A deep opening seemed to have appeared in the earth, just behind him. His feet were hanging over the edge.
L!
Light pulled on the chain. He felt L's weight on it.
He must've hit a ledge in the crevasse…
"L!" Light yelled.
"Light…" the response was quiet, but he heard it.
"I'm going to pull out with the chain!"
"Okay…"
Light positioned himself against the boulder, and pulled. The task was easier than he had bargained for. Light managed to lift L onto the boulder.
Oh, my God, his leg…
Blood was gushing from a wound on his wrist, obviously from the handcuffs, but that was hardly noticeable compared to the odd angle that his leg stuck out at.
What do I do? We can't go anywhere with him like this. He looks like he's in pain. How am I supposed to help him?
Light ripped a piece of his shirt off and wrapped it around L's wrist.
I'm afraid to even touch his leg…
"Light," L choked out, "Don't leave me."
"Never," Light promised.
That's it. We're going to die, right here on this rock. But, I promised L that we'd get of this alive…
They stayed there, for two days, and two nights, until Light became aware of a deafening roar above his head.
What is…?
The roar grew louder.
A helicopter?
A man stuck his head out.
Watari!
Watari!" Light yelled, "Help him!"
"What are your conditions?" Watari yelled down.
"His leg is broken!" Light called up, "What do I do?"
Watari disappeared inside the helicopter. One painfully long minute later, Watari lowered a board down to them.
"Can you get him on it?" Watari yelled.
Light considered the idea, "I'll try!"
He turned to L.
"Watari's here," he said gently, "Can I put you on the stretcher?"
"We're going back?" L asked.
"Yeah," Light told him.
"I didn't believe you," he said.
"Come on," Light said, taking hold of him under his arms. They worked together to lift L onto the stretcher until they were sure he wouldn't fall off. Watari lifted L up to the helicopter and lowered a cord with a foot rung, which Light stepped into.
"Is he going to be okay?" Light asked as he climbed into the helicopter, going to sit next to L.
"He'll be alright," Watari said, "But you'd be safer in front."
"I'm not leaving him," Light insisted.
Watari smiled, "So his feelings were requited. I'm glad."
"You knew?" Light asked.
"I've known Ryuuzaki since he was a toddler," Watari told him, "I wouldn't be able to hold my head up if I couldn't tell that much."
"Light," Mr. Yagami said from the pilot's seat, "Are you actually, well, um…"
"Dad," Light said, "Can we talk about this later?"
"Uh, yeah."
They flew to the nearest hospital, which was a little too far away for Light's taste, as he was still recovering from his earlier nausea.
The waiting room was empty save Watari and Mr. Yagami. Watari occasionally shot Mr. Yagami a smile that said 'interfere with the two of them and see what happens. I dare you'.
The recovery room was equally barren, save two patients slowly regaining consciousness.
"Ryuuzaki?" Light turned, being careful not to move his arms.
"I'm not sure," L returned, "But I think I'm Ryuuga right now."
Light chuckled.
"I'm going to ask that you not use my real name from this point forward, by the way," L told him.
"Wait," Light sputtered, "How did you -"
"Like I said," Ryuuzaki cut him off, "I wasn't sure or not if what you said to me was a dream, but I heard every last bit of it."
"But then," Light gasped, "You heard -"
"Yes, I heard everything you said, Kira," L looked up at the ceiling, "But, although I don't believe in what you do, I have found that Kira is a beautiful person who will go to any lengths to help the people he loves."
"So," Light said slowly, "What does this mean?"
"I will never support Kira's crimes," L said, "Because they are crimes, and I've never let personal feelings interfere with justice before…"
L trailed off, and Light held his breath.
"But," L said finally, taking a breath, "There's a first time for everything, isn't there?"
"L, I -" Light started.
"I know, Light," L said, "I know."
Light smiled, "Hey, um, Ryuuga?"
"What?" L smiled at hearing his false name.
"I realize we're not chained together anymore, but," Light blushed a bit, "Can we, uh, still sleep in the same room?"
"Oh, same bed, at least," Ryuuzaki said pointedly.
"When our injuries heal," Light snickered, "I still need to sleep at least every other night."
"Really…?" Ryuuzaki whined.
"With the occasional exception," Light amended. They both laughed.
"Well," Light's father sighed heavily, "The doctor said you can leave this afternoon, so long as you behave yourselves."
"Dad," Light raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you didn't add that last bit yourself?"
"Maybe, but anyway," he added quickly, "Light, I'd like to talk to you when we get back. Alone."
"Dad," Light said, "Whatever you have to say, you can say it here."
"Light, I -"
"Dad," Light let his tone darken, "I'm nineteen. Who I'm intimate with is my business."
"Please, Light, I'm only asking -"
"Yes, Dad!" Light snapped, "I'm gay! Get over it!"
Mr. Yagami stopped talking.
"I'm just glad to be getting out of here," L broke the awkward silence, "I need real food."
L toyed with the IV that had been feeding him steadily over past six days.
"You eat real food?" Light smirked.
"You know what I meant," L rolled his eyes. They both snickered, and Mr. Yagami thought that they might not be wrong. They were just different. He knew that he idea was accepted in Japan. Just because it was his son shouldn't change his views. Besides, looking at the two of them, laughing together, it almost seemed right.
"Hey, Dad?" Light asked.
"What is it?" Mr. Yagami said.
"Will you help Ryuuga with his wheelchair when we leave? I would, but…" Light held up his heavily bandaged hands.
"Oh, um, of course," he said.
"God, I can't wait to get back!" L said once they were loaded into the car, "Cake…"
Light snorted, "You still shouldn't eat too much, you know."
"Those who come between the cake and myself will be crushed via wheelchair," L said absentmindedly.
"Yeah," Light said, "And all of your stitches will come out in the process."
"Just let me eat the cake," L pouted.
"We're here," Mr. Yagami said, "I assume you'd like to continue working at our current headquarters."
"Yes," L said dully, "Kheel's men wont survive out there for long, and any hopes of escape vanished when we left in their helicopter."
"I assumed as much," he said, getting out of the car and bringing L's wheelchair around.
"Light! Ryuuzaki!" Matsuda ran out to meet them, "Are you…"
He trailed off when he saw L. No was the answer to that question. No, they were not alright.
"Hello," Light said, standing up without any use of his hands.
"Uh, hi," Matsuda said uncertainly.
"Come on," Light smirked, "We're a little beat up, but that's no reason to treat us like invalids."
"Speak for yourself," L looked at Light, "I was hoping to milk extra cake out of our budget."
Matsuda laughed, but he noted that Light didn't. Light was just looking at Ryuuzaki, and Matsuda was shocked when his expression softened into a smile. He'd never seen Light smile like that before. Maybe two weeks in the barren wilderness was to blame.