Detective
Because being a detective meant nothing if there were no mysteries to solve.
Everyone knows that L hates Kira. Respects him, greatly, but hates him. They know that, with the world's greatest detective on the case, Kira will eventually be brought down, god or not. A few people know that L only takes on cases that interest him.
The Kira Case is the one exception to this. Because L has to hunt down and destroy Kira. And while it was interesting at first now it's only because he needs to stop Kira; because he needs criminals in the world. Because being a detective meant nothing if there were not criminals to hunt down, no murder mysteries to solve. Without the title of The Greatest Detective L, he is nothing.
L is the world's greatest detective and he's proud, much too proud. He isn't willing to lower himself to finding a mother's run away son, to try and figure out the next billionth decimal in the mathematical pi. Kira is the bane of everything L stands for, which is justice, but also his humanity, his creativity, his utter dependency on the evil people in the world. What would happen to him if there were no cases for him to solve is something that doesn't bear thinking about.
Being the detective that he is isn't easy, and not just because of the intelligence it requires. He walks with a prominent slouch and sits on the balls of his feet, not because his mind loses 20% of it's analyzing abilities, but because if he sits down like a normal person he grows paranoid, irritable and afraid, because he can just feel the weight of the 7 billion people in the world cracking down on his shoulders, threatening to crush him. He eats sweets endlessly, not because of a sweet tooth, but because it's the only way to eradicate the growing bitterness growing on his tongue, even though "healthier" foods would provide him with the nutrients to make his brilliant mind work that much better.
It would be easier to just let Kira get rid of the criminals without interference. Maybe then L could finally stand up straight as proudly as he feels and take a break from the sugars that are constantly slipping down his throat. But then, L has never been one to take the easy route. It's much too boring, just how Checkers is inferior to Chess, and being bored is something more likely to drive him mad than the murderers he hunts down.
It's rather sad, really, to have to take Kira out of the game. He hasn't been this challenged since the LABB murder cases and even then, he was never forced to show his face or get his hands dirty. He has never been pushed to work on a case outside of his workroom, but it is required here; it is even required for him to make nice with the number one suspect.
The weight of the world on his shoulders is heavier than it's ever been, despite the decreasing population, and for the first time, L wonders if he's fighting for the right side⦠or if he's really the villain in all of this.
But he can't be the villain, not really, even if he's saving criminals from the grasp of Kira. Where would a hero be if there were no villains or dragons to slay? Nowhere. Because without bad guys to take down, he, the good guy, might as well not even exist.
And that's why he needs them. To exist.
End
