Crunch.

Light bent forward slightly, trying hard to focus on the task at hand. He was scanning through files over the Kira case with concentration, trying to decipher the clues. What was this about these companies, something about the numbers here seemed so…

Crunch. Snap.

The brunette sighed, distracted again by the sound, but not allowing himself to turn around to look at what it was. Back to the numbers, he told himself, ignore the tugging at your chain. He doesn't need your attention right now - we were just fighting, after all.

Now. The numbers.

He wasn't 100 percent sure, though L seemed to have taken to his deduction pretty well, that he was right. It seemed strange that Kira would support a company, considering what he had been doing previously hadn't seemed to be for the sake of money but rather for the good of his "new world." Light scoffed. Though the idea was a nice one, it seemed so ridiculous that one person could do it.

How could you kill someone without touching them, anyway…?

Crunch. Crunch. Slurp.

Light sighed, distracted by his thoughts and the noises coming from the man beside him again. He spared a peek at the man, but regretted it as soon as he realized L was staring at him and had clearly seen him looking. The raven-haired man was looking at him over his tea cup, having slurped down a drink just moments ago, licking his lips of the overly-sweetened liquid.

The teen snapped back to looking at the screen, surfing through the news files. So if Kira was supporting the Yotsuba group, then…

Crunch crunch crunch.

Tug. Yank. Light flinched as the chain around his wrist was yanked slightly, tugging at his wrist, and he turned to glare at the black-haired insomniac beside him, L. He was curled into his usual sitting position, eating a pack of thin mints rather noisily, purposefully snapping his teeth down on it each time. Had Light known the blonde, he would recognize that L was trying to mimic Mello's way of eating chocolate as he did, taking violent little crunches off the thin mints. However, he was nowhere near the effect that Mello had when he ate his own food, and it bothered the raven-haired man greatly.

But like I said, Light hardly knew that. He was smart, but not a mind reader. If he was, his job would be a lot easier, he thought.

"What do you want, Ryuzaki?" Light snapped, using the raven-haired boy's alias. L blinked bluntly at him, the edges of his lips twitching. To anyone who didn't know him well, it would have looked like a blank, emotionless stare; Light, however, had been chained to him for a long while now, and he recognized the vague hurt in his dull gray eyes at the brunettes tone.

"I was simply wondering if you found anything else about Kira," Ryuzaki lied, taking another snap of the thin mints. Ah, I am getting the hang of it, maybe… the raven-haired boy thought, wondering briefly if Mello would have scoffed at him for thinking so.

Light frowned.

"Well, nothing that I hadn't already explained," Light told him cautiously. Ryuzaki didn't usually ask these kinds of questions so often - usually he would ask once, and then ignore you unless you came to him first. He could tell, for this reason, that the raven-haired boy was lying to him. Stupid L. Never says what he really means, the brunette thought, stubbornly so. He was thoroughly peeved at the raven-haired man, though - how dare he still accuse him of being Kira? He'd been chained to the guy, for goodness sake!

But he supposed, vaguely so, that L could be right to accuse him. He wasn't Kira, obviously (or not so obviously, but he couldn't possibly know that) but L was right to be suspicious. After all, he was a prime suspect - had the positions been switched, he thought, he would have suspected himself, too.

"I see," L said bluntly, taking a sip of his tea. He looked withdrawn, more than usual. Light couldn't place why, but he felt worried for the raven-haired boy. And he couldn't quite place why he had hated him before - I mean, he was pissed at him now, but before the chained-together thing and being let out of custody, he had truly hated the detective. Now he kind of enjoyed his company.

"You going to share those thin mints?" Light asked casually, a bit teasingly so, reaching out to take one from the stack. This was pointless, he knew; he wasn't surprised when L slapped his hand away, scowling at him.

"No, I am not, Light-kun, please do not steal any," L snapped, shoving another full thin-mint into his mouth. The brunette couldn't help but laugh a little - L looked kind of ridiculous with a whole thin mint in his mouth, mouth slightly puffed out before he got around to chewing the chocolate treat. "The girl scout who gave these to me informed me that they were not for sharing, anyway. These are very special thin mints - I paid for them myself," L continued angrily through his thin mint, huffing.

Light laughed despite himself, joking, "Oh, better hope that Girl Scout wasn't Kira. She knows your face now, you know - that, and your weakness for thin mints." L only scowled at him - or rather slightly narrowed his eyes and stared him down, subtle with his expressions as ever, but Light still caught the expression, and halted his laughter. So much for trying to lighten the mood.

"The Girl Scout was certainly not Kira - she was eight," L told him, slightly irritated sounding.

Light frowned. "I was joking, Ryuzaki."

"I am not good with jokes," L replied simply, abandoning his attempt to eat the thin mints in Mello's special way and simply shoving them one by one into his mouth. Light raised an eyebrow at the panda-eyed man, a little bemused by his actions, though they weren't really that unusual.

"I can see that," Light grumbled, twisting in his chair and looking back at the screen. He couldn't focus anymore though, constantly seeing L either in the corner of his eye or in the back of his mind, hyperaware of the other male as he ate his thin mints, creepily cognizant of the fact that a familiar pair of panda-eyes were staring at him.

So much so, in fact, that he couldn't actually remember where he had learned the word "cognizant" and it bothered him. English class? From my mother, maybe? Maybe it was… oh, fuck, it doesn't even freaking matter, HE IS STARING AT ME.

The brunette sighed shakily, having slight trouble controlling himself as he brushed his fingers through his soft brown hair. He glanced at Matsuda, who was passing by and chattering away with Misa right outside - he couldn't start arguing with the detective now. Not with them in a mile radius - what if something stupid came spilling out of his mouth? With Misa and Matsuda there, it would be harsh.

Something stupid like what…?

"Light-kun, if you wish to go and talk to Miss Amanye, feel free," L interrupted his thoughts, looking at him quizzically. Light could tell, though, by the look in L's eyes that he didn't mean it. He didn't really want him to leave - he was just making it clear that he had the option to. There was a flicker of annoyance in the raven-haired man's eyes as he nodded to the blonde outside - L had been especially annoyed with her, especially considering that L had to come with Light and Misa on all of their dates. Despite being a "fan of her work" L secretly detested the girl.

"…no," Light said slowly, shaking his head and going back to looking towards the screen, but he couldn't deny that he was looking at L from the corner of his eye now. "I'm fine here."L then did something strange. He smiled. Smiled. It wasn't a normal brand of smile - it was a tiny little twist in his lips, a creepy kind of smile - but cute, undeniably, at the same time. A curious expression it was on the detective, a tiny smile and a slightly lit-up look in usually dead-looking gray eyes.

The expression was gone as soon as it came, L returning to looking at his own screen now. But Light had seen it.

"Has Light-kun forgiven me for being so inconsiderate before?" L suddenly asked, looking over his shoulder. Light frowned.

"Have you admitted that you were wrong?" the brunette tested, narrowing his eyes slightly. The black-haired man scoffed.

"I am never wrong, Light-kun. But I am often socially incorrect," L said casually, shrugging his shoulders slightly before going back to looking at his screen.

Gee… what a heartfelt apology, Light thought a bit bitterly, going back to looking at the screen. All the same, though, L was probably right - it wasn't his place to get angry at the raven-haired man for speaking what he saw to be the truth. Even if he was wrong and he wasn't Kira… the raven-haired man certainly had reason to doubt. He was a genius. In fact, had Light not been the one accused, he would have believed him. He was an amazing detective - he was never wrong. Light wouldn't admit it, but he was… always at least partially correct. But…

How could I be Kira and not remember?

Wouldn't that be impossible, really? And the killings just keep coming…

"If all possible things are overruled, then the impossible must be true…" Light muttered to himself, repeating something he'd heard a long time ago, without really meaning to say it out loud. L blinked and looked at him, surprise evident in his eyes for just a split second.

"What was that, Light-kun?" L asked cautiously, frowning. Light just shook his head.

"Just me thinking. Sorry," Light replied casually, shaking his head and going back to looking at the computer screen. For one reason or another, a woman's face blinked in his mind - dark black hair, soft brown eyes. She had something to say to him, before she went away but now… Now he couldn't remember what it was. Something… Kira related? Why did he have the feeling she was dead…

You need more sleep, Light.

"I see…" L said, slowly, feet fidgeting out of habit. Light couldn't help but smile when he saw them - it creeped some people out, when he did those things, but Yagami found it oddly cute. Different, sure - but he liked different. Different tended to be interesting. And L was definitely that - interesting. Certainly a good word for the raven-haired man, that one was.

Why do I have the feeling I want something from him?

"You look confused," L tells him bluntly, sliding forward in his rolling chair to peer at him. The brunette blinked in surprise as the raven-haired man was suddenly very close to him, leaning forward in his chair with penetrating, pencil-gray eyes. "Thinking about something?"

You, actually. "Nothing, really," Light lied instead of speaking his thoughts, shrugging, but there was the hint of an embarrassed flush in his face as he did. He hated feeling so intimidated by the detective, but it was as if the raven-haired man was reading him like a book as he stared. Maybe it was the age difference… or just that L was strange in that way.

"You are lying to me, Light-kun," L said, just as bluntly. Light-kun. There he goes, calling me that again… Light shook his head, frowning.

"Why would I be lying?" Light asked, glaring at him. "You're the one who lies all the time, not me."

"That is untrue," L replied bluntly, glaring right back. "I do not deny that I lie, Light, but no more than you do. That is what smart people do - they lie. It's a cruel talent we cannot avoid."

Light shivered. Why do I feel like that hits so close to home? Do I really lie that often?

Yes…

Light shivered again. What was that odd thought in his mind? He didn't lie that much. He was a good person, a good student, a good son. Why was he thinking that way?

"You do not reply because I'm right," L told him thoughtfully. Light was about to make a sharp, angry retort, but the black-haired man suddenly reached out and brushed his finger across Light's lips before he could speak. The brunette froze at the sudden, unexpected contact, the black-haired man pressing three fingers lightly on the younger boys mouth. "Do not bother with arguing, you know I'm correct," he said.

Light finally swatted the black haired man's hand away, unable to stop the blush that scattered across his cheeks. L smirked as the brunette growled, "Son of a bitch. Don't stereotype geniuses."

"So you call yourself a genius?" L asked quizzically. Light was about to object, and to point out that L did, too, but the raven haired boy shook his head and continued instead, "I am not just stereotyping, Light-kun. It's simply what I have observed over the years, with myself and… others."

"Others?" Light asked, curious, but the raven-haired man shook his head and brushed the subject off, rejecting any kind of prodding from the boy with a simple wave of his hand.

"Does Light-kun ever get serious with girls?" L suddenly asked. His voice was casual and blank, as if he was asking if it ever snowed in California (it didn't). Light choked on nothing, throwing his hand over his mouth, feeling his face start to burn. What the hell?

He thought for a second that L was teasing him, but the look in the other man's eyes was dead serious.

"Yeah, sure," Light replied. He wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not - what was his definition of… "serious"? He was a virgin, yeah, though he hated to admit it. But he had dated girls for long periods of time, had a good time with them and all. He was a bit of a playboy, in fact. But… serious…?

"I am referring to sex, Light," L clarified, even more bluntly this time.

Light wanted to die.

"Not… often."

"By often, you mean ever, correct?"

"…"

L smirked. "Do not fret, Light-kun. Such is a curse of being a genius as well…" L told him, but as he did the smirk faded to a slightly-sad half-frown. "You never quite find the time for things like love… and, well, simply too clever for acting blindly on lust," L continued, shaking his head. Light wondered, vaguely, if the raven-haired boy was referring to Light or himself.

"That's not true," Light intervened, frowning, and L looked at him quizzically again. He found himself arguing on instinct, continuing, "Just being smart doesn't make you incapable of love."

"I realize that, Light-kun - I was referring mostly to myself," L replied. "And possibly you, as well, unfortunately."

"That's still not true," Light argued. He didn't know what was fueling his sureness, but he continued angrily, "You have to be capable of love, every human is."

"What makes you think that love even exists, and is not just a blend of affection and lust?"

"What makes you think it isn't?"

"Rationalism."

"Rationalism…?"

"Being rational."

"L, for goodness sake, you can't just go around detesting the fact that you have emotions."

L frowned, looking down at his fiddling feet with a scowl. "What does Light-kun even care?" L asked a bit sadly, shooting a glance at the doorway where Matsuda and Misa-Misa were. They were gone now, vanished from the corridor - they weren't under surveillance at the moment, since everyone had gone home to do something. L had assured the task-force that he could manage Light himself, and after the fight, everyone had believed him. Light knew this, and so he didn't hesitate to grab a fistful of L's hair and force the detective to look at him.

"L, everyone feels something sometimes," Light insisted a bit angrily, sitting just barely taller than the detective, since they were both sitting down and L didn't have his lengthy legs to make him stand taller.

The raven-haired man's eyes widened slightly, hyperaware of the fact that Light's face was so close to his. It made him extremely uncomfortable, and yet some strange part of him, in the back of his mind, wanted to move closer. He was loosing control, he realized with a fright, his eyes searching over every detail of Light's face. His amber-brown eyes, narrowed to seriousness, his soft looking skin, his tensed, slender jaw, his cheekbones, his scrunched, angrily tilted eyebrows. The expression on his face was one of a passionate debater, someone who truly believed what he was saying. For once, L found himself slipping out of control of himself, his fingers loosing their grip on his own steering wheel.

"How would you know? You cannot see into my head, Light Yagami," L said coldly, but the tone was half hearted. He was having trouble not attacking the other boy. And not with kicks and punches, either, but in an entirely different way - but he couldn't give in to these kinds of feelings. As he had said before: he was much too smart to be giving in to stupid things like lust.

At least, that's what he told himself as the brown-haired boy's eyes flickered with uncertainty and distain, mouth opening just slightly, clearly trying to think of a good response. One that would trump anything L could say.

The brunette came up blank. The raven-haired man was right - he didn't know.

"You really think you don't feel anything?" Light asked slowly. He sounded a tiny bit hurt, though even he himself wasn't sure why. L flinched a little, trying to remove himself from Light's grasp, but it only ended with him getting his hair pulled.

"I would appreciate it if Light let go of me," L grumbled. Still trying very hard to resist any urges that would end up badly. Light only moved to make it worse though, his hand releasing his hair only to grip the raven-haired man's shoulder and jerk him closer still, so much so that the raven-haired man could feel the brunette's breath on his mouth.

"I know you would, but it's not going to happen until you admit it," Light told him bluntly, in a controlling way, but his eyes told another story. He was desperate, somehow - he needed proof that the raven-haired man was capable of feeling. Namely, a feeling like affection… or love. He wasn't sure why it even mattered….

Unless maybe you care about him more than you think.

But didn't I hate him just a few weeks ago…?

Wasn't I mad at him not an hour ago?

Where is all this coming from…?

"Then I will be stuck in your grasp forever," L whispered, not giving in and averting his gaze from the other boy's. Light blinked, licking his lips without really thinking about it, just out of nervousness. It was just a habit for the brunette, but the action drove L a little crazy in the back of his mind, and he squirmed. The action was pointless, though, only causing Light to place his other hand on L's left shoulder, now gripping both of the other man's arms.

"You never give in to anything, do you…?" Light asked quietly, stroking his fingers absently across the raven-haired man's shoulder. L was a little surprised at the man's gentleness. Weren't you the one I was sure was Kira? Why… why aren't I so sure anymore? What is this sudden change?

"No, I do not," L replied. It was a lie - he was giving in right now, without knowing it, slowly loosing grip on his control. Something's got to give… where had he heard that before?

"Never?" Light murmured, inching closer still. His amber eyes were inches from L's now, drowning the detective in their depths.

"You should never say never," L muttered before he could stop himself, feeling himself give. Before Light realized what he had said the raven-haired boy's resolve snapped. To hell with it, he thought, shaking the other boy's grip on his shoulders and shoving him backwards.

The brunette gasped in surprise, at first expecting the raven-haired boy to attack him, but this wasn't the case. L was right after him - not just because of the chain - and dropped down, pressing his own hands on Light's chest, jamming the younger against the chair. There was a certain predatory look in the detectives eyes, none of the cold stoniness, as if a wall had just been shattered right in front of him.

"Ryuzaki…?" Light squeaked before he could control his tone. "What are you…"

He was going to continue that sentence, but the words were lost as the raven-haired man closed in on him, closing the distance between their lips. L didn't know what was coming over him now, unable to control the feelings with rational thoughts at this point. Without even knowing it Light had pushed him over the edge, and into kissing him.

The feeling was an amazing one, even if Light was tense under him his lips were still soft, as he had expected. He tasted unexpectedly sweet, and L wondered how long, in the back of his mind, he had been wanting this.

And then he realized - Light wasn't responding, neither rejecting nor returning the kiss, simply going rigid underneath him. The raven-haired man shivered a little, pulling away immediately at the realization, a strange feeling of rejection coursing through him as he lingered in front of Light's face. The brunette was staring at him with round hazel eyes, his face burning a shade of pink.

L swallowed, trying to regain his composure; for once, this action was a challenge. "I apologize, Yagami-san," L said carefully, and though his voice was steady his hands, which were still rested on Light's chest, were trembling. It felt strange to call him by his last name, but he was trying very hard to stay formal, to make the intimate situation less… "I didn't--"

"Why did you kiss me?" Light interrupted him quietly, amber eyes flickering with uncertainty. L gulped, feeling conflicted between running away (impossible, because of the chains) kissing him again (also not plausible, he'd only be shoved away and it would technically be harassment) and screaming (probably not the best approach either). Instead, he lied. "I'm not sure." He was completely sure - it was because he wanted to, of course. Though the reason for this was really kind of uncertain…

"I thought you thought I was Kira," Light whispered, blushing still.

L sighed. "I do think you are Kira. Or at least you are a suspect.""Then why did you kiss me?" Light repeated the question, fidgeting in his seat.

"I have more emotions that I thought," L replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Light narrowed his eyes, uncertain, the kiss still tingling on his lips. He couldn't deny he kind of wanted to kiss him again - oh, fucking great, I'm gay… should have known… - but he was still a little unsure. I mean, not, what, two minutes before they had been fighting with each other about weather or not he was Kira. He was hardly ready for any of this.

This is an opportunity. It could be my last…

"I am sorry," L said quickly, pulling away from the brunette and shaking his head, face flushed slightly, "I suppose I wasn't thinking about--"

Light acted on instinct, cutting him off and jerking on the chain, forcing the raven-haired boy to stumble forwards again, not letting him make any notable distance away from him, reaching and clutching the panda-eyed man by the shoulders, his fingers tangling in L's white t-shirt. The detective's eyes had gone wide with surprise, but he didn't resist except to move his hands to grasp Light's wrists out of habit and instincts of his own.

"Ryuzaki, why did you kiss me?" he demanded, louder than before this time. L's eyes flickered with some emotion the brunette couldn't read, but if he could, he would have recognized it as fear. Not fear of the boy above him, but fear that he would give in to himself and respond with the truth.

"I. Do. Not. Know." L replied slowly, statically, eyes narrowing in a challenge at the brunette above him. Light, expecting this answer, smirked at him.

"Oh really?" he asked challengingly, fingers brushing across L's jaw line just barely. The detective shivered, but did not avert his gaze, keeping it trained on Light's with as much intensity as he could manage. Which turned out to be a lot - he wasn't intense with the challenge itself, but rather intensely set into the moment as it came.

"Yeah, really," L replied bluntly, giving him a blank but challenging gaze. To his surprise, Light smirked; the confident move didn't meet his eyes, but it still made L wince inwardly.

"Well, maybe I can help you figure it out," Light whispered, pressing his hands to the sides of L's face. Inwardly, he was cowering, afraid that the outcome would not be one he was ready to take on, but he continued on with his instinct, more afraid of never knowing.

L's eyes grew wider than they had ever been as the brunette leaned forward, lips brushing the raven haired boy's just barely, a delicate little touch. The detective fought back a shiver, every nerve in his body begging him to let go of his own metaphorical steering wheel and allow himself to crash; the rational part of him knew this wouldn't end well, not in the end.

But for once, L wasn't thinking of the end. For once, both boys were completely and utterly stuck in that one tiny sliver of a moment, seeing the world with tunnel vision just big enough to fit each other into.

Light moved away from the delicate kiss, which had not been returned, and stepped away, the confident smirk on his face not faltering, despite the inner struggle inside his mind. Why the hell did you do that? Look what you've done! his mind screamed as the brunette watched, with dismay, the detective go completely tense and stony, his pencil gray eyes completely unreadable; the only hint that he even registered what had happened was his fingers, which had flown to rest on his lips.

Gradually, though, L's face softened to a quizzical look, chewing his thumb as he always did when he was thinking. Light watched worriedly, resisting breaking into a cold sweat. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction. Actually, he expected to either be kissed back or kicked in the face; not this thoughtfulness, not this consideration, not this analyzing. Then again, this was L - everything was analytical.

Finally, L spoke, licking his lips as he did, which made the brunette wince. "Light-kun?""Eh?" Light replied, annoyed by how worried his voice sounded.

L looked up at him with a surprising little curl of a smile on his lips, dark ebony eyes scrunching with the smile. "I think I know why I kissed you, Light-kun."Light gulped, feeling a blush creep involuntarily onto his face. "And why would that be, Ryuzaki?" he managed to sound casual, though his voice had risen a few notes.

L's smile vanished, replaced by a dead serious stare as he replied, "It's because you taste like cake."

Light's amber eyes widened with confusion and shock at the comment, mouth opening to make a shocked noise, but it never got the chance to become audible. The raven haired detective was already on him, crushing his lips back on Light's again for yet another apparently-cake-flavored kiss.

This time, Light kissed back. Who needs rationalism? Not me.

A/N: Wahoo! This was so fluffy! Oh well! :D I hope you enjoyed this, it was really kind of random. It was sitting around in my files, half-completed, so I slapped on an ending and posted it on this thing. Because what else is this collection for, right? Right! :D