𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 || 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 - 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫 ||

𝙲𝚛𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚜

He met her under some, not so mysterious circumstances. Both of them were residents of the infamous Whammy's orphanage. The building where each child held exceptional intellectual capabilities, and were each thrown into the succession programme. The program.me designed to raise and prepare the next successor the the name L, and continue his legacy of being the number one detective.

Near was in the living room, completing the jigsaw puzzle gifted to him during one of L's rare visits. The visit which had him find out that he was number one in line to succeed his predecessor. The visit in which L himself had conversed with the nine year old at the time, and had been told that he held similar traits to L himself.

This was his destiny now, that was all he needed to look towards. He must become as good as L is in order to become a successor worthy of continuing his legacy.

Near was completing his puzzle calmly, a little bored from having completed the same puzzle many times, but content nonetheless whilst the other children played outside, had fun with one another.

Acting like kids their age should.

"Hey Near, you should come and join us!"
One of the kids, Jack came rushing in, face tinged with dirt and clothes crumpled after playing some football with the other boys of the orphanage.

A girl followed behind him, a small brunette who looked to Near nervously, and tugged at Jack's sleeve.
"No Jack, let's just leave Near alone."
She whispered in a not so quiet voice.

Near ignored the remark, he was used to the others asking him to join them. He was also used to some of the other kids insulting him for not being as social as they were. Namely-

"Just leave that blank sheet of paper alone, come on,"
Mello charged into the room, towering over Jack by a good foot, and grabbing him by the back of the collar.
"He'd be boring to play with anyway."
He gave Near a side eye, a small expression of distaste being evident in his expression. It was okay though, Near was used to it, maybe if he were a different person then they could have been friends, but Near was Near, and no one liked Near.

"Mihael, just say you're jealous and go, we don't need your negative energy around here."
There was another voice, a more feminine one, and it caught Near by surprise. After all, no one opposed Mello. No one dared to.

He looked to the side, interest in his puzzle diminishing as he watches a girl wearing a knee length, white, chiffon dress, push the blond boy out of the way, a relatively large, brown, old textbook under her arm.

Mello glared at her, with the girl's stare unwavering. Then with red cheeks he looked away, ushering for Jack and Sophia to follow after him. The door slammed itself shut and left a silence within the room, only to be broken by the tired sigh of the girl with the big textbook as she planted herself into the armchair in front of Near, opening the book on her lap as she gave him a small smile.

"I'm terribly sorry you have to deal with the likes of him."
Near started to sweat, no one ever talked to him, and he never really talked to anyone who wasn't an authoritative figure. He looked back down to his semi complete jigsaw and went back to completing it, avoiding eye contact with the girl in the chair.

"I'm Nyx, well, my alias is Nyx, it's nice to formally meet you Near."
She introduced herself in a calm, chipper voice. However Near already knew who she was, she was the girl who had been at the orphanage the least amount of time compared to others. And in the two years of staying in the same building they never communicated. Near would keep to himself, whilst Nyx would interact with the others and keep herself busy, staying in the library if she was out of tutoring lessons.

"Oxford? No, Cambdrige, correct?"
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could even register the small communication. Eyes still on the white puzzle pieces scattered around the floor.