Tag Archives: ic

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

He felt him tremble and gripped the cloth of his jacket. When he felt his hands rub over his shoulders he shivered in both pleasure and a sudden spike of fear. His back was … to combat the nerves he pressed himself against the other, lifted his head to his name, and stared up into Hakuba’s face. “Yes?”

Before Hakuba let himself do anything else, he leaned forward, expression one of near panic as he – kissed the end of Kaito’s nose. He was just so nervous! He pulled back afterward, so ashamed, and reached for the bottle of wine. “MyGODweneedtogetthisopen here you do the honors I’ve a bottle opener somewhere and the, ah, glasses are here, yes, let’s… we can toast, even, if you like…”

He finally took a breath, attempting to pull out of Kaito’s grasp to escape around the other side of the wet bar’s counter. 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

The laughter was knew and Kaito stare at him. A small bubble of happiness burst and warmed his chest and a goofy grim spread across his face just at the sound of it. Waling over to him quickly he wrapped his arms around him in a bear hug and burred his face there. “Damn it ,I really do like you.”

The sudden hug surprised him, as many things had that evening, and Hakuba hesitated, blinking at him, before awkwardly putting his arms back around him. “I’m… glad for that,” he said, and laughed, nerves far too present in his voice for his taste. He didn’t want to be nervous, he wanted to be suave and calm and collected! But he couldn’t even stop the bit of a tremble that ran through him, being so close to Kuroba. 

He wanted a cigarette. But at least he could have the wine. Hakuba glanced at it with longing, then laughed again, rubbing his hands over the back of Kaito’s shoulders. Debating what to do only made his own blush worse; the options were all embarrassing and scary and he felt so helpless being hugged. 

“Kuroba-kun?” Hakuba finally asked, looking down at him, hoping that it would draw the other to look up. 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito watched him confusion slowly coming across his face,  the realization, then the embarrassment at him jumping to a conclusion. Exhaling sharply he scratched the back of his neck. “We’re a pair aren’t we. I swear I have never had problems talking or flirting with other people why is it that when ever I’m around you I can’t think straight, or say what I want to. I’m just fumbling around. I feel like an bumbling idiot. Who just keeps trip and crashing over and into everything. I’m sorry I’ve really made a mess of things, haven’t I?”

He gave him a small embarrassed grin.

The detective stared at him for half a moment, then burst out laughing. “My god, you say that to the one who has actually been tripping over everything tonight!" His shoulder shook as he laughed, bringing a hand up to try to cover his mouth and muffle the sound, but it was difficult to hold back. "The fumbling at your arrival, the disaster at dinner, the argument in my bedroom, the literal tripping in the hallway, nearly dropping the wine just now…”

Hakuba sighed, giggles still rolling out of him as he shook his head, pressing a hand to his forehead. “I don’t usually have these troubles, either. Just with you, you damned… whatever you are.” He paused. “See? I can’t even come up with some kind of clever quip. It really isn’t fair how you disarm me so. You at least aren’t blushing nearly as much as I am.”

Another pause. “Almost, but not quite.”

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

He nodded and looked up to the waitress when she came to the table. “Azuza-san could I have a plain water and an English blend tea with honey for my friend here.”

Azuza smiled and nearly ran off with the order till she noticed the dog under the table. “Ah, the dog … I’m sorry but can it go outside? We’re not aloud-“

Shinichi stood from his seat. “Wait, Azuza-san, Twig, she’s a service dog. She has to stay with him, please. She’s a very good girl. She won’t do anything bad. right?” He said and looked at both her and Hakuba.

Blushing, Hakuba shifted on his hip to retrieve the papers from his pocket, awkward and nervous as always. He’d managed to get a copy of the papers in Japanese, too, but the seal was from the Royal Association in England… 

He paused when Shinichi explained for him, then nodded. “Ah, yes, she’s very well trained and certified… I have official documentation if you need to see it.” Hakuba offered the folded papers to her with a little bit of a grimace, and Twig wagged her tail, staying where she was. “She really won’t be any trouble, I can assure you…”

It was a relief that Shinichi already knew that Twig was a service dog, embarrassing as it was. But from the vest, well, it would have been completely obvious for a detective. 

“I’ll, ah, even order for her if you’d prefer she be a patron,” Hakuba then added, forcing a smile. 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito felt his face flush and he swung his head to look at the detective. Miffed that he wasn’t being taken seriously. “You think I’m joking.”

Far more insulted than he should have been he crossed over to him and shoved the wine into his hands. “Do you think of me as a fool? That I can’t be serious? Hakuba …of course I’m a romantic. I’m a magician  for gods” 

He sighed and ran a hand threw his hair. He had to stop what he was saying before he said something he was going to regret.

“I like you.” He said it as clearly and as serious as he could with his face burning as bad as it was. 

Uh.

Hakuba fumbled, setting plate back, holding onto the wine with wide eyes, and stared at Kaito. Flustered didn’t even quite cover what he was or how he felt, struggling to set the plate and the wine down without losing either, panicked. “W-wait, Kuroba-kun, I… no, I…”

God! He was so bad at this! Where was all of that charm and allure that he had when courting others? Dammit, he was so frustrated! 

“I know you’re a romantic, I was joking. Trying to lighten the air again… I… I suppose I should really stop trying to do that, because all that I’ve managed so far is to upset you.” The detective ran his hands through his hair as he spoke, then down his neck, hanging his head afterward. Then he peeked up at Kaito afterward, biting his lip, pleading.

“I didn’t mean to insult you. I believe you. I know you can be just as serious and romantic and whatever else as you like, and… aha, I’m just not certain what to do with all of the attention. Wine. Wine and then… then I’ll be all right, you’ll see!”

Digging a hole for himself, Hakuba looked back at the bottle and gestured to it, almost knocking it over in the process, flailing, righting it. “Bloody hell!”

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

Shinichi gauged him before smiling at the other and felt as if he had just been handed to the keys to something. He nearly picked up the cup again and frowned. Glancing around he couldn’t find Azuza any where. Shifting the cup out of the way he picked up his glasses and slipped them back on.

“Take your time. No need to rush.” He smiled at him again. “Sometimes it just helps to know that there is someone there who’ll listen.”

He knew that was how it was for him. Those nights as Conan when memories would creep up on him and scare him wake for the rest of the night, he knew he only had to call Hakase, or his parents and they would listen. Quietly, intently. When he was in Europe for those long years, as embarrassing as it was, his mother would sit by his bedside and just run her fingers threw his hair and never say a word. They’d fall sleep with out saying a word to each other.

He notice Azuza emerge from the back and waved to her. As she approached he looked back to Hakuba. “What do you want?”

“Indeed…” was all that Hakuba managed to say for the time being, mind mulling over all of the information, details, and stories that he could conceivably tell. He wondered just how much Shinichi knew and what his line of questioning would eventually be. Just how many secrets would he end up giving away? All of them? 

The blond shuddered, which got a look from the dog under the table, tags jingling. Twig also looked out and up at Azuza, ears perking forward, tail wagging. Sometimes the official-looking people were strict about animals in their establishments, but she found if she looked nicely submissive, they usually didn’t have a problem. Twig let her ears droop back, panting quietly to smile, then yawned to let herself be known. 

Hakuba, distracted by Shinichi’s next question, looked for a menu somewhere but quickly abandoned the effort, instead just shrugging. “Tea… any tea will be fine. Honey or two sugars.”

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

“Sounds great.” He squeaked.

Standing where he was he glanced around nervously before looking up at the detective. His expression fell slightly serious and he shifted lightly from the heel of his feet to the balls. He licked his lips quickly before speaking quietly.  ”What I said was true. I really do promise that.”

He turned his head to the side and blushed completely.  

Hakuba blinked at him again, lifting one of the plates to offer it to him, hesitating. “To… take care of me?” he asked, completely unsure if Kaito really meant it or if he was being so forward to make a joke. Blush already burned on, all that he could do was hunch his shoulders, awkward smile twitching. 

“Come on, now, Kuroba-kun…” he said, and laughed, trying to play it off as a joke. “If you’re not careful, I’ll start to think that you’re a romantic or something… and, ah, then I’ll have to change the film we’re watching.”

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

He was at a loss for words. About half way threw Hakuba’s explanation about their meeting he did remember him. This jumbled mess of nerves and who gave little to no explanation as to what he had wanted it was all he could do just to keep up with the other. Then by the time he had actually recovered from the forwardness the other was walking off and him staring at his hand.

Picking up his tea he took a sip and found that there was nothing inside. Suddenly embarrass he felt his ears and neck flush. Placing it down with a clatter he cleared his throat. “You really are forward. I do remember you … I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you sooner.  Ah, my adventures?”

He barked a short laugh then composed himself.

“Sorry, Periot’s is not the best place to explain my adventures.” He said softly, smiled gently and nodded his head at the little girl and her mother that walked in through the door. “As long as the stories can go both ways. I’ve read up about you as well. Your talent in Scotland Yard and the Task Force is quiet something to read. I’m sure they’re somethings we can trade.”

Quite forward? Hakuba froze at the words, holding his breath as Shinichi continued. He hadn’t meant to be, but then, that brief meeting had admittedly been a little odd… He hoped it wasn’t a problem. The laugh, at least, settled him somewhat and he managed a little chuckle of his own, wincing over flushed cheeks, though he attempted to stay more or less composed.

After a glance at the other patrons, the blond nodded his understanding before turning back to Shinichi, awkwardly shifting on the bench in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain in his tense muscles. “Ah, yes, I understand.” And he did, at least in part. Neither of their stories, he imagined, were anything short of gruesome. His with Spider was a tale of murder, after all, and Hakuba couldn’t imagine that much less would keep Kudou away for so long. 

“And… yes,” Hakuba said then, tilting his head ever so slightly as he suddenly understood what Shinichi had said. He had read about him. He had researched him, just as Hakuba had researched the other. It was both terrifying and thrilling, and his feigned smile faded a touch. But that was why he’d come, wasn’t it? So, necessary. He’d chosen his juror well. “I’m more than willing to… tell you anything that you wish to know, Kudou-san.”

His words carried a significance that he hoped Shinichi could read. Never before had he made this offer to a person, but he felt somehow prepared to do so in the face of utter disparity. In many ways, Kudou was his last hope for any sort of clarity, whether he knew it or not. 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

“For as long as I shall live” He realized what he had said just a few words too late and he scramble to hide the rising blush. “Or at least till he get annoyed with me and tosses me out.”

His ear were burning to the point where they just hurt and he had to refrained from smacking himself in the face with his palm and resided on a jerky smile and glancing at Hakuba. 

Hakuba, for his part, was stunned, flustered, and staring at the comment, even with the addendum. Baaya, however, chuckled again and looked back at them from the doorway.

“It would be rude of him to toss you out, especially since you’re being such a gentleman, Kuroba-kun. You two have a good time. Young Master, you know how to get in touch with me if you need anything.”

And then she left.

The detective gulped, watching her go, then turned to Kaito with an expression of exhausted helplessness.  "So… ah… cake?“

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

No longer vanished? His disappearance had caused a stir closets to him but other than that the police kept the media’s rumor at bay for the most part. It was a little unnerving to have a stranger, even if he was a fellow detective, to know about that. Shinichi eyed him carefully before gesturing for the other to sit across from him. “Formally? Have we met before?”

Now that it was out in the open he could have sworn he had seen him before as himself. 

Hakuba gratefully took the seat offered, easing himself down and leaning the cane against the bench next to him. It took a few moments more to answer, getting settled and checking on Twig, who had happily settled on the floor at his feet. “Yes, we have, but it was only for a brief moment, Kudou-san, I don’t expect that you’d remember it…" 

Finally comfortable, he looked over at Shinichi and tilted his head, studying the other young man carefully. Evaluating. Feeling him out by taking note of those careful glances, the minutes of tension in regard to key words. Interesting, interesting… puzzle pieces, all of them.

"It was some years ago, now, when I first returned to Japan at seventeen years-old. My father, the Superintendent General, gave me a brief tour through the station, and along the way saw you. I’d been following your career off and on already, mostly through Japanese newsnets, but also from word of my father – he likes to pay attention to the young ones with promise – and had been quite eager to meet you…”

Hakuba sighed, feeling a little sheepish to be making the admission. “When I saw you there, you were discussing a case with Megure-keibu, I believe. I hurried up to you and introduced myself, shook your hand, perhaps did an awkward bow, and then scurried off again to catch up with my father and his secretary… so it was just a brief, and fittingly forgetful meeting… so do not fret if you can’t recall it, it was seconds at best, and you were receiving so much media attention at the time, yourself…" 

He laughed then, mostly at himself and shrugged. "I tried to catch you at your home many times after that, but you’d just disappeared. Busy with cases, as to be expected from someone of your calibre, but it did make me wonder…” For that, Hakuba lowered his voice, frowning. “But, it does seem that you’re here, now, so… I would love to hear your adventures.”