A/N: Meh, this was originally supposed to be a semi-serious chapter. But every time Light and L have a face-off, L turns into mush. Yay for mind-controlled romance. XD But I guess some more serious stuff will come out in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own and L plushie…which I hug to death and squeal fangirlishly over. Thank god it's not the real L or I would have squished him long ago.
L didn't understand who or what the Invisible Force was, but if he heard correctly, they had been responsible for the deaths of his parents. Watching his mother and father descend into madness had been terrifying. He remembered countless nights as a child waking to his mother's screams, his father's cursing and the realization that they were moving again. He couldn't remember a single happy moment from his childhood and it was all the work of this mysterious Invisible Force. He didn't know what they had done to his parents, but somehow they had driven them insane.
L wanted to ask Light more about the Invisible Force, but somehow just mentioning them made Light jumpy. L supposed it was possible that they were nearby, listening to every word. Just because he could see Near didn't mean he could see other supernatural creatures. Maybe they were even invisible to Light. It was a scary thought. It was hard to fight against an unseen enemy.
For the remainder of the week, Light was unusually quiet. He showed up to all of his classes and walked L both to and from school, but his mind was obviously elsewhere. Misa and Matsuda had vanished and without their cheery presence, the lunch table was rather tense. Mikami glowered at L, blaming him for making Light so upset. L really wished he hadn't brought up the subject.
L didn't see Light over the weekend, but he had plenty of time to think about what he had done. An ancient vampire like Light didn't have much to fear. If Light was uneasy, L knew he should be terrified.
By Monday, Light seemed calmer. He took L's hand when they walked to school, but it was more out of affection than fear of losing him. L tolerated Light's arm slung casually over his shoulder while they ate lunch and the way Light liked to run his fingers through L's hair. It felt good to be liked, even if Light wasn't exactly human.
By Friday, Light was back to his old self, even though Misa and Matsuda had not returned. Light didn't seem to notice their absence. He spent most of lunch flirting with L and antagonizing Mikami. Yes, things were definitely back to normal.
"You should come camping with me over the weekend," Light suggested, taking L's hand and threading his fingers around L's. "I know you want to spend some time alone with me now that I'm officially gay." He flashed L a quick smile. "Since news came out, I've been besieged by fangirls. But I think we should go somewhere alone. We need to start actually going out."
L sighed. "I am not agreeing to date you," he said stiffly. "I allow your affections, but I'm not about to-"
"Would you just go out with him already?" Mikami growled. He glared at L. "You two are always draped around each other. Don't give me that crap about not wanting to date him."
Light's amber eyes sparkled with amusement. "Easy, Mikami. Maybe L doesn't like commitment. He probably would just prefer it if we were make-out partners. Right, L?"
L scowled at Light, but his expression soon softened as Light turned the full power of his charm upon L. A dazed smile stretched across L's face as he gazed at Light adoringly.
"That's it," Light purred. "Look into my eyes and fall deeper under my power. Submit to your own desires."
"Disgusting," Mikami muttered. He looked pointedly away.
L slumped into Light's arms, unable to tear his gaze away from Light's beautiful face. He felt as though he could stare into Light's eyes forever.
Light grinned. "Kiss me, my love."
Surprisingly, L complied. It was a soft, chaste kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. L wrapped a slender arm around Light's neck and pulled him in closer, pressing another soft kiss against Light's lips.
Light smiled. It was cute. L obviously had very little experience with kissing, but he was trying. Not bad, but Light wanted control back. L willingly ceded control as Light deepened the kiss. He obligingly parted his lips and let Light slip his tongue between L's teeth. L's glazed eyes slowly slid shut as he relaxed into it, the arm around Light's neck the only thing holding him upright.
When they finally broke apart, a few girls at a nearby table whistled approvingly. Light flashed them a bright smile. L flushed in embarrassment and ducked his head.
"That wasn't fair," L hissed, this time refusing to look Light in the eyes. "You're abusing your power."
Light shrugged. "It's not my fault that you're susceptible." He smiled. "I think it's cute how easily you give in."
"I hope you didn't try that when I was a child," L said crossly.
"You still don't remember, do you?" Light asked softly.
L shook his head. "All I can remember from my childhood is terror. You would think I would remember you, as you seem to have been my only friend and the only good part about my childhood, but I don't."
Light looked pained. "You were so shy as a little kid. You rarely looked anyone in the eyes. I think I only managed to entrance you once. Perhaps if I had actively sought to charm you, I might have left a lasting impression on you that could have tided you through the terror that was to come. Instead, I have to start all over to gain your trust and friendship."
L put a hand on Light's shoulder. "I think I would trust you more if you weren't using your charm. I don't know how I feel about you and you only confuse matters when you force me into romance."
"Bullshit," Mikami muttered.
Light smirked. "Mikami's just jealous. He'd love to go out with me and he can't see why you would ever turn me down."
Mikami squinted at L. "You must be blind," he concluded. "How can you not find Light attractive?"
L sighed. "I concede that Light is attractive. However, I am not sure dating is best. We see each other almost constantly and we need some time apart. After all, Light, you friends are already jealous that you spend so much time with me."
Light snorted and rolled his eyes. "Mikami will be jealous no matter what you do. Everyone else understands so don't worry about it."
L squeezed his eyes shut. It was going to be hard to make Light understand. "I acknowledge that you have feelings for me and I admit that I don't mind these brief touches. But I'm rather uncomfortable with all the-"
Light cut him off. "I know you're shy. It'll take you a little time to get comfortable with me, but when you do, we'll be inseparable." He smiled softly and stoked L's cheek. "I can't make you trust me. You have to decide for yourself. I'll wait however long it takes for you to come to love me."
The pain and longing in Light's voice almost broke L's heart. He knew Light loved him far deeper than he could ever fathom. He didn't understand why, but love didn't always make sense. It just seemed completely unfair to Light that he wasn't able to return his passion. Light was certainly attractive, but he only felt a surface-level attraction for him. L was not a very trusting or affectionate person. It took all of Light's charm to get a simple kiss from him and that was not how a relationship should be.
"Don't look so upset," Light chided. "I don't want you crying over me." He held L tightly. "I just want you to be happy and if my attentions make you suffer, I will gladly give you up. Suffering a life without you is worth it if you are happy."
Mikami made an irritated noise in the back of his throat. "I'm going to find Misa and Matsuda," he announced. "Come and get me when you two stop angsting. It makes me sick." He rose from the lunch table and disappeared into the crowd.
"Perhaps you would be better off with Mikami," L said quietly. "You love me more than a mortal like me could comprehend. Mikami could at least return the depths of your feelings."
Light shook his head. "No, it's not the same. New vampires are attached to the ones that turned them. Mikami's feelings will fade once he becomes a full vampire." Light waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, I can't easily shift my feelings. This depth of love is rare for our kind, but those of us who feel it cannot possibly hope to love another." He gazed off into the distance. "I won't be able to love another with this same intensity and I can't even return to the shallow depth of emotion I felt for Noru. No, you are the only one I could ever love. I could force myself to take another mate, but I wouldn't be able to love them. If I lived another thousand years, I could not forget you."
"Stop," L growled. He struggled out of Light's arms and pushed him away. "I'm not about to be guilted into anything."
Light sighed and the golden eyes slid shut. "I'm not forcing you into anything," he murmured. "I can't. I can only magnify what you already feel and lower your inhibitions."
"I'm not talking about your eyes." L let out an aggravated sigh. "I don't like all this talk of you suffering. I suppose you feel it will make me want to go out with you to end your suffering, but all it tells me is that I cannot return such intense feelings and it would not be fair to you to be yoked into such an uneven relationship."
"You're a mortal. I can't expect you to feel the same intensity I do. I don't think I'd want you to feel the same. I wouldn't want you to suffer as I have." He smiled a crooked smile. "But I know you feel something. That's all I need from you. Come with me this weekend. Without the distractions of school and our group, you may realize that your feelings run deeper than you thought."
L rolled his eyes. "One weekend with you will not change my feelings."
"Then you should have no objections to coming with me," Light said cheerfully. "If you're right, you have nothing to lose." He patted L's shoulder. "Go home and grab some stuff. I'll pick you up tonight and take you out into the mountains. It'll be fun."
L sighed and nodded reluctantly. He was not looking forward to driving anywhere with Light. A vampire like Light could handle such high speeds, but passing out was not enjoyable at all.
"We're not going very far," Light assured. "Not to the cave this time. We're staying in the area. I have to keep close in case the guys need me."
"Misa and Matsuda?"
Light nodded. His eyes flicked over to Mello's table. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "They're going to have a try at breaking into their secret headquarters." He smirked. "They should be fine. Those idiots don't have much security."
L nodded slowly. He understood now. If something went wrong, Light wanted him out of the way. Mello would certainly be angry and would go on a rampage. If Light and L were safely off in the mountains, Mello wouldn't be able to hurt them.
"Are you sure they'll be okay?" L whispered. "What if they're caught?"
"Mikami will look out for them," Light assured him. "Besides, they're scared to death of Misa. They're certain she'll put a hex on them." He smiled. "They don't know that she's harmless unless they antagonize her. So, they should be fine." He touched the tip of L's nose. "It's you I'm worried about. You're a fragile little mortal. So, will you join me for the weekend?"
"I suppose so," L said quietly. "I have nothing to lose."