A/N: Hey everyone. I'm not feeling myself right now and I've been nursing a nasty head ache for a couple days now on top of that. I'll be taking just a brief break. My next update should come no later than Saturday evening, or early Sunday.
Also, me and my beta have noticed some errors and will be updating this story soon to correct them.
House of Cards
By Catsitta
Chapter Five: Long Live the Queen
Getting Light onto the plane was the easy part of his grand plan.
With some aid from a certain bespectacled doctor and a liberal usage of his hostage taking skills, L wheeled a half-asleep Kira through the small, private airline and onto the correct aircraft with minimal hassle. The difficult part of this whole journey came when the drugs began to wear off. The heavy-eyed teen groaned awake, suddenly quite aware of her surroundings.
"Where am I? What did you do? Is this...is this a plane? You fuck. I told you I didn't want to go abroad. But no. You never listen!" L quirked his head to the side as Light continued her rant. "I shouldn't even be on a plane. What happens if we hit turbulence? And how is this even legal. Wait. It's not. But when has that ever stopped you? I don't appreciate being kidnapped again."
"Hm. Light is quite talkative with pain killers in his system," L said. "While I find his shouting amusing, I must point out that we are not alone and that the individuals across the walkway are giving us strange looks."
Light shut up, but there was death in her eyes. How fortunate for him that the Death Notes were safely secured in a vault on the other side the ocean. L pat Light's hand and returned to his ever-present laptop. They were going to be in the air for many more hours given that it took half a day to travel between Japan and England nonstop.
After about half an hour, Light apparently recovered from her embarrassment.
"Why are you taking me to England," she growled. "and do not give me the lame excuse of 'to protect me' or even 'to prevent Kira from returning'. You have a reason. A plan. You always do."
L continued to tap away at the keys for a few minutes before he paused, dead eyes fixated on the dim glow of the screen. Night would be upon them soon. "Light is correct. I am not without reasoning behind my actions," he shut the lid of the laptop. "Let it be said for now that I love Light. Even if he chooses to spit on my affections."
"You're shipping me across the ocean instead of stranding me in Japan like an actual genius with any common sense would...because of love?" Light sneered at him, reminding him of Kira's manic grin as she tried to write his name in blood. He wanted his lover back. Even if she did not love him, at least she wasn't actively trying to kill him. L would have been better off if he never laid eyes on the pretty face sitting next to him. "You're a joke."
"Yet the only one laughing is Light," L said lightly, tucking his knees to his chest and turning his head away. He needed rest. Getting this plane trip arranged was a hassle and a half given the state of Japan's government and Light's condition. With a few phone calls to special people and some money-greased palms, he secured these two seats at the cost of some precious sleep. An insomniac such as he both loathed and loved slumber. He needed it to survive, but it was a waste of time...and now he was sitting on a very long plane ride with no internet, a moody sociopath and almost a week without proper sleep. If he wasn't careful, he'd start hallucinating soon and need medical treatment just to rest his eyes.
It happened once, and once was enough to traumatize him into succumbing to sleep for a couple hours every few days at the minimum.
L let heavy lids droop shut.
There was little trouble his companion could cause on a plane.
.
The scent of chocolate chip cookies caught L's attention.
He lifted his head from the table and grunted as he pulled a piece of paper sticking to his cheek. L frowned at it. It was a newspaper. He laid the black-and-white print down to look around the room. A kitchen. It was airy and cozy, with tiled floors and large windows. At the stove stood a tall, lithe woman in a tight, little skirt and a frilly white apron. L blinked. She had nice legs.
His gaze traveled up until it rested on the back of that auburn head. Long, straight locks laid between her shoulder blades. Swiftly, she turned, a plate in her hands. L frowned. He could not see the woman's face, her eyes obscured by a heavy fringe. She was smirking. Why did that make a shiver of fear crawl down his spine?
The woman sashayed to the table and laid the plate down at the center.
"Just the way you like it," she purred in a voice a few decibels lower than expected. L frowned, feeling ill. Something wasn't right here. "Why so sad, Lawli?"
She giggled.
L stood.
Red flashed from behind that fringe, revealing dazzling crimson eyes that cut through to the soul.
"I made them for you," she said. "Come now, this is what you wanted. Aren't I a good little wife."
Then everything became startlingly clear. This was Light. No. This was Kira. L shook as his hand reached for a cookie without his consent. As he brought the sweet to his lips, the wild laughter of the shinigami filled his skull. He stared at Light.
With a demon grin she watched as he bit into the treat.
"I'll take care of the world while you sleep," Light said, sweeping back her hair and sitting on the table. He could feel the world tilt at a dangerous angle. He couldn't breathe. Daintily, Light plucked up the newspaper from the table and folded it into a paper crown. As he slid to the floor, she placed it on her head, "Long live the queen."
.
L snapped awake with a smothered gasp and scanned his surroundings with animal alertness. His throbbing heart resonated in the silence. He wiped his brow. Night was thick upon them. Most of the other passengers were sleeping, the lights in the cabin long since turned off. Most...
She was staring out the window, gazing at the stars through wispy clouds. He could see the exhaustion on her face. L sighed. He had worried she would misbehave while he slept, but he kept forgetting that this woman...this girl, was going through an emotional hurricane. The winds of change were ripping apart her castle made of playing cards, and no matter how much she bled, she kept constructing towers. L was right there, weathering the storm while hiding half the aces she needed to succeed.
Before she found the Death Note, Light lived a life of secrecy, helplessness and fear. All that mattered was success, because that was what would keep her little family safe. Then came a little black book that started the storm swirling. In a few short months she lost what remained of her freedom, her family and her fractured sanity. Now, here L was taking more from her because she was dangerous when given power. In a way, he forced her to not only live, but recover and give up what gave her a lethal sense of hope.
After an attempt at saving the world from corruption, all she had for her efforts was a home country on the brink of war, a dead father and wounds that could possibly cripple her for the rest of her life.
What exactly could she do on a plane?
With two broken wrists, enough bandages on her chest to corset her into a straight-backed position and nowhere to go—simply behaving and watching the sky filter by was perhaps her only option. Once she recovered more in England, Light would find some way to get revenge for every second of helplessness she felt at his hands. She would hurt him for the pain of making her live a life she was clearly had given up on.
For now, Light sat in elegant boredom, her tawny eyes glittering scantly in the dark, her pose and expression fit for royalty.
As if feeling his eyes upon her, Light turned.
"Why?" she asked.
L drummed his fingertips on bent knees, "That means many things, Light."
"You know what I'm asking."
"Light is smart but he is quite bad at listening," L said softly. "Everything I do is because I love you. If I have to say it a million times I will."
A scowled marred those previously fanciful features. Kira had returned.
"Save your breath."
L said naught more for the rest of the flight. There would be plenty of things said once they reached Whammy's House and he had to come clean about what he'd done.
-tbc-
A/N: (The truth shall be revealed, because next chapter will involve a few familiar faces and add a new layer to the conflict between Light and L. Also, my goal is still to reach 15 reviews. Between five chapters, I really do not see that as an unreasonable goal. Anywho~ I will see everyone this weekend when I'm feeling more myself.)