Something to Think About-3

Chapter 3


L stretched his legs in the warm bath and popped another chocolate covered strawberry in his mouth. He had remembered to grab the box when Light came for him when the bath was ready. Now he was happily reclining in the bath, popping them in his mouth and drinking more champagne. Watari had decided to bring up the rest of the bottle after determining it was safe to come in. He had to admit he'd eat breakfast more often if it was like this.

He and Light had shared a shower before he had been led to the bath. Even after all this time with Light he could never get used to the many things his lover used to prepare a simple bath. Most unknown to him, but one item smelled like strawberries so he enjoyed the aroma that one gave off. It added to the flavor of the real strawberries he was eating and was almost comforting. Once again his mind whirled with ideas of what he could do for Light to show him how much he cared, but nothing seemed to fit. It had to be something that Light would really appreciate. He's never heard Light say he wanted anything, or needed anything. L had made sure he had everything at his disposal that he could possibly want to make him happy. But he knew there had to be something he was missing if only he could put his finger on it. He sighed and closed his eyes as he felt Light begin to wash his hair from behind him.

This was also something new to him. Someone washing his hair. That hadn't been done for him since he was a child and Watari used to care for him. But while that was more a necessity, this was simply being done because Light wanted to, another gesture of his love for him. L couldn't help smiling at that thought, Light's love for him. To have gone from wanting to kill him to becoming his lover, was amazing all by itself. He tried to follow the steps in his head as to how it happened, his analytical and logical mind trying to piece it all together as to when it had actually happened. He knew he had always been attracted to the beautiful teen from the first moment he'd watched him on his monitors. Even though he knew even then Light had to be Kira, he couldn't keep the attraction from happening.

He didn't allow it to interfere with his work, and continued to try to prove that Light was indeed Kira, even if it became more difficult each day to push the feelings away. He was attracted to the brilliance of his mind, even as Kira, that he could continually keep one step away from him; and maintain that calm, cool exterior. But he could see the evil that was Kira behind those brilliant honey eyes, the calculating hardness that kept him in control and just out of L's reach.

Then everything changed while Light was being held. Suddenly and practically before L's eyes, Light changed. Even his eyes lost their calculating glare and softened into the eyes he saw every day now. His demeanor changed, and he was suddenly merely a young man who seemed to be caught in the middle of something he didn't understand.

It was during that period of being handcuffed to Light to watch his every move that it happened. That accidental touches seemed to happen more frequently, conversations didn't always have to be about the case, and sleeping next to each other stopped being awkward.

"What are you thinking about to make you smile like that?" Light's question brought L out of his reverie.

"Just reliving how we finally came together, and how impossible it seems to have been," he answered. Light was quiet for a moment before L heard him sigh deeply.

"I don't want to think about that, about how I almost…." His throat wouldn't let that word escape. L sat up and turned around in the bath to face him.

"Light I wasn't thinking about that. That was another you, under the influence of that notebook, something with too much power for you to handle at that time. The moment you realized that what you were doing was wrong you stopped being Kira. You stopped wanting to kill me."

Light shuddered visibly at the word and looked away from L. How could he have even thought about taking the life of the man he loved so desperately? Even now he could remember the feelings that had overtaken him at the time that his love for L had managed to overcome. Although he felt no guilt over the truly evil people he had killed, he did feel remorse over the ones who had fallen because of his god complex, the FBI agents, Naomi. He started out of his thoughts when he felt L's wet fingers under his chin, forcing him to look into L's eyes.

"Forgive me for bringing back bad memories, I did not mean to. I was merely marveling over the wonder of our relationship and not going over the things we would rather not dwell on. Those things are past, we have both moved on. I know the real Light Yagami would not behave as Kira did, and never will again. I knew he was worth saving and still believe I did the right thing. Justice was served by the arrest and incarceration of Higuchi. The Kira case is over and needs to be forgotten. We only need to think of our future." He stared into Light's eyes until he saw the veil of guilt and hurt rise from them to be replaced with happiness and relief. He leaned in and kissed Light's mouth softly then turned back and sat back down.

"Now please remove the shampoo from my hair." Light grinned and with both hands shoved L under the warm water of the bath, removed the shampoo and pulled him back up.

"Perhaps I was premature in my judgment of you!" L sputtered trying to catch his breath. Light laughed and grabbed one of the many fluffy towels that filled the closet in the room.

"Hmmm perhaps you were, " he answered standing L up and handing him the towel, "But for now my only plans for you are to get you dressed and moving before Watari comes back again with your cases.'

True to Light's word Watari arrived within 15 minutes with a tray of coffee for them both, a newspaper for Light, and an armful of folders.

Watari poured them both coffee and then handed the folders to L who sat at his desk and flipped open his laptop. He was supplied with a brief description of each one. Once L was up to date, Watari left him to his work.

Light watched from an easy chair across the room and marveled at the change, which came over L when he went into detective mode. The cool, detached look in his eyes and stoic expression on his face. It was amazing to him each time when he knew first hand the gamut of emotions that could show. He leaned back, coffee in hand and reached for the paper that Watari always brought for him and prepared to wait until L took a break, or asked him his opinion on something about one of his cases.

This was the only problem Light had with his current life. Having left Japan to stay with L, a decision he would never regret, he did find himself with not much to do. They were currently living in L's private apartments at the orphanage that he grew up in, and where there were other brilliant and gifted children. Three of which were designated as heirs for the title of L if and when he should retire or, and Light refused to think about, L died suddenly. He at first thought it was a heartless idea, but L had explained to him that the position of L was far too important to let it just end. Light understood it, but he still didn't have to like the idea. He had begun to entertain the idea that perhaps in a few years his L might hand the mantle over to the heirs and perhaps the two of them could just do normal things together like travel the world or whatever else they could come up with. Light sighed to himself; he really lived for that day.

In the meantime he hoped that L would share information from his cases. He hadn't lost his thirst for the pursuit of justice; he had originally been planning to join the NPA after all before everything happened. His mind was as sharp as ever, but he worried it would dull without use.

He looked over his newspaper to look at L who sat with his knees drawn up as usual, facing the computer screen, looking from the contents of one folder to the information on the screen. He folded the paper and laid it back on the table. He thought over what he was about to do again, and decided he had to do something or he'd go mad. He got up and walked over to L and placed his hands on his shoulders. He immediately felt L flinch under his touch.

L nearly jumped when he felt Light's hands on his shoulders. It was an unspoken rule that he be left alone while working. Although there were times when he welcomed another view of information from Light, he didn't want him leaning over him and getting in his way. L worked alone, and as he had discovered the one time he did allow himself to work with others in the Kira case, it was nearly disastrous and almost constantly a trial. Although working with Light had been enjoyable, it was a totally different scenario and he didn't think it would work on a constant basis. He tried to choose his words carefully.

"Light, I am assuming something is amiss for you to be over here?" he asked him without bothering to turn around.

"No, nothing's wrong I just thought that perhaps I could help with something". L sighed deeply and turned around to face Light.

"It's very nice of you to offer, but Light you know I work alone. It's nothing against you, you're brilliant and on occasion I do enjoy your input, but as a rule, I work best when I do it as I have always done." Light sighed thru his nose and removed his hands from L's shoulders.

"I know that L, but there's very little around here to keep me occupied. I can't just keep sitting here watching your back for hours while you work".

"You knew that from before we moved here that I worked alone, Light. I told you this might be difficult for you but you said it wouldn't be a problem.'

"I know I said that and I'm not regretting my decision at all, but L it was a lot easier said than done. I'm not used to sitting and doing nothing, you of all people should know I bore easily. I've done everything I thought I could do the first month I was here. You've got to understand that!"

"I understand that but what exactly do you expect me to do about it? I can't change the way I work it would reduce my effectiveness by nearly 50%! I told you life with me would not be easy and you accepted that. Have you changed your mind?" L knew the minute that came out of his mouth it wasn't the right thing to say but he was too late to stop it. Light's eyes narrowed in anger.

"How could you even suggest that? Have I not shown you just what you mean to me? Why would I ever change my mind about being with you? All I'm asking is for a little consideration of my feelings and I didn't think it was asking too much!" Light turned from L and strode angrily towards the door.

"Where are you going?" L asked alarmed at the waves of anger that were radiating from Light.

"What do you care as long as it's not here?" Light shot back and went out of the door, slamming it behind him.

L sat staring at the door after it closed, willing it with his mind to reopen with Light on the other side. How had that gone so disastrously wrong? He knew he was bad when dealing with other people but he had thought he'd been doing okay with Light. But if what just happened was any indication apparently not. His thumb went to his mouth as he continued to stare at the door and go over what had just happened. Light knew this was the way it had to be, L had told him so before they left Japan. He can't work with anyone else, he simply can't. Surely Light understood that, he said he did. And yet he was aware Light was bored. He just didn't know what to do about it. Not being social at all he didn't know what to offer Light to make him happy. This is not what he had been planning for Light, to upset him and make him angry and yet it had happened. He definitely had to think of something to give him after this, he had to make it better somehow.

Then it dawned on him, and he was angry with himself for not seeing it sooner.