A Different Suite
Chapter 6
"Light-kun." A soft monotone accompanied by a poke.
Light ignored him and attempted to feign sleep. The eccentric man continued poking his face.
"Light-kun, I know you're awake. You need to get up."
". . ."
"Don't ignore me. I will resort to drastic measures if I am forced to." Light internally rolled his eyes, what could the man possibly do?
Poke. Poke. Poke.
He continued to groggily ignore him and lie in the raven's very comfortable, warm lap. While he knew it was weird, especially with his face so close to L's crotch, he was far too exhausted to care.
The poking ceased and before Light could take pleasure in his small victory, fingers brushed from his neck to his chest, in light feathery strokes. This didn't seem like very drastic measures.
It was almost . . .ticklish.
"One last chance, Light-kun."
Light remained still, keeping his features relaxed.
The hand on his chest suddenly attacked his torso. The spidery hand tickled his ribs, causing him to jolt off the detective and tumble onto the limo floor. L chased after and continued to attack the youth, who was laughing hysterically.
"Gahh! Ahahah!" The musician gasped, his eyes beginning to tear and his stomach beginning to ache. He attempted to protect his sides, failing miserably. He tried kicking his way away from the detective, who pinned his legs down with his own.
"L, please!" The younger man, to his own horror, continued to succumb to the raven's torture. Light apparently had an extremely ticklish spot around his ribs.
"Yes! Beg me, Light-kun. I may consider it." His dark wicked eyes uncharacteristically bright with pleasure.
Suddenly, the door flew open and a shaken Watari was staring at the pair wide-eyed. The pair looked up from the roomy floor of the limo, the detective suggestively straddling the younger man, whose shirt was pushed up. The raven's hands were still touching Light's torso.
L casually stared at Watari as if he didn't look like he was dominating another man.
"Yes, Watson-san?"
"Ah, I thought I heard screaming and . . ." The man coughed and shifted his eyes. If he did not possess such immense self-control, he may have blushed.
"We have arrived."
"Excellent. Please purchase Light-kun some clothing," he glanced down at the man beneath him, "you prefer button-up shirts and slacks, no?" The student silently nodded, while pushing L off of him.
"Certainly. Will you gentleman be needing anything else?" He raised a brow sternly.
That dirty old man!
"No, that will be all. Thank you, Watson-san."
Light never felt more mortified in his entire life and yet, couldn't shake the small smile off of his face. It had been years since he had laughed like that, much less played with someone.
It felt exhilarating, and yet, relieving. When was the last time he felt so carefree? There was always something weighing on his mind and body, whether it was maintaining his top-student status or his ever gracious, irritating façade.
That was partly why he left his family in Maebashi. He secretly loathed how his family was so intently fixed with such insignificant matters as his grades or his appearances at parties. Many days, the first utterance to him from any of his family would be of grades or possible girlfriends. Or his sister would ask for help in homework or his mother would tell him how she needed favors. His father even assumed he wanted to work in the same company as him, without considering Light's thoughts.
While he was angry that everyone showed so little care for him, he was also terribly lonely. Sure, he had acquaintances at school and admirers, but he wanted something deeper than that. He felt as if no one wanted to know about him, about who he really was. Or perhaps they thought they knew the real him. Feeling as if his family would never change nor care about his thoughts, he decided to move to Tokyo to attend the prestigious university. Here, not many knew of how he was a junior high tennis champion or that he was valedictorian of his high school. He also moved here in hopes of finding something else: a challenge.
He severely needed a challenge.
The building that Watari dropped them off at was an impressive grey structure, towering at least twenty floors. The detective approached it quickly, inputting a long series of numbers into a touch screen and the first pair of glass doors slid open. After walking through those, L entered another long series of numbers to open the next.
"Don't bother trying to memorize these sets of codes."
Light glanced away from the screen to the detective curiously.
"These codes change once a day in order to assure a higher level of security. The new codes are sent to Watari and my own cell phones." Both doors automatically locked behind them.
They took an elevator to the twenty-fifth floor. As they waited for the elevator to go up, the student's mind wandered once more.
"Do you use all of these floors, L?"
"No, only two. The twenty-fifth and the twenty-sixth."
"Why only those two?"
"As they are the highest, I am less likely to be snipped."
Well . . . that was a slightly morbid thought.
Before Light could say any more, they arrived on the twenty-fifth floor and the doors slid up to reveal a dimly lit, beautifully decorated sitting room. Ruby red drapes swiped over shining wood floors, and tasteful beige furniture sat around a low glass table. M.C Escher drawings embellished the walls and a few bamboo trees stood tall in corners. Light heavily suspected it was Watari's doing.
The paired passed several rooms, arriving into a very large kitchen. It mostly white with accents of indigo. The raven paused.
"I trust Light-kun knows how to work this." The detective gestured towards a coffee machine.
Light nodded, not understanding where this was going.
"Well, I am unpracticed with this task so I would appreciate if Light-kun would prepare some coffee."
Light narrowed his eyes.
The man must have known how to use the device. Surely, as one of the greatest detectives in the world, a coffee machine does not outwit you. That most likely meant that the detective was lazy. Bastard.
"L, I would rather lie down. Can't you just wait-"
"Watari will gone for some time and after this, Light-kun may take a nap." The detective interrupted and wandered away with his hands in his jean pockets, leaving no room for discussion. That had to be a lie.
But a nap sounded so wonderful to the exhausted student.
For the sake of not arguing and possibly getting closer to that delicious nap, the musician grudgingly complied.
Later, the younger man found the eccentric man perched on a grey swivel chair, peering intently at a
laptop. The room was remarkably plain, with only a large desk and more M.C. Escher drawings.
Mathematical art, it was rather fitting for the raven.
Light put the mug on the desk next to the man's gun holster and pistol.
"I didn't add sugar yet, I noticed how you take different amounts and you seem to . . .rather enjoy doing it yourself." The man opened a drawer and was already dropping sugar cubes into his coffee. In his pincer grasp, he held the cubes high in the air and let them splash into the black liquid. As Light was walking away with the thought of the soft-looking beige sofa, the man spoke out:
"Would Light-kun mind taking a look at these files?" The detective's eyes were innocently wide.
Light sighed. While he cared for justice almost as much as L did, he could barely keep his eyes open.
"L, my deducing abilities will increase by forty percent once I have had a nap." He mocked the man's earlier words at the café when Light once questioned his way of sitting. The raven smiled behind his thumb and raised a brow.
"Oh? So Light-kun would rather wait several hours and have another murder occur than be tired? I haven't slept in days."
"You're an insomniac."
"Even so, does Light-kun have no interest in preventing another friend's death?" Light felt his blood run cold. He bit his lip, almost hard enough to draw blood. Once again, he complied.
"Excellent! I have prepared a laptop for you with all the necessary files. It goes back roughly a month ago and also contains autopsy reports." He opened an additional laptop, typing in a quick password and putting it next to his. Light had a irritating feeling that the man had planned all of this, he forced Light to make coffee not only because he did not like the task, but he was possibly copying the files onto this other laptop. He had no intention of letting him take a nap and appealed to Light's morales in order to get him work.
Scratch that, he wasn't a bastard. He was a manipulative bastard.
Light sighed once more and went back to the kitchen for his own coffee.
They continued reviewing the case files for several hours, until Light was vaguely aware of the sunlight peaking through the drapes. Perhaps it was the coffee finally kicking in, but the exhaustion Light felt earlier was replaced with a building curiosity and passion to catch the killer. The student was also thrilled that he was no longer droning away in a classroom, but he was doing the actual work of his field.
Working side by side with one of the world's greatest detectives. L. The opportunity was immense and he felt fuelled to prove himself.
The younger man continued flying through the files, absorbing the knowledge they had to offer. The killer's methods were becoming remarkably more violent. The first victim was stabbed precisely in between the fourth and fifth rib, puncturing the lungs and heart. Death occurred almost instantly. The second victim was stabbed in the lungs and stripped of her clothing, but her body showed no signs of rape. This suggested a sexual message, but perhaps not towards her.
The third victim was strangled and autopsy reports revealed post-mortem cuts to the chest and a finger was removed. The fourth victim likely suffered the most as the young violin player was beat to death with his own instrument. The odd detail of the case was that the player was beat in non-vital places, as if the killer was trying to extend his suffering.
A morbid thought crossed his mind. Or perhaps...the killer was experimenting on the violin player. His previous kills were quick and this kill flawed the pattern.
Light eventually reviewed the latest case file, inwardly cringing at the autopsy report images of Misa Amane. The girl was mercilessly stabbed six times in the abdomen. Light could recall the awful amounts of crimson that seeped through her shirt and onto the stairway. Light pushed the thoughts to the side, he had to remain logical and emotionless. A thought occurred to him.
Curious...
Why would the killer, who had already demonstrated knowledge of the how to quickly kill and also seemed to prefer quick deaths, do it five times over? It seemed unnecessary. Unless . . .
Light noticed something about the wounds of Misa's torso. There was a long slash on the left. Also, while it looked sporadic through all the blood, the movements had...precision. With sudden inspiration, Light yanked a piece of paper towards him. He grabbed a pen and while examining the autopsy report photos that were sent to them only half an hour before, he recreated the pattern of the wounds. The raven scooted towards him, watching closely.
"Light-kun sees something I have not."
"Perhaps."
He connected the stab wounds.
"3. . .?" The student looked at the lengthy slash left to it "Or maybe it is. . . 13?"
L was gnawing his thumb again, looking blackly at the paper.
"Or. . . B."
BOOM.
An explosion of some kind seemed to have went off below. The lights suddenly intensified in brightness before flickering out and the screens in front of the pair followed suit. The only light came from the windows. The raven flipped open his cell phone, the screen was blank. Light's cell phone was as well.
What. . . ?
Light could see the smoke beginning to drift upwards. The younger man made a dash towards the window to see what was going on, but L yanked him back by wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Stay away from the windows." He continued to hold him, in an almost protective embrace.
"What's happening?"
"A bomb has been planted in this building or close to it." Light's heart froze.
A bomb?
The smoke. . . it was most likely on the first floor.
Was someone trying to kill L? Or him?
How would they get out? Light tried to remain calm despite internally beginning to panic.
"What kind of bomb could disable our laptops and cell phones?" The detective stood and picked the pistol up.
"An EMP- Electro-Magnetic Pulse, it causes a kind of power surge. Electricity is generated by a magnetic flux, which is a change in magnetic field. I have encountered one before in another case. Take this." The raven held out the pistol, which Light took it rather hesitantly. It was cold and heavy in his hand.
He hated guns, especially right now.
"I have to go upstairs. I have a protected spare cell phone and laptop there so that we may contact Watari. Stay here." The detective began walking away and Light found himself seizing the man's hand. Completely dilated obsidian eyes met chocolate brown.
L was the closest thing to an equal that Light had ever found.
The raven understood his reasoning without explanation, he challenged Light in so many ways, and he had an immense passion for justice.
"Don't. . . you shouldn't go alone." Light felt foolish for saying so, but he knew that going upstairs meant walking in the utter dark stairway in a very dangerous situation. His eyes went downcast and his soft auburn locks fell into his eyes. L was suddenly standing in front of him and tilting his face up softly with his fingers. The man's gaze was intense as he stroked Light's smooth cheek. The younger man felt as if his heart was in his throat.
"It is better if I go alone. I have training for this kind of event and Light-kun does not." L's gaze lowered to his lips, as if contemplating kissing him.
Light nodded, understanding the underlining message: You'll get in the way.
As all electronic devices were disabled, the raven entered the dark stairway in quick strides. The percentage of him or Light getting killed lessened with the speed of his movements. He had to keep a calm, logical mind and contact Watari, who was out shopping for supplies.
Meanwhile, Light was trying to get something back online. Anything back online.
He changed the batteries of cell phones and fiddled with the power box. It all felt pointless, but it was better than sitting around! He had to try something.
As he was attempting to find the switch for the computer room, he heard a noise. He could feel the pistol shaking in his hand. He moved towards the noise, which was by the computer room, staying close to the walls with the pistol ready.
He dropped the weapon to his side as he caught a glance of the slouching detective.
"Dammit, L. You scared the shit out of me. Did you find everything?" Light noticed how the man was peering over the notes he scribbled while looking at the cases. He moved curiously to the raven, standing next to him. The raven raised his obsidian eyes to met his and-
Wait. Scratch that. The raven's eyes were not a comforting obsidian, but were a deadly crimson and the youth realized he wasn't looking at L.
His eyes made him feel vulnerable, as if he could see Light's soul and viciously consume it like candy.
He suddenly noticed the glint of silver in his hand.
His heart stopped.
"Hello there, Light-kun." The voice was eerily like L's, though it was hoarse and uneven.
Light quickly backed up, holding his shaking gun out with both hands.
"Did you like my pattern?" He smiled. His smile was maniacal.
Light said nothing, seeming frozen with wide eyes. He was in the same room as a deranged serial killer, who for whatever reason, looked almost identical to L. He would likely die here.
"I admit, I grew impatient with the last one and finally just gashed my initial into her. Heh, the blood was beautiful, it almost look like jam. You should have stayed longer, Light-kun." The man touched his lip with his thumb, using the same idiosyncrasy as the detective. His name rolled off the serial killer's tongue like poison.
No.
He wasn't going to run away again.
Light had to be aggressive. He clenched the gun in his hands and pointed it at the man.
"Don't fucking move or I will blow your head off." The words surprised even him. B smiled wider at him, approaching him now. He pushed his white long-sleeve shirt against the barrel of the gun.
Challenging.
Looking only at the shirt, Light felt as if he was holding a gun to L. Could he shoot someone who looked almost exactly like L?
"Light-kun will not shoot me." He chuckled hoarsely.
The killer suddenly knocked his arm to the side, causing Light to clench and send out a round at the wall. B abruptly ripped the front of his shirt open, sending the buttons flying to the floor and revealing a smooth, flawless chest.
"I want Light-kun to bleed for me." He hissed.
The student struggled with the surprisingly strong man, his gun being knocked out of his grip and sliding against the wood floor. Light suppress the urge to cry out as he felt the knife slash across his chest and he punched him in return, sending the raven flying onto the desk. He could feel wet crimson sliding down his chest.
Light made a dash for the gun and as he turned with it in hand, he cried out in agonizing pain. The gun fell from his grasp, tumbling to the floor yet again.
B hoarsely laughed close to his face as he held the blade in Light's shoulder for a moment, twisting it slightly. The student sharply gasped.
"Light-kun is fun to play with, I can see why he likes you." The smile was there again. "But tell me, what did Misa say to you as she choked on her own blood?"
"Go fuck yourself." He narrowed his eyes and groaned as the pain in his shoulder ripped through him. With a burst of strength and anger, Light shoved the killer away and ran under the desk to retrieve his gun, determined to shoot him.
When he finally turned around, the man was gone. Light noticed the drapes fluttered in the wind. He should have shot him earlier.
Dammit.
As Light heard the stairway door burst open, he collapsed to his knees and fell onto his back. His shoulder was bleeding heavily and he was growing incredibly weak. The detective fell to his knees in front of him.
"Light-kun!"
"The killer. . . was here. He looks like you. I couldn't . . ." Light said breathlessly. L's dark eyes hardened and he nodded. After holding open his hanging shirt and examining Light's wounds, the raven suddenly yanked his own white long sleeve shirt off revealing his pale toned chest. He ripped the shirt into shreds and then tied it tightly around the younger man's shoulder, causing him to hiss curses in pain.
"Can Light-kun stand? We must go to the roof." The thought of climbing stairs just didn't sound very appealing to the youth, he would much rather surrender to sweet sleep. He let his eyes roll back. He felt a rough pat on his face.
"I will carry Light-kun, but he cannot sleep, not with this blood loss."
Despite what the detective said, Light let his head fall back. He felt the detective slip his arm under his legs and shoulders, scooping him up bridal style. He was vaguely aware of the man sprinting up the stairs with him, as if he weighed the same as a bag of potatoes. Light deliriously smiled at the thought of potatoes. He could imagine them dancing up the stairs behind them.
Oh dear, how much blood had he lost?
He was also vaguely aware of the man setting him down on the roof.
"Light-kun." He was being shook.
Light made a sound in response but it came out quieter than he expected. It was almost non-existent.
"Please look at me."
It took too much energy.
"Please. . ." L's baritone voice was beginning to waver.
He felt lips brush against his softly and warm tears touched his cheeks. Light's eyes fluttered open as a jolt of adrenaline flooded through him.
L was crying.
He could hear a helicopter in the distance.
He weakly returned the kiss.
A/n: I wrote this while I had a fever, review please?
This chapter didn't turn out exactly as I planned, but the next will have WAY more LxLight moments and it will answer a lot of questions about this chapter. Yes, the killer is Beyond Birthday. :O If you don't know who he is, look him up on wiki. Don't worry, this won't turn into angst.
Also, I really appreciate all the reviews, alerts, and favorites. Oh, and for answering my question about preferred semeness. You guys rock. :)
A special thanks to my mate, who is an electrical engineer and explained EMPs to me.
Anywho, please tell me what you think!