smokebombsandmirrors:

He had laid down and was starting to get comfortable when Hakuba spoke to him again. His head lolled up and he gave him a sleepy smile. The offer was so tempting not because it would put him into his bed but because it put in Hakuba’s arms briefly.

“I … I think I’d better stay down here, thank you though." He tried to keep the dejection out of his voice when he spoke and sort of succeeded. 

Hakuba looked him over, then glanced toward the stairs, contemplating. "If you’re certain…” he said, though he didn’t sound at all convinced. “It really wouldn’t be any trouble, and I need to go upstairs, anyway, if I’m to use a guest room… I don’t think that I trust myself driving in this state.”

Really, he shouldn’t have been driving at all that night, but he had a difficult time listening to his conscience when in situations rife with anxiety. 

“Or… at least let me help you get a little more comfortable. Do you have a blanket or pillow I can fetch for you?”

smokebombsandmirrors:

He paused on the top step just a few above the other and looked back at him. It touched him that Hakuba wanted to help; had some how always wanted to help him. It dawn on him the earlier comment:

“I wouldn’t ignore a cry for help, Kuroba-kun… just who do you think that I am, anyway?”

Yes, it did include those he helped but …it included him. It included him. Just maybe there was some thing mutual. Moving on pure emotions he took one step down, leaned over and pressed his lips to the detective cheek just under the corner of his eye.

Lifting he walked back up the step to go, finally get to his spot on the couch.

Wh-

The detective froze again when Kuroba leaned close, refusing to move backward, but not meeting him, either. And as much as he wanted to wince because he didn’t know what was coming, he couldn’t look away. Then there it was – a simple, sweet gesture that left Hakuba red in the face all over again and speechless once more. 

He stood there for a few seconds after Kaito left, attempting to sort out the muddled thoughts in his head, but came up with nothing. Just the reminder that Kuroba was drunk, that things had been stressful, and that there was the high possibility that Kaito wouldn’t remember anything the next morning.

So he followed, coming to a halt near the couch with an expression of concern. “Are you all right here on the couch? Can I help you upstairs? I… ah, I could carry you, if you like. It wouldn’t be a problem…”

smokebombsandmirrors:

“You don’t have to look so horrified ….I just ….” He started as the shocked expression came across Hakuba’s face then shook his head. The was no point in saying what he wanted to say. What he had been wanting to say for a while now. Hakuba wouldn’t understand nor accept it. He was still human and needed people but his need for Hakuba seemed to be so much stronger than what he had ever felt before. The other balanced him out and provided a great foundation for him. Hakuba kept him from slipping so many times before with just the little acts of persistence.

Kaito sighed and started to head back up stairs with his hand on the railing to take his weight off his thigh which was starting to throb painfully. “Come on up and I’ll show you the way.

Horrified? Had he looked horrified? It wasn’t what Hakuba had intended, but he supposed he could imagine. Grimacing at his own foolishness, he followed up the stairs without comment – at least for the first few steps. But once Kaito was on the main level, he hefted a sigh.

“Kuroba-kun… I’m sorry; I didn’t mean for you to think that I felt burdened or anything. Honestly, I… I’m touched that you called me. That you asked for my help.”  He continued up, holding onto the handrail to support his fatigued body. “It means a great deal to me. I… I always hoped I’d be of service to you one day…" 

smokebombsandmirrors:

“Okay! That’s it!! I called you because you are the only person I have. The only one I can trust. I’m sorry that it was so late. I’m sorry that I inconvenienced you but DAMN IT I need you.” He shouted and yanked the door open. Warm air blasted him in the face and he walked into the concrete room. Opening the steel door he welcome the flames licks and tossed the bag inside. As it burn the door was closed and he went back to Hakuba. 

“I need you … ” Kaito said again tired. Covering his the side of his face with his hand.  "I’m tired.“

He began to head back up stairs towards the living room. Just before exiting the room he turned back to Hakuba. “I’m sorry, thank you. There’s a guest bedroom up stairs if you want to use that.”

I need you.

Hakuba felt the words long before he heard them, realized what Kuroba was trying to say. It was as if the heat from the incinerator tore through him, too, stealing his breath and his thoughts, and everything else all at once. The detective was left staring at the other boy, mouth open in speechless surprise. 

Apologies, confessions, vulnerabilities… It took a few seconds for Hakuba to remember that none of this was a dream. It was real, and Kuroba was drunk off his ass and in pain. Emotions ran close to the surface in tumultuous waters; they’d nearly knocked Hakuba over. 

He watched helplessly as Kuroba walked past him, started up the stairs, trying to sort out in his mind what he was supposed to do with all of this feeling that overwhelmed him. Finally, a few seconds later, he gave a nod, following after. "Y-yes… thank you, Kuroba-kun, that would be appreciated.”

What should he say about the rest of it? Anything? Nothing? He felt so entirely lost. Everything was changing. 

smokebombsandmirrors:

He looked back at Hakuba then turned away and open the door. The small room broke off into two more rooms, a small bathroom and a darker one with a large iron door that said: caution: HIGH TEMPEATURE.

“There’s an incinerator through here. Its still a bit warm so hand me the stuff that needs to disappear and I’ll put it in” He said and held out his hand for the bloody instruments.

Hakuba offered the bag of rubbish that he’d gathered, frown fixed on his face though he was relieved that there was such a simple and effective solution to their problem. “Thank you,” he said, then pursed his lips in a bit of a pout. “You know, if those stitches pop, I’ll be convinced that you don’t even care that I got out of bed at god-even-knows-what-time-in-the-morning-it is, drove all the way over here without even properly getting dressed, to work on you… honestly, Kuroba-kun…”

Hands free, he leaned against the wall, feeling everything weigh on him again- not the least of which being the drowsiness. 

“I’m so tired I can’t even recall the time… let’s get you to bed as soon as the evidence has been destroyed, all right?”

smokebombsandmirrors:

“Right …” He stood gingerly and felt the world teeter a bit. Shaking his head some he manage to walk a bit. “You can bring them down here.”

He didn’t wait to see if the detective was following just started to move. He went down a small narrow hall, through an even narrower stair case to a heavy metal door. Entering a quick combination on the keypad the door lock slnck open and he limped inside. 

The whole room was inky black but Kaito knew this room well. He had practically lived down here when he first started as KID and begun training with Jii. Flipping on the light a dim almost candle like flicker began in one spot then worked its way around the room.

In the area they were standing in it looked like a small apartment. Bar/ kitchenette to the right and a small living room to the left. Book and files were every where. There were also a lot of trunks and magic paraphernalia litter about the rooms in an organized chaos. Sit on the coffee table was KID hat, cape and monocle along with a black harness and Kaito’s traditional card gun.

Kaito moved towards the door near the kitchen and went through.

“Ah- K-Kuroba-kun!” Hakuba followed after, stumbling past the coffee table while very nearly tripping over his own bag of supplies in the process. They’d moved too quickly and the wine rattled his head, but he was determined to keep up, struggling to memorize the layout of the house in the process. 

When they got to the main room in the basement, Hakuba found himself stopped, looking around with wide, curious eyes. “What is this… place?” he asked, not realizing that Kaito had continued on until after, shaking his head to clear it as he returned to his pursuit. 

“Didn’t I tell you, not five minutes ago – actually, three minutes, seventeen seconds.. something.. … something, anyway – I told you to go easy on your leg, or you’ll pop the stitches, Kuroba-kun!”