Monkey: Oops, it's been a while, hasn't it? Aha, I've been pretty busy with the spring semester and life, but here, in a moment of sudden inspiration that looking back might not have been inspiration so much as desperation, is another chapter.
Disclaimer: Disclaimed.
"Dad, can I get another game today?" Matt asked, holding Light's hand as they made their way through the lightly crowded mall on an early Saturday morning.
Light thought about it, though he already knew his answer. "Will you try harder to keep your room clean for longer than a day?"
Matt looked up at him with a sheepish grin. "Yes."
"Alright, but only one game this time." Light smiled, knowing that if Matt gave him the puppy eyes he would not be able to deny him another game or two.
The two of them were at the mall to buy Matt some new clothes and apparently a game or two. Light took the day off and he was surprised Sayu wasn't harassing him on the phone to cover for her again. She almost had a sixth sense for whenever Light had any free time. Matt usually didn't like going to the mall, but since it had been a while since Light had bought him a game, it meant that he would be getting a new game (or more) today, which put Matt in a happy mood.
They walked into a clothing store for kids first and Light bought Matt a few shirts, a couple pairs of jeans and a hoodie with Sonic and Shadow on it. Light carried all the bags out of the store until Matt asked to help him with at least one. They walked to a shoe store also for kids and Matt immediately went looking around at all the different kinds of shoes as Light calmly walked behind him.
"Do you want some light up shoes?"
"Dad, I'm not six anymore," Matt pouted while Light rolled his eyes good naturedly. He noticed his son look at some of the sneakers that lit up with a small look of want and Light shook his head. He remembered how happy Matt had been when he received his first pair of light up sneakers way back when he was little.
Eventually, Matt settled for a pair of black and red sneakers that did not light up and then they left the store, headed towards the food court.
"Dad look, it's Mr. L." Matt pointed out, as they walked around, trying to decide what to have for lunch.
Light looked at where Matt pointed before reaching over and gently lowering his son's hand. "Don't point, Matt." Matt apologized and Light looked down at him. "Do you want to go say hi?" It had been about a month since the last time they had seen him; it was an enjoyable surprise seeing him there.
Matt bit his lower lip and Light knew his son was starting to get shy. He gripped the redhead's hand in assurance.
"Ok."
Light smiled and led them towards the raven-haired man who sat in that idiosyncratic way of his in the red plastic chair at a table surrounded with bags. L finally noticed them walking towards him and he stood up to great them.
"Light, Matt, pleasure to see you here."
"Hello," Matt replied shyly, attempting to hide himself behind Light who gave L a sheepish grin.
"Hi, L. Are you here by yourself?" Light glanced at all the bags around L's table and noticed the lack of his genius children.
"If that were the case, I would be a happy man." L deadpanned. "My sons just went to the restroom and if they are not back within the next two minutes, I am afraid for the safety of the people in the immediate vicinity." L gestured to the table. "Please, accompany me, if you are not too busy."
"Thanks," Light replied, guiding his son to the table where the two adults took a seat after setting all the bags down. Matt noticed there were only four chairs at the table and gave his dad an innocent look which Light understood and nodded. Matt shyly climbed onto Light's lap and settled comfortably as he reached into his pocket to pull out his Gameboy. Light wrapped his arms around Matt to keep his son from falling off in his concentration to beat the bad guy as he began talking to L, their lunch currently forgotten. "You make your sons seem like little terrors, but they're so sweet."
L rolled his eyes. "Light, I know you are smarter than that. They are horrible little demons that will cause mass destruction if left unsupervised."
"Kind of like right now?" Light looked around with a grin. "The place is still standing and there aren't any policemen running around, so I think the world is safe."
L looked just over his shoulder and saw his sons walking over to them, shooting glares at each other. "Speak of the two devils and they shall come."
"Light!" the two exclaimed happily once they reached them. "Hi Matt."
The redhead paused his game and shyly returned their greeting before continuing with the game.
"Hello Near, Mello, how have you two been?" Light greeted with a smile.
"We've been really good." Light started to wonder how it was those two spoke in sync so much, but after a while he found it kind of adorable, considering how they were with each other.
L scoffed and his sons grinned.
The two boys each took a remaining seat and started telling Light how L had taken them to get clothes and since L didn't really know what to get them, he got them a little bit of everything, which showed in the bags surrounding them. L narrowed his eyes at his sons while Light laughed.
Matt paused the game and looked back up at his dad. "Dad, can we get some food now? I'm hungry."
Light blinked, having completely forgotten why they had entered the food court in the first place. "Oh, right, of course. What do you want to get?"
"Dad, I want food too!" Mello and Near chorused, causing L to glance down at the bags before looking back up at them.
Light noticed this and spoke, "I could take them to get some food, some for you too so we don't have to carry all our bags around the place while we decide what to get."
L nodded, bringing his thumb to his mouth. "Very well, I shall wait here and watch over our purchases. Light, if you could please purchase for me a cowboy pie milkshake with a slice of cherpumple over at The Sweet Star?" That was the place where all conventional ideas about desserts go to hell to die while abnormal fabrications of sugar and more sugar come together to kill their customers.
Light winced. "L, that's like eating your weight in sugar. What about a normal lunch?"
Mello snorted as Near smirked.
"That is a normal lunch for him," the albino said.
"You should see his breakfast," Mello added.
"I think I'd rather not," Light admitted, finding it impossible for someone to eat both of those things and not fall into a sugar-induced coma.
L pulled out his wallet and handed him a credit card. "Get anything you want, my treat."
Light frowned. "I can't accept—"
"Oh yes you can," Mello cut him off, snatching L's credit card. He and Near stood up, prompting Matt and Light to do the same. "Come on, I want some white chocolate raspberry cheesecake!" He and his brother scurried off in the direction of The Sweet Star.
Light looked worried.
"Do not concern yourself, Light, this is really what a normal lunch consists of." L watched his sons run to the desserts place.
Matt slipped his hand into Light's and began guiding him towards The Sweet Star. Light looked apprehensive. His son noticed this and smiled.
"Don't worry dad, I want a sandwich with a smoothie, but you gotta watch them too."
Light let out a sigh and chuckled slightly. "Alright, come on."
They reached L's sons who were almost up to order and once they did, they quickly threw L's credit card at the man behind the counter who was too busy staring at Light as if he were willing to worship the ground the brunette walked on. They went to get food for Matt, Near and Light while they waited for all the monstrous desserts.
Once everyone was back at the table with all the food, Light stared at the sugar horror in front of L.
"That… looks like a sugary bringer of death," Light finally had to say, staring at just the one slice L wanted of the cherpumple. That thing was terrifying to look at. That giant slice alone could probably eat Light's salad and smoothie and still have room for dessert.
"More like a clusterfuck of delicious things all mashed together into one giant glorious cake," Mello replied, digging into his own giant slice of sugar heaven.
"Mello," L scolded. "Language."
"Sorry," the blonde replied before stuffing his mouth full of cake.
Near rolled his eyes as he ate his spaghetti quietly, like Matt and Light did with their food.
L noticed Light was staring at his pie again. "Would you like to try some?"
Matt, who was once again on Light's lap, looked back at his father and for a moment thought that Light's face had turned a little green.
"N-no thank you."
L shrugged. "It is delicious."
Light had to look away when L brought another bite to his mouth. The three boys looked at each other and sniggered.
Once they all managed to finish their meals, the adults started talking about stuff the boys didn't care about so Mello and Near turned their attention to Matt who was about to pull out his Gameboy but noticed their staring. He looked at them questioningly.
They grinned. Sure, Matt was a little shy around them, but they figured he might be willing to help them in aiding their dads to hook up with each other.
"Hey Matt—" Mello began, but was interrupted when a man came up to them and spoke.
"Light! It's good to see you."
"Mikami, hi." Light smiled at the raven haired man who wore glasses. "Matt, say hi."
"Hello," Matt said quietly.
"Hi Matt. So Light, haven't seen you in a while, how have you been?" L, Mello and Near all stared at this Mikami character and decided at once they didn't like him. Matt looked up at Mikami before trying to make himself look smaller as he pulled out his Gameboy and began playing.
"I've been great, thanks for asking. And you?" Light looked at L. "Oh, Mikami, this is L and his sons, Mello and Near. I've known Mikami since high school, he's one of my best friends."
"Hello, nice to meet you," Mikami said to them with a smile.
"You too," Mello and Near replied out of forced manners.
"L? You have an odd name."
L ignored what he said and noticed the man wasn't carrying any shopping bags. "Are you with someone?"
"No, actually. I just came here to buy some clothes but decided to stop at the food court first," he shifted his attention to Light, "and I'm glad I did."
Light chuckled. "Well, we were just about to start heading out, I owe Matt a couple video games."
L bit his thumb, his eyes narrowed at the bespectacled man doing a poor attempt at flirting with Light. Who was this man really and why was he so friendly with Light? Weren't they just best friends?
Mello and Near frowned at the newcomer. Did this mean their dad had competition for Light? They hadn't even gotten Matt on their side yet and yet another unaccounted factor popped up.
"Oh, I would love to come with you, if you don't mind?" Mikami asked as everyone started gathering their things and standing up.
Ah, so Mikami wanted Light as well.
"If you'd like," Light replied, taking hold of one of Matt's hands, forcing him to stop playing his Gameboy for now.
The three adults walked slightly ahead of the boys, Mikami in the middle of Light and L, with Mello and Near walking on either side of Matt.
"Alright, spill," Mello whispered to the redhead, careful so the adults wouldn't hear them.
"What?"
"Is this guy trying to get into your dad's pants?" Mello blurted out.
Matt's eyes went wide.
Near reached over Matt and smacked the blonde. "What my moronic brother means is, is this guy attempting to court your father?"
Matt shrugged. "I guess so."
L's boys frowned as they began plotting.
They reached the video game store and Matt immediately went in, knowing just what games he wanted. Mello and Near didn't play too many video games, but they followed him to see what he was looking at. L, Light and Mikami stood around the entrance, Light leading the way inside as he slowly followed Matt to keep an eye on what he got.
"So, how long have the two of you known each other?" Mikami asked, raising a brow at L. "I don't believe I've heard of you before."
Light picked up a video game he was sure Matt would like and replied, "L and I met over at Stylin' Cute not too long ago."
"I see," Mikami smirked.
L narrowed his eyes at the man. Any other man and his glare would read, "hop off, he's mine," but of course, L was already planning how to get the upper hand on the man who so clearly wanted Light who of course, didn't seem to have any idea of the matter. "I have found that the length of time one knows someone is irrelevant, all that matters is the connection formed. I feel as though I have made a strong connection with Light, given the great man that he is."
Light glanced up from the back of the video game case and smiled with a slight blush. "That's sweet of you to say." He walked over to Matt who was debating between the game Mello was holding up and the one Near was holding up.
L and Mikami glared at each other. They stepped closer to each other and spoke in low voices so Light wouldn't hear them.
"You really think Light would go for someone like you?" Mikami asked with a sneer.
L rolled his eyes. "I clearly have a better chance than you. He does not even notice your failed attempts to seduce him."
Mikami smirked. "That may be, but I bet you haven't kissed him yet, have you?"
L looked for any signs of him lying, but unfortunately found none. He didn't answer. Was he too late to try to win Light's love?
"I didn't think so." Mikami noticed Light was coming back towards them with the kids, having already bought Matt three games instead of the promised one.
"Back off, L, he's mine."
No. He refused to be beaten this early into things. Light was someone he would definitely pursue.
"I never back off from a challenge."
Light reached them with a smile. "I'm glad to see you two are getting along." He obviously had only seen them talking and hadn't heard a word they said.
Even L's boys had to wince at his obliviousness. Matt only sighed, going unnoticed by his father.
"Of course, any friend of yours is a friend of mine," Mikami told him, placing a hand on L's shoulder.
L refrained from shaking it off and nodded. "What he said."
"Good. Well, I think it's time Matt and I head out." Light looked straight at L with a warm smile. "It was great to see you, L, thank you for treating us to lunch."
"My pleasure, I delighted in seeing you as well, I hope to do it again soon." L replied, looking content. Mikami rolled his eyes in the background.
The brunette bit his lip for a moment before pulling out his cell phone. "Want to trade numbers?"
L took his phone out. "I would like that."
They took a couple moments to input their numbers into each other's cells before handing them back.
Light turned to face Mello and Near who smiled at him. "It was nice seeing you two as well, be good to your father, ok?"
"No promises," Mello grinned at the same time Near said, "we will try." They looked at the shy redhead. "Bye Matt."
"Bye guys," he replied timidly. L's sons were nice to him, he just happened to have a shy disposition.
"I'll walk you to your car?" Mikami offered.
"I thought you came here looking to buy clothes," L pointed out before Light could reply.
"L's right, I wouldn't want to take up too much of your time, thanks though. It was nice seeing you again too." He lightly tapped Matt's head.
"Bye Mikami." He then looked up at L. "Bye Mr. L."
"Goodbye Matt, I would tell you to behave but seeing as how you already do, just keep doing what you are doing. And please, call me L."
Matt smiled a bit and nodded.
Light left with Matt and once he was out of earshot and after Mikami and L stopped admiring parts of Light's body the kids wouldn't want to know about, they glared at each other.
"L."
"Mikami."
Near and Mello glared at the other man as well until they parted ways.
"Don't worry dad," Near spoke as the three of them headed to their car with all their bags. "We'll help you."
"And we can think of a couple others who might be willing to help too," Mello added.
L thought for a moment. "I guess I should consider myself lucky that the two of you would rather plot to help me win the affection of a great man than have you two run the mafia."
His sons chuckled. "That'll come later."
L frowned. He didn't find that very funny.
But with the three of them working together, maybe Mikami wouldn't pose too much of a problem for them.
Monkey: Thank you for reading, please ignore any and all mistakes found in this chapter, I have not gone over it, but I will at a later date. I have no idea when I'll be able to update next, but hopefully it will be soon! Also, have I mentioned Light's real job? I don't think so, sooo what do you guys think he should work as? (I've noticed that in every DN story I write, Light's job is always a mystery at first because I don't know what it is and I let the readers decide lol).
And yes, I had to introduce Mikami as L's love rival. You didn't think I'd make it too easy for L, did you? Haha.
And since I opened this to opinions, what kind of scenarios would you guys like to see happen between any of the characters? The girls at Stylin' Cute will make a comeback in the next chapter I hope, so anything goes at this point. Lol.
Thanks again for reading!