Death Note timeloop AU where Light wakes up on the morning of January 28, 2010 with memories of dying on a filthy warehouse floor. His immediate instinct is to take out a single scrap of paper from his watch and write down the name 'Nate River'.
When they arrive at the warehouse, the SPK is distraught and leaderless. The task force is horrified by the news. Everyone vows to see this through to the end while Light eagerly waits for Mikami to arrive and take the rest of them out.
Right as Mikami reveals himself, Light feels his chest tighten and his world goes black, sending him right back to the morning of January 28, 2010.
Light tries again and again and again. He writes Near's name more times than he can remember. Writes it at different times, writes in different causes of death, squeezes all their names onto that single scrap of paper. Yet without fail, his heart gives out at the exact same time every single rewind.
On his nth rewind, Light's had enough. When he wakes up, he no longer reaches for a pen. Doesn't even check his watch. He lets it all play out until they arrive at the warehouse, where everything is exactly where it's always been. Except for Near. Light hasn't seen him since the first time, but immediately he can sense something's wrong.
Near has no mask on. He's standing. And as soon as they make eye contact, Near starts walking towards him. Calmly at first, then with an underlying sense of urgency. For the first time in a long time, Light's heart races instead of stops.
Near snatches his wrist and reveals the scrap of paper to the warehouse. Light is apprehended, held down against the filthy floor by Near's team as his own team surrounds him with weapons drawn. He waits to be rescued by a heart attack reset that never comes. Staring up at Near, grip tight around Light's watch, he realizes that Near remembers everything too.
