phantom-thief-kid:

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, albeit distractedly. Big furry thing that nobody could quite identify? Oh, boy. He really bit off much more than he could chew this time. “Just checking, because I wasn’t quite sure of what happened last night myself. No, I didn’t end up attacked or injured, just to clear that up.”

“That’s comforting, at least.”  Hakuba didn’t sound convinced. “Ah, but last night? I hope you’re planning to offer an official apology. Everyone was quite disappointed that you couldn’t make it." 

That was putting it very lightly, but the detective didn’t wish to press. At least, too hard.

phantom-thief-kid:

“It’s not a dragon this time, not from what I can tell.” He scratched the back of his head. He was not going to explain to Hakuba what he though happened. Hakuba would fret and talking about unknowns was an unwise idea. “Any idea what it is? I’m not sure what it was myself.“

"Some seem to think that it was a big dog… A really, really big dog. Mastiff, maybe? I don’t know. The witness reports were very unclear.”  Hesitation. Fretting. “…Are you okay, Kuroba-kun?”

phantom-thief-kid:

“So you do care!” He let himself grin for a bit.

“…In all seriousness, I’m not exactly sure what happened myself and what I can piece together is weird. Also, were there any odd creature or supposed monster sightings reported by anyone last night?” Might as well get that question out of the way. It was bothering him, because that waking up thing reminded him of American werewolf movies.

“O-of COURSE I care! God, Kuroba-kun…" 

Hakuba might have hung up at that point in a fit of annoyance, but when KID shifted gears, he huffed and listened instead.

"Creature… or monster sightings? I know an officer earlier was complaining about getting reports about something that was seen, but there haven’t really been details. …Don’t tell me that it’s that dragon again.”

phantom-thief-kid:

“I’m not and the murder hasn’t happened yet, so figuring it out would be wisest. Obviously, I can’t go to the police. And, even if I tried, that would result in an innocent man getting arrested instead of the killer, along with other consequences.”

That was only half-true, but Heiji was dominant lately. Or Sazerac had perfected his little act. Either way, this would be bad. Very bad. Especially since it involved the ravens.

Blink.

That sounded awfully familiar. Hakuba tilted his head, glancing back at Kaito again, forcing a neutral expression. “Perhaps it might be prudent if we went back inside and you filled me in? I’m quite curious…”

He took the bottle of scotch in his hand, lighter and suit jacket in the other, and gestured back to the room. Suddenly, he didn’t feel very tired anymore.

phantom-thief-kid:

“I can’t forget this ‘raven business,’ though. It is tempting, yes. Even so, I’m not going to leave my friends who are involved with those ravens. Also, please don’t bring Hattori into this. He and I get along fine, unlike you and him.”

Interesting choice of a location, now that he thought of it.  He rested his head on the rail. Yes, running could get you far, but it didn’t change how the people left behind were stuck in whatever cesspool you’d fled.

“And I got a bizarre riddle. From what I can tell, if I don’t figure it out and stop the writer, they’re going to kill someone very soon. I’m not gonna let that happen either, Hakuba..” No need to mention Sazerac being the writer. That… wouldn’t go over well.

“I… was joking,” Hakuba said, frowning again. “I know we can’t just leave." 

The detective turned back to the city view. He knew he was being unreasonable, but it still hurt. 

"I went and visited Hattori-san just like you asked. I was more than polite. I’m not going to cause any problems, don’t worry. I’m not the one that has an extreme temper and violence problem.” Pause. “…bizarre riddle? Wait, since when were you a homicide detective?”

phantom-thief-kid:

“I swear, detective. You and Kudou both know how to kill figures of speech.” He sighed. Really, that was a pain. Metaphors and figures of speech were fun.

“I do need people, you know. And I just think that you’re worrying too much about what can’t be controlled instead of what can.” Kaito scratched the back of his head. “That’s asking for problems, Hakuba. Fretting about not things uncontrollable is already bad enough, then you add in the worry that happens when things don’t go your way and how you can’t change it.“

Hakuba looked unconvinced as he watched Kaito attempt to explain whatever it was he was going on about, then sighed. "Fine! Fine. If you’d like me not to worry so much, then run away with me. Let’s leave for Paris tonight. We’ll forget all about this raven business, escape from all of the Hattori Heijis, and deal with the immortality  whenever it comes to it.”

Part of him was dead serious. But then, part of him was always dead set on running away to Paris at any moment’s notice. He smirked.

phantom-thief-kid:

Kaito headed out onto the balcony, thinking. The other stuff would have to be spaced out. He could also do some riddles, as a way of buying time without lying too badly. …But that didn’t turn out so well when dealing with Kudou being a shrimp.

New plan forming, one that involved spacing out the various other things in increments, so as to avoid having Hakuba have another breakdown or be storming off. (And him fainting up here while leaning on the rail would be incredibly bad. KID didn’t bring his hang glider to this excursion; it was a little hard to with civilian clothes, after all.)

“A penny for your thoughts?”

Hakuba flicked the lighter on, then off again, fingers moving in the practiced moment without any effort or thought at all. He glanced at Kaito, arching a brow, before looking back at the city.

“Were you aware that the penny in any modern-day country is not only nearly worthless, but actually costs a significant amount more to produce than its marked value?" 

All the same, the detective offered a sort of half-hearted grin. But it faded not long after.

"I know you don’t need me to protect you. You don’t need anyone. But that doesn’t stop me from worrying about you."