Tag Archives: thread

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

Shinichi gauged him before smiling at the other and felt as if he had just been handed to the keys to something. He nearly picked up the cup again and frowned. Glancing around he couldn’t find Azuza any where. Shifting the cup out of the way he picked up his glasses and slipped them back on.

“Take your time. No need to rush.” He smiled at him again. “Sometimes it just helps to know that there is someone there who’ll listen.”

He knew that was how it was for him. Those nights as Conan when memories would creep up on him and scare him wake for the rest of the night, he knew he only had to call Hakase, or his parents and they would listen. Quietly, intently. When he was in Europe for those long years, as embarrassing as it was, his mother would sit by his bedside and just run her fingers threw his hair and never say a word. They’d fall sleep with out saying a word to each other.

He notice Azuza emerge from the back and waved to her. As she approached he looked back to Hakuba. “What do you want?”

“Indeed…” was all that Hakuba managed to say for the time being, mind mulling over all of the information, details, and stories that he could conceivably tell. He wondered just how much Shinichi knew and what his line of questioning would eventually be. Just how many secrets would he end up giving away? All of them? 

The blond shuddered, which got a look from the dog under the table, tags jingling. Twig also looked out and up at Azuza, ears perking forward, tail wagging. Sometimes the official-looking people were strict about animals in their establishments, but she found if she looked nicely submissive, they usually didn’t have a problem. Twig let her ears droop back, panting quietly to smile, then yawned to let herself be known. 

Hakuba, distracted by Shinichi’s next question, looked for a menu somewhere but quickly abandoned the effort, instead just shrugging. “Tea… any tea will be fine. Honey or two sugars.”

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

“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.”

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

He was at a loss for words. About half way threw Hakuba’s explanation about their meeting he did remember him. This jumbled mess of nerves and who gave little to no explanation as to what he had wanted it was all he could do just to keep up with the other. Then by the time he had actually recovered from the forwardness the other was walking off and him staring at his hand.

Picking up his tea he took a sip and found that there was nothing inside. Suddenly embarrass he felt his ears and neck flush. Placing it down with a clatter he cleared his throat. “You really are forward. I do remember you … I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you sooner.  Ah, my adventures?”

He barked a short laugh then composed himself.

“Sorry, Periot’s is not the best place to explain my adventures.” He said softly, smiled gently and nodded his head at the little girl and her mother that walked in through the door. “As long as the stories can go both ways. I’ve read up about you as well. Your talent in Scotland Yard and the Task Force is quiet something to read. I’m sure they’re somethings we can trade.”

Quite forward? Hakuba froze at the words, holding his breath as Shinichi continued. He hadn’t meant to be, but then, that brief meeting had admittedly been a little odd… He hoped it wasn’t a problem. The laugh, at least, settled him somewhat and he managed a little chuckle of his own, wincing over flushed cheeks, though he attempted to stay more or less composed.

After a glance at the other patrons, the blond nodded his understanding before turning back to Shinichi, awkwardly shifting on the bench in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain in his tense muscles. “Ah, yes, I understand.” And he did, at least in part. Neither of their stories, he imagined, were anything short of gruesome. His with Spider was a tale of murder, after all, and Hakuba couldn’t imagine that much less would keep Kudou away for so long. 

“And… yes,” Hakuba said then, tilting his head ever so slightly as he suddenly understood what Shinichi had said. He had read about him. He had researched him, just as Hakuba had researched the other. It was both terrifying and thrilling, and his feigned smile faded a touch. But that was why he’d come, wasn’t it? So, necessary. He’d chosen his juror well. “I’m more than willing to… tell you anything that you wish to know, Kudou-san.”

His words carried a significance that he hoped Shinichi could read. Never before had he made this offer to a person, but he felt somehow prepared to do so in the face of utter disparity. In many ways, Kudou was his last hope for any sort of clarity, whether he knew it or not. 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

“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?“

by

Bloody Moriarty

thelotusflowerfiles:

No longer vanished? His disappearance had caused a stir closets to him but other than that the police kept the media’s rumor at bay for the most part. It was a little unnerving to have a stranger, even if he was a fellow detective, to know about that. Shinichi eyed him carefully before gesturing for the other to sit across from him. “Formally? Have we met before?”

Now that it was out in the open he could have sworn he had seen him before as himself. 

Hakuba gratefully took the seat offered, easing himself down and leaning the cane against the bench next to him. It took a few moments more to answer, getting settled and checking on Twig, who had happily settled on the floor at his feet. “Yes, we have, but it was only for a brief moment, Kudou-san, I don’t expect that you’d remember it…" 

Finally comfortable, he looked over at Shinichi and tilted his head, studying the other young man carefully. Evaluating. Feeling him out by taking note of those careful glances, the minutes of tension in regard to key words. Interesting, interesting… puzzle pieces, all of them.

"It was some years ago, now, when I first returned to Japan at seventeen years-old. My father, the Superintendent General, gave me a brief tour through the station, and along the way saw you. I’d been following your career off and on already, mostly through Japanese newsnets, but also from word of my father – he likes to pay attention to the young ones with promise – and had been quite eager to meet you…”

Hakuba sighed, feeling a little sheepish to be making the admission. “When I saw you there, you were discussing a case with Megure-keibu, I believe. I hurried up to you and introduced myself, shook your hand, perhaps did an awkward bow, and then scurried off again to catch up with my father and his secretary… so it was just a brief, and fittingly forgetful meeting… so do not fret if you can’t recall it, it was seconds at best, and you were receiving so much media attention at the time, yourself…" 

He laughed then, mostly at himself and shrugged. "I tried to catch you at your home many times after that, but you’d just disappeared. Busy with cases, as to be expected from someone of your calibre, but it did make me wonder…” For that, Hakuba lowered his voice, frowning. “But, it does seem that you’re here, now, so… I would love to hear your adventures.”

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

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. 

by

Catching Up With Fate

kuroba-k:

Kaito on the other hand did not have that much trouble with this part, because Hakuba tried to be as scientific as possible. He only reminded the detective once in a while that it didn’t matter if it wasn’t standardised unless he asked for it and gave him the standarised scale to pick from.

Oops, well there he messed something up in his head. A slightly embarassed face looked back at Hakuba, when he smirked about the Judo question. Finally grinning back a little askew he explained:

“I’m sorry. I thought I remember that you’ve said something like that because Sherlock did so as well. I must have confused it with something else. I haven’t read any of the books for years either and I’ve never read all of them…” He truly wondered where his brain pulled that one out, usually his memory was very accurate. But it hadn’t hurt anyone and he still got the answers he wanted and scribbled them down.

Noticing the little hesitation, he pretended not to and smiled slightly at the KID comment. “As I said I suppose KID would actually pay attention to that. I can imagine he’d be the only criminal to scold you for being so unreasonable and chase after him instead of resting.” Chuckling, because he would indeed just do that. Let Hakuba catch up with him to give him an earful for neglecting his health and doing stupid and dangerous stunts.

“There’s one thing left for me to ask and then I’d like to get over to the hands on part. I would like to know how you currently live. Is it small or big and do you have any stairs you have to take to get home? Is anyone living with you and are they capable and available of helping you when you need help?”

image

“I tried to box in high school. In England,” Hakuba said off-handedly, rubbing the side of his face as he, too, attempted to figure out where judo might have come from. He could have said something about that in school. He did like to talk about Sherlock Holmes a lot, after all… even more so when he was younger. “But I’ve never been good at fighting, just… full-body tackling criminals… aha. Ahem.”

He internalized the comment about KID, taking it as a warning from the physical therapist himself, whom he was STILL convinced was the thief, even after all these years. Would Kaito really do that to him during a heist? Somehow, Hakuba couldn’t put it past him. With a derisive snort, he turned to the matter at hand and hesitated yet again.

“Ah… living arrangements…” Hakuba ran a hand over his injured leg again. “I have a little apartment in Tokyo, not too far from the police station. There are stairs, but there’s also an elevator, fortunately. I may be moving back to Ekoda, though… to my father’s home. It’s all sort of in the air at the moment, though. You see, ah…" 

Deep breath, slow release.

"I’ve… well, the boy that I rescued– Miyu’s son? He’s living with me, now. Or will be, soon. Paperwork is still going through on that end, and his aunt has him for part of the time while I’m getting things worked out. He’s, ah, a four year-old, so he’s…” Hakuba lifted his hand to scratch at his neck again, nervously. “Not exactly the most helpful, though he tries. If I manage to arrange things with my father, though, I may be able to convince Baaya to fly out to stay with us…" 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

He shrugged, smiled just a bit more, and pressed his shoulder against his. “What can I say, she kissed me at birth.”

Hakuba laughed again, relieved that Kaito seemed to be in better spirits, and rolled his eyes. “God, of course…” he said, teasing still as they reached the room. There, Baaya waited for them, cake set out on the wet bar counter, two pieces already cut. 

“It’s about time,” she said, arching a brow at the pair. “How you can stomach so many sweets with so little actual dinner, I don’t know, but…”  Baaya sighed, waving her hands dismissively. “You’re nearly too old for me to tell you what to do anymore, Young Master, so do as you like, I suppose." 

"Oh, Baaya…" 

"Well come on, then, get your cake so I can get back to Kitchen Nightmares.” 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito felt the bump and looked up to him. “You have nothing to apologize for. I … I tried to make light of a situation that was way to sensitive. All you did was put me in my place. As for making a muck? Aren’t I the king of that?” He smiled lightly at the end.

“Actually, I rather thought that you were the king of pulling things out of your ass and making them work out for you, anyway.” Hakuba stayed close despite his jab, hoping that his tone would convey the teasing he’d meant it to. “I mean, after all, we’re supposed to be enemies but we’re soon to be drinking wine and eating chocolate cake that, yes, I made especially for the evening, thank you very much Baaya for spoiling my well-guarded secret." 

He sighed, but the little smile that had come to his face stayed. 

"Lady luck seems to be smiling upon you once more, Kuroba-kun, if I’m permitted to say so." 

by

The Meaning of the Monocle

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito winced. He couldn’t really help that. It was the way he dealt with his nerves. He was just trying to bring light to the situation.

“Sorry …I just…”
He shifted his hand to the neck of the bottle and refrained from moving it anywhere else by tucking it close to his chest. Over exaggerated yes but somehow necessary with the detectives words. He began to walk down the hall subdued and quiet. 

Hakuba sighed, shoulders sagging again. He hadn’t meant to make him feel bad, but it was difficult not to lash out so critically when he was embarrassed. Frowning, he hurried to catch up to him and made sure to bump into his shoulder, little frown on his face, but eyes hopeful.

“Ah, I’m… sorry,” he said after a moment. “Like I said earlier, I’ve just been making a muck of everything all evening… well, month, really. Forgive me?"