Chapter Text
Kaito had fallen in love with Shinichi many times.
He’d fallen in love with Shinichi’s brilliant mind that housed more facets than any diamond could ever hope to have, and he fell deeper every time Shinichi proved how effortlessly he could keep up with Kaito, could challenge Kaito to be the very best version of himself no matter the context.
He fell for Shinichi’s kindness and his unending willingness to help. Friend or foe, civilian or criminal, Shinichi’s hand reached out to anyone who needed it. When Kaito faltered, he was there, offering his support and taking over until Kaito could stand on his own again. Never overtaking, never leaving him behind, and every time Kaito just fell harder because how could he not? Shinichi cared. He cared so deeply it ached, and Kaito wanted to be there to care back and help him carry the weight of the world that his idiot detective insisted taking upon himself.
He fell for Shinichi’s iron determination, his unwavering morals, his belief in doing the right thing, not necessarily the lawful thing. He couldn’t help the surge of love he always felt when KID had to do something risky and dangerous and while Shinichi would berate him later for it, he’d also be right there alongside Kaito in the thick of it, playing along, planning ahead, making sure everyone made it out alive and in one piece. He’d follow Kaito anywhere, just like Kaito would follow Shinichi to the end of the world and into the darkest pits of humanity. Partners to hell and back.
This though, this was different. This was Shinichi in his house early in the morning, wearing comfortable clothes, humming off-tune, sipping coffee. This was Shinichi with less-than-immaculate hair, with sleepy eyes and dragging feet, starting his day slowly after spending the night at Kaito’s. This was Shinichi relaxed and soft and unguarded.
What made Kaito melt though was the sight of his doves cuddling around Shinichi and the absentminded way he was giving out affection – rubbing Queen’s head when he passed her where she was dozing on the couch, feeding Jack a crumb of his toast when he came begging, gently pushing Ace away when she landed on his wrist and tried to dip her beak into his coffee. And most of all, Heart perching on his shoulder and snuggling up against his cheek for warmth, and Shinichi occasionally running a finger over her chest feathers.
He'd never told Shinichi, but Heart had been his very first own dove. Of course he’d helped his father take care of the flock from a young age, but they had always been Toichi’s, not his. Then, on his seventh birthday, instead of handing over a present his father had taken him up into their attic that served as their dovecote and led him to one of the nests. It had contained only a single white egg, and his father had pointed at it and explained how this hatchling would be Kaito’s to raise and train. His responsibility. His first dove. Kaito still remembered that day clearly; it and the day Heart had hatched were two of his most precious memories and while he loved all of his doves, Heart was special.
Shinichi had quite literally saved a piece of his heart the day he took Heart in and cared for her. Kaito wasn’t sure if he’d ever given that piece back.
“You’re waxing poetry about me in your head again, aren’t you?”
Kaito sniffed. “Maybe?” Not unreasonably so, he thought. It was Shinichi’s own fault for looking so adorable.
Shinichi set down his empty mug with a roll of his eyes and shake of his head that had Heart coo half-heartedly in protest when it jostled her slightly. He smiled apologetically and gave her some scritches around the neck for a second before turning back to Kaito, bright blue eyes much more awake now than they had been a few minutes ago. “Cut it out and help me get your birds under control instead. Why did you think it was a good idea to leave the backdoor open anyway?”
Kaito shrugged. “They don’t normally come inside and it was stuffy. I wanted to get some fresh air in while it’s still cool outside. So if anyone’s at fault, it’s clearly you because they don’t behave like this around me,” he teased and Shinichi huffed. He was smiling though so Kaito knew he wasn’t honestly put out.
“Guess they like me better then, huh? They also don’t follow you to school on their day off,” Shinichi teased back and by all that was holy, that playful smile was doing things to Kaito. Combined with Heart still relaxing on his shoulder and even his more timid doves like Diamond and Spade flocking towards him as if they’d known him all their lives and not just a few months… His heart stuttered and he could feel himself falling all over again.
Trying to distract himself, he heaved a sigh and put on a lamenting face. “Maybe I should follow you too and see what you do to make them like you this much. It’s unnatural I’m telling you, unnatural! They never liked Aoko this much, and she feeds them treats whenever I’m not looking.”
“I just have a charming personality,” Shinichi said, nodding sagely but with a twinkle in his eyes. “Also, don’t. I’ll kick you.”
“That’s domestic abuse,” Kaito sniffed, scooping up Queen from her perch and holding her up to look at her sadly. “Do you hear that? He’s threatening me. And you love that guy more than me? Traitors, all of you. I can’t believe I’ve fed you all your lives, loved you from the day you hatched, and that is how you repay me. Cold, cold, all of you.”
She cooed sleepily.
“It’s self-defence from a stalker,” Shinichi deadpanned, completely ignoring the rest of Kaito’s heartfelt – okay, maybe slightly dramatic – little speech with the ease of long suffering practice. “The bird feed was almost empty by the way when I fed them last night before you came home. Do we have to get more?”
Kaito sat Queen down again and she went right back to sleep like the lazy little thing she was. He shook his head in fond amusement at her, then turned towards Shinichi. “Nah, I think we still have a bag in the shed. We can get it after breakfast. I’ll get these fellas out and fed while you start breakfast?”
“I see you want your food slightly charred this morning,” Shinichi snarked but he was already heading towards the kitchen which Kaito took as agreement to the plan.
“Show that toast who the boss is, I believe in you!” Kaito called after him and smirked in satisfaction when Shinichi threw him a glare over his shoulder. The effect was markedly lessened by Heart still sitting on the other one, looking as content as a dove could be. Experience had shown that it was futile trying to pry her off him until she was ready to, so now they just left her to it until she started to feel less clingy and agreed to return to her flock. They certainly made for an adorable sight together.
Kaito smiled fondly at both of them before shaking himself and getting his mind back on track. He had some hungry birds to feed.