phantom-thief-kid:

“.Akako just opened my eyes to the existence of magic. But Kudou reversing time by whatever the hell happened to him is a sort of immortality, isn’t it? You just revert back to youth and relive life.”

KID scratched the back of his head. Oh, boy… “During the full moon, I get weird red marks along my veins and they glow in the moonlight. It would be cool if people weren’t terrified when they saw me. It takes a hell of a lot for me to get injured and I heal quickly when it somehow happens. It’s been about a month.”

He was anxious for once. Hakuba passing out again would not be pleasant and he’d rather not cause it twice, especially in such a short time. All the same, he should probably come clean, otherwise Hakuba would be freaking out more later. “There’s stories about that gem that describe it as emitting tears in certain circumstances and that drinking the tears make people immortal. I don’t know if that also applies to me or not.

“But I’m still the same pain in the neck thief. That hasn’t changed.”

Hakuba leaned back, out of Kaito’s personal space, and pressed a hand against the side of his face. Then he moved to pinch the bridge of his nose, eyes closing.

“God, I’m still far too sober for this." 

Deep breath. Sigh. 

"What name would you like me to call you…? I’m about to ask you to fetch the bottle of scotch for me, please. And to confirm that you are still a pain in the neck, and express my sincerest hope that you are the same. God, did you know that the next full moon is the charity event?”

He leaned forward, bracing himself with his elbows to his knees. 

“Scotch. I need the scotch. I need it badly.”

phantom-thief-kid:

Ohshit.

“Um… Uh… About that…” KID laughed nervously, then sighed and set his drink down on the floor. He took off his gloves and set them aside. This was going to be a long night… “Hakuba, please don’t freak out.”

He removed the contacts. Well, he’d have to get a new pair soon. If this pair so easily slipped, he’d need a better pair to perform heists. “My eyes turn red at night, so I have to wear these. That gem they’re after to become immortal? It was real. I destroyed it. Unfortunately, it had side effects.”

Don’t freak out. That wasn’t comforting.

Hakuba took in a breath and steeled himself, incredulous expression slipping into place out of habit. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed it, raising a hand to his chin to think.

Then he bit his lip.

“…Let me get this straight. There is a group that is being referred to as ‘ravens’ that are trying to do something impossible, which you’ve now just specified is finding a gem to become immortal… and this whole time you’ve been after it, too… which I guess explains the heists… And you found it. And destroyed it. And now your eyes are red at night.”

The detective let out a shaky breath.

“And this somehow has to do with Koizumi-san. And, I imagine, Kudou-san and Edogawa-kun.”

Clicking his tongue, Hakuba then looked up at the ceiling.

“What kind of side effects, specifically, does it come with? How long has this been going on?" 

phantom-thief-kid:

“Yeah. My eye itches just a bit.” He stopped for a moment and blinked. Okay, it was still irritating him, but it could be worse. He was unaware of how the contact had slipped out of place and revealed one of his eyes more.

“Anyway, there’s still a lot of stuff I don’t understand about all of it.” He took a drink. “I’m not the best person to ask for information on the ravens. I’m mostly on the periphery of this whole debacle.”

The nonsense talk about ravens went ignored as the detective stared at the other boy. No. It wasn’t a normally occurring phenomenon that made Kaito’s eyes look that way. It couldn’t be. Hakuba stiffened as he leaned in closer, lips pressing into a thin, straight line.

“Ah… contacts…” Hakuba tilted his head. “That’s what was off about your eyes. But- why? Your vision is 20/20 if I’m not mistaken, possibly better… And colored… What is… this?" 

By this he meant the red, but already he was choking on his words.

phantom-thief-kid:

“Yes. I suppose you pieced together that affair with KID appearing to fly on a broomstick by now? Thank you.” He accepted the glass, letting the kiss happen. Hakuba being this nice was rather enjoyable and he didn’t wish to spoil it.

“Well, between that and Kudou turning into a little kid, I’m a bit more apt to believe some stuff I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.” He took a drink. After, he rubbed an eye with the back of his free hand. It was a bit irritated, like an eyelash was stuck in it.

Hakuba continued his efforts, eyes closed, paying attention to the scent and taste of Kaito’s skin, nodding here or there at appropriate times. But… there was a pause at Kudou’s name, and Hakuba pulled himself away, looking to Kaito’s face and hand. 

“Are you all right?” he asked, deciding not to comment on anything else. He leaned closer, concerned. He’d noticed earlier that the shade of his eyes hadn’t exactly matched the ones he’d previously committed to memory, but… that could be due to any number of factors. 

phantom-thief-kid:

“You wouldn’t believe me, Hakuba, even if I told you what they sought.” KID sat up and grinned. The hand contact didn’t go unnoted and it made him rather happy to see. “Sure.

“But, why not…? They seek the path to immortality. I only sought it to prevent them from getting their hands on it. Hard to believe, I know. The only reasons why I even considered it were due to a certain witch and due to how these ravens and crows are willing to kill for it.”

His eyes twinkled, the red faintly around the edges of his irises. He wasn’t quite aware of how colored non-prescription contacts were prone to slipping out of place.

Omitting the poison bit and omitting the curse would be wisest. It was something that needed to be taken in small chunks.

His name, again. It made it easier to believe. Hakuba took another pull from the glass, and took a seat on the edge of the bed, close. As the thief- no, Kaito- volunteered information, the detective paid attention, though somewhat distractedly. Far too busy observing. Memorizing details and features of his classmate and once enemy. 

“Certain witch. Koizumi-san, I’m assuming…" 

The half-brit moved closer, offering the glass to his companion, and in the process leaned into kiss lazily at his neck. Hakuba was fine with not talking for once. Relieved, even. 

phantom-thief-kid:

KID flopped on the bed, rather undignified when it was said and done. He stretched out. “I’ve made a few enemies in my short time as a phantom thief, in spite of my peaceful nature. They stop at nothing to gain a certain gem and it’s something I’m after as well.

“And the raven and crow thing is a metaphor for that group. I picked up the term due to their fondness for wearing all black uniforms. They are…” KID frowned. Once he divulged this, Hakuba would probably do something stupid.

“Well, I think they’re attempting what should be impossible.” Like become immortal. Nobody knew yet about what happened to him; Heiji and Sazerac just knew about the strange lines along his veins and the eyes. And, in a way, what happened to Kudou and Miyano could also be considered that, albeit more in the ‘become young again and go from there’ way.

Hakuba listened, and as he did he drank. When he finished, he set the glass down and returned to the bottle.

“More secrets,” he said, then again let his gaze be drawn to the bed. “To be expected, I suppose. All I know is that I’m to avoid them… as if Igo looking for trouble.”

The detective took his newly filled glass with him as he crossed the room to the bed, His free hand traced the edge of the covers, eyes on Kaito while he walked around to his side. Fingertips brushed what he could reach of the thief absently, casually. 

“Would you like more?" 

phantom-thief-kid:

“You don’t need to repeat yourself. I was just checking and joking around a bit. And, yes, I will now admit it. You were right the whole time about me being Kaito. I apologize, but I was sincerely worried about what you would do if you did learn who I was. Now that I know you aren’t going to leave a mournful dove to a flock of flesh-hungry ravens, I’m a bit more comfortable.”

KID finished his glass of scotch and got up. He set the glass down and sat back at his spot. “And fair is fair. A certain raven thought it a perfect time to shoot me and succeeded a while back. The aftermath resulted in Nakamori and several of the task force learning of my identity. It would be rude if you didn’t know what was going on, though it baffles me that he didn’t tell you.”

The foreign detective listened, casually leaning against the arm of the couch, and stiffened at the mention of Nakamori. 

“Inspector Nakamori doesn’t know me very well.. and we’ve not had the best interactions in the past. It stands to reason that he wouldn’t tell me, both for your safety and as a matter of pride. He’d rudely rejected my theories about potential suspects in the past, which is when I stopped assisting him entirely… In the end, I suppose it was a good thing.”

Hakuba hadn’t known that Nakamori had learned the truth. A lot went on that he was not privy to, apparently. He reached for his drink and brought it to his lips and hesitated, frowning.

“Honestly, I can’t imagine how anyone who knows you could wish you harm…”  Fond sincerity, tone solemn. Longing. 

Then, as a thought struck him, he looked up, distracted. “Ah, wait a moment. Ravens? I’ve heard a few people now mention ‘ravens’ and ‘crows’ in regards to… well.. What is that all about?”

phantom-thief-kid:

“Thank you, detective. And, indeed you are.” KID took the glass and sipped it. The burn on his tongue and warmth down his throat was alien, but enjoyable. He sat down on the bed, crossing a leg over the other.

“Mmm. It is a wonderful night, is it not? I have to ask, though, why you didn’t just slap me or attempt to arrest me on the spot instead of following. I am the thief you chased for so long, who’s eluded your grasp and made you look like a fool. At the very least, I apologize for that. I don’t intend to harm your or other detectives’ reputations, but I would rather not see a jail cell.

“But I will admit that I am confused.” KID smirked. Even though he was using a poker face, this really did baffle him and he wanted to know.

“No apologies necessary… at least on my behalf." 

Hakuba watched KID from the table, mind straying at the thought of him, on the bed, what they could do. He drank the scotch quickly, finishing the shot in one pull so that he could pour another. He would definitely need it tonight.

"Every ‘failure’ is an invaluable opportunity to learn. Each time represented the chance to test my theories, to look for reactions, details, weaknesses… It’s… rather scientific, really, I’m not certain why my colleagues are so concerned about their short-comings. It’s not as if this were a homicide case… it’s relatively low-risk to study you, in the end.”

He drank again. The familiarity of the drink soothed him, more for the ritual of doing it than the alcohol – though that also played a factor. What he’d said was true, but only one part of what KID wanted to know. How long could he avoid it?

phantom-thief-kid:

KID grinned. He had also dropped the act by this point. “Sure, detective.”

Might as well. It was a rare occasion. It wasn’t every day that Hakuba took you up to his workplace to do anything but ordinary work, especially when you were a criminal he chased. “I really must say, you have bitten off quite a bit. Sharing drinks in a suite with an international thief?”

KID nuzzled Hakuba’s neck, leaving light kisses on it. Yup. Dangerous. Hakuba would end up his Underdown instead of his Holmes or Ganimard at this rate. Not that he cared. As long as he didn’t get sloppy with his thieving, he’d be fine.

It was easier to accept the affection here than on the rooftop. Privacy certainly helped, but having the uncertainty of returning to affection brushed away so casually by KID – that really made the difference. Still, Hakuba was troubled as he turned his head to kiss back at the other boy, somewhat distractedly reaching for the bottle of scotch. It didn’t feel right to be here with him, as if KID were some common conquest. 

But practicality won him over in the end, and he opened the bottle after a moment, pouring a shot into two of the four glasses present.

“I’m an international detective, am I not? And I rather like a glass of scotch now and again. Having such fine company only makes it that much better.”

He offered KID a glass, and took one for himself.