Chapter Text
It was time. His fingers and wrist had healed. He’d gotten the okay from his doctor. He could wield a sword once again.
Which meant there was no more putting it off.
There was no more delay, no more time to train and soon, no more secrets between them.
It was the Saturday after Heiji had gotten his clean bill of health. They were at a Center-provided gym which had been cleared out for the morning so they could have their match in privacy.
Well, relative privacy.
Friends and family were allowed, but Heiji’s family and Kazuha were over in Osaka, planning a separate celebration. Most of Saguru’s family as in England with the exception of his father who had been called in at the last minute for a department overview meeting.
So that just left Kuroba and Kudou sitting in the stands.
Kuroba looked politely interested while Kudou made no effort to hide how he felt about being dragged outside so early with nothing but a travel mug of coffee to keep him awake.
Heiji idly wondered if Kuroba knew the kid had coffee in there or if Kudou had snuck it in under the other’s nose.
Then Heiji shook his head.
No. It was no time to get distracted. If he wanted to win this match, he had to pay attention. While his hands healed, he hadn’t been able to hold a sword in a while, so a large part of his training had been reduced to videos and live demos a la Saguru’s unknowing participation.
From both, he knew he was at a disadvantage, technique-wise.
Fencing swords were meant for parrying. They were flexible, whimsical. They danced around the rigid Kendo swords to sneak inside one’s guard, like silver snakes weaving through the boughs of a tree. Heiji had seen how those swords twist and turn through guards faster than one could track.
Yes, he was at a disadvantage, but not all was lost.
He had seen matches where the Kendo sword won out. Where the Fencing sword had been forced high, the Fencer forced to retreat and the Kendo sword landed a solid strike. The Fencer’s angled stance gave them less area to guard, more maneuverability, but it also limited their reach when their sword was forced too high.
That would be Heiji’s play and Saguru’s downfall.
* * * * *
Saguru wasn’t sure what Heiji was thinking, but whatever it was, it put a dark look on his face.
Could he be having second thoughts? Could he be scared about betraying Kudou’s secret, knowing he couldn’t keep it from Saguru? Could he be worried about Saguru’s reaction for keeping such a secret?
If he skimmed the surface of the other’s mind, Saguru was sure he could figure it out. But Heiji had told him not to and, after they Bond, it wouldn’t make a difference.
Still, if Saguru could waylay some of those fears…
“You know you can trust me, right?” he asked Heiji before they could get on the mat.
They were already dressed in their gear, Heiji without the hard armor typical of a Kendo uniform and Saguru with a modified top that exposed his arms from wrist to bicep.
It was an unfortunate modification that was required for the Bonding ceremony, but the other option was to go without headgear and that was one safety precaution Saguru wasn’t willing to do without.
Apparently, Heiji thought differently.
Which made sense, since Heiji was the Sentinel in their pair and his end of the Bonding would be a lot harder to do with a helmet on, but it was also far more dangerous. Saguru could cut his face or put an eye out or accidentally cause any number of different modes of harm if he wasn’t careful enough. The whole thing was just… stressful. Nerve-wracking. Anxiety-inducing.
And Heiji’s own nerves weren’t helping matters.
This was a stupid idea.
Saguru should have suggested something else. If not at the Center after Heiji’s Rage had subsided, then at any point of time in-between. Saguru might have even been okay with Heiji’s suggestion, now that he’d had a chance to get to know the other in person.
Sex was the most common method of Bonding for a reason after all.
But no, Saguru just had to panic when Heiji suggested it and throw out his own ill-thought-out option instead. An option that had only come up because he’d learned that Heiji had gone into a Rage after a Kendo match and had the stupid ‘ah, a man of quality’ meme stuck in his head on loop.
And now he couldn’t exactly backout because he was the one to suggest it, but this was looking more and more dangerous and he really didn’t want to poke Heiji’s eye out or harm his face because it was a really good face—!
“—okay?”
“What?” Saguru blinked and focused on that face —Heiji’s face, which was pinched in concern.
“I was asking if you were okay.” Heiji pressed a light hand to Saguru’s bare wrist —and immediately Saguru felt the buzzing beneath his skin settle.
Instead, it was replaced with a sense of certainty like bedrock in his bones and steel under his skin. There was no sense of nerves or doubt to be found in Heiji’s conscience. So the nerves… had all been Saguru?
“I know this is a lot to ask of you,” Heiji said. “We haven’t been Matching very long. Normally, people take more than two or three months to make their choice —and this is a decision that will affect us for life, so… if you’re having second thoughts…”
“I’m not,” Saguru said with sudden clarity. “I was just worried about poking your eye out.”
“Don’t be. After all, one of us has been in an actual sword fight. I think I can handle myself.”
“You still need to tell me that story.”
“Some other time. There’s some background stuff you’ll need to know first.” Heiji gave his arm a pat before letting his hand rest on the hilt of his sword. “Anyway, I trust you not to get too rough.”
The buzzing was back under his skin, but Saguru was able to sooth it with the lingering echo of Heiji’s determination. “And I trust you.”
Heiji held his gaze for a meaningful second before smiling and turning away. “Enough of the sappy talk! Let’s get this show on the road!”
Saguru let out a soft snort and rolled his eyes.
Never the less, he donned his helmet and mesh mask and made his way to the mat. He and Heiji stepped up to either side of the referee, swords in their respective greeting positions.
“Warriors, greet your opponent,” the referee ordered.
Saguru bowed to Heiji as the other did the same.
“Good luck,” Heiji said when they straightened.
“To you as well,” Saguru replied politely.
“May the best swordsman win.”
Saguru blinked at that, opened his mouth to release a comment he didn’t have —but the referee was already motioning them to their starting positions.
As Saguru walked the few short paces to his place, there was only time for one thought in his head.
Heiji knew this was a Bonding Match, not an actual match, right?
When Saguru turned to face Heiji and saw the same dark look he’d seen earlier, he realized he might have made a slight miscalculation.
* * * * *
“Will you stop being so nervous?! It’s hard to keep your emotions hidden like this!”
“Oh, I’m sorry! How would you feel if your friend was about to expose your undercover identity to someone who might decide it’s a good idea to turn you in?!”
“… Tantei-kun, did you forget who you’re talking to?”
“… Right. Sorry. Just… nervous.”
“No, really?”
“…”
“… Are you always this paranoid when it comes to… that stuff?”
“… Are you looking for an honest answer, or would you like me to lie?”
“Yeah, no, never mind. Not sure why I thought I needed to ask.”
* * * * *
The referee blew his whistle.
The match started.
Saguru let out a breath… and released his Shields.
Immediately, the world roared into being around him.
The referee’s idle thoughts of boredom rolled like marbles against his skin.
Young Conan’s nerves danced like dandelion fluff across his shoulders, dulled by Kuroba’s presence next to him (an external shield? When had Kuroba been able to—?)
Determination, hot and fierce like fire, engulfed him —Heiji’s Instincts answering the call of Saguru’s mind.
Heiji’s presence burned away all others from his attention, but it was not the same as being shielded.
There was no connection between them, not yet.
Saguru took a steadying breath and focused outward again —only to find Heiji already bearing down on him.
Saguru let out a startled noise as he brought his sword up in a frantic block.
Their swords skittered away, but Heiji pressed his advantage. He didn’t let up.
With the curl of tenacity around them, Saguru worried that he would last, whether until the match drew to an end or the Bond snapped into place. Whichever came first.
At this point, as he struggled to parry and dodge and deflect, Saguru was betting on the first option.
Oh yes, he had definitely miscalculated.
* * * * *
“Hey, so, this might be a dumb question…” Kaito drawled from his seat on the sidelines. “But is there a reason why Hattori isn’t wearing a helmet?”
He could feel the very pointed look Tantei-kun was sending him, despite the fact Kaito was keeping his eyes trained on the fight. When the silence stretched long enough, he turned to the other and met his unimpressed look head on. “What?”
“How is it that I’ve been a Sentinel for less than a year, but I know more about this than you, who has been a Guide for at least half your life?”
“… I get the feeling you are disappointed in me.”
“You think?”
“I can’t tell why though. And I can’t fix it unless I know why.”
Tantei-kun let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the (very one-sided) match. “I thought you said you had looked up the general guidelines of how Bonds are made.”
“I did. Guides have to voluntarily lower their shields, which is why Bonding Ceremonies have few spectators —so they don’t get overwhelmed.”
“And for Sentinels?”
“They have to focus their sense on the Guide to key in their Guide’s bio-signature, right? Like an imprint.”
“How many senses do they have to do that with?”
“All of the ones that they have Online. So for a 1S with hearing, it would just be hearing.”
“And how many senses does Hattori have Online?”
“Five —oh.”
“Yeah.”
“It would be very hard to get ‘taste’ in with a helmet on.”
“Yeah.”
“…”
“…”
“No wonder sex is the most common method of Bonding.”
Conan choked on his drink.
* * * * *
The air was thick with sweat and nerves and the normal odor that followed people wherever they went. He could pick out his own scent and Saguru’s (accompanied by the subtle cologne the other used that usually played just at the edge of Heiji’s un-heightened sense of smell).
There were other scents, other lungs filling and emptying, other hearts beating, but Heiji didn’t care about those.
His focus was on Saguru.
On Saguru’s scent.
On Saguru’s quickened heartbeat.
One Saguru’s grunts and hisses and little startled noises as their swords clashed over and over again.
The world narrowed down to just Saguru —the way light played across his uniform as he moved, the transformation of shadows as his expression changed beneath his mask. The way his eyes glittered with scattered light —something someone without heightened sight could not see.
The air was thick with their combined scents, so much he could almost taste it. But it wasn’t enough.
The clang of metal and wood sent vibrations down his arms, made his skin shiver. But he wanted more.
He pressed his advantage.
More.
They were pressed into each other’s spaces, toes to instep, knees to knees as they shifted and fought.
More.
He pressed his sword high, blocking Saguru’s from play, their forearms pressed tight as the other refused to give.
More.
He bared his teeth.
* * * * *
Saguru reared back in shock.
He didn’t even notice how the world went wildly, abruptly silent due to how his world had exploded because— “Did you just bite me?!”
Heiji stood where Saguru had left him after he’d bodily shoved the other off. He blinked a little stupidly, brain still working through his Zone.
Saguru knew the other was fine with a certain surety that he didn’t even think to question. So instead of checking on Heiji, he examined his forearm and the teeth marks left there.
“I can’t believe you bit me!” Saguru shrieked, outraged.
“Oh, yeah.” Heiji blinked. “Guess I did.”
“You guess?!”
“Well how else what I supposed to get taste in there?” Heiji shot back, his ire mingling with Saguru’s. “You have any better idea?!”
“I have a few,” Saguru grumbled.
“… Oh… huh.” Heiji blinked as the suggestions flew through Saguru’s mind. “Yeah, that might have worked better.”
“You think?” Saguru winced as he prodded the mark. Pricks of blood had welled up here and there, but for the most part, the skin wasn’t broken. He’d end up with several blood blisters and a painful bruise, but nothing that should get infected.
<Do you mind grabbing the first aid for me?>
<Sure> Heiji pushed himself to his feet and stumbled over to the sidelines. Looks like he was feeling just as doped as Saguru. <Wipe that smug look off your face.>
<Make me.>
But Saguru did let his eyes stray from following Heiji to the small audience they had.
Heiji’s parents were still in Osaka along with Toyama —<Kazuha>— who, understandably, wished to stay away. Strangely enough, Kuroba (who was not KID, Saguru reminded himself) had come along, bringing with him a tiny — <Kudou Shinichi, though he wasn’t supposed to call him that. Otherwise, his cover would be blown and the Organization would find him. But he always had such a hard time calling him ‘Edogawa Conan’ because it sounded so fake. Like really, had the guy never left middle school?>
Saguru’s thoughts screeched to a halt, because what?
<Edogawa Conan is Kudou Shinichi?!>
<Oops>
<But if he’s Kudou Shinichi, then there’s no way that Kudou Shinichi is—!> Saguru tried to stop himself in his tracks, but just like the info dump from Heiji, his theory and all relevant evidence he had collected on it spilled out without hesitation.
There was a beat of silence.
Then Heiji collapsed onto the floor, howling in laughter and holding his ribs.
<Stop that!> Saguru demanded, face red. <Stop laughing! It’s not funny!>
<It’s hilarious! You thought Kudou Shinichi, the Heisei Holmes, was Kaitou KID!>
<What was I supposed to think?! He has been missing since KID’s appearance! Someone that well know doesn’t just disappear!>
<And the obvious answer was an internationally wanted alter ego.>
<Well, it’s not like there wasn’t more evidence! You had been asking about what I’d do if he was a Sentinel and we know KID is a Sentinel —a powerful one at that!>
<Right, because every missing 5S is a flamboyant thief.>
<His mother is also an actress and well-known for doing her own make up. Makeup that makes her seem like a completely different person!>
<Because KID couldn’t just go her or get a bunch of special effect artists to do his disguises or teach him how to do it himself.>
<And his father is a well-known author of the Night Baron Series! Which is all about thief pulling heists with an amazing attention to detail!>
<…>
<And I have long theorized that there have been two KIDs. There are too many differences in the style of their heists and ‘shows’ for them to be the same person. It makes sense though, if his father was the first KID, retired for some reason, then handed off the person to Kudou.>
<… You know, this makes a crazy amount of sense.>
<Right!?>
“Hey, guys? Hello? Earth to Hakuba!” Kuroba called. “Yo! You guys okay? Hattori just fell to the ground laughing, then both of you went as still as statues. Want to let the rest of us in on whatever inner dialogue you’ve got going on?”
No, actually, Saguru did not.
“He thought that Kudou Shinichi was Kaito KID,” Heiji said, the bloody traitor.
Heiji smirked at the mental profanity Saguru threw his way.
“… the hell?” Conan’s face scrunched in displeasure. “There’s no way Kudou Shinichi is—!”
“Wait, wait, wait, Tantei-kun.” Kuroba pawed blindly at the other’s face until he managed to slap a hand over the boy’s mouth. “He may be onto something here. I say we listen to him.”
Yeah, he would want to hear about this, wouldn’t he? After all the times Saguru had accused him only to end up —<probably right, though he didn’t know for sure. Kudou had said he’d found a Guide and the Guide was KID and Kudou is currently living with Kaitou who—!>
Saguru screamed in frustration.