7

L did not realise he fell asleep until he felt a finger nudging his face. It was strange to be woken up by a curious pair of eyes wondering if he was awake or not, it usually went the other way around, but from yesterday's events he was just relieved that Raito did not remember any of that happening.

"Do you enjoy watching me sleep, Raito-kun?"

"I should ask you that same question" Light retorted. "To be fair this is the first time I saw you sleep"

"Is it to your liking then?"

Light threw a pillow at L.

"Shut up!" he tugged the cuffs to force L out of bed. "I was waiting for you to wake up so that we can get a move on already. Or did you forget."

L sat for a while in the bed, and realised the still naked boy standing there, with an impatient look on his face.

"I could get used to this kind of sight every now and then" L teased.

"Stop being a pervert and move already. I need to go to the bathroom"

L obliged.

"Whatever you say, Raito-kun"

Light threw an annoyed look at him again, before starting his morning routine.

It was quite an eye opener for L, actually. During his confinement, he was not really permitted to do anything except the most basic of grooming, and it has been with Watari's supervision. Now that he was somewhat free, he did not hesitate to go back to his original practices.

It took them about an hour and a half just preparing for the day ahead, with Light carefully brushing his hair, washing his face and picking up his clothes. L had to stand awkwardly as he watched Light doing his ritual, not really knowing when this would be over.

In contrast, L just hastily washed his face and still wore his same old clothes and was done in just five minutes.

"Are you not going to change your clothes at all?" Light asked.

"You did not change as well, Raito-kun"

"Well, it's because I don't have a choice, right?" Light said defensively. "Anyway, let's go. I have to admit I'm a bit excited"

"Do you have any particular store in mind, Raito-kun?"

"Hmm…well, just a few here and there, you know. But we still have to find out"

L found out a lot of things that day.

For one, the few stores here and there were a lie. They went to a whole street full of clothing stores, and they had to visit each one, with Light meticulously examining every piece of clothing. Not to mention, that Light appears to be very popular in front of the girls. L knew that to some extent, but he only got the whole idea with just how popular he is. Most of the store attendants were more than happy to assist Light than the other customers, and they also liked talking to him. L could easily get jealous, but he was already too exhausted by the time they were on their third store, with all the necessary "hand-holding" or "24-7 surveillance" being thrown off the window the first five minutes they were seen outside.

L was quickly reminded that he was in first and foremost socially awkward, and the fact that most Japanese don't appreciate PDA did not help at all. He easily noticed those judgmental, unapproving look the moment they saw the two of them holding hands. Light didn't seem to mind. At other times, L would suspect that Light knew that the hand holding was not really feasible, and that he could be Kira because of that, but Light looked genuinely interested in actually shopping.

"Can I just sit there by the bench, Raito-kun?" L almost begged as he found a nearly empty spot in the center of the shopping district.

"Sure, but I thought you want to monitor me 24-7?"

"Not this time, Raito-kun" L admitted. "Feel free to buy whatever you want in the meantime"

He gave him his wallet.

Light checked inside with a surprised look on his face. It was a plain, black wallet, but inside it was loaded with cash and credit cards.

"Did Watari lend you his wallet or something?"

"Please, Raito-kun. I don't want to explain myself further"

Light looked at the exhausted detective for a while.

"Okay then, I'll be back soon" Light did not want this opportunity go to waste.

Light really took his time after that, as it was already almost noon when he got back, and L felt really hungry. The teen handed him a large ice cream cone, which he was quick to devour in about ten seconds. It was not enough though.

"I appreciate the favour, Raito-kun" he said lazily. "But I am still hungry"

Light just watched him with interest.

"Well, we are near that coffee shop that we went to last time" he said. "Maybe we can eat there"

Light offered a hand.

"Ah, you remember our first date then" L teased.

"You seemed to enjoy the coffee there" Light explained while hiding his blush. "Besides, we didn't get to try most of what we ordered because of…"

"I am sorry about your Father, Raito-kun" L interjected. "But at least he is doing well now"

"Yeah, you're right"

L held Raito's hand the whole way to the coffee shop.

…

"So, are you excited about your date with Misa tomorrow?"

Light almost burnt his tongue, as he put his coffee down, throwing dagger looks at L.

He breathed deeply, and tried to answer calmly.

"L, you know I am gay, right?"

L stopped stirring his coffee for a while.

"That explains a lot, Raito-kun" L teased. Light did not look amused. "Is it safe to assume that I was not the first?"

Light looked a bit uncomfortable.

"There were a…few back in high school" he admitted. "But I was too busy with school work that I didn't really have the time."

"Although, if I remember correctly, you dated more than three girls simultaneously, right? Including Amane Misa" L went on.

"I wanted to keep it a secret, okay?" Light said in defense. "Not everyone wants to suspect that their only son is gay"

Light almost instantly regretted what he said, but L already noticed him suddenly focusing his head on the floor.

"I don't think Yagami-san would mind" L assured him. "At least if I was him I would think it is only natural"

Light didn't really agree to that.

"You don't know him"

"But he was ready to defend you with his life when you admitted that you were Kira" L revealed. "He also volunteered to be put in a cell for 50 days until I declare your innocence, or take full responsibility if you were. I think finding out your son is gay is such a trivial thing in comparison"

"He didn't have to do that…" Light started.

"Yagami-san was willing to do what it takes to clear your name"

"Yeah…but he was also willing to fire a gun at me" Light pointed out.

It became silent for a while.

"I am sorry for putting you through that ordeal, Raito-kun" L admitted. "I only realise how harsh it must have been, and what psychological effects it must have put you through"

"Well, you still went through with it, didn't you?" Light said defensively as he took a sip of his coffee.

It was L's turn to look at the floor.

"Do you still think I am Kira?" Light had been wanting to ask this for a while.

"I still do, Raito-kun. However, at this point I am convinced that you really believe you are not. I can only assume that you have lost your memories along the way"

"Is that even possible?"

"We have to be open to that possibility for the case to find closure." L answered truthfully. "Although I must admit that maybe I just want you to be Kira, because you are the only one I can easily call my rival."

Light looked at him searchingly.

"Tell me L, if I wasn't Kira, would you still be interested in me?"

"I am interested in you now, Light" he said softly. "You are my first friend after all"

Light was not convinced.

"But if I were to be Kira, what would happen next?"

"Then you will have to face justice, Raito-kun" L simply said.

Light was deep in thought after that. He remained quiet during the trip home, and immediately went to bed.

On a minor note, it appears that Light has succeeded in buying all he needed for his stay in the building, and unfortunately for L, it added an extra hour of preparation time during bedtime. L could only watch as he saw the different steps Light had to take to make his skin properly moisturised, teeth brushed and clothes neatly folded before going to bed.

L found the pajama that Light was wearing cute, and he was actually hoping to get some action because of it, but the teen didn't really have any of that in mind, and just went to sleep, leaving L cold and frustrated.

L thought about what he said to Light back in the coffee shop. If this was any other criminal he would have taken him for execution in a heartbeat. But with Light, he has to consider a lot of things. Would he really allow the justice system to just take its course and let them decide his fate?

In the past that was what he did, and whatever the justice system decided, he respected. Even if most of the times the suspects get away with a lesser punishment because of some technicality, or some other person would be made a scape goat and face unfair sentences, despite the evidence stacked up against them.

L wanted to be as impartial as he could, as Watari has always taught him to do.

If it turned out Light was really Kira, then he must prepare himself to ensure that he would face the consequences of his crime.

He should be able to do it. But he should also be able to restrain himself from getting too involved in this case, and more importantly sleeping with the suspect.

He knew that, but he could still not be able to help himself, and the growing frustration of not being able to do it tonight was really getting to him. He clutched his knees and started reciting a book Watari gave to him years ago, and after it was done he went on to the next, and to the next, until he did not remember himself thinking about Kira anymore.