AN: My first DeathNote fic. Hopefully I got them in-character. Takes place when Raito and L are still handcuffed together.
"Pride"
Pride--pride, he knew, would be Kira's downfall. L sat there, his knees bent, his body scrunched into what most would consider an uncomfortable position--and for the most part, L was uncomfortable. It was this discomfort that allowed him to think to the utmost of his ability. The slight pain kept his brain active; kept him awake. The man linked to him, sitting beside him with a band of metal around his wrist--this man would also be brought down by pride, L knew. He knew because he knew Raito was Kira.
L glanced over at his chained partner, picking up the plate of cheesecake, along with his spoon. Raito sat there, his arms folded across his body, his eyebrows knitted together. L smirked. "You're nervous."
Raito's eyes opened as he turned to glance at L. "How am I nervous?"
"I know you're Kira," L said simply between bites, staring absently at the screen in front of them.
"I am not Kira," Raito responded, closing his eyes agin, settling himself back in his seat.
"I can't prove it, but I know you are Kira. Your pride--your personality. It all fits."
"But you have no proof," Raito stated, his shoulders remaining relaxed. There was one sign of tenseness in Raito's position--it was how stiffly he was sitting--how his arms were not relaxed across his chest.
"You like having control. You like being in control and you hate it when someone else has an upperhand," L stated, placing the small plate back down, resting his head against his knees. "You must always win. You must be the best--because, in your mind, you are the best, because you think of yourself as a god."
Raito remained silent. A few moments later, he shifted his position, unfolding his arms, causing the chain that linked them together to clink almost soundlessly. "You're the same way," he said finally.
"Oh? But I do not have god-complex, Yagami-san."
"I never agreed to that assumption of yours."
"Because you were too busy formulating a response that would not incriminate yourself. But my assumption is soully based on your personality. I fear the only way I can prove you to be Kira is with my death," L muttered, stretching his legs out. "After that your pride will grow. Someone else will take my place--and it will not be you, Yagami-san. They will find you guilty in my place."
Raito was silent, following L's lead as he headed towards the bedroom. L knew, oh yes, he knew. The loss of his life would be worth it--as long as it caused Raito's pride to grow--to grow into Raito's downfall. He knew.