Title: Still Learning
Name of creator: @lovelierblank
Created for: @neverescape
Prompt: ‘You soppy shit’
Characters: L / Light
Rating, warnings and no. of words (for fics): K? No warnings, 804 words
“You’re sleeping tonight?”
“Yes,” was L’s reply, flat as usual, though muffled against the pillows as he dropped down onto the bed beside Light and took his place.
Light watched him as he lay there on his back for a while, eyes still wide open, though slowly drooping. L getting himself to sleep was a process, and it wasn’t an easy one more often than not. Since he cared about his health, Light was always willing to do anything that would help. Or so he always thought to himself, but… as it turned out, L had recently found out his own strategy.
Knowing what was to come, Light couldn’t stop his face suddenly heating up as he felt L beside him shift against the sheets and turn to face him, the warmth of his own body pressing against his side. L’s arms wrapped themselves round his middle, his dark hair tickling Light’s neck as he buried his face into it, eyes now closed.
Light hadn’t questioned this yet. It wasn’t like he minded it; no, he didn’t mind being… cuddled at all, but it was never something he pictured someone like L initiating, or even wanting – in the time they had been together so far, it had often been hard to get him to open up, and it was still somewhat rare to receive affection from him. He still prioritized his work above all else; at the cost of everything else, just like always. At times, Light had even been worried that L was even scared of it, or even scared of him.
But, when Light had insisted he stop overworking himself so much and try to overcome his sleeping problems, he’d agreed to try and find his own solution. And, after some trial and error… this was apparently what they’d ended up with. L actually cuddling up to him as close as possible, holding Light as if he’d lose him if he let go.
In any case, maybe it was time to question things now – while Light may have been able to guess what his friend, and now partner was thinking most times, at all others he honestly didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on in his head.
“…Ryuuzaki?” he started hesitantly, still using the alias he’d become so familiar with.
Though by now L had decided to trust him with the knowledge of his real name, it still felt somehow inappropriate to refer to him with it – at least for now.
Eyes opening again, L replied sleepily, “Yes, Light-kun?”
Turning to face him, Light lamented the lack of warmth as he put some more distance between them so they could talk easier. “I was wondering… if doing this really helps you.”
“…Oh.” A blink later, L was more or less wide awake already, staring back at him with his usual unreadable expression. “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
…I definitely should’ve expected this kind of roundabout response. “W-well, yes, but… I was wondering…”
“…Mm?”
Light pressed, “Why does it help? I just wanted to know.”
L suddenly went silent, chewing on his thumb with his wide eyes looking up at the ceiling. Light knew this look; he did this when he was trying to tease him. Not that it was always a bad thing, but… was he not going to give him a proper answer?
It was always hard to know when L was willing to give up any information. While normally he’d be up for the challenge, Light was trying to get to sleep himself and didn’t have too much time for this… “Seriously, I just want to know. If you’re not going to tell me…”
“There’s no need to get worked up over it,” L replied, pensive expression now replaced by a small, impish (and incredibly cute) smile.
“I’m not,” Light insisted, exhaling through his nose and getting ready to turn back over, not expecting to get his answer.
“I can tell that Light-kun wants to hear me say that I like being so close to him… Right?”
Light froze, face burning as the words registered in his mind. He slowly looked back over at L, who was now grinning. “…If that’s what it is, then…”
“…Light-kun, please listen to me for a little,” L murmured into his shoulder, fingers bundling in the fabric of his shirt. “I’m still doing things at my own pace. I’m sorry if it’s difficult to put up with me for now, but… I promise I’m trying my best for you.”
…I really just heard that, right?
Eyes widening, Light turned back to face the other and pulled him flush into a hug, unable to stop himself from smiling like an idiot against his neck.
“Ryuuzaki… I never thought I’d say this, but you’re really a soppier shit than I thought.”
