Nine months due
Chapter Rating: T
Gen. Warnings: LxLight, yaoi (but only slightly in this chapter), Mpreg, OOCness, profanity, some spoilers
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note
Brief summary: The Shinigami King, slightly paranoid that their existence would be exploited sought out a complicated plan to erase the world's memory of Kira and therefore create a relatively peaceful, Kira-less world. But! The consequence for this was to make Raito pregnant, thanks to L's growing love for the boy (which he acted upon, obviously). Now L has to stay with Raito in order to keep the world at peace.
The story so far:
The next two chapters are obligatory holiday season filler! If it's too cheesy, you can skip it and wait for the next chapter.
CHAPTER 18
Trend Setting
L woke up the next day feeling cold. Immediately, he can tell that there were two important things that were missing in his bedroom. The first one, quite obviously, would be their blanket. He could have been fine without it, seeing that Raito would usually hog it all to himself anyway. But the one he couldn't shrug off, was the fact that the said teen, the love of his life, had actually gone missing from their bed, and he was actually very certain about that, otherwise he would be hugging him very tightly at this point.
Promptly, he got out of bed, determined to look for his "wife" and claim his first kiss of the day. He found the said teen inside the shower, which he casually invaded.
"L!" screamed the boy, flushing red and making a poor attempt to hide his features in front of the already perverted smiling detective. "What are you doing!?"
"I'm going to take a shower with Raito-kun", L nonchalantly answered, inching closer. "Why are you up so early, Raito-kun?"
Raito took a deep breath, attempting to get away from the detective, and failing miserably. "I'm taking a bath obviously. We're supposed to attend Mass with the kids today, right?"
L blinked.
"Oh" he commented. "Well, why don't we take a bath together, Raito-kun?"
He advanced on the boy, already kissing him thoroughly and touching him wherever his hands could take him.
"L!", he gasped. "Not now….we'll be late." He managed to say.
"In that case, can I claim my Christmas kiss?" L asked, not that he still needed permission seeing that he was already leaning forward for a deep, long kiss.
"Ah", Raito breathed before giving in to the detective, eventually holding tightly to the man's arms as the shower kept them wet.
"Merry Christmas, Raito-kun" L said when they finally broke the kiss.
"Merry Christmas" Raito mumbled, looking away from L.
L rubbed the towel against his hair violently, making it dry yet wild at the same time. Raito was arranging his tie when he went back to their bedroom. He noticed the same formal outfit lying stiffly in their bed.
"Do I really have to wear that, Raito-kun?"
"I suppose if you're up to Watari's wrath, then you can go ahead and wear those usual jeans", Raito warned. "He specifically told us that he wanted to take a formal picture of us and the children."
L sighed and begrudgingly put them on.
"I really couldn't see why we have to spend time with them when we already did just last night."
"It's Christmas, L." Raito scolded. "You're supposed to be with family."
"Not if we're in Japan" he rebuked. "If we're in there we'd be on a date right now."
Raito went red again.
"It's not really how you think it is." Raito rebutted. "I spend all my time at home with my family at Christmas"
"Only because your Dad is usually busy in the force during those times." L continued. "And you kids didn't manage to get dates. But if we're there now, we'd spend the whole day all to ourselves, but maybe we would still stay the whole day at home, if you know what I mean."
Raito threw a pillow at him.
"Stop being perverted for once!" He shouted desperately. "Besides, you still look like a mess. Come here."
Quite unexpectedly, L obediently followed the boy as he began fixing his hair and his hastily wound tie.
"Watari is really looking forward to this. At least behave yourself for his sake."
"Yes, Raito-kun." L smirked.
"You better mean what you said" Raito said firmly, as he sighed.
L watched the boy as he walked away from the detective to his makeshift vanity room (which was hastily assembled during one of the boy's tantrums)
Watari had been nagging him about it ever since they arrived here. Apparently, it bothered him that Raito does not practice any religion. And L wasn't really doing anything on his part to "address" the problem. Being raised by Watari, L was baptized as a Catholic, but he really didn't take part in any of the traditional ceremonies. L wasn't really much better than Raito in that regard. In fact, in his early twenties, he was close to being an atheist himself, with only the elderly man stopping him from doing so.
Watching the innocent-looking boy groom himself in front of the mirror is a sight L is thankful that he got to see. It's not like Raito needed any more of it, for L, he looked perfect even when he just woke up. But still, it's amazing to see how a simple-looking boy can be turned into a prince with just a few minute's morning ritual. L really liked looking at the boy. Not only that, he preferred how the boy looked now than when they were trying to solve the Kira case. In fact, he made it a habit of looking at the boy's gentle-face whenever he remembers the kind of dark look Raito seems to have during the whole investigation. It somehow soothes him and also reassures the weary detective that he was still his Raito. Sometimes he wonders if there could still be a possibility for that old doubtful character to appear out of the blue. That could be more than a nightmare for L. Perhaps Watari's idea wasn't so bad after all.
"I was supposed to give this to you later, but I suppose the situation calls for it right now." He said as he handed L a neatly wrapped package. "Merry Christmas, L."
L stared at the package. It only registered to him that it was actually a gift for him. A gift from his Raito-kun.
"Well?" Raito said impatiently. "Open it!"
L came to his senses and opened it quickly. It was a high-end perfume.
"Mello and I agreed that the scent fit you perfectly. We bought it while we were arranging the set for the Christmas play."
L stared at it for a while. That explains the mysterious disappearance of the boy when he was busy guarding Yuuto from the children's music practice.
"Come on, try it on." Raito said eagerly.
L opened it and sprayed some around his body. Raito took a small wiff on the air around L. "Yeah, it fits you perfectly."
"Thank you, Raito-kun" L said gratefully.
Raito smiled. But L didn't move.
"Why are you staring at me?" Raito asked timidly. L blinked. This was actually happening more and more often. He used to be a good liar.
"Raito-kun is just so beautiful." L said honestly. The boy instantly went pink.
"Stop saying embarrassing things early in the morning!" Raito threw another pillow at him.
L dodged it easily, and continued to look at him boldly.
"I am serious, Raito-kun. I just can't help it." L took a step forward and kissed the boy's hand. "You're my prince, Raito-kun."
The boy avoided his gaze.
"Well, let's go." Raito urged.
"I haven't bought anything for Raito-kun" L announced, starting to feel guilty for not having done so. But Raito just shrugged.
"Figured as much", he said unaffectedly. "Come on, Watari will be mad at us if we're late."
L leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
"Why don't we go on a date later, Raito-kun? As a reward for being a good boy?"
"I-idiot! Watari will…"
"I'm sure Watari wouldn't really mind as long as we showed up in the mass today." L cut in. "Is that a yes, Raito-kun?"
Raito's face turned into the deepest shade of red L had never seen.
"I-in any case, we're already getting late!" The boy evaded. "Let's go."
L only smiled back.
"It's a date then, Raito-kun." he said as he offered his hand to the boy.
Raito took L's hand and the eager detective led him to the door.
L felt awkward as he followed the little children, filing in two orderly lines to their seats. They were also a part of the same line, with Raito on his side, only that, if not for Matt and Mello, they would really stick out like a sore thumb. Watari was a known patron of this church, and traditionally, all the staff and students of Whammy Institution would participate in the morning mass, where a place was already reserved for them. L was the exception to this, as he preferred not to partake on this occasion, until now.
"You have to take a lot of responsibility from now on", Watari scolded him when he opposed the idea. "You will have a family soon, and it is very crucial that you set a good example for them. Think of it as starting a new tradition."
'Starting a new tradition,' L thought about it for a while. If he still had things his way, he would have settled without the change, thank you very much. He missed staying in his comfort zone. But he knew that it would still take him years to contest Watari especially when he already made a decision, so he had to endure.
L's attention span is slowly slipping away from him when he turned and saw Raito, who is smiling at him. He smiled back, and gently held the boy's hand, his energy returning back to him. This isn't so bad after all.
"So where are we going, exactly?" Raito inquired again as his hand was being led by the most brilliant detective that ever lived, who also happened to be his husband. After attending the Mass, Watari allowed them to have the rest of the day for themselves, to reward L for behaving exceptionally well considering that he used to get everything his way.
L looked excited when he took Raito downtown, but he didn't tell the boy where they were going so the latter was starting to get impatient.
"L! Answer me!" L could feel a Raito tantrum slowly forming, and figured that the time to explain himself was now. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the irritated boy.
"Well, since Watari is insistent that we create new traditions, I figured I'd make one that I can enjoy." L said simply, and Raito had to agree with this one.
Watari actually arranged for them to attend the weekly Sunday schools with all the other children, and although Raito usually wouldn't mind attending school again (he had nothing better to do anyway) but somehow, learning with the kids again felt wrong, and considering that he used to have a God complex it seemed like he wouldn't fit in. For some reason, L could have disagreed with Watari if not for the potential of Raito's God complex to disappear. It would be worth the effort, L concluded.
But that doesn't mean that he would be limited to just making this tradition for his family.
"Why don't we go on a date every week, Raito-kun? We can know each other more, and you don't have to stay in Whammy's place all day" L proposed. "What do you think?"
Raito thought about it for a while.
"Well, it does sound like a good idea. You always spend the day inside your room unless I force you to." He finally said. "Where are you planning to go?"
L smiled.
"Raito-kun hasn't finished his Christmas shopping yet, has he?" L cocked his head inquisitively.
Raito blinked.
"Well, no. You wouldn't let me."
"I suppose Raito-kun hasn't updated his wardrobe yet either. This is the perfect time to do it, since everyone is already finished with their Christmas shopping." L reasoned.
"Besides, we also have to consider what you'll wear when our baby grows" L placed his hand on Raito's stomach as he said this. The boy blushed.
"Well," the teen responded shyly. "You also have to update your wardrobe too. I mean, I spend most of my time with you, and I am getting sick of seeing those jeans and white shirt all the time. At least mix and match."
L considered it slowly, and smiled. "Fair enough", he said as he took Raito's hand again.
"R-Raito-kun…isn't this…a bit too much?" L asked gently as he took the bag nonetheless.
L never thought just how much of a heavy shopper Raito was. It looked as if he was buying half of the mall with L's money. L could not even count the number of times he had to go back to the car to load all the stuff Raito bought, and when he came back, the boy just kept giving him more. He honestly couldn't even feel his arms anymore, and his legs were killing him.
Raito looked at his weary assistant from head to foot.
"Well, I guess we can take a rest for a while" he said finally.
"Just how much merchandise is Raito-kun planning to buy from this mall anyway?"
"Hey!" the teen looked defensive. "You should know that I've bought more clothes for you than me."
"I honestly appreciate that, Raito-kun. But seriously, with the weight of these bags, we can wear different sets of clothes for a year without having to send anything to the cleaners."
"That means we don't have to trouble Watari with everyday laundry." Raito defended.
L sighed. He really won't win from this argument at all, especially if it involves Raito and fashion, so he decided to let it go.
"I'm hungry." L complained.
Raito looked at the pleading detective in front of him. L was really not that charming, but still, he knows how to get what he wants, his teary-looking eyes was more than Raito could handle.
"Alright, just put these bags in the car and we'll eat at the family restaurant over there" Raito finally gave in. Instantly, the older man's eyes lit up.
"Raito-kun, are you sure? I know a candy store nearby…"
"Do you want to eat or not?" He warned. In the end, it was really Raito who was in command.
"I'm just making the most out of it." L shrugged, and leaned over to kiss Raito-kun in the cheek. "See you in a while, Rai-chan."
"Wh-wha.."
L scooted off before the boy could get a reaction out.
"Okay." Raito nodded, and L led the way.
But L also got a surprise from the boy when he came back from the car.
"Here", Raito said as he gave him a large ice cream cone.
"Maybe I should kiss Raito-kun more often" L said in amazement.
"D-don't make assumptions, L." the boy blushed even more. "It's for your efforts in carrying my shopping bags. Besides, there's still some money left from my shopping."
"It's nothing, Raito-kun. I'm your servant" L said bracingly.
Raito looked away and marched on to the restaurant.
"Well? Let's eat!" he said, hiding his face in embarrassment. L just followed along, grinning from ear to ear.
They were greeted by enthusiastic waiters who hurried them to a table near the window. To their surprise, there were familiar faces in the restaurant as well.
"What are you two doing here?" Mello demanded at the couple, instead of taking their order.
"Raito-kun and I are-"
"We're buying stuff on Watari's orders!" Raito interrupted before L can even say what he was thinking of. "And we just finished! Besides, I should be the one asking why you two are here on the first place? Shouldn't you be with the other kids right now?"
Mello's face twitched.
"We're raising funds for our Christmas party" Matt answered for Mello, who kind of anticipated violence to surface if we won't stop this at once. "Watari doesn't give us one. He believes that we should work for it if we want some kind of party to happen. He's more into solemn nights."
"I wouldn't blame him." Raito agreed. Honestly, these two boys can be responsible for another world war if they put their hearts into it, and the elder man can only handle so much.
"Well, it's mostly for the kids anyway. They've been excited to have a diversion from all the Christmas hymns they've been practicing all month. Some rock music will do the trick, I think." Matt justified.
"You could have just told me, I can have Watari give you the funds." L lectured.
Matt shrugged.
"It's more fun this way."
"So anyway, how's the date going, Raito-chan?" Mello said brashly. The said boy blushed.
"Don't call me that!" Raito blurted out attempting to hide his embarrassment. "And we're not even on a date…"
"I think we're enjoying ourselves so far, aren't we, Raito-kun?" L spilled as he held his hand.
Raito immediately slapped the hand and inched away from him, and the two boys could only wonder what was going on between the two.
"I was just trying to calm Raito-kun down." L explained, but the other man didn't want any of it.
"Anyway, we still need a guitarist. The one we had suddenly got sick." Mello barged on the awkward moment. Awkward for them, anyway. This was a side of L that they haven't seen before, and honestly, something they didn't really want to see.
"L can do that." Raito volunteered. "He has an electric guitar in his room."
"Raito-kun, why are you volunteering for me?.."
"And he can also dress up as Santa." Raito kept on, not looking at L.
"Nah, Santa just doesn't mix well with the kids. We tried having a secret Santa once, but it was a disaster when the kids started debating whether Santa was real or just a scam, and no great amount of explaining satisfies those kids. Watari might as well ban the whole idea off.
"I remember having that conversation with Watari too." L recollected. "He used to dress up as Santa back then."
"Eh?" the three exclaimed in unison, filled with disbelief.
"That may also be the reason why he's not too eager about Christmas parties anymore."
Raito could only imagine the horrors of having to explain to a very keen, analytical, weird looking boy (that's how he imagined L to be as a young boy) who just doesn't seem to shut up. He would have murdered the kid if it was him. Thank God Watari was a Christian.
"Well, it's clear to us that you're the reason why these kids don't enjoy the Christmas season in the first place." Raito told off. "You have to make it up to them."
"Raito-kun…why…"
"You're the one who said he wants to start a tradition, I'm just following up on your word." The boy said innocently, but with the hint of challenge clearly hidden on his voice.
L never really backs down from a challenge.
"If that's what Raito-kun wants, then I'll do it."
"Alright, are you guys ready to rock?!" Mello screamed as the children cheered for him. Some of the older children even hollered and was getting wild.
"It's that the best you all got?" The crowd got louder and rowdier than before, that L couldn't really understand how Watari can even sleep with all the noise in this place.
As for him, wearing a very thick coat that was already making him uncomfortable, holding his prized guitar that he really hasn't played on in years (he had it tuned, but still), about to face a crowd full of children and wild teenagers, his heart was pumping loudly, that he swore it was beating along to Matt's drums. He was very nervous. He really should think about these things twice before agreeing to anything. But Raito really was the only person in the world who can make him do foolish things like this. Why did he had to love that boy so much?
"A-and now, let's welcome Santa!" Mello bellowed and L scooted forward, nervously waving to the already mad crowd. L did all his best to control himself from shaking, and used his tried and tested breathing technique as he braced himself.
"That's my man!" an equally wild shout came from the audience that made his heart jolt.
"Raito-kun?" L breathed and sure enough, he saw the boy partying with the other teens in the chaos. Was the boy drinking? He better not. Raito knew better than to put their own child at risk. And who's that kid making the moves on his Raito-kun? Oh, it's a girl.
L finally felt that he was starting to calm down. That always does the trick. Raito was the one who got him into this mess in the first place. But he was also the one who got L into it, anyway. He took hold of his guitar as Matt signaled him to start. He had a great time.
"Do you want more of Santa?" Mello shouted once again as he was answered by equally eager shouts of agreement. "Louder!"
L could tell that it really should the loudest shout they give. There are limits to this building, but more importantly, to Watari's patience.
"Hell yeah!" the kids shouted. True enough, Watari came marching from the door, and the wildness of the kids immediately vanished, replaced with fear.
"I thought I told you guys to keep it down! You could destroy this whole building with just your noise!"
No one dared to answer the angry guardian.
"L! I expected that you would be in charge of this whole thing, and yet you…" Watari paused for a moment and looked at what L was wearing. It was the most awkward two minutes in L's life. "What are you wearing?"
"I…uh…"
This was the very first time he was at a loss for words, as far as he can remember, and he never thought that there would be a lot of people who would witness such a thing to happen.
"I mean, seriously, L, what do you think you are doing with that suit?" Watari pressed on.
"It's a costume, Watari. I'm trying to look like Santa."
"Well, you're not trying very hard. You have to do this."
The whole crowd was dumbstruck as they watched the older man fix L's costume for him, and say unthinkable tips on how to become a better Santa.
"And remember, it's all about the laugh. Come on, do it like me. Ho-ho-ho!"
"Er…Ho-ho-ho…?"
"Don't mess it up L! Do it with feelings!"
This embarrassing scene went on for about thirty minutes until finally, a kid dared to shout.
"It's snowing!"
And the kids, as wise (or thoroughly embarrassed) as they are, used this excuse to hurry to their rooms and go to sleep earlier. At least they wouldn't get lectured this time. Come to think of it, they really can't tell if what they witnessed was worse.
Watari noticed the sudden peace in the room and finally decided to get his well deserved rest at last.
"Well, I guess you can do better next time, L. You really just have to ask me for some mentoring next time so that these embarrassing things would be avoided." The elder man said enthusiastically.
"Of course, Watari." L shifted.
"I just didn't think that the day would come that you yourself would be wearing that costume of mine." Watari admitted.
"You used to oppose me and ask so many impossible questions back then." He added.
"I am sorry, Watari." L wanted to leave as soon as possible. He got a loud pat in the back.
"But, well. You're a father now. I guess you're trying very hard to play that part." Watari contemplated. "You're doing a good job."
"Thank you, Watari."
He bowed down and retreated back to his room, leaving the older man to his thoughts. This was really a tiring day for him.
He was met by the person who caused this all to happen, the look of guilt evident on his eyes.
"I'm sorry for leaving you with Watari." The boy apologized. "But he was really enjoying his time with you and thought he wanted to have some time alone with you."
L wearily went closer to Raito. He didn't really smell like alcohol, which was a relief.
"I did that all for Raito-kun." He said boldly. "But please let's not add that to our tradition next year."
"Yeah." Raito agreed. "It's too weird even for you."
"And Raito-kun should really refrain from initiating wild parties such as that. He's really a careless party-animal."
"Eh? What's wrong with that?"
L smiled.
"Raito-kun is so beautiful. Everyone wants to get his hands on him. And he doesn't even notice." L touched the boy's face.
"But that's what I like about him." L whispered. "You're the best Christmas gift ever."
He kissed the boy tenderly.
"Can we do it, Raito-kun?" L's eyes looked pleading. But that's really just how he gets what he wants nowadays.
Raito grinned seductively.
"I never imagined Santa would be into boys" He smirked as he rested his hands around the detective's neck.
"Well, just this one" L locked their lips once again and led themselves to bed.
END