Light woke to find that L was sleeping peacefully in his arms, he smiled but remained still, he wanted L to rest as long as he possibly could. Even in sleep the detective was beautiful and Light had to resist the urge to kiss him while he slept.
Light didn't want to lose this moment, he wanted to etch it into his memory and keep it forever, better yet, he wanted to keep L. To forever be at his side, to hold him, cherish him. He thought back to the night before and L's words.
"I do not form attachments, I am nothing more than a living crime solving-' these words had saddened Light greatly.
"How could anyone tell you that, what kind of cruel person could possibly let you think you're here for one reason, you can do or be anything you want, Ryuzaki. This is your life, live it the way you want to. Let yourself be free, someone like you is too special to have that drilled into your head. I want you to be happy." Light whispered.
"I am happy in this moment Light Yagami, thank you." L said opening his eyes.
"How much of that did you hear?"
"Most of it. You are the first person to ever tell me this, and the only one besides watari to wish me happiness. I am grateful to you for that."
"Really, only two in your entire life?"
"Yes." Light felt a twinge of sadness for the detective.
"I'm sorry."
"You do not need to apologize, you cared enough to say it when others did not. That alone is enough." They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment.
"I should also thank you for allowing me to sleep here. I do not sleep very often and when I do it is never for more that between two and three hours at best. Last night I slept from just five minutes after you fell asleep and woke only moments ago while you were speaking to me."
"Good. I'm glad I could help. Maybe now you won't be so short tempered."
"Perhaps, only time will tell."
"Well, if you ever feel like it Ryuzaki, you're welcome to spend the night again, you have an open ended invitation."
"You are very kind to make such an offer."
"I mean it, my room is your room." L smiled faintly.
"be careful what you offer me Light, I just might take advantage of it."
"I'm counting on it." Light said. Another long silence fell over them.
"We should probably get back to work." L said at last.
"Do we have to?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"But isn't this great Ryuzaki, just lying here, nowhere to be, no one to see, can't you take the day off?"
"There are not many reasons I can justify taking an entire day off. I would have to be badly injured to the point that I am unconscious, deathly ill or dead."
"Really?"
"Yes, the last time I had an entire day off was years ago, my appendix ruptured and I was in the hospital for a week. "
"So you had a week off, that's-"
"No. They removed it and I slept the rest of that day and the next morning. By one'o'clock that afternoon, they had me awake "and I was consulting on the case."
"That's crazy, you should have been resting."
"I was lying down while-"
"That's not resting if you still have the pressures of work. Take this morning off, just lay here with me and forget the world for a while." Light suggested.
"Tempting as it is, I-" L was interrupted by his cell phone.
"Who can be calling you so early?"
"Watari." L said getting up to answer.
"Of course. Who else?" Light sighed.
"Yes?" He heard L say in greeting. He watched as the detective frowned and light feltsad for him once more. He sat up and moved in front of him.
"I understand watari, yes." Light tapped L on the shoulder.
"Tell him you're not coming in." He mouthed silently. L waved him away.
"No, when I arrive we can-"
"No, think of yourself for once." Light urged silently.
"I should be-"
"Person, not a machine"
"Watari, I will not be able join you at headquarters today, I apologize, I will be keeping a closer eye on Light for the time being." Light smiled.
"No, I am fine. Yes Watari I am sure. I will contact you if it becomes necessary." L hung up the phone and placed it on the table.
"You are a bad influence Light."
"You deserve this. Forget the taskforce, my father, Watari, everyone. Just be Ryuzaki no, be L. Be who you are, no hiding."
"Watari has cameras all around this apartment Light."
"In here?"
"No."
"Well then, we'll be fine. We'll spend most of the time in here, we'll have to leave the room once in a while to eat and let Watari see you're alright, but I want today to be relaxing and forgetting suspects, detective work. Let's just be two people who care about each other. All that exsists is this apartment, you and me."
"That is exactly what I would expect from Kira, he would want to distract me from finding his identity. Should I take this as a-"
"Take this as a friend trying to get to know you."
"There is not much to know. I am not an interesting person."
"I disagree. We just have to get you to experience new things, find out what you like."
"I do not like much of anything."
"Only because you don't know what's out there, aside from your 'calling' is this what you want to do for the rest if your life?"
"All I have ever done is work, I should be working now." Light pulled him close.
"L, right now, you and I are the only ones in the world, think of it that way. Come lie down, It's still early.
"I -"
"I'll hold you real close if you come lie down." L hesitated.
"Nothing else."
"No." L once again found himself lying in Light's arms, his head resting on light's chest.
"This is better than working isn't it, to lay here and forget all our worries for a while?"
"I cannot forget about the Kira investigation, it must be-"
"Can I try something with you?" Light asked.
"No. You said we were not going to-"
"We aren't on the same page here, let me show you, if you don't like it, I won't do it again." L nodded and light pressed his lips against L's.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes." Light grinned and kissed him again, more lovingly this time. Light soon found out that L was a fast learner as he began to return the affectionate gesture.
"Glad you didn't go in today Ryuzaki?" Light asked as they pulled away.
"I could learn to appreciate a day off here and there.' L admitted, the truth was that he was enjoying being loved and cared for, he planned on holding onto it as long as he could.