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The first person who notices them, notices the slightly intimate touches they share when they think no one is looking (their hands holding each other a second too long as Poe hands out his new manuscript and how the both of them would be flustered like teens), was not (contrary to popular opinion) Fukuzawa.
The elder man might be wise and patient, almost being akin to a father to these young adults who still act like children as they never really had a chance to enjoy being a kid, but he never was wise in the manners of love. He was forty-five years old, lived life without a partner because as much as he dislikes to admit it he is dense in the game of love though it is not like he has any regrets, out of everyone in the agency—he surprisingly does not have much experience when it comes to love.
So no, it was not Fukuzawa to notices their privately public displays of affection, it was someone else that was close to Ranpo’s heart. A young scary prodigious doctor was the first one who noticed it.
Yosano Akiko, despite being the career-driven woman she is having been the youngest of her batch to graduate medical school, was by no means inexperienced when it came to the matters of love. She had her equal share of flings, both with men and women, and dare she say it—have fallen in love numerous times before. She knows the tell-tale signs of being in love perhaps better than anyone else in the Agency (aside from Kiraka Haruno, their newest clerk and Naomi, Tanizaki’s sister). She knows the flushed look Ranpo always has and how his heads is seemingly more up in the sky whenever Poe comes around to visit, she sees everything and even though she may not be a detective, she deduces and deduces right.
(she would know of course. she was the partner of edogawa ranpo! she was bound to pick up some tricks and some traits of ranpo’s. besides, you always notice the things your loved one does and akiko does consider ranpo something close to a younger brother.)
“Ah. So you have a penchant for authors, don’t you?” Akiko brings the topic up one day when they are out of trouble and out of missions to do. Akiko is slightly glad about this since it is quite tiring and troublesome to be taking care of a childish detective.
Ranpo stiffens, his cheeks faintly becoming red. “I do not know what you’re talking about Akiko.” He mutters, refusing to meet Akiko’s eyes.
Akiko simply laughs. “It’s quite okay; for I think I’m the only one who noticed.” She says, and after thinking quite a bit, she adds: “Ah, I feel quite offended you did not tell me though. I would not tell anyone and besides—who’ll believe me?”
“Fukuzawa will believe you, or did you forget?” Ranpo once more mutters, this time in irritation and Akiko is reminded of a child indignantly trying to prove someone else wrong.
Akiko once more chuckles, “Only him.” She says, “Though, I’ll take this answer as a yes, can I not?”
Ranpo stares at Akiko, perhaps in realization that he actually did accidentally give himself away to his partner. His hands make their way to Ranpo’s hat and he hides himself under it as best as he can, but before he can do that Akiko has already seen the redness of his cheeks. It was very endearing to see Ranpo actually embarrassed at being founded out.
“Do whatever you like.” He mumbles through the hat’s fabric and Akiko has to strain her ears just so she could hear the thing her dear colleague told her.
“I’ll take it as my win then.” Akiko grins in triumph, her hands making their way to her hips. She frowns after a few seconds though. “I have got to ask, why did you not tell me or tell anyone? We won’t judge you, you know. Anyone who does so can be considered a hypocrite.”
Ranpo hides himself further in his hat and promptly leaves Akiko hanging. “Figure that out by yourself,” He says, “I’m calling my Fifth Amendment and lawyer for slander.”
Akiko giggles, looking at the retreating figure of Ranpo before setting to work to figure out why on earth Ranpo hid the fact he and the author were in a relationship. The detective was usually so open about things, not wanting to hide the knowledge he knows and actually wants to share them to this every growing selfish world and—
Ah.
Akiko gets it now.
(in all honesty, she should have seen ranpo being a possessive and private person when it comes to the person he likes. of course, he would not like to show the world his privately public intimate moments to anyone but himself and poe. these moments are not for the world’s to take or to watch, it is a private thing and ranpo does not like sharing.
and akiko also has a feeling the very same can be said about poe if she judges by their previous matches.)
Louisa May Alcott considers herself a good friend of Edgar Allan Poe. How would she be not? They were one and the same; they were practically in the same boat! Insecure, an introvert, rarely wants to go outside, and is both scared of their editors? Practically the same (except for the genres that they write).
See, Louisa May Alcott cares very much for Poe. If the romance novels she’s written is anything to go by she would deduce that the author actually likes this ‘arrogant, selfish and cocky’ detective! After all, before Alcott is an author, she is always and foremost a strategist. Knowing someone’s moods and feelings is just part of her admittedly hard but well-paying job!
She sees, observes and notices.
There is a light flush smattering the pale cheeks of Poe, his ears are practically red, and as much as he would try and hide this blush he is now sporting on his face—he is pale, but the curse of an introvert who spent the past six years in his room pushing himself to be the best.
“You should’ve been there Alcott! It was—he was so bad!” Poe would often growls out, reminiscing about the time he got beat by this small detective. “He was—he was great, too great but there was something in his eyes! It was sparkling? Who even does that?”
Louisa would only giggle and pat the other’s head. “You’ll have your chance in the near future.”
“I hope.” He says out in a whining manner. There is something that reminds Alcott of a child in his actions and Louisa smiles fondly at her dear friend.
Now, if you would tell Louisa that the weak link in the Guild was Edgar Allan Poe, she would agree whole-heartedly. He had a weak heart and he most definitely did not believe in Fitzgerald’s cause and there was really no reason why he was there except for revenge. He was not controlled by money, by friendships, or the promises of happiness. He was there with them for his wounded pride and to seek out to destroy his promised nemesis.
Alcott agrees—she agrees that Edgar Allan Poe would perhaps be the one who will bring about the roundabout destruction of the Guild, but here’s the kicker—the question; If she knew all that, why on earth did she give the task of defeating Edogawa Ranpo to her dear friend?
She knew that there was a chance it could bring about the destruction of the Guild, and it did. She was right, it did bring about the destruction of the Guild in a way. It was slightly because of Edgar Allan Poe that the Guild was somehow destroyed and why the Great F. Scott Fitzgerald was all alone, trying to lick all his wounds better, and why he did not want to call his wife.
She didn’t consider it as a misplanning on her part. She was a human, yes so she could easily chalk it up to her forgetfulness but the thing is—it wasn’t because of her forgetfulness. She willingly decided to write that Poe be matched up with his nemesis. She willingly told and lied Fitzgerald that Poe would win against Edogawa Ranpo.
Now why on earth did Louisa May Alcott did that? She had a reason to not want the Guild’s destruction (ah, but perhaps that was a lie. she did tell zelda that she would try her best to not let fitzgerald destroy himself).
Even if she is a strategist, she is still a friend and she dearly wants all her friends to smile and be just—happy. She saw, and she thought that if somehow—if Poe was indeed defeated by Ranpo, then perhaps—just perhaps all her friends would be free from where the Guild was going and Fitzgerald will have time to heal and to mourn for the loss of his daughter (let’s face it, he wasn’t doing it just for his wife, but also for himself, throwing himself to work to not think about the death of his daughter).
In a way, Poe and Ranpo’s fight would be the deus ex machina everyone needs. In the end though, as it brought destruction to the one thing Louisa considers her family, it also gave birth to a new one. A renewed one.
Edgar Allan Poe still texts her sometimes, they never do call that’s just plain awkward. All he tells Alcott is Ranpo this, and Ranpo that though strangely enough, there’s a hint of fondness in his texts as he tells her about his latest escapades and their recent matches. Alcott doesn’t exactly know if Poe figured out what she did or if he figured out his more than platonic and rival love for his supposed nemesis but she’s happy to see him happy and happy to see her boss heal.
Later some time though, she receives a message from an unknown number that slightly leaves her a bit frightened. Alcott gasps in shock as she realizes who it is. She smiles as she reads it, it seems that like that the feelings Poe holds for his nemesis and friend is also reciprocated. Alcott saves Ranpo’s number in her phone and continues on with her day, feeling happier and lighter than ever.
(thanks 4 fuckin up n lowkey givin us poe.
dont ask me how I got ur number that’s 4 me 2 kno.
ok i asked poe abt it. he told me 2 tell u that so u wont panic.
but u didn’t fuck up rite. idk y u chose 2 let me battle poe but thank u 4 givin me the light n nervous of havin poe be right by my side )
(Thank you very much for taking care of Poe!
I mean, I assume you are—or there’ll be very bad consequences.)
Osamu Dazai considers himself a good judge of character even if Kunikida Doppo doesn’t necessarily agree with that.
He was a mafia executive and had a lot (he forgot the exact number) of people under his palm in one point. He had to know how to feel who was the weakest link, who had the weakest moral and who could easily be destroyed by emotional warfare. If he could not do that, then what good was he as a a mafia executive?
So, yes, Osamu Dazai considered himself as a good judge of character. He had to, if he wanted to survive too.
He is watching his coworker, Edogawa Ranpo, talk to a supposed enemy. He was having a good time, judging from his facial expression. He was smiling, engaged in almost animated conversation with the shy author. Their hands were both touching the manuscript Poe brought in and was all but forgotten in favor of conversation.
“You think Ranpo likes Poe, Kunikida?” Dazai says as he watches the two, trying to not stare at the work currently stacked on his desk.
“Fukuzawa doesn’t pay you to stalk your coworker talking to someone, Dazai.” Kunikida simply says. He deftly slaps the back of Dazai’s head. “Now please do get back to work.”
“Ouch!” Dazai rubs the back of his head whilst smiling. “I’m not stalking Ranpo though! I’m just avoidin—ah, I mean just worried for my dear friend.”
“You clearly almost said avoiding work.” Kunikida sighs and rubs his temples before turning to face his obnoxious partner. “If I answered you, would you get back to work and stop bothering me?”
“Ah, well let’s see.” Dazai replies, “It’s too fun bothering you so maybe not.”
One glare from Kunikida shuts up Dazai. He’s not too terribly scared of Kunikida but he knows his limits and knows when to not toy with him. It seemed he was stressed more than usual, he really should behave since he doesn’t really like to see his partner be stressed about something, reminds him of his unreliable past (but Kunikida was indeed cute when he was annoyed at Dazai).
“All right.” Dazai gives, “Maybe I will.”
“I’ll take that.” Kunikida sighs once more, “I guess, if you ask me—then I’m inclined to say yes. You can’t really deny that ever since Ranpo met Poe it’s just been Poe that and Poe this. I’m happy for him, but it’s tiring.”
“Hm.” Dazai hums as he sits on Kunikida’s answer. It was good that his partner had the same conclusion as him, it wouldn’t do Dazai good if Kunikida couldn’t even draw that conclusion when the two were practically holding hands in public and was one step close to kissing each other.
“Now, for the real kicker.” Dazai starts, “Who do you think is the more dominant one? If we’re basing on height, then it’s definitely Poe right? But Ranpo is more open about his feelings and the one initiating and more—you know, confident.”
“Oh my god, just get back to work don’t discuss the sex life of your coworker.” Kunikida says as he chucks a pen to Dazai.
Dazai just laughs and does return to work, thankfully.
Scott Fitzgerald bears no ill will to Edgar Allan Poe.
He’s long deduced that it was slightly because of Poe that his mighty organization fell and now he is here without a cent in his name nor a friend, except for Alcott. Judging with how said friend moved when the topic of Edgar Allan Poe was brought up, it wasn’t really really hard to deduce that the author had a connection with how the Guild fell.
Well, it was not like he bore a grudge against him, perhaps he is thankful. After all, in death there is rebirth and that is what he and his organization underwent—is undergoing through. He should be thanking him, if he thinks about it. If it weren’t for the fall of his mighty organization, he wouldn’t have thought to do this in a way that really would not have hurt anyone.
He cared about the members of his organization, and perhaps he did not think through in his plans as he still had some of his members be critically injured in their war against the Detective Agency. The only way he had found out about this—the way that he realized this was because of his good friend Edgar Allan Poe slightly betraying them and being the indirect cause of his Guild.
Like he said, he held no ill grudges towards the man, he is actually thankful.
The power of love can really make the difference and really, being subjected to Poe’s talks about his indescribable hate towards the detective made it clear to Fitzgerald that Poe harbored some more than rival-like or platonic affections towards the guy but didn’t want to admit it.
It’s glad to know that Poe finally fought off the need to say he only liked Ranpo because of his ability, a not good kind of like he’d often say, and fully embraced that he actually like likes Edogawa Ranpo.
“Alcott,” He says after he ponders about Edgar Allan Poe in their new base, he should send something to the author to thank him for all his deeds to his organization, “What do you think is a good gift for new couples? Isn’t Poe and that Ranpo detective together?”
Louisa squeaks out as she realizes that Fitzgerald knows all along and he just laughs.
“You really thought I never noticed? Give me more credit than that Louisa!”
Scott Fitzgerald bears no ill will towards Edgar Allan Poe, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be petty and embarrass Poe like a father would embarrass his son.
(Ah, if we are talking about love then perhaps it would be time to contact his wife? He really, really, really does not like the thought of causing her harm with the state that she is in. He wants to, he really really wants to but—something just stops him from dialing her number and calling her.
He really wants to hear her voice again, but at the same time he is quite scared.
Perhaps—perhaps another time he would.)
Fukuzawa Yukichi is admittedly not the greatest person in the matters of love. It was the only thing he was not wise about, except maybe taking care of kids (but kids flock to him—probably because of the cats hidden inside his yukata).
Though, he knows when his good friend was happy and he definitely knows that this one detective he knows is definitely happier than usual. He’s not sure if that’s a good thing, as he was motivated to solve mysteries faster or a bad thing as an energetic Ranpo never really do end in a happy way.
“What’s got you in a frizz, old man?” Ranpo laughs at him when Fukuzawa stares at him, trying to find out what changed. “Getting sentimental on me, again?”
“No, no.” Fukuzawa admits, but it’s nice to see Ranpo different from those years ago, when he first met Ranpo there was a guy so unsure of his place in the world and so unsure of what he can do and now—now he’s so confident in himself. Fukuzawa is happy at the thought of that, but now is not the time. “You seem—you seem happier, that’s all.”
“I do?” Ranpo tilts his head in confusion before it morphs into a face of realization. “Oh.”
“Do you know why?” Fukuzawa asks, “I mean, it’s not a bad thing but—it’s rare for you to be this happy, I’m quite glad that you are though. I just—I am curious.” He admits, “Call it the paternal instinct inside of me but I really want to know everyone’s affairs.”
“Now that’s called being nosy.” Ranpo laughs. “It’s nothing really—but, well, I think it’s because of recent events.”
“Recent events? Ranpo, half of Yokohama is destroyed because of the guild fight and—“Fukazawa stops, thinks for a moment. He smiles in realization and then; “Is this because you have met someone that can stand beside you?” He asks in amusement.
“Maybe.” Ranpo answers vaguely but when he does that it definitely means yes, he found someone that can stand beside you—that’s worthy of his time. “I don’t really have to answer that, since you’re not my father.”
“Ah. Is this the guy with the mop-like hair that I’ve been seeing lately?” Fukuzawa ignores him, “You really should invite him to join our agency, or at most perhaps invite him over for dinner at my home.”
“It’s not mop-like, Poe has the softest hair okay. It looks like a mop but it’s not like a mop.” Ranpo huffs, “And I’m not inviting him here or to your house, god knows everyone will embarrass me and you’ll probably scare him away and I don’t want—wait fuck.”
“You really like him do you?” Fukuzawa laughs, takes off Ranpo’s cap just to ruffle his hair. He puts it back on and then leaves him, “I’m not necessarily saying now, but I’m expecting!”
“Did you really pull my cap off so you can mess up my hair, geez Fukuzawa.” Ranpo huffs and pulls down his cap so no one can see him turn red. He does not answer the question of his dear old friend, someone akin to a new father as he was really embarrassed.
(he is thinking though that: yes, he might really really like this boy. perhaps a bit too much.)