Author's Notes: This might be the last chapter. But, it's not going to be the last Beyond and L fic I'll ever write. One more's going to come, a companion fic called 'Forbidden Fruits & Cigarette Kisses', in which we follow the present Death Note time – if Beyond hadn't been killed by Light's Death Note. Interested? Then wait for it, ne?
WARNING: EXTREME OOC-NESS WILL FOLLOW. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED (I think it's OOC, anyway. Idk, rly).
Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine. Gawd.
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CaeliaDanan: Romantic?! Zomg, really!? I thought it was mostly humor. But, well, it's a comedy-romance. YEAH! –high-fives-
emotionless-robot: I love the awkward moments between these two. It's so adorable. I hate it when people steal the computer, too. But my parents are, like, EVIL, so, yeah. –sighs!- Indeed – L would play by himself. Who's the best competition for L but L? (Beyond, maybe!)
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After a fairly good amount of awkward fumbling to find a suitable grip, the tall, hunch-backed man and the only a few inches shorter teenage boy stood on the floor, a few inches between their bodies, each as embarrassed as the other. Beyond, honestly, was very much conscious of the heat radiating from L's thin, defined form, of the sweet scent of cakes and other sweets, the soft skin of the thin hand holding his, and the numbers above his head. Around nine more years. Around nine more years. He, however, didn't mind the closeness and other things – which was what troubled him most. Beyond, being the successor, should not be liking the sensation as much as he was now, and even he knew it (causing even more problems).
L, however, was trying his very best to ignore just how pleasant those warm, partially sticky fingers on his shoulder felt, and had a horrible time not thinking about where he would rather move the hand which was currently positioned on Beyond's slender waist. The closeness of the young man – boy, L corrected himself – was almost too much for a mostly emotionless detective to handle, and it took all his inner focal points L had just to keep his brain clear and functional. And, most importantly, remain coherent.
"Very good. Then, hm, we should start with a step to the left –" L winced inwardly, "your left." It was not like him to add things awkwardly, however it had just come out, especially when he realized how close Beyond's leg had come after said command.
"Follow with lifting your other foot, and place them together, afterwards a step to the right, and.." his voice continued on until Beyond appeared to understand the complex steps known as the waltz.
Soon after, to avoid even more embarrassment and to keep his mind thinking straight, L, carefully, but very much reluctantly disentangled himself from the body so similar to his own.
"Alright," stated the detective, taking a step back, hoping he didn't look as over-heated as he felt, "I have a good deal of percentage and statistics to see you understand it. Now, we can add the music." He turned to the stereo, turned it on, and silently prayed (to an unknown God, for he himself was unsure of his religious preferences) that he would be able to keep some decorum for as long as this had to go on. He, however, knew with all his mind's power, that he might not.
Thus, the flute started to play; the harp and violin accompanying in a wonderful blend. As Beyond put a soft, not at all reluctant, sticky hand on his shoulder, a bit too close to L's neck than was necessary, and put his slender body in the detective's grasp, the older of the two felt his self-control become nothing but a puddle of goo. He sighed, and tried again, with as much wit as he could muster, to recollect all his sense of etiquette and proper behavior.
"Ichi, nii, san (one, two, three).. Ichi, nii, san.." L counted the beat, the two of them moving together in something which magically went in time with the music's rhythm. The detective's thin hand had slid up to the small of Beyond's back; him being rendered useless in depriving himself of that small treat, but he took great pride in managing to maintain the distance between them. It was, unfortunately, only a few inches – though it helped keep his mind as straight as possible.
Beyond kept his firm, yet gentle hands on L's hand and shoulder, his head almost resting against the chest of his predecessor. He was, to his surprise, concentrating intently on counting the beat, moving his right foot and then the left, finally realizing that he had an idea of how to dance this time. The young criminal did not like being a step behind (which was all too similar to L's behavior), no matter the subject, however now, when the beat seemed to settle in the confines of his body and the music had received all control of his mind, as he was lead by someone who could show him without teaching him, he felt himself relaxing, if only a little. This was not, amazingly, as horrible as he thought it would be, after all. Not complicated, either – more importantly, not entirely disagreeable, in regards to the.. closeness.
To be honest, Beyond had never quite noticed how good, and reassuring, it could feel to have a sure hand holding yours, firmly and gently leading the way – keeping him safe, leading him towards paradise. The hand on his back, warm, safe, moving slightly in a small soothing caress – it felt better than he could ever have imagined. Knowing, in the deep confines of his already irrational mind, he shouldn't, half-afraid to be pushed away, Beyond moved just a tad closer to the warm body, almost closing the distance that L had so vainly been keeping. Noticing that the detective didn't push him away, didn't seem bothered at all, he gave a small sigh of relief. Then, without a thought running through his brain, without knowing how he had found the mysterious courage and absence of sense to put this thought, this desire into action, he placed his head to lie against L's warm chest.
L felt his body stiffen slightly at the touch, and, finally realizing the situation he brought himself into, was unsure (for the umpteenth time today) how to respond, lest he ruin the moment and possibly more. He ventured, however, to tighten his grip little by little around Beyond's waist, at which he felt, rather than heard, Beyond gasp softly. But not, L noticed with a strange feeling of exhilaration, out of surprise or repulsion, but from something closer to – the thought itself made him hesitate – pleasure. L's head reeled; could this be? Could it really be, that the one person he had ever cherished, ever wanted, was in his arms, striving to be close, being held and.. liking it? Could it be that Beyond..? He barely dared complete the line of thought, and yet the hand on his shoulder slid closer to his neck, touching the bare skin, and he realized – with a slight annoyance, that he must act. His voice was, most likely, going to betray him, and so the detective let go of his successor's hand, and, softly touching Beyond's cheek, caused him to look up.
L held his breath – here he went. His first ever attempt at a relationship. Hold on, detective. Just hold on.
That look in the young man's beautiful crimson eyes – and in this moment, L realized he could not even, to himself, claim his successor to be a boy – sent shivers down the detective's spine. Those red eyes were half-closed in a dreamy, lethargic fashion, telling of the complete safety their owner felt in the embrace with which he was currently held in, but beneath (which L had to dig into even harder than most people), there was a depth, a darkness that turned the crimson even more passionate, from need and desire; they burned an unveiled intensity that dazzled the man whose gaze they steadily met.
Miraculously, he heard his own voice say something.
"Beyond Birthday.."
The whispered word was far away. He knew he was falling now, drowning in the bloody pools that were Beyond's eyes, but he didn't, couldn't care. As Beyond let his almost-fragile hand slide up along the bare skin of his arm where the sleeves of L's shirt was rolled back, up along the biceps and the shoulder, eventually leaving him standing with both arms around L's neck, the human within the detective gave in.
Finally pushing his mind aside, and finally becoming unaware of what it was he was doing, L roughly tightened his arm around the narrow waist, crushing the warm, lithe body against his own. Beyond drew a sharp breath, but did not let go his grip. Instead, he fixed the older man's eyes with his dark gaze, and, without a word passing his lips, slid closer, cocking his head back slightly so that, in spite of L's considerable height, his face was merely inches away.
When he saw the mixture of desire and nervous hope in the ruby crystals, and when he felt a leg firmly, shamelessly slide between his own, the air caught in the detective's throat, and he surrendered completely. A hand was pushed along a back, a short breath was taken, and as lips met lips, mouths opening hungrily, the world was reduced to the hot, wet, wonders of a first kiss – and the sweet notes of Bach floated away into the darkness of a December night.
Owari.
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Author's Notes: And that's it! Yeah, the end of 'Teacher'. How was it? I felt pretty sad ending it so soon, but I'll be working on the companion fic as soon as possible. Reviews are greatly appreciated, and thank you for following me and my horrid writing style this long!
Wow – and I had writer's block while writing this. I do hope it came out lovely. :D
Might be writing the Christmas Ball scene, maybe a Chapter 5, but I'm not sure. Eh. Hope you enjoyed, anyway!