Chapter Text
Light readjusted his tie for the third time that morning. He didn’t know why Deputy Director Kitamura had summoned him to his office. At 23, he was basically on the bottom of the ladder. Newly qualified and desperate to break free from his Father's glory and establish his own reputation, Light Yagami felt a crushing pressure to prove himself.
He hesitated outside of the Director's door and took a deep, relaxing breath. He knew he had done nothing wrong, how could he? He was Chief Yagami's boy. Still... He didn't know why Kitamura wanted to see him. And not knowing things made him nervous.
He knocked and waited politely until he was called inside. Light's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed a stranger was already in the office, and perched quite familiarly on Kitamura's desk no less!
“Ah! Yagami-Kun, would like you to meet your new partner. This is L Lawliet he has joined our force from Winchester”
Light blinked at the calm-looking young man. He had inky, wild looking hair and strangely alluring charcoal hued eyes. He looked... Unusual. Pale. Beguiling.
‘Beguiling? What the fuck...’ Light disnt have the time to analyse where that odd thought had come from. They were both looking at him.
“I... I’m sorry, I’m confused. I thought only Senior Detectives were assigned partners?”
“Lawliet-San *is* a senior” Kitamura smiled “Though you wouldn’t think it to look at him. Winchester's finest detective, aged just 24. Lawliet-San has recently relocated to Japan and we were fortunate to snap him up first”.
Light’s eyebrow twitched. Great. His partner was a senior and just a year older than him. Talk about salt in the fucking wound.
“Nice to meet you, Light”
Light blinked. Did the man just address him by his given name?!
L tilted his head “Oh. Yagami-Kun. Forgive me, it has been many years since I have been in Japan, I suppose I’m a bit rusty. Only friends and family address you by your given names, correct?”
“Correct” Light managed to smile, but it was painfully polite.
“Huh, well, your going to be my partner and I don’t really know anyone here so you may call me L”
Light flicked his eyes to Kitamura in uncertainty. Who the hell was this guy?
“Of course, L, I will bear that in mind. Well, I will leave Yagami-Kun to settle you in. We are thrilled to have you on board”
Light blanched. What in the actual fuck? Why was Kitamura kissing his ass so hard?
“Thanks. See you later then, boss” L hopped off the desk and stood before Light “After you”
Light managed a pinched smile and turned on his heel. He caught the smallest curl on L's- Lawliet's lip and clenched his jaw. This man was going to be a pain in the ass. He just knew it...
Fifteen minutes later, Light's prophecy had come true. L had insisted on moving around *his* office and had steadily munched on an entire packet of strawberry pocky WHILST talking to him!
“You know, I actually requested to be your partner. I was offered to team up with Miss Misora, and while I admire her, I had to decline”
Light paused in his task of unwrapping his Bento. He was so used to just eating lunch alone it was strange to suddenly have someone chatting to him.
“Why?” Light asked, genuinely confused. Misora was a senior. Somehow, so was Lawliet. So why would he request to be partnered to a Junior?
“Well, you remind me of myself. Back in Winchester the department was basically ran by my Grandfather. It was frustrating, being praised for doing nothing but possessing the surname Lawliet. I felt trapped by it all. Until I gained the courage to leave and come here. I wanted to be free from his shadow and make my own name. I hope I have not misjudged you, but I was under the impression you feel the same way?”
It was a rare occurrence when Light Yagami was stunned, but this was one of them. He felt a little guilty for judging Lawliet too harshly. He had assumed Lawliet just wanted to be paired with a Junior so he had someone to look down on and boss around...
“Im sorry if I’ve made you feel... uncomfortable in anyway” L mumbled around another mouthful of candy. He looked almost guilty.
“No! That is...” Light ran a hand through his hair “That was very astute of you to pick up on. And it's also true. I have been offered a Senior position but when I asked what for... Well, it was insinuated my father had suggested it...”
L nodded, his eyes thoughtful “You have a sense of dignity and perseverance I respect. I admire your refusal of Senior status, Yagami-Kun”
Light was disturbed to feel his cheeks growing hot. ‘Am I coming down with something? What is wrong with me today!’
“As for me... Well, I suppose I’m just good at solving cases. I joined the Met when I was 18. I was promoted at 22”
“How?” Light muttered, irate at the tinge of jealousy in his tone.
“I... I solved a case. A very difficult case that wasn’t even mine. Quillish, My Grandfather and head of the Met, warned me to back off and leave it to the team dellagated to it... but I couldnt. There was a Pedophile ring linked to Westminster. I suspected a coverup so set up my own private investigation. Quillish even suspended me for a month when he found out” Lawliet took a swig of tea “But all that did was free up more time. I hacked phones, placed bugs, interviewed witnesses and managed to insert myself into the MP's social circle... It took months, but I secured the proof I needed. I went public with my findings and now Lord Hastings is rotting in jail where he belongs” Lawliet gave Light a small, ironic smile “I was promoted because of my reckleness and determination. Not because I had worked hard towards it. They had no choice but to promote me or risk appearing... Compassionate to Lord Hastings cause. Complacent, even. After that case I moved to another department to concentrate on forensics...” L looked down, looking self-conscious “Am I talking too much?”
“No” Light breathed, absolutely engrossed in the story “Please go on! What happened next?”
“Oh, well I stuck to forensics and worked on numerous high profile cases. I earned a name and reputation, my *own* name and reputation and I thought I would be content. But then... I found out Quillish was planning his retirement and wanted to pass on his responsibilities to me. I am 24. I do not have the years of experience or skillset he possesses. It made me angry, to see this ‘old boys’ network flourishing under my nose. It wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair. I refused the position and requested to be transferred. My Grandfather hasn’t spoken to me since... And... Here I am”
“That’s... Fucking incredible” Light murmured softly “And here I was thinking you only requested to work with me because I you could boss me around”
L’s luminous eyes shimmered with amusement “Not quite, Yagami-Kun. I simply wanted to work with someone who I feel I can connect with. We have similar opinions on fairness, equality and a similar work ethic”
Light found a tentative smile. Perhaps working with Lawliet wouldn’t be so bad after all?