February 18th, 2004

Light sipped his hot tea, contemplating the color of it as he processed just what the hell had happened.

L had kissed him.

L had basically admitted that he had wanted to kiss Light since... since late December, during the last Kira case.

Light had extricated himself from L's embrace and walked to the small kitchen area, preparing tea for both of them as he tried to just think. It was harder for him than usual, because his mind kept straying back to L's lips on his, and L's lips on his had made his mind go so terribly blank... except for the part of his mind that controlled feeling L, warm against him, and the older man's lips moving against his, and...

God, this was such a mess.

Light paused, contemplating the red color of his tea. Even if he didn't kiss back, did the fact that he had actually enjoyed it make him gay?

He thought about it for a few moments, then decided that it didn't really matter. He had never been interested in anyone else, really, because he had always been so turned off by their lack of sufficient mental stimulation. But L... Light swallowed. L was different.

But Light hadn't really thought of him in that way. Sure, there was the vague acknowledgment of the detective's attractiveness when he first saw his face, but it wasn't due to any particular beauty on L's part. Light suspected the effect was caused by a combination of the man's simple exotic strangeness, and the fact that he was so damn smart. And even those things hadn't made Light give L more than a passing glance, because despite everything, Light had thought of L as more of a role model than anything else. All children knew that role models were asexual, because it was simply too weird to think of them as anything else.

So all of this confusion had to be L's fault, for breaking the rules.

While Light thought through these things, L's own thoughts were in a whirlwind. How could he have been so stupid as to make a move on Light? It was reckless, and wrong, but oh, he wanted more. It had torn him up to let the younger man pull himself away, and he had been so sure that he would walk away and never return—and then he had helped himself to L's tea, a pensive look on his face. L wasn't sure which was ultimately worse, an immediate rejection or this horrible waiting.

Eventually he could take it no longer, and he said quietly, "Say something."

Light looked up from his tea, looking surprised, as if he had forgotten that L was there, and set down his tea. "I'm sorry. I needed a few moments to think." He paused. "...What was that?"

L forced himself not to break eye contact with the young man. "A kiss."

Light let out a soft, surprised laugh, then smiled wryly, sitting back in his chair. L's stomach fluttered nervously. "Yes, clearly. I meant..." Light trailed off. "You stopped calling because you were afraid you would kiss me?"

"I stopped calling because I knew I would be tempted," L murmured, voice slightly muffled by his thumb, which had found his way to his lips. "I am a selfish person by nature, Light Yagami. I don't like to give things up, or share. But I also could not just spirit you away or attempt to influence you for my own desires..." L stopped, and grimaced. "But mostly because you are a child."

Light snorted. "Legally, I guess..." he trailed off, considering the worth of this explanation. "I suppose I accept that. Though I won't apologize for punching you. I still think you deserved that."

L hummed. "Nor will I apologize for kicking you in the face. Fair is fair."

Light frowned at that, staring past L's shoulder. "Fair is fair, huh?" He murmured, then nodded to himself, apparently coming to a decision. He rose, crossed the room, and put a hand on each arm of L's chair. L's quick mind had just enough time to register this and tell himself that what he hoped would happen most certainly could not be happening before

Light kissed him.

L froze. This was so wrong. Light was seventeen. L was twenty four. Light was a child. L was an adult. Light's lips tasted like tea. L gave up.

His feet slid to the ground because, really, he had no hope of thinking in this situation, and his legs were just getting in the way. The kiss was soft, unlike the one L had stolen from him earlier. L tugged Light down a little, trying to bring him closer. Light's lips curved a little against his, smiling, but the younger man resisted L's tug.

Light pulled away, looking completely unapologetic. "No, I don't think so. Also, you're not breathing."

L had forgotten that he needed to breathe, and realized with mild surprise that he was panting. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to put his legs down-

No. The trade-off was worth it. But wait, what had Light just said?

Light hummed, beginning to pull away. L grabbed Light's arms and kept him in place. "You don't think so?" He demanded. "What was that, Light?"

Light gave him a patient look. "A kiss." L gritted his teeth at having his words turned on him, because no one did that to him. He opened his mouth, but Light continued to turn his words into ammunition against him. "You did say 'fair is fair', right? I was within my rights."

L stopped himself from saying something stupid, but it was difficult. "I did explain myself afterward," he said in a suggestive tone, and Light nodded.

"That was a bit of a test, honestly," Light said, then hesitated. L made an impatient noise, and he continued, "I've never kissed a boy before. I've never kissed anyone I considered a friend before, either, and I wasn't sure what the difference would be." Light licked his lips, seemingly unconsciously, and L's eyes traced the movement involuntarily.

"And your verdict?" L asked when it became apparent that Light was not going to continue.

"Unimportant," Light said with a tone of finality. "I don't even care that you're male, or that you're older, or that you're L. But I do care that you've taken an interest when you've only interacted with me for—what, a week? And that most of what you know about me is gleaned from hacking and spying."

L opened his mouth to argue, but didn't know what to say to that just yet. He could, of course, come up with something- he was a genius, after all. But so was Light, and Light was nodding as if L had just agreed with him. "You know what I look like, and what the files have told you, and what little you've seen of me during the investigation. You have no idea what I'm like as a person, but you've been building me up as some kind of idol in your mind with what information you do have." Light paused, then gave L a significant look. "Sound like someone else you know?"

L bristled. "If Light Yagami is comparing me to Kira-"

"Not Kira," Light said firmly. "Teru Mikami, who thought he knew me from hearing me at a party and reading a few of my old school essays, and decided to assign unwarranted status to the imaginary Light Yagami in his mind." Light frowned thoughtfully and looked away from L's face, but he didn't look over his shoulder this time- he looked instead at the detective's left hand, which he picked up with both of his, and turned it over thoughtfully. He did this in silence for several minutes before saying, "Wait. Just... wait."

L nodded, content to study Light's face and revel in his olive hands over his pale one. He left it there in Light's grasp, even as he said slowly, "You kissed Misa Amane."

Light's hands paused and his brow furrowed for less than a second, then his hands were moving and his brow was smooth as he said, "No, I didn't."

"Valentine's edition of Teen Queen," L said, tone careful, so that he wouldn't cause Light to compare him once again to his stalker. "The picture was there. Talking about your tragic love affair."

Light shook his head, his lips quirked a little at hearing the great detective L say the words 'Teen Queen' in such utter seriousness. "She did kiss me during the photo shoot..." Light frowned, hands stilling. "She didn't take the rejection well." Neither did I.

"You did reject her," L clarified, tension in his shoulders easing a little. I am so hopeless.

"Yes," Light said, the look on his face telling L that he knew exactly what was going on in his head, and that he disapproved of it. Still, he elaborated, "She started shouting, and I had another panic attack." Light blinked a few times in surprise as L withdrew his hand, then looked at L's serious expression.

"How many have you had?" L asked urgently, voice back in the 'detective monotone' that said he meant business.

"Just two. You were there for the first."

"You should see a doctor."

Light grimaced. "That's what Mochizuki said. My manager," he elaborated at L's puzzled look. "She's the one who talked me down before I hyperventilated."

L frowned. "And then there's that. Light, the rise of this second Kira should be enough reason on its own to stop putting your name and face everywhere, but if this new person is connected to Misa Amane in any way, you could be in very real danger. Not to mention the risk of someone finding out about your connections to the Kira investigation if they dug a little deeper."

"As it happens, the Valentine's day photo shoot led to a series of events that voided the contract, so I won't be taking any more pictures," Light said easily, glossing over the details. "And my last live modeling session is on the 20th. I'll have enough money saved up to pay for Sherlock's training then."

L began to put an ample amount of sugar in his tea, even though it was well on its way to being too cool to be enjoyable. "Why didn't you ask your parents? You're getting a full scholarship to To-Oh, after all."

Light raised an eyebrow, then decided not to ask how L knew that he was getting a full scholarship. "Sherlock's my dog and my responsibility. I should handle his expenses myself."

"You are too noble, Light," L sighed.

"No, I'm not," Light said dismissively, returning to his own tea. "I'm just clever enough to make my egotism look like altruism."

L's lips quirked into a tiny smile, which he hid behind his tea. "I will pay for your dog's training. I don't want you going back."

Light shook his head. "First, no, I won't let you. Second, the class is expecting me—I have to go."

L frowned at Light, thinking. "Then I'm coming with you."

"What?"

L raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected the reaction to be quite so strong... and what a fantastic shade of red Light was turning, now.

"No!" Light said quickly. "No, you are not coming with me."

A small smirk was forming on L's lips now. "I have made up my mind, Light. You won't bend on attending the class, and I will not bend on attending the class with you."

Light frowned dramatically ran a hand down the front of his hair, smoothing it down in what looked like an unconscious gesture. I am so screwed.