Evan Fujisaki knew what a privilege it was to be assigned to the Kira case with the investigator known only as L. It was hard to believe that L was the person closest to cracking the case the way he sat on the chair with his knees tucked to his chest. Ordering one desert after another. Once finishing a desert he would leave the fruits on top to last; munching them like a hamster. Of course they were not the only ones working such a high profile case, but sometimes Evan felt truly alone. Especially when everyone else went home, leaving him to supervise L all night.
Not that Evan could call himself normal, in comparison. There was nothing extraordinary about his appearance either. He was shorter than L, even when the investigator walked without a hunch. His fluffy hair was a light brown. Cut short. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black. He might not be as smart as L, but he was as smart as he was anxious. He needed a plan for everything. Which was probably one of the reasons that he was so anxious to put this killer away. Because it was impossible to plan anything when law enforcement was run in circles by these random killings. Were they even dealing with one twisted man or a bunch of copy-cats?
He heard that L was unorthodox, but seeing this man in the flesh left Evan weak at the knees. Maybe the sugar helped the pale man stay up all night? Maybe sleep deprivation was the reason for the dark voids beneath his eyes? Every genius seemed to be withdrawn from the world. The only thing sustaining him (aside from the sweets) was an addiction to serving justice. An ambition as admirable as neglecting one's health was dangerous. Evan wanted to make a good first impression, but L paid him no heed. They went over the details so far until midnight.
That was the first night. And the next week afterwards. The closer they got, the less certain Evan became. At times, it felt like they were playing right into Kira's hands, and the only thing sparing them from their glaring mistakes was this intellectual, deranged game of cat and mouse. Kira seemed to want L to play on this level that no one else could. Or L was the only person this killer could not yet reach to kill. Which meant they were close to the answer, but at what cost?
With each precious day that passed, Evan found himself growing hopelessly fond of L. He felt twisted up inside as L made a public statement to lure out Kira. The killings became more sporadic. What little leads they constructed disappeared faster than desserts from L's plate. Expectations mounted. Murmurs on the street became more distrusting, fearful and vile.
Evan panicked when he realized the only thing protecting L was the fact no one knew him. Even his co-workers who worked with him 24-7 called him L. All they knew was how weird L behaved. That was part of his allure. To capture a mad man, one had to walk down the path of madness.
Every lead they came across, made Evan watch L's every move. Keeping the detective in arms reach. If he looked away for a second, L would become another victim to Kira and Evan would no longer walk into the office to see him perched up on the chair with a spoon sticking out of his mouth. No more nights washing plates and ordering L's favorite sweets for lunch the next day.
"That's it! I can't let him die. N-n-not without letting him know my feelings! Ah! What do I even say?" He felt his face glowing red at the thought. He was only 21. He'd never done it before.
He gripped the tea towel tightly in both hands. Realizing he'd been having an existential breakdown at the sink. Suds up to his elbows. L was waiting on him to bring out dessert. Evan jumped a foot in the air as he heard something shuffle behind him.
"Ah! It's just you. Um...what are you doing here? In the kitchen." He stammered. "Don't you, shouldn't you- uh, be working? On the case. You...working on the case. I didn't...Sorry."
When would he get a chance like this? L's eyes fixed on him. The whole room was spinning.
"Um, L? I have something to confess. Unrelated to the case." It sounded smoother in his head. "I have feelings... I understand if you...don't. That is to say, I have romantic feelings...for...you."
He did not have to make a fool of himself. L stepped in too close. Laying a pale, cold hand on each of Evan's cheeks. Leaning in. His thin lips crushing down on Evan's; stealing his breath.
That was the end of it. Both of them stumbled to the backroom where there was a mattress on the floor surrounded by shelves of boxes bursting with old files. L seemed ravenous, pushing Evan down onto the springs. Clawing at his clothes. Evan was dumbfounded by the sudden change in behavior. He laid there, blinking. Covering his mouth as L yanked down his pants.
"W-wait! Ah...I haven't done this before. Ah...Y-y-you're moving too fast!" He blurted out. "Sorry!"
L ignored his plea, his slender, pale hands slipping between Evan's legs. He was silent like an owl aloft in the night. Strangled gasps escaped Evan's lips as L ran his expert hands over Evan's supple, virgin skin.
"I'm not going to hurt you. You are right."
"I am right? About what?"
"As you said, it is just the two of us tonight."
"I didn't mean like-"
"I can take a break from my duties for the night if it's with you."
Evan surrendered himself to L's mouth and hands. His whole body felt as if it was burning. How had he come to trust this man so much?
L stopped. "Is something wrong?"
"No." Evan smiled. "Please, don't stop. I trust you with my body, my heart and my life."