Chapter Two
Saturday 24th July 2004
L was obviously familiar with sleepless nights. Light, however, was used to getting at least a few hours. He had tried to sleep, but he couldn't relax whilst sharing a bed with L. They were lying as far apart as possible, but he could still feel the warmth radiating from the detective's skin, making it impossible to forget that there was a very attractive and shirtless man beside him. They were both shirtless in fact, but they'd kept their trousers on. It had seemed the least awkward option at the time but sleeping in trousers was so uncomfortable that Light was now tempted to wriggle out of them and sleep in only his boxers.
He rolled over. There was a bulge under the duvet between his body and L's, which Light guessed was their shirts. They'd found it impossible to remove the shirts from the chain, so they had left the problem for the morning and, as far as Light could tell from feeling around under the duvet, their shirts had somehow got tangled together in the night. Light found himself stroking the soft cotton of L's t-shirt as he lay on his back and tried desperately to relax.
Eventually a pale light began to shine through the curtains, and Light decided it was an acceptable time to get up. He suspected L had also been feigning sleep, as he hopped out of bed as soon as Light yawned and sat up. Then L suggested showering and Light wished he'd continued with the pretend sleeping. He had been uncomfortable enough last night, just seeing L topless; he didn't think he could cope with seeing any more of the detective.
#
L chewed on his lower lip as they walked to the hotel's showers. He was not at all toned or attractive like the boy he was chained to. He had been more embarrassed last night, when Light had seen him topless, than he ever had been before. Judging from the way Light had stared, he had also noticed the differences in their physiques. L sighed. Maybe I should have the chain removed. After all, there is still the problem of our shirts tangled between us. We can't shower like that. Well, we could, but then we'd still have to remove them afterwards. But if I remove the chain, Light will be free to go and I won't be able to keep an eye on him and he won't be around all the time to help with the investigation and... he just won't be around.
L grabbed hold of the shirts and ripped them from the chain, tearing through the sleeves.
"L!" Light shouted. "What are you doing? Shirts cost money and that was one of my favourites!"
"Sorry," L mumbled, offering Light his ruined shirt. I probably could have thought of a better solution than that. "I will buy you a replacement, Light-kun, but at least now we can get dressed in these whilst we are chained together. Also, please call me Ryuzaki when we are in public."
"Are you stupid?" Light yelled. "I am not wearing the same shirt for however long it takes you to decide I'm innocent."
"Watari will have it washed for you," L said.
Light took his shirt from L and stared at the torn sleeve. L had always seemed so rational - quirky and strange, yes, but not a closet shirt killer. He watched as L slowly ran his thumbs around the waistband of the jeans he'd slept in. He was looking at his toes again. Is he upset? Maybe I shouldn't have shouted... I guess this is uncomfortable for him too. At least he doesn't know though. That would be really embarrassing... so perhaps I should stop staring at his hips. Light turned to look at the nearest shower cubicle. Eventually L stepped into the cubicle next to it and closed the door.
"Light-kun? Are you getting in?"
Light climbed into the cubicle, removed his trousers and his boxers, and hung them over the cubicle door. He turned on the water and was pleased to find that the chain was long enough to give him an adequate range of motion. It was still annoying though.
After a few moments, L started singing, nothing Light recognised, just mindlessly La La La-ing. Probably some sort of ode to a strawberry shoelace. Light smiled. "L? What are you singing?" The tune was somehow familiar, but Light couldn't quite place it.
"You don't recognise it?"
"No. Well, sort of."
"Oh," L said. "Your girlfriend sings it on the advert. It's the song for my favourite chocolates." He really doesn't know? He can't like Misa at all.
"I guessed it was something like that," Light laughed. "You have a nice voice."
L was glad that Light couldn't see him blush. He had never sung in front of anyone before. He likes my voice! L grinned stupidly to himself. He said something about me was nice! L replayed Light's compliment in his head as he washed his hair.
He was torn from his thoughts by a series of thuds on the cubicle wall.
"L? Are you even listening to me?" Light shouted. "L?"
"Sorry, Light-kun," L called back. "I wasn't listening, what did you want?"
Light mumbled something.
L turned off the water. "Sorry? I didn't catch that? What's the matter Light-kun?"
"I've, um… dropped the soap."
"I see," L said. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I can't reach it."
"Well I certainly can't."
"Can you put your arm up so I can reach further?" Light said.
"Oh, I see." L lifted his arm, giving Light as much slack as he could. "Can you get it now?"
"No, I still can't reach."
"You could borrow my soap for now, and pick it up later?" L said. That's not too weird is it? Do friends share soap? The handcuffs may not have been the most practical solution after all. Still, it's too late to back out now. Perhaps we should have the chain extended.
"Okay..." Light took the soap L waved over the wall dividing them. It seemed a little too intimate to be sharing soap, but then again, they'd been in bed together not twenty minutes ago. Normal rules clearly didn't apply. "Thanks, I guess." Now focus Light. Don't think. Just wash.
Light began to wash himself with L's soap, but he couldn't help imagining L using it only moments before, L standing naked just the other side of the flimsy green plastic wall. Light smiled to himself. He allowed himself to fantasise about breaking through the wall and pinning L against the one opposite, forcing him into a rough kiss and-
"Light-kun?"
L's voice startled Light from his daydream and the borrowed soap jumped out of his hands to join his own on the floor.
"Yes," Light sighed, praying the detective didn't know what he had been thinking about.
"Can I have my soap back now? I hadn't quite finished with it."
"Not really," Light said. "I dropped it." Brilliant, Light! Great way to impress him. Now you look like you can't even wash properly.
L laughed. "Are you really that clumsy?"
"It's your fault," Light snapped.
"How could it possibly be my fault?"
"Um…" Because you're too damn hot for your own good! "Because you're the one who wanted to be chained together so badly," Light said.
#
The rest of the Task Force was already waiting when they returned, with dripping wet hair and shirts full of safety pins, to the suite that served as a temporary headquarters.
"Back to work then," L said, sitting down at his computer and starting on the goodies Watari had provided for breakfast. I wonder where these came from. They're almost as good as the ones Roger makes back home. Perhaps he gave Watari the recipe. Lreached out for his fifth cupcake, but before his fingers could close around it, he was dragged to his feet as Light chased Matsuda across the room. L tripped over a low table and landed on the floor, as Light pinned Matsuda against the far wall. What? What is he doing?! L stared up at them. Is Light hugging him? Why is Light hugging him? What's so special about Matsuda? L felt his face heating up and his fists tighten around the phone cord he'd landed on. He blinked and tried to focus on what Light was shouting.
"... Bastard! I'll kill you!"
Oh. L relaxed. Light is only trying to kill Matsuda. Hang on… Only trying to kill? Since when is that a good thing?!
"Light-kun," L said. "I believe attempted murder would greatly increase the chance of you being Kira."
"But, Ryuzaki, you didn't hear what he said," Light growled.
"What did he say?"
Light blushed and looked at the floor.
L picked himself up, trying not to think about doing the same thing last night, after Light's bizarre joke about sharing a bath. "Matsuda?" he demanded. He wasn't sure why he was so angry, but he was going to put it down to the lack of professionalism. Two individuals should not be that close together at work. Especially not if one of them was Light Yagami.
"I was only joking," Matsuda mumbled. "I just asked Light if showering with the famous recluse L was hot - I didn't mean it!" Matsuda laughed. "I mean, I don't even know why I said it… I was only trying to wind him up."
L's cheeks burned. He blinked at Matsuda, who was still chuckling. Why would he say something like that? Why did Light react that way? Why am I getting upset about it? Who cares if Matsuda is laughing at my non-sexiness?
"I'm sorry if I overreacted, L," Light said, walking back to his seat. "I was just angry about what he was implying."
Soon enough, everything settled back to normal. L sat at his computer, eating his cupcakes, which had somehow lost their magic, and trying not to think about what had happened.
"Are you ok?" Light whispered.
"Of course. Why do you ask?"
"I thought you seemed a little upset earlier. I wondered what was behind it."
"I don't know what you mean, Light-kun." L stared blankly at the screen and struggled to keep himself from smiling. Light noticed I was upset. He's concerned about me. Maybe he really does like me.
#
The task force had been working in silence for hours and Light's eyes were beginning to ache. He was just thinking about disturbing L, so he could go and get some painkillers, when the door burst open and Misa came dancing into the room. She was dragging Matsuda behind her, who had clearly failed in his mission to keep her out of the way. Light sighed and turned his chair towards the door.
"Hello everyone!" Misa sang, running towards Light with her arms outstretched.
"Hello Misa," he said as she landed on his lap and hugged him. Light looked to his left. L was staring at them, looking slightly puzzled. Light hastily put an arm around Misa. He didn't want to give her any ideas, but he didn't want to make his disgust too obvious. I can't even remember how I met her. Why is she so obsessed with me? I suppose it's good for my parents to believe I'm attracted to women, but why did I have to choose such an infuriating one to feign interest in?
Light closed his eyes and tried to block out the sensation as Misa leant in to kiss him. The kiss was fairly chaste in comparison to her usual attacks. Light guessed that was because they had an audience. He wasn't sure if he was more grateful or embarrassed that his father was in the room. Light opened his eyes. L was no longer watching them. Instead, the detective was staring blankly at his computer screen and chewing on his lower lip. Is he upset again? Light decided not to bother asking this time. The detective clearly didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering him. Light turned back to his computer, forcing Misa to slide off his lap. He had just re-opened the spreadsheet he was working on when L stood up.
"Lunch," L announced. "We will all go out for lunch."
Light frowned. He'd never seen L eat lunch before. The detective was usually too busy snacking to bother with meals. What's going on? Why is L acting so strangely today?
#
As L sat in the restaurant Mr. Yagami had chosen, he thought about Light's behaviour towards Misa. He doesn't really seem to like her, or even to be attracted to her. But Misa is a model. I am led to believe that most men would give anything to be in Light's position. L, of course, did not include himself in the category of 'most men'. He would hate to be in Light's position. In fact, there was a 67.3% chance that he liked Misa even less than Light appeared to.
L glanced again at the couple and almost choked on his sugar cube. Misa had managed to squeeze herself between Light and Matsuda, both of whom looked uncomfortable, though possibly for different reasons. Misa was trying to feed Light a prawn from her salad and Light seemed to be hoping she would give up if he ignored her long enough. He was pretending to be deep in conversation with his father. L watched them, wondering if Light would take something if he were the one offering it. That would annoy Misa. He smiled.
There was a prawn. A large, ugly prawn. It was floating in Light's peripheral vision and bobbing slightly. It had been there for a good few minutes now, occasionally bumping into his cheek as Misa tried to get his attention. Unfortunately, Light's father was running out of things to tell him about soup and he didn't have anything else to pretend to be interested in. But he really didn't want the prawn. He didn't like prawns! Surely that's something my girlfriend ought to know about me.
"Light-kun?" L whispered, leaning across the table. There was a different tone to his voice. It was almost... playful?
"Yes, Ryuzaki? Light said, looking up into the detective's eyes. He's been awfully quiet since he suggested we go out for lunch. What's he up to now?
L held out a sugar cube.
"Light-kun," he said. "Please try one of these. I am 96% certain that they are the nicest sugar cubes I have ever tasted." L brought the cube to Light's lips.
Is this a test? If I don't take the sugar cube, does that mean I'm Kira? What will everyone think of L feeding me? Light hesitated, looking not at the small cube of sugar, but at L's fingers holding it. He sighed and opened his mouth.
Light closed his eyes as L's fingers brushed his lips. He didn't want his expression to give anything away. The sugar was sweet. Much too sweet. Why isn't he taking his hand away? It's like he's... like he's lingering there for a reason. Light wanted to open his eyes. He wanted to know what L was playing at. But he didn't want to look at anyone else and he didn't want anyone else to look into his eyes right now. Who knew what they would see there? Somehow, Light felt he had lost control of the situation. He took a deep breath through his mouth, inhaling the sweetness of the sugar and the slight saltiness of L's skin. He brought his own hand up to encircle L's wrist and leant forward, closing his mouth around the sugar cube and L's fingers. He felt L's muscles tense beneath his palm, but he held L's hand in place as the sugar dissolved on his tongue. Eventually he opened his eyes and looked into L's as he pulled his head back, sucking gently on those slender fingers as they left his mouth. L looked shocked, but for a moment, Light was sure he had seen something the detective's eyes, something warm and inviting.
"Yes, Ryuzaki," Light said. "That was by far the most enjoyable sugar cube I've ever had."
L smiled at him and settled back into his chair. Now, what the hell was that all about? Light glanced around the table. There were plenty of uncomfortable expressions, but as everyone was staring at L, Light guessed they had all been too shocked by L's behaviour to notice his response. Now, as long as we stay at the table until I can get myself under control, I might have got away with it. Light returned his attention to the leek and potato soup in front of him and eventually the rest of the task force continued with their own meals. Light looked up to meet L's eyes, but found the detective locked in a staring match with Misa, who had pushed her salad away and was clearly sulking about something. Light watched until Misa gave up and started glaring at her diet lemonade instead of L.
L looked up and smiled triumphantly at Light. Light smiled back and, for some reason, L turned pink and busied himself with counting sugar cubes. Light looked from L's sugar bowl to the soup in front of him. It seemed bland and unappetising now. He put his spoon down and spent the rest of the meal watching L.
#
Back at the hotel, after another few hours of working solidly, the task force gave up for the night. Before Watari left, he swapped their handcuffs for a pair with a much longer chain. Light didn't know when L had asked for the change, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. It seemed that everything L did was confusing him today. Eventually Watari left, leaving Light alone with L. At last.
"L?"
"Yes, Light-kun?"
"What was the whole sugar cube thing about?" Please don't just say they were nice and you wanted me to try one. Even you aren't that weird.
"I told you. They were nice."
Damn it! "That was all? It wasn't a test?"
"Hmm." L put down his tea cup. "You think I was trying to prove you are Kira with sugar cubes?" L laughed. "If you're that paranoid, maybe I should raise your percentage chance of being Kira."
"What?" Light stood up, clenching and unclenching his fists. "So, it was a test? Or is this the test?" Just give me a straight answer, damn you!
L grinned. Light wasn't sure if the detective was blushing again or whether his face had taken on a permanent reddish hue.
"L, stop playing with my head!" he shouted. "You're driving me crazy!"
L couldn't stop his smile from spreading. I drive you crazy, Light-kun? That's interesting.
Light was glaring at him now, so L tried to get his smile under control. But it wasn't easy; he couldn't seem to look at Light this evening without remembering way he had risen to the challenge. He ran his tongue over my fingers. L shivered again and looked away. He wriggled his toes and tried to focus on them instead of the memory.
"Fuck, you're annoying." Light muttered, turning away. L got the distinct impression that the teen was intending to storm off somewhere.
"Light-kun?" he giggled. "You do realise you are chained to me?"
"Fuck!" Light turned back to face L. He looked furious. "Fuck, Fuck, FUCK." Light slammed his fist into the wall. "I can't believe it's only been one day!"