Chapter Text
L was cold and hungry but he could overlook those things. What he couldn't brush off so easily was his thirst. He had been here (wherever here was) for two days now and hadn't had anything to drink. In fact, he hadn't actually seen a living soul and his estimation of two days was based solely on his limited view of the sun from the tiny window in his cell.
Delirium was setting in and L was getting desperate. He didn't want to lose his mind. He didn't even care about dying now (why should he? Watari was dead and Kira had won so what was the use of even being alive?) but his mind was all he had left. If he was to die of dehydration or a heart attack or whatever torture Kira had planned for him, so be it, but he wanted to die as himself not some desperate and delluded prisoner. He still had his pride and it was his only companion as he lay curled up in the darkness waiting to die.
He had once read dying of thirst was an agonizing way to die. He'd read it whilst sipping on a cup of tea and had flipped the page of his book without much thought… If he wasn't feeling so fucking rotten he would appreciate the irony of that memory.
L quivered and clutched at his knees. The ache was relentless and his head pounded with each sluggish beat of his heart. He just hoped it would be over soon. He wasn't about to delude himself by dreaming of a better place ahead of him. He didn't believe in God's mercy and the pearly gates of heaven. He just wanted the fucking throbbing and soul-consuming need for water to stop.
Distantly he heard a door open but as much as he wanted to, he couldn't lift his head. He simply didn't have the energy to spare.
"-two days, Mikami! How is this acceptable? How am I supposed to help him when he's like that?"
L tried to swallow. It hurt. Light, no Kira , was talking about him? Help him? It appeared his neglect had not been ordered by Kira which came as something of a surprise. L had assumed he'd just been left to die at Kira's orders…
"I-I don't know… there must have been a mixup, Kami! I will get him seen to right away!" Mikami babbled as Light glared at him.
He'd been busy cementing his power and disposing of the rest of the Task Force. He did not expect to return to his hideout to find his prized prisoner/enemy/love interest on the cusp of death from dehydration. He had plans for L and right now the thin, shivering man curled up on the cot was as far away from the infuriatingly brilliant Detective L as could be.
He didn't like seeing L like this.
Light crossed the small cell, the sound of his expensive Italian leather loafers on the hard tile irritating L's ears. L still didn't look up, even as Light knelt down next to him.
"L"
No response.
"L Lawliet"
If L had chosen to look up he would have seen a flash of arrogance in Light's eyes and that dark smile as he turned L's only shield against him.
As it was, L was content to stay exactly as he was and let his consciousness drift. He didn't even stir when Light gripped his head by his hair and lifted it up.
"... Snap out of it, L" Light commanded as if it would actually do anything. L opened hazy gray eyes and tried to focus on the man in front of him. He heard Light suck in a startled breath before the grip on his hair was released.
"Mikami. His eyes have changed color" Light's voice sounded strained and somehow excited?
Mikami, who was hurrying forward with a water bottle, stopped in his tracks and bowed. "No, my Kami, he was wearing black contact lenses when he was aprended. His eyes are naturally gray"
Light glanced at L, a wry smile on his face as he inwardly commended L's dedication to remaining anonymous and untouchable. Light eyes (like gray eyes) and light skin were typically the hallmarks of someone with caucasion descent. L had masked one of his features to appear more ethnically ambiguous. Even Light hadn't been sure where the hell 'Ryuzaki' had come from. Eyes were said to be the window to one's soul, and L Lawliet had kept his hidden. Of course he had, it was just one of the things Light admired about his advisory: L was bold enough and intelligent enough to be able to pull the wool over his eyes. He was the only one who actually c ould prove a challenge to him. Even now Light was all too aware of the challenge L posed him. Seeing L like this was both thrilling and upsetting to Light. He wanted L to be his not just his prisoner.
He was a God and what God's coverted they got.
"Interesting" Light murmured as he held his hand out for the bottle of water. Mikami passed it to him and quickly stepped back. He wasn't sure if his God was angry or amused at the current situation so he decided it was best to step away and observe closely. He was loathe to do anything that would incur his God's wrath. It was obvious to him his Kami had feelings for the Detective.
"L, I have water for you"
L shuddered at the words. Kira's voice was so fucking soft and benevolant. Was he enjoying this?
'Stupid question. Of course he is' L thought as he raised his head tiredly. A pleased smile curled Light's lips and L felt a wave of repulsion sweep through him.
"Just… kill me… Kira" L rasped out, glaring weakly at Light. He had always prided himself on never giving up but god damn how could he carry on now?
"Oh no, L, I won't be doing that" Light's voice was like silk as he tenderly tilted L's head and pressed the bottle of water to his dry, cracked lips. L flicked his eyes up to Light's before he took a tiny sip. It felt like life itself as the cool water flooded his parched mouth. "I want you, L. I want to use that phenomenal brain of yours…and I want… " Light appeared as if he had something more he wanted to say, but he let the sentence die as he helped L to take little sips of water.
'What do you want? You can't actually want me can you?' L's eyes widened at the thought. He had actually profiled Light as homosexual but he knew Light was so mindful of societies percieved norms and values he was probably trying to conceal or deny it. As for his own sexuality… Well, L had never really given it much thought. He was L . Apart from passing admiration for a pretty face in a crowded room L had effectively shut those sort of feelings off. L had considered himself somewhere on the Asexual spectrum.
Light's fingers were stroking through his hair and L's breath hitched at the unexpected caress. Perhaps now that he had won and had him locked up he didn't care to deny it anymore? If Light did want him that way then L knew there was nothing he could do to stop him from doing what he wanted…
L felt sick. Had he encouraged this attraction somehow? When Light had been released from his cell they had grown fairly close. They'd bathed together and a feeling of tentative friendship had sprung up between them.
L hated to admit it but he missed that Light. He missed his friend…
"That's it, try and drink some more" Light cooed, evidently enjoying the role of 'benevolent' captor.
L felt a rush of bile and jerked his head away from Light before he vomited on the floor, thin shoulders shaking in misery as his body rejected the water meant to save his life.
"Dammit, L!" Light cursed as he hastily moved away from the vomit. "Mikami, I think he needs to go on a drip or something. Get him moved to the medical room and strap him down! Even in this state he is more than capable of escape"
L begged to differ. He swayed on his feet as Light and Mikami pulled him up by his arms. The room span sickeningly and all L could do was try and open his eyes. He couldn't even do that. Mikami tightened his grip as his God's prisoner passed out abruptly.
"I want to know who was responsible for looking after him" Light said darkly, his eyes narrowed in irritation as he stared at the slumped figure in Mikami's arms. "I want their names , Mikami"
"Understood, Kami!" Mikami wet his lips with his tongue, excitement flooding through him. His God was so beautiful when he was wrathful!
"Good. Make sure he is clean, warm and comfortable before you return to me. And… have a full set of blood work done on him while he's out of it" it was a fancy really but Light wanted to know exactly where L Lawliet was from. He wanted to know everything about him. He wanted to know how he sounded when he was about to come, but Light figured that would take some time. L would resist him until the very last second but Light as determined to have him. He would break L. He' break him down and build him back up as Kira's consort. Light had never thought to meet someone who could challenge him, captivate him and infuriate him as much as L Lawliet did.
There was no way he was simply killing the man. What a waste that would be! The prizes that were most appreciated and valued were the hardest won!
Light wanted L because he wouldn't just spread his legs for him like Misa, Takada or Mikami would. L would fight him every inch of the way and it would make his eventual domination over him all the sweeter.
Light couldn't wait for the day when he would pin L beneath him and crumble that damned emotionless mask of his into dust. He would make L sweat, bleed and beg for him. He'd make L scream with pleasure and whimper in pain and with time, slowly but surely, he'd make L his.
When L next awoke it was to the sight of Light strolling around the room, clipboard in hand as he read L's medical notes.
L watched Light as he flicked through his notes, curiosity burning him up. Why was he still alive? Surely Kira would want his nemesis dead…
"Ah, L, you're awake" Light turned to him with a sunny smile, "How are you feeling?"
L stared at him blankly. "Wonderful" he deadpanned, eyes dropping to his notes in Light's hands and then back to Light's. "Why am I not dead? I want to be dead, Kira. If you think I'm going to thank you for keeping me alive and become your docile little pet you should think again. I will spend the rest of my life defying you-"
Light chuckled and L stopped in his tracks, startled by the low, rich sound. He'd never heard Light laugh like that before. No, that laugh belonged to Kira not him.
"I sincerely hope that is the case, my dear L. Anything less just wouldn't suit you, however, I am confident one day you will join my side and accept Kira's rule"
"Never" L's stormy eyes bored straight into Light's, "That will never happen, Kira. If that is what you are waiting for you should save yourself the bother and just get it over with" L struggled to sit up and winced when he realised he was hooked up to all manner of machinery.
Light strode across the room and sat down in the chair next to him with a pleasant smile on his face.
"Mikami, Misa and Takada are all my lovers, L, did you know that?"
L blinked. No, he had not known that, and he didn't particularly care either if Kira liked to put it around a bit. "I assure you I couldn't care less" L replied dryly, "So why tell me that?"
Light's smile grew as he leaned forward and picked up one of L's hands in his own. L's eyes widened to the size of saucers when Light lifted his hand and placed a strangely tender kiss to his wrist.
"I don't want them, L. I want you" Light's breath tickled his skin and L flinched. He tried to pull his hand back but Light's grip was surprisingly strong. Now that his skull wasn't throbbing and he was lucid L immediately began to analyze what Light/Kira had just said. Could he use such feelings to his advantage?
"You are deluded" L finally whispered, "You are utterly deluded!"
Light flipped L's hand so he could admire the fine bones of his wrist. "You know, L, I thought you would say something like that. I'm patient and I do believe there is truth to that old saying of good things come to those who wait. I will wait for the day you beg me to take you, because you will "
L let out an amused snort and felt sardonic laughter bubble up from inside him. He had nothing to lose and no need to wear a mask so he let it out and tipped his head back and laughed hysterically as Light gave him a narrowed-eyed stare. Light didn't look annoyed with him, rather he looked curious at drawing forth such a reaction from the usually stoic detective.
"You… you think that? You actually believe that?" Tears trickled down L's face and he shook his head, shoulders shaking with laughter. "You'd be better off wishing for the moon to fall from the sky! I will never want you! You disgust me and the only thing I want from you is your death!" L's eyes flashed with fury as he glared at Kira. In that moment he realised his friend was truly dead and gone. The innocence and integrity Light had shown during the Yotsuba investigation had been snuffed out and replaced by unshakable arrogance and entitlement. Light really did believe himself to be a God!
Light let out a soft sigh and placed L's hand back onto the bed. "When I was little I read a quote that has stayed in my mind. I can't remember what book it was from but the words… the words have stayed with me throughout my childhood and made me who I am"
"Do enlighten me what these prophetic words were" L snarled and jerked his hand away from Light's. Just his touch was enough to make his skin crawl with revulsion.
"To strengthen and make something anew, sometimes it must be broken first" Light recited.
L felt a shiver run through him at the cold smile that graced Light's face as his amber gaze burned into him. "I am going to break you, L Lawliet, and then I am going to build you back up into what I want you to be. You will be the Consort of Kira and you will need me. I'm going to make you need me. You're going to love me"
L swallowed thickly as Light stood and placed his medical records on the bedside table. "You should rest, L, you are going to need your strength. Your… training begins tomorrow"
"Training?! I am not a dog!" L was filled with a desperation to keep Kira talking, to keep him where he could see him. He knew if Kira tried to torture him he stood a far higher chance of withstanding it than most people but he was also all too aware of the fact he was only human …
"You are whatever I want you to be… " Light laughed with a bright smile, "Puppy"
Feeling sick to his stomach, L could only watch as Light sauntered out of the room (so tall and elegant in his slim-fitted suit) and locked the door behind him.
L's stomach was rolling with fear and anxiety as his eyes darted around the room. He pinpointed 5 cameras fixed squarely on him. Anything he could use to harm himself or others was stored at a safe distance. He was strapped to the bed and attached to numerous drips and machinery.
He tried to pull himself free and cried out as a sharp stab of pain smashed through him imbolized him. Breathing harshly through his nose L heard a metalic sounding voice through the speaker system in the room:
"Do not try and pull yourself free from the equipment you are attached to. Kira-Sama has taken necessary precautions to prevent you from escape. Should you continue to attempt to free yourself an electric shock will be administered to render you unconscious"
L, being L, glared at one of the cameras and yanked his arm back with all the strength he had. He barely registered the sting of pain as the cannula attached to his hand ripped out of his skin before a bolt of electricity zapped through the metal restraints pinning him down.
L was knocked out instantly, just as Light had planned.
"Stubborn, Pup" Light tutted as he turned from the monitor in his office. "Just as predicted. Doctor, have you finished compiling the conditioning methods most suitable?"
A thin, nervous looking man eagerly nodded his head and, with bowed head, presented Light with a single piece of paper.
Light's eyes greedily drank in the words. A full month of painstaking research, tests and profiling had gone into this one piece of paper;
Patient, L Lawliet, is susceptible to the following methods of behavioral correction:
Sensory Deprivation (sight, in particular)
Deprivation of sugar and Caffeine (Patient displays a strong addiction to sugar in particular)
Unwanted physical and sexual contact (Notes indicate patient is a virgin and highly susceptible to sexual manipulation)
Guilt conditioning (Patient has a strong moral ethic and can be made to feel guilty if others (children in particular) are made to suffer because of him)
Water torture/waterboarding
Light hummed in approval and folded the piece of paper in two before placing it in his Death Note.
"Excellent work as always, Doctor Normans. Arrange a meeting with all appropriate personal to discuss L's training at once. As soon as his condition has stabilized I want him moved to the laboratory to begin"
The Dr bowed his head, a thin smile on his lips.
L Lawliet would prove his greatest challenge yet but he was confident the World's Greatest Detective would crack.
After all, he was only human...