Chapter 15
The early morning found Light alone on the balcony sipping coffee as he once again watched the sun rise over the grounds. L had managed to sleep through the night without too much difficulty and was still asleep, but this time it was his own sleep that was interrupted. L's bringing up his beating at dinner also awakened thoughts about it that he had not entertained before. He had been too busy trying to fight his Kira self to worry about any possible traumatic feelings from the vicious beating after it happened, and it was his Kira self that kept it at bay. But now there was nothing to hide behind and the reality of what had happened, and what could have happened was now free to roam his thoughts when his guard was down.
For a moment he wondered if his mind would ever be clear again, if it wasn't the residual feelings of being overtaken by Kira again, it was replaying the beating, at least the part he could remember as he had thankfully passed out during it. He remembered the humiliation of being chained up naked and vulnerable, and unable to do anything about it, having to accept whatever Kenji was going to do to him to keep him from shooting Miyano again. Kira had kept those feelings under cover, but now there was no Kira, there was nothing to hide behind.
He was surprised he wasn't having nightmares over it; the only nightmare he'd had involved the fear of L's death and Kira still having some kind of power over him, nothing about his own problems. It seemed his love for L meant more than his own trauma and that made sense to him. As he had promised L, when the vacation was over and he was sure that L was well on his way to recovering, then he would deal with his own problems. Right now all he needed was a little quiet time to put it all in perspective, he was strong enough to keep it under control. It was nothing like L was suffering from and right now L needed him so he would deal with this later.
He also thought about L's offer to work for him and leave the NPA. Although the idea of working with L exclusively was tempting, he felt he had to stay at the NPA for a bit longer. If he turned and left right now it would look as if he were running, away from what had happened, away from what some of them were saying about him and away from what some of them were saying about his relationship. He would not give them the satisfaction of thinking they had driven him away, if he left it would be when he was ready, on his own terms with no question as to why he left. He had also worked far too hard to just turn and leave it so soon; he would make his mark before he did that.
He also had to admit that even though he loved the very ground L walked on, he would not give him ultimate control over his career. That was his alone to deal with, just as L's was his alone to deal with. It was difficult enough living with the ultimate detective and not feeling just a little intimidated, even though he knew his intelligence and abilities rivaled L's; he had almost beat him and killed him as Kira and would have had he not loved him. He couldn't contain the small smirk that found his face at knowing that not only had he managed to stay at least one step ahead of the great L, he had pretty much beaten him. He had to constantly prove he was just as good, if only to himself; and he couldn't do it if he were working for L as well.
He admitted something to himself that he would never openly say to L, that there was definitely a part of him that missed Kira He understood now that having that part of him still alive was a constant reminder of what he had accomplished and what he could have accomplished had he not given it up. That part of him that enjoyed the absolute power, the feeling of being completely invincible, of knowing no one could best him. As he felt the smirk on his face growing wider he shook his head to clear it. Going in that direction was not a good idea, even if the Kira part of him no longer had any power. As much as that feeling of power energized him in one way, nothing made him feel the way that L did. Nothing was more important than being with him and he regretted nothing.
Light finished his coffee and stretched. He actually felt better after sorting through all of what his mind had been working on; he felt he was in control again. He walked back to the kitchen and poured another cup for himself and one for L, adding some more of his biscuits to the tray.
He carried it into the bedroom and placed the tray on the bedside table and climbed into the bed beside the still sleeping detective. He ran his fingers through the wild hair while softly calling his name. Within a few minutes L's eyes opened as he leaned into Lights fingers in his hair.
"Do I smell coffee?" he asked and Light smiled at him.
"Well, good morning to you too!" he said as L sat up looking around for the coffee. He handed L his coffee and his biscuits, enjoying the happiness on L's face as he took his first sip.
"Forgive me, good morning," he finally said, his mouth full of biscuit.
"I watched the sunrise over the grounds again this morning," Light told him as he sipped his own coffee, "It never fails to be awe inspiring." L nodded as he swallowed and gazed at Light carefully.
"Yet another morning where you have been awake far earlier than usual, what is bothering you, Light?" Light sighed and leaned back against the headboard, trying to decide exactly what to answer.
"Several things have been on my mind lately, but I have dealt with each one this morning and right now I am feeling quite good about everything." L continued to peer at him, not satisfied with his answer.
"For example?" he asked and Light turned to face him.
"I have made my decision about your offer," he said as L swallowed the last of his biscuits.
"And that is?" he asked as Light reached out to touch his face with his fingertips.
"That as much as I am thrilled that you think I am ready to work with you exclusively, I don't think it would be a good idea right now for me to leave the NPA." L tried not to let his disappointment show on his face but failed.
"I see. I suspected as much but I had hoped you would prove me wrong. You feel you still must prove yourself to them, I suppose." Light nodded as he leaned forward and kissed him gently.
"That is a large part of it, that and the fact that I worked my ass of to get into it, put our relationship effectively on hold for two years to get into it and I can't turn my back on all of that and just walk away because it's uncomfortable for me sometimes. That and the fact that I enjoy my job, L. I enjoy working with my father, I enjoy having Matsuda as a partner, I'm not ready to give that up yet, I just achieved it." L sighed and finished his coffee, handing Light the empty cup and moving out of the bed.
"I understand, and as I told you before I do not blame you for your decision nor am I angry you turned me down. But what if Masuda decides to join me?" Light smiled as he rose from the bed as well and going to where L stood.
"Somehow I don't think he will, I think simply being offered the opportunity was enough for him. He's still building his own reputation at the NPA and winning the respect of the other officers there as well. Once the Kira case was over and he rejoined, he really wanted to prove himself there as well as he did on the task force; we are of the same mind on that. But if he does decide to then good for him, that won't change my decision," he stopped and took L into his arms, "Are you sure you're okay with this?" L shrugged and then smiled at him.
"Eventually you will see the error in your ways and join me, I can wait." He said and kissed him, "Now what are we doing today?"
"You go shower and I'll tell you when you get out," Light teased and after a few moments of grumbling about feeling he was living from shower to shower, L did head into the bathroom.
Within the next hour L found himself walking into the gates of Disney World's Hollywood Studios, crunching on the candy apple he had brought with him from the hotel room. He looked around at the décor of the streets and turned to Light.
"I imagine the basis for this one is early Hollywood?" he asked and Light stretched his eyes wide comically.
"WOW you certainly are the genius everyone thinks you are! How DID you figure that one out?" he said and L stopped walking and stared at him, his eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Ass," he said simply and walked away from him and down the street leaving a completely doubled over laughing Light behind him.
Light caught up with him a few minutes later as he was scouring the contents of the window of a café named The Starring Roles Café. Light followed his train of sight and saw a huge assortment of cupcakes, brownies, fudge and other baked goods. L ignored him at first, his thumb at his lips as he surveyed the window.
"How about I get you something from there to make up for annoying you, even if it was funny. You've never called me anything like that before!" L continued to not look at him as he answered.
"You've never been that much of an ass before, and yes, I will accept something from there as a peace offering. Whether or not it redeems you is still up for discussion," Light suppressed another laugh as he reached for his wallet.
"What would you like then?" he asked as L continued to study the goods.
"I believe a Napoleon would be in order, I have not had one in quite a while." He finally answered and Light nodded as he went inside. He returned a few minutes later with the Napoleon on a paper plate and a plastic fork. As L reached for it he pulled it back, receiving another narrowed eye look of annoyance from the detective.
"Say I'm redeemed first," Light taunted and L rolled his eyes.
"Light Yagami you are not helping your cause," he warned reaching for the plate.
"Nonetheless, tell me I'm redeemed and that you love me," Light told him. L looked up to snap at him but Light was giving him the best wide-eyed pout he could come up with and it completely deflated him, it looked so out of place.
"Fine you are redeemed, I love you and you look absolutely ridiculous," he said finally taking the plate from Light.
"You're not the only one who can come up with the wide-eyed pout when necessary," Light told him as they began to walk away from the shop.
"Perhaps, but it looks infinitely better on me," he answered in between bites. Light chuckled and looked over the map of the park.
"There is a roller coaster called the Rock and Roller Coaster and a thrill ride called the Tower of Terror…" he heard L snort at the name.
"Tower of Terror? Really?" he said and Light nodded.
"It says 'Classic stars of the silver screen sought rest and relaxation at the grand Hollywood Tower Hotel during the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1939, during a gloomy Halloween night, 5 unlucky souls were riding down the Hotel's maintenance service elevator when a violent storm struck the building… and they were never seen again. Black scorch marks still scar The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror facade where lightning left its autograph.' Apparently it's a ride re-enacting the moment of the lighting strike."
L scoffed again as he finished the Napoleon and handed Light the plastic plate and fork.
"I will leave that for after the roller coaster and see how terrorizing it really is," he said looking down at the map in Light's hand. He looked up and found where he was in relation to the map and began to walk ahead of Light.
"The coaster is in this direction, try to keep up," he called back over his shoulder. Light stared after him for a moment and then found a trash can to throw the plate and fork into.
"And he calls me an ass," he muttered to himself and then grinned as he ran to catch up with L; he was having more fun than he could put into words.
A few minutes later they found themselves entering the area where the Rock n Roller Coaster was situated.
"Well, that looks ominous," Light stated looking up where an upside down car attached to a roller coaster track was over his head.
"Actually, it looks quite interesting," L answered as they walked under it and towards where the line for the ride began, "Are you having second thoughts?" he asked and Light shook his head.
"The roller coaster doesn't exist that I can't handle," Light answered and L chuckled.
"As long as you don't get wet," he said and Light ignored him.
Once again they were caught up in the world that was created in order to make the line go faster. The line wound around outside for a while and then they found themselves inside the building where they appeared to be inside a recording studio walking past different displays of recording equipment. They eventually found themselves in what appeared to be the working part of the recording studio, and watching a band as they were preparing to record who looked out at the crowd and acknowledged their existence. L looked slightly confused as they listened to the band discuss having to go to a show they were already late for but not wanting to leave the people behind.
"This group—they aren't really there are they?" he asked Light who shook his head.
"No, this is a continuous ride they couldn't possibly really be there, it's a film..well done but definitely a film."
"I realized that would be impossible, but this amusement park seems to play with my grasp on reality on occasion," L complained and Light laughed.
"That's what it's supposed to do," he answered.
They listened as the person supposedly the band's manager told the audience that she was getting them a really fast limo to get them across town to where the band was playing and she would see they had backstage passes and left. The crowd was then told to head through the doors on the left and get ready to get into their car.
Light and L followed the crowd and were not surprised to see that the coaster was in the shape of a limousine. L frowned at the sound of the rock music playing as they waited for their turn to get into the coaster, but it was quickly forgotten as he watched the coaster before them suddenly take off at a rapid speed. He quickly calculated in his head just how quick that take off had to be.
"Light do you realize the g force that must be felt in order to move that quickly?" he asked and Light didn't answer right away as he wondered if perhaps he had made a mistake in getting onto this ride.
"It must be a force of at least 3 to 4 g's" he answered slowly and L nodded.
"More like 4 to 5," he answered an excited gleam in his wide eyes, "This is going to be interesting!" Light heard himself groan, as it was then their turn to get into the car. Light reached up immediately upon sitting to pull down the harness and snap it into place. He looked over at L who was too busy surveying the track ahead of him and tapped his shoulder.
"Pull down the harness Ryuzaki," he told him and L looked up and then back at him as he pulled the harness down and snapped it into place.
"This is the first time we've had such a harness," he said and Light rubbed his forehead.
"I know, this is definitely going to be an experience," he answered.
"I believe this will be the best ride since the one in Tokyo," L answered excitedly and once again Light wondered if he was about to meet his match in roller coasters.
In front of them there appeared to be an entrance to a tunnel that they moved to slowly and came to halt at the entrance of once everyone was aboard, and above it a variable message sign flashing different messages about the highway and traffic until it began a countdown. L leaned forward as he watched the countdown and the words "Floor It!" flashed on the screen and a bright green light flashed. He saw Light lean back against the seat as the car suddenly flew forward. The pressure was incredible, he felt the skin on his face peel back and his ears pop as the car flew from 0 to whatever almost immediately. The ride immediately went into an inversion, the car going completely upside down in the dark at a rapid speed and he smiled hearing Light make a strangled noise as the rest of the car began screaming. They shot forward after the inversion through what appeared to be a highway complete with signs and flashing lights. They very quickly went into another inversion, turning completely upside down again and going sideways for a bit before righting itself. They flew past more road signs, through a large donut which was an ad he supposed and as he thought they were going to turn on their side again for another corkscrew, the car suddenly plunged downward at an alarming speed before corkscrewing again, finally righting itself and slowing down to enter the station again.
Light looked over at L, who was looking back at him with a huge grin on his face. The moment the harness was released he practically jumped out of the car as Light struggled to get his legs to work again. He had to admit that perhaps this time L had bested him on the ride, it had been more than he'd ever experienced before.
"I must ride this again before we leave," L told him as they walked down the walkway with the rest of the riders, "That has to be the best coaster I have been on!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Light managed, that unexpected last drop still playing havoc with his system. As they walked past a row of televisions L realized they were showing pictures that were taken as the coaster took off. He waited until their car showed up and heard Light groan behind him. He himself looked fine, his hair was standing straight up but the expression on his face was one of excitement; Light on the other hand looked as if he were being tortured, his always perfect hair flying in the air as if it were trying to escape his head.
"I need a picture," he said looking at it and Light shook his head.
"No you don't," he said horrified and L smiled at him.
"Yes, I do. If you can have a picture of me and that ridiculous princess then I can have one of you with your hair standing on end." Light opened his mouth to argue then closed it, knowing he would never win. He noted the number on the screen and walked to the desk to pick up the picture. He then handed it to L with a sigh.
"I hope you enjoy it," he said sarcastically and L smiled as he took it.
"I will just enjoy having proof that your perfect hair was, for once, not perfect!" he said and walked towards the obligatory after the ride gift shop and looked around in case he should find something for the boys.
"I think next we should take a lunch break," Light suggested as L looked around.
"No, next we should go to the Terror Tower," he said, "If of course you are up to it," he eyed Light carefully, "Perhaps we should wait, you don't look your normal robust self." Light bristled at the thought he had been bested by the coaster.
"I'm fine, let's go ride your tower," he said and began to walk in the direction of the ride.
"Only if you're sure you're up to it," he added following behind him and chuckling over the icy silence he received in answer.