I Write Sins, Not Tragedies
ChipsAhoypup
Warning: Boy love. Don't like, don't read.
A/N The trauma is starting to be revealed more and more. I'm trying to keep an edge of humor in here to make sure my readers don't get bored, but the plot of the story is starting to unfold.
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note. Credit for plot bunnies of the story go to Nikkacatmeki.
The sounds of children laughing and tumbling around emitted from inside an orphanage. Rain pattered down on the stone walls, sticking to the large windows. A sign that spelled 'Wammy's House' was almost unreadable due to the heavy showers. The Wammy's House wasn't widely known, and it's exterior design made it seem ancient. Even if people had known about it, they wouldn't have known that the owner of the orphanage only allowed certain children.
These exceptional children were all geniuses. They were home-schooled, and already their logic was at a high school level. However, one child was at a college level, and had to be taught separately due to this reason.
This child's christened name was Lawliet. But he disliked this name, and asked if it could be changed to the letter L.
The owner of the orphanage was much obliged, and did so. Afterwards, many of the children requested their names be changed. Only a couple changed it to a letter, as L had, while others just created a nickname. Either way, they felt more secure with a fake name. They would remain anonymous this way.
But back to the matter at hand.
This college level child, L, was about 10 years old. He tended to keep himself secluded from the other kids, who would usually try to push him to play. But every time they asked if he wanted to play, he would shake his head and back away without speaking, as if he was mute.
Eventually, the other children stopped asking. It seemed that it wasted time. But one day, it all changed.
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The next day, the six boys met up in the kitchen once more. It was a daily routine really; they'd all gone in to get breakfast at the same time, because they weren't very fond of sleep. L especially.
It was the break of dawn, and L didn't look tired one bit. The other five, however, had trouble stifling their yawns. It was true that they didn't like sleep, and woke up early often, but still, they just couldn't seem to shake off the drowsiness.
As they prepared their breakfast, L vaguely wondered what had happened to Light. He hadn't seen the brunette all day after the… incident. He knew he shouldn't be concerned about the kid, but it didn't stop him from wondering.
"Do you guys know what happened to that Light kid?" L spoke his thoughts, finally unable to contain them.
"Last I heard, he was going to sleep in a room by himself," B growled.
"Apparently everyone else already has a roommate, so he got lucky, the little brat," Mello added with a note of envy in his voice.
"You mean you don't enjoy rooming with me, Mells?" Matt turned to his roommate and put on a hurt face. L couldn't tell if he was joking, or if he really was upset.
"Of course I enjoy it," Mello said, smacking the back of Matt's head, "but it would be nice to have a room to my own."
"I'd rather share a room. B keeps the monsters away," A piped in, with a grateful glance towards B. B smirked, amused, and patted A on the head as one would to a dog.
"That's right. Those monsters won't get you while I'm around," B declared, and A smiled.
"I could care less whether I share a room or not. It's not like L bothers me," Near opinionated with a shrug.
"Ditto." L nodded.
"Ditto?! Where?! I have to catch it!" Matt shouted, thinking L was talking about the Pokémon. Before anyone could correct the confused video game addict, he sprinted off, in search of a non-existent pink blob.
"Dammit, Matt's such a dork," Mello hissed. He sighed in agitation before bounding after where Matt had disappeared.
Only four boys remained in the kitchen.
L rummaged through the cabinets for something to eat. He ended up picking a cinnamon bun. He padded into the dining room, munching on the pastry. A, B, and Near watched him, then went their separate ways, not looking all too hungry.
When the genius arrived in the dining room, he noticed that there was someone already there. But no other kid had gotten up as early as him and his friends before. Puzzled, L climbed into a chair next to the child.
The kid had his face pressed into his arms, which rested on the table. His short, auburn hair spilled out to all sides. As L inspected him, he noticed that the all-too-familiar orphan's breathing was slow and deep. He was fast asleep.
Curious, L lightly poked the kid. As if an alarm had sounded, the kid's head shot up, and L jumped simultaneously. L recognized the kid instantly: Light Yagami.
Light glanced around warily, his eyes wide, before he seemed to recall his surroundings. "Oh… it's you," He murmured upon seeing L.
L felt awkward around this kid. Light had once asked for his help, and L had pushed him away. And this was only yesterday, too. "Um, yeah, it's me… I have a name, you know."
"You didn't tell me it yet," Light remarked, tilting his head to the side.
"Oh, right. My name's L."
"Nice to meet you. I'm—"
"I know who you are. Light Yagami, correct?"
"Y-yeah…" Light looked uncomfortable with the fact that this "stranger" seemed to know his name.
"Why were you sleeping at this table? It looks awfully uncomfortable," L queried.
"I have nightmares often, and I figured that if I slept upstairs, I'd wake everyone up," Light explained. Now that he mentioned it, L could detect dark rings under this boy's eyes. How many nightmares did he have?
"How many nightmares did you have?"
"I lost count… I think at least 3… and they're always the same thing," Light mumbled, gently placing his forehead against the tabletop again.
"Well, what are they?" L asked, an abnormal emotion pushing up towards his throat. Was this concern?
"You'll laugh." Light's voice was muffled as he talked into the table.
"No I won't. I don't laugh. Ever," L insisted.
"…Seriously?" Light peered up at the genius.
"Seriously." L stared at Light, waiting.
The newcomer took a deep breath, then began, "I was searching for rare fossils in the Amazon. Then… a crocodile tried to eat me…" Light hesitated, examining L's reaction. But the genius was staring intently, without a trace of amusement on his face. So Light continued, "And my mom came to the rescue… she saved me… and before I could thank her… my dad came out of no where with a knife, and he…" Light's voice broke in mid-sentence.
"He what?" L prompted, feeling that he couldn't help this other orphan if he didn't know what this nightmare was about.
"…He killed my mom," Light finished, before pressing his face into the table again. L thought he could hear him sobbing.
He has a recurring nightmare about his dad killing his mom? And… he's an orphan… Could this be what really happened? L pondered as he nibbled on his pastry. It would make sense. I mean, he did get scared when we jumped out at him… and he asked me not to leave him while his eyes were all glazed over… so…
But just then, Light sat up again, wiping his tears on his sleeve. L lost his train of thought. Tears were his mortal enemy. The only time L had ever cried was… the fateful day. The day when his mother had gave him away to this awful place.
This place where every child pretended to be happy that they were so intelligent, while deep down, they were miserable.
Many had attempted to escape during L's time at the orphanage. When they thought no one was looking, they'd hurry to the front door and yank it open hurriedly. Every time, in the rush of adrenaline, the child seemed to forget the alarm system.
And instantly, a worker at the orphanage would pounce on the child. And the child would be dragged away to who-knows-where, and never seen again.
No one knew where these kids had been taken to. Rumors went around that they were locked up in a cage, but L highly doubted that.
Light broke into L's reminiscing: "Don't tell the others."
"Hn?" L stared blankly.
"The other kids. Please don't tell them." Light gazed at him pleadingly.
"I won't," L promised.
"Pinky-swear?" Light held out his smallest finger towards L. This ritual seemed immature, but L knew that if he didn't "pinky-swear", then he would be looked upon as a liar. And L was not a liar.
So the genius hooked his pinky around the other's. "Pinky-swear."
A/N How sweet. Pinky-swear. I used to pinky-swear with my brother all the time. And my sisters. Although… we were good liars.
And, yes, I realize L lies a lot as an adult. But he's not a detective right now, and he's a kid, so he doesn't have a need to lie.
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