Midnight Tea || phantom-thief-kid

phantom-thief-kid:

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“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?”

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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." 

City Jaunt! || harajukuharuspex

harajukuharuspex:

Akira grinned at his (rather dumbfounded) expression. “There’ll be plenty of time for chivalry later, Guru-chan.” She rolled her eyes but nonetheless made an exaggerated show of pulling down the seatbelt and clicking it into place.

Ah, it had been quite some years since she last rode in a convertible. The wind wouldn’t do anything for her hair; in fact, it rather made her feel like ants had crawled across her scalp and burrowed deep before violent ejection. But the weather had proven to surpass her expectations, sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. She should’ve brought sunscreen, now that she thought of it. Oh well. Possible burns could be dealt with when they returned from their jaunt to the city. Maybe she could coerce Hakuba into bubble tea as well.

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“Why, whatever gave you that idea? Of course it’s for you you silly billy, I said so over the phone.” She placed the package on her lap. “Should I tell you what it is? Wouldn’t want you to get in an accident trying to unwrap my mess of a wrap job.”

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Hakuba cast a wary glance to the side to see his silly classmate and the box that she held before turning his eyes to the road. 

“You really didn’t have to get me anything, Akira-kun. Honestly, I’m just very glad that you were willing to come with me today. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s not as though I have a lot of friends at school, much less anyone who would go with me to Tokyo…” He sighed. “But I’ll throw in food, too, whenever we get hungry…”

Yes, Hakuba; attempt to sweeten the deal that she has clearly already agreed to. 

Safely on the freeway and into the furthest lane, Hakuba pressed the gas pedal in a way that gave the engine need to roar. He shifted gear, and settled the car into a speed that would cut at least five minutes from their journey. Not that time was really a pressing concern, at least yet; Hakuba simply loved to go fast.

koizumiakako:

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“Of course! Hakuba Saguru is the only one in this world who could turn gift-giving into an argument. Remind me to never bother again. Kindness is something that will only ever get shoved back into a person’s face.”

“Well then, perhaps you should have gotten me something red as is your preference. At least then you would have gotten some enjoyment out of torturing me. Really, I do not understand all of these mixed signals. Have you ever made the attempt at being logical and rational, or is your magic the sort of tactile ‘I feel it in my bones,’ ‘let me check the stars,’ ‘I saw this in a film once’ type?”

City Jaunt! || harajukuharuspex

harajukuharuspex:

“Shhhhsh I got you a present, hope you like it.” Akira frowned as Loki circled her ankles. She groaned. Dumb cat, always needing to be fed. Food poured and cat eating away, Akira dashed out the door, almost forgetting to lock it in her haste.

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Jammed the elevator button, tapping her foot impatiently, run for the stairs and hear the elevator doors slide open as she descends the first five steps and sigh. Akira flew down nine flights of stairs and beamed at the waiting Hakuba. She hopped into the convertible without waiting for him to open the door (ergo her forgoing the skirt – jumping over a door is far more fun than chivalry). “Let’s go!”

The detective stared when his classmate literally hopped into his car, hand slowly retracting from the door handle. He had, in fact, intended to open the door for her but…  well, all right then! 

“Yes, let’s go indeed. Don’t forget to buckle up." 

Hakuba turned the car back on, smirking as the engine roared to life. He checked his mirrors, and pulled away from the curb and out into the city. They were headed for Tokyo, which was a 36-40 minute drive from their starting point. He stole a glance at her.

"Please don’t tell me that the box you’re holding is a gift for me." 

City Jaunt! || harajukuharuspex

harajukuharuspex:

Akira swore as she pinched her finger in the necklace clasp for the third time. Damn thing. Damn bitten and torn fingernails. She managed to open and latch the small golden heart around her neck with sore and red fingers and sighed in relief. And pain. Really, she should just stop biting her fingernails.

Nah. She gnawed at her thumb as a familiar vibration echoed through the apartment. Oh shit. Where had she left her phone? It should’ve been in her pocket, where it always was, but then she had just changed into her brand-new jean shorts and before these shorts she had worn a skirt and- Aha! Akira held up the elusive cellular device, plucked from the first pair of shorts she had put on for the excursion calling her. And sure enough, the sneaky side-shot she’d gotten of Hakuba while in class had appeared on the display. She hit answer.

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“Guru-chaaaan,” she replied, laughing. “Be down in a mo. I’m so ready! She’s going to be so surprised when she gets back. Also happy birthday you idiot, as if I wouldn’t notice.” Akira snatched her purse from the floor and keys from the windowsill. She held a brightly wrapped package under her armpit for the stubborn detective. Honestly.

The nickname grated him, but Hakuba only grimaced to show it. Oh, and she mentioned his birthday. Well, at least they were getting all of the nonsense out right from the start. He could only hope that things would improve from that point. 

“Ah, thank you, Akira-kun. But, really, this isn’t a trip about me so let’s keep that little detail as quiet and out of the way as humanly possible, please." 

He glanced toward the structure again, sighing internally as he waited for her to appear. The sooner they got going, the sooner they could pick up the package that was being held. Although he’d been assured by the shop owner that they would, indeed, hold it for another week, Hakuba didn’t want to risk any chances. 

Midnight Tea || phantom-thief-kid

phantom-thief-kid:

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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?" 

Midnight Tea || phantom-thief-kid

phantom-thief-kid:

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“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." 

City Jaunt! || harajukuharuspex

After the adventures of the early morning, Hakuba set out for his day plans. Yes, it was his birthday, and yes he had things to do that evening (family obligations, of course), but this afternoon he was going to do something he wanted to do, dammit, and that was taking a friend shopping to buy a gift for another friend. It had nothing to do with him and that’s exactly what he wanted. Akira knew that it was his birthday, but he hoped that if he didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t either. 

He pulled his car up to the front of her apartment building and pulled out his phone, typing in her number, and waited for her to pick up. During this, Hakuba verified the time on his pocket watch and adjusted the car’s dashboard settings. Two minutes slow. Appalling. 

“Akira-kuuun,” Hakuba said, leaning back in his seat. “I’m here. Are you ready for our jaunt to the city for top secret gift shopping plans?”

Midnight Tea || phantom-thief-kid

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…" 

Midnight Tea || phantom-thief-kid

August 28th, 11:24:13pm, just outside of the Kuroba household.

Hakuba parked his car, retrieved his duffel, then thought better of it. He couldn’t remember if he’d actually sent the text asking if he could come over or if he’d just imagined it. Perhaps there’d been a phone call or an email. Had he mentioned it in passing? The detective hesitated next to the car and checked his pocket watch, then verified it against his wrist watch. It did nothing to recall what he was missing. Which was, specifically, his phone.

In his haste to leave his house on a sudden whim (or had it been?), he’d left it behind. He could have gone back for it. He probably should have. But he was already there and, if Kaito would oblige, he wouldn’t need it. Hakuba checked his watch again, then left the car to put on a brave face. 

He knocked, then wrang his hands anxiously, waiting for a response. Was Kaito even home? Leaning back, he checked for any signs in the windows, but immediately turned back to the door and retrieved his pocket watch once again. 

Please be home… please answer…