Symphony 5: Missa Sánguinum (Bloody Symphonies)
Disclaimer: The Maiden of Autumn owns nothing. (Though she really would love to own Autocorrect so she could destroy the little trolling bitch.)
Thank you to all the readers and reviewers- please, continue to enjoy the story.
Summary: A few days after the incident at Jessica's School for Ladies, L is playing his piano in his music room, but is unable to finish the piece due to being interrupted by thoughts of Light. And then, he is interrupted by the vampire himself, and Light's presence leads to L breaking down and spilling his confusing thoughts. Light, disturbed at seeing L as he is, calms him down and seems to dismiss L's words until another time, when L seems more ready to talk about it. However, being near L causes Light's hunger to ignite, and as L remembers some previously spoken words by Light, it leads to L making an unprecedented offer- to allow Light to take from his throat. Things spiral out of control as that, combined with unconsciously-provoking words from L makes Light snap. Things get heated, but things, perhaps, take a turn for the better, at least for now…
L scowled as he bent over his piano, his fingers and feet moving, working the keys and pedals of the piano effortlessly, though his mind was not truly there, instead lost in his own complicated thoughts. His long, slim fingers danced over the keys, drawing forth an intricate melody from the instrument, feet working
the pedals in perfect harmony with his fingers to weave and blend the notes together.
He knew this piece well- it was one he had composed himself, a personal piece that had traveled from his heart to be expressed by his fingers, his tools of music. He counted himself fortunate that he had been able to remember this certain nameless piece, for often when he lost himself in his playing, he could scarcely remember what musical melody his hands had wrung out from his beloved piano.
It was like the faintest wisp of a remembrance of a dream. L had often, within his own mind, likened it to the frustrating feeling one felt while grasping at a curl of smoke.
You know it's there, but you can't feel or truly grasp it. It evaporates from your grip and out of your sight before you have a chance to truly experience it, L thought ill-humoredly, fingers still flowing mindlessly upon the keys, weaving in and out between black sharps and flats and white naturals as easily as he breathed.
Such was the feeling of trying to remember what he had composed, unless he was consciously writing a new work.
Pale lips tugged upwards into a peaceful, if not somewhat dismal smile as his thoughts wandered aimlessly. L failed to notice the near-silent footsteps come to a halt outside his closed workroom door. A head was cocked, ear listening intently to the sounds being wrung from the strings of the piano, and then the door was silently pushed open to better hear the flowing melody. It was peaceful and steady and resolute as an ancient river, yet somehow, inexplicably hopeful, as if that river was to become something more substantial.
L's eyes drifted open, and mindlessly, he watched his fingers move fluidly upon the worn ivory keys gracefully and with an ease born of many years of playing.
One of the worst tortures L could imagine was having any part of his hands or fingers damaged. His eyes, while some would argue as being more important, he could live without. He could easily seek out the keys on a piano and play them as if they were old friends, and for his composing, well, he could always have Light write down his music.
God, Light…
His fingers came to a slow stop upon the keys, stuttering in their movements and losing the perfect flowing rhythm they had built up. Jerked out of his concentration by thoughts of the vampire that was his assistant, L narrowed his eyes at the keys, a swell of confusing, turbulent feelings roiling within his stomach and welling up in his heart, disrupting his calm of mind.
"That was beautiful. Why did you stop?"
L's head snapped up, whipping around to see Light leaning causally in the doorway to his music room. The vampire looked pristine as always, hair neatly arranged and falling into his eyes almost rakishly, black coat and trousers clean and neat, posture so relaxed and casual. Yet, L knew from personal experience that the vampire could strike faster than a snake- and was far more deadly than one, as well.
"This… this is a piece that was composed when my mind and heart and body were calm. As such, it can only be played perfectly when I am in the same state that I was when it first was composed," L explained, looking back down and running a finger over the smooth keys polished and worn down by years of continuous use and playing.
Light's eyebrows drew downwards at that, lovely, slanted eyes narrowing in confusion. "…You're not at peace?" he enquired, though it was calm and asked softly in his melodic tenor, not demanding. It instead quietly invited him to answer at his leisure.
Yet L felt that it needed to be answered. Hands still resting peacefully upon the ivory keys, feeling their smoothness and the warmth that had been transferred from his fingertips to them while playing, he sighed. How could he be, after all that had been said, after all that had occurred?
"I said as much, didn't I?" L replied quietly, crafting his words carefully so as to not give anything away.
Evasiveness and carefully crafted words; L sometimes felt that their relationship was a friendship that was built upon unspoken words, unexpressed feelings, and blood-bonded loyalty. L both feared and craved the day that
relationship would fall apart, only to be rebuilt into something more. What that something more was, he was not sure. But he had left the meaning of his words spoken that day open and ambiguous for a purpose.
It's a need every living creature has, and as you told me, vampires are physical creatures. If you need something like sex, it's only natural, Light. I won't hold it against you.
No… whatever Light chose, L would not hold it against him. Even if… No. The vampire… he was the one person L had left in the world, the one person who would stand by his side no matter what, even if it was due to an Accord and not out of any feelings of personal loyalty.
Light smiled then, a simple curling of his full lips, amber eyes crinkling slightly at the sides in acknowledgement of his useless question and L's retort. He pushed off of the doorframe and stepped into the room, shifting from at
rest to in motion as easily as L could shift his music from largo to vivacissimo and back again. Light often reminded him of his music, and perhaps that was why the notes and melodies and harmonies always came so easily to him.
Reading a newspaper or book, sitting peacefully in his red chair- moderato. Steady and calm, uncomplicated and unwavering.
Teasing, provoking, or otherwise bantering with him- andante. Lighthearted and familiar, but not too fast, just enough to engage and keep uplifting.
Laughing, grinning, with a teasing lilt to his voice- allegro. Light and happy, quick and fast.
When he took blood, his silken, hot lips tracing over his wrist, ivory fangs that threatened to put the loveliness of his beloved piano keys to shame sinking gloriously into his skin- largo. Slow and peaceful, blood drawn relentlessly from his body into Light's, possessing a haunting closeness and intimacy to it.
Yes. Light was… he was in an indirect way, L's music. He was his music brought to flesh, his inspiration for whatever he chose to write. A simple memory of Light could influence the direction of his whole music; that reliance on the vampire, though, was both discomfiting and comforting. Light would be around forever; vampires were immortal, Light had once told him. Yet, at the same time, to rely on someone so heavily- even if that person were unaware of their influence- for his career… without his music, L was nothing.
He was simply another member of the aristocracy, another grain of sand in the world's beaches. Earls were numerous; the composer L was not. L was worldwide; L was known and revered and could not be overlooked.
He would be at the top of the world, transcending into the heavens.
But unlike many that had achieved that status, he would not fall. He would not be doomed to become a falling star, shooting across the sky of fame and burning brightly for a moment and then fading as soon as another star surpassed their fading beauty.
He would become a permanent fixture in that sky; mankind would marvel at his music long after he had died. People would whisper his name, his moniker "L" long after his body had crumbled to dust and his skeleton was falling to pieces deep within his grave.
"L? Are you listening? Or are you hearing something else besides my voice?" Light's amused, long-suffering voice drew him out of thoughts, and he craned his neck to look up, blinking as he was met with Light's amber eyes so very close to his own. They seemed to dance with an inner light, warm and limpid.
He leaned over the piano, golden-skinned, strong hands braced on the black, smooth surface of the top. The two colors contrasted beautifully, L thought, though his attention remained largely captured by eyes that were shades darker and much more warmer than the vampire's skin.
"Yes…" L answered, because he didn't know what else to say. It was like that moment days ago when Light's lips had met his- his mind had gone blank under the onslaught of emotions that ripped through every fiber of his being.
Light's eyes were so warm, almost shimmering golden in the lazy afternoon sunlight streaming through the stained glass window that provided much of the light for the room and suddenly, inspiration struck.
"Golden Night…" L breathed, tearing his eyes away from Light's. He returned his attention back to the piano, gently spreading his fingers and running them in between the black and white keys in gentle motions.
Light blinked, a perfectly arched eyebrow raising, thinking he had misheard the eccentric composer. He had no idea what had prompted L's sudden words. "Pardon?" he asked, drawing back slightly to regard L's downturned head with a measure of confusion.
L paused in his motions, his mind racing desperately. "Golden Night," L said contemplatively, and though it had started out as a lie, he was quickly warming up to the concept, the idea.
Yes, it could be lovely. Smooth and flowing, lazy- largo? No, broad and stately would not fit. Perhaps adagio, at ease, yet still slow would be more fitting- in a warm major key, but with accidentals interspersed throughout the song to give it a somewhat darker feel to fit in with the "night" theme. Warm and dark- like a golden night indeed.
Like Light himself, the vampire who lived in the shadows, and yet was golden-colored physical perfection, a perfect blend of beauty and deadliness.
Realizing he had gotten lost in his thoughts, L tilted his head up, his eyes meeting once more with warm, if not confused, amber. "A new composition. That was what I was contemplating. You're completely correct; I was hearing that instead of your voice. I apologize." The last part was a lie, but there was no harm in posing it as the truth. It would not harm Light to keep the fact that he had been contemplating anything other than a new composition hidden from the vampire's knowledge.
Light blinked once more and then shifted back, drawing himself away from the piano in a single, fluid motion.
Largo. Light… he was largo. Smooth and flowing, graceful and unhurried. Most would compare him to a snake, with his sinuous, supple way of moving, but L, who thought in musical terms rather than more realistic terms,
could not help but compare the vampire to this tempo, this style of music.
"Hn," Light hummed softly, shaking his head. Caramel-colored hair fell to sway gently across his eyes with the motion, a piacere, at its own pleasure. Yes, everything that involved Light- perhaps it was wrong to think of him as largo. A piacere was more fitting, because everything Light did was at his own tempo, his own style, his own pace. At his ease. And grazioso, always, because everything Light did was graceful, like a beautifully constructed composition.
He turned in one fluid motion- Light was hard to define into one term, for there was no term to describe, Light, exactly. The vampire was in his own world, his own classification, beyond human order. Perhaps it was why L, with his mind chocked full of a repertoire of musical language and terms, could not find one to place to Light- because the makers of those terms were human, and Light… was not.
Glancing back over his shoulder, Light's eyes narrowed marginally as he walked to his chair, settling into it. L quirked a brow at that look, silently questioning the vampire. Light simply shook his head, reaching out to pick up the newspaper Watari had brought in earlier that morning.
Silence pervaded the room, then, as Light flipped the first page of the newspaper and L reached out to his sheaf of blank parchments set off on a stand to the side. He gathered his quills, unstoppered his bottle of ink, and laid his sheet of parchment down on the table situated right next to him for this purpose. He dipped his quill into the bottle of ink, set it to parchment, and started to write.
With practiced skill, he drew in the time signature, then a beautifully curling treble clef, and was just starting to write out the tempo for this piece above the staff lines when Light's quiet voice suddenly cut through the thin scratching of L's quill on parchment.
"You were lying."
L's hand froze upon the parchment, his eyes widening at the blunt, unfounded accusation. Tilting his head up, L narrowed his eyes at the vampire that was gazing thoughtfully over at him. What cause could Light have had for this?
And he did not appear angry, simply contemplative, as if he were figuring the reason needed for him to say that L was lying.
"Excuse me?" L asked, disbelief threading his tone, lacing it with shock. His quill dripped ink onto the parchment, and L let out a soft curse as the ink splattered, blotting out the lines of the staff and his lovely clef.
Quickly, he set it aside and snatched the parchment up. Lamentoso - it aptly described his mood as he surveyed the ruined parchment, lamenting the loss of his work. Ah, he'd have to start all over.
Light sighed, reaching up to brush the bangs out of his eyes, the motion drawing L's eyes back to the vampire and away from his ruined parchment. "Just now, when I asked you what you were thinking about. You were lying."
L stopped, eyeing the vampire with a blend of irritation and wariness. Ah, he thought he knew where this was leading… he was going to ask what L was thinking about. Such was Light- leading, leading, leading with questions and words until he forced the truth out. Crescendo, at its finest.
"That is an unfounded accusation," L told him snidely, hastening to turn his attention back to his ruined sheet of music. With a melancholic sigh, L wadded it up- contemplated chucking it at the blasted vampire briefly- but then tossed it off to the side instead.
Light smirked, then, setting aside his newspaper and leaning forwards. "No, no it wasn't. I've been with you long enough, L, long enough to tell when you're lying. And just now, you were. You were thinking about something other than your new composition."
L was unable to help the wince that flashed momentarily over his face. And the vampire had always called him astute… it was disconcerting, sometimes, how closely the vampire appeared to watch him sometimes, could determine what he was thinking or not thinking.
"And what, then, do you think I was contemplating?" L asked, spearing Light with an annoyed glance.
Light shook his head, setting aside his newspaper and standing up to wander over to the piano, where L was situated. He leaned against the side of it, wholly relaxed, though there was a deep flicker of suspicion evident in the depths of his eyes and in the set of his face.
"I don't know- I said I can tell when you're lying, L," Light told him, "and that's simply a matter of reading body language. I don't read minds- I don't know what you were thinking about." And here Light turned speculative, brows furrowing as he thought. "But whatever it was, I don't think it was entirely pleasant."
Light smiled then, raising a hand to brush lightly, so very lightly over the space between L's brows. Slightly tickling, the pads of Light's fingers were somewhat rough and very warm, causing L to give a little shudder, though he wondered why now the touch provoked such a reaction when it had not before. Before the kiss. That might have been the reason why- though L knew that it was the cause for certain. "You get this little crease here, right between your eyes when you-"
L, unable to stand the gentle brush of Light's fingers over his skin and the warm feelings it evoked within him, slapped Light's hand away, shifting back upon the piano bench. He glared up at Light through jagged, ink-black fringe. The vampire had recoiled and appeared shocked at L's drastic action, shock flitting through amber eyes.
"Don't! Why do you always persist in touching me?" L said sharply, clenching his fists.
Light's amber eyes narrowed into slits at that, though he made no attempt to retaliate. He simply pushed his body away from the reclining position it had taken up next to the piano, crossing his arms and regarding L with a shuttered, appraising look. It was a look that L loathed with every fiber of his being, because he knew that behind that look, Light was assessing, analyzing him. "I wasn't aware that you were averse to it," Light carefully said, crafting his words with tentative care.
L's own eyes narrowed upon that, hand clenching around the edges of the piano bench. No, calm- he needed to be calm, because Light was watching and he sincerely, desperately hoped that Light wouldn't figure out the reason behind his sudden aversion to being touched by him. But deep down, he knew that sooner or later, Light would figure it out- he was too brilliant not to, to draw the line between the aversion and... and that event. "I am, and I'd appreciate it if you refrained from doing so!" L hissed out- if nothing else, perhaps he could prevent Light from touching him anymore.
"…L. What is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong…?" Something collapsed within L and he gave a shaky, dismal laugh, bowing his head and raising his hands to tangle in his fringe that was desperately in need of a trim. He wanted... he needed to simultaneously hide his eyes from Light's probing gaze and have something to occupy his hands with. "Everything's wrong, Light. Everything," he breathed out shakily. The vampire had no idea…
"L?" asked tentatively- tenerezza ran wildly through L's mind for brief moment- and there was the smallest, lightest brush of fingers over his shoulder. A dark smile twisted L's lips- trust the vampire to disregard what he said in favor of doing what he thought was right. Vampires truly did play by no rules other than the ones that pleased them- not even the ones that their Accorded laid out for them, though. Usually, he didn't care, but…
Not now, though. L didn't need comfort right now. He needed to be left alone, he needed time to be rewound so that they could go back and change things so that Light wouldn't… so that the kiss had never happened.
That kiss… L laughed dismally, finally finding the courage to admit the root of his problems. It was that, that single action, that had turned L upside down so badly. He was so confused-!
The outpouring of words were unable to be helped then, as L looked up through his fingers, glaring at Light, seeing him as the source of the problem L was struggling with. "I can't write- I can't play, I can't think, all because there are these thoughts, these perverse thoughts running through my mind, distracting me and rendering me unable to think. I can't- God, Light, why- did you have to kiss me that day?!" L hissed vehemently, drawing in a shuddering breath at the end, because his lungs were strained for air.
Light recoiled, blinking, before he tentatively leaned forwards once more, disbelief in his eyes, masking a small flicker of surfside satisfaction. "L- what are you saying?"
The vampire had to be feigning stupidity- L had clearly laid it out there, for him to see, for him to take the blame for! In a small corner of his mind, L knew that he was only digging himself deeper into a hole, but at this point, the flow of words refused to ebb, to dry up and cease. "I can't fucking concentrate, Light! It's your fault! You occupy my mind every hour of every day, and that's not how it should be! I don't want this! I don't want thoughts of how it felt when you kissed me that day dominating my thoughts, and I sure as hell-"
Light's eyes widened a margin more and seeing L's face go even paler as the words didn't stop and L failed to inhale even one breath, shoulders shaking, Light's hands flashed out and grabbed ahold of L's shoulders, giving them a sharp shake. The words did cut off, then, and L gasped, taking in desperately needed lungfuls of air.
Light stared straight into L's eyes, worry apparent within the vampire's amber depths. He had never been like this before; he wasn't sure to handle L when in this state. "L!" he exclaimed, and then more calmly, "L. Breathe, please. You'll hyperventilate and pass out. Passing out damages the brain, you know. We can't have that, can we?" Giving a slightly shaky smile, Light continued, forcing a measure of levity into his voice in an attempt to calm L down, "Your music might come out wonky if the instrument that created it was damaged."
L gasped once and then shuddered, slowly forcing his breathing to calm, to slow and take in deep, calming breaths of air. Light was relieved- that outburst of words… it disturbed Light. L had never been that way before, that distraught and broken down.
Shaking his head, L blinked once, and then he muttered, still somewhat breathless, "Light… my mind is not an instrument."
Seeing L regain some measure of composure, Light gave a small smile, starting to release L's shoulders.
"It might as well be, for all the music that comes out of it." Mildly teasing and overall humorous- scherzando. Light reminded him of that often, as the vampire seemed to have a natural affinity for brevity and a love of prodding at him, forcing him to react.
It was one of the reasons L appreciated Light's company so much, he remembered. No other would dare to poke fun at Earl Loren Lawliet, L, the one of the greatest musical minds in the world. Light was the only one who could do so and not provoke his displeasure.
But L had to smile at Light's words. And he did, his pale lips curling upwards into the smallest smile, eyes slipping shut briefly as he acknowledged Light's humor. "Clever," L nodded, and he sighed, finally feeling his heart settle and breathing calm, mind clearing now that the initial swell of emotions had come and passed. It was like the calm after the storm; the piano that came right after the fortepiano before it rose once more with the crescendo that followed it.
But where will this crescendo lead, I wonder…? Was the thought that flashed briefly through L's mind as he looked up to meet Light's eyes.
Light searched his eyes as he drew back slightly, brows quivering and downturned in concern. Ah, there it was, once more- tenerezza, the care and tenderness that the vampire occasionally chose to display. It was one of the mood markings of Light that L liked best. "Are you better?" Light asked softly, and L was once more drawn into the shimmering amber depths of the vampire's eyes.
"Much, yes. Thank you," L forced out, making himself turn away, subtly dislodging Light's hands as he reached out once more for his quill. While he mourned the loss of the warm appendages upon his shoulders- mesto, mournfully, he seemed to be doing that quite often lately- he was glad when Light drew back, taking his distracting presence with him.
Or so L assumed he would…
But the vampire was contrary this time and stayed stubbornly at L's side, gazing down upon him as he attempted to return to his work, retrieving a new piece of parchment and carefully re-doing the clef, time signature, tempo and then, he started on the music itself. It was hard, though, and L found himself hard-pressed to concentrate when Light was standing so very close to him, pulling his attention away from the music he was attempting to create and towards the alluring, very much there presence of the vampire.
And then… there was the small matter of what L had voiced.
He winced as the remembrance of all the words that had spilled from his mouth ran through his mind once more, that horrid confession that he had made when his mind was muddled and heart confused.
A heavy, tense silence settled over the room- if L had to write a piece for the situation a the moment, he would write it to be played morendo, dying, for there was not a marking that would adequately express the tenseness of the situation other than something of such magnitude.
He tried to concentrate- he truly did, throwing his whole focus into the music that was swirling in his mind. But every time he tried to write what had been playing through his mind earlier, when he had first uttered the name of the new composition, it came out so dark and dismal instead of warm and golden, as it was meant to be.
Slowly, the scratching of his quill came to a halt upon the parchment, and he sighed. Setting the sharp feather aside, he ran a single, long-fingered hand through his mess of black, feathery hair. There was really no getting around it- he knew the vampire's absolute stubbornness, knew the game he was playing by hovering over L as he was.
It was not a tactic that Light utilized very often, but when he did, it was very effective. There was not much one could do but pay attention to a vampire when the vampire was hovering over you, silently demanding your focus and complete attention.
Without looking up, L absentmindedly shuffled the pieces of paper on the piano around, just to give his hands something to do, and softly spoke the vampire's name to gain his attention. "Light…"
"Yes, L?" Ah, a hasty response. He had been expecting this, then. L winced. It was annoying, that the vampire knew him well enough to be able to foresee his actions based on previous behavioral patterns.
Sighing, L stopped his nervous shuffling and settled back, absentmindedly pressing the pedals of the piano up and down as he thought. "About what I said earlier…" L started, but trailed off when a shake of Light's head was seen out of his peripheral vision.
No? Apparently so.
"No, L." A sigh, and then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Light's arms uncross, his body relaxing from its previous tense position. Relenting? "You don't need to force yourself to explain things. It's fine. I think… I
understand."
L, surprised by the vampire's relentment on the issue, tilted his head up to spear him with a questioning stare. "You do?"
"Yes. I do." And the vampire's eyes were warm and clear, no hidden resentment or anger to be seen within the lovely amber depths. "But we'll talk about it another time, when you're ready, when you don't have to force yourself to talk about it. You'll understand."
"…Alright."
L turned away, relieved at the reprieve that Light was granting him. There was a promise of later in Light's words, but for now… it was alright to ignore that. Ignore everything that had happened while at that school, push aside all thoughts of anything confusing and that left him unsure. It was an unexpected gift, and while L was oddly disappointed that Light did not want to press the issue- though he didn't know why- it was a relief at the same time.
It was odd, L thought as he picked up his quill once more, holding it delicately between two slim, pale fingers and dipping it into the pot of ink, that such events had had such a profound effect on him in the first place.
Surely, it should not have affected him so heavily, Light's actions? It should have been regarded with a dismissal, an acknowledgement that it was just a ploy to get them out of that blasted school before that girl, Linda, had a chance to find Light and delay their departure further. It should have been understood that it was nothing more than a pretense of affection- two actors upon the stage, as you will.
But… L's hand paused in the action of drawing a series of 16th notes, stopping in the middle of drawing the second bar. Light's fervency, the way he had held him so firmly, the almost desperate way he had pressed against him, closer into the wall, offering him no other option but to allow Light to kiss him… It had not seemed like an act.
And that was what got him the most. Raising hand to his lips, he could almost imagine the feel of Light's hot lips against his own, tongue sliding and slipping in between-
With a small gasp, L jerked his hand away from his lips, shaking his head, a trail of hotness streaking along his cheeks. Quickly setting his quill back to parchment, he recommenced in transferring the melody that was dancing in his mind to parchment.
A sudden uncomfortable shifting drew L's attention up to Light, who, he was surprised to see, had never went back to his chair. Funny, that, that L had failed to notice his presence. He paused in his writing, holding his quill poised above the parchment as he tilted his head to look up at Light, a single, inky eyebrow arching upon observing the vampire.
He was drawing back, away from L, an expression somewhere between uncomfortableness and hunger written on his handsome features. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and shifted further away, gracefully starting to turn his body and walk away, but stopped short when L called his name.
"Light?" L asked quietly, concern flitting across his pale features, "Are you alright?" It was odd for the vampire to be acting like this, almost as if… realization dawned upon L as Light shook his head, caramel locks of hair falling to sweep over his eyes.
"Yes, it's just…" Light trailed off, a grimace twisting his lips as he tilted his head away, closing his eyes as if he were trying to ignore something.
And L was not so ignorant that he couldn't tell what was wrong. It had become a part of their routine- about two or three times a week. L resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he set his quill off to the side and stoppered the bottle of his ink, knowing he would not be using it again that day. "Oh, yes," L shrugged as he carefully sanded the parchment to prevent any ink smears before he rolled the copy of Golden Night up and set it carefully on the table as well. "It… it has been quite awhile, has it not?" L asked, eyebrow quirked as he turned to look up at Light, already starting to roll up his sleeve.
Though… a thought, a remembrance made him stop in the act, slim fingers fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve as his black eyes turned contemplative in reminiscence. While he didn't mind doing this- he trusted Light with his life implicitly and knew the vampire would never allow him harm by his hand or another's- Light's words the night he had taken Dominick Tracey's life flew back to him.
Too many times of this, and you may lose feeling in this patch of skin…
Fingers gently rubbed the small spot of skin that had indeed, lost feeling, but quite a long time ago, unbeknownst to Light. Those words…
His wrist was not thick by any means, and Light's fangs were long. And he had heard tales of soldiers who had lost feeling in a limb because of internal nerve damage.- too many times of being injured in the same place, or a nerve was nicked deep within their skin.
What if… that happened to him?
Cold fear flashed through him at the thought. No. He couldn't lose feeling in his hands. It would… that would destroy him. What if losing feeling in his skin was just the first step?
Light must have taken note of the fear that flashed across his face, because his brows furrowed as he leaned down slightly, concern lacing his voice as he asked, "L? Do you- I can wait, if you'd prefer…" Though it admittedly confused him- L had not shown hesitancy in feeding Light before… so why now?
Taking a deep, shaky breath, L nonetheless shook his head, pushing away thoughts of that happening. "No, it's just… I fear that losing feeling in my wrist will travel down to my fingers, eventually. Nerve damage…" Ah, he hadn't meant to voice those fears, but it would seem that they had slipped out…
Light recoiled, eyes widening in consternation as they flicked down to see L rubbing that small patch of skin with the reddened circles on them contemplatively. "L… I- hadn't thought about that…" he said quietly, guiltily. No... he had been careless to not consider such a thing might happen… L's career, his life would be over if he lost feeling in his hands. He would not be able to write, to play, to conduct…
And he would have been the one to rip that all away from him.
L, clueless as to what was racing through Light's mind, yet somehow sensing the general gist of the vampire's thoughts, knew it was nothing good. Seeking to divert the vampire's thoughts from the dismal turn they seemed to have taken, hesitantly inquired, "Perhaps there is somewhere else you could take? I would not be adverse to that…" Tilting his head to the side, he brushed a hand across his neck. "I trust you… if you'd like… you can take from my neck."
Light blinked, and then a shuttered look fell across his eyes as he tilted his head to the side, eyeing the pale vein tracing its way through the pale skin of L's neck. "You would allow me to do that? And here I thought you were uncomfortable in being touched. I would have to do so in order to feed from there," Light said quietly, a careful neutrality controlling the tone and level of his voice.
"I would be able to stand it," L told him resoltely. Bearing the vampire's touch would be better than losing the use of his hand.
Light searched L's eyes for a few long moment, before he sharply nodded. "So be it."
And L… L was unprepared for the way Light, in a supernatural display of speed, had him grasped around the waist, spun them around, and L was on the floor with Light atop him before he could take a single breath.
He was just inhaling to utter a sharp rebuke to Light for doing this, when a shockingly familiar sensation forced his mind to grind to a halt. He stared straight into Light's amber eyes as the vampire's warm lips were pressed against his own firmly, hands clasping the side of his face in a gentle, yet unforgiving grasp, holding his face still.
He could feel the start of fangs pressing against his lips as Light coaxed his mouth open, L unable to resist, overwhelmed as he was by the sudden turn this had taken.
Tilting his head, Light changed the angle of his mouth and slipped his tongue inside, sweeping L's mouth thoroughly once before drawing back, gazing at L. Con fuoco… with fire. That was the way L's mind saw Light's eyes, intent, burning pools of amber, fixated wholly on him. It sent shivers up his spine, and like a snake's eyes, they paralyzed him, rendering him unable to do anything but stare dumbly up at Light, stuttering mind fizzling out and unable to help him process this new situation.
But then, Light licked his lips, and that motion forced L out of his shocked stupor and into action, surging up against Light in an attempt to throw the vampire off of him. He had offered to feed the vampire, not be tossed about as if he were some sort of rag doll!
But Light was immovable, and his eyelids fell to half-mast, his molten eyes drifting down to stare at L's lips once more. "Why are you struggling so hard, L?" Light asked. "I've done nothing to harm you- you know I would never-"
"Light! I've told you!" L cried, "I don't… I'm not comfortable in being touched-" L started to protest, trying to squirm away, out from under Light, but he was stopped when Light's hands pressed against his shoulders, holding him in place.
He turned his head up to level a vicious, furious glare at Light, but he stopped upon seeing the utter fervency, the intense hunger upon Light's face as he gracefully inclined his head to run silken lips over the outside of L's ears, nudging aside ink-black strands of hair with his nose to allow him better access.
Warm air fanned against his cheeks and washed over his ear as Light murmured directly into it, "That doesn't explain why you seem to have no problem with my lips tracing your skin…" and here, Light's mouth left his ear to brush almost delicately over the skin of his neck just below his ear. L shivered involuntarily at the warmth-sparking touch, and Light only chuckled and continued, "My tongue running over your flesh," he gently licked the skin he had just been caressing with his lips, "… tracing this vein that I've found to be so very tantalizingly delicious… the way my fangs sink into your skin-"
"Stop!" L cried suddenly, unable to stand it anymore and jerking his neck away from Light. He felt so angry, so furious that Light was behaving this way, deliberately provoking him and teasing him like this. He leveled a ferocious glare upon Light, obsidian eyes sparking in anger as he continued angrily, "Why- why do you persist in doing such things?!"
Light paused, lifting his head and answering honestly, with no trace of deceit or untruthfulness in his velvety voice or warm amber eyes, "Because… I enjoy touching you." L's eyes opened wide at the unexpected statement, and Light gave a rueful little smile as he shifted back, taking his weight off of L's shoulders. Gently and almost tenderly, he reached down and grasped L's wrist- the one he always took blood from, holding L's eyes as he lifted it to his mouth, placing a gentle, soft kiss upon it. "I enjoy being this close to you, being able to trace and touch your skin when I please, being able to smell the alluring scent that rises off of your skin…" He trailed off, closing his eyes as he turned L's hand and pressed it to his cheek, inhaling deeply to smell the delicious scent wafting off of the boy's skin that was purely, uniquely and deliciously L's.
L stared, transfixed as Light stroked the tips of his fingers over L's, silently paying homage to the slim, long fingers that had crafted such beautiful sounds, that were the tools that allowed L to compose and play such lovely music.
Still, though… L tore his eyes away from the sight, closing them and turning his head away to mutter, "This… this is wrong. These actions…those feelings… they are perverse. They should not go beyond a simple friendship. We are both men, and you- you are my assistant, and a vampire…"
"And who is the one that declares it wrong?" Light asked, squeezing L's hand to force him to look at him. Leaning closer, Light stared directly into L's eyes, not allowing him to break eye contact as he pressed on insistently, "Religion? Society? You and I, L… we share a bond that far transcends anything religion or human society seeks to label as wrong. We are above that. And you know, as well as I, that we have never bound ourselves by the statuses that humans seek to place upon themselves. You and I, we are far more than servant and master; you carry a part of me within you, just as I carry a part of you within me." Light kissed the Accord mark visible on L's finger, hidden by make-up when L went out in public, but was shown freely when at L's home, not bothering to hide it. His servants were loyal and the black kanji on L's finger and red one on Light's was very small and easy to miss.
L inhaled sharply at the touch to his mark, feeling a tingle race through his hand as the maker of the mark lavished such attention on it. Hand curling around L's, Light's red Accord mark brushed against L's, and a small glow was shown briefly as the two met, sparks racing down their fingers and through their hands.
"We are far closer than you think, L," Light whispered, releasing L's hand to place his own on either side of L's head, clasping the ink-black locks splayed on the floor as he leaned closer to murmur, lips only inches away from L's, "How could you ever seek to think that my desires are perverse, when you subconsciously mirror them yourself?"
"You are not… you are not human," L weakly protested, knowing it was a weak excuse, but unable to come up with anything else. Light's unfailingly logical words rendered any other protest useless, for the vampire was right. He had as good as admitted he desired Light earlier, and he had agreed to this.
"You don't think I'm human? Look at me, L," Light insisted firmly, drawing back to cup L's chin firmly, forcing him to turn his head and meet intense amber eyes, burning with desire. "I may be a different race, but I look human. I feel the same emotions as humans. I covet the same things as humans."
L was taken aback and drawn in by the sheer intensity apparent in Light's eyes. "And what…what do you covet?" Oh, God. He couldn't… he knew he should resist, push Light away ad put him back in his place as L's servant rebuke him for daring to go so far and say such things, but.. he couldn't. This was Light, and Light was…. Light was special. Undefinable. Unquantifiable.
Light's lips curled up into a warm, triumphant smirk upon reading the silent capitulation within L's eyes. Trionfante, triumphantly, was Light at the moment, and quietly yet passionately, he breathed out, "Love. Lust.
Possession over the one I desire. You."
"Oh…" L shuddered at the vampire's words, unable to help himself as he tilted his head back, unconsciously baring his neck in a gesture of acceptance to Light's burning, greedy eyes. His hands gripped the vampire's cloth-covered shoulders tightly as Light bent his head to trace L's jugular vein with his lips, etching fiery lines into L's skin with each pass of silky lips over such a vulnerable area.
Baring his neck to the vampire… it was a dangerous move, leaving him beyond vulnerable, but L trusted Light implicitly, with his life. Light was the one being that would never betray him, that couldn't betray him, and L tried desperately to convince himself that it was the sole reason he allowed Light to do this.
He knew, though, deep within the recesses of his mind, that this was only a small part of the whole. There was so much more to this, to the reason he was allowing Light to lay him in such a compromising position- for what it Watari or another servant thought to enter his sanctuary?!- but he couldn't dwell upon it now. Not now, with Light's hand reaching up to tangle in his hair, twining and twisting to hold his head still while simultaneously tilting it to the side to expose it more.
Little shocks of pain ran from his abused scalp, but it only served to heighten the tension he was feeling, unable to hold back a choked cry as Light's hot tongue slipped out to lave over the groove between his windpipe and neck muscle, where the jugular lay. His head fell back, limp as a rag doll in Light's strong grip, bare toes curling in the plush carpet that cradled them.
He felt Light grin against the skin of his throat- pleased at evoking such a reaction from him, no doubt- and then he felt Light's free hand trail slowly down his body as the vampire above him shifted slightly to his side. He still lay upon L, pressing him down into the floor, but his hand was free to travel slowly down L's body.
It was getting hot, so hot with Light's lips like brands of fire mouthing at his neck, his hand creeping slowly, so slowly down his body. L knew where they were headed- how could he not? He felt as if their whole time together had been evolving to this point, climbing with every small liberty L permitted Light, first his blood, then his trust, and then his friendship, his consent mere days ago, and now… now culminating into this.
He had known it would come to this eventually, subconsciously, in the back of his mind. Light had made no attempt to stop it, either, simply letting L take the steps needed to get here by allowing L to let him in closer and closer, until he had no protest, no reason or desire to push Light away.
In the back of his mind, he still was aware this was not deemed socially acceptable- homosexual relations were a crime and looked down with utter distaste and horror, but at the moment, L couldn't give a damn. Their bond caused by the Accord went so much deeper than social expectations, and right now, the only thought that encompassed his mind was how Light's body felt so warm and comfortable pressed against him.
The clever fingers reached the waistband of his black trousers and L had to stifle a moan as they halted there, instead of continuing down as L so desperately wanted them to do. Light's mouth drew back from his neck and L cracked an eye open, gasping in heaving gulps of air, not having realized that he had been holding his breath until now.
He stared up into burning, intense amber, seeing a pleased smirk settling upon Light's lush lips. The thought of where those lips had been not moments ago made a shiver wrack his body. By the way that smirk seemed to grow, L had no doubt that Light had felt it and knew the cause behind it.
"What are you doing?" L whispered, fingers clinging upon the cloth of Light's jacket desperately, eyes wide as Light shifted back, taking the intense, pleasurable heat of his body with him.
"I'm not going any further until you give me your consent," Light said with a crooked smile, eyes scanning L's face covertly.
"I gave you my consent!" L cried, needing Light back, his brain gone blank of anything else other than the overwhelming desire Light had evoked in him. It made him careless with his words, and he missed the glint that lit in Light's eyes as the words fell from L's lips in a damning, unstoppable flood. "That day- I said it! At the school, that day in the carriage I gave you permission-!"
At that, Light's smile turned wickedly pleased, as if he were the cat who had gotten the cream and his fingers were placed softly over L's lips, cutting off the flow of words. L's eyes were huge, gazing at him with a mixture of desperation and urgent desire, and leaning back over him, delighting in the way L's eyelids fluttered as Light's cheek brushed over L's, he murmured in L's ear, "I knew it."
Lights huskily-voiced words cut through the daze his mind was currently in, and he choked on a gasp as he turned his head to meet Light's pleased face. "You… knew?" L whispered in disbelief. All that time… L had hoped that the vampire wouldn't have been able to puzzle it out for another while at least. At that time, the offer had just fallen from his mouth before he had a chance to stop it, and he had only been able to hope- and then be relieved as it seemed Light hadn't been able to catch what he had meant. Though now that he thought back… perhaps Light did now? His words spoken right afterwards, his mannerism…
And then, today…
But we'll talk about it another time, when you're ready, when you don't have to force yourself to talk about it. You'll understand…
Was this why… did Light think that because he had permission from L, he would allow himself to be used this way?!
Seeing the thoughts flickering behind L's wide eyes, his knowledge of how L's mind worked after years of watching and analyzing him allowed him to correctly discern the direction L's thoughts were taking.
Sighing, Light shook his head, tapping the tip of L's nose almost playfully, and the change in Light's demeanor successfully gained L's attention. "Little brat," Light said warmly, affectionately. "I wouldn't take advantage of you like that. You know me better than that."
L stared up at him, eyes scrutinizing Light's for any sign that he was not being truthful, and then, apparently satisfied upon finding what he was looking for, reached up to twine his long fingers in Light's silky hair. With a small groan, he dragged the vampire down for another kiss, lips licking along the line of Light's in eager strokes. Desire and delight flashing through him at L's responsiveness, Light eagerly responded, luring L's tongue into his mouth to rub his against the composer's, hands reaching down to quickly and eagerly unbutton L's white shirt, tugging it out of his trousers in harsh jerks.
Without breaking the kiss, Light slipped a hand under L's shirt, sliding his hand up the contours of L's slim back, admiring the planes of his shoulderblades and delicate juttings of spine. He smiled into the kiss at the way L's breath hitched and the small moan he garnered in response to his explorations. Pushing his hand upwards, he gently coaxed L up, supporting him as he slipped the shirt and jacket off of L's shoulders, leaving it to pool under him before he settled L back down onto it.
And then, Light broke the kiss, drawing back with a gasp to sit back and admire the smooth, lean lines of L's bared torso, the pink nipples that adorned his chest, and the thin trail of black hair that trailed down from his navel and into the waistband of his trousers, teasing and enticing. His eyes burned fiery trails across L's skin as he visually devoured the sight lay bared before him.
His cock throbbed within the constricting confines of his trousers, and a primal part of him was darkly satisfied to see that there was a bump inside of L's trousers as well, indicating a straining length that was a sign that L loved what he was doing to him.
"Light…" L huskily whispered his name, calling his attention back to the boy himself, and Light's eyelids drooped in lust as he took in the pale flush of excitement staining L's high cheekbones, black eyes glittering in anticipation and desire.
Desire for him.
The thought was heady, that L was his and his alone, that the reclusive composer had been not been approached, touched nor claimed by anyone else but him. No one else had ever had the pleasure of viewing L as this, no one had dared or been able to get close to L as he had, and the knowledge the it was actually L who had handpicked Light to stand by him those 4 years ago only served to make the experience all the more sweeter.
He was L's, just as much as L was his, and that thought was the one that snapped his control.
With a groan, Light reached down to undo the clasp of L's trousers as he dipped his head to lave his tongue across L's smooth, pale-skinned chest. His tongue made contact with a nipple, and happily, he drew it into his mouth and bit gently down upon it as he reached to his own front, tugging his shirt out of his trousers and opening the clasp to them as well.
Shifting his hips down, Light allowed his burning length to rub against L's, repressing a groan as his cock rubbed against L's own hot, sleek length. It felt better than anything he had felt before, simply because of who he was doing with, and unable to help himself, he reached between them, other hand bracing himself on the carpet next to L's head, and enfolded both of their aching lengths within his hand.
L arched into Light's mouth with a small cry of delight as he felt his nipple be enclosed in Light's hot mouth, the new stimuli sending sparks of heat skittering down from his chest to pool in his groin. These feelings that Light
was bestowing on him simply by touch, looks, and voice were something that he had never experienced before, something that could only be evoked by the vampire himself.
Vaguely, he felt Lights' silky hair wisp across his chest like many miniscule touches and he gasped, vaguely sensing Light doing something down by his groin. Groaning, he shifted to open his legs a little wider to aide Light in whatever he was doing, not caring what it was as long as he kept his mouth right where it was and-
What was that-?!
Eyes snapping open, a shocked gasp escaped his throat as he felt his length pressed against something booth hot and slick and hot and rough, the heat that had started pooling in his stomach increasing in a sharp spike at the incredible feeling assaulting his cock. "Wha…" he was able to breathe out, before Light tore his head away from L's chest to smirk up at him.
"Sh," Light whispered, amber eyes burning up at him. "No need to ask. Don't let me hear anything out of your mouth unless it's my name or a sound of pleasure."
That, combined with the sudden movement of what L realized, with a jolt of pure pleasure, was Light's hand pressing both of their cocks together, caused L to spasm and fall back upon the carpet, panting harshly through his teeth as Light stroked them both slowly. His length was pressed snugly against Light's and the intimacy of the situation, that Light was pressed against him in the most intimate of ways, pleasuring them both together at the same time caused L to give a small, sobbing moan of delight.
His toes curled delightedly in the carpet and he drug his legs up so that his knees were bent, pressing them tightly against Light's sides, keeping him right there, where L wanted and desired him to be. He used the leverage to buck his hips up into Light's hand, silently asking for more as he licked his lips and stared with lust-glazed eyes straight into Light's.
"God, L…" Light groaned, and the sound of his name rolling off of Light's lips in such an aroused, husky tone caused him to involuntarily arch upwards, fingers grasping desperately onto the sides of Light's arms, clinging the fabric in a deathgrip. It felt so good, so much better than good, euphoric to have Light's hand on him like this, lengths nestled closely together, burning flesh against burning flesh and L moaned, unable to help himself.
He felt as if he were a piano, being tuned at Light's hand. Every stroke of Light's hand along his cock was like a twist of the tuner's tool, stringing him tighter and tighter until he was sure he would snap. That, or come gloriously undone, creating the most beautiful of symphonies. And all at Light's wickedly talented hands. God…
His name was repeated, moaned huskily into his ear in a voice laden with desire, and that in itself was a purely arousing thing, proof that Light was here, with him, and not thinking of another…
But still... some small part of him was displeased with that, simply because L was his moniker, not his true name. And he wanted to hear his real name on Light's lips. Perhaps… perhaps it would banish the bad feelings that went with it, and it had been so long since anyone had dared utter it…
"…Lawliet," L groaned out, gasping as Light's thumb dragged exquisitely across the tip of his cock before sliding smoothly back down and sending a flare of heated pleasure washing over him. "My family name… Lawliet…"
But Light suddenly stopped upon hearing the forbidden name spill from L's mouth, freezing in shock as he gazed down upon L's debauched visage. It caused a despairing cry to spill forth from L's lips, but Light paid it no mind in favor of contemplating the silent request L had asked of him with the simple utterance of that name.
He had no idea what had caused L to hate his name- it had to do with his shadow-shrouded past, Light was sure, but that he was asking Light to call him by it, at least, for the duration of this… It spoke of an incredible amount of trust in him. He knew L trusted him, yes, but to do so enough to ignore whatever had happened in his past and desire Light to call him by that name… it indicated the sheer amount of trust L placed in him, and that was an incredibly powerful, heady thought.
"Lawliet, then…" Light husked into L's ear, tongue flicking out to trail along the outer line, before he enclosed the fleshy lobe into his mouth and sucked on it. L gave a startled, needy gasp and bucked into his hands, the heated length rubbing over Light's and causing him to bite back a curse.
L was… he was so lovely, so unhindered in his actions and so openly honest in his delight that it was causing Light to lose control. Panting into L's ear, his bracing hand inched over to tangle in L's thick black hair, tugging his head roughly to the side so that his smooth, pale neck with delicate blue veins was bared to his burning eyes.
The darkly delicious scent that was wholly, purely, uniquely L's wafted up from the skin of his neck, so much more powerful at the pulse points than anywhere else, and unable to resist, he impatiently dipped his head to latch onto L's neck. His mouth eagerly sucked and nipped at soft, pale skin as he increased the desperate pace of his hand, almost flying up his and L's lengths now in a frantic bid to cause L to release before he lost control of the tenuous grip he had on his hunger for L's blood.
Bites at the neck hurt so much worse than anywhere else because the skin was so much more sensitive here than anywhere else, but if he timed it perfectly… would feel nothing but pure, blinding ecstasy.
And L deserved nothing less. He would allow L to experience nothing less than that. Not at his hands.
"Come on, Lawliet," Light gasped, against the hot, delicious skin of L's neck, feeling the body under him shudder in response to his words. The end felt so very close for both he and L, if the throbbing he felt in both his own length and L's was anything to go by. He was shaking now, both with the hot pleasure coursing through his veins and the effort it to hold himself back from sinking his eager fangs into the smooth neck displayed so enticingly for him.
It was so close now… L writhed and squirmed under Light, unable to help himself as he felt that there was a precipice he was about to reach, and end to the euphoria slowly overtaking his mind, racing through his being and pooling in his groin. Every stroke of Light's hot hand only brought that end closer, faster, until finally, Light groaned out, "Lawliet…Come for me, Lawliet…" and the tip of his thumb rubbed slickly over the extremely sensitive head of his cock.
It was the last straw, that the sound of Light rasping out his name and the feeling of his hand, and with a hoarse scream of ecstasy, he snapped taut, back arching and eyes snapping open as a wave of white- hot pleasure overtook him, rendering him senseless to everything. The second right before orgasm hit, he registered Light's fangs sliding into his skin, piercing through his neck and cutting off his involuntary scream. There was pain for one harsh, fleeting second, and then L knew nothing else but pure, overwhelming pleasure.
Light growled in delight as L arched up into him, lithe, taut body pressing into him and hot release spilling over his hand, scalding proof of L's pleasure. Unable to help himself anymore, L's delicious scent filling his senses, Light bit down harshly into L's neck, moaning as the taste hit his tongue, exploding into the sweet, darkly delicious flavor that Light had come to crave as needily and desperately as the boy writhing in abandoned pleasure beneath him.
The sound of L's scream of pleasure rang in his ears, and that, combined with the taste on his tongue and feel of his hand and L's length rubbing against his drove Light over the edge as well. A strangled exclamation of L's true name was muffled against L's throat as Light's eyes slipped close and he came as well, hips bucking into L's unrestrainedly.
Blood continued to pour into his mouth, being swallowed down in greedy gulps even as the last lingering shocks of orgasm faded, L's breathing becoming steadily calmer as Light eagerly drank from his neck.
L blinked a few times, just starting to come back down from the high, and he realized what Light was doing. He could feel the disconcerting shift of Light's fangs lodged in his throat, felt Light's tongue lapping against his skin and the press of his lips against barely-numbed skin. L didn't try to move his neck or shift away, but instead brought still-shaking hands to gently clasp Light's hair, holding him in place against his neck.
This was comfortingly familiar to L, the act of giving blood to Light. He relaxed, allowing Light to feed at his leisure, even as Light made a little growling noise in his throat and the hand tangled in L's hair tugged his neck further over, baring it more openly to Light. This L also allowed, stroking Light's hair as his eyes slipped shut, simply enjoying the feel of Light pressed so closely against him.
There were uncertain thoughts racing through L's mind now that it was starting to function once more, wondering how he should react to Light now, where they would go from here, but they were pushed away in favor of simply enjoying the moment for now. They could be worried about later; there was a sort of complacent exhaustion creeping over L, a sort of bonelessness that was both a product of what he and Light had just done combined with the blood loss Light was inflicting upon him. It made him less inclined to ponder over such things when he simply wanted to sleep.
But finally, Light pulled back, L wincing at the uncomfortable feeling of Light's fangs dislodging from his neck. He raised his head and L wearily turned to his face to Light's, seeing a trail of crimson blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. His amber eyes were shadowed by caramel bangs, regarding L with a
measure of uncertainty, as if wondering if this was alright now that the heat of the moment had passed.
Wanting to reassure Light, L trailed a hand from Light's hair, brushing over his cheek until he got to Light's mouth. "You spilled some," L told Light with a small smile, as he thumbed the blood away, exhaustion making his words slur a bit. He was starting to feel a bit faded, like he was about to pass out, but he
struggled to keep his eyes open, not wanting to fall asleep at the moment.
He moved to withdraw his hand from Light's face, but it was gently caught on its descent by Light's hand. Eyes slipping closed, Light smiled softly as he cleaned the last drops from L's thumb before releasing it to gaze at L once more, amber eyes drifting over his features.
"Go to sleep, L," Light murmured, dipping his head to run his tongue over the blood that was seeping out of the puncture wounds on L's neck. L shivered a bit at the feeling but allowed himself to go limp, knowing Light would take care of it- he always did, without fail. "We can talk in the morning. I'm not going to run off."
"You'll be here?" L asked sleepily, words slurring even worse. A small chuckle was huffed against his neck and he allowed a small smile to tug at his lips in return. "If I wish it, you'll have to stay, won't you?" he mumbled out, just to make sure. "Because I do, you know."
"Of course, L," Light breathed, nibbling gently at the skin of L's neck, resulting in a small intake of breath from L. "I'd be here even if you didn't want me to be, brat," he said affectionately, and that old nickname, more an endearment than anything else, made a lazy smile tug at L's lips. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily, you know. Not after all of this."
Somehow, Light's reassurance, thought it was accompanied by no vows or promises, was more trustworthy than if it had been. Light would be here when he awoke, no doubt as immaculately dressed as always, with a small spark of devilishness glinting in his lovely amber eyes, ready to provoke, tease, or assist L depending on his whims. And that thought was comforting.
Nodding, L allowed Light to slip his arms under him and shift into a sitting position under Light so that his upper body was cradled in his lap. He readjusted both of their trousers, tucking both of them back in and re-doing the clasps so that nothing was hanging out indecently. And then, inclining his head, Light set to work cleaning up the last of the blood, running soothing fingers through L's hair as he did so.
They were so alike, yet so different, L thought lazily, allowing Light to tend to him, feeling the familiar blackness begin to gather at the edges of his vision. His muddled mind stuttered through half-formed thoughts as he waited for sleep to overtake him, idly making comparisons between he and Light .
Servant and master.
Vampire and composer.
Blood-taker and symphony-maker.
Blood and symphonies…
L smiled the moment before the blackness wholly took over his vision, and the last thing he remembered before succumbing to unconsciousness was the feel of Light gently bandaging his neck up, and the thought that if one said blood and symphonies fast enough, it sounded almost like…
Bloody Symphonies.
Next chapter sneak peak: Symphony 6: Oculi potest fallentes (Looks Can be Deceiving)
"Oh, hello. What's a pretty thing like you doing here, hm, lady? Wandered quite far off the beaten path, haven't you? And in trousers, no less?"
"…My name is Nate River. I'm to be Earl Loren Lawliet's new bookkeeper. And… I'm male."