Current location:	US, Arizona, Tucson
Current mood:	amused
Entry tags:	detective conan, detective conan/magic kaito, magic kaito, series:rooftop conversations

Title: Belief.
Author: Icka! M. Chif
Word Count: 560
Rating: General
Author Notes: Inspired by a conversation by Lupin and Gainmard in 'The Escape of Arsene Lupin'.
Follows Archetypes and 'Marry, Shag, Throw off a Cliff'
Summary: Conan and the Kaitou Kid, sitting on the rooftop, talking about belief and the power it holds

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“The reason why people can’t catch me-“ Kid said, looking down at the drop below his feet with an enigmatic smile on his face, his cape waving to the side him like a giant white wing. “-is because they don’t –believe- they can.”

Conan snorted, the noise muffled by the ice cream cone he was eating. Vanilla for him, Chocolate for the Kaitou Kid tonight. “Bullshit.” He said devoutly. He really should stop these nighttime visitations with the Kaitou Kid. He had a whole list of reasons to stop them, varying anywhere from legal to irritation.

”I’m serious.” The Kaitou Kid said, giving him a look that bordered on hurt.

”So am I.” Conan scowled back. ”You’re uncatchable because you’re good. Not because of some sort of belief or hocus pocus.”

”It’s not hocus pocus.” Kid said loftily.

”You’re the one telling me people can’t catch you because they believe that they can’t.” Conan shrugged. “You’re flesh and blood just like every other human being.”

”Ah.” Kid smirked, raising his ice cream in a mocking salute. “But I am a –Phantom- Thief, am I not?”

Conan grunted, not bothering to answer that. Kid snickered, licking his dripping ice cream before it reached his white gloves.

”It’s not easy.” Kid said contemplatively.

”To be uncatchable?”

”To set up that kind of belief.” Kid looked upwards, as if contemplating the stars. “People want to believe, but at the same time they’re jaded. There’s always that little bit of doubt. Have you ever heard of the ‘Gellerini’?”

”Followers of Uri Geller in the 1970s.” Conan shrugged, staring at his ice cream. “Mostly debunked as frauds, using tricks to pretend that they had powers, such as bending spoons.”

”They had the powers.” Kid said with a smile. “At least some did. But their abilities were highly unstable so they turned magician tricks to try to cover up their loss of abilities.” He kicked his feet, still looking up at the stars. “People didn’t believe that they could do what they could do. Attempting to maintain their psychic abilities with that much negative thought being thrown at them crippled them.”

Conan raised a sceptical eyebrow. “They thought they could bend spoons, so they could. But enough people told them they couldn’t-“

”-And they couldn’t.” Kid nodded.

Conan’s expression turned shrewd. ”So if enough people thought that they could catch you-“

Kid smirked back, claws sheathed in silk, silently daring Conan to try it. “Doubtful.”

Conan smirked back. The silent stand off lasted a while before they both turned away, neither winning the staring contest.

”Doesn’t matter how many detectives or officers think they can catch me.” The Kid continued, licking his ice cream contemplatively. “From the beginning, they chase me knowing I have never been caught. So therefore there is always that shred of doubt they can as well. The public at large believes that I am uncatchable. Therefore through their belief, I am.”

”A psychological edge.” Conan dismissed it easily. “A strong enough will can conquer that.”

”As long as there doesn’t exist any doubt.” Kid raised his ice cream in a mock salute. “Your Ran-neechan believes that you are Shin’ichi, but she doubts-“

”I got it.” Conan growled, cutting him off with a glare. “So if I wanted to catch you-“

Kid grinned. “Do you believe you can?”

”Yes.” Conan’s answer was without hesitation.

Kid’s grin grew wider. “Without a shadow of a doubt?”

Conan didn’t bother answering. He reached out to grab the Kid…

And touched nothing but air.

-fin-

The Gellerini references were thanks to the Ghost Hunt series. If you like paranormal, paranormal science and detectives, check it out.