A Charmed Life
by reaperlight / plannedbyreaperlight (also available on deviantart, livejournal, and the DN-Kink meme) is a Death Note Ryuk/Light Slash Fic in which Light decides he needs to get closer to Ryuk so that the Shinigami doesn't become bored and kill him. He becomes closer to Ryuk than anticipated when he discovers that Ryuk has a crush on him.
A Charmed Life provides examples of:
- Accidental Marriage: Light was unaware that when Ryuk bites him that means he's just been soul-bonded to Ryuk for eternity.
- Advanced Ancient Acropolis: The ruins Light and Ryuk explore in the Shinigami Realm.
- Anti-Villain: Both Light and Ryuk. Light really does want to make the worlds a better place and while Ryuk's sense of fun can have rather disastrous results Light concludes it's not done out of any purposeful malice but just because he doesn't know any better.
- Aroused by Their Voice: Light is quite fond of Ryuk's voice.
- Asshole Victim: for the most part Light sticks to killing murderers and rapists.
- Attention Whore: Light comes to realize he might just have this problem.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Light decides he doesn't want to use Ryuk in his schemes anymore and Ryuk helps Light through his psychotic breakdowns.
- Batman Gambit: Light's final plan in his game with L hinges on the fact that he, the Chief's son, is well-liked and trusted by the police whereas L, an outsider who is poking into their affairs and casually disregards the feelings of his alleged allies, is not.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Light is genuinely grateful to Ryuk for dropping his notebook and just for being there. Also because Light is nice to Ryuk, Ryuk goes out of his way to make sure that Light is safe and happy.
- Becoming the Mask: Zig-Zagged when Light decides to play the role of "a naïve little boy playing with things he doesn't fully understand" but in many ways (such as his being a Wide-Eyed Idealist Psychopathic Manchild and messing with Shinigami who play by rules he does not fully understand) that is exactly what he is but Light himself is too deluded to realize it.
- Better as Friends: Light decides this when he spares a thought of "not thinking" of L and decides that they are just not compatible and would end up killing each other anyway.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: while Light isn't exactly little he is much smaller than his monstrous companion.
- Bigger Is Better in Bed: to Light's surprise, Ryuk is quite good in bed.
- Boldly Coming: Lampshaded when Light uses Star Trek as an example of why pursuing a relationship with Ryuk should be perfectly acceptable.
- Bond Creatures: Shinigami with humans.
- Boy Meets Ghoul: Light and Ryuk.
- Brains and Brawn: when fixing things up in their new home Light comes up with most of the ideas and he has Ryuk do the heavy lifting.
- Bridal Carry: Ryuk does this quite frequently with Light.
- Broken Ace: Light is The Stoic, calm and collected but Beneath the Mask he's a mess of mental issues and what passes for his sanity is hanging together by a thread. Ultimately he decides to leave it all behind for Ryuk because for the first time in his life he feels genuinely happy.
- Broken Masquerade: Upon taking up residence in the Shinigami world Light gains the ability to see all the Shinigami though sometimes he wishes he didn't.
- Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: Light is angsty and brooding and Ryuk is gentle with him.
- Bullying a Dragon: Light frequently bosses Ryuk around much to his Shinigami's amusement.
- Butt-Monkey: L is this-Light ensures that the taskforce will blame him for Light's apparent suicide, Matsuda also gets a passing mention, and Light himself is this quite frequently.
- Call to Agriculture: After settling down with Ryuk, Light takes up apple farming.
- Character Development: Ryuk shows Light that there is more to life than just homework and death.
- Cluster F-Bomb: Light does this when under extreme stress. It's very Godly.
- The Corrupter: Ryuk is amused that he would be the one to take Light's innocence... again.
- Crack Fic: It's a Death Note fluffy Ryuk/Light romance fic with a happy ending.
- Criminal Mind Games: Light occasionally sends L a postcard. Also the codes and ciphers Light left just for L in his "suicide" note.
- The Cuckoolander Was Right: L has acquired a reputation among the police of being a paranoid neurotic but he is indeed right about Light.
- Cursed with Awesome: Light decides that if he is "cursed" then he couldn't have asked for a nicer curse to have.
- Cute and Psycho: Light, as Lampshaded by Ryuk."You are just too damned cute, you know?"
Kira shot him a glare.
"I'm not cute," Light snapped petulantly. - Death World: The Shinigami Realm making it habitable and comfortable place to live is hard work.
- Defeat Means Friendship: having successfully out-smarted L and after taking up residence in another dimension Light comes to consider L as sort of a friend, or at least amusing to have around, and sends him post cards on occasion.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Light for Ryuk to the point that Light himself worries he's going soft.
- Devoted to You: Light naturally attracts a train of admirers and stalkers with no effort on his part.
- Did Not Get The Guy: L. Though he has captured Misa and confined her to his bondage dungeon he would have much rather have had Light.
- Dramatic Irony: Light feels the safest around Ryuk, a Death God. Also Light becomes more secure in his sexuality thanks to an article that was written by L under an alias.
- The Dreaded: the name of Kira evokes awe and fear even among the Shinigami. They are shocked that a mere human would kill that many other humans.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Light doesn't get to be a Karma Houdini without hard work and toiling.
- Effeminate Misogynistic Guy: Light was brought up to believe that girls are weak and that showing emotion is a weakness. He's also rather fond of fashion, sewing, and home decorating.
- Elaborate Underground Base: Light and Ryuk turn a mountain cave into their new "apartment."
- Eternal Love: Ryuk and Light are soul-bonded together for eternity.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Light and Ryuk come to genuinely care about each other.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Sidoh is freaked out by Light and some other Shinigami complain about Kira's kill count, telling him to "Save some for the rest of us!"
- Exiled to the Couch: Light does this to Ryuk after Ryuk decided he enjoyed painting Light's nails while he sleeps.
- Faking the Dead: How Light resolves his Game with L.
- Femme Fatalons: one of the more unfortunate adaptations Light gains from living in the Shinigami world.
- Fix Fic: Everybody Lives... except for the ones who are dead.
- Forceful Kiss: How Ryuk expresses his feelings.
- Freakiness Shame: Ryuk is well-aware that he's perceived as quite ugly by human standards of beauty but Light still finds him to be "cute" and even attractive in an exotic and alien way. Light likes Ryuk's wings among other things.
- Freudian Excuse: things are not as perfect in Light Yagami's life as he pretends them to be—he is a very unhappy person and he thinks of Ryuk as his first real friend. Of course he's still a mass murderer...
- The Gadfly: Ryuk will often say things just to get a reaction out of Light. He really likes getting him riled up.
- A God Am I: Light of course.
- God Couple: Ryuk and Light.
- Happily Married: while they do have their spats Light and Ryuk are surprisingly happy together.
- Hates Being Touched: Light but he decides he doesn't mind if Ryuk touches him.
- Heartbreak And Icecream: After Light disappears L eats an entire carton of mint chocolate ice cream in one sitting.
- Heel Realization: Zig-Zagged. Light comes to realize he'd been acting like an asshole when it comes to the way he was treating Ryuk. He finds nothing wrong with being Kira of course.
- Hell-Bent for Leather: Ryuk's clothes. Also Light's new wardrobe.
- Henpecked Husband: Ryuk for Light though Ryuk doesn't exactly mind.
- Hidden Depths: Ryuk is genuinely nice to Light. Also Light's narcissism and God complex hides an absolute mess of insecurities.
- Horrifying the Horror: Sidoh is utterly terrified by Ryuk's "pet human."
- Horror Hunger: Light worries that Ryuk isn't eating enough and gives him a "menu" of criminals.
- Hypocritical Humor: Light decides that L's arrogance is his Fatal Flaw.
- I Can't Believe a Guy Like You Would Notice Me: Ryuk is honestly surprised when Light actually thanks him for giving him the notebook.
- I Didn't Mean to Turn You On: Light's reaction after Ryuk makes out with him due to a series of events involving Light's attempts to be more friendly with Ryuk and a misplaced apple resulting in Ryuk thinking Light was coming onto him.
- If It's You, It's Okay: How Light views his relationship with Ryuk.
- Immortality Begins at Twenty: or rather at eighteen.
- Immortal Immaturity: Ryuk may be an immortal death god but he acts like One of the Kids.
- Inferiority Superiority Complex: Light builds himself up as "God of the New World" because deep inside he feels incredibly insecure.
- Insane Troll Logic: Ryuk successfully seduces Light by arguing that since according to that article: "people in power tend to be more submissive in bed" since Light is naturally a twink he's definitely going to become a God. It becomes true because Ryuk makes it happen.
- Intelligence Equals Isolation: Light has lots of "friends" but he's made sure that none of them know the real Light and that Ryuk knows him without judging him means the world to him.
- Internalized Categorism: just one of Light's many, many issues.
- Interspecies Romance: Light (human) and Ryuk (Shinigami)
- Intertwined Fingers: this happens when Light realizes he's been holding Ryuk's hand a bit too long.
- Laughing Mad: Light when Ryuk reveals that Light is pregnant with Ryuk's spawn.
- Lighter and Softer: An "Everybody Lives" AU.
- Living Emotional Crutch: Ryuk becomes this for Light.
- Lost Superweapon: after having a bit of a row, Ryuk gives one to Light as a make up present.
- Love Epiphany: Light has one in one of his overly dramatic inner monologues:Dammit, I can't deny this! I don’t want to! I'm in love!
I am in love.
Shit. I am in fucking love with Ryuk.
Fuck my life. - Love Is a Weakness: Light thinks so.
- Love Letter Lunacy: An "Eraldo Coil" wrote an article in Icha-Icha magazine about "Power Bottoms," how Kira is probably one of them, and why that's nothing to be ashamed of. Ryuk reads it to Light in order to successfully seduce him. Light never finds out that Eraldo Coil is L.
- Love Martyr: Ryuk and Light for each other.
- Love Redeems: sort of. Light will never stop being Kira but after he shacks up with Ryuk he calms down a bit and decides to leave the petty criminals for the police.
- Lunacy: Lampshaded when Light notes how more violent crimes happen during a full moon.
- Mayfly–December Romance: subverted when Ryuk freezes Light's lifespan so he will be immortal too.
- Mister Seahorse: Light as a result of his over-use of the notebook.
- Mood-Swinger: As Light adjusts to his new life he has the occasional bout of teenage angst and psychotic mood swings.
- Narcissist: Light of course. Part of why Light enjoys having Ryuk around is because he can feel superior to him but at the same time Ryuk doesn't bore him.
- Never Speak Ill of the Dead: after Light fakes his death it becomes even harder for L to advocate his theory that Light is Kira.
- Nightmare Fetishist: Light finds Ryuk to be "cute."
- No Accounting for Taste: Ryuk and Light are often quite sassy with each other.
- No Sense of Personal Space: Exaggerated with Ryuk; it never occurs to him that sticking his face in Light's chest might not be appropriate.
- No Social Skills: Ryuk is pretty ignorant of modern human customs and conventions. Also L.
- Noodle Incident: One of the demands the Japanese police make of L is that Matsuda gets to keep his emergency belt so he doesn't get locked in the men's room again.
- Oblivious to Love: Light at first.
- Obliviously Evil: Lampshaded when Ryuk recognizes that Light does not consider himself to be evil and to hint at such would only serve to upset and anger him.
- Odd Friendship: Ryuk becomes Internet friends with Matt while playing Halo: Reach. Also Light and L regard each other as frenemies.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Ryuk ignoring apples. Later Light crying.
- The One That Got Away: L is quite upset when Light disappears. For purely professional reasons, of course.
- Only Friend: Light feels this way about Ryuk.
- Pair the Spares: L/Misa and Matt/Mello
- Papa Wolf: upon discovering that Shinigami can die, Light becomes quite protective of Ryuk, much to Ryuk's amusement.
- Parenting the Husband: When it comes to keeping house Light is the responsible one.
- Practical Joke: Ryuk finds it amusing to paint Light's nails while Light sleeps.
- Psychopathic Man Child: Light, this is even Lampshaded by Ryuk.
- Pure Is Not Good: Only the "worthy" may be a Shinigami's mate. But what Shinigami find "worthy" is quite different then what humans find "worthy."
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Watari
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Light's eyes flash red as do Ryuk's on occasion. Light notes how his eyes have gained a permanent red tint upon moving to the Shiigami Realm.
- Retired Monster: Light after he shacks up with Ryuk.
- Settling the Frontier: Light sets out to create a whole new world.
- Sex Equals Love: Light ultimately decides he's in love with Ryuk because he's never felt this way about anyone before.
- Sex–Face Turn: after having sex with Ryuk Light decides he'd rather not manipulate him anymore and that he should be considered off-limits for his plans.
- Shout-Out: To Naruto, Star Trek, Halo, Mario Kart, Bleach, Japanese Mythology and Norse Mythology. Also a shout out to the Matt/Mello pairing.
- Slumber Party: Sayu is conveniently staying over at a friend's house meaning the house is empty.
- So Long, Suckers!: before leaving Light sends L a final taunt in his "death note."
- Stalker with a Crush: Ryuk, L, Misa, and several kids at school for Light.
- Staring Down Cthulhu: Light does this to Sidoh.
- Stepford Smiler: Light. Ryuk and L are the only ones to ever figure out what's Beneath the Mask and Ryuk is the only one to never judge him for it.
- The Stoic: Light views feeling emotions as a weakness and is very emotionally repressed.
- Not So Stoic: Light when he realizes he has feelings for Ryuk.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Light is generally very cold with most people with only a few exceptions but he is more open, honest, and even playful with Ryuk.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Light insists he doesn't miss L at all and then sending him taunting e-mails and postcards.
- Tears of Joy: Light, much to his humiliation. He's utterly amazed that he's feeling anything at all.
- Tempting Fate: "L would sooner eat vegetables, he was sure."
- Terraform: Light's project for the Shinigami realm.
- Think Unsexy Thoughts: Light tries to do this but he can't think of anything much more "unsexy" than Ryuk and thinking of him didn't help at all.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Ryuk with his apples of course. Apples from Earth are considered a delicacy in the Shinigami realm and the Shinigami King is willing to give out new Death Notes in exchange for them. Also Midora likes bananas and Calikarcha likes blueberries
- Transparent Closet: Light. He just assumed he hadn't found the right girl yet and never considered that he might be gay.
- Uptight Loves Wild: Light (stuffy) with Ryuk (wild).
- When She Smiles: Ryuk really appreciates it when Light smiles at him.
- Villains Out Shopping: after Kira disappears L is all worked up trying to find him, wondering what nefarious game he could possibly be playing with him now. Light in fact has taken up apple farming.
- Villainous Breakdown: Light has one when he discovers he's actually attracted to Ryuk. He has another one when he learns he's going to be the mother of Ryuk's spawn.
- Villainous BSoD: Light upon realizing he has feelings for Ryuk.
- Villain Protagonist: Light and Ryuk of course.
- We ARE Struggling Together: Light notes that this seems to be the way the Kira taskforce goes about its business.
- What Is This Thing You Call "Love"?: Light is very emotionally stunted and hadn't even thought himself capable of falling in love with someone, believing that if someone were to write his name in the Death Note for that purpose he would just die of a heart attack.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: Light/Kira never ceases to be one in his own warped way.
- Worthy Opponent: Light holds a grudging respect for L and his father.
- You Fool!: Light disdains associating with "miserable fools."
- You're Cute When You're Angry: Ryuk says this to Light.
- Your Universe or Mine?: Light decides to shack up with Ryuk in the Shinigami Realm.
