Time slowly ticked by, each second somehow a different length than the last. Light picked his head up, eyes dull from the years of imprisonment, his muscles sore and aching as he trudged around his cell.
The door opened and his head snapped up, eyes narrowing to slits as the familiar man entered his cell. Light’s only visitor.
“L,” he drawled, pacing around his small room.
L watched him warily. A part of him felt something akin to guilt for leaving Light alone in his own cell, cut off from other people. But he didn’t have a choice. When Light had a cellmate, the genius had managed to manipulate them into trying to help Light escape.
If Light was allowed with other inmates in the yard, he would get them all to fight just for his own entertainment.
He’d snuck nuts into an inmate’s food when they were allergic and had used the distraction to try and run. He’d make himself a beloved figure and both inmates and guards alike had died for him.
He was a perfect monster.
Yet at the same time, L recognized that Light’s brain hungered for puzzles and games. There was only so long someone like him could go on with the mind numbing boredom.
L sighed and brought out a chessboard, already beginning to set up the pieces. Light whirled around, something crazed behind his eye.
“Let me out,” he pleaded, quickly sitting down. “I’ll be under constant supervision by the guards! I just want to go outside.”
“You’ll just seduce them and convince them to help you escape,” L hummed knowingly.
Light scowled and bitterly glared at the board.
“This isn’t fair! How long have I been here?! Two, three years?”
His hand suddenly shot forward, tightly gripping L’s wrist. L’s eyes flashed in alarm and behind him, the guard held up his weapon. But L simply waved nonchalantly. Light wasn’t stupid enough to try and hurt him.
“I’m going crazy,” Light hissed, and L saw... something in his eye.
Fear. Fear for his sanity. A genuine emotion. L sucked in a sharp breath, watching Light intently. A realization came to him. His brain gave him the image of a sly beast, probably fox-like in nature. Slinking around the cell, claws dripping with blood. The monster was howling pitifully and scratching at the door, suffering for its very nature.
He was quiet for what felt like the longest time, the only sound coming from the clock on the wall.
The detective finally leaned back.
“... Fine. You can help me on my cases. We can be handcuffed like we were on the Kira case.”
Light gaped, his eyes popping in shock. L’s throat bobbed. No doubt Light would find a way to turn this around to benefit himself, but L would cross that bridge when he came to it.
Light was a monster not meant for captivity.
