A/N: Hi, friends! So, how are we feeling today? Up for some angst? Up for some fluff? Up for both? Or are you just wanting me to skip to all the dirty parts? Life is about balance, my friend. Balance. But for now, let's see what the crank machine in front of the grocery store has for you. Psst…I bet it's a really cool holographic sticker. At least I hope so.

By the end of the day, L was nearly asleep at his desk. He kept searching for one last clue, one little scrap of information. All it would take was one slip up and he'd be able to win. But he was coming up short. L didn't handle stalemates very well. And if one person said the wrong thing to him now, it'd be their funeral. It's bad enough the case is at a standstill and people are still dying. But I have Light upstairs coming down from whatever Aizawa did to him. That still burned bright and hot in the back of L's brain. He wanted nothing more than to send Aizawa anywhere else after something like that. He shot Aizawa the occasional glare whenever he wasn't looking. Mostly for the catharsis. You hurt him. I know you did.

"I think we should call it a day, Ryuzaki," Soichiro broke L out of his bitter headspace, "It's been a long one and we're not going to make any progress when we're all tired."

"That's a good idea," L agreed. The sooner you all leave, the sooner I can go check on Light and make sure he's ok, "We should all get some rest."

"So…" Matsuda caught a second wind. Possibly the third or fourth, considering how the rest of the day had been, "Where are we going after this? Drinks? Sushi?"

"I'm going home," Aizawa decided, "You go have fun, Matsuda."

"As am I," Soichiro grabbed his bag, "I'm exhausted."

"And as much fun as it sounds, Matsuda," Mogi shot him down, "I'm beat, too. Looks like you'll be on your own tonight."

"Before I leave," Soichiro started heading toward the stairs. L caught him out of the corner of his eye. And his heart stopped, "I'm going to go say goodbye to Light and make sure he's doing ok. Last time I visited him, he hadn't even unpacked yet."

L thought back to the state Light's apartment was in the last he saw it. It hasn't changed much. We've been out of town. He's been busy. We've been sleeping at my place, "You're going to see Light, Mr. Yagami?"

"Yes," Soichiro looked at L strange, "Considering he's my son, I worry about him from time to time. Is that alright with you?"

"Don't let me stop you," L assured him. Great minds think alike, I guess. Although, I don't think I'd be able to put you on the same pedestal I put myself on. But I digress.

"Thank you," Soichiro brushed him off. What has you so territorial over him, Ryuzaki? It's almost as if you're jealous of me…But I don't think you're capable of jealousy. I know you're just as human as the rest of us, but I don't think I've ever seen you show any emotion. Other than argumentative.

Soichiro got to Light's door, gently knocking on it. However, what he didn't know was what waited on the other side. Light had been balled up on the couch with a blanket and his eyes shut for the last couple of hours. It wasn't like Light to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon, but after the drilling Aizawa gave him, he needed it. The little knock was just enough to wake him. Who the hell…? Light checked his watch. Oh…Is it quitting time already? That went by quick. Light got up from the couch, feeling a little better than when he fell asleep, and got the door.

"Hey, swe…" Light caught himself before anything else could come out of his mouth, "Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Just checking in," Soichiro told him, "I thought I'd stop by and make sure you were doing ok. Did I catch you at a bad time? I didn't see you come up here."

"I've been up here," Light shook off his sleepiness, "I just took another way instead of the main staircase. Do you want to come in?"

"I shouldn't keep you too long."

"No, no," Light insisted, "You're not keeping me. I don't mind. Really. Just…Excuse the mess."

"I see the unpacking is still coming along at a snail's pace," Soichiro teased him a bit.

"I've been out of town, Dad," Light rolled his eyes, "Cut me a little slack. And when I'm not out of town, I'm working. Do you have any idea what it's like to maintain L's life? It's a handful."

"I'm sure it is," Soichiro couldn't exactly relate, but he knew what it was like to deal with L on a regular basis, "But I suppose it could be worse. How are you doing, Light?"

"I'm fine," Light sat back down on the couch. I'm…Really not fine. I was so far from fine before that I forgot what fine looked like. Aizawa decided to drill me on my relationship with L, which is none of his business. And I knew he could've very easily used anything I told him against me. I knew it would've gotten back to you. That's not something I'm ready for yet. I hated every second of it. And I had no way out of it. L wasn't here to shut him up. You weren't here to shut him up. If Watari didn't step in today, I don't know what I would've done. Light did his best to pull himself back together before he fell apart again, "Hey…Dad?"

"Yes?" Soichiro listened intently.

The best way to avoid that happening again is to take away what could give Aizawa power, right? Light bit the inside of his cheek, "You…Love me unconditionally…Right?"

"I'm your father, Light," Soichiro assured him, "Of course, I do. What kind of parent would I be if I didn't? Why do you ask?"

"I'm just curious," Light heard a faint creaking sound in the distance. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, "I actually have plans for tonight, Dad, so…If you don't mind…"

"I understand," Soichiro started heading toward the door, "And Light…You do know that if there's something bothering you…You can tell me."

"I know," Light nodded. I don't need your disappointment over my head today, Dad. Not today, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll see you tomorrow." And just like that, Soichiro left Light in his apartment with the weirdest feeling in the pit of his stomach. Light…I just want you to talk to me. We used to once upon a time. When did that stop? Is this what it's like when you grow up? Is this what it's like to be on the outside looking in? The glass is fogging up more and more every day…

Meanwhile, Light breathed a little easier knowing Soichiro would never abandon him. Although, there was something that had Light concerned, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Back doors truly come in handy, don't they?" L walked into the living room, stealing a quick kiss from the man he loved, "Hi."

"Hello," Light melted a little inside, "I'll ask again. How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know you almost came out to your dad a couple minutes ago," L climbed over the back of the couch and pulled Light into his chest, "What was that all about?"

"You know how I was earlier?" Light laid his head on L's chest.

"Yeah," L remembered it all too well. Light's rapid breathing, his shaking, his swollen face…The thought of it made L's blood boil again, "What about it?"

"That was because of Aizawa," Light explained, "He was getting a little too close for comfort about you and me…I didn't like it. He had me practically pinned in the corner. It set me off. And that's when Watari stepped in and took care of it."

"That's because Watari hates to see me like that," L pointed out, "And he knows how important you are to me."

"But it got me thinking," Light went on, "If I tell my dad about us, then it takes away the power from Aizawa. Is it a shitty thing for him to do in the first place? Yeah. It is."

"He doesn't like me."

"I know he doesn't like you," Light giggled a bit, "But that's alright."

"And why's that?" L held Light a little tighter.

"Because I like you…"

"And that's why Aizawa doesn't like me," L kissed the top of Light's head, "But fuck him. We got each other."

"Very true," Light shut his eyes, "But if Dad hears it from me, he doesn't hear it from Aizawa. Aizawa doesn't get the satisfaction of screwing us both over. We walk away from it."

"Which brings me to my next question," L shook off any thoughts he had about Aizawa and focused on what really mattered, "How are you feeling, Light? After I sent you up here, walk me through it. What happened?"

"I found the service elevator," Light reveled in the warmth around him, already feeling better than the nap could ever do, "I came up here. I was going to go into your apartment, but I figured it'd be better if I came here. I don't know if the cleaning staff has taken care of the carnage in our bedroom yet."

"They have," L ran his fingers down Light's back, "That was earlier today when we were both out of there. The cleaning staff is very quick. And thorough. So, it'd be perfectly safe for you to have gone back there."

"Tonight," Light decided, "But after I came in here, I took a good, long nap. That bullshit Aizawa pulled was exhausting."

"I'm sure it was." You're not telling me anything I don't know, Light. I've had my fair share of meltdowns, too. It's just that yours aren't nearly as frequent. You'll be ok, though. I promise. I took care of it, "So…Would you say you're ok now? All better?"

"For the most part," Light nodded, "What about it?"

"I was thinking," L pushed himself up from the couch, "You and I could go get dinner. Matsuda said something about sushi. Now, I can't get food out of my head."

"Ok," Light got up, "But I'm not thinking sushi."

"That's fine with me," L allowed, "How about Omotesando for old time's sake?"

"I'd rather a root canal," Light giggled, "No, thank you. Just what I need on top of the shit storm today has already been. Why not bump into Misa in the middle of dinner with you? Again."

"So, no Omotesando," L figured. Damn…I like going to Omotesando, "Ginza, then?"

"I'm not up for Ginza either," Light shot him down.

But then, it clicked in L's head. He knew exactly where they were going, "Get your shoes, Light."

"Where are we going?" Light threw the blanket back on the couch.

"How would you feel about Nakameguro for the night?"

Light couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He knew what kind of significance Nakameguro had in their relationship. And there's no way he could've said no, "I'll go get my shoes."

It's amazing how quickly Light's day turned around. One little mention of one of the most beautiful places they could be and he was beaming. And L knew what he was doing. For the next couple weeks, their nights looked mostly the same. Light would leave L alone for the day a little earlier than he normally would only for them to take off to Nakameguro or Shimokitazawa that night. No matter how tired either one of them were from work. They always managed to find it in each other to take nice car ride to somewhere even nicer. Somewhere safe. Somewhere they could simply be.

Although, they both knew it could only last for so long. That early 5AM morning would break L's heart…Just a little more. Especially since he knew what he was leaving behind. Carefully, he slid Light off his chest and onto their bed, letting him sleep a little longer. Please stay asleep. Please stay asleep. Please stay asleep. L pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead. I love you, Light. If I didn't, I wouldn't be making this trip in the first place. You're so blissfully ignorant…But that might be a good thing in this case. You won't try to stop me.

L tiptoed out of the bedroom with his packed bag on his shoulder. However, L didn't anticipate being stopped at his own front door, "Did you really think you could sneak out without saying goodbye, Lawliet?"

"I know," L sighed out, dropping his bag, "Trust me, Watari. I know what I'm doing. I know why I'm leaving. And I know I'll be back. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Watari knew L better than anyone. Even better than Light. Although, Light knew L in a more biblical sense. Even then, Watari still knew L better than anyone on the face of the planet. And he knew when L was about to do something he'd be better off not doing.

"I'm sure," L promised, "I mean…I handled London just fine, didn't I?"

"Are you sure about that?" Yet again, Watari's nose was sharper than L gave him credit for, "Because I seem to remember hearing something about you needing to cut the trip early. And if Light wasn't there, you would've possibly fallen into the Thames with no attempts at swimming to shore. You're doing this entirely on your own. You do know that, right?"

"Yeah," L nodded, his chest feeling heavy, "I know. I do. But am I really going to be completely alone? I've told Light to keep his phone on. I know I can call you at any given time of the day, no matter where I am. I think I'll be alright."

"Do you have everything?" Watari asked.

"Yes."

"L…?" a soft, tired voice called from the bedroom doorway.

Dammit, Watari…You woke the baby. I was hoping we could've avoided this, "Go back to bed, Light. Everything's fine."

"L…" Light rubbed the sleep out of his eye, catching a quick glimpse at L's suitcase, "You're leaving already?"

"Yes," L winced. Please don't make this difficult, Light. It's hard enough as it is. Don't make it worse, "I promise I'll call you both times I land. Alright?"

"Ok," Light wrapped his arms around L's waist, nuzzling his face in his neck, "I love you."

"I love you, too," L pulled Light's face up to his, kissing him like they'd never see each other again. But L knew that wasn't true. Light knew that wasn't true, "I'll be back in a few days. Saturday at the latest."

"Odaiba on Sunday?"

"If you'd like," L gave Light one last kiss on his cheek, "I have to go. Take good care of things while I'm gone, ok?"

"I will." Light watched as L left their room and then, the tower altogether. And he felt an ache in his chest. A sinking emptiness that made him want nothing more than to curl back up on the couch and go back to sleep. However, that wasn't Light. I made you a promise, L. Take care of everything while you're gone. And since I'm already awake, I might as well get started.

"Light…" Watari treaded lightly, "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Light brushed him off, "Might as well get to work."