A/N: This was written for Tumblr's DNSecretSanta2016 exchange.
Set in '2006', anime timeline.
Sunday, December 3rd, 2006
Winchester, England
It was a cold morning, and Mello didn't want to get out of bed. He pulled the green blankets tighter around himself as he contemplated the room.
A few rays of the cloudy winter morning light peeked through the curtains, barely illuminating the room in a pale white gleam. Matt's handheld console laid in the middle of the circular green and teal area rug, along side Near's puppets and the book he had been going through the night before. He could hear the ever present soothing noise from Matt's computer fan, which was rarely off.
Mello has never been someone who could stay still for very long, but he cherished these morning sights. Evidence of their daily lives at Wammy's frozen for just a mere moment before the hectic day gave in. He couldn't explain why, but there was something he felt he had to treasure about these memories.
It had been five years since he had requested to share a room with the redhead sleeping on the bed above him and the only thing he regretted now was the lack of space for a third bed in the room.
Mello heard rustling coming from above him, followed by a long yawn and he couldn't help a grin.
"Morning Matty"
"M- Morning" A sleepy voice replied, followed but yet another yawn.
The blonde started to change, as the the other teen made his way down from his bed.
"It's Sunday, we could have slept another couple of hours Mello."
"We could have, yes. But, are you willing to put up with Near's rage if we do? He tends to get so whinny and loud."
Matt let out a giggle as he hugged the other boy from behind and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"If he hears you say that…"
"I know, I know."
The eldest of the pair headed towards his bed and pulled out a chocolate bar from the nightstand attached to the headboard.
"I'll go check on him." He stated, as he took a bite of his candy bar and exited the room after receiving a nod from the other boy.
—
"Near? Are you up yet?" Mello asked as he opened the door to the white haired boy's room. "We promised we would do whatever you wanted today. Near?"
To his surprise, he found the white haired boy asleep on his bed, an opened book resting on the boy's pillow and a brown teddy bear snuggled in his arms. Mello, sat down on the bed and leaned in to kiss the boy's cheek, Near opened his eyes and smiled at him.
"I thought you would be eager to get up today."
"We stayed up too late, I don't know how you two manage" he pouted, as he sat down on the bed.
In that moment, Matt came barging through the door and jumped on top of the pair as he let out a loud "Moooooorning".
"Fully awake now, I see." Mello teased.
Near huffed in amusement, cupped Matt's face as he planted a kiss on his forehead and was rewarded with a smile.
"Let's get something to eat…" He stares at Mello's chocolate and corrects himself. "Let's get something decent to eat."
Mello rolls his eyes at the remark and stands up.
"What do you have planned for us today Near? The redhead inquires as he too, arises from Near's bed and waits for him to change out of his pajamas.
"Oh! You'll see… All in good time."
If the amused smile on his face was any indication, they were in trouble.
The stillness and serenity of the morning was gradually turning into turmoil. Talking, banging and clattering noises, from both sleepy and energetic children waking up, filled the walls at Wammy's House.
Five younger kids sprinted through the hallway past Mello, Matt and Near; making their way through the front doors and into the yard. A couple other children sat in the living room, watching Sunday morning cartoons.
The trio entered the cafeteria and proceeded to eat breakfast.
—
"What are we doing here Near? What exactly do you have planned?"
Mello was annoyed, and they were well aware of it.
"Just give me a minute." Near tried to buy himself some time, but Mello wouldn't have it.
"If you don't tell us what this is all about, I am leaving."
One of the things you never want to do is get Mello angry, not because they got scared but because it never ended up well. He would manage to fuck up with his impulsive behavior and land them in a bigger mess, or in a bigger argument than before.
Matt had a half amused, half worried look on his face as he glanced at Near questioningly. The youngest boy had hurried them after breakfast, asking them to meet him by the cherry tree, on the side of the estate, rushing to join them again, minutes later, with a backpack on his shoulder.
Near had been digging into his backpack and seemed to have finally found what he was looking for. He pulled a piece of paper and handed it to Mello.
"Here, it's your first clue." He looked back into his backpack, retrieving a pen and yet another sheet, this one seemed blank.
"And this, you can use as a map"
"Treasure hunting?" Matt asked with a humored look on his face.
"Do we have a time limit?" Mello blurted out while examining the first clue for the second time.
"Two hours, if you don't get to the treasure by then you will loose by default."
"And if we win?" Asked both of the teens at unison, with darkened eyes and sly smiles taking over their expressions.
"It's a surprise, thought I can assure you, you WILL like it." Near winked at them before turning around and leave two dumbfounded teens behind him. "The clock is ticking boys."
—-
"How much time do we have left?" Mello asked while rereading the clue they had just found on Roger's office.
"30 minutes I believe." Peeking over the other's shoulder to get a glance at the text.
"I think this is the last one Mello" the gamer noted as he let out an amused chuckle.
"Wha- How do you know?"
"Follow me" He urged as he rushed out the door of the office.
"Wait! You already figured it out? What's the answer Matty?" The blond hurried behind him.
"Sometimes you think too much with your brain Mellow, and you forget your heart." The older boy gave the other a snarky look.
"Well, perhaps it's because hearts are not meant for thinking, but for pumping blood and getting oxygen through our bodies"
"Hurry up would you? Or do you not want to know what our surprise is? I am dying to know what Near has in store for us."
"Are you not going to tell me the answer?"
"I already did Mellow" The boy turned to look at him. "Love, the answer is love"
"So where are we goi- Oh!"
"I guess today marks three months, since… Since Near joined us"
"It has been three months already?"
They arrived at the library, which was usually avoided by the other kids on the weekends. Three months ago, they had all been there on a Sunday evening, finishing up a report due on Monday. Matt was done with his, and had been playing a game on his GameBoy Advanced. The top two students at Wammy's were having a heated discussion on Niccolò Machiavelli's work, The Prince. Mello was, of course, sympathetic with the author and a fervent believer in the end justifying the means. Near, refused such reasoning and couldn't really fathom the use of force or deceit as a political tool, he believed in justice and as far as he was concerned that was as opposed as you could get from it.
And there was Matt, wondering how on earth had they arrived to such topic of deliberation when their assignment regarded the three laws of thermodynamics. How does one go from energy can not be created or destroyed, to the end justifies the means. Matt shook his head in disapproval. It's something only those two can manage that's for sure.
Matt's jaw had dropped opened as he saw Near stand up from his chair, grab Mello's shirt pulling him closer and plant a kiss on his lips. When he realized Mello was reciprocating the kiss his handheld console dropped on the table. That was the exact moment when Near transformed a couple into a trio.
Now, Near waited for them sitting on a chair, in that same table, looking out the window to his right. He turned when he heard steps approaching him, and grinned at the boys.
"I guess I should have only given you an hour."
"Always underestimating us Natey"
The newcomers sat opposite to the white haired boy.
"Well?" Mello's impatience bubbling up, as always.
The genius behind the treasure hunt they had just partaken in smiled at him.
"I supposed you have earn it haven't you?" Once again, he started digging for something on his backpack. He pulled out one small red box and handed it to Matt and the big yellow box, he placed in front of Mello.
"There, your well deserved prizes! I hope you enjoy them"
"Wait, Natey. You are giving us presents for our three month anniversary with you, shouldn't it be the other way around?" The gamer inquired, a hint of regret and guilt tainting his words.
Near shrugged. "I- I didn't think you'd remember… " He trailed off, and looked down at his hands resting on the table. "Besides, I wanted to make you happy." He mumbled, after making a pause he looked back at them with a sweet smile. "Are you going to open them?" One finger trailing up to play with a lock of his white hair.
The blond eagerly opened his present, only to find himself squirming at the ridiculous amount of chocolate Near had managed to fit in that box.
"Puccini's truffles all the way from Amsterdam?" He looked at Near in disbelief. "Scharffen Berger chocolate bars?! Oh and Vosges Haut-Chocolate! Teuscher!"
Matt and Near couldn't help but chuckle at the over enthusiastic reactions the other was making. The latter with a big grin planted on his expression as he had undeniably managed to please one of his partners.
"I am glad you liked them"
"Thank you! You REALLY didn't have to, but thank you." Mello managed to voice, as an almost indistinguishable blush spread across his cheeks.
They both turned to look at Matt, who proceeded to open his present.
"OH MY GOSH! Final Fantasy V Advance! I have been wanting this since it came out a month ago."
"I know you have Matty."
"Natey!" Matt jumped from his chair and hugged Near, planting several kisses in as many places as he could. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
The smothered boy started laughing. "Anytime"
Footsteps and voices started nearing, getting too close for comfort. After all, they couldn't really let anyone know about them. The matter would only complicate things, and they quite enjoyed the freedom to do as they pleased.
"Perhaps it's time to move this elsewhere, I'd like to thank Natey properly too." The eldest of the three grinned.
The trio headed back to Near's room which was his and his alone. They all tumbled on the oldest boy hugged the youngest tightly, pulling the boy towards him and planted a kiss on his forehead.
"You are the cutest thing."
"I still have one more prize for both of you." A sly grin appearing on his usually angelic face.
"Oh?" The blond interjected, while Matt's attention had been completely deviated from the new game he had just received.
Near stared at Mello's sparkling blue eyes, before engaging in a very passionate kiss that left both of them breathless. Matt's mouth went dry at the sight and was himself craving for some attention, luckily he didn't even had to ask. Near proceeded to launch himself toward the redhead next and attack his mouth just as intensely as he had done the other teen.
"Feeling bold today are we?" Matt teased, once his mouth was released.
"I know I can be, or rather appear, apathetic at times." He made a small pause and shifted nervously. "But I want you both to know how much you mean to me. You changed my life, took me out of my shell and for the first time in my life I don't have to pretend, I can be myself and let all the mile long walls down. I need you to know that, how I can't possible imagine my world without you and how I often question how was I able to survive this long without this. Whatever this is. For everything you have done for me thus far I thank you, these past three months have been perfect and I can't help but to hope for many more to come."
Tears started pooling on the young boy's eyes, but he continued.
"Matty" He looked at him." You saw right through me, when I started feeling this attraction to both of you and encouraged me with subtle hint and reciprocating my stolen stares and blushes. You never questioned it nor rejected me."
He turned to the other boy. "Mellow, I never thought you could feel anything other than hate for me, yet here we are. If it weren't for Matty, I probably would have never acted on my feelings.I fancy nothing but your happiness and I never wish to see you worry about competing with me again, since I am entirely yours."
At this point Near had been freely letting his tears pour. He was speaking from his heart, opening completely to the men he so fervently loved. Both Matt and Mello were staring at him with lovestruck smiles and as soon as he was done talking they tossed themselves towards him and embrace him tightly.
"Silly Natey, we know. We know all of that." Matt assured.
"You are ours N. And I will never again worry about competing with you, I promise." The other boy cooed.
"I love you both so much" He sobbed.
"We love you too Neaty" The other too purred, refusing to ever let go such precious and fragile being tangled in between them.
They spent the rest of the day together. Mello laid against the headboard with his knees up, a book in his hand and a box of his newly acquired chocolates next to him. Matt sat by his feet one arm resting on the formers knees deeply enthralled by his new game and Near laid across Mello's waist relaxing and staring out the window at the children playing outside. Neither could fathom a better place to be.
The next day, Matt and Mello surprised the white haired genius with a belated anniversary present. The boy was thrilled with his brand new red, yellow and white 5,000 piece puzzle, an adorably cute robot plushy, he would never sleep without again, and an intricately carved chess set.
Thanks for Reading ^_^