Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. I wish I do.
--Chapter 6--
--Matt's Request--
"Matt, what's so fun about that?" The young blonde-haired chocolate lover asked the redhead lying comfortably on the couch in front of the entertainment system, resting his head on Lira's lap. Matt merely shrugged, never removing his gaze from the television screen.
"Shut up, Mello and eat your chocolates," Matt said, tossing a chocolate bar to Mello as if he was a master playing catch with his pet dog. Mello caught the sweet treat and began to unwrap the chocolate. He was about to answer again when he felt a hand on his head. L had stood up from his swivel chair. A closer inspection showed the blonde that the computer was turned off. Maybe L has finished with his case again. L extended his hand to the little boy which Mello gladly took. L walked the boy to where the two other occupants of the room is and sat on the arm of the couch.
"What's so interesting about boys and girls snogging?" L asked while biting his thumb and his other hand, covering Mello's eyes. He was witnessing such an epic scene on the movie. It was the climax of the story where the lead actress and her partner will kiss intensely sans the rotating camera effects and the mushy background music. L did not think that Mello is old enough to watch things like that. Lira and L had mutually decided long before tat Matt will be under Lira's care and Mello would be L's. Therefore, it is under Lira's judgment whether what she watches is good for Matt or not. Apparently, she thought that anything she watches is good for anyone, disregarding their age. Mello tried to push L's hand away and the adolescent was reminded forcefully of the first time he met the child. Lira's hand was so red that time after the kid had forcefully slapped her hand away after Lira patting him on the head lovingly and exclaimed how pretty the boy was. Well, even L would've thought the same way, minus the patting.
"Hey! I want to see what you're watching! Take off your hand!" Mello struggled until, at last, L removed his hand covering the boy's eyes.
"There, you can watch now," L said, staring at the screen with mild interest, as Matt snickered in the background.
"Aww, darn it! I did not see the snogging part!" Mello stomped his feet on the carpet.
"Well, too bad for you since L does not want you to. Matt here is lucky. He's got a lighter 'parental guidance' put on him," Lira said sticking out her tongue to L.
"I just think he's too young for these things. I think Matt is, also. But, as you said, he should learn other enjoyments other than playing videogames. If you call this an enjoyment, I think I even saw you crying once while watching these movies," L said. It was Mello's time to snicker.
"Speak for yourself. How was that case you were working on? I thought you just started with it?" Lira asked the boy scooted comfortably on the arm of the couch.
"Nah, I did not take it. It was way too easy. Any normal detective could've solved it. It does not pique my interest at all," L said, sucking at his thumb.
"You're getting picky at your cases, huh?" Lira exclaimed, raising an eyebrow.
"You can't complain. They know I accept only those that interest me or include a large number of victims or the pot money is large, otherwise, I reject it if it does not fit any of my qualifications. That case did not fit any of the said so, naturally, I rejected it," L said simply.
"Why would you want a large sum of money?" Lira asked as L carried Mello and once again, covered the boy's eyes as a love scene started playing on the television screen, making the redheaded boy laugh once again.
"None of your business," L muttered.
"Neh! Why is it so? Why don't you let me solve a case, just once?" Lira suggested.
"No, and never will. It's my pride and reputation at stake if you screw up. And you were never a make for a detective. You were trained to be a spy!" L said in an almost menacing fashion complete with the eye-enlarging thing. But, this was normal behavior of the adolescent that Lira had gotten used to it already. L hat once again let of Mello as the scene in the television screen had changed. The boy once again pouted and stomped his feet in frustration.
"I was never trained for your information. Neither did they train you as a detective. They have known our potentials from the start. They wouldn't take us in if they did not know. I wonder what potential these boys hold, anyway. I hope they succeed you," Lira said.
"You want me to die already, huh?" L said, cocking an eyebrow.
"No, of course not. I mean, it would really be a shame to you if the boys you have taken care of during your time at the orphanage will not be in line to succeed you," Lira said.
"I don't care who succeeds me, really. I don't want anyone to be pressured," L replied. He was clearly referring to A. The theme song of the movie they are watching played on the background and Lira moaned in disappointment.
"Aww, I didn't see the love scene!" she exclaimed as she searched for the remote control which Matt had hidden in his jeans pocket.
"You shouldn't be watching that with these kids, you know. They might get ideas," L said as Lira turned off the entertainment system.
"They won't be getting any ideas. They're smart enough to know that it is just a movie and, they won't go snogging girls for their pleasure. And for your information, it's PG-13!" Lira said.
"PG-13. And are any of them 13?" L asked cocking an eyebrow.
"No, but I'm with them!" Lira answered back.
"I don't trust your judgment," L snorted. "Come, It's dinner time," L said dragging Mello with him. Lira marveled at the fact that this was the first time in years that L was going to eat with the other children. Dinner proceeded in silence between the two roommates only punctured by the occasional squeals of Mello and the bickering of the two children over food. L managed to stop the two by giving Mello a chocolate bar. Maybe he did that because the noise was attracting too much attention.
The next day, Lira snuck into the kitchens again. It had been a very long time she had done that. She opened the door a little to see if there are any Mr. Wammys or Rogers to look out for. Thankfully, there is none so she quietly entered the kitchens and tapped the old Bert in the shoulder. Bert spun around and gave a little cry of surprise before hugging Lira so tight it became a little too hard for the fourteen-year old to breathe.
"What took you here now? I haven't seen you in years! I thought you were adopted already!" Bert said enthusiastically.
"Nah, no normal parent can handle me, Bert. And I never got to visit you anymore ever since B decided to go on his own," Lira sad, sitting on the usual countertop she occupied during her visits.
"Little B's outgrown you then," Bert said.
"I don't know exactly. Remember the last time I visited you? About that child named A?" Lira replied.
"Oh, that kid died on B's birthday, right?" Bert asked.
"Yeah, and B was shaken by that. After that he had distanced himself from L. And, I could not do anything about it. L kept telling me that it's about time I let the kid go," Lira explained.
"Well, L's right but I think the kids who were selected to be his successor are taking it too seriously. A might've cracked up because of the pressure. I think they should go about on their own pace. No one's pressuring them," Bert said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, I mean, they're just feeling pressure because L started off at a very early age. And they won't succeed L until he dies which, I think will be because of diabetes," Lira replied.
"L's really got it in for sweets. But back to where we started, why are you here?" Bert asked, pointing a wooden spoon at Lira who smiled widely at the cook.
"It's Matt's birthday," she said simply.
"Matt – oh! The new kid? He's on of those under you and L, right?" Bert replied.
"Yeah, you got it, baby! I don't know what type of cake he likes so, I guess, chocolate would be fine for him. Not strawberry, or L would end up eating it instead. I just want it to have – ," Lira's sentence was cut by Bert.
"Big letters telling him to have a happy birthday. Yeah, I know," Bert nodded knowingly at the girl who beamed up at him.
"Thanks, Bert. I really could rely on you," Lira said, and with that, she turned around and disappeared from the kitchens.
Later that evening, a mini-party was held in the room of L and Lira. Small gifts were unwrapped by the celebrant. Most of them, videogames. Mr. Wammy gave Matt a new videogame console and a couple of games to go with it. L gave Matt a new Bruce Lee film saying that it's way better than the mushy love movies he watches with Lira. Lira, on the other hand gave Matt a pair of goggles saying that it looks cool on his hair. After singing 'Happy Birthday' led and sung only by Lira, they proceeded to wolf down on the large chocolate cake covered with thick icing and bearing the words "Happy Birthday Matt!" which no one really paid attention to as they mercilessly sliced the cake into pieces.
"Hey, mom!" Matt said tapping Lira on the shoulder. Lira turned to look at Matt and the kid gave her a small wet kiss on her cheek. "Thanks for everything," he said smiling widely. "Also you, dad," Matt said and did the same to L.
"We'd do this every year if you want to," Lira said. Over her piece of cake.
"Dad!" Mello exclaimed. "Have you ever kissed mom?" L almost choked on his chocolate.
"Yeah, why don't you kiss mom? How can we be a family if the father does not kiss the mother?" Matt agreed. "Dad, will you kiss mom for me? Just for today. I'll take that as your birthday gift for me," he continued while fitting on his goggles. L gulped hard. This could be the effect of the movies that Lira had watched with Matt. He would be sure to tell her off once this is all over.
"Yeah, go on, dad!" Mello said, cheering L on. L had no choice because the children were pressuring him. How could Lira just sit there and stare at him? Slowly, he bent over to Lira and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek just like what Matt did.
"No fair! On the lips, dad! Just like in the movies!" Matt said, beating L on the arm while Mello nodded vigorously. L took another deep breath and landed a peck on Lira's lips. It felt so good to L, like a very sweet strawberry shortcake. When they broke apart, L touched his lips with his fingers in wonder. Did he really just do that? Apparently, it was a yes for when he looked at Lira, it was to see the girl touching her lips in amazement too.
"Well," L started but his throat seemed constricted.
"I can say that that was an – interesting experience" Lira finished for him.
"Yeah, right" L said and both adolescents smiled – no – grinned at each other. It was such an unusual feat for L who rarely smiled and now, he was grinning. "It might become addicting," he even teased.
"No, you will not get addicted," Lira said.
"And why is that?" L asked raising an eyebrow.
"Because I'm getting braces," Lira said with a smirk on her pretty face.
"No way!" L said and backed away a little.
"Just kidding. Just to see if you're planning to do what – more snogging – in the future," Lira said.
"Oh, so you're kidding me. What if I do it now?" L asked leaning closer to Lira.
"L, no! The kids!" Lira said pushing L away, finally taking notice of the two kids who are watching in amusement at their so-called 'parents'.
"It was Matt's fault in the first place," L said and leaned in for another brief kiss. "But it's really fun like those in the movies I must admit," he said smirking. He then turned to Matt and Mello who are trying their best to stifle their giggles. "Watch that Bruce Lee video. It will do you better than learning how to kiss. But, if you insist on watching them, then my next birthday gift for you will be a set of porn movies," L said returning to his seat as if nothing happened. L had then leaned not to trust what Lira had selected to watch with the kids. Though, he must admit that the effects have benefited him in some way.
A/N: I know it took too damn long and it also makes no sense. It's OOC and all that. Just like I said on my profile page, jealousy renders me pathetic and useless so I must apologize for me being a useless and pathetic writer at that. I do hope that some will like this, though please don't get mad at me..