Work Text:
„Are you sure everything is alright?”
“For the third time, no one is spying on you. HEUSC would detect any devices or people monitoring”. Kambe didn’t even lift his head this time as he was tormented with this topic whole morning. “I even showed you that HEUSC doesn’t have anything in their records about suspicious activities around us this month, what else can I show you for you to stop asking that, inspector Katou?”
“Yeah, I know but… Ugh, nevermind” Haru knew Daisuke was right and yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone, something was watching him recently. Then again, he tends to be a little paranoid sometimes, as pointed out by his coworkers. He thought that since they don’t have any adollium missions this month he could finally relax for a little without constant moving, but is this maybe just him being used to always being on the run and his mind just tricking him? The answer was unclear and he only could try to ignore it for the time being, hoping the feeling would go away. “I’m heading out for lunch”.
“Katou-san please pick up my usual sweets from you know where” shouted Saeki from her desk.
“Sure, and you Kamei? You haven’t eaten anything yet, do you want something?”
“Ah thanks, but I’m heading out for lunch with Hoshino soon” answered Kamei, looking at his phone anxiously waiting for some message.
“Hoshino, huh” Haru smirked under his nose.
“Wait, Katou I’m going with you” Daisuke announced, taking off his sunglasses and getting ready to head out.
“Sure, but we’re going to nearest place on foot. We are not driving across half of Tokyo like last time” firmly stated Haru, already waiting for Daisuke at the door as if he always assumed Daisuke would come with him. However, he didn’t want to admit to always subconsciously waiting for Kambe to follow.
“So, can I stay over tomorrow?” Daisuke asked as they were going back from getting lunch; cold drinks and bags in their hands.
“Huh? You mean on the weekend? And from your tone I’m guessing you mean an overnight stay, is there some occasion I don’t know about?”
Daisuke thought for a moment before he answered. “… Nothing in particular. Can’t I just want to stay over at my lover’s place? Especially that we have very few breaks from missions as such when we get to stay in Japan. I just… want to eat some of your cooking back at your place as we used to”. A slight blush appeared on Daisuke’s ears.
Haru’s face wasn’t so discreet and his reaction to Daisuke’s reasoning was clearly seen on his cheeks. “O-of course not. Fine, you can come, but I’m going to be very late at home, I promised to help out a friend with some work around his new home and I’ll have to do the shopping, my fridge is empty. I’m guessing I could be at home only around midnight”. Haru took a sip of a cold drink in his hand, hoping it’ll cool his face and make his behaviour at least a little more natural. Even though they’ve been dating for some time now, these sudden propositions from Daisuke still take Haru off guard and he’s not sure how to behave.
“That’s fine, I’m also gonna be busy until late anyways… Even midnight is okay”.
“HAH? Oi Kambe, wasn’t you the one who wanted to come? What do you mean busy?”
“I want to come. I just couldn’t do anything about this… business I have to take care of. Please go to the shop on your way home without me and buy what you want, I’ll just go straight to your apartment. You gave me the key for a reason, I'll just use it if we pass each other” he explained calmly.
There was a certainty in Daisuke’s voice, and yet Haru felt like there was more to it. However, knowing his partner well by now, it was no use questioning him more for now. “Fine, but don’t complain later that I got the wrong ingredients, I’ll take only MY tastes in consideration”.
“Sure” answered Daisuke with a slight smirk on his face. “I can’t wait to taste it”.
“I think I have everything. I hope he’ll like it…” Haru mumbled to himself as he was heading home from the shop with a bag full of food and alcohol. Even though he declared buying stuff for himself only, they were all Daisuke’s favourites. Well, maybe besides natto, but it’s a must at this point. He looked up to see lights being on in his apartment. He hurried and went inside to welcome properly his guest. “I’m back” he announced, his tiredness from running up the stairs showing in his uneven breathing.
“Welcome home” could be heard from the living room. Daisuke got up and stood in the door frame. His hair already down from the shower, he was dressed in Haru’s clothes, Daisuke’s favourite red hoodie. There was a smudge of something white on his cheek, standing out from his overall clean appearance. “You’re probably tired, go take a bath, I’ll take those bags from you”.
“I see you managed to do a lot before I came here. So no work after all, huh?”
“I just… finished earlier. Don’t worry about it, just hurry and go take a bath” Daisuke’s ears were covered in blush again, however his bangs covered them enough for Haru to not notice from afar.
“Oi, so you want to say I stink so much you won’t let me into the living room? Fine, fine, I’m going to the bathroom, just don’t burn the kitchen while I’m gone” Haru joked, clearly reminding Daisuke his last cooking attempts that luckily weren’t carried out in his kitchen. He gave the bags and his brown hoodie to Daisuke and headed to the bathroom. “Oh, and one last thing, you have something on your face, I hope its not my pudding, it’s a limited edition one” He smirked as he saw Daisuke quickly trying to clean his face, his red ears now clearly visible. “I’m going in”.
Daisuke was definitely doing something out there, but it didn’t sounded as if it’s something dangerous enough for Haru to intervene, so he just let him be. He hoped it’s just him struggling with the shopping bags, but Daisuke was unpredictable. He definitely came here today with some goal in mind, but Haru didn’t get to ask him more thoroughly about it. Whatever it is, at least its not a burning kitchen.
When he got out of the bath, the arrows on the clock almost showed the number 12. Daisuke was nowhere to be found in the kitchen. “Oi Daisuke, I hope you’re not already drunk there” he started saying as he slided the door to the living room. “And what was all that no-“
“Happy Birthday, inspector Haru” Daisuke said softly, a rare, slight smile on his face. In his hands there was a white cake with a whipped cream and strawberries, both unevenly put on top, a candle in a shape of “31” put in the middle. “I know it doesn’t look the best, but I tried. This is actually my 31st attempt, you know. I had to get some help from Suzue in the end, but I promise you I did most of it myself” he said proudly, though not as confidently as usual.
Haru’s surprised face quickly softened, a blush appeared on his cheeks as he was looking at the man before him. It's 2nd May, his birthday. For a few years he eother totally forgot about them or just celebrated quietly at home by himself, only alcohol at his side. But now he has someone who won't let him be alone on this day. He blew the lit candle and took the cake in one hand pulling it away so he could reach his partners lips. “Let me tell you, this was certainly not what I was expecting after you so obviously wanted to do something” he chuckled and put away the cake on the small table.
“Well, I’m sorry for being so bad at this, mister I-know-everything. Actually there’s something else I have for you”. He reached for a small box and a book that was lying on the table. His hands were slightly shaking. He passed the box first.
“What is this, are you proposing already?” Haru joked while he tried to open the box, being slightly scared that daisuke was capable of proposing to him at any moment. Inside was a little black ball that he knew very well. “HEUSC?”
“I always give you a spare one so I thought it’s time for you to have one of your own. It’s personalized to you and will camouflage into your ear if you want to. I know you complained that sometimes it’s too unfitting and people get suspicious”. He couldn’t bear the eye contact at this point and looked away to the side. “I do hope you’ll wear it proudly when you’re not undercover tough…” He mumbled quietly, not being sure if he wanted this confession to be heard.
“I’ll gladly wear it once I actually get my ears pierced” Haru landed another kiss, this time on one of Daisuke’s rose-coloured ears. “Thank you. But what is this other thing? I would’ve never expected you to get me a book. You usually go overboard trying to gift me stuff like private jets or islands” he was curiously looking at the thick black book that Daisuke hugged out of some childish habit while he tried to hide his embarrassment. Haru reached out his hand in a suggestive gesture and Daisuke complied, giving it to the taller man. When Katou looked inside it turned to be something way different from normal a book. Plastic pages were filled with photos of them. He only slightly looked through but he could tell most of them are from their missions. There were also some photos of MCPTF and few with Daisuke that were definitely chosen by Suzue and Saeki. “What is… How…? What?” Haru was expecting a lot of different things from Daisuke, but a photo album was not one of them.
“Suzue and Saeki-san suggested it. Well, they said I should get you something that’s not inherently materialistic. And I remembered you talking about not having any albums with yourself when you were looking at my… mom’s one. I hope you like it” his voice lacked the usual confidence. “But if not I can still get you that island-“ Daisuke was firmly pulled into a hug by Haru’s hand. He buried his face in his partner’s neck and immediately calmed down. “ Oh and sorry for making you anxious. You know, with that spying thing. But HEUSC is always monitoring our missions and you know that! I just asked them to get a little closer past few months to get better quality. You should pay more attention to what I’m saying to you”.
“Yes, yes. You on the other hand seem to listen carefully to everything I say. I really appreciate it” He released Daisuke from the hug and sat on the ground, putting the album away on the table. “C’mon, let’s celebrate, we have a whole night for ourselves” Haru smiled, his eyes were brimming with happiness.
“I’ll get the alcohol then”. He wanted to escape, to cool down and keep his usual composed impression. This was a first celebration like this for Daisuke and he was not prepared for any of this. However, before he could move even an inch, His arm was pulled by a strong hand. He was so surprised, he let himself be pulled down by it and landed in Haru’s laps.
“We don’t need alcohol today, this is perfect. Just stay with me here, we have a whole night just to ourselves” Before Daisuke could answer to any of that, Haru shut him up with kiss. “So let’s start with this cake, shall we? And next time, let me teach you some baking, okay?”