Written By Fate ||L Lawliet x Reader||

Chapter 34

The sunlight streaming through the curtains was the first thing Y/N noticed as she stirred awake. Her head rested awkwardly against the back of the couch, and a blanket—L must've put it there at some point—was draped over her shoulders. A weight on her legs made her glance down; L was still asleep, his head tilted slightly, one arm draped over the edge of the couch.

For a moment, Y/N allowed herself to observe him. His face, so often obscured by the shadows of his hair and his intense, calculating expressions, was peaceful. She felt a pang of guilt for disrupting his life last night with her kiss and everything that followed.

The door burst open without warning, startling her.

"L! Y/N!" Matsuda's voice rang out, far too cheerful for the early morning. Light followed close behind, looking far less enthused.

L bolted upright, immediately straightening his posture. His eyes darted between Matsuda, Light, and Y/N, his expression already morphing into something resembling his usual aloofness.

Matsuda's eyes lit up, the gears in his head visibly turning. "Oh my god," he said, his hands clapping together.

"This is nothing," L said flatly, brushing his hair back as if he hadn't just been passed out next to her.

Y/N groaned, sitting up and rubbing her face. "Nothing happened," she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite, still heavy with sleep.

 "You two are so cute! I knew it! I knew there was chemistry!" Matsuda was a hard shipper.

"What?" Y/N's eyes widened, her sleepiness replaced with indignation. "It's not like that!"

Before she could say more, Light crossed his arms, a smug expression plastered on his face. "Didn't know you were fucking the lead detective," he said coldly, his words sharp enough to cut.

Y/N's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

L, for once, looked caught off guard, his eyes flicking to Y/N before settling on Light.

L didn't really mind these rumors.

"You heard me," Light said with a scoff, turning toward the door.

Fury bubbled up in Y/N's chest. Without thinking, she got to her feet and slapped Light hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and Matsuda's gasp was audible.

Light barely flinched, his hand brushing against his cheek where her palm had struck. He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Whatever you say," he muttered, walking out with Matsuda hot on his heels.

The door clicked shut, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. Y/N turned back to L, her face flushed from both anger and embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "For yesterday. For that. For everything."

L studied her for a moment, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, he reached out and gently held her arm. "There's no need to apologize," he said softly. "You did nothing wrong."

Y/N searched his face, unsure what to say. His words were calm, reassuring even, and the way his hand lingered on her arm made her feel a little less like she'd completely ruined everything.

"I should go," she mumbled, taking a step toward the door.

L's grip on her arm tightened. "Unless you have somewhere to be, I'd rather we stay and work on the case," he said, his voice low but firm. 

Her heart skipped a beat at the way he looked at her—steady, unwavering, and entirely focused. "Alright," she said finally, sitting back down.

They spent the next hour going over details from the night before. L was as meticulous as ever, taking her words about Ryuk and the shinigami seriously despite the implausibility of it all. Y/N appreciated how he didn't question her sanity or dismiss her outright.

The rest of the team filtered in slowly, one by one, though Matsuda kept sneaking her knowing glances that made her want to disappear into the floor. Light, on the other hand, avoided eye contact entirely, his expression cold and distant.

It wasn't long before Y/N caught sight of Ryuk again. He hovered near Light, his grotesque form as unmistakable as ever. Y/N stiffened, her eyes locking onto the shinigami.

L noticed immediately. "What is it?" he asked quietly, leaning closer.

She turned to him, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "I see him," she whispered. "Ryuk. He's here. Near Light."

L's gaze shifted subtly, though his face betrayed no reaction. "Describe him," he said calmly.

Y/N did, recounting every unsettling detail of the shinigami's appearance. L nodded, his mind clearly racing.

L's lips pressed into a thin line.

They returned to their work, their focus sharper than ever. But the weight of what they'd uncovered hung heavily in the air. The world they thought they understood had just been turned upside down.

Despite the tension, Y/N couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief. For the first time, she wasn't alone in this. L believed her, and together, they were a step closer to catching Kira.