Chapter Text
Chapter one:
4pm, Yokohama, Japan
Poe watched Karl eat the snacks he gave him. After sighing, he decided that it was a long day of writing his novel for Ranpo to solve. He knew that he had missing his dear Ranpo all day (he would never admit this to him though!). So of course he had decided to go visit him at the detective agency, surely Ranpo would be delighted to see him!
While waiting for Karl to finish eating, he gathered some of the snacks he had promised to bring his dear Ranpo in the pockets of his tattered cloak, then gathering all his scattered papers and hiding them away in his desk.
With Karl now sat on his shoulder, he began to make his way to the agency. Once he made it through the busy streets, he opened the cafe doors hastily and headed upstairs tentatively.
Once reaching the door, he opened it carefully and peeked inside, his eyes darting around the room for Ranpo. Suddenly, Karl jumped down from Poe’s shoulder and scurried inside.
“Karl!”, Poe exclaimed and hurried after him to follow the cheeky raccoon.
“Hey Ed!”, Ranpo called out, already petting Karl and leaning back in his chair.
“R-Ranpo..! It’s so good to see you.”, he said with relief, walking towards him, then humming and pulling out the snacks.
“I brought you these. I got exactly what you asked for!”, Poe smiled.
“Wow! Thanks!”, Ranpo examined the different snacks and sweets.
“Is it alright that i’m here?”, Poe spoke with uncertainty, realising he was apart of a rivalry organisation (the Guild) and was currently standing in the middle of the detective agency’s office. Thankfully for him though, the rest of the agency members had already gotten used to his visits…
“Nope. You’re good.”, Ranpo mumbled while sucking on a lollipop. Poe looked away, in relief of course, although he knew he was probably already welcome at the agency.
“Ah, very well then. Oh-! Ranpo, I’ve almost finished my novel for you to solve! It will be the most challenging and-“, Poe was cut off by Ranpo’s voice,
“I can already deduct it won’t be a problem for me!”, Ranpo remarked.
Poe gasped and his face flushed a soft pink.
”Ranpo! You really wont be able to solve this one-”, Poe was silenced once again, but this time a sweet strawberry taste lingered on his lips suddenly.
Poe’s eyes widened, Ranpo’s lollipop was now in Poe’s mouth! Ranpo was sitting up, looking up at the taller, victorian dressed male.
“Can we go to your house, Ed?”, Ranpo asked innocently. Poe took the lollipop out his mouth and stuttered,
“Y-Yes, dear-“
“Yay! Let’s go!”, Ranpo suddenly shot out of his chair, Karl jumping off his lap and standing now by Poe’s feet. Poe nodded and walked out with Ranpo, still flustered.
As soon as they arrived at Poe’s house, Ranpo proudly walked through the doors, the familiar smell of old books and wood came to his senses.
He strided through the halls towards the living room and hopped onto the couch, Karl running behind him and Poe, with an awful posture I must add, followed closely behind his dear Ranpo.
“Ranpo?”, Poe called his name calmly. “Uhuh?”, Ranpo responded, already making himself comfortable on Poe’s scruffy couch. “I need to tell you something. Something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while..”, Poe spoke quietly, sitting slowly down on the couch beside Ranpo, keeping a safe distance and looking away from the smaller black haired male.
Poe waited for a response, then realising Ranpo had gone silent.
“Ranpo-?”, he looked down and there he was, sleeping! Of course he had to pick this time…Poe admired his sleeping face for a moment, his thoughts were running wild of how cute he looked and how typical of him it was to practically pass out as soon as he layed down.
Poe shook the thoughts out his head and looked over at Karl.
“Oh, Karl. What am i supposed to do? How should i tell him…?”
Karl made a soft noise and looked up at his owner. Poe looked down at Ranpo’s sleeping form again, his chest rising and falling slowly. Poe exhaled softly, then gulping as the thoughts crept back into his mind, maybe if he could just have this moment to admire his dear Ranpo. He wouldn’t know a thing, while tranced in such deep sleep, right?
Poe shuffled closer, his hand instinctively reaching out to feel Ranpo’s silky black hair.
“Ranpo…”, he whispered, still running his slender fingers through the other males locks. Poe began to feel the day catching up to him, the sound of sleep becoming a sweet thought. He closed his eyes slowly, his long hair falling over his eyes as he began to sink down into the soft cushions next to Ranpo. Karl, of course, curled up in between them, dozing off to sleep with the two (lovers).
Three hours later into the night, Ranpo woke up to the soft noises of Karl, and the unfamiliar but yet so comfortable warmness of someones hand on his head. He opened eyes only to be met with the soft face of Poe, sleeping just next to his head.
Ranpo tried to suppress the growing affection in his heart at the sight, he…kinda liked it. Just laying there, with little Karl and with Poe. It wasn’t something he experienced often. Sure, he spent time with the Poe and his little raccoon. But like this? He felt himself already getting used to the idea. Ranpo sat up slowly, not wanting to wake the other sleeping male up.
Although, it wasn’t long until Poe did wake up eventually, Ranpo did in-fact wake him up minutes later. Predictable.
“Hey, sleepy head.”, Ranpo spoke close to Poe.
“R-Ranpo. You don’t have to speak directly into my ear.”, Poe mumbled, sitting up and then realising how close he actually was to the other male.
He gulped and was lost for words at the moment. He just tried to look away from Ranpo’s oh-so-gorgeous green eyes…no! He can’t be thinking this about his rival….no-..friend? No..thats not right, Ranpo isn’t just a friend- Oh..
At that moment, Poe was reminded about how he truly felt about Ranpo. He had to tell him now, it was the perfect moment.
“Ed?”, Poe was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Ranpo.
“Ah- Yes?”, Poe focused.
Ranpo smirked and leaned even closer to Poe.
“Wanna tell me what you were just thinking about?”, Ranpo said cheekily. Poe’s eyes widened and he met eyes with Ranpo’s. “Yes- Actually! Ranpo, I must confess something to you.”, Poe spoke firmly, yet holding back his nervousness. Ranpo hummed in response.
Poe took the chance to continue,
“You see, I believe I’ve..- I’ve caught feelings for you Ranpo. Romantic ones.”, Poe blurted out, blushing.
Ranpo, however, was now grinning,
“I knew it! I had already deducted it, Poe. I have feelings for you too. I have been trying to deny them but-“. Ranpo was cut off by a soft press against his lips, Poe was kissing him…!
He closed his before-widened eyes slowly, his lips lingering on Poe’s for a moment, his eyes opening again as Poe pulled away.
“Ranpo…”, Poe spoke just above a whisper. Ranpo gulped and exhaled,
“Poe- You kissed me..”.
Poe’s face flushed and he nodded slowly.
“I did- I kissed you, my dear Ranpo..”.
Ranpo instantly leaned his head into Poe’s shoulder, hiding his flustered cheeks and Poe quickly wrapped his arms gently around the small male. One hand rested on the back of his head and the other splayed over his small back.
They both knew this was what they truly wanted. No rivalry, but instead to just to be in each other’s arms. And so they stayed like that, until they both fell back to sleep once again.
End of chapter 1