A Tell-Tale Sign, You Don't Know Where To Draw the Line

[dead_black_eyes]

Who: L Lawliet and Beyond Birthday
When: Afternoon, October 20
Where: Near the police station
Rating: PG-13 for angst
Summary: These old rivals actually meet each other. They never have before.

Comments

[13stepsbeyond]

Beyond had been spending much time outside. Walking. It was nice to have his feet moving all the time

[dead_black_eyes]

One of the most important things for a detective to know was to be constantly aware of his surroundings, to never for one moment let himself become distracted enough to lose sight of what was happening around him. For just one moment, L forgot this crucial tenant and allowed himself to become lost in thought, studying his resume, wondering, for once, how his life on paper would hold up to the scrutiny of someone else. It was a mistake. If he'd glanced up, seen the man watching him, he would have immediately covered his face and gone inside the police station, avoiding the man who looked too much like him for it to be a coincidence, whose face he had seen in surveillance footage, video, and photographs, before and after he had been burned to hell and back

[13stepsbeyond]

Ever heard of enjoying the moment, L?
Beyond still could not believe it. Everything that he wanted in the past 16 years... it was standing in front of him.
Looking at him.
His legs almost gave in, but B managed to keep standing.

L speaking broke the magic moment. At least a bit.
Beyond felt anger boiling inside of him. Like always. Like it was supposed to be.
And yet it didn't reach the surface.
Beyond have L a small smirk, lost on the way from a grin to a real smile.

"...L"
His voice felt weird, speaking to this person.
"Probably, I have. But it has waited for so long, so why not add another moment?"
Was that really him speaking?

No matter how lost L might look. Beyond Birthday was the last person to ever get disturbed by it. Even if he might mock him later.... There was nothing wrong with it.
As much as he hated L, there could... never possibly be anything wrong with L.
Least of all with L who looked at him.

[dead_black_eyes]

"We weren't taught to waste moments," L said softly, hollowly. "Your attitude shouldn't really surprise me, I suppose. I'd ask how you know it's me, but judging by your own appearance, you've clearly seen me before."

L was disgusted, put-off and annoyed by B's mimicry. Grudgingly, he was impressed. The man had done a good job of looking like him, despite their differing nationalities.

"I have never understood the things you take pleasure in. If you want to look at me, I'll humor you for a minute or so. But I'm too busy for you, Beyond. Even in Lucerne Ridge." It was dismissal, in no uncertain terms. L turned to leave.