He hacked out a laugh. “Ya think there’s a difference?” Crossed arms, eyes fixed with a hot challenge. “Ya’re blind jus’ th’ same!”
It took an inordinate amount of self-control for Hakuba to keep the words he wanted to say from spilling out in a furious torrent. Breaths deliberate and careful, body tensed, fists tightening.
“Take. That. Back.”
Each word came coldly through clenched teeth, seething.
“I ain’ talkin’ jus’ ‘bout work!” Hardly his business? That had never stopped the Brit before—wasn’t it only just he should return the favor back? “…Hah. Does that mean ya don’ let it affect ya anywhere else? What a sorry excuse of a follower ya’re…”
Fists clenching, Hakuba lowered his hands, arms tight against his sides. He didn’t dare look at the Osakan, not while he was so close to losing his temper entirely. That kind of behavior didn’t become him. The foreign detective let out a slow breath.
“So which is it, Hattori-san? Blinded by faith or not blind enough? Just which would you prefer, if those are – apparently – my only options?”
“It’s plenty relevant! Or at least, it should be.”
Heiji slid his hands into his pockets, still damp. It would explain a lot of things Hakuba did, in a matter of speaking. There were stories of the rather devout worshippers, newsclippings and video feeds of their rather outlandish manners of practice… If this half-Brit detective was one of them, Hakuba’s somewhat unorthodox mannerisms made a whole lot of sense to this dark-skinned detective.
“How many times has yer faith blinded ya from th’ truth?”
He had meant it in simple curiosity. Heiji knew that sometimes he could get carried away in cases putting his heart before the mind, and this seemed hardly any different for him.
It hardly seemed possible that things were unfolding the way that they were. Hakuba, jaw tight, dropped his gaze to the dusty floor and hesitated before replying tensely.
“It hasn’t. I don’t let it interfere with my work. And, frankly, this is none of your business, Hattori-san.”
… Really. In a time like this, the idiot was going to try and play dumb? Still, it seemed like he’d hit the mark… So the halfer was a Catholic, eh? “Ya know damn well what I mean. ‘sides, ain’ ya a detective?”
Oh, Heiji would joke around. Why not? For all the times the smug bastard cut him with that silver tongue… “Figure it out fer yerself. Doin’ that on top’f a case shouldn’ be too hard fer ya, right?”
Of course.
Hakuba closed his eyes briefly, turning back around to grind his teeth, finding his reasons to stay composed.
Of all the people to find out, it had to be Hattori Heiji. He should have been more careful. What was this going to cost him? It was fairly easy to assume that of the possible meanings the Osakan’s statement held, he’d meant the worst and most insulting.
He pulled the covering from an overturned chair on one of the tables, dropping it on the floor afterward.
“It’s not. However, I don’t see how my being a detective is relevant.”
Only a snort was offered in response to the ‘same boat’ remark. “Th’ only luck I’ll be gettin’ fer it is’f this damn storm decides ta end right here an’ now.”
Heiji shuffled himself away from what little light did peek in from the boarded windows. His gaze was careful and meticulous as Hakuba strode past him, and he hoped he could catch the detail he needed to figure out whatever this mystery item was. A flash of lightning urged the clap of thunder and illuminated the raised area briefly… was that a cross?
“…Hah. No wonder,” began the Osakan condescendingly. “Carryin’ a cross in yer heart instead’f yer shoulders…”
Hakuba had managed a half-genuine smile by the time he reached the chairs, amused at the fact that he wasn’t the only one stranded. But the last thing that Heiji said jerked the reins right out of his hands. Had he seen…?
The detective stiffened, blinking once, before turning to look coolly over his shoulder.
“What do you mean by that, exactly?"
