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Light enters his father’s office, a sack of clean, neatly folded clothes in his arms. His father had been working late on the PD leak case, just as he had worked late on most other cases he was stuck on. This would have frustrated Light Yagami, who was by all others’ accounts the perfect son and college student, his homework perfect and on time every time. By his own account, though, Light was a genius, and had been hacking his way into his father’s police records to doxx the most heinous criminals who had been released. It was hard work, and harder work to hide, but he told nobody and hid the login information for his various criminally active social media accounts where nobody would ever stumble across it. Everybody he knew, and even most he didn’t, looked at him like he was a smart, nice guy.
Which is why Light Yagami was confused when the pale man sitting curled up in his dad’s office stared at him - it felt more like through him - as if he could read Light’s intentions fully. He was here to ask his father how the case was going, as if it was normal small talk and not classified information. He couldn’t do that with one of the detectives sitting in the office staring him down. Taking in the rest of the room, he noticed the service dog laying next to the figure and staring, with its big, brown, labradoodle eyes, just as its owner was. Remarkable, how much a dog can look like its owner. Light introduces himself, and offers the bag to his father.
“Nice to meet you, Light Yagami.” The figure offers no name in return. Light thinks to himself how relieving an eye roll will be when he leaves the room, seeing as this person wasn’t matching the conventions Light thought were mandatory in social interactions.
“Someone new on your team, dad?”
“Yes, he’s helping with the case from… another department.”
“Really? Must be a big one then, huh.”
“You can call me Ryuzaki.” L offers, unprompted. He speaks quickly and monotonously, sometimes forgetting to breathe or blink, as if reciting something he just memorized and didn’t want to forget. “And I know you’re curious about the dog. Here are the frequently asked questions I receive about him. What type of dog is that? He’s a chocolate labradoodle. His name is Al, which is short for Alan Turing. He is a trained service animal who assists me in my daily activities, and is therefore permitted to enter any establishment with me.” He blinks twice, to catch his eyes up with his mind. Light blinks afterwards, confused.
His father sighs. “Ryuzaki can be… Overwhelming… But he is vital to our investigation.”
“Mr. Yagami, do you mind if I speak to your son alone?” L doesn’t look away from Light.
“What?” Light tries to laugh it off, “Dad, I think Ryuzaki’s a fan of yours.”
“No,” L denies, “I’ve been suspecting an inside job for a while, and I’ve got concerns that a family member is to blame for the recent data leak here. Since you’re here, it wouldn’t hurt to take a statement from you, right?” L smiles, and finally breaks eye contact, to look at Soichiro “innocently.”
He sighs and nods to L, looking exhausted. L pulls out his phone and taps out a message. The phone vibrates, and L stands up suddenly, smiling. “Right this way, Light Yagami.”
His father mouths a quick “sorry”, and Light is wondering just how much context he’s missing.
-
In the interrogation room, L sits with his knees tucked against his chest. Al rests next to him on the floor. Light sits rigid in the chair across from him. “First, Light, surely you’re curious about this, since you are studying to become a detective yourself. Ask me any questions you have, and I’ll answer.”
Light pauses for a second, to look dazed. “Guess my dad mentioned me, huh? Yeah, I’m studying to become a detective, too. Honestly, I’ve been so busy with school I didn’t realize exactly what case my dad was working on so late. I was just having dinner with my sister and we thought of sending him some clothes. I’m happy to answer any questions you have.” To L, this sounded almost rehearsed, as if Light had gone over the scenario in his head a few times before letting it slip.
“I’m L.” He smiles, and Light’s heart nearly stops. “But, continue to call me Ryuzaki when there are others around. As you likely know, I’m a detective from abroad, and not a single case has gone cold under my watch. That being said, I was investigating a worldwide case in the area, and that investigation led me to this one. I believe the culprit of this data leak is the same person who has been doxxing criminals online.”
Well… Shit. “I thought L didn’t show his face.”
“I’m not L,” he puts a thumb to his lower lip, smug. “I’m Ryuzaki.”
“Do I fit the profile you’re looking for?”
“Yes. You’re young, and therefore likely social media savvy, as well as having a connection to the police. Of course, I have yet to collect solid evidence of any particular suspect.” L’s condescending face really, really creeps Light out. “Since you’re an aspiring investigator, would you like to join me on the case?”
-
“Let me get this straight. You suspect my son has been hacking into my computer, and the appropriate response to this is inviting him to work on the case with us?”
“Yes. He will reveal himself if he’s guilty, and prove himself innocent if he is. Light has a strong mind. I want to keep an eye on him.” Light rolls his eyes from behind L, now knowing his father would understand the frustration that is working with this racoon of a man. L demanded things be done his way, and sees himself as superior enough that argument would result in retaliation or, worst case scenario, threats. This small man had power and knew how to use it. Light wondered exactly what sort of information he could gather on this Ryuzaki character.
“Light, what exactly did Ryuzaki ask you in that interrogation room?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure he asked any questions. Mostly, he just talked at me.” Another sigh. He wondered if he could convince his dad to take a day off, now that he was seemingly so annoyed with his profession.”But I think working with Detective Ryuzaki may prove useful on my resume.”
“Of course it would. You’d be a fool to turn me down, Light-kun. Forgive me, but I really would be confused working with two people called Yagami-san, and your father ranks higher than you do, so he gets to keep his formality.” L looked expectantly at Light, as if he was gauging whether or not the criminal would lose his composure. Fortunately for Light, he knew to be composed when facing his father, so instead he only thought fondly about what angle a punch would break L’s nose the most painfully.
“Alright, then. I suppose that means we should share our evidence with him.”
“I’ll email a brief to your son, and he can join us tomorrow after reading it.”
“What about my classes?”
“We work in the afternoons and evenings, it will not be necessary to miss class.”
-
Weeks later, a skyscraper reached completion, and the other detectives were thrilled to see Light and L, along with L’s chosen detectives, leave the police department. They had learned to exit any room as soon as the both of them occupied it, lest they bear witness to some intense debate that could end in laughter or rage. If anything was obvious, it was that these men had some sort of connection, seeing as they already fought like an old married couple. The other detectives on their task force were pleased to see that someone had the guts to challenge L in his methods or ideas, and most of their meetings were ended early, while Light and L stayed late coming to some sort of conclusion. More than once, Light fell asleep in his chair next to L as L tapped away on his computer.
The skyscraper was beautiful, but Light couldn’t help but mock L for his extravagance. L rolled his eyes. “Obviously, I will be selling this building to the city after I am finished with it. I may be rich, but I’m not stupid, I don’t have any need to rent out office space in Japan.”
“So, what exactly is the purpose of the lower forty floors, Mr. Penthouse Office?”
“Al likes the view.”
“Al likes napping more, and you know it.” Light began unpacking his new office supplies, provided generously by L, at his personal desk.
L’s desk was already set up, the same setup he had at the police headquarters, but with more monitors. His assistant, Watari, had taken the liberty of preparing L’s workspace, as well as the other team members’. It seemed Light setting up his own desk was a special request L made. Light didn’t mind, as he was so particular that he would have rearranged everything anyways/ Perhaps L was already aware of this. Perhaps there was a reason Light’s desk was the closest to his own.
Watari entered, but not before pausing at the door and taking a breath. “Ryuzaki, I have some men here to build Alan’s penthouse.” Light rolled his eyes.
L stood up, and closed a divider between his workspace and the task force’s desks, staying on the task force side with Light. Al scurried across the barrier just in time. “Let them in, Watari. Thank you.” He sat in a chair next to Light and quietly watched as he arranged his keyboard, mouse pad, and notepad - he was making the most minuscule adjustments, but he was never satisfied. Light let him watch, even though it pissed him off a little bit, he’d be more concerned if L had lost interest in keeping an eye on him.
“Do you mind?” Light gestured to a package of pens. Wordlessly, L passed him the package.
The two had come to an understanding. Arguments were fun, but respect was important. To the outsider, it seemed that their relationship completely flipped from friendship to hatred at a pin drop, but the complexity of their unspoken rules were something that only they could understand. They’d be called crazy if they tried to explain.
“Can I ask you a personal question, Ryuzaki?”
“Of course, Light-kun, but it might raise my suspicions, so phrase it carefully.” A challenge, Light thought, he would consider arguing about later.
“I know you aren’t required to disclose this information, but I’m curious. What condition does Al help you with?”
L shrugged, nonchalant. “Most people ask sooner than this, so you’ve been quite respectful, but I don’t mind sharing. I have autism, and he knows when I get overstimulated, as well as what to do when that happens. He also knows how to be discreet so that nobody else notices, but I suppose you might have connected some of the dots.”
Images flash through Light’s mind, remembering behaviors he had picked up from the dog that seemed strange in passing. A needy bump into L’s hand with his head. A gentle tug at L’s pant leg. Each time this happened, L would find a convenient time to excuse himself, and he would return looking less frantic.
“Does he just lead you away?”
“No, he applies pressure therapy. Like a hug, without having to hug someone.” L plays at his lip with his finger. “Would you like to see?”
Light is taken by surprise. Wouldn’t this be considered a vulnerability? Maybe L had gone too long with no sleep, and as a result, his judgment was impaired. “Sure.”
L laid on the floor, and Al climbed on top of him. They both closed their eyes and L absentmindedly ran his fingers through the dog’s fur. His breathing slowed, almost like he was sleeping. “Does he ever make sure you go to sleep?”
“He tries, but I’m not a good listener.” L yawns.
“Do you need to go to bed, Ryuzaki?”
“No.” His voice is lazy. Clearly, the man needs some sleep.
“Al, how long has it been since your dear L went to bed?” The dog whined softly, making Light chuckle. Light stands up and begins to gather the leftover packaging from his desk, to throw away.
“Where is Light-kun going? It’s only six.” L sits up, and then stands, rubbing his eyes.
“You need sleep, and I refuse to distract you.”
L pauses, considering something, but he shakes his head. Light throws away the garbage. “Goodnight, L.”
But as he turns to open the door, Alan is sitting in the way. L smiles. “Come on now, Al, I need to go home.” He gets a stern barking to. Light looks between L and his dog, dumbfounded. Al tugs at Light’s pants gently. Light raises an eyebrow.
“He wants you to follow him.” L tilts his head. Al leads Light back to L, and tugs at L’s pant leg as well. “All right, I’m coming. What is it?”
-
Despite his lack of experience in this specific building, Alan knows exactly where to go and looks back occasionally to make sure the men are following him. He opens a door with his nose, and L rolls his eyes when he realizes what room they’ve been led to.
“Ryuzaki, does your dog know something about you that I don’t?” Light smiles, mocking, at the cushy bedroom with all white decoration in front of them. It looked plain, but extremely comfortable. L flushed his bright pink, his body betraying him.
“Al, no. It’s very rude to lead another man to my bedroom.”
“Maybe he thought he could use my help, since you refuse to sleep.” Light walked in and took in the rest of the room. A television, a small bookshelf, a deck of cards - so many things for mental stimulation. “What is your usual bedtime routine?”
“Fall asleep at my desk, monitoring footage. Obviously.”
“No wonder you don’t sleep, you keep your mind too busy. Here.” Light picked up the neatly folded pajamas from the foot of the bed. He wonders if they would have collected dust before their usage, had the dog not led L to bed. He held the pajamas out to L. “I’ll turn away so you can change.”
He did, and L put on a nearly identical white shirt, with some softer white silk pajama pants. He sat on the bed without saying a word. It took Light a moment to realize that L wasn’t going to share that he was done, so he turned back around slowly. L sat staring at the ground. “L, are you okay?”
“I don’t want to sleep.” Light sat next to him, any looks of triumph or cockiness gone from his concerned eyes.
“Why not?”
L shot a cold glare at Light, but he realized quickly that he was not being mocked, so he decides it might be safe to answer this truthfully. “I can’t turn off my thoughts,” he whispers, “it’s too loud.”
Light nods, understanding. “This is going to be strange, but is it okay if I try to help you fall asleep?” L nods, avoiding eye contact.
“First, you have to lay in the bed properly. So, stand up for a minute.” Light’s voice is soft and soothing, in complete opposition to his usual fiery and argumentative tone. This seemed more… Raw. Emotional and caring.
L stood up with a sigh. “I’m still making observations. It isn’t even on purpose.”
“I know.” Light pulled back the blankets and gestured to the bed, where L laid down and curled his legs towards him. Light pulled the blankets over him and lay on top of them, behind L.
“I don’t see how this will work.” Al jumps onto the bed and lays across the both of them. Light chuckles softly. No malice here. “... Oh.”
Light takes a deep breath, and runs his hands through the dog’s fur. “Tell me about the times you’ve fallen asleep in a bed, not your chair.”
“After I solve a case, I can sleep. I lay down and stay out for two to four days. Watari takes care of Al.”
“So the release of finishing your case allows you to get some rest?”
“Big dopamine hit.” L yawns again.
“Are there any other situations that give you enough dopamine to sleep for a shorter amount of time?”
“No. Sometimes Watari carries me to bed. I only sleep for about three hours when I pass out during a case.” Light’s hand travels from the dog’s head to L’s. L doesn’t seem to notice, his eyes closed and his breathing slowed. Light’s breath, however, hitches with the intimacy of the contact. He had never been that close to another person. He had never wanted to be. Had L experienced something like this before? Now was not the time to ask.
“I solve complex math problems in my head to get to sleep.” Light admits.
“Really? Those get me too excited.” L would never live that comment down. Light may be willing to forgive the way he nuzzles his head into the palm of his hand, if only because Light wanted him to do it more.
“Sayu sleeps holding a teddy bear.” Light yawns. “My father takes a sleeping pill.”
“I don’t like pills much, but Watari does have them, in case I get too bad.”
“That’s good to know.” Light yawns this time, followed by Alan, whose head leans to rest across Light’s arm, as if to say, you aren’t going anywhere.
At the very least, Light makes sure that L is asleep before he nods off next to him.