~ Delta: 2 ~

Light/L (Ryuzaki) T. 1,019

#11 Foot

He has always thought of L as a delectate thing. Some sort of flighty creature, like an exotic bird. An easy prey which knew its place, taking the necessary precautions, always remaining out of reach. The feather soft black hair and the slender wrists do nothing but reinforce the perception, and the way he perches on the furniture instead of sitting on it all but confirms it.

It's the foot in the gullet that sets Light straight. If L had been wearing shoes at the time, Matsuda would have been escorting him to the hospital, and Light revaluates his prey.

#12 Fall

There isn't anything wrong with Misa. She's cute, kind, and although a little slow on the uptake sometimes she's smart enough to get by. Her real talent lies in knowing when to be serious or lighthearted; she reads people well without her Shinigami eyes, a gift Light finds most useful.

It's because of these things, however, that avoids her as best he can. He mustn't let this girl worm her way into his heart. Love is the downfall of every man. So he avoids Misa's declarations of undying love…and accidentally falls for L in her stead.

Love spares no one.

#13 Apples

"I love apples." Light sinks his teeth into the shiny red skin and chews, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Don't you like apples, Ryuzaki?"

He is deliberately baiting the other man, and the storm clouds that gather in L's eyes make his stomach with lightheaded glee.

"No," L spits, "I can't say I care for them."

Ryuzaki is gorgeous like this—all riled up, cheeks flushed and eyes flashing with understanding as Light taunts him. All the answers are there, dangling right in front of him, but held so far away.

Light smiles triumphantly around another bite of apple.

#14 Drink

"Just take a sip." L urges, pushing the can towards his friend, and Light's nose scrunches up in distaste.

"No, thank you. I can already feel the sugar corroding my teeth from this distance."

L summons up his most petulant, exaggerated pout, jutting out his lower lip and rolling his eyes up at Light. He blinks to add extra persuasion, and Light can't help but give a sliver of a smile, half amused and half annoyed.

"You've been spending too much time with Misa," Light grumbles. He snatches the soda and takes a swig. "We need to get out more."

#15 Light

The first time he hears it he doesn't pay attention. It's background noise, something Misa's little radio has decided to play while she dances around her bedroom, reading herself for another shoot.

But, due to the fact that popular stations tend to play the same song repeatedly, he soon catches himself nodding his head along to the tune, tapping his fingers to the beat.

"Death defying, this mess I'm buying. It's raining down with love and hate, and I find it hard to motivate." He mouths the lyrics, scrolling through a list of Kira's recent victims, and thinks of Light.

#16 Duty

"You say nine percent, but tell me the truth." Yagami is turned away from him to conceal his emotions, but L notes the way Yagami's jacket strains in the shoulders. "Is my son Kira?"

He cannot be honest .There is no way to predict what Yagami's reaction will be. Suppose he sides with Kira because it's his son, and hides Light away? It is a tough decision to make—one's family or one's duty—which makes Yagami a wildcard which might jeopardise the investigation."I believe we're getting closer to catching Kira every day." There, that's neither lie nor truth.

#17 Rain

It's raining, a steady downpour that smacks into the window and shakes the glass before sliding down it in the shape of rolling, half flat bubbles that L tries to catch with his finger.

"I can't help but think that finding him is proving to be too difficult," he says, following the path of one particular bubble with a fingertip. "It's like trying to catch one particular raindrop in a storm."

Light lays his hands over his, squeezing gently in assurance. "He's out there, somewhere. You'll find him."

No, thinks L, placing Light's hand over his heart, he's in here.

#18 Flexible

"You know what your problem is, Ryuzaki?" His lips are only fraction of an inch away from his ear and L shivers—half in reaction to the hot breath swirling in his ear and half from the malice in Light's voice. "You're weak, and flexible." He points at the TV screen without looking as some newsman tells the tale of rapist who has been acquitted of charges. "You'll believe anything they tell you to. This one is guilty, this one is not. You don't have a mind of your own. We all know he did it, and he deserves judgement."

#19 Fire

"Some say the world will end in fire," Ryuzaki quotes as he makes his way down the other boy's neck with nibbles and kisses. His voice is muffled by skin and lust, and Light barely hears him, too lightheaded to pay any attention. He rocks his hips against Ryuzaki's encouragingly, but the hand fixed tightly in his hair allows him little movement, and Ryuzaki is much stronger than he looks. "Some say ice. From what I've tasted of desire," L sucks a piece of his flesh into his mouth, and Light moans happily, "I hold with those who favour fire."

#20 Regret

L's chair tips over and he crashes to the floor. Light smiles down at him as he watches the realization flash through those shadowy eyes. Deep inside he is crowing with triumph, and he curses every person in this room for their presence because he has to give voice to this feeling, this feeling…

The understanding disappears from L's face. His smile falters, slipping away from his lips like warmth from a winter sky. Deep inside, something hurts.

This is how it needs to be. He had to die.

The searing pain in his chest doesn't care for his reasoning.

Revisions: 10-23-12