*A/N*
Inspired by the Grace/Alice texts
Song of the Chapter: Helena - My Chemical Romance.
Don't stare, don't stare.Light glared at the air stewardess in front of him. Her obvious looks were starting to annoy him. It was early in the morning and after a mad dash to the airport Light, L, Mello and Near was sitting in the cramped seats of the last flight to Kyoto.
Whimpering quietly, Near twisted in his seat uncomfortably. Like Near, L was sitting bolt upright in the plush seats, his already twisted posture being straightened up. Mello sighed and rubbed Near's shoulder, shooting angry looks at L, hating that Near was in pain because of L's selfishness.
Light sighed and looked at L who was avidly watching the stewardess demonstrate the safety procedures. The stewardess was purposely trying to ignore L's unwavering interest, and disappeared behind the adjoining curtain to first class. As soon as she was gone Mello leaned over, scowling at the two men.
"Why didn't you book us in first class? It's so uncomfortable here" Mello remarked in a low voice, looking around at the rest of the cabin disparagingly.
"Sorry Mello-kun, but this was the only tickets I could manage to get. Our helicopter is under repairs" L muttered back, his eyes still fixated in front of him. Mello rolled his eyes and slumped back in his seat, squeezing Near's hand as he continued to squirm.
Light stretched and looked out of his window. They hadn't even taken off from the runway, and the tensions were already growing high. How they were going to cope with a long flight? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Near mutter to Mello who shrugged apologetically, causing Near to turn to face L.
"Ryuzaki… Ryuzaki" Near whispered, tugging on L's sleeve. L looked over to Near, raising his eyebrow at the physical communication.
"Have you got any toys?" Near questioned worriedly, looking back over to Mello. L shook his head in denial and shrugged.
"Sorry Near-kun… hold on" he signalled to an airhostess. She sashayed over to him, smiling with curiosity, her cherry red lips staining her mouth.
"Do you provide board games on this flight?" L asked, peering up at the stewardess. She nodded, smiling happily.
"Great! Well can you get all the dice out of the games and give them to-" L pointed at the leaning figure of Near "- him please" L smiled at the woman fleetingly and brought his attention to the in-flight magazine that was resting on Light's lap.
Blinking in confusion the air stewardess walked away, returning sometime later with a bowl full of dice. Near grabbed them, and immediately started stacking them neatly in front of him. Mello laughed briefly at his partner's action before looking over the seat at the food trolley that was slowly making its way to them. Light smiled as he took in the large amount of chocolate that Mello was eyeing up, and gently rubbed L's swollen stomach.
"Lunch time" Light said softly. L looked up sharply, and stared at the food trolley with the same hunger that Mello had. As it moved closer, Light glanced at the trolley's contents, trying to choose a meal. He scanned the food items on the lower rows, peering deeper into the trolley.
He froze as he looked past the neatly stacked bottles of water. Nestled amongst the liquid, the shiny metal of a handgun was half-hidden under salted nuts. Light widened his eyes and looked at the woman pushing the trolley. She immediately raised his suspicions, her uniform was slightly messier then the normal clean lines of the airhostesses and she had a tattoo of a scorpion on her neck. Her slick black hair was tied up in a long ponytail rather then the usual chignon and instead of cherry red lipstick; her lips looked like stained black plums. She smiled at the small group, and her eyes glinted as she spotted L sitting lazily in his chair.
"Anything to drink or eat sirs?" she asked, looking at the small group.
Mello looked at the trolley intently, before quickly glancing at Light's cautious stare, confirming in one glance he had seen the gun.
"Nothing for us" Near said sweetly smiling at the woman, also confirming that Near had spotted the weapon.
"Hold on… I want something" L piped up and looked at the woman intently.
"Could you pass me that yoghurt?" L asked his expression deadpan. The woman smiled maliciously and leant over to retrieve the strawberry yoghurt.
As she moved, L quickly unbuckled his seat belt and with quick precise movements, he slide a small item under the cotton sleeve of the woman's suit. The woman froze, and looked at her arm angrily and then back at L. She flushed a pale green, and abandoning the trolley she half-ran half-staggered down the small gangway.
Light watched her go in amazement before looking at the nonchalant L, who was sneakily pulling unpaid food from the trolley.
"Uh… How… What?" Light stuttered, his surprise gaining a smile from L.
"I spotted that woman earlier loading the gun. I knew she would try to target me. Failing of course. So I slipped her a small injection that would cause almost immediate comatose" L answered Light's silent question.
"Is she going to die?" Near asked, twirling his finger in his white-blonde hair. L shrugged and curled up on the seat in his usual position. Light laughed quietly, kissing L's head quickly.
"Sit properly Ryuzaki you idiot".