A/N: Soon we'll be out of the fluffy romantic stuff and back to the dramatic plot again…but enjoy it while you can because in the next few chapters will come a scene in which you will all hate me. XD
Disclaimer: I'd love to own L and Light, but sadly I don't.
Giving in to Light had been surprisingly easy. Light had probably been right all along. L did have feelings for him, but he was just unwilling to admit them to himself. Curled up beside the fire, L allowed Light to hold him close and claim his mouth. It felt right, just being held in Light's arms.
In the dark cave, time didn't matter, but after several hours, the fire started to burn out. L felt himself grow drowsy as darkness descended completely. He fell asleep with his head resting in Light's lap.
Unusually, L had several vivid dreams. In one dream, he was strapped down to an operating table. It was cold and he was clad only in a flimsy hospital gown. He shivered as Light bent over him in bloodstained scrubs. "We just need to draw some blood," he purred, brandishing an enormous needle.
But in his next dream, he and Light were handcuffed together. Light quirked an eyebrow at L as he lifted one arm, rattling the chain between them. "Whose idea was this in the first place?" he said jokingly. "You wanted to keep an eye on me, you said. But…" Light eyed L suggestively. "I'm sure you wanted us chained together for a different reason." He placed his free hand on L's cheek and pulled them together into a-
L jerked himself awake. He glanced around. He had no idea if it was morning or not, but he was awake now. He felt sore for his sleep on the hard cave floor. He sighed. It was still completely dark. He couldn't see a thing. "Light?" he asked uncertainly. "Are you here?"
There was a rustle nearby and Light's face swam into view by the light of the match. "Right here, L."
L heaved a sigh. "Can we get out of this place now? I'm sure it has fulfilled its purpose."
The match was extinguished, followed by an audible pop as Light stretched cramped joints. "Alright. I'll get us out of here."
L patiently gazed at the spot where Light had been standing and was soon greeted by the sight of glowing red eyes. This time he was not concerned. Light could lead them out of the cave in the dark, guided by his vampiric night vision. He felt Light's hand grip his and he let Light lead him to the cave's exit.
The sunlight was almost blinding after a night of complete darkness. Light waited with L until his eyes recovered and then he beckoned for L to follow him back to the campsite they had set up earlier.
L sighed. "Back into the werewolf-infested forest?"
Light smiled and pushed a stand of chestnut hair out of his eyes. "Trust me, L. It's safe now."
Light's confidence was catching. It was hard to believe that the events of the night before had happened at all. The sun shone bright and clear and the forest looked relatively harmless.
Light lowered his voice conspiratorially. "We were just horribly unlucky last night. Not only was it a full moon, but it was also Friday the 13th." He smirked. "Misa tells me that the old haunted house was crawling with vampires, witches, and werewolves. It's a good thing we weren't there. I heard it ended up a huge brawl."
L blinked. "How could you possibly know that?"
Light smiled. "I stopped back to check on everyone. I knew you'd be safe in the cave."
L hesitated. "Misa and Matsuda are safe?"
"Of course, of course," Light said dismissively. "I told you they'd be fine." Light started another fire in the clearing and began cooking breakfast. L pulled out a bag of marshmallows and began munching them contentedly.
Light dumped some scrambled eggs onto a paper plate and shoved it into L's hands. "I'm not going to let you get away with only eating sweets. You need some protein to keep your strength up. This is going to be a difficult weekend."
L reluctantly accepted. He poked at his eggs with a plastic fork and glanced over at Light. Light had his own plate of eggs, smothered in a thick layer of ketchup. Light smiled sadly. "After awhile, you learn to eat everything with ketchup or red food coloring. It's the only way you can enjoy eating and pretending to be human."
L looked sadly down at his plate. The cost of eternal life was eternal suffering it seemed. It was hardly a worthwhile trade.
"Don't feel sorry for me," Light said softly. "I don't suffer as long as I have you." The hazel eyes were gentle and loving. Light looked completely pure and innocent and it was easy to forget in these moments that he was actually a vampire.
L snuggled up against Light and allowed Light to kiss his cheek. He felt completely content. He could finally reconcile his feelings. Yes, Light was a vampire. And yes, Light was several hundred years older than he was. But he didn't really care anymore. Perhaps Light's talk of soul mates was true. At the moment, L couldn't fathom being this close to anyone else. After a vampire, everyone else would be boring in comparison. He laughed softly.
"What's so funny?" Light demanded.
L smiled. "I'm afraid we may be stuck together. Being with you is like being in the middle of an action movie, but without all the drama and chaos, life would be quite boring."
Light tilted his head to one side and looked L over appraisingly. "And without you, who else would your action hero fight over?" He cracked a smile.
L rolled his eyes. Lame, utterly lame. It was the silliest line Light had ever used, but L supposed he had started it. He grinned. Stupid or not, it was amusing.
Light pulled L closer and gently kissed him. L surrendered willingly, letting Light push his tongue into his mouth. But almost immediately, he jerked away with a disgusted look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Light teased. "Too much for you?"
L wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "You taste…unpleasant." He looked at Light guiltily. "As attractive as you are, I cannot kiss someone who tastes like stale coffee."
Light's eyes widened and he let out a strangled gasp. "Y-you could taste that?"
L blinked in confusion. "Of course I could. Why are you so shocked?"
Light shook his head vehemently. "There's no way this should be happening." He backed away from L, looking vaguely uneasy.
L was concerned. "Light, what's wrong?"
Light bowed his head. "Last night, I went back to town to check up on Misa and Matsuda. I came upon the corpse of an old man lying in the streets." His voice broke slightly. "Mikami and I shared his blood. His last meal was a cup of coffee." His anguished eyes pierced into L's heart. "That's his blood you taste."
L drew in a sharp breath. "I-I…how can this be happening to me?" His dark eyes were wide with fright. "Light, what's going on?" His thin hand grasped Light's shirt.
Light whimpered and pushed L away. He covered his face with shaky hands. "No, you can't. I'm a monster and I'm only corrupting you and making you into a monster just like me. I can't stay with you anymore. It was a mistake to even try. I just end up hurting everyone around me." His frame was wracked with sobs.
L gently took Light's hand. "I doubt that you are corrupting me. As you said before, I am an unusual person. Perhaps I had this ability to begin with and you had nothing to do with it."
Light eyed him uncertainly. "But what if it's my fault?"
"You're not doing it on purpose," L said gently. "Besides, I do not quite seem the harm in this. I can see ghosts and I can taste blood like you can. It doesn't make me a monster." He frowned. "I'm not sure what it makes me. Probably some sort of freak."
Light smiled thinly and gazed up into the clear blue sky. "Perhaps it's fitting then. Among my own kind, I'm also a freak" He gave L a sidelong look. "If you trust that I'm not corrupting you, I'll continue with our scheduled Saturday."
"I trust you," L said softly.
Light heaved a sigh of relief. "Very well." He took L's hand in his. "Today we'll climb to the top of this peak. By the time we return, we shall see if you still trust me. Few non-vampires have made it through. Only those who trust and love completely make it through."
L rolled his eyes. "A life or death test of love? Is this really necessary?"
Light grinned crookedly. "If you pass the trials, you will be granted powers no other human possesses."
"What about the others that passed?' L demanded.
Light grin only widened and he stretched luxuriously. "They were so devoted to their lovers that they willingly joined them as a fellow nightwalker."
L shook his head vehemently. "No. I don't want to be a vampire."
"Never said you had to become one. That's not the point of the trials. Although, we'll see how you feel when you get through." He licked his lips. "Those that have come out of it alive are usually exceptionally affectionate."
L crossed his arms over his chest. "And you think I will survive? A second ago you weren't sure I trusted you."
Light stretched. The amber eyes softened. "Well, I know that I trust you. I'll be working through my own trials and I'm counting on you to succeed or we'll both perish."
L looked at him critically. Light was certainly an odd one. A freak among his kind, he had said. L could believe it. He sighed. Light was lucky that he loved him or he would never go along with such a stupid way to prove his live. Why did Light need proof anyway? It was for those abilities waiting for them at the completion, L reminded himself. If he became stronger, Light wouldn't have to protect him anymore. L could protect himself. Very well, he would fight for that.