Case File: L Lawliet ? L Lawliet x Reader

Chapter 31 | a fatherly bond

"...I had a nightmare" Mello mumbled.

Ah, that's explains it. Children his age would still be scared of that stuff. And you did tell the boys when they first arrived to come to you or L if they needed anything. Mello has picked L this time.

At first L didn't really know what to do, but he remembered, all those years ago when you and him were both kids. When he had nightmares what did you do? Hug him and tell him it wasn't real until he fell asleep. The detective wrapped his arms around the boy and sighed, knowing he'd have to try and comfort him. Comforting people was something he wasn't good at. Sure he knew how to comfort YOU, but anyone else? Nope.

"It's just a Dream, it's not real ok? Nothings going to hurt you" he said.

The child cowered into his chest and kept a tight grip on his shirt.

"I don't want to go back to sleep... it was scary" Mello whined.

"It's very late though, and you have school tomorrow. None of it is real ok? Nothing is going to hurt you"

You honestly couldn't believe your eyes, L was actually comforting the scared child, and it was working. For someone who claims to have kids he was being really nice about everything. You'd taught him well. It was silent for a moment, before Mello looked up at L and gave him worried eyes.

"Can I stay here..?" He asked.

L looked over at you, it was your room not his. You nodded, telling him it was ok.

"Ok, but you have to go back to sleep" L said.

"But-"

"I'm here, nothing will hurt you if I'm here. I'm a detective remember? I catch bad guys"

"Even monsters?"

"Even monsters"

"Ok..."

You never thought you'd see the day L acted like a father, his people skills would never be perfect, but they were improving. These kids had already taken to him like a father, big brother, caretaker, guardian, and L had to accept that weather he liked it or not. You could tell these kids were growing on him. He was starting to understand human relationships, you were proud of him. It didn't take long for Mello to fall back asleep, laying against L's chest and curled up in his arms.

"Look at you, being a dad" you smirked.

"Oh god don't put it like that, I'm not ready to be a father I'm 17" he replied.

"Even so, the boys think of you as their guardian now. All of them do, he came to you, that means he feels protected with you, all three of them do"

"They come to you as well you know"

"Yes but they're boys, naturally they're going to go to you, the other boy here"

"I guess, I should probably put him back to bed. I'll be back"

L carried the sleeping child back down the halls and into his room, put him back under the messed up covers and tucked him in. He looked down at the sleeping child, letting what you said sink in.

You were right, they did see him as their guardian.

And... he was glad. He was glad that after these boys lost their parents, they could still find comfort in someone. He never expected it to be him, and he sure as hell wasn't ready to be any form of a parent. But, he knew what it was like growing up without that comfort in his life, he was glad he could at least provide that for the boys.

And it was all thanks to you, you'd really started to change him.

He went back to your room and closed the door behind him, flopping back into the bed. You smiled and pulled him into your arms, a hug that he retuned.

"I'm proud of you" you said.

"I barely did anything"

"Yes you did, I love you L"

"I love you too, sweetheart"

"You're making an impact on those boys lives, more of an impact then you think L..."