I want to upload stuff that are not important, not fancy, and maybe remind myself I can upload my brain half-formed ideas oneday without haing to worry about them being polished.
for today here is a kitty
It was another day in the Poirot Cafe, this time the employees had a helping hand in the form of a shrunken teen detective.
Amuro Tooru and Azusa Enomoto were tasked with the duty to keep an eye on one grounded Conan Edogawa, as both Kogoro Mouri and Ran Mouri were out of town for a couple of days during the holidays. One for an adultery case and the other for an extensive training camp.
The reason for grounding? Getting in the way of a case and pissing off the client with his queries.
The two employees didn't mind their temporary charge, as he was both behaving and helping out with the random errands around the shop. And when left alone, he'd retreat to his corner seat and quietly read the new volume of 'Detective Samonji".
The business was slow, unsurprising being neither the breakfast nor lunch hours. Amuro was cleaning the surfaces when the doorbell chimes, indicated the arrival of a new customer.
"Welcome to Poirot Caffe " Â always quick to the service, Amuro was ready to tend to the newcomer with a pleasant smile on.
"Hello, a table for one, Â please?" Â His voice had a hint of an accent to it, the occupants of the room couldn't help but notice.
"This way, sir ". Amuro led him
Conan's detective instincts and curious nature had him looking up from his book, already feeling a sense of familiarity by the sound of that one line.
The newcomer was a tall blond half-foreign looking young man in a casual suit and a suitcase. Â "Ah"
"Oh" in the silence of the empty cafe, it wasn't hard for the young man to hear that soft sound of recognition. Considering that the little boy was more or less right in front of him, it didn't take more than a quick glance to pinpoint him, and in return recognize him as well. After all, there aren't a lot of kids that can leave a greater impression than the one Conan did on people. "Hello, Edogawa-Kun, it's been a while "
"..." Conan was a little out of it, unable to answer he ended up staring a little bit longer than necessary on Hakuba Saguru's pleasant smile. The blond raised an eyebrow questioningly still keeping the polite smile as strong as it was.
"Something wrong?" He asked when the standstill staring lasted too long. A pale hand raised towards his face in a self-conscious act, wondering if there was something on to cause the boy to stare so.
Amuro, who stayed quiet during the exchanged, found an opportunity to intervene, adding with an amused smile. " Friends? Don't worry there is nothing wrong, it's probably just the meds effect. He's been languid all day." The tanned man then changed course and instead of the double seated table he had in mind, he opted to take the blond toward the corner table Conan was currently seated at. " How about here, then?"
"Ah No, it's okay, no need. I'm sure his companions would not be pleased by the sudden intrusion." Â Hakuba was quick to dismiss the idea.
"Hmm, but Conan is here on his own." his smile increasing in walts " I'm sure he'll appreciate the company of a familiar face once he's ... " he glanced back affectionately at the elementary boy. " Â more aware."
" If that's the case then, excuse me." The blond finally compiled, sitting down across from the bespectacled boy with the same kind of respect and manner he'd show an older stranger.
Amuro was enjoying the entertainment of watching the stranger act self-aware as he went to retrieve the menu and a cup of water. Â
He straightened his suit jacket first once he settled, he then gave a quick brush to his wavy thick hair by his hand. Then little lull of silence came as he sat straight, with his hands clasped right in front of him in a business manner. Â Eyes darting everywhere but never catching the boy's blue eyed hard silent stare that he was still pointing at him.
"Hmm..." he swallowed finally, addressing the boy again. " H-How are you?"
Conan was still unresponsive, clutching his book closely as he leaned on it as he stared.
'Snap' Amuro snapped his fingers right in front of the boy's face. "Conan-kun, He's talking to you," he said as he placed the menu in front of the blond.
"Blue as the color of the sky in a clear day, with a touch of silver reminiscing the clouds on the verge of rain.."
"..." Â Conan's sudden outburst of poetic description left the two speechless. Â "What?" Â Amuro asked
".." he simply pointed at Hakuba's face.
"Huh?" Hakuba touched his face frantically, then looked behind him in search for a sense to the boy's words.
"Oh, he means your eyes" the adult laughed good-heartedly at the teen's discomfort.
"What?" The blond's confusion and weirded out scared facial expression was just too much for the employee to handle. Â Causing him to double over in laughter.
Once the blond brain managed to decode whatever the tanned man said, his face exploded in an extreme blush.
Seeing that didn't help Amuro with his laughter at all.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, looking at the boy in front of him now with worry he asked " Is he okay? What kind of medication did he take?"
The serious tone managed to ground the employee back to the conversation at hand. "They should've been your normal flu meds, nothing too serious." He stood up back to full height, with a worried expression of his own he continued " but perhaps they don't agree with him too well, that's the most subdued and random I've seen Conan in since I met him."
The employee then went back to behind the counter, rummaging through cartoon boxes by the sound of it, perhaps in search of the medicine given to Conan Hakuba thought to himself.
He looked back at the boy in front of him, who was now looking at him with half-lidded eyes. "It seems he's ready to fall asleep" He called out to the tanned man.
"On it, in the meantime, don't forget to decide on an order" the man winked at him all good natured.
Hakuba spared a last glance to the man retreating to the back room as he read the back of a pharmaceutical bottle, Seems like he found itbefore he finally forced himself to ignore the boy's gaze, in favor of studying the menu.
âââââââââ
The rest of his stay was more or less quiet, with a cup of Earl Grey tea and Amuro-sanâs Speciality sandwiches.
Conan, on the other hand, was fitfully asleep in front of the Brit-Jap, wrapped in a soft blanket and a fluffy pillow courtesy of the Barista.
Hakuba was a tad bit disappointed that that is how his reunion with Edogawa Conan ended up.
Just as he asked for the bill, did the young boy woke up. The sleep still in his eyes, but his eyes lit in recognition when he caught Hakubaâs gaze.
âOh, Hakuba-san... Helloâ
He couldnât help the chuckle to be let loose from him, it just figures that Conan would wake up when he needs to leave. It has nothing to do with the adorable bed hair, nope not at all. âHello, Edogawa-kun, hope you are dealing better now.â
âThat was rude of me, sorry â a faint flush colored his cheeks.
âNot at all, when sick one must take good rest.â Hakuba tried to reassure the embarrassed child.
â.... Well that, but tell me Hakuba-san, what have you been up to lately?â
Hakuba gave him a smile as he apologized. âI would love to stay and chat, but alas, I must be on my way now.â
âOh, of course..â no matter what anyone says, Hakuba is not thinking of just how adorable that disappointed face with the messy hair that is otherwise spotless. âI Know!! My school has a sports Festival next Friday, how about you come by?â
â...â Well that came out of the left field. â Wonât I be  intruding?â
âNot at all, Uncle and Ran-neechan well be busy. So how about it would you let me make it up for my rudeness and we can continue this conversation.â
What can one say that challenging look? âOf course, will be my pleasure.â
âDeal then!â
Hakuba has no idea what he had in store for next Friday, but he knows that that triumphant glint in his eyes is worth them to be canceled. School be damned.
They exchange contacts and bid each other farewell.
âTill Friday thenâ
âSee ya Friday!â
âââââââââââ
Friday Hakuba forgoes going to school altogether, dreading Kuroba Kaito and his pranks, in favor of extra sleep and attending Conan's match.
His great interest in the boy was no real surprise for the blond, after all, it was clear from the start how greatly talented he is. He just never got the chance to meet him outside of a case before, while lucid.
What did surprise him, was the observation that he was taking extra effort to dress well, even though he wonât be meeting anyone but Edogawa-kun. He filed that fact to the back of his mind for the moment and made his way to Teitan's Elementary...
It didn't take long to find the little sleuth, as the soccer game has attracted quite the crowd. And for a just reason too! Edogawa Conan was a little star, someone out of the little league or it's higher up. His own maneuvers were national level, and his leading skills were even better. He guided his team of average to amateur level skills to be in the right place at the right time, making their goals that much easier and much more in number. The matches attracted attention from professional little league talent hunters.
Class 1B won against all the other teams, till they lost against the 6th grader. Regardless of Edogawa's skills, he canât keep winning on his own.
All in all, a kidâs championship it may have been, but Hakuba found himself well entertained.
He awaited the Soccerâs Headhunters to finish interviewing the little sleuth before he made his way towards him.
âWell, that was an amazing Play! Tell me, how does being the Hero of your team feels?â
âHakuba-san! Itâs great that you made it, did you skip class for  me?â
âSkipping one day of high school wonât even be noticed. I was bound to be bored out of my mind, this was a better use of my time.â
âOh my, Iâm flattered!
Conan's smile just increased in brilliance/voltage " So, how did you find the games?" He hopped backward in front of the teen.
" Brilliant! Your play was amazing !" Hakuba wasn't exaggerating, he truly thought the boy could easily become a pro. " are you in any club? Besides the schools' soccer club I mean "
" I'm not in it. " the boy answered neutrally
" what .. You aren't? How come ?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders. " Ayumi and the guys caught me before I could think about applying, that's all "
The blond assumed he's talking about the group of children that stuck to him like glue. Ayumi was probably one of the two girls, and he's putting his money on the little brunette over that colder sherry blonde. "So what club did they drag you to?"
"The Detective Boys / Shounen Tantei Dan" Â
âNow that you mention it, you guys were at the Kirinâs Horn Heist, werenât you?â Hakuba recalled âwas the DB club your first exposure to the mystery" though Hakuba would bite his hat off if that really was the first.
" Haha no ! It was more of a family exposure" Conan replied offhandedly
"Your father's a detective too? " If Hakuba remembers a previous conversation with Mouri Ran, he 's positive that it was hinted somewhere along the lines that Edogawa Conan had been under their supervision for less than half a year prior.
" Hm, no. But I am Kudou Shinichi 's relative"
"Right... Wait, so how do you relate to the Mouri's? "
" I don't " he simply answered, "I was supposed to be under Shinichi-niichan's care, but..."
"He disappeared and you went with his family's friends, the Mouri, close by neighbors to add?"
"That's pretty much it !" He turns back to him, throws him another smile, and turns back to looking ahead. This time slowing the pace to be right next to Hakuba. "I don't mind walking aimlessly, but there is nothing to see here in school. Would you rather continue this in the neighboring park? If you are free that is"
"What of school? Shouldn't you head back ?" Hakuba glanced back towards the group of teachers they left behind as he glanced at the gate they were making there way too.
"No, it just mundane activities till the end of the day, I'd rather not participate in." He skipped the remaining couple feet towards 'freedom'. "There isn't any form of attendance so don't worry about that, I deserve a little delinquency leeway. Don't I ?" Conan tilted his head as he waited for Hakuba past the gate.
Hakuba chuckled "And what does the little delinquent captain and hero of class 1B soccer team want to do?"
They resumed walking side-by-side. Conan took a deep breath " I want, hmm, what do I want " he looked around, spotting a mini pancake parlor. " I want to get to know you over a mini pancake, what would you say to that, my dear Sherlock? "
"Haha! What's with you today, practicing your pickup lines on me ?" He was worried he'd offend the young sleuth if he were to mention just how cute he's being.
"I am sounding quite weird aren't I? Perhaps it's the adrenaline still pumping, for  I feel all hyper ." He laughed, the whole time switching between speeding in front,  walking backward facing the teen, and returning to his side.
"After a day filled with consecutive series of games, it is to be expected. Mini pancake it is then, but won't you prefer a proper lunch? I hardly imagine you had time for a snack even."
He shook his head 'no' vehemently. "I'm good! This way I'll have space for more junk as we go along. I do hope I'm not being very rude or persistent against your comfort, or anything like that."
"Don't worry, you aren't, I'm enjoying myself too. Perhaps, a tad bit too much when we've yet to pass the thirty-minute mark." Hakuba jested.
There was a pause in their conversation as they ordered their fill of Nutella covered pancakes. Switching to the topic of chocolate, its origins and its derivatives as they walked leisurely. Eventually jumping from topic to topic, at some point they got to their favorite fictional sleuth and they were in their own little haven of nerdy arguments.
And thus, six hours later and the sun started to set, and only the fact that it was getting dark made the two notice they were long past overdue returning back home. Â
"Well, time went by rather quickly..." Hakuba surprised by the revelation.
"That's too bad, and here we were having so much fun" Conan's tone dropped in disappointment. "Hakuba-niican lives nearby ?"
"In Ekoda, you?"
"Beika, quite nearby in fact; so I'm fine from here on my own. Though do you know the area well enough, or would you like me to walk you to the station from here?" Conan offered with the manners of an adult, to the point it took Hakuba a good minute or two to remind himself of the boy's age.
"No, I'll be fine. Regardless, I'll walk you back. To the Mouri's?" Â He stated, not giving a chance for himself to get swept by the boy's momentum.
"Hmm," the boy pouted but didn't insist. "Then shall we? The east exit would be our best option." He pointed out.
xXx
Edogawa-kun was scolded for not reporting his whereabouts, but Mouri-San was appeased and perhaps a little embarrassed for not noticing him before the bout of screaming when Hakuba took the blame.
All in all a day with Edogawa Conan proved to be quite entertaining. He found a kindred soul in the young child. Â And couldnât help the wide grin stretching his face. He doesnât think anything Kuroba can do could put him down from his current high. But better not challenge his luck. He hopes the prankster is too busy to come after him.
Hakuba canât wait to have another not-date with the young child again
And no, he totally isnât thinking how much of an actual date that day was. It wasnât... as long as he tells himself that, then he isnât breaking any moral code.
â How can Hattori-keiji handle this? Iâd have slapped her ages ago, such a pushover!"
That was a common comment to hear when a certain cherry blond child of about 11 years old shows up around Beika police station.
âArenât you exaggerating? Iâm sure itâs just because Hattori is so good with kidsâ
Hakuba Saguru, who otherwise would be adamant to say a single positive thing about his Osakan counterpart, canât help but admit to himself that Hattori is being unjustly criticized by a lot of people for an otherwise rather admirable trait he himself admits of envying him for.
After College, these two High School detectives became police officers. Within this time, Hakuba Saguru had taken over Kudo Shinichiâs title of Detective of the East as he settled down in Japan, not to Hattori liking of course, but the media didnât take anyoneâs opinion.
As for Kudou Shinichi, no one knows anything about him, the rumors of him popping up randomly had died down. The general public think heâs dead, MIA or whichever floated the News-Anchorâs boat at the moment of discussion. Â The Kudoâs themselves bypass the questions when they, on rare occasions, get caught by a journalist during a book publishing. And even the Mouri's aren't sure of his whereabouts, nor does he call them anymore, or at least that's what Mouri Ran says.
Hattori Heiji, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be bothered about it. He still slips the name Kudo every now and then, but people had started associating that name out of his mouth to Edogawa Conan, as they see him calling the boy that quite often. They wrote it off for boy's close resemblance and blood relationship to the once Ex-Detectives of the East.
Speaking of the child prodigy, he is also a cause of distressing rumors and criticism towards Hattori. Â These ones are of a nastier kind... Humans really are double-faced. They sure don't say anything but nice things to his face and when an Osakan police officer is around, in fear of being tattle-taled on to one Hattori Heizo.
âAre you for real, Hakuba-keiji? That child is in need of some serious disciplining. He's just making it worse with the way he is spoiling her rotten."
The gossip circle sneered in unison.
To be fair, that is how it looks. Hakuba was never close to either the child nor Heiji, but he had seen her often nowadays, and he did notice. He notices how she's always so closed off and antisocial when it comes to the majority of anyone other than the Osakan. he did notice how she tries to hide her paranoia, and he did notice how she has an off-looking guilty demeanor when she thinks no one is looking. He is a detective after all , a one interested with the human psyche nonetheless.
He gave up on trying to calm these petty minded colleagues of his, he left them he. Â They were just waiting on the smallest of things to hold against Hattori. They were crazy jealous of him for one-upping them even though he is but a newcomer to the field, officially speaking.
He turned his attention back to the child. She was reprimanding Hattori for a reckless move he had done resulted in multiple injuries. That would have been adorable, but her method .... it was harsh, if not a little impolite.. alright very impolite and rude considering the age difference.
And that sitting posture definitely does not help her causeâŚ
Hakuba ponders interrupting them, maybe give an advice or two⌠-At the end of the day, it is Hattori after all, there is a high possibility he simply did not notice their colleagues judgment. And the girl could just be unaware since no one bothers dares to talk to her.
the decision was taken out of his hand when she all but gives a kick to the cast of his arm, causing a loud yelp to catch the attention of everyone around. He seriously needed to get there first or else damage control -from his colleagues rather than the bodily harm of the Detective.
âHey! Haibara-chan! That might have been a joke on your side, any other day  Hattori-kun here would have been able to take it. But just because his arm is cast, doesnât mean that he wouldnât feel any pain from your kick just now. Or worse, his fracture may not heal well. Iâm sure you wouldnât really want that, arenât I right?â Hakuba put on the most patronizing smile he could muster in hopes of showing his non-hostility regardless of the scolding he just gave. He admits, he never knew how to deal with children, never was good at it like Hattori or Kuroba.
ââŚâ Hattori and the child just stared at him foa whilele as if he was the one who sprouted a second head. He really hoped the child took his words seriously, and it seemed so when she took one long look back at the cast. Then caught Hattoriâs eye then looked back at his before.. âOUCH!â
She kicked Hattoriâs arm a second time while keeping her eyes locked at Hakuba, daring him to do something about it.
This time it was another colleague who came rushing in with a scolding of his own. Demanding to talk to her parents to give them a piece of his mind.
The girl didnât spare the colleague any look instead. âYou hear  loser of a Police Detective, youâve got the whole office worrying over your fragile ass.  Is that really conduct befit of a Police offer? How are the citizens supposed to trust you with their safety?â
Then when the complete poise of a young lady she simply stands and walks out of the office evading any attempts at âdiscipliningâ from the enraged police.
The moment her presence was far enough, the loud complains started. All the animosity towards a child from a bunch of adults working the law enforcing field really is disconcerting âŚ
And the man in question just walks up and heads out from the office.
Now Hakuba and Hattori may not have been on friendly terms, but it was only gentlemanly to check on the injured.
âHattori-kun! Those arms needs to be checked!â He called after him.
âAnd where do you think Iâm going exactly?â Thatâs true, they were heading towards the infirmary.
The doctor greeted them wondering over their visit. âNeed pain killers for that Hattori-keiji?â
âNothing like that, I need a saw.â
Well, that was extremeâŚ
âExcuse me?â Was the only thing the flabbergasted doctor says. âIs there anything wrong with the cast that âIâ applied?â
Canât blame him.. that did sound like Hattori is questioning the Doctorâs skills.
âYeah, in fact -â
âHE WAS KICKED!â Hakuba just had to step in, he really didnât want to know what the Osakan planning to say next. âTWICE!â The hot-blooded detective has a record for being just that uncouth. âI believe it might need to check, he encountered an.. incident. And the cast had taken quiet the damage. Doctor, please take a look at it.â
âAh that wonât be necessary, Iâll just go the hospital and get it don ââ
âAh! Were you in that much pain Hattori-kun! You should have just said that, here weâll go right away! Sorry, Sensei for bothering you! Weâll be taking our leave right away! Have a good day!â And before the poor doctor could even react they were out of the door and out of the whole building buckled up in Hakubaâs car.
âHey ! What was that all about !? I couldâve got the cast removed first, that way Iâd have less explaining to do when I reach the hospitalâ
âHey! What was that all about ?! Should be My line! Gosh, Hattori-kun do you even realize the position you are in? Antagonizing the HQâs only Doctor wonât make it any better!!â
âMy position? Iâm a Police Detective?â Hakuba couldnât believe it ⌠Hattori really had zero awareness over his surroundings
â⌠Hattori-kun, please listen carefully.â He waited for the roar of the engine to quite down before starting their trip to the hospital. âNumber one; People here think you only made it due to connection, because of your Father the Superintendent Supervisor Hattori Heizo.â
âIn that front, we are not too different from each other. Right, Mr the Son of Superintendent General fo the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?â There was no lack of sass added to that long title.
âNumber two; they are jealous of you and your unmatched skills.â
âWow, is that a declaration of defeat? That I am your superiorâ Oh boy, the Osakan sure is enjoying this.
âDonât get your head in the clouds just yet, I never mentioned anything about you being my superior in anything. Â But I was talking for the Other people's point of view anyway. Your skills sure are all rounded for a Police Detective, from your not half bad deduction skills to your physical ability to catch any runaway criminals. Even I have to give praise where praise is needed.â
ââŚWow! Is the earth about to end? To get Praised by You â
â Number Three!â He tried to ignore the suspicious looks Hattori is throwing his way. âThose uncouth rumors getting around about your questionable taste. Donât get me wrong, as long as no illegal behavior is going on I believe everyone has the right and freedom to love who they want. After all the maters of heart are not so easily controlled, but actions are!â
ââŚ. what? Wait? What are you talking about ? âillegal behaviorâ â freedom to loveâ âmaters of heartâ? What is this about? And how did we get here from my skills as a detective?â
ââŚâ Hakuba steals a quick look at him before returning his focus completely to the road ahead. âYou ⌠you really donât know? There is no need to play dumb in front of me. After all I just told you Iâm not gonna judge you .. as long as there is nothing against the law âŚâ
âWhat the fuck are you talking about to stuck up brit?! If you got something to say just say it clearly !!!â Oh, it seems Hattori really doesnât know what rumors are flowing around him.
âPeople think youâre carrying a torch for childrenâŚâ .... âEdogawa Conan to name one..â
ââŚ.â Hattori really never caught any wind of those rumors. Wow, being that oblivious is gotta be a talent unparalleled.
âHUH! To name ONE? What the heck does that mean ?????!!!â Hattori launched himself on the blond, grabbing him by his collar.
âHey! Iâm driving !â
âWhat they fuck you mean!!! Explain yourself!!!â
âI will I will, just donât get us in an accident!â Reluctantly Hattori removed his hands and sat back in his seat.
âWell? Go on !â
âYour friendly attitude towards the Detective Boys, and overall familiarity, gives people around an unfathomable opinion..â
âTHEY THINK IâM A PEDO ???â Â
âWell I was trying to be tactful with saying itâŚâ
âWhat ⌠just because Iâm friends with them ???â
â You see Hattori-kun, people donât tend to be âFriendsâ with a whole bunch of kids half their age. That of its own gives people the ammunition to fire at you with nasty rumors.â
âAnd what is this about Ku-Conan-kun??â
âThat, right there. For one reason or another, Â youâve taken to calling by a name not his. And the way you try to -poorly- hide it, makes it sound like a secret between the two of you,â Hakuba paused here to make sure the other is listening. Â âlike a pet name.â
âHuh, and? What about it?â By that look on his face doesnât seem he understood what Hakuba was trying to say.
âReally? Then letâs add the undisguised enthusiasm you greet him with every single time he shows up. The catering to his every need. The complete disregard to any one else in the vicinity when heâs around. The 100 % focus zoned on his existence alone and the way the two of you seem to be able to have complete conversation with uttering a single word. Or the silent meaningful looks and an apparent shared secret sign language between the two of you.â Hakuba glares at him from the edge of his eyes. âDo you get where Iâm getting at.â
ââŚSo? Weâre good friends, best friends even. How does that translate to Pedophilia?â
âHattori ! Are you being dense are just trying to make me boil!â By now the two have reached the hospital and parked. But neither made a move to get out of the car, too engrossed by the conversation. âIf he was someone around our age, then Perhaps people would buy that. Though even then, the likelihood of claiming then the two you to be lovers would still be very high. So imagine how that looks when he is HALF your age!!
ââŚ. So what? Just because he barely reaches my waist Iâm supposed to treat him⌠how exactly? For it to be âproperâ in the eyes of the public?â
âFirst, you definitely to put distance between the two of you! There is just too much skinship involved between the two of you to be considered legal. Second, there should be rules and not let him talk so casually to you. You two are just way too familiar with each other. I bet that Edogawa is not at fault, but with your lead, heâs been dragged in the middle this mess by you. Third, show some restraint, donât let your heart show on your face for the whole world to see. Even if Edogawa-kun is some you love so dearly, you shouldnât let the world see it!â ⌠Well there it is, he said it all. Hakuba can only take deep breaths as he waits for Hattori-kunâs retort.
Hattori just stares at him in astonishment. After 30.05 seconds pass , yes Hakuba counted, he collapses into his seat and stares into nothing in front of him.
One last thing to add. âItâs not just Edogawa-kun you have to watch your attitude around. Â Haibara-chan as well, no one would just allow a kid to disrespect them that much in public. She was sitting with her legs on your desk, hound as though she was your elder. And the way you let her get away with it every time, without a single reprimand, on the opposite encouraging her but laughing along. That's just adding fuel to the âPedophilicâ fire.â
ââŚâ Understandably Hattori seems to be in quite the shock taking it all in, he still has to move. âPlease understand, Hattori-kun, Regardless of our not so friendly history, I donât really hold any animosity towards you. It hurts me to see someone as capable as you being roasted for such things.â
âAnd you ?â
âExcuse me?â Hakuba wasnât expecting that as a possible reply.â
â believe everyone has the right and freedom to loveâ What do you think? You also think Iâm a Pedo?â He turned to meet his gaze intensely.
â ⌠I ..â
âSo you doâŚâ
âLook! I understand the appeal.â Hakuba finally said.  âEdogawa-kun  is quite charming, regardless of his age, he has a sharp mind. And he is quite a capable young lad. Very charismatic, and definitely on the appealing side. Strong and dependable. Iâd imagine as he is right now he is very popular, I cannot fathom how that will be in a couple of years. So I do not believe you are a Pedophilic, Hattori-kun, but I can understand how Edogawa-kun could be an exception. So, no I donât judge you for that-â
Before he was able to even finish his sentence he was pushed against his seat with a lion pouncing on him. Hattori-kun this time had a murderious look to him as he grabbed his collar with both fists and ..chocked -cause there is just no other way to say it- him, his face thrusted to Hakubaâs.
â.. It sounds to me like YOU might be the one holding a torch for him. Hakubaâ how the hell did he reach to that conclusion? Â âI promise you this, if you touch him! No, Â you dare LOOK at him with anything less than clean Buddhistic thoughts, Iâll gauge your eyes out, and then your balls. Â You get me Brit?!â
⌠Oh wow, how did this turn on him?  But damn, Hattori-kun really means every single word⌠regardless of the punishment, he is sure that something painful would be the result if he thought he looked at the boy. Hakuba is a man, a man that at the moment is not ashamed to say, he is truly scared for his life. This is pure bloodlust oozing out of the Osakan.
He could only manage one small silent shaky nod, in hopes thatâll give him space to breath.
Hattori-kun kept his hold for another minute to drive his point, before he retreated back to his seat. Â Hakuba was unable to get his heart beats to calm down before Hattori-kun pulled out his phone and dialed, putting it on speaker.
âHattori!â Edogawa-kunâs voice greeted from the other end. â Iâm in the middle of something, need something?â
Hattori kept silent. Was he really about to tell Edogawa that Hakuba was a danger to him? Hakuba couldnât help it, but he could not school his expression anymore. Hattori might have come to conclusions all on his own, even if Hakuba had never had untoward intentions for the child, he did enjoy the friendly conversation they occasionally had. Itâd really hurt if he was looked at with wariness by him. A word from Hattori will turn him into an âenemyâ. Â
He wonders how did his face look to Hattori, as he seemed to be debating what to say.
âHattori ? You there?â Worry was seeping into the childâs voice.
âIâm here.â
â⌠Alright..? So ? Whatâs this about? You donât sound so good. Need me to call an ambulance for you?â
â..How come thatâs the first thing ya think of?â
âWell-â
âKudo ,â Hakuba was surprised, Hattori wasnât hiding it..
ââŚ.. Yes?  Hattori ?â
â..Kudo, â
âIâm .. here listening?â
âKudo⌠what do ya think of me stop calling you that⌠for real this time? I know you are always complaining about itâ
âHattori you ok?â
âJust.. just answer the question.â Hattori took a shaky breath in. âPlease?â
ââŚI donât really get what this is about Hattori,I may have been pissed at you slipping up in public, but itâs been years , If there were to be any trouble to come from you calling me by it, it would have happened already. I donât see the reason for you to start too hard now to stop.â The breath Hattori was holding was let out just as slow and shaky. âIn all honesty, if you start calling me âConanâ obediently Iâd be worried you were replaced. All good Hattori?â
âWhat about my ⌠attitude ? Do you find me too pushy? Too friendly? Too⌠too much?â
âHattori where are you now? Did someone say something to you? What is it? â
âDamn it Kudo just answer!â
â âŚ. Look, Hattori ⌠The most thing I appreciate about you since we first met was you genuine personality. If you stop doing anything by a conscious effort on your end, you lose that beloved trait then.â
ââŚâ Hattori shaky breath is too loud, Edogawa-kun must be able to hear them as well. He sounds on the verge of either panic attack or tears, trying his best to hold them back.
âHattori, looking back at it, I donât think I ever mentioned this before⌠but when we first met.. I .. I was not in a very good place. I mean you know exactly the circumstances I was inâŚ
I was.. drowning. Every day was suffocating, I had no plan, no idea what I was doing or where I was going or what to search for even. Day by day I was losing hope.. I lost hope⌠but you see surprising what really did me in was.. the fact that I had no one I can connect with. There was only Hakase and my parents who knew my circumstances then. My parents never available, and there are just things , a lot of things I couldnât burden the Professor withâŚ
The kids were great, but ⌠they were that, kids, on a mental level, we never clicked, as hard as they tried. And the ones I could connect with, were treating me like the child they think I am.
And then you .. forced your way into my life. It was like a hurricane! All that routine I had established, all the walls, all the human connections I gave up on. And you just came in, upturned my whole life upside down. Second meeting, you had me exposed to the skeleton. You saw things in me, people I live with tell now  donât see. And it only took you two meeting.
Instead of being understandably weirded out, freaked out even, or at least caution by what my circumstances, you instead offered a hand for friendship...
Well offered is not saying it right, again, like everything else you do, you imposed your friendship on me.
But Hattori, that was exactly what I was missingâŚ. And I didnât even realize it till you gave it to me, on a plater of gold and diamonds. Never once did you even ask me to so something I wasnât already on board with. Never took anything in return.
I know Iâm not a good friend.  I understand that,  I get told that frequently, Iâm Never the one to call- unless to ask for things off you. Never the one to ask over your wellbeing,  never the one to go and visit you, very crass with you, perhaps very disrespectful, and yet âŚ. You tolerate all that and were always dropping by from Osaka to Tokyo like I was your next door neighbor. You spoil me so much to the point that I donât even realize my lack of effort in this friendship, how youâre always the one giving, and Iâm always on the receiving end.
And to top it all, you ,not once, have you every made me feel  like Iâm anything but your equal. Never made me feel like Iâm being tolerated, rather, I always felt like you genuinely like spending time with me.
And here you are, after college, in Tokyo. I still donât understand why you left Osaka and came here, perhaps its a bit egotistical of me to think, you did it to be closer to me.
Hattori you saved me.
You save me, every dayâŚ. My list of friends my have grown, but at the beginning of it all is your name. You helped me when I was at my lowest. I donât you are even aware of it, but ⌠there wasâŚâŚâ
Edogawa fell silent.
âKudo..?â
Hakubaâs feeling of intrusion is grating badly on his mind. But it was Hattoriâs fault for having this conversation right here and on speaker where he can easily hear it all. Perhaps he wasnât expecting it to become this heartfelt. And Perhaps Hakuba should have made his exist a while back, or at least made his presence known to the other party.
But can you blame him? He wouldnât want to admit it anymore, but he was having a look at a secret aspect of the lives of two of the people he admire the most. Of course Heâll be greedy for more. It was presented to him as it is after all.
Although, it crushes him to think he is the cause of that painful look on Hattoriâs face. He really only meant to help⌠how did it end up like this?
Edogawa-kun breathing is getting louder⌠and slower, as though trying he is trying hard to regain control over them. But he has yet to continue.
âKudo ? You alright buddy ?â Hattori is close to just kicking Hakuba out of his driverâs seat and take his place to go to Edogawaâs place right this instance if Edogawa does not answer soon.
â Once, â He really is having trouble to even speak out, never mind keeping his voice steady. âOnce I was⌠I lost itâŚâ
âLost .. what?â
âLost it, the well to see the next dayâŚâ
Does that mean what Hakuba thinks it means?! There is no way to interrupt that then-
âKudo! What do you mean ?? You couldnât have-!â
âOh I did, Letter was written, and tucked not too well hidden but enough that it wonât be found quickly. Stuff arranged and⌠I just sat there, looking down the edge.. I donât why I went for a âJump off the Roofâ troop, but I think, I wanted to feel exhilaration at the last moment if possible.. it was always temptingâŚâ He took a deep audible breath, perhaps tears were flowing at this point. â But you see, right when I had made my mind, you ha!â An odd time for laugh⌠almost hysterical in nature. â You! You sent me a text, at 3 am ! Who does that?â
â⌠I did? Why , I mean I donât think I am ever really aware of the time when I text you, but what did I send?â
âSee, here is the funny bit. You sent me a text, asking me and I quote ; Are you alright buddy ? Been a while, wanna come over to Osaka? Iâll show you the time of your life you just wait!  I mean you, at that very second, right after I had made my mind had asked me, if I was alrightâŚâ
ââŚ. I⌠Iâm sorry canât remember that was, Iâm always inviting you over to Osaka âŚâ
âItâs alright⌠I donât eitherâŚ. â That is disturbing, how can someone not remember when they had attempted to jump off a ROOF??!! âIt happened multiple timeâŚ. As you said, youâre always inviting me over to Osaka, and every time Iâd attempt something, a text would appear from you, along the same lines. I sometimes wonder, if perhaps, there is something to the supernatural with you, an esper if any existed. Your timing were always amazing â
ââŚKudo I.. I donât know what to say, Iâm sorry I never noticed-â
âBut you did! See thatâs just the thing with you Hattori, you do  notice, and you do help, in all the right way, but you never make a scene about it. I never feel humiliated for loosing grip, or being weak. Cause somehow you help with ever letting me loose face, and Iâm able to go to sleep and wake up the next morning all refreshed, as though a burden was lifted. Even though in reality nothing ever changed. Â
Just ⌠You.
So Hattori, do me a favor?â
âYes Kudo ? Anything !â
âNever change⌠just always be yourself. I donât care what people are saying about me, if thatâs is what you are worried about. Iâm sorry that our friendship has caused such rumors to fly around the police department like that- â
âYou Knew?!â
âI may be many things but I am not oblivious. Plus, Haibara made sure I know the extent of the matter⌠Iâm sorryâ
âWhat do you have to be sorry about?!â
âThe possibility of you not being aware of the rumors was there in my head. The right thing to do was to double check wither you were aware or not. Instead, I feared if I mentioned them, then Iâd shine a light on it were youâd be enforced to take actions. And between my selfish desire to not have anything change between us, and my hope that you were fully aware and still treating me the same regardless of the rumors,⌠I was too scared to open the topic with you.
This is what brought upon this specific phone call, am I right?â
ââŚyeah âŚâ
ââŚ..Itâs alright, I understand. Iâll do my best to minimize interactions with you. I admit I got way to used to your spoiling. I might forget myself-â
âWho said anything about changing anything?!â
âHuh? I thought we just confirmed that  this call was cause you were worried about the rumor?â
âWhen have I ever?! I may have just been made aware of them, but I was worried about you! Â And if I understood correctly, you said you didnât give a damn, right?â
ââŚah.. Right â
âThen thatâs all that matters! People can go F*** themselves up the ***** and smash their ***** in***** and ******** ******,â Well that is creative cursingâŚ. Hakuba doesnât even understand the meaning of half of them⌠Nakamori-keibu would be proud. âif any of them dare to give you trouble, you just send them my way!! Iâll teach them how to mind their own **** businessâ
â..Pfttt Ha ha !â Edogawa at least , it sounds, finds it amusing enough  to be crying of laughter.
âAnd Kudo, about that bull talk about losing grip, Iâm here. Iâm always here. I may not always understand what you go through, but I promise you, Iâm always here for you. I wonât judge, I wonât tell tale, Iâll keep your secrets.
Iâll keep you safe.
You just need to rely on meâ
ââŚ.Thank you Hattori , I knowâ Good, sounds like Edogawa had calmed down. â So, are you coming over for dinner?â
âSo far seems like I will, Iâll call if something changes.â
âPerfect, see you then.â
âSee ya.â
And with that , the heavy conversation finally came to an end.
And Hakuba is still thereâŚ. He wonders if perhaps Hattori-kun completely forgot about him.
âThere you go.â
Huh? âPardon?â
âThere you go, thatâs my answer to your worries. I wonât change a single thing. I can be an outcast, or a pedo, or whatever heck they want to call me. Unless they plan to put me in jail for it, they can all eat my  ***** â
â⌠Well, Iâm glad you are at least recognize your position. And after that conversation, I canât fault you. Perhaps, I would even nominate you for the âFriend of the Centuryâ award.â He gave Hattori a reassuring smile â Iâm on your side.â
ââŚ.Donât think Iâve forgotten about your interest in my buddyâ Ah, he was hoping that was deleted from his memory.
âItâs not like that! You just jumped to conclusion on your own!â
âStill keeping my eyes on you!â And he mimed that to add emphasis.
âAnyways, your arm! Donât you need that looked at?â
âHmm, ah right, this all started because of small neechan.â
âAh no, that was bound to happen anyways, she was just a catalyst.â Since Hattori  is being uncharacteristically forthcoming with him, he thought to push his luck and see for two more answers thatâs been bugging him. âEdogawa aside, what about the girl. Why âsmall neechanâ?â
âWhy , how else should I call her? â
âAh⌠again, age difference?? Why are you calling her Neechan?â
âI put small before it donât I ? Â Plus, what else do you call someone smarter, better, stronger, more mature than you?â
ââŚ.. Should I worry about that?â Though that is what he said, the emotions Hattori was displaying were different then when it was about Edogawa. Oh there is respect there definitely but, not the passion. As one would speak of a Sister or a Mother.
âDude, no ways , Sheâs super scary! What part of better and stronger did you not get?â Hakuba doesnât understand what Hattori is talking about, the only kid who he might have associated those attributes to would be the infamous kid prodigy Edogawa, not Haibara. Hattori is talking as though if they were all placed on a scale, that little disrespectful rude thing Child would rank at the peak. ââŚRight..â
âYou donât believe me, do you?? You were praising my deduction skills previously!â
âWhat brings this to thatâ
âWell, half of my knowledge is Thanks to her! You praise Ku-Conan-kun, but you donât see her appeal. That neechan got my ass out of so many troubles, I canât number them. A lot of the time, when weâd be having trouble due to legal, technical issues or when the police handâs were cuffed and  hindered from catching a suspect, how do you imagine we broke through? Her man, Iâm telling you, her!
Though she prefers to work the backstage, and leave the lime light to itâs people as she says.â
Hakuba is still having trouble believing him, but heâll just take his word for it. If she garners that much respect out of the âfanboyâ , cause that seems like an appropriate description, heâd understand the chemistry between them.
Then one more mystery.
âWhy âKudoâ? â
âHuh? What are you being so familiar, calling him like that ?â Oops, the blood lust is starting to ooze again.
âI meant, why do you call Edogawa Conan Kudo?â
ââŚ. What do you think the reason is?â
ââŚâ He did have a couple of theories, but he hoped to share them⌠still he really wanted to know the answer. Itâs like an itch that wonât go away. âBecause he looks like a younger Kudo Shinichi, is at least what people think. After that conversation though, I donât believe you could be so insensitive as to compare someone , especially Edogawa, to anyone else but his person.â
âAnd that brings you to the conclusion of âŚ.?â
âI .. can only imagine that he also is a Kudo, since it isnât like you call him Shinichi, and Kudo is not a name saved for one person⌠perhaps a divorce and a change of name cause Edogawa to change from Kudo?â
âWell, there you go. Viola, mystery solved, wasnât that much of a mystery was it ?â
ââŚ. Really? Thatâs it? But Mouri-san never mentioned him being a Kudo,â
âBut she did, after all  everyone knows he is a relative to the Kudoâs⌠no one said he wasnât one as well. Just from a different branch, Iâm not gonna pretend I know how exactly he is related its too complicated I never memorized it. Something about beings someones grandfathers daughter.. but at the end Kudo Shinichi,  Yusaku and Yukiko, ⌠are not the only Kudos⌠Thaâs just absurd.â
âAlright⌠Iâll take your word for it.â
âWell, glad, not really, we had this conversation! Now can I go get this arm cast looked at? According to the small Neechan, its not set well, and would only prolong the healing process, perhaps even disturb it.â
âThat..â
âExactly, thatâs where the kicking came from, I was being lazy and she was being urgent about it. Thought at least pain would get met to recheck it.â
âAh â
âYeah, ah.â
1 hour later Hattori had a new cast, and comment from the doctor telling him how lucky he was to came so soon, before any real damage was done in the long term. the Doctor in the department needs to be reevaluated. Wither he did it out of spite from Hattori, or negligence, both are serious malpractice.
peter and wade are fighting side by side and when peter runs out of web fluid, he grabs a gun off wadeâs belt and wade has this transcendent moment of iâm going to watch spiderman shoot my gun at a real live bad guy
but peter just fucking throws it at a bad guyâs face and knocks him out cold
The impact causes the gun to go off and shoot wade in the dick. Spider man spends the next several minutes frantically apologizing while cable laughs his ass off for the first time in years.
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