Annika's POV
I heard my phone alarm go off, it was the song "Opiate" by Tool. I like their music especially Manyards' soothing voice matched with Adam's awe inspiring guitar tone. I flopped around in my bed for a while just listening to the music. I couldn't help but wonder if l would enjoy Tool, or even Nirvana, had he listened to Alice in Chains. I started to think about all the songs I had to show him. Finally after torturing my mind by reminding myself how much music I listen to I was ready to get out of bed. I unceremoniously throw the blankets off me and I roll until I reach the left side of the bed, eh I might as well just roll off which is exactly what I do, it didn't hurt when I hit the floor, it never does. Besides it's kinda fun, my bed is only a few inches from the floor. The music's still playing so I reach for my phone, conveniently I leave it plugged in on the floor so doesn't knock it off the bed, after I shut the alarm off I will myself to my feet. It's 10:05, why am I up so early again? Oh yeah L and I are going shopping today. I smiled, today's going to be fun. I couldn't believe how easy we got along, hopefully this relationship was going to last.
I look on the bed and see still asleep on the pillow next to the one I was using. He may not exactly like to cuddle but he likes to stay close. Turning around I make my way to the bathroom and look in the mirror. It's hard to see but my hair is greasy, shedding my shirt, bra, and underwear I turn on the shower, it takes a while to warm up but I step in anyway the cold water wakes me up even more. I stand in the cold stream until I start to feel it get warmer. Then I grab my shampoo, which smells like watermelon. I like watermelon flavored candy but I don't like real watermelon. It's kinda weird, but hey I'm different so it doesn't matter. Lathering my hair in the sweet smelling shampoo I scrub until I have an absurd amount of bubbles on my head. That's when I rinse it. Then I grab the conditioner, just like the shampoo it's watermelon and I repeat the process, except the conditioner doesn't bubble, plus I only put it on the ends of my hair, never my scalp. As I wait for the conditioner to soak I grab my black bath scrunchie and pour just a small drop of my Shea butter body wash onto it, lathering my body and rinsing. I stood in the shower for a while after I was clean.
When I stepped out I grabbed the towel hanging on the wall and dried off my legs then the rest of my body. My hair is still soaking wet so I wrap it in the towel. I walk out the bathroom and the cool air hits me. Goosebumps arise on my naked body but I always get used to it. I walk over to my dresser and open the bottom drawer and grab a simple black pair of underwear and a black bra, not really a matching set since the bra was lacy. Then I reach into into the top drawer and grab my Nirvana shirt but it didn't just have the smiley face it also had Kurt Cobain in a suit on it, he's a killer looking guy it sucks he's died but after reading several book about him it was obvious he suffered more so than enjoyed his life. I decide on a pair of black skinny jeans. After getting my underwear, bra and jeans on I unwrapped my hair from the towel but I dried it a little more, then I pulled my shirt over my head. I made my way back to the bathroom to brush my hair. I decided I was going to eat something before brushing my teeth. Walking out of the bathroom I checked my phone at 10:30, and still had about an hour before L came over. Then I remember that I never texted him my address, geez I'm stupid. Going into my messages I press on his name and lay down on my bed 'My address is Park Creek Apartments 215 West wing. If you go up the stairs just take a left then take a right I'm the last apartment.' My heart started to beat a little faster, I can't believe I met this man yesterday and now I have him coming over to my apartment. I couldn't help but burry my face in my pillow
L's POV
I looked down at my phone, it had just buzzed. I'm almost done with the case, I've lowered the suspects down to three people. Of course it's a message from Annika. I grab my phone, unlock it and open the message. 'My address is Park Creek Apartments 215 West wing. If you go up the stairs just take a left then take a right I'm the last apartment.' Ah yes her address I completely forgot to ask for it. It's 10:32 I don't have to be there until 11:45 but I'll make Watari drive me there earlier, so I'll probably get there around 11:15. I bet it would be a wonderful surprise for her. It's hard to believe I only met her yesterday. I feel like I've waited for her my whole life. 'Thanks I completely forgot to ask you for it.' She forgot to tell me,so technically we both just forgot, it's like I said before it feels like we've known each other longer than what has only been one day. It probably just escaped our minds, our conversation last night was interesting to say the least. My phone beeped again 'I know I just realized that just after I finished getting dressed.' Devil L popped up on my shoulder 'Just imagine her getting dressed' I swatted him away he was starting to annoy me. 'You just saved me from a long drive to nowhere.'
Even though Watari was the one who would be driving me he still would have driven around in circles. Her reply was quick, 'Yeah truly XD, how's your case going' 'Good I've narrowed down the suspects to 3 people, scratch that I just clicked some things together 2 suspects.' I realized maybe I should tell her everything but a faint outline never hurt anyone. 'Wow your fast!' I couldn't help but smirk at her response, 'Yeah I am pretty good', I couldn't help but be smug with myself. I am the best detective in the world, actually there are three of them but nobody has to know all three men are the same guy. 'You're pretty confident aren't you' I thought about revealing my true self to her but I had to remind myself that we had just met, I didn't want my identity to be compromised. 'Well if you've seen the amount of cases I have finished I think you would understand why I am confident in my abilities.'
I start pondering on how much money I should bring, I know she told me no but I myself expect I should get my sweets while I'm out. I was eager to solve this case but if I don't know where the next case will take me. Then I had a light bulb moment, maybe I'll take a break for a while, or I could just solve the cases from here. I don't really need to be in the city of the crimes, I could stay here, finish some cases and get to know Annika, I was too lost in my thought I hadn't noticed she had replied. 'Well you finish and solve your case I'm gonna eat some breakfast.' With the tiny amount of encouragement from the beautiful girl I stared back at my laptop trying hard to concentrate to finish this case.
Annika's POV
I didn't really want to stop texting him. It's just he is working on a case and I didn't want to pester him too much. Besides he's almost done with it and we will see each other in about an hour. I look at the time 10:50 in less than an hour L should be at my door. Getting up off my bed I place my phone in the front of my pants, and don't want a recap of yesterday's misplaced phone scene. I make my way to the kitchen and open the fridge, I grab an apple out of the bottom drawer and a Dr. Pepper. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." I didn't notice how often I talk to myself but I Oh Whale. I like whales, they swim in the ocean or in my eyes, especially when I get migraines. That's what I call the little things you try to look at but they just keep going down, well whatever. Slumping my lazy ass on the couch I take a bite out of the apple. It's really sweet, I'll probably eat another one. I casually set my apple down and pull open one of the drawers on the table. I pull out my favorite book and set them aside. I pull out the false bottoms and pull out my little box. Inside I have a tiny black pipe and about 3 grams of weed, I actually get this stuff from Ross. Before I pack the bowl I walk over and open my balcony door.
I smoked a full bowl and then neatly packed my paraphilia away. I went back to eating my apple, looking at the blank TV. I decide to turn it on, I grab the controller off the table on my way back to sit down. Turning on the controller I wait for the system to turn on too. When I log in and go straight to Hulu, I'm feeling like a little south park. I start the episode and eat my apple occasionally I take a drink of my soda. I was enjoying the high I got from the small bowl and peacefully watched the silly show and of course waited for L to come over.
L's POV
I solved the case about 5 minutes after Annika texted me she was going to eat breakfast. I get up out of my sitting position and make my way out of the the dark room I was working in, I'm going to ask Watari for a ride and some money, and on the way to Annika's house I'll pitch the idea of me just solving cases here and me staying to better acquaintance myself with Annika. Yes that sounds like a great idea, so I open the door to exit the room and look for Watari, he was in the kitchen no doubt getting me something sweet to eat, just as I walked in he turned to walk out, he bumped into me luckily not dropping the bowl of chocolate covered animal crackers, they were the best brain food, well at least for me.
"My apologies sir I didn't see you coming." I grabbed the bowl from him "It no problem I should have announced myself, but I was wondering if I could get some money and a ride to Annika's we are going to go shopping for what we need for the challenge and I figured I might as well buy some sweets for myself while I'm out." His eyes widened, "You are actually going to go through with this 'challenge'." He gave a hearty chuckle, "If she gets you shopping and eating something then please get the recipe from her so I can make it myself." I stuffed a cracker in my mouth, "Sure thing, but I am not going shopping with you anytime soon." Walking out of the kitchen I go back to the dark room, and turn on the light. My eyes take a quick second to readjust. There is a king sized bed in the middle of it but my laptop was on the far side of the room, which was where I was working. I didn't enjoy beds much and they were so uncomfortable to work on.
I don't really want to wear my shoes, but I have to wear them in the grocery store, I'll just take them with me and put them on when we actually go to the grocery store. I grabbed my shoes, the socks were already in the shoes so I took a quick second to put them on my feet, I made my way over to the laptop and shut it down. I grab my phone that lay abandoned by the closed laptop and stuff it in my front pocket, I like my jeans because not only are they baggy themselves but so are the pockets, which are needed for the size of my phone. If I really wanted to I could solve cases from it, I just find my laptop to be of more convenience. Walking out of the room I turn off the lights, I walk over to Watari and he hands me a wad of cash which I quickly shove into my pocket, "Let's go Watari. I'll give you her address when we get down to the car. With my bowl full of crackers in one hand and my shoes under my armpit we left the hotel room.
We reached the car quickly, even though we took the elevator. Once seated and pulled out of the hotel on the road I put Annika's address onto google maps, only 14 minutes away. After I finished the bowl of crackers I decided now would be the best time to pitch my idea to Watari. "I was thinking that maybe we could stay here awhile, you know I could work other cases and not have to be at the exact location, besides it's probably safer, and I could get to stay and maybe get to know Annika better." I turn my head over to Watari and I give him a big smile, trying to seem as appealing as possible. "You know L that's not too bad of an idea. I really like the fact you found someone, plus you are correct, it will be easy to solve other cases. It's not like you go out and investigate the crime scene yourself. " He returned the smile. I was glad Watari and I think alike and even more excited that I do get to stay here. I feel like Annika is really worth it.
Annika's POV
I was halfway through the south park episode when I heard a knock at the door, I pulled my phone from my pants, 11:16. It's too early for L to be here, I scrambled to the door all the while wondering who it could be. I set my drink down on the kitchen counter and walked over to the door. I had already started my second apple, but I wasn't willing to set it down. I open the door and to my surprise it is actually L, "Hey!" I still had a mouth full of apples, thank god I didn't spit any on him. "Hey yourself." He smiles at me, I see his shoes tucked under his armpits, and I look down to see that he is in fact not wearing any shoes but he does have socks on, I laugh on the inside, "Come on in, I didn't expect you to be early."
I moved out the way so he could walk in and as soon as he stepped in I shut the door, "Yeah I finished the case early, and my hotels only 14 minutes away so just figured I had nothing else to do so why not come and bother you." his smile was still on his lips. I also noticed he was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. "Did you sleep in the same outfit?" I asked curiously, as I led him to the living room to sit down on the couch. "Actually I have multiple of the same shirts and jeans, they are really comfortable and it's just really clothing so it doesn't matter what you wear as long as my jigglebits aren't hanging out.". At the word jiggle bits I couldn't help the laughter that escaped my mouth. He looked dead serious when he said that too. "Dude what even, did you just say jiggly bits." He looked at me, with a less serious face, I could tell he didn't get the humor of it, "Yes I did, I see it more polite to say that then genitals, then I just sound like a doctor, and I hate doctors." I could see a flash of fear in his eyes when he said doctor. I clear my throat, "You know what they always say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away." I wave my apple in his face, then he snatches it from me and takes a bite, "Then I will need this" he shook his head in approval and continued, "and it's really sweet." I give him a slight frown, "If you wanted one I could have grabbed you one out the fridge." He looks down to the apple then back at me, "Sorry, your statement was so promising." I really wasn't upset about it so I gave him a small smile.
"Nothing to be sorry about, I should have seen it coming." I say walking over to the fridge to grab him a full apple. When I walked back to him I snatched my apple that he took a bite out of and replaced it with the new one, "Here take a full one, that way the doctor will stay away." He smiled and looked at the apple with a twinkle in his eye, "Thank you Annika, together with these apples we shall fight the doctors." He raised the fruit to his mouth and took a really big bite, is he challenging me? I look him in the eye and also take a big bite as well, even though my apple is now basically half gone I still succeed in getting a giant chunk. He raises one of his eyebrows and goes for an even bigger bite, Yeezus, I couldn't compete with that, so I shrug and take a normal sized bite. I walk over to the couch and L follows behind me, I could hear him take another bite of the apple.
"What are you watching?" L said, looking forward to the TV right as Kenny died, "South park, it's really funny." He's sitting in his weird position again, I started to wonder if I nudged him if he'll fall. So I repositioned myself on the couch next to him, I waited until he didn't have any apples in his mouth, I didn't want him to fall and start choking, I didn't want to kill him. So with him distracted and no apple in his mouth I nudged him just a little with my side, he looked at me, "What?" His eyes seemed huge, "Sorry just trying to get comfortable." I shrugged it off but I'm a terrible liar, luckily he fell for it. I made the conclusion that I have to give him a bigger nudge, this would be awesome pay-back for him I'm stealing my apple, looking at the glass table I make sure that it far away enough that he won't hit his head, and it it just far enough, so with him distracted I watch until he swallows his piece of apple, his Adam's Apple bobs when he swallowed, okay now I give him a bigger nudge and that does it he's falling out of his sitting position but to my dismay he grabs my arm for the fall and we both go down.
I landed on top of him and with him looking up at me un-amused "What was that for?" I giggled, "Pay back for snatching my apple, besides that position looks weird and I wanted to test your limits." I poke his nose with my free hand, I see the amusement in his eyes, "I guess I do kinda deserve it, but I pulled you down with me so Hahaha" his voice got deeper towards the end of the sentence, he wasn't trying to laugh he was being smug and sarcastic about it. I look down at the position we are in, I'm sitting on his abdomen, one hand is still being held by one of his and my other one is just laid on the ground. I liked the scene of him below it. It made my heart pound as we stared into eachothers eyes.
L's POV
I've got to say she's a sneaky one, but I managed to grab her when she pushed me off the couch, but now I think we are in a pretty compromising position, I mean at least for me maybe not her. We stayed together just staring at each other, I enjoyed the feeling of her hand in mine. Devil L popped up and whispered into my ear, 'Well lookie here, what did I miss out on you smooth bastard." I wanted to tell him to go away but Annika was right in front of me and I didn't want her to think I was talking to her. We were both motionless, waiting for the other to move or do something. She unconsciously scoots back a little bit but I was still focused on just her face, devil L pitches in again, "OooOoo she's into it , look at her go, if she would go down a little lower she'd be at home base." He was really getting a kick out of this, "So how's the weather up there?"I had to break the silence even thougn it was a stupid question but she answers anyway "It's nice I can feel the sunlight, it must freezing down there." She smiles and the next thing I know is she pokes me again this time on my cheek. "It's actually quite nice." I tried to shrug my shoulders but I barely moved. She just smiles and lets out a sigh, she laid herself completely down on me resting her head on my chest, "Did you know you are really comfortable." I feel her chest rising against mine, "No one has ever laid down on me, I'm not usually a very social person, besides you are the only person I've 'hung out' with." I made air quotation marks with one hand hopefully emphasizing my point. She let go of my hand and resettled her elbow so they were on either side of my chest and rested her head on her hands, "Are you trying to make me feel special." A slight smirk on her lips.
I sat up, readjusting her so that she was sitting in my lap, "Nope, it's just the truth." Her legs wrapped around my back and she pulled me closer to her, "Oh well you made me feel special anyway." I hugged her back, and took a deep breath, she smelled really sweet. "You smell like watermelon," she giggled "And you smell like a bakery." We stayed in the hug for a while, I honestly didn't want it to end. But it did when she got up and stretched, her shirt lifted up a little and I could see her stomach, I could feel my blush. I hope it goes away before she notices it, I got this far without being flustered. I wanted to keep my track score clean.
Annika's POV
It was nice to hug L again, yesturday's hug was quick and I didn't even see it coming.. He was really warm and smelled exactly like a bakery, my back was starting to cramp so I got up to stretch, I closed my eyes and reached towards the ceiling "Do you want anything to drink?" I make my way over to the kitchen, and open the fridge, "Yeah only if you have anything sweet?" I just grab him a soda, and myself a water. L was back on the couch by the time I walked back into the livingroom and he looked really interested in the south park episode. At the moment cartman is taking a shit on 's desk, I laugh to myself and make my way back over to the couch and hold out the soda to him, he didn't notice it so I poked him, he looked at me then down at my hand, before he gently grabbed the soda he took my wrist, he was examining the scars, I had completely forgot about them. I get a little nervous, what if he freaks and doesn't want to hang out with me anymore, what if he gets disgusted. I put my head down, I was ashamed I didn't want to look at him in the eye, he gently traced every scar with one of his fingers, every single line. "Why did you do this?" His voice was low and I could hear the concern, I stayed quiet and unmoving. I didn't want to answer but he brought the same hand he used to grab my wrist and lifted my head up by grabbing my cheek. When I met his eyes I was lost in deep onyx, they were large and trusting. His gentle gaze was bringing tears to my eyes, when I finally decided to speak my voice was shaky, "Every time I feel like I don't belong that I dissociate, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. Usually whenever someone makes me feel useless I do this as a reminder to myself that I am still alive, I can't rely on my breathing because sometimes it feels like an illusion, but when I do this I know I'm in this world and I bleed like everyone else. Alive and breathing." I looked away from his eyes and instead I dropped my stare to his plain shirt. He takes his hand that isn't on my cheek and gently grabs my wrist again, he analyzes it one more time before he kisses the middle of my wrist, I was a little shocked to say the least. L pulled me closer and asked me to join him on the couch.
After sitting on the couch for a moment L got up and took off his shirt, he turned around showing a series of long lashes against his back, "Before my parents died my father used to beat the crap out of my mother and I. I don't remember what he beat me with but it stung like hell for weeks afterwards. When they died I emotionally numbed myself, my mother loved me dearly and my father beat me senseless, but quickly I was able to shake it off. I kept repeating to myself that they were both dead. And there was nothing I could do about it, but the only thing I have to remember them by are these scars.." He turned back around and put his shirt back on. He looked at me again when he spoke again his voice was flat, " Everyone has scars, some can be seen and some are hidden too deep on the inside."
He sits down next to me, but not in his crouched position but instead he places both his feet on the floor. He grabs my hand with his and again brings my wrist up to his face then whispers "I'm sorry people say shit but always remember you are stronger than you believe." he takes his other hand and gently grabs my chin lifting my eyes to his again. I was shocked to say the least but he had a point. I give him a slight smile "That's not what I expected." My voice was shaky. I could feel the tears in my eyes but held them back, there was no reason to cry. "What did you think I was going to give you a lecture and then leave?" I could hear the slight humor in his deep voice, "Yeah that's kinda what I expected you to do." He smiles and then leans his face in towards mine. "I would never." His voice went deeper and I could tell he was being dead serious, I shivered at the tone, then I looked down his lips were so close, I've never had someone like him to talk to, never had a person take interest in me. I know it was only our second time meeting, but I just felt so safe, and absolutely loved.
I wasn't sure if he felt the same but my uncertainty was clouded by the way he was nurturing me. With no hesitation I closed the gap between us and pushed our lips together, it was nothing special, just a continuous press of our lips. When I leaned back his eyes were closed and his breathing had picked up pace. When he opened his eyes he smiled. Teeth and all, he grabbed me and held me close. He pecked my cheek and whispered into my ear "Even though we have only known each other for a few hours I feel as if I've been with you for an eternity. I open up to you every moment we spend together and I wasn't sure how you truly felt about me, thank you for making that move." I buried my face into his neck, I felt the tears start to roll down my cheek, but for once they were tears of joy.
He lifted my face so it wasn't buried in his neck, "Why are you crying." I could hear the worry in his voice, I smiled and felt another tear run down, "I just can't believe this is happening to me, I never thought anyone could like me, but here you are." He smiled at that, then he leaned in and gave me a quick kiss, "And I'm here to stay as long as you'll have me." He allowed me to lay my head back from where he had picked it up. We sat in comfortable silence.