Just something I wrote under blankets at 3 a.m. in the morning. P Like the summary says, on a summer night, our DC heroes do some serious thinking.Some angst here and there. R&R! Please?
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
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Once Upon A Night
The Sun Sets
The fading beams of sunlight glinted reddish off a monocle as Criminal 1412, otherwise known by the name of Kid stood overlooking Beika, one lean hand propped against the banisters of the balcony he was on, an antiquated pocketwatch in the other. Merely a dark shape silhouetted against the waning sky, he watched the sun laggardly slipped into its resting place beneath the houses neatly-laid below as if trying to prolong its stay in the sky.
Soon the twinkling stars would venture to peek out from the twilight dusk, filling the sky with their dreamy luminosity. The moon, a full and mysterious orb tonight, began to glide out of her cloud-hewn bower, shimmering faintly and casting veiled shadows upon the slim, white-clad figure.
In several minutes, Kid would be paying a visit to the Museum of International Arts. Before the great campanile in the middle of the city square struck twelve times, the Orion Star, renowned for its dazzling myriad of hues would no longer be resting in its place of honor on its velvet-and-silk casing, guarded by both the living and the latest technology. Instead, like so many others before it,it would find a new home in a lined pocket of a white tuxedo as its new owner soared off into the night, leaving cussing policemen and shrilling alarms in his wake like a well-planned finale grandiose to a theater musical.
But not yet. There was still time. These stolen moments, this calm before the impending storm belonged to someone more precious than the Orion Star and the rest of the jewels in the world put together, brighter than even the brightest star as he continued to gaze into the darkening skyline. He waited with a patience that knew no boundaries, not for the first time, he had done it so often it was a part of him. Occasionally, cobalt-blue eyes hidden behind the messy dark hair would flicker towards the pocket watch, glancing at its slender hands as they ticked on steadily. Not much longer to wait.
Now.
In a movement so smooth it flowed, so swift if one blinked one would miss it, Kid swung himself over the railing and up unto the rooftop. He stood motionless, his white cape billowing in the breeze that had picked up in the stillness as the cobalt gaze swept through the humming crowd below with hawk-like precision until they settled on a slender figure. Then the hard eyes softened, the harsh lines around them giving way to the ones created out of laughter, like they did so often in her presence. He had never questioned his uncanny ability to pick her out from the sea of faces surrounding her; it was one of those mysteries of the universe, acknowledged but not always understood.
Suddenly the blue gaze hardened as a blonde head weaved through the throng around her to whisper quietly into her ear. Whatever the words were, they carried an air of confidentiality that brought a delighted smile to her lips. Her soft laughter echoed through the streaked sky, reaching even his distant ear as a warm glow suffused her face. Behind the white tuxedo, a solemn oath of vengeance was sworn, whether with the flying mice or the spotted boxers he had yet to decide. For now all he could do was watch.
And perhaps shoot the occasional marble at his head.
It was satisfying to see the sober detective jump everytime a marble hit home.
Still, the somberness of his mood was too heavy to be so easily chased away by the simple childishness he enjoyed. Pensively, he reflected on the circumstances that kept him up here and her down there. That kept the invisible barrier between them intact.
Ah, a little voice within him taunted, but hadn't she break past them already?
Slowly but surely, she had seen through the façade he had used, albeit in quick glimpses and unaware moments. Her mop had swiped across a blurry surface only to eliminate carefully cultivated secrets and produce an opaque view through into the privacy that shrouded his entire life. She had peeked past the pranks and tricks to see Kaito.
Not Criminal 1412, not Kaito Kid, not even Kaito Kuroba, magician extraordinaire.
Just Kaito.
As his eyes followed her now, past the blinking lights hung up for the night, past the people unaware of the jewel in their midst, deep within his heart of hearts, he was made aware of one thing nestled safely within, hidden from the rest of the world.
He loved her.
Kaito Kuroba loved Nakamori Aoko.
A wry chuckle slipped past iron defenses at the thought of Hakuba's face if he ever heard this impromptu confession. It was a pity he would never get to see it.
For feelings such as these were best buried in the night that was stealthily creeping up on him, its stillness a temporary refuge from the rest of the world.
He allowed the darkness to envelope him, wrapping dusk around his shoulders as he breathed in deeply, relaxing in its embrace. A small smile played ruefully across his lips as he committed his thoughts to the slight breeze that fanned his cape open, a pure white streak against the darkening zenith.
He might never be able to tell her how he felt. He might go through life just watching her as she traced the footsteps of others before her (a slight snort escaped him; Aoko would likely create her own footpath before she followed any other) and settle down with another (or God forbid, Hakuba) without ever divulging his secrets to her.
Still, the world was full of wildcards. He was proof of that. A familiar grin reluctantly made itself known across the shadow-darkened visage. Kid's grin. 1412's grin.
Kaito Kuroba's grin.
Hakuba, truly you don't know how lucky you are, holding unto the hand of an angel.
Slowly, small figures detached themselves from the crowd to join the pair below. He recognized the witch before he was made completely aware of her presence. Another bespectacled person, Keiko, caught Aoko's other hand, penning her in laughter as she said something lost unto him.
Glancing again at his pocketwatch, he snapped it close with a quiet 'click'. He casted one last look at her, surrounded by happiness and security and friends. For a moment, his gaze was almost hungry, drinking in the sight of her like a starved soul.
Then, a smirk pulled at his lips, tugging it upwards into that which belonged only to Kid.
I leave you now, Nakamori Aoko, only to go visit your father and trample all over his carefully-planned strategies and leave him cursing at the night. Again and again. Until the day Pandora rests in the palms of my hands.
Until that day, I'll watch you from a distance, always supporting you as your rock in any storm you might face, forever behind you in everything you do, yet so far I am beyond your grasp.
Or am I? We will never know, you who push all the boundaries that bind us together to unimaginable lengths even I cannot begin to fathom.
Carelessly, he snatched the top hat off his head and essayed an exaggerated bow towards the small figure below. The moonlight caught him within in her idle fingers and beamed gently down unto the dark head bowed in acknowledgement to an equal.
He replaced the hat, smiling at his whimsy. Quietly, he saluted once, the light flashing of the monocle.
Then, he was gone, melted into the shimmering night, a fading white shape in the black horizon the only testament to his departure.
Below, in the streets, Aoko lifted her eyes up to the rooftop of one of the modest shops lining the lighted streets, puzzled. Was that flash of light just her imagination? She could've sworn a figure, clad all in white, had stood regarding them only seconds ago. Kaito Kid?
A nudge at her elbow broke her wandering thoughts. Turning, she saw Hakuba peering at her intently. What was he saying earlier? Right, English sheepdogs and their natural habits. Trying to look interested, she asked, "You were saying?"
"Nakamori-keibu just gave me a call. They are expecting Kid in a few hours."
She 'd known before the words spilled out from him; there was eager anticipation radiating from him and he practically hopped from foot to foot in barely contained impatience. Smiling, she wished him, "Good luck."
With a quickly-muttered thanks, Hakuba disappeared into the crowd. Aoko watched him go, pushing past passer-bys in his haste. Keiko's remark blew right past her. Kaito would have chased him, disturbing him all the way and enjoying it tremendously.
She wondered if he was alright.
He had been uncharacteristically subdued that day, quite unlike his usually hyper self. He had assured her everything was fine with but a ghost of his old smile, but she knew him too well. He had gone home early that day, refusing her invitation to take a stroll, claiming a bug. Still, she couldn't help but wonder.
Wherever he was, she hoped he knew a part of her was always with him. He would probably revert back to his usual bouncy self by tomorrow. Yet something inside her told her that she had but seen another facet of her friend, hidden behind the layers of mischief and light-heartedness.
That information she carefully stored up, unconsciously waiting for her childhood friend to recognize her as a woman, unaware that he already had.
And in the growing darkness, a faint figure sailed into the moon.