Insane Reaction

"Breathing you in when I want you out."

Eat, sleep, get accused of being a psycho insane mass murderer…and repeat.

Or more accurately: consume unhealthy amounts of caffeine, barely get any sleep due to annoying disturbances from a certain dark-haired insomniac, and unintentionally bring up every chance at being Kira for completely uncalled for reasons... and repeat.

It was sadly what life had become for Light Yagami.

In the beginning, it had been exhilarating because finally something interesting was happening in his life. Then he just had to somehow get involved... confinement, dubious methods, everything. Now he had found himself handcuffed to the world's greatest detective to catch the world's most notorious killer.

Being chained to another guy wouldn't have been so bad... if only L hadn't been an eccentric weirdo beyond rhyme or reason. Needless to say, it was a rude awakening for Light. He had to make a lot of inconvenient adjustments.

Sinking back into the unbearable clutches of ennui - which he had experienced in his last year of high school but couldn't recall for the life of him how he chose to deal with - Light was slowly but surely reverting back to a typical moody teenager grumbling about life, despite how composed and mature he had always been.

It wasn't really late at night, but everyone had gone home already leaving the two alone in the head quarters for the time being. Light had spent the whole day doing exactly what L was doing – except in a normal way, of course. To be frank, his bottom was actually starting to hurt from sitting down for so long. His back ached, and his legs felt stiff. He almost considered squatting like L just to see if that would make a difference to his physically pained body...

To even entertain such a meaningless thought could only mean one thing - Light was bored to death.

He had even taken to hovering as close as possible to the other male hoping to divert some attention to himself. His casual lean against the computer table was proving to be futile however as L paid him no heed. He let out an exaggerated sigh, leaning further into the personal space of the crouching one.

"L," Light called out, purposely using the name the detective didn't prefer.

"Ryuzaki," L corrected expectantly, not even sparing a glance at the sight of Light's slender body, more or less provocatively splayed against his table.

Light crossed his arms.

"I like L better."

"Kira doesn't like L at all."

"That must mean I'm not Kira then..." Light said victoriously, catching L in a loophole. He grinned even though he knew L wasn't looking at him. "- since I like you."

L paused for a second in his typing then continued with no other response. Light watched him closely, noting only a slight tug at the full sugar stained lips of the older man.

He wanted more of a reaction than that.

"Did you hear me, Ryuzaki?" Light asked in a lofty tone, picking at his finger nail.

"It would be technically impossible not to, seeing as you are unnecessarily close to me at the moment, Light-kun."

Suspicion seeped through L's voice at the latter part of his comment.

Light grinned.

So he DID notice I was standing a little too close... nice. I guess that crouch of his really does help with deduction after all.

"You have nothing to say about my statement?" Light pressed, running a hand down his maroon button up as if to straighten out the wrinkles, but he did it deliberately slow so that it ended up looking inviting. He caught L's sidelong glance.

"I am flattered, of course," L said in a matter-of-fact tone. "However, I have already obtained that notion from you quite a while ago, so it is not altogether surprising to me."

Light huffed, standing up a little straighter.

Shouldn't he be pleased someone as smart and popular as me can even like him? Especially after all he put me through...! Borderline childish thoughts – yes, he could admit that - but as stated earlier, he was reaching his limits of boredom and he wanted something - ANYTHING - to entertain him.

Like L...

Light let out a heavy sigh.

"I don't even know why," he said in a breathy tone, throwing a hand in the air softly. "Perhaps it's because I've never met anyone like you."

He peeked at the other through auburn bangs taking pleasure as he mentally noted that L had finally took his attention off the computer and was staring at him.

L was probably raising an eyebrow under the jagged black bangs of his and probably already got the idea that Light was stringing him along in a random mind game. They actually did this kind of mind screwing daily but on a vast range of topics. Obviously, Light hadn't elaborated on how he 'liked' L in his previous statement, but it was apparent he had automatically took it as platonic, strictly friendly.

So, Light wanted to up the ante… spice things up.

Because he wanted a reaction.

Not because he actually liked L… like that.

What with constantly getting accused of being Kira, he found himself craving to make the detective squirm too.

"The greatest detective in the world with so much power... yet, you're so bizarre. You look weird and act even weirder. Not of this planet or something like that…"

He made sure his musings sounded like something a demented love struck girl would write in her diary. Only he could express condescending insults and make it sound like sweet compliments. The velvet soft voice was the reason of his success.

Even though his amber eyes were gazing away at a random spot on the wall, he could still feel the dark eyes on the profile of his face.

"But somehow, I can appreciate it," Light exhaled dramatically, tucking his chin in a little bit to appear modest about his 'supposed feelings'.

What do you think about this, L…

"Because it's what makes you, you..."

He ended it with a small smile directed at L.

His face almost fell when he noticed with disappointment that the other looked exactly like he normally did, no reaction at all from the realistically voiced but painfully mocking "love confession". He resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at the unaffected demeanor of the detective.

Dammit, come on, L. Isn't this weird to hear coming from me?! Yet you're so calm and your eyes remain expressionless.

"Light-kun," L finally cut in, deadpanning his name.

Light ignored it, instead somewhat desperately opting for what he hoped would be the hook, line, and sinker.

"I like you, Ryuzaki."

Silence reigned for a moment.

Then a quiet shuffle and L was standing up and against Light's body, close enough to feel their heat radiating off each other, but not quite near enough for there to be any contact between them. Light felt his breath hitch at the sudden move and the uninvited proximity. L's dark eyes bore inches from his face, and Light swallowed hard.

Things always had a knack of backfiring on the teenager...

"If you are attracted to something bizarre, not from this world, but with so much power..."

L's voice was purposely lower than usual, and sent a chill right down to Light's spine.

He was too close... and he suddenly got even closer, leaning his mouth into Light's ear to whisper.

"It would give the impression that Kira's mysterious way of killing could possibly be the thing Light-kun likes so much."

Light couldn't hold it back; he gave a small shudder at the intensity of L's voice, body rigid.

This wasn't fun anymore.

Hell, it wasn't even fun before! The tables were turned on him as usual... L was supposed to be the one freaking out at Light's blatant advances since he had deduced and concluded that L probably never had someone throw such words of sentiment toward him. He just wanted to see him flustered. A reaction - that was all he wanted.

But this... it wasn't expected.

For L to get all up in his personal space? More or less pinning him against the table? What the...

Light wasn't exactly sure yet how he felt about this.

Then again, maybe he did but just didn't want to really explain why his body felt extremely hot and bothered at the moment – not in a sexual way – but perhaps if things went even more intense... if L moved closer -

Before Light could finish the thought, he heard the distinct beep signaling the use of the elevator.

Metal doors sliding open was the sound that disrupted the tense and somewhat uncomfortable predicament Light was in.

Right after, was the sound of the cheerful voice of Matsuda.

"Good evening! Hi Ryuzaki. Hello Light-kun. Sorry to burst in here like this but - "

Light saw Matsuda stopping in his tracks as he saw the position of the world's greatest detective and the number one Kira suspect.

He could only imagine what kind of sight they presented to the other at the moment. Light was basically pinned against the table with L right against him, and from the angle Matsuda was at, it probably didn't look right at all.

He saw Matsuda clutch at the brown bag in his hands tightly.

"What are you doing here?" Light asked, voice slightly higher than usual.

"Matsuda-san," L acknowledged, with a nod of his head.

He reached composure much faster than the teen and had removed himself from the suggestive position, crouching back in his computer chair.

"I'm sorry, that was rude of me," Light said, voice back to normal. He straightened up so he was no longer leaning on the table. "Good evening Matsuda-san," he finished politely.

Matsuda scratched at the back of his head and looked at the floor.

"It's okay. I guess it is pretty random of me to show up here at this hour and just burst in like this. I should apologize for interrupting Light-kun and Ryuzaki…?"

"You did not interrupt anything," L stated curtly before looking pointedly at the brown paper bag. "What are the contents of that?"

It was an expertly delivered subject change.

Matsuda grinned, and held up the bag as if displaying a particularly glorious item, before pompously marching over to the two. The flail of his arms only gave him a comical look.

"I've brought coffee! It's from a new shop across town. I'm sure you guys will love it as much as I do," he announced cheerfully, all apprehension gone from his face. He looked glad about the subject change.

Meanwhile, Light was biting the inside of his cheek, arms crossed again and subconsciously looking bitchy as hell.

Stupid L… to use bodily contact as a way to throw me off! He plays so dirty for someone who is so adamant about being fair. Ugh…

Matsuda reached into the bag and held out two cups before shoving the brown bag against his arm and passing one coffee to Light.

"Thank you, Matsuda-san. This is exactly what I need right now."

"No problem, heh."

Matsuda threw him a sheepish grin before making a move to give the remaining cup to L.

The moment he turned, it was too late to stop from crashing right into the detective, who had gone from crouching to standing just a foot away from him in mere seconds.

Cue unexpected collision -

"Ah!"

Matsuda cried out and the coffee toppled out of his surprised fingers. In an instant, an alarming amount of brown black liquid was splattered all over the L's lower half. If the coffee was hot, he hadn't reacted at all.

Matsuda you idiot...!

Light's eyes widened, transfixed on the scene, before narrowing.

Something wasn't right here...

L could have easily prevented the cup from spilling on him. Light knew the detective had fast reflexes even for a guy who was lazy as hell. He had mentioned before being stronger and faster than he looked. So why did he allow –

"Oh no."

It was said with no expression at all and was obviously mocking because when the hell did L utter such words...?

"Oh my god, Ryuzaki - I'm so sorry!" Matsuda gasped, getting to his knees next to the large puddle of coffee spreading across the stark gray white tiles of the headquarter's floor. "Shit." He used the paper bag to dab frantically at the mess, looking absolutely mortified.

"Are you okay?" Light asked robotically, and L gave a slow nod.

He probably would be concluded as Kira if he didn't' show any concern whatsoever. It was a ridiculous thing to think, but not completely illogical. L thinks so stupidly like that sometimes, Light thought as he watched with distaste, his own cup of coffee hovering from his lips.

"Ugh, this is the worst…"

Matsuda was whimpering more to himself now, still on the floor.

Light saw him glance up at L who had apparently been busy quietly unlocking the handcuff from his wrist.

He's taking them off...?

Once the handcuff was off, L's fingers slipped down his previously stark white shirt before slowly lifting and pulling it off. In seconds, pale white skin, smooth and taut across bony hips, leading up to a slender waist, and ending at wide shoulders was revealed. L snapped the handcuff back on, coffee stained shirt now held delicately between two long fingers.

Light and Matsuda had two different reactions.

Having seen L naked more than he ever wanted to in his life – they showered in cubicles right next to each other but sometimes it couldn't be avoided when changing for bed – Light wasn't surprised at the display of the other males body. No - Light was more taken aback at the way L had taken it off.

He could have left it on, Light thought suspiciously wondering what L was planning on gaining by becoming half naked. The way he lifted it, fingers grazing momentarily across his slowly exposed skin was unnecessary but definitely deliberate. He knew Matsuda was watching him - is that why he did it? Was he putting on a damn show?

Matsuda had froze and his jaw had dropped slightly. His dark eyes had openly checked out L's body at the close distance. From his position on the floor, Light could assume it looked different than from where he had been watching.

All of this happened in five seconds and then Matsuda had blinked several times before shaking his head, face now shades of red and his hands idly scrubbing at a spot with no coffee on it at all.

"It was an accident Matsuda-san, so there's no need to be so flustered," L said kindly, carelessly throwing his shirt onto the table.

Light eyed it for a second, feeling the urge to fold it or at least scold L for throwing a wet garment so close to an electronic device. He suppressed it and instead placed his coffee beside it. No, he wasn't a obsessive compulsive neat freak, he just had the tendencies of one…

"Y-yeah but…"

Matsuda was still on the floor, and had finally noticed he wasn't wiping coffee anymore.

He made to look at L again but stopped short when his gaze landed on the coffee all over L's jeans which proved to be even baggier than anyone would have thought, seeing as how his boxers were peeking out and the pants threatened to fall right off the bony hips with the added weight from the coffee.

Light caught sight of Matsuda licking his lips.

What the -

"Don't tell me you're going to take that off too."

Light's sarcastic comment was meant to be condescending but it just came out as suggestive. He received a questioning but amused look from dark eyes.

"I will do no such thing, Light-kun," L said coolly as he crouched down, automatically sinking into his preferred sitting position, right in front of Matsuda.

"On the other hand... if Matsuda-san will be so kind as to wipe this off as well?"

It took a moment for the order to register in Lights head. Then…

What the hell? Did he seriously ask Matsuda to dab at his – ajksdhasjkdask.

"O-oh!" Matsudas voice was high-pitched and he let out a nervous laugh. "No problem, Ryuzaki. It was all my fault after all. I'll see what I can do."

Light couldn't help but gape at how strangely composed the guy seemed after just being asked to more or less wipe at another man's coffee stained groin area.

L's head was tilted downwards, untamed black hair effectively covering whatever expression he had on his face at the moment but Light got the feeling he was probably grinning.

Then he moved suddenly - sitting onto the floor, his arms behind him, hands on against cold tiles to keep him up.

It was probably the first time any of them had seen L not hunched over and it was sight to behold indeed. His body looked longer now that he wasn't covered in a size XL shirt. His torso white and slender, almost glowing in the dim light of the room.

"Thank you, Matsuda-san."

L let his long legs fall open so Matsuda could crawl in between them. The brown bag that Matsuda had been using to wipe coffee was nowhere in sight anymore and Light blanched.

Is he some sort of idiot? He doesn't even have anything to wipe with! And he looks like he's seriously considering just grabbing and rubbing at L with his bare hands, Light thought hysterically not liking this situation at all.

It seemed no one was even giving him the time of the day and he had never been ignored in his life. It would just not do...

Feeling the overwhelming urge to make his presence known, he took a few steps forward – he had to anyways what with L's new position on the floor the metal chain of their hand cuff was tugging hard at his forever bruised wrist. He grabbed L's discarded shirt and threw it on L's lap but not without the passing thought that he had been aiming for Matsuda's face.

"I think you'll be needing that."

"How thoughtful of you."

Light rolled his eyes and move to take the seat right behind the detective, arms crossed and jaw clenched. Just why exactly was L involving Matsuda in their exclusive mind games...?

L leaned against Light's legs from behind him without asking for permission. Light considered pushing him off, but figured the consequence of unexpectedly shoving someone chained to him would cause something along the lines of the three of them falling in an ungodly dog pile with matching flailing arms, sticky stains, and a few girly shrieks from Matsuda. He ignored how the thought can also describe a threesome.

"Man…it's all over you," Matsuda mumbled quietly, "My bad, Ryuzaki..."

He delicately dabbed at the spot on L's jeans farthest away from an inappropriate place. It would be inevitable though; the coffee had mostly stained the crotch of L's jeans with the exception of a long streak on his inner left thigh.

Light watched feeling an unexplainable great dislike and slight… annoyance? He glanced down and saw L was now nibbling on thumb of one hand, skin caught between slightly pointy white teeth.

That filthy habit again, Light was in the middle of thinking when a breathy gasp suddenly reached his ears.

It was too low to be Matsuda's but if not him then… that was L?!

"Ah…"

Confirmed, seeing as the detective made the exact same sound again, albeit a little longer this time. It was so damn odd to hear L make such a surprised sound that Light felt his eyes bulge.

He concluded Matsuda must have rubbed a little too roughly on L's thigh to elicit such a…

Reaction.

Light clenched his fist.

Was that all it took? Coffee and wandering hands to get a reaction out of the stupid detective? Seriously? Ugh! How infuriating! To think that Matsuda can even evoke such a pathetic sound from L in five minutes while Light's been chained to him for weeks and got absolutely nothing but condescending drawls masked with politeness. Grrr…

"Sorry, it doesn't seem to be coming off…" Matsuda said apologetically, not making eye contact.

"Please try over here then," L commanded mechanically, a complete 180 from his breathy sounds just moment prior. Light had to deduce it was intentional, an act.

A reaction to get a reaction -

...from the both of them, nonetheless. How very L, he thought wryly but somewhat relieved that it wasn't a true sound of submission from L.

Matsuda bit his lip but said nothing - L had pretty much gestured casually near the buttons of his jeans, dangerously close to an inappropriate area.

Light was speechless and silent too, watching in some sort of sick anticipation to see if Matsuda was going to question L's authority or not...

He didn't.

His slightly shaking hands, tentatively placed the cloth near L's hip. He was apprehensive and it unintentionally caused him to drag it in an almost sensual way past the detective's groin.

Light heard someone's breath hitch and he wasn't sure if it was his or L's or Matsuda's.

One thing was for sure, this was getting so disturbing…

"It won't come out," Matsuda squeaked, rubbing furiously at the resilient blotch.

"Then perhaps you should do it harder."

The statement was innocent enough, but when taken out of context… of course it sounded like an innuendo!

"Okay..."

Light seethed quietly.

What. The. Hell. L?!

No, he hadn't been serious about his confession to L earlier - about liking him and appreciating his weirdness or whatever... but for L to do this right in front of him if what he had declared earlier were to be true? He was purposely trying to be offensive - to Light and his pretend feelings.

It only made him seethe harder.

Damn L! This? This is his reaction if someone were to confess their feelings for him? He'd throw it in their face by flirting with someone else who is way below the person who confessed? Way below me…

Light didn't even know why he was tripping balls. His confession wasn't for real, so why did he feel truly insulted?

"Light-kun."

"What."

L glanced up at Light from his casual lean against the boy's legs. It seemed like everyone was in between someone's legs at the moment. It was unsettling but only because Light felt his stomach drop at the sight of L below him.

"How does it look from there?"

He was clearly referring to the effectiveness of getting rid of the coffee stain in such a manner, but Light couldn't help but twitch and before he could stop his thought process - Like you're sadistically getting Matsuda to jerk you off right then and there on the floor of headquarters.

He shoved the thought away quickly. NO. He would never ever venture into such irrelevant disturbing thoughts! …but he kind of just did. He decided he should answer instead to put a stop to the unwanted thoughts – and the easiest answer was of course, the truth.

"It's all still there and it looks just as bad, Ryuzaki," Light replied tersely.

It looks really bad, and stupid, and wrong and even though its pissing me off, I can't do anything about it -

"No good then?" L mused with a slight frown but Light knew it was fake; his voice was laced with dark amusement.

"Matsuda," L shot a pale hand out on top of Matsuda's carefully scrubbing one, halting the cop's movement.

Matsuda looked up, though he wasn't the only one who noticed the lack of the honorific.

"Yes...?"

"You're doing really well. If you continue rubbing... just like that... at this pace - it will definitely come out soon..."

Their eyes were locked and Light couldn't see how L looked at the moment but he decided he had enough of this display of… weird coffee rubbing procedures!

It was more suggestive than he could take.

"Pointless!" Light declared, motioning with a wave at the two of them. "That's just totally useless, you guys."

He huffed and uncrossed his legs, which led to finally removing L's weight from him. The detective almost felt to the floor at the unexpected move but gathered himself quickly and stood up.

"It would seem so," L noted, extending a hand out to Matsuda and pulling him up.

"I'm really sorry, Ryuzaki…"

Light didn't think the dark flush on the other's face was from exhaustion.

"I have already stated that that is an unnecessary apology."

Yet it was just sooooo necessary to make him get on his knees and force him to wipe away his mistake huh…

"However," L went on. "I must ask Matsuda-san to try and refrain from spilling any hot and sticky substance all over my body in the future."

Matsuda blushed... hard.

Light pointedly ignored the suggestive comment.

He's completely aware of the innuendos of his statement, but he says it anyway with a kind voice in that polite way of his, playing off the innocent look when the truth is he plays dirty at everything he does... and what for the hell for?!

"No more late night coffee visits then." Light declared suddenly as if his word was law.

Matsuda let out a small sigh, shoulders slumped.

"My request does not exclusively elude to coffee, you know…" L murmured cryptically.

Light shot him a look.

Enough...!

He threw up his hands with a shake of his head.

"Well, whatever, Ryuzaki. All I'm saying is that this was kind of a big waste of time. I could be sleeping right now. And you're still half naked. You're going to catch a cold or something if you just stand around like that."

Light was rambling, a habit he had when he couldn't put a stop on thoughts he didn't like, or emotions he wasn't fond of.

"I apologize for the sleep deprivation, Light-kun."

"It's not just that!" Light cried exasperatedly, then instantly recollected himself, pressing a hand to his temple. "Look, you need to get cleaned up properly. We can do it in five minutes if we just go and take a shower right now."

Matsuda seemed to blanch at the statement.

He raised a hand slowly to call their attention.

"You guys take showers... together?" He asked dumbly, looking astonished.

Light rolled his eyes. It was obvious where the scatter brained cop's mind was at the moment.

"Of course we do," L answered.

"In separate cubicles," Light pointed out.

It was apparent L hadn't tired of his mind screwing yet but Light definitely had. He couldn't tell if it was because it was obvious L was already very accomplished at said mind screwing or because of the fact that it wasn't being directed at Light...

"You should probably head home now," Light suggested in a polite tone.

He wanted nothing more than to shower, sleep, and once and for all stop assessing the situation...

Matsuda nodded vaguely, looking distant before forcing a smile.

"Right, it is pretty late and I think I've caused enough trouble tonight. I was going to tell you guys about my theory but I guess it can just wait until tomorrow..." he paused, then turned his eyes to L, sincerity and something else reflecting against the dark brown irises. "Sorry again, Ryuzaki... I'll go now."

"Get home safe, Matsuda-san."

"Goodnight, Light-kun."

"Goodbye," Light uttered, along with a jerk of his head, brown bangs falling away from his eyes, and his amber eyes flashing. It was an unintentional dramatic motion that he had a tendency to do.

Matsuda got the point and quickly made an exit from the headquarters, giving a final wave of his hand as he disappeared into the elevator.

"Shall we shower then?" L asked drolly, holding his stained shirt and looking at it with a slight frown.

"Yeah, come on."

He said it with an unnecessary tone of authority probably due to the fact he had felt totally helpless for a while earlier...

The two made it to the bathroom without any more talk.

They stripped down their clothes, L removing the handcuffs briefly to get their shirts off. Their shower cubicle gave enough privacy, but barely reached past Light's chest. The reason being so that L could still keep an eye on what he was doing if he randomly were to get the notion Light was suddenly going to do something Kira-like.

The hot shower was instantly relaxing against his sore muscles. Light felt himself being somewhat soothed. L hadn't uttered a word in the past five minutes and so his thoughts went back to what had just happened.

Okay, it was a no doubt weird exchange – anyone would be put off by that, he decided as he applied shampoo to his brown hair and scrubbed a little harder than necessary.

He was inadvertently reminded of Matsuda's hand scrubbing at L's jeans and his thoughts darkened.

What the hell was UP with that?

He heard the squirt of shampoo as well from L's side of the cubicle.

Since when did L allow people to get touchy feely with him? And with Matsuda no less! It's obvious L doesn't think much of the guy what with his lacking intelligence, so why would he just let him, no - straight up request for him to… Light felt his cheeks flush.

Why did it sound so inappropriate - even in his mind? It was just the wiping of spilt coffee on a place that was slightly… inappropriate. That was it. It was inappropriate, no matter how one chose to perceive it.

The first time he heard L gasp and groan...

The first time he had seen L half-naked in a provocative position on the floor - below him -

The way he had felt the heat of his body against his legs while he rested in between...

Light felt his jaw drop before groaning in disbelief.

His body... seriously heating up, getting aroused -

What the hell?!

Light was mildly horrified that the thought of L could evoke such a reaction from him. Given, he hadn't gotten to relieve himself the whole time he had been in confinement. Within the one month of being handcuffed to L, he had only done it once or twice albeit extremely sneakily and uncomfortably - altogether unsatisfactorily.

That was it then, his body was going out of whack. It was natural. He was human but more notably, he was a teenager, therefore he had raging hormones - it was normal.

…But to get those hormones running rampant because of L?

Light groaned again, pointedly ignoring his half-hard member and rinsing his hair out. He applied conditioner, wildly squirting the contents all over his hair and letting it sit for a couple of seconds. He let out a long breath of relief as he saw that he was losing his spontaneous boner.

That's right, just go away… Light thought, not stopping to acknowledge the fact he was talking to his male organ -

"Light-kun?"

L's voice low voice was alarmingly loud in the medium sized bathroom, but only because he was so close, all but leaning over the side of the cubicle with wide eyes.

Light almost jumped but contained his initial reaction, instead snapping his head to face the other. He could only hope L hadn't noticed his current state...

"...what."

"That is the third and a half time you've emitted a groan."

"So what? Why are you counting?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Light replied, haughtily. He threw his hand up. "Jeez, can't I enjoy this in peace?"

He was of course referring to the hot shower, but the amused smirk that captured L's lips told him that he had chosen to interpret it in a perverse way...

"Ahhhh... I see. I shall not interrupt Light-kun's enjoyment any longer then."

The simple statement was said innocently enough, but Light's mind instantly reeled at the suggestiveness.

"Don't be such a pervert, Ryuzaki!" he hissed loudly, bringing his face close to the other's so perhaps the fire in his eyes can be taken more seriously.

L blinked owlishly.

"I wasn't aware I was being one - "

"Oh, come on," Light groaned, then sighed loudly. "You know that's not what I was doing…"

"What exactly did you think I assumed you were doing?"

"Ugh!"

Light clenched his jaw. L really seemed to have a habit of making Light groan, which didn't sound right at all.

"Just forget it."

Pervert, Light thought darkly but was also slightly mortified because L was half correct anyway.

He suddenly felt fingers slide across his cheek. He gave a start and jerked, not expecting the touch at all.

The touch was gone in an instant and L's pointer finger was inches away from Light's eyes, causing the teenager almost go cross eyed as he attempted to look at the offending finger.

"What the hell are you doing now..."

L's finger was covered with a white nearly transparent liquid.

"It was dripping all over your face, Light-kun..."

Light forced a laugh. "Conditioner, yeah."

He had just felt the need to establish the fact that the white stuff was DEFINITELY not anything else.

He eyed L warily, who was still gazing curiously at his own finger.

"You should be more careful, it nearly trickled into your mouth..." he said, back to finishing up his own shower but he gave a sidelong glance apparently not finished talking. The black hair framed his pale face, the longer parts wet and splayed against the column of his throat.

"Unless that is where Light-kun prefers to put it..."

Light stared, standing stiffly.

Shit, another one. L and his damn sexual innuendos!? It just wouldn't end - or maybe it's just me…? Maybe I'm the only one taking everything the wrong way…

He didn't even want to think about the possible double meanings.

He pointedly went back to his bathing routine and the shower progressed and finished without any further interruptions.

They dressed themselves and did their night time toothbrush routine, Light busying himself by applying some lotion over his face and arms, before very meticulously putting everything back in place. He also grabbed L's dirty clothes and threw them in the hamper, anything to put off thinking.

At long last, they made their way to the bed that they shared. L hadn't even gave Light the choice of sleeping in his own bed, his excuse being that he barely slept anyway so Light didn't have to worry about an unwanted warm body in the middle of the night.

He was true to his word until now. Light only caught him dozing off on the floor a couple of times or on his computer chair. It only ever lasted for several minutes, but Light had to admit, he was impressed L was still able to function properly even with the lack of sleep.

Light on the other hand was getting messed up pretty badly because of it. As well as the lack of many other things like privacy, freedom to go out, enjoying the fresh air, and apparently self gratification…

"Goodnight," Light said pointedly as he made himself comfortable on the bed. L had brought out another laptop from one of the drawers and was transfixed on the screen, while biting at his thumb.

"Sleep well, Light-kun."

I would if you don't bother me at ungodly hours of the night...

He closed his eyes and sighed, turning to face the other side. The bed was so comfortable and soft - warm - he loved beds. Light thought he would doze off right away but as the minutes ticked by, he realized that thoughts of how glorious a bed was could only keep him distracted for so long.

The sound of typing was quiet but still filled the otherwise silent room.

Damn it… these thoughts… they just won't go away! Not until I come to a solid conclusion...

He dubbed his great intelligence and amazing deduction ability a blessing and a curse a long time ago, and right now it was a fully fledged curse preventing him from sleep and forcing him to analyze the situation.

For the last time, what the hell was it all about? Maybe it was exactly what it looked like and that's all. I'm reading too much into it when in reality - it was nothing. L messing around with people's emotions for kicks... that's an everyday thing. I shouldn't be so affected. So why am I? Its not like I care if Ryuzaki has that kind of interest in… other people… but is that what it meant? No. He was just…

Gah, dammit.

The thoughts again.

He heard L exhale a little louder than usual, and the noise reached his ears at once. It was rare for the detective to make a sound. He turned over and looked at L who was still in his usual position over the laptop.

The sound of L breathing like that reminded him of the groan and the gasp he had let out earlier when Matsuda was…touching him. Light had had just about enough of trying to analyze L's motives for the whole thing so he decided to just cut straight to the point, once and for all.

"What the hell was that?"

Light broke the silence with a loud reprimanding tone, but L doesn't even look surprised he's awake.

"It is simply the sound one makes when under slight stress and restlessness, the technical term being a 'sigh' but in this case I happened to emit what I'd like to call a 'heavy sigh' - "

"NOT. THAT."

Stupid L, acting oblivious at a time like this...

He tried again.

"I mean, what the hell was that earlier?"

He tilted his chin up a little, subconsciously exhibiting a dramatic moment again as he looked down at L with a raised eyebrow.

"… with Matsuda?"

L blinked owlishly, his gaze trailing off to the carpet, with a look of disinterest.

"Matsuda-san spilt coffee on me and I politely asked him to wipe it off. It felt very uncomfortable, you see, the coffee was getting sticky –"

"I saw what happened, Ryuzaki - every little detail and it didn't exactly look like you were 'uncomfortable' at all with the situation."

L met his gaze again, and Light thought he could see a shadow of twisted satisfaction behind the black eyes.

"...and you were?"

Light tensed up, and gave a nonchalant shrug.

"I just disapproved of it. Seeing you ordering Matsuda around like that? Yeah, I know he's an idiot but he doesn't deserve to be treated like a slave..."

Okay, Light didn't even know why he was defending the guy but he didn't exactly want to voice out how he was actually only bothered by the whole thing because L had completely forgot about him.

"That was hardly slave-like treatment, Light-kun," L reasoned, unaffected by the accusations.

Besides the point, Light thought observing L's lack of actual reply to what he just said.

"Yeah, well it was just weird," Light finished in a huff, feeling it pointless to even go on with this conversation. He was also starting to feel really stupid for blowing the whole thing out of proportion...

"Which part did you find weird?"

"Gee, let me think, oh yeah - the whole thing! You took your shirt off, you asked him to rub you hard until it all comes out, you weren't even hunched over and you were making sounds..." Light listed off the top of his head, feeling all too sleepy now and just saying whatever was on his mind. He let his head hit the pillow again, slightly damp hair sinking against the softness.

"When you say it like that, of course it doesn't sound appropriate."

L's reply sounded unwittingly like an amused coo and Light peered at him through half open eyes.

He was smiling.

"Look, whatever," Light said dismissively, eyes heavy.

He was sleepy and L was smiling at him.

"I just didn't like it… that's all… I just felt like telling you."

"...because Light-kun 'likes' me...?"

The words probably would have caused a greater shock if Light wasn't as sleepy as he was.

Instead, he gave a genuine little breathy laugh.

"…he likes you too."

It was all Light could come up with at the moment even being aware of the fact he hadn't outright denied L's knowing comment. He was too tired, and this conversation was pointless anyway...

One thing was cleared up though; L had been testing him, way to see if the mocking love confession had any meaning to it.

Thing is, Light wasn't sure what conclusion his reactions had affirmed. But it did mean no real feelings were being harbored to Matsuda and the thought somehow made Light relax, his mind feeling at ease at last.

Good, because Matsuda wasn't worthy of the World's Greatest weirdo Detective's attention or admiration… no one was.

Except for maybe someone at his level…

It was a paradox, the way Light hated L's guts but actually had great respect for the him at the same time.

"Goodnight, Light-kun."

It was said in a soft low voice, sounding extremely close to his ear too - and judging from the hot breath he felt ghosting along his cheek, it probably was.

Light's only response was a content sigh, as he finally let oblivion claim him.

A/N:

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