Hello, all. It's been a while since I've written anything on here...but BondSlave requested I do another story of their design, and this is a bit of a rushed intro for it. I'm not sure if I like it or if I should scrap it and try again.

So, BondSlave, and everyone else who happens to read this, let me know what you think so far.

Tears ran down Beyond Birthday's bandaged face as he tried to scream. All that escaped his lips was a low, hoarse shell of a scream.

"What's the matter? Can't fight back?" The orderly grinned sadistically, slamming his fist into Beyond's gut once more.

Choking on the dry heave, Beyond shut his eyes and tried to make it all go away. Tried to go back to a better time. When it was him and L in a battle of wits. That couldn't have been less than a year ago…and his wounds still hadn't healed. He let out another tortured scream as he snapped back to reality.

"Oh, look what I've got here." The orderly reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small kitchen knife, eyes glinting as he stared into Beyond's own. "I bet you wish you had one of these."

Beyond stared at the blade in horror, chest heaving, heart pounding. He didn't deserve this. No one deserved this hell.

"Oh well…" The orderly smirked. "Looks like today isn't your lucky day, friend."

"N-no…please…" Beyond managed to croak out, blinking back tears.

But the man didn't listen, raising the knife far above his head. "This is for that little girl!" The knife shot down, straight through his left hand, getting stuck in the bed below it.

Beyond Birthday screamed for all he was worth.

L fell out of his chair, screaming. He hit his head on the floor and groaned, rubbing it. Nightmares…again… He stood slowly, dusting himself off and looking at the tray Watari had left on the side table for him. Taking his place back in the soft armchair, he automatically dumped many sugar cubes into the now cold cup of coffee, stirring them into it with a peppermint stick. It had been a year now. Exactly a year since he and Naomi Misora had captured Beyond Birthday. And ever since, he'd been haunted by images…terrible images.

B. Abused in the very hospital that was meant to heal him. He'd seen terrifying things. Beyond unwrapped, burnt to a crisp, bleeding, dying, crying out for L to save him…

The door behind L opened, and Watari's head poked inside. "Nightmares again, Ryuzaki?"

L nodded, not looking back and sipping on the coffee. He grimaced and set it back down, adding more sugar. He waited a minute or two, just stirring. Then. "Watari…?"

"Yes, Ryuzaki?"

"I believe…I should visit B."

"I think that can be arranged." Watari nodded. "When?"

"Tomorrow…as soon as we can get there." L took another sip of the coffee, then drained it, staring at the ring in the bottom of it with his large, dark eyes. "It's late…get some sleep, Watari…I'll be fine…" It was Beyond they should worry about.