Light startled awake and darted his gaze nervously around the giant aircraft. His mother placed a comforting hand on top of his. "Just some small turbulence. We're landing; it's good you slept some, they're eight hours behind us. You won't have much of a problem with jet lag." Sachiko laughed heartily.
Light groaned, "Oh great." He rubbed his eyes tiredly as they circled over to the window, down at the enlarging airport beneath them. "Wow... It's huge!"
Sachiko smiled, then asked Light, "What did this Mr. Lawliet say, last you spoke with him?"
Light glanced back to his mother. "He said there would be a car waiting for us." He responded matter-of-factly. "I sent him all of our ticket information; whoever is picking me up already knows what terminal to wait at."
Sachiko flashed a proud smile."Oh, my baby!" She snatched Light up into a tight embrace, "Growing up so fast!"
Light shifted an embarrassed glance around the plane and tried to shrug his mother off. "Mom, I'm not a baby anymore...!" He insisted, failing to escape Sachiko's lock. "Please don't do that again." He hung his head a little in embarrassment, his cheeks slightly flushed with a light rose color.
Sachiko chuckled quietly and let Light go, "I know… But you'll always be my baby, even when you're a little old man!"
Light smiled in response. Suddenly, the plane descended into a slight free fall and he clutched the seat tightly, his face reflecting a small amount of panic, "Not sure I'll ever get used to that… Mom… What if I need to come back? There isn't a return trip on my ticket…" Light looked down to his ticket a little sorrowfully.
Sachiko placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "We'd fly you home… There's no way we'd ever leave you twisting in the wind. But we won't need to do that, I'm sure!" She patted his back gently when Light hung his head. "You won't quit; I know you're better than that. The harder the task, the more determined you are to prove everyone wrong. Just like your father." She added.
Light looked up to his mother's warm chocolate brown eyes and smiled. "Thanks, mom." His mother's smile made her age evident, soft wrinkles lining her face. Suddenly feeling a little guilty, he made a silent promise to himself: 'I don't care how much they beat me up, it's time to move on, I can't burden my family any longer.'
The behemoth plane landed and bounced slightly. Light took a deep breath, then released it slowly as the plane taxied into the terminal smoothly. They waited for the passengers in front of them to exit the plane before grabbing their carry-on baggage and removing themselves from the craft.
Light's eyes widened when they entered the airport. The overall impression was grand; encased in an oval ceiling and walls, the terminal was run through by a deep red carpet, the ceiling littered with tiny windows. 'Is there any actual roof to it?' Light wondered as he followed his mother with his messenger bag over his shoulder. "While you speak with Mr. Lawliet, I'll look for a suitable place for you to live while you're working there." Sachiko turned around and told him
Light shook his head and sighed. "Alright, Mom."
They stepped out of the airport and a black sedan pulled up. A blonde with icy blue eyes stuck his head out the window. "Yagami?" He hollered, his voice masculine and a little harsh.
Light blinked rapidly a few times and nodded at him. "That would be me!" He called, cupping his mouth with a hand.
"Good!" The blonde responded, then dove back inside the car. A muffled, "Park it, Matty! I'll make it quick, open the trunk!" Can be heard. The young man then hopped out of the car and opened the back door for Sachiko. "Ma'am." He gestured politely for her to enter, then snatched the bags up and tossed them into the back of the car like they were cotton candy. "Alright, new guy. Climb in. Let's go and try to beat chef there; he's a real pain if he's there before you!"
He hopped back into the shotgun seat and Light got in the back, settling himself next to his mom, who smiled at the redhead and the blonde. "Hello!" She greeted them cheerfully. "I'm Light's mother. You boys live here, right?"
The blonde turned around and stretched his hand in greeting. "Yes. Call me Mello, and that's Matt." He gestured to the redhead after waiting to no avail for Sachiko to shake his hand. He then cocked his head towards Light."Does he need somewhere to live?"
Sachiko nodded with a pleasant smile. "Oh yes. I'm only here to help him get settled."
Matt nodded, his eyes not averting from the road. "He could always stay with us; it'd be more cost efficient for all of us, really, especially until he actually starts earning money."
Light bit his bottom lip and raised his eyebrows, "Oh, I couldn't. For all you guys know, I'm a real creep."
Mello cackled loudly, "Ahh, that settles it! Anyone that honest can definitely stay with us! We all work at Epicurious, so we could all go to and fro together. Paris is a really nice city... that is, until the sun goes down." Mello's mouth stretched into a creepy Cheshire grin, and wiggled his fingers at Light. When the brunette recoiled a bit, Mello laughed lightheartedly. "Not that you have to worry about getting hurt or anything... You fancy keeping your wallet? It's best not to travel alone."
Matt nodded in agreement. "We have a spare bedroom; you wouldn't be imposing."
Sachiko smiled, then turned to her son and nudged him slightly. "That sounds like a good offer, Light!"
Mello laughed and gave Light a thumbs-up. "First month's on us, kay? Then we'd split the costs three way!"
Light sighed in half exasperation and half for humor. "Alright! You guys win."
Mello sat back and smiled triumphantly. "I usually do." The blonde flashed his teeth in a full victorious grin.
Matt rolled his eyes as they weaved through the traffic. "I'll take your mom and luggage to the flat; and you and Mello can face our judge and jury... and executioner." Mello laughed loudly at this and Matt continued, "I'm the accountant. Chef could care less if I'm there. L might mind, but as long as I have a valid excuse to not be there, he's alright with it."
Sachiko smiled and relaxed back into the seat. "Just landed and already throwing him into the fire?"
Mello shook his head. "No, but he has to meet with L, get the basic rules, and whatnot. Boring new guy crap." Light watched out the window as the city seemed to pass by while the blonde shrugged.
He snapped to attention when the car pulled to a stop. Matt turned around and rested his chin on the seat, announcing, "Alright, I'm going to drop you and Mello off. I'll be by later, so if L asks-"
Mello waved Matt off dismissively while aggressively shoving the door open. "Yeah, yeah, stuff, got it. You're helping Mrs. Yagami. L'll take that." Mello hopped out of the car and stretched then opened the door for Light's mom, before heading into the restaurant. "You said your name was Light, huh?"
Light nodded silently as he stared up at the restaurant. It wasn't massive, but it didn't have to be to make Light feel small. It had the reputation of a skyscraper. A two-story building, the large bay windows were well tinted. On the bright red door inlayed with more tinted glass, etched was, in bold lettering,
EPICURIOUS
Mello pulled to door open and smirked, "After you." Light mentally steeled himself and stepped through the door to be met with a dark interior, the walls painted a deep navy blue. Black slate floor, mahogany wood lining the bar, every table and chair. A pure white cloth on each table top with a single bright red candle in the center inside a stained glass casing, matching the fabric of the chairs and booths. Abstract art lined the walls, it was sleek and modern, but still classy. Mello smirked at Light's appeasing gaze, "Don't make the big man wait." He nudged Light slightly towards the back of the restaurant.
Light nodded and walked behind Mello, taking in the scene of the expansive bar that was lined from bar to ceiling with liquor and spirits of all types. As they reached the kitchen it almost blinded Light with its stark contrast. The floors a pearly white as well as the walls, stainless steel appliances and counters throughout. A large window let in a great deal of natural light on top of already being well lit. "Wow, it's bright."
Mello chuckled as he slid his cook whites on, "Yeah. When they offered to paint it, Chef threw a fit and insisted it stayed this color. H'said it made it easier to see all the grime from the day. Thus making it easier to clean… The logic is sound, but sometimes. It'll drive you a little batty." Light chuckled and followed Mello to the stairs, "Alright, up the stairs and to the right, that's L's office. Go meet him; he'll take it from there. Oh, and good luck! Can't wait to work with you tomorrow!" Mello waved a goodbye at Light as the blonde jogged over to the main kitchen area.
Light climbed the stairs slowly, he could feel his heart racing, 'Get ahold of yourself! He'll toss you out if he thinks you're a spaz.' Light took a deep breath and knocked on the door that had a brass sign on it saying 'L Lawliet'.
A monotoned voice came from behind the brilliant oak door, "Enter." Light gulped and hesitated slightly before pushing the door open, timidly entering. His eyes landed instantly on the oddly haunched man at the desk, a head full of wild but barely managed onyx hair. Light noted the bags under his eyes; 'Must be stressful, being in his position...' His eyes wandered to the rest of the office, which was decorated in hues of brown and cream. "Ah, Raito, or can I call you Light?"
Light blinked a couple of times, then responded, stuttering a bit, "You could call me 'idiot', and I'd respond." Upon realization of what he just said, Light mentally face-palmed. 'That's an interesting way to start off a professional relationship.'
To Light's bewilderment, a tiny smirk cracked along the porcelain lips. "That's good." L commented. "Birthday will likely call you something similar, but I prefer Light… Unless you'd rather be called 'Raito'." He tilted his hand towards the chair in front of his desk, "No need to be afraid. I don't bite... Birthday does, but I don't."
Light laughed a little nervously. "Sorry. No, it's fine, call me Light." Light approached the desk anxiously, and slowly sat down in a velvet chair before it. He glanced up at the charcoal eyes that seemed to be studying him.
"So... Birthday has chosen you out of the thirty I left for him to choose from." L began, picking up a coffee cup delicately by three fingers, and taking a silent sip. "I can see why. Your resume is rather impressive. No formal experience?" Light shook his head slightly. L nodded and shrugged slightly. "Ah. That's fine. I appreciate the honesty. However, I see that you have graduated from your culinary class at the very top and even shadowed Masaharu Morimoto for a month…" His voice trailed off slightly and watched for Light's reaction, but when Light didn't budge, L nodded slightly. "Impressive indeed."
Light gave a small sigh of relief at this. 'At least he isn't mean…' Light watched L as the latter read through Light's file again. 'He's very nice, actually.'
After finishing, L looked up from the document and cast Light a sideways smile. "Let's give you the grand tour, then. When you come in tomorrow, Birthday will undoubtedly put you to work as soon as possible. Let's enjoy the silence while it lasts... Or, as I like to call it, The calm before the storm." He serenely closed his eyes and rolled his head back.
Light blinked a few times at L when he suddenly looked up at Light, peeking one eye open. The older man smiled a little wider as a gruff shout was heard from the kitchen. "Ce que l'enfer vous faites?" ("What the hell are you doing?")
Upon receiving a glance of question, L nodded. "That would be the famous temperament of Chef BB." He stood up and motioned for Light to follow him. "Let's meet the temperamental devil, shall we?" A tiny smirk etched across L's pale face.
Light nodded and flinched at the sound of an outraged yell. "Vous plaisantez-moi!" ("You've got to be kidding me!")
Let's be a little fair here. SynesthesiaSymphony, my fantastical beta reader for this story, deserves a round of applause here for just a moment... And slight collaboration credit for Mello. Mello has always been a weakness of mine... I could never balance his personality traits JUST right.
