Some Nights I Stay Up, Cashing in my Bad Luck, Some Nights I Call it a Draw [May 1]

[dead_black_eyes]

Characters: L Lawliet, Bakura Ryou
Location: Starting at the apartment, ending in Las Vegas, baby!
Rating: PG for showgirls, and for L treating Bakura like a servant (wait, no, valet.)
Time: May 1, 4:00 PM to around 10:00 PM
Description: L has figured out where Light is hiding out after the cruel and humiliating "dinner party" events. But traveling without backup is a bad idea, and there are a lot of ways for two game-loving young guys to kill time before unfortunate quarries return to their crappy motel rooms.




L had not traveled outside Death City since arriving except through Shibusen's mirror transportation for missions. That made this a somewhat special occasion, but that being said, he was traveling very lightly. He had one change of clothes, Light's toothbrush (despite the fact that Bakura had bought him a whole stack of new ones), and his communicator, and that was about it. They barely filled half of the blue backpack L had chosen to carry his personal belongings, and so he filled the rest with candy.

He sounded like a piñata when he walked, but it was worth it to know that he would have snacks on the bus.

He waited expectently for Bakura to show up; the bus would be arriving within ten minutes, and while L was aware that Bakura was typically punctual, he would leave without him if he was late even this once.

Comments

[shiromadoushi]

"Oh thank goodness...." Bakura exhaled, any last bit of tension bleeding out of him in utter relief. He had been so worried he hadn't been able to do enough, knowing that he wouldn't be able to try again...

Very awkwardly, he pushed up, legs a touch shaky under him as he leaned against the slippery wall.

[dead_black_eyes]

L offered him an arm in support; somehow, it seemed wrong to speak immediately. Maybe the awkwardness of standing in a bathroom in Las Vegas, naked but for a towel with his best friend who had just saved his life, even affected the notoriously unflappable L.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura shook his head, not wanting to lean on the friend he had just healed. "I'm fine... just... need a moment," he assured. Already he was recovering, feet a little more stable under him, breath slowing to more normal. [HP: 5; MP: 3. Do you want to rest/save?]

[dead_black_eyes]

L shuffled out of the bathroom to glance at the time.

...were they really down to ten minutes before checkout? Light had better not have left.

He poked his head back into the bathroom.

"Sorry, but I need clothes... those aren't fit to wear, and the ones I had last night are long gone."

[shiromadoushi]

"My suitcase. Not the suit, the other set," Bakura instructed, carefully patting his jeans dryer with a towel. His dirty laundry was carefully folded up and placed in the laundry bag to keep it separate from the clean clothes.

Next time he'd bring L an extra set of clothes as well... but at least he had thought to pack extras for himself.

[dead_black_eyes]

L slunk towards the suitcase, fishing out the other set as instructed, for once having nothing to say about how ugly he thought Bakura's clothes were. He slipped on the jeans and striped t-shirt, and then debated between the sweater and the button-up shirt.

How can a person have this many kinds of clothes? Why?

He bit his tongue and settled on the sweater. The t-shirt would protect him from the scratchiness, to an extent, and the long sleeves would cover his still grisly-looking wrists.

[shiromadoushi]

Between wanting to be prepared for whatever the weather would be, not being sure what he would be facing in Vegas and being fond of layering, it was very logical, in Bakura's mind, to bring as many clothes as he had.

Finally emerging from the bathroom himself, Bakura blinked once at L in his clothes before giving a faint smile. Next time, he would bring L a set of his own clothes as well...

"I think check out is in a few minutes..." he covered a small yawn as he checked his watch.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Yes, it is..." He agreed quietly, slinging his backpack over his shoulder after removing several pixie stix.

The valet game, it appeared, was over.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura carefully knelt down to close and latch his suitcase, standing it up on it's wheels and pulling out the handle.

"Bringing that on the bus?" he asked, covering another small yawn. "I think I'm going to need to nap on the way back, so I can give you my DSP if you want it..."

[dead_black_eyes]

"It's OK," L said, as they closed the hotel room and started down the stairs.

There was a brief pause. "There's actually someone coming back with us. I thought you should know."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura paused, looking at his friend with an expression bordering wariness. "...There is...?"

Pieces were starting to fall into place.. pieces he did not want to acknowledge.

"...Who?"

[dead_black_eyes]

"The police might be a good start," L said dryly, but he knew what Bakura was really asking.

"Call Gamzee. If he's not available, Near, Mello, and Matt, in that order. It shouldn't be a problem, though."

There was, after all, a reason they weren't along with L on this "mission", which was dubious in itself.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura nodded. "I wasn't sure if you'd want the police involved..." Since L really wasn't the sort to do most things by the proper channels...

"And hopefully it won't be. Else I'd say we should get you a tracker or something like that," he continued with a smile. Sometimes he felt as if this were a good idea in general, considering L... but he knew the man would never consent to one. Too paranoid.

[dead_black_eyes]

L had hoped that he'd figure it out so he wouldn't have to say it.

He gave him another chance.

"Just... you know, a friend..." he said evasively.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura stopped, looking down the stairs as his friend, knuckles white around the handle of his suitcase.

So. That was it. The person L had come looking for, the person who had left him in that state.

"Why the hell is he coming back with us?"

He didn't even notice the expletive as he said it, nor did he notice the sudden sharp, cold tone in his voice that made it sound far too much like his doppelganger's.

[dead_black_eyes]

"The police have their uses," L said, his tone bored and blase. "When it comes to missing persons cases, they can be relatively effective if you can provide them with enough information, which you should be able to."

Besides, getting them involved was much better than getting his protective successors or partner involved. They would be less than pleased if they knew his aim for the evening.

"So. You brought your suit? We'll probably head straight down to the casino, unless you're hungry."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura nodded, reaching down to tap on his suitcase. "Yup! And shoes to match!"

As well as a tie for his hair. It was impossible to make it look respectable, but at least when it was tied back, it only looked like a mess from the back.

"And I'm fine. We can go for dinner after." When he'd actually have (hopefully) won the money to pay for one, since he was sure it would be expensive....

[dead_black_eyes]

L had thought that he might react that way, yes.

"Because it's what I decided," he said, firmly. "He's coming back because there was a misunderstanding that's been sorted out, now. He's a Meister and Shibusen needs him. You can't take his talents away from the greater good, Ryou."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura stayed still. "A misunderstanding," he repeated, grip tightening to be almost painful.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Yes," L said, after a moment of thought as he slid their room's card key through the door, handing a duplicate to Bakura before pocketing his own and holding the door open with his foot.

"You can change. I'm fine as I am," he said, flopping onto one of the two queen-sized beds and flipping through the phone book for no apparent reason... but rather odd purpose.

"If you bring anyone back here, by the way, let me know first. That way I can be scarce."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura paused, turning to blink at his friend. "Why would I bring anyone back here...?"

[dead_black_eyes]

"It's done, Bakura," he said, in a soft but sharp tone. "We worked it all out last night. He's here, in this world, so we have to live with each other. You should understand that better than anyone."

[dead_black_eyes]

"To sleep with, perhaps. You'll look your nicest in that suit, probably, so it's a chance, at least."

[shiromadoushi]

"How the hell is it done when you nearly died ten minutes ago?"

What was between him and the Ring's Voice was different. So very different as far as Bakura was concerned, that for L to bring it up like that as if it excused anything....!

[shiromadoushi]

"... I don't think there's any worry about that..."

As if he would just pick someone up like that... Not even Takuto was that bad!