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Shades of Grey: The Challenge Answered.
By Icka! M. Chif

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Hakuba wasn't quite sure how this game was going to be played.

It was a sensation he should be used to, the uncertainty. He was never certain when it came to the thief. But it usually didn't leave butterflies wiggling in the pit of his belly.

For tonight, he'd caught the Kaitou Kid.

... Sort of.

As per their wager, he'd handcuffed the Kid. One cuff anyway, the Kid had escaped from the heist with the other cuff hanging from his wrist like an overly large shiny charm bracelet.

So he wasn't sure if that counted as a win in his favour or not.

And really, when he thought about it, that call wasn't his to make. It was the Kid's. It was the thief's choice to show, or not to show as the case may be.

Sort of like a heist, but without the calling card to warn him in advance. It seemed like a great deal of his time was spent waiting for the Kid, really. Waiting for a heist notice, waiting for the day of the heist, waiting for the Kid's appearance.

Like he was currently, curled up on a couch in the upstairs library with his glasses on, staring at the book in his hand and debating on if he should turn on a light or not. The fireplace was lit, but hardly provided enough illuminated in the room to see the print on the pages. Not that it really mattered; he'd been staring at the same page anyway for about twenty minutes without actually reading it. Although he was pretty sure that the first word was 'The'.

A slight breeze, cold against his flame warmed clothing caused him to startle faintly, and look up towards his right. Sitting sideways on the windowsill, one leg still resting outside was the Kid, the silver light from the moon outside hitting his white clothing and making him glow. The Kid froze, as if he were ready to bolt at the slightest noise.

Hakuba held himself perfectly still, watching the Kid. A distant part of his mind wondered who was more surprised, himself or the thief.

Then the moment passed and the Kid finished sliding inside, closing the window after him. There was a sort of finality around the Kid, like he was sealing his own doom.

Hakuba waited, giving up all pretence of reading the book. When the Kid continued to just watch him, he finally cleared his throat. "Good Evening."

The Kid raised an arm, the silver cuff still attached to his wrist. "I believe this is yours." The voice was calm and his expression bland, no matter how nervous the Kid might have been on the inside.

"I am rather amazed you did not remove it yourself." It was a standard issue handcuff; if Kid couldn't get out of it on his own in under a minute, Hakuba would eat his hat.

"That wasn't part of our agreement."

'One kaitou at your service for what ever you say, one night only.' That is what the Kid had said, was it not?

A Gentleman Thief indeed.

"True." Hakuba set the book down on the table next to him, not bothering to bookmark the page. He was sure he could find the page that started with 'The' again with reasonable ease. "I will take that off for you, if you would like."

"Thank you." There was only the faintest edge of sarcasm mixed in there as the Kid glided across the room, the cape moving like a liquid moonbeam as the light on the white tux shifted from silver to the gold of firelight. Kid stopped in front of him, the cuffed arm slightly extended outward.

Hakuba raised an eyebrow, unable to resist the slight smirk teasing his lips as he reached up and tugged on the Kid's wrist. "Sit."

The muscles in the thief's arm tensed briefly, then relaxed slightly as he allowed Hakuba to draw him down on the couch, white legs straddling the detective's lap and bringing their faces to a more even level. Or at least more level if the Kid wasn't holding himself so stiffly. As it was, Hakuba was about eyelevel with the middle of Kid's nose.

Well, the Kid was awfully fond of heights...

Hakuba pulled the key out of his shirt pocket and undid the lock on the handcuff, the cuff opening and sliding free with a metallic click. Wrist freed, he closed the cuffs, relocking them and set them on top of the book as well, next to his glasses. The key he dropped into the cracks between the couch cushions. The Kid was being passive now, disturbing so, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be mischief later.

A part of his mind noted that the Kid did not rub his wrist where the cuff had lain either. Kid merely returned it to his side, the hand clenching and unclenching as gloved knuckles brushed the couch cushions.

They both just looked at each other, the moment stretching into silence. The fire backlit the thief's face, sending it into shadows except for glimmers where the light caught the glass of the monocle and glowed. What he could see of the Kid's face was blank, except for a stubborn set to the jaw.

He had the Kid in his hands right now. What he chose to do could quite literally could make or break the phantom thief.

Hakuba slowly raised an arm and removed the top hat from the Kid's unruly locks, feeling the leg muscles bunch up and tense against his own as the thief prepared to flee. To his credit, then Kid didn't make a sound as Hakuba set the hat down on the couch cushion next to them.

Or he could use this opportunity as a foot in the door.

He brought his left hand up, fingers brushing the Kid's cheek as he reached back and cupped the back of the Kid's head with his hand, the monocle pressing into the heel of his palm. There was a small resistance as he pulled the Kid down, bringing their faces close together, close enough that he could feel the Kid's breath on his skin. There was a slight twitch of the shoulders as dark eyes closed, as if resigning himself to the inevitable.

Hakuba smirked, bumping their foreheads together. "Idiot." He couldn't quite keep the amusement out of his tone. "If you do not want to be here, Then Go. Home."

That got a reaction. The Kid jerked, tilting his face up slightly so that they were more at eye level. Violet eyes stared at him, confusion clearly written in them, despite the fact they were blurry from the closeness.

"I am not THAT much of a bastard." Hakuba grumbled, releasing his grasp on Kid's head. Kid leaned back, losing some of the doll-like movements as he did so. They stared at each other again, but this time the silence was different. More gauging.

Hakuba had very little qualms about admitting that he was a bit of a control freak. But sometimes you had to give up some control to gain control. Scaring the Kid off right now would get him nowhere. However, if he could get the magician-thief to come -back-...

"What?" Hakuba gave him a droll look when he felt the silence stretching a bit too long. "You were expecting me to toss you on my bed, strip you of your clothing and pound you into the mattress?"

The dirty look he got for that that brightened Hakuba's mood incredibly. "Actually," There was a hint of hesitation in the thief's voice that he'd never heard before. "I wasn't quite sure what to expect."

In many ways, that was probably the most honest statement Hakuba had ever gotten from him. As either the Kid or Kuroba.

"That makes two of us then." He admitted back, the smirk still tugging at the corners of his mouth. Kid smirked back in response, muscles relaxing marginally.

"You must have had some idea." The Kid pointed out. "Or we would't be in the position we're in currently."

"True." Hakuba agreed, daring enough to rest his hands on the Kid's white-clad legs and hearted when the thief didn't tense away. "Back at the cabin... you said you were not certain if you perfered gentlemen or ladies. I was thinking... perhaps we could find out?"

"Find out?" There was an amused tone now, like Kid was either playing along, or genuinely entertained by the idea.

Hakuba shrugged. "You also said that you had never kissed."

That sobered the Kid a bit, tensing slightly, but not as much as he had before. "And if I don't-?" The question was cut off, as if the thief reminded himself of his promise.

"And if you are not comfortable with that suggestion, then there is a Chinese Checkers board over there by the corner." He motioned with his head towards where a board was sitting. "Or you could leave, no questions. Your call."

The Kid's posture changed, radiating a more calculating air. "What? No Chessboard?"

"Set up downstairs. Or I've got Parcheesi in the hall cubboard."

That earned him a funny look. "...Board games."

Hakuba shrugged. "I figure I cannot lose." If the Kid didn't like kissing, he had still gotten a chance to kiss the Kid. Point in his book. If the Kid didn't like kissing -him-, well, hopefully Aoko would get something out of it. If they ended up playing board games, it would be an interesting intellectual challenge. Hell, at this point he had a lap full of not-protesting thief, that had to count for something...

The Kid made an amused sound, obviously having a similar train of thought. "All right." A mocking smirk was back on his face, game face clearly restored now that some ground rules had been laid. "So what should I know first, Sensei?" The last was said in an insolent drawl.

One of Hakuba's eyebrow's twitched in annoyance at the honorary title. "Well, a willing partner is helpful." He jabbed back, making what he could see of the other boy's smile twitch in mirth. "And... relax. It is more fun that way."

"Relax." The Kid arched an eyebrow, as if pointing out that he, a phantom thief, was currently inside of a ranking police officer's house. And sitting on the lap of a detective, no less. Not the most ideal place for a law-breaker to relax.

Hakuba shrugged. It wasn't as if they had to worry about someone bursting in. His Father was almost never home, the Housekeeper was away, taking care of a sick relative for several months, and Mum was still in England. Even if someone was in the house other then themselves, they'd hear the approach long before they would be in trouble. And all the lamps were out of arms reach, leaving them in shadows. It was as secure as he could make it.

"All right." The Kid dropped his head down so that their hair mixed together, dark hair with blond. "And then?"

"And then..." He tilted his head to the side to avoid clashing noses, eyes briefly closing as he brushed his lips against the Kid's. He was pleased to note that the Kid didn't shy away from that, a tiny thread of worry dissipating. He did it again, lingering longer this time. And a third time when there was no resistance.

Hakuba leaned back slightly, giving them both some breathing room even as he became aware of the faster beating of his heart, belatedly realising how nervous he had been about the whole affair. "All right?" He asked, hoping that he sounded casual about it.

"Yeah." The Kid agreed and Hakuba was pleased to note that the thief's voice was a less than steady.

"More?"

A weighty pause followed, as if the boy on top of him was debating just how far he was willing to go. It wasn't too long before he answered however. "Okay."

"All right." This time when he tilted his head up to kiss the Kid, the thief met him part way and there was an awkward press of noses and lips as they bumped into each other. They both pulled back, the Kid giving a muted embarrassed chuckle before they tried again.

Tense lips moved against his, slowly relaxing and un-tensing as the apparent anticipated proverbial shoe-to-drop failed to appear. The Kid did pause when Hakuba took the white clad arms and rested them on his shoulders, then relaxed as the intent behind the gesture became apparent. The Kid's balance shifted off the bent legs, leaning partly on Hakuba.

Although it was rather interesting to kiss someone who was smiling, he noted when the Kid discovered that the new position meant that he now had access to the hair on the back of Hakuba's neck. Not that Hakuba was complaining, not in the least.

Things faded away to a contented haze after that, his consciousness dissolving into the contented press of lips moving against each other, the occasional flash of tongue or brush of teeth when they paused for a quick pant of breath or two before resuming. Fingers lightly moving against warm fabric over smooth muscle and fabriced fingers playing the hairs on the back of his neck. The press of a leg against his own. Light touches, not innocent but not entirely innocuous either.

It was hard, sometimes, to remember not to lean to the side to nibble on an earlobe or see how the curve of the neck tasted. Especially when gloved fingers strayed towards his face. Hakuba had to remind himself several times that this was the -Kid- and he was -not- going to teach the thief how to French kiss tonight, no matter how tempting it was. Which was exceedingly so.

Tonight was about the simple pleasure of kissing. Maybe, hopefully, they could do that sort of -later-. If he didn't scare the Kid off now.

It came as quite a surprise when the grandfather clock downstairs chimed two in the morning.

Hakuba pulled his head back, drawing in a not-so steady breath as he opened his eyes, pleased to notice what looked like a blush on the Kid in the dim light. Unattended, the fire had faded into ashes, the light primarily coming in clear and silver from the moon outside the window.

He was also entertained to notice that the Kid's breathing wasn't entirely regular either. Good.

"As enjoyable as this is," He commented as lightly as he could. "Im afraid I must call an end to the night. Some of us do have school in the morning, which requires a modicum of sleep."

A brief widening of the eyes as fingers paused in their stroking of his hair, then a ghost of a chuckle. "You're kicking me out?"

"At least for the night. You are welcome back if you would like." He added sincerely. "-As long as its not to rob my house."

Kid snorted. "Not a problem." Slight pause. "Unless you receive a notice, but that's another story entirely."

"I will keep that in mind." Hakuba quipped dryly as the Kid slid backwards both off the couch and his legs, picking up his hat as he went. Blood circulation resumed to his lower limbs and he remembered why one didn't do that for long periods at a time. He grimaced, digging the heels of his hands into his thighs, attempting to massage out some of the pins and needles pain so he could stand up.

... Not that it wasn't worth it.

"Not one comment about my weight." The Kid quipped, standing stiffly and shaking his legs out as well.

"You are as light as one of your doves." Hakuba commented blandly, clearly meaning the opposite, his limbs quite firmly asleep. "How are you able to even -stand-?!"

"Practise." was the succulent reply. It was a hard reply to argue with. "And on that note -and while you are incapacitated- I shall wish you a good night and a pleasant rest."

"Sleep well." He responded in like as the Kid bowed, tipping his hat before disappearing in a cloud of smoke and stars.

Well, at least he'd left out the streamers and confetti this time, Hakuba thought with a wince as he pulled himself upright by the couch's arm rest and wobbled a moment before getting his balance. No mess to clean up. Which was just as well, he was ready for bed.

But first, a nice cold shower...

-fin-

-+ OMAKE By Dogmatix +-

Omake:
Hakuba raised an eyebrow, unable to resist the slight smirk teasing his lips as he reached up and tugged on the Kid's wrist. "Sit."

Kaito immediately faceplanted into the ground as the handcuffs jerked him furiously down. "The hell?!" Kaito squawked from the floor, his dislodged monocle rolling to one side.

Kaito looked up, bewilderment written all over his face. Hakuba recognized Kaito immediately. Or most of him. He was ~not~ expecting the gold eye with the slit pupil that the monocle had hidden

-+ Cut Scene +-

"As enjoyable as this is," He commented as lightly as he could. "I'm afraid I must call an end to the night. Some of us do have school in the morning, which requires some modicum of sleep."

A brief widening of the eyes as fingers paused in their stroking of his hair, then a ghost of a chuckle. "You're kicking me out then?"

"At least for the night." He tilted his head to the side, unable to resist teasing. "Unless you care to join me-?"

"Pass." The tone was amused.

"Some other night then maybe."

"Tantei-san..." He could almost make out an incredulous look. "Are you inviting me -back-?"

"If you would like," He replied as neutrally as he could. "The offer of Parcheesi still stands."

"...You're serious about the board games."

"Games of strategy." He corrected.

"Riiight."

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