Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

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True Affection

Chapter 1- A Mistake

Steady hums and mechanical blips surrounded L, yet none of them disturbed him.

Perched in his seat with his knees to his chest, the wary detective meticulously scrutinized the many objects on the screens before him.

The only being in the room at such an hour, he contented himself with an intricately decorated tray, littered with cupcakes and shortcakes alike.

Holding his fork between a finger and a thumb, he shoved the utensil into one of the cakes and popped it into his mouth.

His cool eyes remained steady and unblinking on their multiple targets.

Every room appeared normal.

Watari was occupied with some type of reading and note-taking.

Light and Misa's room remained darkened.

An odd thought slithered through L's mind at this. Wordlessly, he sipped his hot sugar-clogged tea.

It wasn't unusual for the couple's lights to be out at such a late time. After all, unlike him, they actually slept.

But L couldn't help but wonder if they actually slept with each other or otherwise.

It was none of his business, but he was more concerned towards Light's treatment of Misa than their sex life.

The exuberant blonde practically threw herself at Light but he hardly seemed interested enough in her.

Acknowledging her existence seemed to be the most Light ever did towards her.

L didn't count his challenging other's false affection towards the girl as anything more than what it was. A farce.

Another piece of cake entered L's mouth.

Again, it was none of his business. Until...

"Ryuzaki..."

The murmur of the small voice immediately tore the detective's attention away from the monitors.

"Miss Amane..." his voice trailed off.

Not just because of the young woman that stood before him.

And not just because she managed to walk past the cameras without him seeing her.

But because of the fresh markings of cuts and swells that decorated her skin.

Before he realized it, he was out of his chair and standing hunched with his hands in his pockets in front of her.

Not out of rudeness, but to refrain himself from wanting to gingerly touch her face.

"D...Don't take this the wrong way!" the girl blurted out without thinking.

L inched a step closer to her trembling form. "Light... Did he do any of this to you?"

"No no! Misa-Misa's Light didn't do anything wrong!" she strongly defended, raising her voice. "These..." she gestured, aimlessly pointing to the incisions across her face and body, " are all Misa-Misa's fault..."

Technically, she wasn't lying. From her point of view, she had been in the wrong. She had messed up an order from Light. A simple, easy order. And he harshly scolded her for it. He had told her that because of her mistakes, he was set-back twice as much than he would have been if otherwise in creating his perfect world.

While the woman in Misa cried that it was wrong of Light to treat her in such a way, the lover in her denied all other circumstances and solely believed that her beatings were well received.

All Light did was shake her roughly by the shoulders and push her. Her clumsy body was to blame for harshly falling to the cold hard floors and colliding into other tangible objects.

It was all her fault.

Her fault.

"All my fault..." she murmured under her breath, not bothering to speak in the 3rd person.

L said nothing while he watched this girl practically break into pieces in front of him.

He wanted to console her; sweep her into his arms and let her know someone was there for her.

But she wasn't his to do so with.

Still, he decided to concede with her story and changed the subject.

"Have you eaten yet, Amane?"

"Huh?" she blinked, surprised he didn't press her further for information, but also grateful he didn't.

Faintly, the former glint that always wavered in her honey-brown eyes returned. "No, I haven't. Got anything tasty to eat?"

"Plenty if you don't mind eating cake at this hour." he informed placidly.

Misa cringed and made a face. "Cake?! Ugggh..."

"Still avoiding sweets, Amane?"

"Namely cake in particular!" she made another agonized expression then shook her head.

Something in L sparked anew when he witnessed one of the most tender smiles to caress her lips brighten her features.

"But what's one going to do? If I get in enough exercise before a shoot, I should be fine! The camera adds 10 pounds anyway..." she rationalized, walking closer to him.

Standing side by side, the two exchanged a mutual expression.

Comfort.

Giggling lightly to lighten the mood, Misa took his arm and led him over to the tray of cakes.

Before he could even utter a word, she began collecting a few of the little cupcakes and biting cutely into them.

A blank stare occupied L's face while he watched her, but he couldn't hide the faint dusting of carmine that fluttered to his cheeks.

It wasn't until a few moments later he realized she was eating all the strawberry ones.

"Waiiiit stop stop stop, Amane..." he warned, sliding the tray from her reach.

Her eyes were wide with confusion and annoyance. "What did you do that for, Ryuzaki?"

"What happened to eating just one?"

"Misa-Misa just couldn't help herself they were so good." she chuckled, licking her lips and consuming the remaining taste that lingered there.

L continued to ogle her. For a moment, he wished he could sample a taste of her.

But his lust melted into disappointment when he caught her sneaking glances at the large slices of strawberry shortcake behind him.

"Those would be mine."

"Hey Ryuzaki, you were the one who offered those dreadful, tasty sweets to Misa-Misa in the first place!"

"That is correct..." he commented lowly.

"So, Misa-Misa is hungry! Ryuzaki better not go back on his words now!"

He groaned. "I'd rather not get into an argument over my favorite dessert with you."

"Whaaat? That's Misa-Misa's favorite sweet too!"

He sighed. "Why am I not surprised..."

"Would you share, Ryuzaki?" Misa asked candidly, peering up at him with large curious eyes.

And instantly L's thoughts veered to Light.

With a half-frown, he turned his back to her. His alert eyes traveled upto the darkened square of the monitor to Misa and Light's dwelling.

'Odd. Why hasn't he started looking for her yet?' L pondered.

Not loving Misa was one thing, but not bothering to come look for the one that carried the injuries he inflicted upon her was another.

Was Light even aware of those injuries?

"I'm tired..." Misa suddenly spoke up.

L turned slightly enough to see one side of her. Her head was hung low and her bangs hid her dejected features from sight. L wasn't sure where'd she'd sleep tonight, but, still, he continued to keep the mood light. "That makes two of us."

She immediately perked up. "Do you ever sleep, Ryuzaki?"

"No." he responded flatly. "That's what so many sweets are for..." he sighed.

Misa giggled. The lyrical sound relaxed them both.

"That's a little creepy, but it seems to work well for you, I guess. Do you ever want to sleep?"

With the perfect, adulterated and truthful response on the tip of his tongue, he turned to her.

But one look in her enveloping eyes swallowed up any lascivious advances, regardless of how honest they may have been.

"There are sometimes, yes, but for whatever reason, I don't need any sleep right now."

"And you don't blink either. Do you ever close your eyes?"

He sighed. If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed them. But her face beamed with curiosity and allure, he couldn't just turn her away. And he especially couldn't do that when she needed the company of someone who actually cared.

Laughing lightly, Misa tossed a few locks of hair over her shoulder and took a few steps back. "That's the last question, Misa-Misa promises. Misa-Misa is getting sleepy so she'll be out of Ryuzaki's hair soon."

"You don't have to go." he spoke quickly and so softly, Misa didn't catch all of it.

"Huh?"

Instead of repeating himself, he looked away from her. The flickering monitors again carried away his unwavering gaze.

"...I will only close my eyes when I'm dead. Or..." he paused, turning to settle his eyes on her. "...for a very...very good reason." he stated, imagining for only a second what it would be like to kiss her.

"Hmmm" Misa agreed, then yawned. "Mm alright. Time for Misa-Misa to go."

"...Alright.

"Misa-Misa really appreciates Ryuzaki letting her stop by to talk. Misa-Misa actually really enjoyed his company."

L smiled crookedly at this, but allowed his work to occupy his eyes yet again. "Goodnight, Misa." he declared softly.

The young blonde caught the use of her first name so casually, but let it slide. "Oh, Misa-Misa almost forgot." she smiled, walking upto him and standing on her tippy-toes to plant a warm peck on his cheek.

L's eyes doubled in size and he turned just in time to see her golden tinted locks flutter behind her—and away from him.

"Goodnight!" her chipper voice called as she ran out of the room.

The dull sounds of technology swiftly returned. But compared to her voice, everything else had been silence.

Lightly, L brushed his fingers over the spot her lips brushed against his skin in awe.

Misa Amane had just given him a kiss. Again.

L stood there, motionless while his mind raced. He cursed Light for being with someone so loyal and precious.

But, now she was no longer in the room nor within his line of vision.

And yet again, the ordeals of her and Light became none of his business.

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My first DN fic. Hopefully, it'll be short.

-Mel