For @remisaweek! I adore them!
(The Misa and Rem designs here are vaguely based on myself & my fellow castmate in a recent cabaret I performed in, in which we sang Mortals and Fools!)
Unspoken rules consumed Rem's life like a parasitic infection. Misa was her vice, or rather she was Misa's. Perhaps both could be true at once.
or
Snippets of Rem and Misa's less-than-healthy relationship.
[written for @remisaweek 2026, day 5: pretty lies]
Pairing: Amane Misa/Rem
Notes: Human Rem (Death Note), Situationships, Rem Deserves Better (Death Note), Internalized Homophobia, Amane Misa is Not Okay
Unspoken rules consumed Rem's life like a parasitic infection. Misa was her vice, or rather she was Misa's. Perhaps both could be true at once.
Don't touch her too long in public.
A brush of the hand, the quickest tucking of her hair behind her ear, adjusting her shirt, or briefly pressing a palm to her lower back.
Rem had found ways around every rule. Not loopholes, really, just small things that felt on the brink of being illegal without actually crossing that line.
Never call unprompted.
A text or two, setting times beforehand, showing up at her house quietly in the middle of the night.
Sometimes Misa accepted things that Rem would have previously assumed even worse than breaking the rules. But it seemed like Misa didn't care if Rem followed her own interpretation of things. Plausible deniability, Rem guessed. As long as the rules were technically being followed, Misa felt secure enough not to complain or argue over it.
No petnames.
No labels.
No public dates.
And absolutely zero mention of their relationship to anybody apart from the two of them.
Misa rolls her eyes along with her entire head and drops her phone on her chest. "You know, we could just order in."
Rem tilts her head to watch her reaction better and frowns slightly. "I wanted to make you dinner myself."
A scrunch of her nose tells Rem that the desire isn't mutual. "Yeah, I heard you the first time, Rem..." Misa purses her lips and sits up with a heavy sigh, letting her phone fall onto the couch.
A moment of silence passes between them, then Rem steps closer. "Well, what would you like to order?"
Misa looks up at her and pouts slightly. She stares for a long time. "It's fine, just make dinner. I like pork cutlet." She reaches for her phone, not looking away from Rem yet.
Rem nods slowly. "I can do that."
"Cool! You're the best, Rem!" Misa smiles, letting her eyes close. And then she turns away to slouch casually on the sofa again.
There's a hint of pity in her eyes when Rem asks. Every time.
Misa shifts with discomfort and gives a tense smile. "Rem, it's not like that." She says, even though Rem made no accusations or assumptions. At least not out loud. "I'm just not ready for something serious, you know?"
Rem clears her throat, adjusting herself. She hadn't felt awkward about this until Misa made it seem like Rem was maybe a bit stupid for asking. "Right. I understand."
Misa nods slowly and they sit there for a bit without saying anything else.
"So when will you be ready?"
Misa seems to do a double take and laughs slightly. "What? I mean..." She shrugs. "I guess we'll see, right?"
Rem looks at Misa for a long, long time, then looks away without answering.
Rem is perfect for Misa, in her head. Just not the kind of perfect that Misa wants often enough. Misa is unsatisfied in the way a student is with a repeating fraction. Close and infinite, but never technically the number you were looking for.
99.9 repeating.
Easier to just go for the 80%, at that point, isn't it?
Misa cheers, lifting her glass into the air. Some of it splashes over the edge and she giggles. The sugar on the rim dissolves instantly as pink liquid spills onto Misa's hand.
Rem smiles and grabs her arm, gently lowering it to avoid a bigger mess. Misa sets her glass down and waves Rem away with a sharp look. Rem practically winces, her whole expression dropping as she takes a step back and leans against the bar top.
Toward the end of the night, Misa naturally gravitates back toward Rem. She's empty-handed, having left her purse with Rem and her drink in the hand of a man she didn't know.
"Remmm," Misa whines, leaning against Rem's side. "Let's go hommme."
Rem opens her mouth, but hesitates. She closes her lips, swallows thickly, then nods. "Alright."
Black satin dahlias. They weren't technically Misa's favorite flower, but Rem didn't want to get her roses or lilies.
It was just a small bunch, no bouquet. And Misa seemed happy, smiling brightly and thanking her with a kiss on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday, Misa." Rem says quietly.
Misa's smile somehow managed to brighten even further. "Aww... Thanks for remembering, Rem." She says, her voice lowering slightly and her lips tightening uncomfortably.
Rem stares at them for a moment, noting the pinkish tint. "You're... welcome."
Misa pauses for a moment, flashes another smile, and then turns around to find a vase for the flowers.
"Misa." Rem breathes a sigh of relief as Misa finally answers her phone. "Listen. My father is–"
"Rem." Misa responds slowly. "I told you not to call me like this."
Rem feels her whole body grow cold. "I know," she answers just as slowly. "But this is an emergency."
Misa hums. "Look, I'm busy, okay?"
Of course she is.
"Maybe another time." Misa continues, then hangs up.
Rem sits listening to the silence before she pulls her phone away from her ear, scrolling through her contacts in hopes of finding someone to help her while she stays in the hospital with her sick father.
Misa could be cruel and selfish. Rem was well aware of this. But so rarely does Misa seem to take advantage of people. She's sweet, she really is.
Rem wonders is pretending this often is making her see things that aren't there. Misa is sweet. But she's also stubborn. Rem can't convince her of something she doesn't already believe.
It's worth it, isn't it? Rem likes being with Misa, even if it's not exactly what she had in mind. Rem wants to stick around, if Misa will allow it. No matter how much it hurts.
Isn't that kind of devotion the exact thing Misa would admire? It's not like Rem hides her feelings. Misa knows. Rem knows too.
