Want it. Take it. Love it. Keep it.

CHAPTER 2

MY FAVORITE


Seeing as how L was not likely to show his face in public, even costumed in the dark on Halloween, and that neither Watari or Roger thought they were young enough (or brave enough) to handle a gaggle of screaming child prodigies on a door to door hunt for candy, there would be no trick-or-treating. Instead, a huge celebration was hosted downstairs in honor of the holiday where most of the children, dressed up in expected Halloween attire, spent the evening on scavenger hunts, or stuffing themselves with candy.

The older children, especially the three potential successors, had much more important business to attend to. It was, after all, the anniversary of a very important birth. More than one cake had been lovingly prepared in his honor, as well as handcrafted gifts.

Matt, after triple-checking that the sound system, now blasting various spooky sounds and horror-themed music, was in proper working order, had been the first to present his gifts. He'd prepared a chocolate confection (with much hindering from his blond BFF) decorated with edible skeletons, gravestones, and spiders. He'd also made a compilation disc of techno music labeled 'Music to Catch Baddies With'. He smiled proudly as L thanked him, ruffling his unruly red hair.

"One more thing, L, boot up that laptop there." Matt smiled as L opened his computer. The screen popped up, usual plain white background now decorated with a huge black gothic-styled "L" that took up most of the screen. "Now when you talk to the police and sh-" Watari flashed a warning glance at the boy, stopping him in mid-sentance before the curse word could escape the eleven-year-old's mouth "stuff, they'll see that instead of that boring-ass blank page. Oops, sorry Watari, Roger." Though they both knew he was, indeed not sorry. Not about the swearing, which could only partially be blamed on Mello, but L as well, or about having hacked into the system when he was currently under a close watch for such delinquent activity. Though Matt often reminded his elders that they should not have so encouraged his programming skills to the point of allowing him to teach computer classes to some of the younger generation, without expecting at least a mild hacking habit to develop. They were practically begging for it, and they knew it, which is why they refrained from punishing the boy, despite the boy's highly illegal activities. Besides, L simply wouldn't have it. He was proud of his successor for finding something he was good at and taking the time to master his craft. Brilliance was something to be rewarded, not chastized.

"It's quite nice, Matt, thank you." The image certainly commanded attention and respect. Two things L thoroughly enjoyed. Especially from the officials that almost always seemed more than a bit annoyed at having him take over their lives' work, to be solved in a matter of hours or days. It couldn't be helped though. And L has yet to feel anything akin to remorse. If they'd been able to do their jobs, he wouldn't have had to be called in the first place.

Eyes turned to Mello next who had managed to find the closest seat next to his idol, staring in obvious adoration at the older man.

"We save the best for last, Near next." The blond stuck his tongue out at his rival, who was currently making an effort to uncurl himself from his comfy position on the carpet.

Near produced a small plastic toy from his travelling toy box, along with several homemade fingerpuppets. The latter were mirror images of all of them, which L sat carefully next to him while picking up the former. It was similar to a rubiks cube, only somewhat smaller and much more complicated - having detailed pictures instead of just colors on each of it's faces. "There are more moves to make than the original toy, it should be an enjoyable challenge." Near informed, his tone just as blank, devoid of all human emotion as usual. L immediately started twisting and turning the object, determined to solve it before the evenings end.

Last, Mello dragged L into the kitchen to show him the grand confection he'd prepared. The cake was gigantic, possibly too much so, and L's very favorite. Each layer of vanilla cake was covered with thick white frosting and decorated with what was probably at least a hundred sliced up strawberries. L remembered his earlier train wreck of thought involving such a masterpiece. He looked from the blond, whose hands were resting on his hips, causing the leather to slip, riding even lower on his thin waist, back to the gigantic cake, finding that he was suddenly quite hungry. He couldn't quite figure out why he seemed all the more starved as he was looking away from his birthday treat. He shook this thought away, thanking the boy by lifting him slightly off the ground in a hug.

"Geez, don't get so excited. That isn't all." Mello ran to his room, while L returned to join the rest of the group. The blond flew back down the stair case, jumping the last three steps, arms full of a large black book. The book was sealed with a lock that had a small keypad on it, displaying every letter of the alphabet. "Don't worry, you and I are the only ones that are going to know the passcode." Mello stood on tiptoe to whisper into L's ear.

"Mello, you should not know that name. Let alone take the chance that anyone could find out you do."

Mello's face fell. It reminded L of the way he felt when it rained heavily - so terribly cold and alone. He entered the code despite himself, the name he hadn't used since Watari had taken him in. He lock popped open. Inside was a photo album, full of pictures of himself and his three favorites. He wondered how long Mello had been keeping these pictures, when he'd had the chance to take all of them without him noticing. As he flipped through, he relized that it started just a few years after Mello had arrived, L only a little older than the kids were now. Another unfamiliar emotion welled up, L trying his best to push it away. He had not cried since he'd arrived here, drenched from the heavy rain and crying for two people whose faces were already fading from his memory. Some days he could still hear the other children at that first orphanage, screaming for mommy and daddy. Watari had sworn there would be no need for tears here. And he was a grown man, a brilliant one at that. He was beyond this. Still, the emotion so plain on Mello's face, the way he himself could cause the boy to feel something so strongly and openly, when he should have been beyond it to. He felt...needed. Not just respected, admired, envied.

"It's perfect."

"You're favorite?" Mello lifted his eyes from their intense stare at the floor to look at, no, through, L. For once the detective was starting to think that emotion may not hinder intelligence, but magnify it.

L, not considering the rest of the audience, simply replied in the affirmative, before closing the lock on the book again.