justonetruth | (no subject)

Ran winced. "Sorry," she said. "That was a stupid question but-- well, maybe I'm just being stupid."

Aoko shook her head, her smile still present. "No, it's okay! Are you worried about something?"

Considering what Christie had told her about Conan, if Ran knew as well... she certainly didn't blame the girl for being worried.

"Yes, actually," Ran said and hesitated a moment before trying to smile. "Conan can get into a lot of trouble even with supervision. I'm scared to think of what he might get up to with no-one there."

Aoko nods firmly at Ran in response.

"I'll help you find him!"

"Ah -- thank you," Ran said, smiling. "I can't say that I don't need the help."

Already, Aoko moves toward a chair and peers behind it. "What are his favorite hiding places?"

"Let's see ... sky-scrapers, shadows, anything with a vantage point. He ..." is going to grow up to be a voyeur "... likes people-watching, places where things are happening."

"People watching?" Aoko asked as she stood up straight again. "Hm... maybe he's at the top of the staircase?"

Ran could easily imagine the top of the stairs appealing to Conan. "Let's try it!"

With a nod, Aoko made her way to the staircase, expecting Ran to follow.

Which Ran did, as quietly as possible -- no sense making it obvious that they were coming. Conan wasn't immediately visible, but as they reached the lobby, Ran scanned the surrounding balconies for possibilities. There was a beam, obscured in shadow, and Ran turned away from it deliberately. "I think he's most likely to be over here," she said, gesturing to the beam, the movement hidden from anyone observing there by her body. Hopefully Aoko would catch the request. "I'm going to search those bookcases."

Aoko did, and she nodded. "Alright!"

As Ran moved toward the bookcases, Aoko moved toward the stairs so she could check the balcony and the strange beam obscured in shadow.

"Not this bookcase ... maybe the next?" Ran was almost certain that Conan would be listening in to her somehow -- and hopefully the sound of her talking to herself would obscure any sounds Aoko made. "I really hope Conan isn't getting into trouble ..."

Under Ran's cover, Aoko creeps silently up the stairs (utilizing her Kid stealth to do so). When she reaches the top, she carefully peers at the balcony Ran suspected he was hiding near.

There's a slight amount of rustling from the rafters, Aoko's only warning before she has a sudden and unexpected visitor. "Got you!"

Aoko lets out a startled cry. "E-Edogawa-kun?!"

"Hi Aoko-neechan!" Conan gives her a quick hug (incidentally planting a tiny bug on the back of her top) before squirming to be let down. "Quick, lets hide before Ran gets back."

Aoko would most likely notice the bug later, but for now she didn't catch it. She reached out to take Conan's hand before he could scramble off. "Ah, wait! Ran-chan said she was looking for you!"

"All the more reason to hide! Ran's really fast--" Conan freezes, turning around.

Ran is indeed fast. She's also right there.

"Bath. Now."

Aoko can't help but giggle as she places a hand on Conan's head. "You'd better listen to her, Conan-kun."

"I had a bath yesterday--" Conan dodges, but he is not able to elude Ran's grab.

Ran lifted him up easily, beaming at Aoko. "Thank you so much for your help!"

Aoko lifted a hand to wave it at Ran. "You're welcome! I guess taking care of kids can be a handful sometimes."

"Especially this kid." Ran sighed as Conan continued to struggle ineffectually. "For someone so smart, I don't get how you can be so difficult. If you'd just had your bath when I'd said, you'd be out and free to do whatever you want by now."

"It's the principle," Conan said promptly. "Also, I bet the water's cold by now. You can't run a bath and hold onto me, so--"

"You're going to disappear again? I think not." Ran turned to Aoko. "You're not free by any chance?"

Conan, meanwhile, was making urgent 'say no!' gestures.

Aoko shifted her gaze from Ran, to Conan, and back again.

"I can help you if you need it, Ran-chan."

Ran gave Aoko a smile of heartfelt relief. "Thank-you."

Conan was quiet, sulking as Ran led the way back towards their room.

"He's a good kid," she said. "Just prone to be -- well. Stubborn about certain things."