Written By Fate ||L Lawliet x Reader||

Chapter 37

The beeping of the heart monitor was steady and rhythmic, a sound that filled the otherwise silent hospital room. Y/N slowly became aware of the warmth surrounding her, the soft cushion beneath her head, and the dull ache in her chest. Her eyelids fluttered open, and the harsh fluorescent lights above made her squint. It took her a moment to process the surroundings—white walls, sterile smells. She was in a hospital.

The first thing she noticed was the figure sitting by her side. His familiar, unrushed presence filled the room even before she turned her gaze fully to him. L. His hunched posture, legs drawn up beneath him, and the ever-present fingers steepled beneath his chin—his thoughtful, calculating expression.

"L?" Y/N's voice was hoarse, almost a whisper, as she tried to sit up. A sharp pang of pain shot through her side where she was stabbed and she winced.

L's gaze snapped to her instantly, his usual unflinching attention focused solely on her. "Y/N," he said softly, his voice deep but calm, laced with concern that he didn't let show too much. "You're awake."

Y/N let out a soft, throaty laugh, even though the action caused her pain. "I had no idea I was out that long... You look like you've been here for hours," she said, her eyes flickering over the empty chair next to her bed and the way L had set up camp with his usual assortment of snacks and papers.

L shifted slightly, but his eyes never left hers. "You've been unconscious for nearly a day. We weren't sure when you'd wake up. I didn't leave," he said matter-of-factly.

Y/N smirked, the edges of her lips curling playfully despite her aching body. "So, what, you were waiting for me to wake up so you could make sure I didn't die on you? How sweet," she teased, her eyes locking onto his with a knowing glint.

L didn't smile, but there was a faint shift in his posture, a slight softening in his gaze that only she would notice. "I wouldn't have let you die," he said, the words quieter than he intended, though his tone remained neutral.

Her heart fluttered, though she wasn't sure if it was the pain or the unexpected warmth in his words. She had expected him to remain emotionally distant, as he always did, but he was different.

"Thanks," she said, her voice was teasing but soft. "L being sweet, what a rare moment." She laughed.

L narrowed his eyes slightly, though the edges of his lips twitched upward, fighting a smile. "I'm not sweet. You're just delusional from the medication." His tone was flat, but the glint in his eyes with the small amusement he tried to hide.

Y/N chuckled, the sound airy and light despite the discomfort. "Right, right. Delusional," she said with a smirk. "But seriously, I'm okay. No need to babysit me." She shifted in the bed, trying to get more comfortable, but the movement made her wince again. "Guess I'm not as invincible as I thought."

L's eyes softened again, but just for a second. "No one is invincible, Y/N. Not even you," he replied, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Y/N looked up at him, the playful flirtation slipping away for a moment, replaced by something more sincere. There was a weight in his words that resonated with her more than she expected. She swallowed, trying to push away the wave of emotion she felt. But instead of letting the moment linger, she chose to deflect with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, well, you don't get to act all serious with me. You're not exactly the picture of health yourself, L. Look at you—barely sleeping, drinking nothing but sugar, and sitting like that," she said, leaning back against her pillow. "Your back's probably killing you, huh?"

L's gaze flickered to his posture, as if he hadn't really thought about it. "I'm fine," he said, his usual bluntness returning. "I don't need sleep. My back isn't an issue."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "You're really something." She reached over and patted the edge of the bed, inviting him to sit down. "Come on, sit here for a second."

L hesitated for a moment, looking at the bed, then back at her. His posture softened again, and he finally gave in, sitting at the edge of her bed in a way that still seemed awkward and unnatural for him.

She chuckled softly at his discomfort. "You know, for someone who's so smart, you sure don't know how to relax."

L didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply looked at her with that unreadable expression of his, though there was something softer in the way he observed her now. "I'm not here to relax," he said, his voice steady. "I'm here because you're important to me, Y/N. Even if you don't believe that."

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected sincerity in his words, and for a moment, the playful flirtation she had been clinging to vanished entirely. But she quickly masked it with a teasing grin. "Well, aren't you full of surprises? I always knew you liked me, though." She batted her eyelashes, leaning back with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You can't resist me, can you?"

L blinked, his face remaining stoic, but there was a subtle tension in the way he held himself, as if the lines between the professional distance he had always kept and something else were starting to blur. "You're impossible," he muttered, though there was a faint flicker of something—was it embarrassment?—in his eyes.

Y/N leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "I know," she said softly, watching as his gaze flickered away. "But you can't help it. Admit it. I'm unforgettable. And you're gonna miss me."

L didn't say anything, but the slightest shake of his head, along with the tiniest shift in his lips, gave her the answer she was looking for. 

He would miss her, once they are done with this. He knew that.