Near
I pattered my way through the sea of the boisterous smaller children, hooking my ornament on the closest low green branch and turned off in the direction of my bedroom. Twisting the knob, and shuffling in, closing the door behind me. I stepped over a unfinished train set and slid down into an L-related crouch. I began to place the puzzle pieces together, thinking about tomorrow. 'Santa' would be visiting the orphanage. I knew for sure that the real Santa himself wouldn't come here to visit a bunch of lonely orphans like us, he was sending one of his helpers. Like an elf who had plastic surgery to look like him.
My thoughts transferred over to Mello's birthday. Which was eight days away from now, on the 13th. Does having your birthday so close to Christmas get you extra presents? Thinking about Mello's birthday, made me think of him and his best friend. I think I have feelings for them, their both quite attractive, and so interesting. Mello's unpredictable behavior. And Matt... Matt was well, just different. I let my right leg slide out in front of me, still holding my left leg close to my chest, I leaned over and pressed a curving train track and connected it to the last piece. Completing the train track around my whole room.
Flicking on a little button and the train zoomed all over the room, around me. I smiled and picked myself up and made my way over bits of toys and stuffed animals to my shelf. Selecting my favorite pure white puzzle, and pulling it off the shelf. I liked puzzles, especially the pure white ones, the ones so complicated. Puzzles were perfect, every piece fitting together, without one piece everything would fall apart. I sat down again and began my puzzle, trying to tire myself out so I'd be able to sleep, as I suffered from my insomnia I thought about Mello and Matt, how cute they were today. How their friendship was so intruiging, I should study partnerships more often. I slowly grew excited about seeing them tomorrow.
I woke up from my usual dreamless slumber. As normal, I don't remember how I fell asleep, I just know that I did. As my brain slowly awoke, I remembered the two boys whom I'd directed my attention to last night. I rose quietly, grabbing my stuffed white rabbit, and walked out into the hallway, children were still sleeping so I strolled over to the library.
I glanced at the wall clock in the shape of a cat, it was only 5:00. Roger would be up in an hour. When I got to the library I was greeted by the brightly sparkling Christmas Tree. I sunk to my hands and knees and crawled underneath it, snuggling closer to my rabbit, I let my mind go blank. I soon felt the sun shimmering through the windows and two familiar voices coming in the library.
"So Ryuzaki, are you sure you want to try and be Santa, it's pretty tough." Watari informed the young detective.
L's voice sounded, "Nonsense." L never turning down a challenge, "I can do it just fine, thank you for your concern, Watari."
Watari sighed, "Very well, I'll get the suit."
A suit? What for??!
L settled into a chair and glanced around the room, he exhaled loudly and Watari entered the room, a plastic bag in hand.
"Here you go, Ryuzaki." There was plastic rustling, I peeked out to see Watari leaving and L stripping of his usual attire.
Donning on the famous red coat and hat, fixing up the attached beard, L-Santa glanced in the reflection of a nearby ornament.
"OK Watari, how do I look?" L called to the door.
The door opened and Watari strolled in, "You look like Santa." He said it like a compliment.
I brushed one of the branches to get a better look, and truth be told, L did look like Santa. With really bad posture, but that was L. So L was one of Santa's helpers? That meant, L knew Santa! I would surely get what I wanted this Christmas.
"So where the special chair?" L asked, "The red one you said would be here?" L glanced around.
"One will be arriving shortly, Roger is bringing it." Watari informed him.
L nodded quietly, and went to sit in the straight backed chair again. I hid deeper in the tree so he couldn't see me. L spoke up, "Watari why don't you help Roger."
"Of course." Watari left.
L sat their quietly, then he pulled a candy cane out of his jacket pocket, and licked it, he looked to be in deep thought, staring off into space like that.
I was almost afraid he'd call me out, I lifted a hand and tugged at my white tendrils quietly. L never did, and he still didn't as the two older men brought in a large golden chair, with red leather cushions, the chair was huge, big enough for three small people. Matt, Mello, and I? What a stupid thought. I kicked the thought out of my head, but the image of us squished together in that chair popped up. It looked too good to be even a picture in my head.
I buried my face into my white rabbit, waiting for all the other kids to come in, which is when I would leave my hiding spot when no one would notice me in all the commotion. That wasn't for quite a while. The first person to come in was Linda, with a pad of paper and a pack of assorted colored pencils, including a lead pencil. She gawked up at L-Santa, who quickly slid into a normal position.
L let out a loud Santa-like chuckle, "Ho ho ho!" His cheeriness sobered completely, "Come sit on Santa's lap and tell me what you want for Christmas."
Linda dropped her paper and pencils and scurried to L-Santa who held his arms out as she attempted jumping up onto his knee. Linda pressed her palms on L's bony knee, trying to pull herself up on his lap, as if she were a child trying to get a sippy-cup from the top kitchen shelf. Linda was a small child, the chair a tall one, and L, being the lanky man he is, made everything that much harder for the tiny brunette.
L-Santa, becoming impatient, finally picked her up and set her down on his right knee, "So tell me, what is your name?"
"Linda!" She squealed, kicking her little feet, adorning socks with tiny bows on them.
I rolled my eyes, Linda was nice, but she had a bit of an annoying crush on me. It was pretty obvious.
"And how old are you little Linda?" L mumbled around his candy cane.
"Six!" She cried, holding up five fingers on one hand and a single finger on her other.
"Wow." L exclaimed proudly, "You're a big girl!" A slight hint of sarcasm could be heard, but apparently was lost to Linda.
"I am!" She agreed gleefully.
Linda was most certainly not a big girl. She was my age, and I was still a child. Even I knew that, it's all about modesty.
"Now tell me what you would like." L ordered gently.
A few other kids were starting to make their way into the library. I took this as my chance and quickly climbed out from under the tree, I brought the attention of L I twirled my hair, trying to keep my face blank, I guess it worked because L just gave a small nod, a dip of his head, and went back to listening to Linda.
L-Santa went through a few other kids, before Mello and Matt arrived.
I lifted my head from my fuzzy rabbit in my arms, watching them curiously as they entered. Mello's blue eyes immediately flickered at me, glowering dangerously. I met his gaze, and held it evenly. I decided I would make the first move. When the two best friends sat down across the room I got up and placed myself beside the red haired Matt, whom I knew would be nicer towards me first. The two turned to give me an incredulous look.
"Uh... Near?" Matt stared at me confusedly through orange tinted goggles.
"Hello Matt, Mello." I said quietly, keeping my tone down.
"What do you want?!" Mello spat maliciously, glaring daggars at me over Matt's shoulder.
"Just waiting for my turn to talk to Santa." I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing that I came over here just because of them.
Matt nodded rusty colored hair bobbing up and down, green eyes understanding, falling for it, Mello didn't believe me so well. I turned my head, but I could still feel his eyes on me. When a child hopped off L's lap, I took my turn, standing in front of L-Santa's knees, waiting to be picked up. I would surely not attempt climbing up myself.
L scooped me up and placed me on his knee, "And what's your name?" He asked, peering through the mass of white beard, and hair.
"Near." I clutched my bunny tighter, maybe I could ask L to tell me what Santa was like secretly.
"Near," L-Santa repeated, "What would you like for Christmas?"
"I want them to like me." I said it without thinking. DAMMIT. I mean... darn. Somehow, through all the chaos in my brain I managed to keep myself composed.
"Who?" L asked, curiosity ruining his Santa act.
"No one." I said immediately, sliding off his lap and leaving the room in an instant, I turned to look back, L, Mello, and Matt were all watching me, the best friends couldn't have heard me. Could they?
I hurried off, and made my way to the common room, pulling one of my many hidden puzzles from under a cushioned chair. It was a good thing I always had many of these puzzles stashed everywhere, or I would have had to go back and forth to my room, to grab a puzzle then come back, then go back to put it up. I didn't want to do all that walking, I had better things to do than using my muscles.
I wondered what Mello and Matt wanted for Christmas? I should ask them sometime. Maybe they would get me what I wanted.
End note: Aww, I think it's kinda cute how Near's thoughts keep accidentaly turning to his 'looovvesss' haha. I also had this weird day dream about L being dressed up as Santa, so I looked it up on the internet and sure enough, [Google magic] it was there. I hope you enjoy these. Up next is Matt's POV!! Yayy!