“Since I am already going home for the holidays, and mum has been bugging to meet you, yes. I’d like you to come with me to England for Christmas.”

The thief gave a cheerful laugh and hugged his detective excitedly, spinning him a couple of times, even. He had many reasons for being so happy about the offer, including the fact that he hadn’t been out of country for quite some time, but most important, would be…

“Of course I’d be more than willing to spend Christmas with you, tantei~”

To be honest, he hadn’t been looking forward much to Christmas this year. Don’t get him wrong, he always loved excuses for presents, and winter in general was cuddle season, so he wouldn’t have hated it, per se. And he’d heard Aoko was having another party, which me might have gone to…

But he’d still have to go home after the party was over.

And Christmas was a holiday that was only really fun if you had someone to spend it with.

Kid eventually settled down and just held onto Hakuba normally, lightly kissing his cheek and grinning. It’d also be nice to see the other’s home and family in London, since he’d only ever been to Hakuba’s house here in Japan.

“And just how much have you told her about me, if she’s been ‘bugging to meet me’? Nothing too bad, I hope.”

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba smiled down at him. “No, he’s from around here, goes to school with me. A bit of a trouble maker though.” He chuckled, though fondly. “He gets under my skin most of the time, likes to jab and poke where one shouldn’t.” he closes his eyes, smile going soft. “But he’s a good person, even if he is a giant pain in the behind.”

He blinked and flushed.

“Oh, right, sorry.” A kid really wouldn’t be interested.

Kaito shook his head at the apology. He was still very confused that someone had the same name as him, and that they lived nearby… But he didn’t think the other was lying…

Yet more questions to ask when he got home.

“Sounds like fun!”

The boy put his arms up behind his head, tilting slightly as he looked up at the sky.

“Hmm… If he lives close by, maybe I’ll get to meet him at some point! Is he a detective like you?”

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba smiled as he was pulled into KID ans finally he wrapped his arms around him, eyes closing as relief filled him. This was all he needed to know, with how stubborn the other was being, that just by his words, he’d lost the game; Hakuba knew he was truly loved. That this was real, and it was silly and stupid but it meant the world to him. This was real, Kaito was his, all of this.

He wanted to cry himself.

He pressed back when he was kissed, even though it only lasted a moment. “No, thank you.” He ran a gloved hand up into the others hair, knocking his hat off, not caring, just wanting to touch and feel. “I’m sorry I cheated.” He smiled. “I know, I know you do and I thank you so much for doing so.” He could feel the tears, but he didn’t care. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“I told you I wouldn’t stop trying. I’m just glad you didn’t take me up on that offer, then. To make me stop.”

He didn’t mind the top hat falling to the ground either, letting out a soft sound as his detective’s hand pushed it away to move through his hair, though he did glance at it from his position on Hakuba’s shoulder to make sure it wasn’t going to fall off the tower. Sure, he had more, but he… Well, no need to worry if it just bounced and rolled a short distance away. Focus more on the one who loved him.

Even the thought made the thief’s heart overflow with happiness.

Love.

Yes, he’d known Hakuba loved him, and that the other had known his feelings for quite some time… But knowing and actually hearing the words said aloud were like being in two very different areas, One, he knew the limits of, and that he could mostly keep himself grounded enough to accept. The other….

The other, hearing Hakuba say the words he himself gave out freely, made him uncaring as to how much he showed, how much he did, how far he went. Hakuba loved him, was holding him, could kiss him. It was completely different from how they’d first acted towards each other, when Hakuba would likely already not be breathing from what they were currently doing, what they’d done.

And Kid loved him back. This person who’d always taunt his classmate about being a thief. The detective who had called him from France just to drop a thief a few hints. The teen who put up with more than the average share of teasing. The one who made him want to show off for an audience of one, to bring him into his life and drop the masks, fill in the gap he put between himself and others., if only for this one person to get across.

The tears weren’t stopping and he tightened his arms. The thief just wanted to stay like this and never let go of his detective, this overwhelming feeling, and the warmth.

He was glad he lost, for once.

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

It was obvious that neither of them were going to back down, that they were both stubborn idiots. It was stupid, this whole thing was stupid, he should have just ended it himself, but he didn’t want to give in. He was scared that if he did, he’d never get ground again, that KID would continue to toy with him, and part of that scared him; that maybe this was all a game to him.

It was stupid, his rational part told him, that of course they loved him, both of them – Kaito and KID – and that this was just his playful side having fun, but he didn’t like it. He didn’t like feeling insecure, scared that he’d leave him at the drop of a hat, that none of this was real, just some game for a laugh; make the detective fall in love, then take away his everything.

He closed his eyes, thinking over what he was about to do, because once he did this; there was no going back. He’d played it safe on the sidelines, watching, letting KID and Kaito control everything, but he didn’t want that anymore. If this was going to be a relationship, he had to do this, say this; find the truth. He had to get the upper hand just this once, no matter if it was cheating or not.

He opened his eyes and looked KID dead in his own, face completely serious a moment before softening into a smile, one full of fondness and adoration. “I love you.” And it was true, he did love him. He was truly madly deeply in love with the thief before him, and his school mate. He loved them both from the bottom of his heart, so much so that it ached.

“I really, really love you.”

The thief had stolen his heart, and he was sure this was one jewel KID wasn’t giving back.

Yep. It broke. His Poker Face, his self control, his restrictions.

Everything.

The thief stared at Hakuba for a moment, any smirk he had from earlier gone as he gaped in shock. Then his mouth pulled up into a small, almost nervous smile, eyes glistening as reached out and pulled Hakuba in close.

The other was cheating, but he didn’t even care.

He’d been waiting to hear those words. Hakuba had to have known that. And if this foolish game that had gone awry gave Hakuba the courage to finally say them…

Then who really cared whether he’d won or lost?

Kid just stood there, squeezing the other tightly, before loosening his arms some and giving a chaste kiss on his detective’s lips.

“…Thank you.”

And he returned to hugging, fingers grasping onto the other’s coat from behind, head resting on his detective’s shoulder as he felt his body relax.

“Thank you, so, so much.” A pause as he nuzzled Hakuba some and tears slowly made their way down his face. Not that his detective didn’t already know, but…

“I love you, too.”

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba sucked in a breath and they were close, so close all he had to do was bridge the gap, bridge it and this stupid game would be over, this ridiculous game that he never wanted to be apart of anyway. But he was, and if he let KID win here, it would only lead down a long road of the thief being a cheater. If he won here, this once, when he’d worked so hard, he might get an edge.

“That’s to bad then.” His voice wavered with the desire. “I got it ready just for you, but I understand.” he reached a hand up to hover over the others shoulder. “I think you really would have liked it, but alas, I guess you’ll never know.”

It hurt.

He was so close, but couldn’t close the space. And yes, that was a ‘couldn’t’. Not ‘wouldn’t’. Teasing was one thing, but for games like this, and ones like the whole issue with Kid and his tanteis only wanting to catch him at heists, his no one gets hurt policy -though, that was less of a game, but was still a self imposed rule-… he never let himself give in. He’d break conventional rules, the law and such. But his own rules were like promises to himself. Restrictions. If he wanted to do something, he’d still have to follow the rules. It was stubbornness, he knew. And there were times that he would make exceptions…

Really, he was a full of contradictions. Honest, though built on lies, close with people, but distant, a rule breaker who tried to follow the ones he made himself. It wasn’t even so much that he hated the losing aspect. It was more that he starts games for himself. It was when Hakuba decided to play back that the problems started.

Honestly, he’d just wanted for his detective to initiate the contact, for once. Rather Hakuba only doing things because he started them.

But that had obviously backfired so, so badly.

And it hurt.

The knot in his chest got tighter, but his damn Poker Face wouldn’t let him show anything. At this point, if he did, it would be cheating far worse than he normally did.

And would hurt much worse if Hakuba still didn’t do anything after it was gone.

The thief swallowed and forced himself to remain standing there. If he was going to get Hakuba to act, he wanted it to be on his terms. It wasn’t even about whatever was under his coat, though it did tug at his curiosity. It was just about the ‘game’.

He made a note to self to never make games like this again. It felt more like he was shackled than just simply following guidelines. Games were supposed to be fun.

And this one wasn’t. Not anymore.

By now the tremor had made it’s way further, the shoulder that the other was hovering over shaking beneath the hand. But it hadn’t reached his voice yet, still light, still teasing… but Kid was forcing it by this time.

“If you want me to see it so badly, tantei, why not just show it? Wouldn’t want your effort to go to waste, after all~”

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba nearly choked on his own saliva as he heard the name. And now that he thought about it, they did look eerily similar… but now, no that was impossible. He smiled and gently shook the younger boys hand before nodding, tilting his head with a soft, welcoming smile. It was good that he was so good with kids, he’d often had to help plenty of them back home, and had learned a few tricks, like saying he was a detective, always made them go wide eyed with awe.

“Yes, I am.” He smiled. “My father is the superintendent general, so you can say it runs in the family.” He chuckled before getting to his feet. “How about I walk you home, okay?” He looked off to the side. “I’m actually on my way to meet up with a friend of mine who shares your name, though I’m sure he wont mind.”

The boy nodded at the offer to be walked home, though, he normally would have said he’d be fine on his own. He was still a bit happy at meeting a detective. They were cool, so long as they weren’t the type to ruin people’s fun. His father had told him that those types were critical of everything and liked to show off too much of what they knew, even what they said wasn’t welcome.

And then a slight head tilt.

“Someone with my name…? I think I would know if anyone around here did….” Kaito started walking off in the direction of his house, glancing back up at the other and raising an eyebrow. “Are they from London too?”

Even if it was a Japanese name, so was Hakuba. So that was more likely than him not having heard of someone with his name nearby.

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba swallowed, realizing that it could be taken either way. He shuddered, breath starting to come out in soft pants as the hand reached for his cheek and stopped right before the skin. All he would have to do was turn his head, lay his cheek in the others hand and this stupid game would be over, he didn’t even know why he was playing it, but no, he wasn’t going to give up now.

Instead he leaned up so his lips were just centimeters from the others ear and whispered: “You’ll have to find out yourself.”

This game was going to be the death of both of them, he was sure. Because he could feel the pain in his chest when Hakuba came close, when he could feel the breath on his ear, and the challenge in the words. He was not going to give in… but it was so, so tempting to do so right now.

“I’d be glad to…”

The thief shifted back enough that his face was directly over his detective’s, head tilted slightly so that their noses wouldn’t bump, lips directly over Hakuba’s.

“…if I could…”

He let out a soft breath onto the other. Though, while his face still looked composed, the arm by his side was beginning to shake from the desire to pull Hakuba in, hold him tight, kiss him. This… was probably too close… but also not close enough.

He just needed to hold back long enough until his detective gave in.

Fury

Fury: What is a word/phrase that you dread to hear?

“…No longer with us.”

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I admit, I haven;t been here for very long. I’m from London England, English. It was here when I got here a few months ago.” He smiled and then held out a hand. “Hakuba Saguru, Highschool Detective.”

Whoa! A foreigner and a detective! The young magician grinned at the other and took the proffered hand, eyes shining with awe.

“Kuroba Kaito… Are you really a detective?”

Other than Aoko’s dad, he’d only ever seen a few detectives, and usually they just spoke with his father. So he was a bit excited that he’d run into one at random…

Wait… months ago?

The smile soon turned into a frown of confusion. He knew that he hadn’t seen the bookstore before…. and for it to have been there at least that long….

Well, he’d just ask about it when he got home, he supposed…

britishhsdetectivehakuba:

Hakuba swallowed as he got closer and now he was starting to think this was a bad idea. He gripped his trench coat with his hands, but if the other moved to open it, he would let it drop. He still refused to look at him, ears turning red and adding to the blush on his face, it was slowly making it’s way to his neck as well. He knew as soon as the trench coat was removed he would be laughed at.

“Nothing.”

Kid stared for a few moments, but when it seemed like Hakuba wasn’t going to budge, he slowly straightened. The only things stopping him from going ahead and opening the coat was his own rule and his stubbornness at following it.

He let out a quiet sigh before bringing his hands up in front of himself, and started removing one of his gloves. Yes, a quite literal ‘the gloves were off’. And once one of them was, he tucked it away in a pocket before reaching across Hakuba to cup the air just a hairsbreadth away from the other’s cheek, a smirk beginning to play on his lips as he leaned in closer.

“…Is that supposed to be you saying I don’t get a hint… or is that the hint itself?~”