Chapter Text
Its the day before Aoko's birthday, and Kaito's spent all month planning on how to make it her best one yet. He felt bad about having to miss the last one due to a heist, so he had to make this one great! Spectacular! It wasn't everyday your best friend turned eighteen.
Maybe he could throw in some of his doves too... would that be too much? Nah, he could-
"Ah, are you sure that you haven't seen it? Its a very distinct bronze."
Kaito turned his head up, then towards the voices.
"No, I'm very sorry Hakuba-kun. I'll ask around though!"
"Ah, you don't have to, but thank you."
Hakuba turned his head from Keiko, looking at his hands with an expression that Kaito was having difficulty reading. Disappointment? Guilt?
Wait, bronze? why did that ring a-
Kaito's pocket suddenly felt very, very heavy.
It wasn't his fault he had it! Hakuba (the bastard) had shown up to his heist yesterday and dropped it! He was planning on slipping it back in his bag when he wasn't looking at Kaito, but now Hakuba was asking around for it? What if somebody thought he stole it! He was an international thief, but that only extended to harmless pranks and possible Pandora's, not bracelets. But he couldn't do that now anyways. What if somebody saw him? What if Aoko saw him? What if Hakuba saw him?
The thought gave him the smallest amount of shivers. He turned back to his lunch, before choosing to go to the roof.
The door creaked much too loud for Kaito's liking, the rusty hinges complaining about being used for something as frivolous as working through one's thoughts. A quick glance, and Kaito quietly gave thanks for the fact nobody was around. Taking a seat on the A/C, he pulled out his phone and hesitantly shot Hakuba a text.
You: Hey. Think you dropped something up on the roof. Meet me up here? It looks like something you'd own.
{...}
A moment of waiting for the bubbles to respond, before he put his phone down. No need to read it, he knew the detective would be too intrigued by a message like that, especially when looking for something.
His eyes went back to the phone. Damn it he was curious though.
Hakubastard: I'm on my way up. Assuming its a bracelet your hands have found through purely normal means, I'll be glad to take it back.
Hakubastard: I'm also bringing your lunch. It's been left untouched.
Kaito scoffed, shoving his phone in his pocket, before taking the bracelet out with plenty more care to examine it. He eyed it lazily. Bronze plated silver, classic cable chain with a singular charm: a well polished turquoise held in a rose head setting, all put together with a simple toggle clasp. Not a bad piece, probably an older antique. He held it closer to his face to examine the turquoise. It was in well condition for the era it was from.
His eyes narrowed.
He lowered the bracelet, letting it rest in his palm instead. While Hakuba was usually one for high fashion, bronze wasn't really his color nor was blue. And Hakuba was the type of guy who was overly aware of what colors looked good or bad on him, so it couldn't be his. Hakuba tended towards golds anyways, with the little jewelry he owned in Japan being only on display at his house.
A shame really. He looked good in it. Maybe Kaito would disguise as him so the tabloids could see him in studded earrings, or a nice necklace. The bastard would get a kick out of that he's sure.
He shook his head empty as the door to the roof opened.
"Ah, Hakuba. Fancy seeing you here."
He heard the scoff, and smirked.
Hakuba moved to sit next to him, smoothing out his uniform trousers.
"So. The bracelet. Is it yours, Hakuba?"
He held the bracelet like it was an offensive item, wiggling it just enough under Hakuba's nose. The London detective narrowed his eyes at Kaito and his grin, before holding out his palm for the bracelet.
"I won't report your theft if you stop handling it like that, Kuroba."
Kaito's expression soured. "Just so you know, I didn't steal this. I found it on the floor last night, and was going to put it into your bag." He slipped the bracelet around Hakuba's wrist before leaning back, not caring for Hakuba's expression. "But then you had to go ask around for it. Can't return a lost item if people think I stole it."
He met Hakuba's gaze, noticing the disbelief on his face. "Oi, I'm telling the truth here. 'm not always a thief you know. It's not even my sort of jewelry anyways..." Kaito grumbled, crossing his arms. Honestly, he tries to do one good thing and nobody can believe him! Sure, he was a class clown, but he didn't deserve this sort of treatment! He could be nice. Sometimes.
"...Thank you, Kuroba."
He looked back at Hakuba. He was genuine? Huh.
"Don't mention it. seriously. Aoko would never let me live it down with how i normally act. Telling me 'Oh, Kaito, you have some nice genes in you' or 'bakaito should be nicer to Hakuba-kun anyways!.'" He gave a smirk. "She's clearly never met you."
"Ah, she's never met you either, then."
Kaito couldn't help the laugh from that. "Yeah, guess not. Anyways, who's that even for? Its not yours."
If Hakuba found the statement odd, he said nothing. Really, he knew Kaito well enough not to question. "It's for Aoko." Kaito's eyes narrowed. "For her birthday," he corrected, and Kaito relaxed slightly.
The two of them sat there for a moment, Kaito looking at the view while Hakuba did- something, he guessed.
"No further questions? Comments?"
"Shhh... I'm enjoying your mouth being shut for once Hakuba."
"Wh-" Hakuba gave a sigh, before handing Kaito his bento, and standing up. "You really should eat that, you know. You weigh little as it is, no harm would come of it."
"Oi!" He scowled at hakubastard again. "I'm perfectly fine. Why do you even care, anyways? Its just one lunch. I'm not even hungry."
He'd eaten a large meal after the heist at some ungodly hour of the night, and his appetite had dissipated significantly. It was what he normally did after a heist. Save the bento for the weekend, and he'd be hungry by dinner.
Of course, he couldn't just tell Hakuba that. While the detective had his suspicions, he had no evidence. And Kaito was very happy outside of jail, thank you very much.
Kaito turned to Hakuba, only to be met with an analytical gaze tinted with worry.
The hell?
He turned away, embarrassment creeping up his neck and ears. "Stop staring. People will think your oogling me or something. Imagine that."
Hakuba didn't grace him with a response, eyes still on Kaito. The flush on his face worsened.
"Seriously, are you oogling me? You've been staring for way too long..."
A few more seconds of self-conscious silence, before the gaze broke. Finally.
"Ah, apologies. You should eat though."
"And i told you, I'm not hungry."
"Have you had enough water?"
"Yes."
Kaito snapped the last part, glaring a Hakuba. Hakuba's eyes widened slightly, before returning to the 'I'm a detective and I'm deducing things' expression. Great. Just what he needed, Hakubastard deducing things about his eating habits of all things.
"I eat fine too, you can stop trying to figure out if I'm malnourished or not you know. Just ask Aoko. Her mom makes the lunches, and she makes dinners. I have. a healthy. diet."
Something about the way Hakuba was looking at him put him on edge in a way he really didn't like. Hopefully, he'd be satisfied with the leads Kaito fed him, and stop pestering him about all of this. It made him feel weird that Hakuba was actually paying attention to things like how much he ate. Not that Kaito didn't do the same, but at least his stalker-ish behavior had a purpose.
Hakuba took a step closer, the same expression on his face, before reaching out a hand a feeling his ribs."Wh- Oi! Bastard! What do you think your doing?!" Why was he doing this? Was he even concerned, or was this a way to get back at him? His heart was killing him from the panic, and he'd lost all composure, poker face discarded with his dignity.
"I'm seeing if i can feel your ribs. It's not something lewd, I assure you."
Kaito's face turned a bright red. "Wh-who said you were being lewd?! Your just touching me without any warning! Anybody would be caught off guard."
Hakuba seemed to not be content with just feeling through his shirt, and actually tried to reach under his shirt. His eyes widened, almost frozen. "Hakuba, what are you- stop!"
Too far, thanks. If he managed to see Kaito's Kid induced scars, that would be evidence enough. That, and the idea of Hakuba's hands on his side, feeling him-
Nope, stop stop stop!
He grabbed Hakuba's wrists, stopping them. He refused to look at Hakuba, instead grabbing his bento and going back to the stairs. Taking them two at a time at first, before giving up and just sliding along the railing, he had two thoughts.
One: Hakuba had *no* sense of boundaries.
Two: Maybe Kaito should have just slipped it back in his bag. Then he wouldn't have thought number three, of Hakuba's hands- Nope! Only two thoughts. No thanks. Not him. Not *anyone.* He was fine.
He needed to distract himself. Right, back to planning Aoko's birthday.
Right...
...If Hakuba hadn't stopped-
Aoko's. Birthday.
Nothing else.
~
Aoko's birthday performance had gone off without a hitch. In fact, it went so well that she even said she forgave him for last weeks debacle! Score! No more fish for Kaito! She had liked his show along with the rest of the guests, and liked his gift even more: A glass replica of the blue chrysanthemum he had given her last year. It sat proudly on display at her desk, making him feel giddy every time he glanced over at it.
She liked it she liked it she-
He gave a small giggle.
A lot of time and care had gone into making it with his mother. She had thought it romantic, but Kaito had quickly persuade her off the topic. Sure, he used to like her, but it had sort of- faded? It didn't mean that he couldn't get excited over her liking a gift he had quite literary put blood sweat and tears into learning how to make.
Not that he'd ever tell her it was handmade. No, too sweet. He'd never hear the end of it, just like the ice cream.
Realizing that maybe laughing without telling a joke was a little odd, he quieted, but not before a blond hair of head turned his way.
Hakuba.
Aoko had also really liked his gift, something that usually would have made him pout didn't. She had found it very pretty, even going so far to give a hug as thanks. Of course, it wasn't as good a hug as Kaito had received from his gift. So he was obviously the better gift giver. His held sentimental value, thank you-
"Ah, Kuroba. Enjoying the party?"
In the time that Kaito had lost himself in thought, Hakuba had found his way to Kaito with an eyebrow raised.
"Why wouldn't I be? Its my best friend's birthday, and she liked my gift."
He just- didn't have the mood for teasing Hakuba right now. Not when he was still riding the high of Aoko liking his gift this much.
"Besides, all my tricks went as planned! You didn't even try to explain them. And i thought you were a detective."
Well. Maybe he had some energy for teasing the guy. But it was the good spirited kind, the one with a wide smile. He noticed Hakuba's face soften into a smile that gave Kaito pause. He'd not seen that expression before. He tried to shrug it off.
"Ah, I saw no need." he reached to check his pocket watch, averting his gaze. "They were quite good tricks. You really went all out."
Kaito swallowed back the sweet feeling in his throat from the compliment, along with the need to coo over Hakuba complimenting him. Now was not the time to imitate birds, not with the bird nerd himself. He'd know what type of coo it was, and then Kaito would really die.
"Well of course I did. Had to make up for missing last years, and top my show! That's pretty tough to beat actually. But I did. Because of course I did."
"Yes, of course you did."
The soft expression on Hakuba's face grew, and Kaito was finding it very hard not to chirp. Extremely difficult. He was almost biting his tongue.
"Mhm."
He looked for Aoko, trying to find a convenient excuse to excuse himself and take a breather. Why was the guy making him so happy all of a sudden? Dumb Hakuba and his soft expression...
"Oh look, its Aoko! She's calling me over! Great talk, gotta have more, see you!"
He fought his way through the crowd in Aoko's direction, before making sure Hakuba's gaze was off of him before he made his way to the balcony.
The door shut behind him, and he let out a cacophony of delighted coo's that were lingering on the back of his throat, a grin still on his face. A few local doves flew up to the balcony, Kaito's noises a familiar call. He reached out to pet them, their soft feathers helping him get a grip on himself as they held a faux conversation.
One of them would give a friendly coo, and he would respond with one of his own, then another would give an excited one, or hop a little, and he'd mimic it, before giving another happy coo right back.
Eventually, he gave a sigh, resting his hand on the railings, the cold feeling grounding. One of the Doves landed in his hair with a soft noise, and he gave a laugh, before turning to his own thoughts.
Normally, he was fine around Hakuba. The guy got on his nerves, sure, but he was also sort of a nice guy. Even if he was an asshole trying to catch him. Which he was.
And it wasn't like he hadn't been excited before he'd shown up. His giddy laughing is what had drawn Hakuba towards him in the first place! But he hadn't been about to coo. That was something he rarely did unless something really good happened.
So why had Hakuba's compliment been the trigger for that- that feeling? That reaction? He was just his classmate. A classmate giving a compliment.
Nothing more.
The thought of Hakuba's hands came back with a violent force, and Kaito tried desperately to will it away. Classmate. Nothing more.
...
His hands had been so cold on Kaito's skin, and they had been searching. He wondered how they would feel tracing his collarbone, reaching along his shoulder blades, and-
He made a strangled noise, startling the doves (plural, it seemed he had become a roost) on his head. No! Bad Kaito, bad! You couldn't just- think about things like that. Not about Hakuba. Dangerous thoughts.
Very dangerous thoughts that a thief couldn't have. Not about a detective.
He gave a grumble, head cradled in his hands.
Somebody cleared their throat, and Kaito jumped with a squawk like noise. Scratch the 'like' part, he had just made a bird noise in regards to being startled. Great. This is why he hung out with the doves on his own. If anybody had heard him cooing earlier, he'd be-
"Kuroba?"
...Shit. Hakuba.
"...Yes?"
He turned his head tentatively, expecting a judging look. He swallowed a gulp of nerves as one of the doves landed on his hand.
Instead of the judging look, it seemed Hakuba was trying not to laugh.
Kaito scowled. "You don't have to laugh you know. Its your fault for creeping up on me when I'm with birds. Surly you of all people would understand that."
Hakuba took a breath, before smiling.
"No, that's not it. I just find the sight of half a dozen doves nestled in your hair while you appear to have a crisis amusing."
Kaito's eyes widened. "Wh- how long-" he tried to gain control of his face. "Were you just watching me? Jeez... they call me a stalker..."
Hakuba had the fond look on his face, and dammit why did Hakuba have to do that every time. He couldn't even escape to coo. Because he wanted to do that again. Seriously this guy had to have trained that expression as a way to make people spill what they didn't want to.
"Well, I followed you out here as soon as you left, so around-"
Kaito stiffened. "You what?" Ignoring the way his voice cracked near the end, this was bad. very bad. he'd just lost any reputation he'd had. Hakuba had watched him chirp. A lot. Way too much for somebody who wasn't too close to him.
And the guy knew a lot about birds, so it wasn't much of a stretch to think that Hakuba had known what type of noise he made. A positive coo. A pleased coo. The type of coo a dove gave when you handed them their favorite treats, like a watermelon. Or the type of coo they gave when you hit a particularly good spot while petting them, and the thought of Hakuba's hands returned full force again, their delicate-
"Kuroba?"
He looked up, trying to school his face into something nonchalant. "Yeah? "
Hakuba gave him a frown. The same frown he'd given on the rooftop before he had reached out and-
"You had been spacing out."
A pause, before he held a plate of food out to Kaito.
"have you slept well?"
And the concern came double fold like a steel chair to the head. Why did he care so much?
"Back with the topic of food again?"
He took the plate to avoid Hakuba's question, sticking the fork into the first he found and biting. Fruit. His eyes lit up a little. Maybe he wasn't so bad.
"Well, I did ask Aoko after our talk on the rooftop, and she repeated what you told me. So I'd like to apologize for, well...you know." He gave a pause. "Touching you."
"Its fine."
Kaito turned his head back to the plate, handing one of the doves a small part of the melon he had been eating. "You were concerned, I understand. But uh-"
His first thought was to ask for more. His second thought was that he needed to slam his own head into the wall for even thinking that. "Maybe warn me next time."
"right."
Hakuba moved to stand next to him, leaning against the railing and letting one of the doves perch on his open palm. Of course the doves liked him too, who wouldn't?
Kaito didn't. Obviously. Bastard detective.
They stayed in a sort of stalemate, Hakuba looking out to the street, and Kaito expecting another invasive question.
"You didn't answer my question about sleep, Kai- Kuroba."
Kaito blinked.
"Were you going to say Kaito?"
The Londoner gave a small cough, cheeks flushed pink. "Don't dodge the topic of sleep, Kuroba."
Kaito blinked for a second, fighting the disappointment creeping in his fingertips.
"I get enough."
Hakuba looked at him with the concerned look on his face again, and Kaito spoke without thought. "Last time you looked like that was when you tried to feel me down. You better not try to force me into a bed, or I'll-"
"Kuroba!"
Hakuba's entire face was pink now, and it wasn't due to the cold. Kaito only tilted his head, fighting another coo. Seeing Hakuba flustered was even worse on his heart than seeing his soft expression. If the guy combined both... well, Kaito may just stop fighting the need to make dove noises then. Or stop fighting at all. Hakuba could have told him to confess to being Kid and he would.
God, this mad had him hook line and sinker. How?
"I'm joking, calm down. But don't actually. That would be worse than feeling me down."
"I said i was sorry, didn't I?"
And oh.
Oh.
Kaito let out a coo at Hakuba's tone of voice. That man had no right to sound so pathetic, nor look like that when he did so. It was absolutely unfair. And then he realized what he did, and clasped his hand over his mouth in mortification.
Hakuba blinked, confused.
"Did- did I cause that one?"
Kaito wanted to hide. He wished he could slip off the balcony and run home and never attend school ever again. Do you think he could jump off the balcony and go home? Aoko would believe he overate sweets again and be fine without him, surely. A glance at the distance between his house and Aoko's. It wasn't too far, right? He'd jumped farther as Kid before, this couldn't be any worse a jump.
"Kuroba?"
He avoided eye contact.
"You are aware that that was a perch call-"
He swing around and jabbed a finger at Hakuba's chest. "Don't. Say. A word." He paused. "Please?" Nobody needed to know this had happened. Hakuba didn't need to know what had happened. Kaito wished he didn't know what had happened. Why had he made that call? Of all of them? Kill him now and make it swift.
To Kaito's surprise, Hakuba nodded, before grabbing Kaito's wrist and pushing away the finger still poking his sternum. "It's fine. I won't say anything."
"Good."
"... can I ask-"
"Nope."
A sigh. "Alright then."
They sat in silence again, before Kaito stopped leaning on the railing and shaking the birds out of his hair. He had been here way too long with Hakuba. Somebody had to be looking for him, right? It was due time for another card trick anyways.
"Welp," he strolled to the door, opening it before lingering. "Uh- have fun out here, I guess."
He shut the door, before instinctively locking it on the poor guy. He could manage until somebody found him, and it would give Kaito time to collect himself from- that.
There was a muffled shout that gave Kaito a smirk, before a sigh. Then, the sound of metal on metal hit his ears. He spared a glance, seeing Hakuba fiddling with a lock-pick set.
Kaito's heart jumped. Did Hakuba carry lockpicks just because of him?
No. Nope. It just was a practical thing. He got himself in danger too much not to have precautions like that.
He gave a sigh.
Hakuba was back inside in five minutes (amateur time. Kaito could have done it a lot quicker.) but made no move to talk to Kaito after that. Good. In fact, he made himself scarce around Kaito for the rest of the party, which admittedly hurt a little, but it was better that way.
So why did he want Hakuba to look at him again?