L x Reader oneshots 1 // series 3 • Death Note

Vineyard child

Wammys house was rural, it was cheaper to buy land in a more rural area. And when you had a whole orphanage to manage, you had to be wise with money. So wammys was built off an old repurposed church, at the end of a long road that barely anyone ever came down. Two other properties sat either side. A graveyard to the left and a vineyard to the right. While the orphanage was fenced off to keep the children safely inside, on nice days with adult supervision the back gates would be opened so the kids could play in the brush and stream, climb some trees, collect rocks, make fairy houses.

And for the most part, the kids stayed within eyeshot. They didn't want to get lost in the woods, and most of them were too scared to wander toward the graveyard. But L was always a solitary child who refused to play with the other kids. So when he was inevitably told he had to spend some time outside, he'd wander. He always came back, but he'd wander, not too far. Just far away from the noise of the other kids.

It was hot today, rare for England. The grass was long, and the crickets were out. Watari made L put on a hat, to keep his pale skin from burning. But under the hat he wandered bare foot away from the other kids to... not really play. He didn't play per se. He observed. He likes to watch, analyse. He'd find some birds in a tree and sit and watch them interact. Bugs on a log and try to identify what kind they were. Pick rocks out of the stream and organise them by type. That's what he'd decided to do today, collect rocks. He'd wandered into the stream up to his shins, picking up rocks that looked interesting and trying to identify what kind they were before adding them into his pockets.

Watari would have a pile of rocks on his desk again this afternoon.

He'd been so focused on his rock hunt, he hadn't realised how far up the stream he'd wandered until he saw a wire fence before him, he was just outside the vineyard property line next door. Oh well, he thought. He's not ON the property so he's not trespassing. Therefore, no law broken.

It was quiet away from the orphanage, just the trickle of the stream and the wind in the leaves. And... a dog?

A dog, a Shepard breed it seemed, has just run up to him and was giving him a sniff down. Wagging its tail happily with no care he was standing in the stream.

"Hello?" L muttered, holding his hand out for the dog to sniff.

"OI DOZEY! Stop harassing the neighbours!"

L looked up, a kid around his age running over coming from the vineyard with a bucket in hand. Probably full of grapes.

You. The first time he met you, was because your dog lead you to him.

"He's friendly! Don't worry" you explained, puffing for breath and leaning on the wire fence.

"I can tell" L replied, still getting a sniff inspection, the dog circling him to get every inch.

You'd seen some of the orphan kids before, while they were out playing or whenever your parents would drop something off for the staff at the orphanage. Usually grapes. But you'd not actually spoken to one of them, but this boy seemed around your age AND he was collecting rocks. So you knew you'd get along.

"Ooh cool rocks!" You smiled, noting the handful of rocks he had.

"These ones are quartz" L replied, matter of factly.

"You actually know the types? I just call them by their colours or shapes" you chuckled.

L noted the bucket in your hand, almost full to the top with grapes. Grapes were sweet, he liked grapes. He may not be great at socialising, but he did like a sweet treat.

"Are the... grapes for something important?" He asked.

"Just wine. Mum and dad have whole barrels full so we can eat some" you replied, catching on immediately.

You took a bunch, handing it to him over the fence. Dozey the dog eyed them closely, practically vibrating with desire for a treat himself.

"No dozey, grapes are bad for dogs. You can have treats when we go inside" you told him.

L put his rocks in his pocket, hands now free to pick grapes off the stems. They were perfectly ripe, none were too squishy or wrinkled, all were bright redish-purple and nice and stiff, making a satisfying crunch and exploding with juice. And they were by far, the best grapes he'd ever had.

"They're so juicy!" He smiled, quick to stuff another one in his mouth.

"They're in season, next season they'll all be better for raisins" you replied.

"I like fresh grapes better"

"Me too, they're sweeter"

Coming up the side of the stream, you recognised the older man as Mr Wammy, the owner of the orphanage that your parents would give grapes to sometimes. So the kids could have grapes for their breakfasts and lunches.

"Hi Mr Wammy!" You waved.

L turned, seeing his foster father had come looking for him.

"Hello (y/n), out harvesting are we?" He replied.

Since when did you know his dad, L thought.  Then again, he didn't really leave the building when Watari went out to see the people in the area. He preferred to stay in and read case files.

"Yep, want some grapes?" You offered.

"I could have a bunch, thank you" he agreed, taking a small bunch from your bucket, as he was getting a good sniff from the dog.

He then turned to L, who was still picking at his grapes and had completely lost track of time.

"I was wondering where you went, you don't tend to wander this far" Watari said.

L reached into his pocket, handing him the rocks.

"Quartz" he simply stated.

Watari snickered, shaking his head. Yet another pile of rocks to take back and add to the box of things L's collected. Sometimes he wondered if that boy was a crow.

"Of course"

"And grapes" L added.

"Look at you finally making friends, (y/n) is nice don't you worry. I know their parents" Watari assured.

"Mhm! You guys get all your grapes from us! And I think the grown ups get wine sometimes" you confirmed.

"Very good wine, but you two are much to young for that"

Knowing that your new found friend wasn't in trouble for wandering too far or anything, you decided to try your luck at letting him stay outside to play a little longer. You just met him, but you already wanted to know him better and have someone nearby to play with. You caught that his name was L, which was an odd name, but you weren't going to judge.

"Can L come pick grapes for a bit?" You asked Mr Wammy.

L looked at you surprised, you actually wanted to hang out with him? He turned back to Watari and gave him pleading eyes.

"Alright, just be back by sundown ok? I'm glad you're making friends and spending time outside" Watari agreed.

"Really? Thanks da- Mr Wammy!" L smiled.

If it got L into the sun more often, and playing with kids his age he got along with, Watari was willing to let him out a bit longer than the other kids. Plus, he knew your parents and trusted them to watch him. So when you let L over the wire fence and the dog followed him through the gap, he couldn't help but smile watching him get exited to eat a bunch of grapes and run around the vineyard with you and the dog.

Finally, someone L could play with. Someone he could smile around. Watari hoped that this was the start of his first and most impactful friendship.