Word Count: 750
Rating: T
I left the package on his desk, because I knew that would be the fastest way for him to find it. I could have left it in the bathroom or something, but that seems a little…unsanitary, you know? It's not anything fancy, don't get all excited. I wrapped the thing with Tuesday's newspaper; images of a fire downtown and the latest stock prices are decorations. I think it looks pretty damn good, all things considered.
When he finds it I'm in the kitchen making myself breakfast. All perishable food items seem to be growing things in the fridge, so I end up putting beer on top of my cereal and hoping for the best. I've probably eaten worse.
Just as I'm shoveling a spoonful of sugar and alcohol into my mouth, he yells from the other room, "Don't leave your shit on my desk Matt!"
I swallow — with some effort, because it tastes a lot worse than I thought it would — before answering, "It's for you, idiot!" and I continue to eat.
There's silence in the other room for a good minute before I hear the ripping of paper. I smile to myself; I knew he wouldn't be able to resist for long.
I only get another bite halfway to my mouth before he's stomped into the kitchen, waving the white book in my face. "What the hell is this?" he demands.
"Your Christmas present," I say, unperturbed.
"It's only December 7," he says it like I'm an idiot.
"Yeah, so?"
"So you're doing it wrong! And what the hell is this anyways? You know I hate jokes."
I cough a little to hide my smile, setting my half eaten bowl of mystery breakfast surprise on the counter. "It's a Life Note."
The glare he sends me would make lesser men cry. I think I'm just used to his deadly looks after all this time. "Not. Funny," He enunciates slowly, as if I might just be stupid.
I roll my eyes, plucking the book from his hands. It's off-white in color, the cover soft and easily bent back. I spent at least an hour writing 'Life Note' on the front in black ink. I don't have very good handwriting, and I wanted to make it look good, so I spent most of that time looking up calligraphy pictures online. It didn't help all that much.
I open the book to the first page, where I had added several entries. In handwriting that I spent much less time on it says, 'Mello – 67 years old. A bamf.' Underneath that I wrote, 'Matt – 65 years old. Irrelevant inventor, code monkey and gamer.'
I let him read it, secretly enjoying the mild curiosity on his face. "What is this even for?" If I know him — which I do — then he meant to sound exacerbated, but didn't quite manage it. He's taken the book from my hands again, rereading my scrawl.
"It's our lives, duh," I say with a grin. "You just write down how long a person will end up living, and what they'll do with their life. You know, relevant stuff. Aspirations and the like."
He's frowning down at the book, but he turns and leaves the kitchen without a word. I smile to myself, picking up my bowl of soggy cereal and beer, finishing it off.
About a week later I find the Life Note sitting on top of our stack of books in the living room. I pick it up, expecting the pages to be empty, and I'm surprised to see that he's added a few other names. Whammy and Roger made the list, and surprisingly so did Near and a few of the other kids from the house growing up. He also amended the entry on the two of us. Under me it now says 'Nobel Prize winner,' and under Mello it says, 'Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.' I smile a little at that, but that isn't the part that makes full on grin. He added a note in the margin by our names, in little sideways handwriting, 'Probably legally married in Canada or something.'
I must be grinning like an idiot, because before I know it a pillow hits me square in the back of the head. I drop the book to the floor, and Mello sends me a glare from where he's sitting at his desk. "Stop looking so damn smug and get back to work."
I do, but that certainly doesn't keep me from smiling.
AN: I got this idea from an author in another fandom and decided to give it a try in order to get myself back into writing! I will be posting daily (or almost daily!) until Christmas, and possibly after that as well if I get a good response. Most chapters will stand alone, varying in length and content. Some will be AU, which will be marked at the top of the chapter, as well as a rating for that section. It will be a mix of fluff, smut, and holiday cheer! I hope everyone has a fabulous December and enjoys the reading!