Chapter Text
Ranpo had always figured that Edgar Allan Poe would take his side in an argument.
I mean, he's the greatest detective the world's ever laid eyes on, he always had a tendency to be correct. So how on earth had the argument between him and his rival begun?
Poe slammed down the 'book' he had just finished to bring over to the candy-holic. Right now of course, it happened to be a punch of papers stapled together as a draft of sorts for ranpo to approve, because he did value his opinion in such a way, he tilted his chin upwards, his deep voice ringing out loudly as he rarely accomplished.
"PERHAPS YOU MIGHT BE WISE ENOUGH, TO GO BACK TO YOUR PATHETIC LIFE, AND STOP JUDGING ME ON MY OWN! What kind of detective are you if you can't even try to take the advice I hand over to you?! All you ever do is-is snack and- sit around!"
The Raven Haired man froze, pathetic? His emerald eyes opened, steeling their gaze towards you as he closed his mouth from shock. How did this man not see the privilege he had been given? "Excuse me? If my life is SO overwhelmingly PATHETIC. i trust you to escort yourself out of my life, and out of this workspace. Take you, and your filthy raccoon and leave at once! You have no right to speak to me like that!"
Ranpo couldn't help his voice from cracking as he spoke those last few words, why was he becoming so emotional after such a small moment in his day? He supposed it was everything that had happened, and then placing this on top of the teetering bookstack- it was ready to fall.
Without waiting for a response, he shuffled over to the private locker room, slamming the door shut behind him. And only once the doorknob had clicked to signal he was finally alone- did he lean back against the rough textured wood door, sliding down onto the floor, he brought his clothed knees to his face. His hands moved up to his hair, toned olive skin mixing with raven hair as he gripped a handful and roughly pulled, taking shaky breaths as he felt a tear fall.
He had trusted the poet, and now he has just been embarrassed thoroughly in the presence of all the agency, how cruel a tactic! He stopped as tears began to hit his knee, soaking the brown fabric even darker, he pushed on his knee and stood up, wobbling a slight amount.
He walked over to the locker with his name on it, and quickly entered the code too unlock it. 13254. The same since he first joined. He swung open the door to reveal an entire snack haven inside. He hastily grabbed an entire armful, closing the door shut with his foot. He began lugging them to the couch they had put in the room after ranpo expressed the need for one.
It was sickening really, how these bits of food he had saved were some of the only things to help. The only way he could try to relieve the swarming feeling when sounds became sirens, and air became thick.
He began opening packages, quickly eating the contents. Barely stopping before he reached for the next one. And before the detective could register what he had been doing, wrappers, packages, bags lay around him, empty and messy, he quickly grabbed them all and shoved them down into the trash can, shame swarmed him as he began walking back to the couch as he saw the mirror dazai had purchased for the room not too long ago.
Ranpo walked over and looked himself up and down, he frowned, was he a pear shape? What kinda of shapes were there anyways? He shook off the thought as he stared at his thighs, large, puffed,.....big. he raised his gaze to his stomach, and at the slight bit of chubbiness he had acquired since joining the agency, barely noticable to others, but to him was a different story. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at his face, soft, round, not at all sharp like he had been in the police academy. Poe's words rang in his ears.....*~all you ever do is snack and sit around*~
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The poet glared at ranpo as he spoke, calling Karl over in a swift motion of his arms, he scooped his up and placed him on his shoulder, quietly reassuring him. He looked back over too see ranpo storming off into the locker room, typical ranpo. Running away from his problems instead of facing them.
Oh who was he kidding? His expression faltered, his eyebrows furrowed and his index finger rubbed his temple in circles, he had gone too far, he knew that, so why had he- after all these years- let his anger slip? He supposed he was tired of suppressing it. He gazed at the door long after it had shut, he didn't doubt his words had struck deep.
After all, when a certain detective confides his worries in you, of course those include his self esteem issues.
And he had just preached them valiantly, in front of all his work colleagues.
Dammit.
The poet fiddled with the draft still placed in his hands, he set it gently on ranpo's desk, and looked over to kunikida, recognizing the shock in his eyes, in all of their eyes too what he had said. He pursed his lips, dragging his eyes back to the door. The one ranpo hiding behind- from him.
He looked at fukuzawa, whom nodded sensing his need to amend what had happened, he stepped forwards. Boots clicking against the floor as he reached for the handle, he felt guilt swim violently inside of his gut for the whole ordeal.
Edgar turned the handle, pale hand gripping it tighter than necessary. He gently pushed open the door, and stuck his head inside, looking around for ranpo till he spotted him, he was kneeled in front of a tall mirror by a couch that was stationed against the wall, ranpo had hidden his face in his hands, shoulders shaking- wait, poe had made him cry? His heart sunk as ranpo looked up at the door, he could see you go rigid before he yelled.
"Ed- what the HELL are you DOING?"
Poe winced, feeling like he very much deserved that. He had made his...his dear detective cry? Dear? No rival, rival yes that's the word.
"Ranpo dear, I know you have no reason or care most likely to forgive me for what I said, but I thought I should apologize anyways, you didn't deserve what I said to you. In no way are you pathetic, and honestly i find you....i-.... adorable. I could not express more with simply words for what I feel about what I said. And I apologize deeply."
His stomach churned, ADORABLE? he said ranpo was adorable. Fuck the raven hair would tease him about this for months, if he ever forgave him that is, his heart began to shatter as he saw ranpo hiding his face with an arm, standing securely on both feet.
The poet quietly entered the room, closing the door shut behind him with his boot. He slowly walked over, head tilted as he slowly removed the arm covering ranpo's face.
He cringed as ranpo flinched away, the action hurt him in a way he couldn't express.
"Ed....stop- just......go." The poet shook his head gently, he didn't think he could possibly live with himself if you stayed hating him, he gently placed a hand on your arm.
"I apologize ranpo....I'm not leaving. We need to talk"
He carefully lowered ranpo's arm, revealing puffed out cheeks, dry tears, and dimmed emerald eyes. He watched as ranpo took a step back, closing his hands around his own abdomen, poe gazed at him, the gesture itself spoke volumes. he had known for a long time about the fact he had self image issues, and he hated that he had caused another fresh bout of insecurity.
The poet took a breath, avoiding the sharp gaze of those piercing emerald eyes, that gazed into his very soul. As if deducing every thought he would ever happen to have.
"You are not pathetic ranpo dear, you are so, so far from it. You are the most- ... brilliant, talented, intellectual person I have ever had the absolute pleasure of meeting, let alone getting the privilege to be the rival of such a person...I'm truly blessed. I admit that I should not have said those things, they were thoughtless and cruel. And no words might be able to express just how sorry I am that they were spoken too you."
He looked down, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm his racing heart, he didn't expect forgiveness, he didn't even expect him to respond. But perhaps his heart could grow lighter with the knowledge he tried his best, which was exactly why he was surprised when ranpo placed a hand on his cheek, cupping it as he tilted the poet's chin up so that their eyes could meet.
"Ed, I'm not excusing what you said to me, but...i forgive you. Not many people have the guts to apologize. And I can appreciate that you did."
Poe widened his eyes, surprise lighting up his features at your kind, generous words. His hands began to fidget with each other as he corrected his posture to gaze down at the genius detective.
He watched the detective take away his hand, fidgeting with his tie. For the first time this morning poe noticed it was backwards. How cute.- wait not cute, odd. Yes that's it.
"Ranpo dear, I have a question to ask. I mean no harm in asking, but I'm worried about you."
Ranpo frowned, poe watched his hands drop to his sides and his head tilt. "Uh? What is it?"
Poe looked down, then locked eyes with those emerald pearls. He sighed and helped you over to the couch, sitting down beside you and assisting karl into your lap. He eyed your movements for a few moments, gathering his thoughts before speaking, his voice gentle but quick.
"I saw.....you in front of the mirror....and based off of everything you have told me before....did...you binge again...? I am not disgusted, or anything like that. I'm just worried ranpo dear, I promise i won't judge I just want to be here for you"
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Ranpo froze, he closed his eyes before bringing his knees up to his chest, he began to bury his face in the comfort of being hidden.
"Who the hell asks someone...a....a question like that...,"
Ranpo felt a delicate hand begin to rub circles on his back, he felt the poet move closer as if the mere presence might help comfort him. He took a deep breath as the brunette began to speak. "I just know you happen to when things get bad, or stress overwhelms you, or...or when the world becomes to much for your brain to process. None of that is wrong, but I'm here for you when it happens."
Ranpo nudged him off, standing abruptly and clenching raven colored hair between his hands. He sniffled and shook his head, stomping a foot on the ground. "I- I was just- it was- i-eating helps! You don't understand-no one does..."
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Poe looked up, startled by ranpo's sudden outburst. His heart ached as ranpo gripped his hair distressed, he worried he would hurt himself if he continued. He pursed his lips as the detective spoke about eating in excess as a form of comfort, for once he was not sure what to do. He slowly stood up, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender and understanding. He smiled softly, eyebrows cinched together as the olive skinned detective began pacing, throwing his head back and forth, his hands -thankfully- moving from his hair to flapping them back and forth, tears began to stream down his cheek, causing the poet's heart to throb.
"I'm sorry, I know I won't understand now, or probably ever. However I know you turn to food for comfort and I just wanted to convey I was worried, and here for you nonetheless. Your not broken, you never were. Your mind just processes things differently then mine, and I think that's wonderful."
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Ranpo barely heard his words, only registering them moments after they finished leaving your lips. He began to bounce on his ankle as he looked at the poet, eyes soft, full of understanding and care. Ranpo was well aware his eyes were glistening with water and shine, like a waterfall after it rained and the sun began to show through the droplets, creating a wonderful rainbow.
He looked around and grabbed a sort of stretchy rubber toy out of the pocket on his pants, he began stretching it, taking deep breaths as his hands played with it, calming him down.
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Poe watched, he didn't judge, keeping his expression the same. He tilted his head, he hadn't known ranpo might be.... Neuro divergent to a degree. That explained a bit though, and only caused him to love him more. "Ranpo dear.......may I ask for a hug?"
The detective nodded, wiping a tear out of his eye as he wondered over, Poe gently wrapped his arms around the raven haired man, hesitantly placing a kiss against the crown of his head, he rocked back and forth, his embrace comforting as he listened to the detectives breath begin to even out, he moved back to gently cup his face, he smiled politely before speaking.
"Im here my dear, I always have been. Since that day we first met, and you bested me for the first time. I knew you were the most genius man -or human- to ever walk in my presence. You will never be odd, or weird, nothing but my wonderful, lovely ranpo."