#I love these next chapters even if they're not as intense as 14/15 was

[mintchocolateleaves]

Cost of Freedom (17/52)

Summary: In which Saguru and Ran learn about the escape. Prison ! AU

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Tokyo - 6.12 a.m.

Unlike the streets of Tokyo, which are unusually quiet this morning, the police station is bursting with activity. The moment Ran races in, holding onto Saguru's sleeve to avoid losing him through the crowds of officers, she knows that something has gone extremely wrong.

The way Saguru's lips purse tells Ran that she is not the only one is confused. She'd listened faintly to his side of the phone call - something she knows is rude, but she'd been excited over the concept of it being Hattori - and from the abrupt end to the call, she knows that he's not had anything explained to him.

They weave through the sea of uniformed police. She recognises some faces, but most of the officers are blank slates, not people Ran has met or talked to.

"Come on Ran-san," Saguru says, and he offers her a smile. It's strained, but recently most of the detective's smiles have been awkward. She wonders whether it's because he feels guilty about the case they're working on, for putting it down and walking away, but Ran's not sure. Maybe it's the fact that he knows today is May 4th, Shinichi's birthday, and that, like last year, Shinichi will be spending it away from home.

"But division one isn't this way," Ran protests.

"I have a feeling," Saguru says, rolling his eyes at the sight of a particularly burly officer, shoulders drawn, chest puffed out, "that we'll find them in the same place."

Ran doesn't ask why - it's obvious from how packed the station is that something has happened. It's just a matter of getting that information and helping Saguru in whatever way she can, so they can both focus back on Shinichi.

"Okay," Ran says, and lets out a sigh when they break away from the crowd and into the corridor, "have you got any idea what's going on?"

Saguru turns to her, shakes his head. "Not a clue."

The walk to division two's headquarters isn't that far, it's just a floor beneath homicide, and Ran feels like she's being lazy when they push through the doors and haven't had to climb any staircases. 

Saguru straightens out, almost as if he's smoothing out the cracks in his posture rather than the creases of his clothing. It makes him seem more confident, compared to the quiet nervousness she'd seen festering during the taxi ride to the station.

Division two is not quite as busy as reception, but alarm is thick within the room - it's not as lighthearted as the theft division has been joked to be. Instead, it seems dull, lifeless despite all of the frantic movements, people banging their fingers against keyboards with obnoxiously loud taps, other shouting into their phones.

The words seem to blur together as Ran follows Saguru towards Inspector Nakamori's office. Somehow the inspector has kept his job, despite having personal ties to Kaitou KID.

Saguru raps his knuckles against the door. Since he knows they're expected, he doesn't wait to open the door, pushing it open as a wary 'come in' echoes from inside.

They step inside. The office isn't small, but with the amount of people milling inside, standing by the desk, sitting in the chairs, it is claustrophobic.

"Hakuba-kun," Inspector Nakamori says. Despite the tiredness pulling at his eyes, he looks almost relieved to see the detective. "Come in - no, don't bother closing it, people keep coming in and out, we shouldn't bother-"

A girl is sat on his desk, and Ran thinks for a moment that she looks awfully familiar - an awkward laugh bubbles in her throat, when she realises it's because they look alike, the same brown hair, same azure eyes staring out at the world. Saguru has talked about her in the past, a classmate of his, Nakamori Aoko. Her expression is blank, although Ran can see expressions flickering across her face, forming and falling apart.

"You wanted me Inspector?"

Now that she surveys the room, Ran's pretty certain that she recognises the other detectives in the room. Superintendent Matsumoto from Division one is standing beside Inspector Megure, detective Takagi on his phone beside them. Superintendent Chaki of Division is reading over a file, although he looks up at the sound of Saguru's voice.

Ran feels tension coil in her stomach. It feels like a snake, getting ready to strike.

"Yes." Inspector Nakamori says, standing to the side of his desk. He squeezes his daughter's shoulder quickly, before side stepping around her, making his way towards them. "It's about Kaito... It's about KID."

"Kuroba-kun?" Saguru tilts his head slightly - to some, it might come off as arrogance, but Ran knows it's simply confusion. "What about him?"

Inspector Nakamori hesitates, glances away from them. He says, "KID escaped from his cell early this morning. He's out of prison."

The glare that blooms across his daughter's face, does not linger, just a flash, before it disappears again, and Ran recalls what Saguru has told her about the case of Kaitou KID. Nakamori Aoko had quite possibly been the person who KID would have seen as his closest friend - Kuroba Kaito, the thief's real identity - has practically been family to the Nakamori's.

"He's what?" Saguru breathes the words, almost disbelieving. Except, from the way he collects himself within the next second, Ran realises that he's not as alarmed as the police officers. He's surprised, yes, but not overly so. Almost as if he'd been expecting it.

"KID escaped," Nakamori Aoko mumbles, "that thief escaped."

Saguru doesn't have time to respond before Superintendent Chaki steps forward, turning the file around. He says, "we've just had the log of KID's visitors faxed over. You're the only one he's seen."

Oh no, Ran thinks, that doesn't sound good.

"I visited him twice, yes." Saguru says, and he's biting his lip, recalling the visits. It makes Ran recall her own visits to Shinichi, makes her miss him even more. "The visits were never long."

"We need to find him as quickly as possible," Superintendent Chaki says, closing the file, "before he has a chance to completely disappear. Anything KID said during these visits would help us."

"Of course," Saguru says, and he tells them. Ran listens in silence as he tells them about how his first visit had been a plea for KID to tell him about the danger he'd encountered during his heists, and how KID had been unwilling to give him any facts.

"And the second visit?" Inspector Nakamori asks. He wears a frown, his eyes narrowed with focus - if there's a part of him that feels dismayed by KID's escape, he's buried it deep inside him, has decided that his work takes priority.

"What can you tell me about that one?"

Saguru rubs at his chin, hesitates. He's seems slightly pale, almost as if it pains him to remember his most recent interaction with the thief. He says, "he seemed... different."

"Different?" Nakamori Aoko echoes.

Nodding, Saguru crosses his arms around his chest. "He asked for me to visit, but when I arrived he seemed... subdued." The looks he gains urges him to continue. "Quite honestly, he seemed depressed, like he was weighed down by something. I couldn't ask though, he was taken from the room before we could talk in depth."

Ran flinches at the memory - the screaming on Shinichi's behalf is still painful, like a wound that has been unable to heal.

"Kaito was removed from the visiting room?" Inspector Nakamori asks. Behind him, his daughter's stare is unwavering, only broken by random blinking.

"He was..." Ran knows that Saguru is looking for a polite way to say having a mental breakdown. "...Upset."

Out of all of the... Well, Ran doesn't think she'd be able to word it in a better way either. All she'd be able to say is that there had been an outburst, and then screaming, until Ran's ears had been ringing with the fact that Shinichi is going to die.

"Any idea why?" Superintendent Chaki asks.

"He asked me to look into the Kudo serial killing case," Saguru's quiet now, and there's certainly guilt in his voice. "I refused, seeing as I'd already..."

He trails off and no one comments on what Saguru was going to say. They all remember the first month after the conviction, how Saguru had thrown himself into the case, unwilling to accept the verdict Shinichi had received. Ran remembers how he'd told her he didn't want to visit Shinichi until he'd solved the case, how he didn't want to visit until he could tell his friend he was free.

He'd never visited - Shinichi remained trapped.

"KID talked about Kudo Shinichi's case?" Saguru nods, and Superintendent Chaki turns to the detectives from Division one, eyes narrowed. "There you have it, there's the link."

"I'm sorry," Ran steps forward, stands beside Saguru, "what has this got to do with Shinichi's case?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand either," the Englishman adds. "Why is division one concerned with an escaped thief?"

Inspector Megure glances at his fellow detectives, and after silence has enveloped the room, the adults all seem to come to a consensus. He lets out a sigh, long and suffering, rubbing at his mustache.

"We're not concerned with Kaitou KID's escape," Inspector Megure says, "we're concerned with the serial killer he brought along with him."

Ran lets out a gasp, the sound is low and almost goes unnoticed in the silence of the room - she's never known a room to be so loud despite no vibrations meeting her ear drums.

"You don't mean-"

"Yes. KID helped Kudo Shinichi escape from prison."

Nara - 8.32 a.m

Kaito wakes and realises that he'd much rather fall straight back to sleep.

His bones ache, his heart is quick in his chest, palpitations making it feel like he's been running despite only having just woken up, his mind blurry. He feels the pain in his hands now, where he hadn't felt it before, and it keeps him from falling straight back to sleep.

"Yer awake then." It's Hattori. He's sat back against the wall, cradling a water bottle in his hands, one eye open, watching him. "Kaitou KID."

Kaito lets out a sigh, realises that he can't find it in himself to be formal with the detective who's helped aid their escape and says, "call me Kaito."

"If that's what ya want," Hattori says, throwing the water across to him. It lands in front of Kaito on the futon, falling with a sloshing sound that reminds him of the ocean. "Kudo's still asleep, so we're gonna have to stay 'ere for a while."

They're moving again? So soon? Kaito thinks that now is the best time to stay low, while people are expecting them to be moving back and forth, from place to place.

"We're going somewhere?" The thief asks, rubbing at his eyes. He picks the water bottle up, uncaps it and gulps down water. He doesn't realise how hungry he is until he feels water slithering down into his stomach, settling and churning. His throat, at least, is no longer parched.

"Kudo din't tell ya?" Hattori asks, and his expression shutters from open to closed off within seconds. He waits, before shaking his head, letting out a small laugh, "I can't believe 'im. I mean, I can, he's always like this, keepin' th' details to 'imself."

Kaito caps the water bottle, placing it down opposite him. "Everything's on a need to know basis with the guy... but... he said he'd tell me."

Hattori offers him a smile, pushes himself up. He said, "I bought instant ramen, if yer hungry. I kno' it's not much, bu' it was all I really though' of when I was at th' shops."

Kaito feels his heart leap. "Don't apologise - I... Ramen's great seriously. We haven't had anything other than rice inside... Ramen's fine."

"I'll make it then," Hattori says, standing up. "Wake up Kudo, an' he'll explain everythin' to you over food."

"Do you have coffee?" Kaito asks, "I'm pretty sure Kudo will kill me if I wake him without coffee."

"I'll make some." Hattori laughs.

Oh thank God.

[gleekto]

Fic: Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You (15/16)

Short Summary: Blaine coming of age in 1969. Columbia University. Hippie!Kurt. Elliott and Sebastian as Blaine’s mentor-friends. Unironic use of ‘groovy’. Coming out and fitting in and falling in love.

Amazing Poster by @caramelcoffeeaddict

For @slayediest who gave an inspired prompt for this way back when.

Full Chapter 2 (up to day 12) is now  on AO3! Read it there for easy reading (and commenting!)

Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four, Day Five, Day 6, Day Seven, Day Eight, Day Nine, Day 10, Day Eleven, Day 12 , Day Thirteen, Day 14

Day 15: Circumstance

Over the next few weeks, Blaine's initial approach of organizing dates, meeting up for coffee here and there, making sure it's not too much too quickly, fades, in favour of the building intensity, the constant desire to be together, on top of each other, alone. The dates get shorter, the excuses to go back to Kurt's room get lamer, and soon Blaine finds himself knocking at Kurt's door unannounced after supper with some regularity.

The truth is that all Blaine can think about is sex. Such a teenager when he's supposed to be a young adult. Maybe this is what happens when your feelings are repressed for all those years.

Blaine thinks that Kurt wants more too but he isn't absolutely sure. When things start to progress, and Blaine tries to say something, Kurt often covers his mouth and distracts him more. And then they agree to cool off and say goodnight until the next day when it starts all over again.

...

"What was your first time like?" Blaine asks Elliott one evening in a moment of vulnerability as they prepare for next week's meeting.

"Oh, so you and Kurt are-"

"No, no," Blaine sighs. "At least not yet. I want to though."

"Well that makes you human." Blaine smiles. Elliott the great normalizer.

"Yeah," Blaine says. "Hopefully human and not a pervert."

"Blaine, I'm with Sebastian. You are the furthest thing from a pervert. And, unlike Sebastian, I had a typical but fun first time with my freshman boyfriend - I guess like you guys. We didn't go right to - you know -" Elliott says. "We started with what we were comfortable with and you know, tried to make each other feel good. Nothing else matters really."

"That's all I want," Blaine agrees.

"So just ask him - you know, what floats his boat?"

"Gross," Blaine shakes his head. "But yeah. I know just ask him." Easier said than done.

...

Kurt surprises him when Blaine arrives at his room the next day. They don't have that much time before they have to leave for the Homophile League meeting, and Kurt barely says hello before pushing him down on the bed, straddling him. Blaine obviously doesn't object as Kurt lies down on top of him, kissing and kissing. It feels like he's deliberately trying to drive him crazy.

"You're turning me on, Kurt," Blaine says honestly. "I like when you move like that."

"Shhh," Kurt says blushing but he doesn't stop. Instead he covers Blaine's mouth and pushes down harder.

"I'm hard for you," Blaine just says it. He needs to start this conversation before an accident happens - which would be a most unfortunate circumstance right before they have a meeting. He wants to talk about how they're obviously both feeling - literally. Kurt scrunches his eyes shut and starts kissing Blaine again. Smothering the conversation.

"Kurt," Blaine says gently and regrettably pushing him slightly off. "Kurt, what's happening here?"

"Do you need an explanation?" Kurt says impishly and Blaine gives him an indignant look.

"We really need to talk about this," Blaine says emphatically. "Because I love what we're doing-"

"So do I," Kurt says, almost pouting.

"Right. And I want to be comfortable, so you can be comfortable," Blaine pauses. "Are you embarrassed by me being hard," Kurt's eyes scrunch shut again. He is embarrassed. "Because I'm pretty sure I've felt that you're also-"

"Of course I am," Kurt sasses shaking his head. "I'm not embarrassed because of- It's just embarrassing to talk about." Blaine is finally getting somewhere and Kurt actually keeps talking, "I don’t know the combination of forever being told that everything you want is depraved and sinful, and being a 19 year old virgin hippie with a free love reputation to uphold, doesn’t exactly make for welcome conversation. Can’t we just keep kissing?”

"Yes definitely," But before Kurt can smother him again, Blaine continues. "But I want to do more than kissing. Call me depraved and sinful or whatever. So can we talk about it?”

Kurt sighs and sits up, petulant. "Fine."

Blaine thinks there's a laugh behind his petulance. "Fine," Blaine echoes back.

"So you like, want to take our clothes off?"

"I do," Blaine says. "Do you?"

"Yes," Kurt says begrudgingly. "Frankly, it's getting a bit uncomfortable."

Blaine smirks, "I think it's a necessity, honestly. Really no choice."

"Agreed."

Blaine smiles and pulls Kurt down beside him on the bed so they're face to face. "I'm not ready for everything, by the way."

"Neither am I," Kurt says quickly.

"But I am ready to," Blaine starts to unbutton Kurt's shirt. "See your body." Kurt nods, cheeks pink, as he mirrors Blaine on his shirt. "And see you come, come with you."

"Oh my god, Blaine. You can't just say that."

"I can though," Blaine laughs. "Depraved and sinful, remember? And you're hot when I make you blush." Blaine looks down at Kurt's now bare white chest, pink creeping all the way down from his cheeks. "I see it here." Blaine starts to massage, letting his fingertips roam across Kurt's nipples and Kurt places his own hands on Blaine's chest.

Then Kurt surprises him. Kurt always surprises him. Kurt makes the first move and cups his hand right over Blaine's pant zipper. He's wearing his navy blue slacks and they don't leave much to the imagination. Kurt feels him easily and starts rubbing. Blaine closes his eyes, savouring the sensation of Kurt's hand on him. "You can," Blaine pants, "You can take it out." He pops open the button as an invitation.

"Okay," Kurt nods almost to himself. "Okay." As he unzips Blaine's zipper, Blaine moves his own hand over to Kurt's brown valour pants and squeezes. He wants to feel the shape. Feel it change in his hands. Kurt loses focus, trying to pull him out while Blaine touches him through his pants.

"Am I distracting you?" Blaine teases.

"Slightly," Kurt says, shaking his head.

"Mmmm that's my goal. You feel good, Kurt." He squeezes gently again. "Big. Can I-" He slides his hands into Kurt's pants and pulls gently. Skin on skin. Kurt's hand is wrapped around him. Holding. Finally. Blaine starts to bring their mouths together before he thinks better of it and kicks off his pants and underwear and pulls at Kurt's clothes. "I don't want you to ruin these pants."

"Thank for your concern," Kurt blushes as he sits up and quickly tosses them and his underwear too. Blaine pulls him in and their hands return and they start kissing and moving, squeezing, pulling. Blaine isn't sure if Kurt realizes that he's making little noises, moans, each time Blaine pulls upward, even as they kiss. Their bodies are dancing.

They're lying on their sides and Blaine lifts his top leg over Kurt's pulling their bodies flush, their penises right up against each others. It's so intimate. So hot. He wraps Kurt's hand around both of them together, and covers Kurt's hand with his. "Show me what you do when you're alone," He whispers in his ear.

"Oh my god, Blaine." He knows Kurt's slightly scandalized. Likes him that way.

"Do it to both of us," He says and pulls Kurt's earlobe into his mouth. They work each other together for a few minutes, until he can sense Kurt is very close and he starts to lose focus, trying to get himself off, get the friction however inelegant it might be. Kurt is thrusting and rubbing and uhhh'ing - in his own world. He grabs Kurt's ass and uses his body for his own friction. Blaine comes watching Kurt lose control. Watches the come make a mess all over both of them. It's gross. Depraved and sinful. It's amazing.

"Wow," Kurt says.

"Yeah, wow." Blaine echoes. He's amazed at what just happened and at the sexual mess between them. He traces his finger along Kurt's stomach, a drop of come on its tip. He brings it to his lips. Salty, different.

"Did you just?"

"Mmmhmm," Blaine nods. Unashamed. "Does that embarass you? Because you know, I do plan to give you a blowjob at some point soon. If you want me to of course."

Kurt closes his eyes and Blaine can hear his deep breath. "Oh I want you to," Kurt gets it out. "And yes, you are embarrassing. But I like it."

"I like it too," Blaine looks up at him slyly and takes a risk bending down to lick along his now softening dick."

"Ah!" Kurt says and closes his eyes. "Pervert."

"With you, definitely." Suddenly he's not worried about it anymore.

...

Unsurprisingly, they are late for the Homophile League meeting. And unfortunately, when they finally arrive, Sebastian is standing by the door, the evening's greeter.

"Well don't you two look well fucked," He says bluntly. Blaine isn't sure what to say - he feels like a deer caught in headlights.

"We are," Kurt says easily.

Blaine smiles smugly. Yes, they are.

[filmmakerdreamst]

OTP Game

Rules: Pick your top 10 OTPs/Ships. Place them in order and answer 20 random questions.

1. Xena & Gabrielle - Xena: Warrior Princess

2. Derek & Casey - Life With Derek

3. Rose & Vanessa - Out With Dad

4. Eli & Oskar - Let the Right One In

5. James & Riley - The Next Step

6. Emily & Sue - Dickinson

7. Doctor & Rose - Doctor Who

8. Cory & Shawn - Boy Meets World

9. Merlin & Arthur - Merlin

10. Rhydian & Maddy - Wolfblood

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6? - Oh man with Emily and Sue, I think it was their first scene together. Where they kiss in the orchard. Ella and Hailee bring this intensity, where it feels like you as a viewer are just witnessing the scene rather than watching it - if that makes any sense at all. You feel like you have no power or influence over their relationship.

2. Have you ever read a fanfic about 2? - So much. Like you don't even know. Your ships are either canon endgame or it has really good fanfiction. You can't have it both ways.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr screen saver? - Yes. The aesthetics in that movie are great.

4. If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be? -  *cries laughing* well they had the worst break up ever that traumatised me at the age of nine and I'm still recovering today.

5. Why is 1 so important? - Because its the Greatest love story on Television. Possibly ever.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship? - Both.

7. Out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry? - Derek and Casey. Everyone else can go home.

8. Out of all your ships listed, which ship has the strongest bond? - I would say Xena and Gabrielle. Because they're literal soulmates who find each other in every version of reality/universe.

9. How many times have you read/watched the 10’s fandom? - I recently rewatched Wolfblood a few months ago and honestly its one of the more beautiful shows that have ever watched. I live near where it was shot. I remember seeing one of the sets once. Honestly one of the most exciting days of my life.

10. Which ship has lasted the longest? - Xena and Gabrielle. They got frozen together for 25 years. Don't ask.

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up? - I would say once so far?? I don't know. Their relationship is very complicated because they're both women in the 1800s and no lesbian relationship, especially under their circumstances, really stood a chance to thrive.

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8? - Ooo I don't know, I feel like both relationships would stand a chance to make it out alive. But I feel like Cory and Shawn would because they would laugh all the way through it the whole time.

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?- Um..kind of. Well Doctor and Rose's relationship was subtextual for the most part. They never said they were together. But everyone watching could see that they were.

14. Is 4 still together?  - Well it depends on how you see the ending. Oskar becomes Eli's carer or becomes a vampire like him. I read the short sequel in 'Let the Old Dreams Die' that the author John Ajvide Lindqvist, wrote where Oskar and Eli are still together after 20 years and are vampires. So that's my ending.

15. Is 10 canon? - Yes. They're happily living together in Canada now. Thats all that matters.

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?  - Xena and Gabrielle because they're both warriors.

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship?  - Yes. Multiple times. But they always pulled through, because they always kept choosing each other in the end. James and Riley were relationship goals for me back in the day.

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond? - Derek and Casey. No question.

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page?  - Ah for that. Out with Dad would have to have a tumblr fandom. And it doesn't sadly.

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?  - Well Doctor and Rose is already broken up forever. :'(

Tagging: @illgiveyouahint @north-wyrm @deckerstarareotp @twobrokenwyngs @mslyragw @imaginaryhaydee @hope-i-dont-choke @mrs-n-uzumaki and anyone else who wants to do it.

(This tag came from @hurricaneanalee)