Work Text:
At the end of his work day, Amuro Tooru decided to weed the flowers that were growing in pots, placed under the front window of Cafe’s Poirot. So there he was, calmly taking care of them when he heard fast footsteps approaching. They were light and therefore, must have belonged to a child.
He hadn’t thought much of it, hadn't even looked up from his work, at least not until those footsteps were nearing him in much faster pace than before. Starting to grow curious, the honey- haired man stood up(while cleaning himself from dust) and looked in the direction of said sound.
Whatever he was expecting, it certainly wasn't to see a brilliant, 7-year-old boy, known as Edogawa Conan all covered in sweat and running in his direction at a lightning speed.
The curiosity he felt, was immidiately replaced by a concern.
"Conan-kun? What’s-"
He didn’t have a chance to finish because said child dashed behind him and clung onto his shirt as if his life depended on it.
Amuro barely had a chance to ask what was wrong before another voice cut in.
"That was rude Conan-kun...Kicking me like that...But you misunderstood. I didn't mean to harm you."
Tooru teared his eyes off Conan(who was still desperatedly clinging to him) and turned his head toward the voice’s direction.
There, in a smart, black suit stood a panting middle-aged man. If Amuro had to guess, he would say the guy was a salaryman.
"I won’t harm you, I swear. So don’t run away anymore, okay? Now, come on. Let's go." The guy moved closer to Conan.
Amuro’s every sense screamed at him to do something. He didn’t really need to be a detective or know Mori family as well as he does to know that this guy was a stranger. And he wasn’t letting some weird guy take a child with them. Much less if said child was Conan.
Amuro swiftly stepped in front of the man, successfully blocking his way to Conan.
"Do you need something?" He asked in a polite tone even though internally he was tensed.
"Conan-kun" Said the salaryman, his eyes never leaving the boy. There was an odd, unpleasant glint in them.
Amuro felt an unpleasant sensation roll in his stomach.
Suddenly, a small hand tightened on his shirt(said hand was also trembling now that Amuro thought about it). The honey-haired waiter glanced down at Conan.
Beside trembling, he noticed few things:
-
The button on his shirt was missing.
-
There were red marks on his left wrist and nail-like cut on his face.
The sudden realization struck him as hard as a lightning bolt, making his eyes narrow in cold fury. He could feel his blood-lust rising.
Still, he couldn’t kill the guy right now, not in the middle of the day. Beside Conan needed his comfort.
So, he gently put his left hand on top of Conan’s head in a comforting manner (he couldn’t help but notice tremors that ran through the boy). And forcing his voice to remain as calm and polite as possible, he said:
"Conan-kun doesn’t seem to want to go with you."
The salryman completely ignored Amuro, still staring at Conan.
"Conan-kun?" Aside from tremors increasing, the boy made no move. "Come on, Conan! Stop wasting my time!" He reached toward him, making Conan shrink farther behind Amuro with a small whimper.
Bourbon wasn’t letting him get touched though and slapped the stranger’s hand away, letting some on his murderous intent leak through his 'Amuro Tooru' mask.
The salaryman backed away with a yelp and Amuro wanted to give the guy beating he deserved but small hands on his shirt prevented him from doing so.
The guy was lucky that Conan was so merciful, but unlike the boy, Amuro was not.
However Conan was his top priority right now, so releasing all his murderous intent, Bourbon glared at the terrified man.
"I’ll let it slide... for now."
And with a strangled scream the guy ran away.
Turning back to Conan, his eyes softened. He let the boy step back and to give him space, Amuro did the same. Then the man knelt down.
Conan still hasn’t looked at him, his expression hidden behind his glasses and fringe.
"That person was scary." He said it in such a soft way that it made Amuro’s heart clench. Looking at him, at the state he was in, the way he was curling into himself, the man couldn't help but try to reach him.
"Your injures…" He started but quickly backed off, deciding to go with a gentler approach.
A welcoming, tender smile appeared on his lips.
"Are you alright?"
Conan stepped closer and to Amuro’s surprise took his big hands into his own small ones.
"Yes..." His voice was still soft but at least a little bit louder than before. "Don’t go." He tightened his hold on Amuro’s hands.
He wasn’t planning to but still had to ask.
"Aren’t you afraid of me? After all that happened? I’m also a man, you know."
"Amuro-san is different. So I’m not afraid."
He said softly, but firmly.
The warmth spread through him as he smiled at the brave, precocious boy in front of him.
"Oh." Was all Amuro said.
After few moments Conan pulled away (or tried to) because in the mid of the second step he slid down onto a pavement with a surprised look on his face and small "Huh?"
"Conan-kun?" Amuro asked, feeling the concern grow again.
"My legs…" Was all he said.
Not long after that, the pair found themselves going back to the Agency. Amuro needed to carry Conan, because poor boy’s legs had completely given out. They also had to go to Poirot for a moment so Amuro could take his backpack, having ended his shift up.
"I see." Amuro said while listening to Conan’s explanation. "So you've been sensing a weird presence around your school for last few days..."
Conan nodded into his shoulder weakly.
"Why didn't you tell Mori-san or Ran-san?" He asked frustated, even though he has already guessed the answer.
"...I didn't want to worry them..." The boy said quietly.
Amuro sighed heavily. Yes, that was exactly what he thought. Of course, Conan wouldn't want to worry them. Or more importantly, he wouldn't want them in danger. If this wasn't just some perverted guy but a Organization member...
The chills run down his spine and something bitter appeared in the back of his throat. Honestly, why do troubles always have to find this boy? Does a universe hate him or something? Why does he have to be this reckless? Or so independant? He respects boy's brilliance (is awed by it even) and his presence on crime scenes and in a fight against Organization is priceless. But Conan is just a child. He shouldn't be dealing with any of this. Especially not alone.
He understands the boy's need to protect Moris. But he also understand their concern and need to protect him.
(He can't help but shiver when he thinks what would have happened if he hadn't been there)
Amuro stops abruptly.
"Conan-kun, look at me."
Sensing the authority in his tone, the boy looks up. He probably guessed what Amuro is about to say because his expression (or rather eyes) look incredibly guilty.
(He thinks it's the first time, he's seen Conan so open around him; he doesn't think more of it, pretends there isn't warmth growing in his chest)
He sighs again, this time his expression is softer.
"I understand your need to protect them, Conan-kun. But they want to do the same thing for you. They want to you to stay safe, as much as you want them. I know it's hard. Having so many responsibilites and secrets you can't tell them. But I think it's okay to open up, once in a while. You don't have to tell them everything. Just as much as you want. As much as you deem safe. But please, do tell them something. It would be better for everyone."
Conan's eyes are widened. His expression is unreadable but his eyes are the diffrent story. He can see the understanding passing through them and lets the boy have a moment to prcess what Amuro has just dumped on him.
"Okay." He finally says after few minutes. "You're right. I wasn't thinking clearly. I'll think about it next time..."
His expression is hidden by his glasses and fringe again but Amuro can tell he is sincere.
"That's all I ask you to do."
Conan leans his head against his shoulder again and Amuro resumes walking. There were few minutes of silence until honey-haired man spoke up again.
"The whole situation must have left you with a terrible taste in mouth, right? Go ahead and take a bath when we get to the Agency. I'll explain the situation to Ran-san and Mori-san."
"Uhm." Conan nodded.
How should I start? Amuro wondered, having decide to tell Moris the whole truth about the incident between the stalker and their ward.
"Amuro-san" Conan’s voice started him out of his musings. He could feel boy's fists tightening on his shirt. "Thank you."
Amuro looked at him, eyes softening as he smiled.
"No need to mention it, Conan-kun." He said, while his arms tightened the embrace around the kid.
In a dark, abandoned alley near Teitan Elemantary School, a man named Kumida Masaomi scrolled through his phone's overloaded gallery, full with photos of a certain 7 year old detective.
"Hahaha...That's good, so good~! Conan-kun is so cute!~ Next time I should get more!
"There you are!" A voice that belonged to the certain honey- haired waiter exclaimed.
Kumida froze having recognized the voice and after few senconds started to back out with a terrified expression on his face.
"Wh- Why are you here?!"
"Now, now" Amuro said while smiling pleasantly. "I promised we would meet at a later date, didn't I?"
No one heard about Kumida Masaomi ever again.