As an apology to all you lovely readers (who probably want to kill me for not updating my stories for so long) I bring you this!; A two-shot about Beyond Birthday and L Lawliet!
And I've started the fourth chapter of Within Reach so don't kill me!
Disclaimer: I do not own death note or any of its characters (sadly). And the song (Painting Flowers) belongs to All Time Low. Tough i do own the plot (if there is one) for this story!
Warning: Strong language (Beyond has a potty mouth) & yaoi.
And a loud THANK YOU, LOVE! to my beta, Lovedless231!
I guess I'm Still Painting Flowers... [CH1]
I slid the black headphones in place and lit up a cigarette, humming the tone it gave. Ironically enough his name came like a cryptic note Ricocheting off my skull rolling around the sound and the taste of his name. Its killing me. But yet I love it. His name is slick, smooth, and dark. It rolls around my tongue. It's flavor i have also grown accustomed to.
I almost uttered his name, but stopped myself out of either sheer embarrassment or apprehensiveness. Because of which I do not know.
"Damn you.." I groaned, thinking of those mere yet treacherous months that have painfully passed since the albino exploited me to him.
And then I reminisce the memory, for a lack of anything else, maybe even boredom. Still I do not know.
It had been one of the times when we were called in to Lawliet's office.
"Us", of course, being the successors of the great L.
I'd been chewing my thumb, though weather it was done from nervousness or the need to imitate, again I do not know.
L had been discussing with us a new case he'd been put on, and how he was going to take two of us along with him. Showing us how things should be executed, analyzed, and taking an initiative when times are necessary. Oh I recall how excited I became when he said he'd take A and I.
But of course, my exhilaration was short lived as the little albino--Near, was it?--spoke up.
"L" he started off, detached as he always seemed, "Would it not be smarter to take Mello and I?" He looked my way and I'm sure I was the only one to catch the quick flare of anger in his eyes, "You've worked with them more than any of us." He finished, placing his attention on his toys once more.
"Nate." L said; and he spoke with such power that all of us turned to look him as he said his next words a bit friendlier, "You should know not to speak against me." Were the only words that fell out of his mouth toward the Albino, though, before he turned towards A and I.
"Pack immediately," He said, "We leave to Italy at five-thirty sharp." We nodded in aknowledgement, "You can all leave now." And we left. But I didn't fail to see the flare of rage that crossed the Near and Mello's faces alike whenever A and I were preffered.
I brushed it off though, because It wouldn't be very "succesor worthy" to grab them by their slim throats and choke them do death.
So instead, I went to pack. But I also didn't fail to see how tired A'd been lately.
"I'll pack your stuff for you," I offered, "You don't seem well." I added, observing the bags under my friend's eyes. He nodded wearily and crawled into bed, fully clothed, and fell asleep on the spot.
I had no idea what was wrong with him then, but if I'd known what went through Alfred's head, I most likely would've slapped him senseless. I had a sort of brotherly crush on him as well, I admit.
Of coarse the next day we were ready at four-thirty waiting in front of L's door, knowing he'd like to leave early.
"Ah, good, you're here." He greeted, walking passed us as Watari carried some suit cases with us tailing.
We made it to the jet, which was conviniently parked infront of Wammy's, in about three minutes.
After putting our suit cases away, we ventured into the comfortably spaced jet to sit with our mentor as we noticed him reading over some papers.
But what happened then isn't important. It's not what angers me or what fills me with indignation.
That, I recall as I sing this song, was what happened while we were solving a case about a sudden string of murders after arriving.
The three of us were standing over a list of suspects, minds going a mile a minute, when suddenly one of L's cellphones rang.
And as A and I turned towards the offending noise, L picked up.
"Hello?" He asked, holding the cell in his special way. "...You don't say." He sounded a bit interested and surprised as his eyes snapped to me. And I suddenly felt like it I was being sized up. Judged...and critically.
Had I done something wrong? I certainly couldn't recall doing anything wrong.
"Beyond, I'd like to speak with you later." He spoke smoothly, focusing onto the work infront of him.
I'd simply nodded.
And when it came time to talk, I'd almost run childishly after A so as to not be left behind alone with L.
Strange as it sounds, I didn't want to be along with him, this man who seemed to suddenly be looking at and analyzing every part of me.
"Beyond..." He started, chewing his thumb thoughtfully, "It has come to my attention that you have an...infatuation with me?" He asked, the words cascading out of his mouth as if they meant nothing.
And I froze.
Anything coherent in my mind completely shut down and abandoned me, leaving me open as my cheeks darkened in color noticably.
And not in embarrasment, but in ire. Had he just used the word infautation? My crush on this man was anything but reasonless!
Calm down, I told myself as I started to flush in embarrasment instead.
"I-I.." I stammered, feeling like a dunce and redirecting my gaze to his hand.
"I do not know how to phrase this..." He announced, breaking the silence and tilting his head to the side, "But I could never feel the same." He shrugged, popping his thumb out of his mouth and turning away from me to pick up more papers on the case,
"You can go now." He dismissed.
And I ran. The next day A to told L that I'd come down with something really bad, so that I wouldn't have to face him.
Pathetic coward!, my mind screamed at me as I blinked furiously to hold back the tears I was sure would slip through if allowed.
The following month when we got back to Wammy's, I found out that it'd been Mello who'd made the call...after Near had told him his observations, of coarse.
And what else to top such a lovely chain of events than Alfred suiciding shortly after and L never being around...
Life seemed to slow down during that time, until it stopped all together.
So now we're back to today, three bloody fucking years since the last time I saw that bastard Lawliet.
I live in California now, planning out different scenarios as to how I could put on an admirable show of murders for L...to leave him stumped, of coarse.
And, of coarse, he will figure out with was his doppleganger-like succesor...but what evidence will he have?
None.
And, suddenly, I'm thrown back into reality as my phone rings.
I pull one headphone out and put the phone up to my ear, "Hello?" I ask dully, expecting a "wrong number".
"Beyond." And I freeze again, because it's like being judged all over.
It felt right to stop there. This'll probably be a two-shot. Review and please tell me what you thought of it! And am i keeping them in character? I think Near, inside, really is a jelous person..and Mello is just the type to lash out in that manner...that's why I wrote them as I did.
Ja ne!,
~Purpleghostflower016