I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited but I

Couldn't stay away I couldn't fight it

I had hoped you'd see my face

And that you be reminded that for me it isn't over

-Someone Like You – Adele-


-Three months later-

L fumbled with the lock to the front door with arms full of ingredients. A bone chilling gust of wind picked up a plume of snow; coating the raven who cursed under his breath. As the lock finally unlatched, the door fell open.

Stepping into the cream colored living room and scenting the air with a ghost of a smile, L called out. "B, I grabbed the last of what you needed." The older raven sighed as he tossed his car keys onto the dining table as Beyond removed the bagged items tangled around L's arms. "Smells great. What are you making again?"

"Beef Wellington. It's a nice meet in the middle. It has puff pastry." Beyond chided in a sing song voice, causing the detective to chuckle slightly. "And no, I didn't forget that you'd likely only eat enough to shut me up. I'm also preparing Baked Alaska." B hung around the edge of the kitchen and playfully fired off the torch a couple of times while raising his eyebrows in sync with the flaming utensil.

"I am definitely going to regret giving you a blow torch." L sighed out. "I'm going to finish up my case notes, I'll be in my room." Beyond nodded and waved him off without giving him a second glance. Opening the door to his now claimed room, though the room was tailored to his specifications, it still felt unfamiliar to claim it as his, regardless of the insufferable argument leading it to be that way. Beyond refused to allow him to live in the basement any longer. L shuffled towards his desk muttering to himself about his current thoughts of the case.

The ravened detective opened his laptop and began typing when his phone began ringing; caller I.D read: 'Near'. Rolling his ashen eyes, he lifted the phone with his index finger and thumb and pressed the green button with the other hand. "Yes?" He spun his leather chair around to face the window of the room.

"I hope it's not too much of an inconvenience, however, an associate has recently landed in the country and would have no supervision. I have taken the liberty to invite him, as I detest the idea of leaving him within the manor without someone to keep an eye on him, lest he gets too curious."

L's face remained unchanged as he lifted himself from his chair. "It isn't my call. I'm not the one slaving over dinner preparations and obsessively cleaned the house… including my room." The last of his statement seemed to fall on a bitter note. Before Near could respond L interjected, "I will have to ask B."

"We are already in route." The call ended abruptly.

Sighing discontentedly, L peeled himself from his computer and shuffled himself to his door, cautiously opening it to watch Beyond's mood before approaching him. Timidly, the detective approached the kitchen, keeping in mind to announce his presence, to avoid yet another nasty burn. "Hey, B?" He was answered with a curious hum. "Apparently, Near, invited someone else to come… Is that alright? He said they're already in route. And, I can confirm, the road condition is not one to travel on excessively."

Beyond shrugged whimsically before responding. "Well… They're already on the way. And, if Near trusts them enough to travel with them and meet you, they're probably fine. What's one more? Would have had too much food anyway."


A knock was heard at the door. L stared at the door then glanced to Beyond who glared at him and pointed to the door. "Are you kidding me? No, you're getting the door, I did everything else for tonight." L shifted his ashen stare back to Beyond once again. The younger raven folded his arms after pouring four glasses of red wine. "I will withhold cake."

L hung his head in moderate defeat as he stood to answer the door. "Very well."

The door creaked open as a pair of ashen eyes peered outside. Near stood in a thick white, fluffy coat. "You answered the door?" Pushing the door open and L aside, Near sighed. "You really are slipping."

The detective crinkled his nose before responding. "I am doing no such thing. Any intruder to this home would be met with deadly force. Some unprepared robber I can handle; a retired serial killer who is threatening to withhold dessert? I cannot."

L held the door open for another to follow Near in. Shaking snow from himself, he remained hooded. Rolling his dark eyes Near spoke monotonously. "It would be wise to remove your hood, you'll raise L's ever suspicious nature." He smirked when Beyond rounded the corner.

The figured obliged the request. "Yes, of course. My apologies, sir. I'm a huge fan. I wouldn't want to offend." The hood fell off of shining golden locks; shimmering sapphire eyes down casted as not to meet the detective's. A sharp inhale was heard from across the room. Causing the three men to look towards the sound.

Serene sapphire met fierce crimson. Within a flash the bounty hunter had Near lifted and slammed against a wall with a gun pointed towards L. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

His deep eyes fell in the direction of a dangerously sharp switchblade to his neck. Beyond narrowed his sanguine eyes as he growled out. "Put the gun down, or I won't hesitate to do what I should have done years ago. You could kill the other one, but I will not allow you to harm L."

Blinking rapidly at the barrel of the gun before craning his neck to the side. "You know each other?" Near sputtered out and coughed. "Oh. Would you mind putting him down? He doesn't excel in endurance. Let's set this aside. Discuss it."

Beyond shot a murderous stare towards Caspian as he released the clip to the gun, sending it clattering to the floor. He raised his arm with the gun away from L, put kept a deadly grip onto Near. L cleared his throat. "Beyond. Put the knife down."

Beyond snarled slightly as he yanked the knife back with lightning speed, twirling it around his fingers and sliding it away. "Why are you here?"

Caspian slowly lowered Near and shoved him forward, speaking with a cold tone. "Well? Answer him."

Near rubbed his neck and took deep breaths while speaking in between. "L had a dangerous ally. I contracted the deadliest assassin. I figured if it worked for L." A quick, yet light, slap landed on the back of his head. "Alright. This case, the one L can't crack, I figured if we put together two geniuses and two killers together, we could figure this out."

L nodded his head as he removed himself from the entranceway. "Seems plausible."

Caspian glared at the back of Near's head before glancing up and dodging Beyond's critical stare. "I am sorry to cause a scene in your home. Please allow me to start from the beginning." Caspian stood in front of Beyond with an outstretched hand. "I'm Caspian. I work for law enforcement. I'm the best in my business, thank you for allowing me to attend your evening."

Beyond started at his hand skeptically, stealing a glance at a smirking Near, then taking a firm grasp of the assassin's hand. "I'm glad you could make it safely. I am Beyond Birthday. I'm a retired serial killer, consultant to law enforcement."

The raven's eyes widened when he was pulled in uncomfortably close as breath hit his ear. "He's lying. Can I speak with you later?" Beyond wordlessly nodded. Caspian chuckled. "Pardon my grip. Sorry to make you slip. That was rude of me."

Beyond stood a couple paces back after stabilizing himself once more. "The fault is mine, I should have been more careful." He gestured towards the dining area. "Shouldn't make the food wait, its more temperamental than I am."

Caspian and Near walked passed him as he kept a close eye on them. 'L had no clue who he was… he couldn't have contracted him those years ago… He clearly had no clue where he was going, I doubt this was Caspian's doing… Is that really his name? But… Near… He can't seem to wipe that smirk off his face. He knows of our past. But how? He was just a child.'

"B?" The young raven snapped from his musings. L smiled quietly. "Are you coming?" Beyond nodded quietly as he followed everyone else.

Near stood behind a chair. "No offense, Backup, but I have no intention of sitting anywhere within arms reach of you." Beyond sighed at stood behind the chair on the opposite side of the table.

L stood haunched with his hands in his pockets, glancing quickly to Caspian who stood next to him. "Guess we fill in the blanks. I always sit in this seat." He stood behind a chair and gripped it as if he were guarding it." Caspian silently and awkwardly stood behind the chair in between Near and Beyond.

Beyond glanced around before rolling his eyes and sat down and began cutting the wellington. "We can't all just stand around and look at it." A nervous chuckle came from Caspian as he sat down and quietly assisted in serving the food as Beyond cut it. L stared at Near darkly, with eyes that seemed to be attempting to read his soul, before seating himself. Near followed suit.

A silent dinner ensued.

L picked at his food before finally speaking. "You never mentioned your name. However, given your appearance, increased strength and agility, and your reputation… I'll assume you to be 'Codename: Plan C. As the F.B.I files label you, but in my own research, you are Caspian Sommerset. Am I correct? Of course I am, no need to answer. I am never wrong." The detective smirked smugly as the assassin silently nodded. "Interesting associate you have, Near… How did you meet?"

Without hesitation the silver haired male answered. "Roger has hired him in the past, he had a good recommendation."

Caspian awkwardly sipped on the wine after finishing the meal. "The meal was lovely. The wine pairing is eloquent. Thank you for allowing me to stay, Beyond."

Near scoffed with a small amount of irritation. "Yes, yes, Backup can cook." Beyond flinched slightly at the name.

The blonde gritted his teeth slightly as he gripped the glass a little tighter. "Don't call him that."

Betraying a small wicked smile Near busied his hands. "No, that's what he is. He's just a backup."

Sighing quietly, the assassin smiled contently as he set his empty wine glass down. "Very well, what does Near mean? What? Nearly a back up?"

Ashen eyes threw daggers in the blonde's direction. "It most certainly does not, it is my code name."

Caspian shot a careless wink towards Beyond. "So, why can't Beyond be his?"

Beyond's dumbfounded stare bounced back and forth between the guests before landing on Near, expecting an answer. When none was to be found he sighed. "Well. It appears his plan has backfired. I have not proven to be more uncivil than his own guest, and it seems any past disagreements between us aren't amounting to what he expected. I'm going to clean up dinner and fetch dessert."

Watching the retired murderer begin the blonde stood. "I'll help. It's the least I can do." The two of them quickly cleared the table and began cleaning the dishes. Caspian spoke in a hush. "You don't have to keep your guard up. I'm not here for you. I'm sorry, for my reaction to seeing you. Look, I wanted to see you again… This is just not what I had in mind."

Nodding quietly Beyond responded in an equally hushed tone. "Oh really? Why should I believe you. You don't have the best track record."

Chuckling while scrubbing the dishes. "Says you of all people."

A quiet laugh was heard from the raven next to him while drying the dishes. "Fair point."

"Roger… That name…" The assassin labored in thought before a soft gasp was released. "Roger was the name of the man who contracted me to kill you." His stare landed on Beyond who seemed unfazed. "Coincidence?"

"Doubtful. It likely was the very same. He was raising three others to take L's position." He emotionlessly torched the top of the tiny cakes. "He always referred to me as 'damaged goods' behind closed doors. He wouldn't want someone as flawed as me, to have a hold of as much power as the name L held."

Caspian ruffled his hair in frustration. "Jesus, I would have ended up a serial killer, too." He startled slightly when handed two of the cakes.

Smiling cheerfully the raven chirped, "That's not why I did it. My damage runs deeper than a nickname and a murderously jealous keeper. Let's not keep them waiting." Beyond stopped before rounding the corner to the dining room. "Don't think I've forgotten about the past, but, it's good to see you in good health."