“Kiss and cuddle?” Kaito snickered, returning the kiss with a soft brush of lips against the blond’s cheek. “…And maybe stay with me until I fall asleep?”
“I think I could handle that, yes.” Hakuba nuzzled at him, chuckling softly at his antics. Grateful for the privacy that had been afforded them, the detective stole the thief away to the couch and settled down, arms loosely held around in a position that let him kiss Kaito with ease. Which he did.
He grinned, initial surprise melting away into tired amusement, and he tightened his hold, just a little, head falling to rest against Hakuba’s shoulder.
“If I said no, would you believe me?”
“No, but I suppose I could pretend for the time begin if it would help anything.” He leaned to kiss Kaito’s forehead, then shook his head, smirking. “Whatever am I to do with you, my love?"
Too late. The thief’s already latched onto the blond and is, apparently, making no move to let him go anytime soon.
“You’ve been overworking yourself again, haven’t you?” Hakuba slipped his arms back around him for a warm embrace, then moved to scoop him up, bridal-style. “Come on, then… to the couch we go."
Long day. Tired Kaito is tired. Someone come cuddle him.
“Oh, dear. Let me get the kettle on.”
whiteknighthakuba started following you
What is that Hakubastard doing following me?
“If you’re wondering why I’m following you… not to worry, Kaitou-san; I’m simply keeping tabs on the criminal activity in this city. But you’re purported to be a gentleman thief, are you not?"
Shinichi grinned like a child and instantly buried his hands into her fur around the ears and rubbed. “AH, your such good girl.Very good girl."
Looking back up to Hakuba he continued in Japanese. “She’s beautiful Hakuba. Now,” He stood, smile some what gone already and dusted off his hands and jeans. “what do you need me for?”
The corgi couldn’t help herself, overjoyed with the attention and pets. She hopped up, dancing in place, tail wagging furiously until the man stopped paying attention to her. Even then, she just went back to looking between the two, sniffing, until she huffed and settled on the floor. Right, good dogs stayed down in buildings. And she was a good girl.
"Yes, thank you,” Hakuba said first to the compliment, then paused at the question, taken aback by the abrupt directness of it. He’d known that Shinichi was one for getting straight to the point, but the interaction with Twig had somehow made him forget, just temporarily, that they weren’t already friends.
…which was really kind of an odd feeling, as the half-brit really didn’t have friends generally, anyway.
“Ah… need you, well, I…” He shifted his gaze to the table, wondering if they were going to sit anytime soon as the pain in his back resurfaced, throbbing as the anxiety grew. But he could do this. They were… colleagues. He had to remember that.
Hakuba started again, voice tired, but stable. “As I mentioned in my letter and emails, I had a sort of question to pose to you, but it deals with ethics and nitty-gritty… really, I’d just like to chat, if you’re inclined. I’ve always wanted to meet you formally, and see how we hit it off as I’m to understand we have much in common. Since I’m here in Japan for the moment, and you’re no longer vanished, I thought it would be an ideal time to try.”
Hakuba was nearly unconscious by the time he got to his car. The world shifted around him, twisting the pavement beneath his feet. Still, somehow, he found the study metal frame of the rental car and pressed against it, breaths ragged. The young detective steadied himself, then reached into his pocket for the keys which… were not there. Frantic, he overturned each of his pockets, scattering their contents to the ground.
Cell phone, pocket watch, wallet, loose change, half-empty pack of cigarettes, lighter, another pocket watch, handkerchief, pen, detective notebook, and a mint tin found themselves scattered at his feet. Still no keys. Hakuba tried the handle of the car in desperation but, being locked, didn’t budge. He coughed, pulling back to try breaking the window in, which only left him with a sore elbow and a frustrated sigh.
The others were still after him. He had his sample; he needed to get out of there and the keys had to be recovered. The particular key ring that had been lost would grant access to not only the car, but also the house, his gym locker, filing cabinet drawers, bedroom, safety deposit box, and so on. This wouldn’t do…
But even as he leaned back against the car, he was having trouble thinking clearly. Something about the lack of sleep, the mysterious strain he’d tested, and the blood loss made it difficulty for him to stand much longer, too. His vision blurred, the world tilted sideways and Hakuba found himself face first against the ground. He wasn’t sure who’d turned out the stars, but everything was getting dark.
When Hattori got home he and his father were going to sit down and have a long conversation about ‘little errands’. Little errands did not mean flying to Tokyo. Little errands did not involve tracking down a stupid, stuck up annoying detective who should have been home, but wasn’t. Little errands did not mean walking all over the place – he missed his baby – and getting lost… sort of…
Apparently something was to be delivered to Superintendent General Hakuba. His father had been asked to do it, but the case that he was working on – and Hattori in secret – was keeping him busy. Instead of sending a lower ranked officer, he had dumped the task on Hattori, saying something about wanting him to “learn a little something from Hakuba”.
The hell could he learn from that arrogant ass?
Okay, maybe he was just in a really bad mood, but his feet were sore. He was tired, lost – not actually lost, he was never lost – and he just wanted to crawl into bed already. But no one knew where Superintendent General Hakuba was, and Hakuba himself wasn’t at home where he should have been.
So now Hattori was looking all over town for him.
Hattori was about to give up and just leave the files with the police station – if he could find it again – when low and behold, there was Hakuba.
Hattori had opened his mouth to call for the half-brit, but something in his gut stopped him. There was something wrong with the way Hakuba was acting. The way his body swayed, and the panicked look on his face. His feet started to move before his brain could catch up with his movements. It was then that he noticed Hakuba slipping.
He reached Hakuba a few moments after he hit the ground. Hattori dropped to his knees and gently shook the detective.
“Oi, Hakuba!” Hattori whispered in a demanding tone. “Hakuba!”
The voice startled Hakuba awake and he gasped, head turning quickly to take in his surroundings. The rental car. The blood. The items scattered on the ground… He pushed himself up onto his hip, grimacing, then turned his attention to Hattori, taking just a moment to breathe before he reached for his shoulder.
“Hattori!” He hissed, then gathered himself under his feet, taking any assistance if offered. “What in the bloody hell are you doing here?!"
Hakuba bit off a string of curses that ultimately came out under his breath as he struggled, back against the car, to get back to standing. He had to get the evidence to safety, had to get out of the area before they caught up, and he desperately needed his keys.
But there really was something wrong with the half-brit. Something in his eyes, and the sweat that gathered that made his bangs curl and cling to his forehead. He gasped at the air, using the other teenager to steady himself, then stumbled, pitching forward into Hattori. "The keys. Help me find my keys. Please."
It was a desperate plea from a ragged voice, and the blond detective huffed loudly, then shook his head. Too many lights. Too many floating lights.
"The keys… I need… I need my keys."
“Thank you.” Kaito began and took up the bottle. “You’re not the only with an out of element feeling. I brought a Seven hundred dollar bottle of wine because I thought it was something you liked."
He smiled at him, quick and easy. “So why don’t we agree that tonight was a royal mess, curl up together on the couch, watch a movie and call it a night. We’ll handle what all of this means in the morning after some sleep. Cause right now we are both too sensitive to each other. Deal?”
He spun the bottle on the flat of his palm and walked past him.
It took several seconds for Hakuba to process what Kaito said, confused by just how simple he’d made it all sound. How easy. As if the drama weren’t broiling, as if his feelings weren’t torn into pieces and building up and such a mess all at once. He watched him as he walked past, blinking, and found himself nodding.
"That… that sounds like a splendid idea, Kuroba-kun. Deal."
He jogged to catch up with him, attempting a smile as he moved to pull in front, hopeful and a little more exuberant than moments before. "I do like the wine, though, and again, I am more than happy to drink with you if you’re willing…"
He nodded and walked in. The bottle was exactly where he left it on the table. Briskly he moved towards it a picked it up, then put it back down again.
“I’m sorry. I just reacted. I … was running on pure emotions and went for the kiss. I didn’t mean to askew your plans for tonight. I wanted this to go great too. Funny thing is that plans around me have a way of …. I wanted to kiss you, still do but if you want to take it slow and start off as friends then okay. I’m okay with that.” He turned and faced him. “But I have to know, Hakuba, in detail, what you want from me? What do you need from me? Before anything else happens I have to know.”
Once again, Hakuba found himself surprised. And disoriented. He stopped where he was, just a few feet from Kaito, to stare at him. There it was, the need and the chance for clarification. Kuroba had put the ball in his court, though for what reason he couldn’t fathom.
Hesitating, he lifted a hand to run through his hair, gaze dropping to the floor. “It’s all just a little overwhelming, Kuroba-kun…” Then came a sigh as he dropped his hand, helpless.
“One moment, I’m coming to you, whom I believe detests me, for advice… because I can’t decide what to do with myself… only to find out, tonight, that we’ve both been harboring secret feelings of affection and adoration… and now here you are in my bedroom."
Hakuba looked back at him and shrugged, nervous frown. "I’m terrified, honestly. I never thought I’d have the chance to… to tell you, much less kiss you, and… what am I supposed to say? I’m just as lost as you are… wanting, confused; needing, reluctant; elated, despairing. Relieved that you want to talk, so very, very scared that I’ll say all of the wrong things, just as I have all night… just as I did at your home, and after the heist… And then the monocle, I wanted to protect you, not hurt you… God, it’s a mess!"
