"I need your help today." Watari said, L turned his chair.
"What is it Watari?" L took a bite of cake.
"I need you to watch Near for the day. They're short staffed and need help, I'll bring him here and-"
"I am not a babysitter, I solve crimes not run daycare centers."
"He's very little, he's quiet and he's a bit like you. I specifcally chose him because like you, he doesn't require a lot. Please?"
"I would rather not. You are not going to be here, I do not know what to do with him, he should go with you."
"You really want me to take a very small child to something that dangerous?" Watari sighed.
"You aren't going to make this easy are you L?"
"No, I am not."
"Well, at least you're honest." Watari shook his head and left. L finished his cake and began work on his case, it didn't take long before he return, in his arms he carried a bag of toys and a very young boy, he was dressed in all white and lay calmly in the old man's arms.
Watari set the toys on the floor and carried near to the chair where L sat typing on his laptop.
"L, turn around for a minute."
"I am solving a crime."
"L..I don't have time for your games."
"I am not playing games Watari, I explained to you that I do not know how to care for that child."
"You're more than capable, take him."
"I do not-"
"I'm losing my patience." Watari warned.
"I am sorry watari, I-" The old man grabbed the chair and turned it around placing the young boy on L's lap before hurrying to the door.
"Apology accepted, thank you for agreeing to keep an eye on him." A stunned L stood and attempted to follow the man.
"I agreed to nothing, take him back it is not my concern whether they are understaffed or have too many staff members, that is your-" Watari closed the door leaving L alone with the child who stared up at him silently.
"Watari says you do not need much care, I will put you down and I see you have toys, you can play until Watari takes you back." L bent down to let the boy play to find Near had latched onto him.
"Let go, I have work to do and you have toys to play with, we will both be busy and it will be time to go back before we realize it." Still the child was hanging on. L sighed and opened the bag of toys.
"Would you like your toys, they must be fun to play with, you cannot hang on me all day. I have quite a bit of work to do and you are not making it easy for me to do so." Near didn't make a sound as he looked into L's dark eyes.
"I get the feeling you have no idea what I am telling you little Near, perhaps a demonstration is in order. L settled himself on the floor and pulled out the toys. The child's focus changed instantly and he reached for the red train L was now moving in a circle in front of him. The detective gently put the boy down and backed away. When Near was playing on his own, L returned to his desk chair, he picked up a lollipop and unwrapped it. He felt a tiny hand grab his finger and looked down.
Near had pulled himself up using the chair and now wanted his full attention. L sighed.
"You are not making my job easy." He told the boy who tilted his head slightly to the side. He took the boy in his arms and left the chair, carrying him back to the play area. He lifted him to eye level.
"At this rate, we are both going to have quite a long, very difficult day." He began to lower Near to the floor and sighed once more as he realized the tiny hand was now attached to his sleeve.