Light followed L's haunched figure down the stairs towards the kitchen where the shouting grew louder, Light began to second guess his choice. 'Maybe I should have waited for a less temperamental chef…'

Stopping at the bottom of the stairs in the doorway, L shifted a tiny smile towards Light, "Don't let him fool you. He's a softie at heart…"

The British accented voice was outraged and full of annoyance, contradicting L's words. "Are you a fucking retard?!"

Light winced at Beyond's shouting at his cooks. "Uh huh… Any advice?"

L smirked slightly and nodded. "Don't let him walk on you," he suggested softly, "but be respectful." L stepped off the last step and rounded the corner.

Light took a deep breath and put on a pleasant smile, 'Right. Just breathe… Relax, wouldn't want him to figure out you're petrified.' Light followed behind L and walked into the back of him, "Uh, sorry."

L stood still with a small smile and his thumb pressed to his lower lip, Light followed his gaze up to its destination. Light could feel his features soften a little at the enigmatic chef. Beyond was walking behind the line of cooks as they worked. Suddenly, the raven stopped in his tracks, and tapped the elbow of one cook with a spoon handle. "Higher, your wrist will cramp less." He walked behind another cook with a scrutinizing stare. He leaned in and turned the stove down. "If your heat stays too high you'll discolor the broth." His analyzing gaze landed on L and Light, then turned back to . "Alright dipshits, if you fuck my kitchen up while I step out, I can and will shove you in the stove!"

Widening his eyes slightly, Light shifted a glance at the older male, as a quiet chuckle escaped L's throat, "Here he comes…" Light had to consciously slow his breathing.

Beyond raised an eyebrow at the duo, "Is this the intern?" L nodded silently and the corners of Beyond's lips curved up. "I see." He motioned his head for Light to follow, "L, naturally, I need you to be my lab rat. It's in the refrigerator."

Raising his eyebrows, L smiled a little wider. "Hmm?" He mused. Beyond smirked and walked towards the dining room. Chuckling at Beyond's coy attitude, "He knows how to keep me out of his business. Go meet with him, it'll be the one time he's civil with you. I have a mystery cake waiting for my approval." Then he walked away, his pace a little faster than before.

Light nodded and followed in the direction Beyond went. 'What do you think he'll ask? Will he ask anything? Will he just yell at me? I guess I should have expected this and prepared a little better… It's not like the chef would have never wanted to talk to their new stage on a one on one.' Light let out an audible sigh. He jumped slightly when he heard a deep laugh from behind the bar, "Relax, I just wanted to gauge your ability a little and get to know you."

Nodding, Light sat himself at one of the bar stools. "Sorry. I'm a little nervous."

Beyond raised an eyebrow and betrayed a tiny crooked smile, "A little? You don't say…" He poured himself a small amount of orange juice from behind the bar, "You want anything to drink?"

Light shook his head. Then he opened his mouth, and what came out was a petite "I'm sorry."

Beyond laughed under his breath, "For what, might I ask? Jeez, you're not one of 'them', are you? We'll drive each other nuts if that's the case…" He sat next to Light and stared straight forward, "So... Japanese? I've read your resume. What do you like to cook? Personal questions aren't usually answered in text." He shifted a sidelong glance to Light.

Light cocked his head a little in thought, trying to say something natural that may please but still impress Beyond. "I like to cook just about anything... I love learning new techniques; I especially like to apply them in different ways…"

On the other side of the bar, Beyond raised his brow curiously, "Really? Hmm…" He nodded slightly, "That's interesting… I like that answer." He smiled whimsically.

Light could feel a small heat creep along his neck and cheeks. 'I won't take what the online reviews said lightly, and I heard his temperament for myself… I won't underestimate you, Beyond. You can't lull me into a false sense of security with you…'

Beyond leaned against the bar with one arm and rested the side of his head on his bicep, "So, why this offer?"

Light felt his breath catch, 'Probably shouldn't say it was the first and only one…' "I did my research on the restaurant after receiving the offer, I decided that if I wanted to be the best I needed to be trained by someone who is one of the best."

Beyond smirked and rolled his eyes. "Level with me."

Light flitted his eyes over to the chef and blushed slightly while hanging his head. "It was the only offer to come up in three months."

Beyond lifted his head and took a sip of his juice, leaving Light hanging for a while, before saying, "I know. That might be my fault."

Light shot Beyond a shocked stare. "How?" He gaped.

Beyond had a tiny smirk cracking along his face. "I might have mentioned to all the other kitchens in the area that I was interested in you."

Light raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "How would that change anything?"

"I'm a, and I quote, 'badass'. And I'm pulling your leg." Beyond laughed as Light landed a lame glare on him, who guffawed loudly. "I wanted to gauge your unrehearsed reactions… I like you. To be honest, I didn't even want to take anyone else on, but I always look through the applicants…" He smiled with nostalgia, "That's how I got started out… You're actually more formally trained than I was." He ruffled his hair with a careless smile. "One day, I was down in the dumps. Couldn't figure out what to do with my life, and L suggested that I should do something I'm good at… It was his kind of his idea for me to be a chef."

He stared at Beyond, mouth hanging open slightly, eyes wide. Beyond shifted a glance over to Light and laughed at his fish-like appearance. "How long have you two known each other?" Light asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Beyond smirked and looked back to his juice, purposely avoiding Light's question, "So I put out letters, called restaurants to see if they'd entertain the idea of having me come into their kitchen… Three months later… Gordon Ramsey called and asked for a demonstration."

Light's eyebrows raised, 'Three months…' Light blinked a couple of times and leaned in, "That's incredible."

Beyond smirked and glanced back into Light's honeyed eyes, "To this day, Gordon is my mentor. Whenever I have a problem, I can usually count on his advice to get me through… You'll need to find someone like that… Culinary life sucks too much to do it on your own." He flashed a bright and mischievous smile.

Light returned the smile subconsciously, 'His smile is almost disarming.' Light trailed his eyes along the chef's features. 'He is actually much better looking in person...' He followed Beyond's jawline to his slender neck and found himself smirking slightly at his protruding Adam's Apple. He quickly caught himself and mentally slapped his own face repeatedly. 'Get it together, not only is he literally your boss and very good looking… He's more than likely taken, and if he isn't, there's something really wrong with him.'

Light shook his head at the sound of Beyond clearing his throat, and he trailed his eyes up and his breath caught at the sight of the scarlet kindles peeking at him underneath the ashen bang with an amused smirk curving around his surprisingly shapely lips. Light smirked slightly at his smile, then narrowed his eyes and broke eye contact shaking his head slightly, 'He's. Your. Boss.' He repeated to himself, but then his mind drifted again. 'At first I was terrified he was going to be cruel… Now I think it would make my job so much easier if he was.'

Beyond glanced over Light's shoulder to L, "Well. Time to round up the madhouse and get ready for tonight. I invite you to come and have dinner. I'll pay; I want you to taste what I expect from you." An evil grin spread across the lips that once chastised Light for staring at them longingly.

Light glanced up and asked, "Would it be alright if my mother came? She came to help me get settled."

Beyond raised an eyebrow. "Naturally." He responded, then stood up and stepped behind Light. "See you tomorrow. Be here at six in the morning; I'd like to see what your made of…" He reached around Light and grabbed his juice and whispered into his ear, "Don't you dare be a minute late…"

Light felt his face burning at the husky words that vibrated into his head. He could hear L faintly chuckle as Beyond brushed passed him. The swinging doors flew open and more shouting could be heard. L placed himself next to Light and laughed slightly, "So. I expect to see you around often then?"

Light nodded, "I'm very excited to start working. Do you know why he'd have me coming in so early?" Light detested how timidly that question sounded.

L shrugged, "He's a chef through and through, he lives this kitchen. It's why I pay him the way I do… Well that, and so he never leaves. From the moment he wakes up, to the moment he collapses into his bed he's either working or thinking about work… I admire that about him."


Light nervously shifted a glance around as he pulled the door opened for his mom. Sachiko smiled brightly at a young man with bright white hair and deep charcoal grey eyes upon seemed to be searching for someone. The young man glanced up at the two, gave them a once-over, and stood. He pulled his uniform a little to straighten it, then gestured for the Yagami's to follow him. "Right this way, ma'am and sir."

Light glanced back at the line of people who were waiting for a table, who stared at him and his mother with both envy and surprise. His mother leaned in to Light's ear and whispered, "Must be incredibly difficult to get a table here!" Light nodded quietly as the server pulled the chair out for Light's mother.

"The head chef will be personally preparing your dishes. I will return shortly for your order; in the meantime, may I offer you refreshments?"

Light's mother smiled and nodded, "Yes, thank you. Water will be fine." Light nodded in agreement. The young man bowed and briskly stepped away before appointing a waitress to their table. Sachiko's eyes wandered around the restaurant, with its modern design, and down at her white and glossy chair. "I always pictured that you'd be working somewhere with this kind of atmosphere. It's edgy, modern, but still pleasant for an old fart like me!" She giggled lightheartedly.

A deep voice purred from the side of them, "Mind if I join?" They both glanced over to see L standing there in a pair of dark denim jeans, a white cotton shirt and a black overcoat.

Sachiko smiled brightly, "Not at all! You must be Mr. Lawliet?"

He nodded as he delicately pulled a chair out and placed himself in a chair next to them, shifting a bit uncomfortably. "Indeed I am, Mrs. Yagami... I apologize, I do not know your name."

Sachiko smiled softly and answered, "Sachiko Yagami. Nice to meet you! Please make sure my boy keeps his head up!"

L nodded quickly. "Of course. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Light hung his head in embarrassment, "Mom! We talked about this! I'm not a baby!"

L and Sachiko shared a small smile. She cleared her throat. "So... your chef. What would you recommend for our meal?"

L rubbed his chin and hummed quietly in thought. "There aren't very many cuisines he isn't proficient in." L folded his hands under his chin, interlacing his slender fingers together and gave a tiny smile as he rested his chin on them. "Though, if you're interested in testing his ability in Japanese cooking, I recommend his curry."


As always loves to my fantastic beta readers!