Want it. Take it. Love it. Keep it.

CHAPTER 5
"MELLO IS MINE"

When Mello arrived at L's study, there were several surprises waiting for him. The first being lunch, which included a huge slice of chocolate cake. The second being several blankets and pillows spread out at the far end of the room. L explained that Watari had instructed that if they were going to work all night, then Mello at least ought to have a somewhat proper bed. Though L had no mustache of his own, he still managed a rather convincing parody of their caretaker's trademark I'm-serious-about-this mustache twitching.

The blond was slightly put off, however, when L immediately went back to work. "Mello is very distracting. I must work, and Mello must eat lunch. He is far too thin." The teen wanted to ask if L had been told this and was simply repeating, or if it was his own observation. It made him happy to think L was taking the time to pay attention to him at all. Either way, he sat down to eat. Once he was finished, it took L another half hour to finish reading something on his laptop, then type a rather long, boring e-mail, before attention was turned back to him.

For several moments, neither of them spoke as they just watched eachother then, as before, the older man initiated contact, and the younger managed to let go of his insecurities if only for a second. That is, until the kiss got the better of both of them and turned from simply pressing their lips together, to the raven haired man gently sucking on Mello's bottom lip. Mello's mouth opened slightly in surprise, and then tongues met, the kiss quickly taking a turn from 'innocent' into something he'd only heard described, or saw in movies. The blond pulled back, eyes snapping open. He was suddenly very conscious of how obvious his inexperience must have been to the much older man.

"I've never done this before. Am I terrible? I'm probably terrible. You can tell me-"

L sighed, sounding almost irritated. "It was becoming quite a pleasurable experience, until Mello stopped. Was it not pleasurable for Mello? I admit I've never done that myself."

Mello laughed. "L, you're twenty three."

"And you're almost thirteen. What of it?"

"You can't expect me to believe that you've never french kissed anybody."

"Is that what its called?" he wondered aloud before addressing Mello again. "I've never kissed anybody. No, wait...my apologies. That was a lie." Mello shot his partner a scolding look. "I could have said that yesterday. Today I had never 'french kissed' somebody." He had to fight back the urge to laugh at Mello's almost comical expression of disbelief.

"You're kidding."

"I understand that this would be a completely inappropriate time for jokes. Had Mello ever kissed before yesterday?"

Mello thought back to the previous Christmas, unknowingly standing under the misteltoe. Linda had tried it, and Mello had respoded by slapping the girl none too gently. Feelings hurt, Linda had since referred to Mello as a 'girly boy', and as 'gay'. It had taken him several months to understand what she'd meant, having wondered what being happy had to do with not wanting his personal space invaded. Once he had deduced that she'd intended the use of the word as a homosexual slur, the two were no longer on pleasant speaking terms. Or any speaking terms, for that matter. He related the story to L, who also seemed confused at first.

"Women can be very irrational. Though Linda has always struck me as especially so." L had put an arm around Mello's waist during the tale, unknowingly at first but now he'd grown quite fond of the feeling the action had produced and tightened his hold, pulling the boy closer. "She has abandoned her pursuit now, yes?" Mello nodded, moving to close the remaining space between the two by climbing into L's lap, who was actually sitting normally for once.

"Mello is mine." The detective stated simply, slightly more emotion in his voice than when he made similar statements about cakes, or his favorite pen. However, the twelve year old seemed to get immense joy from this statement, nuzzling the detective's neck and breathing in the scent strawberry shampoo.

"Your hair smells...tasty." His fingers curled around a lock of black hair, deciding to see if it tasted like fruit too. He decided that it sort of did.

"Yes, Watari came up with an idea years ago that I might be more convinced to shower more regularly if my soaps smelled like things I enjoy eating. Though the thought seemed foolish at the time, I have to admit, however reluctantly, that he was right." L felt warm breath on his neck, and shivered despite the temperature of the room. "Mello is intentionally distracting."
he commented.

Bright blue eyes met stormy gray blue. The blond tilted his head slightly to one side. He didn't understand what he had done. He'd merely been enjoying the smell of his partner's hair. Now upset with himself, he moved to get out of the older man's lap, thinking he'd made a mistake somehow. The arm that was still wrapped around him pulled him in closer.

"I did not ask Mello to stop. I was merely observing your intent to gain a reaction." The blond still looked confused. L mentally chastised himself for taking so long to read the boy. "Ah. I see. You had no idea you were breathing on my neck?"

"My face was in it. Of course I was breathing on it...I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"It bothered you so, I'm sorry."

L decided that talking about this was getting them nowhere. Maybe it would be better to lead by example. He put a hand behind the boys head, marvelling again at how soft the golden locks were. Nose pressed just under the young genius's ear, he opened his mouth slightly, just breathing against the warm skin. He felt Mello relax, leaning into his touch. Pleased with himself for creating that reaction with so little effort, he licked the boy's throat, then nibbled his earlobe, wondering when he'd gotten them pierced and how. The blond was making little noises that could have been mistaken as someone in pain, had he not been leaning into L's touch, his fingernails digging into L's shoulder.

"Mello does not give himself credit when credit is due. He is very beautiful." The boys cheeks went from flushed pink, to bright red. "Embarassed? He asks for attention, then when some is given, he blushes. Mello is complex. A very challenging puzzle. One I think I shall enjoy solving."