Chapter 1: Proof

This is a follow-up series to Spider Webs, focusing on Kaito's mental downwards spiral, as he tries to come to terms with what happened to him. Reading Spider Webs first would be ideal.

EDIT: This story has been heavily edited as of 12/2016. I went back, reread this and was horrified by my past self's rather bad portrayal of this situation. I was younger, and fairly inexperienced. And the type of attitude towards this sensitive topic was unacceptable. I apologize to past readers of the direction of this story, and I have edited it to better reflect my much more educated views on rape.

Warnings: Implied rape/noncon. Victim blaming.

Kuroba wasn't in school today.

Hakuba frowned as he stared at the door. Over an hour had passed, and there was still no sign of the magician bursting through the door.

He didn't know why but something about Kuroba made him uneasy. Since the day he transferred to Ekoda, he had noticed how the magician seemed to be constantly irritated and put on edge by his presence. But Hakuba did not know the reason why. Soon, he found himself to be the top victim of Kuroba's notorious pranks. They annoyed him to no end, yet he couldn't help but see the similarities between Kuroba and the Kaitou Kid.

That being said, Kuroba was similar to Kid in the sense that he was never late to anything without reason. Aoko had told him that Kuroba rarely got sick, so it was a surprise to see him absent.

He could tell Akako was worried too. The way her beautiful ruby eyes would show concern-He shook his head with a blush, and stared down at his desk. He should focus on the main problem here.

Kuroba could be sick, the Brit reasoned to himself but like Aoko had said, idiots don't get colds. But in his mind, Hakuba knew the prankster was far from idiotic.

There was also that minor detail about being trapped in an illusion during last night's heist. He was certain that Kid did not suddenly become a world class illusionist.

Spider.

He was there at the heist last night.

The task force had also been caught under the illusion. The group did not snap out of trance for an hour and a half. By that time, Kid was already gone.

Hakuba frowned as he looked at the magazine that was cleverly hidden between his textbook. It said that Spider's, or rather Gunter Von Goldberg II's next shows would be centered in Europe. But could the man be in Japan right now?

He rubbed his temples in irritation, glancing between the magazine and Kuroba's empty seat.

/

The detective looked up at the house uncertainly and glanced down at the hastily scribbled address he was holding. Aoko had a club meeting, so she readily agreed to give Hakuba the address when he mentioned bringing Kuroba his assignments for the day.

The house seems average. As normal as a house for a teenager would be. The gates were slightly ajar, making his senses stir.

He swallowed, giving the neighborhood a quick glance before pushing the gates wide open. He winced inwardly at the creaking sound it made.

Walking up the driveway, he studied his surroundings. The gravel on the road was kicked into disarray. The footprints on them looked deep and messy, as if the owner of the prints had dragged their feet and stumbled every step they took.

He reached the door and to his surprise, it was unlocked. His uneasiness grew as he went inside. Slipping off his shoes at the doorway, he walked into the foyer and glanced around. He didn't spot any blood, so there was some relief as he walked in deeper. He followed the trail of muddy footprints that led to the closet door.

He opened it, and stepped back with a soft gasp. Inside were Kid's white shoes. Kid's uniform was in Kuroba's house. His mind raced and he felt a smile subconsciously form on his face. One part of him was ecstatic about finding some proof that Kuroba was indeed Kaitou Kid. His eyes turned to gaze at the books that were littered across the floor, shoved off the askew shelf. His grin faded; another part of him was worried.

He had known Kuroba for only a few months, but he knew Kid would never leave parts of his costume around where people can find so easily.

Something was definitely wrong.

He closed the closet door, and headed in further. He passed the kitchen, the sink void of dishes, the trash can empty. He climbed up the stairs, and turned down the halls. It was already close to evening hours, yet not a single light was open. Kuroba's shoes were still sitting at the doorsteps; he was definitely home. Hakuba suddenly had a sick feeling, and he quickened his pace.

Entering a bedroom that could only belong to Kuroba, he took a deep breath, and looked around.

The room was messy; clothes littered the floor, the bed unmade. A cloth was hastily stapled to the wall, covering something large. He lifted the cover, and nearly jumped when still, purple eyes stared back. Kuroba Toichi, he vaguely remembered, letting go of the cloth. Kuroba idolized the man, why would he cover it?

"Kuroba...kun?" He whispered softly, and jumped when he heard muffled shuffling. He turned towards the direction of the sound.

A door leading to a personal bathroom.

He knocked on it hesitantly, and immediately opened the unlocked door when he received no answer.

"Kuroba-kun?" He gasped softly. The teen was sitting against the door, barely allowing the Brit to open it.

The detective squeezed pass the small crack, and turned to stare at the thief.

Kaito was wearing only a pair of sweatpants, a towel on his wet hair.

"Kuroba-kun, what the bloody hell..." He trailed off and knelt down beside him. He inhaled sharply, studying the dull eyes that seemed to stare beyond him.

"Kuroba, answer me." Hakuba dropped the honorific, and gently placed his hands on the teen's bare shoulders. The reaction was quick and violent. He immediately let go when Kuroba flinched. The magician blinked several times, looking around in confusion before settling his gaze on Hakuba.

"...Hakuba? What are you...how..."

"Are you hurt somewhere?" The detective demanded, and he scowled when Kaito didn't answer. He noticed that the other teen started to subtly move his arms behind his back.

Hakuba blinked and grabbed the thief's wrist before he could retreat completely. It was bandaged and trembling. He grabbed the other hand over Kuroba's protests, and his heart sank when he saw more bandages.

"Kuroba, don't tell me you-" Kuroba pulled his arm away before he could finish.

"No, I'm not." He growled defensively, glaring the detective straight in the eyes. Somehow, Hakuba didn't think he was lying about it either. But he wasn't going to drop the subject just yet.

"Then where did you get hurt?" The detective frowned, and started when he noticed the white gauze wrapped around Kaito's neck.

He reached out and tilted Kaito's head up, fingers rubbing at the redness surrounding the corner of eyes decorated with dark, bruising bags.

"God, what happened to you, Kuroba?" He whispered. And for a split second, he saw a panic he never thought he'd see in the Kaitou Kid, flash through his eyes before it disappeared. It was replaced with indignant ire.

"None of your business, detective." Kuroba slapped his hand away, and leaned back with a tired sigh. Hakuba kept staring before speaking again.

"It was Spider, wasn't it?"

The reaction he got was not what he expected. He had expected Kuroba to flinch, maybe even deny it. But he got more. So much more.

The magician's eyes widen significantly, and Hakuba saw unmitigated fear in them. Sheer terror that seemed to travel all the way to him, causing him to shiver. But Kuroba...Kuroba wasn't even trying to hide his emotions. His hands were trembling, his shoulders were quaking under an unseen burden. His fingers found their way to clench at his pants tightly. His blue-tinged lips were moving but no sounds came out. And Hakuba realized the magician was hyperventilating.

"Hey." He reached over again, pressing his hands against the towel on Kuroba's head, covering his ears. "Kuroba, listen to me. You're okay. You're fine here. This is your house. Your place. You're safe here. Deep breaths, come on."

"I-I have no clue what you're talking about-" Kuroba managed to gasp out, and Hakuba shook his head, shushing him.

"Calm down first. What's your name?"

"Ku...kuroba Kaito."

"Age?"

"Um, s-seventeen.."

"Who am I?"

"Hakuba..."

"You're safe."

"No I'm no-"

"Why not?"

Kuroba froze at the inquiry, blinking again. Hakuba watched the gears turn in the magician's eyes. He watched all the raw emotion bleed away, forcibly stuffed back into a tiny box by Kuroba's excessive stubbornness. But it was too late; Hakuba had seen everything. The feelings were no longer hidden. They were scratching against the floor, crawling out through every single crack in Kuroba's facade.

"Nothing," Kuroba's voice was completely flat, "I'm okay, it's nothing." He pushed Hakuba's hands away from his face, and the detective shivered at the feeling of ice cold fingers touching his.

"Stop lying." He hissed and moved closer. There was no way he was leaving it at this. Not when Kuroba reacted like that. "He did a number on you, didn't he? You're so shaken up that you can't even lie properly! Kid, what did he do?" The detective's voice grew into a shout as his anger got the best of him. He grabbed the thief again, barely noticing when the smaller body winced under his towering frame.

"I told you, I have no idea what you're talking about! Fuck off already!" Kaito demanded with a glare, and shoved the detective with his injured arms with more strength than he intended, causing Hakuba to fall back hard, and knocked over the hamper. His eyes widen as he watched the contents fall out onto the detective. Shit-

"Damn..." Hakuba cursed, rubbing his back tenderly, having bumped it against the bathtub edge. He blinked at Kuroba's shocked face, and glanced down at the heavy weight on his lap.

His eyes widened. Draped over his legs was a blue shirt, white jacket and slacks.

KID'S blue shirt, white jacket and slacks. Kid's uniform.

There was also a particular smell. Due to his career, Hakuba had trained himself to recognize many smells. His brain automatically supplied him with an answer.

Semen.

He wanted to vomit.

He looked up at Kuroba so quickly, he swore his neck made a snapping sound.

"Don't tell me that bastard-" Hakuba snarled, an ugly sound leaving his throat. He couldn't care less about the absolute proof of Kuroba being Kid in his hands. Spider had reached a whole new low on his list. What the actual fuck. There was-no fucking way would he- "Kuroba, did he rap-"

"NO-" Kaito yelled putting his hands to his ears, pulling at the towel. His eyes were flickering to look at anything but him. "He didn't. I mean-he..I was- it was my fau-no it...it..." His voice grew softer and softer as he argued back and forth with something Hakuba couldn't see. The detective's hands hovered over his shoulders, and he whispered calming exercises again until he heard the thief's breaths even out. After a brief moment of silence, Kaito leaned back against the door with a tired smile.

"You've won...Hakuba you fucking won." His voice returned to the same flat tone that sounded completely wrong. "You found my identity, you know everything. Will you stop nosing your business into this too?" The magician's voice cracked slightly at the end, and Hakuba felt sick.

"I'm not trying to-" Hakuba protested. His business? This wasn't just about Kaitou Kid anymore. This was something much more serious. Why couldn't he see that? He needed to get help for this.

"I'll give up."

Those words make Hakuba short-circuited, all his plans dissipating.

"W-what?"

"I said I'll give myself up...you have the proof in your arms...I can't lie out of this..." Kaito sighed and the towel on his head shifted a bit, covering his eyes.

The detective sat, watching the thief he thought was invincible, always grinning and laughing at the police, slowly break down in front of his eyes. This was all he ever wanted. A confession. But...he stared down at the filthy clothes, swallowing hard. He didn't want this.

He exhaled deeply and stood, dumping the dirtied clothes on the floor and stepped over it, moving towards the door.

He opened it, making Kaito shift away and look up at him questioningly. Hakuba took a deep breath and spoke.

"You may be an infuriating idiot but what Spider did to you was unforgivable. I will catch the bastard, and you better not fall to him. I'm the only one that can put you away. But," He paused and stared straight into Kuroba's eyes, "This is not something that can be swept under the rug." He hoped his tone converyed the utter seriousness of the situation. "So don't bottle it away and forget it ever happened." He saw Kuroba swallow loudly and continued, "I will let you off this time, and ONLY this time. Remember that. So please, please...don't go about this alone. Find some help, alright?"

With that, he left.

Kaito blinked again, and stared at the open bathroom door. Get...help...? But...he couldn't possibly do that...right? It was...it was his fault in the first place...yeah...he couldn't. He didn't deserve it. He nodded to himself, pulling his knees up to his chin.

He closed his eyes and began to laugh as tears ran down his face.

*Whispers* Help him