Tag Archives: love week

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Love Week – Day Three

motorcyclesandkatanas:

Hattori had been happily showing off some recipe’s that he’d found, and quite enjoyed himself, when Hakuba once again started to talk. He had enjoyed the soft blush on Hakuba’s face, and now found himself blushing. Hakuba thought he was handsome? Of course, in a suite, and it probably was just a comment, like you would say a ship looked handsome, not that he was personally handsome or anything like that..

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And then Hakuba took his hand.

Hattori’s brain shut down for a good few moments, and he’d only caught the end of what Hakuba had said. He rushed to try and catch up with what was going on, his blush deepening as he scrambled to try and make sense of what was happening.

“I… I see…” Hattori swallowed a little, unsure of what to think about this. “Ah, I uh… I guess I just thought… tha’… uh… it would make ya more comfortable… or, uh… somethin’ like tha’…” Well actually, he did it to prove to Hakuba that he could be all fancy and well dressed and that he wasn’t as much of a savage as Hakuba thought he was but that didn;t matter anymore.

Hakuba was holding his hand.

Not only had Hakuba taken his hand, but he laid his other on top of it, sandwiching the Osakan’s strong hands with his own, warm and cozy. And he smiled, expression soft, almost fond as he looked across the table. 

“I appreciate the sentiment, Hattori,” Hakuba said, again tilting his head ever so slightly, completely missing the fact that he had, again, completely forgotten the customary honorific. “But it’s really not necessary. I suppose it’s easier for us, now, to assume the roles of businessmen meeting over dinner for work, which is likely better, given the societal expectations that surround us…" 

He glanced down at the menus and sighed, reluctantly drawing back.

"We really should order. My treat, of course. Would you mind calling the server over?" 

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Love Week – Day Three

motorcyclesandkatanas:

Hattori blinked a few times, staring at the other teen. Hakuba was nervous. The great Hakuba Saguru, always so calm, always so certain, was nervous. It was as if someone had lifted a fog from the table. It started off as a small chuckle, something deeply hidden within his throat, and soon it rose into laughter, genuine joyful laughter.

The only thing in his mind was, Hakuba was actually really cute.

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Hattori reached up and slowly slipped his suit jacket off, placing it to the empty side of his booth, and then reached up to tug his tie off. He then unbuttoned the first two buttons of his dress shirt and rolled his sleeves up a bit, a bright smile on his face.

Much better.

“I dunno if ya really have any interest in sports.” Hattori seemed much more relaxed now, leaning a bit forward, face in his hand. “An’ I left tha’ hat at home, in an attempt ta be a lil’ bit more formal, ya know, since ya seem ta like tha’ more. Bu’ I guess I loose this time.” He chuckled. “Let’s see if we can fine a topic we will both enjoy. I like kendo, baseball, Ellery Queen, motorcycles.

"I also enjoy star gazin’, road trips, takin’ naps, jus’ sittin’ around an’ enjoyin a nice summer day. Tha’ beach is always fun, water fights, cookin’… Ah, wait, ya cook too right? Ya heard of tha new recipe-” Hattori dug out his cellphone and started to search for the link. “Here, it’s pretty good, haven’t tried it myself yet though.”

“Ah, well…”  Hakuba watched Hattori as he loosened up, somewhat stunned at the change in atmosphere. That had been sudden. He still didn’t quite understand what had happened, but that hardly seemed to matter with things a little more light-hearted. The blonde managed a smile, faint blush on his cheeks, and he cleared his throat with a little cough. “Yes, I… I do love to cook, indeed. What’s the recipe for?”

Immediate question answered, he thought back on the rest of what had been said. If he could commit those topics to memory – which he would – he could refer to them later on if things returned to a lull. He didn’t know all that much about kendo, and he preferred both soccer and basketball to baseball, though tennis was his favorite to play. Ellery Queen would only bring up a debate about Sherlock Holmes and… motorcycles? As much as he was interested, he didn’t want to establish too much in common between them.

Though, the rest that he’d mentioned already gave them more shared traits than he’d expected. Interesting. This train of thought, however, came to a screeching halt as he considered what Heiji had said earlier, blinking once as the meaning behind it came into focus.

“You… don’t need to dress up or anything, Hattori. Not that you don’t look handsome in a suit,” Hakuba said, brows knitting in concern as he reached a hand across the table for one of the Osakan’s – a sudden compulsion that he had no way to explain. “You do… look rather nice, I mean… but I dress this way for my own, personal reasons – because I want to, not because I expect everyone else to be so formal." 

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Love Week – Day Two

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from commenting on Hakuba’s choice of… words. He closed his eyes, but only for a few seconds, and regained himself, smile playing on his lips once again.

“Yeah, I guess ya could say tha’.” Hattori fiddled with the napkin once again, licking his lips. Why was this so awkward? He kind of just wanted to sink into the floor, maybe it was the formal atmosphere – he hated formal parties, they were just so… formal…

“Ah…” His father yes… his father. They weren’t exactly on… the best of terms. He didn’t hate his father, no, but he didn’t get along with his as much as he did his mother. “Ya could say tha’, I guess.” He knew he was repeating himself, but honestly, best to skip that subject.

Alas, the difference in perspective had effectively jackhammered a wedge into the fissure between them, and Hakuba had yet to even notice that there was a problem. In fact, he was convinced that the entire affair had proceeded quite swimmingly. Indeed, he couldn’t have been happier with the way things had gone thus far. 

Though, the repetition in the Osakan’s broken and stilted Kansai-ben did give him reason to pause. Glancing back at his companion, Hakuba lifted a brow, smile tilting ever so slightly to quirk higher on the left. 

“That’s… good to hear,” he said, and let the smile fade. No, there was certainly something amiss here, and Hakuba had finally noticed.

Letting out a little breath, he drummed his fingers on the edge of the table, then swallowed against the nervous lump in his throat. 

“Ah…” Hakuba struggled to find another conversational topic to offer in an attempt to salvage the conversation, but found nothing further than shop talk. Did he really need to resort to that? Perhaps so. Business. Detective work. He quirked another, new smile, though this was significantly less confident than the last. “Have you read the latest article on the use of three-dimensional printers in artificially growing bone matter with stem  cell research?”

Blink.

“Er.” The foreign detective shifted awkwardly on his side of the bench. “Or, rather, ah, are you… attending the police benefit’s ball in Kyoto at the end of the month…? Or, no, wait; you don’t really like the more formal affairs, do you?”

Hakuba bit his lip. Think, dammit… think!

“Ah, you… … you like some sports team, though, correct? The… the one on your hat, perhaps? Where, ah, where is your trademark baseball cap today, anyway? I was under the impression that it was somewhat of an… extension of your person? Aha…" 

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Love Week – Day Two

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori had gotten the message loud and clear. It wasn’t that he was really expecting anything else from the half-Brit. They were just two guys having dinner, an awkward dinner, but dinner none the less.

“Tha usual.” Hattori waved a hand, his focus now completely on the menu before him. “A cheating husband here, a jealous wife there.” It was all really boring. “Nothin’ too big.” Hattori placed down his menu, he’d already chosen what he’d be getting a few minuets ago, and took to playing with the napkin.

So far, so good. It seemed that the reaffirmation of the less formal kun had been taken quite well. Hakuba was relieved that he wouldn’t have to revert to the more distant sanafter all; he did intend to remain friends with the other detective, even if things had become decidedly tense between them. Or, perhaps friend was a bit too strong of a word? Acquaintance? No, no- that was a step in the wrong direction. They were colleagues. That was comfortable, respectful, and amiable enough. 

Yes, it seemed that his generosity, thus far, had not been misplaced. Whew.

In response to the answer, Hakuba tilted his head to express his interest, mild though it was. “It seems as though you’re keeping yourself busy, at least; that’s good. The more cases you successfully resolve, the stronger your curriculum vitae will be, thus improving your chances for university and the field… I’m certain that’s pleasing your father, correct? He must be… quite proud.”

He cleared his throat with a small cough and returned his attention to the menu in front of him. Udon was preferable to ramen noodles, though had a higher potential for spillage. This wasn’t something that he felt he could risk in front of his rival. Er, colleague. Still, though; to sacrifice his preference to save face? …it really wouldn’t be the first time. Hakuba shrugged, setting his menu down to give himself the fullest vantage with which to flag down a server, passively giving the rest of his attention to Hattori in the interim. 

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Love Week – Day Two

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori accepted his menu and opened it up, eyes glancing over the different items, every once in a while flicking upwards to look at Hakuba. It was, rather awkward, though he didn’t really understand why. They were just, two guys having dinner together.

“Thank ya, ya look pretty good yereself.” Hattori answered, eyes back on his menu.

“Thank you, Hattori-kun.” Hakuba was careful to give the kun just a little bit of emphasis, just in case the Osakan had forget where their current formality level lay. At least with Hattori’s attire, it was easier for the half-brit to suspend his sense of reality, shifting focus to, yes, a pleasant dinner with a client. Someone in need of his assistance. That was far easier to deal with than, er, anything else at present. 

After a moment of deliberation, he glanced up from the laminated cardstock to look the other detective over again, then offered a small, polite smile. 

“How have your cases been, as of late?”

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Love Week – Day Two

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori watched Hakuba’s face. He was easy to read, for once, it was a little unsettling. He could see the shock, and then frown. Hattori paid no attention to it, planning to keep this dinner as argument-free as possible. No insulting, no getting angry, just, an enjoyable night out.

“Ah.” Hattori replied to his explanation of the case files. He relaxed back against the booth, placing his hands down in his lap, fidgeting with the ends of his suit shirt – he really hated these things.

“Thank ya fer inviting me.”

“Certainly." 

All right, so they were off to a somewhat awkward start, but at least nothing terrible had happened yet. The blonde detective offered a menu to the Osakan, then looked over the remaining one, keeping his gaze carefully averted.

"Your appearance is quite sharp, by the by. It’s a good look for you.”

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Love Week – Day Two

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori removed his motorcycle helmet as he parked his baby near the entrance. He had arrived five minuets early, but he figured, better a few minuets early then a few minuets late.He’d also opted for a suit, rather then his normal clothing. He’d left his hat – though it had pained him – behind as well, and came dressed well, nicely. He didn’t really know why he was bothering to dress up like this, but, well, it couldn’t hurt, could it?

He headed into the ramen shop and scanned the area, eyes falling upon Hakuba, who looked to be busy with case notes. He let out a soft snort and made his way over, taking the seat opposite of Hakuba.

“Wha’ kind’a case are ya workin’ on?” Hattori asked.

“Same old, same old,” Hakuba said, lifting his head to regard the other detective as he firmly closed the case file in his hands. Then he paused. Hattori dressed up? He looked… really nice, well-groomed and cleaned up. Professional, even. The smallest of frowns came to his lips as he considered this, visibly halted in his normally smooth conduct. Huh. 

After a moment longer, he shook his head and turned to stow the folder in the briefcase on the bench next to him, grateful for the convenient opportunity to turn his head. 

“More gang territory issues, nothing of import.” He waved a dismissive hand, then looked back to the Osakan, reaching for the glass of water on his side of the table, taking a drink to buy himself just another moment to think. Even then, all he could manage was an almost anxious chuckle, followed by: “Thank you for coming, by the way." 

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Love Week – Day Two

Hakuba arrived at the little ramen shop fifteen minutes early. He hadn’t intended to, but with the way that the train schedules worked and his calculations (nerves factored in), it had just sort of… happened. Wringing his hands, he scanned the area to ensure that Hattori hadn’t yet arrived, then requested a booth from the girl on staff. There he settled, keeping track of the time with his wrist and pocket watch, and went over a stack of case files while he waited. 

Nothing to it. It would be fine. Just like an awkward business lunch. He just needed to think of Hattori as a client. Yes, that would do.

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Love Week – Day One

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori chuckled at the response, maybe he wouldn’t have to wear a suit, but well, the surprise would be worth it.

[text] Sounds good ta me. Five alright?

It would be rude to back out now. Hakuba sighed, rubbing the side of his face before he typed out his reply.

[text] Certainly. First person there gets a table and texts the other. I’ll see you tomorrow. 

Ugh.

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Love Week – Day One

motorcyclesandkatanas:

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Hattori had been laying in bed, staring at his new tattoo. It wasn’t a horrible tattoo, in fact he kind of liked it. Maybe after this love week thing was said and done, he’d get a tattoo himself. Still, the though of Hakuba chasing him, brought a sort of smug grin to his face. The great prideful Hakuba, who considered him a brute and savage, was going to be chasing him.

He wondered what Hakuba was going to do, what would be his first move? 

Just as he thought that, his cellphone buzzed, signaling a text. He flipped his phone open and, there it was; Hakuba. His fingers hesitated over the open button before finally clicking it. He read the message and was pleasantly surprised by what it said.

Dinner, with Hakuba? Hmm, the thought didn’t displease him, in fact, he kind of liked the idea. He looked over at his closet, or well, Kudo’s closet, and he knew he had a suit in there somewhere…

[text] Sure, why not. I’m in Beika, so wha’ ever is fine.

Hattori sent the message and then closed his phone.

This was definitely going to be interesting.

Damn. A response. And he was fine with it. Of course he would be fine with it. Dammit! Hattori was likely preparing comebacks and insults to trip him up at this very moment. Why was he even bothering? This was going to be a disaster no matter what he did. 

[text] Perfect. Is ramen in Shibuya acceptable?