disappointment

Light was kneeling down in the ash, one sleeve rolled up, holding a sharp rock in one hand and digging it into his arm.

'What is Kira doing?' asked Lawliet, watching.

'Trying to tear open my arm with a rock,' said Light, digging the jagged edge deeper into his wrist and dragging down.

'I can see that,' said Lawliet, flatly. 'But why is Kira doing it?'

Light shrugged. 'It's not like there's anything else to do.' He tried to peel back the skin, but couldn't. The rock had moved through his arm like butter but had left no wound.

The rock was dropped to the ground, thumping softly into the ash. Light's lips quirked. 'I guess the dead can't bleed, huh?'

'Even if we could,' said Lawliet, 'we can't feel pain.'

'I was wondering,' Light said, and stood, carefully rolling his sleeve back down, over the scars there. 'It seems that all I can feel is boredom.'

A thumb rested against Lawliet's lips. 'Nobody could have found a more effective way to torture us.'

'Yeah.' Light closed his eyes. 'This is worse than the cell. At least there I could believe that there was a world outside. But here,' he opened his eyes, gestured around them, 'there are no walls or ceilings, here. Just endless nothingness in every direction.'

He laughed, and there was no humor in the sound. 'And it's worse; having the freedom to go anywhere, but having absolutely nowhere worth going because it's all the same.'

His lips pulled harshly away from his teeth. 'There's nothing to do here. No diversions.' Another laugh, absent of emotion. 'I can't even hurt myself.'

Lawliet was silent, thumb still against his lips, gaze downcast.

'How do you bear it, L?' asked Light, watching him. 'How have you been bearing it?'

Dark eyes looked up at him. 'I watched you. That was interesting.'

'How did you watch me?' asked Light.

'There was a way,' said Lawliet, 'but it's gone now.' He bent his thumb and forefinger till their tips touched, holding the resulting circle up to one eye and looking through it. 'It was round.'

'That's not helpful,' said Light. He narrowed his eyes. 'But I guess you're still watching me, now. Is it still interesting?'

Lawliet stared back at him through the circle of his fingers. 'It's more interesting than being alone.'

After several moments Light looked away, remaining silent.

Lawliet remained watching.