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“Since when was the great Ranpo Edogawa so secretive about his love life?” Yosano teased.
It was a rainy day, Saturday. The two best friends were in the cafe and having their usual drinks, Yosano with a macchiato and Ranpo with a mocha latte. The conversation started off with the usual cases, Ranpo complaining about the stupid cops and Yosano going off on all the injuries that day. Then the conversation had changed into romance once Yosano mentioned a new song she started listening to about heartbreak. Of course, Ranpo made a comment on it, leading to the new topic…
“I’m not being secretive if I don’t have anything to hide! Why do you and the other think I’m dating someone! I’m obviously not.” Ranpo huffed. “Besides, relationships are so lame and boring. I can’t imagine being stuck with someone and having to put up with them my whole life.” His gaze lingered out the window before focusing back on Yosano.
She just sighed in response. “Never skipping a moment to be blunt, huh? The reason why everyone thinks you’re in a relationship is because you keep hanging out with-”
Ranpo interrupted her with a loud yawn. “Hm? Who? I keep hanging out with who?”
Yosano raised an unamused brow at him. “...Poe?”
She watched his mind go blank for a moment before watching him gulp down his entire glass of latte and stood up.
“Well! Breaks over, huh!” He said quickly, face red. “I have no romantic relations with Poe at all if that’s what you’re implying! We’re just friends!”
“Friends, sure.” Yosano smirked, watching him go. “You’re paying the next time we come here, you know!” She called after him.
He waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah!”
The bell door chimed as he opened it and the downpour of the rain soaked his clothes. He forgot his umbrella in the cafe…but whatever! It was too embarrassing to go back in there now after what Yosano said. Ranpo would constantly tell others that he and Poe were “just friends”, because that’s all they were! It’s not like Ranpo liked him or something…
He walked across the street instead of the sidewalk to avoid passing by the window and having to see Yosano laugh at him.
Rain, rain, rain. Ranpo had lost track of time and ended up somewhere unfamiliar to him in Yokohama. He really needed some warmth and shade right now though, at this point he’d just get sick. After walking past a few shops, he decided to just enter some random one. The warmness and cozy lighting of the store comforted him a lot despite the fact he was practically shivering now from the rain. He glanced around and found himself in a book store.
There’s no harm in looking around, right? He hung his coat and hat on the provided coat rack and tried not to be uncomfortable with the way his dress shirt clung to his body. But being inside would dry him rather quickly so- oh.
Ranpo noticed a book on the ground and reached down to pick it up, before accidently brushing his fingers against another’s hand who also reached down. And at that moment, Ranpo wished he entered some other store.
“Oh! Ranpo!” Poe quickly pulled his hand away before seeing Ranpo do the same. “Um..here. Sorry, I was the one who dropped this.” He reached down again and picked the book up, returning it to its shelf.
“What a coincidence seeing you here, Ranpo! Have you come to read some books too?-” Poe paused when he took in Ranpo’s full appearance. He looked like a wet cat. “Ranpo, did you forget your umbrella-”
“Uh- yes!” Ranpo blinked a bit, returning from the aftershocks of bumping into Poe here. It was a book store for Christ’s sake, of course Poe would be here!
“I just came back from hanging out with Yosano..” He glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he stood beside Poe, scanning the bookshelf with him.
“Yosano? I see…did you have a fun time with her?” Poe asked, picking up another book off the shelf and flipping through it.
“Yeah, I did. We just talked about the usual, you know. Some stupid cops again. One of them tried to shoot me! Can you believe that?” He snickered, glancing at Poe, expecting him to laugh too. But he just saw a small frown.
“That’s…quite concerning, Ranpo. Are you sure you’re alright after that?”
Ranpo rolled his eyes. “Pssh, it’s fine! It’s not the first time anyway. And then after that, Yosano talked about how she had to heal everyone like, a thousand times in the past afternoon, especially Atsushi. That guy gets one of his limbs cut off like all the time! How reckless! And then after that…”
Poe nodded and hummed as Ranpo rambled. Ranpo knew he always paid attention to his talks which was nice. At least someone besides Yosano listened.
“...oh, and can you believe it? Yosano introduced me to her new favorite song, which she changes basically every week, it’s called Sweet Boy by some Malcolm guy. Apparently it’s about heartbreak and all.”
“Heartbreak? That’s interesting…have you ever gotten your heart broken, Ranpo?” Poe asked, moving on to another section of the bookshelf and Ranpo followed.
“Me? ‘Course not! A great detective never gets his heart broken! It’s actually me breaking everyone's hearts!” He grinned.
“Would you break my heart, Ranpo?” Poe asked, running his fingers along the book spines on the shelf.
Why did he sound so sad? Did Ranpo say something wrong? “No…I would never. You’re my friend, Poe. I’d never do that.” Oddly, calling him a friend didn’t sound right.
Poe smiled softly. “I’m glad to hear that, Ranpo. Thought you’ll always be a rival to me.” Rivals didn’t sound right either.
“Hmph.” Ranpo pouted. “How about you then? Have you gotten your heart broken before?”
“Never. I’m the same like you, minus the breaking everyone else’s hearts part…” He hummed before taking out another book off the shelf. “Have you read this one, Ranpo? It’s not mystery, but the romance in this compensates for it.”
“Romance novels? I dislike those. Too sappy.” Ranpo rolled his eyes again. He crossed his arms and shifted a little when his still wet clothes moved with him. Wet clothes were the worst.
“I knew you’d say that, haha.” Poe laughed softly. There was that laugh Ranpo was hoping for. It was soft and a little airy, but it was nice. It was contagious and so he laughed along with him.
Ranpo continued followed Poe throughout the book store, listening to him talk now. “I think I read too much fairytales, but I’d like to find a love like the characters do in those stories.”
“Yeah? Would you kiss a frog too then?” Ranpo teased.
Poe smiled. “That’d be gross. But I suppose I’ll kiss one if you were the frog, Ranpo.”
Ranpo sputtered. “Wha- what! Don’t go saying stuff like that, Poe!” He elbowed him playfully, flustered.
“But seeing your flustered face is so rare! I like getting it out of you!” Poe grinned, rubbing his arm where Ranpo elbowed him. “It;s quite cute!”
“It’s not cute!”
“It is!”
“It’s not!”
“Your face is redder, Ranpo.”
“Shut up!” He quickly looked away and Poe laughed softly.
The two stayed there for another hour before leaving when the rain stopped. Poe bought two books and Ranpo’s clothes were finally dry. He waited for Ranpo to put his coat and hat back on before fully leaving the store.
“I already said I’d want to fall in love like fairytales, but what about you, Ranpo?”
“Are our entire conversations from now just going to be about love now?”
“No, but I’m just wondering.”
“...fine. I guess I can tell you. You better feel happy though, no one else gets to know this about me! Not even Yosano!” He pointed at Poe to emphasize his point.
“I’m honored!”
Ranpo hummed, lowering his hand and walking a little closer to Poe. “Movies.”
“Hm?”
“I want a love like I’ve seen in the movies. It’s cliche, I know.” He glanced at Poe and saw that expression he had on when he was in deep thought. “What now…?”
“How about we see a movie then?”
“Wha-”
“I don’t want too much romance movies, but I assume you do since that’s how you want to fall in love. So I would like to watch one with you. I’ll pay for the tickets of course.”
“You’re serious..?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
He knew how quick Poe was to buy him things. It was flattering, but he also felt bad for being the main reason of his quick spending. But watching a movie with Poe? A romance one at that..?
“Fine. We can watch a movie together. But I’m only going because I have nothing else to do!” He had many things to do, but he’s sure Kunikida wouldn’t mind doing it all for him.
“Great! We’ll watch one tomorrow then!”
It was the next day. Ranpo slept in til 2. But thankfully, the movie was at 5. As he got ready to go out, he couldn’t help but compare this to a date.
Wait.
A date? With Poe? That’s not what this was, right? Because it wasn’t! Just two friends watching a movie together…nothing else.
He left his apartment early so that despite his horrible navigation skills, he would arrive there somewhat on time. It took him a full hour to reach the right station. It was beginning to rain again as well, but luckily Ranpo was prepared, just wearing baggy jeans and a hoodie.
After another hour, he got lost trying to find the movie theater. He found alley ways, bakeries, some more book stores he knew Poe would like, but no theater.
Thirty minutes later, he found it. And Poe was waiting out there for him.
“You’re…suprisingly on time!” Poe commented when he spotted him. He just wore a sweater, a coat over it, and jeans as well.
“Yeah, well..I left my apartment early so..” Ranpo panted, tired from all the walking and traveling. “So, movie?”
“Oh, yes!” Poe lead Ranpo into the theater and bought the two of them tickets for La La Land.
“La La Land? Haven’t heard of it.” Ranpo said as they walked into the room, walking up the stairs and to their seats.
“Me neither. But it’ll be a shared first experience, no?”
Ranpo had snuck candy in and Poe just bought popcorn. After all the ads, the movie finally began.
Ranpo grumbled softly. “It’s a musical?”
“Do you not like musicals?” Poe glanced at him, handing him some popcorn as well.
“It’s not like I don’t like it…it’s just that it’s really annoying sometimes when they just break into song.”
“No worries then. This movie is pretty smooth with it.”
“Right..” Ranpo took the popcorn he was handed and ate it, sharing some of his candy with Poe as well.
Ranpo was able to get the gist of the movie a few minutes in, but he still ended up crying afterwards, along with Poe.
The lights turned back on and the glare messed with Ranpo’s eyes.
“Ranpo…you’re crying.” Poe sniffed, wiping his eyes.
“Sh-shut up. No I’m not..” He wiped his eyes.
“Oh, yes you are…” Poe leaned a little closer to him and wiped his tears away with his thumb.
Ranpo froze and Poe immediately moved back. “Ah! Sorry- I just- I just thought that, you know…you’re crying and I wanted to wipe it away and-”
“No, no…it’s fine..” Ranpo glanced away.
They cleaned up their spots and tossed the popcorn box and candy wrappers outside. It was already dark out with some stars shining in the sky.
“Did you like the movie?” Poe asked, walking closely beside Ranpo.
Their hands brushed together and Ranpo shivered slightly, the touch electric. He couldn’t believe he was reacting this way with him. It was embarrassing. “It was fine…I liked the songs. So much for romance though. It was more like horror.”
“Horror, huh? I suppose heartbreak can be scary.” Poe hummed. They found themselves walking around a park instead of back to Ranpo’s apartment where he was going to be dropped off.
The silence was comfortable, but it was obvious there was some unspoken tension. Poe was here, so close yet so far. Does he even feel the same? Ranpo thought of brushing his hand against his again, purposely for the hell of it. Or maybe just to hold his hand and feel the warmth. Maybe lean into him and take in the smell of his cologne…the dewy and wood smelling one he always liked.
“Ranpo…may I ask you something?” Poe asked softly, keeping his gaze at the path ahead of him.
“Sure. What is it?” He answered. He hoped it wasn’t a personal question, but it probably was.
“You said you wanted to fall in love like how it was in the movies. Without all the misunderstandings and sad partings, yes?”
“...uh huh…why?” Ranpo glanced at him only to find that he was looking at him too. Poe quickly looked away.
“Um. Well, it’s just…this moment. Walking at night with you by my side. It’s like a movie scene, isn’t it? Even if it is a little cliche.”
Ranpo stopped walking and Poe walked a few steps ahead of him before stopping and turning around to look at him. The lighting from the light posts made him look beautiful. Under the night stars and the calm wind, it really did feel scripted.
“You’re a great person, Ranpo. You really are. Not just as a detective, but as an actual human being as well.” Poe said, keeping his eyes on him. “I enjoy your long rambles, just being beside you makes me happy. I want to keep writing for you and spending time with you if you’ll allow me to. Even if I may be awkward and quiet at times, I really do like being with you, Ranpo.”
He swallowed and suddenly his hands were shaking slightly.
Was this what being in love was like? Being truly in love. Admiring the person in front you, being able to say those sappy words without hesitation, being seen as someone more than just deductions and perfection. The thought of them not lasting has crossed his mind multiple times.
“You idiot…”
But as long as he got to be with Poe,
“If you continue saying more things like that,”
He’d rather have his heart broken than be nothing with him.
“I might just fall for you.”