Greyout (HeiKazu detective/assassin fanfic)

Distraction

A/N: You can find a much a more explicit version of this chapter on AO3 (user name Bunny_reads). I hope wattpad doesn't take this down :D

Heizou wonders if he’s being paranoid. If this step is too drastic. If it’s insane to suspect a person who has saved him from a dangerous situation twice now. And who might be prickly but doesn’t seem violent. But. There are so many ‘buts’. The knife, the way he stopped Heizou’s fist effortlessly and with more strength than to be expected from someone with his stature when Heizou had swung at him after waking up from when he’d been drugged, admitting to forgery, mingling with criminals.

All of that added up justifies his suspicion in Heizou’s opinion. And his intuition tells him he’s onto something. And then there was something that Heizou had completely forgotten about and only remembered when he had calmed down enough. There had been a weird moment at the trial when he was just leaving the courtroom where he thought he’d seen Kaedehara in the audience. The face had been familiar but the person’s eyes had been brown. Heizou had dismissed the thought, convinced that his mind was playing tricks on him while he was so upset. But if it was Kaedehara he was at the trial witnessing the justice system fail and likely picking his next target. Even though it’s hard to imagine Kaedehara as a murderer he can’t ignore this.

He needs to seek Kaedehara out and speak to him. Not that Heizou is going to outrightly accuse him but to test the waters. Observe him and his reactions more closely now that he’s more than some unimportant trespassing case that doesn’t even involve a real crime.

Kaedehara’s case file came with an address provided by Lady Ningguang after Kaedehara himself had refused to talk. It’s a modern building and Heizou estimates that the rent here must be at least three times higher than what he’s paying for his two-room flat on the top floor of a house with cracked walls and creaking floorboards. He came here in civilian clothing, Kaedehara is not supposed to suspect that Heizou is there to see him in his role as a police officer, and he can’t help but feel slightly out of place in this fancy neighborhood.
He gives himself one more inner pep talk that what he’s doing isn’t crazy and rings the doorbell.

Only silence answers him and Heizou stares at the speaker realizing that he was so focused on the conversation that he’s about to have that he didn’t even consider Kaedehara might not be home. The moment drags on and he’s starting to wonder what people might think when they see him lurking in front of this fancy building. He’s already debating leaving when the speaker crackles to life.

“Detective Shikanoin, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Ah, so there must be a camera too. Even though the speaker warps Kaedehara’s voice, Heizou notices the playful cadence. Kaedehara seems to be in a good mood and Heizou can only imagine his thoughts upon seeing Heizou on his doorstep. Good, let him wonder. He wants Kaedehara to jump to conclusions. It will make things easier for Heizou.

“Can I come up?” he asks outrightly, not wanting to waste any more time by trying to explain why he’s there.

Kaedehara is silent for a moment to the point Heizou is starting to believe he might turn him away but then he says:

“Sure. It’s the penthouse.”

Of course. Heizou rolls his eyes, fully aware that the other can see it over the camera. Kaedehara buzzes him in and he climbs the stairs all the way up to the very top.
Kaedehara is already expecting him at his apartment door. Heizou has seen him put together at the casino and more casual at the bar but never barefoot in comfortable sweatpants and a t-shirt. All three versions are unfairly attractive. He looks a bit like Heizou woke him up from a nap, his hair messier than usual with loose strands framing his face that got pulled out of his ponytail.
Even though he already invited Heizou in, he hesitates in front of the door waiting for a sign from Kaedehara that he has permission to enter his space. Kaedehara pushes the door open wider and turns around walking back into the apartment.