This is rated M for potential future pairing between Light and L. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note, or the characters therein.

L was eating strawberry cake when Light returned to the investigation room. "Hello, Light-kun. I hope you have been thinking on what I said."

"I need more than five minutes to come up with a solution to your little riddle." Light sat down at the computer he always used. "For now, let's focus on the task at hand."

"What riddle, Light?" Matsuda was as curious as always.

"A riddle past your intelligence level, Matsuda." Matsuda's face fell, taking the look of a kicked puppy.

"Ryuzaki, that wasn't nice. Matsuda's been a great help on this investigation."

Matsuda perked up as quickly as he wilted. "Thanks Light! Will you tell me the riddle?" Light faced away from Matsuda so he wouldn't see him roll his eyes. "Unfortunately not. If you help me solve it, I'll never hear the end of it from Ryuzaki that I was unable to solve it on my own. Thank you for the offer to help." Of all the detectives, Light found Matsuda the easiest to manipulate.

L watched Light pause for the fifteenth time in an hour. He must be taking my question seriously, if it is distracting him to this degree. He sent a quick message to Watari. Is everything arranged?

Yes, it has been arranged.

Good. We will wait to put the plan into effect until I have an answer from Light.

As you wish.

"Earth to L!" L was surprised to find Light standing next to him. "What is it Light-kun?"

"You were staring off into space. Everyone has left for the night, except us."

"Does Light-kun have a solution to my riddle? He has had more than five minutes to ponder it."

"Why?" Light's question took L by surprise.

"Why what?"

Light stared at L. "Why would you even consider suspending the death sentence on Kira? It goes against everything you stand for as the world's greatest detective.

L considered telling Light the truth, but he wasn't going to give Kira a powerful weapon to manipulate him with.

"There are other ways to punish criminals than the death sentence. If it stops Kira from killing, I am willing to compromise."

"If you get your confession, you mean. I'm surprised, Ryuzaki, at how passive you are at interrogating. I thought the Great L would resort to dirtier tactics when trying to get a confession. You believe you are a law unto yourself, as long as the government doesn't find out your methods."

L wasn't surprised Light guessed he used interrogation techniques that weren't ethical. "Techniques have a time and a place, Light-kun. I could not torture you or Miss Amane with cameras on us at all times. What would your father and the other investigators say? Miss Amane is clearly in love with you, my attempts at seducing her did not work. You are straight, attempting to seduce you would be equally unproductive."

Light laughed, surprising L into dropping the cookie he was eating. He glared at Light for the loss of the cookie. "I fail to see what is amusing you Light-kun."

Light handed L another cookie. "I don't recall saying I was straight." He continued to chuckle.

L nearly dropped the second cookie but managed to hold on to it. "75% of the world population is straight. Light-kun dated girls and had erotic material depicting girls in his room, at which he looked. I came to the logical conclusion that Light-kun was straight."

"Ryuzaki, haven't you heard of 'playing it straight'?"

"Of course, Light-kun. Are you stating Light-kun was only pretending to be straight?"

How did this conversation become about my sexual orientation? Time to change tactics. Light leaned over, his lips right next to L's left ear and whispered "Seducing me won't work, Ryuzaki." He stood and strolled out the door, chuckling as he went. L sat frozen in his chair, cookie nearly forgotten.