justonetruth | (no subject)

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Conan stood in the doorway of his room. He was gripping the door frame, taking deep breathes and letting them out slowly. He didn't leave often, usually only for trips to the library or for food. Maybe the occasional odd trip to explore, but otherwise, he kept to the room. Because he knew there was a risk in leaving.

He could see HER again. And he hadn't been ready for that. Years, for years she'd been gone. He was almost twelve again, and he'd been eight again when he lost her. He had given up on her. He'd given up on seeing her.

And he came here and did. At first he thought if he just waited long enough, he'd been sent home again, but it didn't look like he was again and with each passing day, he was likely to run into her. He didn't want to freak out on her. He didn't want to scare her or hurt her. So he had no choice. He had to face her.

He took one last deep breathe and let it out again before venturing into the halls and started to walk. "R....Ran!" He called, his voice cracking at first. How long had it been since he dared to say the name aloud? It'd been too long. But he had to say it. He had to accept this truth and....and deal with it. "Ran!" Hopefully he was prepared as he thought for whenever his call actually reached a Ran.

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Ran frowned. She knew logically that there was no particular reason why her best friends should be above all suspicion, but still...

"They wouldn't," she said firmly, stopping in front of her door and pushing it open. Huh, it was only four rooms down the hallway today.

"You can think that. I...don't know them well enough to be one hundred percent certain," Conan murmured.

"Well, I do," Ran replied, but without rancour. She led Shinichi into her room without letting go of his hand, blushing all over again at the state of it. "...Sorry about the mess."

It wasn't terrible, but there was definitely enough clutter to evidence the fact that she'd been staying here on-again-off-again since the year before.

"It's cleaner than uncle's room ever was. Or Hattori's apartment," Conan commented, looking around, but staying beside Ran.

"I keep coming here and going home again, so I haven't had much of a chance to clean it up," she explained, drawing him further inside. "So, um..."

Now what?

"Understandable. Can't really help dimensional travel," Conan said.

He looked up at her. "...I'm...very tried. Do you mind if I took a nap?" He asked. And the squeezing of her hand was a silent question that she stay.

Ran hadn't had any intention of going anywhere, anyway. Her expression softened as she looked at him.

"Of course not," she said quietly, crouching down so she could draw the glasses off his face. Despite all her time here, she still hadn't quite gotten used to knowing, and she wanted to see him as Shinichi, not Conan -- especially since it hadn't been that long ago that she'd wound up comforting a real Conan in a similar manner.

As for the nap, she could just sleep in her clothes, or read a book while Shinichi slept. She didn't plan on going anywhere.

Edited 2010-03-24 16:14 (UTC)

Conan blinked as she took off his glasses. "...I guess I don't need to wear them around you, huh?" He said. "I'll sleep wherever you're comfortable. I can sleep pretty much everywhere."

"Baka, I'm not going to make you sleep on the floor."

The protest was heartfelt, but Ran couldn't help blushing furiously as she turned back the covers of her bed. This was Shinichi, after all.

Stop being stupid, Ran! It's not like we're going to do anything. He needs to sleep.

Taking a deep breath, she turned and folded Shinichi's glasses, gently placing them down on the bedside table, and kicked off her shoes before sitting down on her side of the bed. She was wearing capris and a long, baggy shirt that came halfway down her thighs, which would be more than comfortable enough for napping in.

"Do you need anything?" she queried, glancing shyly at Shinichi.

"I was thinking more of a couch or something along those lines," Conan said, a tinge of amusement in his voice.

He shook his head, slipping off his shoes, jacket, and belt. Those could be uncomfortable to nap in, but that was it. "I'm fine."

Ran smiled slightly, glad to hear the humour in his voice. "Okay."

She scooted over on the bed to make room for him, early-evening sunshine spilling over her legs and across the bed in a golden-red swath despite the ever-present fog that surrounded the mansion. Her room felt peaceful, quiet and still, and it helped to alleviate some of her nervousness.

Conan climbed in beside her, immediately curling up next to her. This...this sort of routine he was used too. It felt almost easier to be close to her like this than it had been to grab hold of her hand the first time.

"...thank you."

The way he curled up so needily against her squeezed at Ran's heart, and without even thinking, she reached out to run a hand over Shinichi's hair.

"You're welcome," she said quietly. "Sleep well, okay?"

Conan nodded. "...yeah. Night," he murmured, one hand wrapping around her waist loosely. It was innocent. He just wanted the contact.

It was true when he said he was tired. It wouldn't take long until he fell asleep. But it was a peaceful sleep.

Ran flushed, but kept running her hand over his hair. She'd intended to stay awake and read while Shinichi rested, but with the silence of the room and the warmth of the sunshine and Shinichi's body pressed against hers, she forgot to pick up a book, and slowly found herself nodding off against her will. Eventually, half-awake, she finally gave in and burrowed under the covers, curling up around her friend in turn.

It was still a tossup as to whether things would be awkward in the morning, but for now, both of them slept peacefully.

It wouldn't be until morning Conan started to stir. It had been a tiring day, facing Ran again, and he always seemed to be in need of sleep anyway.

However, with the lightening of the sky, he started to stir, slowly waking up.

Ran, however, was already awake, and had been so for an indeterminate amount of time. Rather than get up and read, or clean her room, or get them both some breakfast, or any of the other dozen little things that she'd normally do upon waking, she was just... lying in bed, watching Conan as the sun came up.

There was the faintest of smiles on her face, worn and slightly shallow, and fondness in her eyes as she gazed at him. She was close, too; half wrapped around him form as if to protect him from any possible threat, her face was only inches from his.

But there was no embarrassment, no awkwardness, none of the usual reactions that were to be expected given that she'd woke up in bed with a Shinichi -- and a Shinichi that wasn't hers, even. Just that silent, steady observation.

Conan blinked blearily at her, not seeming to register her at first. Slowly though, recognition dawned on him and briefly, a sad look formed on his face.

Then a small, very, very small, smile formed on his face, touching her cheek. "Good morning..."

Ran looked startled at the touch, as if she hadn't been expecting it to connect, and then her smile widened slightly.

"'Morning," she mumbled, not breaking her gaze at all.

She was definitely staring at him.

Why did she look surprised? And...she did seem to be staring intently.

"How long have you been up?"

Ran's expression shifted into one of thoughtfulness. "Not sure," she said vaguely, and she reached up to stroke Shinichi's hair again without any prompting. The faint smile was still on her face, and she didn't seem entirely awake. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than usual," Conan said, but there was something nagging at him. While he certainly wouldn't deny Ran her touching him, especially now he was able to face her, it seemed...a bit much right away.

His friend beamed with happiness -- and an element of relief, as if she'd been expecting a different answer. "I'm glad."

"Were you that worried?" Conan asked.

"Eh? Ah... maybe," Ran admitted, surprised by the question. She stopped stroking his hair and rubbed at one eye in an attempt to wake herself up more. "You just looked so sad..."