Chapter Text
The highlight of L’s day was always the moment he got to school and found Light smiling at him. It was just something about the sparkle in his eyes that always managed to brighten up L’s entire day and, without even noticing it, he always ended up smiling back, although his was a bit shier.
Light waved him over to the small wall on which he was sitting, feet happily swinging just a few inches above the ground. There were people around him, as always, but L delighted in the small things, such as how Light’s attention was completely focused on him. Not that he could really dwell into it, what with how they had been best friends for almost four years now, yet he allowed his mind a moment to wonder every now and then.
“Hey there, handsome,” the brown haired grinned once he was close enough, and L didn’t even spare him a second glance. After all, the affectionate – and teasing, L reminded himself – nicknames had been a thing between them for a while now. “Did you miss the train? You arrived a bit later than usual.”
Shrugging and adjusting his messenger bag, L approached Light more once the people who had been talking to him gave him room to do so. “No, I walked today. There were a few things I had to think about and the weather seemed fit,” he explained, looking up to the cloudy and yet slightly sunny sky, wanting to avoid his friend’s gaze.
A hum came from Light then. That was when L noticed he was acting a tad odd that morning. He decided not to comment on it, though, knowing that Light would tell him if he wanted to. His friend bit down on his bottom lip. “Yeah…Hm, I actually have been thinking about something to.” At this, his eyes darted from the ground, to L, and back to his feet.
There was a blush rising on Light’s cheeks and L immediately raised an eyebrow. Light blushed all the time, but he could sense there was something different happening. Because his cheeks usually got red when he looked at L for too long, or when L called him pretty, but never out of the blue. “Would you like to share it?” L finally asked. “You know you can tell me anything.”
After glancing around and realizing his other friends had left them alone in favor of going to class, Light took a deep breath, averting L’s eyes like the plague. “Mikami asked me out last night. I’m thinking about saying yes,” Light admitted, his gaze rising from the floor to watch L’s reaction to the confession.
As for himself, L simply stopped breathing. He had been in love with his best friend for two years now, obviously he had been there for Light whenever he decided to engage in one or end a relationship. Still, it had been at least six months since Light even thought about going out on a date.
“Oh,” L answered, his features rearranging themselves in a frown without his consent. “Well, do you like him?” he inquired, because, really, there was nothing else he could do. His heart was hammering against his chest and, not for the first time, his mind wondered what would happen if he asked Light out.
Immediately, he pushed the idea away. Risking losing Light’s friendship wasn’t something he was willing to do, even if his fingers almost ached to reach out and brush that stray lock of hair away from his forehead. “I-I don’t know…But maybe it’s worth a shot?” Light pointed out, actually sounding disappointed.
Not understanding what could have made him feel this way, L was about to say something else when suddenly the bell rang. Light jumped from where he was sitting, their height difference making L almost tower over him. “What do you think I should do?” he asked then, eyes glued to L’s, almost begging him for help.
And damn it, all L wanted to do was telling him that no, it wasn’t worth a shot, he could make Light so much happier than Mikami. Obviously, though, that wasn’t what came out of his mouth. “Perhaps accepting is the best option. It can’t hurt,” L said, almost laughing out loud at the irony. How was it that it couldn’t hurt if it was already?
For some reason he couldn’t explain, the sparkle in Light’s eyes disappeared and he simply nodded weakly. “Yes, I guess it can’t,” he agreed, turning around to head towards his class. Apparently remembering something, though, Light glanced his way above his shoulder. “Are you still taking me home after class?”
What a stupid question. L took Light home every single day since they became best friends, even the days when he didn’t come to school. “Of course,” the dark-eyed answered with a fond smile that was matched by a small one from his best friend before he disappeared inside the building.
The moment Light was out of sight, L almost hit himself. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and refrained from kicking the wall Light had been sitting on. How could he have handed Light to Mikami on a fucking silver plate?! Stupid! If he had said no he knew Light wouldn’t have accepted it.
But no, of course he had to be the good friend and tell him to say yes. Because it couldn’t hurt. Couldn’t hurt; couldn’t hurt his goddamned ass, that’s what couldn’t hurt! Why couldn’t he just tell Light how he felt? It would be so much easier. Sure, Light would be disgusted and would never look at him again, but at least then he wouldn’t have to stand by and watch Light going out with Teru freaking Mikami.
Knowing he couldn’t miss his first class, L took a deep breath and strode into the hallways, ignoring anyone who tried talking to him. By the time he was sitting at Biology and had his pencil twirling between his fingers, hearing the teacher explaining things he already knew and the girls to his right talking about stupidities he didn’t want to know, L just wanted to vent about how he was feeling. However, he would never do that with someone he actually knew.
“So did you go on Omegle last night?” one of the foolish girls asked, making L almost glare in their direction. Couldn’t they just shut up for two seconds? He didn’t know what was worse, the teacher trying to make the class pay attention by saying that topic would be on the test, or the girls who were trying to control their fit of giggles.
The other leaned closer to reply. “Yes, I talked to the cutest boy ever! It’s really a shame that Omegle doesn’t give you any information on the people you talk to, but I did get him to give me his phone number!” she declared with a grin, sounding way too excited for talking to a stranger in a website that refrained from giving information on the person you talk to.
A website that refrained from giving information on the person you talk to? Well, he didn’t have anything to lose, so why not give it a try, right? Trying not to scoff at himself, L pulled his phone from his pocket and ignored the message alert on his screen. He didn’t write down any interests and simply clicked the ‘text’ button once the site loaded.
Stranger: I hate my best friend.
Immediately, L frowned. Okay, so apparently an answer was expected of him. Setting his pencil down, he glanced at the teacher to make sure he wouldn’t come and take his phone away before typing.
You: I’m in love with mine.
Not even two seconds passed before the stranger replied.
Stranger: That’s exactly why I hate mine.
Stranger: I’ve been trying to make him understand I’m in love with him for almost three years and he never gets any of my clues!
Taking pity on the stranger, L decided to let him talk first.
You: Well, you win, then. I’ve only been in love with mine for two years. What have you tried doing until now?
A raising voice had L looking up, but it was just a boy trying to sound funny and failing miserably. Rolling his eyes, L returned his attention back to his phone, surprised to see that the stranger had already replied.
Stranger: Ugh, so many things, I don’t even know where to start.
Stranger: Okay, there was this one time we went to a party and I pretended to be drunk and kept telling him I loved him and all he would say was ‘you’re drunk, you won’t even remember this in the morning’.
Stranger: I even changed in front of him to try to get some kind of reaction, but he barely even looked at me!
Despite himself, L let out a small chuckle.
You: This friend of yours truly seems to be clueless of your affections towards him.
Stranger: Right?! He’s just too frustrating!
Stranger: Please distract me, talk about what you love in your best friend.
Hearing the bell ring, L sighed.
You: Give me a minute. I’m in school and the bell has just rung.
As fast as he could, L swung his bag over his shoulder and headed towards his next class. He caught a glimpse of Light just before he entered, their eyes meeting for a hint of a second. His friend gave him a little smile and went by his way, and it was clear that he was still sad about whatever upset him.
Once he was seated and was sure that the teacher wouldn’t complain about his using his phone, he unlocked it and slightly smiled at realizing that the stranger had waited for him.
Stranger: Okay.
You: Apologies, I’m back. About my best friend…I just saw him a minute ago and there are literally no words to describe how amazing he is. There are times when I would dare say he’s perfect.
The reply took a while longer to come now, making L wonder if the stranger was busy with something else. Well, surely they would just log out if they were.
Stranger: What makes you say so?
You: His smile, for one. Whenever he smiles at me I feel like the luckiest person in the world. He looks gorgeous while smiling; it’s as if all of his features lit up at once. Stunning, to say the least.
Stranger: You really like him, don’t you? Tell me more.
Imagining the stranger laughing, L joined him, although his sounded almost pitiful.
You: Indeed. I love his voice, too. Every now and then we talk to each other through Skype to discuss a project or something, but we end up talking until we fall asleep. Those are actually the only nights when I actually get to rest, what with how I suffer from insomnia.
Stranger: I do that with my best friend, too. I always fall asleep first, though. His voice calms me down, especially when he sings. He has such a beautiful voice, it’s a shame that he doesn’t agree with me.
You: Honestly I can understand what he’s feeling. I sing to my best friend a lot, but without realizing it. He keeps on telling me to sing more often, but I’m too much of an introvert to do so.
Stranger: Well, you shouldn’t be. I bet you sound just as amazing as my stupid friend.
Many would see it as the stranger coming on to him, but L knew, from personal experience, that he was too in love with his own friend to do such a thing, especially with the way he kept on talking about him.
Their conversation lasted for the length of the entire school day. L even forgot to attend lunch, and by forgot you should understand that he willingly didn’t go because he didn’t want to take the chance of seeing Light accepting Mikami’s invitation. Besides, even if he had already done so, L would have to see the two side by side, and honestly he wasn’t sure if he would vomit or not at the sight.
So he talked to the stranger the whole time, and when the time finally came to take Light home, he was feeling a bit more confident on himself. With a smile at getting that time of Light’s day only to himself, he strode out of the classroom, actually excited to meet his best friend after spending the entire morning talking about him.
Or at least he was excited.
Until he saw Light leaving his class with Mikami’s arm around his waist.