First Date
'This is crazy, this is crazy,' Light thinks with slight exasperation as he attempts for the tenth time to make his hair presentable. Normally his light brown hair would just naturally fall into place, no effort required, but tonight it did not want to cooperate and this time he desperately needed it to obey. With a final flick of his hairbrush he tames his hair into submission, sighing contentedly when he sees that it did not start parting down the middle of his forehead like it had been doing before. He wonders, as he observes his appearance in the mirror, if L will realize exactly how difficult of a time he had been having with taming his hair and he starts to chuckle when he catches himself. The irony is unbelievable; ordinarily it is L whom has the unruly, uncooperative hair.
"I'll have to ask him if he had an easy time getting ready," Light says to himself quietly as he smoothens out his shirt, minimalizing the number of wrinkles he perceives is there. Logically he knows he should not be nervous, this would not be the first time he has been alone in L's company, nor would it be the first time they were out in public together. This would, however, be their first actual date. What makes this night even more of a surprise is the fact it had been L whom had asked him out when he had just been working up the nerve to ask the detective out himself. It was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.
"Light, are you almost done in there?" asks Sayu through the closed bathroom door. "You've been in there for over an hour already."
Light shakes his head slightly as he makes sure one last time that nothing about his appearance has changed in the last few seconds. "Yeah, I'm almost done, just another minute."
"God, you spend more time in there than most girls do," she huffs and he can hear her footsteps retreating away from the door. While he is glad to be back home after spending so much time at Task Force headquarters, he did miss the solitude and quiet his private apartment there offered, even with the security cameras and wiretaps he knew L had installed. Being home was familiar but at the same time it was foreign, he had to readjust to the routine after having his own for such a long time and it was strange not seeing L every day like before. He smiles as he remembers the detective reaching the same conclusion he had.
'Light, telephone for you!' called his mother from the living room and Light stopped typing his daily report for L and waited for his mother to bring him the phone so he could take the call that had so rudely interrupted his train of thought.
'Who is it?' he asked his mom as he took the receiver from her hand.
Sachiko smiled at him as she let go of the phone. 'Your friend from school, he said you were expecting his call.'
Light did not argue with his mother and he kindly motioned for her to leave his room so he could have some privacy which she did so without another word. When he was sure she was gone and the door was closed he put the phone to his ear. 'Light Yagami speaking,' said Light formally.
'Light, it's good to speak with you again,' came L's dulcet tones through the phone and down Light's spine in a pleasant chill.
'Ryuzaki,' he said in a soft whisper, a smile etching itself across his face. 'Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise, I thought you didn't communicate with any of the investigators outside of an investigation.'
'Normally I don't,' replied L and Light could practically see the smirk on his thin lips. 'But I am always willing to make an exception every now and then. There's something I wish to discuss with you actually and I would rather we did not do it over the phone.'
'Then why'd you call?' asked Light slightly annoyed with the detective's unusual etiquette.
There was silence on the other end and for a moment Light thought that L had hung up on him until he heard what sounded like a throat being cleared.
'I called because I wanted to hear your voice,' admitted L softly and Light's heart was pounding so hard he thought it would break free of his chest. 'Please say you'll meet with me, Light, I . . . I am desperate for your company.'
Light was stunned, he had not expected this turn of events but he remained cautious, this was L after all and he could simply be asking for someone to consult with and not asking for a date. 'Ryuzaki,' said Light, knowing that if he wanted a straight answer he would have to be direct. 'Are you asking me on a date?'
Again there was silence though Light could hear L's gentle breathing on the other end of the line. 'Yes,' replied L and Light's stomach flipped. 'I cannot deny my physical and mental attraction to you any longer, if I do, there is a definite possibility that I will go mad. I will understand, however, if you do not wish to pursue this lead and would rather maintain a professional relationship.'
'Not a chance,' laughed Light. 'I'd be honored to go out with you; actually I was trying to work up the nerve to ask you out myself.'
'Then I'm glad I took the initiative,' said L smugly. 'Otherwise we would still both be sitting here without plans for Friday night.'
Light rolls his eyes slightly; even in memory L's superiority annoyed him. He looks back at his reflection and gives himself an approving nod, finally satisfied with his appearance after what must have been hours. Before he can change his mind about his outfit or jump in the shower to wash off the questionable amount of cologne, he leaves the washroom.
When he arrives downstairs he sees both his mother and sister sitting on the couch, their excitement barely contained when he appears. For a moment he is sure they are going to start cheering but his mother simply stands up and gives him a bone crushing hug, thoroughly embarrassing him.
"I'm so happy for you," she gushes as she releases her near-death grip on his torso. "It's been so long since you've been out with anyone, I was starting to think you'd write off relationships completely. Can you tell me now who you're going out with?"
Light shakes his head. "Sorry, Mom, but I'm not at liberty to divulge that information. And don't even try interrogating Dad, he doesn't know either."
"Please, Light?" begs Sayu as she leaps from the couch. "Just a little hint?"
"Okay, I guess one hint won't hurt," says Light with a sly grin. "It's someone I've worked very closely with over the last few months."
Sayu is silent for a moment as she mulls over Light's clue and her eyes shine. "It's Misa! You're seeing her again?! Wow, that's great, she's such a sweetie and totally your type, Light. I can see why you really can't say anything, there'd be too much publicity and all that."
"Sure, Sayu, whatever you say," sighs Light. He decides it would be better to just let her believe what she wanted to, there was no reason to tell her the truth, that would be much more complicated. He is not ashamed of whom he is seeing, if anything he is thrilled, but trying to explain in vague terms exactly how he knows L and what they have done together would be the more difficult part. He can hardly tell his family that he is going on a date with the world famous detective L.
"Light!" shrieks Sayu, interrupting his thoughts. "There's a limo outside and an older gentleman coming to the door!" She seems far more excited for this date than he is.
"I'll answer it then," says Light, tactfully cutting in front of Sayu just as the doorbell chimes. He opens the door and just as he surmised, Watari is standing there, impeccably dressed as always.
"Mr. Yagami, a pleasure to see you again," says Watari pleasantly and he bows slightly. "Are you ready to leave?"
Light bows in return. "Yes, and it's great to see you again as well, Watari. I'll be with you in a moment, I just have to say good bye first."
"Don't worry about that," insists Sayu with her hands on his back, practically pushing him out the door. "Just go and have a good time, heck, don't even bother coming home! We'll just wait for the wedding invitation."
"Sayu, please calm down," says Sachiko in a firm yet gentle voice and Sayu stops pushing on Light's back. "Light, do have a good time, but if you don't plan on being home tonight just call to let me know."
"Of course," says Light and he turns around quickly to hug his mother then he hugs his sister despite her annoying behavior earlier. When he is done, he follows Watari down the concrete walk and to the limousine where he is sure L is waiting crouched in the backseat.
Watari opens the rear door and Light slides in gracefully right beside the object of his affections; the man in question is currently sitting with a forked strawberry precariously perched between his thumb and index finger. When Light settles in next to him, L looks up and gives him a small, genuine smile. Seeing his smile causes a pleasant sensation to pool in Light's belly, and he eagerly returns it.
"It's good to see you," says L softly before taking the strawberry into his mouth, a thin red trail of juice sliding down the corner of his mouth. Against his alabaster skin the trail looks like blood and Light is quick to wipe it away, a cold chill creeping up his spine as his mind conjures a less than welcome picture of L's lifeless body sprawled on the floor.
'So much could've gone wrong that day,' he thinks, remembering the pinnacle moment not too long ago when he could have lost everything, including L.
Though he no longer retains it physically, knowledge of the Death Note is still prominent in his mind, having regained ownership of it when Higuchi was executed for his crimes. L had arranged it so he would, after a lengthy talk with Rem about the rules surrounding the Death Note, making the Shinigami promise that Light would not be killed if Misa were cleared of all suspicion. The Shinigami agreed and left without further incident, likely back to the Shinigami realm. When that had been taken care of, L had instructed Light to find where he had hidden the second notebook and bring it to headquarters where they burned it in place of the one that had been in Higuchi's possession. L had hidden the first notebook someplace only he knew of, so Light would not be tempted. Afterwards, he redirected the Task Force to working on newer cases, citing that since there had been no new killings from Kira in weeks, it would be prudent to work on other things. Light would forever be grateful to L for what he had done.
"You have yet to ask where we are headed, Light," says L, bringing Light from his thoughts. "Are you not curious?"
"Of course I am," laughs Light as he casually puts his arm around L's shoulders. "I just know better than to try and get a straight answer out of you."
"So you are learning," mutters L more to himself than to Light, but he hears him anyway. "I suspected as much, given how thorough your reports are, especially compared to Matsuda's. I was right that day when I said you'd make a fine detective."
Light sighs and shakes his head in amusement, sometimes he is sure he knows L's mind and others he has no idea what the detective is saying half of the time. "Alright, enough business talk, I thought this was supposed to be a date."
"And it is," replies L, his dark grey orbs now on Light. "I was just making small talk, isn't that what's supposed to happen on a date? Small talk in a car and over a dinner of Northern Italian cuisine in order to get better acquainted?"
"Yes, but given the fact we worked and lived together for almost six months, I'd say we can safely move past that phase," says Light, his fingertips brushing against L's shoulder. "I hope I didn't ruin your dinner plans."
"Of course not," says L and Light can tell he is speaking honestly. "If anything, such an arrangement would be too cliché for you and I, given our personalities and preferences. For tonight, I have arranged something more suitable."
"Now you've got me curious," says Light, and he settles himself into the plush leather seat, anticipating a long drive to wherever L had decided.
"Good, I would be disappointed if you were not," retorts L, as best as he can in his crouched position he rests himself against Light and closes his eyes.
The drive does not last as long as Light had suspected, less than an hour after picking him up Watari stops the limousine and through the divider Light can hear him roll down the window. There are very few places in Japan that would require Watari to input anything before parking the car, and guessing from the length of time they are stopped, Light is sure they are back at Task Force headquarters. He is slightly disappointed at this revelation; he had been hoping L would take him someplace no one knew about or at the very least someplace only the two of them would genuinely appreciate.
"Are we there yet?" asks L, waking from his nap with a slight start.
"We're at headquarters," says Light pleasantly though it is difficult to keep the slight bitterness from his tone. 'Perhaps L had been serious about needing to speak with me in person,' thinks Light as Watari pulls the car through the garage doors.
L observes Light's reaction to being at headquarters once again and is not surprised to see him slightly upset; his reaction is undetectable to a normal person, as they would be distracted by the seemingly pleasant smile, but L knows better. He bites back the smirk threatening to break out, if he gives it away now, he will not be able to fully enjoy Light's surprise. It proves more difficult than he thought.
Watari parks the car and then gets out, heading over to Light's side of the car and opens the passenger door. "All of the preparations have been seen to, L," he says as the two men exit the car.
"Thank you very much, Watari," says L to his father figure as he takes Light's hand and moves him towards the elevator. "We should be home in a few hours, please call if the hour grows too late."
"Very well," says Watari and the elder gentleman headed towards a different door while Light and L went into the elevator.
When inside, L opens a small door on the console and presses a button Light had seen him press only once before and his stomach flips. They were headed to the roof; more specifically they were going to the helicopter pad. He is not afraid of flying or anything of that nature, quite the contrary, but the last time they had been in the helicopter was the night they arrested Higuchi and when he found the Death Note once again. He is more concerned about what this means regarding his status as a free man after all L always got his target.
"I assume you know where we're headed?" asks L, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. "I hope you don't mind a night flight."
"Not at all," says Light convincingly though he cannot stop the shiver of fear that crawls over his skin. He is suspicious of whether or not L is going to arrest him, perhaps he thought him too dangerous to walk free anymore.
L gives him a small smile. "Good, as I recall you seemed quite impressed with it the last time we were in it, I hope the novelty hasn't worn off yet."
'No, but the novelty of freedom is starting to,' thinks Light as the elevator comes to a stop on the designated floor. Together they exit and L guides him over to the nearest helicopter, opening the door for him so the young man is able to enter without difficulty. L follows him inside and maneuvers himself so he is in the pilot's seat once again, when he is settled he begins pressing a sequence of buttons whose purpose Light can only begin to fathom. The detective hands him a headset and silently instructs him to put them on, which he does though he is having some serious déjà vu. Suddenly a hangar door opens just as the helicopter comes to life then L gently guides the machine out of the building and they fly off into the night sky.
"This is incredible," whispers Light as he admires the incredible view of the city below. "I didn't pay much attention last time, but this is beyond imagining."
"I'm glad you like it," says L as he flips a switch on the console. "I've wanted to show you this for some time now, but I wasn't sure you'd understand its significance. At least, not at first."
"I'm not sure I'm understanding it now, to be perfectly honest," admits Light as he looks down at the cars below.
"This is the big picture," says L simply as he flies them higher. "Everything we've done, and all that we're going to do has a direct impact on all of this, and I thought after all you've been through you needed to see this. I know you wanted to change the world by systematically eliminating criminals but I hope you can see that that's not the way; we must have balance. Those who fight for justice cannot stoop to the same levels as the people they are battling; otherwise we are left with chaos. If our world tumbled further into chaos, this beautiful view would not be possible as the situation would be completely different; the people, society, politics, all of it would be drastically altered."
Light listens to L's explanation with rapt attention, he understands what he is saying and even agrees with him, yet he still cannot shake his ideals about justice and the world completely. To him, the world is still rotting and there are people whom are just wasting resources simply by existing, although he no longer wanted to take such drastic actions against them. It is satisfying to know he had at least made some change in the world.
"I see your point," says Light honestly and without a second thought, he reaches over and covers L's hand with his. "Is this what you wanted to discuss with me?"
L shakes his head much to Light's surprise. "Look under your seat."
Light manages to suppress his surprise and leans down to check what L had placed under his seat, intrigued when he feels his fingers brush against what felt like a velvet covered box and he pulls it out. Indeed it is a box wrapped in dark green velvet and when Light opens it, he almost drops it in shock; inside is a beautiful gold Rolex with four diamonds on the face. With trembling hands he takes the watch out of the box then looks at L only to find the detective is already looking at him.
"What's this for?" he asks, his voice soft and unsure.
"I wanted to discuss something important with you," replies L cryptically. "I realized after you left headquarters to return home and to school, I was incredibly lonely and though I attempted to remedy this problem by taking on new cases, nothing eased that feeling. I started to notice that every time I received some kind of correspondence from you, my heart rate increased and the feeling became a little lighter. I knew my solution was to have you again at my side."
"So you're bribing me with a Rolex?" asks Light incredulously. "L, if you'd have just asked, I'd have said yes."
"I know that," says L softly, and then he reaches across and takes his hand. "The watch is not a bribe, Light, it is . . . part of my proposal. I thought about a ring but you hardly wear jewelry."
Light stares at him wide-eyed in shock, unable to actually believe what L is saying. "L . . . are you asking me to marry you?"
"I'm asking for a partnership," he says, squeezing his hand. "I don't want some housewife nor do I want a trophy, I want a partner in both business and pleasure. I love you, Light Yagami, and I'll understand completely if you reject me as you have every reason to."
L is right, he does have every reason to tell him no and ask him to take him home, but Light knows better than that. He had been trying to deny his attraction and feelings for the detective since he first recognized them some months ago, thinking it impossible to ever be with him. Light had tried to date other people, to forget about the dark haired, sweets-loving detective whose intellect matched his own but his heart was persistent. Now he is in the exact moment he had been dreaming of for weeks and he has but one answer for the detective.
"Yes," says Light and he leans forward, pressing his lips against L's in a soft yet passionate kiss. He is amazed how soft L's lips actually are, he had thought they would be chapped and dry, what amazes him more is feeling L kiss him back with equal need and passion. In the back of Light's mind, he is aware of the irony of the situation; he had been concerned with L finally ensnaring him yet he had not suspected this would happen, though he knew he should have. L always got his target.