L sighed, looking around at the mess on the floor, he had attempted to feed Near but most of the food ended up on the floor rather than in the child's mouth.
"You should learn how to eat." Near stared at him for a moment, then he began to reach for him again.
"I cannot pick you up every-" a loud crash as the child pushed a toy truck on the floor.
"Near, that is enough. I am trying to be nice with you and you have been playing with loud objects, clinging to me, running over evidence, making a mess and-" Near bowed his head and rubbed his eyes.
"You are not fooling me Near, I see no tears." A sense of guilt suddenly hit L.
"However, it is probably only part of being so young, you do not know any better. I apologize." L picked the boy up and felt the small hands grasp his shirt and near laid his head on the detective's chest.
"Watari says you are not this way normally, is it possible that there are just too many people and events happening at one time, you are used to being alone and yet all you want is someone to care for you. Do I understand correctly Near?" As if to confirm L's statement, Near tightened his grip. L felt sad for the child.
"Come Near, perhaps you can help me with my case." He sat down at the computer with the child and pulled out the files and evidence bags.
"I believe that you are one of the most intelligent children there, and I also believe you know how to communicate if only others learn how to listen. This being said, I am listening, what is it that you want to tell me?"
Near lifted his head to stare into L's eyes, then pointed to one of the pictures in the file.
"That is a very bad man Near, I am trying to stop him, however the problem is that at the scene of the crime, these were gathered and-" He stopped.
"Near, I am going to put these objects down for you, I want to share them with you." Near reached for them and L laid them on the floor, then sat near down. The boy crawled around the bags poking and prodding the objects inside until finally he stopped and seemed to be trying to pick something up. L held out his hand.
"Near, can I have it please?" The child complied. L looked it over more carefully and realized what he had missed.
"Excellent work Near, you just solved your first case." He took the boy and was about to close the case when Watari called.
"L, how are you two getting along?" Watari asked.
"Much better, I believe we have reached an understanding."
"Really?" The old man sounded skeptical.
"Yes. I was not open to his way of comminication in the beginning and that is the problem, we have solved the case."
"L, you mean to tell me a toddler closed a-"
"Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you."
"Explain that to me."
"Near noticed something I did not. Children often see things before adults, are more perceptive and open to what happens around them, than we realize. He pointed out the missing piece."
" seems he's a little version of you. I was going to tell you that I'm on my way to pick him up and take him back."
"No." L said as the child held onto him.
"What?"
"The child will be staying a little longer, there is a reason he acts differently here."
"What's that?"
"No one gives him what he needs, they are all busy teaching or tending to the others, near is withdrawn Watari, he wants some of the attention, I think I can handle him a little longer. It is the least I can do after he helped me with this case."
"L, they're not going to think this is such a good idea."
"Remind me, the establishment is yours correct?"
"Yes, but I-"
"Watari, I do not want this for him, do you remember what it was like for me?"
"Yes, that's the reason I took you, I didn't have the heart to leave you in a corner like that."
"Then allow him to stay a little longer."
"Alright L, I won't argue."
"Thank you."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Watari said before disconnecting. L looked down at the child resting against him. He climbed off the chair and sat on the floor close to the toys.
"What was it you wanted to show me?"
A/N: Thank you everyone for reading this story. I really appreciate it.