Work Text:
Ranpo Edogawa loves candy. It's quite obvious to anyone, seeing as rarely a moment passes where he doesn't have a lollipop sticking out of his mouth. So, it goes without saying that one of his favourite times of year is February. Why? Well, Valentines day, of course! Every store has special deals on sweets during this time, and Ranpo is never one to turn down cheap candy. He even gets free candy from the other members of the detective agency! Although, even free candy comes with it's price...
"So, Ranpo, have you finally gotten a date for Valentines day this year?"
Ranpo leans back in his chair, not even bothering to look at the doctor who so graciously gave him a bag of skittles.
"C'mon, Yosano! Smart people like me are a rare breed, the chances of me finding someone worthy of calling my lover are extremely slim-"
He looks up momentarily, and notices a familiar figure lurking in the shadows of the doorway.
"Ah, Poe!"
The detective jumps up from his seat, rushing towards the writer. He's noticeably caught off-guard, sinking into his coat a bit.
"So, how's the novel? I've been so bored, you've gotta help me out here! I need a challenge!"
Poe fumbles for a moment, still shaken by the detective's energy.
"A-ah, yes, one moment..."
He digs around in his coat's inner pockets, causing Karl to jump off of his shoulders and onto Ranpo's. The writer pulls out a leather-bound book, proudly handing it to his rival.
"Now, regrettably, I cannot guarantee that this work is among my best, as I have recently come across a roadblock in my writing. H-however, I would be ever so delighted if I were to have the honour of watching you solve the case..!"
Poe folds his hands nervously, very much missing the comforting weight of Karl on his shoulders. However, he must admit that he enjoys the sight of his beloved raccoon perched upon the incredible detective before him.
"Oh, you wanna join me in the story? Alright then, let's go!" Ranpo flips open the leather-bound novel, and a bright yellow glow engulfs the duo as a breeze seems to emanate from the book. Karl, startled by the sudden wind, jumps off of the detective and scurries away into the office. When Yosano goes out into the main room to see why a raccoon had jumped onto her desk, all that remains are a few scattered papers around an abandoned book.
"Dammit Ranpo... Again?"
While everything was going smoothly for Poe's secret plan, he hadn't anticipated just how nerve wracking it would be to actually carry it out. Several months ago he had been talking to his old colleague, Lucy Maud-Montgomery. They have a habit of catching up over coffee every now and then, usually at the café below the detective agency.
"-and I don't know what it was, but seeing how friendly he was with that Mushitaro fellow... It made me feel a sort of jealousy. I suppose I feared he may no longer have a need for me as a rival?"
Lucy studies Poe's partially-hidden face, and swirls some cream and sugar into her cup of coffee. "Y'know Edgar, that sounds an awful lot like a crush. Perhaps you desire more than just a rivalry..?"
There's a playful tone behind her words, one that nearly makes Poe spit out his bitter coffee. "Wh-what on Earth are you talking about? Surely you aren't insinuating that my feelings for Ranpo are... R-romantic?!"
Lucy sips her drink, her casual demeanor harshly contrasting Poe's franticness. "Just give it some thought. It doesn't hurt to look at things from a new perspective!"
As it turns out, she was correct. Countless nights of tossing and turning confirmed this fact, all the while the detective's visage flashed in Poe's mind. Finally forced to confront his feelings, he decided he should confess to his rival. After all, he was bound to figure it out himself at some point. And so, Poe worked tirelessly to create a mystery for the detective, one that would make his feelings clear. Whether or not they would be reciprocated... Well, that's yet another mystery for now.
As the world materialized around them, Ranpo could feel that something was different about the story. Nothing had even happened, and yet the mansion in which they stood had a distinct aura that never appeared in any other novels of Poe's creation. It felt warm and inviting, like a fireplace on a cool winter's night. Was this Poe's intention, or was it an effect of his subconscious state of mind? Ranpo had difficulty deducing which was the truth. Perhaps the author wasn't as much of an open book as he'd believed...
"Alright, so where's this mystery?"
He looks towards Poe, who gives him no response. Simply standing there, his slight smile holds a message. 'Deduce it'. The detective turns on his heel, and paces throughout the room in search of clues. Upon closer inspection, he realises something painfully obvious. "Wait a second, this is your house! Your stories are always fictional, and take place in made up places. For the story to take place somewhere not only real, but as personal as your own home... Hm. Could it be that this mystery has something to do with reality?"
Poe's heart skips a beat, no matter how many times he witnesses Ranpo's deduction, the accuracy always gives him chills. He remains silent in hopes of not giving away any answers, but the twitching of the corner of his mouth doesn't go unnoticed by the detective. He watches as his rival wanders out into the hallway, now freely exploring the corridors of his home. These halls typically feel so empty, and yet right now they truly feel like home.
"Ooh, a note!"
Ranpo picks up a wax-sealed envelope, with his name written in elegant ink. He rips it open, making Poe wince for a moment at the tearing of paper, and unfurls the letter.
'This maze of walls holds secrets dear, an architect's hidden treasure. Through past and present, find his future, deduce what it is he seeks. Should you utter words false, a world will fall to ruin. Take care, detective, the truth awaits.'
After a few minutes of walking, the pair stumble across a library of sorts. The shelves are lined with mystery novels of all sorts, many of which were written by Poe. One book stands out to Ranpo, one that he'd never read. It was bound in an emerald green cover, and the spine had begun to fade with wear. He pulls it off the shelf, and traces his finger along the cover.
"Defeat..?" He flips open to the first page, and is quite surprised to see a familiar tale. It was an exact record of the case he and Poe had fought over all those years ago, precisely as he remembered it. Through past and present, find his future... If an archive of novels is the past, then the present would be where he would actively write. The detective ponders, before turning to the author. "Where's your office?"
Poe leads him to his office, a dimly lit room with no windows. It smells of coffee, and has clearly seen many late nights of writing. Ranpo paces around the study, opening drawers and skimming through papers. His eyes drift to a glass frame in the bottom of a drawer, a photograph with familiar faces. It's from a few months ago, when he and Poe solved a particularly difficult case. He had insisted on taking a picture with the author, and managed to get a selfie despite his protests. If he had been so adamant about not taking that photo, then what was it doing in a fancy frame here in his office? He picks up the photo, and sees a piece of paper underneath it. It has a few words on it, surrounded by question marks. Rival? Friend?-' the final word is scribbled out, as though someone was frantic to cover it up. Ranpo sets down the picture frame and closes the drawer, questions now filling his mind.
As the two walked back to the room where they first arrived, Poe couldn't help but feel extremely anxious. By now it was obvious how he felt for Ranpo, but the detective hadn't said a single word since they left his office. Was he angry? Disappointed? Scared? Poe fears he may have made the wrong choice with this mystery game, but it's too late to go back. His mind races as he and Ranpo sit down on the living room couch, a tense silence hanging over them. That is, until Ranpo speaks up.
"So, that letter... Past, present, future. I think I know what it meant."
He looks up at the ceiling, and Poe swallows his anxiety. "The past referred to when we began, when we first met. That green book was well used, which means you've read it again and again. In your office there was a picture of us, our present day selves."
The detective slides closer to him, continuing his analysis. "There was a note beneath that photo. Do you know what it said?"
He turns to Poe, who's heart is beating faster than he thought possible.
"Rival?"
Poe gulps.
"Friend?"
Ranpo leans even closer, smirking at the author. "And what was scribbled out, I wonder..." He places his hand on the author's cheek, brushing chocolate bangs out of his face.
"Perhaps... Lover?"
Emerald eyes meet violet, Poe's cheeks flushed with a soft pink. He can't seem to find any words, too enthralled by the warmth of his rival to think straight. Time seems to freeze in that moment, as soft lips press against his. The sensation is gone all too soon, as Ranpo pulls away to gaze at the stunned author. He lets out a little giggle, smirking at Poe's expression.
"Well? Was I correct?"
The author raises a hand to cover his face, breaking eye contact out of embarrassment. "Y-yes..."
Ranpo leans in once again, this time pressing right against him. "Then does that mean I can kiss you more?~"
All Poe can manage to do is nod in reply before Ranpo is kissing him as promised. His jaw opens without thinking, allowing Ranpo to slip his tongue into the other's mouth. Poe lets out a surprised gasp at the sudden feeling, tasting his rival's sugary sweet saliva mixing with his own. The thought disgusts him, and yet it feels so good. His hands grip onto the detective's tan cloak, as nimble fingers run through his hair. Ranpo whispers against the other's lips, lost in the moment. "God, I love you Poe..."
Neither notice the golden light swirling around them at that point in time, not before the voice of a certain bandaged man quips from nearby.
"Called it!"
Since Ranpo had solved the mystery by 'Deducing what it is he seeks', as in stating his feelings... Well, the novel world dispersed and took them back to reality. Back to the ADA. While they were making out. Needless to say, the members of the agency weren't too keen on letting them live it down. After about twenty minutes of non-stop teasing and joking, Poe and Ranpo finally manage to leave the building. On the way out they pass by Lucy, who gives Poe an obvious smirk of 'See? Told you so'. When the two reach the street, Poe pauses. "So, Ranpo... Would you uh- like to come home with me?"
Ranpo smiles, linking arms with the author. "Lead the way!"