morality
'Do you think I'm evil, L?' asked Light, as they were walking.
Lawliet looked over at him. 'I do not think that Kira's intentions were evil.' He tilted his chin down, but not his gaze, shadows both within and beneath his eyes. 'His actions, however, were certainly evil.'
Light's lips quirked. 'The wrong thing for the right reasons, huh?' His hair fell over his eyes, lips pulling further apart. 'I really thought I could make the world a better place, you know.'
Lawliet stared at him, then looked away, shoulders hunched. 'I know.'
'You must be proud of him,' said Light, and tilted his head to watch Lawliet out of the corner of his eye. 'Near.'
Lawliet's hands were in his pockets, and they stayed there. 'Near did well, but Kira also did poorly.'
Light laughed. 'Don't tell me you're disappointed in me, L.'
Lawliet was silent, and Light's eyes glinted.
'No,' realized Light, and grinned. 'You resent that Near succeeded in doing what you couldn't.'
Lawliet tilted his head back, looking at him. 'Near would not have been able to defeat you if not for Mello. Neither could have beaten you alone.' A pause, and Lawliet looked away, thumb coming up to rest against his lips. 'Also, it took them five years and 70 days. I was almost there after 342 days. That's a 554.09% faster success rate.'
Light laughed so hard he doubled over, and Lawliet waited, watching.