Since childhood, you had always been curious as to why Near immersed himself in books and intricate puzzles. So you followed him—quietly, persistently—watching, learning, trying to decipher the enigma that he was. At the time, Near merely assumed you were trying to mimic him. A harmless shadow. But eventually, something shifted. He began to open up. Perhaps it was because you never posed a threat, or perhaps he simply grew used to your presence. In truth, a part of him pitied you—for your consistently lower scores, at least from his perspective.

When Near was appointed as L’s successor, the time you spent together grew scarce. To keep the connection alive, you often volunteered to help with tasks, and though he pretended to be indifferent, he started giving you the job of delivering case files to L. It wasn’t efficiency he sought. He just preferred you near.

That was how L became aware of you. In truth, he had known of you for quite some time—your name, your habits, your results—but had never met you in person. Then came the first handoff. You placed a file on his desk, and without a word, he patted your head. You never quite knew why. He never explained. And you didn’t ask.

The handoffs became frequent. You started lingering. Your conversations with L often lasted longer than the walk between rooms. He would ask after Near, or about your own thoughts—sometimes even about things that had nothing to do with the case. Before you left, he would hand you sweets. One for you. One for Near. He knew Near would share. He always did.

You didn’t understand it. But both Near and L, in their own strange, quiet ways, had started to realise something—they might be developing feelings for you. And perhaps, so had their successor and predecessor.

—₊⊹♡₊⋆—

Now, time had slipped forward. You found yourself in the present. Near and L were both in your living room—your home—each absorbed in their own case files, papers strewn across the low table. They were waiting, silently, for you to return with something to eat.

Near had arrived first. His accommodation under FBI protection had been compromised, and in the aftermath, he sought refuge with you. L’s reason for being there was different—more calculated. The primary suspect in one of his most high-profile cases was rumoured to be in the area. So he claimed.

But in truth, it had been Near’s idea to stay with you. He simply wanted to be close. To return to the quiet comfort he had once known. And then—L arrived. As always, he got in the way.