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Intelligence is a sword L yielded with great power. He made it into a job, to solve the world’s impossible crimes; He’s used it to defeat thieves, cults, murderers, liars, gods, and the worst monsters crawling out of the deepest depths of hell. He can come face-to-face with death like it’s any other regular occurrence. And yet, all of them combined meant nothing compared to what you can do to him. The only heart that somehow found room to feel love for someone with the likes of him. Your actions are the only things that could defeat the greatest of minds; whether you smile that day could make or break his entire attitude towards the NPA task force.
Life plays such a cruel joke, granting him a double-edged sword, perfecting his ability to read lips. As he scrolls through the cameras, his empty, cold black eyes stop on you, watching intently through the TV screen.
“I know I should love him for who he is. I mean I chose Lawliet, regardless of being L and his unusual ways of solving mysteries.”
“But… Kira is the cause of two of our closest colleagues DYING, and he’s acting like they were numbers on a scale- like nothing happened! We were the first people they told about the engagement, for god’s sake!”
You begin to fasten your pace around the room, your fingers running through your hair.
“I mean, it was not much of a shock when I read Raye’s name in the list of FBI agents. He’s still on duty. But to see him again in the deceased file-” Your voice breaks as you swallow your words.
“I JUST met Mimi a few days ago, and somehow she’s dead that same week. I tried to call her to make sure she ended up safe, and- and then I heard the sirens…”
”She kills herself from the grief, and L is too focused on trying to catch Kira that anything I say is pointless! It simply flies right over his head…”
You managed to plop down against the soft armchair. Your head shifts to your hands, voice muffled. Your fingers were like jail bars, doomed to be pressed against your eyes.
“It’s just- sometimes I just wish that he could turn away from being a detective, and talk to me- listen to me like a regular guy.”
“I don’t think you can choose who to love.” Watari’s voice cuts through your spiralling.
“You just do. It’s human nature. You should not be ashamed of being human.”
A soft chuckle comes from your lips, as your hands drop and your eyes move to Watari’s still frame.
“You know, if we make it out of this case, I know some people who I think you’d really be interested in~”
“No, thank you, y/n. I am very much in a happy, committed relationship.”
“WHAT?!” You jump out of the chair in excitement.
“You never told me, Watari! Who-“
The door opens, and a frail figure shuffles in. Your head turns to meet L’s, the same soft, warm presence you fell for all those years ago. Speak of the devil…
He breaks the tension as his stare pulls away from yours, to look at the butler.
“Watari. Mind if I take y/n away from you? There’s something we must discuss.”
His hand gently wrap around your wrist and leads you down the hallway to his room. You look behind, and see Watari’s subtle nod before his distant figure disappears behind the shut door.
“Is there something you need from me, L?”
You carefully muster up, looking around the plain hotel bedroom you’ve grown accustomed to for the past few months.
“Let’s talk.” He simply states, as he sits on the edge of the bed, patting at the spot beside him.
Your eyes widen in disbelief, frozen in place. You couldn’t believe your ears, so he continued despite the silence.
“It’s been a while since we were able to talk casually. Surely, there have been some things on your mind, and I haven’t been able to fulfill my obligations as your partner to be there for you.”
“L, it- it’s nothing. I know that the case has been-“
“Lawliet.” He cuts you off, his eyes fixed on you.
“The Kira case can wait, y/n. I want to listen. It could be the most important thing in your life or the most boring parts of your day, let me.”
“Okay…” You sit next to him. “Well… ”
You begin rambling about whatever is on your mind. Starting off slow and simple: some gags that happened at the office when he’s away, the new cake flavour the local bakery released that you wanted to share with him, the popular romance movie Matsuda kept mentioning.
As you continued to talk, L nodded and asked small follow-up questions, committing any details to memory. Then you grew more relaxed, finding your head resting on his shoulder, and more thoughts began to emerge, specifically the people plaguing your thoughts.
“You know I saw what Mimi was supposed to wear… She looks so beautiful.” You snuffled, your sincere smile wavering.
“And Raye always joked that we’d be the ones to go out in a blaze of glory.”
“We were supposed to watch them walk down the aisle, not be lowered six feet underground. I thought they would be the couple that could make it past anything.”
“I miss them too.” He wipes the tear that ran down your cheek.
“But believe me, their legacy will not be forgotten. WE will avenge them.”
He stretches out his arms, and you jump into his chest into a deep embrace. Your head dug into the crook of his neck, and his fingers lay between strands of hair.
“I thought you hated touch.” You teased.
“Yeah, well, I can make an exception this time. I’m still human after all.”