Chapter Three
Sunday 25th July 2004
Light opened his eyes and went to rub them with his hands. The chain rattled as he raised his arm and he remembered where he was, and with whom. He angled his watch towards the dim moonlight streaming through the window. 2:39am. He glanced to his right. L was curled up under the duvet, still hugging his knees to his chest. Is he asleep? Light smiled. He'd been worried that L had trouble sleeping. He was tempted to reach out and touch the older man. He could brush L's hair aside, maybe even kiss him. But no. He wouldn't do that. Imagine how awkward it would be if he woke up. Light sighed. He was sure he shouldn't be attracted to an older man who seemed intent on keeping him prisoner, but the more he tried to ignore his desires, the more they seemed to pop up at really inappropriate times. L must think he was crazy. Light remembered losing his temper last night. Pretty sure that's going to count against me in the whole Kira suspect thing. He clenched his right fist. It hurt. There were definitely bruises forming. Did I really punch the wall that hard?
L's eyes snapped open. Judging by the quality of light in the room, it was around 5am. L yawned and stretched. He'd slept particularly well; it wasn't often he managed to sleep for five whole hours at a time. As he stretched, his arm brushed against Light's back. L frowned. Why is he sitting like that? Light was siting cross legged on the bed, facing away from him.
"Good morning Light-kun." L crawled across the bed to see what Light was doing. He leaned over Light's shoulder. The teen was running his left hand over his injured fist. Wow. I'm glad I am not a wall. L sat beside him and reached out to touch Light's knuckles. Light flinched but held his hand steady as L traced one finger over the bruises.
"Good morning, L," he said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, very well." L said, removing his hand from Light's. "That looks painful."
"Yeah," Light said. "But it's my own fault." Light moved away and turned to face L. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that."
"Don't worry about it," L said. "I can understand your frustration. I'm just glad it was only the wall you attacked."
Light smiled to himself as he walked beside L towards the showers. The detective seemed unusually cheerful this morning and Light felt strangely optimistic. Perhaps he and L could get along whilst they were chained together. That would surely make things easier.
They washed without talking. L was absent-mindedly singing again, and Light didn't want him to stop, so he kept his mouth shut and focused on keeping his soap under control. He was enjoying the shower and would have happily stayed in the little cubicle for hours, just listening to L sing.
"Light-kun? Are you done washing now?" L called.
"Yeah," Light sighed. "Ready to catch Kira?"
The corridors were much busier today, so they returned to headquarters amid stares and whispered remarks from the hotel's other guests. Light noticed a group of teenage girls following them, giggling and staring. He smiled.
"How about we give them something to stare at?" he whispered, holding out his cuffed hand.
L frowned at Light's hand. Clearly the teen had also noticed that they were being tailed by young girls, who obviously thought the handcuffs were some kind of fetish item. I guess it could be fun to wind them up. L bit his lip. This was probably a bad idea. He nodded and took Lights hand in his. Wow! L felt a jolt of electricity as they touched. That was odd. It didn't feel like static electricity, but… it must have been. L looked down at their hands. The bruises on Light's were very dark now, especially in comparison to his own pale fingers. L wondered if this was hurting Light. He loosened his grip a little. He hoped he wasn't doing this wrong. He didn't want Light to know he'd never held hands with anyone before. He thought back over his life. Well, he supposed he may have held hands with a parent as a small child. But he didn't remember that. Besides, that wasn't really the same thing, was it? No, he couldn't imagine anything would be quite the same as this. It was actually quite pleasant. He'd never really thought about it before; he hated handshakes and he had always thought a ridiculously extended one would be horrible. At least we just showered. It isn't that gross if we just showered.
Light felt L's grip on his hand loosen. I guess he's not enjoying this. Well, I can't blame him. It's pretty uncomfortable like this. Light glared at yet another group of girls who stared and giggled as they passed. This isn't right! Stupid yaoi fan girls. This should be a private moment. Light wanted to be alone with L. But if we were alone, this wouldn't be happening. L was just playing along. There was no way he had felt the electricity Light had as they touched.
Light squeezed L's hand and let go as they reached headquarters. "I don't think we want to be explaining that," he said.
L nodded and opened the door.
"Good morning," Light said, as he followed L into the room.
The task force mumbled good mornings and acknowledgements but, fortunately, no one seemed to notice Light's bruised knuckles or the fact that L was still blushing.
"Any new leads?" L asked, settling into his chair and examining the plate of chocolates that someone, presumably Watari, had left on his desk. Surely that's not a healthy breakfast? Light couldn't imagine eating something so sickly first thing in the morning. He shook his head and picked at a croissant, which was all that was left of the Task Force's breakfast room service. As he ate, he watched L pick up the first of his strawberry filled chocolates and delicately remove the base with his teeth. L then closed his eyes and started licking at the contents. Cute. Weird but definitely interesting... actually, it's kind of hot. Light turned back to the computer in front of him and glared at his reflection while he waited for it to boot up. Why can't I even watch him eat without having stupid perverted thoughts? Sure, I've always had a bit of a dirty mind, but it can't just be me! No else eats like that. It's almost too provocative... maybe he isn't as innocent as I think?
Light glanced again at the detective, just as L bit into another of the chocolates, allowing the sweet filling to spill out around his lips. Don't even think it! Light couldn't force himself to look away as L's tongue darted out to catch the thick liquid, which was dripping excruciatingly slowly down his chin. No. Not going there. No, no, NO! Light returned to glaring at the computer screen. Why am I so into him? He's way older than me and he's not even my type really. Light sighed. It's just a crush. It's just that I've been spending a lot of time with him. Just a silly little crush, or Stockholm Syndrome. Light laughed.
"Light-kun? What is funny?" L asked.
"Nothing really. I was just thinking about something." Light smiled. "You have chocolate on your nose, by the way."
#
It was getting dark outside and L was waiting for the Task Force to give up and leave. They'd been working quietly all day, which he liked, but they had not been particularly productive, which he did not like. The fact that he hadn't got anywhere either made it even worse. He looked up from his computer and found that Light was staring at him. Again. He'd caught the teenager looking at him seventeen times over the course of the day. Each time, Light had smiled at him and turned quickly back to his work. L was getting concerned. Even though he'd turned off the computer screen several times, in order to see his reflection, L was convinced he must have chocolate on his nose again. I suppose he's just too polite to mention it twice. L rubbed his nose and looked around the room, wondering how much longer the Task Force were going to stay.
Eventually, the they began to trail back to their homes or hotel rooms. As they left, L was surprised to find Watari hovering by his desk, looking uncomfortable about something.
"L," Watari said. "I would like a word with you, away from the task force, if possible?"
"I'm afraid that is impossible," L said. "As I will not remove the handcuffs." L rattled the chain to illustrate his point.
"No, well, quite. I think," Watari sighed. "I think it would be best for Light to join us. There is something we need to discuss."
L frowned. "We can go to our room, I suppose." What could Watari possibly have to say to Light?
They walked in silence to the hotel room. L closed the door behind them and Watari motioned for them to sit down.
L sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard, with his knees pulled up to his chest. He expected Light to sit beside him, but the teen perched on the edge of the bed. He looked confused and awkward. Why is Light so worried? L looked up at Watari. Why is he glaring at Light?
"You probably know what I am concerned about," Watari said. L glanced at Light. The teen still looked worried.
"Actually no," L said. "I haven't a clue what you would want to speak to both of us about." I might be clever, but how am I supposed to know what Watari is thinking?
Watari's face turned red. L wasn't sure if that was embarrassment or anger. It could easily have been either, and both were out of character for Watari.
"I am referring," Watari said, "to your behaviour in the hotel corridors this morning" Oh! L felt his own face heating up. Watari must have seen us holding hands and assumed the worst... or, well, it wouldn't be the worst thing, I guess.
"I think you may have it wrong Watari-san," Light said. "The two of us, um, that is to say L and I, we were only having a bit of fun." Watari's eyes narrowed. His glare was still directed at Light, and L was grateful. He'd never seen Watari so angry, even that time at Wammy's when the kids had booby-trapped his office. L looked back at Light, who was pale and, if L were not mistaken, had begun to sweat.
"No," Light stood up and moved away from the bed. "Not like that! We were just, um…"
L let go of his legs and sat up on the bed. "What Light-kun is trying to say is that we, um, we were only pretending to… to have feelings for one another." It was quite nice though.
Watari looked down at L and sighed. He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. L imagined he was having an internal debate as to whether he wanted any more information. "Just don't do it again, L," he said.
Watari shook his head, sighed again and left, closing the door behind him.
L looked at Light. The teenager was smiling at him. L smiled back and giggled.
"I can't believe he thought we had feelings for each other." L laughed and collapsed into his pillow.
"Yeah. Stupid, right?" Light sighed.
