Title: Maybe
Pairing: Er, you can see it as L x Raito, though it's more of a 'what if' kind of thing.
Warnings: Half AU what if thing, possible OOCness, might not go along with plot line.
Notes: I wrote this a long time ago, when I was actually reading Death Note. And I haven't read it in a long time, so while brushing it up, I couldn't tell if it kept to the story line or not oO; Sorry about that.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

>>>>>

Their relationship was not normal.

It was contradicting, if anything. The other was the only one who could ever outwit him, the only one worth trying hard for. But it was that fact that made everything different, everything twisted, because if they didn't continue to outwit each other, one would die, and maybe one would hurt. Just maybe.

But still, they act like they are the same. Raito will sometimes walk home with L, chatting lightly on the days activities, their classes, even dabbling into the Kira case, with hushed voices and mutters. Sometimes Raito invites L after school for a snack, as friends sometimes do.

And L usually orders something sweet and messy, while Raito sips at his drink. And whatever L is eating will usually get all over his mouth, but he ignores it for the most part.

If everything was different, and they weren't in this circumstance, Raito might feign a disgusted look, scolding L for being so dirty in public. And then L might smirk and take an even bigger bite, little bites of food spraying everywhere.

And then Raito might sigh wearily and lean over the table with a napkin, wiping away the mess much like a mother would. And L would make a face and tell Raito to stop embarrassing him, to which Raito would just laugh. And then maybe L would join in, because friends often share inside jokes.

And maybe later, before they parted ways, Raito would kiss L. Maybe. And maybe he would taste whatever sweet L had been eating in his mouth, and maybe he would think that's it's not that big of a deal if L makes a mess out of his food. And maybe L wouldn't mind so much. Maybe.

And then they would part their ways, knowing that they would meet tomorrow, or even call tonight. Because what else can friends do?

But it wasn't like that. Life wasn't allowed to be that carefree, that simple. So instead, Raito silently handed L a napkin, who ignored it until he finished his snack. And all the while both were alert and aware, suspicious and calculating, which normal friends would never be.

Because really, they could never be normal friends.

(-Fini-)