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Shinichi closed the front door behind him and let out a small sigh of relief. He slid off his shoes, making a face at the feel of his wet socks on the floor. The rest of his clothes were in a similar state.
"Mom? Dad?" he called out, "Akai-san?"
He listened carefully. Hearing nothing except the steady drip drip drip of water off his blazer and trousers onto the floor, he shrugged before removing his attire, leaving it in a sopping pile near the door. The stone tile of the genkan could handle a little water until he got around to retrieving his clothes, and this way he wouldn't leave a wet trail that he'd have to mop up.
He made his way upstairs in only his boxers and took a quick shower. It was a relief to finally put on dry clothes, better still that they were his soft and comfortable lounge clothes. It had been a long day. A long, rainy, miserable day.
A double homicide hadn't been in his original plans. He'd wanted to attend the KID heist. But Megure-keibu had called, and how could he say no? A murder trumped theft any day, especially a KID heist where nobody got hurt. His own preferences didn't matter.
It was strange. As Conan, he'd been both more and less autonomous. He had less independence as a child, but more freedom with his time. Though he did his best, Shinichi missed more heists than Conan ever did.
He collapsed in a heap on the couch, turning on the TV to catch the highlights from the heist. Things were supposed to be easier since he'd returned to his rightful age. He supposed in many ways, they were. He and Ran had broken up, but their friendship remained intact, something he was immensely grateful for. Actually, after a couple weeks of awkwardness between them post breakup, he felt like their friendship was stronger than ever now that the question of their relationship was finally settled. And the relief of the Black Organization finally being taken down couldn't be overstated. He still had more than a few nightmares involving figures in black, occasionally with long silver hair, but at least the threat wasn't actually real. Yes, things were definitely much easier now. One bad day didn't change that.
He supposed he was just frustrated.
A flash of white on the TV screen. Ah yes, the source of his frustration. He'd thought, maybe even hoped, that once he returned to his body, things between him and KID would be… different somehow. Though, he couldn't parse what change exactly he'd wanted. But KID treated him just like any other detective.
Shinichi hated it.
He was pulled from his musings by the reporter sitting at a desk, speaking over a clip of KID escaping.
"Kaitou KID has once again escaped with the jewel while Division Two could do nothing to stop him. The phantom thief was seen escaping from the roof via his glider, though it would seem even a phantom would struggle to fly in this storm."
The clip showed a tiny white figure jump from the roof, spotlights chasing after him. The camera began to zoom in, but just before, a glint caught Shinichi's eye. He narrowed his eyes. It had reminded him of the reflection off a sniper scope, but he'd only seen it for a moment before it was gone, the camera following KID. As he watched, KID's retreating form gave a sudden lurch.
Shinichi surged into standing. That hadn't looked like trouble with the weather, it looked like KID had been shot.
The clip ended and the camera returned to the reporter back in the studio.
"Unfortunately for the thief, almost as soon as he'd taken to the sky, the rain turned into a torrential downpour. We asked Nakamori-Keibu for a comment, and the inspector is confident that KID wouldn't be able to fly in these conditions and was forced to land prematurely. Residents are asked—"
The TV turned off with a sudden click as the entire manor went dark. The only sound was low roar of the rain on the roof and windows. The power had gone out.
Shinichi let out a small groan, but it looked like nobody had even noticed KID being shot at. He doubted he would have gotten anymore information from the news anyway. Had KID actually been shot? All he'd seen was reflection of light from a nearby roof, and KID's less than graceful gliding during a rainstorm. He considered calling Nakamori-Keibu, but the sniper (if they actually existed) was sure to be long gone. No, if calling the inspector was to hinder anyone, it would probably be KID. Shinichi didn't actually want that, something he had finally admitted to himself months ago.
As much as he hated to admit it, there wasn't much he could do. KID was skilled enough, resourceful enough, lucky enough, that he was sure to be okay. Shinichi had to believe that.
It was getting rather late, but Shinichi's mind felt too active to go to bed and he knew it would be hours before he could fall asleep. Might as well start on the paperwork for that double homicide he'd solved, but first he needed some light. He turned on the flashlight of his newly refitted tranquilizer watch and made his way back upstairs. He was pretty sure there were some candles in the attic.
Up in the attic, the rain sounded more like a hurricane. It made sense, with it being closer to the roof and the walls being less insulated compared to the rest of the house. He pointed his flashlight around and let out a small groan. It had been a while since he had last been up here, and since then his mom had only added more clutter. Tall floor lamps from Paris, large Persian rugs, stacks on stacks of shoe boxes from Milan, an ornate bird cage (they had never owned a bird?), along with a few pieces of furniture covered with a drop cloth. How was he supposed to find anything up here?
He walked deeper into the attic, leaving the ladder behind him. His flashlight cast shadows of strange shapes that stretched high on the walls, bigger than their tangible counterpart. The light seemed to be swallowed by the inky darkness, and all the clutter seemed to crowd in on him. The first few boxes he came across were labeled Christmas decorations. He kept searching.
It was near the windows on the front side of the house that he finally found a box of candles. He stooped to pick up the box, but paused when noticed a puddle of water on the floor. He frowned, and shined his light around the area to investigate, finding that it seemed to come from the windows. Was there a leak?
On closer inspection, the puddle was actually a series of puddles leading from the window deeper into the attic.
'A trail,' his mind supplied as his stomach dropped.
There was someone else here.
He stiffened when he felt eyes on him. He slowly reached into the box and grasped a heavy three pronged candelabra. He would prefer something kickable, and could probably find something suitable in another box, but he didn't want to take the time to find something and leave himself vulnerable.
Improvised weapon in hand, he shined his light ahead, following the puddles of water. One of the puddles made him stop short. Did the water look blood tinged? He knelt to get a closer look, careful not to disturb the evidence. Definitely blood. Now that he was looking for it, he could see more droplets of blood around on the floor and mixed in the water. The question was if the blood belonged to the intruder, or a victim.
The trail went down a narrow walk path between a makeshift hallway between stacked boxes and furniture. He turned around a corner, and almost ran straight into what he initially took to be another piece of furniture covered in drop cloth. Except it wasn't furniture, it was most definitely a person.
"…KID?" he asked while squinting suspiciously. He could now see what he mistook for a drop cloth was actually KID's cape. He was holding it in front of himself and hiding behind it like it was a curtain.
The cape twitched. Still from behind it, KID spoke in a theatrically wavery voice, shaking the cape. "Noooo, I am a ghoooost. Leave this place and go back downstaaaiirs."
"KID, now is not the time," he grabbed a fist full of the material and tugged it out of KID's hands, revealing the thief underneath, "to be playing around."
"Meitantei, fancy meeting you here." KID said while shielding his face against the light with his left arm, his body turned to give Shinichi his profile and keep half of himself in shadow.
"You're in my attic," Shinichi replied, his impatient response more a reflex of their usual banter while a distracted part of his mind moved the flashlight up and down, checking the thief over. "Come downstairs, let's get you some dry clothes before you catch your death. And you should let me take a look at that wound too."
"Wound? What wou—hey!" KID yelped in surprise as Shinichi surged forward and put a hand on his right shoulder.
Shinichi turned KID's torso so his right shoulder was in the light provided by his flashlight, and found a dark stain on the usually pristine suit. The low light made it look almost like ink. He clenched his jaw.
"I saw you get shot on the news coverage of the heist." He felt KID tense underneath him, so he further elaborated, "I don't think anyone else noticed. How bad is it?"
"Just a graze," KID assured him, "I think the rain made it look worse than it was."
Shinichi nodded, suspecting as much, though he wouldn't relax until he'd seen the wound for himself. "Come on, you look like a wet sock, and you're dripping blood on my floor."
Maybe it was because he'd pointed out that KID was leaving DNA evidence all over the floor boards, but when Shinichi gave a little tug on KID's sleeve, he followed. Shinichi lead them out of the short maze of stacked boxes and objects, pausing long enough to pick up the box of candles on the way, and back to the ladder. He worried the ladder might give KID difficulty with his shoulder, but KID went down using only one arm with ease.
Shinichi took them both to the bathroom (trying to turn on the light out of habit) and rummaged around in the cabinet under the sink until he found the first aid kit. He aimed his light on KID's shoulder. The dark stain had spread a little more.
Right. Focus. There would be time to worry later. "We need to clean the wound and get you into something dry. There's a fresh towel on the rack behind you that you can use. You take off the suit, I'll get you some clothes, and then we can check out your wound."
"How forward, detective. I knew you wanted me for my body." He didn't need light to know KID was grinning.
Shinichi felt his cheeks heat and was glad KID wouldn't be able to see it in the dark. "The only thing I want is you to stop bleeding everywhere," he threw back as he retreated from the bathroom.
Rather than his own room, Shinichi headed for the spare room down the hall that Akai was using. He knew nothing in his own closet would fit KID, at least not anymore. They used to be the same height and build, so much so that when KID used him for an easy disguise, even Ran couldn't tell the difference. But at some point since taking the antidote, KID had shot up in height, and his shoulders had broadened, filling out that suit a little better that used to be just a bit too big. Meanwhile Shinichi hadn't grown much since returning to his rightful age.
He knocked just to be safe, and when he didn't get an answer, he made his way inside, quickly grabbing a t shirt and some sweat pants from the closet. He snagged a spare pair of house slippers from the bottom shelf of the hallway closet, then made his way back to the bathroom. He cracked the door open and passed the clothes through, then waited.
And waited.
"KID?" he called, feeling worried again.
"Sorry, I'll be done in a moment. It's a little hard to do this with one hand," he replied.
"You idiot, I was just waiting for you to get the pants on," Shinichi said with a huff, the knot in his stomach easing. He opened the door. "I can help."
His flashlight shown on KID's bare, muscular chest.
Shinichi stared before pulling his gaze away. Right, of course KID would be shirtless. His wound was on his shoulder. Shinichi should have expected it. And it was just a chest. Nothing he hadn't seen before. Though it was a rather nice chest.
He turned his gaze elsewhere. KID was sitting on the side of the bathtub wearing the sweatpants Shinichi had given him, one leg crossed over his knee with house slipper loosely dangling from his foot, his monocle, and nothing else.
It wasn't the first time he'd seen KID out of the suit. He'd seen him in plenty of disguises. Hell, he'd even seen him in pajamas in Singapore. But somehow, this was different. The disguises were just a different look to the same KID suit, another form of armor. But sitting here, on the side of his bathtub in nothing but the pair of sweat pants Shinichi had loaned him, it was like getting a glimpse behind the armor.
He looked… he looked like just a guy.
"Meitantei?" KID prompted confused when Shinichi continued to stare.
The nickname abruptly brought him out of his thoughts, and he focused the flashlight on KID's shoulder. KID was using a thick stack of clean gauze and applying pressure to his wound, the rest of first aid kit sat opened on the lid of the toilet within arms reach. Shinichi noted most of the gauze was bled through, though a few squares were still dry.
"I don't suppose you'd let me take you to the hospital. I could borrow the professor's car and drive you," he suggested halfheartedly.
"I would be gone before you even finished dialing his number," KID said breezily, though there was a sudden tension about him, like the stillness of a cat before they'd swat.
Shinichi nodded to himself. "I had to ask." He took off his watch and set it on the tank of the toilet so the light shined on KID's shoulder, then he turned on the tap on the sink and began washing his hands all the way to his elbows.
"Cheer up, detective. It wouldn't be the first bullet wound I treated myself," KID replied. He hadn't moved at all, but that previous tension was gone.
"I know. I was there, remember? Singapore? You kidnapped me," Shinichi replied dryly.
"I much prefer calling it 'forcibly persuaded into assisting.'"
Shinichi finished washing and turned the handle of the tap with his elbows. He allowed the excess water to drip off his hands, forgoing the hand towel. KID would still need antibiotics to stave off infection, but it would still be best to keep everything as clean as possible.
"Has the bleeding stopped?" he asked.
KID experimentally pulled the gauze away. "Looks like it."
"Good. Grab the shower head and start rinsing it under lukewarm water. If it stopped with pressure, you probably don't need stitches. I'll bandage it once it's clean," Shinichi said while picking through the first aid kit for bandage material.
KID pulled the detachable shower head down and started rinsing. "Don't we need to clean it with hydrogen peroxide or something?"
Shinichi looked at him over his shoulder and frowned. "Of course not, that's just a myth. All that will do is damage healthy tissue and make it take longer to heal, not to mention hurt like hell."
"Oh."
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that while they were treating you?" Shinichi asked, in disbelief. He knew it was still commonly touted advice on internet forums, but for people like the two of them, who commonly picked up injuries from their interesting lives, he would have thought KID would have been taught otherwise long before now.
KID shrugged with his good shoulder. He didn't look up from rinsing, and he continued leaning over the bath so the water stayed in the tub, careful to keep his pants dry. "Nobody has ever treated me before, I usually take care of it myself."
The answer stopped Shinichi short, thinking of the implications of that statement. "Oh."
He sat down on the edge of the tub next to KID and motioned for him to turn off the water. KID did so, and Shinichi leaned forward, reapplying pressure with more gauze to the wound after the water had made it bleed a little again. He kept his eyes trained on his hand and KID's shoulder. The only sound was the continued storm outside and the gentle creaks of the house.
"Who was it that shot you?" Shinichi asked, interrupting the silence that had fallen between them.
"No one you need to concern yourself with," KID answered smoothly.
Shinichi frowned. "So you do know. And it wasn't a surprise for you either. Someone is targeting you." He continued holding pressure for another moment, then carefully pulled the gauze away, checking for bleeding.
"This is one mystery you shouldn't poke at, detective."
Shinichi shot him a scowl. He couldn't see KID's face; the thief was truly a master at using the shadows around him, keeping his face out of the light provided by the watch light. But he knew KID could see him. "Telling a detective not to poke at something is exactly how you get a detective to do just that."
KID barked out a laugh which ended in a sigh. "I know. It is one of your most endearing qualities, and also your most infuriating."
Shinichi sifted through the first aid kit until he'd found a bottle of antibiotic ointment. He smeared some on, then covered it with a pad. He held the pad in place and began to wrap KID's arm with the bandage material, aiming for tight but not too tight. "I can help, you know."
KID didn't answer. Shinichi risked a glance up, but he still couldn't make out KID's face in the darkness. It felt like there was a wall between them, separating them leagues despite their close proximity.
"I want to help," he said, so quiet it almost couldn't be heard over the low rumble of distant thunder.
KID sighed, and he shifted which put the lower half of his face in the light. Was that intentional? For someone like KID, it had to be.
"Tantei-kun," Something stirred in Shinichi's chest at the old nickname, "you've already done enough taking down your own crime organization. You've done more in your teenage years than most detectives have done in a lifetime."
Shinichi lowered his eyes and returned to the bandage, wrapping the last layer.
"So, what? I've reached my quota for syndicates that you arbitrarily decided for me? I'm not going to sit by and watch someone else struggle if I can do something to help, especially if I consider that person a fr—" he abrupt slammed his mouth shut, feeling his face burn. KID had gone quite still underneath him. He didn't dare look up, not wanting to see more of that shadowed face.
He tore off a piece of tape and put it on the end of the bandage, holding it in place. He stood and busied himself putting the rest of the stuff back in the first aid kit. "It's finished. You should still see a doctor tomorrow, at least for antibiotics. And something for the pain. You know it's going to hurt worse tomorrow."
He heard KID stand behind him followed by the gentle rustle of cloth as he pulled on the shirt Shinichi had gotten him. "Kudou—"
Shinichi rushed to change the subject before it became awkward. "It doesn't look like the rain is going to let up anytime soon, and you shouldn't be using your glider with that shoulder anyway." He rearranged the items in the kit for the third time, just to look busy so he wouldn't have to turn around. "You should stay the night. It might not be the most comfortable thing, staying at a detective's house, but I have no interest in trying to capture you outside of a heist."
"Oh that's… good. That's good," KID said with a little nod.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Shinichi cut him off. "Great! Let's find you somewhere comfortable for the night."
0-0-0-0-0
As it turned out, that somewhere ended up being the Kudou library. KID was seated on the loveseat, injured arm resting on a pillow Shinichi had given him, and a throw blanket over the back in case he got cold. Shinichi leaned over to hand him a glass of water and some pain medicine. "You sure you don't want me to show you to one of the guest rooms? You must be exhausted."
KID stretched out his good arm and took the offered pills, then the glass, downing both before answering. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep. Mind too active."
Shinichi nodded, feeling like he could relate. He reached into the box and lit one of the candles, then set it on the nearby coffee table before grabbing another. "Would you… like some company?"
"I would, especially if it's the company of my favorite detective," KID answered with a charming smile.
Shinichi paused while lighting another candle, looking up to study the thief. He was sure KID had meant that as flirtatious, but it had sounded genuine.
KID coughed and looked away. It was just a small movement, but for someone like KID, it was a huge tell. "Only if you want to, of course," he said before scratching his cheek.
Shinichi was struck by that small moment of vulnerability he'd just witnessed. He wondered if it was because KID had been shot or if maybe, maybe, he was willingly allowing Shinichi to see more of the man behind the armor. Shinichi swallowed thickly but kept his voice light when he answered, "Sure."
The candles provided a warm glow, shadows flickered on the walls from the dancing flames. With the sound of the storm still going on outside, it was almost cozy. Almost, if not for the bit of bandage peaking out from under KID's t shirt, and the memory of the dark stain on the normally pristine white suit. He sat on the loveseat. KID was so close, he could feel his body heat. He wondered if he should have sat at the desk on the other side of the room, but that had the opposite problem, being too far away. The darkness that lay beyond the reach of the candles only seemed to make the distance greater. KID had said he wanted company, so it would be better for him to stay, right?
Oblivious to his internal debate, KID yawned and gave a little stretch before settling, the motion bringing them even closer.
Shinichi played with the hem of his sleep shorts. KID seemed comfortable enough, so he could stay where he was. "Do you always have trouble sleeping after a heist?" he asked curiously.
"Not really," KID answered. "At least not once I come down from the adrenaline rush. I've picked up a few methods to calm myself after a heist so I can eventually sleep. It would look suspicious for my civilian life if I was always sleep deprived the day after a heist."
"But it would be hard for anyone to quiet their mind after being shot at, even if it's not the first time. I understand," Shinichi said, then sneaked a look at the other, "Though… if you do start to feel tired, it's okay if you fall asleep. You're safe here."
He could just see the curve of KID's mouth as he smiled. "I know. That's why I came here."
Shinichi turned and looked at him more fully, but said nothing. KID felt his eyes on him and returned his gaze, smile still in place, though a little crooked and with his head slightly ducked. It made Shinichi's heart swell, and he swallowed thickly.
He now felt sure that he was no longer looking at KID, but rather the man behind the monocle. It wasn't a name, or a face. It wouldn't help Shinichi find him outside of a heist. But somehow, it felt like an even stronger show of trust. Seeing him fully as he was, with no masks or walls between them.
Without thinking about it too hard, Shinichi reached between them. He hesitantly touched the back of his hand to KID's, then slowly took his hand in his own. His shoulders relaxed when KID laced their fingers together, even as his heart began to pound.
"I'm glad that you came here," Shinichi said, barely above whisper, "I would have worried."
KID's smile was warm, and something akin to fond, though deeper. Something Shinichi was hesitant to name for fear of getting his hopes up.
"Thank you," KID said.
"For what?" Shinichi asked, tilting his head in confusion.
KID gave his hand a squeeze. "For caring."
0-0-0-0-0
Shinichi woke to sunlight filtering in through the window, not sure when he'd fallen asleep. He blinked blurry open, awareness coming back slowly. He remembered talking to KID… oh, they were still holding hands.
He'd fallen asleep sitting up on the couch, and his cheek was pillowed against something warm and firm. He blinked again, willing his uncaffeinated brain to function. Right. It was KID's shoulder. A distracted part of his brain noted that KID smelled nice.
"Good morning."
A weight he hadn't noticed until it was gone was lifted off his head, and he felt KID sit up straighter. So KID had fallen asleep against him too.
"Mornin'," he mumbled back. He felt more than heard KID chuckle. He should probably sit up as well. He was still leaning against the thief.
His eyes landed on something resting in KID's lap. It was on top of the blanket that KID had draped over the both of them last night. Was that his monocle?
He blinked again, then laser focused on the bit of glass. His eyes widened. He was suddenly very alert. It must have fallen off KID's face after he'd drifted off to sleep.
And now his face was uncovered.
Shinichi remained completely still, his head still resting on KID's shoulder. He was afraid that any movement might be perceived as trying to get a glimpse of his face. And he couldn't deny that he wanted to look too. Couldn't trust himself not to look.
KID released his hand, and Shinichi quietly mourned the loss but didn't protest. He kept his eyes glued to KID's lap. To the monocle. KID reached out and slowly picked it up, turning it over in his hand. Then he closed it in his fist and his hand ducked under the blanket, slipping the monocle into the pocket of his sweatpants. Once his hand was free, he took Shinichi's hand in his own, lacing their fingers together again.
"Are you just going to stare at nothing all morning, or do you want some breakfast?" KID said with a gently tease.
Shinichi raised his head and finally met the gaze of the other. He was greeted by a face that was similar to his own, though KID's features weren't quite as soft, and his eyes were a few shades darker. KID was smiling at him, his eyes crinkled with affection.
"Good morning," KID repeated, still smiling, "sleepy head."
Shinichi returned it shyly. "Good morning, KID."
KID squeezed his hand. "Call me Kaito."
