Despite common conceptions, reviews while I'm still working on it really help win my Muse over to the cause. I just got a bonza idea for this epilogue, thanks reviewers!
Light slipped a hand into one back pocket, an almost imperceptible smirk curving his lips before he snuck up behind L and wrapped his arms around the detective's upper body, nuzzling L's cheek affectionately. "C'mon, L, I'm going stir-crazy here."
L smiled faintly, not looking up from what he was doing. "So go get stoned."
Light snorted. "Rather not. I learned my lesson about that."
L twisted his head to glance at Light, faint amusement in his murky gaze. "Okay, go molest someone then."
"The only one I feel like molesting is you, but you won't let me." Light whined, rubbing L's distended belly for emphasis.
"So if you're set on hanging around with me then get over the stir-craziness." L replied coolly, lacing his fingers into Light's.
"No, you're coming with me." The younger man insisted.
L glanced pleadingly at his lover. "Do I really have to?"
Light sighed slightly into L's hair. "If I drag you out you'll only sulk and refuse to enjoy it, so I guess not. But I'm not sitting here bored out of my wits."
L reached back to cup one hand behind Light's head, pulling his lover's lips onto his own. "Deal. What there anything special you had in mind?"
Light stood, one hand on the back of L's chair as he took a step away from the computers, dragging L's chair with him. "Yep! Follow me." He purred, watching L slither off the chair and come to stand next to his lover, one lanky arm wrapping fondly around Light's waist.
"Where are we going?" L asked curiously, though his question was answered as Light led him into a rarely-used room near the kitchen that had been minorly overhauled. A small table was set up with two chairs facing each other, silverware and such cutlery arranged atop the finished tabletop. It looked more formal than just eating something while working, but still casual enough that L didn't wonder unduly. Light often did this when he felt in the mood for romance and L stubbornly refused to go out on a proper date.
Light unwrapped L's hand from his hip and fondly kissed the knuckle, pulling out a chair slightly so L could fold himself comfortably into it. Light sat in the other chair, and they lapsed into companionable quiet as they ate. L, being as single-minded as he was, tended to focus on eating if he wasn't working at the same time. Light was content to just enjoy L's company, and used the opportunity to mull a few things over.
Once the meal itself was finished Light whisked the dishes away, returning with a treat that had L's mouth watering. His favorite dessert: fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce. He was about to reach for some, but Light smacked his hand away. The detective pouted up at his lover, and Light allowed him to dig in with a soft smile. "Greedyguts."
L swallowed a chocolate-covered strawberry, grinning. "You wouldn't have me any other way."
Light pulled his chair around and sat straddling it, resting his folded forearms on the back. "Of course." He purred, watching L eat with mild amusement glimmering in his amber eyes.
L glanced at his lover, a strawberry dripping with chocolate sauce halfway to his mouth. "Is my lack of manners putting you off or are you just getting a kick out of watching me?" He asked with a grin.
"More the latter." Light replied, resting his chin on his arms. Crap. I never get nervous, why am I so bloody nervous? Dammit, Light, stop fucking around. You love him, right? So get your ass in gear!
"L?" Light murmured, kicking himself for being so hesitant.
The detective hummed inquisitively, looking at his lover with a smile.
"I love you, koibito. So much."
L twisted around to cup a hand behind Light's head, pulling their lips together. "I love you too, my Light." He replied. Light could tell L was wondering about the sudden statement, and nuzzled the older man's cheek affectionately.
"I know it's a bit sudden, but I've been thinking for a while. Probably too much, but that's just my style." The young man took a deep breath, and L suddenly adopted an expression of mild concern. "You seemed uncertain when it was brought up, but I think that for the sake of the kid," Light splayed a hand over L's taut belly, smiling slightly as he felt a minute movement; "we need to take this farther."
Light slipped out of his chair, fluidly falling on one knee in the same movement. L's breath hitched as the meaning of the stance hit him. Tears beaded in the corners of L's murky eyes as he reached out to his lover, spindly fingers falling upon the interior of a small black felt box.
"This might not be your style, koibito, but will you give it a shot? For me?" Slightly unorthodox, but if Light had asked outright L probably would have choked.
The detective leaned down to lavish kisses on Light's hand, his voice shaky and choked with emotion. "Light… I love you so much, I couldn't say 'no,'…" He felt Light's free hand slip the cool mental onto his finger and threw both arms around his fiancée's shoulders, practically falling out of his chair.
Light hugged the detective to him, easing L out of the chair and into his lap. L's crushing embrace was almost cutting off his breath, though Light soon remedied that by anchoring one hand in the detective's hair, pressing their lips together.
Matsuda was quick to notice the silver on L's left hand when he and Soichiro dropped by the next day, and bit back a delighted whoop. Instead, a peculiar sort of quasi-gurgle escaped his lips, which earned him a few curious looks. "Wow, L, I didn't think you two would actually follow my advice." He was grinning so excitedly that L had to smile back, rubbing the ring absently.
Light glanced apprehensively at his father, who was blinking in surprise. He'd already made up his mind that whether or not his father approved he and L would stay engaged; not just because they were so close but also for the child. Having parents who weren't tied by a more material bond would just add insult to the injury of having both parents be male. So whether Soichiro liked it or not, Light and L would be together. Though it would be nice if he did approve. He's been okay with my hormonally-driven relationships, but this is another matter altogether.
The former police chief schooled his expression, and Light found himself fidgeting uneasily as he waited for his father's opinion. L's hand curled over his own and he smiled, reassured by his fiancée's touch.
"I'm glad that you've found someone you want to settle down with, Light." Soichiro smiled slightly, and Light grinned in relief. He had his father's blessing, though he didn't blame Soichiro for not being as excited. The young man was eternally grateful to his father for putting up with him thus far; he was one of the most patient people Light had ever met. Still, he was more a student of the old school, which always made his dealing with Light's sexual preferences slightly uncomfortable.
Matsuda let out the enthusiastic whoop he'd held in, beaming idiotically at the couple. Light chuckled. "I think you're more excited than we are."
Light kissed L tenderly on the cheek, one hand resting gently on the huge bulge on L's abdomen. The detective smiled slightly, leaning into the kiss. The newly-developed habit of L's was absently readjusting the ring on his finger, though Light thought it was an endearing movement. He snorted softly as the rustle of fabric indicated that L was fidgeting again; he took L's left hand gently in his own and brought it to his lips, kissing the silver band with a fond smile. "You're unusually fidgety, L. Anything the matter?"
"I don't know, honestly." L replied, shrugging slightly. "I'm just a bit restless."
Light reached up to comb his fingers through L's shaggy hair affectionately. "Sure it's you and not the kid?"
L glanced down at his swollen belly, frowning thoughtfully. "Not really. It's seemed equally restless the past while too; been about to drive me up the wall squirming all over the place. Now it's settled back down though, maybe it's asleep." He rubbed spindly fingers over the bulge, his dark gaze mild.
Light twined his fingers with L's and rested his brow against L's temple, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hmm." He hummed thoughtfully. "Life's weird sometimes, isn't it?"
"And your new name is Captain Obvious." L snorted dryly, leaning his head against Light and closing his eyes contentedly.
"No, seriously." Light retorted, flicking L's ear gently. "You think the future is so predictable, then it's like someone decided to prove you wrong and everything turns upside down."
L nodded in agreement, a wry smile twisting his lips.
Light sighed slightly, his amber eyes staring at L's distended belly but looking far away. "Y'know, I sorta feel sorry for this kid. Imagine when it grows up and find out that it's Kira and L's lovechild." He snorted.
L glanced over at Light. "Well, at least it won't be raised by a hormonally-driven college student and a borderline-asperger's recluse."
Light chuckled, his lips brushing L's cheek. "That's true. Pity the kid who has to be raised by a pair of dysfunctional idiots."
L's smile dissolved into an uncomfortable wince, one that Light didn't fail to notice. "What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"Nothing, I don't think." L answered softly, his hand loosely clenching.
Light cupped a hand over L's cheek and turned the detective's face to him, frowning into L's dark gaze. "Stop being a stoic hero, L. It is something."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of the detective's lips. "True, but I'm not sure precisely what it is. It's probably just a passing thing." He winced again, grunting, "Well, maybe not."
Light's hand, still resting on L's swollen belly, felt the next ripple of muscle contraction across the taut bulge. The young man's heart skipped a beat. Shit. He turned wide eyes to L, who had realized it at the same moment.
They'd talked, hesitantly, about what they should do, though since it was still a rather awkward subject neither of them liked talking about it, L especially. So now that it was crunch time, panic had the perfect chance to set in. Thankfully, L was too distracted by the uncomfortable sensation, and Light lapsed back into his unflappable cunning with ease to deal with the impending crisis.
That unflappable cunning; however, was nothing when all the ways that this could go wrong hit home. The young man knew himself well enough to know that he'd only fidget and get in the way, so he didn't technically need to be ushered out. Still, once he was out of the way, the collected façade fractured. He paced restlessly, feeling like some actor in an old soap opera or something.
Aw hell. Shit, shit, shit. I'm so damn nervous I can't put together one sentence without throwing in profanity for good measure. But the male anatomy just isn't cut out for this… It's risky enough for a woman, when they have the equipment. Shit! Why the fuck does this have to happen to me? We just got over the whole Kira deal, now this. Ffffuck. There are so many ways L can die, not to mention the poor kid. Aw heellll…
Light jumped when a nurse in scrubs approached. He didn't bother to hide the anxious expression as the man looked up. A small, rather awkward smile twitched the nurse's lips as he relayed the news, looking on the verge of chuckling at the sheer relief that flooded Light's expression; his knees almost gave out under him before the nurse turned to escort him to L's side.
L smiled wanly as his fiancée practically fell to his knees beside L's bed, the part of the detective's brain that was coherent wondering vaguely what an anxious Light looked like. It was a rare occurrence, once that L regretted not being able to witness. "Relax, koibito, I'm not dead or anything."
Light gently kissed the knuckles of L's hand, having allowed his train of thought to run in tiny circles as soon as he knew L was all right. "You're the only one allowed to make me so goddamned nervous, L, and only once. No more scaring the shit out of me."
"Deal, so long as you promise not to let this happen again." L muttered. "Not that I'm usually all that vain, but having a scar all over my abdomen just isn't my thing, you know?" There was no way a caesarean-section could have been avoided.
Once he'd heard the news, Matsuda called at least once a day, pestering the almighty snot out of L and Light until they agreed to let him see the child. He swore not to make a big deal or try to make a huge celebration – on pain of something very, very unpleasant. So, as promised, he arrived with only himself(a slightly reluctant Soichiro in tow, of course), and half-demanded, half-begged to see the child.
Despite himself, Soichiro was charmed by the wriggling little pink jellybean and found himself cradling the infant in his arms as Matsuda crowed excitedly, reminding everyone of a little old lady.
"What's her name?" Matsuda asked, grinning at L and Light.
"We named her Rin." Light grinned back, ignoring the slightly resigned expression on L's face. "Well, more like I named her and L agreed because he has no creativity in that area." He'd begun acting every inch the proud sire, though L kept him from showing off the infant to everyone who cared and several people who didn't. Soichiro smiled at that; he remembered acting the same himself with both Light and Sayu.
"Oh man, it's gonna be interesting to see little Rin grow up." Matsuda commented. "I mean, two gay guys for parents; imagine her as a teen!"
Recollecting Sayu's sometimes irritating behavior, Light groaned. L joined his fiancée, though his reason was the realization that two gay men were completely unsuited to parenting. Poor little Rin.
Holy hell, I was about to wriggle out of my Tripps that first section was so fluffy. T.T I didn't think my Muse had it in her.
But yeah. Matsuda's question is answered in Aftermath, go read it! If you have already, go reread it! Love all of you munches for the wonderful reviews, you lot kept my ego up enough to keep my Muse from giving up all hope.