This is the first fanfic I've ever finished, so I hope, it's any good. Any sort of friendly criticism is very welcome. ^^

Kudou-kun always called her Haibara. As if they were close and yet not. Sure, he didn't use a honorific, but on the other hand, he did call Yoshida-san Ayumi-chan. Not that she would let him, should he ever try that with her, but still.

She hoped it was out of respect. He had said there were partners after all. And she was inclined to believe him that he had meant that.

It was just that sometimes she wished he would call her something else, would acknowledge the bond between them more. Haibara wasn't even her real name after all.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

When he finally did call her by her real name, she almost whished he hadn't.

It seemed he only ever called her Miyano when he was angry enough to yell, and he never really did that otherwise. Angry enough to actually try and hurt her with the memories the name caused.

Angry because she had tried to run away again, when it had all once again become too much. When her feelings had seemed to suffocate her. Feelings for him.

She had managed to get Mouri-san into danger again. Had needed her to protect her again.

Now she had him ranting at her, yelling really. He started repeating himself, telling her never to do that again. He didn't mention that she had endangered Mouri-san, but he didn't really need to either. All that worry in his eyes wasn't for her, she knew that.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It was when she almost died that he called her Ai.

He was almost screaming her name, desperately, as if he'd lost something precious he would never be able to replace.

And while the blackness was slowly closing in on her she faintly wondered why he would scream like that. He still had Mouri-san after all. Ah, yes, no way of going back to his girlfriend without her to assist him.

…

When she opened her eyes again he was still there. It looked as if he had cried.

"You okay, Ai?"

Still worried then. So she told him there was no need to worry, she would still be able to find a cure. At first he didn't seem to understand, but then his eyes narrowed and he hissed at her:

"Don't you ever dare think that for even one moment I've been thinking about that, Miyano!"

Huh, now why did that make him so angry… But then she fell asleep again.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It was two years now since they had been able to take down the Black Organisation. Two years since she had almost died in the process and he had called her Ai. She was 15 now. Well, technically at least, actually she was 25.

She had told him that she didn't think there was a cure. At least there was none that she could find. And even the temporary pills didn't work on him anymore. He had taken them too often by now.

She expected him to be angry, frustrated or even depressed. She didn't expect him to only smile softly.

He saw the surprise on her face and started leaning in slowly. His voice was a breathy whisper now:

"I don't really mind it all that much anymore … Shiho."

And when he kissed her, she accepted it and welcomed him, because she knew that he meant it. He had never called her Shiho before.

Edited: 28.8.2014