I was detained, I was restrained. [CLOSED]

[non_veritas]

Characters: L and Beyond Birthday
Setting/Location: Kitchen, Level IV
Date & Time: Day 3, morning
Warnings: None quite yet. A fraught relationship?
Summary: A meeting which couldn't be more wanted on one side, or less wanted on the other.

Comments

[non_veritas]

To an onlooker, L would have appeared to be absorbed in loading a small earthenware plate with breakfast pastry, but he made periodic sidelong glances to the door. One of his brief looks was rewarded with the fulfillment of his expectations. The door opened, and B stood behind it.

L felt his muscles tense; a brief rush of adrenaline, preparation for any action that might be necessary; however, he was able to maintain an outward air of calm. With care, he selected what appeared to be a jam bun -- honey, some kind of berry -- put it on the plate with his other choices, and moved towards the door.

He was aware of the person who stood there. If it had been someone else, he might have stared at them, let them know that they had been seen, but in this case, he preferred a different approach. He anticipated an attack; he was conscious of what might happen.

Holding his coffee in one hand, his plate in the other, the coffee quite ready to throw in a face (Not burned?), he ambled through the door. He showed no sign of recognizing B; in fact, he behaved precisely as though he hadn't seen him.

[methodicals]

Despite hoping that L was behind door number one, Beyond discovered immediately that he hadn't really expected it. He bit his lip to keep quiet and watched. He knew L had seen him, that he was ignoring his presence. It was only to be expected. B had killed people because of L, and it wasn't as though L could know those victims were fated to die on those dates whether Beyond killed them or not. If L wasn't under the impression that Beyond Birthday was dangerous to him, he'd be a worthless detective, not the world's greatest.

...Nonetheless, he'd hoped while observing L to see some sign of recognition. He was certainly watching closely enough for any slip to see that L was acknowledging his presence at least, his existence. There was nothing at all in L's movements or expressions to show any such acknowledgement, and B felt momentarily like he'd been slapped. His stomach lurched and he instinctively reached out to the hem of L's shirt, turning around to match L's direction.

"You could ignore me forever, but doing so isn't wise."

He hadn't intended it to sound like a threat, but that it did wasn't terrible for him in the short run, and he'd already acted against L so much an accidental threat couldn't make their relations too much worse.

[non_veritas]

L raised his eyebrows, making his expression appear pointed.

"They will pile up on my doorstep?" His mild tone held more idle curiosity than concern, but behind it all was veiled contempt. Still, he didn't look at B. "Take your hand off of me."

He wondered what B's next move would be. It would be conversational, he knew, but past that, he couldn't say. A restatement of his challenge, perhaps, he thought.

[methodicals]

"You don't have a doorstep here."

B's voice was quiet, but firm. Biologically, mentally -- yes, L was superior to B in these ways. He was gifted, a true genius. However, he was a lucky genius. In their own dimension, "world," L was hidden from view, B had realized by now that someone of L's caliber couldn't work alone: he had to be at the top of a pyramid.

This time, Beyond Birthday wanted to be a brick in that pyramid. He couldn't be L and he couldn't surpass him, but ... L was no longer just L. He was L Lawliet, a mortal human with a death date that only Beyond could see. Surely he could find something L needed or found necessary and be of use. But he had to be careful, to at least act like he still had the upper hand; like he wasn't going begging for favours. Reluctantly he uncurled his fingers from L's hem, but kept his hand close. As emotionally vulnerable as he was to L, his pride dictated that he show he was physically at least close to L's level, if not equal. Now was not a time to cower.

"I already tried that. It didn't work." It was, he thought, obvious that he wouldn't use an already failed method.

"I can assist you. Let me."

[non_veritas]

"Semantics," L replied, still cool and unamused. The adrenaline wasn't surging; it was valuable, but he could push it back for the time being. In any case, he judged that he was not actually in immediate physical jeopardy, as long as he made a point of keeping his wits about him. "How do you know that it didn't work?"

The question was prompted by the lack of scarring. If B's plan ended in self-immolation, then how could he know that it had failed without having been caught in the act? It made L take a step back to consider him, frowning.

"Apart from that, what kind of assistance do you think you can offer?"

[methodicals]

Arguing back and forth about semantics was useless to B. He'd made his point and was, he hoped, capable of moving on to the tentative subject of his crimes. His weight shifted slightly before settling and he felt his skin grow warm when he realized L was giving him the extent of what he wanted: acknowledgement of his existence. As long as he could get it, Beyond felt more secure, even if being regarded by his superior was daunting. He waved dismissively at L's first question.

"I was on a schedule. If the numbers don't match up, the whole thing falls apart."

Pausing to consider L's second and more important question, he struggled before realizing he didn't have an answer to it. What could he offer L? He was by no means incompetent, was to B's knowledge fully capable of attending to his own needs and desires. L didn't require a caretaker. Even if he needed one, Beyond knew he couldn't be trustworthy enough to offer himself as a bodyguard. He could prepare his own food without worrying about a murderer poisoning him, and B wasn't a good cook, anyway. Anything academic completely failed to occur to him: there was a reason L and not B had attained the title of World's Greatest Detective; if B had L's gifts Wammy's House wouldn't have let him leave so easily. And if L wanted entertainment, B was the last person he would consider turning to.

At what necessary functions could he outshine L?

He sagged, visibly upset. If there were any investigative work to be done in this dimension, why should L be involved with it? He wasn't just any detective and wouldn't have the same resources available to him anyway. Not to mention "L" being something of a last resort, when no one else could possibly solve a case; there were other investigators here, including himself. L wouldn't be called on and if he offered his services for whatever reason, he wouldn't require Beyond's assistance. Aside from his detective persona, B didn't know the first thing about L and what his weaknesses could be.

"Consider it an open offer. Whatever you need done, I'll do. Test me if you want, find me capable or incapable." Just pay me attention.