One Day is Today
Light looked at his watch in the dark and sighed heavily; this was always the most difficult part. He smiled at the head of wild, black hair lying on his chest and gently carded his fingers through it, the man to whom it belonged moving against his fingers.
"L, I'm sorry, but it's time for me to go," he said softly. The soft groan he received in answer made him feel even worse. "I know, but…"
"Yes, yes, I understand," L answered with a sigh and moved from Light's chest. "It's the burden of being the other woman." he chuckled softly. "Always being left behind, but it's worth it." he added kissing Light softly, then moving the kisses down to Light's bare chest.
"Please don't, this is difficult enough," he said moving him away.
"Alright, I'm sorry," he said sitting up and smiling at him. "Maybe one day you won't have to leave."
Light smiled and kissed him softly. "One day, I promise." he said and slid out of bed. L watched him find his clothes and hold up his boxers in horror. "What did you do?" he asked showing him the rip up the side.
L shrugged. "I was desperate, it has been a while since we were able to be together." he answered with a grin. Light sighed and shook his head.
"I know and I apologized; but things have been hectic lately and…"
"Your wife…" L added running a hand through his hair, "She gets you first, I know." Light looked away before sliding on the torn boxers.
"It's difficult right now, but it won't always be. Things will be the way we want them soon." he climbed back on the bed and kissed him again. "I do love you, L." L moved away and slid out of bed himself, reaching for his own boxers.
"So, you say," he said with a smirk, "You better hurry, it's very late." Light nodded and finished getting dressed.
"Would you meet me for breakfast in the morning before work?" he asked.
"Perhaps. What time would you like me to meet you and where?" L answered.
"8:00 a.m., at the restaurant next to the NPA building. Please?"
"So, close to work, what if one of your co-workers sees us?" he asked.
"What if they do, they can't look at us and know we're sleeping together. They'll think we're just friends. Please, L?"
"I'll think about it, Light. Now get out before she comes looking for you." Light sighed, went to him and kissed him again.
"8:00 L!" he said before running out of the door.
"8:00," he said softly to the closed door.
Light arrived home, quietly got undressed and slid into bed beside his wife. Misa sighed and opened her eyes, smiling when she saw him.
"Working hard for that promotion, aren't you?" she said sleepily as she kissed his cheek before putting her arm around him.
"Yes, sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep," he told her and turned to his side away from her. She agreed and closed her eyes quickly falling back asleep as Light stared into the darkness, finally deciding.
The next morning, he got dressed quickly, fixing his tie and making sure his hair was just right as he looked in the bathroom mirror. Misa watched her husband from behind, a smirk on her face and her hands on her hips.
"You don't take that much time getting ready when we go out," she complained. Light looked at her thru the mirror and sighed.
"Yes, well, most of our nights out involve me just being there while you deal with your people, the press, fans…no one really cares what I look like so it doesn't really matter." She moved closer to him, putting her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry Light, those things are boring, but I have to do them. It's much easier when you're with me though." Light pulled out of her grasp and moved away.
"I'll be late tonight; they're throwing me a party to celebrate my promotion; just the guys," he said cutting off the chance for her to ask to join him.
"I'm proud of you, the NPA's youngest detective," she said, "Are you sure I can't go with you?" he nodded quickly.
"Yes, it's just the guys," he said with a small smile.
"Maybe when you come home we can have our own celebration," she said reaching for him, "I promise we can do whatever you want; it's been a while." Light tried not to show the revulsion he felt at the idea. Sex with Misa, just like his entire marriage, was a duty, it was expected of him, but it wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. Especially since he had something so much better to look forward to these days.
"Maybe, I'll just have to see how I feel when I get home," he said moving away from her.
"I'll wear something special," she said softly, "Something I know you'll love."
"You do that," he said grabbing his phone and moving toward the door.
"Light! You're not kissing me good-bye?" she asked and he stopped.
"Oh…sorry," he said moving back to her and giving her a quick peck before going back to the door. "Gotta go, getting a new case." He explained then stopped. "Misa, when I do get home, there's something important we need to discuss."
"Sure, but after we celebrate," she said with a giggle, then watched him leave their apartment and practically run to his car. She moved away from the window and was surprised he hadn't touched his breakfast or his coffee. She chuckled to herself as she went to get dressed; he must be really excited about this new case to skip breakfast, she thought and giggled again.
Light pulled up to the café and could park right outside. He checked the time and looked at himself in the rear-view mirror quickly before getting out of the car. He walked into the café and began looking around. He sighed happily when he saw what he was looking for, a head full of dark, messy hair, and moved in that direction.
"I'm sorry if I'm late," he said as he sat down across from the young man at the table. Large dark eyes rolled up from the coffee they had been staring at and looked at him.
"Of course, you're not late," he said with a smile, "I'd be quite surprised if you were ever late." Light smiled and reached under the table and took his hand.
"Good morning, L," he said softly, "I'm glad you could meet me for breakfast."
"How could I not when you asked so nicely?" L answered squeezing Light's hand under the table. "Besides, I must enjoy every moment we can have together, we don't have many." Light sighed and pulled his hand away.
"I'm sorry, but I'm trying to be more available. Between work and…"
"Your wife," L added as he sipped his coffee.
"Yes…well…there is that," he chuckled, "I'm sorry but…I promise, that's going to change." He said and stopped when the waitress came to their table. He ordered coffee and smirked when L ordered a chocolate crepe.
"For breakfast?" he asked.
"For any time," L answered. "After six months, I'm surprised you're even questioning my tastes."
"I'm not questioning, just slightly amused," Light answered then reached under the table again. "I was saying that things were going to change." L raised an eyebrow.
"Change? In what way? Should I be concerned?" he asked. Light shook his head.
"No, not in that way. But I'm tired of sneaking around with you, L. It's time to stop hiding. I always told you that one day I would work this out; today is that day." L pulled his hand away.
"And what would that do to the career of the youngest detective in the history of the NPA?" he shook his head. "I'm not willing to put your career at risk because I wish to spend more time with you."
"Nothing. My father is the Deputy Director, nothing will happen. L…I love you, I'm tired of hiding it."
"And your wife? Light, I'm relatively content seeing you when I can; I understand the situation, I knew what it was when we became involved."
"My marriage never was a real marriage to me, I did what I had to do. I care about Misa but not like I love you; I'm only happy when I'm with you. I can't even bring myself to have sex with her anymore, all I can think about is being with you." L looked down at his coffee.
"I can't say that I haven't secretly wished for this, but now when you actually say it, it makes me realize what could be at stake for you," he looked up at him. "Perhaps it is time I backed away." Light squeezed his hand under the table tightly.
"Don't even joke about that," Light told him leaning across the table, "Now that I've been with you I know what I want. I don't think it was a fluke that we met after that case; you don't meet anyone and yet you ambushed me outside of headquarters," he laughed. "When this rich looking car pulled up next to me, I thought I was going to get kidnapped."
"You did look rather alarmed. Luckily you recognized Watari when he got out of the car and graciously accepted his offer for a ride." L smiled as he remembered.
"And then there you were, staring at me with those beautiful eyes of yours," Light said squeezing his hand.
"Well, I was surprised you were as attractive as your file picture," he explained, "But I wanted to meet this young, brilliant detective I had just worked with. The only one who could keep up with my train of thought and not bombard me with ridiculous questions."
"If Watari hadn't been there I would have never believed you were who you are. You're not what I expected." Light said sipping his coffee.
"I toyed with pretending I was an associate of mine instead of me, but I felt I had to be honest with you, I'm not sure why." He said pulling his hand away. "I need this to eat my crepe." Light laughed and let go.
"I knew from the moment you kissed me that this was special, that we were supposed to happen." L rolled his eyes.
"How you romanticize a moment I feared I'd get punched in. I had no other way of finding out if you were interested without blatantly asking. And the fact that you were married made me think not, but I had to try."
"I'm really glad you did," Light said smiling at him. He leaned closer and reached for his hand again. "Back to what I said before, and I need an answer. L, don't you love me?"
L fought with himself for a few moments. If he told him he didn't it would hurt him, but it would keep him from risking his career and future for him; but he was sure Light knew better.
"Yes, of course I do, you know this. It's why I'm willing to share your time with your wife," he answered truthfully.
"Then that's all I need to know. Trust me, everything will work out the way we want it to. It may take a little time, but I'll make it work. In the meantime, there's a party tonight for me, and I'm bringing you as my guest. And after…"
L smiled then let his tongue run over his lips.
"After there will be desert," he finished squeezing Light's hand tightly. The waitress arrived with Light's coffee and his crepe. "But at the moment, I'm more interested in this crepe than you."
Light chuckled and sat back, certain he was making the right decision, and feeling relaxed and happy.
One day was definitely today.