C H A P T E R N I N E
First (thoughtful) Morning
It wasn't often that L has to resolve in committing crimes herself in order to solve a particular case, thought it's certainly wouldn't be her first time either. Having mixed in a field where legitimate human's rights was brought into question is not when someone's morale comes into play. Even if she has always disliked that particular law, it is what she has to held most dearly.
Being the world's greatest detective, undoubtedly, comes with many sorts of price. It cost her a grand fortune just to get this far, and it was not something she could pay with currency.
As cliché as it sounds, it costs L almost her humanity and sanity to maintain level-headed while doing her job. She has to turn a deaf ear on complaints about 'unfairnesses, as those factors rarely were ever taken into account by the jury. She has lost counts on how many times her innocence has deteriorates before her very own eyes, just to keep herself alive, as she has always been dancing with death since the first time she has decided the case file.
Having to grow up in such condition has nurtured L to become what most people would often describe as, quote on quote, cruel, or wicked. Instead of being the damsel in distress who is in need of saving, or the knight dressed in shiny armour, she is the evil green witch in everyone's fairy tail. People disliked her for how she reacts to certain threats, either being over-reacted or the lack of ones. Her mind functions in a peculiar way most people failed to grasp, and she's perfectly fine with being interpreted like that.
Though, this fact does bring the most controversial argument regarding of her; people often question her authority simply by looking at how she treats her clients or co-workers, claiming that she barely cares about them. Although that statement is true on certain level, it does not apply to her as a whole; she doesn't really care of the people outside of her bubble, though she doesn't think of herself as someone higher than the average human level.
She maintains the same level of respect towards other people and would not go out her way to differentiate their levels with one another. She is content in knowing that ever single person she has encountered served some sort of purposes in this world (except for scums she had to deal with. Those people could, should, die) and would rather not provoke any kind of hostility by showing the difference of their level of comprehensibility.
She does have thousands of people dying to see her head served on a silver platter. She'd rather not increase that number.
Easy said; L only is cruel when she needed to be, and considering her career, it has practically become a personality. A second nature she is yet to nurture. It wasn't a personality she prided herself in having, but rather a side that she's glad existed within her.
Not once has she ever taken pride in her ways of thinking, not even when she solved a particularly difficult case. They were mere puzzles pieces to her, one that she never gets particularly excited over. Once the case is solved, it was like yet another set of riddles has been answered, and she moves on and search for another one.
Nothing to particularly brag about, and she had not once thought of her tittle more than it already is; a mere tittle.
A facade she thrusted herself upon merely for the sake of remaining anonymous to the world.
Yes, while she can be rather egoistic, she's not prideful. She maintains a level of self-pride in her work, but she's not one to gloat about it. Once the case is done, it's done. She's not petty enough to hold grudges.
There's a fine line between the two.
When she was faced with the people of the case she studied, people assume that she doesn't care. They always seem to only assume the worst out of her, and it's not like she could argue with them either. She has longed accepted that it's useless to participate in a debate against someone who is dead-set in hating you, and you can't make every love you. There's always got to be at least one douchebag sitting in the corner of the room, just waiting to give spiteful comments.
However, that is certainly not the case. People tends to believe that humans are nothing but the components in her game, but it was far from the truth. She does grief, but she doesn't show it. Her head, for some reason, is unable to grasp the concept of being distraught— hence why she carries the guilt. It's her burden that she learns to swallow, pressuring against her back so heavily she hunched in somewhat awkward manner. The faces of distraught family, crying mothers and fathers, dead people of those who she failed to save— all of them will forever, permanently carved into her memory, repeating in an endless cycle of loop she failed to see the end.
It was a curse that comes along with being a genius. One that she, unfortunately, could not just discard even if she wishes it so heavily.
However, for whatever reason, it wasn't the same when it comes to the Kira case. None of her mottos were applies here. None. The moment she went through the files and interviews, she was filled with burning hate, one that she isn't even aware was plausible. During the 50-days of Light's and Misa's confinement, not once has she ever felt even an ounce of remorse for the two, but instead wishes nothing for them to cave in and spill.
It was the first time she felt hate. Loathe.
Despise.
And by GOD it wasn't a good feeling.
She might as well be against the whole world, but she'll gladly took the paths of hell if it means getting to see Kira executed, even by her own hands...
Kira will pay, and she'll be the one collecting the debt.
~oOoOoOo~
L was waken by a ticklish brush against her nape, fluttering her eyes open to see that she was laying by her sides, her legs tucked in under her chin. She was drowsy, but a good kind of drowsy. It made her feel warm and wanted to snuggle against whatever that was responsible for that comfortable heat, for once wanting to forget her own responsibility in carrying the weights of the world. However, she knew that it was all merely wishful thinking, as she begins to get up for duties call.
It wasn't until she realised that she couldn't, finding herself being almost completely immobile.
'Weird...', she thought. 'I hadn't experienced a sleep-walking episode in the last 4 years... why would Watari had me tied on the bed?'.
It wasn't unnatural for L to sleep in one place and wakes up to a new one; she was an avid sleep-walker to the point Watari had to send her seek local therapist and had to tie her down on her bed (or wherever she chooses to sleep) as an easier alternative, just so she wouldn't hurt herself involuntarily. It has been years since her last incident— so why would Watari do it now?
It clicked on her when she heard the familiar clinks, along with a warm breathing down her neck.
'Oh'.
Oh indeed.
L feared this would happen eventually down the road, but she never expected it to happen so... early. Being chained to someone at such a close proximity risked the possibility of being tangled up awkwardly in certain manner, and Light has somehow achieved all of those expectations in a matter of a single night; he laid snoring behind her, an arm draped over her waist. She could feel him breathing down the neck, along with the cold comfort provided by the chains.
She could only hope that the man isn't awake to laugh at her misery right now.
"Uhm... Ryuzaki?".
Surprise, surprise— the bastard was actually awake this whole time. Why does God seem to hate her right now?
"What is it, Light-kun?", she responds, trying to hold the bitterness off her tounge. It didn't work. Instead of sounding as someone who'd reason with the president, it came off as a snarky comment coming out from a 13-year-old child.
"We're stuck".
"Yes, I can see that".
"Do you know a way to untangle ourselves?", he asked. "I need to use the bathroom... I've been holding it in for a long time...".
"How long has Light-kun been awake with his bladder full?", she asked, completely disgusted with the idea. Light's genitals were placed dangerously close to her rear, and she doesn't wish it to get tainted with a type of waste product known as urine.
That is unsanitary.
"About 3 hours", he answered truthfully, sounding a bit sheepish although most likely amused by the situation. "I don't know if I could hold it in much longer though".
"What the— ew", she grimaced, "It has only been one day and you're about to wet the bed like some toddler?".
"I had a dangerous amount of water last night, and didn't get to do my business because you were so persistent with the chains", he reasoned with, shrugging, "If anything, it's ultimately your fault for being so stubborn".
L grumbled, not knowing how to answer to that. She took a deep breathe and try to come with the perfect combination in making the chains loose enough so she could wiggle herself through. She has done this numerous of times before, and it's nothing major as trying to solve a rubix cube.
Shifting her weight, she struggles her way to lay on her other side, now facing Light.
"Well, hello there", breathed Light, "Thank you for the generosity. I was starting to get lonely had only been staring at your back".
"Light-kun, please shut up", sighed L. "I am trying to free us both from this contraption. Now, will you be obedient enough to do as I said? I don't want us both to be down late", because God knows what the Task Force up to if she's not there to supervise them.
She didn't mean it to make them sounds incompetent, but most of the time, the Task Force is in need of someone to tell them what to do next. Had it not been for their status, L would've thought of caring for literal children.
Except for Matsuda, maybe. He's a literal child that is in need of constant supervision.
Light let out a hearty chuckle, "Yeah... about that. We're already 2 hours late".
She froze.
Son of a—
~oOoOoOo~
Upon being able to free themselves from their 'tied-up' situation, L has already given up on her punctuality and decided spoil herself with a morning shower— she was late anyway. Why would she make an effort in showing up so soon but without proper care?
Light, thankfully, obliged without complain.
The both of them were situated in the shower, backs on each other per usual. There was a moment of silence, no sounds companying them whatsoever, except for the sounds of the shower water. It wasn't until Light spoke, ultimately starting a conversation, "You know... you still haven't told me where you got those scars".
L could only muster a sigh.
"Light-kun hasn't given up on that yet?", she asked, tempted to turn around to look at the criminal dead in the eye, yet decided against it since the lack of modesty. "How many times must I tell him that it is none of his business?".
"Until you cave in, of course", Light shrugged, smiling, "I could be stubborn too. Maybe as stubborn as you, if not much more. People don't usually find that side of me endearing, but I simply refused to give up when the answer is just right in front of me".
"I'm glad that Light-kun has come to the realisation just how obnoxious he really is", she responded with, not bothered to bat an eye. It was pointless at this point to lengthen the argument, as it was inevitable anyway. L isn't so sure why Light would think that quality of his would be considered as a green flag— she wouldn't go out her way to compliment him, though.
There was a moment of silence right after she made that comment, before a loud sound of the bottle of soap being slapped onto the counter was heard.
"Excuse me?", he staggered, sounding offended more than ever, "Me? Obnoxious?".
L simply hums, "I believe what Light-kun had just described himself just now has been along the definition term of obnoxious", she paused, shrugging, "If not. I am no dictionary. Do you want me to save you the favour in looking it up?".
The two exchange glances, glaring at their stalemate— it was at this moment that the two recognise each other as true rivals, both siding at each side of the fence. One believes that the end justifies the means, while the other believes that the means doesn't justify the end. They were at a different side of the same coin, and it is only the matter of time for one to unravel the other's identity.
It was then they acknowledge the other's existence, being fully aware of their actual intention in presenting.
The tension was ease when Light laughs, "I expect no less from you, Ryuzaki. You might as well be the first woman to ever insult me". It was a back-handed compliment, she's aware of it, but she decided to savour the bitter taste of victory nevertheless.
"You had a little sister, Light-kun. I believe she earned that tittle more than me", said L, "Even so, thank you. I do try".
There wasn't any more elaborated conversation after that, as the two thought it'd be wise to keep silence. Neither of them was interested in the idea of engaging in a futile argument, so they decided to continue showering without much thought.
It was the first time, and the last, the two co-existed without hostility.