A/N: … … Damn. Lol.

I tried to stay away. I'm even working on other stuff as I write this, darn it! But I… just couldn't resist… the pull…

Here's the drabble collection I said I wouldn't start until I was finished with another of my stories. Double damn. Lol. But in my defense, I just can't help myself! I have no self-control!

Le sigh.

This will include old and new A/U's; for those who don't know what I'm talking about, this is a sort of extension of my other drabble series, "Che Sarà, Sarà", which some of these A/U's will stem from (this one included). So basically, in order to understand some of the A/U's in this collection to the best of your ability, you'll most likely need to familiarize yourself with my other collection of drabbles, but it isn't necessary. I won't try to make it confusing, promise.

For those of you wondering and who have already have read CSS, welcome back to the Orphan A/U. Ha ha, yes, love me, I've brought them back! ^.^

Title: Broken Links

Our New World: Part I

Light brown eyes glistened as they kept themselves trained in front of them, the arms wrapped around the torso of the owner of said eyes tightening in response to the sudden silence now permeating the room.

"You worry too much, Raito-kun." L whispered against the 19-year-old's ear, the once-orphan practically trembling within his arms. "Soon, everything will be alright. Trust in me."

"I…" Wanting to curl up into the embrace and just stop thinking, Raito held onto his impulses and reigned in his self-control, not noticing just how tenuous his grip over his emotions actually were. "Is it… is it normal to be this scared, L? What we're doing… this… this isn't…"

"We've spent the better part of ten years running," L murmured against the boy's ear, his own exhaustion getting the best of him as he kept his lover close to his person, "how much longer can we keep doing this without finally falling apart, Raito?"

Raito said nothing as he closed his eyes, a salty sting assaulting his corneas as a warm breath of exhalation brushed the outer shell of his ear.

This was it.

After everything they'd both suffered, soon, with their newest plan about to be put into action…

They'd both be free.

Years of despair would be justified; they'd be able to live the lives they had always wanted with each other.

"I love you…" Raito muttered in his native tongue, the cold city lights pouring in through their apartment window and highlighting their thin silhouettes.

The pair of arms wrapped around his waist tightened for one split second before they fell lax against his sides and the body beside him (cocooning him) dropped into a light slumber.

However sleep did not come easily to Raito-

And it wouldn't for a long time thereafter.