Chapter 7: Power Games
1: 28 AM
The Orphanage was totally quiet. Near was laying in bed, counting the seconds. His heart was racing. It was almost time. Only a minute or two left...
After half a minute more he decided he couldn't wait any longer. He threw off his covers and got out of bed, beginning to pace the room. He stopped when he passed in front of the mirror and stared at himself for a moment. His face was flushed, his eyes wide and bright. Calm down. In the mirror his blinking red alarm clock was glowing 1:30 AM. Finally.
He bolted to the door, where he slipped on a pair of boots as quietly as he could. They felt far too heavy as he stood, and he looked at them distastefully, but knew he couldn't go without them tonight. He shuffled over to the bed and slid his hand beneath it, withdrawing a canvas bag. Plastic would have been too loud. He checked inside it one last time to make sure all the contents were present, and smiled. He silently swung the door open.
The hallways were completely silent. Completely dark. If someone had been there to see Near creep along them, they may have thought they saw a ghost, a white outline flitting by in the darkness in complete silence. Near heard nothing but the soft padding of his feet and the loud thumping of his heart.
He reached the door this time, and winced as it creaked open. He stood frozen, ears pricked to see if the noise had roused someone.
Complete silence.
Smirking he slipped through the gap and slunk across the grass to the old oak tree, hiding himself in its deep black shadows. Then he sat down to wait, his inky eyes fixed on the front door he had come from. Not too much longer now...
xXx
Over the past few weeks life had been strange for Near. It seemed that whenever he turned around there was someone there. He would lay out a puzzle and soon would find Pepe and Linda helping him piece it together. Linda was good at puzzles, Near discovered. Not as good as him of course, but proficient enough that her assistance actually made a difference. She blushed when he made note of the fact.
Pepe's skills, however, were tragic, and Near sometimes found himself just wishing the six year old would go away. Pepe redeemed himself in Nears eyes, though, when one day Matt appeared to reclaim his DS, and Pepe unhelpfully declared that he had lost it. After Matt had left, swearing and muttering, Pepe reached behind a cushion and withdrew the little device. He then handed it to Near, a proud smile on his face. Near had taken the machine with a small, mysterious smile of his own.
Matt found it a few days later in a toilet bowl, in pieces.
Usually though, Near did his best to try to avoid his new 'friends'. He went to great lengths sometimes, at first often hiding in his room. However it didn't take Hannah too long to find him there (which irritated Near to no end), and once she knew so did everyone else. He tried many other places in his attempts to escape the human contact that- in his opinion- he was being smothered with of late. He hung out in the clock tower, or a locked toilet cubicle, or even the cool-room of the kitchen once. That endeavour proved to be less than successful, however, so he reluctantly gave up soon enough. He consoled himself that at least they'd get bored of him eventually and start leaving him alone. However, on occasions, even Near had to admit there were perks to the situation.
For instance, he couldn't help but enjoy Matt and Mello's reactions to his new companions. Mello, especially, greeted the new developments with extreme displeasure. He began to refer to them as Near's 'Fanclub'. Brendan and Simòn, were the ones who took the most offence to their new title. They knew better than to speak out against Mello, however.
Mello was not the most forgiving of people and the only person who had bested him- Near- They were unsure cared enough about them to come to their aid. He did seem to be avoiding them more than usual lately... So they said nothing, and simply seethed in silence, while Mello also seethed in silence about the new developments and Matt seethed about his DS. Near seemed to be the only one out of them relatively content with the situation, actually.
Soon, however, the limited amount of toys that the others were able to borrow him no longer interested him, and he wanted his own back. When he briefly mentioned this fact to Hannah in a rare moment of verbal communication, Rei and Simòn somehow suddenly knew. Before Near could fully comprehend what had happened they were standing in Roger's office, Near slightly behind them; their arms folded and scowling defiantly.
Roger was unimpressed and unmoved by their words. Near found himself (not for the first time that week) wishing he could just disappear. The way Rei and Simòn handled the situation was so childish, so...well...unimpressive. Roger sighed.
"I believe... I stated that in addition to the confiscation of the toys, Near was to move the two dumpsters into the shelter before the storm hit." Roger informed them quietly, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
"And he did!" Rei declared. Near gritted his teeth. She really didn't know how adults worked, did she. Roger had been waiting for that... Near was proven right.
"For one of the dumpsters. The other had an inch or so of water in the bottom when I inspected it. Near was far too busy having a petty scuffle to do as he was instructed, and now I have a water-logged dumpster on my hands. He did not pull his weight- did not live up to his word. So why should I live up to mine?" Roger's glasses flashed in the fluorescent light. Once again Near felt fury and hatred bubbling up inside of him. He wanted to leap at Roger- claw at his eyes, tear at his face- but he didn't. Instead he forced his gaze away; at the picture that sat (still cracked, Near noted) upon Roger's desk.
An idea struck him then, a brilliant idea that he had heard once before, issuing from some unseen speakers in a voice that sounded like electricity. "People talk about the difference between justice and vengeance, but I have never found it... I don't know if its a question of what he deserves, more what would satisfy me..."
Near looked up from the photograph of the shiny red car... Roger's favourite toy... He looked up into Roger's light brown eyes and smiled coldly.
"I understand. Sorry for bothering you."
Near ignored the looks of 'What the hell? What are you doing?' That Rei and Simòn threw in his direction and turned on his heel, exiting the room with a soft click of the door. He walked quickly down the hallway, ignoring the sullen throbbing of his abused ribcage. Rei and Simon did not take long to fall into step with him.
"Hey, what the hell were you doing back there?"
"Come on Near, don't you want your stuff back?"
"How could you have just taken it lying down like that?"
"Would you two please shut up?" Near cut in lightly, and they stopped their barrage and looked at him, a little bit shocked. Though he had been attempting to avoid them and the others all week, he had never been openly rude to them before. "I do know what I'm doing." On his face was a little smirk. A devilish little smile that sent a shiver down their spines.
"What are you thinking in that crazy brain of yours, Near?" Simòn asked warily. But as Near quietly told them, that same grin that he wore slowly appeared on both their faces.
xXx
"I'm worried, L." Back in the room Roger was still in his chair, but now a little white macbook sat open upon his desk. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, which he wiped away with his sleeve. "He's up to something, I know it. I swear I'm not being paranoid- he had this look about him, and he just accepted my decision without a word of protest."
"Well whatever it is," the computer replied smoothly, emotionless, "You are under no conditions to interfere. I want to see what pans out. Knowing him... It should be interesting. Especially now he has these new... resources of his."
"You're referring to his friends?"
"I don't recall mentioning friends."
"What do you-"
"Roger," the computer sighed, "you must understand I am incredibly busy at the moment and the threat of a twelve year old boy doing something stupid is not exactly first on my list of problems. I do have a mass murderer to catch."
"Of course L." Roger sighed, putting his face in his hands. "I am sorry to have wasted your time like this."
"Not at all. I assure you your reports are what keep me going. Thank you for being so understanding. Goodbye Roger." Click.
xXx
1:31 AM
Near's eyes were fixed on the front door of the house as he lay still in the deep shadows of that old oak tree. Any moment now...
Suddenly a shape appeared at the door, a tall black shape, and then another, shorter one close behind it. Near's stomach did an excited back flip. The shapes made their silent way over to him.
"Near?" whispered one of them in a girl's voice as they looked blindly into the darkness. Rei.
"Right here." Near replied, standing up. She spun around to face him, hand going to her mouth to stifle a cry of fright.
"Wow. You were so still I couldn't see you." she giggled quietly as she and the tall shape behind her quietly moved closer to where he stood. He smiled. She was obviously as wound up as he was.
"Brendan?" he asked of the taller shape.
"Yep. It's me." he heard whispered back in the darkness.
"Have you got everything?"
"Yeah, its in my back pack. Almost killed me to get it. I was sure the cleaning lady saw me lifting it. Had to hide it behind the couch."
"Let me see it." Near whispered, holding out his hand. After fumbling in the dark for a moment he found the pack that Brendan held out to him. He unzipped it quickly and felt around at the three bleach-sized bottles inside it. "Excellent. Good job, Brendan. Rei, have you seen Simòn?"
"He should be on his way now." she whispered back, "He had to stop by the recycling bins at the back of the building, to get the bags like you said. Hey, what's in your bag?" Near wordlessly passed it to her in the dark and she felt around inside it, as Brendan drew nearer to get a good look too.
"Heh. Cool." he said. Near ignored him, turning instead back to the building.
"Okay, we'll just lie low here until Simòn comes." Near informed them softly. They crouched together in the darkness, waiting breathlessly, eyes fixed once more on the building they had just escaped. Near waited, heart in his mouth. Had something happened? Had Simòn been caught? Eventually one more shadowy figure appeared from behind the building and Near allowed sweet relief to wash over him. Then, another figure; smaller. Rage.
He turned to Brendan. "Why the hell is Pepe here?!" he whispered furiously. "I told you Pepe wasn't supposed to come!"
"He wanted to come!" Brendan protested, leaning away from Near's dark form. "He kept bugging us and bugging us and we figured so long as he didn't get in the way he could tag al-"
"You guys weren't even supposed to tell him!" Near retorted furiously. "What the hell do you thinks gonna happen if he gets hurt? Do you think he might cry? DO you think someone might hear it if he does? Do you think if he knocks something over or does something else stupid he might give us all away?"
"I didn't think-"
"Like that's news." Near spat. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as the two figures approached them. "Fine. He can come. I swear though, if he does anything to ruin the plan, I am holding you personally responsible." the two fumed in silence for a moment or two after that. Then, "Am I correct in the assumption that Hannah is not on her way here or did you go behind my back too?" Near asked darkly of Rei.
"Of course not!" she whispered anxiously. "I wouldn't do something like that!" Near felt Brendan turn to her in the dark and suspected he was giving her a dirty look. It was hard to tell, in this light. Soon enough, Simòn and Pepe were stepping into the shadow of the tree.
"Simòn, Pepe, over here!" Rei whispered, and they approached the trio in the dark.
"Simòn. You have everything?" Near asked, more sharply than he intended. Simòn hefted the two large but light sacks towards Near. "Alright. Everything seems to be under control so far. We're gonna approach the barn in pairs, clear? Everyone knows where it is?"
There was a quiet chorus of assent. The barn was a rickety building with a corrugated iron roof, not too far back in the grassland behind the Wammy's institution. It was where all the adult personnel who left at night parked their vehicles, as far away from the orphans as possible. Of course, they hadn't considered the possibility of an idea like Near's. If they had, they wouldn't have made it so far from the orphanage. If they had, they wouldn't have neglected to install surveillance there.
Then there was a quiet; "Near?"
Near almost screamed, himself. The entire group jumped nearly a foot in the air when the torchlight hit them. Pepe gave a short scream before a hand was clapped over his mouth by Brendan, who had already realised who the intruder was.
"...Linda?" Near asked, squinting into the light, forcing his voice from shaking. Relief made his limbs feel like jelly. His ears still strained for any sign that Pepe's scream had roused anyone. Hopefully Brendan had stopped it soon enough. He had been so sure that that was it. That was the end. But it was just Linda... He took a deep breath.
"Linda what are you doing here?" he asked softly, taking a couple cautious steps towards her. "You said you weren't going to come."
"I..." her voice was shaky and breaking, as if she had been crying. "Well I thought..." it was obvious he wasn't going to get anything out of her any time soon. He turned back to the others.
"You guys go on without me. I'll catch you up." They all gave a nod and Brendan took charge, directing Rei and Simon in the direction of the barn. Near turned back to Linda. "Are you okay? Do you want to come after all?" she was sitting down on the grass and dirt now, so he followed suit, confused. Why the hell would she show up when she didn't want to come?
"Near." she managed to find her voice. "You mustn't do this." so that was it. Near stifled a sigh of frustration. "You'll get caught, and then you'll get in so much trouble, and then you'll-"
She was silenced by a pale finger on her lips. In the light of the torch he could see her face. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her hair half-falling out of her pigtails, her nose red as well from being rubbed- from the snot of crying. He had to suppress a shudder of disgust. Completely graceless, he thought distastefully to himself. It was annoying that she had come tonight just to try to convince him to call it off. Still, he couldn't leave her only so she would run to wake up Roger or something.
He needed to ensure she would keep their secret.
"Don't cry Linda," he said, smiling hesitantly, brushing a tear or two from her face as she looked wide eyed at him. He had never touched her before. "Your smile is so pretty." After a brief, reluctant hesitation he leant in towards her and lightly kissed her on the lips, glad that the others were not present to witness it. Even more glad once it was over. She sat like a stunned rabbit in the headlights, staring at him open mouthed. He gave her a little smile and left her there. That would be enough, he hoped, to stop her dobbing on them.
Only once she was out of sight did he let himself wipe his mouth disgustedly on his sleeve. Urgh. He was never doing that again. He ducked between shadows on his way to the barn, always casting glances over his shoulder at the institute. There was no movement from the dark building. Everyone was still asleep. Near's stomach was afire with excitement once more, as he ducked around the door of the barn.
He couldn't prevent a smirk rising to his lips at the sight before him. Roger's favourite car; his shiny red 1959 Daimler sitting innocently beneath the barn's rickety wooden rafters. And the other four had already started on it. You take away my toys, I take away yours...
Simòn was using the bottles Brendan had brought to smash through the windows of the car, using his jacket to muffle the sound.
"It's a real shame." he remarked as he destroyed the last one. "It's a goddamn nice car." Near's only reply was an evil smirk in the darkness of the barn. A thrill was going through him, seeing his plan; the product of his imagination put into action. His orders followed. A powerful, soaring feeling it was, and he was enjoying it more than any puzzle or game he had ever had before. He would have to thank Roger for the opportunity later. He snickered to himself.
Rei hung back as the other two set about stuffing the paper from Simòn's bags through the now glassless windows. Near noticed this and handed her his own bag, the canvas bag, and whispered something in her ear. She gave a quiet little laugh and after calling Pepe with her moved to the front of the barn to carry out his instructions. Once Simòn and Brendan had gotten the bonnet open Near grabbed one of Brendan's bottles and uncapped it, pouring it liberally over the inner working's of Roger's car. Simon and Brendan used the other two over the rest of the car, inside where all the crunched up paper was, in the boot, in the tyres.
Once they were done they turned to see what Rei and Pepe had done. On the concrete floor in red spray paint was emblazoned "CaN't yOU tAStE THe JusTIce?" Near gazed at the slogan in satisfaction as the others all exchanged nervous and excited grins around him.
They followed him when he turned back around to survey their work. For a few moments they all simply stood there, looking at the car, waiting.
"Okay. Do it." Near's soft order spurred them to action and Rei withdrew a match from her pocket, lit it, and then passed the box to Near. He lit his own and passed the box along. Once they each had a lit match, they all edged closer to the car.
"Ready... Now."
They threw their matches into the car; Near's landed in the bonnet, where a roaring fire sprang up in a matter of seconds. They watched their flames eat up the paper inside of the car, take hold of the upholstery. When the fuel in the tank suddenly caught alight and fire spurted towards them, they stumbled back a few paces, laughing in delight. The flames only grew, climbing higher and higher and higher. The heat on their faces was growing unbearable, but still they stood there, just for a few moments more, to watch the car burn.
Which, in the end, was their big mistake.
Near's own hot eyes were fixed on the melting, bubbling paint when he heard someone scream his name. He looked up, just in time to meet Rei's horrified eyes before something killed him.
Something smashed him over the back of his head and he dropped to his knees, and then something else, something sharp and heavy smashed into his back, slicing through him, impaling him. He felt it smash his ribcage wide open, felt it drive through skin and muscle and veins.
Around him people were screaming, first in fear, then in agony. He was so confused, so very very confused. He didn't quite understand what had just happened. What had just happened? What had gone wrong? His vision was going black, the blistering heat was ebbing away, but he could feel burning things falling on all sides of him. He was in such pain... such blinding agony...
The last thing he heard was a scream. The scream of someone dying.
xXx
Watari slammed the door shut behind him as he stormed into the room.
L was sitting in his usual place, looking at his two beautiful prisoners on the screen. He had had them under constant surveillance for a couple of days now, and he had been steadily driving himself insane thinking and rethinking the situation. What he had said earlier to Roger was not, in fact, a lie. The reports from Wammy's did provide him with something of an escape. It was the closest thing he had to a holiday, those precious moments he could watch Near grow, watch his slow, steady metamorphosis. The Kira case, however, wound around in circles: there was no end and, it seemed, no beginning either. No progress to be made. It tortured him.
So it was a welcome relief when he was broken from his complex, convoluted inner monologue by the sound of the door slamming. He looked up in curiosity. Watari never slammed the door. Especially not at three o clock in the morning. He was even more confused when Watari forcefully grabbed the chair L was sitting in and turned it away from the screen, to face himself.
"L." Watari began. His voice shook.
"Yes, Watari?" Underneath his blank exterior, L's stomach turned in anxiety. What in God's name had just happened? Watari took a deep, calming breath, but sweat still stood out on his face, and his eyes were burning when he opened them once more. He let go of the chair and stood up straight.
"It's Near." Watari shortly informed him. L's stomach was truly sinking now. "It happened." It happened... He had known Near would do something, when he had spoken with Roger about it he hadn't really been concerned... He trusted the boy's judgement as much he trusted anyone's... but the look on Watari's face now-
"There are... casualties?" L asked in a quiet, even voice. The only thing that betrayed him were his hands, gripping the armrests with enough force to turn his knuckles white.
"Two children are dead. Two more injured but stable. One is in a critical state."
L was beginning to feel dizzy. Two dead... He stood, gripping the chair to stable himself. After a moment to pull himself together he attempted to speak again.
"And Near?" he managed to ask. "He is?"
"Alive." Watari said, and L's hand slipped from the chair in relief. He took a deep, slow, silent breath and composed himself. Near was alive. His plan was still intact. All was not lost, yet. "He is the one in a critical condition." Watari continued, "They are not sure if he will make it or not, but they're remaining optimistic." Watari's mouth pulled down at the corners on the last word, as if it was distasteful. L was taking in his words, nodding. Near would survive. That was what mattered most at the moment.
There was a long silence in which L stared at his feet, face blank, his mind working furiously. Watari waited patiently for him to speak. He knew when L needed silence, or when he needed conversation. His years of raising him and working with him hadn't come to nothing. He knew whatever L was thinking right now was important so he waited, until L finally spoke.
"I am going to Wammy's, Watari." L informed the him, quiet and composed. After an initial shock Watari slowly nodded in agreement. Indeed, that was the best thing to do right now. L's presence would prevent a panic amongst the children. He would be able to provide Roger some much needed support as well... He would be able to stop the boy Near from becoming out of control. Yes, this was the best course of action to take.
"I will pack for you. What of the Kira investigation?"
"You and Yagami-san will take over the majority investigation. I will need constant reports, of course. Send me any new material and I will continue working from England."
"Of course." Watari began to turn away but L's hand on his shoulder made him stop. He turned to look into those abyss-eyes he knew so well.
"Watari, just promise me no matter what, make sure you do not release Yagami-kun and Amane-san until I return. Regardless of the opinions of the rest of the team. And do not let either of them know that I am not in the country. Inform the team that they are not to know. Make sure Matsuda hears you especially. He always ruins things like that." Watari allowed himself a smile.
"Of course, L."
"I will only be a few days anyway." L put his hands in his pockets as he returned his eyes to the screens. Nothing had changed during their short conversation, and yet, everything had changed at once. Watari smiled a little at L's words. It was as if L was trying to convince himself that he was making the right decision.
"I will book your flight for tonight."
"Thank you Watari." They exchanged a small, ironic smile. It was always times of crisis like these that united them. Crises provided them with the motivation for the efficiency they could only achieve working together.
xXx
L was on the plane to England in only an hour or two.
Watari had explained to L on the way to the airport the exact details of the incident. L had listened to him in silence as he had spoken of the attempted arson; the fire that five children had lit in Roger's car, the weakened roofbeams that had caught fire and come crashing down upon them. L nodded at appropriate places; showing he was listening, but never once said a word. His eyes were dark, unreadable even for Watari. Watari couldn't fathom what he was thinking; whether he felt horror, or grief, or guilt, or merely the distant objectivity he always employed in solving a puzzle, or a crime.
Did he feel anything at all? It's his fault. He should, Watari thought bitterly. Two children were dead, after all. Two of Watari's children. Watari's orphans; orphans that were under his care. Watari had met the two children himself, as he met all of the children that were accepted into Wammy's. L had never met them. He had no reason to value their lives. But Watari couldn't help but hope that L felt something. Some sort of regret for what had happened. And then there was Near. Did L care for Near at all? Did L feel anything for the boy who was unwittingly sacrificing his childhood; his happiness to fulfill L's plans? Watari supposed he could never be sure. But he did hope. With all of his heart.
They said their short goodbyes in the terminal.
"Be gentle with him." Watari suddenly said, just as L was about to turn to go through the security gate. Quietly, seriously; "He needs someone who will look after him. And I don't mean his injuries."
L simply looked at him blankly, lips parting as if he were about to say something. About to retort. Watari half-expected another berating about how Near wasn't a weakling. Or perhaps the cold statement that L and L alone knew what Near needed. But all L did was set his jaw and nod once, before turning away.
Watari watched the plane take off, wishing his charge- the closest thing he had to a son- a silent goodbye. Goodbye and good luck. He was interrupted by the beeping of his phone. Chief Yagami wondering where he and L were. He sighed. It was going to be a long couple of days.
A/N: Okay, I'm gonna keep this short, because I'm exhausted, I need to go to bed and I've already had to edit this chapter twice (because I accidentally lost the first edited version). Then theres also the fact that this is the longest chapter so far. XD I don't think theres too much I need to comment on in this particular chapter. I originally wanted the slogan they spraypainted to be "GiVE BaCK CHriStMAs" cause I thought it was funny (don't ask me why) but I changed it because I figured it kinda needed to be relevant. =P
Oh! and you may notice this is the first place where I begin to start totally screwing with canon. Mainly in the "L leaving halfway through the imprisonment arc to go to England" thing. Yeah. Originally I was going to be very strict about keeping to canon, but then I decided that I wanted L to go to Wammy's, so that whole idea got thrown out the window. What L is going to DO at Wammy's exactly, you will have to wait til the next chapter to find out! ^^
Just one more thing before I go, I am fast approaching the end of my "already written out chapters all ready to be posted up to FF" stockpile so I apologise in advance if the next couple chapters are a liiiittle bit later that I usually put them up, only cause these things take a long long time to write and edit and post when they're not all like "and now heres one that I prepared earlier! :D". Don't worry though, I will still do my best to stay on time!! (and reviews are a good form of encouragement. *winks*)
While we're on the subject thanks to all the reviewers and alerters and favouriters once again! Going to go get some sleep now =)
~CANDY