smokebombsandmirrors:

It was the smile. The uncontrolled and open smile. One he hadn’t really got to ever see. Frozen in the kitchen with hi hand under the scalding water Kaito watched Hakuba go for the cream. Blinking suddenly and very quickly he felt himself actually blush and shook his head. He decide that he had gone way to long with out proper sleep. Skirting past the hopefully distracted detective he made his way to the bathroom to grab the first aid kit.

“That was surprising.” He whispered to him self and leaned over the sink. It had been a while since he blushed for a simple reason and what terrified him that it was Hakuba that had gotten to him. 

His hand made his way into his hair again and he sighed and began to rumage threw the kit.

Hakuba stirred the tea and took another drink, eyes closed to really savor the flavor and warmth in his mouth for several seconds before he even realized that Kaito had gone. Blinking again, he glanced around to look for him. 

“Kuroba… kun?” he asked with a frown to the open room. “Hullo…?”

Huh. The detective, baffled, went back to drinking the tea and let his gaze rest on the envelopes – all thick, all opened, all emblazoned with official seals on the front, and all addressed to Hakuba, Saguru J. 

He sipped more tea, and waited. 

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito expelled a short breath of air and winced. There quiet a bit of pain in that statement and he fully understood. He was just tired and that was an excuse but never gave him the right to be a jerk. Hakuba had asked him for his help and he just bit at him. Raking a scarred hand through his already disordered hair he sighed and smeared a little bit of blood across his forehead.
“Hakuba, I’m sorry. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep well. An act I was practicing last week sort of back fired and I’ve been sore. You said you wanted my advice on something.” He smiled gently; apologetically and didn’t mention that it were nightmares that haunted him and that ‘trick’ cost him a few broken ribs and a sprained wrist was what kept him from sleeping.

The quick apology did much for easing the detective out of his sudden defenses. He was still upset, yes, but he managed to relax his back against the chair behind him, mouth twitching into a small, wincing smile. Kuroba was cordial, clearly; he should give him another chance. Hakuba nodded, shrugging his shoulders, and reached for the sugar.

“Ah, yes, that’s all right. It’s about… Ah- Kuroba-kun, you’re bleeding… Are you all right?” Hesitantly, he rose from his chair and leaned over the table to see if he could get a better look without getting too close. “Your head? Or your hand, perhaps… should get a bandage…" 

smokebombsandmirrors:

 At first he was going to just going to dismiss the detective and get on back to work on the twenty millions thing that had decided to break on him at the last heist starting with his hang glider. With the tray on the table Kaito took the pot and began to pour in grading heights starting at the lip of the pot then high. Once the water was done he placed the kettle back on the stove and closed up the pot.

“To be honest I didn’t think I was going to either. I really wasn’t in the mood to entertain.” That was a first for him but he can have his off days too. “But you looked like you really needed the help.”

He smiled and his internal timer called the tea good to be drank. Pouring the brew into the china he place a readied cup inf ront of Hakuba and then served himself with three sugar cube and a small amount of cream.

…oh.

The color in Hakuba’s face drained as the realization set in. He’d known that Kuroba didn’t care for him much, and no one really enjoyed being interrupted, but saying such out loud? The cold twist of his stomach made everything at the table suddenly very unappealing. Swallowing against the constriction in his throat, Hakuba slowly, cautiously straightened up in his seat, shoulders squaring back, expression fading first to one of wounded pride, which he tried and failed to hide.

“Ah.” The detective let his hands rest in his lap, the fingers of his left feeling through slacks for the gold watch in his pocket. It was still there. “Well, since you’ve gone to all of this trouble, I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible so that you can get back to your work. Again,” Hakuba’s tone transitioned to one of calm neutrality, lips becoming nothing more than a thin, straight line. “I apologize for the interruption. Shall I begin?”

It was difficult to keep the underlying irritation out of his voice. If the damned thief hadn’t wanted him there, he shouldn’t have let him inside. He didn’t need to be invited in only to be told that he was unwanted!  It was insulting, really. And it hurt. 

The watch made a snapping sound as he flipped it open with his thumbnail and peered at it under the table, confirming the time before putting it away again.