Chapter 8: Demons in the Night

They had come home and eaten dinner, watching some TV in the living room before returning to their own rooms to go to bed. Light had gone to sleep almost immediately, having had a very stressful day. Having a past you would rather forget coming back to haunt you is not particularly good for one's nerves.

When Light awoke, he rolled over groggily to peer at the clock. It was two in the morning, according to the glowing red numerals, and he couldn't figure out why he was awake. Something had woken him from his nice, soothing sleep, but what?

Thunder crashed outside the window, and he glanced at the closed curtains. The pleasant rain shower from earlier had turned into a raging thunderstorm. But that wasn't what had woken him. He often slept through thunderstorms. As another violent crack of thunder echoed through the apartment, Light heard an underlying sound, like a cry of fear. That was it. He wasn't sure why such a faint sound could wake him, especially through the thunder, but it was worth investigating. He had a pretty good idea of what it might be.

He climbed out of bed, socked feet making no noise on the carpet, and padded out into the living room. After a quick look around, he turned to the door to L's room, knocking firmly on the door.

"L, are you okay?"

No answer came from beyond the closed door. Light reached to knock again, then changed his mind, opening the door and stepping into the dark room. In another bright flash of lightning, he saw L curled up in bed, clinging desperately to a pillow, his eyes shut tightly.

"L?" The other boy didn't respond to his name, but as thunder broke in to the ceaseless sound of rain all around them, he let out another small cry, and clutched the pillow tighter. Light, concerned, moved to the side of the bed, sitting on the edge and laying a hand on L's shoulder. "L, come on, what's wrong? Is it the storm?"

L took a shuddering breath, but another loud roll of thunder had him springing out of the blankets to throw his arms tightly around Light's waist, clinging with everything he had. Light froze in surprise for the barest of seconds, but then he wrapped his arms firmly around the shaking once-detective, asking softly, "Why are you afraid, L?"

L's face was firmly buried in the shoulder of Light's pajama shirt, so his voice was muffled as he replied, "Thunderstorms… I have always been afraid of thunderstorms, since I was born…" Another flash and crash, and L shivered. "Now I know why… It was thunderstorming when…"

Light suddenly understood exactly what it was. That afternoon, so long ago, after they had talked on the roof, after they had dried off on the stairs… It had been thunderstorming when everything stopped. When L took his last breath in Light's arms. As the storm raged around them, Light found himself holding L tighter.

"It's okay…" he murmured, not really thinking about what he was saying. "I'm here."

"I think I understand… now…" L muttered, his voice thick with sleep. He sleepily nuzzled against Light's shoulder, relaxing despite the continuing thunder. His breathing evened out, and Light knew that he had fallen back asleep. He didn't move, holding his roommate close, and pondered on everything that had happened.

He had never felt guiltier for what his past life had done than in that moment. With L safely curled in his arms, he wondered what had ever possessed him to want to hurt the eccentric boy, even if he was Kira. The panda-eyed detective had been the most interesting person Light had ever known. To have him die… Light remembered that things had been very boring after L was gone. Too boring. And…

No. No good to think like that. That was borderlining memories that he had sworn not to touch; memories that didn't even involve Kira, surprisingly. They were memories from the time that he couldn't remember Kira, when he had almost…

Squashing the thought before it could completely form, he shifted L in his arms so that he could get both of them under the covers. The thunder had since lessened, but something in his heart prevented him from leaving the other boy alone. He tucked L in, before lying down next to him, one arm draped over L's slender waist. He paused to wonder when L had become so trusting of his presence. If it had been L who had killed him, not vice-versa, Light knew that he probably wouldn't want to even be in the other's vicinity. But somehow L had come to trust him, and Light was grateful for the second chance. He pulled the blankets up around them, drifting to sleep against the soft sound of rain.

xXx

When L awoke the next morning, he was confused for a moment as to where he was. He checked the clock, finding the time to be just past eight in the morning. He remembered going to bed, waking up to the sound of thunder… He'd had another panic attack, he remembered. It was a normal response to thunderstorms. Even as a child, they had terrified him to the point of being unable to think clearly, or even move. Now he understood why, which should have made it better, but it didn't seem to ease the fear. Then he had gone back to sleep, somehow. Normally he stayed awake the remainder of the night, terrified to close his eyes again. It was a puzzle, but L was too comfortable at the moment to worry about it. He closed his eyes again, snuggling back into the warm arms around him and hoping to catch at least another few minutes of sleep.

Wait a second.

L forced himself to not leap straight up to see what had happened, instead carefully turning over to find the source of this strange occurrence. He blinked as he came face to face with a sleeping Light. The teen's arms were looped loosely around L's waist, keeping him close to his sleeping roommate.

Oh.

He remembered now. Light had come into his room, wondering if something was the matter. He had held L, protected him against the thunderstorm outside, and apparently had stayed with him until both of them fell asleep. L stared into his sleeping face, feeling something he didn't quite understand rushing through him, a mixture of gratitude and wonder and something he just couldn't place.

He sighed, deciding to analyze the feeling later and just hold on to this for a little longer. Tucking his head back under Light's chin, he resolved to lie there until either Light awoke, or pushed him away.

After a few minutes, the auburn-haired boy stirred, his grip on L going slack as he yawned. L watched in amusement as Light's eyes, initially full of sleep, went wide and then filled with full-blown panic as he realized both where he was and the fact that L was awake.

"Sorry!" he yelped, moving to get out of bed. Fumbling with a blanket that had somehow gotten looped around his leg, he rambled hurriedly, "You were upset and I didn't know what else to do and I fell asleep by accident…" What was wrong with him? Just explain and be done with it! It wasn't that hard! But Light wasn't listening to his sensible inner voice at that point.

"Light-kun…" L interrupted. Light stopped his babbling to glance at the raven-head, who looked happy. "Thank you, Light-kun."

"Oh. Uhh…" Light blinked. "You're welcome?"

L glanced at the window. "I wasn't expecting the storm to be so bad. I should have told you that they frightened me." He stood up, moving past Light towards the door. "Breakfast, Light-kun?"

Light followed silently, confused as to how L could play this off as though nothing had happened. It was only after both of them were seated, eating pancakes which, for L, were drenched in syrup, that either dared to speak of the situation.

"I'm sorry." Light said, eyes on his pancakes. L looked up in surprise, brushing away a stray spike of hair threatening to get stuck in the syrup on his face.

"For what, Light-kun?"

"It's my fault you have nightmares. It's my fault you're scared of thunderstorms. All of it was me." Light elaborated. He frowned into his pancakes. "I wish I could fix it."

"I told you before." L said. "I do not blame you for any of this. Light Kagayaki and Light Yagami were two different people. Light Yagami was a foolish child with a god complex. Light Kagayaki is a good person, and my best friend–" L stopped speaking suddenly, as if he realized what he was saying. He went back to his pancakes abruptly, refusing to look back up.

Light couldn't help but grin. L did trust him, even if he was loathing admitting it. He watched the other eat quietly for a few minutes, before breaking the silence.

"L?"

No response, but the slightest tilt of a dark head showed that L was listening. Light smiled.

"You're my best friend too."

And beneath his hair, Light caught a glimpse of L's smile, faint and fleeting, but there for the briefest moment. He took a second to be happy with himself, and reached for the remote for the kitchen TV, clicking on the news.

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... :)

This chapter was written purely because I wanted to. There is practically no plot development here at all, only character development. It's my birthday, and I'll write fluff if I want to. :)

Next chapter is much more on-plot. But, come on! The shounen-ai had to start somewhere, ne?
Love and hugs!
Li