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The Grey Zone: Morning
by Icka! M. Chif

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Kaito woke up to the soft sound of the bedroom door opening. He kept his eyes closed and breathing even, feigning sleep, contently wrapped around his own personal heater as footsteps shuffled lightly in the room.

Until said personal heater sat up in shock, taking the duvet with him. "Mum!"

"G'morning, Sa-chan!"

"This is isn't what it looks like!"

A shadow fell over the bed, Hakuba's mother petting her son's hair. "Of course not, dear. You aren't washing the sheets nearly enough if you were."

Kaito didn't need to open his eyes to feel Hakuba blush. He could -feel- the heat coming off of the blond's body. "MUM!!"

A high-pitched giggle. "Go back to sleep, Sa-chan. I'm just bringing in some fresh clothes."

"Thanks, Mum." Hakuba flopped backwards in the bed, mortification screaming from his tense body. His Mum giggled again, walking out and shutting the door behind her.

"Argh." Hakuba said. Kaito snickered, wrapping himself around the larger blond again. Mmm. Warm. Flannel. An arm wrapped around him, absently petting his back, so Hakuba couldn't be too upset. Really, he had no idea why Hakuba was so worked up over. Kaito had been given the guest room at Hakuba's mother's place the week before, but he'd only spent about two nights on it all total. The rest of the time they usually ended up passed out on Hakuba's bed while talking or out at some body's house.

This just happened to be the first time anyone had ever walked in. He supposed that he could have rolled out of bed and hidden himself like he did at Hakuba's father's house, but he'd had a long night and was exhausted.

He hadn't really known what to expect in England, it had just sounded good at the time, even if he might as well have admitted who he was when he'd made the suggestion. But he'd been the Kid non-stop through the entire summer, trying to keep out of the Black Ops' grasp even as he worked to take them down and keep the people close to them out of their grasp. The chance to shut it all down and be Kaito again had sounded like a blessing.

He supposed he should be grateful that the odd people Hakuba had allied himself with had taken 'Kuroba Kaito's' abilities at face value and hadn't pried too deeply. Although it was a bit of a shame that they hadn't been able to enrol in University in time. So they were on 'mini-vacation' until the start of February, when classes started up again.

Which was probably for the best, give him a chance to get his head straight after the summer. He wasn't quite sure he remembered how to be Kuroba Kaito anymore. 'Kid' and 'Kaito' had been separate in his head, different personas. But right now it was like he couldn't turn the Kid off any more. He'd had to been the Kid non-stop, just to survive. He still smiled and joked like Kaito now, but it was like Kaito was a mask, instead of the other way around, Kid masking Kaito.

Which was probably why he was scaring Hakuba by appearing in his bed, despite the fact that when Hakuba had fallen asleep, he'd been in his own. Hakuba was like a rock, not only he could take what Kaito dished out and toss it back at him, but he was a solid, stable presence. Like a good wall at his back, one quarter he didn't need to protect himself from. Unwinding from a heist at Hakuba's place had created a sense of safety.

It also helped keep the nightmares away. Emotions were dangerous for a Kaitou, but that didn't stop him from being human and having them.

Hakuba shifted again, turning on his side, legs tangling with Kaito's. It was kind of funny, really. Here they were, nineteen, curled up in what most observers would probably consider an intimate embrace in bed and they weren't doing anything. Except sleeping.

Because Hakuba loved him for his mind.

"I am going to be properly horrified when I look at this morning's paper, aren't I?" The detective murmured.

Upon their arrival to the Hakuba Household, the detective had been immediately called out for a few cases that demanded his attention. In turn, Hakuba had dragged him along to get his, quote "rather unorthodox view on things" unquote. This had led to several rather unusual scenes, Kaito getting a boost to go climb in rafters or in air ducts, the two of them conversing in rapid fire Japanese.

He was grateful as well for the half-Brit's previous language lessons. His English was good for Japan, but it was mediocre here. It was improving and would continue to improve --immersion into the culture and all that-- but it was still like they were speaking another language. Which they were. He doubted some things would ever make sense to him, such as fish --ugh-- in a can for breakfast. And why were they called 'kippers' if 'catching a kip' meant taking a nap?

Kaito snickered, tucking his head under Hakuba's chin to block the morning light. Mmm... warm flannel. "Yup. I had a date." With some of Europe's most lovely women.

Hakuba's hands on his back paused in mid-motion. Kaito shook his head, rubbing his face against the flannel as he squeezed the blond. "Nothing for you to worry about." Although he should introduce Hakuba to his partner in crime for this prank.

He'd contacted one Chat Noir in France, when they had arrived to make sure that he wasn't stepping on any toes in case the Kid needed to make an appearance here. Not that he really -cared-, but it was polite to make the motions. Jii had already made a few minor appearances as the Kid across Europe, setting his alibi up for when he came.

In return, she'd wanted to know if he was up to a little mischief. Chat Noir had faded into the background after finishing what she'd set out to do. She still kept her ear to the ground and her hand in, but Chat Noir wasn't nearly as much of a bright shiny attention grabber as Kid could. They hadn't actually -stolen- anything, but it would mark his presence on this side of the world.

His father had made his first appearance as the Kid in Paris about twenty years ago, it was only right that he make his first official appearance in Europe there as well.

With a bang. Not his fault they hadn't taken his warning note that Kid was visiting seriously.

Or maybe they had and he just hadn't noticed...

But like any good patriotic Kaitou, Chat Noir-san was worried about her country's treasures and hoped that they would increase security if they got a good scare. He wondered how long it would take for them to realise that he hadn't taken the Mona Lisa, just hung a sheet with the words 'Kaitou Kid Was Here' in front of the famous painting. The security cameras certainly wouldn't be able to tell the difference, the only question was how bright the security personnel was.

He was still kind of bummed that she wouldn't let him hang a sign in front of Michelango's David saying 'Naughty Bits'. Monty Python would have been -so- proud. But the following conversation about censorship in art had been entertaining.

He'd still added a bright pink feather boa around the Venus de Milo's neck. The lady could use a little fun.

But they'd both been very, very careful not to damage anything. It had just been a warning, or a prank, depending on who was looking at it. He -could- have taken anything he wished and within a few hours, if they didn't know it already, everyone and their siblings would know it.

Not that he wanted anything here in Europe. He had the one gem that mattered, tucked safe and sound inside the plushie elephant that lay not more than a finger's twitch away from their tangled selves. An elephant never forgot, after all. Especially if the elephant was now part immortal.

"Although you may be called in-" He yawned into Hakuba's collarbone. "-Considering that you're the foremost expert on Kid the Phantom Thief on this side of the world."

In the meantime however, the three hour ride from Paris to London and then the second ride from out of London to the Hakuba Household had been a long one, especially since he'd been under an assumed passport and appearance. Thank goodness for hang gliders which cut down on travel time and expenses.

And Hakuba made an excellent space heater and general blocker from the world, letting him relax and get a few hours sleep without having to worry about being dragged away by irritated cigar-smoking police inspectors. Not that he missed Nakamori-keibu at all, nope. Or Nakamori-keibu's daughter.

"Joy." The words were dry but the hands resumed their absently petting his back were warm and gentle, taking the sting out as Hakuba relaxed. The blond had a bit of a possessive streak, not that Hakuba would ever admit it. Or Kaito would admit it about himself either. "I'm going to take you with, seeing as you're a fan of the thief and all."

He snickered in return. Ooo. Scary revenge. "Just don't make any comments about the game being afoot." He muttered. He made a mental note to return Hakuba's favour of dragging him along to teach detective stuff by showing him how to pick locks. Even Holmes knew how to pick locks and he'd feel a lot better knowing Hakuba had more of an edge when getting out of trouble.

Hmm... perhaps he should add alarm circumvention and blending in to shadows as well. If it worked for bright white, it should work for tweed just as well.

"Certainly not. Watson flies." Hakuba informed him primly. "So does the Kid. Now go back to sleep. I'm sure we'll be getting a phone call soon."

"And your Mum's gonna wanna tease us."

"Yes." Word came out as a sigh, with much loathing. Kaito grinned. He'd help Hakuba level the playing field later. He could easily play the 'lost innocent out-of-towner' card. If not, Hakuba's Mum was just as much fun to tease as Hakuba was. Only Hakuba didn't do high-pitched giggles, which was a bonus. He just squeaked. And turned bright red. All over.

Well, maybe not all over... hmmm... He'd have to test that theory sometime...

Hakuba pulled the duvet back over them, folding it to shielded them both from the early morning sunlight without suffocating either of them. "Morning, Kuroba." Hakuba yawned, body relaxing. Kuroba yawned in response, burrowing his face against Hakuba's flannel nightshirt again. It would probably be a little while before Hakuba actually fell asleep instead of just dozing, the whole 'protector' instinct. His Mum was still somewhere in the house and if she was anything like 'Kaasan, there was going to be an appearance of a camera very shortly.

Which was what the extra pillow was for. Heh.

"Morning, Hakuba." He mumbled in return, allowing his breathing to level out again, to drop into sleep. Better to have a few hours of un-interrupted sleep before they headed to Paris.

And if he was really lucky, he'd get to introduce Hakuba to Chat Noir-san. They'd probably hit it off marvellously.

-fin-

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Was a bit of a shock to realise that in the SoG universe, they -are- 19 now.
Cannonly, they're 17 and in their second year of High School, so they're that age at the beginning of the fic. Kaito (21 June) turns 18 between 'Lellyphant' and 'Hot'. Hakuba (29 Aug) turns 18 just after 'Hot', before 'Relative Truths'.
Kaito turns 19 during 'How I Spent My Summer Vacation', Hakuba shortly afterwards.
One of these days we'll get around to showing the whole time line, we were actually really careful of the months. That's why the 'out of sequence' stuff started, it hurt our head trying to fit them in too.

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