L walked back into his bedroom, flicking on the light.
Beyond sat on the bed, staring at him.
"What are you doing here, Beyond?" L asked. "It's two in the morning."
"What were you doing in the bathroom?" Beyond replied.
"Well…what do you think people do in the bathroom?" L asked, heart skipping a beat. If Beyond knew…
"Whatever," Beyond said angrily.
"Go back to bed, B," L ordered. "I need to finish up an important case."
"No."
Beyond got off the bed, walked over to L, and hugged him.
"I like you L."
"Um…I like you, too, Beyond."
"How much do you like me?"
L was quickly becoming perplexed.
"Please just go to bed, B. We'll talk about this in the morning."
L got back up on the bed, working with the added advantage of an empty stomach. He made a mental note to look into his behavior a little more thoroughly as soon as he got the chance.
Great. Now I can't focus.
He got off the bed again, walking through the quiet hallways. He peered into the rooms of the other kids.
Near was curled up under the blankets, so small that he might not have been there. In another room, Linda was sprawled lazily across her bed, above her covers like she always was.
In the next room, Matt and Mello were in the same bed, snuggled up close together. They were holding hands. L couldn't help but get choked up a little.
He loved these children. He wanted what was best for these children. But what could he do? Even if he tried his best, he could only do so much. Eventually, they would grow up and leave Wammy's House. When that happened, L would most likely never see them again. And then, what could he do?
What could he do when they were out of his reach?
Sighing, he got some candy from the kitchen and went back to his room.
Doing what he did best.
Staying in the shadows.
Almost like a ghost. Hiding from the world, to fade into oblivion. Nobody would care once he died. In the one-in-a-million chance that he outlived Watari, maybe he would care.
But no one else.
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