Summary: L knows better than to ask for whom the bell tolls. And six years later, Light still can't get the sound of bells out of his head.
This is actually my first Death Note fic, but I hesitated to post it for a while because I'm not as good at drama/angst as I am at humor. I hope you enjoy it anyway. Thanks for reading. And don't forget, this is a two-shot. Look for the second and last chapter soon.
This is for everyone who thinks that the phrase "…for whom the bell tolls" comes from a poem. It doesn't!
For Whom the Bell Tolls
It was in every drop of rain that fell and hit his upturned face, or impacted with the roof. It was every roll of thunder that vibrated through his chest. It hummed through the very air and into his core.
He barely noticed Light approaching him through the sound of the bells. He favored him with one sidelong look before returning to the grey sky.
"I said, what are you doing out here in a place like this during such a storm?"
He must have thought about it a bit too long, because Light spoke again. "Ryuuzaki?"
This time he remembered to speak. "Nothing. It's just…the bells…"
"Bells?"
"Yes. The conditions are favorable today, so you can't help but hear them." His dull eyes were scanning the hazy horizon, constantly searching for the source. "It's a church. A wedding, maybe? Or…"
"What nonsense are you saying, Ryuuzaki?"
He gave him another slow, sidelong look. You didn't let me finish, Light…
"We should go inside before you catch a cold." No response appeared forthcoming to his specious concern. Light suddenly became aware that L was mumbling something under his breath. It sounded like English, but the words were too soft for him to be sure. "What's that, Ryuuzaki?"
There was another long pause, and Light was almost convinced that L either hadn't heard him or was just ignoring him, when the older detective suddenly met his eyes with a surprisingly keen glance.
"Do you like poetry, Light?" The younger was a bit taken aback, but did not have a chance to answer as the other continued. "Well, it doesn't matter either way. It's not poetry."
Light felt his irritation flare at the continued nonsensical words of the normally brilliant man, but quickly smothered it. "What are you talking about?" he asked calmly.
"It's an essay, actually," he continued, his eyes having returned to searching the skyline. "'Meditation XVII' by John Donne. He said, 'Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.' Do you think that's true, Light-kun?"
Light wasn't quite sure how to answer. He didn't know how to deal with this rather off side of L. Was this some sort of test? Normally, he wouldn't put it past the clever detective, but…today, right now, he didn't think so. Maybe it was something in the normally reflective black eyes, or just the way he seemed to be saying everything that came across his mind. "I suppose it is."
"What do you think he meant by that?"
Light's lips set in a thin line. "I'm not sure. I would have to read the rest of it."
"Yes, that's right. He says what it means right there in it, after all."
A brilliant blue streak of lightning split the grey clouds and struck the top of a building only a kilometer off, drawing both men's attention.
"We should go inside now, Ryuuzaki. The storm is only getting worse."
"You know, it was in that same essay that Donne said, 'No man is an island, entire of itself.' All of our actions affect those we know, even the things we do solely for ourselves."
Light's eyes narrowed. "Do you have a point, L?"
He dragged his deep black eyes up to again meet the amber ones staring hard at him. "…No. You're right, Light-kun. We should go in now."
Every drop of rain that hit his face or impacted the roof was the sound of the tinkling of small silver bells. Every roll of thunder was the deep clang of a bell in its tower. And in the very air was the echo of every church bell ever solemnly rung at someone's passing.
But it was alright. The bells didn't bother him much, because he knew they wouldn't ring for much longer anyway.
