(Untitled)

[aforceofjustice]

It was just another day at the residence of Kira, his girlfriend, and his arch nemesis in their new-found hometown, Death City. Or, at least as far as L was currently aware, it began just like any other day. Seeing as Watari wasn't about and neither Light nor Misa were open to playing Fetch Sweets For the Spoiled Manchild for longer than perhaps

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[aforceofjustice]

Fortunately for L, there was always the possibility of pinning it on Misa if it was in fact poisoned. If not, he was fine leaving it ambiguous, though if Light really wanted to push it L wasn't too against having the truth come to light. As interesting as it would be for L to in fact poison Light himself, he'd like to have a larger purpose in mind for doing so. It wouldn't be so much as "stooping to Kira's level" as L would find a simpler way of going about getting similar results to whatever larger purpose he had in mind. As it was, L was certain Misa hadn't put anything with the intent to seriously harm in the cake, and putting it to the test of who the label had said it was for... L was interested in seeing the results. Which was why L's usually wide eyes were even more focused on Light than how they normally were, especially as he ate.

'If you really wanted to seem sincere you could have just picked something else' illustrated precisely why it was so important for Light to eat this cake. Of course, L's eagerness to see the results of this could counter-productively set off red flags in Light's mind. L didn't think along such lines, however, and his focus remained intent on Light's eating. So much so, in fact, that it wouldn't be surprising if Light misinterpreted L's eagerness for awe.

"Do you like it? How does it taste?"

[aforceofjustice]

Well, that answer wasn't anything L could work with, though he supposed it meant that there wasn't anything overtly odd about how the cake tasted. (Yes, Light. L baked you a cake because he wants to help establish a friendship between the two of you. That's exactly what happened.) L backed off a little to let Light eat in relative peace, though he was still eying Light like a hawk, only from a slightly farther distance away. And for his part, he did consider his own cake briefly, running the tip of a finger across the top of the cake to pick up a small amount of icing. When poisoning or otherwise altering cake there were two distinct possibilities: that the poison was in the cake itself, baked within it in the oven, or that the poison was in the icing. In fact, it was more common within the icing, as whatever poison there was would have to be resilient enough to retain its poisonous qualities under high heat. Of course, there was also the possibility of something in the icing in combination with something in the cake set off a reaction, but that was much less of a possibility, especially with Misa as the cook.

L spoke first to the icing on his finger, "I'm not hungry." While it wasn't a lie in particular, as L rarely felt hungry with how much he liked to eat and how often, it was odd to be used as an excuse not to eat. At least, that is, when coming from L.

[aforceofjustice]

"Your reasoning is childish. Just because I convinced you to eat cake doesn't mean I have to as well. I will eat in a little while because right now, I don't feel like eating. It's quite simple, really." Though the small bit of icing on L's finger did get wiped away courtesy of L's tongue.

If there was any sort of poison in the icing, it would have to be reasonably potent and thus there would be a higher probability of L tasting it if eating the icing by itself than eating the cake, and L being a sort of cake connoisseur, trusted in his ability to detect any sort of odd flavor should there be one present (of course the presence of a tasteless poison would remain undetected nonetheless). In the small amount that he gathered with his finger, there's a very small probability that it would be enough to have much effect on him.

L couldn't forget about his test subject, of course. "Are you feeling all right? Are you feeling particularly different now than you were before? Assume I'm speaking in a purely physical sense. Your emotions are of little interest." Not to mention, entirely expected, as L's mere presence was cause enough to annoy Light.

[aforceofjustice]

"I didn't, but whether or not the cake has been given any sort of special ingredient or is simply a higher caliber of cake is exactly what I'm trying to figure out." To help further his point, L dug into his pocket with his free hand to pull out the small paper used to label the cake and show it to Light.

"Misa has never labeled any sort of cake she's made before, so this one aroused my suspicions. Normally I wouldn't bother, but considering how you hardly ever eat cake, not to mention dislike it in general, I have to wonder what Misa intended this cake for. Considering it's Misa and how she would never do anything to harm you and with it labeled for you specifically, there's always a very small possibility that you would be the one to eat it, I could simply just be making this into a bigger deal than it actually is, but at the same time, Misa has never liked me being here and knows that I'm the only one who actually eats her cakes, she could be teasing me with the label with the thought that I would eat the cake contrary to the label - no, more likely that I would eat it because of the label. My first thought, of course, was to test it out on the person it was addressed to. Considering the small possibility that you would be the one to eat it, I doubt she'd put anything too harmful in it, but I'm curious to see the results nonetheless. Your cooperation in this situation would be beneficial, as if it is just cake, I would very well like some."

[aforceofjustice]

L allowed Light his little hissy fit. He waited patiently for Light to finish yelling, noticing how red the other looked and the sweat accumulating on Light's forehead. It could just be attributed to L repeatedly trampling on Light's nerves, but L wasn't so sure. "You're underestimating her. While not extremely intelligent - that is, on the level of you or me - Misa has successfully pulled off a number of schemes. I certainly wouldn't put it past her." L set down his own piece of cake on the nearest available surface, only to reach out a hand to press the back of it against Light's cheek, forehead, and opposite cheek. Despite just having been yelled at, L didn't seem all that concerned or bothered by it. "Calm down, Light. Your anger at the situation is not solving anything."

[aforceofjustice]

L sighed, his hand retreating at Light's continual freak out. "If I didn't have half a mind not to, I'd eat my piece of cake just so you can see how odd I would act under the cake's influence. I have no doubt your current emotional state is only making things worse." L paused, bringing a finger up to his lips. "But I suppose it would be a way to know for sure whether you're freaking over nothing or are actually under the effects of something."

L reached for his discarded plate, debating with himself whether or not to go through with ingesting the contents. At the very least, it would be an experience and L might be able to recognize what, if anything, Misa had put in the recipe when making it by identifying the symptoms he would experience. Not a very responsible thing to do, of course, but ever since dying back in his world and showing up in this one, L hadn't paid much attention to responsibility. Without Watari around, there wasn't anyone to stop him from being as reckless as he wanted, including things like moving into the apartment of the man who killed him on top of thousands of criminals and trying to befriend him. L had given up all semblance of responsibility and professionalism the moment he died.

Before he allowed himself to indulge, however, L looked back at Light in order to be brought back into the present moment. He wanted to know at least part of what he was going to get into, if anything, even if there was a decent probability that Light would bend the truth in order to make it sound like he had eaten nothing but normal cake. Even if this situation wasn't nearly as serious as it suddenly felt. Instead of asking how Light felt like L might do if the situation were serious - because it wasn't, not really; L knew so on an intellectual level and his will wanted to prove it to the rest of him - L forewent using a fork altogether and picked up the cake with his hand, gobbling it down in a perhaps not-so-surprisingly small number of bites.

[aforceofjustice]

Though he couldn't put his finger on it, L knew the cake had been tampered with. It wasn't a normal cake recipe, as he hadn't tasted anything quite like it before, and yet, he couldn't recognize what exactly was wrong with it, just that it was wrong. There was a subtle flavor alteration he hadn't quite tasted before. His musings about the subject were soon interrupted mid-chew, however, as L spotted Light stand up out of the corner of his eye.

Quickly liking a good portion of the remains of cake crumbs and icing from his fingers and setting the much emptier plate back down, L shot out the newly cleaned hand to grab Light's wrist as soon as the word 'go' left the younger man's lips.

"No, you don't. Unless you're going to vomit or are experiencing a similar symptom that requires an immediate trip to the bathroom, staying and describing to me what you're feeling would be a much better option. If I recall correctly, you were the one who thought this outcome was unlikely."

[aforceofjustice]

L was not amused, and kept his hold on Light's wrist, speaking, "I refuse to do so until you're calm. You've done nothing but panic ever since you learned the cake might be laced with something unusual. It might help if you sit back down. Not to mention, you should know panicking will only make whatever we ingested work faster." L had no sympathy for Light's current situation, even if he was partially to blame for it. Of course, he wasn't entirely aware of what Light was going through, but the fact that Light wasn't making this any easier certainly didn't help warm L's cold heart any faster. For emphasis, L tugged lightly on Light's wrist in an attempt to encourage him to sit down (if Light refused to cooperate, he may find himself being tugged a little harsher).