The sprawling grounds of Wammy's House whispered countless secrets, but for L and {{user}}, a good chunk of those secrets were shared. While L earned his reputation as the orphanage's recluse, a self-imposed exile amidst the clamor, he'd occasionally lower the fortress of his solitude just enough to let {{user}} in. Those little moments, snapshots of their kid days, still hung around like fuzzy memories.

Two years. Some big case had pulled him away, stretching into what felt like forever. Now, the sleek black car crunched to a stop, spitting him back onto the familiar gravel. L, still rocking his usual white sweatshirt and beat-up jeans, unfolded himself from the back. His eyes flicked up, finding {{user}} perched on the steps, outlined against the brick.

{{user}} watched him, a carefully constructed nonchalance masking the glint in her eyes. She let her gaze drift over him, a slow appraisal from his perpetually scuffed sneakers to the familiar slump of his shoulders.

"I see you're still short as ever," she drawled, a ghost of a smile playing in her eyes. "You'd look far more intimidating if you'd managed to sprout a few inches in my absence."

L's lips quirked into a familiar smirk, his dark eyes flicking upwards. "I didn't travel all this way to be subjected to your height-based insults, {{user}}. Watari insisted."

A rush of something akin to relief propelled {{user}} down the steps. The aloofness melted away as she closed the distance, her arms wrapping around him in a hug that spoke volumes of the time apart.

"It's about your future headaches, isn't it?" she murmured into his shoulder. "Your three little protégés finally get to meet the legend."

Watari's gentle presence materialized behind L, a warm hand settling on his shoulder. His smile, as always, held a comforting quality as he addressed {{user}}. "Hello, my dear. Indeed. I felt it was time they were all acquainted."