phantom-thief-kid:

“It’s fine, Hakuba, and that sounds like fun.” Kaito grinned. He shut the door. (Nemea, meanwhile, had walked through the room and off to another room.) 

Well, lethargy aside, he was pleased. He stretched and yawned, then headed off to the kitchen. “How do you take your tea?”

What a relief! Hakuba followed after Kaito once his shoes were off and settled, and allowed himself a chance to relax. It was not only acceptable, but Kaito seemed excited at the idea. Thank God!

“Two sugars, please…” he answered, biting his lip as he picked up his pace to catch up. “With milk, if available. But anything’s fine." 

phantom-thief-kid:

Kaito blinked. “What kind of favor, Haku-kun?”

Several possibilities flitted through his mind. It wasn’t particularly common for detectives as a whole to ask for favors in this manner.

Hakuba bit his lip, considering what he’d rehearsed in his head a hundred or so times on the drive over. It would be all right. Nothing to fret about. Fighting the compulsion to check his watch again, he tilted his head to one side, smile hopeful. 

“Ah, I was wondering if you’d be willing to have tea with me. At midnight. And, ah, let me stay until morning. If… if that’s agreeable?" 

phantom-thief-kid:

“It’s fine. I wasn’t really doing anything and I was awake.” He was resisting a little niggling urge in the back of his mind to rub his head against Hakuba. That was the lion talking, so to speak. Instead, he took the liberty to pull Hakuba into a hug.

That was… so nice.  Hakuba returned the embrace, arms circling around his back. Without thinking, he pressed a kiss to Kaito’s forehead. Ignoring the resulting blush, he just… held on, waiting several moments before reluctantly pulling back. 

“Thank you for inviting me in. I ah… I have a favor to ask." 

phantom-thief-kid:

Kaito, meanwhile, was lazing on the couch. He had become more prone to sleeping or laying about doing nothing ever since he was cursed. Admittedly, that was how lions acted, so it was understandable.

He got up to the knock on the door and opened it. Hakuba stood outside, back to the door. “Hakuba? Nice to see you.” He smiled. When was it last that Hakuba had shown up? Oh, right, after he turned into a beast and gave him a deer leg. (So very awkward.)

“Mind coming in? I’ve missed you.”

Hakuba turned, immediately relieved to see that smile. “Ah… Kuroba-kun.. er, Kaito-kun?” He still wasn’t sure, entirely, what he should be calling him. Such a good start to the evening. “Please, yes, thank you. I’ve missed you, too. So much, actually." 

The detective stepped inside, keeping his gaze trained on Kaito’s face as he did, unable to resist a smile of his own.

"I hope it’s not a bad time to suddenly show up…"