It was almost too quiet as L Lawliet walked into the prison, led by a few security guards towards the visiting room. The detective normally would've never stepped foot in one of these places, not only that he despised prisons – but because every criminal he ever locked away here would tear him apart if they only knew his face, if he hadn't visited for a special cause.

And that special cause was named Beyond Birthday.

L Lawliet was about to meet one of the definite most dangerous, ingenious, and infamous serial killers of all time. To others, it would've been entirely nerve-wrecking, to the point where no one would even dare go near someone so incredibly atrocious. But to L... It was more... Common. He was used to having to do things like this but not once did he ever think he would have or be able to visit Beyond Birthday. He took a light and inaudible sigh as curiosity and determination through his body, anxiously awaiting with onyx eyes focused on the door.

"I have a visitor...?"

Beyond Birthday asked with surprise. Who could it be? No one would even consider coming to visit him here, not that he had many connections or friends.. But.. there was always L.

The possibility of the great L taking time out of his life to go see him made the serial killer laugh, but when it actually turned out to be true.. He couldn't have been more shocked.

Then, slowly, a grin spread across his features.

He waited until the guards left him behind in the visiting room with L, though his handcuffs remained on with both hands restricted behind his back. A moment of silence passed between the two ravens before Beyond spoke up.

"Lawliet..."

L didn't respond at first. He was astounded. He studied the other male's features meticulously before finally mustering up to respond to him. "Beyond... Beyond Birthday." The forced composure in his tone gave away the fact that he was actually feeling a mixture of shock and slight anxiety and was clearly trying too hard to hide it. He couldn't help it. There was so much different about the criminal… And that wasn't even including the burns on his face and body.

"It's you..."

Beyond raised an eyebrow. The L he knew was much more confident, especially when he was able to catch the criminal through Naomi Misora and stick him in this cell in the first place. Which made him wonder again why L had come in the first place.

"Who were you expecting?"

"No one else but you..." L responded as he eventually cooled down and resumed to his stoic expression, taking a seat in front of him whilst glaring the young man down. Beyond did look very similar to him. The raven black hair, his slender and toned body figure, his height, the fair complexion of his skin. Along with the similarities, there were plenty of feature differences too. Beyond's burn scars that were clearly healing very well and quickly, his age considering he was younger than L, and of course the biggest difference was...

The eyes.

They were as crimson as blood although they seemed to change shade depending on his mood and the environment around him.

This intrigued L tremendously.

Beyond sat down in the seat across from L, squirming uncomfortably in his restraints. "I don't suppose you could convince these guys to take off my stupid handcuffs, could ya? They really are annoying..."

L snapped back into focus as soon as Beyond spoke, taking a minute to register what was being said to him before looking over at the officers behind him. He whispered a few incoherent things to the officers, afterwards their eyes squinting and lips pursing in doubt and hesitation. But soon enough, they finally glanced over at each other, looked back at the detective and gave a weary but noticeable nod as they both walked over to the young criminal, unlocking the cuffs and slowly slipping them off of him. Afterwards, they walked away quite quickly, not wanting to be near the crazed man.

Beyond grinned. He honestly thought the answer would be no, since he kinda went a little crazy and attacked prisoners and guards before when not restrained. The raven smiled, "That's better. Now...

Why are you here, Lawli?"

L inhaled deeply before letting out a deep sigh in very slight reluctance to answer. "I... came here because it was part of my duty to do so to get to know what was behind your reasoning of committing the actions that you have performed a while back." He responded slowly, looking behind him to give a bit of a weary look before resuming to turning back to the killer with the stoic expression he usually carried. He thought his response would slip to Beyond pretty smoothly because he didn't really want to tell Beyond the real reason why he had come over here. But then again... Beyond was a genius too...

Yet again, a brow was raised in curiosity and slight doubt. Really? Years after the murders were committed, and years after the initial interrogation by L after he was patched up as best as they could for his burns, L had returned to question him once more? He'd received more than enough answers the first time, had he not? But still... Beyond wouldn't complain.

"Alright, if you say so."

L gave a slight nod before continuing. "So, Beyond... How do you feel being in such a place like this? I mean, if I were a prisoner myself... My mental and emotional state would've been unstable too, being locked up in confinement like this." He questioned with slight unease, figuring that Beyond had a bit of an idea that he was indeed hiding something from him.

Beyond chuckled.

"Oh, it's just lovely here. I've made so many new friends, and I couldn't think of anywhere better to stay. Thank you, L, for bringing me here."

Oh, the sarcasm.

"Oh, I am so glad, because you'll be staying in here for a while so just enjoy yourself while it lasts." L cockily snapped back, plastering a slight yet quite noticeable smirk on his face.

Beyond glared. He wanted so badly to just jump right up, get in his face, and show L who was really in control here... But that'd ruin everything. Tear away the little bit of freedom he was given. So he scoffed and averted his eyes elsewhere.

"Is this all you wanted?"

"Well, I was supposed to converse with you about some seriously personal things, but you decided to throw a cocky attitude with me so I threw it back. You're in a bad mood because you finally lost control. You're forced to submit to another. You hate submission towards others. I know this because I can relate to it." The older brutally pointed out.

The criminal chuckled.

"You wish I'd submit to you, Lawliet... Unfortunately, your wish will never be granted. I could jump up and scream right now, and they'll just pull me right back to my cell. Watch what you say."

"Oh, I am incredibly petrified...Beyond." L spat mockingly, although taking some time to retain his composure. "Now, there's no point in arguing with each other when we both could have been talking about something else." He suggested.

"Oh? Like what?"

"Like how you should be acting like an adult is one suggestion." L replied, knowing just how stubborn Beyond was and how it was pretty difficult to maintain a moody Beyond.

"I was.

You triggered me."

This was absolutely ridiculous, he knew that, but he wasn't about to let L win at anything. Not again.

L shook his head in a mixture of disbelief and mockery. Wow. This was getting a bit out of hand. Most certainly not what he expected.

Should I admit my real reasoning for visiting him in the first place…?

After a long, tense moment of silence, Beyond sighed. He leaned forward a bit in his seat, elbow resting on the metal table as crimson red hues drifted up and down the oddly siting detective.

"Why'd you really come here, Lawli?"

L's eyes widened when he heard this question being asked, snapping his head to the side so quickly, it could of been enough force to break his neck.

This, of course, struck the younger as odd.

He whistled, as if trying to bring L's attention back towards him.

"Oh, Lawliet...~ Yoo hoo?"

L sighed and closed his eyes for a moment to register how he would tell Beyond honestly.

"Okay, fine...Do you truly want to know the reason for me being here, Beyond?"

Beyond blinked. "Yes, that's why I asked."

"Alright…"

Both hands balled into fists in his lap, shaking with nerves.

"I love you, Beyond.

It took me much too long to realize it, but I do.

It's been building up and building up and I knew I'd do anything to see you now, so… Here I am."

Beyond's eyes widened. He went into a brief shock, just staring straight ahead at the detective. He... loved him? But how.. how could he..

Suddenly, they narrowed.

There was no way in hell L was telling the truth. Why would the great detective love him, filthy criminal scum? After Beyond finally got over his obsessive love for him, he had the nerve to bring it back up like this?

"...You're lying.

You could never love me."

…..

L sighed.

"Let me explain…"