Chapter Text
"Have you thought about getting married and settling down?"
Daisuke is taken by surprise by the proposition. He chugs down the shot in his hand and raises his eyebrows in confusion. An hour prior, Haru and Daisuke had finally managed to get their hands on the final boss of a major adollium syndicate. When Katou had suggested they celebrate the closure of the case over a couple of drinks, this isn't the kind of conversation he had envisioned.
"I haven't given it much thought," Daisuke admits. He stirs his whiskey absently and tries to think of himself with a wife and maybe a couple of kids. He scrunches his nose. Yeah, he doesn't want that.
Katou hums. "I am getting old," he says after a while, hands running over his tie as he loosens it up a little.
Daisuke meets his champagne eyes, and there is a hint of uncertainty in them as if considering whether to verbalize his thoughts.
Daisuke clears his throat and mutters, "You can tell me anything. I won't judge."
Katou's shoulders visibly relax, the tension melts away from them. He smiled softly at Daisuke. It's nice and homely, to know someone appreciates his company.
"Thanks. I've just been thinking lately. Do you want to get married?"
Daisuke frowns. "What does it have to do with you? I don't understand."
Katou groans and rolls his eyes. "I mean to me, Kambe, to me. Do you want to get married to me?"
His frown deepens. "Shouldn't you say I love you or ask me out on a date first?" He tilts his head, squinting through his blue eyes.
"No, I mean," Katou begins again. There is a flush over his nose that brings out his pretty freckles. It's cute, Daisuke notes.
"You don't like me," Katou states.
"It's rude to assume, inspector," Daisuke says, just to be petty. And also because Katou is annoying so he deserves it.
Katou rolls his eyes. "Well, do you?"
“I like you enough, I suppose,” he says.
“I’m serious, Daisuke. Do you like-like me?”
Daisuke pauses, considers the question for a bit. What does it mean to like someone? He sure as hell doesn’t know. He shrugs and shakes his head sideways. You can’t like someone without knowing how to like first, can you?
Katou hums. “You don’t like me and I,” he says, “I don’t like you either, but marriage has plenty of social benefits.”
“I don’t see how I can benefit. I don’t need marital tax cuts.”
“It’s not about the tax cuts. Believe it or not, I can pay my taxes just fine,” Katou rolls his eyes.
“Then what kind of benefits are we talking about?”
“Medical benefits. I am getting old, and with the nature of our job, it’s not long before I wind up in a hospital again. I’d rather my family not have to deal with the medical decision-making in such a case. I don’t think I have ever heard my mother cry so much,” he says, as he absently traces his thigh where he had been shot some eighteen months ago.
An image of a hurt Katou, bleeding, bullet wound in the abdomen, and choking to death flashes past his mind. He feels a chill down his spine.
“That’s not fair to me,” he replies and feels a hollowness in his chest.
“It isn’t,” Katou agrees. “Forget it. It was a stupid suggestion anyway. The wine’s probably getting to my head.”
Forget it, he can’t. Daisuke waves off the conversation and steers the conversation towards Suzue’s new technology and then they are talking about the new cafe that opened downtown if they can spare to stop by before they leave for Japan. But for the rest of the night, he can’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to tie a legal bond with Katou.
It wouldn't be much different, Daisuke supposes. He has seen Katou more than anyone else in the last two years. He knows how he likes his coffee and what his quirks are, and likewise, Katou knows him.
It was a convenient idea.
***
They are in London for a mission. The wind smells like rain and exhaust. There is the silent hum of the rustling trees overhead and the songs of the free-flowing Thames. The Big Ben stands upright, high and mighty before them. The gold walls gleam with a dull undertone under the hazy sunlight, and the sky seems to be barely holding into the clouds that threaten to burst into a million raindrops.
"It's always raining here," Katou remarks.
"That's England for you."
"It's okay. I like the rain," he smiles softly. "Should I make Katsudon today? The weather will complement the dish."
"I'd like that," Daisuke replies. "We could go grocery shopping after the raid if you want."
"Ah, yeah. I think we ran out of cumin and cinnamon."
Daisuke nods and doesn't say anything in response. A calm silence settles between the two as they walk side by side, exploring the city like proper tourists. Katou is dressed in a warm beige overcoat and black boots to match the weather. Beside him, Daisuke is wearing his usual outfit with a black velvet coat thrown over.
"The big ben is just as big as I thought it would be," Katou mumbles, shoulders brushing with Daisuke a little.
"You sound surprised."
"I am kind of used to things not living up to my expectations," he laughs, looking straight at the long gold tower. The cloudy sky is reflected over his aureate irises, and he appears lost in thought. There is a pink flush on his cheeks, courtesy of the prickly wind.
"I see," Daisuke replies, watching Katou as they walk. More gothic architecture pops up as they round the corner. The spiky arches pierce the sky and look like a crown.
"Does London live up to your expectations?" He asks, eventually. Katou pauses briefly, shoves his hands in the pockets of his coat. Daisuke continues staring far ahead, the pinprick feeling that he was overstepping boundaries causing his cheeks to flush.
Katou's eyes fall on him, an intense stare paralyzing him. "It's your home, isn't it?" He says instead.
"I lived here before returning to Japan, correct," he says, unsure of what the other was asking about.
"Is it important to you?"
"It's not Japan," Daisuke says. Katou nods his head, looking away to focus on the path ahead again. "But it shaped me."
London, to him, is memories of being too weak, of hiding under masks and petty fights. It was a time he would rather forget. But at the same time, he is proud of himself for overcoming utter despair. So, it's a place of nostalgia, a montage of how far he has come.
The fawn-haired detective gazes at him with a fond smile. "London didn't disappoint."
For some reason, Daisuke finds it hard to look away.
***
The next time Katou and Daisuke discuss marriage, it’s when Daisuke proposes.
They were still in London. The afternoon had passed by like a hazy dream, touring the land of the city like proper tourists, dressed well in mittens and trench coats, equal parts window shopping, and buying souvenirs.
It was nice, like a hazy dream. But then night fell, and the city was washed in magical gold. The traces of rain have evaporated in thin air and all that’s left is a beauty that can’t be theirs because…
...because right now, Daisuke is pushed up against Katou, chest pressed together, faces barely inches away. The scent of dish soap and moss cloak the air in a humid silence. Daisuke can feel the rising and falling of Katou's chest, his breath brushing against his cheek.
"Should we go out now?" Katou whispers. In the scant light, beads of sweat forming over Katou's scrunched eyebrows shimmer.
Outside, there is an adollium transaction going on. A stocky woman with black hair, dressed in a black tuxedo is smoking a cigar casually while the dealer is talking over the terms, nodding now and then. There is a bag beside her presumably full of money. The dealer on the other hand is a green-haired androgynous person dressed in a grey sweater and black slacks. They are up on the top floor of an 11 story hospital. Some bouncers guard the door.
The room itself is very big and very scant; a storeroom holding broken wooden tables, mountains of plastic cups, steel bars, and cardboard boxes spread across the room, mostly leaning over the walls and leaving the center of the room empty and unused.
“One more minute. Backup is still ten minutes away,” Daisuke whispers, voice croaky and breathless. Katou's earlobe brushes slightly against his lips and it sends shivers down his spine. Katou’s hot breath prickles his neck and he can’t tell anymore if waiting longer really is a better idea.
Katou simply nods, his eyes glowing and it looks like determination. They stay suspended in that position, far too close, far too dark and it feels like the perfect place to sneak in a kiss or two, except they are not lovers and partners don’t do that.
“Backup has arrived. They have closed the exits. No one can exit now,” Daisuke informs Katou as soon as he gets it. Katou gives him a single nod, causing light brown hair to fall over his gold eyes.
Katou bursts open the cupboard door, exposing the two of them to the party of people. Everyone’s eyes fall on them and the bouncers ready themselves to take care of the problem. Daisuke positions himself behind the older cop, their backs almost touching.
“Let’s do this,” Katou whispers, and even though Daisuke can’t see his face he knows Katou is smirking. What an adrenaline junkie, not that Daisuke can talk.
The fight lasts a total of two minutes. Daisuke knocks out a tooth or two, relying on his knuckles and fast feet to take down his opponents. They are big and strong, but their skills are mostly dormant, nowhere near used to having to fight as often as them. So, sometimes, they leave an opening in their stance or aren’t fast enough. It also makes him smirk, how often they fall for his feints.
Katou, on the other side, is gentler. He focuses more on destabilizing the guard. He relies on Judo flips mostly. They are more time-consuming, but also more effective in comparison to single punches. It’s noisy and loud. The air smells of sweat and offhandedly, Daisuke wonders if Katou tastes iron in his mouth too.
Daisuke dives in headfirst and takes out the last bouncer with a heavy punch. He falls to the ground, crouching over to nurse his bruised jaw. He brushes his knuckles, which are a little rough and swollen, and prepares himself mentally to take down the main boss. However, before he can do that, he feels a body hit him from behind, and before he even hits the ground, a gunshot goes off.
The floor is hard against his bones and it stings, but Daisuke can barely give the pain blossoming any time as he sees blood seeping into his white shirt. His heart drops in his stomach as he rolls over, pushing off the body over him--
--and of course, it’s Haru. Haru with a heart too big and too reckless had jumped in the way of a bullet. It’s stupid that he would do something as dumb as taking a bullet for him. For a second, his thoughts halt and all he can do is stare dumbfoundedly as the crimson red starts to color the marble tiles. Haru is curled up and crooning in pain. Blood flows through his grasp on the wound, and Daisuke feels stuck in time.
Taking a deep breath, he closes the distance between the shooter--the woman in a black tuxedo--in two strides and before she can comprehend it, he knocks out the gun from her grasp. It lands with a single clack sound. Breathing slowly, he decides to take her out the proper way. She tries to land a punch on him but he swiftly dodges. The second where she loses her balance after throwing the punch, he takes the opportunity to grab her arm and pin it behind her back. Then, just like he has seen Katou do so many times, he flips her in mid-air and pins her to the floor.
Just then, the local cops finally show up. A sigh of relief escapes him without permission and immediately rushes to Katou’s side. He knows enough first aid to know the blood loss isn’t a good sign. He takes off his black blazer and ties it tightly over Katou’s wound. Katou looks in a daze, oscillating between states of consciousness. The color slowly drains from his voice.
“Katou, please tell me you're alright,” he says, shaking him slightly, feeling a little desperate.
“It hur's” Haru slurs, eyes fluttering slightly.
“The paramedics will be here soon. Stay with me till then?”
“‘M tired”
“I know. But you can’t sleep, not yet,” he says.
The night drags on longer than anyone would have liked and Katou doesn't make katsudon for the two of them that night. The sky is unfairly quiet, not that Daisuke knows that, confined within pristine white walls that glow under the fluorescent light. There is a distinct smell of bleach the expensive air fresheners can't quite cover. The hallway is mostly empty, the rows of plush black leather sofas empty next to him.
He loosens his tie and sits in his blood-soaked shirt and waits for the doctor to come out and give him updates because being co-workers means there are legal boundaries and to be fair, it's stupid. How can anyone see in a pool of blood and rest until they know if the person is okay?
Eventually, the doctor does come out. There are bags under his eyes and he looks like he just wants to retire for the day. He talks about the complications in Katou's liver, the inevitable surgeries they need to do, and the risks involved in them, but he doesn’t talk to him about it even though he was the one putting his life on the line with Katou. Instead, he is talking to a frantic Mrs. Katou. Over the phone, across miles.
Kambe doesn’t know why it bothers him so much. The surgery proceeds and Katou continues to sleep through all of it. Morning arrives, Daisuke wakes up with slight back pain; he’s too old to be falling asleep sitting. The white lights and nurses hurrying about reminds him of everything that passed the previous night. He can’t help but wonder if Katou woke up while he was asleep. He is less than perfect at the moment, drool sticking to his cheek and crinkled shirts.
He peeks a look at Katou’s room, expecting to see a peacefully sleeping Katou. Instead, he is greeted with the image of him awake, leaning against the metal head of the bed as another woman, probably his mother, chews him out. He looks dazed like he is barely listening but there is a soft smile on his lips. It seems like he is trying to comfort his mother.
The woman looks like she hasn’t slept in a while. She is yelling at Haru, about taking care of himself and how the paycheck isn’t worth it. She looks a bit like a mother cub, ready to take on the world all by herself to protect her child. Daisuke bites his lips and leaves the room before anyone notices.
***
“I heard you waited all night.”
They are alone in the room. Katou’s mother has left to get lunch in the hospital cafeteria and the nurses have just adjusted the equipment and left him his lunch.
“What if I did?” he says nonchalantly. “The doctor says you can’t work for another four months.”
Katou groans in front of him, closing his eyes so the long shadows are cast over his cheeks by the overhead lights. He throws Kambe a pointed look. “And you? Do you just get to keep working? How is that fair?”
“Because some idiot took a bullet for me, I can,” he replies, without bothering to cover the bitterness he feels.
“Shouldn’t you say thank you first?”
Daisuke glares at him. “Why else would you hurt yourself like that? It wasn’t even going to hit you. You, like an utter idiot, put yourself in front of it. Why should I thank you for that?”
“I didn’t think it would hit me,” Katou confesses.
“What?”
“Hear me out! I thought I could push both of us out of the bullet’s way on time. But I was too late and I got hit. What can I say, bullets and I have high compatibility,” he grins. Kambe flinches. “That wasn’t funny, sorry.”
“It wasn’t. You know people can die from gunshots, don’t you? Why did you do that?” Kambe repeats, the slight desperation dripping his tone. He fixes Katou with a cold stare. The silence between them, and for some reason, it feels like Katou can hear the unspoken words. The ‘I was so worried’ and the ‘i thought you might die' and the ‘please, don’t leave me.’
“I’m sorry. You would have died otherwise.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“She was aiming at your heart. She shot with the intent to kill.”
Katou lies in a hospital gown, immobile and hooked to too many pipes but the intensity in his eyes doesn’t fade. Always the hero, Daisuke thinks. He looks away, eyes settling on the clouds outside. They sit in silence, each in their thoughts.
***
“Marry me.”
It’s been a week since the incident. They are still in London because Katou has been declared unfit for flying. They just dropped Katou’s mother off at the airport. Katou himself is walking back and forth with the help of a crutch to avoid putting too much weight on his abdomen. Now and then, he winces in pain. Kambe sits on a large rocking chair dressed in a satin robe when he mutters the words.
As soon as the words slip past his lips, Katou almost tumbles over. Wincing in pain, he stands up straighter and slowly walks towards the bed, and sits down on the edge. Daisuke stares at him expectantly. A flush rises up the older cop’s neck.
“What do you mean?” he chuckles, looking away from Kambe.
“In Helsinki, you said getting married will be convenient. I think you were right.”
“No.”
The words catch him a little off-guard, even Katou looks surprised by his own outburst. Kambe quickly composes himself, closing the book to look Katou in the eye. “You were the one who suggested it first anyway.”
He’s petty. The rejection hurts more than he had expected. It stings somewhat. He has never been faced with such outright refusal. It makes him feel out of control. That’s all it is, he may not be able to quite point at why he feels so downturned by the ‘no’ but it has to be the prospect of not winning at something.
***
Autumn crisps and falls away, welcoming the chilling November air. Daisuke stands in front of his mansion, the cold wind nibbling at his cheeks. A petite girl with long white hair and big vibrant red eyes holds onto his pinky finger. Beside them, Haru is chattering endlessly with the quiet girl, filling the silence for all of them.
They are about to enter when his phone rings. He beckons them to continue while he picks up the calls.
“What am I hearing now, Daisuke?” Kikuko Kambe’s authoritative voice resounds through the call. He feels like a small misbehaving child all over again. “Did you really end our partnership with Ayoma Industries?”
“They were criminals, grandma,” he says calmly, betraying the anxiety he feels. “It would have been bad for our brand reputation.”
“You could have helped them cover up their tracks and prevented the scandal from happening in the first place,” she reproaches.
“They were experimenting on human kids, grandma. Kids as young as seven,” he sighs exasperated.
“We are businessmen. We don’t decide what is right or wrong.”
“Do you expect me to turn a blind eye to little kids being abused?” he finally asks, feeling frustrated.
“I should have taken you away from Haru a lot sooner. You’re starting to sound foolish,” she exhales loudly.
“What are you talking about? It’s only human that I don’t want them to be exploited like that,” he defends quickly, but he knows his grandmother isn’t completely wrong. “And there is nothing you can do about it anyway. You can’t stop me.”
He hangs up. When he enters the house, he is met with the sight of Katou, crouching to be on eye-level with the little kid. She seems to be close to tears but Katou’s gentle voice soothes her. They both look up, to meet his eyes.
“Kambe,” Katou starts before he can even say anything. “We need to do something about her.”
She was one of the many kids they rescued but whilst most of them had parents who sent them to the research institute thinking it was a gifted children’s program, her parents were part of the crew of scientists who conducted the research. So now that the unethical practices had been exposed, she had nowhere to go.
“Let’s adopt her.”
“We need to be married for that,” Katou snorts.
Kikuko flashes past his eyes. The aghast look on her face if he actually goes through it; she would probably lose her mind. He smirks and fixes Katou with an intense stare. “So be it then.”