Disclaimer and such in Chapter 1

Chapter 22

After some time had passed, B slowly pushed the older raven off of him and walked into the bathroom and took a tissue to clean his underwear and himself of his seed and tossed that into the toilet and washing his hands. He waited a short time before getting a new needle from the kit and a fresh vial before going to the dog and giving it another shot before petting the animal's head and ears. He goes back to the bed and lays himself down, pulling the older close to him to rest. L gladly snuggles in, feeling the cold for the first time and trying to escape it. He pulled the blanket over him self and his friend and shivered slightly. It was getting colder.

"Lawli..." whispered B, "I think I now know more than one way to let you sleep better. Though the back rub is a lot quieter." He hugged the older closer and closed his eyes at last.
"That's very true." The elder gave a tired and half hearted laugh, sounding as though he could fall asleep any moment.
"I wish I could sleep, but I can only rest right now since I'm on a schedule for Bear's injections. I will rest with you though." He pulls the older closer still and nuzzles the elder raven's chest.
I don't need to sleep however..." the elder mumbled.
"I can wake you in four hours if you need..."
"Thanks..." he murmured, nuzzling more and pulling the blankets more onto them for extra warmth before drifting into a peaceful rest, something he only had when the detective was there.

L would watch over his friend for nearly four hours when he finally shook his shoulders to wake him, not just because Bear was ready for more medication but because the dog was now sitting up and whining for attention, still not strong enough to get to the boys bed.

Scarlet eyes opened and saw L's name pop up before directing his gaze to the large dog and smiling.
"He's getting stronger all the time," he murmured tiredly. He yawned and crawled out of bed, preparing his medicine and getting more food and tea for him.
"You'll get all the attention you can handle big boy, don't you worry any." He petted the dog's ears and gave the injection before petting him more. He left the food to soak in the dish for the time being.
"Just wait a little while longer Bear and you'll get fed."

The older rolled out of bed and next to the big dog, stroking its back happily. The fact that A's treatment worked meant more to him then just a healthy dog, it also meant he could finally have a happy friend that could run around like a normal 12 year old.

B stood up and opened the curtains, noting some new snow covering the grounds. It was perfect for building a snowman army, but that would have to wait until their dog was all better. He also looked to the calendar and noted that L's birthday was coming up.
"Lawli, is there anything that you would like to do at the end of this month?"

The elder tilted his head to the side, he always shared his birthday with his friend because Beyond did not know when his real birthday was and he would always pick something for the two of them.
"No... but..." an idea slowly formed in his mind, a brilliant idea which needed to be followed through with.
"I need to ask Watari for some new cases, we can get the money and do something really good..." It was a half truth; his true intentions would be one of the best surprises of his young life.

"Alright, as long as it's with you, I don't care what we do." He smiled and turned his attention back to his friend and the large dog and shared the attention giving with him. A short while later and B took his tea soaked dog food from its hiding spot and gave it to the hungry canine.
"Alright, I will return in just a moment," he mumbled, slipping out of the room and making his way to their adopted fathers office, knocking and entering quietly.
"Watari... how much money is in my account from all those cases I have taken."

The elder male looked up from the week's reports from the staff and gave his son a warm smile.
"I will pull up the savings records for you." He stands up and walks to a safe and turns the combination lock before opening it and pulling out financial records for the students with employment. He flips through until L's alias comes up and turning his attention to the young raven.
"As of now, your savings are at 105 thousand Pounds from the cases you took. The highest paying one so far is the one for Rufus. You were paid 70 thousand Pounds for that case alone. Might I inquire as to why my son?"

"Do you recall in a news paper this week, an article regarding a shelter that is to be shut down unless it is purchased and put under new management due to animal cruelty?" He walked over to Watari's desk, seeing the exact news paper set aside.
"I wish to buy it, make the necessary adjustments, re-staff it and turn it into a non kill shelter... then I wish to present it to Beyond for our birthday this year..."

Watari's smile grows wider before he files the folder back into the safe.
"I am sure that Beyond will be more than happy for this gift. I will see what the total cost will be for this and if it is within budget, I will put the funding towards it. You are a selfless person when it comes to Beyond. His happiness will be your gift in return, I assume? Well of course it will be." He clears his throat and walks back to his desk.
"By the way, I spoke with A regarding her stress yesterday. She told me many things in confidence, so I cannot reveal to you what she said, but I can assure you that she is less distressed now."

"According to the news paper it is well within budget, they say the cost for the land is 65 thousand pounds... And if I spend 25 thousand pounds and buy the lot next door and 15 on fixing it to code then it will best shelter in the country..." he smiles slightly.
"I want Beyond to have something to remind him of Griffin in a positive way... Visiting the animals there will also create a break from the stresses of work for us both..."

"Perhaps the 25 thousand Pounds should go towards staff and equipment L. When you save enough for the lot and to fix that up, then you can buy it of course, but for the time being, getting it fixed and staffed is a priority if it is to be successful. Afterwards, yes, it will be a completely rewarding thing for you both."
"I hope so Watari. Griffin meant a lot to us both and I want this to be perfect in her memory..." He gave a small smile and turned for the door.
"Please keep this between us... I want it to be a surprise..."

"You already know that everything spoken in here is strictly confidential my boy. I will have things arranged for you right away. You have nothing to worry about."
"Please hide any choices I have to make on decorations, staff or equipment amongst my next cases." L knew that Beyond had promised that he would not interfere with his work, either to help or to hinder. It was something they wished to keep from effecting there relationship.
"You don't have anything to worry about my boy. Everything you turn in, ideas or otherwise, it will not leave these walls. I will keep everything you turn in here hidden well."

"Remember that it is Beyond we are trying to surprise... he has foiled our attempts before..." It was easy for the wild eyed raven to find the lizard tank he got for their albino dragon and their surprise was ruined.
"Duly noted L. Try not to give anything away with your body language though. You know that he's a human lie detector as well. That is how he foiled us the last time and every other time before that. He's got that skill down to an art."

L gave a half hearted smile.
"That is why Watari, I have been made into a human lie."
"Quite true, though I confess that I was not hoping you would turn out this way. However, neither of us can turn back time and undo what has been done."
"What I have turned out to be is the perfect creature for my chosen profession." He slowly left the room, letting the door close behind him.
*What I am to become, what I already have become... I am justice!*

B was occupied with giving the large dog affection, rubbing its ears and enjoying the peace and calm atmosphere created. Bear's head was once again rested comfortably in his lap by the time his friend walked back in some time later.
"Welcome back Lawli," he said with a small smile.

L tilted his head to the side slightly and looked at the now peaceful animal.
"I wonder what it is that animals think..." It was a stray thought that the young detective couldn't dwell on for too long, but it managed to make its way out there. He thought he understood their cat and yet he knew that when it came down to it, what was in her mind was only known to her.
"I would imagine that they think in a way that is similar to our own thoughts, but focused on their perceptions to the world around them. However simple or complex they may be, animals are no different than us. After all, when we are all embryos, we all looked the same, it is DNA that separates us." He continued his attentions to the large dog who seemed to hum in either contentment or agreement.

"Indeed, however from Bear's point of you, who are we?" L crouched down next to the huge black animal. When the canine looked back up into his eyes it was rewarded with a gentle stroke down the back by the panda eyed raven.
"Hard to say because we are not dogs ourselves... I would think that in terms of pack mentality we are the Alphas and he's our Beta." B petted the dog's neck and gave it a kiss on the head. There was another curious look from the detective who was becoming more and more curious about the animal that seemed to be spending more and more time in their lives.
"Beta?"

"Yeah. I remember reading things on some animal behavior and the like. In the canine world, they have a pecking order. Alphas are the most dominant and protective, followed by Betas, Deltas, Gammas and Omegas... I might have missed one or two others there. The Alphas are like the King or Queen of a pack, the Betas are the next in line, being the Knights of the pack, serving to protect the Alphas and the rest of the pack. Deltas are the hunters/gatherers/scouts of the pack. They ensure there is food and no danger to the pack. Gammas are the Nannies, they look after and protect the pups from harm, usually hanging back from the rest of the pack when they are out providing for the pups and the rest of the pack. Omegas are the social outcasts. They usually consist of those wolves who are unable to do anything of value and are given the leftovers if they are lucky."

L thought on it for a long moment.
"Which one of us is Alpha?"
"I would like to think that we are both Alphas to Bear. We protect him and I'm sure he'd return the favor when he's all better. I don't really mind either way."
"But if it were just us?" To L, the idea of being in some kind of tight nit family group, like a pack, was alluring.

"Umm... Hard to say. We are both equally adept and capable of providing for and protecting each other. We both have skills that keep each of us from harm. I would not know from just those who would be Alpha."
"I like that idea." It put a smile on L's face to know that his friend considered them to be equal as he never for a moment thought anything else.
"Glad you do Lawli. We make a good pair of Alpha males. We don't submit to anyone but each other. I think it should stay like that." He smiled and looked at the dog who'd fallen asleep, snoring softly.

L nodded and smiled happily and laid back on the ground.
"Watari has agreed to give me some more cases so we can do something great for our birthday."
"Is that so? I already can't wait." He smiled brighter and continued to pet and rub the dog's ears fondly.
"Will we love this gift Lawli?"
"We can go out for tea somewhere really nice..." he muses, "and spend the entire day doing what we want."

"I have some place in mind that I've always wanted to take you, and ironically, it is in Japan. I snuck some fliers and newspapers from Watari's office and came across it. I put it to memory hope we can go to Japan so that I can bring you there. My pesticide compounds are nearing completion. I hope to start looking at potential buyers and start earning my own funding soon."
"Why don't we do that to celebrate after A gives you this medication?" L suggested, knowing they could enjoy themselves much more once he was well.

"It sounds like a plan, Lawli. From how Bear is progressing wonderfully, I don't doubt the fruits of her labor will be reaped in abundance. She's an angel."
"Your attitude towards her has changed a great deal." L mumbled and turned his head to look up at his friend from his place on the floor.
"I am sure both you and Bear will have almost normal lungs by the time she is done..."

"I'll have to tell her how well he's progressing. If she knows how well it is working on him, she can use me as her next guinea pig. I trust her enough now that I can allow even that. She's a good person, I'm just not as open as she is, that's the thing." He reaches down to pet his friend's head, playing with the soft raven locks more fondly.

L leaned in to the soft touch and closed his eyes, relaxing on the floor with a contented smile. "She can be a little..." the dark eyed raven thought carefully for a moment, trying to pick the perfect word to describe there boisterous sister, "intimidating..."
"She can be, but she's shown that he has complete dedication to her work. That's something I admire in her. I think that she'll go far in her field, as will you." He does not let up his attentions and continues to play with the raven locks.

"And you, I am sure you will find the perfect place for your work." L almost looked like a lazy kitten, stretched out on his back and enjoying the affection.
"My contributions are smaller than yours and A's, but thanks anyway." B smiled and wondered just how feline L really was and brought a hand to lightly rub the older raven's throat in a similar way that he used to with Griffin.

The dark eyed raven again leaned into his friend, tilting up his head and enjoying the touch.
"No, yours will be just as successful," he stated simply, his voice almost a purr.
"Your field is simply one that will be broader, more diverse so you may not be noticed as quickly..."
"More work on my end to get the challenge, one I am all too willing to take on." He continues to pet the older raven's throat and smiles. He guessed the throat would be an area of high sensitivity ever since he'd first responded to it when he'd woken from his long coma those many months back. It was B's favorite spot on the detective for that reason alone.

L shivered and pulled himself up, laying his head down on the younger ravens lap next to Bear. Each and every movement from the detective was always smooth and yet fast, another feline trait he was seemingly born with. The younger raven contented himself with laving his very feline friend's throat with soft touches, sometimes brushing his chest before going back up. He was not trying to pull anything, simply enjoying giving affectionate attention to his friend. Every now and then his friend would touch a sensitive spot and he would shiver. He was happy to be there with Beyond no matter what they were doing.