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

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[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.

[yourfinaldeeds]

Yeah. -He rubs at his eyes, gently, with the back of his free hand. His other hand is at his side, still clutching the rosary covered in green ooze.- Complicated. That's me 'nd Nat.

[isalright]

Go to sleep, Mello.

[yourfinaldeeds]

Yeah. All right. -He sounds exhausted, because he is. He's feverishly unconscious in a matter of minutes.-