#52 Lust

It starts simply enough. A look held for maybe a second too long, only he would have noticed something so small, being the most observant man in the world helped quite a bit when dealing with attraction.

Slowly, little things only he would have picked up on began to happen. Offers to make his coffee for him, cleaning up his desk around him as he worked; sincere attempts to try harder than usual to succeed. These little tokens of affection possibly not even noticed by Matsuda himself were all clear signs to L.

The problem was that L really didn't think he cared that way for Matsuda. And probably what Matsu himself was feeling was only lust, though god knows L was hardly anyone's idea of a sex object, certainly not in his own experience.

Still, it was nice to find little affectionate marks on his desk, a cupcake saved from teatime or his files organised properly.

L was very careful not to give him any encouragement, to appear almost severe in his attitude to the young officer; it was, after all, a bad idea to get involved with ones subordinates, and anyway, doubtless Matsuda would loose interest eventually, as they all did.

Then one night the idiot got himself into real trouble with the Yotsuba Kira gang. Only Matsuda could have gone through all of that utter rubbish, have come so very close to blowing the entire case and indeed loosing his life and at the end of the day somehow have come out alive and having actually helped.

After securing Light in the surveillance-covered bedroom for the evening, L went to Matsuda's own modest apartment in the building, intent on giving the policeman the biggest telling off of his young life. L was furious, his footfalls sounding even on the thick plush carpet as he made his way down the corridor.

What could have possessed him to try something so risky and stupid? Why couldn't he stay out of harms way so L could keep an eye on him? Why couldn't he just get on with the nice, safe tasks he was set?

He snarled to himself and kicked at the wall, wincing slightly when it was harder than he expected and stubbed his toes.

Idiot Matsu-kun, why couldn't he—

Matsu-kun?

L shook his head. He had to think.

Why was he so worked up? He never usually cared what his subordinates did during cases, it was their lives on the line, after all, and Matsuda had come out of this one okay and with more information than they ever could have gathered alone.

It was the idea that he could have been hurt, or killed. L hated the thought of Matsuda putting himself at risk. Why? What was special about him?

A peachy blush stole across his cheeks as he realised just what it was that was driving him to such anger. Anger and Lust are, after all, very similar emotions, two sides of the same coin, so to speak.

And of course Matsuda had put himself at risk. He was probably tired of his little efforts for L going unnoticed, probably he thought now that L hated him, and that he wasn't very fond of the policeman to begin with, when of course, nothing could be further from the truth.

L could have kicked himself for his own stupidity in not realising that Matsu did this in order to impress him, to try and get a little affection, or at least a smile.

He swallowed, and reached to knock at Matsuda's door, the intent gone from his mind and coal-coloured eyes.

The door opened slowly.

L's eyes nearly popped out of his head, Matsuda was wearing only a towel around his waist.

He blushed, "Oh! Sorry Ryuzaki, I was in the shower…"

L shook his head, and walked in, forcing Matsuda to back up. He bit his lip before mumbling between hushed lips, "I don't want you to think, or to speak. You did something very stupid tonight to try and impress me. You should never have done that. I put you doing safe work because I couldn't bear of seeing you in danger."

Matsuda blushed and spluttered, "Wha?! Ryuzaki, I-"

"I am aware of your feelings for me," L continued, pulling his baggy shirt off over his head. "I wish to tell you that you don't need to take stupid risks to gain my affections, you already have them." His hand went to his jeans, undoing the button and zipper and letting them drop from his skinny, pale hips. "Now take them."

Matsuda couldn't refuse the offer.

====NOTICE===

The last five chapters of this Drabble Challenge are as yet without titles!

I've decided to hold a contest to fill them in.

Anyone whom wishes to enter may submit either a piece of artwork or writing.

The art must be of something (an event or OC) from either of the two drabble challenges I've written.

Written submissions must be either continuations of drabbles or involve an OC from the drabble challenges

The winners will be given the chance to choose the title and is they so wish, pairing/events of the final five drabbles to this collection.

I will keep posting this notice until chapter 95 just to make sure newcomers to the fiction see it.

Please send the submissions to me in a PM with the header 'Contest submission' or email me at the address in my author profile.

Good luck! : ) -Esk