What can I say? I love irritated Light :D

Alternate timeline where L and Mikami get to meet. Light hasn't lost his memories of being Kira, L does not know about the Death Notes or death gods. Enjoy!

"I would like to hear Kira's voice again," the monotonous speech echoed through the investigation office.

Light could barely contain his twitching lower lip.

"We need instructions to make the world a free and perfect place, just how Kira envisions it."

"D-Don't we all wish Kira would share his words again here on... Sakura TV?!", the TV presenter interjected, to reign in the guest's ominous tone.

"If I don't receive any instructions... I will do whatever I think is morally correct and according to Kira's wishes."

The TV show's team quickly ushered him away, but it was too late. Mikami has said too much.

"That complete moron! He will ruin everything that I've set up!" Light's thoughts are shooting through his mind at lightspeed, as he barely contains his anger.

After the escapades with Misa, Light thought that if he gets to choose his counterpart, everything would go according to plan.

He just needed to choose someone for the second Death Note that was up to his standards, someone equally as intelligent and strategic. Unfortunately, that person seems to simply not exist.

"Hahaha! What an embarrassment for 'Kira's Kingdom'!", Matsuda chimed in idiotically, drawing even more attention to the suspicious event.

Light could feel L shift around his chair next to him.

"What do you make of this person, Light?", the detective mused, his vacant eyes glued to the screen, replaying the scene over and over.

Evidently L has spotted a clue and watched closely whether Light would talk himself into a corner. Should he point out how strange the wording was? The possibility that this person has had some form of contact with Kira in the past? Maybe Light was overreacting and the speech wasn't that dubious at all to an outsider. Then him reading so much into it would only make L suspect him even more.

Light shrugged and expertly put on a nonchalant tone: "A classic Kira-fanatic. Nothing unusual nowadays. He's one of the more eloquent ones at least."

"I think he possesses Kira's power."

Light could feel his heart drop and the temperature in the room rise.

L's huge saucer eyes were observing his reactions now.

"WHAT?! But isn't that super far-fetched, Ryuzaki?!", Matsuda protested, and everyone drew closer, attracted by the emerging drama.

But of course, this was L, and once he detected even the smallest slither of a hint, he wouldn't relent.

Meeting with Teru Mikami at a cafe was the most risky thing Light could do. But to win, you can't always defend. You need to attack. And victory over L was all that Light cared about.

"I'm impressed by the dedication that you showed to Kira. I'm sure together we will do a lot of good for humanity."

"I haven't agreed to a collaboration," Mikami replied stiffly, sipping his coffee.

This was a lot easier usually, when he had a woman in front of him. Surely his charms would work on any gender?

He knew that back at the office Matsuda and Ide would be holding their breaths, wondering how Light could possibly turn this around. He decided that he was willing to sacrifice just a small part of his dignity to stay on the winning track.

"You don't have to decide right away. Your company alone is very... pleasant.", Light said with just the right amount of suggestion in his voice.

Mikami raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. His eyes moved over to the piece of paper that Light had quietly slipped across the table. Thankfully Light didn't have any cameras on him.

"Could it be...", Mikami breathed, setting down his coffee, now his complete attention on Light.

His eyes filled with melodramatic tears, as he took in the sight of Ryuk, clutching the cutout of the Death Note that said "They're listening. Don't say a word. I'm Kira.".

"MY... GOD!" Mikami tried very hard, but he couldn't contain himself.

"And here I thought Misa was your biggest fan," Ryuk chuckled, clearly very much enjoying Light's predicament.

His handsome face contorted with anger and he kicked Mikami under the table.

"Yes. You're a very interesting person with a good sense of justice. I would love to see you again," Light said in a buttery voice, showing none of his rage.

"Was Light flirting with him?!"

"Matsuda... how is that the only thing you take away from this?"

The mood in the office seemed awfully cheerful considering they were investigating a mass-murder case.

The creases between L's eyes got deeper by the minute, as he listened to his prime suspect's spiel through his headphones. "What an alien conversation to have," he thought.

It was his idea to send Light undercover to get close to Teru Mikami, a diligent law student apparently and avid Kira follower online, according to his research.

After all, offense is the best defense. If he could make sure to keep both of them under his nose, he would be most likely to catch Kira and arrest him, he decided.

"Do you ever sleep?"

Light put down his bag full of left-over sushi next to L's keyboard as an offering. The monitors in front of the detective were the only light source left on at the office.

L grimaced at the savory food and pulled his crème brûlée closer to his chest.

Light could tell that L was in one of his moods.

"Must not have been a very good restaurant, if you have this much left over," muttered L between nibbles.

"It was quite good actually."

"Was your date distracting you so much that you forgot to eat?"

Light was about to boot up his laptop and paused in his tracks. Was this jealousy? Surely this was a trap. He must've found out that he and Mikami were passing secret messages, that his whole over-the-top flirtiness was just an act to distract from his actual intentions.

"Don't embarrass me! You know it's just an act," Light managed to force a weak laugh.

"Light is a very convincing actor. More than he ever was around Misa," L pondered for a bit, licking his spoon sparkling clean. After a while continued: "Do you think Mikami is more intelligent than I am?"

He knew that there was no way that L was simply fishing for compliments, but he wasn't sure what he was trying to accomplish either. He decided to tease L a bit.

"Mikami has a law degree and graduated as the best of his class. I don't recall you even finishing university."

To Light's surprise L swiveled around in his chair, facing him with a small smile.

"Why don't we do a test?"

"L... we don't have time for...-"

"It's part of the investigation."

Despite the possibility of his plans of killing L getting derailed, Light got very intrigued.