Written By Fate ||L Lawliet x Reader||

Chapter 38

Y/N's heart raced a little as L walked her to the front door of her house. She had expected the quiet solitude of her home after the chaos of the hospital, but as she stepped onto the porch, her breath hitched. Scattered across the patio table were bouquets of flowers, each one vibrant and lovingly arranged, accompanied by small notes. For a moment, she froze, unsure of how to process what she was seeing.

"What...?" she whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

She moved closer, eyes scanning over the clusters of blooms. There was one from Matsuda, brightly colored and a bit chaotic, like the man himself, with a note that read: "We're so happy you're better!" Another bouquet was from Aizawa, neatly arranged in muted tones, his message simple but heartfelt: "Glad to have you back." There were others, too—each member of the task force had left something. Even the usually stoic Ide had sent a small bouquet with a terse, "Take care."

But the one that stood out most was the bouquet tucked carefully at the center of the table. It was a sleek arrangement of white lilies and blue hydrangeas, understated yet elegant. Y/N's eyes caught the small note attached. She hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she plucked it free.

"To Y/N—welcome home. – L."

The simplicity of the message didn't matter. It was the fact that it existed at all. A warmth spread through her chest, unbidden but welcome. L, with his detached demeanor and clinical approach, had taken the time to leave her this. She turned to look at him, still standing behind her with his usual stoic posture, hands in his pockets.

"You did this?" she asked, her voice soft but incredulous.

"I may have contributed," L replied, his tone as neutral as ever, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "It seemed appropriate."

Y/N shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "You're very caring in your own way, I admire it."

"Only when it's necessary," he replied, his gaze steady. "You should rest."

And with that, he left, disappearing into the shadows like he always did. But the warmth he left behind lingered.

The next morning, Y/N walked into the task force headquarters, greeted by a wave of smiles and cheers. She hadn't expected such a warm reception, but it was clear her return had lifted everyone's spirits. Matsuda was the first to rush over, nearly tripping over himself in his eagerness to hug her.

"You're back!" he exclaimed, his grin so wide it was almost comical. "Thank God you're okay! We were so worried!"

Y/N laughed, patting his back lightly before pulling away. "I missed you too, Matsuda. But I'm fine now, I promise."

Aizawa approached next, his expression calm but warm. "Good to see you Y/N."

"Thanks, Aizawa," she said, her voice softening. "It's good to be back."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of briefings and updates. The mood in the room was lighter than it had been in weeks, the end of the Kira case finally within sight. They discussed the final stages of the operation, the evidence that had all but confirmed Light Yagami's role as Kira, and the steps needed to ensure his conviction and to close this case, once and for all.

By the time the day wound down, Y/N felt a sense of accomplishment she hadn't experienced in a long time. 

As the others began packing up for the day, Y/N lingered at her desk, jotting down a few final notes. She didn't notice L approaching until his shadow fell over her workspace.

"Y/N," he said, his voice was soft.

She looked up, startled. "Oh, hey, L. What's up?"

He hesitated for a moment, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, his posture slightly less rigid than usual. "I was thinking," he began, his tone as measured as ever, "that we should celebrate your return. And our progress on the case."