Disclaimer: If I update more than once a day from now on (and APOLOGIES to anyone (currently Kudatsuo-chan) who has this on update if I do that and spam your inbox. I hate myself too.) I'm just going to dispense with the disclaimer, I think. I mean, sue me if you want. You'll get my copies of DN mangas, about £40 and a bunch of legal bills. I have nothing else to give.

Note: My DN mangas have now moved from my bookshelf to right next to my computer. I might be taking this too seriously. This one's a little long but I wanted to have the Chief supporting Matsuda again. Because in my mind this is completely what happened after the Yotsuba thing. I KNOW I've rambled here, but ah well.

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Prompt: 37. Bond

Being on the Kira case meant you faced death every day, Matsuda knew that. But standing in front of a group of men, one of whom you knew had the power to kill you practically as quick as look at you, was something else entirely.

Up until that day, he had never realised just how fast he could talk or how smoothly he could lie when his life was on the line. At least, he thought it was smooth.

He had faced the imminent anger and verbal abuse when he had returned to the investigation headquarter, but it had quickly turned to debate surrounding their next move. Knowing he wasn't needed when it came to the intricacies of convoluted plots and brilliant schemes, Matsuda had been able to retreat to his room, feeling distinctly like a dog slinking away to lick its wounds. When he was alone, he leant against the wall and, finally, let out a long, shuddering breath.

It was several hours later when the Chief knocked on his door.

"Matsuda? Remember the investigation we're working on? Kira?"

"C-coming, Chief!" he yelped, scrambling for the door. He'd probably fallen asleep, because he certainly didn't remember being away for so long as to merit someone coming looking for him. He pulled open the door and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I - I guess I dozed off or something," he offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

The Chief smiled. "I wouldn't worry about it, Matsuda. It's been quite a night for you."

Matsuda laughed, a little awkwardly. "Yeah. That was stupid. But - hey, at least we got a little information out of it, right?"

The older man frowned. "Perhaps."

"Perhaps?" Matsuda was confused.

"As things worked out, yes, it was worth it. But, if something had happened to you, then I do not think that the few pieces of information we have gleaned from your escapade would have been worthwhile at all."

Matsuda blinked. "Really? But, getting information, getting leads, that's all that matters in this case, right? I mean, I know I'm not much use to everyone here, so if I was at least able to do this -"

"Matsuda! Don't talk like that!" The Chief's voice was sharp, but at Matsuda's look of shock his expression softened, and he laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "You're a good cop. And an asset to this investigation. I am pleased and proud that you chose to stay on, and that we have this opportunity to work together on such an important case. You are not expendable and you are not useless. Do not allow yourself to forget that."

Matsuda nodded dumbly. "O-okay Chief, I won't!"

Yagami smiled at him again, in a distinctly fatherly way. "Good. Now, come on, you have a job to do, after all."