A/N: I'm starting to really get back into this thing...I don't know why I abandoned it in the first place. XD It's so much fun to write. As you guys can see, I'm trying to update every 3 days or so, but I wrote his one immediately after posting chapter 15 and I've been itching to upload it again. XD The chapters are getting longer again as I'm figuring out where I was going with things. Yay for lil L!
Disclaimer: I'd really like to own L…especially little L…I do own a chibi L drawing my sister did for me and a stuffed L that I hug and squee over.
Since Mello and Matt had rudely interrupted their lunch to interview Light about some silly rumor that he was a terrorist, L didn't get to find out what Light had been about to tell him. On the way to their next class, L complained bitterly about the interruption.
"A terrorist attack? They thought it was really necessary to interview you about some supposed threatening notes found in people's lockers and call it terrorism?" L sighed heavily. "If these are the kinds of stories they write, it's a wonder their journalistic license does not get revoked."
Light smirked. "The school paper is pretty much a joke. Mello likes to cultivate an image of insanity. After all, he talks to his imaginary friend, Near, doesn't he? Nobody expects sane, reasonable articles from him."
"All the same, I wish he wouldn't interrupt our lunch for his silly articles."
Light's smile widened. "Aw, L, you wanted to spend more quality time with me, didn't you?" he teased. He slung an arm around L's shoulder. "Well then, we'll just have to go someplace after school just the two of us."
L squirmed out from under Light's arm, his face flushed. "That's not what I meant," he hissed. "I don't want to be alone with you."
Light shook his head with a small smile. "Just admit it, L. You think I'm hot." His lips curved into a wicked grin. "You think-"
L shoved him backwards. "You don't know what I think," he growled.
"You're blushing," Light countered. "Don't try and hide it."
L scowled at him. "You're infuriating."
Light leaned in close to whisper in L's ear. "Keep it up, L. We're giving those two idiots plenty to write about."
L stiffened suddenly. So, they had been followed. Luckily Light had noticed and had deliberately misinterpreted L's complaint. L met Light's eyes.
Light nodded slowly and put his arm back around L's shoulder. "Come on, L," He said softly. "Let's head to class."
Once they were safely inside the chemistry class, L let out a sigh of relief. No more Mello. "He's awfully persistent," L murmured. "So I suppose he keeps barging into our lunch in the hopes that we'll say something incriminating."
Light nodded. "Exactly. That's why he had Matt follow us. Matt's a lot more discreet, but even he's not discreet enough." He forced a smile. "I've had years of practice outrunning hunters."
"Well, I'm glad you're looking out for the both of us," L murmured. "I would have said something to get you killed."
"Of course not," Light said soothingly. "I wouldn't let you say anything wrong. I knew as soon as I started flirting with you that you'd immediately lose track of whatever you were going to say. We were never in any real danger."
L frowned. "And what if I had started to say something before you could steer the conversation away?"
"I would have kissed you," Light said confidently. "Just to shut you up. And you would have liked it. You liked the last one."
L frowned. "That's before I knew you were a vampire. How on earth do you expect me to date someone who is nearly a thousand years older than me? There should be a law against these kinds of things."
Light's laugh was as irresistibly charming as he was. L couldn't help smiling, even though he knew Light was laughing at him. "You're too cute, L," Light murmured. "I need someone like you. You're a little spot of sunshine in this long, dreary life." He patted L's shoulder. "Now, we should get to work on our chemistry experiment. We'll talk later."
"You've promised that twice already," L growled.
"And I'll keep my promises," Light assured him. "I'll tell you more tomorrow"
The next day, the headline of the school paper announced that Light was a gay terrorist. Light barely glanced at it over lunch. He just shook his head. "Honestly", he murmured. "I think one day they expect to find real proof that I'm a vampire and publish some scathing screed about vampires, but no one will believe them if they publish dreck like this." He tossed the paper away.
Misa snatched up the paper and giggled. "Aw, Misa thinks Light and L make a great couple. See?" she held up the paper, pointing at the picture with Light's arm around L's shoulder.
L sighed and dropped his chin down onto the table. "What wonderful havoc I have wreaked."
Light's amber eyes twinkled with mischief. "Actually, that's a good thing. Now I can finally stop pretending to be the clean-cut student council guy. If they say I'm gay, I might as well act like it." He grabbed L's wrists and pulled him closer.
L turned bright red and he struggled against Light. "No, no. Remember what I told you yesterday? I don't want to date someone so much-"
Light silenced him with a kiss. His honeyed eyes gazed deeply into L's. L realized what was happening far too late. He was already hopelessly lost in the kiss.
Misa giggled madly. "Aw, Misa knew L and Light would be cute together. Can we put a picture of this in the paper too?"
Mikami scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. He had reluctantly accepted the fact that Light had chosen L over him, but that didn't mean he wanted to see them making out right in front of him.
When they finally pulled away, L's dark eyes were still clouded over with lust. His fingers gripped the front of Light's shirt in an effort to hold himself up. He looked confused and uncertain about what had just happened.
Light kissed L's forehead. "You're a beautiful enigma. Without all of the defensive barriers you set up, you'd submit to me so easily. There are just certain people who are easily susceptible to a vampire's gaze. You're one of those people. But with the situation with your parents, you've learned not to trust anyone and it's given you some immunity. But I'll get you to trust again." He stroked L's cheek. "Just trust me and let me look out for you." The golden eyes looked pleadingly at L. "Just trust me."
L slumped against Light weakly. "Mmn," he murmured. "Light."
Light wrapped his arms around L, one hand gently stoking his back. "You were so innocent as a child," he murmured. "You trusted me so completely. I want to go back to how that was."
L blinked slowly. "What happened to that?" he asked drowsily.
"I got caught," Light said quietly. "Noru recognized me. I should have known. But maybe I can explain things better through my actions." He nudged L in the side. "Are you ready?"
L shook himself. His eyes narrowed and he looked at Light with a puzzled expression. "What was that?"
Light smiled. "I'm testing the limits of my control over you. As you come to trust me more, I have more power over you." He put a hand to L's cheek. "As smart as you are, you're not smart enough to lock me out of your mind. And I hope you never learn to do that. It would make it hard to do what I'm about to do." He placed his hands on either side of L's head.
L understood. He allowed himself to relax and let Light project his memories into him
Light stood before a teenaged boy that could only be L's father. He had spiky, jet-black hair just like L, but he was significantly less pale. "Noru, listen to me," Light pleaded. "I love you. You're my best friend. We'll be perfect together."
"Get away from me," Noru growled. "In fact, get the hell out of this town. If you and your gypsy band ever set foot in this town again, I'll have the sheriff drive you out. Homosexuals have no place in a small town."
Light sighed sadly and turned away
The mists of Light's memories shifted. Briefly, L was treated to a scene of Light and a wasted brunette woman holed up in a cave. The woman complained about how stuffy the cave was and tottered out into the sunshine. Before Light could stop her, she was tumbling over the side of the cliff. Light easily jumped down beside her. He appraised her wounds and took her pulse. Dead. He bit down on her neck, drinking deeply of her blood. It tasted like alcohol and Cheetos. Yuck. Light gagged, disgusted by the taste, but unable to stop himself. He was hungry and the open wounds triggered his feeding instinctively.
Light headed to a small creek to wash off the blood. He stared in shock as the reflection of a small child greeted him. "Not again," he growled.
Mikami appeared over the ridge looking equally surprised to see a small Light. "Whoa, I thought you told me that the girl was a slut."
Light groaned and stared down at his tiny hands. "Apparently not. She talks a great game, but she was a virgin. Now what am I going to do?" It sounded so wrong in his squeaky child's voice.
Mikami shrugged. "It's been four years. Noru left almost as soon as you did. It's safe to come back as a child."
Light sighed. "Very well. Contact the authorities and let them 'find' me."
Light's memories shifted to another scene. L was preparing for kindergarten, a backpack slung over his back. His mother, a pale beautiful Frenchwoman was fussing over him. "Just let me finish the last page in my article and I'll walk you to school." Unbeknownst to her, Light was watching from a bush across the street. His chest constricted as he stared at L. Something about the small boy was entrancing.
Light appeared in the doorway. "I'll walk him to school," Light offered. "I'm in kindergarten too. I'm a school helper." He drew himself up proudly.
L's mother smiled at Light. "Well, my darling, do you want to walk to school with the school helper?"
L nodded slowly. He took the hand that Light held out to him and the two boys started walking down the street together.
Several vague memories flashed before L's eyes, of a week's worth of little Light and L becoming friends. Light walked L to school and back every day. They ate lunch together and they played in the park together. Shy little L was beginning to completely trust Light. He was smiling and enjoying Light's friendship. The vague ache in Light's chest seemed to ease when he was around L.
But one day, when Light was walking L back from school, Noru was home early and he stared at Light with wide eyes. "Y-you," he spluttered. "It can't be."
"My name is Light Yagami," Light said softly. "I'm a school helper."
"You're a demon is what you are," Noru growled. He pulled L close to him. "You stay away from my son!"
"But-" Light protested.
"No," Noru snapped. "If you're not going to leave this town, then I will."
Light watched helplessly as Noru grabbed his wife and child and stormed out of the house. It felt like a part of his heart had been ripped out. He missed L already.
L slowly opened his eyes as the intensity of the memory faded. "So, you did meet me as a child," he murmured.
Light nodded. "I thought I loved Noru, and maybe I did. But my love for you is far more powerful than any feelings I ever had for him." He rubbed a hand over his chest. "I love you so much it hurts."
"Yes, I know," L murmured. "You've felt that was since I was a child, it seems."
Light's anguished golden eyes swept L's face pleadingly. "Then you know why I couldn't let you go. You'd be safer if you moved out, but the thought of losing you again hurts so much." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I tried to follow you at first, after you left. But Noru and Lorelle moved so often to try and shake me. And I wasn't the only one who was following them."
"Who?" L demanded.
A look of fear passed over Light's face. "They're called the Invisible Force. They're everywhere, but you just can't see them." He buried his face in L's shirt. "Please let me protect you. I don't want to fail to protect you, like I failed to protect your parents."
L patted Light's back awkwardly. "Of course," he said quietly. "If it makes you happy."