Taylor answered the ringing phone just as he finished packing.
"Hello?"
"I have called to let you know that Sybil will not be returning to her apartment anytime soon." Taylor gripped the phone tightly in fear.
A synthesized voice? A sister not planning to return home?
"Did you kidnap her?! I swear, when I find out who you are-"
"It would be in your best interest to not try and kill me, Taylor." The voice replied.
The young man swallowed nervously.
"I did not kidnap your sister. She is currently here at headquarters, fast asleep on the floor. It seems that a body can only take so much exhaustion before it gives up."
"W- wait a second. SHE'S SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR?!! The least you could do is put her on a couch!"
"I believed that it was necessary to let you know of her whereabouts before I did anything of the sort." Taylor took several deep breaths to calm himself down.
"Who are you?"
"I'm afraid I can't give you that information." Taylor took a moment to ponder the information that was given.
A synthesized voice that didn't belong to a kidnapper or a murderer. At least, if the one speaking was telling the truth. Whoever it was also knew his name. Not only that, but it seemed that Sybil trusted the speaker dearly. Again, if he or she was telling the truth.
Taylor smirked.
"Ah, I see now. You're the one she went to, aren't you? You know, you're lucky. Sybil doesn't even cry in front of her own family." Silence.
"Listen, I don't care who you are. Just promise me that you'll keep her from getting herself killed." A brief hesitance occurred before there was a response.
"You must understand, this is a very dangerous case-"
"I don't care! Sybil's the only sister that me and my brother have! You just promise me!" The silence after that was shorter than before.
"I promise that I will do everything in my power to keep your sister safe." Then, the call was ended and Taylor placed the phone back on the wall, sighing.
"Sybil."
***
L glanced back over to the sleeping young woman for what seemed to be the hundredth time. After all, he had that freedom considering no one would actually show up to headquarters for a few more hours yet.
He took a sip of his tea as his onyx orbs went back to the computer screen and soon let out a quiet sigh.
It was rather unusual not having Sybil talking to him. Especially since she was currently in the room.
He already missed hearing her voice. Yet, the detective also noticed that she looked rather-
He thought carefully, racking his brain for the right word.
It was difficult considering that he had never felt like this before. Not ever. This strange attraction to Sybil was inevitably strong and frustrating.
His finger traced the top of the cup, continuing to stare at the computer. However, soon after, he had to look back over his shoulder at the sleeping young woman.
L blinked upon seeing that she was shivering.
Most likely due to the fact that she was recently in the rain and her clothes were still wet. It would be better for her health if she was covered up with a blanket.
L took a deep breath and stood up, making his way over to the young woman. He stared down at her before using all of his strength to lift her up in his arms.
The detective blinked before he began to carry her towards the room that he had set up for her for a time such as this. It was bound to happen eventually.
She was extremely light. Lighter than he thought she should be. Yet, perhaps that was because she wasn't eating as much as when they had first met.
He had noticed that she had become rather thin and when she left for her apartment, she spent much of her time sparing against her older brother or practicing her self defense skills on the punching bag in the spare bedroom.
The young woman suddenly gripped his white shirt tightly and shuddered more violently than before.
L tried to ignore it as he opened the door to the room and entered. He placed the sleeping Sybil on the bed, but she wouldn't release him. If anything, her grip on his shirt tightened.
"Don't. Stop it." L sat himself down on the bed, in his usual way, and waited for the young woman to release him.
Yet, he soon realized that it was unlikely to happen. Sybil was in a deep slumber, apart from the constant mumbling in her sleep. Most of it, incoherent, but he still knew that she was having a nightmare about her father.
The constant 'stop it' s were proof enough of that.
L chewed on his thumb and peered down at her.
Sybil was obviously going through much emotional trauma. Every passing day, she was reminded of her past somehow.
She had tried to block it out for fifteen years, succeeding mostly. Until recently. L realized that his constant prodding for the answers was inconsiderate. But, she had given him most of what he wanted willingly. If not accidentally.
A small whimper suddenly escaped her lips and L glanced down towards her once again.
Would it be best to wake her from her obviously frightening nightmare?
Her shivering increased and he pulled the blanket to cover her. However, that didn't make much difference.
She was so vulnerable right now. Even more vulnerable than when she was crying just short hours ago. Frankly, he didn't enjoy seeing her like this. Then again, L did enjoy having her this close to him. It was comforting, strangely enough.
Sybil was going to be the only one to ever get this close to him. The dark haired detective knew that in this point in time.
L stared at her, chewing on his thumb yet again.
She was still whimpering and shivering.
He reached out and gently began to try and wake her from her slumber. Evidently, he didn't like seeing her like this at all.
Cold and afraid whilst she slept. Her past still haunted her.
Sybil clutched him tightly and groaned. Her shivering became much less violent and her whimpering ceased.
"R- Ryuu?" L blinked as she slowly released him and opened her bright, emerald colored eyes.
Sybil peered up at him, a light tint of red colored her face.
"That was easier than I assumed it to be." Soon after, Sybil's eyes opened wide and she fell off the bed.
"H- how the hell did I get in bed with you?!"