Hope (L x Reader)

Talents

Lawliet pushed the door open and bounced right in. Stacks of papers were strewn across the floor alongside puzzles and various computer screens. Monitors and cables everywhere, tangling up in each other and dancing around the room. I had to be cautious, in fear of breaking his system. With his hand in mind, he cleared a pathway for us. We sat down in front of a computer and I was unable to look away. I was mesmerized. "I have an idea! You should stay with me!" He chanted happily.

I turned to him with a bright smile on my face. "Really? Do you think that's okay?" Lawliet giggled and nodded, as I got distracted by one of the papers on the ground. "Oh, and while you're here, please address me as L. Or..." he hesitated. "You could call me Ryu." I nod and continue reading the headlines.

"Husband, father of three, finally thrown behind bars for murder of wife, age 23."

I continued to read the newspaper until I decided to ask why he had such things. He logged into the computer and clicked on a flash drive. "I love to solve crime and bring justice, that's my talent!" I shook my head in confusion. "Sorry?"
"Well, this is an orphanage for children with special talents. What's yours?" My face went blank.

'A talent? I don't have one. I mean, I can eat a tub of Cheetos if that counts.'

"Do you have a music ro-" before I could finish, he held my hand and dragged me through the hallways. We went inside, but I thought we mistook this dusty room for the music room. "L, what happened here?" The more I spoke the more the dust irritated my eyes and nose. I let out a small sneeze. "Oh, right," he started. "Not many people come here anymore. It's been abandoned for a long time. Say, what were you looking for?" He flicked on the lights and I began to rummage through the forgotten relics. I halted once I came across a violin case. Old and dusty, but still perfectly intact.

I carefully held it and examined the contents. After wiping away the dust, I took out the bow and began to rosin it rather violently. If it had been years, this the how was bound to not produce a good sound without it. Slowly and surely, I set the bow down and went to work on tuning the violin. During all of this L watched me.

I hadn't felt the touch of a violin in so long, especially one of such quality. I smiled, raised my bow and began to play. Minutes passed but I could not tell, for I was in bliss. The orphanage became still with only whispers about. Were they listening? I immediately stopped and L ran over to me. "You're amazing!" Pink flames of embarrassment licked my cheeks and I didn't know what to say. "N-no, please. I'm not." Our argument was soon cut off from footsteps. Watari walked in with a warm smile and looked at the violin.

"So, you've found the music room? Not many people come here these days," he chuckled. "L, I want aware your friend was so talented!" He smiled and dragged me over to Watari. "Come on, (Y/n), play again!" I shook my beet red face. "It's alright, I heard her. And it was beautiful. Young lady, where did you learn?" I gripped the violin and couldn't respond. "..."
As if he understood, he smiled and nodded. "I'll be off, so you two kids enjoy yourselves." And off he went. A minute later a kid stumbled in and began shouting.

"Woah! You're so good, no one plays instruments anymore! We all wanna-" L stepped in front of me and cut him off from his babbling. "She does not want to." He growled. I looked at him with a surprised look, wondering why he spoke for me as if I couldn't do it myself. Ignoring L's protest the boy came closer, agitated. "Shut up and go away. You're not her voice!" I backed up, sensing the danger our tension. "No, she's my friend!" L spat. The boys shoved each other and began to push.

Lawliet, the lovable, protective boy I know, swung hard at the kid and gave him a black eye, next kicking him in the abdomen and watched him fly into the wall. The crash scared me. I was pulled back into the past remembering unknown faces and blurs. Fights broke out onto the streets, human trafficking, slavery, drugs and cults. Trying to hurt anyone.

Trying to hurt me.

Fighting the dizzy sensation I charged to the boys and grabbed them right by their arms. I slapped both of them hard. "No, no, NO! Stop!" I wailed. L looked mortified, he never dared to upset me. My grip grew tighter and they squealed in pain. Hearing their cries, I immediately let go and watched them brush off the dust on their clothes with an apology. In reality, I should've apologized. There were loud footsteps and Watari scurried in with an unsettled expression. Once he saw us, his shoulders relaxed with a sigh. "L, have you gotten yourself into another fight?"

They gave an ashamed expression, their toothy grins nowhere in sight. Then the boy pointed at me. "It's her fault! She hurt me!" I curled my fists and yelled at the boy,
"No, you two wouldn't stop fighting!" The by stepped close to me and L pushed himself in front of me like a shield. "You're not going to hurt her!" He growled. Watari gently pulled the boys apart, "L, may you and (Y/n) please go back to your room?" He nods, grabbed my hand and we darted back to the room. I crouched down into a ball and buried my hands into my face. L looked over, confused. "Huh? What's wrong?" He questioned.

"W-why did you hurt that boy?" I asked, trying to prevent tears. L crouched down to where I was positioned and held my tight in his embrace, arms shaking. "You're the first friend I've ever had. I don't have family, no one here likes me or understands me. I can't lose you, too." I looked into the boys painful, restless eyes as his evaded mine. I saw a blanket and draped it over his frail stature. "It's okay now, I promise. You really should get some sleep." I said sweetly.

He gave it back to me, claiming I needed it. This repeated a few more times before we laughed and spread it over the both of us. I rested my head against the soft floor and closed my eyes. He did the same. We both slowly drifted to sleep, oblivious to the future.

Happy Easter!! (And yesterday was 420 lolol)