Chapter nine:
Light looks to Near while they are on the couch in the hotel room. He had been watching a movie with the other to wind down before it becomes time for them to head to bed. He smiles softly as he sees that the other has fallen asleep. He is happy to see the other look so calm and peaceful in his sleep. He gets up turning off the movie spotting L turning to him from the corner of his eye. He shifts picking up his younger brother careful to not wake him up. He carries him to the room laying him into bed after managing to pull back the sheets. He covers the other to tuck him in then leaves the room closing the door to make sure that the other is not disturbed. He returns to the living room area seeing L fully turned around to look at the brunette as he returns.
"You both had quite a big day." L mentions from where he sits perched on the office chair.
Light gives the raven haired man a quick kiss that is returned by said man. He then pulls up an extra chair from a small table to be able to sit next to his boyfriend. "Yeah. I think all that sudden emotions really wore him out." He had spent a long time just catching up with his little brother. He even found out about how Near hid his emotions not really wanting to let others in as he didn't trust them so he hid himself away from them. He is at least glad that the orphanage was taking good care of him even if not all of the other orphans treated him as kindly as the adults did.
"Indeed." L nods his head resting a thumb against his bottom lip. He looks a little thoughtful which does get Light curious.
"What is it?" Light blinks after his inquiry about what could be on the other's mind.
"Well. He has the two friends from the orphanage. Even though they left him in their own ways." L begins and Light flinches as he remembers the story of A and BB where despite being so close to Near A killed himself, causing BB to go on a plan to murder to make a case that not even L could solve despite that he had failed. "while your brother was able to visit A's grave he was not able to visit BB who is in a maximum security prison. Despite BB leaving him behind to do this Near has some understanding about it knowing BB's pain over losing A and blaming me for it. So why don't we make a stop to let the two visit again before heading to let him meet your family?"
Light thinks about that idea for a few moments. He does remember Near mentioning that he did understand the pain BB was in over losing A so he didn't really blame the other for leaving to do what he did; BB even making sure that Near would stay at the orphanage and out of the trouble that he was about to cause. He cannot deny that it shows a care that BB still held for Light's little brother. He comes to a decision finding it to be rather easy with himself looking at those facts. "Yeah." He smiles at L who smiles softly back. "Let us make a stop to let Near be able to have a visit with his friend." He picks up a strawberry from a plate and gently feeds it to his lover.
"Sounds like a plan." L speaks pushing his food to the side to speak then continues to eat.
Light nods his head in agreement as L swallows the food in his mouth.
L turns back to his open laptop which still has several tabs open as the other works on multiple cases. "Why don't you go and get some rest? I will be alright. I know that you are going to be tired from all the emotions that you had today."
"You sure?" Light inquires feeding L another strawberry as the other gratefully takes the offered piece of fruit. He sees the other give a nod to confirm that it really is okay. "Well okay. Just don't push yourself too hard alright?"
"I promise you I won't overwork myself." L tells the other who gives him a look knowing that he will work extremely hard to get that point. He doesn't really fight the other on this so he makes the promise that the other does want to hear. "I promise that I won't work too hard."
Light nods his head then shares a goodnight kiss with the other before he also heads to bed.
… The next day…
The group are all on a plane that is already in the air with L, Light and Near being in the main room while Watari is the one flying the plane.
L is looking over some papers on a case file not using his laptop not wanting to cause a disruption for Watari right now. He is sitting in a chair at a table since it is a private luxury plane and doesn't look like normal commercial flights.
Light turns to check on Near from where he stands about to head to join L. He feels a little worry seeing Near sitting in an armchair approved to be on planes looking out the window. He approaches and sits in another armchair by his little brother. "You doing okay?" His voice causes Near to turn to look to him instead of out of the window.
"I am just nervous." Near admits glancing down and Light is worried further at hearing this.
"About what?" Light slightly pushes as he leans forward putting his elbows on his knees, hands linking together, and his gaze remaining on his little brother.
"About meeting your adoptive family. I know that you told me about how nice they are and how they welcomed you so warmly. How you know that they will accept me too. I just can't help feeling a little anxious about it. Worrying about what if they don't actually like me? I have been told how I put people off and keep them at a distance just being how I am. Perhaps they might welcome me at first only to end up secretly not liking me because of the way I am due to being in the orphanage. How I felt I needed to be to get by there while I wanted the day that we could reunite to come each and every day."
Light feels a bit lucky that he had gotten adopted instead of having to go through such orphanage life that his little brother had gone through. He does understand where Near is coming from as he can only imagine how hearing that be told about himself is hurtful. He reaches out placing an assuring hand on the other's shoulder causing the other to look to him allowing their eyes to meet. "I totally understand where your feelings are coming from. I want to let you know however that you don't have anything to worry about. I wasn't very open with them for the first bit. They'll understand. They were patient with me for when I was ready to truly open myself up to them. They will do the same with you. Even if they end up needing to learn how to understand you if you never seem to open up to them they will do so. It will be okay. They truly are good people. People who wouldn't turn away just because things are a bit difficult with a wall being put in place." His words do seem to help the platinum haired boy calm down a little. He is aware that the feeling won't go away completely until after Near has become a bit more settled with Light's adoptive family. So he will take just even being able to help him relax a little on this. He can tell that Near needs a change of topic so he decides to jump on that. He is glad that he can still read the other despite the years apart. "Did you see anything interesting outside the window?" His question gets Near to turn to look out the window again. He looks out a window next to his brother and the two distract themselves with talking about whatever they can see out there including the land below.
