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The bustle of Yokohama moved outside the windows of the detective agency, the noise of the city omnipresent no matter the day. The sky was clear sun filling the main room of the offices with an oppressive light, that rendered the ground shadowless. All but one of the desks were empty.
The fall of the Moby Dick hadn't done much to stop the regular flow of small problems that inundated the agency. The only occupied desk held the body of the tituler detective, fussing over a ramune bottle. He almost never did field work, detesting having to deal with the public, and being unable to navigate the city unassisted. Left him close to useless for being one of the boots on the ground. Along side the fact one of the first things Fukuzawa learned about Ranpo, was the need to keep him away from any diplomacy.
Ranpo was expecting a guest who was painfully punctual. Unwilling to ever show up late. Yet equally unwilling to be even a second early. Ranpo could tell, that as he sat the man he was waiting on was watching the clock on the other side of the door, to make sure he was there the very second he was expected. Ranpo thought he'd be more upset being kept waiting, if not for knowing what he was waiting for would always be worth it.
"Ranpo?"
The door cracked before the second hand on the wall even had the time to consider another rotation.
"Just the man I was expecting! How do you think I knew you'd show up today of all days, hmmmmmmm?"
"You… texted me this morning asking to visit?"
Poe said walking up to Ranpo's desk. Puting his hand in his pocket to grab his phone and show the other man, before Ranpo held up his hand to stop him.
"Yes yes we all know that. It was clearly a test. a test you passed by the way. Like I knew you would."
Poe removed his hand from his pocket, and reached out to grab the ramune bottle from Ranpo out of habit. Pulling a lighter out of his coat that he'd started carrying for the detective.
Ranpo leaned over the desk watching Poe melt the lid off for him. The calm familiarity of the heavy weight of Ranpo's gaze settled on Poe. Used to at this point where exactly to position his hands on the glass to keep his fingers unharmed by the flame. Knowledge that had been hard won. There was a pile of glass bottles in a landfill somewhere near the city sacrificed to the cause. Poe didn't understand the apeal of the taste, pouring the soda down his kitchen sink before attempting to pry the marble out. He'd resolved, under the watchful eye of Karl and a fire extinguisher, to learn the first time he'd watched Ranpo try and get the marble out by throwing the ramune bottle onto the middle of the sidewalk.
The plastic had finally softened enough to pull cleanly off the glass neck, and Poe rolled the prized glass stopper onto his palm
"Come on gimmie."
Ranpo said now holding his hand out clearly waiting for Poe to complete his assumed duty.
"Not yet. It's still hot."
"I don't know why you're allowed to hold it right out of the bottle."
Ranpo bends away petulantly crossing his arms. Poe didn't care to respond to that, the long worn rut of their repetitive arguments. Instead simply holding out his hand with the marble. Shifting Karl with the movement of his shoulders. He threw the forgotten bottle into the trash Kunikida had put next to the detectives desk, in an attempt to discourage him gathering his trash on his desk. Or even a few memorable times, trying to toss something into the can across the room.
All of the preformitive anger melted from Ranpo's face at the sight of his prize. He picked the marble out of his palm, from where Poe had dutifully dropped it. And held the it up to the window. Watching how it sharpened the rays of light. Poe couldn't taken his eyes of Ranpo's grin. If Ranpo was easy to please with a simple piece of glass, Poe was shamefully easier. He could think of very few things he wouldn't do, for the chance to be in the same room as a reaction like that from Ranpo.
Said man after finishing marveling at the latest addition to his collection. Opened the top drawer of his desk, and slid the ball off his palm into a jar filled almost to the brim with perfectly identical marbles. They clicked together satisfyingly. He'd started the jar the first time Poe had done this small ritual for him. Taking the bottle off his desk in the middle of their conversation, and betraying a level of familiarity suspicious for someone who hadn't grown up with ramune. It was one of the many facts Ranpo tucked away in his head about Poe, a collection that had grown exponentially since their first meeting.
"Come on Poe. No time to waste. Didn't I tell you we had an important mission." Ranpo said shutting the drawer as he stood.
"Yes!" Poe says, standing up straighter. "Are you in danger? Has something happened at the agency?"
"Why can't I wanna hang out with my friend? Why does it need to be the end of the world, hmmmmmmmmm?"
"But you just said-"
"No time for arguments Ed!" Ranpo said, taking advantage of the taller mans confusion to try and drag him out of the building.
Poe couldn't help but feel a little gity every time Ranpo called him 'Ed'. He'd never had friends growing up, always too peculiar for his pears. And his years in the guild were purly transactional. Rarely leaving whatever office he'd holed himself up in. The easy familiarity Ranpo had from the very beginning, even forgoing Poes last name. Was something He'd never be able to understand.
Poe was shocked out of his thought's, almost hiting Ranpo's back when he abruptly stopped at the steps of the agency.
"Now comes you're very important task." Ranpo whips around pointing at Poe. "I've finished my stash of soda. And no one else is willing to get more with me."
Either nobody had been able to explain to Ranpo why being 26 and unable to circumnavigate the city he'd spent the past decade in would be shameful. Or like in Poe's case, didn't have the heart to open that can of worms.
"Is that really a good idea Ranpo? We are rivals after all. What if I led you into a trap?"
"Well I'd just figure out whatever you were planning before you even knew yourself. You think you could reeeeeally beat me?"
Ranpo looked up at Poe, closed eyes just visible under the brim of his askew hat. Ranpo knew that Poe would never really hurt him, and even if he tried Ranpo had faith in his ability to weasel out of any scheme Poe attempted. Ranpo was also fully aware of how tightly he had the taller man wrapped around his finger. Defecting from the guild just for the chance to see him again.
"Of course I do! One day even you Edogawa Ranpo will tremble at the feet of the great Edger Allen Poe!"
"But will that day be today?"
"…No" Poe says deflating from his previous grandiose statement. "But one day!"
"Sure Poe, but today it's S O D A. T I M E. Now do you know a good place to find some or not?"
"What kind do you want?"
"The sweetest you can find!"
Poe looked around them for the first time since he'd been unceremoniously drug out of the building behind him. Noticing, that during their conversation they'd been blocking the whole corner of the road. Poe squeaked out a loud apology to no one. Pulling Ranpo closer to the wall, and closer to himself in conjunction. Poe then, realizing he'd crushed the detective into himself, let out another yell. Before trying fruitlessly to get further from the other man by pushing himself into the brick wall behind him.
"Is this how everyone get's direction?"
Ranpo asks, clearly making fun of him.
"Of course! This is all a part of my plan." Poe responds, while trying to extricate himself from where he'd pinned himself against the wall. "We just need to go… That way!" Then turned very purposefully, speed walking away from the agency. And Ranpo. Who hadn't moved at all while Poe had attempted to pull himself together.
Ranpo pulled his phone out of his pocket. Opening one of his very few saved contacts, before holding it up to his ear.
Ranpo could hear the familiar sound of crows shreaking from around the corner. Waiting for Poe to get over the shock of his own ringtone and pick up already.
"…yes?"
"I'm lost come get me."
"A-already? How?"
"You left me."
"Where???"
"The agency."
"…I'll be back in a minute."
Was the last thing Ranpo heard before he was hung up on. looking up in the direction Poe had left, to see him towering over the rest of the crowd franticly looking around. Karl perched on top of his head spotted Ranpo first, tugging on Poe's hair to try and get his attention. Ranpo could tell the second Poe's eyes found him. The way his whole face lit up. Before his expression got stolen away in the pursuit of hurrying back to Ranpo as quickly as he could.
"Why didn't you follow me?"
"How was I supposed to know where you were going? I asked for your help and you just ran away from me."
"But I was right in-front of you. How could you have missed me leaving?"
"You were very close."
"That isn't- it wasn't- I'm- Don't we have a store to find!"
"Yes! Let's get going already. You're losing points as you stand here not helping me"
Ranpo had Poe exactly where he wanted him. Poe was wildly introverted, which Ranpo had never been able to wrap his head around. Ever since that day with Fukazawa in the theater, something had clicked in Ranpo's head. What was the point of being so smart if no one ever knew about it? Much stupider people then Poe took up much more space than he did. Ranpo knew Poe would never do anything without being pushed into it, which is exactly what Ranpo was planning for today.
"We're wasting time." Ranpo said, before grabbing Poe's hand and beginning to pull him down the street Poe had run down before.
Poe didn't know what to think. Ranpo was touching him. Worlds most talented detective Edogawa Ranpo was. Touching. Him. Poe was a writer, that fact was the center of his world. He was born to write, his skill proved it. But Poe couldn't string together a word longer than two syllables. And he could only get that complex due to the word 'touching'. What did this mean. Ranpo had been overly friendly with him since the beginning. But was he like that with everyone? Poe couldn't imagine himself being an exception to Ranpo. He must not know how this could look. Did Ranpo even know about gay people. Poe thought looking down at their still joined hands, a sight that made him frankly nauseous. America had gotten gay marriage within the past few years but he didn't think japan had-
"Now where?"
Poe found himself running into Ranpo again, the beginning of a pattern he desperately hoped he could stomp out now. They'd come apon the first real intersection, from which the rest of the city folded out in innumerable choices of direction. Right. Poe had a job to do. He couldn't let his own thoughts about his rival get in the way. He had all the time in the world once he got home to add this to his collection of Ranpo behaviors he couldn't puzzle out.
"Ah yes right." Poe says while taking stock of where the are. "We're close to china town. This way."
Poe tries to slip out of Ranpo's hold as he turns the corner, but it only seems to make Ranpo hold tighter. Slowly swollowing, Poe's indescribably grateful for the comforting weight of Karl around his neck.
Ranpo was elated. He couldn't stand grunt work on the best of days. And pulling Poe out of his shell was work. Ranpo had been planning this outing for days, which was close to a lifetime for any one thing to occupy his thoughts. He would not be letting Poe slip away now, just after they'd begun. Looking up at the man he was currently attempting to corral. Poe's face was hard to read on a good day, his eye's similarly obscured as Ranpo's are. But right now it was the stone face of a man clearly attempting to hide something. Ranpo knew he was probably throwing things at Poe faster than the shy man's used to. But Ranpo's always been a man of action, he doesn't know why he should wait, when he already knows what he wants. And he really want's this.
Where Poe's hands sweating?
That doesn't matter right now. They'd finally made it to the only store he knew would be selling ramune. Himself having purchased most of their stock weeks ago.
"Ooooooooooooo fancy." Ranpo said from next to him. Poe had led them to a pretty upscale grocery store Ranpo had never been inside of before. "Where you'd find this place?"
"It had glowing reviews from my assistant."
"Your what?"
"My assistant." Poe reiterated, not understanding why Ranpo was so shocked. "He did good work. Sadly he was under contract with the guild, so I'm between help at the moment."
Poe walked farther into the store towards where he knew the drinks were stocked. Not noticing Ranpo's shocked face trailing after him.
"Ah, here we go." Poe said as he finally stood in front of the bottles that seemed to have monopolized his whole day. "Do you have a favourite kind? Or one of each?"
"You found those fast." Ranpo said pinning Poe with another of his weighty looks.
"Well of course, I've been here before so…" Poes didn't understand why he was so nervous. Reaching up to pet Karl and distract himself. He's allowed to know the layout of a store in the city he lives in. But he's known Ranpo long enough to know he's putting a case together in his head. And Poe never knows quite how to feel when the full attention of the detective is focused on picking him apart
"How many do you think you can carry?" Ranpo said, mercifully diverting is attention back to the shelving in front of them.
"Why am I carrying them?"
"You can't honestly expect me to carry more than one thing at once." Ranpo said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And maybe it was. "Now how many do you think you can carry?"
"Maybe… fifteen?"
"I guess that'll do. Come on grab them and then you have to pay. I left my wallet at the agency."
"Wait- what!?"
The sun hadn't let up since they'd first met back at the agency. And was still blanketing the streets in an almost uncomfortable heat. Ranpo reached into the bag Poe was holding pulling a bottle out at random, before opening it with a fluidity that matched Poe's deft handling of their desposel. Ranpo moves it up to his lips, carving an arc Poe finds it impossible to tear his eyes from. He admonishes himself for his uncouth behavour, but doesn't stop cataloging the pleased little smile Ranpo has after finishing almost half of the bottle in one go.
"Want some?"
Ranpo says holding the partly finished drink to the other man. If holding hands with Ranpo derailed his day, he thinks sharing a drink may be what finally kills him.
"No thank you Ranpo, I don't like the taste."
"Odd, given how many of these you've bought by now."
Ranpo said, before hiding his self satisfied smale behind another sip. Just a little further, he thought.
What did Ranpo mean by that? Poe had been right. Ranpo had figured something out. Poe just didn't know what yet.
"What do you mean- I've never-"
"Don't try and lie to me. I can tell Poe."
And of course he was right. Ranpo could always tell. That was what Poe liked so much about the man. What drew him across the sea to find him to Yokohama. But he could never feel quite comfortable under the all seeing eye's of Edogawa Ranpo. He felt at best, like an oddly interesting speck in these moments. Starkly reminded of how bellow the other man he really is.
"Maybe I was buying it for a friend. I have friends."
"Do you?"
"Y-yes of course I do."
"Other than Karl?"
"Well… no but-"
"Well then who could you have been buying it for." Ranpo was enjoying this. He was happiest when he knew he was right. And god was he. "Was it… ME!" He yelled, pointing at Poe with the now empty ramune bottle. "Was I the friend you were buying them for?"
"You and I? Friends? We're rivals. Rivals!"
"Are you telling me you take all your rivals out like this?"
"Of course Not Ranpo. You're the only rival I'll ever have, the only person I could ever see that way. No one else in the world compares to your genius. Wasting my time on anyone else when it could be spent observing you would be unthinkable."
"Oooooo you're gaining points by the second."
Ranpo said, inching closer to the man in front of him. Poe's skidish disposition flown away. Replaced by pure distane over the idea anyone would ever compare to the great detective Poe had molded his 20's around. Ranpo could't believe he'd had the patience between their first two meeting. He didn't know how he had the patience since then watching Poe fall over himself to not see what was standing right in front of him. But he was so close he could almost taste it, under the lingering soda that coated his tongue.
Poe didn't know where he'd lost control of this interaction. Maybe it was the touching, or the heady feeling of privacy in the vacent agency. Maybe it was six years ago, before his hair grew out, when he first felt the gravitational pull of Ranpo's glass obscured eyes. All he knew was he was falling, into something. Something frightening. Ranpo held him like water in the palm of his hand. Poe knew how easy he was to sway with the words of his dear Ranpo. And if he knew it, that meant Ranpo must have somehow known the day before. Where Ranpo's hand tipped he fell. He'd trust Ranpo with his life. Of course he did. Ranpo saw everything, he would never put Poe in harms way, unless that was the outcome he wanted. Poe just hoped Ranpo would be kind about where he lead them.
"I think we're friends Poe." Ranpo said, crowding Poe back into another wall. He tried pulling the bag full of clanking glass to his chest, an unsubtle attempt at puting space between the two of them. Ranpo looked up, annoyed at Poe's continued stalling. Pushing the bags out of his way, and cracking his eyes open to try and peer between the gaps in Poes bangs. "Would I ever be wrong?" He continued, tilting his head in mock confusion.
Poe's whole world was eclipsed by emerald. It was hard to breath. Was it hotter out here than he remembered. He'd gotten too much of Ranpo today. He was used to coveting what few memories he had. Six years sustained on turning the same day over in his hands, till it was as smooth as the glass thrown back to humanity by the ocean. It took everything in him to not shut his eyes, to re-establish their normal balance.
"I guess if you think so…"
"At this rate It'll be another six years before I can convince you to take me on a real date."
"A WHAT?!?" Poe yelled, jumping back hitting the crown of his head on the wall behind him. Blinking stars out of his eyes, he tried to explain. "Why would this be a date! We could be perfectly platonic enemies- er… friends. Friends don't-…" Poe hung his head trying to desperately hide his face behind Karl, and his mop of hair. "How long have you known?"
"You don't smoke Poe. The lighter was sloppy for someone like you."
"Ah. Something that simple. Of course. Why did i think I could hide anything from you Ranpo."
"Because you're stupid. Now what are you gonna do about it."
"Right…" Poe had been dreading this. He knew he'd be found out. He knew this dream of him allowed by Ranpo's side would have to end one day. He just wish he'd known It would end today. So he could have prepared for this moment. "I'll take you back to the agency. And then I won't try and contact you again. I'll be forever grateful you let me stay for this long."
"Come ON." Ranpo grumbled under his breath. "Your bottle opening was worth the practice, sweet." He said, before grabbing onto Poes neckerchief and pulling.
Poe fumbled with the bag in his hand. Almost dropping it, covering both their shoes in carbonated water and broken glass. But managed to catch it, before laying in softly on the pavement. Poe can't believe he'd been so preoccupied with the thought of sharing the same drink.
Ranpo smiles into Poe's mouth. Moving his hand from where he'd dragged the other man down, to palm his atlas vertebrae. In an attempt to pull Poe further into him. Ranpo. didn't have any experience with this. But if there was something he was sure of, it was that Poe should be moving. And he wasn't.
Poe was frozen with his hands hovering on either side of Ranpo. Karl had been dropped alongside the ramune, and he hadn't even noticed. He'd just finished rejecting himself to avoid having to hear real distaste out of Ranpo's mouth. A mouth which had recently become far more visceral than he ever thought it would. And Ranpo shattered any idea Poe had had for how his afternoon would go. He'd already mentally prepared a warm pot of tea, and a long slow record to listen to. Before burying himself in a novel, 'till he felt safe enough to see the light of day again.
Ranpo grabbed on of Poe's hands, dragging it up to his waist.
"You're being so annoying right now." Ranpo grumbled into Poes slightly parted lips. Left breathless inspite of his inaction. "Do something. This is boring."
Poe was disappointing Ranpo. He still didn't know if Ranpo knew what this meant, if he knew how his behavour could be interpreted. But none of that mattered right now. Ranpo had expectations. And Poe wasn't meeting them. Poe couldn't know what Ranpo was thinking right now. He'd never think of Ranpo as anything less than extraordinary, something as pedestrian as trancparency was below him. Poe could never take what he desperately wanted from Ranpo. He reveired the man too much to do something as human as let his own feelings get in Ranpo's way. But Ranpo had asked for something specific, and Poe was happy to please.
Ranpo's hand tipped from his, and Poe all but melted to the floor. His fingers bunched the fabric of the vest they'd been layed to rest on, causing Ranpo to sigh contently into his mouth.
Finally something interesting, Ranpo thought. As much fun as he had leading Poe to water, he never enjoyed doing all the work.
Poe had been thinking about this moment for. Six. Long. Years. His hands shook, balled into fists, still afraid of where he was allowed to put them. Self induced isolation didn't lend itself to Poe being exprenced in the carnal aspects of life. Not that he'd be so conceded to put himself, cardnal, and Ranpo, in the same sentence before this very moment. If this was nothing but a passing curiosity of Ranpo's. Poe would be greatful to be the one given the blessing of being the person Ranpo chose to experience this passing fancy with. And would take advantage of this opertunity as long as was allowed. Poe searching out desperately for another of Ranpo's quiet sighs, grasped the loose knot of Ranpo's tie. Earning him another noise he desperately swallowed.
Ranpo now knew exactly why everyone in books were so obsessed with squishing their faces together. He could't understand why they hadn't done this sooner. Ranpo had only committed to this plan after Poe handed him another mystery, conveniently containing a pair of men identical to them. Ranpo had been curious when the first fictionalized Ranpo and Poe kissed. But by the seventh he was committed to figuring out why his misanthropist author was so obsessed with this one character beat. And oh he got it now. He was almost mad at Poe for not having insisted on trying this sooner. Instead of dropping parapraxis hints in his writing. But all could be forgiven under the weight of Poe having finally started moving.
Ranpo leaned into Poes pull, causing Poe to stumble back, tripping over his dropped bag. Startling him out of Ranpos space. Poe became frighteningly aware of their very public location, and the nature of what they'd been engaging in. Ranpo's face was still close enough to his that he could feel hot breath filtering through his hair. Ranpo's eyes slowly opened from where he'd jammed them shut begore crashing himself into Poe. Eyes that carded themselves over Poe's face, as if Ranpo couldn't memorize anything with a simple glance. Before his whole face melted into a dopey grin, taking up every spare inch any other less deserving emotion may have hidden itself in.
"Ranpo we can't-we shouldn't- what if someone sees us?"
"Oh no what a shame. If someone saw me kissing my favorite author on the side of the road."
"I'm your favourite author?"
Poe's whole face was flushed, from a mix of endorphins and exercion. Ranpo moved his hands to trace the hollow of the other mans jaw. Marveling at the way the colour of his fingers clashed with Poe's completion, marred with subcutaneous blood.
"Do you think I'd like anyone else's books? You know I hate reading."
Poe slowly blinked his eyes, his head was hazy. He'd kissed Ranpo. He Edgar Allan Poe kissed the Edogawa Ranpo. He felt lightheaded. Poe layed his head back on the wall behind him, exposing more of his neck to the world.
Ranpo watched Poe's adams apple freed from his collar, move with a slow deliberate swallow. Traced the way his loss of composure seeped from him. As if he was an overflowing cup, unable to hold it in as much as he wanted to.
Poe had to collect himself. He had to do it now. He was still very much in the middle of the street. And could see Ranpo watching him, with the singular focus of a predator. He didn't know what Ranpo was seeing. He'd never get close to comprehending his perfect mind. But he knew whatever Ranpo saw was far too much. The fully open eyes of Edogawa Ranpo felt like a freashly honed butcher knife in the hands of an expert. A steady hand and perfect eye, flaying open anything below him. And everything was below Edogawa Ranpo.
Poe could see the rest of the day unfold in front of him. Pick up Karl, and the dropped bag. Have at least another bottle of ramune drunk on their walk to the agency. Amicably part ways.
Poe would go home and pack himself back into some semblance of normalcy before he had to face Ranpo again. Trying to fool Ranpo into thinking this hadn't been his singular sustaining dream for years, would be impossible. All he could do was prove to Ranpo this slip in both of their composure wouldn't affect the way Poe treated him. He would keep this tucked in the ventricles of his heart as one perfect afternoon, and never expect anything more of Ranpo.
"I'm in love with you"
Ranpo could tell Poe was thinking something utterly stupid. Poe was smart, he was very smart. But he wouldn't be able to find himself in a house of mirrors. Ranpo struggled to understand other people. But Poe didn't. Poe was brilliant at building worlds full of thinking feeling people. Of writing someone, and being able to convey them in a way that makes the reader feel as if Poe had hollowed them out. And filled them completely with whatever characters his book was trying to show you. He was happy to feel deeply and observe the feelings of others. But that brilliant skill failed him the one time Ranpo cared to take advantage of it. He knew Poe's inferiority complex blinded him to parts of the world. And while Ranpo knew he was mostly to blame for it's existence. That didn't mean he was happy to have to contend with it. But by god would he, for another chance at this with Poe.
The guild could re-hoist their whale into the sky, crash it back into Yokohama, and Poe doesn't think he'd notice. He can feel his heart rate sky rocket through the pressure of Ranpo's hands cradling his mandible. The feedback of hot skin on skin, doing nothing to abate the affect Ranpo's words had on him. Ranpo was in love with him. Poe didn't know what to think. So caught up in Ranpo's unavailability. He had notebooks full of plans for rejection, for a life of chaste observation. But he'd never let himself consider this.
"You love me…?"
"Do you kiss people you don't?"
"I've never actually…" Poe stammered pulling his head back from the wall to look at the ground next to Ranpo's feet. "Kissed anyone…"
"Me neither!"
"You've never…" Poe raised his hand, rubbing his thumb on the soft flesh of Ranpo's bottom lip. "Wow…"
"You know how I feel about physical tasks. Exhausting."
"Right, Ranpo, of course."
"That and also I've only ever wanted to kiss one person."
"w-who?"
"You stupid. Now get me back to the agency. You have a real date to plan for me."