10

L woke up to the constant vibration of his phone. He was usually a light sleeper, but last night was intense even for him, and he didn't really want to go back to his reality. However, his phone did not stop buzzing, and at some point had no choice but to answer it.

"L, where are you?" demanded Watari, who sounded serious, and incredibly pissed off.

"I am am sorry, Watari, we are going back now" L said quickly and immediately disconnected, not giving Watari any time to give out a lecture. He wasn't ready for it yet, and anyway, it was guaranteed that Watari would not let this discussion go when they arrived back. He preferred to get it in one full nasty pill than in instalments. He checked his phone. There were more than a hundred missed calls until the phone just gave up registering. If it wasn't for his phone's incredible battery life, it would have given up sooner. To be fair, it was already half past noon.

"Raito-kun, we need to go" L calmly woke up Light, who had been out like a light and did not even notice what has happened. "Light, wake up"

Light rubbed his eyes and tried to find the source of the voice.

"Ryuuzaki, what time is it?"

"It is time for us to go, Raito-kun. Or else we would be in more trouble than we already are" L admitted, certain of Watari's supressed feelings on the other line. "There is no time for your daily routine, I am afraid. We have to leave here within ten minutes."

Light felt fear hidden in L's voice, and obliged. He winced in pain as he felt the effects from the events of last night, but he knew that L was being serious this time. He washed his face for a few minutes and dressed up in another five.

"Are you ready, Raito-kun"

He nodded.

They gathered their things and checked out quickly, hurrying to where they left the helicopter. They were both silent on the way back to the headquarters.

"Do you think he would…"

"It's okay, Raito-kun. I will take full responsibility" L assured him. "You can go back to bed as soon as we arrive in the headquarters."

Light felt relieved, but a bit sorry for L taking the blame. He did not know how Watari would be like when he was angry, and he didn't want to find out for himself if he could help it. But then that would mean that L would be the one to receive it all.

"Don't worry about it too much, Raito-kun", L sensed him worrying and didn't want him to start overthinking again. "I have a way with Watari. I'm sure I can handle him well"

"I-I'm just sorry about this, L"

"Don't be" L insisted. "Last night was totally worth it. It was amazing"

Light blushed as he remembered what they did last night.

"You are so cute, Raito-kun" L stole another glance just to see his reaction. "But I must concentrate on flying this otherwise it would be too dangerous"

"S-sure, L" Light focused his eyes ahead the rest of their flight, trying not to think about anything else.

"But I'm going to start working on the case as soon as we get back", Light started.

"Are you sure about that, Raito-kun?" L inquired. "I would rather have you resting for the whole day"

"No, we are already behind the case as it is. I don't want you to be the only one taking responsibility"

"Just don't overdo it, okay?"

"Absolutely"

It didn't take them long to arrive at the headquarter's landing pad. L noticed that Watari was already waiting for them there.

L looked at the elder man and back at Light.

"Well then, Raito-kun. I think this is where we part for now" L uncuffed Light and looked back at Watari. "I'll see you later."

Light did not say anything as L went ahead and approached Watari. When they left, Light started moving towards the entrance and back to the investigation room.

L did not come back until at least three hours, and by the time he arrived, the task force was already calling it a day. Light looked anxious to meet him.

"Why don't we go back to our room? Raito-kun?"

Light nodded, noticing how exhausted L looked. He definitely needs a break by now.

…

"How did it go?" Light asked when they got back to their room.

"Terrible", L sincerely answered. "But I don't want to discuss it at least for now."

"Okay"

Light could see that aside from exhaustion, it looked like L was about to cry.

"I am going to sleep now, Raito-kun. Feel free to do your nightly ritual. We'll just re-cuff ourselves tomorrow"

Light nodded in understanding as he watched the poor detective drop heavily in the bed.

It was probably an understatement when he said that it went terrible. Watari's lecture has been something he dreaded even as a child, and he thought that he would get used to it when he got older, but it just got worse. Now he had to be reminded that he was already more than an adult, and that he should know better.

Not only that, Watari has a habit of asking him questions every now and then, such as "was it really a good decision to do this" or "did you think you have to involve so and so". The answers were so painfully obvious, and would guarantee an added guilt to your already terrible conscience. Watari was so fond of this method that L would not even want to be done to his worst enemy.

If it was possible for his ears to bleed, it would have bled already within thirty minutes of the lecture. It felt like his soul was slowly being drained off of him.

Watari made L promise not to discuss most of what he said to Light, not like he was planning to or anything, the teen didn't deserve any of it anyway. However, he was instructed to discuss with Light some ground rules that have to be observed from now on. For one, going outside is no longer allowed. It would most certainly break Light's heart when he hears about this. L felt like he was starting to get crazy from being detained here, and was planning to take him to other places at least every week or so. Watari was adamant about this rule, and there was no room for negotiation.

They have a strict schedule to comply to from now on, in order to move the case along. No more dates are allowed, from anyone, including Misa. More importantly, public displays of affection are banned. Watari already had an idea of what was going on with the two of them, and is not really on board with any of it. He reminded L just how serious the case was, and how disturbing it was to sleep with the prime suspect. L didn't really care what Watari was going on about after that, as his mind went blank after a couple of minutes of listening.

Was it really such a bad thing to be interested in someone so interesting? Of course he knew that the older man's concerns were logical, but it was really hard from him at this point.

Suddenly, L felt himself being in a warm hug.

"You shouldn't really keep things to yourself, Ryuuzaki" he said. L breathed deeply. Light's scent was comforting.

"I am sorry to inform you this, but Watari has set some ground rules for us from now on", L decided to share it sooner than later. Light listened and encouraged him to go on talking. After he finished, he felt a bit relieved.

"That's alright, L", Light reassured. "It just means that we need to solve the Kira case as soon as possible."

"…you're right. He would probably leave us alone if the whole thing has been solved"

"Of course I'm right. We can solve this together, L" Light started kissing L's neck.

"We are no longer allowed to do this, Raito-kun"

"Why not?" Light asked teasingly. "It's not PDA if we're the only ones here"

L felt his energy quickly being restored. He smiled as he faced Light, and kissed him back.

"I suppose if this is still allowed, then it's not as bad as I first thought"

They both started kissing each other underneath the blankets, so that no one can see them. L concluded that this was not such a bad day after all.