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“Kambe, can you please, for once.” Haru takes a deep breath, hands rubbing his face and trying to hide his frustration. “Please, stop using an ungodly infinite amount of money.”
Daisuke raises an eyebrow and looks at Haru. Scrutinizing his partner for the nth time this day alone. He looks away, schooling his face to complete nonchalance. “We solved the case faster than they thought we would. So what’s the problem?”
Haru doesn’t answer. He’s perfectly aware they solved the case faster than the higher-ups thought they would. Faster than the other divisions thought they would. But he hates how Daisuke uses his money for almost every single thing to solve every case they deal with.
He’s perfectly aware they live in a completely different world. He’s conscious of it.
“You know what? Just don’t bother with what I say anymore.” He waves his hands and fixes Daisuke with a smile when the younger one looks at him. “Do as you please.”
Daisuke was left stupefied. He doesn’t even realize that he didn’t school his face into his usually stoic facade. It left him a pang when he saw that forced smile painted on his partner’s face. Haru has always held a resilient facade. Even after everything he went through.
Daisuke knows Haru wears his heart on his sleeves. It’s almost as if he can’t help it or even realize that. He wasn’t mad at Daisuke after what happened at the bridge or that one time when they were on their second case, Haru was put to sleep by the sleeping gas. That wasn't planned. It was their official case together but he likes to think that it was their second. He doesn’t hold grudges after many unfortunate events Daisuke had caused.
Sure, they solve cases better than anyone else. Than any other team in their division or outside of their division. But with their profession, they’re bound to get hurt one way or another. Worst, they could be dead.
But Haru, what a blessing he is, puts his life on the line for people he doesn’t even know. Daisuke thinks he’s completely foolish for that. Putting life for people who barely value Haru for the sacrifices he made. But standing on this goddamn rooftop, with the wind blowing against their skin and the sun is hiding behind the clouds. It’s perfect weather but Daisuke feels his heart, breaking when he feels like all the fight in Haru’s body oozes out of his body. Gone with the wind. Before Haru managed to walk away, he looked Haru in the eye. “Why do you do this job?”
Haru sighs. “To save people, Daisuke. It’s the job we signed up for to save people’s life.” He crosses his arms, feeling a headache creeping up in the back of his head. Well aware that this is a conversation they had for a thousand times now.
Daisuke only hums, nodding at him. This time, he doesn't try to hide the fret in his voice, “Haru, why did Kamei and Hoshino think you were demoted because of your stubbornness and your unyielding sense of justice?”
Haru uncrosses his arms and leans his back on the wall. “It doesn’t matter, Kambe. It’s not like they’re bothered enough to check my past,” he looks pointedly at Daisuke as he shifts his gaze, “to know what had happened.”
He can’t help it but frown when hearing that came out of Haru’s mouth. “It matters. It does matter. Those people were intimidated by how splendid you were at your job and your unyielding sense of justice. The corrupted people are intimidated that someone is actually doing their job right,” he said sounding a tad bit aggressively protective, “that they think to sabotage you to put you in your place, not to mention the trauma you went through, that still haunts you—”
“Daisuke, please—”
It appals him how Haru brushes things off easily. How he does not have a great amount of care or concern over himself. He should be. His eyes never stray from Haru’s. “How can you think you don’t matter? You matter.” Daisuke felt like crying.
“I—”
“You’ve been losing sleep for these strangers!” He collects himself when he sees Haru flinch. He never raised his voice at Haru, not like this. Taking a deep breath, he continue, “people that you don’t even know, Haru. You’re not taking care of yourself. You’re even malnourished and how can you let it get to your brain that you do not matter?”
Haru bites his lips, rubbing his temples and wishing for the headache to go away. He looks at Daisuke with uncertainty, something that he doesn’t always let out in the open very often. Not something he ever let out at the workplace. This time he manages a smile when he looks Daisuke in the eyes. "Since we started becoming partners,” he unconsciously smiles wider when everything he went through with Daisuke just flashes through his mind, “you taught me that being selfish isn’t all that bad... I know now that… that I have to be selfish for my wellbeing so I can care for others.” Haru scratches his neck, embarrassed letting his thoughts out in the open.
Daisuke smiles knowing that this is a start. He’ll never stop to make Haru believe he’s important. He walks closer towards Haru and gently pulls him in his arms. The latter managed to squeeze himself in Daisuke’s embrace despite being a few centimetres taller.
When they finally break off from the hug, Haru swiftly tries to hide away his tears. Daisuke notices anyway. It softens his heart when he heard a soft laughter from his boyfriend. A happy one. The past few weeks have been stressful for them both and finally having the privilege to see that genuine smile again, he feels like the luckiest person to ever exist. He wipes the tears running down Haru’s smooth skin. “You baby.”
Haru blushes and his face schools into a playful scowl that Daisuke had grown used to seeing. “Asshole.”
The two of them were so caught up in their world that they didn't notice someone had been eavesdropping. A certain purple-brown coloured hair man watches them from afar. He walks away when he hears Haru's genuine laughter.
Ryo steps came to a halt when he sees a familiar light-brown coloured hair lad walking past him and his team as they’re rushing to another crime scene. Haru is walking alongside his partner with a scowl on his face, Kambe Daisuke. Talking about god knows what. But Daisuke has this tranquil look on his face and there’s no doubting that Haru has all his undivided attention. Like he always does.
Ryo feels a sudden sharp feeling of remorse seeing Haru walking with that goddamn Kambe Daisuke. He is still perplexed how Kambe manages to even walk over the walls Haru had built all around himself over the past five years.
There was a time when he admired Haru for being the ace of the First Division. He looked up to him more than he even looked up to Takei, the chief of the Investigation Department. He believed all these years that Haru was demoted because of his naivety sense of justice. Deep down inside him, he knows it wasn’t naive.
Haru was in his 20s and that’s a petty reason to say he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s the wisest detective Ryo ever known. It was a privilege to be his junior. He was lucky to have Haru as his senior. Haru was never greedy about his knowledge or bask in the attention and praises he got from the people around him. He would be embarrassed and overwhelmed when he’s given the praise that he should be aware he deserved.
It wasn’t until two years later after Haru was demoted that Ryo somehow found out Haru stopped seeing his therapist. It was obvious how his health is deteriorating. Haru closed himself off from people more and more, becoming more and more obsessed with his job. It’s scary for Ryo to see him like that but he doesn’t know how to help. He didn’t think it was even his place to do so.
But he regrets that now. He shouldn’t have said the things he had said. He could’ve been the one to put a smile on Haru’s face. Then his thoughts were broken when one of his juniors came to him, telling him they need to be there fast. Ryo and his junior ran for the elevator. As he walked inside the elevator, Haru and Kambe were already inside.
Haru is leaning on the elevator’s wall with his arms crossed. He has a small frown on his face but there’s also calmness etched on his facial expression. He’s talking to Kambe in hush whispers and Ryo thinks this has to be a dream because Kambe Daisuke has a genuinely happy smile on his face. It was barely noticeable but there’s no mistaking the glint in his eyes when he looks at Haru.
It finally hits him in the gut. Oh.
When Ryo met his eyes, Kambe had this look of indifference reserved for people. Ryo ignores the sharp feeling of remorse that crept inside his chest. This time, he realizes it was mixed with envy.
Daisuke and Haru were assigned by Yukihiro to attend another symposium. This time they were assigned to be a part of the front liners to discuss what could probably be the biggest crime in Tokyo. They weren’t exactly assigned but they were asked specifically by the higher-ups to be a part of the front liners.
Daisuke picks Haru up at his apartment. Failing to hide a smug look on his face when Haru pulls the door open. The latter looks like he had barely gotten any sleep. Dressed in his regular white dress shirt adorned with his favourite green necktie, that he can’t even be bothered to tie properly, his usual grey suit pants and his brown shoes.
He wonders what's different about Haru today.
Then it hits him. That damned beige jacket. That’s what made Haru look a bit odd today. He isn’t wearing his jacket. But Daisuke isn’t exactly complaining because Haru’s arms muscles are showing more prominently. Since Daisuke wouldn’t stop pestering him to maintain a healthy diet after finding out Haru has gastric. With the way he cares for his meals, it’s not surprising.
He noticed the little frown on Haru’s face, asking him. What? Daisuke can’t be bothered to get the smug grin off of his face as he eyes Haru up and down. “You’re not wearing your jacket.” Daisuke looks ahead and drives. Thinking to himself that he’ll help Haru tie his necktie later.
Haru shrugs him off and helps himself with the coffee Daisuke brought for him. He leans his head on the window and stares outside as he watches the world starts their usual morning routines. Basking himself in the morning sunlight as he lets the quiet morning lull him to a short nap before the symposium.
When they arrive at the hotel, Daisuke parks at an exclusive parking spot reserved for him.m. Daisuke gently taps Haru’s thigh to wake him up, mindful as to not startle him. Haru blearily looks at him and Daisuke lets the soft smile stretch on his face. “We’re here.”
He just can’t seem to take his eyes off of Haru. The dress shirt came untucked when Haru stretched his limbs. Daisuke lets him be fully awake when he pulls Haru slightly closer to his body, as his hands skillfully unbind the messy knot Haru made with his necktie and tie it neatly. It doesn’t matter to him how Haru dressed himself up but after being told that he didn’t mind having Daisuke tying his necktie for him, Daisuke can't stop himself from being a mother hen. Not when it comes to Haru.
As he was done tying Haru’s necktie, he grabs the empty cups and walks out of his car. He waits for Haru to come out—while Haru makes himself look more presentable after the nap—Daisuke throws away the coffee cups in the recycle bin. He locks the car when Haru trails after him as they head over to the conference hall.
They were greeted by the hotel’s staffs the moment they walked through the front door and Daisuke dismissed them since he’s here for work. While listening attentively to Haru talking about the files he read last night, he notices Haru’s former junior stealing glances at them. Well, probably only Haru since that Hoshino kid always has this weird look on his face when Haru is present.
Daisuke knows it isn’t merely the look of annoyance that Hoshino always tried to mask. Feeling pride and amusement washes over him at the attention his boyfriend is gaining.
Haru walkinh with his hands in his pocket, emitting confidence that are no longer blind. He couldn't help but smirk how people are just shamelessly staring. Not even being mindful to be subtle about it.
It's not like he could blame them for staring at his boyfriend anyways.
The accomplishment they made together as partners are undoubtedly the talk of the town. Not to mention the beauty that Haru is, Daisuke truly understands why people can’t seem to get enough of Haru.
Daisuke lets out a small chuckle. It may seem like Haru can’t care enough about the attention he’s getting but Daisuke knows that’s not the case because Haru is undeniably dense and oblivious of his beauty. He probably thinks the attention is on Daisuke alone.
The way his suit pants and dress shirt envelops his body perfectly. Daisuke can be a little possessive over Haru but since Haru doesn’t even know most of the attention was on him, he decides to tease the latter about it later.
“I think I’ve grown immune to people staring at you,” Haru whispered at Daisuke. Already taking their seats in the conference hall, waiting for the meeting to start.
Daisuke can’t help it but looks pointedly at Haru and squints his eyes. “Are you sure they’re not staring at your ass and body?”
Haru eyes widen at Daisuke’s question and he stutters in a harsh whisper. “What—what the fuck, Kambe?”
“I’m not lying. You should really take a look at yourself in the mirror a lot more, Haru.” Daisuke was feeling smug when Haru blushed furiously in return. Daisuke feels a wave of warmth fondness washing over him as Haru crosses his arms in annoyance.
If Daisuke almost lost his composure in public when Haru tries to school his face to appear more serious, no one said a word. He sighs fondly at his the latter and wonder what did he do to deserve this man.