Work Text:
Requested
Death Note
L x Female Reader
Shinigami's Bargain
Being a weapon specialist, [Y/N] wondered what use she could be in searching for Kira, who seemed to have magic powers. However, Watari and L both admire her resourceful stealth and firearm knowledge. She has worked with Watari for some cases in the past but Kira is a worldwide sensation. Since Kira can supposedly control when and how people die she was added to the team if Kira decided to do anything crazy.
And things did get crazy. Not only did Kira kill Naomi Misora, an esteemed agent and friend of [Y/N] and L, another Kira has entered the stage. Misa Amane and Light Yagami were detained for a long time to see if they truly were Kira.
To [Y/N] its obvious Light is Kira. He’d manipulate and charm his way out of being brought to justice but [Y/N] vows to dismantle his games.
It’d be one thing to kill irredeemable criminals but killing agents who are also trying to bring criminals to justice? To kill Naomi, a brilliant mind and a woman that was going to be a mother? No matter what new world Kira believes in, they’re wrong!
After Naomi and her husband were killed [Y/N] was recruited to the task force.
She strongly believes that Light is Kira. He’s too perfect. Perfect family, perfect looks, perfect answers –like he was desperately trying to portray himself without flaws. How did he meet Misa Amane? Sure. Light is popular. But how did they become friends? There are no clues when Misa suddenly declares herself Light’s girlfriend.
During their confinement [Y/N] noticed two things like L had. No wind should be in that chamber. Air is channeled through but Misa had been still the entire time. Her bangs moved as if by an invisible force. A hand had brushed past. From then on she acted significantly different. So did Light.
“Maybe…maybe Kira has more powers than we first thought,” [Y/N] told the team. “Maybe he can control people, at least partially, without killing them.”
Most didn’t believe her. Amane had just broken under the torture and isolation.
But L agreed with your theory.
Then came along shinigami. Everyone is startled by their existence. It must be an omen. The room is always tense with the eerie creatures looming over the task force. Would they be killed? Why did they appear?
And though the two shinigami answers L’s questions, they are vague.
“How do we know you’re not loyal to Kira? You’re gods and that means you must follow some codes. But you can also be helping Kira!”
“What makes you say that?” Matsuda asked.
[Y/N] crossed her arms and glared, unafraid of the gods of death. “We suspected that Light and Misa are Kira and two shinigami are here. Who else could have given two mere humans such powers?”
Mogi said, “But if that’s true, they could just kill us all right now. That’s it. Kira wins.”
“They could be waiting for something,” Aizawa countered.
[Color] eyes sweep the room with a dangerous glint. “Kira is trying to throw us off track. Maybe he struck a bargain with the shinigami. When I was hired to hunt down criminals, when they knew someone was following them, they’d instantly do something to try and throw me off. But for that reason it made it easier to track their new patterns. Every time L guessed what Kira was doing, they’d change the pattern.”
Matsuda gasped. “She’s right! It makes perfect sense!”
“Can powers be transferred?” [Y/N] wondered.
The last of the Yotsuba group were mysteriously missing. The task force went out to look, to confirm if they were alive or dead, except for Watari and [Y/N].
[Y/N] is at the fire range and she immediately sensed overwhelming fear as she fired at some fake targets. Her senses are sharp and alert. A shinigami must have entered the room. Was it Ryuk, curiously studying everyday human life again?
Lowering her weapon and storing equipment away she sees Rem instead.
“You know Kira is evil, right? They may have fancy ideals about a perfect world but they are using everyone –including Misa.” [Y/N] noticed that Rem hovers by Misa more than the others. “Amane has good intentions but without you, Kira will kill her.”
That’s true. Rem sadly remembers Misa’s first encounter with Kira, Light Yagami, and how he threatened to kill her if she didn’t follow his orders exactly. Would a real hero and supporter of godly ideals threaten a devoted worshipper? But Misa would be heartbroken if Light died.
“In the beginning I believed in Kira.”
Rem is shocked to hear this but doesn’t convey her surprise.
“Until he killed agents and Naomi Misora.” [Y/N] describes her late friend with a bittersweet gleam in her eyes. “…she was a model citizen. A real hero and arresting heartless criminals. She was also a loving, loyal wife to her husband. Just like Misa. Didn’t she deserve to live in Kira’s new world?”
[Y/N] diligently repairs and fine tunes her guns. There is soundlessness for a while save for the humming of lights. Then Rem’s solemn voice rings in the air. “I vowed long ago to protect Misa above all else. If Kira were to die she’d be miserable. Heartbroken.”
But what the human says rings true. Could Light somehow put Misa in danger so that Rem would have to sacrifice herself to save her?
“You guys said shinigami can’t die. I don’t believe it. Even gods can die. Did you come here to ask something?” [Y/N] inspected the quality of her equipment. L and Watari really went out of their way to purchase some topnotch weapons and armor.
“I want to make a deal.”
“A deal?” She puts away her tools to look at the towering, monstrous being.
“I’ve watched you humans for a long time,” Rem said. “And many are vile creatures I despise with absolute hatred. But you and Misa deserve to live long happy lives. Unlike L, Kira, and Ryuk, this is no game to you.”
[Y/N] nodded.
“If I am to die I want you to protect Misa. You value selfless hearts and unlike other treacherous humans, don’t see everyone as a pawn in their game of chess.”
“I can’t guarantee her safety with that notebook but I can make sure Misa comes out of this unscathed.”
Rem pointed at the human. “In return I shall do something for you.”
“Don’t kill L.”
The shinigami is shocked again. She expected the human to demand for superpowers or endless riches. Rem is solaced knowing that she placed her unwavering trust in this human. So, she only asks that I do not harm the one she loves. Love. The purest thing in this rotten world. [Y/N] loves the detective like how Misa loves Light.
Light Yagami is pissed off. That’s the second time Rem has failed to kill L. But Kira is always quick on his feet and refuses to be outwitted by his enemies. It has helped him this far. Just like how he built that dummy lid inside the drawer to hide the death note. It would start on fire if someone forcefully tried to remove the notebook. Or how he had Ryuk help him. Or stashed fragments of death note pages in his wallet and wristwatch. He won’t lose this time either.
When [Y/N] awoke with a blindfold across her eyes and tape across her mouth she didn’t panic. At least outwardly. Ever since Kira entered society’s consciousness, the world became insane. So she waited in the unnerving soundlessness.
Maybe her captor is that crazy Kira supporter group? A group of rioters had tried to break into a studio Misa was in, shouting some nonsensical demands.
They had wanted to seal Misa away in safety until Kira emerged as god of the new world. The violent rioters broke windows, tossed Molotovs, broke furniture, injured staff, and vandalized the studio.
One or two accurate shots from [Y/N]’s sniper made them scatter. She laughed. What kind of spineless cowards does Kira have for supporters?
Watari dropped tear gas to chase the last few rioters out of the studio.
Whoever kidnapped her removed every concealed weapon and SOS device in her inventory. She can’t call for help.
A metal door shrieks as it opens and shuts with a loud clang. Someone walked over to her.
“Do you know how much of a pain you’ve been for Kira?”
Light?!
He sounded annoyed, like he was bothered with some boring task. “You were difficult to capture. But I will say you’re almost as great as L, a worthy adversary of mine.”
How did he capture me? Isn’t someone from task force always following him?
“But I’m afraid our game has to end. For you, anyway.”
Clack! Sounds like a blade. Icy metal rests on [Y/N]’s throat.
“I bought this place a while ago for just such emergencies. It’s quite useful. It was also easy to lose Matsuda and the others, especially with Misa’s demanding nature.” Light laughed. “I was going to try and kill you all at once but here we are.”
Blood droplets appear in a diagonal line. [Y/N] doesn’t move, terrified by the knife hovering dangerously by her throat.
“But this isn’t a bad outcome either. I can’t wait to see L’s face when he hears about your death. The guy hardly expresses any emotion. For once I want to see my enemy surprised, in agony, how funny would it be that Kira would be the first to get L so wounded?”
The knife drops. “With the death note I can make you kill everyone. Your weapon expertise works against you. It’s too bad. I was actually thinking of keeping you alive. You’d serve as a great shield for me when I finally appear to the world as Kira and Light Yagami. Then after you eliminated all who opposed me, I’d kill you.”
Bitter hatred lodges in [Y/N]’s throat. Even now, all Kira can do is imagine people as chess pieces. Tears sting the weapon specialist’s eyes. Am I going to die this way? Without a fight? Am I going to be the one to kill L and the others, because of Kira?! This isn’t how I want to die!
“Are you sure about this?” Mr. Yagami drives an armored vehicle down narrow streets.
“I know I usually stay and direct from HQ but it’s important for all of us to be there. Is everyone in position?”
Voices crackle on a radio. “Yes!”
Chief Yagami still thinks that this is a trap. Can they really trust Rem’s word that Kira is an underground bunker?
L is the most worried. The taciturn man never thought he’d fall in love. He wishes he could’ve told [Y/N] sooner that he loves her. All those stolen glances at her, all the times she’d smile at him, and their long conversations into the night to keep his mind off Kira for some time, the moments when she and Watari baked fresh chocolates for him as he thoroughly worked, how could he have not seen it? Maybe he’s mistaken. L could never read people easily, but a part of him hoped she feels the same. When he found [Y/N], L promised himself that he’d tell her how he feels.
“There is a way I can spare your life,” Light sounded amused with gambling lives. “Tell me L’s real name. I know you know it.”
Even though she’s terrified to die, [Y/N] can only laugh sarcastically at Yagami’s insanity. He tears the tape from her mouth.
“Did your shinigami friends and your magic notebook fail you, Kira?”
Light’s gaze hardened. “You have three minutes to tell me L’s real name.”
Three minutes to live. Better make it worthwhile.
“If you were really an honorable person you’d fight me.”
Light sighed, not falling for the weapon specialist’s trap to buy time or release her. “While you have amazing firearm expertise that’d give you an advantage, you’re still just a woman. I tower over you and I have more strength than you do. Watari helped you train in self-defense fighting but my father also taught me. You’re not fooling me.”
Sirens screamed. Would they pass by or stop by the bunker? Would the task force even get to [Y/N] before Light wrote her name? Did they even know she was gone?
The door was nearly torn from its hinges. Then it exploded with deafening sound as it hit the floor. Light unlocked his wristwatch but a gun aimed right at him.
“Father…”
Oh shit. It’s a showdown.
“Light. So it’s true. You are Kira.” Tangible agony in seven words. “Don’t move. You’re under arrest.”
Chaos erupted. The task force shouted at Light to stop then two gunshots rang out. Light screamed as he thrashed on the floor. Footsteps rush over to him. There’s a bone-chilling click of a gun.
“No, Chief!” Matsuda shook his head and grabbed the man’s arm. “He’s down.”
The chief policeman trembled. “My own son is Kira. I have failed as a policeman and a father. I was blind because I wanted to believe he wasn’t Kira.”
“It isn’t your fault Chief,” Mogi said. “But now it’s finally over.”
L ran over to [Y/N] and cut the chains. He pulled her into a hug and muttered, “I wasn’t too late.”
[Y/N] smiled. Did I die? Am I imagining things?
“Thank you. All of you!” She cried happily. Blinking tears away she sees Light slightly move. Somber realization shines in her eyes. “Light’s going to-”
Her body reacts lightning fast to save L. Now that her arms and legs are free she takes the gun from L’s side and shoots. Light collapsed and the knife clattered next to him. Light groaned and is bleeding from a third bullet wound. The others tackled Yagami and arrest him. The task force and Chief Yagami drag him outside and guide him to the armored vehicle.
L and [Y/N] leave the bunker to be met by light rain. Watari offers them an umbrella. L and [Y/N] exchange a glance full of love and passion. They are alive. She extends a hand and L wraps his spindly, pale, and icy hand in hers. Together they walk back to the vehicle, Watari standing by and opening the door for them.