The drive to the prison was solemn. Watari offered to drive him there, but L had declined, the knowledge that his adoptive father still wished he could have done better with Beyond outweighing the risk of a taxi. L wished he could tell the man it wasn't his fault, but bringing it up might have been worse than leaving it alone. L had never been good with feelings, anyway. He worried the mask he always wore would get in the way of any real conversation the two might have, so he left the mushy stuff to the rest of the kids at Wammy's.

Mello had, surprisingly enough, not said a word as L was leaving, even after being told where the detective was going. L had made a good bargain, he thought. After all, what were the chances L would ever correspond with this "R", let alone meet them in person? L worked solo, and never showed his face. It had worked for him so far, putting him on an untouchable pedestal from most of the world, and he liked it that way.

L rarely got nervous while on a case, when his mind was set on the task at hand and how to take it apart. But now his knee bounced on the floor of the car as they made their way through the stone gate. He unwrapped a butterscotch and dropped it into his mouth, hoping the sugar would somehow calm him—it didn't, as Matt, who sat next to him in the taxi, liked to point out.

Taking Matt with him on this case was probably the best idea L had ever had. He needed someone to double check every word out of Beyond's mouth: no way in hell was he coming back after this. He wanted a witness as well, so he wouldn't be subjected to security cameras during the interrogation.

Matt also had minimal contact with BB over the years. He claimed he had never liked him, felt something off, and was the first one to contact L when he went missing.

But perhaps the most important reason L had chosen to bring the redhead along was he knew he wouldn't try to deal with any feelings—he was good at getting right to the point without yelling or getting agitated, like Mello would. They were both silent as they made their way into the building. Matt didn't even look at the detective, instead studying the exterior of the premises. L was sure he already had an internal map of the whole place just by looking at the windows on the outside of the structure.

"Name?" The woman was intimidating, to day the least, but L just swallowed (nearly choking on his candy) and forged ahead.

"Mandell. I have a visitation scheduled with BB… I'm a detective." Jesus, pull yourself together. The woman's eyes flicked up and down L's frame, taking in the rumpled white shirt and jeans before moving on to the thirteen-year-old next to him. To L's immense relief, she didn't question him.

Just a few more moments, and L, Matt tailing him, was stepping inside a white room, told that BB would be brought to him shortly. The things money and power could do these days were almost frightening, L thought.

"This room smells like antiseptic." A seemingly normal comment, but L's intuition led him to believe that Matt was actually warning him of what might go on in this room: he made a mental note to look into it later. This, of course, was by no means a normal facility, but it was imperative that no sort of torture was going on, especially in regards to investigations. L did what he had to get information, but under no circumstance should they be doing that without his say or permission.

Beyond was put in here particularly so Watari and the others at Wammy's could keep an eye on him and report to L if there was any odd behavior, and for things like this. Usually, every resident was only here for a short time, either going to a federal prison or set free. BB was its only long-time resident.

Matt stood behind L as the door opened, a hood over his face. L doubted it would do much good, but Matt agreed they might as well take the precaution.

It had been a long time since L had seen Beyond Birthday, longer than most of everyone else at Wammy's. The killer could have been L's successor, and liked to remind L of that every time he saw him. L knew he blamed the detective for his friend's suicide, whether that was rightious or not. This, although L didn't like to admit it, was the reason he hadn't seen BB in person even once before or after he was arrested.

But now blood-red eyes met his, and the air felt like it was being sucked from the room as he was left with the serial killer. Was he scared? Well that was an interesting question. Was he scared of dying? No, not at all. It was the conversation that scared L, a feature of life he was usually able to avoid with most people.

"Well, if it isn't L himself." The sentence was punctured with a high cackle, showing off the scabs that dotted his lips from excessive biting. Shaggy black hair fell across the man's face, covering for a moment the eyes that moved constantly, taking in everything and everyone with perfect analysis and precision. If only he hadn't fallen down into that hole of darkness and death, he would have made a fine detective. His eyes caught on Matt for a moment, but he didn't comment on the boy's presence.

"I'm not here for pleasantries." L's voice was cold and calculated, just the way he liked it. It was easier when he had an audience.

"Oh?" He asked with wide eyes, a psychotic smile stretching across his lips."But I so hoped we could catch up." He stared up at L through his eyelashes, never losing that smile. "Don't you want to know how I've been holding up? Locked away from the rest of the world?" L kept his gaze lazy, uninterested.

"Were you corresponding with anyone other than Misora during the Los Angeles Murder Cases?" He cocked his head, tongue running over red stained teeth. It's just jam. L reassured himself. Again, Beyond's eyes went to Matt, assessing his height, no doubt pinning him as a Wammy's kid. He'll know he isn't one he corresponds with regularly. L mused. Will he try to gain some sympathy, or leave him alone?

"Is that what we're calling them now?" The man sighed, scratching his head. "I had hoped my massacre was enough to warrant a name better than that." Cuffed hands went to his lips to bite at his already mangled fingernails as his gaze burned into the detective. "I—" He broke off with a sudden look of panic, as if the air had been stolen out of his lungs. Matt tensed behind him, but didn't move from the spot. A hand dropped from Beyond's lip to clutch at his chest, wide, unfocussed eyes staring into the white tile.

L frowned. What act is this maniac putting on? In the crescendo of his performance, the man collapsed to the floor, unmoving.

L wasn't falling for it. He remained perched against the wall, bored expression still in place. Matt, by extension, did the same. "You think I'd fall for that?" A hint of amusement. "A healthy," sort of, "young man having a heart attack the moment he's to be interrogated? The kids at Wammy's may have a soft spot for you, B, but I'll tell you right now that I certainly don't." He was baiting him, and everyone in the room knew it.

And yet, Beyond Birthday didn't move from the spot. L scoffed, folded his arms and looked away, counted to ten. Still, no movement. No movement at all…. Was he holding his breath? Twenty more seconds. "Beyond." Nothing.

"Matt," L said, "take your hood down." The boy obeyed, dark hood falling back to reveal his face. Beyond didn't even crack an eye.

Next to L sat a button, one to call on staff in case of an emergency. Twenty more seconds passed. He tapped the button as calmly as he could, in the event this was a trick. It was… wasn't it?

That same woman entered the room, an annoyed look on her flat face. A taser was strapped to her belt. "What seems to be the…." She paused as she caught sight of Beyond, lying facedown on the floor.

"He just collapsed." L said. Calm, controlled. "I thought he was faking, but he doesn't seem to be breathing." She strode forward, kneeling next to him. A hand checked his pulse. She checked again. Something twisted in the bottom of L's stomach. He's dead.

The woman straightened up, pulling out a walkie-talkie. "I need a paramedic in room C-24. An inmate has just collapsed and is no longer breathing. Over." L felt numb. It wasn't the death that shook him, although he was sure some of his siblings would be sad to hear the news. L's eyes flicked to Matt to check his emotional state at the thought. He didn't seem terribly affected by the death, although it was obvious he felt uncomfortable, watching the tile beneath his feet rather than anyone in the room. A normal reaction for someone his age, L thought. No, perhaps not. A normal reaction for a kid who's already solved murder cases on his own.

Something about the whole situation felt unnatural. After all, B had no medical problems that was aware of, other than the fire, of course. But that hadn't had permanent health issues… sure, his skin would always be burnt, but it wouldn't cause heart attacks, as far as L knew. It was terrifying, the thrill that came with death… L was wrapped up in it. So much so, he almost didn't answer his phone when it rang inside of his pocket.

"Hello?" His voice was softer than usual, still lost in a whirlwind of thought.

"L, do you have your computer with you?" Watari spoke in a monotone, like always, but now there was a bit of an edge on it, different than when L had left that morning.

"No." L turned from where people were swarming around B, escaping the room in favour of finding himself a taxi. Matt followed behind him, relief in his eyes as he stepped from the premises. "But I'm done here, coming home now." He paused. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing." Watari said quickly. "Just… this case… you need to see this."