Returns

[inordertobelieve]

[ There is something strange about remaining after his class. For the last months, he's always headed straight home after class and he'd almost feel lazy remaining sitting on a bench know if he didn't know what and who he's waiting for.

He's known Light would finally come back for weeks now, but it's hard to believe him just walking down the path towards him again. The last time that has happened seems so long ago....

They're finally back on the right path completely. Teru has no reason to be nervous about this, but maybe 'nervous' is not the right word for it so much as 'excited'.

Against habit, he does not keep his head bowed as he sits and instead actively looks out for his boyfriend. ]

Comments

[inordertobelieve]

... it is, isn't it? What would be more worthy of being called that than the act of carrying out divine punishment?

[ These are things he should probably not be explaining to his literal God, but he can't silence himself either. ]

[arbiter]

Fair enough.

[Tilting his head slightly, Light half smiles.]

To me, it's something that's become part of a daily routine, as supernatural as it may be. [More seriously:] Not to mention that it doesn't always work.

[Lessons learned the hard way.]

It's a shame in some respects that the second death note ended up in the hands of someone like Misa.

[inordertobelieve]

[ More than a shame Teru thinks, but he doesn't feel like letting vitriol about Misa Amane spoil this evening for the both of them. He nods thoughtfully. ]

It may become routine to me eventually, but I want to cherish this feeling of contributing to your new world.

[ Teru raises his hand to brush over Light's arm briefly. ]

I'll do as much as I possibly can to help you out.

[arbiter]

[He looks down briefly as Teru touches his arm.[

I know. Rather, I knew that already.

[Making eye contact, he brushes Teru's cheek gently.]

Thanks.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Teru leans into Light's hand, turning his face slightly so he can deliver a kiss to Light's palm. ]

I'm so lucky...

[ He murmurs it against Light's skin, less of a conscious statement and more of a thought that escaped his mouth involuntarily. ]

[arbiter]

[The kiss comes as a faint surprise, and for the briefest of moments Light feels flustered by the way Teru's lips move against his palm. The actual words take an additional second to register.]

...Oi. [He says softly with a smile.[ Weren't you the one lecturing me earlier about luck?

[Leaning close he moves his hand to tip up Teru's chin. Closing his eyes, he presses their lips together.]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Teru is spared of the embarrassment of answering that question in the sweetest of ways. Within moments, his arms are wrapped around Light's neck so he can return the kiss wholeheartedly.

It's only a few moments in that he remembers duty and let's go. ]

... ah, I'll finish my task now.

[arbiter]

[They break apart and Light opens his eyes, feeling warm and contented. He wouldn't have thought this would be possible back in June of last year when everything still felt so raw, but here they are now. A seamless pair making a real impact on the world together and it's moments like these where Light feels genuinely happy.. and then reflexively unsure all over again precisely because things are going so wonderfully.

Unlike Teru, Light holds on a moment longer. When he realizes how irrational this is on his part, he lets go and nods.]

Please do. Eventually, you'll be selecting those who are to be judged as well, but for the time being I don't want any deviations or discrepancies from the established norm.

[He breathes out deeply and picks up his college reading.]

This is so dull in comparison.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Teru 'hmh's in agreement to that, but he's already internally vibrating with excitement at the thought of doing the whole job some days. ]

.. ah, it's too bad I cannot do your homework for you, but that's the rules.

[ He picks his own pen back up as he speaks. ]

But knowing you, you'll be done before you know it.

[arbiter]

[Homicide is also against the law, Light thinks halfway amused, but doesn't say.]

If it doesn't put me to sleep first.

[Light sighs and flips the page.]

I'm genuinely not sure why I thought university would be substantially different from high school. Wishful thinking I suppose.

[A beat. No - that's not true. It is different, just not in the way that he hoped.]

Can't complain in the end.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mentally, Teru adds that Light is also doing the same content twice now, counting in their long study sessions at the hospital, but it seems wiser to leave that completely unsaid. ]

After you're finally through, it will help you make an impact in the mundane way of it, too. That's something, even if the education isn't challenging.

[ And then he looks back at the list of people to kill and starts writing. Whispers of 'delete' leave his lips quite often. ]

[arbiter]

[Light gives Teru a side glance and resists the urge to shake his head at this. The whispered deletes are thoroughly amusing and also thoroughly distracting.]

Pragmatic as always.

[He spares a half smile.]

But in the interest of speedy reading, I'll finish this in my room. Your enthusiasm here is making me want to pay attention to you instead, you know? The book doesn't need any more help in that department.

[inordertobelieve]

... I apologize.

[ Teru looks up at Light, expression incredibly sheepy, but for once he does not offer silence. He wants to cherish this night of his first divine punishments, a small selfish wish for a ritual that makes him giddy. ]

[arbiter]

Don't. You can be as loud as you please now.

[Light gets up, gathers his belongings and tucks them neatly under his arm.]

Just turn off that computer when you're done and knock on my door, alright?

[inordertobelieve]

Of course.

[ Teru nods and then loses himself in his work again before Light even fully has left the room.

Delete, delete, delete...

It's nice and rhythmic, easy to get into and keep up pace. Repetition, repetition... Teru has always liked doing math homework because it made him fall into a similar pattern, but this is ten times as satisfying.

When he finally finishes, he doesn't know how much time it took him exactly, because it felt long and short at once. For a moment he leans back, closing his eyes and feeling the satisfaction, then he does as Light said and turns off the computer.

He stretches a little, then walks to Light's door and knocks. ]

[arbiter]

[As Teru predicted, when Light is actually concentrating on the assigned reading, it doesn't take him too long to complete. By the time he's done, it's approximately 9:30 - later than the time Light has usually completed all his daily tasks. That much is to be expected with the addition of some tedious school work in addition to having spent part of the afternoon wandering outside with his boyfriend, but he can't help sighing.

As it appears as though Teru isn't finished yet, Light heads to the bathroom to wash up for the evening. It feels strange somehow to need to structure his life around something as ordinary as school again, though the change isn't unpleasant either. He emerges from the bathroom just as Teru begins knocking.]

You seem radiant.

[He comments with yet another half smile.]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Ah. Teru hadn't even noticed that Light went to another room, so he turns to face Light rather confusedly before his expression softens again. ]

... it's because you shared your glory with me.

[ It's obvious the compliment flustered him, however. ]

[arbiter]

...

[Light ought to be used to hearing this kind of thing from Teru by now, but it still throws him off for a beat before he laughs softly.]

You were radiant long before today, you know. To me, anyway.

[Brushing Teru's arm, the laughter dies down but the affectionate glint in his eyes remains.]

Sleep with me tonight?

[inordertobelieve]

[ The only thing Teru has ever found radiant about himself was his name, Light is the one who fits that term much better. He's a good person, but a shining one...? If that's how he appears to Light, he is more than satisfied. ]

I'd love to. ... I'll get changed and come over then.

[arbiter]

[Light makes a contented 'mm' noise. Not that he was expecting Teru to answer differently, but the enthusiasm is pleasing to hear nonetheless.]

Take your time. I still have a few small things to take care of.

[Evening medication, putting murder weapons away. Standard every day actions.]

You can make yourself comfortable if you're done first.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Teru's evening routine has been the same as long as he can remember and it's so ingrained into him that he can turn his thoughts off entirely. Movement, movement, movement. He turns himself on autopilot way before he actually sleeps and as such almost forgets to wake up again before he accidentally can make his way into his own room. But of course he remembers God before then.

Light's still making noise in the kitchen when Teru steals into his bedroom and positions himself on the side of the bed, comfortably covered by the blanket. ]

[arbiter]

[Of all the evening routines he has to do, swallowing his anti-epileptic is the one that invariably causes Light's mood to dip a little before bed. It's been months now, but he swears he can feel the stupid thing stick in his throat before going down psychosomatically. After spending so much time insisting there's nothing wrong with him to himself, it's vaguely sickening to have to confront very tangible proof that there is. Every day, first thing in the morning, last thing before bed.

Today he tries not to dwell on it by emptying his thoughts. As a result the glass he'd been drinking out of ends up cleaned to excess. He picks the death note off the table and makes his way back to his room a few moments after Teru does. Seeing his boyfriend already there, he half smiles and slides the note into his desk drawer before climbing in bed.

Light pauses briefly when he's positioned just over Teru and presses his forehead against his boyfriend's.]

Hi.

[lemonchan]

[ Smiles never come as naturally as they do when they're together in complete privacy. When Teru breathes the same tooth-pasty air as Light who's only centimeters away from his face... how could he not turn the corners of his lips upwards and gently lock eyes? ]

Am I my God's pillow tonight?

[ He's only recently started making jokes of this kind (except it's not jokes, really not, he's serious about all of it) and it still feels a little awkward on his tongue. Awkward but good. They're more familiar and closer than they could ever be if they were only God and servant or only lovers. ]

[arbiter]

Eh?

[Light blinks at the comment, still not entirely certain of how to react to this just yet. On the one hand, it's so cringeworthy he judges himself for even feeling positively about it, but on the other hand, hearing things stated so openly while making eye contact is incredibly intense. He misses a beat and laughs sheepishly.]

I wasn't thinking of it that way. I just like being close to you.

[lemonchan]

.... I know that.

[ But it's nice to say God and it's nice to say God so intimately in ways nobody else will ever be able to. A few months ago he'd have judged himself intensely for this thought, but now the embarrassment is only a small nagging at the back of his mind.

He brushes Light's cheek with his hand. ]

I do too.