L x Reader: Receding

L x Reader: Receding  

(F/n) had loved L from the moment she'd seen him. Though the initial memory had long since faded with time, the original adoration had not. 

As they spent countless hours together, it was almost as if the two had been made to compliment each other. The two were polar opposites. Where L was oddly calm and collected, (F/n) was wild and impulsive. Where he would stay crouched for extended hours, she would wiggle in her seat and long to run; and yet they somehow found a middle ground. 

In the early days of their friendship, (F/n) had often gone too fast for her own good; pushing her limits and ever expanding her personal expectations. And L was always the one to come and find her- his hands burrowed deeply in his sweat pants pockets, and his wide obsidian eyes staring at her intently as she explained herself. In spite of their differing personalities, L had never judged his spontaneous companion, for he had always had ambitions of his own and knew the drive behind (F/n)'s actions. So he would listen, give his two cents, and escort her home before it got too dark. 

Throughout the days of their youth, L had always kept a close watch on (F/n), and with the grace of God, they had made it through adolescence and their High School years unharmed. And it was after their graduation ceremony had concluded that the routine was broken. 

As (F/n) had looked on tearfully, L had left for college and a bright future. He had held her close as she tackled him for a farewell hug. His expression and slightly monotone voice never changed as he patted her head and said his goodbyes, but (F/n) knew he would feel her absence too. She had kissed his pale cheek and watched as the dark car pulled out of the driveway and disappeared from view. After that day, the woman rarely got to see her dearest companion, and it was one of the last times she ever felt completely whole. 
This wasn't due to a lack of contact. L still called or Skyped her at least once a week; making personal deductions about her appearance or loveable offhanded statements. But it was never the same. L had grown up and (F/n) missed him terribly. 

Months turned into years and L graduated with the highest honors once again. But even then he never returned. Instead, he grew even more reclusive and made a name for himself (surprisingly enough, the nickname that (F/n) had christened him with in their childhood years). And the calls and messages became even fewer in number. Until L completely sank back into the shadows of the world, and the girl who had loved him lost hope that they would ever be restored to their former selves. 

* * * * * * 

(F/n) stood in her kitchen happily humming to herself, as she put the finishing touches on her newest masterpiece. A three layered chocolate cake with pink rosette frosting and a large heart formed at the center. The woman of twenty-some years had always loved baking and that love served her well when she had opened her own Bakery. 

The order for this particular cake had come from a sweet couple whose wedding was coming up. It was some of (F/n)'s finest work yet, and she took pride in her craft. With a large 

With a large smile, she thought of L. He had always been the one to test her creations first, and it had left him with an incurable sweet tooth. She often sent cakes and custards his way, though his address was forever changing. Luckily for her, L had made a special address for her to send packages to. So the energetic baker never had to worry about her gifts arriving for their intended recipient. 

In the past, L had called to thank her for the pastries. But in recent days, he had stopped. (F/n) knew that this was done to protect her, but it didn't make the silence hurt any less.

It had been quite some time since L had accepted the Kira case. And he hadn't made contact with her since his impulsive visit to the bakery, after he was announced as the one to track down Kira in the Japanese news broadcast. 

The odd detective had shown up out of nowhere; head and shoulders hunched, hands in his pockets as he strolled into (F/n)'s establishment. As he had approached the main counter, she had started to cry and rushed around to greet him. Though this time it was L that yanked her into a hug. The action was strange for him, but the giddy baker didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she laughed joyously and welcomed him. L had laid his head on her shoulder and sighed peacefully. But when the two had pulled apart his normal expression was firmly in place. 

(F/n) had proceeded to spoil him with several large slices of Peach Cake, while she jabbered incessantly and would randomly hug him. It was the first time she’d seen him in years, and it had almost been too good to be true.

Now as the Baker looked back on the memory, she drew strength. L had come to see her. Hell, he’d even said that he’d missed her (in so many words). It was progress. It meant that there was hope. 

(F/n) continued to hum to herself as she placed the chocolate creation in its transporting container. She would rekindle her kinship with L. No matter what, she would have him back in her life. She would keep him close and never let him go again. It was all she had ever wanted, and it was something she would fight to have.

After this Kira case was over, she’d regain her relationship with her strange twin brother once and for all.

* * * * * *

(F/n) knew the moment that L took his last breath.

She was sleeping; seeing as the doctor had put her on bed rest until her unborn son was due. But the unexplainable knowledge of her brother’s end had woken her up in a mere matter of seconds. For a terrible minute, she had felt his heart slowing, as if it were her own, and then it had stopped altogether, receding into a sickening silence.

The soul-wrenching scream that tried to leave her throat was cut off by her choked sobs and tears of agony. But even as the room stayed quiet, (F/n)’s heart was breaking and her soul continued to wail in torment. Even as her confused husband tried to calm her, (F/n) cried inconsolably.

With a shaky hand, she finally reached for her cellphone and dialed her twin’s emergency mobile. And as each ringtone passed, her certainty grew. Until the answering message was resounding in her ears. It was his voice. L’s voice, and it said only two words.

“Goodbye (F/n).”

As the message came to an end and the dial tone clicked, the woman threw her phone at her bedroom wall and wept bitterly.

L was gone, and she was utterly alone.

As the seconds ticked by, (F/n) felt her twin’s presence flicker away, and knew that her hero was dead.