δΈ€
Light rarely ever experienced sleep that wasn't intermittent and restless anymore. It hardly came as a surprise to him then, that even the quiet sound of what could have been rain or snow hitting against a glass window was enough to disturb him. He let out a mumbled "mmh," before fully opening his eyes and focusing on the noise more clearly. His face, poking out from the thick covers was definitely cold. Freezing. So then maybe it was snowing outside. But there was a warmth around his torso. A warmth that, as he thought about and came to realize very quickly, was coming from L's arm. He sat up, immediately disturbed by it.
And so, L was actually sleeping right beside him.
Very literally, right next to him.
The nineteen year old shoved his arm off, sliding further to the other side of the bed staring at the detective oddly. Well. It was cold. Probably not too much to worry about. Seeking body heat was natural instinct, especially in such a relaxed, unconscious state of sleep. He'd ignore it unless L chose to bring it up that morning, in which case it would have been intentional. Whatever the possible reasoning L could hold for intentionally practically spooning his Kira suspect could be.
Warily, Light's gaze drifted from L to the bed covers.
Light grey. Not dark grey.
Had some gotten kicked off during the night, or had Watari added some extra in a different color while they were asleep?
Light's brow furrowed. Strange that he wouldn't have woken up if the latter had been the case. And by taking a quick glance at the floor, he realized that there were none there either.
And then as he was looking around he realized something else.
This was not the room that he remembered falling asleep in.
The color scheme was the same dull grey and cream. L's clothes were dispersed on the floor, and a laptop sat still switched on and plugged in in the corner. But the bedroom he and L usually shared at headquarters didn't have a large glass door that led out onto a small balcony. It definitely wasn't on a second floor. And the door which would usually lead out into the hallway was on the other side.
Shuffling to the side so that he didn't wake L, Light slid his legs over the edge of the bed.
After processing for a few minutes, he went to stand up but stopped as his hands pressed against the mattress, about to elevate himself. No clink. No heavy weight of a chain. No uncomfortable handcuff digging into his wrist.
There were more than several things that weren't adding up. There was no way L would have detached the chain that connected them - he was convinced that Light was Kira. And the room now, unless it had undergone some sort of massive renovation, certainly wasn't the one he had fell asleep in, perhaps not even likely that it was in the same building.
"Light-kun...?"
Oh. Despite his best efforts, L was stirring.
"...Where are you going?"
Light didn't know how to reply. Light realized that L had to be acting, pretending to be half-asleep and oblivious to the fact that Light was shooting him a questioning glare.
"Don't you think a better question would be," Light remarked coldly, "Where are we?"
L buried his cheek into the soft looking pillow, grumbling. "Our... Bedroom...?"
"What?"
"Hm?"
"L, this isn't funny! What the hell did you do, drug me?!"
L opened his eyes, dead-panning, "Why would I do that?"
"What happened to the chain?" Light demanded, holding up his wrist.
If his facial expression were anything to go by, L was very quickly becoming more confused.
"Light-kun... are you... Sure that you're fully awake?"
"Of course I'm awake," Light replied, "What's going on?"
"I don't - It's cold, please don't throw off the covers letting the cold air in." L complained as Light did that, with growing impatience.
Fine, keep up the innocent act, L. It's not going to take me long to figure out where I am.
Light stumbled off the bed, glad that he was at least still wearing boxers... Although slightly less so that they looked like L's and not his own. Through the door, down a hallway, down some stairs.
A living room. A couch. Mahogany coffee table.
Through the living room, to the front door. The street.
Tokyo.
At least, Light was still in Tokyo. If L really wanted to kidnap him or whatever this was to mess with his head, it certainly wasn't going to work once he found his way back home, and his family. His father was all for proving or disproving that Light was Kira, but Light doubted that he would be willing to act (and well enough) for a stunt like this.
Pointless. Whatever L's tactic was, it was pointless.
"Light, what are you doing outside? It's snowing."
Light licked his lips. They were already blue and cold.
"Why did you bring me here?"
L started to walk towards him as Light took steps further away, not caring about the stares he was getting on the street from the small stream of people hurrying to work so early.
"Whatever you're doing," Light accused, "It obviously isn't going to work. And besides, this is a complete waste of time. I'm not Kira! We could be working on the case right now, not playing these stupid games."
L blanked, leaving them both standing there, staring awkwardly and on Light's part, heatedly, at the other.
"Who's Kira?" L asked suddenly, causing Light to scoff. Light really was too annoyed and cold and tired from everything and L to deal with this.
"Right, 'who's Kira'?" Light repeated, walking straight past him with the intent to go back to the wardrobe he saw in the bedroom, get dressed and leave to confirm that L was of course pulling something that was somehow some sort of Kira test or other.
"Light," L's hand gripped his arm quickly before he reached the door.
Light shook him off.
"Light," L repeated, "has something happened?"
"Let go of me. This is low. Even for you."
"I don't understand..."
"Of course that's what you'd say. You really think that this is enough to fool me?"
L didn't reply, but let him go. Light got as far as making his way back up the stairs inside, and taking a few steps towards the wardrobe in the bedroom before he stopped, seeing a photograph on the dresser he had missed before which sat beside the bed. Obviously altered. It was a photograph that him and L had never taken. Foreheads touching, lips smiling. Light's expression recoiled at seeing it.
What the hell was going on?
He barely paid attention to the figure which had appeared at the bedroom door. L was staring at him. Bare feet poking out from his blue pajama bottoms.
"Does this have to do with yesterday?" L asked quietly. "Are you... Leaving?"
Light was unreadable. Face stony until his eyes sharply glanced in L's direction.
"There's something wrong with you. This is twisted."
"...Us?"
"What do you mean 'us'?!"
"I thought you were over this."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Light shrieked, before he pulled himself together. Him losing control had to be what L wanted. He paced over to the wardrobe and started throwing on the first items of clothing he could find, not caring, for once, about appearances but just that he would be warm enough for the trek back home, whichever direction home happened to be from this random place L had dragged him to and made him wake up in.
L caught Light's glare as he walked straight past once more.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, but it's not going to work."
There was the sound of the doorbell ringing out from downstairs.
Light ignored it.
"How did you get me here?"
L remained silent. Then, "You need to see a doctor."
It rolled off like a calculated diagnosis and concern rather than an insult, however that obviously wasn't how Light took it.
"I'm obviously not the one who needs help." Light stated, now dressed. Leaving the room.
Last night... he had fallen asleep at headquarters. Last night, L had kept him awake for most of it clicking away on his laptop keys. Last night, his head had hit the pillow, filled with the days constant worryings of being Kira, finding Kira, being accused of being Kira...
Light remembered it all clearly. Kept repeating the memories over and over again in his head. However, the disorientation from just waking up admittedly didn't help. It was clouding his usual ability to think quickly on his feet.
"I'm actually serious," L's voice trailed after him. "I'm worried about you."
"At least try to make your acting more convincing."
"Is this to do with yesterday? You said you hit your head..."
"Ha, right."
"Light-kun, the bruises-"
"You've probably dyed or made-up my skin."
"Why would I do that?"
"Why would you do anything that you do, L? I'm leaving. Add this to your failed attempts at trying to catch Kira."
"Honestly Light, you're delirious."
"Of course I am."
"...Where are you going?"
"Home."
Light's hand reached for the handle of the front door. He let it sit there, amused at the distress edging into and rising in L's voice.
Yesterday, Matusda had split coffee all over the desk. Light had quietly sighed in irritation while reading over Kira's extensive profile L had put together towards the beginning of the investigation, for what had to have been the near thirtieth time. L himself had been sitting in the chair beside him, each of them attached by the chain which kept them within five feet of each other 24/7. Tension from the case had been making them all highly strung. Aizawa had even almost managed to spark an argument between L and his father.
So, what had happened between Light going to bed that night and waking up next to L at wherever this place was in Tokyo, early the next morning?
With the amount of resources L had, almost anything was actually possible.
"Light-kun, please..." L spoke quietly.
Light rolled his eyes. But also wow, he thought. L had actually used the word 'please'. And he had said it in English.
Light didn't think that word even existed as a part of L's vocabulary.
"I'm not comfortable working under someone who's completely unstable." Light stated, trying to speak more calmly. "If you want to keep me under legal surveillance then I'll agree to it, but this is abuse."
"I don't know what you're -"
"What I'm talking about? Yeah, I figured."
Light turned the door handle, cold wind and snow blowing in.
x
The first thing he saw was a hand extending towards the doorbell. An arm, a beaten, but professional, brown jacket.
His father.
"Oh, Light," Soichiro greeted, "Did I catch you on the way out? I didn't mean to bother you this early. Sachiko was worried about what happened to you yesterday. She wanted me to check on you before I went to work."
Faltering for a moment, Light didn't know how to respond.
"...Dad?"
"You're okay though? It's happening more and more lately around this area. Who knows why they'd attack a college student. Of course, we were... Both worried. I wanted to check on you anyway. Oh, Ryuzaki. Good morning."
"Morning," L replied quietly.
"A very cold one."
"Yes," L agreed monotonously, dragging a glance between Light and Soichiro.
"Light isn't... well today." L informed him hesitantly.
"Oh?"
"I'm not sure... what he's really saying."
"Son, what's wrong?"
Silent. Thinking.
"Ryuzaki," Soichiro asked, "may I come inside?"
"Of course."
Light's expression dropped as his father walked past him. Gaze trailed after him as he took a seat on the sofa in the living room, and placed his suitcase down beside him.
He let out a tired sigh. One that Light was used to hearing often.
"Light, would you mind closing the door?"
"Um..."
"Oh right, I forgot. Sachiko would have been the one to come and see you, but the weather... Well, and Sayu's off school today because of it too. She couldn't just leave her alone."
"You're not... actually going along with this?" Light let slip before he could catch it. Obviously, Soichiro was going along with whatever it was. But also, something was off.
Soichiro looked startled, then confused. Brow creasing as he stared at his son.
"What exactly do you mean?" he asked.
"No... What I should be asking," Light corrected, "is what motive is Ryuzaki giving you to do this?"
There was a pause in which Soichiro and L exchanged concerned looks.
"Has he been to the hospital yet?"
"He was fine yesterday," L answered Soichiro's question. "He just woke up... well, like this."
Soichiro gave a deep noise of agreement in reply, peering anxiously at Light from over his glasses.
"We're going to the hospital." Soichiro announced. "I can take the morning off."
Light, once again, faltered.
"I don't need to go to a hospital dad!" he protested. "Why are you doing this?!"
"Light..."
"Are you fine with letting him do this to me?! He's completely screwing with my head!"
"Wha -"
"I'm not falling for any of this. No matter what sort of lies he's come up with to make you tell me, so you may as well admit it now so that we can get on with the case. I agreed to help find Kira, but not put up with all of L's completely insane ideas to try and pin me as guilty! Don't you understand that this is only prolonging the case? How much longer is it going to take to solve by wasting all this time? Dad, how many more people are going to die?!"
A familiar hand gripped his arm again, but Light ripped it away.
"You - You are absolutely insane!"
"Light!" Light's father interjected. Shortly before Light made it through the front door and started heading away, down the street.
His father? His own father?!
What sort of control was L exerting? What was L blackmailing his father with?
Soichiro caught up with him before he was able to go very far. He apologized to Light for mis-understanding and being so abrupt, something Light wasn't paying much attention to. Light was too busy watching the sincerity in his acting. It didn't even seem like acting. Was his own ability at judging it failing, was it a side-effect of whatever it was L must have drugged him with the night before to bring him here?
"Please just let me drive you to the hospital, Light."
There was an urgency in Soichiro's voice. Begging. He was literally begging Light to go.
Surely, his own father, no matter what L was doing, Light wondered, would ultimately have his own best interests at heart?
With a stabbing realization, the answer came swiftly: no.
His father had agreed to stage a scenario that put justice and L before him before. Pretending to be willing to kill both him and Misa in the car, before driving them to their "execution".
Light knew the whole thing was a lie. The entire morning had been staged.
Light chose to ignore his father, pushing aside the sincerity of his words irregardless and continued walking down the street, away from them both, seriously considering leaving the investigation when he did get back to headquarters, and pursuing Kira on his own. Whatever this was, kidnapping him, lying to him, manipulating his family, L had finally pushed it.
.
.
.
Author's notes:
Hey, this is a story that I started ages ago, but got distracted away from because of study. I edited the first chapter because wow, it was really terrible and I hope that the second one's a lot better. It's good to be back in the DN fandom again. Anyway, see you in the next chapter. Maybe? :)