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“Squadron eight, report!”“All made it back safe and sound.”“No, they didn't!” Everyone turned to the boy bundled in the blanket, scrapped in a few places with a bulletproof vest marked in multiple spots.No normal child should ever be in these conditions. Or at the site of a raid for that matter. Akai, who made the report, seemed quite confused. “Conan-kun?”“KID!” A few rolled their eyes or groaned at the mention of the thief.Hakuba appeared at his side, “While I understand your concern Conan-kun, I'm sure KID will be fine. He’s too stubborn to go out like this.” Yet, Conan could see it in his eyes, there was worry. Every single participant in the B.O. takedown belonged to some government force, either homeland or foreign. So it could be understood that once they were told that Phantom magician and internationally wanted thief Kaitou KID was to collaborate under a truce… Most people weren’t happy: Akai, Rei, Sera and Hattori were among those people.… Taking into consideration the event on the Bell Tree Express train, Haibara wasn’t so against it. Hakuba, on the other hand, had gone to high school with KID’s civilian persona by day (KID had confirmed this under vow of never telling Hakuba. Conan had snickered and promised.) and chased him at night. So he knew well the thief’s morale and how he was called a criminal only because they lacked a better title. Hakuba was probably the only other person who truly cared about KID in this whole operation. The first one being himself. All he could think about was that white shape in the sky he glimpsed before the deafening noise:It was moving away from the warehouse… still inside the radius.Conan’s fists tightened.“I won't believe it until I see it.” The explosion that occurred three minutes ago must have killed all the remaining Black Organization members inside the building. Of course they would prefer to go down that way than be arrested. It didn't matter. The important alcohol-named members were already secured in multiple vans with handcuffs around their wrists. What mattered is what that meant for the thief’s chance of survival.Shinichi, still sore from the previous scuffle with Gin, jumped from where he was sitting protectively guarded by Akai and Bourbon– Amu– no, Furuya Rei , who, with Hakuba, were watching over him. He didn't really register the three men calling out, or when two ran after him.As he yelled for KID, his heart was lodged in his throat. Pounding incredibly hard while passing between scattered rubble and small flames. “Conan-kun! The debris is not stable! Come back!” Rei called out. Akai soon followed with something else. A childish girl’s voice laced with fear spoke directly into his ear, telling him instead that if someone had survived, they wouldn't hesitate to shoot on sight.“KID!!! KID ANSWER ME!”He hoped KID had survived. He hoped against hope that he somehow made it out.
Half-way through looping around the wreckage, after ignoring blood, unrecognisable bodies, and shouts telling him to stop running, he screeched to a halt when a burning, crumpled hang glider appeared into view. Not giving the two men time to catch up, he got closer to the debris. Ignoring once again shouts of safety precautions, the earpiece had been ripped off somewhere along the way.“KID!!!”Burning wood crashed down, spitting out sparks. Conan couldn't care less, he shielded his eyes and kept looking. Finally, propped against rubble, a grey-once-white figure sat motionless, blood stains slowly growing larger in a few spots– knee and arm, opposites, Conan noted. Somehow, the tophat was still on his head, the monocle hadn’t been so lucky. Without thinking too much, Conan sprinted towards the figure and collided with the body that- thank god -recoiled and protested. “ Umph– T-Tantei-kun, careful there...”His voice was rough, fragile.“KID! Why were you still in there?! You should have left when we gave the command! You heard it right?! You could have-!”A hand was gently placed on his shoulder.“Now, now Meitantei, I'm alive, aren’t I?” A feeble smile. “I simply got… distracted by a few documents I found...”Probably on Pandora, or maybe on his family made of phantom thieves. KID tensed up as two pairs of footsteps stopped somewhere away.“Ah, I see you worried your comrades by searching for me, Tantei-kun.” Conan’s mind was still reeling from the fear and adrenaline of having almost lost his thief, he couldn’t deal with a poker face and an ‘Everything is fine’ tone right now. Sure, KID didn’t trust Rei and Akai despite Shinichi’s complete faith in them, being both government agents and all. Right now, KID didn’t need to be alarmed or vigil. It was over, it was all finally over. Conan wanted to remind him of that, wanted all his attention on him. And so, from where he was kneeling between KID’s half-crossed legs, he wrapped his arms around the thief’s neck and tilted his head backwards to capture his lips. In time with the gasps behind him, KID froze. But as soon as Conan pushed his light body weight against him ( “You know Meitantei, I think I really am starting to become a domesticated thief. Everytime you lean on me, I relax no matter what.” Conan flared red. ) and grabbed a fistful of hair, all preservation instinct from the thief dissolved and he shakily hugged Conan’s body impossibly close, legs also trying to wrap protectively- possessively , around the child. It wasn’t a heated kiss. It wasn’t supposed to be. It was supposed to be grounding, a reminder: It was over , and they both had made it alive . The taste of dust was inevitable. KID had crash-landed not too long ago and the air was growing thicker with smoke, neither seemed to mind. KID was shifting a little and Conan wouldn’t be surprised if it was to keep at bay the pain from something broken. Although he never pushed Conan away, instead shifting him imperceptibly to make it bearable. It was finally over.This implied so much. It implied that KID’s truce with the police would soon end and Conan wouldn’t have him around as much anymore. After months of seeing each other multiple times every day, it was going to get lonely. While Conan’s enemies had finally been arrested, KID’s were still at large. He couldn’t drop the mantle or stop the heists. While Conan was safe now, he was constantly being hunted. This, of course, complicated things.The police had found the Aptoxin formula, soon Conan would disappear and leave space for Shinichi, a space that was too small and too friendly for Shinichi to fill. He would have to formally introduce himself again to everyone . Wouldn’t be able to act as friendly towards dear acquaintances like the Shonen Tantei. Fellow detectives Hattori, Hakuba, and Sera were all met as Conan. And, while they knew , Ran, Sonoko, and others, didn’t. Amuro (if he would still act as Amuro) and Subaru were in the same boat. Despite them knowing that Conan is Shinichi, they would all have to act polite and treat him like a half-stranger. It was going to be even tougher because… He couldn’t rely on KID’s presence. Shinichi had only met him once and well… Shinichi worked homicides, not theft. The amount of time that they would have to stay apart or keep their meetings secret was going to be long. Sure, secrecy wouldn’t weigh much on shoulders that had carried double identities already, but the fake distance they’d have to create…It was going to hurt. Gasping, both were out of air as the kiss lasted as long as they could hold it. Conan buried his face in the crook of KID’s neck. The thief, reluctant to let go as well, rested his forehead on Conan’s shoulder as he kept a tight hold on the small body, almost curling himself around it. Once passed the initial shock of seeing an internationally wanted thief (who always gave back what he stole and had a golden rule of nobody gets hurt) kiss a nine-years-old (mentally nineteen, who orchestrated the take-down of a worldwide criminal organisation), Akai and Furuya must have turned around, giving them some semblance of privacy. The sniper was communicating with the rest of the team, reassuring that the main player was fine and to prepare a medic to visit KID, who they had found in good condition but still hurt. Conan could feel the protective glare Zero was boring into his neck, probably half on the magician. He knew he was going to explain that no, KID wasn’t a paedophile, that he knew he was Shinichi. No, this wasn’t their first time kissing, Conan had always been the one initiating and KID never pushed. And yes, he was absolutely crazy for falling (multiple times off buildings) for a criminal he didn’t know the name of. Shinichi was crazy, crazy for KID. It was only fair, since the thief was willing to throw caution to the wind when it came to his little Tantei-kun. Out of seemingly nowhere, KID groaned and gripped the back of Conan’s jacket. He caught everyone’s attention at that but downright scared Conan as he started to tremble. “KID?!” He immediately grabbed the thief’s face in both hands and searched his eyes: Pain, discomfort. KID had definitely broken something. “Just a scratch, Meitantei.” The weak smile did nothing to placate Shinichi’s fears. “Where? Arms? Legs? Chest?” A gloved hand went to rest on his lower ribs, indicating where it hurt. “I-I can breathe fine but–“ Trying to straighten up caused KID to wince.Furuya had moved closer and instantly realised the situation. “Anything else out of place?” Keeping gaze and voice emotionless.“My left shoulder keeps throbbing…” It was the one Conan had been leaning on. At the widening of his eyes, KID let out a weak laugh. “You know your presence makes me forget about the pain, Meitantei.”Rei’s face struggled to not express disgust at the cheesy line. Or what seemed like a cheesy line. It wasn’t. It would have been better if it was but it wasn’t. They have been in this situation before, probably one too many times. With Conan in his arms, KID tended to forget his own injuries– no matter how bad they were –to focus on protecting the detective. And while this got them out of precarious situations multiple times during their team-ups, KID was often left with worsened wounds and some infections. Now that lean yet muscular body sported a collection of scars because of it.(One that Conan was recently able to explore. And while the thief relaxed and almost purred at the soft touches, Shinichi recalled how he had gotten each one as he passed over them. Feeling guiltier and guiltier that most and the nastiest were there because of him. “Because I consciously decided to protect you. It’s not your fault Shinichi.” KID had kissed his hair and snuggled him closer, drawing a blanket over their tangled bodies to keep them warm as they drifted off to sleep.) They arranged it so that KID (even as he protested he could walk) was being carried on Akai’s back. (The FBI agent had noticed how much Rei was struggling to keep his emotions in check. As protective as Furuya, in all his personalities, was of the kid, seeing Conan hug, fret, and kiss the thief must have rung all alarm bells for him. Making him carry the thief felt like a bad idea.) The small detective matched his stride as he called Hakuba. “Oh thank heavens… Tell that suicidal idiot to stop putting his life in unnecessary danger, please.” “You can tell him in a few minutes yourself, Hakuba-kun. We’re on our way” “Wouldn’t matter, Kudou-kun. He always seems to have earplugs when I lecture him.” You could hear the eye roll through the phone. Shinichi and KID laughed at that.