justonetruth | (no subject)

[And that? That was a definite crack as Toichi looked at Kaito and the pain and sadness showed. His son was a ghost. The evidence didn't lie and good Kaito may be, he couldn't pull off something like this.

Which meant his son...was dead.]

I... [Match cracked Poker Face for cracked Poker Face. They're like mirrors at the moment.]

If it's any consolation, I think I'm the only me like, um. This. I haven't heard of any.. other.. [He trails off as he realises he's Not Helping.]

Just one...is enough. [A parent never wants to see their child dead. And so young just hurt all the more. Especially when he had just seen Kaito alive and well, even if he was fuming about 'annoying mop wielding demons.']

Y-yeah. I agree. More than enough.

[A shuddering breath, more for his feeling like he needed it than actually.. needing it.]

What happened? [He needed to know. Whatever it was...he just needed to know what happened to him.]

I... [Attempting to get some semblance of Poker Face back together again in front of dad isn't as easy as he'd wish it was. But he needs it, just to talk about this with him at all.

And then he remembers he doesn't have to say anything, and it's going to hurt this time, but at least it's going to be a good, clean sort of hurt, rather than the long, drawn out sort. Right? He hopes.

A dramatic snap of the fingers later, and he's Kid. And, like always, a tiny bit more distanced from things. Not by much, but enough.]

While I was like this. The rules got broken. There was no one else, but this was far more than enough.

[The first thought he thought he actually went with the doppleganger idea. Which would be fun, having two or maybe even three Kid's around if Jii was up to it, but...

This was something more. He could tell. There was a seriousness about the rules that Kaito had here that he didn't have at home.

A deeper understanding. One he might have gotten later, but he had a feeling that it might not be the case.]

...you weren't assisting me, were you? You were center stage.

...Bingo. Got it in one. I- [Even Kid's Poker Face has to fail sometimes, even if it's only the slightest crack - and Kaito has been switching between only the two sets of clothes so long among people that knew him so well that it's easier than it should be.] -was the Kaitou Kid for around two years. Give or take. [A white-gloved hand motions to illustrate that point.]

[And with Kaito's apparent age....]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave that burden on you.

[And there are just some things poker face can do very little. It kept him from breaking down, but the pain was obvious. His son, dead because of his own failure.]

[And the hat's off, one of Kaito's hands trawling through it, frustration letting itself show by an act voluntary instead of not.]

NO. Don't - don't be like that. I - it was my choice to make.

[He's far too used to how he thinks to not recognise the opposite of survivor's guilt - the guilt of those who had left everyone else behind. He didn't need to breathe, but the motions were human and kept him feeling as though he had a place among the ones he existed among.]

I... [But he doesn't quite know what else to say. He shrugs, and purposefully puts Kid's hat down onto a clear space on the table before claiming the adjacent seat.

For a few moments, he's simply still there, letting himself calm down and compose himself and think, something that doesn't have anything really to do with Poker Face but all to do with himself and all that he's learnt since then. When he's done, he looks up with an openly somewhat brittle smile.]

If there's one thing I've learnt, it's that for me especially more than anyone else, I've got to focus on what's in front of me. If I didn't, I'd be damn useless to everyone back home who ... who's counting on me. The ones who know me like this. And right now, I...

[Another deep breath, and he stands up again properly. Head tilted to one side with that brittle smile still on his face, and it's real. For maybe the first time right now, it's real.]

I'd ... if you don't mind - I'd like to get to know you. How things were different. Anything.

[There's a sort of desperation in his eyes. Poker Face didn't shatter... it was taken off momentarily by hand. He's learnt the hard way that it's sometimes the best way.]

[For a few moments, Toichi is silent, studying the ghost of his son.

Then he gave a gentle smile and sat down across from Kaito.]

You were always a natural with the work. I've almost been tempted to convince Chikage to start storing fish in the house because you won't listen to me when I say you can't come. Of course, I should have known better when you found out by breaking into the secret room in the first place.

[He never wanted Kaito to realize how serious the business was. At least he'd manage to keep him from getting close when there was gunfire during the heists. He was going to ignore the pangs of guilt. He was still alive. He could keep Kaito away from the first of it.

And he was going to find that gem and destroy it before Kaito could enter that world center stage. At least in his world.]

[And now you've got him bug-eyed and gaping, horrified. Yes, make it fear tinged with absolute righteous indignation.]

F-fish?! Wh-why?! I - uh, that is- You couldn't have come up with anything else that'd work, could you? I-I mean, it's fish...

[A pause as he's finally able to take in the rest of what was said. And even then, he's still shivering at the thought of those things with fins being used to keep him in his own home. They were worse than ofuda.

You... you really think I'm that good? In - in your world?

[He chuckled. Really, how could he help it when Kaito reacted like that.] Oh, trust me. We've tried everything. One time I knocked you out, handcuffed you to the stairwell and even used chains and padlocks.

And you were only two minutes late. And Chikage said that was just because it took you a while to wake up again.

You're a natural Kaito. With enough experience and training, you'd be truly unstoppable. Except for maybe that Edogawa boy.

[Now that made Kaito laugh.]

Y-you really did all that? [Have some more laughter.] I actually think I can believe that one. Can't say I've been through it quite like that, but I can definitely believe it.

[Aaand, promptly, a proud yet slightly blushing grin. He chooses to forego the comment that's on the top of his head about already being unstoppable - it'd break up the nice atmosphere.]

Heh, Edogawa? We've met~ Though I can't say that he's ever been able to stop me so far.

Drastic times call for drastic measure and being subtle hadn't worked, nor being subtle as a brick. [Chuckles.] When you decide to do something, it's quite hard to deter you.

Oh, he hasn't stopped me yet, but he certainly has potential and talent, like you do.

Oh, you can say that again~! Mind if I ask what I was being trussed up to be kept away from?

[There's a twinkle back in his eye, and he's eagerly lapping up every word said. It's an experience he's never really had before, being able to talk about being a Kaitou to someone who doesn't harbour even the slightest bit of resentment to that fact still.]

I'll be sure to pass on the message the next time I see him, shall I? [The grin is in full force, and it looks for some reason like Kaito's doing his best not to start laughing again.

The heists. As soon as you learned about it, you insisted on helping. You were afraid Jiichan 'might fall asleep or break a hip or whatever happens with old people,' during a heist. I think it's mostly that you like the excitement. [Mostly. Some of it was definitely worry.]

Oh? Tell him his 'little brother' said that. I'd be interested to hear if he knows what that means.

Ah... So, how old was I when I first figured it out, then? And... pff, Jii-chan's still around where I'm from. Hasn't done either so far, but still...

The excitement? Why, whatever gave you that idea? I've got absolutely no idea what you mean. [Said somewhat dryly, but with its own share of amusement as well as a raised eyebrow.]

Oh, I'll do that. 'Little brother', huh? Something tells me there's a story behind that.

Sixteen. You noticed I was out when Ginzo-kun was working and you put two and two together. After that, you just searched until you found actual proof since accusing me wouldn't work without it.

[Smirks.] It's hard not to spot when someone has the same reason as you. [At least that had been the start. It was for excitement. Until he found out about Pandora.]

Oh, quite the story. I'm quite curious if he ever figured it out.

Hm. Probably around the time I found the hidden room by accident, then. [Well, it was an accident. The fact that it'd been time-locked didn't mean as much as the fact that he'd not known what was going on when he'd fallen through.]

Of course. But knowing Tantei-kun like I do? It's quite likely. We're quite the match when it comes to wits, I've found.

[Much to the annoyance and distress of just about anyone near them when Kaito chooses to have one of these battles of wits, too.]

It is a proper age. Too young and you might still have too black and white view of the world. [And that would put Kaito in a far more difficult position than family relations did.]

Oh, I do hope so, but he was just a child when he was given the evidence. He might not have thought of it since then and connected the pieces.

Black and white? What kind of dull person sees things in only black and white? [Grin~] Even Hakubaka's not that boring any more. And Tantei-kun's not that bad either, though that might just be because of the position he's in at the moment.

[Snickers, and they're threatening to turn into real, out-loud laughter.]

Oh, I think he's been given more than enough chances... every fifth period. [He's trying to get that laughter under control, but he's failing spectacuarly. In the process, his clothes change back into Kaito, but the top hat (slightly see-through) remains on the table. He hardly notices, though.]

A young child who doesn't know the world yet. It's part of innocence.

Every fifth period? You're on a schedule Kaito? [A dramatic gasp.] I'm surprised you don't work to keep him on his toes more. [And a grin.]

[Sage nodding.] And then we grow out of it.

Oi, I do. But fifth period's when his lot have library time. I head off to get him a break from boredom absolute, and get myself out of Hakuba's hair for a while. [A shrug with a grin.] School's only for emergencies. And when classes have gotten too boring for everyone else.

Exactly. I wanted you to have enough time to be out of it.

Oh, is that it? The books are too below his level then?

That they do.

I meant metaphorically, not just literally.

Always good to get both.

Re: Always good to get both.

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Just like the icon.

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