Redeemer

"What the hell are you grinning about at this blasted hour?" Matt muttered from where he lay sprawled across the bed, half tangled in the sheets with Noriko decidedly claiming territory as she sat proudly on the small of his back.

Mello blinked, not having realized Matt was awake and contained himself, earning an extra few seconds by sipping at his coffee. Shit. "Didn't realize I was grinning."

The redhead lifted a questioning brow at the suspicious behavior and reached for the cigarettes on the nightstand. It was way too damn early to be awake as far as he was concerned.

"Light's awake," the blonde announced, making the comment as casual as he possibly could, but if there was one person he could not fool with facades, it was Matt. They'd known one another far too long for that. Mello noticed the look of surprise upon his lover's face - he could take surprise over annoyance. That was good. "Sometime 'round 3 last night, according to L. Bloody bastard looks as if nothing ever happened."

"...that's unnerving."

"No kidding," Mello agreed and handed his half-drained mug of coffee to his lover, bowing down to steal a brief kiss and scratch Noriko's head, which only earned a cringe out of the redhead as she pawed at his bare back in appreciation. The blonde grinned. "I'm getting in the shower. Hey," he called back after a moment once he was several steps away. "When Linda gets the chance to meet him, don't let her do it on her own."

Matt released a smoky breath and watched him curiously - at least it seemed as if some of Mello's common sense had at last returned. "Wasn't planning on it."

* * *

“Mello,” and L caught the blonde by the elbow as he was coming out of the washroom, hair still dripping, towel around his waist. The detective’s voice was hushed and his eyes insistent. “Not a word about the heart attack,” he said. “Tell the others too.”

Mello was caught slightly off guard, but nodded all the same.

“I can’t have him thinking he’s immune to the Death Note—at least, not yet. It will go straight to his head. And more bad news—the electrical impulse of the defibrillator damaged the kill switch—it’s useless, not a word about that either.”

Mello frowned. Yeah, true, the last thing they needed right now was a Kira who thought he was invincible…though considering his present condition when two weeks ago it looked as though someone forced Light through the meat grinder—that invincibility thing would probably set in pretty quick.

L nodded moving passed, “And don’t let Linda meet him alone,” he called over his shoulder without looking back.

“Yeah I know,” Mello muttered…

* * *

Too late.

In her defense she’d been looking for L. She had yet to bump into anyone else, because Mello was usually hard at work by this hour, and Matt was usually fast asleep. L could be counted upon to be in the medical wing, behind the laptops, because she had yet to catch him ever asleep, though the others insisted he did actually sleep…from time to time.

Of course, today, there was no L, and Linda moved into the room, wondering if he was on the balcony. She didn’t look at the bed, she’d grown so accustomed to the layout of the room, and the monitor sounds, and the motionless figure beneath the sheets that she simply took it for granted, and walked straight passed a rather strange scene without noticing that the bed—was empty. She didn’t catch on until she poked her head out to find the balcony empty, and upon coming back in bumped headlong into Light who was standing right there behind her—between her and the door.

Linda jumped—and all her thoughts rushed forward—those things she’d prepared to call upon when and if she ever did have to meet Kira; but he of course had the advantage, he caught her totally off guard and she just wasn’t ready for his presence—both physical presence—what was he doing up?!—and the sort they’d all warned her about, the sort that filled the room and suffocated those in it.

He was taller than she expected too, he towered over her, and he seemed broader than he had in the bed—but it was that beautiful face, those eyes, eyes she hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting without the benefit of film or celluloid—the eyes of Kira—slim and narrow and intense, and so very…alluring.

Oh fuck. Oh fuck fuck fuck. She’d prepared for this, she had, but he already let her flail in her stunned silence long enough to press his point that as much as she thought she was ready to take him on—she really had no idea what she was up against.

“I’m sorry,” he said at last, in Japanese, “Didn’t mean to scare you.” That small satisfied smile said otherwise. He knew what he was doing.

“I—I--,” Linda couldn’t complete the thought. Oh eloquent.

Light lifted an eyebrow. He was the very picture of health, a bloody miraculous recovery and he was greatly amused at the way she was reacting toward him.

“L mentioned a new assistant,” He said, “I apologize, he didn’t tell me your name,” and the smile spread, because that was Kira-humor. Oh Christ. “Probably a good thing though,” he finished casually. Oh God.

He caught the positive drain of color in her face—oh they all lied to her, he wasn’t just perceptive, he was practically telepathic. “I’m just teasing you,” he said after a moment, and the charm oozed into that rather lovely voice. It was different in person, it had the power to hold her there—like his eyes, like his presence, like that lush mouth that seemed ever hitched with satisfaction. Matt said Light had a way with women, ‘not this woman’ Linda had assured herself—all those hours and days pouring over the files and tapes, analyzing and breaking Kira down, determining that no amount of pretty-boy charm could win her away from what she knew about him—and now, look at her, he had hardly said very much, hell, all he was doing was standing there, and she was just gaping like an idiot—like a deer in headlights.

Something inside her kicked her in the gut at last. “I know all about you,” she finally spluttered. It was and sounded exactly like—a defense mechanism.

Light laughed, “Oh good,” he purred. “Then there’ll be no surprises.” And he meant that in the slyest possible way imaginable.

Oh god. Oh god. "You can call me Linda," she said defiantly, knowing full well that he would be quite aware that like the rest of them, it would not be her real name but a life-long alias. That was all right. But she pushed past him then, managing to free herself from his suffocating magnetism to escape the room and collide with Mello as she dove for the stairs in an attempt to put as much space between herself and Kira at that moment.

Mello caught her before she tumbled right down the stairwell, looking positively perplexed as to what the bloody rush was. The look on her face was enough - and then of course, she had just emerged out of the medical wing like a bat out of hell. Shit. It figured. The one second L was not around to supervise.

"I was looking for L," she mustered faintly, still attempting to regain her wits.

Which meant that she had not only not found L, but had found Light instead. Shit. Mello’s gaze flickered toward the empty doorway. "Did something happen?" That was a stupid question. Kira happened. He didn't need to do a thing to get this reaction out of most people, no matter how much they knew or how prepared they thought themselves to be.

"No," she said and, taking a deep breath seemed to calm and regain some semblance of rationality. "No... I just wasn't expecting him be awake."

She wasn't the only one. "You weren't supposed to have met him on your own and at a disadvantage," Mello muttered. Nothing to do about it now. "Get yourself together," he said but was hardly brash, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "I can only expect that he'll be at dinner, if not exploring the place through the day. Stay with Matt or come in and use my study if you need to."

Linda nodded. "Thanks. I'm alright, just... took me by surprise." In other words, shaken. To be expected.

"You can find L downstairs," Mello told her as she inched down the steps. And while he had had every intention of descending himself, there was something to do first. He swept across the hall and through the medical wing to lean against the open door and peek inside.

"That was unnecessary," he scowled, and Light's picture perfect pretty-boy innocent eyes swept up to look at him.

"I didn't do anything to her. In fact, I'd say I even behaved."

"Yea," Mello scoffed. "That's the problem."

Light’s syrupy smile spread with that coy invitation Mello had rarely resisted. “You were that easy to rattle once too,” he purred.

“You never rattled me,” Mello returned with a dark smile of his own.

Light laughed. “I wasn’t aware you were afflicted with such a short-term memory. I suppose being L’s heir has gone to your head.”

Mello bit the inside of his cheek to keep the surprise from showing. “He told you?”

Light laughed again, and now he was just plain amused. “No, of course not—but you just did.”

Goddamnit, he was bluffing just to get Mello to say it. Ha, all this studying of heavy texts he thought his mind was more alert than ever—one minute around Kira however seemed to prove otherwise.

“Bastard,” but Mello said it with vague affection.

“Elementary,” and Light lifted a wry eyebrow before he let the act fall and snickered. He was playing—that’s what all this was. He was in a good mood, probably feeling like a million bucks, and he was going down the line playing with each and every one of them. Probably should warn Matt…

Light tossed his head a bit to get the long hair out of his eyes, it was obvious he was not used to the style, but the motion was attractive all the same. “So, are you gonna stay all the way over there?” He said smartly, referring to the fact that Mello hadn’t budged from the doorway. Light grinned, “I promise I’ll bite only if you ask me to,” as if the sexual innuendos hadn’t been present from the get go.

Mello laughed. “I have work to do.”

“Ah,” Light didn’t take that as a rejection, he took it as a challenge. “In that case, don’t let me keep you.”

Mello made motion to leave, but it actually took physical effort to break away from Kira’s gaze, and he seemed especially potent today. So Mello stayed a moment, eyes still locked with Light’s, he thought to say something, Light was poised to hear it, but then Mello changed his mind and they both smiled because damnit was the sexual tension ever still delicious—especially when Light playfully bit his lip with that coy seductive way of his. Goddamnit.

Mello snorted and shook his head. “Just don’t rip the rug out from under her feet before she’s even had a chance to tell you off.”

Light chuckled. “You want me to boost her ego?”

“I want you to leave her alone, actually,” and Mello smiled that dangerous smile.

Light’s eyes were sly and heavy lidded. “That probably won’t happen,” he said.

“Yeah,” Mello muttered, “I know, why do you think I’m saying it?”

* * *

The bitch of it was, Mello just couldn’t concentrate for shit on his work after that. Nope, there was definite distraction going on, and it basically went along the lines of…Kira. But it wasn’t because Light had decided to badger him or anything, in fact, he didn’t pursue Mello in the least; but that didn’t stop Mello’s libido from going into overdrive at the thought of those lips, that smile…those eyes.

By noon, Mello was sure he needed to do something about it, because he’d barely gotten 5 chapters through his current reading material, and he was pretty sure he’d read the same paragraph at least ten times in the last hour.

It occurred to him to drag Matt out by the hair for a quick fuck, or even a blowjob—but that was not a normal occurrence while Mello was usually hitting the books, and Matt would immediately guess what had Mello so hot and bothered. So a wank it was then, and god forbid Light ever found out. Or that was probably his design. It didn’t escape Mello that even though Light could no longer compete with him academically—at least, he didn’t think so—that the moment he found out what Mello was up to, trying to beat his flawless record, he’d do everything to make a nuisance of himself. Perfect. He was doing a fairly good job now without even trying, and so Mello slapped the book down and took off for the hall—destination: nearest washroom.

He noticed Matt and Linda had practically barred themselves in their own little area as well—like they were the little pigs trying to keep the Big Bad Wolf at bay. Luckily it seemed, L managed to at least keep Light occupied for much of the day so far…Mello had heard them in the hall, saw them in the gardens, and then didn’t see them for quite some time; but L had his own work to do, and Light, being Light, would start getting into trouble soon enough.

So Mello slipped into the washroom on the lower level, latched the door, and braced a hand against the wall as he unlaced his leathers with deft fingers. He really didn’t have time for this, but he needed to focus and the moment his grip tightened around that turgid shaft of flesh that had been making him so damn uncomfortable all day, he knew it was precisely what the doctor ordered. He bit his lip, contained that feral groan in the back of his throat, and worked his climax hard as images of Light tied to a bed and being fucked senseless endlessly played before his eyes.

* * *

Tonight, dinner would be an event, because tonight that relative peace they’d all been enjoying, would most likely be shattered. Matt had yet to even acknowledge Kira was alive, Linda had avoided any chance of bumping into him again, and Mello—at least Mello had gotten some work done after his brief afternoon delight. L and Light came in together, and Dr. Gregory was already grumpily laying his napkin upon his lap—obviously not looking forward to this.

Of course battle lines were immediately drawn the moment L took his seat at the head of the table. Mello in his usual spot, Linda shimmied quickly in beside him, and although Matt had vacated his seat on the other side of L with the assumption that Light would be sitting there—Light surveyed the scene for one second, and with a glimmer of mischief, promptly sat at the other head of the table.

L blinked, but seemed amused, especially when Light shot him that knowing smirk. And Matt—well, Matt took a hit for the team just then because poor Linda was one empty seat away from Kira himself—so instead of flopping down in his normal setting, Matt…sat beside Light.

Bloody brilliant.

If they managed to get through the evening without any blood being shed, it would be an amazing feat at best. Mello lifted a questioning brow at Matt, but no explanation was required - the purpose here was to keep Linda out of the fire for just a tad bit longer - granted there was shit either of them could do should he engage her in conversation, which would more than likely be the case, indirectly or not, but the illusion of protection was nice all the same.

Obviously, however, it was not just Linda who was having some issues adjusting to this new addition to the household. Dinner was brought and several of the women hesitated every time they set eyes upon him - rumors flew wide, but not everyone had yet gotten a chance to get a close-up look at him. Now, they were. And of course Light was playing his games, distant and aloof with a gracious smile upon those lush lips. The bastard was in a good mood all right, and sometimes that was worse than Kira in a foul mood. Because how can you reprimand someone who was truthfully not doing anything wrong? Light was... being Light. Top of his game and enjoying the ride. Thanking each servant that set something down in front of him, or in his general vicinity. It was enough to draw flushes and shy smiles.

The bastard was playing them all.

Matt had only bothered to look at him a short number of times, keeping a close eye on him without paying that much attention - everyone else was already doing that to make up for his lack of interest.

As was Light’s habit when it came to Matt—deliberate habit—he flatly just ignored him. Matt was still not worth a lick in Kira’s eyes, and truly the only interest Light had in the redhead, was how to best get him out of the way. That plan had been percolating for awhile, but would take time—and no one really need know of it. So for now, Light directed the opening conversation clear over Matt’s head:

“So Linda,” he said, and god, all that smirking charisma was present in his voice—because each and every one of them had already warned him prior to this moment to leave the poor girl alone—of course like the imp knowingly plundering the cookie jar for all to see—Light sailed right into Round 1. “Impress me.”

Linda nearly choked. Matt clattered his silverware, Mello drew a deep breath and L…scarfed a cupcake as though Light was discussing the weather. Ah. Exam time. Of course the detective was going to test Linda now that Light had opened up the opportunity—and surely dealing with Kira was something more along the lines of a final exam and not necessarily a pop quiz—but why hold back?

“What?” Linda managed.

Ironically it was the good doctor who intervened on the girl’s behalf. “Yagami, don’t be beastly,” he grunted with all the paternal reprimand of a true father-figure.

Light smirked because that pleased him to no end. Mello fancied that Kira had a vast collection of endearing negative terms slung in his direction—not that Doctor Gregory meant that as endearing in any light.

“It’s not my intention to be beastly,” Light contradicted, he enjoyed repeating it, and he was doing so with the utmost guise of prim and proper civility. “I’m entertaining my curiosity.” Keyword, that. “I’m aware Linda has been brought on as a behavioral expert—to some degree—studying myself and Near as though we were a collection of zoological specimens—”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Matt grumbled, quickly assuming the big brother stance on Linda’s behalf.

Light’s smiled brightened even more; he was having way too much fun already. “I just honestly want to see if she can impress me with all the astute analyses I’m sure she’s already produced on the matter.” He grinned, and his eyes gleamed—and there was the gauntlet down on the table.

Linda was mortified, the Doctor was aggravated, Matt looked like he might reach for his fork as a first line of defense, Mello just found himself curious to see this one unfold—since he already knew Light would do something along these lines anyway—and L…

The detective dropped a strawberry down his throat and considered it, swallowing completely before saying: “I don’t see why you can’t answer the question, Linda.”

Goddamnit L.

Moment of truth. Of course, Linda could not back away from this one. No, she could not disappoint. Matt and Mello had already established their worth in L’s eyes, it was her turn. She had been summoned here on the faith that she could do this – she would do it – if only she could get over these first few days. And she’d been adjusting so well, too.

It took her a few moments of watching the contents of her glass, lips pursed in thought before she brought herself to look up – and when she did, she met those alluring almond eyes dead on. Later on she would wonder how she had managed it. “Mine were simply loose deductions gathered from reading the case files and watching select surveillance videos. They’ve offered me the facts, but no true adequate way of drawing a proper conclusion. Now that you’ve recovered, I will be able to do so,” she said solidly, her tone speaking none of the anxiety she had locked away to reflect on later.

“But,” she added, taking a moment to sip from her glass and moisten her lips, “Since you’ve already taken to games, clearly delighted in doing so because you know quite well the effect you have on people, I can only assume you will not be making my task any easier.” Linda exhaled, leaning back in her chair. “You’re a living contradiction with more facets than the world’s most precious diamond and you know it – and use it down to a science. You’ve instilled doubt and sympathy in two of your opponents and while no one can figure out exactly where the lies end and the sincerity begins, I think you too have blurred the edges under a number of circumstances.” She picked her silverware back up, lowering her gaze to her meal. “Depending on how I come to… impress you… I’ll either become an object to manipulate or one to be cast aside and ignored. Frankly,” she pointed out, “it makes little difference to me.”

Light had settled himself in for Linda’s little speech with his chin upon one of those graceful open hands, leaning over the table with this delighted smile pulling up his luscious mouth. He absorbed everything she had to say, his gaze unyielding even when hers shot back to her meal—that momentary courage she’d garnered to impress L more than him—and when she’d finished, trying to pretend like everything was copasetic whichever way he decided to play it, Light couldn’t help but laugh.

“Little difference?” he swirled his water around in the crystal goblet with great amusement. “I have to say, Linda, that your façade of indifference and faux courage—while not impressive—is amusing at the very least.”

Linda had to steel herself, but couldn’t help the stain of color from rising to her cheeks. She wasn’t used to being so openly insulted, in such a slimly intelligent manner.

“Everyone tries that route with me,” Light purred. “Everyone.”

He sipped his water calmly, completely at ease with causing unease. “Your conclusions, however,—though I suppose even you wouldn’t call them that since your study apparently is in its infancy and you’re afraid to be in a room alone with your principle subject—are trite and pretentious. And considering each one of your accompanying peers at this table already know from experience all of what you just said—and more—I suppose your apparent brilliance is just a work in progress.”

He smiled, and now that he’d mortified the poor girl into a heavy silence—and essentially worked Matt and the doctor into a well-contained, though viably present rage on her behalf—Light caught Linda’s gaze with the most alluring look he could muster—in complete contradiction with his venom, and said as though he were the world’s most irresistible courting lover; “As for me, I already know I would find it very hard to ignore you and cast you aside—that would certainly be a crime I’d rather not commit.”

“It would do little to soil your record,” she spat almost immediately. Beside her Mello could hardly contain his laughter because while he had always known the girl to be reserved, he had had the pleasure to witness her wrath once or twice before. The quick response was laudable given the press of charms Light had unloaded on her with such a comment. Perhaps meeting Kira in the flesh had been truly necessary to get the ball rolling.

Light grinned, infinitely pleased at how riled she was becoming. “Well, we wouldn’t want that now would we.” Spoken like the devil himself. “But tell me, how do you see yourself proceeding from here? You’ve already said that since I’ve recovered you can make new progress with your studies—so what’s your plan of action? I’ve been more than available all day long—but where have you been?” Cue smirk. Cue devious glint. He sipped his water again, and because L had yet to interfere, no one else had attempted to either.

“You’ve just woken up,” she pointed out the obvious. “Jumping down your throat at the first chance I got would have been particularly rude.” That was part of the reason. “And besides, yes, I was regaining my goddamned wits.” There, she had said it. It was no secret and while denying it could have been a helpful strategy, by putting it on the table, she only continued to state facts without hiding behind flimsy excuses.

Light choked at the ‘rude’ comment. “I hardly think you had it in you to be much of anything upon our meeting,” he said. “But you’ve already conceded to that. It doesn’t however—answer the question, Linda. What’s your plan of action? You seek to study and analyze me? How do you plan to do it—and what gives you the idea that I would even let you?”

She hitched a brow at him then, the start of a frown tugging at the corner of her lips. “And just what is it you oppose? I’m not going to turn into your personal shrink, if that’s what you’re anticipating…”

Light returned her wry gaze. “Still dodging the question,” he said plainly. “And I hardly see myself lying on any couches for your benefit. So if you’re not openly going to question me, and I’m not openly going to answer—are you going to hide in my closets and spy on every action?” He snickered. “Seriously, how do you plan to do your job? You can barely speak to me person-to-person over dinner.”

“Alright arsehole, knock it off,” and Matt at last was drawing the line.

“Language, please,” L called from the other head of the table.

“If this is what you consider a normal conversation, then I’m certainly in for a treat,” Linda returned almost as if she hadn’t noticed the interruption. “My plans as to how to attack this particular matter are still mine to devise as I was not exactly expecting to have to launch them right away. Initially I had planned on simply speaking with you, but seeing as you’re more interested in playing your games and shining the spotlight on me right here and now, it’s obvious I got the wrong impression. That’s a failure on my part.” She concluded with an incline of her head.

“Hmm, that’s funny,” Light replied, also ignoring Matt. “I’m giving you ample opportunity to shine the spotlight on me—a full opening to lay it all out on the table and expose me as you see fit—as I’m certain after two weeks you must have come up with something of some interest that we don’t all already know. Otherwise why would you be here? But that’s fine, a work in progress—seems most people have to do their homework before they speak to me anyway. I never really benefit from the same courtesy however.”

He paused, finished his water, and met her eyes without flinching. “As for normal conversations—they’re not really worth having, not among people of our echelons. And as for games—well, I can guarantee you I’m not the only one at this very moment playing a game. In fact, my game is not nearly the most exciting game here—is it…L?”

Linda was livid, not so much angry with Light as with herself also. She had allowed the situation to fly right off the deep end and out of her control and it bothered her more than she liked to admit. However her eyes darted to L the moment Light cast attention on the detective, eyes narrowing but she wasn’t entirely surprised – in fact, not at all. She knew this was a test – everything was a test, and even though she did not exactly appreciate being the center of such unruly attention, it was not so unexpected. Beside her, Mello brushed her arm as if silently urging her to cool off.

L didn’t look like he was paying attention, involved in some sugar-cube construct at his end of the table, but they all knew otherwise. “Thank you Raito-kun, that will be all,” he said flatly.

Light scoffed, but was in the midst of withdrawing his napkin from his lap and laying it beside his plate. “My apologies for withdrawing prematurely,” he said to the detective, and all that sinister seduction he’d been wielding so well was lost from his voice in that instant. He sounded normal and slightly weak. “I’m actually quite tired, and my energy isn’t really where it needs to be to draw this out.”

L met his gaze with a genuine level of concern. “Understood,” he said. “It’s best you retire then.”

Light nodded, getting up, much to the horror of all but apparently L and Mello. “I don’t think she’s ready anyway—no offense, Linda,” and he smiled—but at that moment it was so hard to tell if his smile was a smart act, or slyly genuine.

He stopped one of the female servants who’d been fawning over him on his way out, and in simple English he said, “Could you please have some tea brought up.” It was the first English Mello had heard from him since he was drunk in the bathtub and tripping over British slang—and though it was still thickly accented, the fact that he spoke it at all was a surprise. Then again, the servants, being British, weren’t exactly fluent in Japanese or Italian.

And with that, Kira left.

Silence prevailed for a short while. Mello exhaled, leaning back in his seat with an ease that seemed so very much out of place after what had just happened. Dessert was being brought out and he motioned for his coffee to be brought out at the same time, preferring to alternate between the two. Linda was staring at her hands folded in front of her against the table cloth, a deep frown marring her features. Matt was beside himself but offering no input, seeing as he would likely not make matters any better given his very well-known standpoint as far as Kira was concerned.

“I’m not saying all that was unnecessary, but goddamnit…” Mello muttered, stirring sugar into his coffee. He sighed and shook his head, not even particularly sure of what he was trying to say.

“Think of it this way,” L said, having evaluated the silence. “The first time you met Kira, Mello, was in the midst of genuine conflict—he had not confessed, he had not been caught, and you were in considerable danger of being killed. Tonight, no one was in any danger and he was very much on a leash. I had him engage you Linda, to see how you would handle him—I don’t deny he enjoyed it, and everything he actually said was by his choice, he was however prepared to end it at my signal, but as you can see—his energy levels are actually quite down.”

L stopped to swirl a finger through a fluffy chocolate mousse parfait. “I will not apologize for it seeing as how it is a part of your training. You did well, I need you to do better. Mello and I both know dealing with Kira is a talent, some are better at it than others, but you must be ready for anything. The way he behaved tonight is the way he perceived you expected him to behave. Perhaps he would have been this way regardless, or perhaps not. This will actually assist you as now you have something to compare to when you meet him next on his own terms. The knack comes in the distinction of when he is genuine, and when he is not—and if there is actually ever a line.”

Linda nodded, having lifted her attention to L halfway through the discourse. “I admit I wasn’t ready for the onslaught, but it’s something to take away from tonight…” she said quietly, having clearly lost her earlier fire. Now with that anger gone, she was shaky again and ever slightly disappointed, but indeed, it was something productive to take away from all this, in the very least. And, she hadn’t failed all together, apparently. That was a relief.

“It probably isn’t the best idea, but it’ll be more productive if you approach him while I’m not around,” Matt told her. “He just tends to be a bigger prick – sorry – whenever I’m around. As much as I don’t like the idea, you might get better results on your own.”

“That’s an interesting observation, Matt,” L muttered. “Actually, it concerns me, so I intend to keep an eye on him in regards to that,” and that statement said as much as it didn’t. “Linda,” and L was standing up in is seat, which meant he was finished for the night. “Take this as a learning experience and not as an attack—as much as it may seem otherwise, I have your best interests in mind.”

And with that, the detective was gone.

They watched him depart and Linda was releasing a deep breath and a hushed curse. “And to think that I was forewarned.”

“You’re fresh meat, whatever way you want to look at it,” Mello told her. “Not only that but you’re trying to dig into his head, which he doesn’t take kindly to if only because he’s that much superior. Or something.” A roll of his shoulders. “So, yea, that’s going to continue on some level.”

“And just last week you wanted to meet him,” Matt teased her.

“I’m sure it won’t be so bad once I can figure out a plan of attack…” Mello grinned at that but said nothing. She continued. “He does seem to not be so fond of you, though,” she turned her eyes on Matt. After what turned out to be akin to a therapy session the night of her arrival, they had not gone back to such personal topics, leaving it all aside as she completed reading through the case files and gathering the necessary information.

“I never did go along with his shit,” he said coolly despite the not so friendly look Mello gave him. “What?” he asked over her head. “You gave him an inch and he’s taken a whole bloody kilometer. Sure you may be able to have a conversation without wanting to deck him across that pretty face, but he’s still got a hold over you regardless of how much you want to deny it.”

Back to this then. Goddamnit.

* * *

“I know you’re there,” L said without turning around. The detective was hunched inside the doorway, hidden in the darkness of the parlor rooms, finger to his lips as he listened intently to the conversation still at work between his three protégés. Brilliant though they may have been, they had yet to figure out that half the time he left the dinner table before them, it was only to eavesdrop right outside.

“Did you catch me or did I catch you?” And that was Light’s voice purring quietly into L’s ear from behind, slipping his arms around the detective’s slim waist and resting his head on his shoulder.

L slid a hand over Light’s, linking their fingers, his attention still trained on the dining room. “The most interesting conversations sometimes happen when I’m not around,” he said.

“That’s because they see you as a mentor and not a peer,” Light murmured, nuzzling against L’s neck. He was leaning most of his weight against L’s back, which spoke to the fact that Kira really was tired, but the pull of curiosity and what others were saying about him was stronger.

“You don’t like Matt,” L came right out with it.

“Not at all,” Light replied.

“Because you’re jealous,” L replied.

“What does he have that I could possibly be jealous of?” Ah, a tired Kira was not exactly a skilled liar.

L slid a narrow gaze over his shoulder, and Light blinked at him.

“He has Mello,” L said. “It does not escape me that you want Mello to yourself.”

Light frowned. “I’m not threatened by Matt if that’s what you’re getting at.”

And the grim expression on L’s face was answer enough. “Raito-k—”

But Light interrupted him. “L, I’m not going to do anything to Matt, don’t worry. Mello and I have an understanding. Besides, if Mello is as important to me as you’re suggesting, doing anything to Matt would have a most adverse effect on our relationship.”

“Indeed,” L muttered. “It would.”

* * *

“Oh no, Linda, don’t turn that look on me.” But even as he said it, he couldn’t stifle a quiet chuckle. “Already told you that I wasn’t one of your subjects, don’t even try it.”

“You’re a key element.”

“Not happening.”

“So you think…” she teased him. Truth of the matter was, Mello already knew she was looking into everything and anything she could muster, but when attention was turned directly on him like that, was when Mello ran the other way. No psychoanalytic games for him, thank you. He considered himself adequately fucked in the head as-is without her probing deeper.

“I know,” he pressed and pushed himself up, nonchalantly plucking a mousse off the table for later. “I’ve still got work to do.” No kidding, after stumbling through half the morning in a haze of distracting mental images that had nothing to do with the subject matter at hand, of course there was still a heap of material to go through before calling it a night.

“How’s that going?” his lover asked him, honestly curious. It had been a while since he’d seen Mello dedicate himself this much to something other than the apprehension of Kira and/or Near’s eventual downfall. At least he wasn’t putting his life on the line and making questionable deals along the way.

“It’s going,” Mello answered carefully, which meant it was going just fine but he was downplaying himself, whether intentionally or not – it was not so unfamiliar for the other two, as they’d seen it through the years – always hoping for the best result but holding back judgment until the end, only to… well, not exactly come out on top. Ah, the little ghosts and insecurities still hung around him despite the almost-overwhelming personality he’d developed out there in the real world. The overbearing sex appeal and mafioso persona seemed secondary now in this retreat L had set up for the lot of them. “I’ll drop in once I’m done – shouldn’t be more than a couple of hours.”

And with that, they were reduced to two.

* * *

It was late, probably close to two in the morning when Mello realized the door of his study had opened behind him. He was actually quite involved in his material, stretched out across the couch, the curtains un-drawn across the windows—the vague shifting shadows of tree boughs in the wind outside. The glass was of course the first give away, because for once, Mello wasn’t facing the door at the time—and even though the hallway was dark, and there was no image to truly distinguish—he saw the movement in the dim reflection and his instincts kicked in.

Late hour, safe haven, but one could never be too careful, so he waited for that presence to get closer, and he whipped around then, seizing a narrow wrist and yanking its owner forward. Nine times out of ten it would be Matt checking up on him—and that was bloody foreplay as far as the redhead was concerned. Had it been L, Mello wouldn’t have gotten a grip because L was faster—but it was neither, and that molten smile that was now a breath away from Mello’s own lips said so.

“Expecting someone?” Light purred. Had Mello surprised him with the sudden defensive maneuver, Light didn’t show it—and he didn’t seem to particularly mind either, leaning in to test the waters when Mello didn’t automatically pull away.

Mello waited—heart thumping obnoxiously in his chest—for those lips to close over his; waited for that taste he’d been missing like a drug, and the moment Light opened the kiss, was the moment Mello grabbed him by that new, glorious long hair, and deepened it passionately.

But seeing as there was still the back of the couch between them and Mello was up against it, having risen himself up onto one knee in order to react quickly, there was little else he could do. Not to say that the brush of those lips, the taste of that mouth, the feel of that soft, warm skin wasn’t enough – just then it was because until now he had not realized just how desperately he’d been craving it.

When the kiss was broken at last, they were both out of breath and, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Mello sank back down onto the cushions, not so much sprawling himself back out, but sat against the armrest, dropping the marked book onto the floor beside him. “No,” he responded at last after what must have been minutes. Had he been expecting someone, his reaction would not have been so cautious.

Light’s eyes glanced at the book casually but didn’t seem altogether that interested in academics at the moment, which was fine because Mello’s bookworm concentration just then was severely lacking as well.

Light brushed the hair out of his face, moving ever so smoothly around the couch, sinking down on the cushions between Mello’s leather-clad legs. He was conservatively wrapped in a black bathrobe, but Mello had an inkling or two as to what was or wasn’t underneath it.

He watched Light with that dangerous hunger in his eyes—the cat on the prowl, methodically circling, determining whether to spring.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Light purred demurely.

“And L?” Mello said.

“Won’t sleep. He’s deeply involved in something and refuses to shut the damn laptops down.”

Mello’s eyebrow hitched. “I’m working too you know,” he said.

“Hmm, I know,” Light replied, that heavy-lidded gaze, that wanton spread of moist lips.

“You don’t care though, do you?” That was a baiting remark if ever there was one and Light shook his head ‘no’ rather teasingly.

“Everyone else leaves me alone when they know I’m busy,” Mello said, but his voice was dropping an octave, inking over thickly with the desire that had been plaguing him all day. And as he said it he was sitting up, his hand moving to the overlapping edges of Light’s robe.

“I’m not everyone else,” Light smiled, and when Mello tugged on the fabric, Light tugged it back—just the coyest bit of playful resistance.

Mello’s grin widened, and with both hands, he forced the fabric apart, aptly issuing a groan of pleasure from Light, whose willing submission was poised and ready as Mello just as forcefully pulled the robe halfway down his arms. Creamy flesh revealed, the shadows playing in the shallow contours of his lean torso—Mello pressed a firm kiss to Light’s shoulder, using the grip he had on the robe to pull him that much closer, his strong hands snaking up to stroke Light’s elegant throat, to comb hungry fingers again through that silky shift of hair.

God, he’d missed him. He shouldn’t have, but it was a truth he could not deny as lips fastened to that creamy flesh, as hands wandered over familiar features and contours. Digits tangled into his hair, and with a firm tug, drew Light’s head backward so that Mello could direct those hungry kisses to his bared throat, inching upward over the graceful cut of his jaw and back once again to the lips that were just as eager to receive the demanding kiss.

Light was panting, breathless, and to Mello’s dismay keeping those delicious audible responses of his to the barest minimum so no one would come running. It mattered, but didn’t, since Light was trembling in the cradle of Mello’s strong thighs, and Mello was tearing the sash of the robe free, opening the garment fully, happy that Light was just as naked underneath as he knew he would be. And Light was shrugging out of the robe completely, lacing his arms around Mello’s shoulders as Mello’s lips roamed against his pulse—sucking, biting, licking that spot on his neck that usually drove Kira all manner of mad.

It worked like a charm of course, and Light was panting raggedly against Mello’s ear: “Oh god—fuck me.”

An immediate shudder swept fiercely down Mello’s spine at the sound of those words; of that voice whispering such a thing after what felt like months apart. Light was pressed down onto the black leather cushions and there was little time wasted before Mello crawled his way along that delightfully nude body, kissing what skin he could, nails raking lightly along his hips, his sides, up to either side of his neck for a third breath-taking kiss. But already he was tugging loose at his belt and undoing the buttons of his shirt already worn halfway undone. He did not bother in shrugging it off as it was too much of an effort just then to delay any further.

It was with reckless desperation that Mello leaned up and motioned Light to turn the fuck around, practically shoving him down to support himself against the armrest. Leather peeled away, but he still had enough grasp of his mind to spend just a bit more time before plunging roughly into him. No, one hand swung around to firmly grasp Light’s throbbing length and the cry that followed was just barely muffled by a pillow. And since he had not exactly been prepared for these circumstances, spit was the best lubricant he had and what was used prior to that first agonizingly slow thrust that buried him deeply within the heat of Kira’s all too willing body.

Light keened brokenly, leaning up, pressing back to impale himself on Mello’s length, hands grasping the arm rest for support before Mello started to move, and Light arched in response, his body molding against Mello’s, one hand flying back to dig into Mello’s thigh, urge him on—“Harder,” Light gasped—“harder—please”—he was starved for it, and Mello grabbed Light’s hips, angling him, shoving into him harder—rewarded with those delicious sounds breaking from his throat as much as Light was trying to keep them contained, muffled by the pillow, or his fist—but oh god it was heaven inside him—and shit, if ever Mello believed in Kira’s divinity it was now.

At that very second, he would likely believe anything Light wanted him to because nothing else mattered at that precise point – nothing other than the rhythm between them, the press of his body, the harsh breaths that escaped them. Fingers tangled into Kira’s hair, tugging firmly, adding that sting of pain, of the abuse this glorious creature – divine or not – delighted in.

In their desperation, it did not last. Not when kisses brushed Light’s spine, causing him to arch in pleasure, breath hitching beautifully in his throat; not as Mello could barely contain himself, silent as he could muster as his flesh was set aflame, perspiration beading across his forehead; his grip shaky, every nerve tingling with the pleasure that sure enough, burst with an explosion of white behind his eyes and he bit down sharply upon his bottom lip to stifle the groan that grit past his throat as he tumbled mercilessly over the brink, spilling hotly within Kira’s body. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt the powerful twitch of muscles beneath him, around him – the stifled cry of pleasure.

Nails tightened against smooth, unmarred flesh but of his typical marks there were none to speak of. A surprise, but theirs had not been a need for games, nor for lengthy foreplay – it had been a need to consume the fire that burned too hotly within each of them to be ignored much longer. Mello was left panting, supporting himself up as one hand fell to the back of the couch, forehead resting against the spot between his lover’s shoulder blades.

Light’s breathing was ragged and erratic beneath him, fingers clenched around Mello’s wrist, arm tossed over the side, flesh sealed wetly to flesh, he was doing his best to try and regain himself…or not…seemingly content to lie there beneath his lover, still joined to him, anchored by Mello’s trembling weight against him, and the press of affectionate lips to his spine.

“Tell me you missed me,” he breathed and Mello settled down against him, arms curling around Light’s body.

“I missed you,” Mello murmured.

He felt Light smile and link their fingers. “Thank you,” he purred.

Once upon a time he would have never admitted such a thing and look at him now. God, what had become of them?

He was content to let the silence linger as it was surprisingly comfortable between them; senses returning, fluttering heart calming to a steady beat, breathing steadying at last. Lashes tickled against Light’s warm flesh, drawing but a breath that Mello identified with that sensitive ticklishness he’d discovered two weeks prior. Two weeks – had it really only been two weeks? Seemed longer. “Light..?”

“Hm..?” it was a lazy murmur; one that spoke worlds of the contentment that had settled over him. It made Mello smirk but his following words were not of such lighthearted nature.

“…do you truly remember as little as you claim?” And there wasn’t a need to say anymore as his meaning was clear. The question that had been bothering him on and off through the length of the day spoken at last, which only hinted at the sense of guilt he carried tucked away deep inside and out of sight.

He sensed Light’s eyes open, even though no other part of him moved, still too comfortable where he lay.

“I remember…enough,” he said. And there was a dark weight to that statement. “I remember more than enough.” But the cryptic nature of the confession wasn’t going to sate Mello’s inquiry and Light knew it.

“It is fuzzy, I wasn’t lying about that,” he explained. “—it hurt so much the pain is almost beyond memory—but I know what they did, in general, I know what they did.”

He hesitated. “And I know you kept your promise and got me out.”

Strangely enough Mello’s grip tightened – ever slightly but noticeably so – and those lashes fell shut once again with the briefest of nods. “I won’t deny that I wish you didn’t,” he murmured quietly. “Everything got so… fucked up and I couldn’t get there sooner that I wish you didn’t remember.”

“It doesn’t seem real, if that makes any difference,” Light said, his arms tightening around Mello’s. “It seems more like a nightmare than anything. L is actually having the same problem dealing with it that you are. I lied to him—I had to, he’s pretty devastated about it, but I’m sure he’s been keeping that contained around everyone else.”

Light saw that easily though, of course he did. “I feel removed from it right now,” he confessed, “Maybe it hasn’t hit me…maybe it won’t…I don’t know.

Perhaps that was a blessing. But contrary to L’s devastation over the fact, it had been Mello’s own plans that had been blundered, causing the unfortunate results. He let it drop, however. Light was all right now, and that alone had lifted some of the guilt he’d been feeling since the incident. What followed was not another comment, nor another explanation – he sure as hell was not about to cast any light on just how torn up L had been prior to that morning. Of course Light had caught glimpses of it and deduced enough, but the details remained safely out of his reach – particularly the previous week’s…incident. No, that could not be so much as hinted at in the very least. Instead of further words, Mello settled for pressing a kiss to Light shoulder – the gesture too familiar, too natural to be acceptable given all circumstances, but it didn’t matter just then.

Light twisted, wrestling to roll over and accept Mello into his arms. Mello settled against him, still mostly dressed, but now lying in the cradle of Light’s warm, naked body—Light’s heartbeat pressed to his ear as he rested his head on Kira’s own chest, and he was essentially Light’s blanket when the air had grown cold around them.

Light held him tightly, cheek against Mello’s flaxen hair, fingers threading through frayed ends, gently stroking until Mello’s breathing grew deep and his own movements grew sluggish—and the world just faded away.

Of course neither of them saw the door open a crack, and neither of them knew there was another pair of eyes very much fixed on them…