numbness

They were walking, and had been walking for a long time.

'L,' said Light, eventually. 'I want to try something.'

'What is that?' asked Lawliet.

Light stopped walking.

After a few more steps Lawliet stopped, as well, turning around to look at him.

Umber eyes met his, for a moment, and then Light stepped forward and enclosed Lawliet in his arms.

Lawliet was still. 'Why are you hugging me, Kira?'

Light remained there for a moment, head on Lawliet's shoulder, before he stepped back, arms lowering to his sides. His chin was tilted down, bangs obscuring his face. 'I wanted to try something.'

'You didn't have to hug me to see if we have any tangibility,' said Lawliet, raising a thumb to his lips.

'That wasn't what I was testing,' said Light.

'What, then, was Kira testing?' asked Lawliet.

Light looked up, meeting his gaze with empty eyes. 'I wanted to see if it would make me feel better.'

Lawliet tilted his head. 'And?'

Light looked away, hands slipping into his pockets. 'I still don't feel anything.'

'There's nothing strange about that,' said Lawliet. 'We are dead, after all.'

'I feel cheated,' said Light. 'Death was supposed to be the end.'

'This is the end, Kira,' said Lawliet.

'No, it's not,' said Light. 'This is no end; there are no edges. This is the center of infinity.' He looked up, watching the particles of ash drift down towards his face, as if to cover his eyes. 'Death was supposed to be a nothingness; like sleep.'

'Sleep also contains dreams,' pointed out Lawliet.

The particles of ash danced in the air each time Light blinked. 'So you're suggesting this is a dream, then.'

'I'm not suggesting anything,' said Lawliet.

Light closed his eyes, and the ash settled on his eyelashes. 'I'm tired.' He opened his eyes again and sent the ash whirling. 'But the dead don't sleep.'

'I never liked sleep,' said Lawliet, hands tucked in his pockets, gaze lowered. 'It always felt like a waste of time and made me feel depressed.'

'It's not a waste of time if there's nothing to do,' pointed out Light.

Lawliet idly scratched at one ankle with his toes. 'I thought you planned to become the god of this world, Kira.'

Light's hair hid his face. 'I'm working on it.'

'Not very hard, it appears,' said Lawliet.

Light's chin raised slightly, eyes glinting through his bangs. 'I've been thinking.'

'Sounds dangerous,' said Lawliet, glancing at him.

Light shifted his weight for a moment, almost hesitant, and then sat down, arms behind him propping him up and legs stretched out in front of him in the ash. 'You're free to leave, if you're scared.'

Walking over, Lawliet crouched down next to him, staring intently at the side of his face.

Light didn't look at him.

Reaching out a hand, Lawliet started carding his fingers through Light's hair.

Light tilted his head just enough to look at Lawliet out of the corner of one eye. 'What are you doing, L?'

'Playing with your hair,' said Lawliet, and did not pull back his hand or cease the gentle ministrations of his fingers.

Light's expression was unmoved. 'Why?'

'There are no creamer packets to stack,' said Lawliet, lifting a lock of Light's hair and then dropping it back down, letting it fall back into place. 'Unfortunately.'

Light watched him out of the corner of his eye for another moment, and then looked away. 'Do what you want.'

Lawliet's fingers kept carding through his hair.