Detective Conan and Magic Kaito characters, settings, and ideas do not belong to me but to Aoyama Gōshō.

TMPD Antics

By Taliya

LXXX: Hattori and Hakuba

The sound of approaching footsteps alerted him to a visitor in the otherwise quieter afterhours of the office. "Hattori-kun," came Saguru's voice, and Heiji rolled his eyes at the intrusion. "Has Kudou-kun approached you regarding him?"

The emphasis on the "him" made it abundantly clear to the Osakan that whoever the half-Briton was referring to, he was important. He swiveled in his chair to face his visitor and asked quietly, "You referring to Kaitou KID?" The blond nodded, and the homicide detective was struck by how uncharacteristically serious the criminal affairs detective's demeanor was. "Yeah, Kudou's asked."

"And your response?" the blond questioned tersely.

"I'm in," Heiji answered immediately. When Saguru only continued to stare silently in query, he expounded, "KID's helped us out a few times despite being a complete pain in the ass. And it's my job to solve murders and prevent them, if possible." Here he raised a derisive brow at his visitor. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't help out?"

Saguru exhaled softly and marginally relaxed, and only then did Heiji realize how tense the half-Briton had been. "I admit the thought had crossed my mind, particularly after your… defeat at the heist targeting the daishou," he said as delicately as he could.

Heiji huffed in quiet laughter. "I'll freely admit I was rather overconfident when it came to facing him on my own for the first time, and I won't ever make that mistake again. But he's truly harmless in the grand scheme of things, and I'm not one to let anyone take another life."

The blond allowed a small smile of relief to curve his lips. "It relieves me to know that you're on his side," he admitted, and Heiji could hear the faint but well-hidden thread of fondness for the thief in his tone.

"Besides," Heiji added, leaning back into his chair, "He's too much fun not to have around."

Saguru grimaced slightly. "Somehow I believe your definition of fun and mine differ," he remarked as he swiveled on his heel and made for the central hallway. He paused before completely exiting and murmured, "And thanks, Hattori-kun," before he was gone.

Heiji chuckled and shook his head as he twisted back to face his desk. "That guy…" he sighed as he returned his attention to the cold case at hand.

Author's Note: A more peaceful moment between two opposite personalities, united by a common… not-enemy? I hope you enjoyed it.

Completed: 27.06.2016