“ run away with me!!! ” she's only HALF-joking
meme. accepting. @goregacha
It’s one of those nights where she’s managed to drag him out, because really, he only ever is willing to go out when it’s nighttime. Less people around to see him. Less crowds. He’s more comfortable that way, but not by much. It’s generally okay, though, if she’s there. Makes him feel a lot safer, and people are usually more focused on her than on him. She’s bright and vibrant, and he really isn’t.
They’ve snuck onto the roof of the boba tea shop again. The summer night air is warm and comfortable, but he doesn’t even consider shedding the hoodie. He knows the second he takes it off he’ll just be chilly again—curse of being too small and having almost no body fat. Always cold. He has one knee pulled up to his chest and his other leg curled under him, and his eyes are on the cup in his hands while hers are on the sky. He uses the straw to poke at a tapioca pearl.
“I can’t do that, Nooni,” Near replies simply. He knows it’s partially a joke, but he also knows that if he ever gave the word she would take him away from here. It’s a nice thought, but also never a real temptation of his. He’s fine with where he is, with what he does. No need to run away when she can just stay with him like she always does. Mostly to himself, he murmurs, “What would the world think if L just disappeared, I wonder.”
No successor picked out yet, even. Roger has reached out to him about it. Lidner and Rester have both made comments. He’s older now than the first L was when he chose Near and Mello. It’s about time. Apparently the kids still at Wammy’s House really want to talk to him.
It’s difficult.
Life isn’t a movie where he can just drop everything and run away. Near was never destined for that sort of life, anyway. Not that he really believes in destiny or fate or, whatever.
But it’s okay if she stays here. But there will always be some lingering fear that one day she’ll just disappear again, like she did when they were kids. Part of him has resigned himself to that possibility. No one can ever really stay forever.
“Maybe I’m just being a stick in the mud.”