Realization (L Lawliet)

One

     L was sleeping a lot more because of the lack of caffeine. That often wasn't any good, but while he was attached to IV's, he didn't seem to get dreams. 

     Strange since he had this irrational fear of needles and stretched rubber bands. 

     Watari would stay with him during the visiting hours, which was a long time, but L usually wasn't even conscious to notice. 

      With no case to solve, L always turned into this lazy lump that would stay in bed all day long listening to heavy metal and watching anime. He had binged through Attack on Titan in three days once. 

     He really had no life. 

     One morning, he woke up to see Watari holding a bag of his stuff and his clothes neatly folded. He said that the doctors decided to release him, since his heart had stayed stable for the week and a half he spent in the hospital. 

     That seemed good. 

     L had acted a lot more eagerly, not hesitating to get out of bed and sloppily pull on his normal clothes. 

     On their way out of the hospital, L had managed to earn quite a few strange looks, which he was used to. After all, the most common insult said to him behind his back on first glance was "emo fag". 

     That wasn't a very nice thing to say.

     Nobody in the hospital said that to him, however. 

     L kept a watchful stare at the people around him as he walked, pressing his index finger to his upper lip. He must look even worse than before to be getting looks like these. 

     The second they entered the lobby, he knew he was out of place. Everybody else was wearing flip-flops, shorts, and light-colored tank tops, some even with sunglasses. He, on the other hand, looked like...himself. 

     Apparently himself wasn't socially acceptable. 

     He leaned against the wall, looking at the sun outside the windows as Watari was busy signing release papers. 

    He would do anything to go back to the dreary UK, but Watari recently decided not to let him because of pollution. Watari's scary skill with machine guns kept L from arguing. 

    L just couldn't wait to go the beach, talk to girls, and come home too sunburned to withstand his own existence. 

     Watari nudged L gently, saying that it was time to go. 

     L instantly recognized the black Lexus parked in the parking lot. It was one of the few cars Watari had. This one was better for blending into crowded environments, like coastal cities. And it could go fast if needed. 

    L opened the door to the passenger's seat, quickly shutting it behind him to block out the sea-salt smell and have it replaced with the car scent. 

     Watari sat down in the driver's seat and started the car, saying, "You're acting very bipolar today. Just an hour earlier you were very excited. Now you're back to your default mode." 

     L didn't want to think about that. Maybe the sunlight had ruined his mood. He turned on the radio, which was still on the rock station from the last time he had ridden in this car. He silently watched the landscape flash by. 

     Almost two minutes later, Watari turned and drove into the driveway of a Dunkin' Donuts. 

    L now felt very hungry. It had been quite a while since he had a donut. And maybe a coffee too?