Fear is The Enemy
by: .Cute
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Disclaimer: I am so sorry about no updating you guys! I've just been really busy lately and I've been having some really bad writer block. But I'm back now so let's get this show on the road! I do not own Death Note or anything else. ^_^ Enjoy!
LineLineLineLineLIne
'Could I really be in love with L?' Light sighed softly and rubbed his eyes, the glow from his computer getting to him. It had been nine hours since L and Light had returned from the hospital. It had been nine hours since L's last phobic attack. And it had been nine hours since Light discovered his newly found feelings for a certain detective. 'This is insane,' Light thought as he tried to work. 'I can't love L. I've got to focus on the case!' But he just couldn't focus on Kira right now, as if anyone could blame him.
He'd just spent the last nine hours trying to get a grip on his new sudden feelings for L, all the while trying to dig up information on a mass murder while the object of his affections was sitting just a few feet away from him and to top it all off, they were handcuffed together. Light sighed again, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the rest of the team. Ever since their little spat with L, the Team seemed to be extremely tensed and on edge. Aizawa and his father especially. Apparently, they were still sore about L lying to them. 'It's not that big of a deal,' Light thought. 'So he lied. Big deal. He had to. If anyone found out about L's phobias, they'd probably kick him off Kira case.' He turned his gaze away from the Team and onto L, who was currently eating another slice of cake.
L seemed to be fine now, though he was eating quite a lot of sugary products, a clear sign of his stress. Light wanted to tell him that if he ate too much sweets, he'd have another freak out like he did the other night but he didn't dare bring it up in front of the Investigation Team. So Light remained quite, deciding instead to focus his attention once again to his strange feelings. 'I know that I care for him at least as a friend, but that doesn't mean that I love him. Maybe this is just some kind of pity love due to L's phobias. Maybe I just feel bad for him and then afterwards, once his phobias are taken care of, this feeling will go away.' Light had to admit that that excuse sounded pretty lame, even to him and he'd thought it up.
But Light didn't want to love L, of that he was sure of. Or at least, partially sure of. He didn't know anymore. 'Gah! Why me?' Light closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair, almost as if the action would somehow clear his thoughts, letting out another sigh. "Ratio-kun, is everything alright?" Light's eyes snapped open and immediately turned to L, who was staring at him with his usual unemotional gaze. "You keep sighing." Light shook his head, trying to hide the small blush that had reached his face. "It's nothing Ryuzaki. I'm just tired, that's all." L nodded and kept his gaze firmly on Light's face. "I see. Well, if you're tired Raito-kun, maybe we should retire to our room. I certainly do not want you falling asleep at you're computer." Light cocked his head slightly to one side. L didn't normally tire out so quickly. "But Ryuzaki, it's only about eleven o' clock. We can't shut down this early."
Light noticed out of the corner of his eye that the Team was watching L, waiting for his response. L nodded again. "I understand your concern Raito-kun but I am afraid that I am also tired." L looked directly into Light's eyes as he spoke. "I am tired," his eyes seemed to say. "Because of all that's happened today." Light stared into L's onyx eyes for only a moment before he answered slowly, "Alright Ryuzaki." Matsuda suddenly rose from his chair. "W-Wait a minute Ryuzaki. We can't be closing up now. Light's right, it's too early." Aizawa rose from his chair too. "What's gotten into Ryuzaki? You're not acting like yourself. The Ryuzaki I know would keep working for as long as he possibly could. You need to tell us what's going on." Light glared at the man. L's body was tensing up again. His tone was becoming too harsh again.
"Listen Aizawa," Light growled, his voice suddenly becoming very dangerous. "I don't know you that well and I don't know how you work. But I do know that you're a human begin. We all are and that includes Ryuzaki." Light glared at the man. "Did it ever across your mind to think that maybe Ryuzaki is actually tired? That maybe his body's just physically tired?" The Investigation Team was staring at Light with wide eyes. L too was watching Light, a strange, unknown look gleaming in his eyes. Light went on. "I'm also human, Aizawa. My body gets tired even when my mind doesn't and vise versa. And even though we've spent only nine hours working, that's still enough time to wear some people down. I've had a long day, Ryuzaki has had a long day and I'm pretty sure you've had a long day too." Light stood up from his chair, the handcuffs between him and L rattling gently.
"Now, I'm going to bed because I'm tired. And if Ryuzaki is tried too, then he has the right to go to bed without his actions begin questioned." Light's glare intensified. "Does anyone have a problem with that?" No one spoke. Aizawa and the rest of the Team were too shocked by Light's outburst to say anything really. Light shrugged. "Fine." He then turned to L and, with a much softer tone, asked, "Ryuzaki, do you want to pack up for the night?" L stared up into Light's amber eyes for a long while before he answered softly, "Yes Raito-kun. I was speaking the truth when I said I was tired and I would very much like to go to bed." Light nodded. "Okay then."
L slowly broke away from Light's gaze and looked to his team. "You may all go home now. Thank you for another hard day's work." The Team didn't respond but Light didn't care. Let them just stand there and stare. A small pull on the handcuffs helped L stand from his own chair and silently, the two left the room. But not before Light scooped up the small package that Misa had given to Matsuda to give to L. It wasn't heavy, nor was it that big. But Light decided to wait until they were in their room to open it. L followed Light into the bedroom and he quietly shut the door behind him.
"Raito-kun?" Light turned to L. "Yeah?" L hesitated for a moment, looking down at the floor, before he spoke. "Thank you." Light smiled softly, his insides fluttering. L didn't need to explain why he was thankful, Light already knew. "No problem L." Light then turned his attention to the small bundle in his hand. "So Misa dropped this off today for you. Do you know what it is?" L shook his head and took it from Light's hands and opened it. "It's a book." Light raised his eyebrow. "A book?" "Yes. 'False Memory'." "Does it mean anything to you?" L opened the book and, flipping to a random page, read a few lines before closing it. "I'm afraid not Raito-kun. I do wonder why Amane-san would give me a book."
Light shrugged. "Got me but I would think too much about it if I were you." "Yes," L agreed, setting the book down on the nightstand next to the bed. "Though I would like you to call Amane-san first thing tomorrow and ask her about book, if it's not too much trouble." Light shook his head. "It's no trouble at all L. In fact, it's not too late yet. Want me to call her now? To be honest, I'm wondering about it too myself." Light pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and, as if on cue, the phone began to ring. It showed Misa's name on the caller ID. Light glanced at L before he answered. "Great timing Misa, I was just about to call you."
"Dustin Rhodes." "I'm listening." L frowned slightly as he watched Light's face go completely slack, void of any emotion. It was strange to see Light that way but L decided not to say anything. He didn't want to anger Light so he just watched. "It was nearly impossible for Dustin to hope when..." Light finished the activation code. "There wasn't anything to hope for." Aziz chuckled. "Good evening Light. I hope I surprised you with Misa's number. I stole her phone. Anyway, I'm guessing L is there with you so; let's have a little fun. I'd like you to repeat everything I say. Tell me if you understand." "I understand."
L's curiosity finally got the better of him and he slowly placed a hand on Light's shoulders. "Raito-kun, are you speaking to Amane-san? Ask her about the book." Aziz thought for a moment before he said, "Repeat this Light and when you say it, I want you to wear an expression of mild interest and annoyance: 'Misa, you gave L a book. Why?'. Tell him." L watched with a surprising amount of relief as Light's unemotional expression melted away to reveal his usual expression when he spoke to Misa. "Misa, you gave L a book. Why?" Aziz chuckled. "Well Light, since you want to know so badly, I'll tell you. The game needed a bit of spice, you know? And if by some chance, you figure me out, what could bring more spice to the game than the chances of begin caught? Repeat this Light: 'Oh. Well, that was nice of you Misa.'. And when you say it, give L a small smile."
Light turned his head and gave L a small smile. "Oh. Well, that was nice of you Misa." L, in turn, smiled softly back at Light, happy that he'd get an answer of why Misa suddenly decide to give him a book. "Now Light, I want you to hang up the phone but before you do, I have some instructions for you. Repeat this Light: 'I don't know Misa, it's pretty late.'. Say this with a frown on your face." Light frowned. "I don't know Misa, it's pretty late." L chuckled dryly. Apparently, Misa was asking for a date.
"Good job Light. As for my instructions, when you hang up the phone, you'll have no memory of our little conversation. You'll only remember talking to Misa Amane about the book. You will also remember her answer begin she just wanted to make peace with L by giving him something he might enjoy and the only thing she could think of was a book. You will tell L this after you hang up. And Light, I've waited a long time to have some fun with L so after you tell L Misa's reasoning for giving him the book, I'd like for you to activate him, you know the code, it's in your subconscious, and order his phobic attacks to increase in size. I want you to order him to become extremely depressed whenever one of his phobia's start to act up, almost to the point of suicide."
Aziz suddenly let out a small gasp, much like a child after opening a Christmas gift. "Oh! And I want him to become an alcoholic. That should be fun. Whenever thoughts of begin alone run through his mind, I want him to consume lots of alcohol. And I think that's it for now. Tell me if you understand Light." "I understand." Aziz nodded. "Good Puppet. After you give the instructions, you too will awake from the activated state. Goodbye Light." Light nodded as well. "Goodbye." And then he hung up. L looked up at him expecting eyes. "Raito-kun, what did Amane-san say?" Light looked at the detective and smiled softly. "She said that she just wanted to make peace with you by giving you something you might enjoy and the only thing she could think of was a book."
L frowned slightly. "Hm." He didn't believe that for a second. "Well Raito-kun, should we get ready for bed now?" Light continued to smile at L. "Martie Rhodes." L's body froze up. "I'm listening." His instructions were to activate L. "The worst lay ahead and Martie…" L's body relaxed greatly, almost to the point of him falling over. "Was unable to see the most of it." L was waiting for his instructions now. He would obey them without question. Light stared at the man. His instructions were clear, he had to obey them. "L, listen to me." "I'm listening."
Follow the instructions, follow the instructions. "When…" Light trailed off. Follow the instruction! Something inside Light, something pass even his subconscious, awoke then. It was something Light, in his activated state, couldn't understand. It was something unknown and it pushed painfully at his mind. "L," he started again. "When I snap my fingers, you…will…" It was pushed so hard at his brain and it hurt so much, his instincts as a human begin kicked in. He'd do anything to make that pain go away. "You will want to take a shower L. Tell me if you understand." L nodded. "I understand." "You will find that your phobic attacks haven't changed and you will take comfort in sweets like usual. Tell me if you understand."
L nodded again. "I understand." Light then slowly raised his fingers up and snapped. The two men blinked. Then L made a motion to the bathroom. "I think I will take a shower before bed Raito-kun." Light had to hold back a blush. Whenever one of them showered, the other had to stand behind the shower curtain and with his still shaky feelings growing, Light really didn't want to deal with that right now. But he knew that there would be no changing L's mind so with a mental sigh of defeat, Light shrugged. "Okay." As they started for the bathroom, Light felt something tugging at the back of his mind. He felt…guilty. As if he'd disobeyed someone. Light brushed away the feeling impatiently. Maybe he'd finally snapped. But as L began to undress, Light forgot completely about the guilty feeling and he turned away, blushing brightly. It was going to be a long night.
LineLineLineLineLine
A/N: Again, I'm really sorry guys about not updating. Please forgive me! (hands out cookies) But on a brighter side, I've got my inspiration back and I'm ready to write! ^_^ Also, look out for another little One-shot coming soon and Chapter Fifteen! See ya later!