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Atsushi glances up, sighing softly as anticipation grows inside of him.
Any moment now.
Tapping his fingers against his arms, he blocks out the background noises of the police talking. Their counter arguments don't matter at this point anymore—they haven't mattered since the moment Edogawa Ranpo stepped onto the crime scene with a grin on his face.
It's not like Atsushi isn't paying attention at all. He's the one who has to write the report after this and fill out the paperwork, after all.
(He can already imagine himself hunched over his laptop, trying his best to focus on the report, whilst Ranpo sits on top of the desk beside his own, munching on his snacks and trying to distract him. Ah, it's so unfair. )
Not to mention, that the weretiger has developed the habit of being overly cautious whilst on cases with Ranpo. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to be put off by the detective’s blunt personality and whilst most just bear with their annoyance, every so often, there are some people that resort to violence. Just the thought of these kinds of people leaves Atsushi feeling cold. If one of them managed to harm Ranpo — no, he absolutely won't let that happen.
So, he's aware of his surroundings and how the people at the scene are positioned but he's mostly aware of how Ranpo’s grin turns into that self-assured smirk that speeds up Atsushi's heartbeat. It's the moment he's been waiting for. The excitement of Ranpo solving a case effortlessly leaves him in awe every single time.
But what he anticipates the most…
“Guess it can't be helped!”
Ranpo whips out his glasses as he steps closer to the one of the police officers at the scene and pats his back. “I'll clear it up for you.”
And then he opens his eyes and Atsushi's stops breathing. He's beyond captivated.
Emerald orbs shine prettily in the light, a knowing and confident glint in them, and Atsushi knows he should be focusing on the crime but he’s unable to glance away. Truly, it's a shame that Ranpo usually keeps his eyes closed and hidden from everyone. Maybe Atsushi would be less subjected to getting lost in them otherwise.
Time passes in a blur as Ranpo lays out how the murder was committed before he takes off his glasses and closes his eyes, declaring his deduction as done when he points out the murderer. Everyone at the crime scene stares at him, stunned expressions on their faces. Atsushi can't blame them. Ranpo just has that effect on people, after all.
With his focus properly back onto the situation, the weretiger immediately notices when the perpetrator’s face is overtaken by an angry expression.
It's the only sign he needs to start moving, knowing exactly how this is going to play out. So, as the man rushes out to stab Ranpo with a knife he's slided out from under his sleeve, Atsushi meets him halfway, immediately grabbing his wrist and halting his movement.
The perpetrator snarls, ready to yell something out but one glare from Atsushi silences him. Atsushi relishes in the slight expression of fear that forms on the man's face. Finally, the officers seem to register the situation and approach them to cuff the perpetrator.
Atsushi keeps glaring at the man until Ranpo calls out to him.
“Atsushi, let's go! I wanna stop at the store near the train station for candy.”
Relaxing, the weretiger finally turns away from the criminal and walks over to his coworker, smiling at him.
Ranpo skips closer, before reaching out to tug at his arm. “Come on, no need to get riled up over that guy's stupidity.”
Ah, he's just too cute.
“A-Alright, Ranpo-san,” he mumbles, letting himself be led away for a moment before snapping out of it and halting in his steps. “This is the wrong direction.”
Then, in a rather bold move for him, he grabs onto the older detective's wrist and drags him into the other direction. “It's this way…”
Seconds turn into minutes as they walk like that, yet Ranpo doesn't seem to have a problem with Atsushi holding his wrist. He can't help but blush at that. He was so sure the other would complain or simply pull away.
Eventually, Atsushi decides it would probably be for the best to let go of the other’s wrist. The hold isn’t very comfortable in the long run.
It’s then that Ranpo’s hand latches onto his, their fingers interweaving.
Atsushi’s breath hitches.
The older detective doesn’t comment on it and just keeps humming a random tune.
(There have been countless times where Ranpo draped himself over Atsushi’s back without hesitation or tugged at his arm to drag him to a store and yet, they have never held hands together. The thought of that leaves Atsushi a blushing mess. God, he's so hopeless.)
“You know, it’s adorable how you keep staring at my face every time I use Ultra deduction.”
Ah, of course he noticed. The younger detective risks a glance at the other and immediately freezes, coming to an abrupt halt.
Green eyes stare back at him, knowing and amused.
Atsushi opens his mouth to say something but nothing comes out.
Ranpo smirks at him and it’s so unfair . He’s going to die of a heart attack like that. He’s too young to die!
“Don’t be shy now, Atsushi. You sure weren’t back there at the crime scene.”
He’s sure he must be redder than a tomato by now. His face feels like it’s on fire. Still, as always he heeds the other’s words and gazes into those eyes resembling emeralds. He sighs, beyond infatuated with the other.
“You really like my eyes a lot.” It’s not a question. It never is with Ranpo.
“Of course.” Driven by the knowledge that it’s obviously too late to hide his crush on the detective, Atsushi loosens up with his words. “They are so pretty, I really wish you had your eyes open more often…”
“Hmm, other people would argue your eyes are prettier though. Definitely more unique.”
Atsushi blinks, tilting his head. “Well, I’m me and to me your eyes are the prettiest, Ranpo-san.”
Ranpo’s smirk softens into a warm grin. “You’re not hiding it anymore.”
“Ah… well, you already saw through me anyway.” His blush deepens. Of course, Ranpo knowing about his crush on him is a bit embarrassing, but overall he’s fine with it. The weretiger doesn’t see any point in pretending his feelings are something else than they are, especially not to Ranpo who can figure him out whenever he wants to.
Like that he leaves himself open to any judgement from the older detective.
Instead, Ranpo just shakes his head and tugs at his hand.
“Come on, the candy won’t buy itself.”
Ah, rejec —
Suddenly, there's pair of lips on his own, soft and gentle and gone just as fast.
“You can stare at my eyes all you want afterwards.”
Atsushi blinks.
“In fact, you can do a lot more together with me.”
Atsushi can’t stop himself from smiling brightly as he replies, “Alright!”
A quick glance at the clock confirms that it’s nearing 5 pm.
The sun’s slowly starting to set as more and more members of the agency leave the workplace for the day.
Taking a bite of his snack, Ranpo glances at the way the sun rays filter through the window blinds and light up different spots in the office.
He glances up to a desk on the right side of the room, eyes open to take in the sight before him properly.
Bathed in the afternoon’s setting sun is no one other than their resident weretiger.
For a moment it feels like time has frozen over, leaving only these two in the world.
Then a pair of eyes more beautiful than any sunset could ever hope to be, settle on him.
“Ranpo-san? Is something wrong?”
“...Nothing.”
He hopes they’ll keep glancing at him forever.