Chapter Text
Light Yagami, an esteemed son with exceptional talents, extraordinary charm, and a model face - all of which faired him very well when wriggling out of his prior difficulties. Enviable as his various, deific attributes were—supreme intelligence, incredible beauty—unfortunately for him, he was stuck to the confines of a very human body, with very human wrists. Therefore handcuffs, were one hurdle where his wriggling abilities faltered.
Usually, Light Yagami would be able to lubricate his way from said handcuffs by swooning the person with the key…But the key holder in question was the least '𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒅' person Light had ever encountered. He was L. He was the worst. It could be assumed from L’s determination to keep Light constantly at the other end of a chain, L possibly enjoyed such a hindrance to himself? (Though Light did indeed have the short end of the stick—he was delightful company) L on the other hand...was quite the opposite. He was accusatory and inappropriate; Light wanted nothing to do with the man child. It was quite tragic really. L—whom preferred the alias of ‘Ryuzaki’—was potentially, Light’s best friend.
*𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑*
Light tossed in his bed.
*𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑*
He groaned in annoyance, eyelids fluttering open at the disturbance.
*𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑*
"RYUZAKI!"
L swivelled inquisitively in his desk chair, to confront Light’s livid glower. The detective met it without any congenial disposition. Instead, the sight was a curiosity to him, and he began to nibble his thumb in pondering.
"Light? You seem distressed?"
Light rubbed the bridge of his nose and tried to compose himself from the sudden outburst. "Ryuzaki...it's 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, let me get some sleep and I'll be all the better at helping you finish what you're working on twice as fast tomorrow."
"Interesting...are you trying to hinder my progress in the Kira case? Perhaps working 'with' me can give you a better opportunity to view my research and adjust your plans accordingly..." Light knew L was childish, and enjoyed seeing him wound up. Light couldn’t really understand how one was benefited by making their apparently ‘closest’ friend uncomfortable, but L’s mind functioned differently from most. It’s why Light liked him.
Although this conversation would usually end in one of their usual debates, Light concluded his best investigative work was aided by getting a satisfactory amount of sleep— ignoring L was the best option for this situation. It was their first night together away from the hotel, in the quarters the detective had prepared. Light was in a shirt and underwear—pants folded atop the ottoman. He missed having nightwear and the normalcy of his daily routine. Things would get better. Tomorrow was when the Kira investigation made headway and Light could recover some structure. For now, the circumstances were testing him. Light’s fuse was shorter than it habitually was—especially when it came to the detective and his disregard for human decency. For some reason, perhaps because the detective had the boy all to himself, he thought it was an invitation to misbehave more than usual….so this night was particularly insufferable. If they were going to get ANYWHERE, L was going to have to learn that Light was an asset, and this came with a level of control that he was deserving of—key holder to the handcuffs or not.
"I'm not engaging in your pettiness tonight Ryuzaki. You either want me on this investigation or not." Light showed L the rejection of his back, as the boy adjusted in his bed, shutting eyes tight, expecting to hear the intrusive noise of keyboard tapping...
…silence?
Light wasn't often nervous, he wasn't nervous. It wasn’t nervousness it was suspicion. L was too quiet. It was the perturbing silence of children, following a racket: never good news. The boy dread to think what was waiting for him if he turned around. Watari should be paying for a babysitter, Light had enough on his plate already.
Sighing, Light decided to brush off his nonsensical apprehension—L was as intimidating as a slice of soggy bread, equally as pale, and off-putting. Off-putting, but for the most part, calculable if one was Light Yagami—L’s closest friend.
Light rolled to lie on his back. Upon seeing the detective again, he revoked his previous statement, that claimed L wasn’t very intimidating.
The raw-boned wraith loomed over him. Two black eyes drilled a tireless inspection through Light's skull. Disturbingly, a deceivingly innocent smile manifested itself, at variance with L’s foreboding appearance as he examined a lock of his suspect’s hair—twiddling the brunette strands between an index and thumb like a rare specimen. Being anyone else, Light would've screamed—his practiced composure was so brilliant that this was not so. But damn it, no, L was 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 more intimidating than a slice of bread. Light didn't even feel him move from the chair to the bed…the man was weightless, being as skinny as a wafer, and silent, from his spectral nature. Not to mention, he was annoying—like Misa but...so far, despite everything that infuriating man had put him through, Light could handle it, so long as L retained his current level of intelligence that kept the boy on his toes. Were occurrences like this just something the young man would have to endure while bringing Kira to justice? He groaned at the thought…"What on earth are you doing?" L gave that same supposedly ‘ignorant’ expression as if he were completely unawares to their current circumstance. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing, "Light really has to ask?"
"Yes I have to ask! It isn't common practice among roommates to observe each other whilst one sleeps, what were you even doing? I’m uncomfortable with this Ryuzaki, get off me!" Upon hearing this, L released the hair from his pinching fingers; let it fall back into place—an already impassive face dropped even more so in despondency at Light’s outburst. "My job is to have you under constant surveillance...so constant surveillance is my crucial commitment. The pinnacle word, Light, is...’constant’. If I were to rest, would you consider that to be ‘constant’ surveillance? I think not."
"Constant surveillance can still be constant from a metre away. And get this? You don't even have to lay a hand on the other person." L now sported a rather displeased raised eyebrow. Light 'almost' chuckled.
"Light Yagami’s sarcasm is relentless." The detective sighed, as though the fact personally saddened him.
"Almost as relentless as your prying." A smirk fought Light’s forbearance and was victorious. The boy sported an expanding grin; inwardly remarked that the detective wasn’t so bad. L had a way of dissipating his anger and replacing it with the desire for intriguing rivalry.
In view of Light’s shifted attitude, L leaned closer. If the boy’s unconventional companion wasn't going to lie down upon request, Light would make him take the floor. From under the covers he pulled his legs into his torso—pushed them up to collide the pads of his feet with L's chest. It wasn't quite the amount of force the sleepy murder suspect intended to muster in his groggy state, though it was just the nudge needed to send L tumbling from the bed—arms flailing as they tried to hold on to something to prevent the fall. Alas, his attempts were futile. How he looked currently—enlarged eyes; sparse fingers like claws, collecting creased bedsheets behind their hooks—had Light comparing the detective to a scrawny, struggling cat in his mind. It was rather amusing, and the boy smiled to himself as L landed rather ungracefully onto their bedroom floor.
Light snuck a peek at the sight. He couldn’t deny it, the great detective's descent was hilarious—was it normal to find this so entertaining? Light barely laughed these days.
"Is Kira having fun with me? Or does he only look this happy because he enjoys humiliating his rival?"
"Definitely the second one Ryuzaki." The tone was 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 to be interpreted as sardonic—more obvious as Light rolled his eyes and yet again, turned over…hopefully for the 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 time.
"Up by 2%."
"For someone who is able to comment on my '𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒎' you're not very good at picking up on it...detective." Light shot L a sharp glance over his shoulder, before looking away in defiance, wanting to finally get a few winks in so he could...you know...try stopping a serial murderer the next morning. This state of affairs was so unprofessional, L needed to learn some decorum. One would expect some, from 𝒕𝒉𝒆 L—the most renowned detective in the world.
Distracted by this lingering thought, Light was almost ignorant to the meek voice, beckoning him to continue the directionless conflict. The boy was too intelligent to be lured.
"Light?...
...Light are you asleep already?"
Light decided it was best to stick to his original plan of ignoring the detective—one he shouldn't have strayed from in the first place. No, L did this to himself, scrutinising him like small print. Boundaries were important between co-workers, Light was just reinforcing them.
Upon hearing no reply, L exhaled an almost inaudible sigh, and the blaring computer screen was turned to black, melting the younger boy into the mattress in relief at the darkness. L gave in it seemed—atypical for usual L behaviour but it wasn't something Light would be mulling over, his brilliant everything needed it's beauty sleep.
"Argh! WHAT!?"
"It's okay Light, if you 𝒅𝒐 bruise it will be concealed behind that perfectly convenient; thoroughly maintained hair of yours." Light rubbed his forehead, wincing at the pain. He'd woken up quite literally two seconds ago, and was only just registering the sight before him.
L was on all fours—hands and knees constricting him like a bony prison. The detective's forehead was an inch from Light’s fringe—L's odd face staring into his own expectantly.
"Ryuzaki...Did you REALLY just head-butt me? 𝑵𝒐𝒘? 𝑾𝒉𝒚?"
"No. In actuality Light was the one that head-butted 𝒎𝒆." Light attempted to comprehend L's unorthodox perspective on everything—it's something he'd have to get used to. It interested Light in some instances, but times such as this, it was exhausting to no end. "It is not my fault you sat up so suddenly. I assumed people ‘came to’...𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, following their slumber. It's unsettling the way your eyes fly open as you sit up straight...do all human beings behave in this manner?" L had not yet moved from his position, and if Light hadn't known better, he'd assume L was about to eat him, the way he overshadowed Light like a predator. That would have to change….
In a swift movement, Light kneed the detective in his abdomen. Grabbing L's arms he completely switched their positions—the chain jingled noisily. Now Light was in control again and a determined grin crept its way onto his face.
L (now in a rather compromised position) fidgeted in discomfort. Perhaps now the detective couldn't clutch his knees, he could actually comprehend human-like rationale.
"You made your Kira face again my friend...another 2%." Light scoffed at the ridiculousness. L was wasting time accusing an innocent man of a free killer's crimes. "If you want to discuss unsettling...how about creeping over someone on all fours while they’re sleeping!?" Light gritted his teeth. The boy failed to predict, that the only person he could actually have a riveting conversation with, would be such a nightmare to live with. Was it…’𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑?’ As previously established? Whatever 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, sometimes friendly, most of the time exhausting arrangement was, it was certainly costly—the price was Light’s patience.
"It's 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅 Ryuzaki." L blinked in a blatantly feigned confusion. He was acting like one of those animals that play dead, so everyone leaves them alone and assumes they're docile, it was pathetic.
"It's interesting you should call what I did weird…" At this statement Light’s expression completely left him, he'd already put the pieces together and knew what L was going to come out and say. "…because from where I am, you are mimicking that same position you think is strange. Does that mean that you are a hypocrite? Or perhaps Light Yagami just hadn’t thought that far ahead..." Light's pride was too strong to free the string of obscenities, ready to be spat at L in that moment. If he were to part from the detective, it would be admitting defeat. Imagining the smug expression L made in victory, as he sucked his thumb (even more demeaning) made Light's blood boil. But would staying where he is just prove L's point? Light suddenly felt a giddiness about him. L wasn't getting what he wanted at all. Light was on top of HIM, the greatest detective, and L hated that. Light knew he hated that because Light knew Light, and Light knew L, often times the two were more similar than the Kira suspect would care to admit. But in this instance it worked in his favour. The detective was loathing every moment of this, so the young man soaked it in. Asserting dominance over someone supposedly so powerful could actually be rather entertaining, why would he stop now? If he were Kira, in a purely hypothetical conceptualisation, Light could see the appeal of toying with the detective as Kira did so. Playing with one’s food is surprisingly delightful.
Light landed on the swift conclusion that L was deserving of this. He leaned down to touch the detective’s forehead with his own. Upon impact, his new bruise ached and it made the boy seethe more. Wait...
…𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒅?
What an entirely uncomfortable comparison.
‘Playing with one’s food’ implied that the object of entertainment was edible...Did Light have an endgame for L? Or, was this enough to drive him to insanity and the use of unfitting metaphors? Surely this would only increase L's suspicions? No wonder L looked calm...𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 even? No, this was wrong, Light hated anything immoral or unjust—to trap L in this way was...not 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 behaviour...so why couldn't he bring himself to move...?
"It's at 15% now Light. This is an additional 5% from our last unpleasant exchange.”....Ah that's why, Light couldn't believe he'd forgotten so easily that L was THIS utterly inconceivable.
"I CAN count Ryuzaki." L's facial expression was unreadable. Why was it only him that could make Light feel this irritated and amused all at once? What a nuisance.
"Curious Light Yagami...perhaps it would help the task force to know the investigation is over. I've found Kira…and he's on top of me." Was Light starting to feel embarrassed? Nope, no, never him. L was just implementing his usual mind games, but he forgets, it's Light Yagami on top of him, not just some ‘kid’…Reality penetrated the boy’s brain. Light was on top of L, what was he doing? This scenario was rather...𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 to say the least.
Light's demeanour calmed down considerably—playing the unusual behaviour off with a chuckle, following a nonchalant shoulder shrug.
Removing his body from atop his captive, the boy inwardly seethed as though he’d lost a contest—whatever that were to feel like.
"Seems like nothing can get through to you, I hope you know now how tedious your behaviour can be Ryuzaki." Part of him knew L could see through this but having no solid proof he didn't care. Light was just flabbergasted he'd gone through with such a petty act of rage for so long, L didn't want an average boy working on the investigation, he wanted the clever, composed, respectable Light Yagami. It almost made him feel ashamed.
Never mind.
No shame at all.
Absolutely none.
Light’s spindly-limbed companion joined him as he undressed from his makeshift nighttime attire. The chain became an odd washing line of their respective shirts—unable to release the handcuff from his wrist until they were done. It turned out L was just as inquisitive while Light was getting changed than at any other moment of the day....because 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆. The boy didn't know what he expected, Ryuzaki had no respect for personal privacy—not that Light had anything to hide, people were constantly admiring him, he was used to it. The immature part of Light's brain hoped that L was studying him in an unspoken challenge to find a single flaw. A pointless endeavour - which had Light sniggering to himself.
"I'm glad Light Yagami is laughing, I hope I didn't embarrass him too much earlier." As confident as Light was, that statement still felt out of place in a situation…such as this one.
"I can't recall the situation you're referring to, nor am I actively thinking upon it. Though I do find it incredibly endearing that 𝒚𝒐𝒖 are.” Light turned back to hide his knowing smile—well aware it was the perfect amount of patronising to combat L’s previous statement.
"Well...is this not what friends do Light?"
"....what? Undress in front of each other? I believe that's only you and I Ryuzaki." L’s shoulders vibrated in signal of inaudible laughter. It was unusual; void of any facial demonstration. It conjured a feeling of uncanny valley Light was not comfortable with. Light continued to stare, thinking upon the authenticity of the action, rather than properly comprehending it's justification.
"No Light… 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, including how one…feels." Well if L really cared about 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, he wouldn't be forcing Light into these disagreeable circumstances.
"Well…perhaps, but why? Have you made a friend and want some advice on social normalities?" Light brushed off his mistake—well, he didn't make 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔, he only arrived at the most logical conclusion based on the information presented. It was L who should've been more apparent…
The boy finally finished undressing, so held his wrist to L, who unlocked the handcuffs swiftly so they could finish putting their fresh shirts on. Light would’ve usually began his morning with a shower…admittedly, he was putting it off. The priority, was to clear his name soon so situations such as 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 could be avoided altogether.