane more than anything else.
He had interfered and these were the consequences. He was in surgery and he'd wake up roaring, blustering and overall a nuisance to this poor medical facility.
There is no blame to be had save for the man who shot him. He is in custody no doubt.
Chie-kun was to be commended. A job well done.
Badum. Badum.
Badum.
“I'm still really sorry Naoto-kun.”
Naoto's fists bunched underneath her heavy jacket sleeves.
“Fool.”
It was a whisper. A hiss.
A plea.
***
For whatever reason Tatsumi-san had ushered Naoto into the room as soon as she had caught wind of her being in the hall outside. A second chair had been placed at his side, he slept peacefully, the bruise forming was ugly but Naoto surmised- albeit bitterly- Kanji-kun had suffered far worse in the TV realm among others.
The man had been a clumsy shot. He'd missed every internal organ and then some, they called it “Fortunate” but Naoto had just called it Fool's luck because Kanji-kun was nothing short of that - a fool.
The Arcana as it was, was wrong. He was no Emperor, he was a damned fool who Naoto was never going to allow to walk around unsupervised again at this point.
Tatsumi-san had been sent to go get food and rest, Naoto had taken over the vigil for the idiot's awakening. A few quick pings from their Group chat had signaled others in the Team were now aware of the situation, Rise-kun especially had been sending for updates every two minutes.
At least Yu-San had been able to calm her. Naoto's phone had had a few direct messages inquiring over the Detective's personal wellbeing - nonsense. Completely inconsequential.
Naoto was fine.
He however, would not be as soon as he woke up and Naoto would let him know the sheer extent of his idiocy.
“Fool.”
The Detective stiffened when a heat began to burn behind her eyes, and she quickly pressed a thumb and finger to them to quell those unwelcome, unhelpful, unnecessary tears from- from-!
Her head leaned against the bedside.
“...f-fool.”
***
“He didn't struggle. Jig was up, perp's in lockup but he's done for and he knows it, good job Officer Satanoka.”
“T-Thank you Sir.”
“How is-?”
“Detective Shirogane is in there now.”
“ She hasn't left for hours.”
“...I see.”
***
Damned fool.
Looking at the rap sheet for the criminal in question, what had he been thinking!?
A chair?
A goddamned chair!?
“What works in the shadows doesn't work in the real world you god damned fool!”
A hiss. A whisper.
A plea.
***
He was being difficult. Even in sleep.
“Don't come crying to me if you wake up alone.”
Another flip of another rap sheet. It was extensive. This entire gang.
It would be an easy group arrest, one domino falls the others come tumbling after.
A private vendetta or a necessary course of action for the public good?
Did it matter which one?
“...fool.”
A murmur. A whisper. A plea.
***
“Shirogane-san still in there? Even Tatsumi-san finally went home.”
“You kiddin’, she's not going anywhere.”
***
“You kept my handkerchief. I saw the evidence bag. You had better wash that. I don't have another one.”
Another click of a pen. Another circle. Another line. Another connection missed.
“I gave you that to help with your allergies. Why on earth did you have that on your person? It's been months!”
Another case closed.
“It's decidedly cliché to the point of maddening, I hope you understand you're by no means off the hook for your actions.”
He slept still. How irksome.
“Your mother is hysterical. I sent her home, you know, if only for her to rest. How dare you frighten her with your idiocy?”
Nothing.
“I could slap cuffs on you. I very well might. Don't tempt me.”
Badum. Badum.
“But you're too much of an idiot to understand you did anything wrong so what is the point?”
Naoto stood and stormed over to the idiot sleeping there, leaned over to stare the moron in the face.
Badum. Badum. Badum.
“... fool.”
A whisper. A hiss… a murmur…
Naoto leaned even closer.
“Idiotic…brave fool.”
A kiss.
***
Tatsumi Kanji finally woke up like he'd been hit by a goddamned truck. His arm was killing him, his side was on fire and god damn it he was in a freaking hospital wasn't he-?!
Damn it all!
Aw hell no, he wasn't stayin’ in ‘ere like some kinda chump while those assholes terrorized the streets! Not on his watch!
Not-!
He froze, Naoto-kun was fast asleep in the chair by his bed, her hat askew and shielding her eyes, her pretty lips half parted and a big ole’ folder of important looking police papers or whatever lay limply on her lap.
Heh, cute.
Tch, look at ‘im. In the damn hellzone that was a hospital, got shot by a damn moron with a grudge and shit aim, but here he was smilin’ cause his favorite Detective was on the case already.
Heh… guess he was just another fool in love. Ain't nothin’ wrong with that.
End