L stood in the shower as the hot water poured over him. "I'm trapped here until tomorrow morning when I can get back… This is my fault, I knew I shouldn't have left if I was there… Maybe…" He was startled out of his thoughts with a gentle knock on the door.
"L? Sweetie? Light and I prepared where you'll sleep and I'll leave some clean clothes for you to wear for tonight right here on the counter. Take your time, we understand." Sachiko said, L could hear her smile in her words.
"Thank you, Mrs. Yagami." L responded almost lifelessly.
"Your welcome, Watari tells me you're a fan of sweets, I've prepared some things for you, Goodnight, L." She said gently closing the door behind her.
L painfully smiled, "That old fool…"
The door to Light's room creaked open as a pair of owl eyes peered around into his room. Light looked up from folding his clean clothes, "Feel any better?"
L quietly stepped into Light's room, "Faintly… Remind me to do something nice for your mom. She's a wonderful woman. Your dad picked a winner… I hope I can get as lucky as him one day… Assuming I live to see that day."
Light gave a soft smile, "You will. I'll make sure of it." Light sat down in his computer chair and tilted an open hand to his bed, "You'll stay in my bed tonight, we figured it would be better than the alternative to sleeping on the floor… Especially after what you've seen tonight."
L spoke softly, "I couldn't, that's your—"
"You're the guest and I insist." Light said folding his arms smiling at L.
L sat down on the bed slightly defeated, "How can I repay you and your family?"
"Don't. If I was in need of help I would hope my friend would help me, too." Light said as he was shutting down his computer.
L went to bite his thumb but instead just ran his fingers over the previous bite mark. "Light, I haven't been completely honest with you…"
Light turned around and got out of his chair and sat next to L, "I understand. I do. It doesn't go without reasons. L, I don't want you to tell me anything until you're ready… Don't force something that isn't ready to be said." Light pulled back the covers, "I know you won't, but try to sleep… Or at least roll over so that if mom checks on us you at least look asleep… I'm going to go take a shower."
L hugged Light tightly, "I'm sorry. I'll say that much. This is usually why I don't keep friends… You aren't the first I've ever had… Ever. I had friends at the home where I grew up. I just could never keep them."
Light gently patted his back, "I know. It's okay." Light parted with L's hug, "Try? Try to sleep, for mom?"
L nodded and laid down staring out the window at the night skyline of the city. "I've never had a problem telling people why I'm around them… Why is this so hard… Could it be, I value him?" L curled tightly into a ball that closely resembled his haunched position, he took a deep breath and slowly released closing his eyes and pretended to sleep when Sachiko checked on him.
Light kissed his mother's cheek, "Goodnight, Mom." Light came into the room quietly and laid in the makeshift bed on the floor staring at the ceiling. He listened to the sounds of his home and the shallow breaths of L. He smiled to himself and thought, "It takes it out of him… He must have been exhausted."
L started stirring about a half hour after Light laid down, "No…"
Light propped himself up on one elbow, "Oh no… He's a sleep talker."
"No, Kira… Please. No. Mom!" L started to toss in his sleep. Light stood up a little more concerned. "Please don't go…" Light sat next to him on the bed wearing a concerned look. L tossed and turned more groaning incoherent sentences. Light placed his hand on L's shoulder. "I'm sorry, please don't go…" Light's expression softened. "Light…"
"Me?" Light looked up and watched L to see if he was awake. "L?" He gently shook his shoulder, "Hey, you're having a nightmare… Wake up."
L startled and made direct eye contact with Light. "I—" L cut his own sentence off and threw his arms around Light. "Please don't hate me. I like you, I don't want to lose your friendship. But the truth is."
L was silenced by Light's finger, "We'll talk about it tomorrow." Light started laying L back down and as he got up to leave L grabbed his arm. Light looked around suspiciously at him then laid next to him. "Look, I don't know what happened in the past, but… Sometimes it's hard to let go…"
L took a deep breath, "Just stay, I'm sorry I woke you."
Light smiled, "I wasn't asleep." Light started humming the song he normally sings to Sayu when she's anxious or nervous about something.
L felt his eyes grow heavy and he clung to Light's arm. "I probably seem pretty pathetic right now."
Light never stopped humming as he smoothed out some of L's hair.
L yawned and cuddled against Light, "I'll be there for you, like you're here for me." L closed his eyes and began drifting to sleep listening to Light hum.