I wasn't the first child taken into Wammy's House for Gifted Orphans. In fact, there were many children before me (Watari is quite old, after all). I have no idea where the obtuse idea came from that Wammy's was formed to find my successor. Wammy's was formed just like it's title says. To be a home for gifted orphans. Maybe the thought came from the fact that Near and Mello were constantly competing to be my successor.

No, no. Those two were always competing. Ever since they met each other. The thought of even having a successor first came about when I got on the Kira investigation. It was obviously more dangerous than my other cases and I knew that any day I could be killed. I would need someone to continue the investigation. Mello and Near jumped at the idea like wild dogs. They both wanted to be detectives, after all. Where their crazy ideas of growing up to be like me came from I don't know either. It's sweet in a way, but also scary. Nobody should grow up to be like me...

But yes. Just writing this to the fandom to clear a few things up. Wammy's is not focused souly on me. Near and Mello were not forced to compete to succeed me. And I am not dead. Well... maybe I am. I'm not quite sure what I am right now. But I know I am well enough to write this and know what is going on. I'm watching over my boys right now, as I write this. Well, I just wish you all well. That is all I wanted to say. Now, how about that story?

-L

disclaimer* I no own death note.

!

Of the three well known Wammy's boys (Matt, Mello, and Near) Matt was the first to arrive. He came in when he was four years old, and L was fifteen.

The Wammy's kids were in the classroom, all doing their own sort of studying. L had not yet begun doing investigations. He began that when he was seventeen. L could be found at a table in the corner surrounded by a mountain of books. While the other children were all being very social and friendly, L had always been a lone wolf. He had trouble fitting in with his peers, even when they were all geniuses like himself, so he kept his distance.

Watari came in. He was holding the hand of a little boy with red hair and an oversized striped shirt. The kid had green goggles on his head like a head band, and a gameboy in his hand. He was young, preschool aged. He smiled widely.

Everyone quieted down and turned their attention to Watari as he entered. He cleared his voice. The child at his side did not look at all shy.

"This is Matt. He's new here at Wammy's, so please make him feel welcomed. That is all," Watari exited, leaving Matt in the room. Several children, young and old went over and introduced themselves to Matt. Matt was loud and funny and made everyone laugh. Eventually though, the children went back to their studies. Matt then spotted L, over in the corner.

(As a side note, it's not like everybody hated L or anything. Sure, a few people were jealous since he was at the top of the class. But there wasn't anybody who didn't like L. He just chose to be by himself. If he so wished, the others would take him into their activities openly. That is all)

Matt walked over to L and peaked over the table at him. "Hi!" a little voice squeaked out. All L could see was a tuft of red hair, some goggles, and a little hand that was waving around.

"Hello," L said back, looking over the table at the little boy.

"I'm Matt!" Matt said proudly. L smiled.

"I'm L," he said.

"L? Like the letter?" Matt asked.

"Exactly," L said.

"Watcha reading?" Matt asked.

"Secrets of the Human Mind," L said.

"Can I read too?" Matt asked. Before L could answer, the little boy crawled under the table and popped out next to L. He motioned to L to but his legs down, and L obeyed, fascinated by the child's antics. Matt then crawled up on the older boy's lap. "Read," Matt said.

L opened up the book on both of their laps, and the two began reading together. L doubted that Matt understood anything that he was reading, but he knew Matt could read the words. He would stop once and a while to ask L to define a really large word. L would do so, and Matt would continue reading.

!

It was a month later that Mello and Near arrived. Mello came from Russia, but he spoke English well enough. Mello was five, Near was four.

Compared to Matt's cheery entrance, Mello and Near were distant and cold. Near didn't talk much. Everyone thought he was just shy. Mello was angry a lot. He would throw tantrums if he didn't get his way and often fought with some of the younger kids at Wammy's. And maybe it was because they were room mate, or maybe it was because they were able to tolerate each other, but Matt and Mello became best friends quickly.

! Mello and Near's first day:

"Hey! I'm Matt!" Matt introduced himself. "What's your names?"

"I'm Mello," Mello said. "That's Near."

"Where'd you come from?" Matt asked.

"None of you business!" Mello snapped. Matt crinkled his nose at him.

"I've never heard of that place before," Matt said. He'd picked up how to use sarcasm somewhere along the way in his short life. Mello gave him the dip shit look that said are you an idiot or something?

"I have somebody you guys gotta meet!" Matt instantly changed the subject. He grabbed Near and Mello's hands to lead them. Mello jerked his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. Matt laughed.

"You're silly," he said, and led Near over. Mello was curious and followed.

"Hey L! This is Near, and this is Mello," Matt said. The raven haired boy looked over his book at the kids.

"This is L," Matt continued.

"Hello," L said.

"Hello," Near responded. His tone was an eery calm with a layer of dead seriousness that was creepy on a four year old.

"Hey," Mello said, not looking at L. He was staring at all the books.

"L is really smart!" Matt said.

"No shit," Mello said. "That's why were here, isn't it? We're all smart." Matt looked a bit hurt. L raised his eyebrows at the language the young boy had just used.

"Mello, was that language really necessary?" L asked calmly.

Mello looked at L angrily, then saw the disappointment on the older boy's face and lost his rebellious attitude. "No," he said quietly. "Sorry." (Five year old Mello was a bit softer than older Mello).

"That's quite alright. Just remember, they say only unintelligent people use that kind of language because their vocabulary isn't big enough to provide a better word. Of course, you're very smart, aren't you Mello?" L said.

"Yea!" Mello said excitedly.

"Then you must have plenty of good, clean words to use. Don't you?" L asked. Mello nodded excitedly. "Very good." He ruffled the blonde's long hair gently, making Mello giggle.

"Can I go play now?" Near asked. It was cute, his levels of childish distraction and boredum. L nodded. Near walked away simply and found a puzzle. It was a hundred peices, very big for some one so young. He finished it in three minutes. L was impressed.

!

Despite their slippery beginning, Mello and Near became very found of L, and L came to like the little boys very much too. They were like the younger brothers he'd never had. They liked to follow him around and sit on his lap to read with him. Mello became jealous if Near got more attention than him. Matt didn't care really.

There were times at night when Mello would have nightmares and wake up terrified. He would hurry to L's room crying. L would rock him until he fell back asleep.

If the boys woke up earlier than L, they would go to his room and jump on his bed until he got up. He often played games with Near. Sometimes he would sit down with an Edgar Allen Poe book, and the three would crowd around him. They would lean on him or drape themselves over him. They loved the one about the raven that sang "Nevermore, nevermore."

!

This is just a short fanfic about how L met the boys. It's really cute, the way I imagine it. Oh, and the beginning was just L explaining things. L felt the need, so I allowed him to put it in the intro. Hope you like the fanfic. :3 R/R!