It could have been feelings of loss or guilt that motivated the half-Brit detective to pull up his file on Hattori Heiji… but then, it could have been something else entirely. He wasn’t certain. Of all of the people in his field that he’d associated with, there was only one that got under Hakuba’s skin more quickly than Heiji, and that was Detective Delon. Although the Osakan was clearly not as arrogant or bloodthirsty as Delon, Heiji had a… raw aggression that intimidated him.
That sort of power was appealing in its own right, certainly. It definitely spoke to some of his darker tendencies, but those were such that he actively avoided their triggers. How a person could encompass so much intrigue and danger in a singular, and very attractive package, Hakuba really couldn’t say. A cruel twist in fate, perhaps. Heiji was the right age, of good build, quick-witted (it was true, and even he had to admit that), and friends with Kudou Shinichi – somehow. Conan-kun, too.
But why? Was it the dogged loyalty that he displayed? The passion with which he carried through his investigative duties? The affable nature in which he regarded his mistakes (when pointed out carefully, as Conan-kun had mastered), which resulted in the most adorable and pitiful puppy-eyed stare of guilt and adoration?
No… no, that was ridiculous. What was he even trying to deduce? Hakuba shook his head. He wasn’t quite certain anymore.
He poured through the file in his personal database, reviewing the more recent cases that Heiji had reported to the police. The work was usually sloppy, though the other officers in either district were, admittedly, about on par. No one seemed to know how to fill out paperwork adequately – at least to Hakuba’s taste. And while the numbers showed a significant number of solved cases, yes, they also included a significant amount of collateral damage… That wouldn’t do. No, certainly not. Hattori was a menace and a brute, too savage to be trusted in the delicate work of a detective.
Why, the Koushien-
He stopped himself, taking a moment to hold a breath, then let it go. That entire affair still made him bristle far too quickly. How frustrating that had been. Insulting and disappointing. And he wondered, had things gone differently, where might their friendship be now? Certainly a hell of a lot better than what it had degraded to. Had Hattori not been so brash and rude, they might have even become friends on that case.
Hell, they might have kept up contact over the months that had followed. Perhaps making special trips to see one another on weekends. Phonecalls to discuss cases and daily life. Hattori Heiji might have been that friend that Hakuba had so desperately wanted and needed and longed for, but now…? Especially with recent events… No. No, that would never happen. Not with the way that he’d betrayed his trust. Not with how rude he’d been.
And very much not with that temper that ruled Hattori’s self-delusioned life at every turn.
No. It was best to avoid the Osakan at all costs. Just get through the rest of the school year, continue vague efforts to do something about Kaitou Kid, and then return home to England where it was safe. Safe and very far away. Such a relief it would be!
Hakuba pulled out his phone to glance over the calendar application, reviewing his appointments for the day, and didn’t even realize that he’d been writing a text message until he’d already hit the ‘send’ button.
[text] Hattori-kun, would you like to meet for dinner tomorrow evening? I can come to you, if you’d prefer.
“What…?! No! Take it back, take it back! Stupid… mobile phone!”
Alas, it was already far too late. With a groan, Hakuba pressed his forehead against the polished surface of his work desk, and sighed. Great.