For Whom the Bell Tolls {L Lawliet & Light Yagami}

The Struggle Within

Once inside, Light was sitting on the steps, drying himself off from the downpour. He had his wet shoes off and was sweeping a towel through his hair when L walked back in with a towel of his own over his head.

"Well, that was certainly an unpleasant outing," he announced to the teen.

Light rolled his eyes in annoyance. "It's your own fault," he chastised as he continued drying his hair quite fervently. "I mean, what did you expect?"

L hung his head in what appeared to be shame. "You're right. Sorry," he apologized.

Light immediately regretted phrasing it like that. L was already feeling down today and the last thing he wanted to do was make him feel worse. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice L walk down the stairs and kneel in front of him. He gasped when he felt something take hold of his foot and looked down to see L grasping it.

"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed in shock.

"I thought I might help you out," L explained. "You were busy wiping yourself off, anyway."

"Look, i-it's fine. You don't have to do that," Light insisted.

It wasn't that he didn't want L to dry his feet off for him, it was just that he was more than capable of doing it himself. He didn't want to be doted on like some child!

"I can give you a massage, as well," pressed L. "It's the least I can do to atone for my sins. I'm actually pretty good at this."

Knowing L wasn't going to take "no" for an answer, Light sighed and decided to oblige him. "Fine," he rolled his eyes, "do what you want."

Besides, he actually was kind of interested in a massage from the other man. He hadn't known he was good at giving them, and now that he did, his curiosity was piqued.

"All right," L confirmed as he put the towel he was holding in one hand on the sole of Light's foot while holding the appendage in place with his other hand.

He pressed hard up into the arch and Light grunted in discomfort.

"Hey!" he winced.

"You'll get used to it," L assured as he continued to work his foot.

Within about a minute, Light realized that L was right. It felt very good. No, it felt great. He hadn't even realized how tense his feet had been before L started working on them.

His soft, slender hands pressed and rubbed the sole of Light's foot, easing the tenseness away from it as he continued the massage. Light watched L as he worked, like he was almost enjoying doing this for him. He didn't have a problem with it, but why did it seem like he was doing this because it would be the last time he would ever see him?

These worrisome thoughts soon left his mind as L began to slightly increase the pressure of his hand. Light gave a small smile, making sure L wouldn't notice. He honestly wouldn't have minded him doing this for him more often if L agreed to it.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something wet and cool hit his foot. He glanced down to see small droplets of water rolling down the long, wild strands of L's dark hair and land on him. He grabbed the towel next to him and reached forward to gently dry L's hair.

"Here, you're still soaked," he told him as he wiped his bangs with the towel.

L momentarily paused in his task to glance up at Light as if wanting to say something, but just looked back down at Light's foot and continued massaging it. "I'm sorry," he quietly apologized.

Light frowned. Please, stop apologizing, he mentally begged. You have nothing to be sorry for...

He didn't know what was happening to him. One moment, he was looking for L with the intent to make sure he didn't try anything to apprehend him as Kira, and the next, he was genuinely feeling sorry for the man. It just didn't make sense. He wanted to tell L about his feelings for him, but-