Picking battles is a careful balance and a delicate dance. They both know as much, if only from their time in close quarters during the investigation. Now that their time together is voluntary, and their Bond chosen for all that it tramples the usual boundaries a human could reasonably rely on, it's something both of them may have to adjust their understanding of. They might find themselves engaged in a battle that started before they realized it had; they might find themselves winning or losing a battle that had been quietly underway for days or weeks.
"Yes," he replies, all smoke and mirrors banished in favor of a strangely clear and honest answer. It would be true even if Mello hadn't turned that tendency in his direction. "Very dangerous... but they departed this world before spring. This isn't a present concern, certainly not one you need to worry about."
L's words aren't obfuscating on the surface, but they're still carefully chosen, as is typical for him. He hasn't given a name, or even a sex. He's juxtaposed "very dangerous" with something Light doesn't "need to worry about." He's expressed that the situation isn't relevant to Light, while changing his habits over many months in a way to indicate that it's still very much relevant to him.
"You're correct, though. Regarding Bonds. Even if affection was minimal, at the onset... it's likely to deepen over time. While Bonds give you insight into the darkest and weakest parts of a person, the opposite is also true, and the result can be exquisite understanding. It's perhaps the closest thing to true empathy a mind is able to experience."
Even this conversation, about a man who really is gone from this world, is like a dance. L moves in graceful and particular ways, leaving the viewer, or listener, to interpret. Light's good at that.
No gender. L wouldn't be someone who cared overly much if he were gay or straight. Perhaps Light is wrong about that. It isn't like he's had time to create a profile for L in this category as he'd assumed there was no sexual interest. So, it's to keep the identity hidden. As if the slight detail would be enough, even if logically, that's impossible. As skilled as Light may be, he can't take gender alone and correctly identify a person.
This wasn't just an awkward experience. 'Negative' is still a broad category, but it was obviously more than someone who failed in sex.
"I won't ask for details, but I'll ask one thing: if they return, let me know."
Light asks, but he isn't sure the request will be granted. It's obviously something L holds close to his chest, and the older man isn't prone to sharing.
"You're saying they're only not a concern because they're gone. If they come back, they're dangerous, and someone dangerous to one person is dangerous to a lot of people."
Mello had wounded L, delivered a crushing blow to the fragile trust they'd established as a Bonded pair, and dismally failed a crucial test... and yet, L's reasons for keeping his identity as vague as possible have everything to do with a continued desire to protect him. If he ever comes back, L wants as little to do with him as possible, not foolish enough to offer him a Bond again... but not vindictive enough to hope that he meets ruin at the hands of an adversary that had ultimately ended both of them, in their world.
Of course, it goes without saying that his current priorities have gone beyond "selfish", now that he's Bonded to that adversary.
"Naturally," he replies, as though the track leading to that conclusion was a straight and uncomplicated one, and "this individual" would pose a threat to everyone as equally as he did to L, instead of disproportionately to that black and hateful grudge toward Kira's confirmed identity. "I wouldn't keep you in the dark about their potential return; to have a Bond is to protect your Bond, or... at least that's how it's meant to go."
A tiny breadcrumb of a hint, should Light choose to pursue it. Someone could certainly tell him who L's former Bonds were, and with only two before Myr, that didn't leave many suspects.
There's one loose end, of course. Near is likely to protect Mello over Light, regardless of the blond's crimes. L has little doubt that Near's general cool indifference to his predecessor extends that far.
With any luck, this will never become an issue. Perhaps if Mello returns without his memories of his time here, it would be safer... but if he's gone down that path before, it stands to reason that he could, again.
"Something to keep in mind, when you find a monster you could see yourself Bonding with."
Not that L wants to share, but he'd rather share than deal with Light exploding.
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no subject
"Yes," he replies, all smoke and mirrors banished in favor of a strangely clear and honest answer. It would be true even if Mello hadn't turned that tendency in his direction. "Very dangerous... but they departed this world before spring. This isn't a present concern, certainly not one you need to worry about."
L's words aren't obfuscating on the surface, but they're still carefully chosen, as is typical for him. He hasn't given a name, or even a sex. He's juxtaposed "very dangerous" with something Light doesn't "need to worry about." He's expressed that the situation isn't relevant to Light, while changing his habits over many months in a way to indicate that it's still very much relevant to him.
"You're correct, though. Regarding Bonds. Even if affection was minimal, at the onset... it's likely to deepen over time. While Bonds give you insight into the darkest and weakest parts of a person, the opposite is also true, and the result can be exquisite understanding. It's perhaps the closest thing to true empathy a mind is able to experience."
no subject
No gender. L wouldn't be someone who cared overly much if he were gay or straight. Perhaps Light is wrong about that. It isn't like he's had time to create a profile for L in this category as he'd assumed there was no sexual interest. So, it's to keep the identity hidden. As if the slight detail would be enough, even if logically, that's impossible. As skilled as Light may be, he can't take gender alone and correctly identify a person.
This wasn't just an awkward experience. 'Negative' is still a broad category, but it was obviously more than someone who failed in sex.
"I won't ask for details, but I'll ask one thing: if they return, let me know."
Light asks, but he isn't sure the request will be granted. It's obviously something L holds close to his chest, and the older man isn't prone to sharing.
"You're saying they're only not a concern because they're gone. If they come back, they're dangerous, and someone dangerous to one person is dangerous to a lot of people."
no subject
Of course, it goes without saying that his current priorities have gone beyond "selfish", now that he's Bonded to that adversary.
"Naturally," he replies, as though the track leading to that conclusion was a straight and uncomplicated one, and "this individual" would pose a threat to everyone as equally as he did to L, instead of disproportionately to that black and hateful grudge toward Kira's confirmed identity. "I wouldn't keep you in the dark about their potential return; to have a Bond is to protect your Bond, or... at least that's how it's meant to go."
A tiny breadcrumb of a hint, should Light choose to pursue it. Someone could certainly tell him who L's former Bonds were, and with only two before Myr, that didn't leave many suspects.
There's one loose end, of course. Near is likely to protect Mello over Light, regardless of the blond's crimes. L has little doubt that Near's general cool indifference to his predecessor extends that far.
With any luck, this will never become an issue. Perhaps if Mello returns without his memories of his time here, it would be safer... but if he's gone down that path before, it stands to reason that he could, again.
"Something to keep in mind, when you find a monster you could see yourself Bonding with."
Not that L wants to share, but he'd rather share than deal with Light exploding.