Matt POV

I nearly lost my game when the piercing silence invaded our room. It appeared as though Mello had suddenly decided to cease his outraged rampage. I glanced over to find him perched on his bed, completely engrossed in a chocolate bar. I noted the time- 10:52 AM. Sounded about right. Mello's anger was kindled so often by mentions of his femininity, that he usually stopped fuming over such a matter after about a half hour. Still, it was always startling when he snapped into his eerily calm post-meltdown state. I was interrupted from my musings by Mello's uncharacteristically quiet voice,

"Matt?" he murmured.

"Hmmmm?" I was still very much focused on my game.

"I have a question."

"Well, what is it?" An awkward silence ensued. The sounds of feverish clicking on my PSP only made it more uncomfortable. "Mello?"

"Um... never mind."

I sighed. "Just tell me."

"No."

After a brief silence, curiosity got the better of me and I switched off my PSP. I looked up to meet his eyes, only to find him examining his chocolate- not eating it, examining it. Something was definitely up. "C'mon Mello! You can tell me." Silence. "I tell you everything." silence. "Mels I-"

"Do I really look like a girl?" He blurted. I stared at him blankly. Did he really just-. Wow. Was he joking? No, his expression was dead serious, grave even. Mello- Mello was insecure. I tried to hold back my laughter and failed miserably.

"Hey!" He shouted. He was trying to sound threatening, but I could hear the pain that colored his tones. I stifled my laughter.

"I'm-" breath... okay. "I'm sorry, Mels. I shouldn't have laughed."

"Damn straight." Mello flopped onto his bed and faced the wall.

"It's just that you always seem so confident about your appearance. And you all but spit fire when someone tries to put down your style! ...Mello?" I crossed the room and knelt by Mello's bed. "So... we good? Why are you still upset?"

"You never answered my question," he grumbled.

Oh god. "Um... well... you have some feminine qualities. I mean, your hairstyle is kinda close to a girls and your clothes are kinda tight... but it suits you." Mello stiffened. "Uh... but... I mean you can tell you're a boy!"

"Yah right... stop trying Matt."

"No really! I mean you can just see it in your face! It's structured like a male! Like your broad jawline. And I mean, you may be kinda slender, but your body is definitely not girly. Your chest and shoulders look so broad and- and strong. And your muscles! I mean you're so toned! On a girl it would look really creepy but you look so-" Oh wait. Shut up, Matt! Did I really just say all that out loud? Mello sat up and faced me. His cool blue eyes were glowing and he was smirking, all signs of sulking dissipated.

"I look so what, Matt?"

Hot! Smokin'! Sexy! Bangable!

I imagine that my face at this point was nearly as red as my hair. I gulped, "Uh... manly?"

Mello sprung off the bed. "Psh, you know you want to say I'm damn sexy," he said with a playful smile.

YES!

I laughed nervously, "You wish!"

"C'mon, lets go to lunch!" He grabbed my hand and led me out of the room.

Light POV

"Ryuuzaki, I want a shower."

"Kira-kun can't always get what he wants."

"Ryuuzaki! I'm not Kira!"

"Calling me by my alias is futile, as I am known here as L. Please refer to me as L, Kira-kun."

I rolled my eyes. "Alright L, I am not Kira, and I need a shower."

"I believe you partook in the activity of bathing just the other day."

"That was the other day! I feel filthy and disgusting! I went on an eight-hour plane trip to a foreign country, skipped sleep due to jet lag and your weird sleeping habits, and got punched in the face! I need a shower!"

The man I was chained to swiveled around in the office chair he was perched on to face me. His head cocked slightly to the right as he brought his hand to my face. His spidery fingers gently caressed my swollen cheek. "Does it hurt?" I was shocked. L truly seemed concerned for my well being. What a strange man. So quick to alter his flying accusations into words of genuine kindness. The cool fingers hesitated, uncertain. I had yet to give a response.

"Uh... uh, no. It's not that bad." I lied. There was no way I was going to admit that a little girly boy had hurt me. L frowned. It was apparent that he possessed some uncanny ability to see through my impeccable acting abilities. I plastered on a reassuring smile. His eyes were clouded with doubt and narrowed minutely. He applied slight pressure on my cheek and I winced involuntarily. Crap. I glared at the floor in chagrin, my bangs flopping over my eyes. Even worse than the shame from being caught in a moment of weakness was the dread of L's reaction. Would he use my lies to accuse me of being Kira? Or worse, would he make a valid, yet degrading comment that further injured my wounded pride? I peered at the stoic man through my bangs, struggling to contrive suitable comebacks in my mind. To my surprise, his accusatory gaze softened and a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Hand now cupping my puffy face, he said, "You may take a shower, Light-kun."

I was dumbfounded. Perhaps L had decreed it unnecessary to point out my growing inferiority, as my behavior indicated that I was aware of my failings. However, I couldn't fathom why he had given in to my demands when he was clearly in a position of power. L released my face and sprung from his office chair before leading me towards the bathroom. I was still too absorbed in my analytical observations of L's mood swings to mind the I was being dragged like a puppy on a leash.

L unclamped my handcuff, "Please undress, Light-kun."

I was eternally grateful that L had already turned his back to me, as I felt a warm blush creeping up my face. Did he really have to phrase it that way? Hadn't I experienced enough embarrassment for one day? I violently tore off my clothes before stepping gingerly into the shower and tugging the curtain shut. I sighed in relief, grateful to be free of the scrutinizing eyes of the sugar-addict.

The interior of the shower was uniformly white without blemish. I smiled in gratitude. It was so perfect, so pure, so orderly. Being in such an environment made me feel perfect.

I turned the knob, wincing slightly as the warm water cascaded over my tender cheek. I raised my hand to the injury and grimaced. How could such a slender boy have such a powerful right hook? He must be well practiced. I sniggered. I wondered how many other times he felt compelled to attack someone due to gender confusion. I managed to take a relatively short shower, compelled by the gratitude I felt towards L- both for the work time he gave up for my comfort and for his nonjudgmental attitude. Since when had L become so compassionate?

Once fully clothed, I exited the shower with confidence, all signs of my previous distress had dissipated. I glanced at the mirror, flicked my dampened hair, and gave an award winning smile. My perfection had been restored.

When I turned to face L, his eyes immediately flitted to the side. Was he purposefully hiding his gaze? "Ryuu- L? Are you alright?"

"Why of course Light-kun," he mumbled. "Now that you are fully bathed, I shall commence my research. If you would like to assist me, you may use my laptop." I caught a glimpse of his face before he spun around and headed for the computer. It appeared to have a coloring that was slightly pinker than usual. I furrowed my brow. He really should relax. The stress from the Kira case must be taking a toll on the frail detective. I hope he isn't sick.

We approached the mahogany desk in the corner of our room, and I clicked open L's laptop. We worked in a relative silence, only interrupted by the ever-present clacking of keyboard keys. The investigation was at a relative standstill. Neither our research nor that of the Task Force in Japan had produced any solid leads. Bored, I glanced at L out of the corner of my eye. Despite the change in environment, his appearance was indistinguishable from his working style back in Japan. His wide, pitch eyes were glued to the computer screen, his fingers flew in a continuous rapid motion over the keyboard, only broken to guide another morsel of cake into his waiting mouth. Where had he gotten cake? It appeared to have materialized out of thin air. Although, knowing L, I wouldn't be overly surprised to find that he had the ability to will a piece of cake into existence.

I frowned at the image of normalcy- well normalcy for L anyway. I had thought that since our arrival, L had let down some of his walls, allowed me to see that there was something there in the deep abyss of his obsidian eyes. L had become so... human. When he first stepped foot on the orphanage grounds, when he showed he had a place in his heart for children, when he deviated from his usual blunt style of conversation and interogation to accommodate my feelings... he seemed so real, so different from the untouchable dark angel protecting the world like some superhero. More than that, it had seemed like he cared for me. I felt a sudden craving for his attention.

Notice me. Please, just snap out of your work induced coma. Lose that distant, saddened look in your eyes and come back. Go back to the L with the child-like glow, the L who loves children, the L who could love me...

"Light-kun is there is plausible reason for your disconcerting stare?"

Awkward... "Uh... no... I just-"

Ring! Ring!

L picked up the ringing phone on the desk. "Hello?...Yes...Yes, that would be lovely... I will be there momentarily," L hung up the phone and turned to face me. "The boys have arrived in the kitchen for midday nourishment and wished to share the experience with me. We shall proceed."

I saved my work, relieved to be free of L's uncomfortable questioning.