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His breathe came out on a sigh and the first word to come to him was: finally. He kept his itchy hands deep into his pockets. He pressed lightly into the kiss and felt his eyes flutter closed. Desire rared and flashed hot. He could feel it all the way down to his toes. He wanted so badly to press himself against the other. To feel his heat, the solidity of his body, to take in his scent and match his desire. The moment he felt his part he followed slightly with him hoping to catch him again then slowly opened his eyes and smiled like a cat whose eaten the cream. He lick his lips lightly before really focusing on Hakuba’s face. His eyes were dark with longing and want.

Oh. He liked that expression. Liked the way that Kaito came after him, the thief chasing the detective. It took every ounce of self control to avoid tackling him right then and there, which would have been awful for several reasons. Hakuba steadied himself, reaching a hand back for the wet bar, and let out a slow, shaky breath. 

“Do you feel better now?” he asked, voice quiet, tentative, and just a tad breathless. 

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“Yes.” He said simply to the only question asked. If there was anyone who need to be questioning his worth it was him. He was a criminal, yeah he supposedly gives back everything he steals but he was still a criminal. He also came from a middle class home what could he offer him? He already had a roof and security. Food and clothing. Any thing he could ask for.

He felt like someone in a cheesy romance novel where the penniless hero would say: ‘The only thing I can offer you is my undying love and devotion. Would you please accept me?’ but this was reality and it had a way of turning things cruel. People as much as they wanted couldn’t just live off of dreams ….

But he wanted to dream. Wanted that small piece of a fairy-tale just he could hold on to it when everything turned sour. So he would continue to toss his heart out to the wind and swallow the pain just like a pill and hope.

Unaware of Kaito’s internal torment, Hakuba slowly raised his head at the answer, frown fixed in place as he studied him. It had been succinct and clear, but he honestly felt no less confused. Or, perhaps the clarity had made him feel even more so. He wasn’t certain. 

All the same, he pushed up from the counter and looked him over again, gaze calculating as he wondered… He now had permission, and it wasn’t as if they hadn’t kissed before, yet he still felt cold tangles of fear and pressure that rooted him in place. It mattered too much, and he wanted it too badly. 

But, looking at it objectively, there were two factors at work, and Hakuba considered them for a time as he pushed the bottle opener toward Kaito. On the one hand, there was a very high likelihood that he was leaving Japan for England – permanently – and starting something like this was ill-advised for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which was the chance of utter heartbreak. On the other hand, he was already heartbroken, and rejection seemed to be, at least for the moment, off the table. 

And if he was leaving, what better opportunity to take the risk?

Pursing his lips a moment, Hakuba glanced toward the doorway, mentally tabulating the number of people currently in the house, cross-referencing the date and time with their likely positions and tasks, and the chance that there would be an interruption. If he listened carefully, he would most likely hear someone approaching within four seconds. That didn’t leave for a very wide margin for error, but it was something, and he needed to salvage what he could while he was able. 

Hakuba took a deep breath and stepped back around the counter, the red in his cheeks fading somewhat as his resolve took over. He was determined, now, which trumped most everything else, and it showed in his posture, his stride, and the way that he lifted his hand to Kaito’s chin with none of the previous trembling. Closing the gap between them, he tilted his head, gave one last glance to Kaito’s eyes to verify, then leaned in to kiss him. 

It was very simple, but certainly not platonic; three caresses in total with a warm and constant connection. He then parted slowly, silently, eyes half-closed as he watched for whatever reaction was to come, be it desire or hoarfrost. 

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The laughter was knew and Kaito stare at him. A small bubble of happiness burst and warmed his chest and a goofy grim spread across his face just at the sound of it. Waling over to him quickly he wrapped his arms around him in a bear hug and burred his face there. “Damn it ,I really do like you.”

The sudden hug surprised him, as many things had that evening, and Hakuba hesitated, blinking at him, before awkwardly putting his arms back around him. “I’m… glad for that,” he said, and laughed, nerves far too present in his voice for his taste. He didn’t want to be nervous, he wanted to be suave and calm and collected! But he couldn’t even stop the bit of a tremble that ran through him, being so close to Kuroba. 

He wanted a cigarette. But at least he could have the wine. Hakuba glanced at it with longing, then laughed again, rubbing his hands over the back of Kaito’s shoulders. Debating what to do only made his own blush worse; the options were all embarrassing and scary and he felt so helpless being hugged. 

“Kuroba-kun?” Hakuba finally asked, looking down at him, hoping that it would draw the other to look up. 

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Kaito watched him confusion slowly coming across his face,  the realization, then the embarrassment at him jumping to a conclusion. Exhaling sharply he scratched the back of his neck. “We’re a pair aren’t we. I swear I have never had problems talking or flirting with other people why is it that when ever I’m around you I can’t think straight, or say what I want to. I’m just fumbling around. I feel like an bumbling idiot. Who just keeps trip and crashing over and into everything. I’m sorry I’ve really made a mess of things, haven’t I?”

He gave him a small embarrassed grin.

The detective stared at him for half a moment, then burst out laughing. “My god, you say that to the one who has actually been tripping over everything tonight!" His shoulder shook as he laughed, bringing a hand up to try to cover his mouth and muffle the sound, but it was difficult to hold back. "The fumbling at your arrival, the disaster at dinner, the argument in my bedroom, the literal tripping in the hallway, nearly dropping the wine just now…”

Hakuba sighed, giggles still rolling out of him as he shook his head, pressing a hand to his forehead. “I don’t usually have these troubles, either. Just with you, you damned… whatever you are.” He paused. “See? I can’t even come up with some kind of clever quip. It really isn’t fair how you disarm me so. You at least aren’t blushing nearly as much as I am.”

Another pause. “Almost, but not quite.”

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Kaito felt his face flush and he swung his head to look at the detective. Miffed that he wasn’t being taken seriously. “You think I’m joking.”

Far more insulted than he should have been he crossed over to him and shoved the wine into his hands. “Do you think of me as a fool? That I can’t be serious? Hakuba …of course I’m a romantic. I’m a magician  for gods” 

He sighed and ran a hand threw his hair. He had to stop what he was saying before he said something he was going to regret.

“I like you.” He said it as clearly and as serious as he could with his face burning as bad as it was. 

Uh.

Hakuba fumbled, setting plate back, holding onto the wine with wide eyes, and stared at Kaito. Flustered didn’t even quite cover what he was or how he felt, struggling to set the plate and the wine down without losing either, panicked. “W-wait, Kuroba-kun, I… no, I…”

God! He was so bad at this! Where was all of that charm and allure that he had when courting others? Dammit, he was so frustrated! 

“I know you’re a romantic, I was joking. Trying to lighten the air again… I… I suppose I should really stop trying to do that, because all that I’ve managed so far is to upset you.” The detective ran his hands through his hair as he spoke, then down his neck, hanging his head afterward. Then he peeked up at Kaito afterward, biting his lip, pleading.

“I didn’t mean to insult you. I believe you. I know you can be just as serious and romantic and whatever else as you like, and… aha, I’m just not certain what to do with all of the attention. Wine. Wine and then… then I’ll be all right, you’ll see!”

Digging a hole for himself, Hakuba looked back at the bottle and gestured to it, almost knocking it over in the process, flailing, righting it. “Bloody hell!”

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“Sounds great.” He squeaked.

Standing where he was he glanced around nervously before looking up at the detective. His expression fell slightly serious and he shifted lightly from the heel of his feet to the balls. He licked his lips quickly before speaking quietly.  ”What I said was true. I really do promise that.”

He turned his head to the side and blushed completely.  

Hakuba blinked at him again, lifting one of the plates to offer it to him, hesitating. “To… take care of me?” he asked, completely unsure if Kaito really meant it or if he was being so forward to make a joke. Blush already burned on, all that he could do was hunch his shoulders, awkward smile twitching. 

“Come on, now, Kuroba-kun…” he said, and laughed, trying to play it off as a joke. “If you’re not careful, I’ll start to think that you’re a romantic or something… and, ah, then I’ll have to change the film we’re watching.”

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“For as long as I shall live” He realized what he had said just a few words too late and he scramble to hide the rising blush. “Or at least till he get annoyed with me and tosses me out.”

His ear were burning to the point where they just hurt and he had to refrained from smacking himself in the face with his palm and resided on a jerky smile and glancing at Hakuba. 

Hakuba, for his part, was stunned, flustered, and staring at the comment, even with the addendum. Baaya, however, chuckled again and looked back at them from the doorway.

“It would be rude of him to toss you out, especially since you’re being such a gentleman, Kuroba-kun. You two have a good time. Young Master, you know how to get in touch with me if you need anything.”

And then she left.

The detective gulped, watching her go, then turned to Kaito with an expression of exhausted helplessness.  "So… ah… cake?“

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Kaito smiled at her and crossed to her.

“This looks amazing and don’t worry about us anymore tonight, Baaya-chan. I think we can handle ourselves for at least a little while. So go enjoy your show. I heard tonight’s episode was one you didn’t want to miss anything of” He leaned towards her just a bit and whispered just loud enough for Hakuba to hear. “and besides I think you deserve a break taking care of him all the time.” He winked at her.

The detective blushed, both from the compliment on the cake, and for the comment about his need for care. It was true enough that Baaya did much for him; without her, he would be missing much of whatever emotional stability he had. But while he appreciated his governess, Hakuba was quite convinced that he could take care of himself, thank you.

Nevertheless, rubbing the back of his neck, he didn’t complain as Baaya chuckled, reaching to squeeze Kaito’s shoulder with a smile.

“I think you might be right, Kuroba-kun,” she said, voice warm like sun-baked leather. “You’ll take care of him for me, then, won’t you?”

Hakuba grimaced. “Baaya…” 

But it only made her laugh again. "Gordon Ramsay is waiting, Young Master! I’ll check on you later.“ The old woman gave Kaito a wink and made for the door.