Light Yagami was a picture of perfection. Perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect personality…But, it wasn't the perfection that drew L to look at Light any chance he got. It was the way he sat, the way he spoke, the way he moved…

It was all so familiar, and yet, so painful to remember.

"Ryuzaki?" Light looked at L, noticing that he had been staring at him. "Uhm…what…are you doing?" He crossed one leg over the other in an impatient way, his eyes narrowing. "Why are you staring at me?"

"No reason." L said calmly, his tone never betraying his lie. As far as Light knew, he really was staring at him for no reason.

"Well…okay." He looked away, back to the report he was reading.

'Even that is the same…is Fate pulling a sick prank on me by making them so similar?' He thought bitterly. 'The way he holds the book, using only one hand while the other is draped over the back of the chair…the way he quietly scans over the words, taking it all in…'

"Okay." Light closed the book with a snap and looked at him. "You ARE staring at me. Why?"

"What makes Light-kun assume I am staring at him? He is very self-centered, I noticed. Another trait that is close to Ki—" He was cut off by a sudden punch the jaw and went flying off his chair, the chair toppling to the ground.

"How many times do I have to tell you?! I. Am. Not. Kira!" Light scowled as he got up. "I've put up with the damn handcuffs, so you can watch me, but THIS is just ridiculous! You're TRYING to find some way to accuse me! This is oppression and cruelty!"

'Anger…I wonder if he ever imagined Watari on the floor like I am?' He chuckled softly and slowly got up, putting his chair upright and climbing into it. "Alright, Light-kun. You are right."

"See? I told you I wasn't Ki—"

"I was staring at you."

Light's face fell. "Aww, I'm still a suspect for Kira?"

L ignored his pouting. "You strongly resemble someone from my childhood. I…we…we were close, but we eventually grew apart and…" He looked down. "He hung himself in the end. I wish I could've known and stopped him, but I didn't know until a few hours after the deed was done." He sighed. "I was just thinking that Fate was being cruel by having me work with someone that so strongly resembles him, when I deserted him…"

"Oh…" Light looked down, ashamed. "I'm…I'm sorry. It must be a painful memory."

"What you just said, just now…'This is oppression and cruelty'…" He sighed and shook his head. "He's said that before, in much the same way you did."

"Did you handcuff yourself to him, too?" Light raised an eyebrow.

"No…" L shook his head. "Maybe, if I had, he would have lived longer."

Light looked down. "Right…so…uhm…"

"Let's get back to work." L turned back to his laptop, quietly typing.

"…Yeah." Light mumbled, sitting down and going back to the report he was reading.

And, as they resumed working, L reflected on how that conversation might have gone if it was actually his friend with him. No doubt, he would've said "Are you hitting on me?" or something like that. Heh.

'A…I wonder if Heaven accepted you.' He thought wistfully. 'Who would've ever thought that I'd meet someone just like you?'