you're going to be alright.

his shoulders loosen only a fraction of an inch. not because the reassurance helps nor because light actually believes it. but because reacting any further would only make him look even more guilty.

his jaw tightens before he forces the tension away, fingers drumming against the edge of his desk. the sound is quiet and controlled; deliberate in the shared space of the task force's office. light hates how easily ryuzaki manages to weasel himself beneath his skin. every conversation is like walking through a field of traps, never knowing which harmless comment is actually another hidden test.

a slow exhale escapes him, light's voice coming out even flatter than intended. 'right.' dark eyes search the detective's face for some indication of where the "joke" ends and the investigation begins.

with ryuzaki, there rarely seems to be a difference.

leaning back slightly in his chair, light crosses his arms. 'maybe you should give people some warning before saying things like that.' the complaint sounds reasonable enough for him to make; casual, normal, exactly what he's aiming for.

a smile pulls at one corner of his mouth, never reaching his eyes, voice carrying a trace of arid amusement as he snarks one final comment.

pale, slender digits drum against the porcelain of the teacup in front of him, as his cold, almost animal-like eyes scan over the minute imperfections of its craftsmanship. he’s relaxed, comfortable in his seat, knees against his chest, sitting in that same unsettling position he always did. “ryuzaki” doesn’t acknowledge light’s words as he begins speaking, not even giving him the satisfaction of analyzing his carefully readjusted body language. to seem non-threatening, he guessed.

to sound like a normal teenager, a highschooler. even something that should’ve come naturally, to light yagami, felt like a carefully orchestrated and organized ruse— a role he knew how to play really well, but somewhere along the path, had forgotten the script.

“i’m childish, and i hate overexplaining things.” his voice is as quiet as always. he drops not one, not two, but three sugar cubes in his tea, before adding a fourth one. “you either get me, or you don’t, yagami-kun.” a subtle implication: you’re not smart enough to truly understand my own brand of humor, are you?

“eh. . .” this guy’s existence had become annoying in the same way a pet’s insistence in being acknowledged could bother a nice, hard-working man like him. bingo— that’s what he was. a cat, who… looked like him, talked like him, and knew about his teddy bear briefs. “aw, man. totally forgot about the key in the pot.” he clicks his tongue. the moment one of his legs step through the window— his face is met with a flying projectile. ask for a chip, get one thrown right at your face.

“fine, but that means i’m taking your rent out of your monthly paycheck.” a paycheck that was… well, null to begin with. just corporate mumbo jumbo he liked to say, for some odd reason. “also, take pictures of me and i’m firing you. hr violations are no jokes, even for weirdos like you. have a shred of workplace decency, you pervert.”

he turns around. slowly. carefully. it’s premeditated. he simply activated his trap card.

『 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈-𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄 .ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ 』

CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS

we were only kids back then. we didn't know any better.

you promised me we'd be friends forever.

you've changed quite a bit since i saw you last.

how are your parents doing? will you tell them i said hi?

i've known you for years, and you haven't changed a bit.

you've always been like this.

remember the last time this happened?

sure, i made a lot of mistakes, but so did you.

do you remember how we met?

you always stood up for me, no matter what.

i've always had a lot of love in my heart for you.

when i was struggling, you were always there for me.

I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY

i thought i told you to stay away.

you've got a lot of nerve, showing your face around here again.

i really don't want to see you again.

you're supposed to call and warn me before you show up here.

there's never going to be a "next time."

this is the last time you show up like this.

last time i said i never wanted to see you again, and yet here you are.

you can't just show up here unannounced.

you remember what happened the last time you showed up.

every time you show up here, shit hits the fan.

you're putting us all in danger by showing up here.

don't you have somewhere else to be?

ROMANTIC FEELINGS

i'm sorry, but i can't stop thinking about you.

after the time we spent together, you've been on my mind.

can we discuss what happened between us?

the last time i saw you, you were going to say something... and then you stopped.

did you mean it? any of it?

i wish we were still together.

would you go on another date with me?

it's hard to deny how you make me feel.

you've always had an effect on me.

i can't stop thinking about the way you look at me.

GENERIC "I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A WHILE"

do you remember what you told me?

i can't believe this is happening to us again.

the last time this happened, we were better prepared.

i tried calling you a hundred times, but you never answered.

this was never supposed to end like this.

didn't you see my text?

i know you better than anyone else.

you can't lie to me. i can tell when you're lying.

you're making "the face" again.