A/N: Hello there, you precious little bean, you. How are we today? You doing ok? You eat something today? Drink something? Take any medications you need? Or maybe you're just having a shit day and you need something to take that away. Here…Take my virtual hand. Take a deep breath. Unclench your jaw. Relax your shoulders. Stand up, if you can. Stretch out a little, if you can. It'll be alright. I know it might suck right now in the moment, but it'll pass. *chu* I love you. Good. Now that we have that out of the way, how about we get into today's chapter, yeah? Alright, slugger. Come on. Let's get into it.
But before we do that, hi, Skyla! I'm happy to see you again! But to answer your questions, I post every Tuesday at noon US Central, so given you're in the UK, that's about 6PM your time. And it's cool. You can come in here and talk to me any time you want. That goes for all of you. If you're on the fence about whether or not you should leave a comment, gushing about something or another or just to say hi, do it. Usually, I'll say hi back and something lovely to you. Because you deserve it. What the hell, man? I'm unusually motivational speaker-y today. Maybe because I just came out of some shit. That's got me all soft for you guys. And I know it's shit for you in the UK, but…*weeps in American in a right wing house where I'm the only one not right wing* Anyway, this week's chapter? Yeah? Let's go.
Light didn't need much for instruction when he'd go on breakfast runs for L. He knew exactly what he was looking for. And he knew he didn't have any medications to pick up. That sounded more like a Watari job. Fortunately, Light knew the town like the back of his hand. And heaven forbid if L didn't get the best. Instead of going all the way to Omotesando, Light stopped at a café in Aoyama. He smiled as a building across the street caught his eye.
The Note Blue. In hindsight, our first date. Nostalgia aside, Light went into the café, a man on a mission. Black coffee. Twelve…Thirteen sugars. And donuts. L said something about donuts, but he never said what kind. Is this a test? No. I think we're well past L testing me on anything. At least I sure as hell hope so. Light shook off his fears and made L's order, debating what to get for himself. Anything with caffeine would do at this point.
"Light?" a gentle, familiar voice spoke behind him.
And Light's heart sunk through the floor. Especially when he turned around to get a glimpse of the woman behind him, "Takada…Hi."
"It's nice to see you," Takada smiled politely, "At least under better circumstances."
"Yeah," Light agreed, "You, too. You're…All by yourself."
"I'm working in the area today," she explained, "What about you? What are you up to?"
"I'm actually working, too," he leaned against the counter, "My boss has me on a donut run."
"Oh…" Takada had flashbacks to the last time she saw Light. There was that other guy hanging around him. Was that his boss? With the way the other guy was talking, it's more like he's Light's new boyfriend, "So, you'll probably be in and out then, right?"
Light couldn't leave Takada like that. Not with that jilted look in her eye. Without batting an eye, he turned back to the counter, "Excuse me…"
"Yes, sir," the man behind the counter chimed, "How can I help you?"
"On top of my order," Light asked, "Could you add a French vanilla cappuccino with two shots of espresso and a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and a lemon wedge on the side?"
"No problem!"
"Light," Takada melted inside, "You still remember my breakfast order?"
"Of course, I do," Light smiled, "It's not like you were ever overly complicated, Takada. I know how you work."
"You didn't have to do that."
"It's not a problem," he insisted. I might have to explain it to my boyfriend later, but I'm sure he'll understand. If I can take Sayu for a fifteen thousand yen dinner in Ginza without telling him about it first, I'm sure Takada's breakfast won't be the end of the world.
"Thank you," Takada gave him a nod, "You know…If you're not in that big of a hurry, it'd be nice to sit and talk for a while. I miss talking with you, Light."
"Well…" Light checked his watch. For two reasons. One: The obvious. He needed to know how long he had been gone. No more than twenty minutes. That's fine. And two: A reminder. A reminder of who he went home to now. Of who had Light's heart in his hands. The one who put that beautiful watch on his wrist in the first place. It's just Takada. It's not like it's Misa unraveling my psyche again, "I don't see why not. I got time."
As Light and Takada took their seats, L sat at his desk back at task force headquarters. At the moment, he checked on suspicious spending coming from a couple suspects' bank accounts. Plane tickets, shady retailers, anything that might be cause for concern. But then, his mind started wandering in the monotony. And even worse, it started to drag. Coffee. I could use some coffee right about now. Wasn't that supposed to be a Light job?
"Mr. Yagami," L broke the quiet in the room, "How long does it take to get from here to the nearest café?"
"About ten minutes on foot," Soichiro told him, "Why?"
"Light's been gone too long," L worried, "I hope everything's alright."
"Maybe he stopped somewhere else," Matsuda suggested, "If you're so worried, maybe you should call him."
"Capital idea, Mr. Matsuda," L praised, just as confused as everyone else that those words actually came out of his mouth, "I think I will."
L got up from his chair, letting his knees unlock, and went somewhere more private than the main room. The others didn't need to hear his conversation. L's nerves were already getting the better of him. He didn't need to deal with all the questions that would likely follow with the rest of the task force. Please be ok, Light. Tell me something bad didn't happen. Just…Please. Be ok. That's all I ask of you.
Ring…
Ring…
Light looked down at his phone. And his blood turned cold. Uh-oh, "Hey, Takada? Do you mind? I need to take this."
"Go ahead," Takada allowed, "I'm not going to tell you no, Light. You don't have to ask my permission."
"Hello?" Light stepped outside.
"Light, where are you?" L wondered, quietly breathing a sigh of relief. He's ok. At least he's ok, "You've been gone for the last hour. I'm starving and you have my coffee."
"I'm on my way back," Light promised, "I got breakfast. I'll be back soon, ok?"
"Ok," L let him go, "And Light?"
"Yeah?"
"I miss you," L spoke softly, "Hurry home. I'll be waiting."
"I will," Light melted inside, "I won't be much longer, ok? You'll be alright for another ten, fifteen minutes, right?"
"I'm not sure how I'll go on," L teased, "But I suppose I'll manage. See you soon."
Click.
Light shoved his phone back in his pocket. I didn't think I was gone that long. Time flies, I guess. Light went back to his table with Takada, grabbing his box of donuts, "I have to go, Takada. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer."
"I should be going, too," Takada got up, "It's not a problem. I wasn't intending to stay this long anyway. We really should do this again, though, Light. I'm sure there's more we haven't caught up on."
"I can't talk about Misa," Light settled her, "I know you want to dig down that rabbit hole. That's the investigative journalist in you. But I can't talk about her."
"I know." Shit…I need a good exposé piece. Not that hanging out with Light didn't have its merits, but exposing how terrible Misa Misa is? That's career making, "I do miss you, Light. Are you busy this weekend?"
"I don't know," Light remembered back to his contract. He needs to keep his weekends free. Especially now that he's living with the man that drew up his contract in the first place. Dare I even tell L I was with Takada all this time? No. No. I'm overreacting. L knows better than for me to cheat on him. A little piece of me will always have a thing for Takada, but I'm not going to run back into her arms any time soon, "But I'm assuming you have the same number, right?"
"You never deleted my number?" she wondered. Looks like someone's still harboring a flame for me.
"No," he shook his head, "I never got around to it. I'll see if I'm busy this weekend and call you if I'm free."
"Ok," Takada smiled a bit, "I'm looking forward to it."
"Me, too," Light had a strange feeling in his chest. He knew what it could've been, but he dared not speak it. Not even think it. Instead, he waved Takada off and went back up to the counter. I'm sure I made him worry. Hopefully, this will help.
"Can I help you, sir?" the man behind the counter chimed.
"Can I get another black coffee with thirteen sugars?" Light ordered, "And a dozen macarons. And half of them earl grey."
"Did you have a preference for the other half?"
"Assorted is fine."
Light grabbed his (and L's) order and headed back to the task force headquarters. A little guilt crept in about making him wait so long, but he let it go. I'm sure if I just explain to him that I ran into…a friend…he won't freak out too much. Even if I tell him it was Takada, he knows better. I'm not going back to her. Not when we're doing so well. Light pressed the special bypass button and walked through the door.
"Hey, Light," Aizawa wondered, "How long have you been here?"
"Maybe two minutes?" Light thought it over, "Why?"
"How?" Aizawa got defensive, "It takes at least ten minutes, a full cavity search, and a blood sacrifice to go through the security system."
"That's not your concern, Mr. Aizawa," L brushed him off, "Light, do you have what I asked you for?"
"And then some," Light put both boxes next to L.
"You…" L looked in the top box, "You got me macarons?"
"I figured it'd make up for me showing up so late," Light rocked back on his heels, "I'm sorry. I got caught up in something else. Nothing dangerous, though."
"What kind of macarons did you get?" L ran his fingers over the blue ones, "I know those are earl grey, but what are the others?"
"I got an assortment," Light explained, knowing exactly which ones were which. The pink ones are strawberry shortcake, the yellow ones are cheesecake, and the green ones are kiwi and melon. My favorite, your favorite, and a safe one.
"You know, Light," L studied them closely, "I'm not typically one to get adventurous with my pastries."
"Just trust me," Light assured him, "I bet you'll like them."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive."
"How many sugars did you put in my coffee?" L asked.
"Thirteen," Light crossed his fingers in his pockets, hoping he did good.
"Perfect," L praised him. Had Light been born a golden retriever, his tail would've safely propelled him through water, "Thank you, Light. You and I will talk later."
"Sure," Light smiled, the tension in his body melting away.
"Wow," Matsuda giggled to himself, "If nobody knew any better, they'd think you two were a married couple."
"Shut up, Matsuda!" Light snapped at him, noticing L twitch out of the corner of his eye. And the whole room fell silent. No clacking of the keyboard. No mouse clicks. Not even a pen clicking. Just tense quiet.
"That…Was more of a joke, Light," Matsuda tucked his tail between his legs, "I'm sorry…"
"Light," L's hands shook, "Do you think I could see you privately, please?"
"Of course," Light knew a little more about L than what Matsuda's off handed comment suggested. They didn't need their relationship on full display. Light brought L around the corner, making sure they were both out of the task force's field of vision, "Are you alright?"
"Light…" L's stomach turned. And all he could think of was the last time marriage even crossed his mind. And how he was just a little too late, "You know I'd never do that to you…Right?"
"I know," Light pulled L into his chest. L's shaking started to slow. Not by much, but enough to make Light feel better. He placed a gentle kiss on top of L's head, just to remind him he was still here. Light knew L's feelings on marriage. And he knew that would never happen. Not unless he asked nicely…And gently, "I know."
"Because you're incredibly precious to me," L's voice broke, "And I know I'd never be able to find another you. Especially not you."
"I know," Light held him tighter, keeping his voice down, "It's ok. I'm not going anywhere, L. I promise. It doesn't matter what happens. I'm right here. I'm not leaving you. On any plane of existence. I'm still here."
"Good," L pulled himself together, in need of a quick distraction, "So…Where were you before? What took you so long to get back here?"
"I…" Would now really be a good time for that? When he's already so fragile? Light shook it off, not underestimating L's strength, "I went to a place in Aoyama and…I ran into Takada."
"Really?" the mentions of Light's ex made L a little uneasy, but he trusted Light more than most.
"Yeah," Light nodded, "We got to talking and lost track of time."
"Oh," L was quiet for a moment or two, "Do you miss her?"
"Sometimes," Light answered honestly, "But she's got her work and her new boyfriend. In a way, I got the same thing."
"What do you mean?"
"I got work and my boyfriend, too," Light gave L one little kiss, "I do…Don't I?"
"Yeah," L nodded, cuddling into Light's shoulder. Thank you, Light. That's all I needed to hear, "You know…I may call it an early day. This one has already taken so much out of me."
"That's alright," Light allowed, giving L one gentle kiss, "So…Should I hang around down here for a while?"
"Please."
"Ok," Light let L go and the two of them started walking back toward the main room. But before they could get there, L grabbed Light's hand, making Light freeze in his tracks, "L? Is everything ok?"
L pulled Light toward him, getting one last kiss before they had to part ways, "Yes. It will be. See you at home?"
"I'll see you at home," Light gushed inside. Yeah. I'll see him at home. In that moment, it just hit him. Light finally realized exactly where his life had gone. An apartment of his own, yet a boyfriend he loved and lived with (not quite in the open yet, but he knew they weren't in the place for that) and worked with and saw every single day. And he couldn't be happier. For the first time in nearly four years, Light was genuinely happy.
"Now," L walked back to the main room on his own while Light made himself comfortable off to the side, "Where were we?"
"I am still really sorry about that, Ryuzaki," Matsuda whined, "I didn't realize what I said was so out of line. I wasn't thinking."
"That's not exactly out of the ordinary for you, Mr. Matsuda," L threw himself back into his work, "Now, if it's all the same to you, please. Shut up."
"Ok." Matsuda kept his mouth shut. Just as L ordered.
"Light," L called for him.
And much like any other time, Light came when he was called for, "Yeah?"
"That medicine I asked you for earlier?" L requested, "Will you go get some for me please?"
"Sure." You never asked me for medicine. I thought that was just a distraction, so my dad didn't ask too many questions. Still, Light started walking up the stairs to the apartment at the end of the hall. Or as Light liked to call it, his new home. But then, Light felt his phone buzzing on his thigh. What the hell…? I was right there. What could he possibly want?
Matsuda's an idiot.
My head is killing me.
Aspirin please?
-L
Light giggled to himself. That makes more sense.
You're not wrong.
Medicine cabinet in the bathroom?
Bzzz…
On the left.
Big bottle.
Can't miss it.
Thank you. x
-L