BAM!!
The door flew open.
“Hey, Near!!! Time to-” Matt froze looking at the detective, “What!?” He stepped in a wide circle before coming forward and poking L a few times on the shoulder.
“Good morning, Matt.” L said, an amused smile playing on his thin, pale lips.
Matt stepped back. He took off his goggles and blinked once. “Well what do you know.” Matt held his hand out to L. “The world’s greatest detective L has come to see the refugees.” He chuckled.
“Yes.” L said taking the hand offered to him, “I was just talking to Near about that topic actually.”
“Really?” Matt cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you were on a case. To busy to be bother or some such stupidity.” He put on an airy look, and swat his hand at nothing in particular.
“I am.” L said bitterly. “But I got information of what happened.”
“From Mikami.” Near retorted looking from the red head to the raven.
“Heh…” Matt pulled his goggles back down. “Never mind it, Near. We’ll worry about him later.” He help Near up and out to the hall. The small boy's face one of confusion. “Mello’s coming in a chair soon." He looked back at the waiting detective. If you wanna come L you can. He might like that.”
L nodded, sat up and shuffled out with them. He knew Matt was not too pleased to see him. And if Near had it his way he would not be going to see Mello. But here he was. Not as a threat but as a friend, as he hoped they would see.
They walked into Mello’s room. The now fully awake blond was sitting with his back to a window. His poorly cut hair stuck out in all directions under the bandages. He smiled at them through the clear breathing mask. “Hey.” He said softly.
The two boys sat beside him silently, waiting for him to notice L.
Said man was looking at the display of affection like it was a feather on the wind. There they all sat. Mello the injured king flanked by his most admirable soldiers. Yes, a truly fragile moment. For he felt it would be gone the second he spoke.
“Hello, L.” Mello said in the same tone. His one eye hard with curiosity. “What do you want after all these years?”
L visibly pouted at the boys tone. “I came to see you.” He felt as though all his devotion he put to the boys had been thrown back at his feet.
“That’s apparent.” He turned to the gamer “Take this damned mask off me. I feel as though its choking me.”
Matt obeyed without question. Slipping the mask off Mello’s face, he tossed it on the bed for the nurse to find later.
The youth shook his head as though he still had long hair. half laughing at the useless gesture.
“Alright, L.” he spoke with little emotion. “If its Near you came for,” he looked at the huddled teen next to him, “you can’t have him.” He looked darkly at L. “He’s mine.” Mello's famous 'Glare of Death' ripped into the man's heart. But, he would give in to the impractical teens.
“I have no intention of taking him from you. Seeing you need him more than I.” L spoke to the mafia leader. “I am not dead yet. You may keep him till I am.”
“How noble of you.” Mello gave a stiff mock bow “But I know for a fact that you came to take him.”
“What gave you that idea?” L said looking innocently at the spiteful team. Now it was his turn to to show his acting.
Mello rolled his eye and lingured on the long form stretched out on his bed. “Mikami tolled me, fool.”
With that L turned to the dark man lounging on the bed. Mikami gave him a sheepish grin and shrugged. “You said Near was going back with you. Which I can’t allow, seeing as he’s under my care now.”
“I am fully aware of the adoption, Teru.” L looked as through he might lunge at his companion. “But you forget that all boys put in Whammy’s are under my immediate jurisdiction.”
“The court gave him the choice seeing as how he is sixteen years old already!” Mikami look as though the whole thing should have been avoided. "Gosh, L. Where have you been!?"
Ignoring Mikami's taunt, L turned to Near. “You’re sixteen?” He asked.
“I am.” Near responded like he was talking to a complete imbecile. “I chose to be with Mikami in order to be by Mello.” He gave a swift look of triumph to the blond. Who placed a hand on his snowy hair. “Whammy’s is located in Great Brittan correct? Well. We are some were completely different now. You have no power over me.”
L starred at the boy for a while. Since when had the tiny boy become a man of his own calling? It didn’t matter. “As I said: ‘You are truly cruel sometimes Near.” L said with an air of equal triumph.
"We shall see, L." Near sighed. He turned to look over Matt's shoulder at the ever puzzling PSP.
Mello cleared his throat, causing both older men to look at him. "Remember." Mello said with venome. "Near is mine. He maybe your's" He pointed to Mikami "By power of the state." That finger was turned on L. "And he maybe your's in responsibility." He sat back. "But, for loyalty. Hmph! I own it all."
