May I advertise the works of my wonderful friend Dotti55, she has recently begun writing and her stories are well worth the read. I hope that you will take some time to go and read them.

A/N; So, a new story. One of the best signs I think that my writer's block has well and truly gone. Rest assured regular updates will now be occurring on all my stories. I hope you enjoy this one.

Please read and review!

Noblesse Oblige

Chapter One

Light stared in undisguised annoyance and despair at the man in all too familiar long coat and hat that was walking into the main meeting room for the detectives. It meant he was poking his nose into his case, again. Sometimes life just wasn't fair, he felt like he was being stalked. Before the man could begin talking to introduce L to the team, he got up and left the room his pace brisk so he didn't have the risk of being called back in. He couldn't stand this, every time he had moved teams in the last six months L had followed him, somehow he had decided to involve himself. Light strode down the main corridor heading for the canteen; it was nearly lunchtime so he decided he might as well take advantage of that as an excuse for why he had left so suddenly.

Every new case he had taken control of that became even remotely interesting had L appearing like a moth to a flame. It was as if L found his cases particularly interesting and had to be involved, but it didn't make sense, they were nowhere near as difficult as the cases the great detective was known to follow and he was often only involved for a day or two at best… And that was another thing, why was he directly involving himself on such little cases instead of sending his findings from on high? Why was he becoming involved with so many cases in Japan nowadays?

Light paused in his march towards the canteen and stared out of the windows to his right, suddenly his feelings of being stalked felt all too real. The only continuous feature that L's appearance on any case had was Light's own presence. He shivered with uncharacteristic nerves and brought his arms up to hug himself briefly before shaking it off in annoyance. The sudden thought that the world's greatest and most powerful detective was taking special interest in you would be enough to unsettle anyone Light knew. With a sigh he straightened his jacket and continued his journey. His thoughts were not helping him settle his mood and they were useless without any actual evidence.

A few minutes later and he felt more refreshed as he sat drinking a cup of tea staring out once more over the city below, a few bites taken out of the sandwich he had picked at random, one of the few moments of unpredictability he allowed himself. He wondered briefly if he should change his schedule, begin to act on impulse to throw off anyone L would have trailing him.

He chuckled then, his quiet laughter startling the other officers around him, but he ignored them.

I'm being so stupid, he thought, I'm panicking over nothing. There is no reason why L should be interested in me. I've committed no crime or done anything suspicious. I just do my job. I'm letting coincidence get to me. Who knows how the great mind of L works.

He shook his head, still smiling at his own ability to overanalyse and turned back to his sandwich. Perhaps he was just in need of a holiday, a break from his work. True, he found this all terribly interesting and never found his work dull. Though if he was finding conspiracies in his own workplace it was likely he was working too hard. He was sure his supervisor would be relieved as well, the man had been hinting for weeks that he wanted Light to do that very thing.

As names of places, and all the things he could do began to fill his mind he finally let himself relax. Yes, he was just in need of a holiday, just a little wound up for working for too many months without a break. For it had been months hadn't it, nearly a year… He sighed, he hadn't realised it had been that long. No wonder he was beginning to suspect even L of strange motives.

With new resolve he headed back towards the meeting room, it had been unprofessional of him to walk out then. True Watari hadn't spoken, and Light could say he hadn't seen him, but he knew the man had known he had been looking at him. He was sure that he had met eyes with him, which meant that L probably knew he had walked out deliberately too. It couldn't be helped. He was stopped from re-entering the main room though by the form of Watari.

"Ah, Yagami-san," Watari said, his voice as affable as always, "I'm glad to see you have returned."

Light forced his face to stay unreadable as he thought of a reply. It seemed his day was set to be a difficult one. Though he had holiday to look forward to, time to relax so he could get through just a few more days. His supervisor might even send him packing this afternoon, now that was a delightful thought.

"I had been in since early this morning, and was in need of some food," Light replied, decided to go for the blatant answer instead of an excuse that he hadn't seen Watari, "I know that introductions usually take up most of the initial time of these meetings so I decided to make use of it. Usually it's not possible afterwards."

"Quite so," Watari murmured, and there was almost the trace of a laugh to his tone, "Though today L merely wanted to present his findings on the case, which is now solved-"

Light felt his right eye twitch and he couldn't stop it. The annoyance was just too great to bear. His case had been trodden on again, he glanced down to see Watari already had the dratted laptop L used under his arm.

"-The main reason I was sent here today though was to talk to you Yagami-san," Watari continued, "So you can see why I was relieved that you had returned."

"To talk to me?" Light asked his voice strained, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. He was in shock, it seemed all his thoughts from earlier were being verified.

"Yes indeed," Watari said, "I would appreciate it if we could go somewhere a little more private however. The hallway is not the best place for such a discussion."

"There should be a free interview room this way, it's not an observation room so we won't be overheard," Light said, beginning to lead the way there. Again he felt like he was speaking on automatic, saying all that was necessary, though most of him just wanted to run from the nearest exit. It was an irrational reaction, but after all he had been thinking about L it was only natural.

There was silence between the two of them as they walked, neither saying a word or even looking at the other until they were seated opposite each other at the lone table in the windowless room. The laptop through which Light knew L spoke placed with its lid closed on the table between them.

"So, what did you want to say?" Light said with a sigh, settling back in the chair and crossing his arms defensively. He was trying desperately to not feel as though he were being judged.

"I have quite obviously been sent here by L," Watari began, "L feels that your abilities lend you quite well to being able to assist on more cases than you do presently. L is proposing that you leave the NPA and work for him alone. There are many cases which require someone on the ground to help with inquires and to see what L cannot see through a computer screen. In the past, as you know, L used the local police force, but too many cases have been slowed or hindered by them. L feels the only way to improve on this is to have someone who is as competent as L, on the ground able to provide the information required to help solve the case. You are that person Light Yagami."

Light stared at Watari allowing his shock to be plainly evident on his face. The idea just seemed to ridiculous. L was really thinking that he would just jump at the chance to be his dogsbody? Would leave his promising career just so he could be ordered who knows where, who knew when, to help on any case L felt like solving? It was as if L had become bored in his obviously solitary life and so had decided to pull him in to join him.

"I must stress that this is a onetime offer," Watari said suddenly, "you will only be asked once."

"You seriously think I would be happy to leave everything just like that?" Light queried, staring across the table, trying to contain his resentment.

"I thought you required more convincing than that Yagami-san." The familiar electronically altered voice resounded from the laptop and Light had to force himself not to frown, he should have realised L would listen in to such a conversation. Then L continued on, "I would have been worried had you agreed immediately, your concerns make me feel more assured that you are trustworthy Yagami-san. I would very much like for you to work for me."

Light waited to reply as Watari opened the laptop and pointed it towards him so his vision was filled with the white screen and the ornate L. The webcam in the lid told him that he was almost certainly being observed now.

"You expect me to let my life be torn apart so I can help you, because that would be the end result you have to realise that," Light finally replied, "You walk all over my cases for the past few months so my superiors nothing of what I can do only your achievements, and then tell me that you can offer me a life filled with only being your helper and expect me to accept such an opportunity? I think not."

To Light's surprise there was a sudden harsh intake of air from Watari as if he had never heard L being spoken to in such an abrupt manner and worried what L's reaction would be. For a second Light too felt a bout of worry at having spoken to such a powerful man so severely.

"I must admit that my attempts to find out whether we would work well together, has meant that there is a likelihood I have hindered your career advancement somewhat should you choose to stay in the police force. This is very regrettable, and I apologise for this," L said sounding genuinely remorseful, and Light sensed sudden surprise from Watari at this. It seemed L didn't give apologies very often, "It was unforeseen when I began evaluating you for the role I am offering. As for affecting your life as it is at present, I would attempt to be of minimal disturbance beyond your usual time spent on police matters."

Light looked away from the laptop then, his eyes gazing unseeing at the floor. It seemed L was genuinely attempting to come to a level agreement between them, was contrite with not evaluating how much it would affect his life. This was a side of L he had never seen before, he had always had to deal with the L who would rarely accept changes to his plans, and had evaluated everything before it was brought up by anyone else on the team… except for Light though. Now he thought back on it he had always been able to keep up with L's thought processes and to understand how he came to the conclusions he did. Often it had been reduced to just the two of them bouncing ideas and plans back and forth as the others merely watched… if he thought about it objectively and logically working together made perfect sense. It was just that L had played him from the start or close to it, and meant that all the other case were part of his 'test'… it grated against his pride.

Pride would be a very poor reason to turn down such an opportunity though. He knew too well how invigorating it had been to work with L until he felt like the great detective was stealing cases from him, if that feeling returned while working with him…

"You said I would only be helping you with cases though," Light said slowly, judging each word carefully, "would I simply be someone able to gather evidence for you and view the sites in the way you can't or won't? Simply there just to gather information to pass onto you? I'm a detective not a servant."

"That would be some of your role yes that would be inevitable," L replied, his tone suddenly defensive as if he hadn't wanted to admit what he was saying, "but eventually I had hoped to have you working with me on cases..."

He paused for so long that Light wondered if this was his cue to speak, but then L continued…

"As my equal."

Light couldn't help but stare at the camera above the screen in surprise and shock, he didn't care that he was showing it on his face. The emotion was too great for him to even try and conceal it, and what else would L expect from him? His irritation with L was quickly fading, this offer was just too amazing to believe. Was L truly asking for him to join him?

"Are you serious?" Light blurted, still looking at the camera in shook as if he could see L himself.

"I do not joke Yagami-san," L replied, "Particularly about serious matters such as this."

"I didn't mean it so literally. I just…" Light tried to explain, "I need a minute to think this all through, it's such a surprising offer I can just come to a sudden decision."

"Watari," L said, almost cutting across the end of Light's sentence, "Please close the laptop and stand outside this room for five minutes. I believe it would be polite to give Yagami-san time to think without being observed."

"Thank you L," Light sighed, surprised at both L's statement and his sudden affable feelings towards the detective, but then L's interest in him had resolved into something quite gratifying… even if he had no idea what he was going to do. He definitely needed time to think. He waited until L's aide had left the room and then buried his head in his hands; this was almost too much to deal with even for him. He was at a crossroads in his life and for once his intelligence seemed to be failing him.

He wondered what to make of the offer. It was certainly unprecedented; Watari's attitude and the almost improvised nature of this whole event told him that. So why did L suddenly want help? Watari's comments about unhelpful and slow police was a reasonable answer to be sure, but there had to be people the great detective could employ who would be more biddable. Light gave a small laugh, if there was one thing he could guarantee it was that he wouldn't ever be biddable, he wasn't one for taking orders. L had to know that well, of all the officers he was the one most likely to argue with L and be the most critical of his plans. Why would L want anyone like that around?

Then Light paused in his thoughts as something dawned on him.

Perhaps L wanted someone who would fight with him, wouldn't immediately jump to it and respond with a stammering 'yes sir' as so many others had. Light knew he had only ever seen one other person argue with L, Aizawa, and he had only been arguing over points that made no sense… Only he, Light himself, had ever argued with L over the fine details and made what they did better. Reluctantly he had to admit that he could see the merits to L's plan. It made perfect sense, they were a team, and perhaps the cases they had worked on recently were not so much easy, as made simple because they both were on them.

He sighed and leaned back in the chair to stare up at the ceiling, eyes fixing vaguely on a small blemish though he didn't truly see. He knew with this new revelation that he couldn't say no to L, the intriguing possibility of being part of whatever made L work, of being on the team of the most successful detective the world had ever known was too great a chance to pass up. He could never look back in twenty years and think that he had been given this opportunity and he had just said no, he wasn't sure his innate pride could take the hit.

He frowned as he thought things through properly, thinking over all Watari and L and had said and just what this would mean for him. He knew he would definitely need to give some conditions of his own, and he was determined to only say yes if L agreed to them.

It seemed he had come to his mental conclusion none too soon as it was at this moment Watari chose to return and once more set up the laptop on the table. He said nothing as he did this, and Light wished for a moment that he could see the man's face, so he could have some sense of how he was feeling.

"So, Yagami-san," L said, once the laptop was once again open before Light, "Do you have an answer?"

"I do," Light replied, "but my choice depends on whether certain conditions can be met."

"I see," L commented, "after our previous conversation this does not come as a surprise to me. What are they?"

"Access to whatever defences or aids Watari has to allow him to pass unnoticed through the world wherever he needs to be to best help you. I'm going to become quite obvious in my role if I don't have that," Light said slowly, "I want to know that if I choose to do something on a case I won't suddenly find myself in prison because of it, I know the law differs widely between countries and I don't want to find myself in difficulty because of it. I also want to know clearly just what my role is, I don't think having you angry at me about something I did that you perhaps wouldn't have wanted doing-"

"These are all reasonable," L said, interrupting Light, "and all things I would have done had you not requested them, I-"

"There is one more," Light added forcefully, his eyebrows twitching as L interrupted him even as he interrupted L in turn, "If I'm going to be risking my life for you L, then I think it's only fair, only right, that we are equal with this. So, I want to know who you are. I want to meet you L, I want to know who you are."

The silence that descended at his words was deathly still, and Light was sure that Watari must have forgotten how to breathe he was that still. He dared not say anything though, he was determined to get all that he had asked for. If he was to work for L long term at had to be by more than to an anonymous laptop he had to know who the man was. Finally L poke, and it was as if every word was being fought for against his obvious paranoia.

"I understand Yagami-san," L said, "Watari, bring him here immediately."