Lies On Ch 16 A Lovely Outing
A/N: I do not own.
***
L poked morosely at his cake as more of Light's friends surrounded their table. It was a bit irksome. This was supposed to be their date!
Which, L reminded himself; I only agreed to go on for the sake of the investigation! What should I care who Kira socializes with?
As the crowd swooned over Light, L mused miserably Perhaps I should rethink my strategy about capture-Light obviously has a frightening level of personal charm, charisma, that his… followers would probably gladly kill for him or die for him should he but ask. Whatever course I must take in this I can't expose him publicly-it would be a bloodbath! That means… I have to do it. When the time comes I have to keep Light… Hmmm… perhaps even Light wouldn't find that too terrible after he gets over losing of course. Kira hates to lose...
"Where have you been hiding, Light? I haven't seen you in ages!" Yamamoto enthused as he crowded into the booth next to Light and several other people-some friends, some acquaintances, and some strangers crowded around Light and L's table.
Light, admittedly, missed being the center of attention after his self-imposed exile of several months and they were acting civil enough at the moment…
As L listened to how Light was really laying it on thick; spinning a dramatic tale about how he had been deathly ill with a wasting disease and so sadly couldn't hang out with any of them-if the detective had any doubts before they were gone now as he watched the very definition of a master manipulator in his natural environment. L knew all this and yet he was still somehow drawn in by the spell Light was weaving...
"…but I'm feeling a bit better today" Light finished his harrowing tale and then politely fake-coughed into the palm of his hand.
L rolled his eyes. "Light-kun is such a drama queen."
Several sets of eyes turned on him-most looking annoyed if not outright hostile.
Light cleared his throat. "Everyone this is Ryuuzaki, my roommate and… a very good friend of mine."
Light added when he saw how Yamamoto was about to say something rude and disparaging. His mouth quickly clamped closed. Meanwhile more people crowded around their table like flies to honey.
"...b-but we have class in ten minutes! We can't be late!" hissed a long-haired man wearing glasses and a trench coat. He tapped pointedly at his watch as he was dragged by the wrist over to Light and L's table by a smartly dressed woman with short dark hair. Light saw her and went pale.
Dammit! Not Kiyomi Takada!
Takada was one of the most persistant of his admirers. Light thought he made it clear the last time he saw her that he wanted to focus on "studying" right now… but for some reason Takada seemed to think they were betrothed or something.
"Oh Light, this is…" Yamamoto began introducing the "strangers."
"Teru -senpai?" Light exclaimed in surprise when he realized he recognized the man that accompanied Takada.
"Yagami-kun?"
Yamamoto's head comically whipped between both of them in surprise. "Wait, you two know each other?"
"I'm surprised you remember me," Teru looked bashfully down at his feet.
"How could I forget?" Light said softly.
L paused mid-bite of eating his cake when he heard how Light's voice was laden with genuine emotion and felt an irrational surge of jealousy when Light reached over and shook Mikami's hand.
Me? Jealous? Of course not. That's absurd… (He had plenty to be jealous of already with the way everyone in the room, this Teru-guy included was looking at his boyfrie-… suspect.)
L glared at Mikami.
Just what is between them? Is he competition? Or an ex-boyfriend? Or…?
L made a mental note to thoroughly investigate this man-there was just something about him that made the stoical detective's skin crawl (maybe there was even a Kira connection?)
Takada loudly cleared her throat demanding to be the center of attention. "Yagami-kun, what a pleasant surprise! It seems you've already met my boyfriend, Teru..." Takada smiled nastily.
"B-boyfriend? Since when?" Mikami cringed in pain when Takada stomped on his foot with one of her expensive and elegant high-heeled shoes.
There was more cringing among the witnesses as it was painfully obvious even to the non-genii in the room that Takada was just trying to make Light jealous...
"Oh? Congratulations…" Light nodded to her slightly and sipped at his coffee-and that was all the reaction he would give her and so Takada turned a snobbish eye towards Ryuuzaki.
"You know, I never expected to see you in the company of someone like that, Yagami-kun."
Light narrowed his eyes "Someone like what?"
"Why that queer man sitting with you of course!" Takada sniffed. "Did he escape a mental institution or a zoo?"
Before L could reply Light had shot up. He was glowered at Takada, sitting in a feral crouch that mirrored L's.
This woman!
Of course Light knew what he could do to leave her speechless and get rid of her once and for all…
I can trust Yamamoto and Mikami with this. In fact Yamamoto no doubt knows already what with that one time… Of course Takada and all these idiots. They'll tell everyone but realistically can I expect to keep this hidden? What with EVERYONE chasing after me?
Ryuuzaki's question gnawed at him "Why do you hide?" By being so secretive and appearing to be so flawless he wasn't doing himself any favors of not looking like Kira. If a background was too perfect like his was that might raise more red flags than a criminal record. The investigators would no doubt want to see a human "flaw." It would give them all something else to focus on-and he didn't consider it a "flaw…" Light glanced around the table at his train of admirers-all these idiots around him-did he really care what any of them thought?
It's my New World-only my opinion is valid. I'm okay with what I am.
It was wearing him out playing obedient son and perfect student while carrying so many secrets. It would be a relief to relinquish one of them-especially since he wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
I'm an adult now and God of the New World. Either dad will accept it or not. I'm tired of hiding it.
"Actually I lied before. Ryuuzaki isn't my friend…"
Takada looked relieved and L dropped his spoon in shock. Light reached across the table and clasped L's hand in his.
"He's my boyfriend."
Light decided that come what may it was totally worth it for the look of fury on Takada's face. But she was only an afterthought after the way Ryuuzaki almost seemed to swoon as Light glanced at him with bedroom eyes and Light knew he had made the right choice.
"Wow," one of the girls gasped.
"Congratulations!" Yamamoto enthused.
All around them girls groaned in disappointment while others tittered in excitement.
Light froze. He had never seen Ryuuzaki blushing so red. He hoped it was okay.
L was surprised-he never considered that Light would purposely out himself (out THEM) like this.
"I see. Light-kun is defending my honor. How noble…" L murmured caustically.
No, how Kira-like. This was just like the Lind L. Tailor incident. This woman had insulted him, yes but in doing so she had also insulted Light and so she was going down-very childish really-but also very satisfying.
L never claimed not to be childish too.
Meanwhile Takada shrieked at Light, calling him every name ever written on a bathroom stall and knocking over the contents of their table with a sweeping gesture of her hand. Mikami restrained the shrieking harpy before she could attack either of the booth's occupants at which point she turned her wrath on him, slapping him in the face. Takada shouted some more obscenities and, red-faced, she stormed out of the coffee shop.
Mikami quickly and deeply apologized on Takada's behalf and followed her out. While he found her behavior just now to be appalling she was one of his few friends. Also after reuniting with his old friend (who had become an attractive young man that preferred the company of men… ) who was obviously already very happy and very taken-he best leave before he did something… evil.
"Well, so much for "refined" Takada" Yamamoto quipped, but then he saw how Light seemed to have doubled-over in pain. "Hey buddy, are you alright?"
Takada's screaming was bad enough but then there was something else-ever since Takada threw her tantrum…
"I-I can't move!"
What's worse was his body was trying to revert to its true form.
No, not here! Not now!
Light grimaced as tendrils of fear worked their way into his being.
L gaped at his lover in surprise-Light looked… scared.
"Light-kun!" Ryuuzaki bolted right over the top of the table, his bare foot sliding on and breaking the line of salt that had formed when Takada knocked over the salt shaker.
…And then whatever had overtaken Light had passed as quickly as it had come.
What was that? Weird… Were there more weird changes happening to his body? He was freakish enough as is! Light was thoroughly disturbed by the prospect of mutating further. Light could only hope that whatever it was it didn't happen again...
"Are you alright?" Ryuuzaki asked with some concern as he absentmindedly stroked Light's back.
"Y-yeah." Light still sounded really shaken.
L forcefully parted Light's train of admirers declaring "C'mon let's get out of here."
That's the second time something like this happened tonight? Light-kun…
L's thought process was interrupted when he absentmindedly licked some grains of sugar stuck to his fingers (in a motion ingrained in L's muscle memory) and made a face, only afterwards realizing it wasn't sugar...
Salt?
The detective looked around and spied how the salt shaker must have rolled on the floor creating a circle-like pattern.
A circle of salt…
Of course L was aware of the folklore. On a recent case L had stopped a cult that was killing virgins with the ultimate goal being that they might summon a demon. The cultists had firmly believed that a little circle of salt could contain one.
No, that's completely absurd! Light is not a demon! Such a thing does not exist! The detective absolutely refused to believe in something that defied logic (at least until he ruled out all other possibilities…) Perhaps whatever mutation Light has has occurred before and maybe it correlates with a salt allergy and this created the mythology… However one piece of information poked a hole in L's allergy theory.
But Light likes potato chips...He isn't adverse to salt-just a ring of salt. That doesn't make any kind of logical sense unless… What if he really is…? L shook his head as if to clear it. I need to do that examination. He isn't. Light just thinks he's a demon. He called himself a… consciously or unconsciously Light-kun has no doubt just internalized…
Of course. He's overcompensating!
The detective thought with a knowing smirk as his profiling skills kicked into high gear.
Subconsciously Light sees himself as flawed and so he projects an image of perfection to convince himself and others that he is in fact perfect. Kira tries to eliminate evil in the world because he can't cope with it in himself. He can't accept that he is flawed, that he is wrong, and so he projects his flaws onto the world... But just now he just accepted that he wasn't what society views as "perfect."
So what does that mean?
For Kira? For the case? For us?
What changed?
L worried at his thumb as he realized. It's me. He accepts me though I'm flawed. That means I can change him!
L cringed even as he thought it. It sounded so stupid. Like the declaration of some lovestruck hybristophiliac.
Change Kira? Please! Kira is like me-he'd sooner die than lose!
L stole a glance at his beloved nemesis as they exited the café. Light still looked plenty shaken though he hid it well.
"Light-kun, what was that?"
"I don't know."
"Light-kun…" L began but stopped. Even if he knew the real cause what were the odds that Light would just tell him? But maybe Light would answer that other pressing question: "Light-kun… Why did you tell them? About us?"
Light looked at Ryuuzaki incredulously.
"You expected me to just sit there and listen to her insult you?"
"Well, yes… I mean; this… I imagine it was harmful to your reputation and..."
"Ryuuzaki!"
L froze as Light grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him right in the eye. "I'm not ashamed of you and if they're really my friends they'll stand by my decision," Light smiled grimly as he added "Yes, I think it's clear now who our friends are-Yamamoto and Mikami are our friends, and Takada is not."
"Mikami…"
Light heard L almost growl out the word, like it was something vile.
"You're… jealous?"
L fumed as Light threw his head back and laughed.
"Ah, Ryuuzaki, it's nothing like that! No, it's just… he's an old friend of mine is all."
"Really? You sounded very taken with him," L asked suspiciously.
Light glared in annoyance but Ryuuzaki was unrelenting in his questioning. Light finally confessed. "He saved my life in grade school."
"Wha-?"
"…Repeatedly. It's not like I was special or anything. He did that for everyone."
"Why would… what…?" L was flabbergasted. He was under the impression that his suspect lived a perfect life. But then didn't he just determine that it was a lie? Why should this be so surprising?
"I wasn't always a popular teenage heart throb, you know," Light smiled at the flummoxed detective. "No, I was the nerdy kid that loved school and learning, always reading ahead, always getting perfect marks, and always getting cornered in the boy's restroom... That was me… until Mikami came along. Mikami was my senpai-he is a very driven individual or at least that was true when I knew him. He could never stand injustice. He eventually got the whole school to stand up against the bullying. He's really inspired me and while I could never be like him he did show me how one person can make a difference and change things for the better," Light smiled beatifically as he added "Justice prevails."
When L noted the passionate note in his voice and how his eyes were shining with youthful idealism he felt the need to ask "Are you sure you're not in love with him?"
Light laughed again and the older man let out an embarrassing squeak when Light pulled him into a hug.
"He's not you, Ryuuzaki! So you have nothing to worry about. I just told you he was my role model growing up. That's all. Well, one of many. There was my father of course… and L."
The detective froze with a deer in the headlights look on his face "What?"
Light shot Ryuuzaki a coy smirk. "You know I want to be a detective one day. Why shouldn't I admire the greatest detective in the world?" Light chuckled again and shook his head. "Yes, it was always my dream growing up. To meet L, to work with him," Light sighed wistfully as he knowingly confessed his feelings to the real L. "I always imagined I could be a great help-that we could catch many bad guys together."
L looked pointedly at his feet, his pallid cheeks flushed with color. Of course he couldn't acknowledge the compliment without giving himself away. L felt a surge of relief at Light's assurance that he only had feelings for him but that relief was mixed with shame that his very existence had a hand in shaping what Kira would become.
"It was?"
"Mmm Hmmm?" Light hummed in his ear.
"Was. Past tense. It was your dream. What changed, Light-kun?"
Light realized his slip and quickly excused it with "Well…" Light lowered his voice "Well, I doubt the Great L would ever want to work with a demon like me."
L just rolled his eyes. "You're not a demon and even if you are if you are that good at detective work that L would take you as his partner I doubt it would matter."
"R-really? Thank you, Ryuuzaki."
"You shouldn't worry so much about that-that is ridiculously insecure! Very… emo."
"I am NOT!" If anyone here is emo it's Ryuuzaki!
L grinned at Light's indignant reaction.
"I mean look at everything you have! A nice apartment, a family that cares about you; and Light-kun is so lucky he has such good friends," L said softly and somewhat bitterly. When L was very young he had no one to save him.
Light remembered with dawning comprehension that Ryuuzaki had said he never really had a friend before.
Light squeezed his hand. "They're your friends too now."
"I-I've never really-" Ryuuzaki stammered out, easily falling into the shy college student role he was playing.
"Now who's emo?" Light murmured childishly.
"Well of course! Any friend of Light's is a friend of mine!" Yamamoto suddenly declared from behind them.
Both genii spun around in shock-it seemed Yamamoto and a train of Light's followers had followed them down the street, listening in on their conversation, hanging on every word.
"That's great Yamamoto but Ryuuzaki and I were kind of having a private moment here."
"Er… a public sidewalk isn't exactly private, you know! I just wanted to make sure you were alright, buddy… er…" Yamamoto noticed the murderous glance Light was sending them. It was terrifying enough that several of Light's stalkers turned tail and ran. "I-I guess we should be leaving now," Yamamoto stammered out as he nervously adjusted his glasses.
"Thank you, Yamamoto. You are a good friend." Light smiled sweetly and for the first time in his life L worried about getting diabetes. The detective, sick of having Light's attention diverted all throughout their "date" and very much effected by Light's sweet smile, suddenly tackled the younger man, planting wet, sloppy kisses upon his face.
Yamamoto flushed and averted his eyes. "Oi! Guys, get a room!"
"Shall we?" L asked with lust-clouded eyes.
"Hmmm?" Light mumbled his eyes taking on a distinctive crimson cast, L grinned that meant Light's so-called "demon" side was aching to come out…
"Get a hotel room?" the raven pressed.
Light just avoided frowning (he had really wanted to take L out flying again but after that incident his faith in his powers was still a little shaky) this sounded like a most agreeably alternative.
"Oh, definitely!" Light purred as he slowly trailed his fingers down the other man's cheek.
Of course they had a room but L didn't really want to wait to go all the way back across town but Light balked when he saw where L was leading them. "That's… that's an expensive hotel…"
L smiled. "Don't worry about it. I told you my grandfather runs a Pharmaceutical Company-he won't mind if I use his credit card."
Previous Next
***
L poked morosely at his cake as more of Light's friends surrounded their table. It was a bit irksome. This was supposed to be their date!
Which, L reminded himself; I only agreed to go on for the sake of the investigation! What should I care who Kira socializes with?
As the crowd swooned over Light, L mused miserably Perhaps I should rethink my strategy about capture-Light obviously has a frightening level of personal charm, charisma, that his… followers would probably gladly kill for him or die for him should he but ask. Whatever course I must take in this I can't expose him publicly-it would be a bloodbath! That means… I have to do it. When the time comes I have to keep Light… Hmmm… perhaps even Light wouldn't find that too terrible after he gets over losing of course. Kira hates to lose...
"Where have you been hiding, Light? I haven't seen you in ages!" Yamamoto enthused as he crowded into the booth next to Light and several other people-some friends, some acquaintances, and some strangers crowded around Light and L's table.
Light, admittedly, missed being the center of attention after his self-imposed exile of several months and they were acting civil enough at the moment…
As L listened to how Light was really laying it on thick; spinning a dramatic tale about how he had been deathly ill with a wasting disease and so sadly couldn't hang out with any of them-if the detective had any doubts before they were gone now as he watched the very definition of a master manipulator in his natural environment. L knew all this and yet he was still somehow drawn in by the spell Light was weaving...
"…but I'm feeling a bit better today" Light finished his harrowing tale and then politely fake-coughed into the palm of his hand.
L rolled his eyes. "Light-kun is such a drama queen."
Several sets of eyes turned on him-most looking annoyed if not outright hostile.
Light cleared his throat. "Everyone this is Ryuuzaki, my roommate and… a very good friend of mine."
Light added when he saw how Yamamoto was about to say something rude and disparaging. His mouth quickly clamped closed. Meanwhile more people crowded around their table like flies to honey.
"...b-but we have class in ten minutes! We can't be late!" hissed a long-haired man wearing glasses and a trench coat. He tapped pointedly at his watch as he was dragged by the wrist over to Light and L's table by a smartly dressed woman with short dark hair. Light saw her and went pale.
Dammit! Not Kiyomi Takada!
Takada was one of the most persistant of his admirers. Light thought he made it clear the last time he saw her that he wanted to focus on "studying" right now… but for some reason Takada seemed to think they were betrothed or something.
"Oh Light, this is…" Yamamoto began introducing the "strangers."
"Teru -senpai?" Light exclaimed in surprise when he realized he recognized the man that accompanied Takada.
"Yagami-kun?"
Yamamoto's head comically whipped between both of them in surprise. "Wait, you two know each other?"
"I'm surprised you remember me," Teru looked bashfully down at his feet.
"How could I forget?" Light said softly.
L paused mid-bite of eating his cake when he heard how Light's voice was laden with genuine emotion and felt an irrational surge of jealousy when Light reached over and shook Mikami's hand.
Me? Jealous? Of course not. That's absurd… (He had plenty to be jealous of already with the way everyone in the room, this Teru-guy included was looking at his boyfrie-… suspect.)
L glared at Mikami.
Just what is between them? Is he competition? Or an ex-boyfriend? Or…?
L made a mental note to thoroughly investigate this man-there was just something about him that made the stoical detective's skin crawl (maybe there was even a Kira connection?)
Takada loudly cleared her throat demanding to be the center of attention. "Yagami-kun, what a pleasant surprise! It seems you've already met my boyfriend, Teru..." Takada smiled nastily.
"B-boyfriend? Since when?" Mikami cringed in pain when Takada stomped on his foot with one of her expensive and elegant high-heeled shoes.
There was more cringing among the witnesses as it was painfully obvious even to the non-genii in the room that Takada was just trying to make Light jealous...
"Oh? Congratulations…" Light nodded to her slightly and sipped at his coffee-and that was all the reaction he would give her and so Takada turned a snobbish eye towards Ryuuzaki.
"You know, I never expected to see you in the company of someone like that, Yagami-kun."
Light narrowed his eyes "Someone like what?"
"Why that queer man sitting with you of course!" Takada sniffed. "Did he escape a mental institution or a zoo?"
Before L could reply Light had shot up. He was glowered at Takada, sitting in a feral crouch that mirrored L's.
This woman!
Of course Light knew what he could do to leave her speechless and get rid of her once and for all…
I can trust Yamamoto and Mikami with this. In fact Yamamoto no doubt knows already what with that one time… Of course Takada and all these idiots. They'll tell everyone but realistically can I expect to keep this hidden? What with EVERYONE chasing after me?
Ryuuzaki's question gnawed at him "Why do you hide?" By being so secretive and appearing to be so flawless he wasn't doing himself any favors of not looking like Kira. If a background was too perfect like his was that might raise more red flags than a criminal record. The investigators would no doubt want to see a human "flaw." It would give them all something else to focus on-and he didn't consider it a "flaw…" Light glanced around the table at his train of admirers-all these idiots around him-did he really care what any of them thought?
It's my New World-only my opinion is valid. I'm okay with what I am.
It was wearing him out playing obedient son and perfect student while carrying so many secrets. It would be a relief to relinquish one of them-especially since he wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
I'm an adult now and God of the New World. Either dad will accept it or not. I'm tired of hiding it.
"Actually I lied before. Ryuuzaki isn't my friend…"
Takada looked relieved and L dropped his spoon in shock. Light reached across the table and clasped L's hand in his.
"He's my boyfriend."
Light decided that come what may it was totally worth it for the look of fury on Takada's face. But she was only an afterthought after the way Ryuuzaki almost seemed to swoon as Light glanced at him with bedroom eyes and Light knew he had made the right choice.
"Wow," one of the girls gasped.
"Congratulations!" Yamamoto enthused.
All around them girls groaned in disappointment while others tittered in excitement.
Light froze. He had never seen Ryuuzaki blushing so red. He hoped it was okay.
L was surprised-he never considered that Light would purposely out himself (out THEM) like this.
"I see. Light-kun is defending my honor. How noble…" L murmured caustically.
No, how Kira-like. This was just like the Lind L. Tailor incident. This woman had insulted him, yes but in doing so she had also insulted Light and so she was going down-very childish really-but also very satisfying.
L never claimed not to be childish too.
Meanwhile Takada shrieked at Light, calling him every name ever written on a bathroom stall and knocking over the contents of their table with a sweeping gesture of her hand. Mikami restrained the shrieking harpy before she could attack either of the booth's occupants at which point she turned her wrath on him, slapping him in the face. Takada shouted some more obscenities and, red-faced, she stormed out of the coffee shop.
Mikami quickly and deeply apologized on Takada's behalf and followed her out. While he found her behavior just now to be appalling she was one of his few friends. Also after reuniting with his old friend (who had become an attractive young man that preferred the company of men… ) who was obviously already very happy and very taken-he best leave before he did something… evil.
"Well, so much for "refined" Takada" Yamamoto quipped, but then he saw how Light seemed to have doubled-over in pain. "Hey buddy, are you alright?"
Takada's screaming was bad enough but then there was something else-ever since Takada threw her tantrum…
"I-I can't move!"
What's worse was his body was trying to revert to its true form.
No, not here! Not now!
Light grimaced as tendrils of fear worked their way into his being.
L gaped at his lover in surprise-Light looked… scared.
"Light-kun!" Ryuuzaki bolted right over the top of the table, his bare foot sliding on and breaking the line of salt that had formed when Takada knocked over the salt shaker.
…And then whatever had overtaken Light had passed as quickly as it had come.
What was that? Weird… Were there more weird changes happening to his body? He was freakish enough as is! Light was thoroughly disturbed by the prospect of mutating further. Light could only hope that whatever it was it didn't happen again...
"Are you alright?" Ryuuzaki asked with some concern as he absentmindedly stroked Light's back.
"Y-yeah." Light still sounded really shaken.
L forcefully parted Light's train of admirers declaring "C'mon let's get out of here."
That's the second time something like this happened tonight? Light-kun…
L's thought process was interrupted when he absentmindedly licked some grains of sugar stuck to his fingers (in a motion ingrained in L's muscle memory) and made a face, only afterwards realizing it wasn't sugar...
Salt?
The detective looked around and spied how the salt shaker must have rolled on the floor creating a circle-like pattern.
A circle of salt…
Of course L was aware of the folklore. On a recent case L had stopped a cult that was killing virgins with the ultimate goal being that they might summon a demon. The cultists had firmly believed that a little circle of salt could contain one.
No, that's completely absurd! Light is not a demon! Such a thing does not exist! The detective absolutely refused to believe in something that defied logic (at least until he ruled out all other possibilities…) Perhaps whatever mutation Light has has occurred before and maybe it correlates with a salt allergy and this created the mythology… However one piece of information poked a hole in L's allergy theory.
But Light likes potato chips...He isn't adverse to salt-just a ring of salt. That doesn't make any kind of logical sense unless… What if he really is…? L shook his head as if to clear it. I need to do that examination. He isn't. Light just thinks he's a demon. He called himself a… consciously or unconsciously Light-kun has no doubt just internalized…
Of course. He's overcompensating!
The detective thought with a knowing smirk as his profiling skills kicked into high gear.
Subconsciously Light sees himself as flawed and so he projects an image of perfection to convince himself and others that he is in fact perfect. Kira tries to eliminate evil in the world because he can't cope with it in himself. He can't accept that he is flawed, that he is wrong, and so he projects his flaws onto the world... But just now he just accepted that he wasn't what society views as "perfect."
So what does that mean?
For Kira? For the case? For us?
What changed?
L worried at his thumb as he realized. It's me. He accepts me though I'm flawed. That means I can change him!
L cringed even as he thought it. It sounded so stupid. Like the declaration of some lovestruck hybristophiliac.
Change Kira? Please! Kira is like me-he'd sooner die than lose!
L stole a glance at his beloved nemesis as they exited the café. Light still looked plenty shaken though he hid it well.
"Light-kun, what was that?"
"I don't know."
"Light-kun…" L began but stopped. Even if he knew the real cause what were the odds that Light would just tell him? But maybe Light would answer that other pressing question: "Light-kun… Why did you tell them? About us?"
Light looked at Ryuuzaki incredulously.
"You expected me to just sit there and listen to her insult you?"
"Well, yes… I mean; this… I imagine it was harmful to your reputation and..."
"Ryuuzaki!"
L froze as Light grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him right in the eye. "I'm not ashamed of you and if they're really my friends they'll stand by my decision," Light smiled grimly as he added "Yes, I think it's clear now who our friends are-Yamamoto and Mikami are our friends, and Takada is not."
"Mikami…"
Light heard L almost growl out the word, like it was something vile.
"You're… jealous?"
L fumed as Light threw his head back and laughed.
"Ah, Ryuuzaki, it's nothing like that! No, it's just… he's an old friend of mine is all."
"Really? You sounded very taken with him," L asked suspiciously.
Light glared in annoyance but Ryuuzaki was unrelenting in his questioning. Light finally confessed. "He saved my life in grade school."
"Wha-?"
"…Repeatedly. It's not like I was special or anything. He did that for everyone."
"Why would… what…?" L was flabbergasted. He was under the impression that his suspect lived a perfect life. But then didn't he just determine that it was a lie? Why should this be so surprising?
"I wasn't always a popular teenage heart throb, you know," Light smiled at the flummoxed detective. "No, I was the nerdy kid that loved school and learning, always reading ahead, always getting perfect marks, and always getting cornered in the boy's restroom... That was me… until Mikami came along. Mikami was my senpai-he is a very driven individual or at least that was true when I knew him. He could never stand injustice. He eventually got the whole school to stand up against the bullying. He's really inspired me and while I could never be like him he did show me how one person can make a difference and change things for the better," Light smiled beatifically as he added "Justice prevails."
When L noted the passionate note in his voice and how his eyes were shining with youthful idealism he felt the need to ask "Are you sure you're not in love with him?"
Light laughed again and the older man let out an embarrassing squeak when Light pulled him into a hug.
"He's not you, Ryuuzaki! So you have nothing to worry about. I just told you he was my role model growing up. That's all. Well, one of many. There was my father of course… and L."
The detective froze with a deer in the headlights look on his face "What?"
Light shot Ryuuzaki a coy smirk. "You know I want to be a detective one day. Why shouldn't I admire the greatest detective in the world?" Light chuckled again and shook his head. "Yes, it was always my dream growing up. To meet L, to work with him," Light sighed wistfully as he knowingly confessed his feelings to the real L. "I always imagined I could be a great help-that we could catch many bad guys together."
L looked pointedly at his feet, his pallid cheeks flushed with color. Of course he couldn't acknowledge the compliment without giving himself away. L felt a surge of relief at Light's assurance that he only had feelings for him but that relief was mixed with shame that his very existence had a hand in shaping what Kira would become.
"It was?"
"Mmm Hmmm?" Light hummed in his ear.
"Was. Past tense. It was your dream. What changed, Light-kun?"
Light realized his slip and quickly excused it with "Well…" Light lowered his voice "Well, I doubt the Great L would ever want to work with a demon like me."
L just rolled his eyes. "You're not a demon and even if you are if you are that good at detective work that L would take you as his partner I doubt it would matter."
"R-really? Thank you, Ryuuzaki."
"You shouldn't worry so much about that-that is ridiculously insecure! Very… emo."
"I am NOT!" If anyone here is emo it's Ryuuzaki!
L grinned at Light's indignant reaction.
"I mean look at everything you have! A nice apartment, a family that cares about you; and Light-kun is so lucky he has such good friends," L said softly and somewhat bitterly. When L was very young he had no one to save him.
Light remembered with dawning comprehension that Ryuuzaki had said he never really had a friend before.
Light squeezed his hand. "They're your friends too now."
"I-I've never really-" Ryuuzaki stammered out, easily falling into the shy college student role he was playing.
"Now who's emo?" Light murmured childishly.
"Well of course! Any friend of Light's is a friend of mine!" Yamamoto suddenly declared from behind them.
Both genii spun around in shock-it seemed Yamamoto and a train of Light's followers had followed them down the street, listening in on their conversation, hanging on every word.
"That's great Yamamoto but Ryuuzaki and I were kind of having a private moment here."
"Er… a public sidewalk isn't exactly private, you know! I just wanted to make sure you were alright, buddy… er…" Yamamoto noticed the murderous glance Light was sending them. It was terrifying enough that several of Light's stalkers turned tail and ran. "I-I guess we should be leaving now," Yamamoto stammered out as he nervously adjusted his glasses.
"Thank you, Yamamoto. You are a good friend." Light smiled sweetly and for the first time in his life L worried about getting diabetes. The detective, sick of having Light's attention diverted all throughout their "date" and very much effected by Light's sweet smile, suddenly tackled the younger man, planting wet, sloppy kisses upon his face.
Yamamoto flushed and averted his eyes. "Oi! Guys, get a room!"
"Shall we?" L asked with lust-clouded eyes.
"Hmmm?" Light mumbled his eyes taking on a distinctive crimson cast, L grinned that meant Light's so-called "demon" side was aching to come out…
"Get a hotel room?" the raven pressed.
Light just avoided frowning (he had really wanted to take L out flying again but after that incident his faith in his powers was still a little shaky) this sounded like a most agreeably alternative.
"Oh, definitely!" Light purred as he slowly trailed his fingers down the other man's cheek.
Of course they had a room but L didn't really want to wait to go all the way back across town but Light balked when he saw where L was leading them. "That's… that's an expensive hotel…"
L smiled. "Don't worry about it. I told you my grandfather runs a Pharmaceutical Company-he won't mind if I use his credit card."
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