Chapter Seven: Chained Hearts
L was getting very annoyed. The members of Task Force were working his nerves; trying to get him to release the three prisoners they held in confinement. It wasn't like L didn't want to release them. He just didn't think it was time yet. Sure the killings had started again, and more and more evidence was pointing against his original assumptions that Light Yagami was Kira and Misa Amane was the second Kira, but L just couldn't go back on his hypothesis, he had to be right. He had to, or he'd have to face Light's smug expression when he admitted being wrong. L wasn't sure he could handle that just yet. His heart was finally healing itself of the damage inflicted upon it by Light's rejection. He couldn't stand to give Light one more thing to hold over his head.
Of course L couldn't tell Task Force this. For one, they would berate him for letting his personal feelings affect the case, but they would also completely turn against his for harboring such feelings. They already didn't trust him enough, admitting his reason would only cause them to trust him less. So all L could do was sit there and listen to them beg for the prisoners' release.
The main one doing the begging was of course Touta Matsuda. It seemed as if that night over a month ago had just happened yesterday, that night that L tried so hard to forget. Of course he'd never actually be able to forget it. The memories visited him at the most inopportune times; times when he should have been concentrating on the case, but instead his mind decided to wander and images of Light hovering above him drifted into his head, usually causing him to flush and quickly bury his face in his work. Sometimes the flashbacks happened when he was talking to the members of Task Force; he'd suddenly lose his train of thought and sit there staring off into space, a light blush on his cheeks, as he remembered how it felt having the boy moving inside of him. All the Task Force members would look at him curiously when this happened, vaguely wondering what was going through his head. All but Matsuda that is, because Matsuda knew what was going through his head and he wasn't happy about it.
In the forty plus days since L's last visit to Light Yagami, Matsuda had kept his word about keeping what he'd seen a secret, but L was sure it would only be a matter of time until he did something that would make the young police officer angry enough to tell it all. And then what would happen? Mutiny most likely. The already distrustful NPA members would all turn against him and L would lose what power he had over them, and what little power that was since they all seemed to be loyal to the Chief first and foremost. And Chief Yagami would most likely not be too quick to jump to L's aid when he found out the detective had seduced his son. Though L hated to admit it, he had to stay on Matsuda's good side, at least until he gained more dirt on him. As of now, all L knew was that Touta Matsuda was also in love with Light Yagami. Go figure. The police chief's son was a real lady-killer, or in this cases a real fella killer.
With a sigh, L decided it was best to give the Task Force members what they wanted, or risk losing his mind from their unending badgering. But first he had to set down some conditions.
'Do you have some sick bondage fetish on top of all your other problems?'
Light's words from that night drifted into his head; unfortunately what L had planned next wasn't going to help at all with clearing that assumption.
.:~:.
Light heard the chink of the metal chain as L stood and walked across the room to his coffee pot. It had only been two days since he'd been freed from confinement, but he was already used to the sound of the chain rattling every time one of them moved. What he wasn't sure he'd ever get used to was having L handcuffed to him at all times. It was torture being confined to a six foot radius with the detective, especially since just being in the same room was enough to make Light's blood boil with longing. He couldn't count how many times he'd had to check himself during their first few hours together, he wanted nothing more than to disregard all his work and drag L off to one of the many bedrooms the new Headquarters contained and have his way with him right there, never mind the fact that all the rooms not used by Task Force members contained some type of surveillance equipment.
But Light was a professional. He knew better than to give in to the wicked thoughts he entertained. He knew better than to let his desires show in his work. He had complete reign over is emotions. But still he felt that he had to be some type of masochist to subject himself to the torture of being chained to L. Just great, one more thing to add on top of all his other problems. Then again, hadn't he and L always had a sadistic-masochistic relationship with each of them taking turns being the sadist and the masochist? Nothing new there at all.
And as for L, it seemed the detective wasn't bothered at all by Light's presence. In fact, he acted as if nothing ever happened between them. It wasn't like Light had expected the older male to do anything rash like greet him with a big kiss on the lips, but he had expected him to do something. Like let his gaze linger on Light a moment too long, act a little flustered when the Yagami boy spoke to him, something small like that. But no, L did nothing. It was almost infuriating, but Light had complete control over his emotions, he wasn't going to let himself get angry over that. If L wanted to act like nothing happened, fine then so be it to him, Light would act like nothing happened either.
At that moment, L was standing by his coffee pot totally tuned out to Light's father speaking to him. Light let a pleased grin cover his face as he realized that maybe his presence did have an effect on L; The detective never tuned out like this before.
"Are you alright, Ryuuzaki?"
L snapped his head up in surprise. "Yes, I'm fine. What would make you think I wasn't?"
"It's just that I was talking to you and you weren't responding," Chief Yagami said, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, honest."
"Ryuuzaki is just really distracted with the case, dad," Light said from his seat across the room his smirk still in place. "He's having a hard time coming up with new leads, that's all. You just go on home. We'll be fine. Tell mom and Sayu hi for me okay."
"Of course," Chief Yagami said, "Good night Light, Ryuuzaki."
"Good night, dad," Light replied.
"Good night Chief," L added returning to his seat in front of his computer. Light sat in the chair next to him smiling as his dad left.
Once the door closed behind the police chief, Light turned to look at L. "Well that's everyone. Other than Misa up in her room, everyone has decided to go home. It's just the two of us tonight."
Light tried to act pleased with this development, but he couldn't help but think about the other times that they were alone. Part of him hoped that this night would go in a similar direction. Yet another part of him was disgusted by the aforementioned part of him. There was something about being with L that went straight to his libido. Maybe he was losing his mind, but he just couldn't help himself. He longed to feel the touch of L's hands roaming over his body; he craved the feeling of heated flesh against heated flesh. Call him crazy, but that's what he wanted.
L nodded and turned his attention to his computer screen. He stared at it without saying anything as if lost in thought.
The silence dragged between them, until Light was suddenly filled with a strong desire to hear L's voice. Why he wanted to hear that voice was beyond him. L could get quite annoying with his apathetic tone of speaking. In fact, L's apathy was infuriating! But, still, Light wanted to hear L's voice, so he prompted conversation.
"Have you come up with any new theories?" Light asked already knowing the answer, but if it would get L to speak…
The detective silently sipped his coffee. "Not yet, Light, no," he finally said; much to Light's relief. "But I've yet to analyze the new data we just received."
"I've already looked through all that," Light informed him. "There's nothing of use."
"You might have missed something. I'll just take a look to make sure."
Light sighed, in part wishing he'd never spoke to the man. Every little thing L did and/or said had the ability to get under Light's skin like no other; especially when the other male seemed to be purposely trying to rile Light up. "I'm not even going to argue with you, Ryuuzaki. Do whatever you see fit," he said slowly, trying to suppress the anger rising in him. How could one person bring up such contrasting emotions in him at one time? Anger and lust could be a deadly combination, and Light felt as if he was playing with fire.
L nodded. "What about you, Light? What are you going to do while I work?"
Light shrugged. "Most likely reanalyze the data you just looked through in case you missed something."
"Fair enough, Light, let me know if you find anything."
Light only nodded as he set about pulling up the correct files on his computer. He knew there was a small chance that L actually missed anything of importance, but the detective had wounded his pride and this was his way of retaliating.
He watched L out of the corner of his eye, only half paying attention to the screen in front of him. The sugar addict was, of course, feeding his addiction. A pack of Strawberry Pocky lay open on the desk in front of him as he stuffed two sticks into his mouth at once. It made Light's skin crawl just watching someone consume as much sugar as L did, did the detective not fear the possibility of diabetes and high blood sugar. Light almost believed that if you cut L, he would bleed strawberry syrup.
L was paying no mind to Light, so the Yagami boy became a little bolder in watching him. L sat with his knees hugged to his chest, his eyes locked on the computer in front of him, as he nibbled on his Pocky, adding another stick to his mouth whenever one was fully consumed, his dark eyes never leaving the screen.
His beautiful pale skin was illuminated by the glow of the monitor, his midnight black hair framing his face like a halo of darkness. Captivating. That was the only word Light could use to describe L at this moment. The detective was simply captivating. He demanded Light's attention with his very presence and Light couldn't help but to lose himself in wanting the other man.
"We can go to the bedroom if you like, Light."
L's voice intruded into Light's mind, interrupting his fantasies and thoroughly shocking him. "What?" he asked as a light blush spread across his face.
"You seem tired." L stated as if it was nothing. "We can go to sleep if you like. I can take my laptop and work while you rest."
Light cleared his throat, a little flustered. "Uh, sure," he said, "I wasn't getting any useful information from this anyway."
L stood and gathered up his things, placing his laptop under his arm and carrying three boxes of Pocky with him. Light silently followed the detective down to their shared bedroom.
At first Light had been a bit uncomfortable with the sleeping arrangements, since he and L were chained together it meant they had to share a bed and that usually resulted in Light getting no sleep at all as his brain ran a mile a minute concocting fantasies and impossible scenarios made up of him and L in some compromising positions—and that was when he wasn't mentally cursing how creepy it was to sleep with a guard always watching him. After a few restless nights and too many rants about his hormones, Light had finally adjusted to the change enough to get a comfortable night sleep next to his watcher. Of course it didn't help that L was an insomniac, but at least L didn't seem inclined to take advantage of Light's sleepy state…even if Light wouldn't mind at all being taking advantage of by the other man.
'This night will be no different,' Light thought as he crawled under the covers, 'I'll sleep here and L will stay up working. Things will be like nothing had ever happened between us.' Light wasn't sure why that bothered him so much, but the thought stayed with him as he drifted off to sleep.
It would be much later when Light felt the warmth of another body pressing against his own. His sleep clouded brain would not warn him of his actions as he instinctively wrapped his arms around the source of the warmth and pulled the other person closer to him.
Eventually though, he finally did fight his way through the barriers of sleep and opened his eyes to find L curled up in his arms, pressed securely against him. Light's heart pounded as he took in the sight of the man sleeping so peacefully, looking every bit like an angel at rest.
Light licked his lips and tried to fight off the intruding thoughts that were shooting straight to his groin, but L looked so lovely the way he was. He couldn't help himself. After a moments debate, he finally threw common sense out the window; he leaned closer to the other male and silently prayed L wouldn't wake up.
As Light pressed his lips against those of the detective, his heart pounded in his chest a sense of peace washed over him. L's lips tasted like the strawberry Pocky he'd been eating before bed, and Light savored the flavor. Reluctantly he pulled back from the kiss, relieved when he saw that L was still sleeping.
Wrapping his arms tighter around the other male, Light wasn't sure what was wrong with him, but this just felt so right. He never wanted the let L go. Burying his face in the messy black locks, Light inhaled deeply, letting the scent of L lure him back to sleep.
.:~:.
L opened his eyes once he was sure Light was sleeping again. He could still feel the press of the younger boy's lips against his own. Smiling, he knew that he had won this round. Light would never admit it out loud, but L knew that the Yagami boy was blossoming feelings for him. Light didn't have to admit it though; right now L was content with just sleeping within the boy's arms.