Shopping for a Gift
L cast his eye about the slave market looking for the perfect gift for his younger brother. Mello only deserved the best, as always, and the raven haired man was determined to find just that. The best.
Mello's eighteenth birthday was tomorrow and so far the blonde had sunk even lower into darkness than was normal. Of course his birthday was the anniversary of Mail's death so he could understand why.
Mail had been Mello's best friend, and eventually lover, since practically birth. A bond that deep was a terrible thing to lose and L was slightly awed that the blonde remained cheerful, with, of course, the exception of the month surrounding his birthday.
He wove throughout the crowd, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the amount and proximity of people surrounding him. He stuck a sucker in his mouth and pushed the feeling away just as his eyes lit upon a flash of red. Straightening up just a tiny bit as his interest was caught; he wove through the crowd until he was standing before a stage.
His breath caught as he beheld the slave on the stage. His dark red hair was just long enough to brush lightly over his eyes and his angular cheekbones. His frame was leonine and graceful. However the only off putting factor was the orange tinted goggles covering his eyes. He was dressed in a plain tight t-shirt, form hugging jeans and tennis shoes. Besides the goggles and attire he was the spitting image of Mail.
L smiled. Mello deserved the best, always, and this boy was the best. Calling the boys owner he pulled him aside. "How much is he?" the insomniac asked.
"Three hundred thousand, sir." L winced inwardly.
"Two-fifty." He told the man in return.
"Three hundred or nothing, your highness; I have another buyer." The man growled.
"Who?" L asked, well snapped.
"Lord BB."
L felt his heart sink. Dammit. "Five-hundred thousand then. I only have four hundred on me at the moment but come by the palace tomorrow and I'll pay you in full." BB was NOT getting Mello's gift. Ever.
"No offence your highness but how do I know you'll keep your word." The man asked suspiciously. "He's one of my best boys and I am not getting ripped off, not even by a royal heir."
L narrowed his wide eyes at him before blinking them wide again and letting a small smile curve his face. "I always keep my word, always."
He walked back over to the stage and waited for the seller to give him the boy's leash. A thin band of brass encircled the boy's neck along with two brass bracelets cuffing his wrist. All of the bands were connected by brass chains. On the end of the chain trailing from his collar was a clasp so that L could hook the chain to the belt loop of his jeans.
L frowned at all the brass shining in the scarlet light of the setting sun. Gold would look much better, he thought.
He led the teen through the crowded square and toward the car waiting for his return. A servant opened it with a bow and L climbed in before pulling his gift down on the seat next to him.
He noticed the red-head kept looking at the way he sat and smiled. The boy blushed and looked down at his hands.
"My name is L, but most people call me Ryuzaki."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ryuzaki." The teen replied in a soft tone.
"I said most people call me Ryuzaki. However you don't have to. Only strangers and acquaintances call me by that name."
"Yes…L." the boy replied as if testing out the name. He nodded then and smiled.
L looked him over with a critical eye, head cocked to the side. "What is your name?"
The red-head blushed again—it was incredibly cute. "I don't have one."
L hid the shock he felt well and cocked his head even more. "How about Matt?"
Matt nodded. "Yes, I like it."
"Good, your name is Matt. Your master's name is Mello. You are to stay loyal to him no matter what." L told him, his voice taking on a commanding tone.
Matt merely nodded again. L looked out the window and looked back at Matt.
"We'll reach the palace soon. Then you'll be able to meet Near and Light." Matt noticed the gentle way L pronounced the last name. Light; he would have to store that away for later.
When the car came to a stop L waited for the door to be opened before pulling Matt out and toward the palace entrance. A white haired boy was waiting for them in the massive greeting hall. He looked silently from L to Matt and back.
"Good evening L." the boy said in a flat voice. L. This boy was a friend; Matt thought and looked around at his surroundings. The hall was immense; stain glass windows depicting scenes of the great war with the Shinigami lighting the marble floor in a rainbow of colors. Red, gold, and white seemed to be the primary colors, which made sense since it reflecting the kingdom's colors.
A tug on his chain brought his attention back to L. The raven-haired man was gesturing toward the entrance to the right wing of the front of the palace, the white-haired boy at his side. Matt flushed at having caused his…owner trouble before following as they continued down the hall.
They continued through the maze of rooms before they reached a door with sign on it that read "Near". The boy stepped forward and unlocked the room before waving them in. "Welcome to my room. Sit anywhere you like."
L sat in a swiveling chair, knees tucked up to his chest and gestured for Matt to sit on the love seat placed against the end of the bed. Near sat on the bed and also brought his knees to his chest.
"Near I am going to leave Matt in your care. Think of his as a life size dress up doll and make him perfect for Mello tomorrow."
Near didn't say anything for a long moment. He moved to the end of the bed and looked Matt over, noting the slight tints of lighter red running through the boy's hair and his slender, cat like frame. He reached out to take off the goggles but Matt pulled away quickly and had to catch himself before he fell on his butt. Near placed his hands in his lap and regarded the red-head with a level look.
"Oh no! I'm sorry if I offended you." Matt said quickly but his hands stayed in his hair, making sure his goggles stayed in place. "I would like to keep them on…please."
Near nodded and went over to his closet and came back with a black scarf. He wrapped it around Matt's neck, effectively covering the collar.
"We are going out." Near took the leash and pulled Matt out of the palace. L tagged along since he had nothing better to do. He waved a servant over.
"Tell Watari that Near and I are out on an errand and that we'll return in a couple of hours. When Light gets home, tell him to meet me in my rooms please." The girl nodded and left to do as she was told.
The shopping distract was crowded and loud, but people seemed to move aside as Near and L walked keeping Matt from getting uncomfortable. The scarf did its job well with covering up his collar but the brass chains and slave bracelets were painfully obvious.
They had been visiting different stores for what seemed like hours and Near had successfully made the two servants following them disappear under various bags. Matt had been changed out of his previous clothes and into a striped black and white shirt, a black vest, black fingerless gloves, and chunky black boots. The only thing that stayed was the jeans and bands.
Now Near was leading them to a jewelry shop that specialized in unique slave bands. It was time for Matt to get some new accessories.
The store keeper bowed as the entered. "How may I help you, your highnesses?"
"I need a new set of slave bands." Near said holding out the chain. The man looked it over along with bands encircling Matt's wrist and took off the scarf to get a look at the one around his neck. He then handed the chain back to Near.
"Do you have any materials in mind?" the store keeper asked.
"Gold would be nice." L said and Near nodded.
"Put rubies and garnets in the collar and a ruby on each of the cuffs." Near added. The store keeper took notes and measured Matt's neck and wrists.
"Anything else?" the man asked, poised to take notes.
"Yes, it has to be ready by tomorrow before noon." Near said.
"That is a lot to ask, your highness." The man told the white-haired prince.
"I'll pay you twice if you get it done and recommend your business to the nobles." Near told him and the shop keeper fairly glowed.
"I'll have it done by noon, your highness."
Next Day
Mello sighed as he looked up at his ceiling. Today was his birthday, he should be happy, but he loathed every passing second.
He knew that he couldn't miss the party. He was the crown prince after all and it wouldn't do to abandon his guest. He would have to smile and act like he was perfect for the whole day even though he was practically dying inside. When all he wanted to do was lock himself in his room and scream until his throat was raw and aching.
He watched as the morning sun bathed his ceiling with golden light and let another sigh pass his lips before turning over on his side and tried to will it all away.
However he didn't get to rest for long as a knock echoed throughout the room. When he opened the door he was met with a blur of yellow as Misa hugged him.
"Mellllllllo." She cooed as she released him. "Guess what!"
Mello reached over to the tray by the door and grabbed the bar of chocolate that had been left there and took a large bite. Misa grimaced and Mello raised a brow.
"Well I may have heard from a little bird somewhere that L got you an exceptionally cute gift this year." She said cheerfully.
Mello rolled his eyes. "A cute gift? Is it a puppy?" Puppies were considered cute.
Misa pouted. "Well I don't actually know what it is. All I heard was the servant girls gossiping about what a cute gift L had gotten his highness so Misa decided to come tell Mello. Aren't you glad I told you?"
Mello nodded, even if it was only to please the girl and she grinned before flouncing out of the room.
L ate a piece of cake as he watched Mello open up his gifts. The blonde was smiling cheerfully and even laughing but L knew that Mello was hurting inside. Light looked over at the jet-haired man and gave his hand a squeeze. L had explained the whole gift situation to the brunette last night and although Light was still skeptical he agreed that it was a good idea. Mello needed someone to help him keep going after Mail's death or else he would fall apart.
When Mello had unwrapped the last gift, which happened to be a large stack of jumbo chocolate bars from Matsuda, L looked over at Near before the raven haired boy walked over to birthday boy and tugged him off his throne.
"L what are you doing?" Mello asked, although inwardly he was happy for the interruption. Anything to get him away from the torturous party.
However the blonde did scowl at Near. The pale kid was creepy, never showed emotion, and was ALWAYS following L around like a lost Chihuahua.
"I got you a present and while you have explained to me that you do not want one I felt it necessary. Plus I think you'll like this one. I searched through the market for it and Near helped me with getting it ready." L explained as he led Mello toward a familiar room. When the blonde realized where they were going he stopped dead in his tracks and stared at L with a hurt expression.
"Why are you bringing me to his room?" Mello asked arms folded over his chest in an angry defiant gesture.
"Just come see your gift Mello." Near said and Mello turned on him.
"Don't tell me what to do." Mello snapped. L grabbed his wrist and started dragging him down the hall again until they were standing in front of a door with the name "Mail" on it in big block letters.
"You went in his room? It's off limits L, and you know it. No one's allowed in Mail's room except—"
"Me." Matt finished from the now open doorway. Mellow turned to look at him with wide blue eyes.
"Mail?"
I'm sorry for killing Mail. I am! But you still have Matt. Wonderful begoggled Matt. Oh and yes I know they are the same person but just for the story, they are not.
I feel like I screwed up the characters halfway to Sunday and for that I'm sorry. I really, really am. But! I needed them like this to fit with the story line. Don't worry they'll be back to normal soon.
Anywho tell me if you like it. Oh and I meant no offense with the slave thing. Slavery's wrong I know but I couldn't resist!
