To Cherish What Is Golden
-
Is it summer somewhere while we freeze in this cold December,
There's only one thing left for us to do. To live, we just wait for the ending.
But how can we wait for that ending that's yet to come.
And will we remember ourselves once it's done?
-
The days after the new children arrived at Wammy's were long and seemed endless. L lay awake in the night like before, sometimes even leaving his own room to watch over Mello. It became a habit and he'd lay next to Mello and watch the boy breathe, cautious not to wake him. He'd gotten too used to seeing Mello's face so relaxed that he worried when he realized Mello was hurting. The first signs showed up only about a week after Mello arrived at Wammy's house, and they definitely weren't something to laugh about.
Even in the first week, Mello had managed to become L's second successor, but for Mello that obviously wasn't enough. There was Near, L's first successor, who always seemed to be one step ahead of Mello. Mello despised him completely and not only because he was number one. There was one thing that L hadn't noticed about this jealousy, and it was that Mello was jealous because Near was closer to L. Mello felt like he needed to give something back to L, to somehow repay him for giving him a home. He wanted to prove to L that he could be number one. What he didn't realize came to haunt him. By now, it was December, and something just wasn't right…
Wammy's house was quiet at last, except for the small, girlish whimpers and the low shouting in the corridor near Roger Ruvie's office. Roger was preparing L's tea and being his company while Watari was away and seemed to notice it. The two discontinued all they were doing when the noise became audible and rushed out into the corridor. The corridor was dark and shadowed, so it was hard to see. Sure enough, though, two boys stood at the end of the corridor, exhausted. They had obviously been fighting physically. One had, anyway.
L made out the figures to be Mello and Near and watched as Mello threw a punch at Near. By now, Near was on the floor, no longer trying to protect himself. Even knowing this, Mello continued to fight. Sometimes he would throw things, but for now he only used his hands. He seemed to have power over Near. It was power that couldn't be defeated, unless of course, L stood between Mello and his rival.
Mello refused to do anything to L, though he knew he was already in trouble. He knew his punishment was coming when L's eyes became serious and he gestured Mello to follow him.
L kneeled by Mello so that their eyes were at the same level and frowned.
"Are you okay, Mihael?"
Mello froze when he realized what he'd just heard. L had asked about his feelings rather than given him a punishment.
"I-you aren't mad?"
L nodded and pulled Mello into a tight hug. "I figured if you decided to hurt Near, you'd have a reason."
He kissed Mello's forehead gently and returned to his awkward standing position.
"You should sleep," he said, handing Mello a chocolate bar.
"Thanks," Mello replied, his eyes blurring.
As he ate the chocolate, he cried again. He wasn't sure if it was chocolate altogether that made him sad or if it was the things that L gave him that made him this way. Either way, chocolate would become like a drug to him someday, whether he'd intended it to or not.
"L?" he said that night after L had sent him to bed.
L returned to his previous position by Mello's bed and waited.
"Sleep well, okay?"
Even from a child so small and with words so unimportant, it meant the world to L.
"Thank you, Mihael."
L left Mello's room with a giant grin spread across his face.
He wouldn't tell Watari about this, because maybe he'd take it the wrong way. L decided to keep it to himself for the time being, and he promised never to show anyone else the love he showed for Mello.
Maybe there were a few things L didn't know about this child, but there were many things he knew very well. He knew the child needed love, and he would stop at nothing to give it o him. For a quick second, he thought about turning around to face Mello once more, but decided against it. And instead of the "I love you, Mihael" that he'd meant with his heart, he said, "Goodnight, Mihael," which only took his mind to think up.
"Good night."
A/N: I apologize for taking so long to write this, and the amount of SUCK that is this chapter. Anyway, read and review, and comment the suckiness.