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Cookie Crumbs

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"Aizawa-san, everyone has left for lunch. Aren't you joining them?"

The temperamental investigator paused the task at hand and turned his head, startled. Ryuuzaki had disappeared with Watari a while ago after suggesting the rest of the team to take a break, hinting at a long evening of work awaiting them. Now he was approaching the computer station after spotting lone Aizawa there.

"Ah. I wasn't really hungry. I thought I'd…"

He trailed off when he noticed Ryuuzaki's gaze shift away from his face to the object he currently held in his hands – the computer keyboard, turned upside down, poised above a trash can.

The detective gave him a puzzled look, with a finger on his chin.

"Oh, I was cleaning the workstation. Some crumbs were stuck between the keys." He gave the keyboard a good shake, a few taps, and settled it down.

Ryuuzaki had been completely oblivious – unless he was purposefully ignoring – to the disgusted look on Aizawa's face when his shameless hands shook out the contents of panda cookie bag all over the desk. Now he nodded with realization and had the decency to look embarrassed.

"I apologize, Aizawa-san. But you know you don't have to do this. Watari would've taken care of it eventually."

It took a heroic effort for Aizawa to stop himself from giving this spoiled grown-up child of a genius a hard smack in the head and lecturing him on the virtues of self-reliance. Instead, he managed what he deemed the most civilized smile he could muster, even though it turned out rather like a grimace, given his mood.

"It's okay, really. I do this all the time at home. I have a little girl, you know."

"Aizawa-san…"

The brat was feigning a look of hurt.

"…Are you implying that I'm like a four-year old toddler? I'm a grown adult, you know."

"Then act like one!" Aizawa spat, his temper winning the race against civility this time. Remorse came immediately after. He did not want to strain his work relationship with this kid again when he had just re-joined the team. L might be the greatest detective of the world but Aizawa was still his senior. And where would his pride be if he continued to let the brat get on his nerves every time?

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, imagined the peaceful face of Buddha…

"Listen, Ryuuzaki," he started solemnly, opening his eyes when he trusted himself to be calm enough to face the smartass. Then he blinked. He forgot the words he was about to say.

Ryuuzaki was staring at him from a nearby chair, which he had soundlessly hopped on when Aizawa wasn't looking. His eyes, in which moroseness had lingered ever since Higuchi had literally dropped dead on them, now twinkled in a mischievous grin.

"It's good to have you back, Aizawa-san."

Aizawa's mind suddenly traveled back in time and place, a flash of unbidden image overlapping his vision, phantom voices ringing his ears.

Let's show him. Justice will prevail!

Yeah!

That's right!

Let's do it!

Back then… they all knew how naïvely they were acting, but it did not matter. It might have been the unabashed, impish grin on L's face. Or, maybe the ominous cloud of danger hanging over their heads made them act like a bunch of boy scouts, trying to forget fear. Even though their number was few and risk too great, they felt good. They were warriors charging into battlefields, to win a just war. We were brave, weren't we, Ukita?

He swallowed a lump forming in his throat. He willed his eyes to reabsorb the excess moisture that was starting to pool. He chuckled. Why was he feeling this sentimental all of a sudden?

"Ryuuzaki," he managed to say.

The younger man widened his eyes slightly in acknowledgement.

"You're a major pain in the ass, but… it's good to be back."

L followed his chuckle, hopping off the chair.

"Thank you, I think."

Aizawa supposed the break time was over, because he more or less felt pensive mood enveloping the younger detective again. He missed the brat's childish grin suddenly, terribly.

"He might've slipped through our fingers this time. But we will get him, Ryuuzaki."

"Yes. I don't doubt that," he replied, walking toward the elevator.

"You're taking off? Everyone will be returning soon."

"Watari will be updating you shortly on an important matter when everyone's back. I'm only going for a little fresh air. I'll be back on time."

"Fresh air? But…"

Aizawa did not have a chance to finish before the elevator door closed. He stared at the floor numbers atop the door lighting up in succession, all the way to the roof.

"… the rainstorm outside…."

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