King Thrushbeard

by Rainbow_fairytale

Summary:

Yagami Light had a wonderful life ahead of himself, until a simple mistake caused him to be married to a foreign commoner. But Ryuzaki wasn’t exactly honest about himself…

Notes:

This is a story inspired by the Grimm Brother’s fairytale, ”King Thrushbeard”. There are a few differences to make the Death Note version work, but the original story is worth checking out.

This was originally going to be a writing event with some people I know, but everyone backed out. Regardless, I hope you enjoy! <3

Chapter 1: Suitors

Yagami Soichiro followed behind his son, praying to the highest god that his son would finally find a spouse. Light was now twenty-years-old, and Soichiro feared that his son would never marry. Light needed to marry and move to another kingdom, one that would provide for him and get him far away from the remaining Yagami family. Light, however, made the task incredibly difficult.

Light was one of the most beautiful men born under Soichiro's rule. With soft brown eyes, golden brown hair that almost looked like fire in the right lighting, pale lips, and a beautiful smile, he had been gifted with natural beauty. As he had grown older, he had only become more beautiful: his eyelashes grew longer, his voice became deeper, he became taller, and his Adam's apple became more prominent. He had hundreds of suitors, many of them from foreign lands that Soichiro had only heard about in hushed whispers. Light's beauty enamored men and women alike, and Soichiro turned away no suitors. The reason Light wasn't married had nothing to do with a lack of suitors. The reason Light wasn't married was because he thought he was simple too good for his suitors, causing him to turn them down. Every single one of them.

"Light, you need to choose a suitor tonight."

Light gave him an arrogant smirk, a mischievous look in his eyes. "Of course, otou-sama."

Soichiro hated when Light called him that. Light only used respectful honorifics when he was going to do underhanded or mean things. "Son, please. I only want what is best for you. I understand that you are hesitant to get married, but you simply must. Your sister did."

"Sayu-chan isn't like me." Light tilted his head at his father. "I'll marry a suitor as long as they have no flaws."

Soichiro knew several of the suitors in attendance. They were all beautiful, captivating in their own ways. Surely one of them would make Light feel something. "I expect you'll find someone."

"You say that every time," replied Light, sounding thoroughly bored.

Soichiro hated to admit Light had a point. This was the fourth— and last— set of suitors, and Light had chased away all the other suitors. "The other nights were different. You are wearing a different outfit. You are so dazzling that I'm sure someone will simply snatch you up."

Dressed in his dark blue kimono, midnight blue hakama, baby blue haori, white obi with a haori himo shaped like a moon attached to it, and a tan pair of setta sandals, he looked like a true king. Light blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, otuo-san."

Soichiro pushed the door open, allowing all the suitors to look at Light. Silence swept through the room, all the conversations left unfinished. All eyes were on Light, the most beautiful man anyone in the room had ever seen. Soichiro noticed that some of the suitors stared at Light with a look of lust, and he decided that he would have some of the shrine maidens come and purify the room after. Light had everyone's attention, and he loved every moment, even if he acted nonchalant.

"Everyone, my son will be going around to judge everyone. Please form a line, and my son will be around to see you soon," ordered Soichiro, seeing all the suitors form a line.

Light strolled up to the first suitor, giving him an assessing look. Dressed in a fine red kimono and a ruby red necklace, he looked like Light's other half. His lips were coated in a blood red substance, drawing attention to his pale skin. In a soft voice, he purred, "Yagami Light-san, it is an honor to meet you."

"Too pale. Next!" ordered Light, moving on to the next suitor before the man could get another word out.

The next suitor was a handsome man with a moderately muscular build. With hair as dark as a raven's feathers and kind eyes framed by a contraption Soichiro had never seen before, he looked rather classy. He wore a pale green kimono with a white hakama, a look he managed to pull off rather well. His eyes were filled with reverence as he gazed at Light. "Light-san, you are simply the most divine person I have ever seen. I am honored to be here. Speaking with you is the greatest honor of my life."

"Is that so?" Light cocked an eyebrow at the man. "Then you should enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime privilege. It will never happen again. You talk too much. Next!"

A wide-eyed man with incredibly short hair was the next suitor. He was dressed in a rather large sack, although he had clearly had it turned into a dress. Soichiro admired the man's courage. It was clear that this man farmed in addition to running a kingdom, showing he wasn't afraid of hard work. He could provide Light with many wonderful things. Soichiro hope Light would pick this man, simply because he was courageous.

"What? Do you think you're too good to talk to me?" Light scoffed, rolling his eyes at the man. "Not to mention that hideous outfit. Yuck."

Next in line was a woman. A red silk dress hugged her body, showing off her pudges of fat. Her curly blonde hair fell to her shoulder, not so much as a hair out of place. Her lips were coated in a soft red color, drawing attention to exactly how plump they are. She looked slightly older than Light, the perfect age to have children. In her soft voice, she practically sang, "Hello! My name is Wedy, and I would like to be your bride."

Light examined her body, giving her a disgusted look. "You are too... pudgy."

The next man was taller than a corn stalk. He was about as thin as one too. He looked incredibly pale, perhaps bordering on the edge of a severe illness. "My name is—"

"Too thin," interrupted Light, giving him an arrogant smirk. "Marrying you would be like marrying a small twig. I cannot hold tightly onto you during a storm so that you don't blow away."

The most beautiful woman in the room was next in line. With her golden hair pulled into pigtails, everyone was able to see her face. Dressed in a long black dress that glimmered in the light, she looked absolutely radiant. She was the spitting image of feminine beauty. She offered Light a cute smile. In her melodious voice, she purred, "I am Amane Misa. I would like to be your wife. You can be with me, and you will never go without."

Light stared at her for a moment. Soichiro thought that Light had finally found the one. "Too feminine."

"Light," hissed Soichiro.

"What?" Light gave him an innocent look. "Marrying her would be like marrying a flower. Well, the flower might be less beautiful."

"Let me guess: too masculine," commented the next suitor with a sneer. He was an average looking man, although he had an above average muscle mass.

"Correct." Light barely looked at him before moving onto the next suitor.

"I'm Touta Matsuda!" An energetic man offered his hand to Light. He had a boyishly handsome charm to him. With his dark hair flopping around his face, he reminded Soichiro of an oversized puppy. Paired with a genuine smile and a nice outfit, Soichiro knew the man would provide an excellent life for Light. "You look amazing! I'm honored to meet you, Yagami Light-sama!"

"Do you really think the same, boring compliment is going to win me over?" Light sighed when the man continued to smile at him. "You're too dense. Next!"

The next suitor, Misora Naomi, stepped away. "I'm smart enough to see where this is going. I will not allow myself to be disrespected."

"I was going to say that was really smart, but I realized that would prove your point," admitted Light. He looked at her with longing in his eyes. "I wish everyone here was half as smart as you."

The next suitor wore only a thin loincloth, allowing absolutely everyone to see his strong chest and hairy legs. Soichiro wasn't sure what the man was trying to do, but he sort of admired his courage. Perhaps he was trying to engage with Light's sexual urges, and Soichiro immediately stopped the train of thought there. "I am—"

"No, no, no," tutted Light. "Much too brave. You show up barely dressed. I can't be married to someone fated to die in a war."

Soichiro was glad his son turned this buffoon away. Anyone with respect for themselves and their hosts would wear a decent amount of clothing. Anyone with a hint of noble blood was schooled on proper manners and social norms for nobility. He was a disgrace. Besides, Soichiro was sure that there was a battlefield calling his name.

The next suitor hid his face behind an eerie looking mask. The skin was too yellow, the eyes too circular and dimensional. Spikes of long, midnight black hair fell onto the mask. The suitor was slouched over slightly, appearing around the same height as Light. His bare toes wiggled against the flooring, his long white pants touching the top of his feet. Dressed in pure white, he looked like a bearer of good fortune. In a soft voice, he stated, "I am L Law—"

"A coward," interrupted Light with a cruel smile. He looked incredibly smug, and Soichiro want nothing more than to scold his son— his reputation, unfortunately, prevented such actions. "You hide behind a mask. You have the appearance of a bird that has lost a fight to a stray barn cat. Perhaps the L in your name stands for loser."

The man straightened his spine. "Does the L in Light stand for liar?"

"Excuse me?" hissed Light.

"You heard me. I know about what you did." The masked head tilted. "I know that's why this kingdom is going to your sister."

"Get out!" Light stomped his foot down. "Get out now! How dare you disrespect me?"

"I was not judging you," comforted the man. "However, I will listen to you and take my leave. It is most unfortunate that you refused to give me even one minute. I could have given you everything you ever wanted and then some."

"You don't know me," hissed Light. "As a matter of fact, NO ONE HERE KNOWS ME! GET OUT!"

"Light, stop it right now—"

"Shut up!" Light recoiled when he realized he was speaking to his father. He bowed before him. "Otou-sama, please forgive me. I did not mean to behave in that manner and dishonor you."

Soichiro had no choice left. His beloved son had already caused him so much grief by betraying him multiple times, and he refused to accept any kindness Soichiro tried to offer him. Most fathers would not try to protect their son if they found out he was no longer a virgin. To make matters worse, Light has slept with someone way beneath his station. As long as Soichiro remained kind, Light would take advantage of him. He had to punish his son.

"You shall be married to the first peasant that entertains me." Soichiro turned to address the room. "My deepest apologies for everyone's wasted time. My son isn't a fair virgin. I am sorry you all had to learn this way."

Soichiro saw the tears roll down his son's face, but made no move to comfort him. Light hurried out of the room, but not before the whispering started. Some of the suitors hurled unkind words— whore, attention-seeking slut, pathetic bitch— at Light as he hurried out of the room. Soichiro offered his guests a final bow before leaving the room.

He headed to his chambers, tempted to stop by Light's chamber and check on his son. He heard Light sobbing, but he didn't open the door. He walked away, leaving his son to cry. He couldn't protect his son any longer.

Chapter 2: A Peasant

"Sir, there is a peasant here who says he has a performance you will find entertaining." Aizawa bowed before Light and his father, a neutral expression on his face. Aizawa served his father, and Light knew the man hated him— he wasn't special, as Light also hated himself.

"Welcome him in." Soichiro waved him away without another word.

Light's stomach turned at the words. His father vowed that Light would be married to the first peasant who entertained him. Knowing his father, he was just threatening him with something he would never follow through with. Light truly
hoped his father wouldn't sentence him to a life of poverty, desperation, and misery. Light might not have been the best son, but he tried so hard to be good. He'd been so perfect his whole life that he got curious what it would be like to be rebellious. Light had been curious. He reasoned that his brief, complicated mistake shouldn't earn him a life of nothingness.

"Papa," pleaded Light, unsure what else to say. He knew he sounded like a scared child, and part of him was praying that his father would remember that Light was his child. He never called his father ’papa' unless he was scared or wanted his father to give him attention.

"Be quiet, son." Soichiro's cold tone caused Light to flinch. The man hadn't spoken to him since the suitors had left, but Light hadn't imagined his father would treat him like that. His father wasn't the warmest person, but he usually attended to Light's cries for attention.

Light decided to try his luck. "Papa, please let explain."

"I said to shut your mouth. I meant it."

Light's face filled with heat. He wanted to start crying again, to plead with his father until he understood. He knew his words would fall on deaf ears. His father was a stubborn man, and there was nothing Light could say to improve the situation. He just wished his father would at least let him explain his behavior. However, he knew that if he tried again, his father might actually hit him.

"Hello your most beloved Majesty." The commoner offered Soichiro a deep bow when he entered the room. He turned to Light, giving him a wicked smirk. "And of course, the most adorned Prince."

Light gritted his teeth at the insult. He knew fully well that all of his father's subjects hated him. They thought he was a shallow, greedy slut who was working to ruin the Yagami name. They thought his immodesty was the reason the crops were slowly starting to die. Before one of the suitors blabbed their mouth, it had been blamed on an old tree that had been cut down. Now, though, everyone blamed Light for everything. He wondered if his father believed those superstitions. Maybe that was why he wanted Light gone so badly.

"We are honored to have you here." Soichiro offered the man a kind smile. "Should you please me, you can have my son's hand in marriage."

"Wait, please—"

"Shut your damn mouth, son."

"Sorry papa." Light bowed his head.

"I can marry your son?" The peasant grinned. "Then I shall make you a very pleased man, your Majesty. All me to give you the performance of a lifetime."

Light eyed the man who wanted to marry him. With incredibly dark eye bags and cloth shoes that showed his toes, he looked incredibly unwell. Dark hair stood in every direction, looking unkempt and in need of a good grooming. There was something alluring about him, but he was obviously dirty and poor. With the wicked gleam in his eye, Light wanted him to go far away. This man couldn't seriously think Light would want to marry him.

"What should we expect?" Soichiro clasped his hands together.

"I shall sing for you," declared the beggar in an overconfident tone.

Light raised an eyebrow. Sure, the man had a decent voice, but that didn't mean he could sing well. Light's nails dug into his palms at the thought of actually having to marry this... this commoner. Light hoped that he had the singing voice of a frog or a dying bird. Even if he had a beautiful voice, if he stumbled over his words, his father would be immensely displeased. Light desperately needed a little more time. If he failed to please his father, Light would have more time to plead with his father.

"Go ahead. Whenever you are ready." Soichiro gestured for him to begin.

The man offered them both a final bow before beginning his show. His soft voice sounded sweeter than it should have, enamoring the audience. Though he sang in a foreign language, Light felt the passion behind his words, causing goosebumps to form along his spine. No one dared to breathe too loudly, afraid of interrupting him. Light was horrified to find that he enjoyed the man's singing. If he, the picky and unforgiving Yagami Light, enjoyed the performance, then his father would simply be ecstatic about it. The man stopped singing after a few moment, offering them another bow.

"Wow. That was simply beautiful." Soichiro clapped his hands. "In exchange for your wonderful performance, you may have my son, Yagami Light, to be your husband."

The stranger's smile was all teeth. "I appreciate the reward, your Majesty."

"Please, Aizawa-san, send for priest," ordered Soichiro.

"Of course." Aizawa offered his king a deep bow before leaving the room.

Soichiro turned to face Light. "As for you, you should get changed and pack whatever belongings you want."

"Why would I pack them?" Light asked in a worried tone. If he had to pack his stuff, that meant he would be leaving. Surely his father didn't plan on sending him away with this strange man.

"Because you are marrying a commoner. I'm sure that's right up your alley. You've always loved commoners." Light hung his head at the accusation, trying not to think about Kamoda. His father continued, "Those who marry commoners become one. And commoners have no place here."

Light got out of his chair, storming out of the room. He blinked back tears, wondering how much longer he could go before he started sobbing uncontrollably. He headed up to his room, throwing the door open. He took a deep breath, closing the door behind him. He crouched in front of it, and he started to cry.

He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He had no skills. He couldn't sing, dance, weave, cook, clean, hunt, or perform any other sort of talent that could bring him extra money. Light never worried about trivial things that lower-class people did, enamored by his own beauty and family wealth. Light was used to eating hearty meals without having to work for them; judging from the peasant's build, he must only eat once a day when he can afford to. Was Light supposedly let that man crawl on top of him? Was Light supposed to suddenly learn skills that only the poor needed? How was Light supposed to survive?

Still trembling, Light got up, eyeing his room. He pulled the quilt his mother made for him off the bed, folding it up as neatly as he could manage. He grabbed the few pieces of jewelry he owned, hiding it in the quilt so that no one would find it— if he needed to escape, he could simply sell the jewelry and leave with whatever money he got for it. He gathered a few of his favorite kimonos, sandals, and books, placing them in a satchel he'd been given a few years prior. Part of Light was tempted to start a fire in his room and let it consume everything, but he knew he'd be executed for treason if he did that. Besides, Light never had many personal belongings, so he doubted the fire would spread fast enough.

Light undressed, using his former kimono to wipe away his tears. He then neatly folded it up, deciding to bring it with him as well. He then grabbed one of the only kimonos left in the closet, studying the white fabric carefully. In village tales, wearing white was supposed to bring good luck, and Light needed all the luck he could get. He then decided to put on a soft gray obi belt, admiring the way it seemed to perfectly match his outfit. He finished the outfit with a heavenly white haori. He looked down at himself, deciding not to bother with any of the other accessories. He looked radiant, and the commoner didn't dress that nicely. While Light desperately wanted to outshine everyone at his wedding, he felt completely defeated.

He took his bag and exited the room, closing the door behind him. He wondered if this room would remain permanently empty. While he doubted his father would do anything with it, his sister might use it in the future. If Sayu and her partner ever had children, they might use that room as the kid's room. It was a rather bittersweet thought. His sister and her partner might start a family, and Light would never get to meet them. He wouldn't get to tell his sister goodbye or hug her for the last time. He didn't care about telling his father goodbye, but Sayu was a different story. If he kept thinking about her, he'd start crying again.

Light took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. He needed to pull himself together so he could get this wedding nonsense over with. The sooner it was over, the sooner Light could move on with his life. He hurried back into the throne room, seeing the priest standing near the man that would soon be Light's husband. Light sat his bag down, heading over the commoner.

"We are here to marry Yagami Light and Ryuzaki Birthday. If anyone has any objections, please state them." The priest, a rather stern looking man, waited silently for a moment. "Congratulations. You are now married. I wish you both a wonderful life together."

"Aren't we supposed to say vows?" Light needed more time. He needed just a few more minutes to accept that this was his life.

"No." The priest frowned at Light, distain clear on his face. "I was asked to perform a basic wedding, Birthday-kun."

"My surname is Yagami." Light let out a pained noise.

"You're married to me. You take my name." Ryuzaki grinned at him. "Get your bag. We have much to do."

Light grabbed his bag, following his husband. He turned back to face his father for the last time. "Papa, I love you. Tell Sayu I love her."

His father stared at him with cold eyes. "Goodbye. Peasants aren't welcome here."

Light decided not to say another word. He had nothing to say.

"Come on. We have places to be," snapped Ryuzaki, grabbing onto Light's arm.

"Sorry, Ryuzaki-san." Light allowed the man to drag him around, uncaring of what happened to him. He had no goal in this new life. He had no dignity to lose.

Chapter 3: Travel

"Hurry. We have lots of land to cover," ordered the man, tugging on Light's arm. His nails dug into the flesh of Light's arm, leaving nail marks behind.

Light winced in pain, trying to gently shrug the man off of him. "I'm sorry, Ryuzaki-san. Please let go of my arm. You're hurting me."

Ryuzaki turned around, giving Light a compassionate look. "I'm sorry."

Light had nothing to say. He simply hung his head and continued walking. His feet burned, and his legs trembled from exhaustion. Light never had to walk through such rough terrain; if he needed to go somewhere, he had a rather beautiful horse to ride. He winced at the thought of callouses or blisters forming on his feet. Shame filled him, causing his face to burn. He could have had a wonderful, easy life if he knew how to keep his mouth shut.

"Look! A deer." Ryuzaki fawned over a doe standing in a field nearby.

"She looks like she'd be good served with some apples and wine," commented Light as his stomach growled. They had been traveling for two days without a real meal.

"Excuse me?" Ryuzaki gave him an appalled look.

"I said she looks like she would be a good main entree." Light's mouth watered at the thought.

"We don't eat meat." Ryuzaki gave him a confused look. "We are in the kingdom of L Lawliet. It is not acceptable to eat animals."

"What?" Light ignored the urge to groan. "Pray tell, why are we not allowed to eat meat?"

"The kingdom is incredibly spiritual." Ryuzaki gained a fawn smile. "You avoid taking the life of anything with a heartbeat. There are exceptions, but as whole, the kingdom abstains from meat. I expect you to as well."

"But I like meat."

"Well, that's not an option here." Ryuzaki smiled at the deer before continuing onward.

"You can't eat meat. I can," disagreed Light. Light hadn't really enjoyed the meat entrees, but he was going to put up a fight just for fun. "I'll kill it and eat it. You can just eat your apple or whatever."

"No." Ryuzaki gave him an upset look. "If Lawliet found out, he would have you arrested."

"Ugh. Fine." Light rolled his eyes. "But can I please have some actual food?"

"You'll have to make do with some apples and carrots." Ryuzaki handed him a red apple and a carrot. "I have more food at home."

"And what type of foods can I expect?"

"Lots of rice." Ryuzaki licked his lips, a longing look in his eyes. "Bread, corn, grapes, and sunflower seeds."

"What else?" Light bit into the apple, having enough self-control to not devour it in a singular bite.

"That's it." Ryuzaki continued to walk. "There are more foods, but we don't have any money."

Light gritted his teeth. "I see."

He followed behind Ryuzaki in silence, occasionally stopping to see beautiful birds and flowers that weren't native to Light's homeland. Meadows of flowers and trees attracted Light's attention. Everything was so perfect and beautiful.

"Do you like them?" asked Ryuzaki.

"They're beautiful." Light stared at them with longing. He wished he would have gotten flowers at his wedding. "Who does this land belong to?"

"L Lawliet." Ryuzaki let out a soft laugh. "Had you married him, this would have been yours."

"Huh." Light tried to ignore the sudden flash of jealousy that shot through him. "What about the land over there?"

"The corn crops?" Ryuzaki smirked. "Also Lawliet's land. Had you married him, it would have been yours."

"Does he own all the land here?"

"I mean, he's the king. He owns the crops and some of the holy land." Ryuzaki smiled at a bird chirping in a tree. "We have a house."

"Do people here not have homes?" Light thought of the people that roamed his father's streets, hunger clawing at their stomach. They had no place to sleep unless someone took them in.

"Everyone does." Ryuzaki bowed his head. "Lawliet saw that issue fixed years ago. Our house just needs some repairs."

Light hated the sound of that. "What kind of repairs?"

"Well, the roof leaks. The front door doesn't close, and we have no windows," replied Ryuzaki cheerfully. "We might have bugs and mice, but they're holy."

"Mice are dirty." Light gave Ryuzaki a dirty look.

"Maybe in your kingdom," retorted Ryuzaki, huffing slightly. "Don't ever tell anyone else that. Mice are some of the most commonly worshipped animals."

"What for?" Light asked. Was he expected to worship animals now as well? He had never heard of such traditions before. Light's kingdom celebrated the celestial bodies and rough mountains that they had traveled through many days ago.

"For their social relationships, intelligent, and compassion," replied Ryuzaki with a small smile on his face. "Not all species are worshipped. We honor moths for their love of light, but we kill fleas. We respect the community that ants form, but we do our best to keep them out of the house with weekly offerings. We honor crickets and birds for their songs, foxes for their cunningness, and my personal favorite: dogs."

"Dogs?" Light sneered. "The mangy things that hunt deer?"

"They are our most loyal friends. They give us their whole life. It only seems fair, in return, to honor them every month with a celebration." Ryuzaki bit on his finger, losing in thought. "If you are more of a cat person, there is a festival for them as well."

"So wait. If you cannot eat animals, why do you worship animals that do?" Light has so many questions. "Do you worship each individual animal, or is there a collective dog deity?"

"We choose to abstain from eating animals because we can see the divinity of them. Our bodies can support that lifestyle. Cats, on the other hand, cannot." Ryuzaki continues walking forward. "To answer your second question, there is no deity involved."

"Okay." Light had many more questions, but his feet burned. "How much farther?"

"About three days," admitted Ryuzaki, seemingly unbothered by the journey. "If we keep going, we can be there in two."

"I don't know if I can," whined Light. "My feet hurt."

"If you can keep going, I can give you a massage when we get home." Ryuzaki licked his lips at the thought.

Light immediately blushed, unsure why. Did the man plan on doing something weird with Light's feet? Part of Light wanted to ask, but the other part almost wept at the thought of getting a massage. "Fine. We can keep going."

"Yippee," cheered Ryuzaki, moving his hands around in a quick motion. "I think you're going to love the kingdom. Everyone loves crafts from your kingdom. Tell me, Light-kun, what can you make?"

"What?"

"What can you make?" Ryuzaki offered him a wide grin. "Surely you're able to do something special. I know that Lawliet can sing and make pottery that is worth more money than I have."

"I don't have one." Light's face burned at the confession.

"Sure you do. Quilting?"

Light shook his head.

"Weaving?"

"No."

"Pottery?"

"No, Ryuzaki-san."

"Singing? Dancing?" Ryuzaki suggested, a hopeful look on his face.

"Listen." Light sighed, slightly embarrassed by his lack of skills. "I can't weave, sing, dance, craft, paint, or any other sort of special talent. I am able to read and write in my native language."

"That could be useful," admitted Ryuzaki with a thoughtful look. "The kingdom can fluent speak your language, but some families have held onto the traditional language. Your skills could be useful because so few know how to read and write."

"Did you sing in the traditional language you were talking about?"

"Yes." Ryuzaki nodded his head, his hair bobbing around. "I can try to teach you when I'm not busy at work."

"I would like that." Light smiled.

"Good. I promise to be a very good teacher."

Chapter 4: A Morning Conversation

"Light-kun, get up. You need to go to the market and sell these pots I've made." Ryuzaki poked Light's side, frowning when Light let out a groan.

"Please. I'm tired," whined Light, his eyes fluttering.

Sleeping on the dirt floor of Ryuzaki's house left Light feeling more tired than he had ever been before. He laid on a thin, dirty sheet to sleep, and he felt the uneven bits of stone in the ground beneath him. Even curled in Ryuzaki's arms, he felt cold and uncomfortable. Sore muscles, a stiff neck, and a headache were all things Light experienced every morning.

"You must go," repeated Ryuzaki irritably. "We have almost no food left."

"Please. I'm so tired," whined Light, giving Ryuzaki a pout. "Please."

"No." Ryuzaki gave him a stern glance, though it softened the longer he stared at Light. "You have to go. If you're able to sell everything I've left for you, you can come home early. You can take a nap."

"It's not comfortable by myself." Ryuzaki's body provided some comfort to Light. Ryuzaki was a surprisingly delicate lover— very gentle kisses on the back of Light's neck, smooth finger lightly trailing over Light's spine, and delicate kisses on Light's hips. Ryuzaki treated Light with a gentleness that Light never expected from a peasant, mostly because he heard tales of peasants beating and assaulting each other. His affair with a peasant had been purely sexual, with none of the gentle touches. Ryuzaki hadn't pushed Light into anything and seemed perfectly content with simply playing with Light's hair and asking him about philosophy. "I like having you by my side."

"Do you really?" Ryuzaki looked at him with an unreadable expression.

"Yes," promised Light, frowning at the accusing tone. "You're a good lover."

"Hmm. I wasn't sure you liked me. I thought you wouldn't forgive me for taking you from your previous life." Ryuzaki's wide eyes blinked. "I can't give you the life that your father did. For that, I am deeply sorry."

"My father could give me a life of wealth," explained Light, the thought of his father making him bitter. "But my father could never give me a life of love. I'm not sure if he even loved me."

"He didn't arrangement your marriage. Surely that means something, right?"

"No. Arranged marriages aren't allowed there," answered Light, thinking through all the weddings he'd seen. "I'm not sure what hurts more: the idea that he loved me or the idea that he hated me."

"Surely it'd be better if he loved you." Ryuzaki gave him a confused look.

"I think that makes it worse." Loving someone and hurting them so deeply was worse than maliciously hurting them. When Light had dishonored the Yagami name, it had been out of morbid curiosity and longing to be held. It had not been with the intentions of causing dishonor or hurting anything. "A lot worse, actually."

"Mmm. I suppose so," agreed L. "As much as I would love to know why you feel that way, I must be off to work."

"Of course. I didn't mean to make you late."

"You did no such thing," reassured Ryuzaki, crouching down to give Light a gentle kiss. "I'll see you when I get home, my dear."

"I look forward to it." Light stretched, groaning slightly as Ryuzaki walked out the door. It would be another long day of selling pots under the cold sky, rain threatening to spill from the sky at any moment. Light stood up, wandering over to the hot bucket of water Ryuzaki had left him. It smelled of herbs and spices, and Light diligently began trying to get himself clean. He missed his tub, soaking in warm water and relaxing for as long as he wanted. He stopped only once he realized he had places to be, changing into his blue kimono.

He was ready for the day to begin.

Chapter 5: Troublemaker

Notes:

This is the part that diverges from the original fairytale, but it felt more fitting for the version of the story I wanted. :)

The sun was bright overhead when something crashed directly into Light's stand, knocking all of the pots onto the ground. Light looked up in shock, surprised to see a thin figure hidden under bright clothes and a mask smashing his stuff. The figure hopped around, kicking and stomping on as many things as he— realistically, this was a man's doing— could.

"Stop!" cried Light, reaching out to shoo the figure away. For each broken object, Light lost money. Without money, Ryuzaki wouldn't be able to buy food. Light winced when he realized that he would have to tell Ryuzaki about the incident. He hoped that Ryuzaki wouldn't hit him or yell at him like his father had. "Please stop."

The figure froze, standing and looking at Light from behind his pale white mask.

"Why would you do that?" asked Light angrily, moving towards the figure. It was a foolish move considering that Light had no weapon to defend himself against the... troublemaker, but his anger outweighed his common sense. Destruction of property was wrong, and Light would not allow such deviances to go unaddressed. It may not have been Light's kingdom, but he refused to allow corruption to exist.

"What are you going to do, peasant?" The figure let out a girlish giggle, moving their hand up to the mouth on their mask. "Have me arrested? Bring me to court?"

"If I must," replied Light sharply, glaring at the figure.

"With what money?" The figure continued giggling. "You don't scare me."

"Justice doesn't belong to only the wealthy. I've read enough of the king's law to know that." Light smirked when the figure fell silent at his words. Light had started reading the law book that Ryuzaki had brought home, and Light admired the man. Lawliet's idea of justice was very different from his own, but it was strong and just.

"You think anyone cares about some foreign bitch?" The figure pointed a finger in the direction of Light's house. "Go back to the slum you call home. You're pathetic."

"Very interesting coming from the guy wearing a mask to hide his face." Light offered him a cruel smile. Light could play this game too, and Light would win.

The figure stomped on another one of the pot, shattering it. The figure stepped on another, paying no mind to the small shards getting embedded in the bottom of his boots. "Very interesting coming from the guy whose only money source is being destroyed."

"Why are you doing this?" Light reached out to grab the figure, but he jumped out of reach, shattering another one of Ryuzaki's handmade creations. "What sort of evil would possess someone to do this?"

"Evil?" The figure snarled at Light, though he didn't attempt to grab Light. "As if I'm evil. I'm being the voice of fairness. I'm what the people here secretly want."

"What people? What are you talking about?"

He laughed and laughed, clutching his stomach. "You're so dumb. I wish I were half as dumb as you."

Light frowned at the statement. He was missing vital pieces of information, and it was giving his enemy— enemy was a strong word, but Light thought it fit— an upper hand. Perhaps he could ask Ryuzaki about it later, given the man wasn't too angry about his stuff being destroyed. "I will be seeking retribution."

The figure giggled before running off, destroying whatever else he could. Light took on final look as he ran away, noticing that he had dark hair. It was an identical shade to Ryuzaki's hair, and it was about the same length. The figure hurried off, hopping on a beautiful gray mare that he'd hidden away.

"What am I going to tell Ryuzaki?" Light immediately crouched down, trying to piece together Ryuzaki's creations. It was of no use— everything was too sharp to touch, and the pieces were too small to put back together. "He's going to be so upset."

 

~

 

Ryuzaki gave him a baffled look. "What is all this, Light-kin?"

"I'm so sorry." Light hung his head in shame, his cheeks turning red. "I was... I don't even know what to call it!"

"Try to explain, my dear." Ryuzaki pulled Light into his arms, giving Light's shoulder a gentle kiss. "I'm not mad. I just don't understand."

"Someone broke it!" Light fidgeted with his hands, unable to stop them from shaking. Ryuzaki's warm touch comforted him, but he couldn't control the involuntary instinct. Light wanted to hide from the entire situation, but he knew that simply wasn't possible. "Someone came by where I was selling stuff and broke everything!"

"What?" Ryuzaki pulled away from Light, his expression hardening. His eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring. "Do you remember anything about the individual who attacked you?"

"It doesn't matter," replied Light bitterly. It pained Light to say such things, but Light knew that he had no way of getting justice. He had no idea who attacked him, why it was done, or if the individual had other sinister plans involving Light. Light had no connections, and he only knew a few people in the village. It would be hard to rally people on Light's side when no one knew him. He was a foreigner, an oddity in the otherwise peaceful village. The people might see the crime as a bad omen and blame Light.

"It does!" Ryuzaki began pacing in a circle. "It matter because it was you! It matters to me!"

"That's so... I think I really love you." Light trailed off midway through his sentence, blushing when he realized what he said. He'd meant to say exactly how sweet, how attentive and gentle, Ryuzaki was. In a way, he had said exactly that— and more.

Ryuzaki froze, his hand touching his own face gently. "You love me?"

"Yeah." Light nodded. "I think I really do."

Ryuzaki pulled Light back into his arms, nuzzling his face into the side of Light's neck. His nose grazed Light's shoulder, causing goosebumps to rise. "Oh! How I wanted you to want me even half as much as I wanted you."

The statement sent Light's heart racing. Every breath, every heart beat, and every blink seemed to happen in slow motion, intenser than anything Light had ever experienced. "I want you. I want you for forever."

"Good," murmured Ryuzaki against Light's collarbone. "I never planned on letting go of you."

Light almost purred at the statement, deciding instead to sink further into Ryuzaki's warm touch. He felt Ryuzaki's warm breath on his neck, his hair rubbing against Light's face. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Mhm. That's why I need to protect you," said Ryuzaki in a soft voice. "We've never seem such... devious behavior before. I'm worried that the perpetrator might want to hurt you."

"The people will think I'm an omen of ill-fortune," began Light, although Ryuzaki gently kissed his collarbone, silencing him.

"I will hear no arguments, Light-kun." Ryuzaki pressed another kiss to Light's skin. "You must tell me everything you remember about this thief! I will have a word with Lawliet's court."

"As if they'd care."

"They will," promised Ryuzaki.

"Fine." Light rolled his eyes, but Ryuzaki couldn't see it. "He had dark hair, about the color and length of yours. He had a very distinct laugh to him... very girlish and high-pitched. He wore really extravagant clothes, and he had mare."

"What color was the mare?"

"Uhh... white." Light froze, suddenly doubting his answer. "Or gray. The mare could have been black."

"Alright, even if you don't remember that specific detail, we have a staring place."

"He had on a pair of boots, and the shards of your creations are embedded in the souls."

"Now that I could work with," promised Ryuzaki, pulling away from Light. "Tomorrow, you should report to Lawliet's castle! He could use a maid."

"Huh?"

"I've mentioned you to him before." Ryuzaki gave Light a rather endearing, albeit awkward, grin. "I think the two of you would get along well."

"Fine." Light knew not to argue with Ryuzaki about the issue. Besides, even though Light refused to admit it,the encounter left him shaken. The deviant easily could have pulled a knife and slit Light's throat, and Light would have died before he could finally consummate his marriage to Ryuzaki. Light wasn't ready to die, not until he and Ryuzaki were older and better off. "Fine. You win."

Now that Light was really thinking about it, the event bothered him more than it originally did. Light was relatively quiet, only speaking when spoke to. He stayed in the assigned area that Ryuzaki rented, never venturing out of the area when he worked. Everything he sold was genuine, a real product meant to last for years. He carefully counted the money he was given and made sure to give correct change. He allowed the animals that wandered over to stay and offered them food if he had any, even though he secretly wished the creatures would stay far away from him. He did everything he could to blend in. So, what had he done to deserve such aggression? Who had he upset? Was it possible that Ryuzaki had an enemy?

Ryuzaki did have a long history that Light knew very little about. It felt highly inappropriate to ask Ryuzaki about such private matters, even if those private matters could concern Light. Light had his secrets, and he was sure that Ryuzaki did too. Besides, it was more fun to try and pick Ryuzaki apart from the inside out than it was to simply ask and get answers. Light liked overanalyzing Ryuzaki and finding out the things that made Ryuzaki so damn perfect.

"I just want you safe," crooned Ryuzaki, his wide eyes staring at Light. "That's all I want. If I can have that, then you're right. I'll only ever win once you're safe."

"Ooh, that's a very hot thing of you to say."

"Perhaps, but it's true. I want you for all my life and then some."

"I think I'd rather like that." Light smiled, giving Ryuzaki a gentle kiss. "I'd like that very much."

Chapter 6: Happily Ever After

Light hurried along the corridor, trying his best to keep up with Mello. The castle was endless hallways and doors everywhere. He'd been... cleaning— and by cleaning, he meant that he simply rearranged— one of the smaller libraries on the castle's first floor. He hadn't really been told what to do, other than to stay away from the throne room. The guard, a sharply dressed and stern faced women named Halle, had scared Light, and he thought it best not to try his luck with her.

Mello finally came to a stop, standing in front of a large set of oak doors. He turned to look at Light, studying him with an intensity that made Light squirm. "We arrive before King Lawliet, who has so kindly asked to see you."

"Very kind indeed," murmured Light halfheartedly. He worried that Lawliet might be firing him, which would surely cause his dear Ryuzaki to be upset. Light was already a terrible husband. He couldn't imagine the amount of shame it would bring Ryuzaki if Light were to be fired.

"Be on your best behavior. All of Lawliet's court is there." Mello gave Light's outfit another look, studying the clean white fabric of Light's kimono. "I'm sure he'll love you."

"That's very nice, but I'm married. I refuse to dishonor my husband," replied Light in a cool tone, although he could tell that Mello was taken back by the comment.

Mello shook his head, his blond bob bouncing slightly. He opened his mouth to say something before stopping, looking at Light with an expression Light couldn't read. He turned around, knocking on the door.

"Come in," purred a rather velvety voice.

Mello opened the doors, allowing Light to see the throne room. Flower petals were sprinkled on the floor, some of them carefully arranged to form a heart in the middle of the room. The long drapes in the windows were pulled back, allowing sunlight to stream through the stained glass windows. There were tables filled with foods— glistening red berries, sugar cubes, freshly prepared rice, peeled oranges— everywhere that Light could see. Some of the foods Light had never seen before, but everything smelled sweet enough that Light's mouth watered. The people in the room were dressed for some sort of special occasion— at least, Light assumed that they didn't dress this extravagantly everyday, but he didn't really know.

"Presenting, Light-san," declared Mello, offering the room a polite bow. Light followed Mello's lead, hoping his delayed bow hadn't been seen as disrespectful.

"Hmm. I was expecting something... different." In the corner of Light's vision, he saw a lanky figure scowling at him. He was rather beautiful, with dark hair that fell in front of his eyes. The rest of his dark hair was hidden away by a red and gold jester's hat. Even with the faint scars on his pale face, there was something undeniably beautiful about him. Light understood immediately why the king wanted him to be a jester. His gentle voice purred, "Oh well. What a pity."

"Ahem." Halle pointedly cleared her throat, giving the jester a meaningful look that Light didn't understand. She gave Light a polite nod.

"Please, come in, guest." The jester's voice never changed from a gentle, soft purr, but there was something malicious in his eyes. "I thought that you were told to where your best clothes. This is true, yes?"

"Yes," responded Light meekly, looking down at his kimono with shame. Back in his father's kingdom, his kimono had been considered exquisite, one of the most beautiful outfits owned. He had made sure it was washed in soft oils and free of stains. "Sir."

"Well, I wouldn't have guessed it from that outfit." The jester let out a girlish giggle.

"I'm very sorry, sir." Light bowed his head again.

"Beyond, knock it off." A teenage boy wandered over, the smell of smoke lingering on him. He grabbed Mello's hand, pulling him to his side. "I think he looks rather lovely."

"I rather agree. If anyone could use help with their outfit, it'd be you." Mello looked at his oversized red shirt with yellow ribbons and black tights. "Boots don't go with that. And yellow isn't your color."

Beyond's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, minus the few spots with scar tissue. He pointed a finger at Mello. "How dare you? I'm the king's jester."

"I'm the king's picked heir. Next," challenged Mello in an arrogant tone.

"Oh! Me too," chimed in a third voice. It belonged to a young teenager with snow white hair and a long baby blue kimono. They waved at Light, offering him a small smile before going back to playing with their wooden figurines.

The jester's face turned a brighter shade of pink. "I've never been so disrespected before!"

"Give me five minutes, and I'll show you disrespected," muttered Mello with a glare.

"Enough." Halle stood between the two, giving both a disappointed look. "Come here, Light-san. We're all here for you."

At that, Beyond scowled again, giving Light a withering glare. Light couldn't understand what he'd done to deserve such hatred, but he hoped to have time to apologize to the man later. Light couldn't afford enemies at his new job.

It was then the man in the throne stood up, walking quickly towards them. "Hello again, Light-kun."

"Ryuzaki?"

Light's head felt faint. His beloved Ryuzaki was dressed in a dark black kimono swirled with white, his dark hair standing in every direction. He wore no shoes, exposing his bare feet to the cold stone floor. He was in front of Light before Light could get out another word.

"Yes, Light." Ryuzaki offered him a very small smile.

"I don't understand." Light looked at Ryuzaki for answers,

"Allow me to explain, my dear."

"Of course," replied Light instinctively.

"My name isn't Ryuzaki. It is an alias that I created so that I could interact with you," began Ryuzaki in a soft voice. "You see, I went to your kingdom as one of the suitors. You thought that I was a coward, hiding myself away behind a mask."

Light's face began burning, and he began stumbling out an apology. "I... I shouldn't have said that. I was just... just unhappy—"

"Shh. It's okay, my beloved." Ryuzaki gave Light a loving look, wrapping an arm around Light's waist and using his free hand to cup Light's face. "I knew, at that moment, that you were the one for me. You weren't afraid of me. Life is very boring when everyone treats you so... plainly— if that makes sense— because you're the king. No one wants to risk the wrath of king. No one wants to talk back or say something that could upset me. You, on the other hand, had no issue doing exactly that."

"I was such a bitch that day."

"Mhm. And I loved you for it," replied Ryuzaki softly. "But I had to make sure that you could love me for something other than my title. So, I decided my best bet was to play into your father's promise. I made myself a name, found some clothes, and decided to commit to the role."

"So, whose house have we been living in?"

"Mine." Ryuzaki's stared at something Light couldn't see. "I grew up there. I lived there by myself for a while before the former king, my adoptive father Watari, took me in. He raised me as his own, and I inherited the throne when he died. I thought about fixing it, but I don't know how. It's a part of me, and I don't think I want to really change it."

"That's..." Light stumbled over his words. His mouth went dry. "... rather sweet."

Something about Ryuzaki's attachment to that shabby house made Light's stomach swirl. Knowing now how sentimental he was, it was hard not to imagine what they could be. Light wanted Ryuzaki to care and love him years later like he loved his childhood home. He wanted to be an integral part of Ryuzaki, a piece that completed him. He wanted to be held so close to his heart, perhaps even become the reason why Ryuzaki's heart continued beating.

"I suppose," admitted Ryuzaki with a small smile. "In a way, it was your introduction to me, L Lawliet."

"L Lawliet," repeated Light in a soft, almost reverent, tone. It felt so right on his tongue, sounded so perfect in Light"s accent.

"Yes. You shall call me that from now on," muttered Lawliet in a gentle tone. "And today, if you would give me the greatest honor of my life, I would like to truly marry you."

"Greatest honor." Beyond snorted, rolling his eyes.

"I would be honored," agreed Light, ignoring Beyond's sarcastic comment. Was it possible that Beyond thought he wasn't good enough to marry L? Or was it possible that the jester was rather attached to the king?

"Oh Light-kun." Lawliet gave him a soft smile. "You make me so very happy."

"I have a question." Light tilted his head to the side. "If that is alright."

"Of course, Light-kun." Lawliet pressed a gentle kiss to Light's hand. "You are my equal. Ask away."

"If you planned everything, did you plan for me to get attacked?"

Lawliet froze, his nostrils flared. "No. And I shall punish the person responsible. I promised you justice, and you shall receive it."

"Do you know who did it?" asked Light, ignoring the searing glare Beyond was sending him.

"I do, my dear. I wanted you here for this." Lawliet snapped his fingers, causing the room to fall silent. "My lover was attacked. It was a vile, hateful attack. After investigating, I have found the culprit."

"Hmph." Light turned to see Beyond roll his eyes. "Couldn't your little prince protect himself? Surely his country trained him to fight."

"That's not the point," answered Lawliet sharply, causing goosebumps to raise on Light's arms. He never knew that his lover could be so protective. "I am here to serve the justice I promised. Light-kun did nothing to warrant such actions. Everyone here knew that Light was mine, making an attack against him treason. Therefore, the punishment is death."

"But he wasn't royalty at the time. He was just some... some—"

"Some what, Beyond?" L gave Beyond a withering look. "Say it loudly for everyone to hear."

"Some commoner!" Beyond gave Light a quick once over. "I mean, look at him. He isn't special."

"Neither are you." Mello said, hand resting on his hip. "At least Light isn't irritating, unlike you."

"Mello, control your temper." The boy who smelled like smoke fluttered around Mello in a series of quick motions. "We talked about this."

"I'm sorry, Matt. You know how I get," apologized Mello, though he didn't sound sorry in the slightest.

"Halle, Giovanni, if you both would seize Beyond, I would appreciate it," ordered L. He turned his attention back to Light. "Here is the justice I promised you, my love."

"I'm innocent! Don't touch me!" hissed Beyond, flailing in their grip.

"Hush, Beyond!" L's proclamation silenced Beyond. "Light gave me a description that matches you perfectly. The day of said attack, you weren't here. You were off on... 'business'. No one can confirm your alibi. It wouldn't be the first time you've lied to me. You can lie to me, but I refuse to let you hurt my lover and get away with it."

"That's not proof! I'm innocent." Beyond's eyes filled with tears. "I didnt do anything to that foreign bitch—"

"Show me the soles of his boots. I guarantee there will be ceramic fragments in them." L's tone left no room for questions.

Despite Beyond's struggle and resistance, Halle and Giovanni managed to pin Beyond against one of the brick walls. Each of them folded Beyond's arms arms by his side, using their free arm are to lift his legs. The soles of his boots were completely ruined, jagged bits stuck in them. Light imagined that a few pieces had punctured the flesh of Beyond's foot.  He couldn't imagine how sore his feet must be, even if the man acted completely indifferent. Light wondered if his pain was part of the reason he seemed so... miserable.

"Anything to say, Beyond?" L's question was both a mockery and a genuine question.

Beyond's eyes widened, and Light saw a singular tear run down his face. His lithe body began to shake, but neither of the people holding him seemed to notice.

"I'm waiting for an answer, Beyond. It is not in your best interest to keep me waiting," commented L in a sharp, no-nonsense tone.

"No." Beyond hung his head, letting out a sharp cry.

"Good. I am sentencing you to death."

Beyond let out a noise that sounded like a scream. It was a pitiful noise, something that stirred some sort of pity for the jester. Light knew the man despised him, but to think that he would be killed for what Light considered a petty crime was almost too much to think about. Light agreed that Beyond needed to be punished. But knowing that he would be killed for Light's honor made him dizzy. In theory, Light was fine with killing criminals. In practice, where he would have to watch them be hanged or beheaded or feed to hungry animals, it felt wrong. Beyond was just as much as a person as he was. Light had also made a fair number of mistakes, some of which could have gotten him killed.

"Are you really going to kill him?" asked Light softly, staring at the trembling mess of a jester. Light found it hard to believe this same man had actually attacked him. He looked so small and fragile, almost harmless.

"Yes. He shouldn't have done that. He knew better," said L in a firm voice.

"Please," whined the jester, tears running down his face. Snot bubbled under his nose, his eyes reddening. "Please forgive me."

"I'm not interested in your apologies." L waved away his attempt to apologize. "Your apology is meaningless. You have committed a grave act against my lover, knowing fully well who he was. There is no excuse good enough to defend this crime."

"Oh God please," pleaded Beyond, his chest heaving with his sobs. Light watched with fascinated horror, unable to image how much that hurt. "Please. I'll do anything! Please spare me. Please! Please, I'll be good!"

"No," answered L coldly. "Take him away."

"Nononono," murmured Beyond, still crying. Snot ran onto his mouth, yet Beyond made no attempt to even try and wipe it away. "Pleasepleasepleaseplease."

Light felt compelled to do something. "Wait."

"Yes, Light-kun?" L turned to him, tilting his head.

"I... I don't like this."

"Hmm?" L's eyes widened in surprise.

"I don't want your jester killed for me."

"But he committed a crime against you," reasoned L. "That's what happens."

"I could never live with myself, knowing I'm the reason he's dead." Light watched the jester flinch under his gaze. He heard Beyond continue to sob. "I don't want that. Don't do it."

"But justice must be served." L looked at his jester with distaste. "You deserve justice, Light-kun."

"And I can get justice without you killing him," replied Light. He watched the snot continue to bubble under Beyond's nose. "Surely you can find a way. If not for him, then for me."

L stared at Light for a long time before turning his attention back to Beyond. "Fine. You heard my lover, Beyond. Light-kun is granting you mercy."

"Thank you, Light-san." Beyond continued to sniffle, shaking silently. "Thank you sir."

"Instead, I shall banish you from the kingdom. You can take the clothes you have on your back and leave." L turned away from Beyond. "Get out now. You're the commoner now."

"Yessir." Beyond stumbled to find his footing after the guards released him, tripping himself up in the process. He fell to the ground, a sickening snapping noise occurring when he hit the ground. "Oww oww. Please no."

"Beyond, knock it off."

"L, I think something is snapped." Light was crouching down in front of Beyond before L had time to stop him. Beyond curled up in a sitting position, his feet near Light. "Let me see the injury."

"You can't touch me. I'm impure now." Beyond looked away from Light, bowing his head. He silently continued to shake. "I am dirty. You mustn't touch me."

Light let out an irritated huff. "Which foot? I'm not asking again. I'll just start twisting if I can't get an answer."

"My right." He made brief eye contact with Light before turning away. Light never realized what a deep shade of red the jester's eyes were. "Please don't twist. I have to leave, and it's already sore."

Light gently pried off Beyond's boots, noticing the small cuts in the soles of his feet. They didn't look infected yet (there was no drainage or swelling), but they would definitely get infected if he had to trek for days. Between the sweat and constant reopening of wounds, he would likely contract an infection that would kill him. The remedy was fairly simple, but it involved being off of his feet and able to apply the salve. Light focused on Beyond's right ankle, noticing the way it bent in the wrong ankle.

"It looks broken," said Light after a through inspection. He remembered trailing behind one of the nurses at his father's palace. He thought that apothecary and healing was fascinating, but his father said it was unnatural for him to be interested in such morbid things. His father would have preferred his son be interested in poetry or writing or playing an instrument. But Light liked morbid things. "It can be healed."

"It makes no difference to us," replied L smoothly, walking towards them. "Beyond is on his own now. He can find a way."

"No." Light shrugged off L's attempt to pull him away. "He'll get an infection and die. Or get robbed and who knows what else."

Sending Beyond injured into the wilderness would surely be the death of him— although, death was not the worst thing that could happen. Beyond was still young and so very beautiful. If bandits found him, Light knew Beyond wouldn't stand a chance. How would he fight them if he couldn't even have equal footing? If they won, Light dreaded to think of the horrible things they would do to the beautiful jester. Beyond already seemed so sad, and Light didn't want the rest of his life to be spent as a slave. Hell, Beyond was already thin enough— not malnourished, just excessively thin— that he couldn't afford to miss any meals. Light knew the bandits wouldn't care about Beyond's nutritional needs while they were busy degrading him.

Did Beyond deserve a little humiliation? Light supposed he could see the argument for a bit of humiliation, considering that Beyond had committed a crime. Sure, a bit of humiliation was deserved. But a bit of humiliation was very different than a life of endless servitude and constant pain. Light tilted his head. Beyond was sniffling, sobbing, and possibly even wetting himself in front of the people he considered equals. Surely that was punishment enough.

"Light—"

"No!" Light turned to face L. "We're not killing him."

L gritted his teeth. "We wouldn't be."

"I get to choose my wedding gift, yes?" asked Light innocently, offering L a cute smile that had him sighing.

"Yes. What would you like?" He looked faintly confused, unsure why Light suddenly asked.

"I want a jester. One that you know, perhaps even one you employed. I want one with plenty of experience." Light gave L a blank look. "I prefer one with a status like me: nobility until that title was taken."

"There's no winning with you." L sighed. "He tried to hurt you. He despised you. Why do you care about him?"

"This is all true. I was so jealous." Beyond's eyes filled with more tears. "How can you find it in yourself to forgive me? I surely don't deserve it. I deserve to die all alone, forgotten by everyone. I deserve whatever fate awaits me in the wilderness."

"Maybe you do deserve it," replied Light softly. "But my father thought the same of me. I think I deserved better. Lawliet gave me a chance to do better. I'm going to repay the favor."

"But how can I ever repay you?" Beyond's eyes fluttered, his gaze unfocused. Light could see the cogs in his mind turning.

"Don't ever betray me again." The sharpness of Light's tone caused Beyond to flinch. "I expect excellent behavior from you. I expect you to get a handle on your jealousy issues."

"Of course." Beyond cowered slightly under Light's stare, hands shaking. "And what is my punishment?"

"Punishment?" Light questioned aloud.

"What must I endure to prove my worth?" Beyond hung his head again, his voice soft. Light found his voice rather beautiful when he wasn't being obnoxious. Light imagined he'd have a beautiful singing voice, given how soft and almost feminine his voice was. "I expect you'll either want to brand me or have me flogged. I have no objection to either. I am your servant. I am content with baring your mark or taking on pain."

Light barely hid his shock. Beyond said it so calmly, with so much resignation, that it made something in Light twist. Light suspected Beyond had already faced some form of violence, given his scars, but he couldn't figure out why Beyond would willingly subject himself to such inhuman treatment. Hell, he'd even suggested it without so much as a flinch. Was he used to such treatments? Light couldn't imagine he was used to being... abused, given how easily he'd been brought to tears, but Light had no way to know unless he asked. He couldn't imagine any reason why Beyond would willing admit to such painful, humiliating punishments unless he was used to it.

"I wouldn't do that." Light's disgust was evident in his tone. "That's not normal around here, right?"

"Absolutely not!" cried L, looking equally as outraged. "Those things are abuse and are illegal."

"I'm not really a person. I exist now with the sole purpose of serving," murmurs Beyond softly. "And I am content with such a fate. You can punish me because I'm your property. It's what they did in my home country."

"No. You're very much a person." Light very carefully wiped a singular tear off of Beyond's face. He was surprised to find that Beyond melted into his touch, his body relaxing. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, and his eyes fluttered. "A very troubled person, but a person nonetheless."

"I'm so sorry." Beyond shuffled around, moving himself into a bow. He winced when he had to move his foot, but he otherwise made no attempts to alleviate his pain. "It would be a great honor to serve you, sir. I will do such with pride for all of my life."

"Good." Light rubbed the top of his head, noticing how Beyond leaned into the touch. There was something rather endearing about it. With a little time, Light knew he could get Beyond to feel more comfortable (and hopefully, more loved). Light figured it'd be nice to have a close friend. Although, given the amount of attention that Beyond craved, he wasn't sure he would call that friendship. Light thought that the term family might fit the situation better. They could care for each other, make sure the other's needs were met, and provide each other with companionship. Light was gaining a few other family members— he wasn't sure if they were stepchildren or siblings-in-law— so one more wouldn't hurt.

He figured L had been more reserved with his love, given how he had been with Light. Light didn't doubt that L cared for Beyond, but L had strange ways of showing it. "We shall take a break to get you cleaned up, and then I'm getting married."

"Yessir." Beyond moved his hand to wipe away some of his tears.

"Since you are a permanent edition to the family, you may as well call me Light." Light ignored that Beyond gave him an aghast look. "I hate being called sir."

"Yes, Light-san." Beyond nodded nervously, looking at L for approval. He looked between them both with wide eyes, almost like he was afraid he'd messed up. Light was tempted to tell Beyond to call him Light without the honorific, but he thought it best not to dismiss Beyond's small step of courage to not call him sir. Besides, they had plenty of time to work on it.

"You heard Light, Beyond." L turned his attention back to Light. "You know, I think it's beautiful that you chose to forgive Beyond. You have my unconditional support in your decision. I hope my protectiveness of you didn't come across as plain cruelty— I just want you safe. I am rather glad I got to keep my jester, even if he is mischievous. He really is like family to me."

"I know, Lawliet. I appreciate all that you do for me." Light smiled at him softly. "He is part of my family now too."

 

~

 

"Presenting to all, King L Lawliet and King Light Yagami!" The man stared at them both. "Congratulations!"

Light smiled at his husband, warmth filling him at the thought. He hadn't felt so overjoyed in... well, years. "We're married now!"

"I know! I'm yours," promised L softly, pulling Light in for a kiss.

"Don't start now," murmured Light when L pulled away. "I already want you dearly."

"You and only you can have me." L winked at him. "Any way you'd like, any time."

"You fiend," muttered Light, trying his hardest not to start blushing. It was hard not to when he imagined all the ways he and L could fit together. If he kept thinking about it, he'd combust.

"But you love me."

"Of course." Light turned away from L, looking at the audience that gathered for their wedding. "And I love your people. I love your family."

"Even the troublesome ones?" L gave a vague look in Beyond's direction.

Beyond's feet, wrapped in thick fabric, were resting on a small footstool. He gave them a tired smile, although Light thought it was oddly endearing. Dressed in a simple ruby red kimono, he looked oddly beautiful. He looked... at ease. Perhaps it was because the jester's outfit carried a heavy weight that Beyond's kimono did not or perhaps it was he got to live in safety again, but he looked more comfortable than he previously had. With a good nap, he'd be in decent shape to do whatever exactly it was jesters did— not that Light really chose to spare him for that purpose. Light had been very curious about what exactly it was jester's did since his father didn't have one, but he'd saved Beyond because he'd reminded Light of himself. Light would be fine if Beyond decided that he needed a little time off to heal; Light might even suggest the idea to L later.

"Especially the troublesome ones," admitted Light. "I have to like trouble if I like you."

"I suppose so." Lawliet pulled Light towards the center of the throne room. "Can I have this dance?"

"You can have my everything," replied Light earnestly.

L Lawliet smiled. "Only if you'll accept my all."

And so everyone lived happily ever after.