A/N: This was originally intended to be a one-shot, but thanks to the encouragement and suggestions of Tkb4, I have decided to continue it. I hope this chapter isn't too confusing for anyone, heh. Enjoy. ~
Chapter 2: Waste Away With Me
Beyond Birthday pulled frantically at the thin white sheet that entangled his emaciated form. He gripped fistfuls of inky black hair in his bony hands, hard enough to rip it from his scalp. This place was driving him mad.. though they said he was already. White walls, white ceiling, white sheets. It was like a box that closed in just a little more with each passing day, threatening to crush him.
Slowly, he slid from the small bed and began to pace the room for the one-hundredth time that day. A few calloused, silent footsteps across the white tiled floor placed him in front of a mirror. He recalled how, just days before, a balled-up fist had smashed the glass in a fit of rage. (He had been muttering something about L not coming to see him, though the hospital's staff had just dismissed it as nonsense.) There was the satisfying crunch of glass, like a broken bottle beneath car tires, and then there was the welcome sight of crimson running down his pale skin. Now, he grinned at the distorted reflection and gently placed a bony finger against the mirror.
"Hello, Lawli," he purred, tilting his head to admire the face in the mirror. "My Lawli. ~" Here, he closed his eyes and pressed his face to the mirror, enjoying the feeling of the cool glass beneath his pale cheek. "Mm. I missed you."
He began to laugh: a loud, raspy cackle capable of terrifying anyone within earshot. His body shook with pure glee, though he could not quite say why, and he allowed himself to sink lifelessly to the ground. Once the laughter finally subsided, B remained still, gasping for air in an attempt to catch his breath.
"Beyond, I am sorry."
He lifted his head a bit, slowly dragging his bloodshot eyes from the bare feet and baggy jeans, to the white shirt and expressionless face. BB flung himself at the detective, gripping the loose white shirt in his fists and burying his face in the soft, pale neck. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up. He was perfectly content to remain there, drowning himself in the familiar montone voice and the strong scent of candy and strawberries he had missed so much.
"L! Lawli, Lawli, Lawli. You came back for me! I always knew you would." Though his voice never wavered, hot tears steamed down Beyond's face, staining L's shirt as they fell. Hesitantly, the detective brought one hand up to stroke B's inky black hair and lightly placed his free hand on the younger's back.
"Of course I did. I did not lie to you, B." Beyond held tighter to L, as if the man would float away should he let go. There were no more tears now, nothing but soft-spoken words. "I could never lie to you... I love you."
The door to the small, sterile room swung open, interrupting the reunion and revealing two confused-looking men in white coats. Beyond Birthday paid them no mind and huddled back into the imaginary embrace of the only person who still cared for him, the fantasized, monotone 'I love you' still ringing in his lonely mind.