Chapter 5
The young boy sat across from Beyond, scribbling hastily in a small notebook with a small crayon. The audio was clear as glass, Cael totally tuned into their conversation. Her mouth pulled into a frown as she stirred her tea. She didn't take Mello for the religious type, Whammy's had done away with the mandatory church attendance, but all the two would talk about was gods and fate. It was disconcerting, Cael didn't believe a bit of it and she knew Beyond didn't believe it either. One singular bearded man in the sky weaving each person's life like the author of a fantasy story? Please.
She was almost relieved when the conversation turned back to the LA case. Almost. It was brutal, and disgusting to hear how nonchalantly Beyond spoke about his deeds. It was difficult to acquaint her own brother with the man that had carried out those horrific acts. There was a part of her that believed that it was all a mistake, or Beyond had taken the fall for something he didn't do, or maybe L had set him up like a Bond mastermind so that he would be locked up and out of his way. But seeing him now talk about how he mutilated those women in some cosmic experiment…
Were there signs she had missed? There must have been. Could she have helped him in any way? Money was no burden to her, she would have thrown thousands at the best doctors she could find if it would have helped.
It had been years since this case, Cael had had no part in it, she wanted no part of it, but had visited Beyond soon after his arrest. She had been by his side throughout his surgeries, a fact that she wasn't certain he himself knew. She was meant to be photographing an American singer's wedding the day of his final surgery but had cancelled a few days beforehand. Everything had been paid out of her own pocket, the physical therapy, the plastic surgery, every specialist that her medical network had recommended.
Beyond was like a totally different person. His entire demeanour was nothing akin to the man she had visited last week. He had the misplaced arrogance of a man far younger than his years, his chest resting against the chair back like something plucked from a cop movie, his chin resting nonchalantly atop his palm. His gaze cut into the young boy as he scribbled away, his small hands trembling. Every so often Beyond's gaze would shift, boredly staring into space above his small head. Intimidation was his game, and young Mello was beginning to crumble.
"He's a scrappy young man, how old is he anyway? 10?" Cael turned back toThe Director , the man lounging on a loveseat as he adjusted the audio's volume.
"Almost 13," she smiled, "If I wasn't so angry at him I would be proud."
"He's extremely eloquent for his age."
"He learned from the best."
"There is no shame in accepting help, dear,"
The young blonde grumbled as he winced away from her fingers. With a sigh she stuck a plaster to his cheek, chucking the bloodied tissues into the bin.
"Let's take this as a learning moment," she said gently when he didn't answer. "If you allow your ego to overrule your ambitions, you won't get anywhere."
"Building a treehouse isn't ambition."
"Oh but it is," She laughed, packing away the "It's something you wanted and set your mind to. You carried it out to the best of your ability - which was extremely impressive by the way - but when offered a kind helping hand for something not in your current skill set, you lashed out. And now rather than enjoying an evening in a brand new treehouse with a friend, you're stuck in bed with sprained ankles."
"Matt's not my friend-
"No no, he is, but you're not his friend. Everyone loves you, but you're a piss poor friend to the rest of them."
She sighed as she heard a sniffle. She was too harsh. She was only meant to visit, this place brought out the worst in her. She tugged the boy closer, rubbing his back placatingly. "I'm not saying this to make you upset, Mihael, that's the last thing I want. But you can't keep pushing people out of trees and expect everything to be ok."
"I just wanted you to be proud of me.." C guided the sobbing boy into her arms, holding him tightly as his shoulders shook. "I'm always proud of you Mihael, that's never in question.
Under their gaze, Mello softly closed his notebook, leaning closer to talk with C's brother. Business, it seemed, was over, and now they talked freely and casually. C took this as a sign to make her entrance. She waved a hand to the Director as she made her way to the private meeting room, he nodded lazily in response and she didn't fail to notice how he increased the volume of the laptop, slipping on a set of slim headphones- ones similar to what she herself would have worn with a Walkman. If not for her nervously churning stomach, Cael may have felt a rush of disapproval. Offering a greeting to the warden, she felt a pull of hesitancy deep in her gut. This feeling she squashed ferociously- this was her brother, and a misbehaving young man that she would personally strap into a plane back to England herself if need be. It was beyond ridiculous to be feeling nervous.
All thoughts evaporated from her skull as the door was buzzed open, the Warden ushering her inside. Beyond's grin grew, eyes flicking from visitor to visitor as the situation set in. Cael perched atop the table, slinging an arm over Mello's shoulders.
"My two favourite boys in one room, however will I split my attention?"
"C…" Mello's jaw hung agape at the woman, panic, gaze flitting from the two adults in panic. "This isn't- I can explain-"
"I hope my brother hasn't been treating you too harshly." C reached out, straightening the child's tousled fringe, much to his embarrassment when Beyond hooted with laughter.
"You know each- Brother?" He whispered softly, disbelief colouring his ocean eyes staring wide up at her.
"Oh yes, did you not know, M? Our dear C and I are very close, have been since our early youth- speaking of, you should probably add a footnote to my 'early life' - that camera story I told you? That was about C, it shouldn't be included but as a little add in would be wonderful. OH! C, you should add some of your photographs! That hobby you had was always so darling-"
"Hobby! Pah! No hobby could bring me the stress this job did. Have you ever climbed a millionaires terrace to get a decent candid of him with his toddler for him to say it wasn't casual enough? Sir- that's not my fault that you-"
"Enough about your pastimes- give me the cards!"
C found herself relaxing as Beyond shuffled and produced cards for each of them, rattling off meanings and interpretations as an actor would a soliloquy. For Mello, he plucked from the deck The Magician and the Five of Swords. For C, the Four of Wands and Two of Cups, to which he had cooed at her, teasingly reaching out and squeezing her cheek as he would a child- "do you have a new beau you wish to tell me about?!".
For Beyond himself, the Eight of Cups and The World in reverse was drawn. C frowned at the offending card as Beyond smiled deliriously, his gaze miles away, looking right through her.
She patted Mello's shoulder- urging him to give them a moment alone. He nodded, waving a goodbye and disappearing behind the warden.
"Beyond…"
C's elbow met the table with a painful crack as she was yanked down, blinking owlishly at the slender fingers suddenly wrapped tightly about her forearm. Beyond stared up at her through his hair, brows furrowing as his eyes flitted about. C was taken aback at how serious his gaze was, how worried he seemed. "Two months ago, my information was released, not much- my name and my sentencing. But now my numbers have started changing."
Numbers… "Beyond do you mean a parole was given? Or a retrial?" Beyond shook his head viciously, growling in frustration, reaching out to cup her face. The warden's shouting went ignored by both of them as C placed her hands atop his, holding them in place.
"No, Charlie," C's breath caught in her throat. It had been a long time since she had been referred to as that. "My time is running out."
"Is there a family member here?" C lowered her tone, casting a glare towards the warden and shooing her from the room with a gesture. "Are you in danger?"
"Not from anyone here. Just..." C didn't know what Beyond was searching for in her face, but it seemed he found it as a grin broke free and he drew her close, his nose nestling in her hair, breathing her in as if he were a man drinking water for the first time.
"I love you, Charlie, more than anything."
Heat flared beneath her eyes, and she pulled him as close as humanly possible, smothering her face in his shirt. Beyond was never like this, he was never overly affectionate or touchy, it was a trait of his that C had begrudgingly accepted in their youth- in the grand scheme of things, it didn't matter, they cared for each other whether they cuddled or not. Yet, in this moment, despite her elation at embracing her family again, C couldn't ignore that gnawing in her stomach that something was very wrong.
"And I love you, Beyond."
Today's car was sleek and grey and of German make. Cael gripped the wheel, knuckles turning bone-white on the padding.
"So you found me out?"
Cael found a laugh ripping from her throat, almost deliriously. "Of course I did, dear- L's connections are nothing compared to mine. How on earth did you think you'd get away with skulking around right under my nose!"
"...Under your nose? You've been in Japan?"
...shit.
Cael peeked through her eyelashes at the young boy. Oh no. He bit his trembling lip, brow furrowed and eyes downcast.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you- but you ran off to Japan alone. Don't you realise how dangerous-"
"I was writing to you! For weeks! I thought you had…" He sniffed, angrily palming his eyes. C's gaze softened, and then her shoulders, until she pulled to a stop at the side of the road, melting into the seat with their head falling into their palm.
"I'm sorry." She breathed, "I wasn't meant to be gone this long. I thought it would be a week or two away and I'd get back before anyone noticed."
"You're working on the Kira case, aren't you?"
Clever boy. Despite herself, her mouth tugged into a grin.
"You know I can't confirm that."
"It's ok. You don't have to."
"I am sorry, truly."
Small arms wrapped around her, as tight as a young boy possibly could. C never wished for children, her own upbringing was less than satisfactory, but she had worked to give the children of the orphanage some sense of normalcy. She hadn't been totally successful, but it so far the children there were far more healthily balanced than her own generation was.
C squeezed just a bit tighter, eyes shuttering. Of all the children, Miheal felt like her own. She was there the day he was brought in, barely four years old, she could never forget his tiny hands missing up her skirt, those big eyes framed by golden hair gleaming up at her. She had melted instantly. Only later did she realise he had swiped chocolate on her Vivienne Westwood skirt. To this day, the formerly pure white piece is a soft beige. "Why don't I get you a hotel room, love, you can stay for the night and we can spend it together," she gently pulled away, grabbing his nose with the pads of her thumb and forefinger playfully. "We can watch any movie of your choice, and indulge in some sweets- the hotel has these delicious pastries filled with a sweet paste of some kind, you'll absolutely love them."
The promise of sugar had perked the young boy right up, so much he chattered excitedly the rest of the car ride there. The receptionist recognised Cael, and the transaction was simple. Mello was given a room on the twenty-third floor, and a rather deluxe one at that. It came with a stunning view of the city, but Cael suspected that the flat screen television and the mini snack bar is what appealed to the boy most.
Thanking the receptionist, the redhead ushered the boy into the elevator, finally releasing a breath she didn't realise she was holding. "So what movie do you fancy? They have that Star Wars movie that was released a while ago. You were pretty excited about that, weren't you...?"
"Hold the door, please!"
Cael's stomach flipped, and she vigorously pressed the 'close door' button, ignoring Mello's astonishment. A hand slipped in between the closing doors, and Soichiro Yagami stepped into view, and then Aizawa, and Ukita, and Matsuda. Snatching her hand away from the panel, she beamed charmingly at the men, much to their surprise. "Afternoon, gentlemen!"
A round of 'Hello's!' were parroted in response, and to her delight Matsuda skirted around the group, coming to a stop at her elbow to chatter in her ear.
"Ryuzaki asked me to collect some files for you from the Coronor, I left them in your room earlier- I didn't realise you would be back so soon, otherwise I would have just held onto them and given it to you directly- I noticed you had a bit of trouble with the Japanese in the last report, so I would be happy to help translate if you needed it," he stopped his rambling for a moment to catch his breath, face flushing pink when he realised he was under the scrutiny of a seemingly extremely unimpressed boy, "Oh who's this young man? Are you babysitting?"
"Ryuzaki wouldn't approve of you babysitting during work hours. It's not exactly appropriate." Aizawa said firmly, lips pressed into a thin line.
"No, I'm not babysitting, don't be absurd…" She clapped a hand on the blonde's shoulder, yanking him closer. His eyes narrowed -don't you dare, they seemed to snarl. She smiled dopily.
"This is my son…" Squinting playfully at the young boy as he glared in return. "Marco." If looks could kill, she would be withered in the unforgiving sun, good for nothing but the vultures. She tousled his hair, lagging in delight at the young boy's indignation, upon taking in the men's reactions, however, the redhead felt that she had made a mistake in her cover story. A range of shock- and in some cases thinly veiled disapproval- lined her coworkers faces.
"Your son?!" Matsuda's neck should be shattered at the speed he had done a double take.
"But you're so… young." Aizawa breathed.
"Or perhaps I've just aged well." She frowned at the man, raising her hands to frame her face. Mello snorted, muttering something about dry skin and decrepit crows feet. She subtly tugged his hair in retaliation. She was only in her late twenties, thank you very much, and very far from decrepit.
The universe blessed her, and with a ding the door opened. Springing from the elevator, Mello in tow- she waved over her shoulder. "Have a lovely evening, men- and I'll take you up on that offer, Touta!"
"Oh so it's "Touta" now, huh Matsuda-san?"
Smothering a laugh at Ukita's hollers, Cael continued on, unlocking the door and collapsing into the plush couch. Mello loomed over her like a phantom, arms crossed over his chest, lips irritably pursed into a thin line. "Your son?"
"I don't think it's too out of the realms of possibility."
"And what about that Touta, you're not too busy with a romantic study session?" He smirked, and Cael decided that no, she would never have children if they were all this snarky
"...Now, how about that Revenge of the Stitch movie?"
He snorted, the initial objective either dropped or forgotten. She suspected it was the former. "It's Revenge of the Sith, Mother."
He dropped into the couch, into her arms, rolling his eyes. Oh, Cael just knew that he would be a nightmare once he hit those teen years. But for now? He was just a healthy dose of trouble. She could work with that, she approved of it- to a degree. Presently, he was a little trouble maker curling up to his parents side watching a movie with a storyline the adult was oblivious to, and Cael wouldn't change a bit of it. These little absurd moments are what childhood life was about. C and her brothers had missed out on those moments, she would be damned if the next generation of geniuses would too.
So big shoutout to reader Namesareplaceholders- I've been struggling to write and tweak this chapter and it's following content for months now, and your kind review was what booted me into gear. So thank you so much!
We're now getting into the thick of the story, and things are going according to plan. I have this story outlined totally, and I am aiming for monthly updates. I know I've said this before, but I mean it this time!
I wish everyone who reads this is happiness and health- see you next time!