41: Budding Bromance

KID hadn't laughed or spoken the entire heist. In fact, Hakuba was sure he'd never even smiled, not even a fake one, as was his wont. He just appeared in all his white clad glory, set off some fireworks outside for his fans, and vanished in another cloud of faintly pink smoke.

It worried Saguru in a way he hadn't expected.

His goal had been so simple. Come to Japan and catch KID before anyone else.

When had he actually started worrying about the thief? Perhaps it wasn't even the thief at all, but the magician. That was something he'd only recently come to realize: the differences between the moonlight magician and his classroom counterpart.

Kaitou KID was flamboyant and suave, calm and collected, mysterious and intangible. Nothing could touch him, nothing could make him lose his humor, and nothing could stop him from achieving his goal unless there was something personal, something that bothered the teen under KID's charming façade.

Kuroba Kaito was fun and energetic, caring and compassionate, a prankster and clown. He loved making other people happy, but beneath all that… he was… fragile.

Hakuba had seen it.

Kaito was clingy and untrusting, he kept his cards close while making you think that you were the one holding them all. There was the devotion in his eyes when talking about his father, the selflessness when he went to any length necessary to make someone smile or forget their worries, and the way he never frowned or showed a negative emotion.

It carried into KID in some ways; the risks he took, the way he searched desperately for something when he obviously had no idea what he was looking for, and the ever-present rule that he wouldn't let anyone get hurt.

When Hakuba looked at it like that… it was obvious that KID was brittle and Kuroba was fragile as glass. Lonely, craving attention and affection, but unwilling to get close, hurting, but unwilling to let others worry for him….

If KID was silent and sad, Kuroba had to be many times worse to be letting it show through his alter ego.

That's why, with a sigh, Saguru turned toward the doors and left.

His heart felt heavy as he waded through the crowds calling KID's name, his feet felt like lead as he called a taxi, and he could feel the unyielding detective in him rebelling as he directed the driver to the Kuroba home.

The porch was lit, but the windows were dark, still Hakuba knew it had been plenty of time for KID to wrap up his show. There was no reason Kaito wouldn't be home this late at night… or early in the morning.

He walked up woodenly and rang the doorbell.

Kaito's exaggerated yawn when he answered was expected, his exasperated complaint at seeing the half-Brit's face was a given, the tired lines around his eyes from more than just lack of sleep was just more sad evidence, the way he favored his left side was worrying.

"Hakuba?" Kaito asked warily and Saguru realized he'd been standing there doing nothing for longer than was socially correct.

Brow furrowing, eyes softening, lips turning down, Hakuba moved forward. He ignored the way Kaito tensed at his proximity and carefully avoided whatever wound the messy-haired teen was trying to hide, and loosely wrapped his arms around the magician's shoulders.

"It's okay to lean on others every once in a while." Saguru said.

Kaito flinched.

"It's okay to be sad or scared. It's okay to cry. It's even okay not to talk about it." Hakuba tightened his arms minutely; patting Kaito's back gently, "but please… don't suffer alone." Saguru leaned back, meeting Kaito's glistening eyes, "if you need it, I'll be there even if it's just so it's not so quiet or lonely…."

Kaito sniffed, and pulled away, silently granting the detective permission to enter.

The doors closed behind them and the magician slumped, fingers barely putting pressure on Saguru's hand as Kaito moved them to the living room. Patiently, Saguru waited, listening in the darkness to Kaito's increasingly frequent sniffles. Sooner than he expected, hesitant arms moved to reinitiate the earlier hug. Slowly, the blond detective returned the embrace.

Carefully, so as not to spook the magician, Saguru combed his fingers through Kaito's unruly hair and guided his head to rest on his shoulder. "It's okay to cry." He whispered again, accepting that Kaito likely wouldn't tell him what was wrong.

Kaito's chest expanded with a shuddering breath and then his tears began to soak Hakuba's shirt as he sobbed with barely a murmur of sound and they sank onto the coach.

Saguru muttered reassurances and lightly scratched Kaito's back and scalp, letting the magician cling to him until his breathing slowed and he relaxed.

"Thank you." Kaito rasped, curling into Saguru's chest more as he unconsciously dropped into sleep.

Saguru exhaled in mild relief, "everyone needs a good cry once in a while." He explained softly, trying to discreetly position himself more comfortably. He grimaced slightly when he realized that Kaito was effectively pinning his legs in place with the way he was sprawled across his lap.

Sighing, Saguru relaxed into the couch cushions and moved his arm to cradle Kaito's head better. "And sometimes… all one needs is someone to hold them while they cry." He added dryly.

It was awkward and they'd be embarrassed as hell in the morning, but Saguru couldn't help but admit that he couldn't mind much as long as he helped his friend. His detective instincts went quiet. I'm not aiding a thief, he told himself, I'm aiding a friend.

…

"Hakuba!" Kaito yelped, falling off the couch with a crash.

Saguru yawned, stretching and rubbing his legs, which had fallen asleep at some point in the night. "And here I thought I was the detective" he groused in partially feigned annoyance.

Kaito gaped at him, looking no less ridiculous for the salty tear tracks on his cheeks from the night before.

Saguru stood gingerly. "It's good to see you are returning to your usual levels of dramatics, I'll make breakfast then shall I? You look like you could use a bit of time to freshen up."

Kaito pulled himself off the floor with a wince, flushing as soon as he remembered the reason for their sleeping arrangement. "I-I'm sorry! I was-sn't myself!" He stuttered, flicking his fingers nervously as though preparing to pull out a deck of cards or some other trick.

Hakuba huffed, shaking his head. He smiled mildly when Kaito finally met his eyes. "Kuroba…" Saguru shrugged, unsure of what to say he settled for, "it's okay. Isn't common courtesy? What happens in privacy stays private."

The magician searched his eyes for a moment before smiling slightly and nodding hesitantly, "okay."

Hakuba smirked, slapping Kaito lightly on the shoulder. "Right, now that we're in agreement… how about some food?"

~o0o~

Aoko raised one brow, "Hakuba-kun?" She asked slowly.

Saguru sighed, setting down his bento box and trying to twist to face her without dislodging the messy-haired class clown draped over his shoulders like an overgrown cat. "Yes Nakamori-san?"

Aoko tilted her head. "You guys are… getting along well", she said like it was a question.

Kaito grinned up at her, "I'm using him to satisfy all my carnal urges." He whispered with mischievous bravado and a conspiring wink.

Saguru groaned, "Kuroba, don't give people the wrong impression." He gave the inspector's daughter a disgruntled frown. "I take pity on him one time and he takes it as a free pass to infringe on my personal space!"

"There is no such thing as personal space when encouraging the potential for a budding romance!" Kaito whined.

"Romance?" Hakuba scoffed, "unlikely! And you're PDA is unappreciated."

"So you'd rather I show my affection in private?"

Hakuba scowled, "stop twisting my words! I was only extending an invitation for friendship, not for sexual harassment!"

Kaito flopped down to lay in the grass where he could see the detective's face, "but you even took me out for breakfast!" He baited.

"Only because I can't cook to save my life! And you, Kuroba, apparently have nothing but instant ramen!"

Kaito shrugged, "I haven't had a chance to go shopping recently."

Saguru snorted, "well you'd better soon, it's not healthy to-"

"So you are worried about me! How sweet Haku-chan!"

Aoko giggled, stopping the argument before it could continue to escalate. "You guys sound like an old married couple!" She laughed.

Suddenly Kaito was a good fifteen feet away and up a tree, both he and the detective bore identical looks of horror. "My god, she's right."

Hakuba groaned, "I blame you, Kuroba."

Kaito smiled sheepishly. "I'll just… tone down the teasing some…."

…

Five minutes later Kaito was draped over Saguru's back again, making a game of stealing his food just as he was getting it to his lips.

Saguru sighed.

Aoko smiled sneakily, "you know, Hakuba… if you really want to ward him off, Kaito's afrai-"

Kaito slapped his hand over her mouth. "Okay, okay! I'll let him eat in peace! No need to tell him about that!"

Saguru gave Aoko a grateful smile; somehow though… he felt that this is what friendship with Kaito was going to be like. Embarrassing in the extreme.

(It's so fluffy! Do you ever just have those moments where you feel like crying or you just really need a hug… yeah. I sort of thought that this is how Hakuba might become friends with Kaito; 1) realize he is an entirely human teenage boy, possibly with abandonment or neglect issues (after his dad died and his mom went traveling)… not just a phantom thief. 2) Choose Kaito over KID at some point. 3) Have Kaito test the boundaries of the friendship with teasing and excessive physical contact. 4) Finally becoming used to each other and the new friendship.)