Chapter One

The Beginning Of Us

Even as a child, Mello was content with being alone. Sure, he wasn't actually fully alone, but he was technically alone in his own world. He took pleasure in scaring the children at Wammy's, it was pure amusement. With his chocolate in hand and azure blue eyes dangerously narrowed, Mello got what he wanted. Soon, the other children just got used to it, though they did fear the blonde. And Mello liked it that way. Maybe that was why he hated Near as much as he did. The albino never seemed to be fazed by the blonde's presence, sometimes not even acknowledging it. And that pissed Mello off. That and the fact that Near was dubbed smarter than him as number one, leaving him number two. No Mello didn't like that at all.

Mello was only ten years old when Matt came to Wammy's. A year younger than himself, Matt had definitely been strange. Not that the other kids at Wammy's weren't just as weird, but Matt certainly stuck out. His hair was an unnatural fiery red and messily hung in his eyes which were covered by goggles, hiding eyes that Mello knew not the color of. The kid had been behind Roger who opened the door to the main room for everyone at Wammy's, at the time this room had many toys for the children who were said to be geniuses. Matt hadn't paid it any mind, simply standing there holding a DS in his hands with his fingers flying over the buttons.

Mello remembered having been sitting by the window, his favorite place to sit in the room. It was halfway hidden by the bookshelf which gave it a more private feeling and it was a window seat that had a few cushions comfortably placed there. He had turned his head to see the newcomer, narrowing his eyes with his chocolate just hovering an inch before his lips. Roger had spoken something to Matt to which the redhead didn't bother acknowledging, just stepped inside and allowed the man to close the door. Kids had stared at the boy, their eyes expectant and calculating as to what his next move would be. Apparently he finally realized everyone else's existence because he looked up and glanced around.

The older blonde had watched in an almost curious manner, waiting for him to do or say something. But he didn't. He stood there for a couple heartbeats then walked over to a chair maybe five meters away from Mello, sitting in an almost uncomfortable looking position before he returned his attention back to his game.

The other kids had slowly adjusted back into whatever they had been doing, all except Mello. He watched the new redhead before slipping from his window seat. He walked over to the chair and stood in front of it, snapping a piece of chocolate off his chocolate bar. It seemed as if Matt didn't notice him or was trying not to but after a few moments he glanced up.

"What's your name?" Mello had demanded, voice taking on its usual cold and almost snide tone.

"Matt." He answered blankly, blinking up at him. "Want something?"

Mello narrowed his pretty blue eyes and scowled. So the redhead already couldn't tell he was the leader of the children? Most kids caught on quickly. Maybe this kid was dumber than the orphanage thought he was. Either way, Mello decided he needed to be shown.

"Yes, Matt, I need you to know that you need to not get in my way around here." He said. Alright so it didn't sound so genius, even Mello had to admit, but it was warning enough.

The redhead blinked and shrugged, glancing back down at his game.

"Sure, I'll keep my stuff on my side of the room." He said in a simple tone, beginning to play his game with concentration again. Now that made Mello blink.

For a ten year old, Mello had managed to accomplish a lot at Wammy's. He had made one of the teachers cry then quit the next day, he had put a kid in the hospital for two weeks, he had managed to give Roger a bloody nose when the man had tried to cut him off of his chocolate addiction, and was the only kid that had his own chair in the 'think about your actions' room. Oh, and he had managed to scare and threaten every kid that tried to room with him. Yes, every time the orphanage assigned a boy to his room he successfully got them out in less than three days. Eventually Roger had given up, but now it seemed that he was getting testy again.

"You're not allowed in my room." Mello declared, his voice low and dangerous. Matt used one hand to play while shuffling around and digging the other hand in his pocket until he produced a key on a ring.

"But I have a key." He replied lightly, moving it quickly enough so that Mello couldn't snatch it away from him.

"If you step in that room…" Mello began to threaten and he could feel every kid looking at them now, interested in to how the new kid would react to Mello. "Then you're time here won't be pleasant."

"I didn't plan on it being pleasant from the beginning." Matt said, eyes still glued to the small screen.

Mello glared now, his chocolate clenched in one hand and beginning to melt in its wrapper, the top of it smearing on his fingers. The blonde leaned down so that their faces were inches apart, eyes locked on Matt. The redhead blinked and glanced up, sighing and pressing pause then shutting the DS.

"Look-" Mello started but Matt shook his head.

"You're going to have to suck it up because the room is ours. Okay?" Mat said, sounding almost weary because of the blonde.

Mellon was silent, not moving, and Matt stared at him back through his goggles. The blonde was furious but somehow a spark of interest flared in him. Without a word, he pulled back, scowling, and stomped out of the room.

Mello didn't see Matt for the rest of the afternoon. In fact, he didn't even see him at dinner. While the other kids stood in line then walked off to a table with a tray of food, Mello was concentrated on finding the strange new kid. His azure blue eyes travelled around the room, looking for that mop of flaming red hair. When he was finally growing annoyed about not finding him he could feel someone come up behind him. Before he could react he could feel hot breath on his neck near his ear.

"Looking for someone?" That almost smug voice behind him was now familiar. Mello turned to see Matt chuckling, looking completely comfortable.

And the thing was, Mello felt almost embarrassed, though he had never felt that way before. A light pink spread over his cheeks and his blue eyes narrowed at the redhead.

"No." He growled, picking up a tray.

Matt followed suit and stood behind him in line. He was silent as was Mello as they were served their food, then as Mello turned and walked towards a table near the window. No one was sitting there because since Mello came he had declared that to be his table and his only. Everyone respected that – mostly just fearing what the temperamental blonde would do if they crossed him. But now he could feel Matt following him, hear his footsteps behind his. He sat and set his tray on the table, sitting slowly. The redhead just sat across from him, seeming unfazed by the cold glare Mello gave.

"This is my table." He growled. Matt raised his eyebrows.

"You sure are possessive." Matt commented as he lifted his fork.

They were silent and Mello didn't make any more comments about Matt sitting at his table. He decided to give the redhead one mercy, he was new. He was nibbling on his food when he looked up to see eyes behind orangey/greenish goggles staring directly at him.

"What?" The boy growled and Matt blinked. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you look like a girl?" Matt asked innocently.

Everyone's eyes looked over to Mello's table upon hearing a chair scrape on the floor then a loud slam. They widened when they could see the new kid's body a little distance from the table now, his chair on its side a little ways away. Mello was above him, pinning the male's body to the ground and holding his arms above his head. The blonde raised one fist and punched the younger's jaw, glaring. Matt didn't even try to move away from the punch and confused Mello. The redhead merely stared up at him, barely reacting. Mello was about to lay another punch when an idea struck him.

Now he didn't know why he was so curious, or why he saved his last minute before an adult came to pull him off Mello just to find out, but he wanted to know what color Matt's eyes were. He released the male's wrists, which surprisingly didn't even move afterwards, and reached down to remove his goggles, pushing them off and tossing them to the side. His blue eyes looking down and his lips parted slightly, his body stopping any movement. Because he was staring into the most brilliant green eyes he had ever seen.

Matt just stared back, now seeing Mello without the orange tint of his goggles. Mello's blonde hair looked just as soft as before, gently framing his face that was usually curled into a dark scowl. The bright blue eyes were truly beautiful, and his skin was creamy and flawless. But the blonde was more interested in staring down at the other. Matt's eyes were glittering with the light, their color so radiant that it shocked Mello. Albeit his eyes had a bit of a shadow beneath them from lack of sleep but they were still incredible. The two boys were silent, now quite aware of each other's presence, as they stared at one another.

A moment later and an adult appeared, grabbing Mello and pulling him off Matt. The redhead was still for a moment before he stood, locating his goggles and pulling him back over his eyes, hiding those radiant green orbs from the rest of the world. Mello was being pulled out of the cafeteria by his arm but he glanced back to see Matt staring at him too.

Mello had been dragged to the 'think about your actions' room where he was sat in his own chair and lectured about violence etc. etc. But, as usual, he didn't pay attention to that. Instead he remembered the way Matt's green eyes had stared up at his with interest and…admiration? Matt was pulled to the infirmary, a precaution. Most of the adults were always worried when Mello did something and insisted that he go, despite the fact that he told them he was fine.

After they had checked him over and gave him some ice for his swelling jaw, he had been sent back to his – their room. He held the ice to the already beginning to bruise mark until he was out of any adult's view then tossed it. He rubbed it for a moment, wincing but deciding that he was fine. He walked the rest of the way down the hallway to their room, the very last one, and pulled out his key.

But just as he retrieved the small key the doorknob twisted and slowly the door opened. Mello stood there, a blank expression on his face as he looked at Matt. The redhead was silent but stared back, wondering if Mello would let him. And then the blonde, keeping his eyes on Matt, slowly pushed the door open further, just enough for Matt to enter. The redhead stared for a moment more, which made Mello's lips curve down.

"Well are you coming in?" He muttered quietly. And then he watched as Matt's soft looking lips curved up slightly before he stepped around the blonde into the room.

And that was the moment the two became inseparable.