themoonlightthief:

“Don’t.”

Seeing that oh-so-obviously forced smile on the detective’s face hurt, guilt churning like razors in his gut. This was wrong. On so many levels. He’d never meant to upset Hakuba as much as he had. 

Yes, he teased, joked and played around, during heists and outside, and, he supposed, seeing what kind of reaction he could get out of the blonde was something akin to a game to him, but. 

But he’d never intentionally play with someone’s feelings or aim to hurt.

“I meant every word I said, though whether you choose to believe them or not is up to you. And I thought that it was obvious that I—” He stopped, the barest hint of uncertainty – and was that nervousness? – flickering across his features, before he smoothly hid it behind his Poker Face, followed by the slightest curl of his lips. 

"…Tell me, Hakuba. What do you think everything I’ve done so far have been for? The roses, the little gifts, the notes— why do you think I did that?”

“I have my theories,” Hakuba said, admittance meek at best. “But they don’t seem to withstand scrutiny when other evidence is presented.”  He shrugged weakly, keeping his embarrassment and gaze averted, turned away. 

“Perhaps you could explain it to me.”