She ran into his arms for comfort. Normally she would go to her ex if she knew he was cheating on her repeatedly. Her face was buried in his chest for safety and warmth.
"Oh, L... I never thought Light was such a jerk! I was blind! I'd never thought he would cheat on me!" she sobbed. "Tell me, what's the thing he finds attractive about her? What does she have that I don't?"
He gently stroked the top of her head. "Calm down... It's not your fault. Anyone would have done the same if they were you. That's part of Kira's plan: To take advantage of his fans and mislead the world into thinking he's leading society for the better. It's definitely not your fault! Anything you did was clearly to get his attention!"
"Yeah, but... He loved me! Every day he used to tell me am the only love of his life!"
"Love is not just about words. When you're really in love, your actions are relative," he told her, squeezing her tighter and tighter as if he wanted to relieve her pain.
"We're apprentices when it comes to love. We still have a lot to learn. It's not something we study in school or university. It's something that even people who have divorced don't know about. Many couples divorce. When it comes to a simple relationship, ending it is relatively easy. However, when it comes to divorce, it becomes quite complicated. That's because when married couples have children and suddenly after years they realize they were not made for each other, the court and the lawyers get involved. If nothing else, the psychology of their children is affected. Love, dear Misa can't be ordered nor is it bought. It's a feeling that unfortunately gets humiliated all too often."
His lips touched her cheek tenderly as a tear fell. He didn't show it often, but now that a girl was crying, tore his soul just by the sight of her. Especially now that this girl really needed his support!
"You certainly think your distress will last forever. But it's only the first shock. Give yourself time and don't be so hard on yourself..."
She wiped her eyes on his shoulder. You'd think it was a balm to her soul. The medicine she needed. "Thank you so much, L... I will take your advice to heart. But, since the conversation brought it up... Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?"
"I have."
"Really? How did it end?"
He looked deeply into her eyes, still holding her in his arms. "It hasn't... It's a chest-pounding feeling."
He carassed her hand for a moment, looking at her thin fingers. With slow movements he placed it on his chest, making her listen to his pounding heart. Going back and forth like a little bird. The rhythmic motion of her palm relieved her pain at a rapid pace. He held it there tightly as if he wanted to know how he really felt about her. The girl thought for a moment she never heard Light's heartbeat speeding up, not even when they were sleeping together. But L... It was a strange feeling and at the same time so magical...
"There's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time..."
She looked at him in wonder, noticing his blushed cheeks. She definitely wanted to find out what he would reveal, and yet he seemed hesitant.
"You see... I actually I-"
"What are you doing here, you pervert?"
Suddenly the location changed as he found himself in the same room he was in before with Misa. It was made by his subconscious... Again. These desires hardly come true anyway! The girl, on the other hand, had changed her position and looked at him slightly disgusted. She got up from the sofa.
"Are you an idiot?! Why were you sitting on me? You must have imagined something weird, I guess! I broke up with Light and you took advantage of it!"
"Misa, I'm sorry I startled you with my sudden move. It's not what you think it is. I... was looking for a package of chocolates."
She looked at him in disbelief. "What do you think I am? A cupboard?"
"You misunderstood me. I was indeed looking for the package but... I stumbled."
"You stumbled upon the couch? I believe you. It's because you walk this way." she mocked him.
"That's offending."
"I am offending you? It's that what you do? You creep people out people by hugging them?!"
"I didn't..."
"You would if you had the chance! Anyway, take your chocolates and leave me alone!"
"You can keep them, am not that hungry." He said and left the room locking the door. He didn't want to look embarrassed in front of her.
He sat in one of the chairs when he got in the main computer room, and hid his face in his knees. What was he thinking? Anyone would be shocked to wake up and see a strange emo guy staring at them! He hoped she would notice his admiration, but it never occurred to him he might look creepy. Ultimately, it's hard to get your love interest to notice you. Harder than he thought. That's why girls like Light so much. Because he doesn't even make an effort!
He thought about the moment her body rested against his and shivered. He never had such an experience with a girl before and so the thrill was huge. He wanted that dream while sleeping to come true at some point, but after that incident, he could only continue living in his imagination.
*
*
The room was filled with characteristic sounds that resembled a noisemaker. That plastic funnel kids use at parties making funny noises. The floor was coloured by the small pieces of paper giving a festive atmosphere. For the rest of the team, December 14th was an ordinary day. For Matsuda however, a special one.
Although unusual, Matsuda himself considered it childish to use confetti and a noisemaker at such an age. But that's how he felt parties are usually celebrated, regardless of age. He didn't bother though to get a family-size cake. -L was going to eat all of it anyway!- He preferred to go to a pastry shop and buy small round chocolates.
"Hello there! How are you, my dear friends!" said the policeman cheerfully. The rest looked at him as if he had gone mad.
"Don't look at me like that! Enjoy the moment!" he continued. "Our victory has come and in a few days, we'll officially win! Nothing can stop us now! Let's celebrate!"
"Is that why you brought the confetti and the noisemaker?" Aizawa asked.
"You're right, I'm a little old for this. But celebrations don't care about numbers, do they?" Matsuda giggled.
They didn't speak, just looked at him with a derogatory look.
"Hello, buddies!" the policeman chirped. The rest looked at him as if he had gone mad.
"Don't look at me like that! Enjoy the moment!" he continued. "Our victory has come and in a few days, we'll officially win! Nothing can stop us now! Let's celebrate!"
"Is that why you brought the confetti and the noisemaker?" Aizawa asked.
"You're right, am a little old for this. But celebrations don't care about numbers, do they?" Matsuda giggled.
They didn't speak, just looked at him with a derogatory look.
"That's why he acts like a five-year-old..." L murmured.
"What did you say, Ryuzaki?"
L turned around his chair in front of the young policeman. "Nothing. May you have a happy birthday, Matsuda."
Everyone wished him a happy birthday, while the birthday boy handed out round chocolates bought from the local sweet shop. L asked him if he intended to treat them birthday cake, and his birthday colleague replied that cake is a formal occasion. Which meant he would bring the cake to the secret base in the afternoon.
Later around 7 pm, Matsuda brought the cake as promised to his colleagues, which happened to be L's favourite flavour: Vanilla with chocolate filling and a cherry on top. Aizawa didn't really like sweets, as he preferred seafood, but for the sake of his colleague ate a small piece.
Kenta who had come out of his cage and was quietly flying around L's desk watched his master eating the last piece of cake. He approached it to peck it. Matsuda didn't give the piece, as he shouldn't eat sweets. He's a bird after all.
"So, L? How's Misa? Does she really like the fact she's being imprisoned? I mean... She's not actually imprisoned but you get what I mean, right?" Matsuda asked.
Oh, shut up!His thought was interrupted by the given answer:
"She's obviously not too happy to have her under our supervision again, but she accepted it regardless. It'll be like last year when we regularly checked both on Light and her. She'll go to work whenever she needs to but until the trial, the police will strictly supervise both Kiras. Light won't be a problem, I believe. For now, he's in the hospital, but there are several security guards who know that one of the patients is a murderer. So, even if he fully recovers they won't let him escape again."
Matsuda nodded in agreement.
"I don't know about you guys, but I believe both in our victory and team! Light wouldn't have been revealed if we hadn't worked with L! It's all thanks to him." he smiled.
The rest of the police looked at him agreeing with his words. "I can't believe am saying that either, but you're right Matsuda... Ryuzaki always believed in us, which I truly appreciate. He tried to prove to us what he had been seeing for so long."
The young man was bemused. He didn't know how he should react. "Why the compliments? It's Matsuda's day, not mine. My own birthday has already passed."
"Ryuzaki... I mean, L. Don't look at it that way. Indeed I am the birthday boy as they say, but see it as an opportunity for the whole team to celebrate the success of the case. To be honest, I always believed in Light's innocence until things turned out to be this way. So... Allow me to say am really sorry for doubting you. We should have listened to you! I never imagined a murderer could become such a great actor! The fact that you thought of it first, just shows you're smarter than us! We probably disappointed you, didn't we?"
"I never said I was smarter than you, nor am I mad for not believing me. It's perfectly normal that you wished Light wasn't Kira. It's simply common for seemingly flawless people to hide another self inside of them because that's how they easily take advantage of their fellow human beings."
"I thought it was something that only happened in books..." Mogi said.
"Well... Turns out it's not." Aizawa added.
L smiled. "Again, don't feel bad about your feelings. Anyone in your position would react this way. And maybe I'm the only exception. But to return to Matsuda's words, I am not disappointed. Speaking of which, this is exactly how I imagined the team I would be working with. My expectations were met, in other words."
Aizawa gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "We couldn't have had a better leader ", and Mogi added: "Of course. You're not only a genius and a diplomat but also a good friend."
"For some reason, I suspect that these sudden kind words are meant to convince me of something. I'll tell it simply: Get straight to the point!" L insisted. He wasn't used to being complimented and felt slightly uncomfortable, if not suspected that something was going on, and the others didn't want to tell him.
They laughed awkwardly. "Nothing's wrong, Ryuzaki. Really! Don't forget it's my birthday! Why shouldn't we lighten up the atmosphere? I don't know about the others, but I believe in compliments! I meant what I said! If I ever have a boy in the future, am gonna name him L!"
"Okay, Matsuda that's too much..." Aizawa said.
"I appreciate that, but it's certain they won't let you sign a single letter in the registry office. They'll think you're out of ideas or something."
As the atmosphere lightened, so they themselves lightened inside, even if they didn't consciously understand it. All the team members more or less needed a rest. Sometimes mental fatigue is much stronger than physical. When the body is tired can be rested for twenty minutes when it is working out, while how much time does the mind need? They had also lost an important member of the group, Light's father who not was the chief of police, but the pillar of the group, after L.
L was thinking, what would happen after the trial? Would they keep in touch with each other? He himself had never thought of having strong bonds with a person. He strongly believed it wouldn't suit him nor would it be convenient for the cases he would undertake. Even after some hours, he still thought about Mogi's description: Good friend. Did they really consider him a friend? A good friend almost? How could he have any knowledge of love, let alone friendship? He couldn't. His colleague was simply exaggerating a bit. He might as well accept the other compliments, but not the words: "Good friend". It simply was an unsuitable term for his personality.
In terms of quality, I don't really like this chapter, but since it's been a long time since I wrote this fic, I wanted to get back into the mood. Luckily I already have the ending in mind, so it won't be long before the next chapters go up.
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You can't rely on a slow update writer like me, can you?? :'')