Chapter Text
Shinichi Kudo was four years old when he realized the way his parents were raising him was wrong. And that Agasa-Hakase was also not a suitable parent figure but Shinichi counted him a few steps above his own parents. Because sometimes Shinichi had to be the voice of reason and take care of Agasa-Hakase instead of the other way around.
Though Shinichi had a bad habit of finding dead things he knew right from wrong.
And that was how he knew it was wrong how his parents didn't really take care of him, how Hakase needed someone to take care of him. But Hakase listened, really listened. Not like his parents who gave him the means to take care of his problems, and taught him skills no normal kid should know.
So this is how seven year old Shinichi found his self walking Hakase up one Sunday morning to get to his convention on time. Shinichi made sure everything was packed, there was money, bus fare, and identification in Hakase's wallet. That Hakase had a healthy breakfast, his keys and his flashcards. He inwardly laughed when Hakase barely realized Shinichi was in the car with him after half an hour.
"I don't have anything to do and you've been looking forward to this day for a month. So I decided to help you out." Hakase smiled thankfully and Shinichi went back to the map on his lap. "Turn left here." And the rest of the ride passed in silence.
Shinichi did his best to make sure everything went smoothly for Hakase. He even volunteered to be the test subject for Hakase's invention, and ended up getting him a line of investors. It was spoiled by him nearly being crushed by a dead teenager. A security guard had come by apparently having been given a 'tip' to search the area. The security guard had taken him to his office and gave him chocolate while they waited for the Gunma police. A funny rookie cop had played games with him before he had to leave, Shinichi had only caught the first half of his name. 'Yama' something, Shinichi thought he would need all the luck in the world to survive his first day as a rookie cop when he tripped over a pen and laughed it off. He would offer his luck to the partner, anyone partnered to 'Yama' would need it. But he did like him, he tried really hard to cheer Shinichi up and not a lot of people did that.
It made him feel a little warm inside.
Shinichi found Hakase searching the area with a worried gaze unable to leave his booth. Good, he hadn't noticed the police. Shinichi could play this off, he could go days without speaking and Hakase was used to his silence. He didn't even have to see a dead body for him to go silent, sometimes he just stopped talking.
It used to concern Hakase until Shinichi told him that sometimes everything was too chaotic and the only way he could exert any control was to go silent.
It made everyone pause and look at him before moving on.
He made his surroundings slow down, and that small amount of control made the world bearable. Hakase had admitting to not understanding what he meant but he did understand that sometimes it was hard for Shinichi to interact with the world around him. He said that there was just so much going on in the world that he dove into his work to get away, so he knew a little about how Shinichi felt.
And it was a relief, to have someone understand and not force him to social interactions.
Shinichi was observing the crowds while Hakase packed things up. He filed away bits of information that he gathered on the potential investors that Hakase had to further insure that no one would try to take advantage of him, though Hakase was very good at spotting those who would not be good investors. But Shinichi liked to be extra sure, after all Hakase was someone who he cherished. So when it was time to leave he tucked his cold hands into his pockets and followed Hakase to the car. He only had to stop him from going in the wrong direction once which he thought was a good sign.
When they arrived home Shinichi opted to stay the night and sleep in the living room so Hakase wouldn't be tempted to go on an inventing spree after a huge success. He'd need his sleep if he was going to write down the blueprints for his device and write letters of introduction to his investors.
Hakase seemed to understand as he got ready for bed and left Shinichi to get ready on his own. He counted today as a success for cheering up Hakase from the last couple of days.