AN: I had a three-hour break because there were no lab experiments to be done
AN: I had a three-hour break because there were no lab experiments to be done. (Yes, my field of study doesn't dwell too much on fiction. So that would probably explain my unpolished skills in writing stories. : ) But I will certainly do my best to improve my writing so as to meet your expectations.) Anyway, since I had a long break, I decided to write the new chapter. I wanna thank everyone for loving the fic. Honestly, I haven't expected anyone to actually read my work and I am really grateful for your reviews. Even more so for adding my story to your favorite list. Really guys, I am grateful. I hope you don't get tired of reading. Well, I just have to do my best to captivate you more, right? :)
Disclaimer: I do not own DeathNote or any of its character. If I own it, why the hell would I write a fan fiction about it? Wouldn't be changing the original plotline be better?
By the way, this is not the third Avaritia chapter. The third Avaritia chapter would be up in a few days. You can say it's a filler chapter. If such a thing exists. :)
Filler Chapter: Formositas
"Light-kun. Do you think I'm unattractive?" L asked, his obsidian orbs staring intently at Light's chocolate ones. Light stopped typing and faced L.
"What?" He asked, trying to embed in his mind the meaning of the words. But he just can't. There was no way that this man, this extremely intelligent being who is in par with him when it comes to brains, was talking about looks. Well, he certainly has regards about aesthetics but never did he imagine that this strange man before him would even start to have.
"I was asking you, Light-kun, if you find me unattractive." L said, a hint of irritation in his voice. Light inwardly smiled. The man seemed uncomfortable with the conversation yet Light knew he should answer the question unless he would like to be pestered all day.
"You must have your issues. Well, I guess you're not ugly." Light said, earning a dark look from L.
"I believed I used the word unattractive, Light-kun." L retorted, his face grim. Light laughed, loud enough to earn questioning looks from the other members of the investigation team. L grimaced more and Light had to use his hand to stifle the laughter. Really, the man could be cute and funny sometimes. He almost hated himself for admitting that but the retort was so hilarious that he didn't want to destroy his mood. L frowned at him, impatiently waiting for him to stop his chuckling.
"You are quite such a person." Light said, smiling. "I never thought the little difference in words would matter to you." L's irritation faded slowly and Light wondered if it has something to do with his smile. He smirked inwardly. He's such an arrogant bastard, and he doesn't hate himself for that.
"Light-kun, there is a big difference in emotional impact when you use the two words." L said, making Light chuckle again.
"Emotional impact? Ah, yes. I guess unattractive has less negative impact on the one being referred to." Light said, his eyes taunting. L just remained passive. "Well, if this makes you any feel better, I think you're not unattractive."
L finally smiled.
"Light-kun just gave me the best compliment I have ever received." L said, making Light roll his eyes.
"L, I only told you that you weren't unattractive. But I never said that you're… pretty. In what part does it sound like a compliment?" Light said, pointedly.
L smiled.
"But when it comes from you, Light-kun, it already is a compliment." L replied, and Light snorted in return. The man certainly interprets things for his convenience. Light sighed.
"Whatever." To which L childishly chuckled. Light had to feign his surprise at the cute sound L emitted. Wait. Light blinked. No, no, no. There were probably lapses in my brain's processes today. He decided to change the topic so as to regain his perfect rationale. "Why did you suddenly asked me about your appearance?" He asked, praying silently that L didn't notice the few seconds he spent on evaluating his previous thoughts.
L did not reply. He just stared at Light, conveying silently the thoughts on his head.
Light's eyes widened in realization. He smirked at the man, to which L frowned in irritation.
"Misa said something to you. About your appearance." Light said more of a statement than a question. He smirked at L, and the older man narrowed his eyes at the brunette.
"Perfect, Light-kun. As expected, you certainly seem to have read my mind." L said, sardonically, making Light's smirk widen. Light resisted the urge to chuckle. He never expected the man to actually think about what others say about his appearance. Well, not that he actually expected the man to be that emotionless. L was still human, after all.
"I never thought you'd be that concerned over what people think about your looks." Light remarked, and L just raised an eyebrow.
"Who said I was?" L asked, and Light rolled his eyes.
"Then, why the hell are you suddenly asking me about this after your encounter with Misa yesterday?" Light asked in a curious tone. It was really hard to assume what the man was thinking, simply because they somehow think alike and different at the same time.
"Because after she pointed out that I am unattractive, I suddenly had to evaluate my appearance." L said, while biting his thumb. Light wrinkled his forehead in confusion.
"Okay? The question, L, was, why would you do that?"
L looked at him in a strange way before finally answering.
"Because it struck me that I might not be the perfect one for you because of my looks. You might be too gorgeous for me." L replied, not taking his gaze away from Light. Light just sat there, too shocked to speak.
L was stressing himself for that? He can't believe it. He just can't believe it. He shook his head and stared hard at L.
"You're really brilliant, you know? Using self-pity to woo me. Stop this game, L. I won't fall for this."
L pouted in a childish way that made Light's heart almost melt. Almost.
"I was not self-pitying, Light-kun. I was just merely contemplating on how low the probability is of making you fall in love with me because of my… unattractiveness." L replied, and Light felt he needed to sleep. This was perfectly illogical. And the man in front of him was never illogical.
"You… You're really that crazy over me? " L said nothing, "I mean that crazy?" L still said nothing and Light felt his heart tumble in a strange feeling of… elation? He was greatly flattered, after all! This was not just some dumbass! This was L! The great L! L must have sensed his mental frenzy and gave out a low chuckle.
"Light-kun is also attractive when he's in a state of shock and confusion." L said, chuckling. Light closed his eyes to regain his composure.
"You just told me, without actually saying anything, that you are crazy over me. I knew you were really attracted to me. But to be this attracted to me? How do you expect me to take that?"
"Well, just take it easy." To which Light grunted in disbelief. Light stared at the obsidian eyes, trying to find some proof that this was all a joke. When he found none, he sighed.
"You are a proud man, L. You don't let others push you around; even more so, change you. You never let others' views distort your own. We are alike in many ways. Our minds think in the same manner. And we both have our pride. We don't succumb to others. Even more so, be crazy over them. My pride is still intact, L." Light said, then meeting the older man's gaze, he added, "Where the hell did yours run off to?"
Silence.
Light impatiently tapped his fingers on the desk, silently urging L to answer.
L placed his hand on his knees that were drawn up to his chest due to his habitual sitting position. He focused his eyes on the floor but still said nothing.
After a few moments of added silence, with only Light's impatient tapping on the desk, L finally looked up and Light stared in anticipation.
"My pride is still intact, Light-kun. However…"
Light raised an eyebrow.
"I am willing to discard it if that means Light-kun would take me seriously."
L then turned to his laptop to continue his work.
Light just sat there, frozen in his spot. He was not expecting the answer. Yet, the statement tugged at his heart causing it to experience a different kind of pain. The man was this serious? He had never heard something like that from someone. Sure, there were lots of ladies who clutter around him asking him to be their boyfriend, or fiancée or husband or the father of their child. But no one, no one, had ever told him that they would discard their pride for him. Pride was something Light just couldn't discard. And he sure was… touched… when L said those words to him. It was so touching that it made his heart ache in a strange way. He closed his eyes and sighed.
This was bad.
This time, his heart had completely melted. And he knew that no matter how brilliant he is, there was nothing he could do.
"You know, L…" Light started. He saw L stop typing but the man didn't look at him. "You are… attractive… in your own ways."
L turned to look at him. The man was smiling. Light wondered whether it was a good thing to say. But with L's obviously elated face, he thought that probably, it was the best. Or the worst.
He decided to choose the latter.
AN: Hmm, I hope I didn't make it too mushy. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. By the way, Formositas means beauty. Or so I think. Correct me if I'm wrong.