Chapter forty- two- The farewell.
The car ride home was a sad and lonely one. Watari had taken the other car while L made his excuses to drive Misa home. She was presently sulking out the window as Wammmy House slowly disappeared from view.
Their goodbye had been the sadest one ever. But she was proud that her boys had stayed strong and hadn't cried.
Near and B had watched subtly as they'd said their farewells. Both boys had already deduced that this would not be the last time that Misa would be there, among them.
But still, they'd continued to watch.
Linda had been present with the boys as they said their goodbyes.
Misa had draped her arms around the blonde first then the brunette. Mello had sent her a nastily impish grin her way. It didn't take a genius to know that trouble was about to ensue by that look alone.
The younger boy had simply cleared his throat and added innocently, "Behave yourself, Misa. Be nice to him. I've got all the right information to leak to the public, should you hurt our boy."
She'd grimaced and nodded.
"That being said, Coil, don't think I don't have a secret to expose if you hurt her. I do. Plenty. Namely your true identity. And that information, I'm sure, Kira would love to have."
It'd been L's turn to grimace, and that he did. "Yes, that I know, Mello. Well, it's always a pleasure. This is not goodbye, I'm afraid. I'm sure Misa would agree."
The girl in question had nodded. "Yes, of course! We'll be back sooner than you can say the longest word in the world."
"Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. Come back now," Matt had said.
Linda had just nodded innocently. "What he means to say is we'll miss you. Right, Near? BB?"
BB had frowned ever so slightly while Near had stayed impassive. Linda had groaned and abandoned the thought that they'd understand when to agree with her.
"Nevermind! They'll miss you, too," she'd responded as the boys were left to pondered over her words. They hadn't agreed with that, had they?
Misa had beamed and pulled the perky blonde close to herself. "I love you!" She'd declared.
Linda had frozen where she was, not quite knowing what to do. She'd slowly returned the contact. She had been awkward about it and L, B, Mello, and Matt were amused. You couldn't tell with Near.
"Aw, girl moment!" Mello had teased them.
Misa had beamed at him while Linda scowled. "Be quiet, Mello." Her face had twisted into a nasty smirk as she continued on, "Besides, what makes it feminine, if you're not with us?"
The reaction had been instantaneous and his grimace was childish. "If you must know, Lynn, a lot of people think that my subtle femininity is refreshing."
Lynn. Too far. That was one name Linda despised being called. Even so, with a remark like that, the battle had been won. That didn't mean the war would go that way.
The blonde girl had just forced a smile to her face and faked it. "Subtle femininity?" She'd queried softly. "Is there such a thing?"
"There is. Harshin' My Mello should say at least that much. And believe me, they think that the bit of femininity I have is great. And anyway, what's better for a guy's esteem than to hug two hot girls like you two?"
Misa had simply laughed it off and Linda had half thought about walking over and socking him hard in the shin. That much, he'd deserved.
"Watch it. One of these days, you're going to say something stupid to the wrong person and she's gonna smack you for it."
It'd been obvious that she was referring to herself as the assailant in the scenario. And even Mello had felt a shiver sail down his spine at her words. He'd made a mental note to never tick Linda off again. Or at least, if he did, to do it lightly.
It'd been at that exact moment the weight of her decision had struck her and made fold over from the unwelcomed burden.
She'd made a home here. A happy home with these guys. She'd seen these fights time and time again. Over and over. She'd been a mother figure and a sister to them. She'd taken care of them and loved them and they'd loved her back. Was it really right or fair for her to turn around and leave them after all that (the whole three days?)?
But then there was her innocence to think about. L genuinely believed that she was the Second Kira. She'd promised to prove her innocence to him- to prove him wrong. And she would. After all, she wasn't Kira, was she?
L briefly smiled at Misa from the mirror before turning his attention back to the road as she slumped in the backseat. "You're exceedingly cute when you sulk, Darling. Surely, you must know that."
Her foul expression deepened distastefully and she shot him the resulting look. "You've already taken me from my beloved children. Must you foul my mood further by your infuriating smalltalk and flirting?"
Normally he would've answered, but even L understood when to say when. And this was not when.
He let a light silence bridge the gaps between them. Gradually, he responded, "If it's any consolation, the sooner your innocence is proven, the sooner you can get back to our dear children."
"What makes them your's?! I'd thank you to know that Ryuuzaki is obviously the father of any children I may care for- biological or surrogate. And I'd like you to keep your annoying self out of my business."
L fought the instigation, the instigator, and her tempting words. All he had was the reminder that he was, in fact, unbeknownst to her, Ryuuzaki himself.
Nikhedonia radiate in pleasurable spikes through his entire body. And victory goes to me, my Second Kira.