Liar, Liar

Prompt by WildfireDreams: "How about L, Light and a healthy dose of Veritaserum."

Premise: "In which L has an ace up his sleeve."

Warnings: Not a lot of Adult Material, but Light's Ego, and his general need to hear himself talk (even in his own head), deserves their own warnings, anyway. UNBETA'd.

Notes: I really wanted to focus more on the present than the possible back story, for this prompt. Back story shouldn't matter too much for this, but if you REALLY need to know, well...CYOC: Choose Your Own Context.

.. .. ..

Light had gone over his plans for confinement, time and time again, with great care. Every eventuality was pondered on, accounted for, in his plans. Misa...well, she was a wild card, and therefore more troublesome than she was worth, but blinded enough by her ridiculous infatuation to do as she was told. So, wild card or no, even the problems she added to the growing list that Light faced were accounted for.

Even before he entered HQ, Light knew what he'd say, how he'd act, to get what he wanted, to get L to put him behind bars. Any other time, he would have been pleased at his father's stubborn defense of his innocence, but now...he had to fight back against the urge to tell the man to just shut up, already. It was luck...or Destiny, he supposed...that L was just stubborn enough to do what he wanted, what Light wanted, and lock him up, regardless of his father's denials.

Glassy eyes watched as the man, one he was sure he'd never seen before, waltzed in behind L—Ryuzaki—his green eyes bright and curious behind unflattering glasses. He too had a thatch of unflattering, messy black hair, was too pale to be healthy, and wore clothes that Light would be mortified to wear in public. Just like Ryuzaki, he was...unnerving, his bright eyes seeming to stare right through him, his pale lips twitching in a soft smile, like he was laughing at a joke that only he understood.

This...this...was unexpected.

Light had planned for so much, for Misa's tendency to talk, and act, without thinking, for Rem's obsessive need to protect the blonde pain-in-the-ass, for Ryuk's general incompetence. He had not, however, planned for this. L was supposed to be a single entity, isolated, with few, if any, personal connections. He was not supposed to have allies, friends who he could call in.

Amber eyes blinked sluggishly, fear making them gleam in the fluorescent lighting, as the green eyes man slowly smiled at him, his gaze darting to the empty water cup still clutched in Light's hand. He froze, glancing down at his cup, then up at the man. His hand twitched, the flimsy metal slipping from numb fingers as realization hit. He'd been drugged. Ryuzaki—fuck it, L...L had drugged him.

The Green-Eyed Bastard's smile widened. "Nice to meet you, Light...I can call you Light, right?"

His lips trembled as he fought to hold back his response. It did no good. "I'd prefer you didn't, but you'd probably do so anyway, so feel free."

L snorted, pale eyes like lanterns behind his curtain of black bangs. Light felt his lips twist into an ugly sneer. Damn. Apparently, even his mask of geniality was beyond his reach, at the moment. Light twitched, his stomach tightening, as L and Green Eyes exchanged a telling look, sharing smiles that made them look like a pair of Cheshire Cats.

"Tell me, Light-kun," he fought, really he did, not to bare his teeth in anger at L's mocking tone, "what is Ms. Amane to you?"

"She's nothing." Green Eyes nodded, seeming to have expected the answer. L...well, he wasn't readable, at the best of times, but Light had a feeling he wasn't surprised by his answer, either.

"That's unusual, innit? I mean, she is your girlfriend, isn't she?" Green Eyes smiled at him, his expression mild. Light wasn't fooled for a moment, but was unable to stop his mouth from moving, regardless.

"No, she isn't."

"Who is she, Light-kun?" L's eyes were digging holes into his forehead, taking in every twitch, every bead of sweat.

"She is Misa Amane."

Green Eyes smiled, again, "who else is she, Light?"

Brown eyes gleamed, his brows furrowing as he fought hard...so very hard...not to answer. He knew...he knew if he answered, no manner of planning would save him...not from L, not from Rem, and not from his father's fury.

"Answer me, please, Light. What other name does Misa Amane answer to?"

It was no good. He couldn't..."K-Kira. She answers to Kira."

"Thank you, Light. That's very helpful."

L smiled, and this time Light couldn't suppress the urge to flinch. The man, his pale eyes light with genuine happiness, as if he'd given him the best damn birthday present ever, smiled even brighter. His stomach turned with revulsion. He may have killed people, but he wasn't the real monster. No. L, a grin of pleasure splitting his corpse-pale face, was the real monster.

"Just a few more questions, Light-kun, then we'll be done..."

He leaned forward, uncomfortably close, and Light nearly toppled backwards off his cot, trying to get away. "Are you Kira-kun, Light-kun?"

Light's breath caught in his chest for a beat, then another, as teeth dug ruthlessly into his tongue, trying to stop the words struggling to get out. Blood coated the inside of his mouth, and he gagged. With a rasping breath, the words spilled out. "Y-yes. Yes, I-I am K-Kira."

L's triumphant smile was quick and brief, flashing across pale lips almost too quick to be seen. Then, it was gone, and he was out the door. Light blinked in astonishment. Green Eyes' gaze followed the man til he was out of sight, before meeting his. His smile, though not as unnerving as L's, was by no means kind or pleasant.

"Thank you, Light, for your cooperation. We'll continue our chat, soon..."

A tear dripped past his lid, unchecked, as the man strolled from the room, slamming the door behind him. Light tried to sneer in contempt, tried deny that this conversation meant anything. He'd been drugged, afterall...interrogated under duress. It wouldn't stick...it couldn't...

His sneer faltered, his dark eyes locking on the camera overhead, the camera that had quietly broadcasted every second, every word, for all the Task force to see...

...and he knew, without having to ask, that L and his creepy little ally had made sure that the Task force—his father, in his own cell—had watched every second of that interview.

L was Justice, but there would be none for him, for the new God of this rotten world.

L...had won.

[end]