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Pristine white stained red, liquid dripping between his fingers even as he tried to stop it, the eye not hidden by the monocle blank and empty, the body beneath him unnaturally still and cold -
Hakuba Saguru awoke with a gasp. Shooting upright in his bed, his bedside clock told him it was just past three in the morning.
Exhaling shakily, Saguru fumbled for his lamp switch, filling the room with a warm golden light.
It was just a dream.
Kaitou KID - or rather Kuroba Kaito was still alive. Saguru had seen him yesterday in school, just like he would today. Yes, the last KID heist had involved Saguru making the discovery of assassins targeting KID, but everyone had survived.
Keeping that thought firmly in place, Saguru quietly headed into the kitchen to make tea. He wouldn't be able to go back to sleep after a dream like that, but tea and a good book should help him calm down. Saguru pointedly ignored the urge to call Kuroba and ensure he was still breathing. They didn't have that kind of relationship, no matter how much Saguru wished that wasn't the case. It was his own fault to begin with, going after KID and accusing Kuroba like that. Of all the people Saguru could develop feelings for, why did it have to be the one he made push him away -
Saguru deliberately pushed those thoughts back into the boxes they belonged. Mulling over past events he could no longer change would do him no favors. Right now, he simply needed to make tea.
In the end, Saguru stayed up the rest of the night, not willing to go back to sleep and risk seeing the nightmare again. Instead, he stayed in his room until it was time to leave for school, convincing Baaya he had slept through the night.
-
When Saguru arrived, Kuroba and Aoko were engaged in a mop chase, although both of them seemed to be enjoying it. Once Saguru had started paying attention to Aoko's swings, he realized the girl was not actually attempting to club Kuroba's head with the mop, merely wave it at him. It was rather impressive how Aoko could make the swings look powerful when they wouldn't cause any damage should they make contact.
As Saguru sat down at his desk, Kuroba and Aoko seemed to wrap up, both of them sending mock annoyed looks at each other. Once she sat down though, Aoko's expression became more upset.
"Still, it's not fair, a selfish thief taking up Dad's time like that." She said, crossing her arms. "Why does he even bother stealing if he's just going to return them anyways?"
Kuroba made an awkward noise that sounded half like assent and half like guilt. Saguru knew why Aoko was thinking about KID today - KID had a heist tonight. The first one since -
Since Saguru had stayed behind in the building as the taskforce chased after a dummy, and heard gunshots echoing out on the roof. He had run up there as fast as he could, but by the time he opened the door, a black clothed figure was disappearing and KID had regained his usual smile. Would the unknown shooters show up at KID's next heist too? Saguru feared they would. Kuroba was quite capable, yes, but even he couldn't watch his own back all the time.
Kuroba must have noticed Saguru staring at him because he frowned. Saguru looked away, watching Kuroba out of the corner of his eye. The teen's expression had become slightly surprised by Saguru's reaction before he seemed to shrug and sat down at his own desk.
Saguru debated trying to talk to him, before deciding that any references to Kuroba's moonlight alter ego would not be appreciated. He wanted Kuroba to hate him less, not more. No matter how much Saguru wanted to know more about Kuroba's world, more about why he did what he did - they didn't have that kind of relationship.
This time though, the thought was not as easy to push away.
-
The heist went on normally, at first. KID came, stole the jewel, threw the taskforce off and likely went to the roof to glide home. When Saguru opened the door to the rooftop, he was relieved to find it empty, save for KID.
"Tantei-san." KID greeted, briefly glancing from the sky to Saguru, although KID went back to studying the sky almost immediately. Saguru followed his gaze to find KID was looking up at what would be the moon, was it not covered by clouds.
"KID." Saguru replied, considering what to do next. KID hadn't immediately tried to escape like he thought he would. What was he waiting for?
Hesitantly, Saguru took a step closer. KID acknowledged his advance, but made no move to escape. He had pulled out the jewel and was turning it over in his hands, seemingly studying it.
"I need that back." Saguru said at last, not knowing what else to do.
KID smirked at him. "I'm afraid it's mine now, Tantei-san."
"You always give the jewel back." Saguru pressed, taking another step. "Why wait?"
"I merely want to enjoy it's splendid quality for a little while." KID replied, as the moon appeared from behind the clouds. KID lifted the jewel up to the moonlight as if examining it. For a moment, Saguru was entranced by how ethereal he looked.
And then he noticed the red dot moving up KID's chest.
No. No.
It was his worst nightmare come true, and Saguru had no desire to see it. KID seemed to have noticed something was wrong, but he wasn't moving fast enough and Saguru would be damned if he let KID - Kuroba get killed if he could prevent it -
Saguru screamed out a warning, lunging at KID right as the gunshot echoed.
A searing pain rippled through his shoulder area. The next thing Saguru knew, he was laying on the ground, KID bent over him, panic breaking through his usual all-knowing expression. KID's hands were pressed against the wound, and Saguru abruptly realized KID was speaking.
"-san. Tantei-san, can you hear me?"
"...Kuroba-kun." Saguru got out, the edges of his vision starting to turn black. "Thank goodness..." He was aware his body was growing limp, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He was too tired.
"Why?" KID asked, voice breaking, not denying he was Kuroba. "Why did you jump in front of me?"
Saguru's vision was undoubtedly turning black now, and exhaustion was setting in. But KID's eyes were horror struck and he deserved an explanation.
"...D - don't want you to die." Saguru managed. "I..." He was about to pass out, but he needed Kuroba to know, just in case he didn't wake up - "I love you." He forced the words out, managing to lift his hand enough to touch KID's cheek before it dropped back down and he surrendered to unconsciousness.
-
It had all been going well. It had all been fine, so how could -
Kaito forced back a near sob, thoughts a flurry of panic. He had noticed the dot creeping up, but before he could dodge, Hakuba, the idiot had jumped in front of him and now he was bleeding and unconscious and the last thing he said was that he loved him?!
Why?
Why did this have to happen? Kaito stared numbly down at his own white gloves, stained red with Hakuba's blood. What a way to learn his feelings were reciprocated. This time a choked sob did escape him.
The sniper had left, had left as soon as they fired. Kaito didn't know why and he didn't care. He just had to keep Hakuba alive long enough to yell at him about what an idiot he was.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, familiar footsteps. Ordinarily, the sound would have caused him to start running. Now it filled Kaito with hope. Taking a deep breath, Kaito let himself fade back into KID's mindset, forcing the panic back.
"Call an ambulance!" KID ordered the moment the taskforce burst out onto the roof. "Now!"
The taskforce went wide-eyed, Nakamori immediately pulling out a phone and barking for an ambulance. The other officers didn't seem to know what to do, staring at KID and Hakuba uncertainly.
"Do any of you have experience with gunshot wounds?" KID demanded.
Some of the officers nodded hesitantly.
"Then help administer first aid." KID commanded and the officers obeyed. That seemed to shake the rest of the officers into helping, and soon Hakuba was surrounded by taskforce officers, the wails of an ambulance coming into hearing range.
KID gave a grim nod, exploding smoke on the other side of the roof, sending out a dummy to act as though he was gliding away. In reality, he slipped back into the crowd in the disguise of an officer. None of the taskforce made any attempt to chase after KID.
Once the ambulance arrived and Hakuba was safely transported into it, KID got the name of the hospital and headed after the ambulance. Hakuba was going to live, damnit. And if he didn't, well, KID would drag him back from the land of the dead himself.
-
Saguru awoke to a soft beeping. Blinking open his eyes, he discovered he was in the hospital. Blearily, he recalled the last thing he could remember. Ah yes, he got shot…well, that explained the hospital.
A quiet shifting caught his attention and Saguru turned his head slightly to see a nurse near his bed.
"Ah, sorry." She said quietly, smiling slightly at him. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just checking your -"
"Don't even try KID." Saguru murmured, briefly closing his eyes. When he opened them, the nurse was staring at him. "I know it's you." Saguru added.
The nurse pressed her lips together before sighing, pulling away her outfit to reveal KID's usual suit.
"How did you know?" The thief asked him and Saguru noticed his suit was back to spotless white.
"Your eyes." Saguru said, still quietly. "I'd recognize them anywhere, no matter who you're disguised as."
"I see." KID replied, equally as quiet. "Then, since you know it's me, perhaps you can explain why you thought it a good idea to jump in front of a bullet?"
Saguru frowned. "They were aiming for your heart." He said. How was this not obvious to KID? "You would have died."
"That doesn't explain why you would get involved." KID's voice had a slight growl to it.
"Was I supposed to stand there and watch you die?" Saguru deepened his frown. The pain medication was making him feel tired, and his usual filters weren't on.
"You're supposed to not get involved." There was definitely a growl to KID's voice now. "They are my problem. I know the dangers of being a phantom thief and I accepted them. You did not."
"It doesn't have to just be your problem." Saguru muttered. "And I know the dangers of gunshot wounds. I chose to protect you. If you can accept yourself getting shot, you should understand that others can do the same."
"But why would you?" KID pressed, sounding less composed by the second.
"You would have died." Saguru said again.
"But why do you care?" KID's voice rose and Saguru suspected it was more Kuroba behind the question. He could only blame the medication for his answer.
"Because I love you."
"Why?" KID slumped against the table, and ah, it wasn't KID anymore. It was Kuroba.
The answer came to Saguru quite easily.
"Because you're special."
Kuroba looked at him, eyes wide. Saguru ignored that, continuing on.
"You do magic tricks to cheer people up and always have a smile on your face, but you hide so much about yourself...even your true feelings. You're also KID, a phantom thief known for never killing and always returning what you steal. A high school student by day, a phantom thief by night, and I'll admit originally that's what fascinated me - but now...now it's you Kuroba-kun. I've never met another person like you before. I know you'll never return my feelings, but...I can't lose you."
For several moments Kuroba was silent. Saguru idly wondered if he'd gone too far and now Kuroba would start avoiding him more than ever.
"I can't lose you either."
Of all the things Kuroba could have said, that was not what Saguru had expected. He blinked, staring at Kuroba, wondering if he had heard wrong.
"Your feelings...your feelings aren't unrequited, I can tell you that." Kuroba murmured, huddling further against the table. "But...but do you still want to arrest KID?"
"I want to catch KID." Saguru corrected, Kuroba's eyes snapping up to meet his own. "I want to catch KID if he stumbles...I want to be there for you. Both sides of you."
Kuroba continued to stare at him, eyes filled with an emotion Saguru couldn't quite place at the moment. Then, slowly, hesitantly, Kuroba lifted up his hands to his top hat and monocle and removed them. Setting them back on the table, Kuroba moved closer. Saguru raised his good arm in a welcoming gesture.
A moment later and Kuroba was next to him, gloves off, grasping his wrist so tightly it almost hurt. For a moment Saguru wondered what he was doing before his brain caught up with him and he realized Kuroba was feeling his pulse.
"I'm alive." Saguru said quietly to him.
"The doctors said you would make a full recovery." Kuroba muttered. "But - you were so - there was so much -"
At once, Saguru understood. Kuroba had already lost the most important person to him once. To be at the risk of losing another - carefully, Saguru leaned his head against Kuroba's. Kuroba loved him back. Kuroba was scared to lose him because he was important to him. The knowledge made Saguru smile, warmth filling him. Almost immediately though, he felt his eyes start to close again. He was still very tired.
Kuroba must have noticed, because Saguru soon found himself being laid down and tucked in by the other teen. He would have protested, but he was too exhausted.
"Goodnight Saguru. Sleep well." Kuroba murmured, pressing a kiss to Saguru's forehead.
What - Saguru? Saguru opened his mouth to reply, but instead his eyes closed and he slipped back into slumber.
-
Baaya drove him home once Saguru was released from the hospital. Kaito - and Saguru got to call him that now, much to his delight - had been right, Saguru would make a full recovery. Now he simply needed to take it easy for a little while and rest.
Kaito had visited him several times in the hospital - mostly after visiting hours were closed, but Saguru wouldn't say anything - and often brought a chess board. They would often talk while playing the game and Kaito confessed his reasons for being KID – although Saguru disapproved of the danger, he understood Kaito’s motivations. Although somehow, whenever a nurse came in to check on him, both Kaito and the chessboard would vanish, only to reappear once the nurse left. Saguru chuckled at the thought as he stepped out of the car.
Upon arriving at the door, Saguru discovered a very large welcome home banner stretched out above the door. Blinking, Saguru stepped inside to be greeted by none other than Kaito himself.
"He's volunteered the spend the day looking after you, Botchama." Baaya told him, smiling. "About time." She added under her breath as she passed Saguru and Kaito and headed into the kitchen. Saguru stared after her, eyes wide. How did she -
His thoughts were interrupted by Kaito guiding him up the stairs and to his room. Once they entered, Kaito sat Saguru on a chair, fluffed the pillows on his bed and guided Saguru to move to the bed.
"Kaito - what are you doing?" Saguru asked feeling bewildered.
"Making sure my favorite detective doesn't strain himself." Kaito responded at once.
Favorite? The thought distracted Saguru for several moments before he realized Kaito was bringing his favorites books over by his bed. Oh no. Kaito was going to be in full caretaker mode.
-
Saguru glanced at Kaito out of the corner of his eye. Kaito wasn't looking at him, so maybe it was safe - Saguru began to reach for his tea.
At once, Kaito whipped around to face him. "No, let me!" He said quickly, dashing over and picking up the tea before Saguru could grab it. Saguru gave an exasperated groan as Kaito carefully placed it in his hands.
"Am I allowed to hold it to drink it?" He grumbled.
"Hmm..." Kaito considered him for a moment. "Maybe it would be better if I held it -"
"No!" Saguru quickly held the cup to his lips, narrowing his eyes at Kaito. Kaito smiled at him in response, smoothing his blankets.
Kaito had been insistent on doing everything for him all day - even going so far as to unlock Saguru's phone for him, meaning Saguru would definitely be changing his password. It was sweet but exasperating at the same time. Apparently, Kaito was far more protective than Saguru initially realized.
As nighttime fell, Kaito started to look tired. Saguru let him take the book he had finished, watching him closely. Kaito had probably tired himself out with all the caretaking he had done, but it seemed Kaito was still reassuring himself that Saguru was alive and well. Saguru sighed, taking his good arm and pulling Kaito down on the bed. Kaito gave a surprised yelp, furthering Saguru's suspicions that Kaito was becoming exhausted. Normally he could dodge without any problems.
Saguru had already prepared for bed and Kaito was in comfortable enough clothing. He tugged Kaito closer, encouraging him to lay next to him.
"What are you doing?" Kaito groaned.
"Hush. Sleep." Saguru commanded.
"What - Saguru, I haven't refilled your tea -"
"Let Baaya do it, she'll likely be happy to get her duties back from you. Now sleep. I'm alive and well and I'm not going anywhere." Saguru nudged Kaito's head to rest on his chest.
Upon hearing the steady beat of Saguru's heart, something in Kaito seemed to relax. With a soft sigh, Kaito nodded, closing his eyes. Saguru smiled slightly, leaning his own head against Kaito's, closing his eyes himself. He really did love his idiot magician. And he would protect him at all costs.