A/N: I don't own Death Note. Thanks for the reviews! XD
Chapter 21: Fake L
A capital letter L appeared on the computer screen. L stared at the screen with wide eyes. Who could be pretending to be me? Whoever it is, they must know the situation I'm in. Having someone else say they're L helps me greatly right now.
Arik ordered while he stood behind L, "Play the message."
"Of course," L clicked on the mouse.
Light also stood up from the couch, right as the message began to play. "This is L. My message is for Mr. Lawliet and the other members of the Kira Investigations. I will be returning to the U.K. in two days," the deep, computerized voice continued in English, "In the remains of Russia, I have discovered all the information about the New Kira."
That's not even possible, I already checked every record. This fake L is bluffing but Arik doesn't know that. L couldn't help but smirk while Arik was behind him. The fake L is trying to cause Arik to panic.
"Mr. Lawliet, I want you to come meet me as soon as I arrive, which will be at 7:00 pm on the 16th at the London Gatwick Airport," The message abruptly stopped.
What could this fake L be plotting? The fake L keeps referring to me as Mr. Lawliet so it's definitely not the investigation team. And Near and Mellow are with the other orphans, somewhere in hiding. L deduced, That leaves…Suzette. She's the only one who knows for a fact who I am and the situation I'm in.
"Fuck," Arik glared at the computer screen, "Lawliet, is the message traceable?"
Before L could type anything, the message suddenly deleted itself.
Arik sounded frustrated after seeing its deletion, "How did that message make its way to you anyway? Does L know where you are?"
"I don't know," L gazed at the blank screen. Suzette probably sent this while still in the same building as us. Which means there has to be at least one place that isn't being monitored.
"Light, Lawliet, you two stay here. There are video cameras and guards so don't even think about doing anything." Arik warned then stormed out of the room.
Somehow, I have to find a way to talk to Suzette without Arik knowing. L decided as he turned away from the computer while still sitting awkwardly.
Light sat back down on the couch in silence. Even though L and Light were finally away from Arik, they still couldn't talk openly to each other. With the video cameras even if they spoke in Japanese, Arik could have the footage translated later.
We can still talk as long as it isn't anything too suspicious and can be regarded as a normal conversation. L asked in Japanese while referring to Arik's sexual harassment, "Does Arik do that to you often?"
Light shifted uncomfortably and avoided eye contact. "Yeah," Light admitted in Japanese.
L wanted to ask how far Arik has gone in his perverse abuse but that would sound like a question from a jealous lover. But at the moment, that was exactly how L felt. Jealous, furious, disgusted, and would love nothing more than to slit Arik's throat. Or at least lock Light up in a chastity belt or something… But L doubted Arik would allow that.
Light solemnly gazed at L, "I'm sorry that you had to see that."
"No, Light-kun, I-" L stopped himself because of the cameras. Light-kun, please don't blame yourself for this.
Then L noticed that Light was scratching his neck in the same spot where Arik had been kissing him. Light was obviously trying to clean himself after what Arik had done to him. Poor Light, he's probably more disgusted than I am right now.
As Light continued to scrape at the area of Arik's kisses, Light's neck began to bleed slightly. Light just continued to tear into himself as if he didn't even notice that he was bleeding.
"Light-kun," L quickly rushed over and snatched Light's hand.
L held up Light's hand that had blood stained finger tips. Light indifferently stared at his own blood. Light doesn't even care at this point. L sighed.
"Come on, Light-kun. Let's go clean you up," L pulled Light up off of the couch and led him towards the door.
The two British guards purposely stood in the way of the exit.
L explained in English, "Light is bleeding. We're just going to bathroom to wash his cuts. Then we'll come straight back."
One of the guards reluctantly agreed, "Fine. The bathroom's right down the hall. You have ten minutes."
"Thank you," L nodded then the two guards stepped to the side.
L and Light walked together down the hall and into the men's restroom. L immediately scanned the room and luckily spotted no videos cameras. We can talk as we please in here.
Then L grabbed a paper towel and dampened it under a sink. "Here," L handed it to Light.
"Thanks," Light sadly took the damp paper towel and pressed it to his bleeding neck. Then Light leaned against the wall as if he was waiting for L to begin questioning him.
L asked, "How far has Arik gone in the abuse?"
"He's hit me," Light answered vaguely.
"I know that. But I'm referring to his other form of abuse right now," L insisted.
Light nervously looked away and didn't reply.
L pushed for answers, "Is that the first time that he's kissed you?"
By now, Light's body was shaking, "No."
Damn it. "What else has he done to you?" L pried angrily
"Just leave it be. I don't want to talk about it," Light refused.
L stubbornly continued, "How far has he gone? Has he ever undressed you? Where has the bastard touched you?!"
Light flinched, "I'm not telling."
"If the answer is 'no' then why can't you tell me?" L asserted.
Light gazed into L's eyes, "He hasn't raped me."
L felt some relief, "Okay, that's good. What about my other questions, like where has Arik touched you?"
"He hasn't raped me," Light repeated as he looked away.
"I know that but…" L realized in shock, "He's gone below the waist hasn't he?"
Light defensively objected, "NO! He hasn't! I swear, I-" The way Light's body was shaking told a different story.
Oh God, L turned away while feeling revolted. I think I'm going to be sick.
"I'm okay. I'm fine," Light desperately lied. But then Light just tilted his head down, "I'm sorry."
"Don't!" L suddenly hit the wall. Then he miserably rested his head against the wall, "Don't apologize Light-kun, please. It's all Arik's fault, don't you dare blame yourself." If only I found Light-kun sooner. If only I stopped him from exiting the office building in the first place and Arik never would have caught him. Damn it.
"Follow your own advice. You shouldn't look so guilty," Light observantly stated.
"Good point," L sighed. We HAVE to get Arik arrested as soon as possible. I don't know what I'll do if I see Arik do that to Light-kun again. The most disgusting part is that Arik was just getting started. He would have gone further if I didn't interrupt him.
Light placed a hand on L's shoulder, "We have to stay focused. Who sent that message while pretending to be you?"
"I think its Suzette," L stepped away from the wall.
"Suzette? Why her?" Light turned L's shoulder so they would face each other.
"I've seen her before; she's the one who gave a description of me. Yet she lied to Arik and said I wasn't L."
"So you think that she's going to betray Arik by helping you?" Light quickly understood the situation.
"Yes, I need to find a way to talk to her though," L explained.
Light boldly offered, "I could distract Arik for awhile-"
"NO," L protested, "I don't want to leave you alone with him."
"Then how do you plan to speak with Suzette? Arik always makes sure that he knows where I am. It'll only work if you talk to her alone."
Damn, I know that Light's right about that. L hesitantly nodded, "Alright, but don't you dare let him hurt you. Just start screaming or something and I'll come as fast as I-"
"I'll be okay," Light smiled, "Besides things are actually whole lot more bearable with you around."
"Light-kun," L's gaze softened.
A guard called from outside of the bathroom, "Hey, hurry up in there!"
"We're coming!" Light responded then whispered to L, "I have a plan."
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Light and L once again entered the room with expensive furnishings and the computer. The two guards stood beside the exit as Light and L walked further into the room. Light headed toward a long, vertical window that had the curtains drawn.
L reached for Light's arm, "Light-"
"Just shut up, Lawliet!" Light suddenly shouted in English.
"Whoa, what's going on?" a guard called out for in front of the door.
Light ripped down the curtains, causing the long, metal pole which held up the curtains to also fall. Once the metal pole hit the ground, Light hastily picked it up.
Next, L shouted back, "Light, I'm telling you-!"
"I don't what to fucking hear it!" Light unexpectedly banged L's head with the metal pole.
L collapsed on the floor. Then the guards rushed over toward Light. Before one could reach Light, L moved his foot slightly while on the floor and tripped the man. As the man fell, Light swung the pole at his head. The man fell over, unconscious.
The second man grabbed Light's arm, "What the hell are you doing?!"
Light kneed the man in the groin. As the man gasped in agony, Light bashed him with the metal pole. Now the two guards laid on the ground, knocked out. L also laid on the floor, pretending to be unconscious.
Light quickly destroyed all of the videos cameras in the room with the metal pole. Once all the cameras were annihilated, L stood up.
"Did you really have to hit me that hard?" L placed a hand on the back of his head.
"I was just trying to make it look realistic," Light stepped onto a desk and took off the air vent lid.
"You expect me to climb through the air vent?" L realized.
"Well, there are no videos cameras in there," Light jumped down from the desk.
"True," L nodded, "So you're planning to make a distraction by going on a rampage with a metal pole."
"I have pent up anger," Light held onto his blunt weapon.
L laughed as he stepped up onto the desk, "Well, if you can take a swing at Arik for me."
"Oh, God. There would be nothing that I would love more," Light declared.
L reminded him, "Don't get yourself hurt."
"I won't. Once Arik finds me, I'll make up some lie to explain why I had a 'mental breakdown' and turned violent. Just hurry and go find Suzette, before anyone notices that you're gone. "
L nodded and climbed up into the air vent. Then Light rushed out the room and to create as much as a distraction as possible.
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L crawled through the air vents, which wasn't exactly something he was accustom to doing. It was dark and cramped but there were no video cameras just as Light said.
Now I just have to find Suzette. L glanced down every once and awhile through the air vent's gaps to see who was below him.
After about ten minutes, L still didn't spot her. But there was an overwhelming smell of smoke coming from ahead. L covered his mouth as he coughed. Is someone smoking in the next room?
L continued through the air vent and unfortunately had his thought confirmed. There was definitely someone smoking and all the smoke was rising up into the air vent. L tried his best not to cough but eventually a few slipped out.
A female voice called out from below him, "Who's up there?"
Shit. Then L glanced through a gap and spotted a woman with long, black hair. Suzette!
L kicked a lid to the air vent open and peered into the room. Suzette stared up at him with a cigarette in her hand.
Suzette smirked, "Come down here, detective. I bet you want to want to talk about my message."
End of Chapter 21
More about Suzette later…