[[Strong as he is, L's using all he's got in order to hold the lot of human lives depending on him not to drop them. His slouch, for once, isn't absolutely natural. He just knows that, somewhere, Mello is totally getting snot on him. He feels it in the core of his soul and he's going to burn these clothes when he gets the chance.

He assumes he has to be absolutely parent'y to Mello too until he can confirm otherwise. It's not hard to be nice to his young successor though, he doesn't hate him or Near, not by a long shot. Just that he doesn't do well with children. He turns his head, letting Mello hide however he wants to and frowns at the pleading he gets.]]

Crying?
[[He asks this as though he doesn't know what's being said.]]

I don't know what you're talking about, I haven't seen you crying yet. I saw that you had something in your eyes which caused a reaction in your tear-ducts, but otherwise, I don't see any tears.