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Kazuha frowns softly as the street lights turn on around him. With a defeated sigh, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. He’s quick to unlock the device and find his messages app. Disappointment only grows as he sees that there are no messages from Heizou, who he was supposed to meet nearly forty minutes ago.
“I’ll see you there at eight! I promise, ty for being so patient, Kazuha. I really owe you. (・ω<)”
Kazuha stares at the messages that had followed the exchange for setting up their fourth attempt at a real date, including the ones he’d sent while waiting. He’d tried asking if Heizou was okay, if he was still up for the date, or even on his way. No reply. Kazuha tries to call, but it only rings to voice mail.
Sighing, he nearly locks the device, pausing as he sees a message come through. Unfortunately, it's not from Heizou, but from Botan Sango. It wasn’t anything Kazuha needed to reply to at that moment. She’d just been agreeing to meet up with Kazuha to discuss Heizou. More so, that Kazuha wanted to warn her that he had every intention of telling Heizou about his past and why the detective couldn’t remember anything about himself before the age of fourteen.
The same steady weight forms in Kazuha’s gut. The one of guilt and deceit that has been nagging him since he and Heizou had their tryst a few months ago. Kazuha glances at the clock. It mocks him, showing that it was now a quarter to nine and he was yet to hear from Heizou at all. Dammit.
Kazuha liked to think of himself as a patient man, but he had reached his limit. Determined to see his elusive boyfriend, Kazuha decides that he would leave the restaurant and bring the date to Heizou. Kazuha stuffs his phone into his pocket as he makes his way to his car. He slips into the driver’s seat and sets off towards the Tenryou Commission Station. There was a konbini just up the street from the office and Kazuha figured that, although not ideal, if anything he could still bring Heizou something to eat.
It wasn’t entirely Heizou’s fault that they hadn’t gotten to see one another. Even though he was more often than not the one to cancel for last minute cases and late nights, Kazuha had also canceled on Heizou several times. Tonight though, he’d just been so hopeful to see his boyfriend that the thought of not seeing him made Kazuha physically upset.
The drive didn’t take long, and Kazuha parks his car between the konbini and the Tenryou Commission Station. He tries calling Heizou once more, only to again hear the now familiar voice mail;
“This is Shikanoin Heizou, leave a message.”
Kazuha begins to pace the aisle looking for foods that he knows Heizou would like. Nothing too simple, Heizou didn’t like things like onigiri or things with visibly raw meat (Which Kazuha was surprised to find out, but it made sense, given the carnage Heizou could unleash if he’d been uncollared).
In his pocket, Kazuha’s phone began to chime, it was Heizou! Excitedly he practically breaks his screen to accept the call. “Heizou?”
There’s a moment before a hushed voice says, “No. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m Kujou Sara. Heizou’s boss. I had seen your call. Heizou is currently asleep.”
Kazuha deflates with a sigh. “I see.” He glances down to the few items that he’d gathered up, ready to abandon his idea all together. “Thank you for letting me know. I guess I’ll let him be then.”
“Actually, I was hoping for the opposite,” Sara begins to explain. “I think it would do him good to be reminded that there is an entire world outside of his office, again. Would you mind stopping by?”
Kazuha can’t help the playful smirk that crosses his lips. “I think I can manage that,” he agrees. The two of them hang up and Kazuha goes about finishing the shopping and paying for the items for their makeshift picnic. He waits as a few of the items are heated up by the cashier, all the while his excitement grows as he anticipates finally seeing Heizou again. Soon enough, Kazuha is walking towards the station, the bag of food dangling by his finger tips as he walks. Stepping inside, he’s immediately hit by an unexpected wave of nostalgia for the first time he’d met the young detective.
It had been one early morning that Kazuha had gone in and asked to speak to Heizou nearly two years ago now. He’d needed to wait for Heizou to arrive and made himself at home in the detective’s office.
Of course their first meeting had been tense.
“I wanted to thank you in person,”
Kazuha had explained from his seat on the couch.
“You’ve helped a few of my men. I heard about your interest in an old cold case from a few years ago and wanted to offer some information I had on it.”
Heizou had looked at him with such a sharpness in his eyes Kazuha realized now how the detective could easily manage to get any information he wanted out of his suspects.
“I’m not going to turn dirty for leads,”
Heizou had seethed.
Appreciating the man’s stony conviction, Kazuha had only smiled.
“I would never dream of it. I came here to share this with you willingly.”
That had been the start of their queer friendship. “Ah, Kaedehara.” Sara’s voice is familiar as she stops him just outside Heizou’s office. “Thank you for coming. He was still out cold when I brought his phone back.”
“I’m glad to help.” Kazuha smiles before nodding to the door. “I’ll be going in now.” He excuses himself as he slips inside Heizou’s office. It's not much different from his first visit. Only this time the detective is curled up on the couch Kazuha had once waited for him on. Kazuha smiles at the carefree way Heizou is sleeping, face squished against the small throw pillow with one arm hanging off the edge of the sofa, knuckles lightly scraping against the rough carpet.
As silently as possible, Kazuha closes the door behind himself and reaches into the bag for the bottle of tea he’d bought for them to share. It’s a little mean, maybe… Probably, but he presses the chilled plastic to Heizou’s cheek and jumps back the moment the detective jolts awake.
“Man alive!” Heizou nearly shouts with a gasp. He blinks in shock as he becomes aware of his surroundings and sees Kazuha. Heizou’s confused doe-ish expression urges a gentle laugh from Kazuha. Then the wide-eyed look turns to confusion. “Kazuha? What are you– OUR DATE!” He dives for his phone and groans as he takes notice of the time. “Kazuha I’m so, so sorry.” Heizou deflates, tossing his phone across the table, uncaring when it slides off the other side and falls to the floor.
“Don’t be,” Kazuha tells him as he deposits the bag of convenience store food on the table, casually picking up Heizou's phone and carefully setting it on the table as well. “I figured maybe instead of going out, it’d be best if I just brought the date to you,” he explains. “I also reckon the cases you’re working on must be getting to you again.”
“Honestly, that was probably the first time I’ve slept in a day and a half,” Heizou admits, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Still, I-”
“Heizou, it's alright. I admire your ambition, you know that,” Kazuha assures him as he begins to lay out the mini feast for the two of them. “I’ll admit, I was annoyed you didn’t answer, or give me any warning. However, I also know you’re being harder on yourself than I could ever be.” Kazuha finishes his statement by shoving a pair of chopsticks against Heizou’s palm, saying firmly, “Please, eat.”
Judging by the adorable pout from Heizou, there was more he’d wanted to say. Kazuha looks away from him and breaks his chopsticks, offering thanks for the meal without acknowledging Heizou until he hears him do the same and begin to eat beside him.
“So I know you can not tell me much about the cases, but how was your day?”
Heizou swallows his first bite of chicken karaage and nods. “Fine, for the most part. I had a date with you to look forward to.” Heizou shrugs. “It got me through the most boring part of logging evidence and documenting statements. How about yours?”
They fall into idle chit-chat, Kazuha pausing to push more food towards Heizou, until the detective puts down his chopsticks, letting them rest against one of the plastic lids. “Listen, Kazuha. I really am sorry,” he begins and before Kazuha can stop him, Heizou continues, “I just wanted to say that I do really appreciate you. My habit of working like this, it's definitely cost me relationships, in the past.” Heizou looks down at his hands, it's clear he’s worried.
Kazuha takes Heizou’s hand, offering an assuring squeeze before he reaches up to turn Heizou’s head towards him. He plants a loving, gentle kiss on Heizou’s lips. “You don’t have to worry. Just try to keep me in the loop next time, please?”
Heizou rests his forehead against Kazuha’s. “Yeah. Okay.” He moves to press a kiss to Kazuha’s forehead before turning back to their food. “You know,” Heizou hums as he tosses another piece of karaage into his mouth. “I do have a lot of vacation days saved up,” he explains. “What if we took a trip or something together? That’d definitely force me to stop working for a few days.”
“Hmmm,” Kazuha hums, “I suppose I’ve never been stood up in an airport before, that could be fun.” He teases, earning a slap to the arm from Heizou. “I’m joking! I’m joking.” He laughs, leaning forward to kiss Heizou again. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I could slip into a food coma,” Heizou admits.
“I could drive you home,” Kazuha offers.
“No, I should get up, I have more to–”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Sara cuts in, leaning against the door frame. “Please do.”
“Hey!” Heizou gawks. “Don’t you know how to knock?”
“I did.” Sara snorts. “However it seems that the two of you didn’t notice.” She crosses her arms as she walks into the office. “You do need to go home and actually sleep. Not nap on a couch.”
Heizou rolls his eyes, but doesn’t argue.
“Sorry for cutting your date short,” Sara apologizes as she turns to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, Heizou.”
“Come on, lets get this cleaned up and get you home.”
It doesn’t take them long to get their dinner date cleaned up and the trash properly sorted before heading out to Kazuha’s car. The drive to Heizou and Sango’s apartment is nice. As he drives, Kazuha steals a glance down to his hand, Heizou's clasped hands resting over the center console. “When would you want to go?” Kazuha asks.
“Go?” Heizou asks, arching an eyebrow.
“That trip you suggested,” Kazuha reminds him. “When and where?” He pulls to a stop outside of the apartment building, watching Heizou as he ponders his options. “You don’t need to answer now of course,” he tells him. “Think about it.”
“I will.” Heizou smiles, leaning forward to steal another kiss and again saying, “Thank you again, Kazuha. I’m happy you’ve turned into someone I can trust.”
For a moment as Kazuha stares at Heizou, he sees him as he looked when they were teens. Only Heizou was gaunt, with tired, hollow eyes. Covered in viscera from slaying the other test subjects. Kazuha had been horrified by the carnage someone so small could unleash, but was pained by the sadness and grief clinging to him moments before Heizou had fainted.
He looks away, then back. Heizou looks as he always does once again. Now an adult in his mid-twenties, just like Kazuha. The guilt gnaws at him, and Kazuha nearly opens his mouth to tell Heizou that they need to talk, so he can finally get it off his chest.
Only, Heizou kisses him again, and again. “I should get upstairs, you’re not the only one wondering where I am,” Heizou whispers. “Thank you for the date and the ride.” He presses a third kiss to Kazuha’s lips. “Text me!” he shouts back before closing the door and jogging toward the apartment door.
Kazuha forces a smile and waves when Heizou looks back.
He needs to tell him. He’s going to tell him. Kazuha just hopes that Heizou will forgive him.