Vineyard [Detective Conan fanfic, Vermouth x Gin]

Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Detective Conan belongs to Gosho Aoyama and associated parties. I do not make money nor own anything with the exception of my own original characters.

Author's note: The main storyline stays the same with added content. But it has been heavily rewritten and uploaded as of 28/06/2022, so please read it from the beginning. This story is officially set in an alternative universe where the Miyanos and Akais aren't related.

Chapter 8

Shuichi Akai was jubilant. Vermouth's tip had paid off, the job he thought was going to take up a whole week, wrapped up in a day. No more overtime, at least for a little while.

He arrived home to be welcomed by an ... empty house. In his imagination, marriage life was supposed to be different. He quickly dialed Akemi's number before scenarios of horrible things flooded his mind. He breathed out a sigh of relief the moment his wife picked up the phone. "Hi, where are you? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Why are you asking?" On the other side of the call, Akemi sounded puzzled.

Akai pulled his car into the driveway. With a phone in his hand, he looked around, only to find a dark vacant house. Maybe she was at the store, he concluded. "I'm home."

"I thought you'd be late." Akemi emerged from the house across the street, waving at her husband. "Hi, over here!"

He rushed to her side for a warm embrace. "Why are you here?"

"I didn't want to eat dinner alone, and Vermouth invited me," Akemi replied, her hands scratching an invisible itch behind her ear. "Sorry, I should have told you."

He felt terrible leaving her on her own, but before an apology escaped his lips, Vermouth opened the door, and took a peek outside. "Come in."

Akemi could feel the hesitation in his muscles. He spent a long time battling these two through blood and sweat. It was hard to let his guard down or even be mildly comfortable around them; let alone being invited into their den.

With a firm grasp, Akemi physically pulled him in. The blond man saved her life; the least she could do was try to mend the fence. Dinner might not fix it, but it was good progress.

The warm air inside engulfed him. It must be a good fifteen degrees difference in temperature by his estimation, almost uncomfortably toasty.

Akemi had literally dragged her husband through the door. Then, she turned to Vermouth while doing her best to ignore the burning glare from the kitchen. "Would you mind setting up another plate? I haven't prepared anything for Shu."

"Sure, the more, the merrier." A faint smile danced on Vermouth's lips.

"No, it's not." Gin scoffed, making his displeasure known.

Cupping his annoyed face, Vermouth was seemingly amused by the reaction. Her eyes darted to the gourmet food. She whispered into his ears. "Don't you want to rub it in his face?"

He paused for a few seconds, then replied, "Good point."

Gin cursed himself for agreeing with her. However, the temptation of putting Shuichi Akai in his place proved too much to pass. He had been holding back sheer contempt from their last dinner—the table scraps he was forced to ingest the other day.

Akai had envisioned an intimate evening with his wife, maybe by some candlelight, catching up on events of the day. He sighed and took off his coat when suddenly a generous embrace pulled him back to reality.

"Hi, Shu!" Kate's arms wrapped around his legs.

"Hi, sweetie." He returned her affection with a gentle hug. Perhaps it wasn't too bad after all.