Chocolate and Platform Shoes
Roger Ruvie doesn't know how Watari did it.
Running Wammy's and acting as Watari at the same time is utterly exhausting. What's left of the SPK helps him out, but it is a rare blessing when he can sit behind the walnut desk at Wammy's, have a glass of scotch, and read one of his favourite insect books. His time is divided between Near and the House—he is almost never in Winchester in person, instead communicating with the staff through technology. Coffee isn't the most health-conscious thing to be drinking at his age, but Roger consumes cup after cup of the stuff anyway. He remembers Watari never had anything stronger than a cup of Earl Grey, and wonders for the umpteenth time how he managed to stay on top of things. There were a bloody lot of things going on right now, and Near was the only one who was never fazed by them.
Concerning Near, Roger dryly admits that he has nothing to worry about. Near had no trouble at all sliding into the role of L, taking on and solving cases, appearing to his once-peers at Wammy's behind a calligraphy letter, being admired by the younger orphans, the new ones, as he and Mello had once admired the first generation of L.
So when Roger arrives from an ICPO meeting (Watari was about two inches taller than him, so Roger has to wear platform shoes that are terror on his arthritis) to see Near eating chocolate, chocolate, of all things, he quietly informs Halle Lidner, the closest to Mello of the three SPK agents. Lidner stares at him for a second, all white-blond hair and sharp amber eyes and deadly, deadly beauty, then gives a short nod and hands him a file.
"Regarding the Beijing case, Near believes the criminal escaped to Japan, particularly Tokyo and Niigata. Near would like for you to propose the plans in this file to Mr. Aizawa and the others of the Task Force so the Japanese police can take care of it while he works on the Marseilles killings. As for Mello..."
Lidner pauses a second before resuming.
"As for Mello, Near asked me to buy the chocolate."
Roger stands there, slightly openmouthed, as Lidner walks away. It takes him a few minutes to process the information he has been given, but he assumes a composed enough appearance as he heads away to his office at the end of the hallway. However, anyone who knew Roger would've known that something was wrong.
Because despite being an arthritic old man in platform shoes walking down a long corridor, Roger doesn't curse once.
Death Note wiki says that Roger likes insect books and that Watari likes Earl Grey tea. Also, Watari is taller than Roger. And older, I believe. But Roger Ruvie doesn't get a ton of love in this fandom. I'm in a sort of daze right now and tenses are probably all over the place, so concrit is completely welcome, as always.