A/N: So, I'm Up North at my grandpa's cottage (read: no internet), and I get pretty bored at night (read: no television or phone service) so, I've been writing this! yay! Also, internet cafes rock my socks. Especially when they have delicious scones! :D
Enjoy!
Chapter 2
"One large bag of cotton candy, and one candy apple" Light gave their order to the toothless lady behind the Plexiglas, digging some crumpled bills from his pocket.
"Light-kun, there is no need for you to pay for my food…"
Light waved the comment off, collecting their treats and winding his way through the crowd to a shaded picnic table, complete with a slippery checkered tablecloth.
L attempted to sit on the bench across from Light, but was swiftly dissuaded by the way the wood creaked threateningly under him, and ended up perching next to Light, who was practically drooling over his candy apple.
L couldn't help but watch as the other man sunk his teeth into the luscious treat, eyes rolling back and fluttering with pleasure as he bit off and chewed a piece, getting candy coating stuck to his mouth in the process. L knew that he shouldn't stare….but…
…the thing was, the soft red candy hand stained Light's lips a brilliant red, and he still had some stuck at the corner of his mouth…L could only imagine what those lips would taste like, coated in sugar as they were.
Of course, Light only continued to make it worse as his tongue languidly licked the sticky substance from the corner of his mouth, just missing a small patch of candy. L wondered if he should alert Light to the remaining red sugar coating on his face, but just then Light caught him staring, and L turned his attention to undoing the twisty-tye on his cotton candy bag.
He pulled off a clump of the fluffy substance, placing it on his tongue to melt in sugary bliss. It was…not as good as it should be. Hmm.
L tried again, taking a blue cotton candy instead of pink this time, but the result was the same. For some reason he wasn't enjoying this like he usually did. It wasn't…sticky enough. What he really craved was a candy apple.
The detective scowled, determinedly stuffing more cotton candy in his mouth. He was going to get pleasure from this, despite Light and his cursed sexy apple-eating.
If he really concentrated, his own candy was in fact fairly delicious. He started pulling the spun sugar from its bag with more enthusiasm, using his fingers to jam increasing amounts of the stuff into his mouth. In short time the bag was empty, and L had completely forgotten his previous fixation with Light.
That is, until he saw Light's hand move out of the corner of his eye, and felt Light's thumb gently brush his lower lip, lingering at the corner of his mouth as if reticent to leave.
L glanced sidelong at Light, unwilling to turn his head and thus dislodge Light's hand, and took in the way the other man's deep caramel eyes were wide as saucers, and how he swallowed heavily as his thumb retraced it's path along L's lip, ending up at the opposite corner of his mouth.
L let his lips fall apart just slightly, and Light's thumb slid a little further inwards. L turned his head and slipped the tip of the man's thumb into his mouth, sucking lightly and running the tip of his tongue over the edge of Light's thumb nail.
Light was starting to tremble; he removed his hand from L's lips, only to place it on the side of the detective's neck, his head tilting forward the tiniest bit…
"HYUK HYUK HYUK, I'M HAPPY THE CLOWN!!!!! WOULD YOU TWO KIDDIES LIKE A BALLOON ANIMAL?!?!?!?!?!"
Both L and Light focused death glares at the red-nosed monstrosity before them, but the clown was undeterred.
"ALRIGHTY, HYUK HYUK, HAPPY WILL MAKE YOU BOTH SOME BALLOON HATS!"
Happy's pudgy fingers were disturbingly agile with a balloon pump, and before either L or Light could protest, they were both adorned with rather festive twisty balloon hats.
L's was green, circling his head and then rising to create a looming daisy that wobbled above his brow. Light's was more abstract, and unfortunately looked more like a phallic symbol than anything. L wondered if that was intentional on Happy's part.
As soon as the clown had bestowed the hats upon their unwilling recipients, he vanished into the crowd, much to the men's relief.
The moment, however, was as dead as a door knob.
Oh well, L had been wanting to ride the spinning strawberries, anyway. Plus, the awkward air that was growing between the two needed dispelling.
"Would Light-kun be so kind as to accompany me on the spinning strawberries?"
"You would like that ride. Of course I'll go with you."
L smiled, getting up from the bench and grabbing Light's hand, making sure to avoid eye contact with the younger man. But not looking at Light didn't stop him from focusing on how their hands meshed perfectly together, or the way Light tightened his grip as they pushed through a particularly thick part of the crowd of people.
Fortunately, the line for the strawberry ride was short, being populated by a scant few nausea-resistant children and their harried parents.
Light and L released hands as they dug tickets from their pockets to gain entrance to the ride. They were pointed to a giant plaster strawberry with an opening in the side and got in, shutting the waist-high door behind them.
The carny came around to make sure everyone was secure before starting the ride, rotating the strawberries in a circle, and spinning them besides.
L grinned in delight; spinning rides were his favorite. The round bench inside of the strawberry, though, was not made to keep riders in one place, and he found himself sliding rapidly to and fro across the seat, colliding with Light at intervals, which made the other boy yelp in surprise.
There was entirely too much contact inherent in this ride, L decided, as he was thrown on Light once again, his hand landing in an embarrassing position on Light's lap, only to be flung off again as the ride spun the other way. It was making him want to touch Light far, far too much.
These little fleeting bits of skin on skin, khakis brushing jeans, and legs tangling was making L somewhat uncomfortable in his nether regions, and he was for once glad when the ride slowed and stopped.
Light finger combed his hair back into place, clearing his throat awkwardly as he pulled his shirt down to cover his stomach, which had been exposed in the may lay.
They exited the strawberry ride and entered into another uncomfortable silence. L tried to think of something to say, but in the end resorted to suggesting they go on the tea cup ride, which Light agreed to.
L suspected it was only because Light felt that doing anything was better than standing there not talking and avoiding each other's gazes. He agreed.
Turns out, the tea cup ride was no better than the strawberry ride. In fact, it was exactly the same, except that now L and Light were being thrown into about 52 different Kama Sutra positions by spinning dishes instead of spinning fruit.
By the time to two stumbled dizzily off the ride, either man's face could have won first prize in the ripest tomato contest being held across from the carousel.
Somewhat desperate at this point, and most certainly not thinking straight, L wordlessly dragged Light towards the Scrambler, shoving the man inside the cart and then getting in himself.
As soon as the ride started, L realized that he'd made a grave mistake. The way the ride twisted and turned was positively engineered to throw one rider against the other, and now his full weight, compounded by centripetal force, was pressed against Light.
Panicking a little, L grabbed the side of the cart, attempting to hold himself away from Light. It wasn't really working, and he kept slamming back against Light every time the ride spun.
Wondering how long this torture was going to endure, L twitched in surprise as Light reached out and wrapped his arm around L's waist, pulling the detective securely to his side and holding him there.
"TO STOP YOU CRASHING AROUND" Light yelled over the clanking of the Scrambler. He was trying to look business like, but the color in his face betrayed him.
L decided to make the best of his situation, clinging to Light in order to keep himself from being thrown about, meanwhile nestling his head under the other man's chin.
It was, all in all, the best Scrambler ride of L's life.
All good things must end, however, and as soon as they got off the ride, the awkward silence descended once again like the storm clouds that were beginning to gather over the park. L was really getting sick of this.
"Light-kun, how about we try the tilt-a-whirl, since I was unable to join you last time…"
"NO. No more spinning rides, L. You're going to make both of us sick."
"Well then," L said petulantly, "what would Light-kun suggest we do?"
Light smiled devilishly. "Ride that", and he pointed to the towering rollercoaster, complete with cars full of screaming people rushing past.
"No", L stated calmly, his expression one of resolve.
"I swear, if I knew your full name, I would be using it right now. I have done EVERYTHING you wanted to so far, and you are going to do this one thing for me."
The way Light's eyes glowed a little with intensity made L's suspicions of him being Kira jump, but he also found that he was unable to deny anything to the beautiful creature before him.
"If Light-kun insists".
Light's eyes immediately returned to their normal color, and he led the way to stand in the rollercoaster line as L contemplated his attachment to a possible mass murderer.
For a while it looked as if L might be saved; dark clouds were gathering ever swifter above the amusement park, and a cool wind had picked up. Unfortunately for the detective, they made it to the front of the line before the storm could really start brewing.
The look on Light's face when they scored the front car of the coaster was almost worth the nervous fear working its way through L's stomach. Almost.
"Isn't this exciting?!"
"If Light-kun insists"
"What? Don't tell me you're scared of heights?"
"Not exactly. It's more a fear of hurtling along an ill-cared-for Jenga fortress with a few pieces missing"
"Oh, come on. It'll be fun."
L gave him a look that said this was not going to be fun, it was going to be a level of purgatory. One of the lower ones.
Light sighed and rolled his eyes.
"If you get too upset, you can hold onto my arm, okay?"
L's eyes grew round as Light looked at him, completely serious, and then the coaster started to clack up the first hill, and it was all L could do to hold onto some of his dignity and not bury his face in Light's shirt.
The worst part, as far as L was concerned, was the ascent. All that anticipation building up…knowing that the fall was coming shortly.
As they crested the hill, looking out over the entire park, L caved and reached over, grabbing Light's arm and hugging it to his chest. Light met his eyes, laughing as his caramel hair was tossed about in the wind.
L's heart lurched and he leaned towards the boy, closer and closer, until his lips were just barely brushing Light's, and the laughter in those eyes had been replaced by something else…
And then he was flying, head whipped back against the seat, tears streaming out of his eyes with the force of the wind as the coaster hurtled down the first hill, coming to the bottom only to ascend the next one, curving and swerving like a bat out of hell.
The first drop took L's breath away, but he got it back by the second one, and he screamed. He noticed Light look over at him and laugh again; L does not scream.
When the ride was over, Light barely had any blood left in his arm from L squeezing it so hard, and he was just about to tease the detective about it when the heavens opened and the impending rain was finally released.
For a minute L and Light just stood there in the middle of the fair, watching each other as the water drenched their hair and clothes, fair-goers all around them looking for shelter. Then the first bolt of lightning struck, and Light gave a yelp, grabbing L by the wrist and half pulling, half leading him into the nearest cover.
The carny inside the small building they'd run into looked at them disinterestedly. "That'll be 2 tickets each". L dug 4 soggy tickets from his pocket, holding them out to the carny by one corner.
He and Light were then ushered into what seemed to be a boat, although the place was so dimly lit it was hard to tell. It certainly wobbled when they stepped in, and L thought he heard some sloshing.
"Have fun" the carny wished them, with an altogether disturbing leer on his face.
L ignored it, looking over at the drenched Light as the ride started.
"What kind of ride does Light-kun think we are on?"
"I just hope it's not one of those log rides. I'm wet enough as it is"
L knew that. Boy, did L ever know that. In fact, it could be said he was hyper-aware of how Light's formerly-white-now-see-through button up was clinging to his perfect chest. Yeah.
The almost painfully slow pace of their little boat boded well for it's not being a thrill ride, although the fact that they were in the dark suggested a sudden drop might be imminent.
L decided to hold onto Light's arm, just in case.
"Hey, is that a light up ahead?"
"Yes, Light-kun, I believe it is"
"And…music? Wait, why is everything red and pink? And why are there hearts everywhere? Are we…"
"Light-kun! Look! Our boat is in the shape of a swan!"
Light paled visibly. Perhaps, under different circumstances, this would have been funny, but…now they had rounded a corner, and the big red neon sign surrounded by little glowing cupids confirmed it.
"L, I think we're in the Tunnel of Love"
"Seeing as the sign directly above us declares exactly that, I would say you are correct."
Light swallowed, wondering if now would be a good time to reclaim his arm from L's grasp. He tugged experimentally, but L had a strong grip, and Light quickly gave up.
After a few minutes of floating through scenery of lovers kissing, cupids shooting heart-tipped arrows, and romantic music playing, it all became rather humorous.
"Psshh, this isn't even that romantic. How is a fat winged baby shooting people supposed to make people passionate?"
"Light-kun is right. There needs to be more chocolate"
"They should give everyone free oysters at the start of the ride"
"Or at least a lollipop"
"How is that an aphrodisiac?"
"Remind me to show you sometime back at headquarters"
Light opened his mouth and then realized he had no comeback for that, so he closed it again and turned to look at the very fake, plastic garden they were floating through, complete with glowing stars stuck on the ceiling.
He was about to point out to L how the animatronic couple sitting in the gazebo were very poor kissers when a thunderous boom rang out.
The lights flickered and the music wavered, and then came back on. Light sighed with relief.
Then a second roar of thunder sounded, and this time they were plunged into darkness. Well, except for the little glow-in-the-dark stars, which didn't provide very much illumination.
"L?!"
"I'm right here"
"I…I think we're stuck in the Tunnel of Love"
"I believe Light-kun is correct"
"What do we do?"
"I suppose we could jump out and swim."
"Definitely not. I just dried off!"
"Then I suppose we shall simply wait until power is restored to the ride, or the carny comes with a flashlight to lead us out"
"yeah, I guess that's the best thing to do"
"…"
"…"
L, still holding Light's arm, started gently running his fingers up and down it. He had an idea of what they could do…
"Or we could make out".
A/N: Sorry about the little cliffhanger...but my mom was ready to go into town, and I couldn't quite finish it before we had to leave. :P Ah, the perils of being internet-less. The good news is, the next section will be elongated into a full blown chapter, and half of it is already written! *is proud*
Also, if I got back from my almost-technology-free stint to find a small pile of reviews awaiting me, it would the best welcome-back to the world of 24/7 internet availability EVER. :)