Death Note

LawLight

L/Yagami Light

The world's greatest detective handcuffed himself to the world's most prolific serial killer, and each called the other his first real friend while plotting the other's destruction. Tennis matches, rain-soaked rooftops, and a foot massage before death made this anime's archetypal enemy ship.

28,000 works

What is LawLight?

LawLight is the fan-given name for the romantic pairing of L and Yagami Light from Death Note. With over 28,000 works on Archive of Our Own, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom.

Why fans love LawLight

Two geniuses who only feel alive matching wits with each other blur rivalry, friendship, and desire past distinguishing.

Most Popular LawLight Fanfics

The highest-rated LawLight stories on AO3, ranked by kudos.

1

Would Kira have gay sex?

Complete

by itiaskia

L puts Light in a compromising position

25,404 kudos 221 words ~1 min read Mature
alternate universe - L Wins Mind Games Crack
2

Back Again

by Brenna1918

What is Light to do when he wakes up after his life as a Shinigami is over, only to find himself with both his memories and his life back to the way it was before...with the Death Note in his school bag?

18,444 kudos 358,037 words ~1433 min read Mature
Good Yagami Light Pro Kira at least this time around
3

Pictures on Skin

Complete

by Shadow_of_Quill

In a world where life experiences mark people rather more literally, Light has some unfortunate truths drawn on his skin - not that anyone notices.  Has now been translated into Chinese by SoleilCam! Has now been translated into Russian by Warmi!

16,788 kudos 2,883 words ~12 min read General Audiences
Alternate Universe - Markings Canon-Based
4

Interested in Learning More

Complete

by Shadow_of_Quill

Light isn't asexual. He just has... unusual interests. And Ryuuzaki is very observant.

12,755 kudos 1,268 words ~6 min read Explicit
5

my best laid plan

Complete

by astralpenguin

He was in the shower when he saw it.Just grazing the top of his left hip was a line of text that hadn’t been there the previous morning.‘I didn’t think it would actually happen.’ When someone lies to their soulmate, their lie is written on their soulmate's skinThis causes problems for Kira

8,346 kudos 2,770 words ~12 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Alternate Universe - Soulmates Soulmates Soulmate-Identifying Marks
6

See Me

Complete

by Shadow_of_Quill

Light sometimes thinks he'd give anything to have someone see him for who he really is.

7,727 kudos 1,743 words ~7 min read Explicit
Alternate Universe
7

Prime Suspect

Complete

by TrashKing (Vanya_Deyja)

L rubs his thumb against his lip, “and you suspect you know who Kira is?”“I’m Kira.” Light replies.“I see,” L murmurs, “so this is a confession?”“Of sorts,” Light prefaces. “That is to say; I was Kira, until three days ago, but now I need your help to prove it and stop whatever I’ve put in motion.”“

7,342 kudos 32,763 words ~132 min read Mature
Trans Male Character trans!light memory wipe fic
8

Four

Complete

by FoolArcanas

L gets kissed. He doesn't get an explanation. Confusion ensues - must investigate further.OR; Three times when Light kisses L, and one time when L does.

7,321 kudos 3,533 words ~15 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Fluff Kisses L is very confused
9

Death Wish

Complete

by Tastispoon

Death Note users don’t go to heaven or hell. Instead, Ryuk sends Light to an alternative universe where the Death Note exists but it doesn’t fall within his grasp. Even though he doesn’t have the Death Note, L still suspects him and the worst part is that in this new world he is an omega. Hilarity e

7,079 kudos 60,167 words ~241 min read Explicit
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics Alpha/Omega alternative universe
10

Is This The Way It Ends Now?

Complete

by Seastar98

L dangled the note in front of him. It had appeared out of nowhere, as had the accompanying CD. It claimed to contain information crucial to their investigation.Was this a trick? Another evolution of Kira's power? Perhaps a different supernatural force trying to help them against Kira?He didn't know

6,462 kudos 132,870 words ~532 min read Teen And Up Audiences
discussions of character death Suicidal Thoughts Suicide Attempt
11

Time Speaks

Complete

by aSmallMoon333

In his first life, L died in the arms of his greatest enemy.In his brief second one, he died alone.And in his third, too-long life, L died anticipating finally getting even with the man who'd won their game one too many times.And Light Yagami? If he'd known this is what picking up the Death Note wou

6,209 kudos 421,593 words ~1687 min read Explicit
Time Travel Kind-of Fix-it Temporary Character Death
12

Death Note Redemption

Complete

by doughnut_mind_if_I_do

When Light dies, he's reverted back to his seventeen year old self before he came upon the Death Note. Armed with his memories and shame of his past actions, Light vows to never become Kira. However, just because Light refused to become Kira, doesn't mean no one else would take up the mantle.Now Lig

6,209 kudos 125,304 words ~502 min read Explicit
Innocent Yagami Light Time Travel Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
13

New Game

Complete

by TrashKing (Vanya_Deyja)

Light is 95% certain he is Kira and, if that's the case, he needs to reclaim his memories, his power and kill L. It's the only way to survive. But that's going to be a little complicated handcuffed to the world's greatest detective. Things get petty, then elaborate, and before long he's starting to

6,025 kudos 26,999 words ~108 min read Explicit
alternative ending handcuff arc Sexual Tension
14

Roleplay

Complete

by TrashKing (Vanya_Deyja)

"Pretend you're Kira.""I'm not--""For the purpose of this conversation pretend you are. Please." 5am, in their suite at taskforce headquarters, handcuffed together, L proposes a thought exercise.

5,908 kudos 1,424 words ~6 min read Teen And Up Audiences
yotsuba but Light has his memories idiots sort themselves out without homicide for once
15

Of Narcolepsy and Insomnia

by NocturneProductions

Light always wished he was perfect, but that was just a dream. Still, he held onto that hope, because maybe if he did his father would love him again. But then, shifting in and out of consciousness he meets L. Being perfect for his parent's had always been Light's dream, but now maybe it doesn't hav

5,830 kudos 55,884 words ~224 min read Not Rated
Slow Burn Angst Fluff and Angst
16

Death Note

Complete

by orphan_account

Light picks up the Death Note but refuses to use it. He leaves it where he found it only for it to be taken by another. This sparks a chain of events that make Light the unwitting prime suspect in the Kira killings and make him the obsession of the Real Kira. Light has to prove his innocence all whi

5,792 kudos 117,648 words ~471 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Innocent Light Yagami he needs a hug
17

Shining Light

Complete

by TwilightMaster15

Bored beyond comprehension, Ryuk decides after seeing what humans do with the Death Note, to experiment with what would happen if a human lived their whole life with access and knowledge of the Death Note. This leads him to find four-month-old Light Yagami, whom he decides to use as his test subject

5,463 kudos 168,700 words ~675 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Growing Up Ryuk kind of raises Light Family Secrets
18

Primitive Liars

by Nilahxapiel

Light is a being of intellect, not of instinct; however, he may be starting to understand that the two are not mutually exclusive. While he struggles to define himself in an unjust world, a new Kira holds society - along with a couple other valuable things - hostage. (Omegaverse AU. L/Light, Matt/Me

5,463 kudos 207,896 words ~832 min read Explicit
Omega!Light Alpha!L Omegaverse
19

Dirty

Complete

by FayJay

Set during the period when Light had given up the Death Note, and did not know he was Kira. (Sequel to 'Clean', but can be read as a standalone.)

5,155 kudos 4,124 words ~17 min read Explicit
20

Five Times Light Yagami Suspected He Liked Guys

Complete

by waywardavengers (herax97)

And One Time He Was Absolutely Certain. Six short scenarios where Light starts to question his sexuality and then becomes absolutely certain. Set within the Death Note anime timeline. (Features two different endings)

4,905 kudos 11,870 words ~48 min read Mature
eventual LightxL Self-Discovery Denial

LawLight Fanfics by Length

Pick a reading commitment — from one-sitting one-shots to 100k+ epics:

Characters

L
Yagami Light

Common LawLight Tropes

Browse curated LawLight fic recs by trope:

Frequently Asked Questions

What does LawLight mean?

LawLight is the ship name (portmanteau or nickname) for the pairing of L and Yagami Light. It's used by fans to tag and search for fanfiction featuring this relationship.

How many LawLight fics are on AO3?

There are over 28,000 LawLight fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own.

How can I read LawLight fanfiction on my phone?

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