Hakuba groaned as his cell phone began playing God Save the Queen in tinny digital notes. He rolled over in his bed, his hand groping in the dark along his nightstand. When he finally found the ringing phone, he flipped it open with his thumb, bringing it to his ear. He already knew who it was without even looking.
"Hullo Mum."
"Oh, Sa-chan, did I wake you up? I'm so sorry, but I was out with Dorian shopping downtown and when I realized the time--"
"Mum?" Hakuba interrupted his mind slowly waking up. "For the last time, please don't change the ring tones on my cell."
He could hear her giggle, then fondly say, "Happy birthday, dear."
"Thank you, Mum."
"Did you do anything fun today?"
"Yes'm. Karaoke." It had been entertaining to watch Kuroba imitate pop stars' voices, then sing wildly off-key. The blonde detective had almost laughed himself sick when Aoko had chosen an American pop song and Kuroba had tried to sing it in English.
"That sounds lovely, Sa-chan. Anything else?"
"Hai, a small party," the detective replied, swinging his long legs over the side of the bed, sitting up. He could imagine his mother lying on the couch, her legs over the arm of one side while she played with the blue bungee cord of the phone. Their conversation was shifting back and forth from Japanese to English, as it had all his life between his two parents. It meant he could think in two languages, but often shot his grammar straight to Hell.
"What did you do at the party?"
"Three of my classmates got together and made high tea for me." Good high tea, too; Akako, Aoko and Kuroba had researched the British tradition, even going so far as to order tea leaves from Twinings in London, the royal tea importers. It was wonderful to have real tea from home, along with sweet scones and cake and biscuits; although the three had also made Japanese onigiri and sushi as well.
"How sweet! We'll have to find a way to get them over here to have a proper tea."
Hakuba chuckled. "That sounds like a plan." He was willing to bet his Inverness coat that Kuroba would want to see the Crown Jewels in London Tower.
"So Sa-chan, have you found a pretty Japanese girl to marry so you never have to come back and see me?" Mum's voice was teasing, but Hakuba could hear her fear in the question.
"Not exactly," the blonde teased back, looking over his shoulder at the white-clad thief lying on his bed. In the faint moonlight streaming through the open window, he could see the glass monocle glimmering.
"Oh, so it's a boy then!"
"Mum!" Hakuba chastised, cursing the blush he knew she couldn't see but damn well knew was there.
Her laugh was loud in the earpiece. "Oh, Saguru, you know that all your father and I want is for you to be happy. Your father and I are in two different countries nine hours apart, but we're happy. And if a man makes you happy, who are we to judge? Your mind and reason cannot contradict what your heart has dictated."
"Yes'm." It was a line he had heard often, and wise advice, he knew.
"So, what's he like?" his mother demanded.
Hakuba shrugged, remembering too late that she couldn't see it. "Japanese. Dark hair, slanted eyes, short."
"No, not his looks, although you do have wonderful taste, but his personality, darling."
"Class clown," came the immediate reply. "Good with his hands, quick with his tongue."
"And you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?"
"MO-THER!" He knew his face was stained crimson.
Mum snickered. "I want to meet him at Christmas."
"I don't know if that'll be possible. He goes on vacation over the holidays."
"Where to?"
"No idea." Although quite a few would gladly give their firstborn to find out. "You could meet my classmates, if you'd like."
"I'd love to meet your mates!" Mum exclaimed, and Hakuba heard the grin in her voice. Then he heard a gasp. "Bugger, almost time for tea, and your uncles are coming over."
The detective squinted until the red LED lights of his alarm sharpened enough to read. 12:30 am. "Are Uncle Dorian and Uncle Klaus in London for the day?"
"The week," the woman replied. "Bit of a holiday, you know. Klaus has a little bit of work to do, but otherwise everything's business as usual."
"I'll bet it is," Hakuba mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh, and Dorian wants to know if you're still wearing that quote 'Horrid Holmes outfit' unquote. I told him I thought you looked cute in it."
"Bloody eccentric man," Hakuba grumbled fondly. "I'll call him next week and we'll have a little chat about my wardrobe."
"Mum giggled. "He'd like that."
Hakuba could hear the bell in the background, and heard shuffling. "Okay, that would be them. Give your father my love, tell him I'll call him tomorrow."
"Yes'm."
"I love you, Saguru. Happy birthday, son."
"Love you too, Mum, thanks for calling."
"Sleep well, darling. Ta."
"Ta."
The phone clicked as Hakuba snapped the lid closed. He climbed back under the covers and snuggled up next to Kid. The thief's eyes were closed, but his breathing was relatively shallow, signaling that he was awake.
"So, I'm good with my hands and quick with my tongue, hmn?"
Hakuba turned red and buried his face into the crook of Kid's neck. His English was getting better and better. Kid chuckled at the reaction, the vibrations of his throat tickling the blonde's nose.
Two strong arms encircled his waist, pulling him back a little before Kid leaned against him, pressing soft warm kisses on his neck under his ear. Hakuba bit his lower lips to keep from moaning aloud when the kisses turned a little harder, the dark-haired man sucking and tonguing the sensitive skin.
The detective rolled onto his back, pulling Kid on top of him, enjoying the feel of the heavy weight of the body above pressing him into the soft mattress. Kid's lips moved up to capture his own, everything beyond the bed disappearing from his mind. Strong hands slid up to grasp spiky black hair as the kiss deepened, tongues touching delicately, swirling around, sliding over one another.
When Kid pulled back, both were panting heavily. "It's late, I should go," he whispered, his lips ghosting over Hakuba's lips as he spoke.
Hakuba moaned in protest, his body screaming not to let the thief out of his bed with such little satisfaction, but unwound himself from Kid. The two climbed out of bed and padded over to the balcony, Hakuba watching as Kid slid his shoes on and tipped his white top hat at the detective.
"Happy birthday, tantei-kun."
"Thank you for my present," Hakuba replied as Kid swung his legs over the balcony railing.
The thief smirked and leaned in to bite Hakuba's neck. Hard. The detective winced and felt blood pooling under his skin and knew he'd have a fabulous bruise for at least half a week, the teasing from the Task Force and his father lasting much, much longer.
"What was that for?" he demanded when the thief pulled back, a hand coming up to cover the mark.
"Thieves are territorial. Consider it a heist note," Kid replied, stealing a long heated kiss before disappearing into the night.
• • •
By the next morning the bruise was well above the high collar of his uniform, and Hakuba entered the class rather self-conscious.
Kuroba gave him his best shite-eating grin, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. "Looks like tantei-san had a better party than the one we gave him, Aoko," the magician said loudly, watching the detective over his newspaper.
Aoko grinned and gave Hakuba a wink.
"Not a better party, Kuroba, just a better present," Hakuba replied, purposely unbuttoning his his collar a little to show off the hickey proudly.
Kaito's grin widened, the curve of his lips taking on a bit of as possessive streak as his eyes darkened momentarily before his face hid behind the wall of thin newsprint.
Hakuba smirked and began preparing for class.
-fin-