Taking of a Heart [Shikanoin Heizou x Criminal Reader]

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Clacking plates and utensils served as a backdrop to your small meal with Shikanoin. Your gaze remained fixed on the plate before you, idly toying with the food arranged on it, the spoon in your hand gently stirring the bamboo shoot soup.

Heizou stares at you blankly. Heizou, sitting across from you, stared at you with a blank expression, his attention momentarily diverted from his own meal. His chopsticks moved with precision, swiftly shoving his own meal into his mouth. With his cheeks slightly bulging from a mouthful of food, he nonchalantly pointed at your untouched dish, shoving Jade Parcels into his mouth.

With his mouth full, he points at your meal.

"You gonna eat that?" he asks, in between chewing.

You sigh, leaning back on your chair and pushing the bowl of untouched food toward him

Your cross your arms, staring at him as he lifts the bowl and swallows the broth of the soup.

"...You can chew, you know; it's not going anywhere," you mumbled, a playful yet bemused tone lacing your words as you observed Heizou energetically shoveling food into his mouth.

Heizou responded with a small grin, his nose crinkling slightly in amusement. His olive eyes squinted at you, a teasing glint adding a playful edge to the moment. There was a brief but palpable exchange of unspoken camaraderie in that shared gaze.

Feeling a slight heat in your cheeks, you were the first to break the eye contact, sitting up straight again as the playful banter hung in the air, a temporary respite from the weight of the circumstances surrounding you both. The clinking of utensils continued, and the eatery's ambient sound

You glanced around the bustling eatery, the aroma of various dishes wafting through the air. Third Round Knockout seemed to be thriving, with patrons engrossed in their meals, seemingly oblivious to the clandestine discussions taking place at your table. Wanting to steer the conversation away from the unspoken tension, you decided to broach the topic of the cases Heizou had in mind.

"So uh... the cases you wanted to discuss..?" you mumbled, opting to change the subject and delve into the more pressing matters at hand.

"Ah!" Shikanoin exclaimed, momentarily setting aside his voracious appetite to cover his mouth and swallow before speaking again. Leaning back in his chair, he rested his head on his hand, idly moving the remaining bamboo shoot soup with his free hand.

"Well," he began, his voice taking on a thoughtful cadence, "when you stole those Liyue goods, they were actually connected to a former case I've been working on. My intuition tells me that the person you attempted to steal from, Kaito, has been obtaining those Liyue goods illegally," he commented, his words flowing smoothly as he delved into the intricacies of the case.

"...Glaze lilies? You're worried over someone getting Glaze lilies illegally?" you interjected, a hint of skepticism coloring your tone. The seemingly mundane nature of the goods in question left you somewhat unimpressed, questioning the significance of Heizou's concern.

Heizou chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. "It's not just about the Glaze lilies, partner. Those seemingly innocent flowers are a part of a much larger web of illegal activities. Kaito is not just a simple trader; he's a key player in an underground network dealing in illicit goods and information. The Glaze lilies are just the tip of the iceberg."

As he spoke, Heizou's eyes gleamed with a determination.

"...right," you commented, your skepticism still evident as you remained unimpressed by the seemingly mundane nature of the case.

Heizou sighed, a subtle acknowledgment that his attempts to generate excitement had fallen flat. Undeterred, he leaned forward, a glimmer of determination in his olive eyes as he sought to convey the gravity of the situation.