The woods behind the orphanage [L x Reader] • Death Note [Discontinued]

Chapter 14 | fish person

Ever since he'd seen the fish person, Near had been spending his recess and lunch breaks at the fence building rock towers wondering if they'd show up again and where they came from.

He'd never seen someone like that before, scales and webbed ears, human form but clearly not human.

As per usual, Matt and Mello had dragged L into a game in the back yard this time it was hide and seek. Near as per usual decided to sit out and watch instead. As L looked behind bushes and under playground equipment for the two hiding boys, Near watched him waiting for him to notice them both up in the tree nearby. Ever so often he'd look back trough the bars of the fence wondering if the fish person would come back.

He'd taken their advice too, making little houses out of the rocks and sticks to attract fairies.

The staff member on lunch supervision duty today was Miss applebee, she made her way around the back yard making sure no kids were getting hurt or breaking rules. Apart from her the only other adult outside was L.

"L, not like you to be outside" she joked, approaching him.

"The boys dragged me into hide and seek" he replied. 

"I told you it wouldn't be so bad babysitting them, you seem to be having fun"

"I guess it's not that bad... I'm not sure how to get near involved though, he always sits out"

"You used to do that, he just enjoys playing by himself. I wouldn't stress it unless he ends up showing signs of loneliness or depression"

They looked over at Near who sat on the limestone bricks that lined the flowerbed. He looked out the fence bars, off in his own world.

"I'll make sure he's ok. You should try looking up by the way" Miss applebee said.

"Up?"

L looked around, and suddenly spotted the two sneaky boys sitting up in the branches.

"Are you kidding me?" He said exclaimed only to have them bust out laughing at how long it took to find them.

Miss applebee left L to help the boys get down without hurting themselves, and went over to Near who didn't seem interested in the game at all, she ducked down to his small height and caught his attention.

"Don't you want to play with the other kids?" She asked.

"They're too loud" Near replied matter of factly.

"They can be a bit loud sometimes, that's true. What's so interesting behind the fence?"

"The fish person"

Slightly confused, the librarian gave the tiny boy a raised eyebrow of wonder.

"Fish person?" She asked.

"A few days ago a person with webbed ears and fish scales on their chest under their shirt gave me some rocks to make fairy houses with. I wonder if they'll come back..." Near explained.

"This fish person... did they have a tail?"

"No they had legs... but they had fins on their legs by the ankles. It looked like they should have a tail but didn't... like when Ariel became a human in the little mermaid"

Interesting... first L becomes suddenly invested in fairytales and starts wearing a shell necklace and now Near claims to have seen a fish person. Applebee looked over at L for a moment, the shell necklace dangling around his neck as he reached up to help Matt down from the tree.

"What did that sound like?" She asked.

"Soft... they had a calm voice. It kind of echoed..." Near replied, stacking rocks into a little well shape.

"Do you like fairytales?"

"I never read one. Mummy and daddy didn't read to me very much, they didn't play with me very much either"

Ouch... it always stung a bit when one of the orphans mentioned their negligent parents without understanding the situation yet. It wasn't super clear what had happened to Near before he was orphaned, but his files definitely indicated neglect. It's sad to hear him so young mention it so casually, not fully understanding it yet. Reminded her of when L would casually mention violence as a kid not fully realising how alarming it was at the time.

"Well it sounds like you saw a siren, they're in fairytales" Miss applebee said.

"What's a siren?" Near replied.

"They're like mermaids, but they can sing and it's so beautiful it makes people fall in love with them. They're very nice unless you hurt them, then they can be a bit mean. But if they gave you pretty rocks it seems like they like you"

"Are they real?"

"You tell me. You saw one"

Near looked out at the woods, marvelling at the fact he may have seen a siren for real.

"When your class comes into the library I'll get you a book about them. Right now... I have to talk to L..."

Near seemed pleased with that idea, looking forward to the next library visit. L had managed to get the boys down from the tree unharmed, his stress levels significantly reduced after that. These two were troublemakers, but he'd admit they kept him on his toes.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your game boys but I need to borrow L for a moment" Miss applebee said. 

"What?! Just one more round?" Matt complained.

"Yeah just one more? It's fun making L stress out about us!" Mello replied.

"Wow, thank you for that insightful revelation boys" L joked sarcastically.

Matt and Mello gave him a sneaky grin each, knowing they were too cute to get mad at.

"It won't take long, I promise" Miss applebee said.

"Fiiiineee! But be quick before lunch time ends!" Mello agreed.

"Hey Mells...YOU'RE IT!" Matt said, whacking his friend to tag him before running off.

"HEY NOT FAIR WHY AM I IT?" Mello called after him running off.

L snickered at their banter and turned back to the librarian before him, unsure what she needed him for.

"So what's this about?" He asked.

"According to Near, a fish person talked to him through the fence the other day" Miss applebee said.

The second he heard the words fish person, he knew exactly who it was. What on earth were you doing up here? And why take a risk to reveal yourself to one of the kids?

"F-fish person? That's weird" he stammered, trying to play off his slight panic.

"It is strange... kind of like how you suddenly make a friend who gives you shell necklaces and talks to you about sea shanties huh?" Miss applebee replied.

That settles it. She knew, she absolutely knew more than she was leading on the whole time, L's slight panic turned to curiosity and he suddenly had a lot of questions.

"Well they're uh... rather interested in the sailors life" he replied.

"I'm sure they are... sirens always are"