phantom-thief-kid:

KID accepted the card happily and slipped it into his pocket. Well, at least he knew this wasn’t likely a trap. This was a suite that didn’t seem like something meant for work, which surprised him on some level. He slipped off his shoes and stretched.

“Oh, really?” He walked over and looked at the drinks. That’s right, those ravens and crows used alcohol as their names. At least there was no need to worry about the circling ravens. Not tonight, anyway.

“I have it mentioned in my membership profile to have drinks already in the room. Scotch, usually, and half a dozen extra tea packets.”

Hakuba closed the door behind him and locked it, more out of habit than anything. Then, turning to come into the room, he let out a sigh of relief, and the cold professionalism left him.

“You, ah, might like the view. The balcony should have enough standing room to see the West side of the city, I believe. I’m not sure why they call it a balcony, exactly; there’s not even enough room for a table, but…" 

Deep breath.

"Would you like a drink?”

phantom-thief-kid:

“Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.” That did leave a few questions in his mind about why they were going there over private matters instead of work. Maybe it was due to mixing work and pleasure, with how he appeared as KID instead of Kaito?

KID did have to wonder about the intimidation factor that could come from having to visit the Superintendent’s house. It was one thing to visit the Inspector’s place, because he was pretty lax when not on the hunt, but KID didn’t really have any experience with the elder Hakuba. (Speaking of which, that charity event was coming up soon. Hopefully it wouldn’t land on perigee. That could end badly.)

When the elevator reached the floor, KID walked out and looked at Hakuba with curiostiy. To be frank, he didn’t know which room number Hakuba had gotten and he wasn’t sure which direction of the hall to go down.

Hakuba pointed to the left, then stepped out of the elevator and continued walking at a brisk pace. “We’re in room 1736." 

There was a lot more that the detective wanted to say, but decided to hold onto until they were actually in the room. The hallway was abandoned, but Hakuba didn’t feel like taking the risk when the room was so close. 

He came to an abrupt halt and flashed the room keys, offering one to KID while sliding the other into the locking mechanism.

"This one is for you, so that you can come and go as you please.”

Hakuba hoped that it wouldn’t sound too… presumptuous. The room was theirs until eleven the next morning, but that didn’t mean they needed to use it. Actually, he still wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Still, he’d meant the key card as a sign of respect. He would not cage the phantom thief – not tonight.

The LED on the lock flickered green and the detective pulled the handle, pushing the door open to reveal a… well, room as nice and fitting as could be expected. Large, with plush carpets, king bed, couch and arm chair with coffee table, executive working desk, small minibar, and an excessive flat-screen tv. Being a reward member had its perks, apparently.

Smirking faintly, Hakuba went in ahead this time, stepping against the wall to hold the heavy door open, looking to the coffee table. “Ah, good, they brought the scotch up already.”

phantom-thief-kid:

He went into the elevator. So Hakuba was also able to act? That would have to go in his mental notes… KID had to stop himself  for a moment. Great, he was so used to calculating weaknesses and strengths of detectives that he was trying to do so when he and they were actually at some level of truce.

KID shrugged. “I understand you need a place to meet clients, but I find it a bit strange to use a hotel instead of a small office space of some sort or your living quarters. Just curious, is all…”

Hakuba stepped into the elevator after KID and proceeded to hit the button for the seventeenth floor. Once the doors closed, he chuckled.

“Not all of my clients are comfortable meeting at the Superintendent General’s home, you understand. The drawing room is adequate for general meetings, but most of my clients are private citizens who don’t want anyone to know that they need a detective.”

The detective folded his hands behind his back, standing straight and tall, eyes on the numbers as they flicked from floor to floor going upward.

“I don’t have quite enough work to warrant the upkeep of a private office of my own. In general, I meet my clients in their homes or their place of business. But occasionally, additional privacy is required… Technically speaking, I’m not permitted to rent hotel rooms on my own, given my age. My father has made arrangements to ensure that I would have access as I need it… for business, of course.”

He cleared his throat with a small cough. 

phantom-thief-kid:

KID waited a bit, keeping a mental tally as he kept up his act. It was a ritzy place, so it made a bit of sense that Hakuba would choose a place like this. That would mean the room would be nice, at least.

A couple of minutes and a brief conversation later, Hakuba returned with two card keys. He nodded to his ‘client’, keeping his professional air strict and straight. “Thank you for waiting, Doito-san, If you’ll follow me, we can begin momentarily.”

He motioned for KID to follow him and made his way toward the elevators. This particular hotel he did know at least relatively well… well enough to know where the elevators to his particular floor was. 

Here, on the ‘case’, Hakuba walked with confidence and authority. No hesitance as he pressed the button to summon the elevator, glancing to his client with a polite nod. 

“After you.”

The doors opened. 

phantom-thief-kid:

“…I see. How about a pseudonym of mine, Katsuki Doito, at least when we’re out and about? While we’re on the subject, may I ask what you prefer to be called by?” KID walked just behind Hakuba, a grin still on his face.

He would ask about the client stuff later. For now, getting close to the hotel, KID put on an expression more apropos for a person who was consulting a detective with a reasonable track record. It was time to change mannerisms. Eyes shifted around just a bit, not quite wanting to make contact with others’ gazes, and he added a nervous tick of biting his lip just so.

Hakuba let out a breath of relief. KID was willing to play the game. Good. 

“Just ‘Hakuba,’ with or without any honorifics you feel comfortable attaching. Otherwise, ‘detective’ on its works. just fine, Doito-san.”

He lead the way to the hotel, and stepped around the valet parking, his own expression returning to one of strictly business. Professional, polite, but all together reserved. He held the door for KID, but was soon relieved of the duty by one of the hotel’s attendants.

“Ah, thank you. This way, Doito-san… I’ll get us checked in if you want to wait right here.”

The hotel lobby was large and open, with the wall facing the drive made entirely of large glass panes. Expensive and pretentious, just like the detective who nodded at KID before stepping away to speak with the girl at the reception desk.

phantom-thief-kid:

“I understand. I may be a thief, but I don’t wish to cause you problems. We’ll leave it for the heists, yes?” KID glanced to Hakuba. He noted the looking, but didn’t say anything. As the elevator opened up, he walked out and headed through the front and out to the street.

“So, my friend, where is the place? I am not really a traveler around here…” Well, that was indicative, but it was utterly pointless, as Hakuba already knew. If he didn’t, then Hakuba was incredibly obtuse and that would require him not to be a detective at all.

Hakuba followed KID out to the street and continued walking down the sidewalk, glancing backward. “This way. It’s a short walk." 

He could have called them a taxi, but it really was only three or four blocks from their present location. The detective kept his pace measured to ensure that KID would walk with him, at which point he offered a guarded sort of hopeful smile. My friend. What had KID meant by that, exactly? If it held any special meaning at all… 

"Ah – what am I to call you, by the way? As a client of mine, you’re of course granted rights of anonymity… but it will seem strange if I don’t refer to you by name casually after check in." 

phantom-thief-kid:

“We don’t have to.” KID let go of Hakuba’s hand and walked over to the rooftop access door. He grinned slightly and pulled a small lockpick out, working quickly on the lock. “It is a simple matter and there is an elevator in this building.”

The lock clicked and KID turned the door, then stowed the lockpicks away. He didn’t comment on the chosen venue, as he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Beckoning Hakuba, he headed down the staircase and to the elevator. This place was actually an apartment complex, but it would be fine as long as Hakuba didn’t act like they weren’t supposed to be here if someone showed up.

Hakuba watched KID pick the lock but made no comment. The last thing he wanted to do was to get into an argument and, well, he really didn’t want to have to climb down the fire escape, either. Beside, he’d busied himself with the phone.

“Yes, this is Hakuba Saguru… I need to make a reservation." 

He followed after the thief, casual and calm as if they were supposed to be walking through the apartment building. The detective gave his membership number, and stepped into the elevator. 

"That should be fine, yes. Thank you. That is the correct card on file. Ah – yes, if you wouldn’t mind… The usual. Thank you.”

The detective ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket, glancing over at KID afterward. Elevators. It was always elevators. He let out a nervous breath and pushed a lop-sided smirk.

“It’s all arranged. And, ah, I don’t suppose I could ask you to… not use my membership number to book hotels as you fancy, could I? Not that that the expense is any concern, but should I turn up in two Hyatts across the world on the same night, it could be a little bit awkward to explain." 

Actually, he wouldn’t have minded at all. Helping KID – no, Kuroba, with something would actually be a pleasure. He wanted to be useful to him. And then, being in that elevator, he wanted to be closer, too. But he stayed where he was. Just… looking.

phantom-thief-kid:

“I have had to master the art of changing costume rather quickly. It is a useful skill for a phantom thief, yes?” He gave a slight grin. “So, whereabouts is the hotel?”

That was good neutral ground, actually. Meant that Hakuba couldn’t do any tricks involving stuff where he was more familiar with the layout than KID. This put the suspicions in the back of his mind at ease.

“There are three that I frequent who won’t give me any trouble,” Hakuba explained, using his free hand to pull out his phone. “The closest is…” he looked back out to the nighttime city skyline. “…the Hyatt Regency, actually." 

This pleased Hakuba as he had built up an insane amount of membership rewards between the Hyatt Regencies in Japan, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere overseas. Standardized, conventional, and perfect for his particular tastes. 

"I’ll call them on the way.”  He paused. “Do… we have to go back down the fire escape?”

phantom-thief-kid:

“That would probably be the wisest idea for me. Though I am not sure where you wish to go. That’s up to you.”

KID moved down to the fire escape for a moment and quickly changed, removing the top hat, monocle and cape and replacing his suit with something a bit less eye-catching. When he was done, he got back up to the roof.

“Shall we, detective?” He extended his hand out, grinning impishly. His mind flitted to several possibilities, but he ignored it for now. If everything went downhill, he would have enough time to come up with something. It was just one detective he was with and they were both in what could be seen as a compromising situation, if people caught on.

Hakuba watched curiously as KID moved down the fire escape and out of sight, brows furrowed in concern and confusion. What was he-? Oh.

“How did you…? Ah… And on the fire escape?” The detective, perplexed, moved forward to meet KID, and took his hand without thinking. And suddenly, he understood his own predicament. “Ah, never mind. I’ll get us a hotel room.”

While the detective still had no answer for his problem at large, deciding on the hotel, in the end, had been easy. He could invite Kuroba Kaito into his home without any qualms, for whatever reason (probably). But sneaking Kaitou KID in, even in disguise, was not permitted. 

Besides, this was even something that he wanted to keep secret from even Baaya. 

phantom-thief-kid:

“I’m not much of a drinker, though I wouldn’t mind it.” To tell the truth, he didn’t really drink, aside from very rare occasions.

It would appear strange, what with how he was a risk-taker by nature, but he needed to retain his senses and control of himself at all times. To do otherwise would risk him revealing himself or to make much more dangerous missteps than would happen by accident or by others’ designs.

KID broke away from Hakuba and looked toward the city, putting his hands behind his head. Admittedly, being in private would be preferable, even if he was still worried about where Hakuba had his handcuffs at this very moment. “So, are you leading the way, detective?”

Hakuba leading the way was a very, very bad idea. At least as far as the detective was concerned. But it also made things much easier. The detective looked at the space between them as KID moved away, wincing at the frustrating pain it caused him. 

“If you wish,” he answered evenly. “Unless you’d like to, ah, change first… I’m certain I could sneak you into my estate if you’d like… or I could easily procure a hotel room with balcony access." 

Oh, the implications.

"The only other location I can think of on the top of my head is the research lab, though I’m not entirely sure how well that fits the, ah, intended atmosphere…”