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As Ran got to know Shinichi as a boyfriend, she soon discovered that he wasn’t just thorough when it came to solving cases. But also when it came to making out.
Yep, he was a great kisser. Or rather, he had become a very good one, and quickly at that. He was an excellent observer and fast learner, which turned out to be surprisingly useful skills in a relationship. Especially in the smooching department.
Right now, they were making out pressed up against the wall of her bedroom.
They were still in the early stages of their relationship, where everything was new and yet to be discovered - even if they’d known each other since they were little kids - and where it was nearly impossible to keep their hands off each other.
So when Shinichi had come to hang out at her place, they barely made it past her bedroom door before jumping on each other.
“Shinichi”, Ran managed between heated kisses “my dad’s just downstairs. He could… he could come any m-moment”. She moaned as his tongue firmly brushed against hers, the friction wet and delicious.
“What if he sees us like… like this?”
He didn’t seem to hear her as he lowered his head to kiss her neck.
“Shin… p-please”.
He reluctantly stopped at the sound of her plea, resting his head in the crook of her neck while taking a few seconds to think and come up with an answer.
“Ran” he murmured as he caressed her waist with both hands, holding her in place, his fingers drawing random patterns on her skin. “I’ve got a plan. Wanna hear it?”.
Ran nodded against his shoulder.
“Good. Listen carefully. Can you do that, Ran?”, he asked, planting two sensual, open-mouthed kisses against her neck.
Ran nodded again, a gasp escaping her lips.
Shinichi raised his head, pecked her bottom lip and flashed a mischievous smile, his fingers still caressing her waist. “We’re going to make out by the front door”, he declared, like it was the most logical thing in the world.
“W-what?”
“Yes, that’s what we’re going to do. That way we’ll be able to hear your father coming. We’ll have enough time to stop, pull apart. Then you’ll go to the kitchen and start making tea. That’s the official reason I came over today”. His hand slipped under the hem of her shirt, fingers brushing her ribs and slowly reaching the edge of her bra. Ran inhaled sharply.
“I’ll put on my coat, grab the trash bag I saw leaning by the front door, and head out, crossing your father on the stairs. I’ll take out the garbage and take the chance to cool off a bit”, he continued while his hands cupped her breasts through the thin fabric of her bra. He gave a couple of slow squeezes, thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples. His nose nuzzled her neck. “Then I’ll come back in, and we’ll all drink tea in the living room like nothing ever happened. Sound good, Ran?, he murmured against her skin, teasing thumbs flicking over her nipples. Fuck.
“Ran?”, he called her again, voice low and raw. The butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t calm down. Shinichi smiled viciously, gaze meeting hers. He pressed a featherlight kiss against the corner of her mouth.
She gulped, then nodded. The plan wasn’t exactly flawless, but at the moment, she didn’t care. It was a plan nonetheless, and it allowed them to go back to kissing and touching and all that kind of naughty things.
“Very well, then”, he said, withdrawing his hands, wrapping one arm around her waist and sliding the other under her knees. Ran squeaked in surprise as he took her in his arms and carried her all the way to the entryway. There, he set her down gently, wasting no time pinning her body against the front door.
“Is this okay?”, he asked, forehead resting on hers, his hands already back at her waist as if he couldn’t stop touching her, not even for a second.
Ran’s heart thundered in her chest. The idea of making out with her boyfriend in such an exposed spot made her nervous, but she trusted Shinichi, and the need of him soon overcame her hesitation. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him like she’d been doing until a couple of minutes ago.
She got so caught up in their kiss she lost all sense of time - and almost protested when Shinichi abruptly pulled back, but then…
She heard the footsteps approaching.
Shinichi grabbed her arms and looked her in the eyes. “Ran, remember the plan?”
The plan? Right, the plan. Go to the kitchen and make tea. She could do that. They were both breathless, but they could probably still fool her father. He was a detective, but not that perceptive.
Ran nodded, noticing Shinichi quickly slipping on his coat.
The footsteps grew louder. Sharp clicks against the floor. Like… like a woman’s heels. Wait, that wasn’t her dad.
“Ran, the plan”, Shinichi reminded her, coat on and trash bag in hand.
Right, no time to waste. Whoever it was, Ran didn’t want them to catch her like that. She didn’t hesitate further before hurrying into the kitchen, still barely catching her breath from Shinichi’s passionate kisses.
Leaning against the kitchen counter to take a few deep breaths and steady herself, she filled the kettle with water. She could barely hear the exchange of words that was taking place in the entryway, yet she couldn’t mistake the female voice interacting with Shinichi. A light, rich voice that couldn’t possibly belong to her father.
A few more seconds and her mother entered the kitchen.
***
“Ran, honey, I stopped by to say hi - I realised we hadn’t seen each other all week”, Eri said as she entered the kitchen and placed a tray of what looked like Amuro-san’s delicious sandwiches on the counter.
“Mom… hi”, a dumbfounded Ran mumbled, still trying to recover from the shock.
Her father - oblivious, sweet father - was one matter. But there was no fooling lawyer Eri Kisaki. Witty, sharp-eyed Eri Kisaki.
Her mom smiled and kissed her on the cheek. Ran hoped Shinichi’s scent on her wasn’t strong enough to give them away. But who was she kidding? Her mom probably figured it all out before even stepping into the house.
“Hi, honey. Making tea?”.
Ran nodded, not trusting her voice to elaborate further. She busied herself instead, focusing her attention on setting the table.
“Here, let me help”, her mother said, finishing washing her hands and taking the sugar bowl and the tea spoons from her daughter.
Where was Shinichi? Why was he taking so long? Maybe he ran into Amuro-san and got caught up chatting. Or maybe he crossed her father and was stuck with him?
In that moment, she just wanted him by her side, his warm hand on the small of her back, grounding her. Yet, with the almost mischievous look her mother was giving her, maybe his absence was a blessing, maybe…
“So, how’s it going?”, her mother asked casually.
Ran knelt in front of the table to set the china. She heard the faint click of the kettle switching off in the kitchen.
“Good, everything’s good” she managed to let out.
Her mother didn’t seem satisfied with her answer. She knelt beside her, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. “I suppose I should thank Shinichi, then”.
“W-what?”. Ran was positively going to burst.
“You know”, she said with a sly smile, “for making everything good in your life”.
“Mom, that’s not…”
“Honey, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Your father and I had our own share of fun when we started dating. Totally normal, just…”
“Ew, gross. Mom!” Okay, way too much information.
“Just be sure to use protection, and…”
“Mom, please, we didn’t…”
“And maybe try not to let your father walk on you two like I just almost did, because I don’t think he’s going to be as openminded as I am. You see, walking on his little girl having sex with her boyfriend wouldn’t…”
“MOM! Please stop talking about Shinichi and me… w-we… we didn’t have sex. We never have, we were only kissing, nothing more”. Ran didn’t think she’d felt more embarrassed in her whole life. “Please don’t tell dad. He already can’t stand Shinichi, if he finds out we’re dating he’ll forbid me from having him over”.
Eri smiled smugly. Ran didn’t understand why this topic amused her so. “Of course, honey. I’ll only remind him how platonic your friendship with Shinichi is”. She winked. “So he doesn’t know you’re together?”
“Of course not, and you weren’t supposed to know either”, Ran protested, her cheeks still on fire from the embarrassment. “Not yet, anyway”.
“Ran, please. It couldn’t be more obvious. And even though I hoped you wouldn’t end up with a detective, I have to admit I’m glad it’s Shinichi. He’s like family to us and I know he’ll treat you right. Plus, …”.
“Mom, really, I appreciate you approve of us, but… really, can’t we just like… change topic?”
Eri laughed quietly, clearly enjoying Ran’s discomfort. She didn’t have time to reply, though, since they heard the front door open and male voices - her father’s and Shinichi’s voices - interact loudly (well, her father’s was loud, Shinichi kept calm and collected as always). Suddenly, the worst-case scenario was clear: her boyfriend and both of her parents in the same room.
She wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole.
***
“Ran!”, exclaimed her father as soon as he entered the dining room. He was so clearly annoyed. No - infuriated. “What is this two-bit detective still doing here? It’s like he lives here! Doesn’t he have his own place to stay? He’s like a plague, every time I come home, he’s here. I can’t stand it anymore!”.
Behind him, an impassible Shinichi entered the room and took his seat at the dining table.
“I already told you, Kogoro”, said Shinichi matter-of-factly. “Ran invited me over for some tea and to work on a school project together”.
Eri smirked.
Kogoro set down as well. Ran found herself trapped between her parents, with Shinichi sitting directly across from her.
The situation was becoming more and more unbearable. She just wished they could get out of it ASAP. She cast a pleading look at her mother, silently begging for help… though Eri looked far too amused to be a reliable ally.
Eventually, her mother intervened: “Kogoro, don’t be so harsh with Shinichi. He’s just a very good friend trying to help Ran out. I suspect she wants to prove herself the worthy daughter of the great Kogoro and asked her friend Shinichi to help her study and take better notes. Isn’t that right, honey?”, she asked Ran, smiling triumphantly. Oh, she was having so much fun.
Ran laughed awkwardly. “Oh, yes, that’s true, Dad. I just want you to be proud of me and…”.
Her father looked suddenly moved by her confession. “Oh, Ran… you didn’t have to…I’m already proud of you, always…”.
“Plus”, Eri added “why else would Shinichi be here so often? Either he’s helping her study, or he’s spending time with his girlfriend, so…”.
“G-girlfriend!?!?! Ran, don’t tell me you’re his g-girl… that he’s your b-boyf…”.
“Dad, what?! Of course not, how could you think that?!”.
But Kogoro wasn’t paying attention to her anymore, his full focus was on Shinichi.
“You!! You little… how dare you take advantage of my daughter like that?! H-how could you…”.
“Dad! That’s enough!!” Ran exclaimed, grabbing her father by the shoulders to stop him from lunging on Shinichi. “I’m glad that you’re protective of me, but you don’t get to decide who’s right for me. If you love me you should respect my decision to date him…”.
“So it’s true then!? You’re dating him!”, her father replied, pointing at Shinichi as if he were the culprit of a murder.
“Kogoro…”, Shinichi began, but Ran interrupted him. This wasn’t his battle to fight.
“Yes, I’m dating him. We’re dating, Dad. And he makes me really happy. And if you have a problem with that… well, there’s nothing I can do about it”.
“But Ran…he’s not…”.
“Kogoro”, Eri cut in, standing up and walking toward him “can we please talk? In private?”.
“But Eri, they can’t… You already knew it? How… When..?”.
“Let’s talk in your office”, she said simply, and the two of them left the room. The tea in their cups had gone cold.
***
“Shinichi, I’m sorry, I didn’t think he’d react that badly. And I shouldn’t have said anything without talking to you first. Now your parents are going to find out too. It’s… I’m…”.
Okay, she was on the verge of tears and she didn’t know how to stop them.
“I just couldn’t stand hearing him talk to you like that, I know it’s hard for him, but I wish he’d be a little more supportive, you know?”.
“Ran”, Shinichi said softly, his calm and loving voice steadying her. He stood up to go sit next to her on the other side of the table. “It’s okay. You have nothing to apologise for. He was going to find out, sooner or later. And I’m glad you told him”. He took her hands in his so gently, his warm fingers brushing over hers. “I’ll admit… I didn’t like having to hide or sneak in all the time. Of course it’s nice… the thrill of the forbidden and stuff…”, he blushed all of a sudden, probably remembering the moment they shared earlier. “But I’m glad, you know, that the truth’s out now. I know your father doesn’t like me, but honestly, I suspect it’s not really me, the problem. He just wouldn’t like any other guy you dated. Not that you should date any other guy, of course not, that’s not what I meant…”.
He got all flushed and flustered and Ran couldn’t help but laugh. He was just so cute when he tried to talk about important things and got embarrassed.
He cleared his throat before continuing, his gaze falling to their joined hands in her lap. “Things might get a little more complicated now, but we’ll figure it out. And about your father… he’ll come around. Eventually. Like… eveeentually”.
Ran chuckled again, all her earlier anxiety washed away.
“I know he loves you and wants you to be happy”.
She nodded, then untangled their hands and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He was amazing. He knew her better than she did. He was her best friend and her biggest supporter.
“I love you, Shinichi”, she whispered in his ear.
He pulled back so he could look at her, a smug grin on his lips. “You do, huh?”
Ran playfully smacked his arm. “Well, I think I do. I could always change my mind”.
“Mmh, and I could always make you fall for me all over again”. His gaze locked with hers, and Ran felt its intensity go right to her core. “Over and over again”, he whispered, his eyes drifting to her lips. Then to her neck. And then lingered on the curves of her breasts outlined by the tight-fitting pullover she was wearing. Shamelessly staring.
“Shinichi”, she whispered, voice melting with desire. A tingling sensation ran from her scalp down her spine as he began gently caressing her hair. It had grown quite long recently, nearly reaching her lower back. Shinichi had soon become obsessed with it, always looking for an excuse to run his fingers through her soft locks. Ran loved it, that simple yet intimate gesture.
“I love you too, Ran”, he murmured back, his voice almost inaudible.
She didn’t want to move. She just wanted to stay like that forever, next to her boyfriend, one hand in her hair, the other sitting on her waist, warm and comforting, and his lips repeating the same words over and over.
I love you I love you I love you.
***
About twenty minutes later, her parents returned to the dining room. Her father looked calmer, and to her surprise, he didn’t even say a word about Shinichi now sitting in his former seat. He sat down on Ran’s left, Eri next to him. After an encouraging nudge from her elbow, he finally spoke.
“Ran, I… I’m sorry about earlier, I think I overreacted a bit. This…”, he continued, gesturing to her and Shinichi sitting next to each other “this is going to take some time getting used to. But it’s my problem, not yours, so…I hope you can forgive me”. His eyes were filled with remorse.
Ran teared up and leaned in to hug him. “Dad, of course I forgive you. I’m sorry for keeping this from you, I just needed some time before letting you know”.
Kogoro sniffled into her hair, a couple of silent tears running down his cheeks. He held her tightly in his arms, and Ran savoured the moment, feeling so relieved her father was finally beginning to accept her relationship with Shinichi.
“That’s okay, Ran. I understand”.
“All right, I guess now we can have tea”, exclaimed Eri, clapping her hands. “Shinichi, would you help me make a fresh pot?”
Taking Eri’s hint to leave father and daughter alone, Shinichi nodded and followed his future mother-in-law into the kitchen.
***
That night, after her dad had cooled off and Shinichi had left, and after having dinner with both of her parents - which had become a very rare occurrence for Ran - she was getting ready to go to bed when she received a text.
From Yukiko Kudo.
Congrats! I’ve suspected about you two for a while now, but now that Eri-chan confirmed everything we can finally celebrate!
Yusaku and I will be back for a couple of days next week, we should all have dinner together!
Ran-chan, you’re welcome to stay over at our place anytime you like (soon it’ll be be your home anyway eheh).
My grandkids are going to be so cute *w*
Yukiko, or soon-to-be mother-in-law <3