A/N: This is set just before Near is informed of L's death.
The Snow's Shadow
Near stared at the robot clutched in his hands, the cold plastic a reassuring weight under his palms. Slow moving shadows crept across the floor in his peripheral vision, languid and soft, almost surreal in the dim quiet of the playroom he had secluded himself in. Imaginary sounds of other children at play echoed in his head, and if he strained his ears he could almost hear them, shrieking and laughing in the winter world beyond the walls that surrounded him.
But they did not reach him here.
He preferred it this way. Free from the intrusive presence of others, he was able to sink into the world of his mind, to shroud himself in his self created scenarios where every facet was under his control. Everything went according to whatever plan he decided to lay out. Nothing surprised him, nothing baffled him. He preferred it this way.
Still, the grip on his robot tightened at the sound of approaching footsteps.
The door swung open and Roger shuffled in, shadows filling the lines of his aged face, making him appear haggard and worn, like a discarded scrap of paper crumpled and flattened out again, yet unable to regain it'd former smoothness. Near ignored the vague sense of disappointment in his chest, ignored that he had unconsciously tensed at the sound. He looked at Roger expectantly, running his thumb over the plastic that was now warm from his body heat.
Roger avoided his gaze, seemingly entranced by the snow shadows melting on the floor. "Near, could you please come with me." His voice was tired, as though all his years had finally caught up with him and embraced him over joy of their meeting.
Near dropped the robot and grabbed a puzzle instead.
A/N: This is written assuming falling snow can cast a shadow, which I'm not sure it can hehe ^^;
I was trying to examine Near's character while being subtle about it. Hopefully this didn't come out as a convoluted mess.
I wrote this in an attempt to get into writing. I don't write much and it's really difficult for me to get started, I tend to just stare at the blank word document until I give up and close it. I have no idea if this is good or not, so please review and tell me what you think.