March 16 2020
A sad cello plays softly as the rain beads down on the window pane. The beads make a pixelated view on Paris's most iconic landmark. A short figure in burgundy 18th century pirate costume is now pixelated in the pane as it stands looking out at the Eiffel Tower. The figure turns as they play the slow tune facing a dresser with a mirror and one small frame pic on top of it. In the photo there are five people one of them is the figure in a more feminine attire than the figure reflected in the mirror. The face is the same. The person in the photo has a complex updo her black hair styled high in a Marie Antoinette sorted vibe. She is in a lavish ballgown The figure reflecting the mirror is L and his long black hair is tied at the nape of his neck .He fixes the caveat at his neck adjusting his cog brooch before adjusting his playing to a happy tone as he examines the photo. Along with a female L is a tall slim blonde steampunk pirate dressed man. He has his arm around her waist and L is holding a chubby baby. The dark haired child is dressed in a baby version of Ls dress. The chubby baby is laughing and clapping her pale chubby hands in the photo.
L sniffs and his frown falters a bit but his cello tone continues the happy tone as if the baby in the photo could hear it. "Angelique.. " he says softly in his adopted baritone voice. He sniffs softly sobbing a bit, barely gazing at the tall black man that's beside him in the photo also dressed in attire like the blonde man. Nor does he glance at the full figured redhead pixie cut lady also done up like L and the baby beside the blonde man. He just focuses on the baby forever, captured in time happily and clapping.
He remembers that day like it was today.
It was his band The Chronos Tin Pirates first concert since the birth of Angelique and the baby was about 4 months….the group is laughing and happy
You would have been one today my angel.. he sings as he plays..looking at the photo intensely getting startled as his phone chimes pulling him back to reality .
He answers the phone just as the tall blond man walks into the room staring at L.
A middle man speaks.. “Hello L is that really you . ‘
Hikari sits in his recliner in his assigned apartment at the Alexandra Academy as he holds the phone tightly . He had finally gotten through after all these years and was eager to hear from L
“Uncle??’!!’ L says Jaque is just looking at his best friend. The blonde man's thin smile stretches into a grin as he is happily for his best friend finally being able to get in contact with his loved one ..
“Yes !!, L it’s me.. Oh my land.. It's finally you.. ‘ the tone in the older man voice overjoyed,
L just chuckles. ‘Oui, uncle it is moi.. I miss you so much .. I'm coming right away as soon as i can .. ‘
L is interrupted as Jaque .. is now getting online on the computer in the room and getting plane tickets for L. The burnette peers over the tall man's shoulders and reads the date as Jaque books the ticket. L kisses Jaques high cheek bone face . ‘i'm coming today ,.. My plane leaves in 2 hrs.. And i'll be there tomorrow .. i call you when i land.. ‘
Hikari smiles and chuckles.. ‘Oh .. i wasn't expecting you this soon .. i'll need to tidy up .. yes yes i see you tomorrow..
‘
L hangs up and packs as Jaque helps him place the small photo of the band and tiny Angelique on top before closing his suitcase
L caress the taller man's shoulder . ‘You know I'll be.. Jaque chuckles. ‘Completely lost without me.. ‘He waggles his thin blonde eyebrow..
L gives Jaque a playful punch to the arm . ‘I will be more sane without you but completely bored. ‘ The burnette just smirks but smiles as he prints out his ticket and pulls out his phone to order a cab.
Jaque just laughs as he goes back to his computer typing away
L hugs Jaque from behind. "Remember to take your vitamins silly man. Jaque mockingly pulls a face. "Nag" He chuckles as L waves and goes down to get in the cab.
L is beaming widely for the first since his sweet angel's death. He exhales dressed in a more tone down version of his favorite pirate attire. It's a simple dress pants and starched white dress shirt with a pinstripe waistcoat and gold bowtie. He boards the plane and has a very uneventful flight back to his only flesh and blood that gave a care about him.
He had a family with his band mates and he was always in their eternal debt after the death of Angelique but hikari was his blood.
L bites his lips as he is very nervous to be back.. in Alexandra.. he had left there confused and whole different person from who he was now. It seemed a millennial since he left that small island confused and guilty.
Confused about his identity and guilty on how his confusion had hurt Owen, his boyfriend at times..he felt guilty and he knew the whole Reinhardt clan must despite him for hurting Owen. That's even if anyone's would remember him..
He bites his lips..he also was feeling guilty how in the odd separation the island had with the outside world.. L had grown and moved on within a year. Though Jaque and him were better as just best friends slash co parents after their brief love affair..he and Jaque knew each other on a deeper level that they never experienced that with any other person.
As he arrives at the terminal he exhales as he pulls out his phone asand the plane lands the passengers are getting off. As soon as he is able he dials his Uncle's number as he picks up his luggage and makes his way for a cab the ferry .
“Im home.. Just got to board the ferry “ the younger man said, trying not to sound down. Hikari still picks up on something. “ I'm glad,''he says in an unassured tone. “Is everything ok , Cheri.. ‘
L stiffles a sob and clears his throat in an attempt to sound a bit upbeat.. ‘Im fine . ‘He didn't sound fine and this worried the older man . “Cheri…. ‘ Hikari says inquisitively. “I’ll tell when we get back to your apartment.. “L say softly not even trying to mask his tone of solemness
HIkari exhales softly as he nods ‘Ok cheri. I cant wait till you get home.. I'll be waiting at the docks as he looks at the time knowing the schedule of the ferry by hurt and knowing when the next one is due to arrive .
L boards the ferry after hanging up from his call silently cursing himself for not pulling it together at least until he arrives back at his uncle's home.. He stares out into the water as the ferry carries him back.. 3 years ago it would have been more than a thrill to be able to get back to what was once his home.. To his friends, Fiona and Shay.. to Reinhardts such a big, sweet and loving family he wished he had grown up in but most importantly to Owen.. Maybe he could have repaired that relationship sooner.. But things happen how they are supposed to. He would have never met Javier, Jaque and Sabine. ‘He would have never had a drunk and high night in Ibiza and conceived the sweetest angel that was ever created as far as he was concerned.
He sniffs a bit and doesn't want to think about the year prior to yesterday .. it was too soon too fresh, too painful to go at it alone. He'd wait til he was in front of his uncle's fireplace and reclined in one of his uncle's arm chairs slipping some wine before he thought about it ..
The journey to alexandra on the ferry seems ten times longer than the journey to Canada.. His heart seemed to drag the ferry down but like all things good and bad it finally came to an end as the ferry docked.
He could see his uncle sitting on the dock bench waiting with a grocery bag in hand.. It was a sight for sore eyes. I honestly don't ever think he will get to see his tall lanky uncle again . He smiles a bit even with his heavy heart..
HIkari had gone shopping as soon as he found out he had his nephew coming home. He attempted to get some of L's favorite things even with the restriction they had been under.. It has been 3 years and Hikari brown hair is now a bit white in places as if the years show its age on the man . He spots L on the ferry as it docks and bursts into a big smile even though he knew L had clearly had a rough time not being able to return to him sooner.
The ferry docks and L gathers his luggage as the ferry prepares to disembark . as he lines up with the other few passengers arrive he eyes his uncle and beams again even though.. He could see some resemblance of angelique in his uncle's big rounded eyes. L sniffs. A bit as he could only imagine how that would have played out on Angelique had she lived to be Hikari's age.
L shakes his head as this would only bring the fountain bubbling under the surface springing forth .. L was very private about his emotion and fought the sadness of what could have been from him making a mess of himself on the dock .
L ,once he is clear , he runs to Hikari and hugs him tightly, grateful to be able to be close to his kin again. L viewed Hikari as not just his uncle but his father and i was good to be home
Hikari holds L close as he hugs his nephew tightly, never wanting to let go but after a few moments He looks down at L ‘ you ready to come home.
L paused as he didnt think of alexandra as completely home only because Paris, Jaque, Angelique and the band were his home in lieu of him not being able to come back to alexandra. Their home was Paris and any venue they were playing at in the time being but… Hikari was home.. So as long as he was with Hikari . he was home
The thought of Owen and the Reinhardt brood creeped into his mind but he swatted it out quickly for now.. He knew he had to face it but for now he telling his Uncle about Angelique pressed to the forefront..
Hikar saw something stirring in Ls facial expression . the professor was reading him but wasn't certain how a big of a blow it would be.. “I'll cook your favorite dinner of Lasagna and I have a great vintage wine I have been saving for your return , cheri. ‘ L nods as he lets go of his uncle and grabs his luggage as Hikari directs to his apartment .
That night after dinner Hikari had poured himself and his nephew a glass of wine as they sat down at the familiar setting of his armchairs .. He stares at his nephew that seems a bit more rounded than he remembers and looks alot older than just the year gap.
He waits for L to say something as L looked lost
The younger man picks at his bowtie its cog center piece a bit before looking over at his waiting uncle.. ‘ he exhales.. “I missed you uncle. ‘ he says starting slowly not knowing how to just explain Angelique..
Hikari nods . ‘I missed you , cheri. ‘He says soft reassuring.. ‘L pulls out his phone and scrolls till he has opened the photo gallery then stops on a picture of a happy smiling Angelique dressed in a princess leia outfit being held and hugged by L and chewbacca was in the picture. It was somehow one of his favorite pictures of his daughter.
This is your grand niece ..she was your great niece Anglique . He corrects himself. Hikari's face went from utter enjoyment to grand sorrow in one moment ..
Hikari sniffs a bit . but looks to L to explain though even in his sorrow he tried to give L reassurance.
“ She died in her sleep one night.. The doctors just say she had an undetected heart murmur and her little heart just stopped one night. ‘ L goes on a bit teary eyed
Hikari goes over to his nephew and hugs him . ‘She is beautiful just like her papa . He says soft kissing on L's forehead . L holds on tightly. "She loved tomorrowland. " L says softly .. "she was probably going to be smart like her great uncle and go into science. "
L couldn't have known that but it gave her comfort that the baby was so giggly and happy when they were in tomorowland section disneyland paris
Hikari just sniffs and chuckles. ‘She would have been a great scientist ‘he says, playing along with the grieving parent.
L lets go and sits back down looking at pictures of Angelique last trip to the happiest place on earth
He sighs as Hikari looks along with her sipping his wine as they talk about what's been going on the island and the world.
A week goes by and L can not stomach getting out. The newly freshly dug up grief of his daughter had paralyzed him ..
Finally the world finally caught up to alexandra with the residents finding out about this virus . L had felt a bit guilty as he was sort of hearing about it before she came back to alexandra.. But as she hadn't been out .. she didn't think she had anything to do with the spread but wanted to be cautious.. She self isolated and Hikari did the same. They stayed on opposite sides of the apartment to be sure I didn't bring the virus here.
Hikari had been out once before they isolated to get groceries but he had been careful but no careful enough it seems.
L was on the other side as she heard him coughing.. She crossed herself and hoped she didn't bring the plague to her father/uncle.
He got worse and they had to call for medical help .. they both got tested .. he was positive and she wasn't.. So she did not spread it to him.. she stayed on her side of the apartment just to be safe and had to be quarantined since she had been in contact with him.
Well that's one less than to be guilty for .. “ L say softly .. as she orders some groceries online from the local grocery as she finally coughs.. she feared she got it too
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