A/N: Hello! I've been anxious to finally write this story…X3 But just so you all know, NOT EVERYTHING IN THIS STORY IS TRUE TO THE DEATH NOTE UNIVERSE. In other words, since it's a story about Wammy's House, not all the information about the characters I'll be portraying is true or correct, and that's because of the limited information about them. So just because you read that something happened a certain way, doesn't mean it did. Of course, because I'm so anal about detail, there are true bits of information that I've gathered and will be using, and I'll go off of those. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE STORY, MOSTLY NAMES. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. You have been warned. But now that that's out of the way… Thanks so much for taking the time to come and read this! -
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any of the characters. If I did, well…snickergiggle
Wammy's House Orphanage
Prologue
L Lawliet sat perched on the window sill, staring blankly out at the orphanage grounds. He watched the other children running around outside in the summer heat, playing games and such. His attention was drawn away from them, however, when he heard someone enter the small sitting room. He could tell who it was without even turning around.
"L," Mr. Wammy called. L still didn't turn around, but the elderly man knew he was listening. "I'd like to see you in my office." Without saying a word, the boy stood from his perch, and followed Mr. Wammy out of the room and to his office.
Mr. Wammy's office was large and spacious, with a few bookshelves lining the walls—each packed full of books of all sorts—, a fireplace, a large desk, and chairs scattered about. L observed the room for what seemed like the millionth time, and each time he noted how inviting the room was. As Mr. Wammy walked around to his desk and took his seat, L did the same in the chair opposite.
Before speaking, Mr. Wammy examined the boy in front of him. His jet-black hair always unkempt, dark, round eyes, lanky features… But what the man was focusing on, what always drew his attention, was the boy's abnormal sitting stature. He was always perched on the edge of the seat with his knees brought up to his chest, as if he were about to spring into the air, one hand resting on a knee and the other curled up next to his face, thumb outstretched and kept close to his lips. Mr. Wammy had raised several children in his several orphanages, and had never come across another with such strange habits.
"L, I'm sure you know why I called you here this afternoon," Mr. Wammy finally began, and L gave a shallow nod.
"My IQ test came back, I'm assuming,"
"Precisely. And as we thought, you are indeed a genius." Hearing these words, L allowed a slight smirk to form on his lips. "However, that's not exactly why I called you here," Mr. Wammy added. L quickly erased the smirk, and gave the man his attention once more.
"Am I in trouble…?" the boy asked, somewhat skeptically. Mr. Wammy let out a light chuckle, and shook his head.
"Not at all, my boy," he reassured him. "Your IQ test was so remarkable, it was sent to the government as well. They were very interested in your outstanding powers of deduction, as well as your reasoning ability. In fact, they were so impressed, they had the silly idea of making you a detective of some sort."
L stared at Mr. Wammy for a few moments, taking this all in. After almost an uncomfortable five minutes of silence, L smiled.
"I'll do it," he told the man. Mr. Wammy looked somewhat shocked, and stood, making his way over to L. He bent down in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"L, you're only fourteen years old. The job of a detective is much too dangerous for someone your age," he reasoned, but L held his smile.
"If you didn't approve, you wouldn't have told me, Mr. Wammy," L shot back smartly. "And I'm almost fifteen," he added, as if it made a difference. He watched a smile grow on the elderly man's features.
"Very well then," he gave in, standing up. "But as I mentioned before, the job of a detective, especially one as skilled as you, is very dangerous. All the top detectives of the world have people trying to do away with them. And you're so young…"
"I could never show my face. And I could go by a codename. How does L sound?" the boy asked, planning it all out. Mr. Wammy frowned.
"But that's your real name," he explained. L simply smirked.
"And they'll never know." Mr. Wammy smiled broadly at the boy's intelligence. But the smile disappeared as quickly at it had appeared, when a thought crossed his mind.
"There's still the possibility that you'll be found out and killed, L…" the man said remorsefully. Yet, despite the comment Mr. Wammy just made, L was still smiling.
"Successors," he replied simply. "If I turn out to be as great a detective as everyone believes, then I'll need successors to take my place for when I'm gone."
"I suppose I could open a new orphanage specifically designed to find successors for you…" Mr. Wammy thought aloud after a long moment of silence. He looked up at L, only to find an excited expression on the boy's face.
"And I can come and visit the children?" he asked, and Mr. Wammy smiled at him.
"Certainly. But L…" He looked the boy square in the eye. "I'll only let you go through with this under one condition…" L stared at him, awaiting the answer he already knew.
"You want to be there with me," he finished for the man, and Mr. Wammy's smile grew bigger.
"As Watari, the only man who can contact the Great Detective L."
"Then, who will run the new orphanage?"
"Someone worthy enough to replace me as Watari."
The two smiled at each other, pleased with their decisions. Mr. Wammy looked at the clock—they had only been in the room for ten minutes. And L had decided on his future and how to protect himself in that short amount of time…The boy certainly was a genius.