A/N: Hi, friends! How are we?

Ok…I see that look. I feel that look. If you had laser vision, you'd be cutting me right now. I got it. Last week was…A lot™. And this week, it's going to get worse before it gets better. But it is going to get better. They're doing their best, ok? And I'm doing my best. Why don't we put the voyeur hat on and peek in on L and Light's love life, ok? How does that sound for you?

Things were quiet on the way back to L's house. Not because of awkward tension. Not because one was mad at the other. Things were normally quiet with L and Light. All L could think about was the rumbling in his stomach. And what waited for him once he got home. If he focused long enough, he could still taste those pancakes Light made for him in Odaiba. Things were easier then. We didn't have any of this mess to deal with. No Near. No Mello. Just you and me. It's still just you and me…Right, Light?

When they got to L's house, Light went straight to the kitchen. Hopefully, L's house is well stocked. I'd hate to run out of anything while I was in the middle of cooking. With every crack of an egg or turn of the whisk, L watched carefully. Every move Light made put L at ease, held him captivated. However, Light had more than just L's pancakes on the brain. There's no telling what this will do to him. But I need to know. And maybe he needs to say it out loud.

"Hey, L…" Light kept his voice down, so the sudden break in the silence didn't startle him, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Light," L allowed, "Is there something on your mind?"

"A few things, actually," Light admitted. Don't let this break him. He's probably fragile enough right now. I don't need to break him.

"Please. Ask away."

"If you had the opportunity to get back together with either Near or Mello," Light winced, bracing himself for the answer, "Would you…?"

"Light…" L felt a sharp knife in his stomach. Really? Is that really something you need to question? But L understood, "No. Of course I wouldn't. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Light let out a quiet sigh of relief, "The way you took care of Near today…It almost looked too perfect."

"Because I took care of Near for a long time," L took Light's hand, "That was just a reflex."

"So," Light hoped, "I have nothing to worry about?"

"Never," L promised, "I did love Near once. But now…He has made progress. I wouldn't want to undo all of that. I know exactly what things would be if we got back together. Don't get me wrong. I can handle a little bit of cling, but if I were to get back together with Near, I'd never see alone time ever again. He'd never leave my side. Because he knows what that's like. And he'd never want that to go away ever again. That's not happening. Besides, that would mean leaving you. And I'm not doing that. I couldn't…"

"Ok," Light let it go. Good. You're still mine. You had me worried for a minute.

"Since we're on the subject of Near and Mello," L went on, "What did you think about them?"

"About Near and Mello?" Light thought it over for a moment or two, "Near, I could understand. He's little, delicate, practically a glorified lap dog. You could keep him in your pocket all you wanted. But Mello…Mello has me thrown for a loop. Then again, we all have a Misa, don't we?"

"What do you mean?" L wondered.

"He's loud, obnoxious," Light explained, "A slinky body that won't quit. From what I understand, he'd bitch you out on a regular basis, wouldn't he? Just seeing how he was today was plenty evidence of that."

"If you didn't just describe Mello in a nutshell," L agreed. Comparing Mello to Misa, though…Interesting analogy. He's not wrong.

"Then," Light sat down, "Where do I fit in with your patterns?"

"You don't," L smiled a bit, "That's what I like about you. That's why we work. Because you're not like them, Light. And I'll be honest. I used to hate it. It used to piss me off to no end. It made me nearly punch holes in the drywall a few times. Now, you understand why I went off the way I did when we made our first trip to Odaiba."

"And…" Light got quiet, "And now?"

"I've grown to love it," L laid his head on Light's shoulder, "Along with everything else. There are some things that still drive me nuts about you, but it's more of a me problem than a you problem."

"What do you mean?"

"Just when I think I have something figured out," L admitted, "It's almost as if you deliberately change for the sake of spiting me. For the sake of keeping me on my toes, so to speak."

"Maybe I do," Light kissed his cheek.

"Do you?" L asked.

"Not that I know of," Light went back to flip his pancakes.

"You're the best kind of exhausting, Light," L laid his upper half on the counter, watching Light cook.

"I try," Light giggled to himself.

"What about you?" L teased him, "I can't be the only one under the microscope here."

"What do you mean, what about me?" Light looked around for a plate.

"If you had the chance," L wondered, "Would you get back together with any of your exes?"

"Me?" Light laughed, "Yeah…I don't think so. That's not something you ever have to worry about with me. Dealing with them once was plenty."

"Really?" L thought, "You wouldn't get back together with any of your exes? There isn't any of them you'd want a second chance with?"

"Trust me," Light scoffed, "Once was definitely plenty. Misa…Misa was Misa. That one should go without saying. You couldn't pay me to get back together with Misa. Even if she did get the help she needed…I suppose it'd be kind of like you getting back together with Near. I wouldn't want to be the one to undo all the progress. But at the same time, Misa's a tiger that would never change her stripes. Especially not for the sake of getting me back. I'd only be someone for her to have under her thumb again. Even if she was ok with us admitting we were a couple publicly. That would only mean a public backlash for the inevitable split."

"Let no one ever say you don't believe in love, Light," L jabbed.

"It would," Light was blunt, "That would come to an end. That would blow up publicly. And Misa would make damn sure she brought me down with her and make sure I drown. Not happening. I know better now."

"You've had better," L bragged, "Not to be that guy, but…I mean…Would you really risk leaving me for Misa?"

"Hell no," Light chuckled a bit, sliding pancakes on L's plate, "That's not happening. I have had better. Why would I want to give that up? Even if he can be kind of a pain in the ass."

"I have yet to be a pain in your ass, Light," L smirked, "Just give it time."

"The only one I'd ever give consideration to getting back together with is Takada," Light admitted, "But even that wouldn't work. I just…I don't know. She's different now. And I have a feeling that she'd only get back together with me for the sake of pumping me for information on Misa. She's one of the few people in this world that know we were ever together. Mostly because Misa made sure I burned the bridge. Takada was ok in the moment, but I don't think we could get back together. But then, that leaves Mikami…And I don't think I can even classify Mikami as an ex. That was just a few nights of rough sex that I'd like to forget."

"That's understandable," L nodded, "I wouldn't want to get back together with Mikami either. Not that we ever were. If it makes you feel any better, you don't have to think of him as an ex."

"He was a mistake," Light gave L his pancakes, "Here. Do you want anything specific on them?"

"There should be whipped cream and strawberries in the fridge," L directed him, "Powdered sugar's in the pantry."

"Ok," Light dug through the fridge and the pantry and started decorating L's pancakes. He had a decent grasp on how to do it.

Although L tried doing it himself, Light wasn't allowing it. And the sudden act of dominance caught L by surprise. Really? Someone's grown awfully bold, hasn't he? I like it. Light scattered the pieces of strawberry across the whipped cream and topped them off with a heavy squeezing of strawberry syrup. L couldn't wipe the smile off his face, "Thank you, Light."

"You're welcome," Light stole a quick kiss before L started eating.

"I'm starving," L groaned, already stuffing his face.

"Should I be concerned?" Light backed away, making sure he kept all his fingers.

"No," L mumbled through a mouthful of pancake. Goddamn, Light. Don't you ever say you're not Michelin quality. If this was my last meal, I'd be able to die happy. With one hard swallow, L pulled himself together, "I'm good. What about you?"

"Me?"

"I'm not going to stop you from eating, Light," L peeked into the bowl next to the stove, "And I know there's batter still in that bowl."

"I think I'll give it a second," Light teased, "Besides, something about watching you ravenously stuff your face makes me not exactly hungry."

"Sorry," L brushed him off, "But I've only had those lollipops today and I'm fucking starving."

"Understandable," Light backed off, "I'm not going to stop you."

But L got to thinking. Here I wanted to take care of you, Light…Yet somehow, you're always the one taking care of me. Mostly because you're too stubborn for me to take care of you. Don't get me wrong. I couldn't be more grateful for what you do for me. But…This house is too big for one person. At least, it's too big for one person anymore, "Light…"

"Hmm?" Light sat next to him, scrolling through his new phone, still trying to figure out how it worked.

"After this case is over," L wondered, "After everything's all sewn up…What did you have planned?"

"I didn't really have anything planned," Light put his phone down, his heart cracking a little, "But…I suppose if the case is all done…Then, that means you'll be coming back here…Right?"

"That's the plan," L sighed out. Also not what I would've ideally wanted to hear, but I digress.

"Or…" Light grabbed L's face, gently pressing his lips against L's, reveling in the little bit of strawberry syrup left over, "Since you won't technically be working with the NPA anymore…And you won't be needing me as your assistant anymore…Maybe we could finally tell my dad about us."

"You'd be ok with that?" L's heart skipped a beat. Look who grew a pair.

"Maybe we won't tell him how long we've been together," Light backed off, the weight of his words getting to him.

"Maybe not," L decided, "But…We'd finally be able to scream it from the rooftops?"

"Maybe…" Light settled him, "Maybe we whisper it from the rooftops."

"Alright," L let it go, "Unrelated question, do you know how much ad space in Shibuya Crossing costs?"

"No," Light knew exactly where L was taking that. He could almost see it in his head, "You are not renting out ad space in Shibuya Crossing for the sake of showing off our relationship."

"That was a joke," L giggled, "I wouldn't do that to you, Light. I know how…shy you can be when it comes to your relationships. And showing us off in Shibuya Crossing on sixty-foot screens is not the way to go about it. Holding your hand in Shibuya Crossing, though? That would be plenty for me."

"Good," Light caught his breath. And he has the audacity to say I'm exhausting, "But if we're being honest, if I saw us on a sixty-foot screen at Shibuya Crossing, I wouldn't be surprised."

"Well," L thought it over, "How about instead of us being on a sixty-foot screen in Shibuya…Maybe you could come here with me instead?"

"I'm already here with you," Light pointed out, "That's half the battle."

"That's not what I meant," L clarified, "I meant…On a more permanent basis. Like…You moving to London with me."

That was a slap to the face Light wasn't expecting. Moving in with him in the tower was one thing. I still had everything there. Moving in with him in a different country on a different continent? London's starting to grow on me. That's for sure. But…I don't know…There's too much for him here, "You realize that's a big step in our relationship, right, L?"

"I know," L nodded, "And I know it's asking a lot of you to completely uproot your life to come here. But I think it's a risk worth exploring."

"I'll think about it," Light promised, "Is that alright?"

"It's better than a flat-out rejection," L allowed, "That's fine. And that's all I can ask of you. But I love you, Light. And I'd be lying if I said I don't miss being back here. I forgot how attached I was to this place. But…Like I said. I know it's asking a lot of you."

"I love you, too," Light got up from his seat and went back to the stove, "L…"

"What?"

"Is it too late to agree to that ad space in Shibuya?"

"I'm not renting out ad space in Shibuya," L smiled. Don't tempt me, Light. You know I would. You know I have the resources to pull something like that off. But…This may be asking even more of you, "But…Before we leave and go back to Japan, can I make one little request? And feel free to say no to this. I'm leaving it completely and one hundred percent in your hands."

"Ok," Light listened intently, "What is it?"

"Before we leave…" L bit the inside of his cheek. Here goes nothing, "I want to see Near. One last time. And on my own. Is that alright with you?"

Light had a feeling it'd be about Near. Granted, he wasn't Near's biggest fan, but he saw how badly it hurt L to let him go. One last time. Just for the closure, "Will you be ok seeing Near knowing he's not going to be yours anymore?"

"Yes," L nodded, "I think so. It's not me you ever need to worry about, Light. It's Near. I…I don't want to break him. I know he's already so fragile and he's precariously hanging by a thread, but…I want to make sure that he knows as well as I do that we're not getting back together."

"You're not going to break him," Light sat in L's lap, his head in his shoulder, "He's not your responsibility anymore, L. Even if you do, it might be the break he needs. It's not that you don't care. It's that you don't have to care anymore. He's going to hold you down for as long as you let him. If he does, he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't. You can't always take the middle road."

"You know, Light…" L kissed his cheek, "How is it you know what to say and when to say it?"

"It's a gift, I guess."

"You're right…Near's not my responsibility anymore. I need to stop treating him like he is."

"Once more for closure?"

"Once more for closure." L wrapped his arms around Light. Once more…For closure.