Gods and Monsters [Sequel to Ethereal] L x Reader • Death Note ✔️

Chapter 31 | dads advice

L needed to clear his mind for a moment, away from all the stress and chaos that was the case. So where did he go? To see his dad.

Watari was doing well down in Asphodel, he looked a bit younger too. The form he took as a deceased shade being the form when he was at his very best. Which to him, was around the ages he was when he was raising L. It'd been a while since L had seen him, processed his death and all. The two embraced in a tight hug that felt seemingly endless the moment they saw each other. If you ever needed proof that you didn't need to be related to be family, L and Watari were that proof.

He's decorated his chambers similarly to his wammys was decorated, L found it rather nostalgic. The two saw across the kitchen table, sipping nectar and discussing anything and everything that came to mind. Mainly his death had been treating Watari, how the successors were doing and the case of course.

"I'm not really sure what to do... we know who Kira is, we know who the shinigami is... but we need evidence that'll hold up in a human court. We can't just arrest him on the ground of 'I'm a god and I can see your shinigami'. We either need the death note, or footage of him incriminating himself, maybe a confession, something the humans will be able to use" L sighed.

In all the time Mello had been following the guy hoping to capture evidence, nothing had come up. Mikami was so tightly wrapped up on his day to day schedule that it was actually impressive that he even managed to be Kira at the same time. Clearly he must be writing names in advance using the specified time of death method.

"The kids have a death defiance from Zagreus don't they? You can take a risk you know" Watari said.

"Yes but... I don't want to put them in danger. Even if they have that safety net, I can't bare to put them in harms way..." L replied.

"The reason you got to where you are now is because you took risks no one else would L, they have that safety net for a reason"

He was right, L quite frankly was amazed he lived as long a he did with how many risks he took. Facing bio terrorists with an infected child at his side, facing someone who knew his face and was pretending to be him, taunting Light on live TV knowing there was a chance he could be killed. L was at deaths door so many times in is life, and each time Thanatos didn't open it, because he was lucky enough to say it wasn't his time yet.

But there was no telling when his successors times were, and he really didn't want them to be anytime soon.

"Let them take that risk. It's the jump you need to take to get further in the case, as long as they have that defiance, they'll be ok" Watari said.

"It only works once though" L replied.

"And you gave three successors. That's three chances before you have to pull them back for their own safety"

Again, he was right. There was a fail safe in place and L wasn't using it to his advantage out of fear. A justified fear, no one wants to loose their family. But the fail safe was there for a reason and each of the make grown kids had one. That was three chances, if Near failed he'd live and Mello could try. If Mello failed, he'd live and Matt could try. If Matt failed...? Well he'd live, but then they'd be back at square one.

But three chances was a lot in a case like this.

"I suppose you're right, I guess it's just father's instinct" L said.

"I had to learn how to let you take risks and keep my fathers instinct there just in case, and look at you. You ended up successful because I let you take those risks" Watari replied.

The conversation gave L an idea, a possible way to get something that would hold up on court. They needed either the note itself or something that proved Mikami was in possession of the note. He had hidden it so well that all the cameras and Mello's tracking of him still hadn't revealed it's location. If there was one thing Mikami was good at, it was keeping his weapon hidden.

"There is one thing... but it's absolutely ridiculous..." L muttered.

"Would it work though?" Watari asked.

"It could"

"Then try it"

With how devoted Mikami was to the idea of Kira being a god, and his literal worship of the original Kira, L could use that to lure him in. Play his own game against him. If Mikami truly through he was the 'chosen one' meant to kill on Kira's behalf and spread the word of Kira to anyone who'd listen, he could play into that. Have him believe that the original Kira is talking to him, use faith manipulation to get him to incriminate himself.

"I'll talk with (y/n) and the kids, see what they think of it and who'd be willing to try this" L said.

"Mello probably would, he's eager to do all kinds of field work, what are you thinking?" Watari replied.

"Have him believe he's talking to the original Kira, and have him incriminate himself in the process"

"That's the wild tactics I know you so well for, the kids will be fine L. They have that safety net, and if they fall into it you'll know it's time to reel them in and try something else"

Talking to his dad always seemed to be exactly what he needed when he was stuck or stressed over a case. Even in death, Watari was still helping his son. L sighed, satisfied with the outcome of this very constructive conversation, it was exactly what he needed to hear.

"Thanks dad" L smiled.

"Anytime kiddo" Watari smiled back.

"You say that like I'm not immortalised as a 25 year old, technically in my 40s by now"

"You'll always be my strange and unusual little boy to me L"