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Ranpo and Poe had both agreed to go to a bar after they got back from the concert they had gone to before.
Poe had taken Ranpo to a concert. The detective hadn’t been very interested in the music, but had excitedly went with Poe anyway. He had been more than thrilled to hear Ranpo say yes.
“I’ll be right back,” Poe hummed, gently putting his hand on Ranpo’s shoulder for a moment as he stood. Ranpo was currently devouring an espresso Martini, nodding with a big smile as he waved.
Poe quickly left to use the restroom, only being gone for less than five minutes. When he had arrived back, though, he witnessed Ranpo speaking to a woman.
She looked to be tall, wearing a red dress and high heels. She had blood red lipstick on, smiling politely at the shorter man. Ranpo was giving her a sharp glare as she spoke, only speaking in short phrases it seemed.
Poe quickly crossed the floor of the bar, murmuring pardons to those he had run into as he made his way back to his seat.
“I’m back,” he softly stated, gently smiling at Ranpo. He looked up to the woman, tilting his head to the side. “Who may you be?”
The woman gave him a slightly strained smile. “Hello there,” she hummed. “I see your partner here is quite the detective, isn’t he? I’m surprised I haven’t heard of him before. I think he solved a murder case just down the road from me a few days ago.”
Poe hummed and sat down at his chair, grabbing his drink and sipping it. He’s not exactly sober- he’s had a drink or two- but not quite drunk. Tipsy at best. He’s always been able to hold his liquor.
Ranpo, on the other hand, looked mildly loopy. The latter only had a few Martini’s, all of them having a harsh mix of caffeine and alcohol, and yet he’s surprisingly just slightly tipsier than Poe is.
“I can tell that you’re having an affair, if that’s what you want from me,” Ranpo blatantly stated, holding up his own glass and tipping it slightly towards the woman. “You don’t have your ring on, your lipstick is smudged a bit, and, if you weren’t married, you wouldn’t have that line around your ring finger.”
The woman gave him a sly smirk, sliding into the third chair in front of him. Poe narrowed his eyes.
“Ah, so your detective skills aren’t mistaken,” she hummed, “you truly are a fine detective.”
Ranpo took a sip out of his Martini, the chocolate swirling around in the glass. “And you aren’t as…” he narrowed his eyes, “…you must be a prostitute, aren’t you? I can tell how well you are trying to seduce me- a trait refined to the very tip of the knife, huh?”
Poe sighed. One drawback from a tipsy Ranpo is the fact his mind works much slower than usual when in the presence of alcohol. The detective doesn’t like drinking for this very reason- he definitely prefers going back home. Though he had stated he wanted an espresso martini from the bar specifically and not one of the store bought ones.
“You just lost your last client due to a case I solved yesterday. He offered more than $67,000 for tonight- and unfortunately, I had ruined that by failing to prevent the evidence of his crimes being revealed.”
The woman narrowed her eyes, her irises sliding into little slits like a snake. “It seems you have many deductions,” she hummed, “most you would find correct. I must say you did bring me much trouble with my last client.”
Ranpo leaned back, humming slightly. “Then whatchu’ gonna do bout’ it?” He teased. The woman cast a side-eye to Poe, who was practically stabbing her with his gaze, and sighed.
“Whatever. I never thought the greatest detective in the world would turn out to be a homosexual anyways,” she muttered halfheartedly as she stood and left for the bar table.
Poe swallowed a fit of anger. “Are you alright, Ranpo?” He gently asked the latter. Ranpo sighed.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just annoyed is all,” he mumbled. Poe offered a comforting smile.
“I could go for another drink, how about you?” He offered. Ranpo hummed thoughtfully.
“You still have to drive, remember?” The latter questioned. Poe pouted.
“We could just take a taxi,” he reasoned. Ranpo rolled his eyes.
“And have to come back in the morning to get the car? Nuh-uh!!!”
Poe lightly chuckled, keeping an eye on the woman as she stepped out of the bar. Ranpo took another sip out of his drink, blinking a bit and shrugging.
“Oh, this menu has some new sweets, it seems,” Poe hummed as he looked at the piece of paper. Ranpo immediately jumped up and grabbed it, his green eyes sparkling.
“What?! Where!!!” He exclaimed as he scanned the laminated paper. Poe chuckled.
“Right here,” he gently stated, reaching over and pointing to a cake. Ranpo grinned as they waited for the waiter to come around.
They sat in comfortable silence, both of them simply staring into space with nothing much on their minds. That is- until Poe takes another look at Ranpo.
The detective looked uncomfortable.
“Is something the matter, Ranpo?” He asked, worry taking place in his voice as he turned to face the detective. The ravenette was shifting from side to side, looking more and more uncomfortable, glancing at him with gradually panicking eyes.
“Umm.. I think I drank too much,” the detective mumbled. Poe frowned.
“Alright. I can take us home..?” He questioned, tilting his head. Ranpo nodded.
Poe stood up and gently reached down to grab his arm-
-to which the detective’s eyes immediately widened and stiffened. His breathing became elevated, and he slowly began to panic.
“Come on, let’s get us home,” Poe gently stated, trying to guide Ranpo across the bar. The latter wouldn’t move.
Which is why Poe was so surprised when he was shoved to the side and, in recovering, watched as Ranpo ran through the bar and out the door.
Poe knew calling his name would be pointless, so he quickly ran behind, chasing after the shorter man down the street. They both weren’t fit, but in the moment, they managed to go relatively fast.
“Ranpo wait-“ Poe called. Ranpo had apparently already called a Taxi and quickly jumped in before Poe could follow. Poe grumbled to himself, worry filling all his senses as he called in an uber.
The car ride was short back to their house. He didn’t know why Ranpo had run off, for he couldn't read the detective’s brilliant mind. But something had been wrong. Very wrong.
It had only taken 7 minutes to get from the corner they were at to the house. Luckily, the house was a rather famous landmark, so the uber knew exactly where to take him.
Poe quickly tipped the driver much more than needed and ran off into the house, immediately in search of Ranpo. They had moved in together not too long ago, so Ranpo couldn’t exactly go back to his dorms at the agency.
He immediately flew the door open, worry bristling in his veins as he found Karl had not been waiting for him. He gently closed the door behind him, walking through his grand manor with quiet steps.
“Ranpo..?” He gently called, “please don’t run off like that… I assure you I can help with whatever may have spooked you. Please let me know where you are…?”
Unfortunately, there had been no response.
Poe quickly walked through the house, checking all the places someone might hide- the living room, the bathroom, the attic, the basement, one of the guest rooms. A guilty worry he often finds himself feeling and checking in these situations are the knives in the kitchen, the razors stocked high in the shower, or the gun case he has in one of the tourist rooms.
Dread builds up in his stomach when he unsuccessfully finds his partner.
He slowly walks into the bedroom- to which the door had been locked shut. He gently knocks the door.
“Ranpo?” He softly hummed, “please talk to me. I won’t open the door or pick the lock. Please just speak to me,” he worriedly called.
All he hears is a soft bang from… the closet? Inside.
“..Ranpo, I believe that was you, correct?”
Complete silence.
“..bang once if you don't want me to go in, twice if you would allow me to enter.”
There was one, loud bang. Poe bit his lip.
“…I’m not going to stop talking to you. I apologize if that is not what you wish, but in these times, I would like to know that my words are reaching someone.”
He sits down, mindlessly messing with the ‘Karl door’ he had installed a few years ago. It’s practically a doggie door for when Karl wants to enter and exit the room when the door is closed- he prefers the door to be closed, often enough.
“I heard that tomorrow is Memorial Day in America,” he said to no one in particular. “It’s a holiday where people flood the streets, shooting fireworks in the sky for hours after dusk to commemorate those fallen in war. I would love to do something for that.”
He paused for a moment, hearing a small scuttling noise making its way towards the door. Karl burst out of the door and frantically chittered at him. Poe gently patted his companion.
“Perhaps we could bake a cake together, if you would be up for it,” he said with a small smile. “We could make it red white and blue. We could also dress up Karl in an American themed outfit.”
He heard something bump back into the closet door. He took a small deep breath.
“I’m sure the rest of the guild still living in Japan would want to do something,” he hummed, “We could invite them over. I’m sure Lucy would definitely appreciate it.”
He paused when he heard a small call from inside the room.
“…Poe,” Ranpo seemed to sob.
“Yeah?” He gently called back.
“…please come into the room. Don’t open the closet. I don’t want you to see me.”
Poe blinked, forcing down the instant stab of worry plummeting through his chest. He stood up and unlocked the door, stepping into the room. The lights were off, as for all the other lights in the rest of the house. He also noticed one of the handheld lamps was gone.
“I won’t turn the light on,” he stated as he walked into the room, sitting down next to the door. “Is there anything you need, my dear?”
He heard Ranpo’s breath hitch. Is he crying..?
“…no,” the detective softly replied from inside the closet. Poe swallowed, forcing down his internal panic at the revelation.
“May I ask a question?” He gently called, waiting for Ranpo to reply.
“..yeah,” the detective eventually replied. Poe took a small breath.
“Would it be okay if I invite some of the guild over tomorrow? Some of them may be doing their own thing, but I believe it would be nice for them to get out for a while. I haven’t seen them in quite some time- with the exception of Lucy, of course.”
He gently strokes Karl, the raccoon making low purring sounds. He heard Ranpo sniff.
“Yeah,” the detective replied, a bit quicker now, “I’m surprised Poe, the ‘I hate people’ person, is inviting people to his house.”
His voice is very clogged and rough. He’s definitely been crying.
“Well, you keep telling me I need to talk with people more,” he mumbled, trying to keep his voice light.
“Can I invite some of the agency?” Ranpo asked. His voice is a bit strained- like he’s holding something back. Poe felt a bit panicked at that.
“It is an American holiday-“ he heard Ranpo hitch again- “so it’s unlikely they would want to participate much. But you can definitely ask.”
He felt a small wave of dread fill his being as Ranpo started to sound much more agitated. “That’s cool. Yeah. I’ll ask. I’m sure they would.”
Poe narrowed his eyes as he stood, hesitantly crossing the floor. He made his footsteps light so he wouldn’t panic the detective too much.
“I don’t believe everything’s alright,” he gently said, standing a bit away from the closet. “Please know I wouldn’t hurt you in any state you may be in- and I will stop you from hurting yourself additionally. You had done so for me, therefore I believe it would be my turn to return the favor.”
He heard Ranpo’s breath hitch, and his voice gradually got heavier.
“Please- don’t- don’t come in- please- please- please-“
His voice took a level of desperation that made Poe’s blood freeze. His voice sounds airy- almost like..
“Ranpo,” Poe gently called, “please understand me… I promise I wouldn’t do anything you don’t want me doing. I simply don’t want to see you harming yourself.”
He heard Ranpo’s voice grow several levels in panic.
“DON'T COME IN- PLEASE PLEASE DON'T COME IN I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME IN AND SEE ME PLEASE-“
He sounded more than agitated. Like one of those old movies you would see with those scenes where a man and a woman would meet at the beach with some drinks, drop some suggestive lines, then-
Oh. Oh no.
Ranpo has never been a sexual person. He hasn’t once shown any interest in genitals- he confessed a few months ago when they had first started dating he believes he’s Asexual. And Poe believes him. If he says he’s something, then there is no doubt in Poe’s mind he isn’t.
But… Ranpo… jocking himself? After running away from a bar? He isn’t even sure if the detective knows how to do that- nevermind safely!
Poe isn’t interested in any of that either. He’s certainly not as high on the spectrum of Asexuality as Ranpo is- he often has sexual thoughts, but not to the extent most people have them-, so he likes to consider himself as Asexual too. It makes him feel comfortable about himself.
So this is definitely not normal and is most certainly out of character for the detective.
“Ranpo, please talk to me and stop telling me not to come in,” he said in a slightly harsher tone. He heard Ranpo immediately stop talking. “You know what you're doing isn’t normal for either of us, and especially you. Tell me what happened.”
He heard Ranpo let out a loud sob.
“I don’t know,” the detective cried, letting out small sounds of discomfort. “I don’t know- I haven’t felt this before- I’m scared that if I see you-“
“I won’t let you do anything bad to me,” Poe stated. “I promise. From here until it wears off, anything you say or do didn’t happen. Okay? I promise I won’t let you do anything bad to me.”
He heard Ranpo’s voice go back to mildly desperate. “Poe please-“
Poe took a deep breath. He turned around and grabbed Karl- who was curled up at his feet- and gently put him outside the door. He locked the ‘Karl Door’ for the first time. He grabbed a handheld lamp, mentally preparing himself for a meltdown. He also made sure to grab a towel from the connected bathroom and just in case.
He sat on the ground right next to the closet door, placing the lamp down and holding the towel.
“I got you a towel,” he stated after some… rather unconventional sounds from Ranpo. He’d rather be anywhere else but here- but knowing Ranpo, the detective would rather chop his whole lower half off than go through this.
He heard another sob from Ranpo inside the closet. “Poe.. I… I got blood.. and.. stuff.. on one of your shirts…” Ranpo croaked. Poe froze.
“…here,” he carefully mumbled, quickly opening the sliding door. “I won’t look. Please clean yourself up though. And may I ask…?”
He stuck his arm through, the towel quickly being snatched from his hand. He quickly retracted his arm. “Why are you…?”
He heard Ranpo’s breath hitch yet again, followed by a small whine. “That woman… I think.. she drugged.. my drink..” the detective mumbled.
Fuck.
“I promise it’ll be ok, alright?” Poe gently stated, “the effects will wear off soon. Is there anything I need to get?”
He heard a small whimper from Ranpo- then a quick inhale of breath. “I don’t know!”
Fuck.
“Ranpo, are you in pain?” Poe asked, struggling to keep panic from overflowing. He took a deep breath.
“Fuck… Poe I’m so turned on it hurts,” Ranpo sobbed, “I hate it.. I hate it I hate it I hate it… fuck I can’t stop myself..”
Poe took a deep breath. “I’m going to come in, okay? I won’t touch you, or any of that, I promise. I will bring another towel- I’ll wet it down. Is that alright?”
“Yeah,” he heard Ranpo sob. Poe nodded and quickly gathered and dampened a towel, squeezing the excess water out. His mind was running over a hundred miles an hour.
We aren’t a sexual couple. We don’t have any safety or precautions for this kind of thing. We don’t have lube- the only thing we probably have is a small pack of condoms-
Oh god, please kill me now, bury me in the ground and never let me rise from the dead.
He scurried back to the closet and took a deep breath, gently preparing himself for what he’s about to see. “I’m coming in,” he called.
He gently slid open the closet door. He tried not to think too much as he put the damp towel over Ranpo’s naked shoulders. He had additionally grabbed two other smaller towels, squeezing his eyes shut as he handed them to Ranpo, allowing the detective to put the towels over his legs. Though-
Ranpo was holding something.
Poe felt it in his hand. It didn’t feel like anything he would be using- like a lube or something- to ease through. It was hard, made of wood, almost like a handle.
He cracked his eyes open. He gave his partner dignity as he refused to look anywhere but his hand.
“Ranpo,” he carefully said, his voice taking a sharper tone. He inched more into the closet so he’s sitting directly next to him, facing him. “What’s in your hand?”
He saw Ranpo look at him. His hair is very disheveled, his face red from crying. It wasn’t a pretty picture- but really, would it be for anyone? He met the emerald (or should he say red?) gaze with a calm demeanor.
He saw Ranpo sob again. The detective brought his right hand to his face-
-a blade clutched in his grip as various fluids rolled down his hand.
Poe did not want to know what those were- but he can worry about that later.
“Ranpo,” he gently said, reaching out and trying to grasp Ranpo’s hand. Ranpo yanked his arm away, the knife in his hand still covered in a bit of blood.
“Ranpo, give me the blade,” Poe growled. If he has to get mean, then he’ll get mean. He doesn’t want Ranpo to hurt himself- he won’t allow that. He already feels guilty enough he didn’t burst in here the moment he knew Ranpo was here.
He’s just trying to keep Ranpo safe, and he’s failed.
“No,” Ranpo sobbed. Poe harshly bit back tears as he saw the detective shake his head. Poe struck out his arm, grasping the detective's hand in a cold grip. He leaned down.
“Give me the knife,” he sternly demanded, causing the grip Ranpo had on the blade to harden. Ranpo let out a cry.
Poe gradually worked his way through the latter’s fingers. Ranpo kept fighting him, apparently putting more pressure on his left hand the more he tried to pry the blade out of his right, both options hurting the detective.
Poe was not having this.
“GIVE ME THE KNIFE!” He yelled, reaching out his other hand and physically prying the blade out of the latter's hand and throwing it out of the closet. Ranpo made a loud cry of pain.
Dignity be damned, Poe pried his partner's left hand away, the latter whimpering.
“Shh shh shh, it’s okay,” Poe whispered, bringing the back of his right hand up to Ranpo’s damp face. “You’re okay. See, that wasn’t so hard, huh?”
He quickly stood up and ran to the blade, quickly bringing it away. He heard Ranpo cry for him as he rushed to the bathroom.
Poe immediately wet another washcloth and towel, not bothering to clean his hands because damnit he can do that later and speedwalked back to the closet.
“Here,” he hummed, gently wiping the washcloth around the latter’s face. Ranpo was still crying, but it seemed the worst had passed. Ranpo made another rather unconventional sound, to which Poe promptly ignored.
He really didn’t want to see Ranpo like this. Crying, in pain, most definitely terrified.
Poe sat there with him for the next five minutes, busying himself with making the detective a bit more comfortable with moving things around in the closet. He wanted to forget all the sounds Ranpo was making.
He can’t control it, he desperately told himself. It’s making him cry, having to listen to it. He just told himself it’s Ranpo crying and not anything else.
Soon, though, thank god, Ranpo calmed down.
He knew this when the more inappropriate noises finally died down and was replaced with crying.
He hasn’t seen Ranpo cry before. The detective is always so desperate to hide his tears from everyone.
Poe quickly ran to re-wet one of the washcloths and towels, starting up a shower. When he got back, he gently hooked his hand under Ranpo’s arm through the towel, gently leading him to the bathroom.
Ranpo immediately climbed in under the water. Poe made sure to snatch the razors sitting on one of the shelves as soon as he got close enough.
Poe left for a moment to get the latter clothes. He got him his most comfortable t-shirt and undergarments, though pushing the shorts away for later. He walked back into the bathroom, getting the first aid kit from under the sink with the rest of the cleaning supplies.
He quickly washed his hands, internally cringing at the mess. He made sure to slip into a change of clothes- long-sleeved pajamas and light sweatpants. He made sure to clean up the closet with some of that cleaning supplies from under the sink.
His thoughts while he was cleaning were… best to be kept to himself. To say he was cringing at everything he touched was a great understatement.
He’ll be sure to run everything through the wash at least five times.
When he brought the supplies back into the bathroom, he glanced at Ranpo, who was still in there.
“You alright?” He gently called.
“Yeah,” Ranpo called back. His voice sounded hollow- dejected, almost.
Luckily, they had a walk-in shower. Poe had no interest to get in now, especially with all his clothes on, but he could easily and quickly run in if something happened.
I don’t want Ranpo to get hurt.
He let out a small sigh of relief when Ranpo stepped out again. Poe let him get his own towel and wrap himself in it.
He made sure to send a smile in his direction. The detective looked too exhausted to give one back.
“Sit down,” he instructed, leading Ranpo to the bed. He carried the medical supplies with him.
Ranpo mindlessly nodded, sitting at the edge. Poe took a small deep breath and reached for the big lamp on the counter, switching it on so he could see better.
He looked back to Ranpo, seeing the detective slip on his boxers and shirt.
“Don’t put those on yet,” he stated as Ranpo reached for his shorts. The ravenette didn’t even try to protest.
Well this wouldn’t do.
He gently kneeled in between the detective’s legs, silently assessing the cuts Ranpo had made. He felt Ranpo’s breath hitch again.
He looked up to see the detective trying to cry. It seems there weren’t any more tears to fall. Poe sighed and stood up, sitting next to his partner.
“Look at me,” he quietly hummed, gently grabbing Ranpo’s shoulders and adjusting him so he was facing him. He gently moved his thumb on his cheek, rubbing it just below the detective’s emerald green eyes.
“Everything's okay,” he softly stated. Ranpo didn’t even blink.
Poe felt his heart trying to shatter with the amount of pressure it was failing to handle.
“Come here,” he whispered, bringing the detective into his arms. “Like I said before, what just happened didn’t make me think any different of you or the day we just had, alright?”
He gently hummed, lowering his face so he could look the detective into his eyes. “As far as I know, I had a wonderful date with you, and I enjoyed myself immensely at that concert you were willing to go to with me.”
Ranpo nodded, wordlessly letting his head fall into his shoulder.
“…thank you,” the detective croaked. Just that alone was enough to make Poe want to cry. His Ranpo sounded broken, and it was that voice that had been used to speak to him- to thank him.
Poe didn’t know what hurt more- a broken voice thanking him, or a broken human telling him they love him.
Ranpo wasn’t broken. He’s hurt. That’s all everyone is. People keep sinking- the water pushing them downwards- and then there's that one opposite stream pushing them towards the surface. They just gradually learn how to ride the stream and ascend back to the world above.
“I already know,” Poe whispered back, holding his partner close. “Now, would you let me take care of your wounds? It won’t take long, I promise. I’ll bring Karl to you after we’re done.”
Ranpo nodded. Poe placed a gentle kiss on the latter’s forehead before grabbing the kit again, sitting between his partner’s legs, and cleaning the cuts one by one. He made sure to kiss every single one of them as soon as he cleaned them.
He also made sure to place the silliest bandaids on the cuts as well. No, they didn’t need to buy Frozen themed band aids, but they were all that were in stock!
…that’s what he told Ranpo, at least.
Soon enough, after a minimal amount of fuss, he cleaned up the medical kit and set it aside for now. He doesn’t want to leave Ranpo for the rest of the night.
He walked back to the door to the room and clicked open the ‘Karl Door’, cracking the main door open a bit. Karl must’ve heard because the raccoon immediately scampered into the room and jumped onto the bed with a swishing tail.
“Hey Karl,” Ranpo mumbled. The raccoon quickly crawled into the latter’s lap, demanding his attention. Ranpo smiled for the first time and, even though it wasn’t directed at him, it made Poe feel so much better.
Poe climbed on the bed and sat a fair distance away, letting Ranpo come to him if he chooses. He switched the light into low-mode and laid down.
Ranpo decided to sleep in his spot for once, choosing to stay a bit away from him. Karl slept between them, but- the traitor- was pressed on Ranpo’s back. Poe couldn’t help but break an amused smile.
They both quickly fell asleep.