Notes: This is a sequel of sorts to my other stories, City of Devils, and The Only Thing That's Right. While it isn't necessary to read those first, it might be helpful?
Or, you know, I might just totally want more people to read my stuff. xD
The opening lyrics and story title are from Yellowcard - Down on my Head.
I work all night
For one more day that I can say I'm all alone
Alone
I just need time and I will say what I believe and I'll come home
Home
Matsuda remembered his birthday last year. It hadn't really been anything special; his parents called to wish him a happy birthday, and he had gone out with Ukita, as usual. L had come last year though, so maybe it was something special? Matsuda had never really done anything with L, let alone gone out drinking. So... yes. It was special. It had been special. He had enjoyed it a lot, moreso than if it had just been him and Ukita.
Matsuda remembered his Christmas last year. It hadn't been anything special; he had gone up to Hokkaido to visit his parents. Despite the constant thread of Kira, Christmas was a time that Matsuda always took off. His family meant too much to him to not visit them. It was the one time during the year that he could. He stayed until New Year's, catching up on what was new with the family. And then, January second, he had flown back to Tokyo and went back to work.
A year ago, Matsuda would have assumed he'd be doing the same thing for his birthday and Christmas that he had done last year. Get a call from his parents and go out with Ukita for his birthday, visit his parents on Christmas. A year ago, he would have assumed they'd all be alive.
But Ukita was killed by Kira, just like that. And his father had been killed by Ki... no, it wasn't Kira. It was a heart attack. Just a heart attack. Matsuda had nothing to do with it. It wasn't because he was investigating Kira. It...
His mother had killed herself shortly after her husband died. And, for the first time, Matsuda knew he wouldn't be celebrating his birthday. He wouldn't be celebrating Christmas. Why would he want to celebrate it by himself? He'd call his sister and wish her well on Christmas, and that would be it.
December fourteenth, Matsuda went to work. Matsuda acted as he usually did. He messed up, as usual. He pissed Aizawa off, as usual. He irritated Light, as usual. He got nothing accomplished, as usual. He left first though, which was somewhat unusual. And what was more unusual was that L left with him.
Needless to say, Matsuda was more than a bit confused.
"What are you doing, Ryuuzaki-kun?" Matsuda asked, pausing as he pulled on his jacket. L remained quiet for a moment before taking a jacket that looked as though it had never been worn (and, if it was L's, it probably never had been) and shrugging it on.
"No one should be alone on their birthday, Matsuda-san," L said simply, slipping his feet into a pair of shoes. Matsuda stared at L for a moment, eyes tearing up. Blinking them away, he smiled at L and put his jacket on.