L x Reader oneshots 1 // series 3 • Death Note

Colours

A/n: maybe it's the autism maybe it's a mild form of synesthesia, but this is something I do and it gave me an idea

Everyone had a colour to you, and that colour was determined by their name.

Sometimes there was a correlation, like the name Rose. Roses are usually red and pink, so the name Rose was a pinkish red. But sometimes it was just completely random. The name Damien was a dark purple, Calypso was tropical orange and and Max was a reddish brown. Either way, everyone's name had a colour to you. When someone introduced themselves to you, you immediately knew what their colour was the second you heard their name. You tried not to judge people based on something as insignificant as that, you were the only one who did the whole colour association thing after all. But you'd have to admit, you were a bit biased toward cool coloured people. They just tended to be nicer, there was something about them.

It was hard to get a gauge on what L's colour was, since he didn't share his real name. For some reason you couldn't really gather a colour from his aliases either, something about knowing it wasn't his actual name was stopping you. Ryuzaki did feel like a navy kind of name, but it wasn't HIS colour, because that wasn't his name. And the name L, while there was some colour there you were under the impression it was an alias too, so you didn't really know what to make of the glossy blueish tone that L gave off.

Given navy and glossy blueish were both shades of the same base colour, you assumed L would have a blue name. But unless you knew his real name, which lets be real was probably never going to happen, you'd never know his true colour.

At some point, this colour thing of yours had come up in conversation, and obviously everyone wanted to know their colours. So, you obliged.

Matsuda was a darker navy colour, Cheif Yagami was the same brown as trees, Aizawa was a red-orange like a lava lamp, Mogi was an earthy green, Watari was silver like a shiny car, Misa - despite her gothic attire was more purple in your mind. And Light? He was eyes straining red. You didn't tell him to his face but you hated his colour. Too bright, too hot toned. Like when a kid is playing on MS paint and just dumps that bright ass red all over the canvas.

And that left L, who you explained that you didn't really know what his colour was because you didn't know his real name. He didn't seem to mind really, content with the answer of 'maybe blue based on your aliases'.

It was such a pointless and unimportant thing, having this weird little colour association thing you did. It wasn't bad or good, just there. You knew it, the taskforce knew it, L knew it. It was just a bit of fun to know your colour really. But for some reason... L was hooked on it. He debated telling you his name just to know his colour more than once. It made him feel kind of pathetic, the fact he was willing to take such a big risk for something so pointless. Even if you were a trustworthy person, he knew better than to give his name to just anyone.

And yet, for some fucking reason, he was stuck on this thought for weeks. What was his colour? He just NEEDED to know.

And so one night in his sleep deprived wisdom, he couldn't take the curiosity anymore.

"Lawliet"

You looked up from your computer, sitting beside him on night shift watching the cameras.

"Huh?" You muttered.

"What colour is Lawliet?" He asked.

You were silent for a moment, was that his name? Was this really happing? Or was this just some random name he was curious about. That had happened before, people wanting to know their family or friends names colours.

"It's like... translucent blue. With glitter. Like those game consoles with the translucent coloured cases? That kind of blue" you explained.

"Hm. I can live with that" he replied.

Again you were silent a moment, processing that interaction.

"Did you just tell me your name... to know your colour?" You asked.

"Yep"

"...on the Kira case?"

"You won't tell will you?" He replied.

"I mean no but- I just... wasn't expecting that"

"Neither was I, the curiosity got to me I guess"

Well... he hadn't slept in a few days so maybe he was going a bit crazy there. But his name was a secret you'd keep for sure, you weren't a snitch in general but especially on a case like Kira. Which by the way- Kira was also a blinding red like Light was... coincidence? Probably. But you liked to think there was some correlation.

"So the colours can have elements like shine and translucency to them too then?" He asked.

"Yeah, sometimes. Some have an iridescent finish or sparkly finish to them" you replied.

"Interesting..."

"If you're wondering if this is synesthesia or not, it probably is some form of it but I've never been formally diagnosed"

Maybe that's why L was so intrigued by it he was willing to give up his name to you, he was the kind of person to like having answers and explanations for things. Maybe he just needed to know why you had the colour habit?

"Hm... maybe. There was just something pulling me to know what my colour was... seriously don't tell anyone ok? I don't know what possessed me to just do that" he replied.

"I won't, promise. Maybe you're overtired" you replied.

"Maybe..."

"Hey hey, I like your colour. Not often I get a colour that has several effects to it. Plus the blue suits you, you're a blue person for sure"

For some reason, that made him blush. Actually now he thought about it... maybe the reason he wanted to know was simply because he liked you so much, and he wanted to indulge in something unique to you like letting you see his colour.

"So hey if you ever need a baby name, I'll find one with a cool colour for you" you joked.

"That would be a fun little family thing, picking names based on colour" he replied.

"I'm not sure how I feel about kids yet, but if I ever do have them I'm definitely going to take colour into account when picking the name"

Again you had L wondering. What name would you get if you were to mix the colours of his name and your name together?