Chapter 16
Light and L made their way across the grounds to the Tower of Terror ride, and they could hear the screaming riders before they even got close to the building. L looked up at the extremely tall building with it's apparent lightening struck front and wrinkled his nose.
"What a disgusting color for a building," he said and Light laughed.
"No wonder lightening struck it," he added and stopped for a moment looking up at it, "Damn, it's taller than I thought it was when you're up close," he said and L nodded.
"Are you having second thoughts?" he asked and Light shook his head.
"Absolutely not," he answered going over the brochure as the continued to walk towards the building.
"What does this entail? Is it some sort of coaster?" L asked, as they would their way through what appeared to be overgrown gardens towards the ride.
"It appears to be a free-fall type of ride, so you might meet your lunch on the way down," Light said laughing. Light ignored him and continued to enjoy the sights as they followed the line until they ended up in what appeared to be the hotel's lobby.
The lobby was a perfect replica of a hotel lobby of the time period of the late 1930's. The room was dark with all the furniture covered in dust. L pointed out an old newspaper which read Los Angeles Examiner dated October 31, 1939 on a table set with tea and obviously stale pastries. There were also several dust-covered suitcases and an owl sculpture surrounded by dead flowers in the middle of the room. The entire area that the line wound through looked as if you were truly in the lobby of an old-time hotel from end to the other.
"Could it get more creepy?" Light asked as L surveyed the room.
"I think it's very well done, designed to make the rider nervous before they even board," he answered reaching towards the newspaper until Light pulled his hand back. As they continued to peruse the room, an authentically clad bell hop told them that their rooms weren't ready quite yet, and they were asked to wait in the library. The riders moved past the front desk and the elevator with an Out of Order sign hanging from it to another room.
In the library they found not only books, but also all kinds of items that L was sure meant something to those familiar with the TV series the ride was based on, and a television set. There was the sound of lightening striking and the television sprung into life showing the opening of the TV series and the host speaking about a lost episode. The host told them about the terrible accident that happened many years ago and that now the people watching were going to be involved if they had the nerve to board the one working elevator from the boiler room. With that the TV shut off and a back exit leading to the boiler room opened and L and Light filed into it with the rest of the riders and towards the waiting elevator.
As they waited their turn to get into the rather unsettling looking elevator, L watched Light as he surveyed the "boiler room" with its cracking and popping electrical outlets, pipes and rusty walls, noting the almost uneasy expression on his face.
"You know you can change your mind," he whispered and Light frowned at him.
"You know better than that," Light answered as he surveyed the room, totally missing the evil smile on his partner's face.
As it was finally their turn to enter the service elevator and sit on the bench like seats. They were seated towards the back, each row a little higher than the one before it, and had a perfect view in front of them. As the elevator doors closed with the bell boy being sufficiently creepy the elevator began to move and suddenly stopped in to what appeared to be one end of a long creepy hallway with a window at the very end. There was a flash of lightening and from the other end; the creepy ghostlike characters from the earlier movie began to make their way towards their captive audience. Another flash of lightening and they were gone again and just as quickly the entire hallway disappeared to be replaced with a starry night and only the window at the end still standing.
L's finger went to his mouth as he peered into the almost total darkness, the illusion of being in the sky very strong and almost unsettling. He looked down at his hand as he felt Light cover it with his, realizing it was so dark he couldn't see it. In the distance the only remaining remnant of that hallway, the window, suddenly shattered into a million pieces, and the stars disappeared leaving only complete darkness. As the voice from the television reminded them of the story of what happened to those people on a night similar to this, opening a door to the Twilight Zone and that the door was opening again and opening for the riders, he felt the elevator rising at a rapid speed, and Light squeezing his hand even tighter. The elevator came to a stop in front of a wall that was bleeding sunlight through small openings that then suddenly closed as shards of lightening appeared in front of them. He felt the elevator move to the right, which confused him because he couldn't understand the logistics of that.
Suddenly the stars reappeared and with them the theme song he had heard on the TV in the library, the sound of a ticking clock, and as he felt them move towards the left again the elevator appeared to crash through a window through which he saw the reflection of the riders as they went through. The stars disappeared again and he heard that annoying host go on about discovering what lies beyond the 5th dimension and he didn't care what was there as long as the host was not. They were covered in complete darkness again and the riders were beginning to get nervous, high-pitched giggling and nervous talking getting louder and louder. Light grabbed his hand so tightly he thought he was going to crush bones when suddenly they dropped at such a rapid speed that he felt his body lift from the seat, only to be held from flying off the seat by the safety belt. They quickly began to rise up again, the wall in front of them suddenly flying open so they could see just exactly how high up they were. He heard Light make a noise as he took a sharp intake of air as he looked in front of him. They could see the entire expanse of the park, including what appeared to be a water tower with…mouse ears? Before he could make a noise of distaste about that they dropped rapidly again and he had to laugh as he looked at Light's hair lifting from his head as the sudden lack of gravity made each strand try to escape. He could just imagine what his must have looked like but he had more fun watching Light's perfect tresses once again lift from his head. The drop ended and they began to climb again, the screams and moans of his fellow passengers getting louder as they did. then once again, they dropped. They rose and dropped one more time before the elevator changed tracks and began to back up, a film of random images and the host spiraling in front of them as they backed away from it, As the lights slowly came on, that still annoying host warned them to be careful the next time they got on a broken down elevator in an old hotel or they might find themselves permanent residents of the twilight zone, making L snort his disdain at the whole idea.
He finally removed his hand from underneath Light's and shook it as he looked at his partner who looked back at him with wide eyes.
"You realize you almost broke my hand," he complained and Light blinked as they stood up to get out of the ride.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize. That was…amazing!" L nodded as he stuck his hands into his pockets and walked away.
"It was definitely enjoyable, although I could have done with a little less of that talkative host," he said and then smirked as he saw Light was a little unsteady on his feet.
"Are you having a problem?" he asked barely hiding his amusement and Light stopped walking for a moment to catch himself.
"Ryuzaki we just dropped several times faster than gravity, I think it's acceptable that my legs are a little…shaky!" he complained and L watched as three children bounded past them as if nothing at all had happened and he grinned at Light.
"Of course Light, I completely understand," he said and then started laughing as Light practically growled at him as he grabbed his arm and leaned into his ear.
"I'll get you back, don't think I won't," he whispered and L smiled at him seductively.
"I look forward to it. But until then, I need something to eat," Light looked around quickly and noticed that no one in the after ride gift shop was looking at them so he licked L's ear before he pulled away.
"Fine, let's go get some food," he said. Something caught L's eye on the t-shirt rack and he reminded himself he would have to find a way to purchase it without Light's knowledge. He decided he would call the concierge and have him order it, charge it and deliver it to the room as a surprise and could barely contain the grin at imagining what Light's face would look like when he received it.
As they walked, Light looked up at a sign with Mickey Mouse dressed up as a sorcerer and fighting a dragon. It was apparently a show called Fantasmic and he decided it would be perfect revenge for L's teasing him about the Tower of Terror. He quickly looked at his brochure to find the show and location.
"Ryuzaki, let's go this way and see what's available," he said leading L in the direction of the main street.
"As I recall the place you purchased the Napoleon for me earlier is here. That place would be agreeable." L told him and Light nodded.
"Okay, and I think I remember them serving sandwich as well. We'll take everything to go, there's something I want to show you and I want to get there early and get good seats..." He added and L looked at him puzzled, nodded and then followed him the café.
After getting what they wanted, L followed Light back along a winding tree lined path, where many others appeared to be heading in the same direction.
"Where are we going, Light?" he asked finally as he took a bite out one of the pastries he was carrying.
"We're heading for an outside theatre, there is a really good show happening in a little while I want to get a good seat," Light answered and L nodded.
"Will there be fireworks like at the other two areas?" L asked and Light grinned at him.
"Oh, I'm sure there will be plenty fireworks," he answered and L wasn't sure he liked the smile that came with the answer.
He followed Light until they came to a wide area with bench like seats around a body of water with what appeared to be a mountain at the center of it. Light led him to a bench that had space for them and sat down.
"This doesn't start until it's dark so we'll be here for a bit, but if you want anything else I'll go get it and you can stay here and hold on to our seats," Light said as he opened up the sandwich he had purchased for himself. L shrugged and took another bite of his pastry.
"That is not a problem," He thought for a moment, "When this is over, I think I would like to go back to our hotel and have a late dinner in our room, is that agreeable to you?" Light nodded then reached out with his napkin and brushed away crème filling from L's mouth.
"Actually I think I would really like that," he said smiling and L smiled back.
"Do you think you would mind if we stayed in tomorrow as well? I have to admit that I'm beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by all of this and I think I need to just stop for a while," he added and once again Light nodded reaching over and taking his hand.
"I think that's a good idea Ryuzaki, I wondered if it would get to you after a while, you're certainly not used to all of this," He said gesturing to the crowd, "Especially with everything else going on with you." L frowned slightly at the reference to his PTSD and sighed.
"I have been able to push that problem aside," he answered and smiled at Light, "I have been successful in only seeing you when I look at you," he said making Light's smile even bigger. He squeezed L's hand, the desire to kiss him nearly overwhelming. He leaned as closely as he could to him instead.
"I love you," he whispered and L returned the squeeze to his hand.
"It is because your hard work at proving that to me that has helped me through this," he answered, "I am still not sure what reaction I would have if you touched my throat at this moment, but I know that everything else has seemed to have calmed down. The nagging doubt about what you're really up to has quieted greatly," he said to the now beaming Light.
"That's the best news you could have possibly given me, Ryuzaki," Light told him and began to lean forward before he remembered where he was. He groaned and sighed deeply.
"It's not fair I can't kiss you right now," he said and L smiled reaching up and touching his face with his fingers.
"Later," he said as Light nodded leaning into his touch, "And in case you had any doubt, I love you too." Their eyes locked, the promise of what was to come later in them; and for a moment that was all that mattered.
The sudden piercing scream of a toddler next to them snapped them out of themselves and Light squeezed L's hand again.
"For a moment I was having second thoughts about sitting through this show, but I think you'll find it interesting enough that we should watch it," he said and L nodded.
"I agree," he looked up at the sky, "It appears the sun will be setting soon so we shouldn't have too much longer to wait." He appraised and Light agreed.
"I'm thirsty, do you want something to drink?" he asked and L nodded, "Okay, I'll be right back." He squeezed L's hand again and then stood up and made his way through the audience to head to the concession stand at the back of the area. L watched him walk away and then turned back towards the front, surveying the area and trying to figure out what he was about to see. He suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve. He looked down into the wide eyes of a youngster sitting next to him.
"Are you gonna watch Mickey Mouse too?" the child asked him all seriousness.
"Is that what this show is about? Mickey Mouse?" he asked and the child nodded his head vigorously.
"My mommy said it's about Mickey Mouse and his dreams," he said proudly, happy to know something a grown up didn't.
"I see," L said slowly then smiled at the child, "Thank you for that information," he added and turned his attention back to where Light had gone, seeing him as he was paying for his purchases. He should have known it had something to do with that oversized rodent; Light had to exact some kind of retribution for him making fun of him after the Tower of Terror. He smirked, he would surprise Light and enjoy this show, and not allow Light the satisfaction of what he had undoubtedly been looking forward to…him complaining about it being a Mickey Mouse show.
"Check mate again Light Yagami," he said to himself, and prepared to enjoy it, no matter how annoying it would probably be.