Work Text:
Fukuzawa Yukichi looked around at the office space he was in. He couldn’t believe that just a few years after starting up the Agency for the sake of that kid would land him in an office space with staplers and computer equipment. It was a far cry from the world of violence, blood-stained clothes, and the sound of metal clashing on metal that was his assassination days. It felt so ordinary to be surrounded by the everyday furnishings of an office. Not that the job was anything ordinary.
He had somehow found himself as a kind of father figure to this kid and changed his entire life for him. And yet it felt natural. Like he was meant to do it. And nothing about that kid was ordinary at all.
Edogawa Ranpo was now 16 years old and Fukuzawa still felt a little overwhelmed when it came to dealing with the boy. Or rather, young man, at this point in time. Two years of knowing him and Fukuzawa still felt like he needed an exceedingly large amount of energy to be around Ranpo. Whether it was satisfying his sweet tooth or answering his many questions, being around him could be draining. Especially for someone like him who had been a lone wolf for so long.
But in the end Fukuzawa knew that this was the best thing to be doing. To take Ranpo under his wing and guide him through life while helping people the best he could. And to protect him from anyone who would do him harm.
Fukuzawa took a sip of his tea that had been sitting on the desk for far too long. He grimaced slightly at the lukewarm temperature as he gazed out the window onto the streets below. It was raining and the sea of umbrellas bobbing gently made him remember.
The likelihood that Ranpo owned an umbrella was pretty low and he was supposed to be coming back to the office soon. He’d have to deal with a grumbling and soggy boy who’d be demanding something warm and sweet while making a puddle in the middle of the room. Such were the complexities of life. Fukuzawa made a mental note to prepare some towels for when Ranpo returned, and to check and see if there was enough left in the stash of snacks Ranpo left in the office.
Preoccupied with his thoughts, Fukuzawa almost missed the ringing of his mobile phone. Walking the few paces to his desk, he picked up the phone while noting the caller was Ranpo.
“Ranpo?”
Fukuzawa winced at the loud grating noise he immediately heard, pulling back the phone from his ear. He could barely make out the garbled voice in between the loud, scratchy noises.
“....water…...can’t find…..help…”
The phone call cut out immediately and Fukuzawa stood still in shock as he played the scenario over in his head. Ranpo was in trouble. That much was clear. Could he have been kidnapped? Images of Ranpo being attacked and tortured came to him and Fukuzawa closed his eyes tightly, trying to will them away. He was still just a kid and had no way to protect himself. Fukuzawa would find him no matter what it would take.
Edogawa Ranpo was truly and hopelessly lost. He kicked his now useless phone down the sidewalk and back into the puddle he had dropped it in in the first place.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he grumbled, “Can’t they make a phone better than this? It can’t be that hard to make something that doesn’t break so easily.”
Ranpo looked around at the unfamiliar place around him. He had tried to take the train going back to the Agency but clearly the train must have taken him to the wrong place. He wondered how all the rest of these ordinary people could stand dealing with all those entrances to get on and off. It must be so annoying.
A sudden gust of wind blew through Ranpo reminding him of the wet clothes sticking to his skin. He shivered and tried to warm up his hands as he looked to see what buildings were around him. This wasn’t a part of Yokohama that he was aware of, after all he only cared about the places he needed to know for his job or the places where he could get the things he wanted.
Ranpo wandered down the street, tugging his hat down on his head in a vain attempt to stop the raindrops from pelting his face. There was a small bakery on the corner of a street and Ranpo figured he might as well get something to eat while he got out of the rain. He entered the store, a small jingle from the door ringing out before he walked to the display case and examined the selection while ignoring the rest of the people inside.
As he was deciding between several bread options a man in the store began to make a big deal over him, much to his annoyance.
“Oh wow kid look at you. You must be freezing. Look you’re completely soaked,” he began as he practically pushed a handkerchief into Ranpo’s face.
Ranpo squinted at him as the man continued to press the handkerchief into his face.
“Just look at the poor kid,” he continued as he spoke to the young woman behind the counter of the bakery. “He’ll get sick.”
Ranpo stepped out of his reach and rubbed his hand against his cheek. It felt slightly inflamed from the scratchy material that had been pressed against his face. He glanced at the man before turning back and ordering the chocolate cornets he’d been eyeing.
“Oh come on, son. Let me buy you those. I’m sure the beautiful lady back there will let me pay.”
At this point Ranpo had had enough of this man annoying him so much and he spun around. “So does your wife know you’re here?”
The man’s smile twitched slightly. “Wife? What are you talking about?”
The woman behind the counter piped up at this point. “I’m sorry but you might be mistaken. He’s told me that he’s unmarried.”
Ranpo fished some cash out of his pockets and put it down on the counter. “Well that’s a total lie. I’d watch out for this guy if I were you.”
“How dare-” the man started with anger before composing himself. “It’s not good to make things up like that, son.”
“Oh yeah?” Ranpo said reaching over to grab the box with his cornets in it. “Well I can tell by the skin on your ring finger that you’re usually wearing a ring ‘cause it’s a bit lighter there. A wedding ring, that is. But you took it off before coming in here. You don’t seem that smart so you probably just put it in your pocket.”
The man’s hand hovered slightly over the pocket of his suit. “You little kid. You better stop talking if you know what’s best for you.”
Ranpo ignored him and took a bite out of one of his cornets, the chocolate cream spilling out. “And he’s here in this suit that’s clearly way too expensive for him. I mean you can bet that the tags are still on it since he clearly couldn’t afford to get it tailored.”
The man was practically seething at this point with his fists balled up.
“I mean this wasn’t even the best part of this whole thing. He’s obviously trying to hit on you,” Ranpo said gesturing toward the bakery store owner, “I mean with that whole schtick of acting like he was concerned for me so you would think he’s a good guy. Man what a phony.”
Ranpo suddenly felt himself being almost lifted off the ground as the man pulled him by his collar. “You infuriating little brat….”
“Well she’s definitely not going to think you’re a good guy after this,” Ranpo said with a grin before holding up the ring he had just swiped from the man’s coat pocket. “And this is the wedding ring? Shame. It’s pretty nice. I feel bad for your wife.”
The man grabbed at the wedding ring and Ranpo wiggled out of his grasp while deftly picking up the box with his second cornet. “Thanks for the cornets, lady.” And with that he walked back out into the rain leaving behind a shocked woman behind the bakery counter, a fuming cheater, and a few other people who had been quietly observing in the bakery and were now whispering to each other about what just happened.
“Aww man. It’s still raining?”
Fukuzawa felt like he had never run as fast as he was at this current moment. He had gone to the location where Ranpo had been investigating into a case and found a rather disgruntled looking restaurant owner who gave him a terse response that the boy had left and walked toward the train station.
After giving the man a slight apology about Ranpo’s behavior and a quick thanks, Fukuzawa ran directly to the train station, keeping an eye out for any signs of the kid anywhere in the vicinity. Fukuzawa talked to a station attendant whose eyes immediately showed recognition when he described Ranpo to him.
“The kid with the hat? Yeah we saw him here. He was trying to jump the turnstiles about 40 minutes ago.”
Fukuzawa rubbed at his temples. That definitely sounded like Ranpo. He always tended to stand out in cases like this. “Do you know which direction he went?”
“Yeah we ended up helping him out and he got on a southbound line. Not that he thanked us or anything.”
“Well, thank you for your assistance,” Fukuzawa said, giving the station attendant a polite bow before heading out into the rain to follow the rail line. He’d check every stop along the line until he found Ranpo safe and sound. He had to, for Ranpo’s sake. And for his own.
Ranpo stood under the awning of a shop, gazing out miserably at the rainy scene around him. It had slowed down to a misty drizzle, but his clothes were still wet and he was cold.
“I wanna go back home,” he said to himself with a pout. “This sucks.”
There weren’t many people around the area, it seemed. A few people with their large umbrellas walking quickly down the streets, but no one that Ranpo knew would be able to help him. Not that he’d admit he needed the help. But either way, he could tell just by looking at them that they’d be useless in getting the info he needed.
And it wasn’t like he could use a payphone, either. After all, why would he need to remember Fukuzawa’s mobile number? If a phone could remember it, why would he need to spend his mental energy on something as simple as a number?
Although maybe he regretted that slightly at this point.
Ranpo slid down the wall of the building and pulled his knees toward his chest as he sat on the ground. Maybe he’d just sit here for a while and take a nap. And maybe Fukuzawa would find him somehow.
Fukuzawa lost count of how many stations he’d checked along the rail line. He was out of breath and his own clothes were wet from running through the rain. But he couldn’t think about that. His own condition was less important, after all. Ranpo was the priority here.
He ran down the sidewalk, his footsteps splashing in the puddles as he weaved through the groups of people walking on the same path. He kept thinking about how Ranpo felt right now. He was probably scared, afraid, though he may not admit it. And if someone had kidnapped him, he couldn’t expect Ranpo to not provoke whoever took him.
Fukuzawa clenched his fist tightly. He’d find Ranpo and bring him back home.
Just as he was thinking about that, a bright glint caught his eye. At first he thought it was just light reflecting off a puddle, but something about it made him stop and pause for a moment. Bending down, he picked up the object he had noticed. It was a mobile phone that had been shattered and destroyed from water damage. Dangling from it was a small, familiar-looking charm.
“Here.”
“What is that?” Fukuzawa had asked, looking at the strange figure hanging off a strap.
Ranpo was sitting on one of the desks in the temporary office they were using at the time, a lollipop stuck in his mouth. “Some sort of weird phone charm thing, I guess. I got two of them for free at the store and I already put one on mine.”
“And you’re giving the other one to me?”
Ranpo shrugged and looked away, waving the charm in the air. “Yeah I guess.”
Fukuzawa chuckled and took it from him. “Alright, kid. Thanks for the present.”
“It’s not a present. I don’t do presents,” Ranpo retorted. “I just had an extra one and you’re the only person I know.”
Ranpo’s voice trailed off in the end and the two of them sat quietly for a moment.
“Well...I’m gonna go read some manga now so just tell me if you need me for anything.”
Fukuzawa ripped the charm off the useless phone and gripped it in his fist. Ranpo had to be nearby.
Ranpo sniffled. He blamed it on the weather entirely, of course. He didn’t remember how many people had walked by him while he sat there on the sidewalk by himself. He just wanted to go home.
He rested his chin on his knees and looked out at the people passing by him. He watched them carefully and tried figuring out what kind of people they were just to pass the time. The lady walking by with a kid in tow was in a rush to get home and make dinner judging by the bag of groceries she had. The two girls holding hands who were clearly on a date despite the bad weather. The husband and wife who were fighting with each other but keeping it quiet while they were outside. The middle aged man who looked harried and wild-eyed, like he’d been looking for someone all day.
Oh.
“Ranpo!”
He blinked and stood up. Fukuzawa found him all the way here. Wherever here was. “Oh so you got my message. I’m tired, so give me a piggy back ride home.”
Fukuzawa gave him the slightest hint of a smile before ruffling Ranpo’s hair and pulling his hat down on his head. “Sure thing.”
They headed back toward the Agency building with Fukuzawa carrying Ranpo back.
“So how’d you find me in the end?”
Fukuzawa simply held up the little phone charm he had found and Ranpo understood what happened.
“Heh….well I want hot chocolate. It’s cold!”
“Okay.”
“And I want to get some snacks. I heard there’s this new candy that changes flavors. Oh and-”
Fukuzawa just nodded along to all of Ranpo’s demands and paid no attention to the fact that carrying a 16 year old kid on his back wasn’t the easiest thing. Ranpo was safe and that was the most important thing. He’d just have to make sure to never let the kid try and use the train by himself.