Light glanced across at L and did not like what he saw. He knew the detective was a 'functional' insomniac (this being a new use of the word functional Light had not fully understood until viewing L's everyday habits), but it was bordering on the dangerous. He should be pleased. With L's mental capacities hampered by the eye bags he was packing, his investigation into Kira would now surely be slowed. He would have more time to debate his next move. L was a formidable opponent, and one who required the most delicate and intricate strategies just to keep at bay.
The only problem was...Light wasn't pleased.
The feeling had surprised him unexpectedly when he first saw the tinge of black that surrounded L's eyes deepen. What had started as semicircles of black fading to grey had deepened and spread. L looked awful. His skin, always pale, was now sickeningly luminescent, and only served to enhance the delicacy of L. The sweets L ate seemed to fall away to nothing, and thanks to his now constant state of 'wired', his lithe frame had shrunk in on itself, until Light could count each rib should he wish, could discern the harsh jutting of pelvic bone against L's jeans. Looking at him now, Light was ashamed of himself for letting him get this way.
The feeling that had crept up on him was now all too clear-he cared about L.
'Light, could you pass me those files?' Light reached over for the files of Kira victims claimed within the last week, feeling strangely reassured by the jangle of handcuffs as he did so. At least he was close to L. He handed the files to L without a word. He had no idea how to go about this.
'L...'
L waited, as was his want, for a while. He often did this. Light put it down to L's annoyance at in articulation. A rushed response would be a garbled one. Finally though, it seemed as though L realised that Light would need some prompting.
'What is it, Light?'
L sounded worried. Could it be that L cared for him too? Light shook the thought from his head. He needed to focus on L.
'L-I think you need some rest.'
'Whatever could you mean Light-san? I am perfectly capable of regulating myself. I simply require less sleep than you do.'
Light inwardly sighed. This had been the reaction he had been fully expecting, but he couldn't say that he was happy about it. Not at all.
'L.'
Light stared at L. This had worked before when L was being unreasonable, such as asking the ice cream man if he could fill the cone with sugar, then icecream, then sugar. It was a combination of exasperation, hope, and dominance. Light wasn't sure how his physiognomy could ever accommodate such an expression, but he'd practiced in the mirror plenty.
'I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my personal habits, Light.'
Light held up the handcuff incredulously.
'As much as is possible under the circumstances.'
With that, L turned away from Light, a definitive sign that the conversation was over. Light felt hurt. He pushed it to one side. If L wasn't going to do things easy, he guessed he'd have to go in hard.