askkudoushinichi:

“You know quite a lot about me. Which means you’ve really done your homework. I didn’t think I was that interesting.” He chuckled, smiling at him. “But you’re right, I guess. I don’t always follow the rules but I don’t really break them either. Only bend. The police still look down on that though so it’s not the best plan for me.“

The conversation had surprised him. He hadn’t expected it to be so casual, especially since they barely knew each other but Hakuba had been surprisingly humble around him. It seemed that his reputation preceded him but Shinichi had still expected to see a little of that arrogant personality he had experienced twice before. But in this situation, it was surprisingly nonexistent.

"It sounds like that’s your plan. To go into the force like your father? That’s pretty admirable in itself. He must be proud of you.”

Hakuba resisted the urge to comment that Kudou-san was, in fact, very interesting and that, yes, he had done a lot of homework on him. Probably too much.

When the talk moved back onto Hakuba, he shrugged. “Ah, there are still a lot of things that I have yet to consider as far as the specifics go… but I do think that I will likely attempts to join Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom and help with their forensics and cold case files.” He frowned a little. “I guess I like paperwork too much to go out on my own.”

askkudoushinichi:

“Hmm… I guess I haven’t really thought about it in awhile. I’m more likely to do things my own way though, so I’ll probably do something on my own. It’s working well enough right now as it is,” he answered after a moment. It really wasn’t something he had thought about in awhile, especially after everything he had been through – and was still going through – with the Black Organization.

But he couldn’t really tell Hakuba about it. Not only was Hakuba very curious, he also seemed to be dedicated to a fault. If he caught wind of something as illicit as an Organization with members in very high places, there was a good chance that he would want to help and wouldn’t stop until the case was solved.

“Maybe when I graduate, I’ll open up an actual business. Who knows…” he muttered, more to himself.

“Ah, of course… that makes sense.”  Hakuba had expected that, really. While it would be wonderful to have Kudou on the force, the foreign detective could in no way deny that he was probably too good to just be a police detective. There were far too many restrictions that would make it hard for Kudou to be as brilliant as he deserved. “You’ve always been somewhat of a rebel, haven’t you? I’m impressed.”

And he was. And also happy to hear that Kudou was every bit as passionate and dedicated to his craft as he’d thought. 

askkudoushinichi:

“Thank you,” he sighed, relief washing over him. Maybe he had expected Hakuba to question it or even to disagree with the terms. His open understanding of the idea was the best outcome possible.

Though he couldn’t say that he was fully trustworthy just yet, he did know that Hakuba was an honorable guy and an exceptional detective despite his one-track-mind. And who knew? Perhaps Hakuba had gotten past his flaws since the last time they met. Everyone had the ability to advance.

Look at how far Hattori had come.

Regardless, Shinichi smiled at him with gratitude. Even though he seemed nervous, he figured that it was probably Hakuba’s curiosity. He had wanted to talk to him after all.

“I appreciate your silence,” he added. “It’ll make it a lot easier if we run into anyone.“

Hakuba, the detective with no flaws whatsoever, nodded at the other, likewise flawless, detective, and continued onward sheepishly. No, the foreigner wasn’t sinister, just a helpless fanboy. 

"Of course,” he said again, agreeing, which he hoped would not come off too strongly. “I have to admit that I’m intensely curious, but I won’t press. Ah, that said, might I ask if you intend to officially join the force when you’re finished with studies, or will you be opening your own agency?”

Kind of a leap there, but okay.

askkudoushinichi:

“Well, I am alive, as you can see but… if you don’t mind, I’d like it if you didn’t talk to anyone about it. I may be able to walk around without much harm, but if a certain group of people find out that I’m active again then… I really don’t want to think about what would happen.” He explained it calmly and seemed completely nonchalant about it, but there was still a hint of fear in his voice.

“And please, if you could…” he began again. “Don’t tell any of that to Ran. She worries enough as it is.“ He gave Hakuba a nervous smile and continued. “It’s not as though it’s a huge deal, but she’ll take it badly, you know?”

With the level of interest that Hakuba displayed, he wouldn’t be surprised if he had investigated him a little bit already. So there would be no point in flat out lying about his situation. However, he could graze over the truth. “Our secret, okay?“

Investigated a little? An understatement of depressing proportions. But Hakuba wasn’t going to mention that. Not even a peep. 

The foreign detective walked with Kudou toward the cafe, pace a steady clip but not overly brisk. He nodded at the appropriate times during the other detective’s explanation, and blushed, faintly at each unintentionally significant moment. 

Our secret? Keep it from my childhood friend?

Hakuba looked skyward, cheeks tinted from the heat of his shy embarrassment. What did Kudou mean by that? They’d only just met; why would he trust…?  Unless he really had been reading the letters. Perhaps he couldn’t contact Hakuba because he knew that the half-Brit would stop at nothing to help and he had wanted to spare him the danger? 

"A-ahh.. Yes, of course. I would never betray your trust, Kudou-san…”

That little hint of fear in his voice. The uneasy smiles and polite hesitance. So casual, so calm. Everything Hakuba had expected of the great Kudou Shinichi. 

askkudoushinichi:

“No, that’s fine. I’m getting kind of hungry anyway and I really don’t think that Ran would mind. We might see her there actually, so be prepared to get questioned,” he chuckled, only half joking. There was actually a very good possibility that she would be wondering why they were ‘hanging out’.

It was better to just go ahead and get going. The faster they got to the cafe, the faster they could continue to talk about everything but Conan.

“I wouldn’t mind that; it’s always interesting to be interrogated by those not in our field.”  Hakuba said this with a smile, curious as he watched Kudou, even as he began walking toward the cafe. 

“How have things been for you lately? I have to admit that I was almost worried you’d been killed. There were so many rumors regarding your disappearance, and no one seemed to have concrete answers.”

He decided to leave specific details about his investigation unsaid at present, in favor of letting the other detective talk. After all, he’d often wondered what it would be like to just… sit and listen to such a brilliant detective, one-on-one. 

askkudoushinichi:

“Oh well… in that regard. I guess I already consider him an equal.” How much more obvious could he really be? If only he could keep his mouth shut as easily as he could solve puzzles.

“He’s a good kid, I guess. He likes to stick his nose in where it doesn’t belong though, and it’s really gotten him into trouble a few times.”

He was still looking for a way to push the conversation back to Hakuba himself.

“I think he looks up to you. You’re a detective too so I bet he’d love to hear some stories. What kind of cases have you handled in the past?”

“Ah, a wide variety, to be honest… I suggest we walk to the cafe before getting too deeply into that, if that is agreeable with you? Unless you suppose that your childhood friend would object of my taking your time.”

There was something, at least; Kudou was interested in hearing about his cases. Hakuba managed a smile, turning toward the direction of the cafe, though he kept his gaze over his shoulder at Kudou himself.

askkudoushinichi:

“Yeah, she told me. We’ve known each other since we were children so really there’s very little that she won’t tell me. But she’s not the one who wants to rant and rave about it.”

He gave him a sheepish smile. “Hattori wouldn’t shut up about you for weeks after he met you so I feel like I’m already a little biased toward you. But don’t worry. Hattori is just stubborn and hot headed. I have to take most of what he says with a grain of salt anyway. When he’s mad about something at least.

“But I think he was more mad that the brat figured it out before he did. Though I hear you were both really close. It happens.”

He didn’t want Hakuba to think he was actually going to listen to Heiji’s ramblings.

“Ah… Hattori-san…" 

Of course that bastard Osakan would talk about him behind his back. And to Kudou Shinichi, no less.

Hakuba hesitated to respond after that, despite the reassurances and encouragement. The comment about the ‘brat’ was his only saving grace. The foreign detective swallowed awkwardly, then shrugged his shoulders. 

"Hattori-san and I don’t exactly see eye to eye, it’s true. I… apologize if I’ve done anything to offend, through Hattori-san or otherwise. Ah… oh. Do you perhaps mean Edogawa-kun? He was deserving. I have no qualms about that.”

askkudoushinichi:

He laughed much louder than he had intended and tried to calm himself down quickly. It wouldn’t be good to offend him.

“Yes, I know it well. My best friend lives there but you should know that. You’ve met her.”

It wasn’t so much a slip as a carefully placed observation. It wouldn’t be too odd for him to know something like that. “I believe it was some sort of case involving the Sunset Mansion? She commended you on your acting skills.”

He… was laughing. 

While it was a wonderful sound in some ways, it was devastating in others. Hakuba sheepishly shuffled, pushing his hands into his pockets.

“Ah, yes… we’ve met. I didn’t realize that you two were friends, however. I suppose you’re in the same school district as her, aren’t you?”

Why hadn’t he put that together before? Actually, he likely had when adding the database entry for Ran, but it had never occurred to him that it would be remotely important. 

“I’m pleased to hear that she mentioned the case to you, however." 

The excitement, replaced with sheepish reservation, left the foreign detective with a feeling of unease. 

askkudoushinichi:

“That might actually be a good idea.” As long as you don’t try to dig too deep.

Hakuba seemed almost – what was the word? – elated to have met him. How strange. He had met the teenaged detective a few times in the past and he had to admit that he had never seen him so excited about anything. Hakuba had always been frustratingly supercilious in the past.

And did he just stutter…?

“…did you want to have lunch then?” he asked as an afterthought. “I’ll walk with you.”

Yes, yes he did just stutter. 

Finally, a chance to meet Kudou Shinichi and Hakuba was destroying all of his own credibility, one stupidly misplaced word at a time. Fortunately, Kudou-san seemed to be in a forgiving mood. Thank God.

“Lunch would be perfect, yes. The cafe not too far from here seems to offer a fair selection as well as tea. Poirot Cafe, perhaps you’ve been there? It’s right underneath that Mouri Kogoro’s Detective Agency.”