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"Now you decide whether you think you'd like to eat some chocolate or not. We're going to get you to bed, if you want it, you might want to have it there."

He doesn't break eye contact with A.

"Mello, if you could stay with Ms Misora, answer her questions and see that she's alright. If you're both comfortable with that, of course." They might just not get along, in which case they'd need to find someone else.

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"I'm fine," said Naomi, with some haste. She was, she thought - she certainly wasn't the one in tears.

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To have A flinch from me so strongly hurt. "If...A does not want chocolate, I'll stay. I think it would help him, though." Chocolate was known to release endorphins that would help reduce anxiety.

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"Nnn." A thinks about it, then shakes his head. "I don't. Don't want chocolate."

He doesn't mind it, but doesn't specifically like it, and isn't really thinking about eating.

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"I need to set you down, A." His arms are going to give out otherwise. But he gives him plenty of warning.

"Try to stand. I will not let you go, keep your arms around my neck, alright? Everything's alright."

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I back away. "I'll talk to Misora, then." I'm not going to let her see how much that hurt. Fuck, this isn't fair. It's not fair for A to be this upset, either. And, talk to is going to take on meanings of 'laying down the law' more or less.

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A's shaking enough to be unsteady on his feet, and he weaves in place for a moment...

...then drops to his knees at L's feet again, face flush against the floor, sobbing.

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"Oh no." L drops with him, and starts lifting him again.

"Mello, help us, please. Ms Misora, you'll need to open a few doors for us yet."

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She nodded and started gradually forward again, looking back periodically.

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I move forward and lift A's arm over my shoulder. "C'mon, A. We'll get you to Schrodinger and Einstein and then you'll feel better." Maybe then we can get him calmed down enough to actually discuss the history of the case...in much gentler terms than I used with L.

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A's limp and unresisting, allowing himself to be hauled to his feet. With one hand he clings to L tightly, and he lets a good portion of his weight rest on Mello's shoulders.

"Schrodinger. Einstein," he whispers distantly.

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"Your kittens who are nearly cats," L tells him, in a gentle monotone. "I'll sit with you and make sure they don't smell catnip on your fingers and start chewing. You know how they get with catnip. Remember having the picnic in your garden, last week, when they first tried it?"

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Naomi reached the already-open entrance to Ravenclaw and stood aside.

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I laugh a little and pick up on L's monologue. "I bet they loved it. Yes, we might need to wash your hands or they will try to nibble your fingers and then they'll be hungry afterwards. But, once we wash your hands, they'll want to be pet and then they will purr for you because you are their care taker."

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"Hungry, I..." A's tongue feels thick, and thoughts of daily life are sluggish and hard to reach. "Need to feed them, I..."

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"We'll make sure they have food set out. Just down that hall-" that's for Naomi's benefit. "-and water, and toys, so they can occupy themselves while you have a bit of rest."

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Into the hall and "Which door?" she called over her shoulder.

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"That one," I say pointing with my chin.

"We'll help you take care of them, A. We'll make sure everything is taken care of. The kittens will want to help you be okay, too. They are very fond of you, so they will want to be with you, purring to make sure you're better."

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"Need to take care of them, I need, I need, oh, need to..." pulling away, he points a finger at L almost accusingly and screeches harshly, "I need to protect you!"

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"We'll discuss it when you're calmer."

He puts steel into his tone. This is not up for negotiations, not right now.

"I'm in no immediate danger."

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She reached the door Mello indicated and made to open it. It wouldn't budge. She turned back to the others.

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I move to accommodate A's movement. "He's in no danger here, A. Nothing can happen to him here. None of us will let it. Let's get in your room and see your kittens. That is the best thing to do now." I try to keep my voice low, soothing. This is not natural to me and I really don't know if I'm doing the right thing.

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"Kittens," A repeats faintly. L gave him the kittens, and he needs to take care of them. "Have to... to look after them, I..."

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