Chapter Text
Monsters
"Lying Monsters are a real nuisance.
They are much more cunning than other monsters.
They pose as humans even though they have no understanding of the human heart,
They eat even though they've never experienced hunger,
They study even though they have no interest in academics,
They seek friendship even though they do not know how to love.
If I were to encounter such a monster, I would likely be eaten by it.
Because in truth, I am that monster."
- Lawliet, L.
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PRELUDE: I WIN
L was an effortlessly deceptive Liar.
The three greatest detectives in the world were one person.
Having said that, he was alone.
L came to this hypothesis after he'd dragged himself into a chair to solve his first case as a child.
After being presented with compiled evidence, L proceeded to draw 5 indisputable conclusions based on them before leaning into the microphone and divulging the suspect.
He took note of the collective murmurs from the Interpol heads, delicately tapped mute on the vocal distorter and mumbled at Watari for a plate of cookies.
He mulled over the incompetence of an International organization as he licked crumbs off his thumb and decided that statistically, the world's supposed brightest were less intelligent than he.
Taking into account regional recruiting, aboriginal tribes, the Wammy's House orphans and North Korea, the chance there was someone like him was about 12%.
This estimate dwindled as L got older, when national cases became effortless, he began online schooling the orphans, and they migrated servers to better coordinate with the Interpol on a global scale.
The figure plummeted even more after the successes of Eraldo Coil and Deneuve, though L did find slight amusement in the fact he ranked first, second and third in the "World's greatest detectives" listing.
And then, on January 8, 2004 - right before he could cut the figure down to 3%, he met Yagami Light.
Or rather, got acquainted with his mind through a living room surveillance camera.
"Your son is quite intelligent, isn't he." L rhetorically mused.
"Well," Yagami Soichiro gruffly said, "- yes."
L was 25.
The encounter stirred at his synapses.
And it would be the last 10 months of his life.
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