osakansax:

That had not been the push in the right direction.

Heizo’s boy. Anything else the smug snake could’ve said beforehand could’ve been brushed off with a scoff and a rude gesture. His way of handling things. The thin line of differences separating their similarities. Even his prowess as a detective—

but not that, such an offhanded name for him that was yet another nail hammered into his coffin of pride when it was uttered. Heizo’s boy. It wasn’t exactly a secret that father and son of the Hattori family didn’t get along 100% of the time. Most knew that it was best to steer clear of Heiji if he’d been made upset by that veteran cop… And yet here was this damn half-Brit to remind him of that one man who could set off the proverbial bomb in his head of emotions without much consequence.

There was no way Heiji would give the pleasure of detonating that suffering into the hands of a silver-tongued snake like him.

Still, the Osakan can’t justify what’s been said, bless his gallant hypocrisy—but the white heat and awful pounding in his head directed him to act instead of speak.

Hand balled up into a fist, and he threw it at Hakuba’s gut with all the raging force he could apply. The other hand, however, aimed for the foreign detective’s throat—no doubt that if any of his wrathful movements decided to connect, that body weight would fall down on something.

Heizo’s boy. Someone so unrightfully savage shouldn’t be referred to by that sort of name.

Hakuba hit the ground – hard – but not before colliding with the table behind him, scattering its contents to the floor in a clatter. Had it just been the one attack, the foreign detective might have retaliated; recovering from the buckling of his stomach with a fist of his own. But coupled with the hand to his throat and the added force, he’d had no chance. For all of his arrogance and accomplishments, there was no denying that Hakuba Saguru was no match for Hattori Heiji when it came to physical prowess. 

The myriad of thoughts and panic that had surged when the Osakan had gone into motion stopped abruptly when his head hit the ground. The momentary daze left Hakuba with a grimace, choking out a muffled grunt as his wits returned to him. The details fell into place like so: 

• Location, condemned cafe just outside of the main metropolitan area of Tokyo;
• Approximate Time, 7:32 ? pm UTC+09:00 (Japan Standard Time); 
• Objective, Retrieve information about current case file;
• Situation, Currently pinned and strangled by Hattori Heiji;
• Weather, Heavy storm, active lightning;
• Baaya, Waiting for instructions for pickup

Of those, not knowing precisely the correct time bothered Hakuba most. The rest was to be expected. Confusion cleared, the blond stared up at Hattori, honey-colored eyes indignant and firm. Smug. What had he always said? That Osakan was dangerous. Reckless. Violent. Too hot-tempered. And now Hakuba was flat on his back, waiting passively for the inevitable. It would come. He’d expected this. It was hard to be angry when all he felt was bitter resignation. And though he showed no fear through his mask, his body trembled under Heiji’s while he waited to see just how far the Osakan was willing to take this. 

osakansax:

“Not wise, but what then am I ta do with nothin’ in front’f me?”

There was calm within the calamity, but even that was only barely perceived. Pressure. Tension. He’d been relentless with this exchange of words as if the foreign detective were a suspect on the verge of giving him a confession. 

“What ya want’f anyone expectin’ ya… hard ta do otherwise when that cross’f yers is kept caged in yer ribs, an’ all ya can present are words laced with silver an’ halter.”

All that was needed was a push in the direction he’d been going by—

What was Heiji going on about? It almost, almost sounded as if he were dissatisfied with Hakuba’s level of familiarity. That he wanted to understand or get to know him. Clearly, paired with the harsh words, the aggression, it was just a display of manipulation. But Hakuba would not be persuaded by only passively suggested faint hope of some kind of comradely. 

No, Hakuba would not fall into that trap again… and certainly not when set by that damned Osakan.

“We all must find ways to survive,” Hakuba said first, lifting his chin so that he could look down at Heiji, incredulous. “I’d think that you would understand that more than most. Mistaken for a foreigner. Judged and criticized at every turn…”

Frustrating as it was to compare himself to Heiji, the half-Brit had to admit that, yes, it was justified. And could, in fact, set them on even ground should either really choose to extend an olive branch. If that had been Hattori’s intent, then surely, that bait would be taken. And if Hattori really made the first move, confirming that he perhaps had interest in being more than bickering rivals, then perhaps that would be agreeable.

But on the chance that he was right and that Hattori was simply picking this fight, right at this moment, because he’d unexpectedly caught Hakuba in a moment of weakness, then he had to defend himself. He had to set himself apart from the other detective.

“Not everyone can afford to wear their passion on their sleeve. Or am I wrong?” Hakuba managed the faintest smirk at one corner of his mouth.  "What is it that they call you? ‘Heizo’s boy,’ right?“ 

osakansax:

“An’ why should I? Ya seemed perfectly fine in callin’ me brute.”

Heiji rounded on the other detective, taking a step towards him. “Ya dare peg me fer someone who’ll take a stab ta th’ back an’ fall? Better think ‘pon that ‘gain.”

Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the ever-increasing storm. The harsh winds pushed hard, whispering and moaning at the boarded windows that refused to let them in—or perhaps at the argument that continued behind it.

“My comments are based on your demonstrated behavior, not your personal beliefs.”

Hakuba spoke calmly then, though he was anything but behind the mask. The blond detective shifted, turning as light flickered across the room to finally regard Heiji again, eyes narrowed. 

“It’s not wise to presume when you don’t know a god damned thing about me.”

osakansax:

He hacked out a laugh. “Ya think there’s a difference?” Crossed arms, eyes fixed with a hot challenge. “Ya’re blind jus’ th’ same!”

It took an inordinate amount of self-control for Hakuba to keep the words he wanted to say from spilling out in a furious torrent.  Breaths deliberate and careful, body tensed, fists tightening.

“Take. That. Back.”

Each word came coldly through clenched teeth, seething. 

osakansax:

“I ain’ talkin’ jus’ ‘bout work!” Hardly his business? That had never stopped the Brit before—wasn’t it only just he should return the favor back? “…Hah. Does that mean ya don’ let it affect ya anywhere else? What a sorry excuse of a follower ya’re…” 

Fists clenching, Hakuba lowered his hands, arms tight against his sides. He didn’t dare look at the Osakan, not while he was so close to losing his temper entirely. That kind of behavior didn’t become him. The foreign detective let out a slow breath.

“So which is it, Hattori-san? Blinded by faith or not blind enough? Just which would you prefer, if those are –  apparently – my only options?”

osakansax:

“It’s plenty relevant! Or at least, it should be.”

Heiji slid his hands into his pockets, still damp. It would explain a lot of things Hakuba did, in a matter of speaking. There were stories of the rather devout worshippers, newsclippings and video feeds of their rather outlandish manners of practice… If this half-Brit detective was one of them, Hakuba’s somewhat unorthodox mannerisms made a whole lot of sense to this dark-skinned detective.

“How many times has yer faith blinded ya from th’ truth?”

He had meant it in simple curiosity. Heiji knew that sometimes he could get carried away in cases putting his heart before the mind, and this seemed hardly any different for him.

It hardly seemed possible that things were unfolding the way that they were. Hakuba, jaw tight, dropped his gaze to the dusty floor and hesitated before replying tensely. 

“It hasn’t. I don’t let it interfere with my work. And, frankly, this is none of your business, Hattori-san.”

osakansax:

Only a snort was offered in response to the ‘same boat’ remark. “Th’ only luck I’ll be gettin’ fer it is’f this damn storm decides ta end right here an’ now.”

Heiji shuffled himself away from what little light did peek in from the boarded windows. His gaze was careful and meticulous as Hakuba strode past him, and he hoped he could catch the detail he needed to figure out whatever this mystery item was. A flash of lightning urged the clap of thunder and illuminated the raised area briefly… was that a cross?

“…Hah. No wonder,” began the Osakan condescendingly. “Carryin’ a cross in yer heart instead’f yer shoulders…”

Hakuba had managed a half-genuine smile by the time he reached the chairs, amused at the fact that he wasn’t the only one stranded. But the last thing that Heiji said jerked the reins right out of his hands. Had he seen…?

The detective stiffened, blinking once, before turning to look coolly over his shoulder. 

“What do you mean by that, exactly?"