death in one corner leaves a space in the other. [private thread]

[reprism]

[putting the pencil aside, Light re-reads the note; despite his somewhat shaky handwriting, it's clearly intelligible.

Hey L. If you wake up and I'm gone, don't freak out. I'm fine. I've gone to visit Mello - our Mello. I've written directions from my room to his on the back of this page. Promise I won't die on my way; not sure when I'll be

Comments

[reprism]

[head jerking over to L.] What? Did you seriously just ask that? Of course I am. What other option is there, for me not to be speaking from the state of mind which I'm in right now? What's your point?

[then, to Mello:] Do you really think He's going to look at you and go, oh, you failed? What matters is whether or not you tried - if you fail, do you really think He isn't going to understand? As far as I can see it, Mello... and so maybe I'm wrong but as far as I can see it, the only sensible thing is - it's about whether or not you're care. Whether or not you're willing to sacrifice a little bit of your comfort to... [he trails off, lips tightening.]

[yourfinaldeeds]

I didn't try.

-With his life, he means.-

I gave up.

[isalright]

Mello, stop listening.

Light, you're my best friend and everything, but you're being insensitive and a little hurtful. We can discuss it later, but you and Mello don't see eye to eye on anything, and he needs to get back to sleep.

Please?

[reprism]

[Light is silent for a while, staring over at L with an unreadable expression. then he shakes his head.] Well I hope you manage to get through to him, then. [getting to his feet and picking up the crutch again.] Stay with him, at least for a while. [urgently, glaring a little bit.] Don't let him lie here thinking he's going to die alone and go to Hell because he's not. [looking back at Mello as he opens the door.] You're not, okay? Please, just - remember that - [he breaks off, searching for words.] I love you. Both of you. [he doesn't know what else to say; he doesn't know how else to put it. it feels like he loves everyone right now, and it hurts more than he can begin to fathom, because what can he do about it?

he shuts the door behind him, gently.]

[yourfinaldeeds]

-Mello turns into his pillow, coughing again. He mumbles to L:-

You don't have to stay.

[isalright]

I'll stay a while. I'm worried about him.

But he's right about one thing. You're seriously not going to Hell.

[yourfinaldeeds]

You should go. -cough- Talk to him. -cough- I'll be OK. -About as OK as someone who's dying can be, anyway.-

... You don't know that. Either of you.

[isalright]

God can't possibly be that stupid, Mello.

You're not evil.

[yourfinaldeeds]

Yeah. -cough- I kinda am, L.

[isalright]

Don't be melodramatic. You're really not.

[yourfinaldeeds]

You don't -cough- ... know, you haven't been -cough- ... around ...

-Mello's fist - the one holding the rosary - trembles a little, and green goo seeps out onto the rosary beads from Mello's palm. He'd been pressing the rosary into his skin a little too tightly.-

[isalright]

Let go of that. Just hold the beads. They won't hurt you.

*He sets his hand quickly on Mello's shoulder.*

I know anyone with the capacity for love and care that you have can't be evil. I know you think of others before you think of yourself, in Near's case. I know that you've repented. I know you've suffered. I know I'm going to boycott heaven if they don't let you in, okay? Now stop whining.

[yourfinaldeeds]

You'll -cough- ... take care of her, won't you? -cough- Nat, I mean. After I'm -cough- ...

-Mello shifts back to stare directly at L with wide, green-gummed eyes.-

Promise me, L. Please. I have to -cough- ... know that she'll be OK, even if ... -He trails off into more coughing-

[isalright]

Yeah, Mello. I swear I'll take care of her. I swear.

[yourfinaldeeds]

-Mello nods weakly, settling back into his pillow and closing his eyes.-

Thank you. -He takes a couple slow, ragged breaths.- I know you guys probably think I'm just crazy or something when it comes to Nat, but there's a reason. I promised her, a long time ago.

[isalright]

Yeah? Promises are complicated like that.