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Sharing a bed with L was not for the weak.
“Ryuzaki, if you bring food into the bed one more time, I swear I’ll lose it.”
“Stop touching my face when you have sugar on your fingers.”
“It’s 3 am, stop chewing so loud.”
L rarely slept, or at least Light had never seen him sleep. Before, he had worked on the floor, which had been a hassle due to the chain constantly jingling and waking Light. Light now deeply regretted convincing L to work on the bed as he was often prodded at in his sleep by L’s elbows as he typed, and woken up by his incessant tapping and humming. It was an upgrade, though. This was as close as cuddling with L as he could get. Not like he wanted to. Just that it was.
“Ryuzaki, could you please shut that screen off? It’s so bright it’s messing with my sleep.” Light groaning, blinking at the shiny white glow.
“I apologise, but I need this level of brightness. I do understand that your circadian rhythm may be disrupted, but please bear with me.”
“Ryuzaki, no one needs the screen this bright.” Light sits up, blearily peering at the time in the corner. “Especially not at 2 in the morning! Jesus L, when do you sleep?”
“I sleep very little. I don’t need as much as a regular person does.”
“Yeah, I can tell.” Light sighs, flipping over onto his back and staring up at L. This was an unusual change from the usual dynamic of L staring at Light for uncomfortable amounts of time while biting his thumb, or eating cake, or whatever else the little weirdo did. “Why don’t you sleep?”
“Are you an insomniac?” Light asks, curiosity blooming in his chest at a chance to get to know the elusive detective. Something that would show that he wasn’t just a robot and was, in fact, a normal, functioning human being who needed rest like everyone else.
“I do find it difficult to sleep, yes,” L murmured around the tip of his finger in his mouth. He finally looks away from the laptop and directly into Light’s eyes, wide, owlish eyes unblinking.
Light sits up, closing L’s laptop and reaching over him to place it on the nightstand. Slowly, as if trying not to startle the detective, he wraps his arm around L’s shoulders, gently pulling him backwards onto the bed. He eases L onto his back, with all the grace of a baby deer on ice.
“Light, what are you doing? This is-“
“I’m trying to help you.” Light whispered in the darkness, awkwardly wrapping his arms around the detective.
L is frozen, shoulders tense. Light starts to worry that he’s messed up, done something wrong and ruined whatever strange relationship comes of being handcuffed together 24/7. He withdraws his arms and is about to start shuffling away and whispering apologies when L moves.
To his surprise, L flips onto his side, turning to look at Light. The dark circles under his eyes are still visible, even in the dim lighting. Finger no longer in his mouth, he moves closer, and Light doesn’t dare to move an inch.
In a painfully uncharacteristic move, he buries his face into Light’s neck, curling around him like a cat. Light sucks in a breath, before gently, tentatively reaching a hand around to hold L.
“Ryuzaki?” Light whispers to the detective, looking down at the man snuggled into him.
L mumbles something into his collarbone, and before Light can ask for clarification, he’s fast asleep, breathing slowly and steadily into Light’s slowly reddening neck.
Hesitantly, Light reaches his hand over to L’s hair, stroking it gently until he falls asleep.
-
The sun crawls up into the sky, filling the room with its orange glow. Light’s eyes blink open, and he looks down at the detective clinging onto him, black hair messier than usual and breathing softly, like he was scared to wake Light.
“You’re awake.” Light mumbled, still tired. Four hours was too little sleep. How did L do it every night?
The first thing L did was cling a little tighter to his shirt, like he was scared Light would leave if he let his grip loosen. He shuffles closer, now chest to chest with Light
“Warm.” L mumbles, the world’s greatest detective, seemingly overcome by a nap. “Light, stay and sleep more.”
“Ryuzaki, we have to-"
“Watari will take care of it.” L mumbles, glancing up at Light through his bleary, half-lidded eyes. In Light’s humble opinion, L looked adorable, all sleepy and clingy. “Please?”
“Okay, L. But we have to get up later.” Light says, to L’s visible disappointment. He scrunches up his nose, glaring softly at Light. He feels his resolve crumble as L stares at him. Fuck.
Light sighs. He could sleep for a few more minutes, couldn’t he? He nods, smiling gently at L. L’s face breaks into a small, sleepy smile, and he moves his face, pressing a small kiss onto the tip of Light’s nose, before nuzzling into his collarbone.
Light feels his face burn, and before he can form a response, L is fast asleep.