Matt sat by the window of his fourth story apartment; boot clad feet propped up on the windowsill and cigarette in hand. The sun was just setting, throwing fiery shades of reds and yellows on the mold stained walls. He noticed long ago that the wallpaper had started to turn an empty shade of grey and begun to tear and peel down to the baseboards, leaving plaster in its wake. The plaster crumbled to the floor and merged with USB cables and Ethernet cords as they snaked about the threadbare neutral carpet. Computers were strewn about the room haphazardly, laptops and PCs, five total. They produced an electric blue haze that started to envelop the room in a calming light, clashing with Matt's copper red strains of hair. He brushed said strains from his cheek and pulled his orange tinted goggles from his face, letting them rest on the pale skin of his collarbone.

His eyes shown the haze blue of the monitors and he closed them slowly, taking in the soft hum of processors and cooling fans. He took a drag on his cigarette letting the sensation of the toxins sooth his body. He had never felt more at home than at that moment. The silence, the electricity, the poison… it was perfect.

The door swung open, hitting the wall in the process. Plaster clattered to the floor and Matt just about jumped right out of his skin. His cigarette went flying to the floor, red ash spraying across the carpet:

"Matt… I need you to check up on Amane Misa for me," Mello barked as he passed the red head. He conveyed pure energy; deadly, eccentric, and addictive. "Tell me everything that you can find about her… I think I have a lead."

"Jesus Fucking CHRIST Mello…" Matt protested, mourning the lost of his fallen cigarette as he stamped it out. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a fresh one, lighting it and taking a drag.

"I'll take that as a 'Yes Sir,'" Mello replied, walking over to the black leather couch. He splayed himself onto its cushions, placing his hands behind his head and glancing at the ceiling. "I just have this feeling. Amane fits the mold of the second Kira. I know that the notebook is close. If only I could grab it…" Mello reached his leather glove clad hand into the air, making a fist as if to emphasize his point all the more. Matt couldn't help but smirk. Matt ran on Mello's energy… his electricity was empowering. He admired Mello's presence for a few moments, taking in the blonde's energy… getting his fix.

Matt turned his back to Mello as his fingers ticked away at the keyboard, searching and penetrating systems for information. He wanted to find something… anything that would give them a hint as to her whereabouts. Matt wanted to be as helpful as possible; after all, Mello had gone to all that trouble to track him down. Matt remembered that day well, he hadn't thought that he'd ever see Mello again. Then unexpectedly, Mello had shown up at his hotel room:

Matt had only been staying there for about a day or two. He'd never bothered to change his clothes in those few days. He still wore his black and white stripped shirt, his blue jean pants and leather boots… and of course, his orange goggles. When Kira appeared Matt decided that the excitement was too much for him. His anxiety had kicked in hard and he wanted to hide away for a few days until it passed. He was hibernating from the world, video games and consoles cluttered the floors and tables of the hotel suite. Candy wrappers, chips and paper cups lay everywhere, forgotten and abandoned. He had everything he needed there: games, computers, cigarettes, a nice kitchenette with a bar… everything.

The curtains were drawn; no light was able to enter the suite except for the artificial glow of the games he played. He escaped into their world, pulled in by an intoxicating desire to become non-existent. So far, it was working perfectly. Then an unexpected knock at the door jerked him from his world.

Matt paused his video game, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Perhaps the sound had come from somewhere else, or perhaps he was just imagining it. He looked around the room, pulling his goggles from his eyes, looking for something that could have sounded like a knock. Perhaps a beer bottle had fallen on the hardwood floor. The knock came again, one short rap and then three fast pounds.

Matt's heart stopped.

"It can't be…" He muttered to himself. As if replying to his unspoken question the knock came again, this time two short raps and two fast pounds. Matt jumped up from his spot. That was the last part of the knock… the signal. Matt tripped over to the door, stepping on video game cases and chips in the process, cursing silently to himself.

He pressed his face against the door, the cool metal bonding with his flushed cheek. He lined up the peek hole with his azure eye. The light in the hallway washed the colors from the person standing in front of the door. Matt observed them: it looked to be a young woman, a blonde… wearing leather…

"That's no woman…" Matt thought to himself. His stomach turned, he pulled his face from the peek hole. Should he open the door? How long had it been since their last fight? Mello had seemed serious when he had told Matt that he never wanted to see his face again. Was this a test?

His stomach lurched again as he slid the lock from its resting place. He paused for a minute, making sure that this was what he wanted to do. He knew that his fate would be sealed if he opened that door. Bringing Mello back into his life would ensure his death. Nevertheless, when you put drugs in front of an addict… they can't help but take the hit, and Matt hadn't had a hit in ages.

Matt turned the doorknob and pulled the door open.

Mello didn't say a word as he entered the dark room. He passed Matt swiftly, his head down and body ridged. He simply walked in, sat down and spread his arms across the back of the couch. He stared at the paused video game in front of him.

"MGS4 huh…" Mello trailed off.

Matt stood by the door, hand on the knob and door still wide open. It was like a dream. It had been years since he last saw Mello… since they last talked and now Mello casually walked into his life as if nothing had happened. Matt sighed as he closed the door. He knew this game all too well. Hell, he could play it on the hardest setting, no cheats, with his eyes closed and still come out with the top score.

But Matt didn't feel like playing this game today. He walked over to Mello and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of his game. This game he could play, he could predict, he wasn't attached to this game. He un-paused MGS4 and continued to play. He wanted to disappear, had he made the wrong decision? It was too late to worry about that now.

The silence seeped through the room like a virus. Mello was getting angry, Matt could feel it. If he didn't respond to Mello's attempt to be friendly soon, he would have to fight the boss. Very well:

"I have a few hours of game play left before I beat it," Matt replied. Dodge… boss battle avoided. Ten points toward shields. Matt could feel Mello's anger retreat. His adrenaline raised, somehow being able to control Mello's emotions like that gave him a high.

"I…" Mello started but faded when Matt paused his game and turned to face him. Matt rested his body weight on his hands as he leaned back waiting for Mello to continue. Mello looked up from his lap. He glanced at Matt and looked down again. Something was wrong.

Matt leaned forward, trying to catch Mello's eyes, when he finally did, he simply said "what is it?"

It wasn't said kindly, or with anger… just simply a response to let Mello know he was listening. Yes... he knew this game.

"I need you…" Mello said. Matt's stomach turned. Somehow he loved the fact that Mello needed him, needed his assistance. "I have to find someone and I need you're help," Mello finished.

"You want to find Kira? You want the notebook… I'm in…" Matt said. Mello smirked at him. Matt always knew just what to say.

That moment had only been a few weeks ago, and Matt remembered every detail perfectly.

"I need you…" Mello had said. It wasn't the first time Mello had said that to him. Somehow, it always made him feel significant. Just a few weeks ago, he wanted to disappear from the world, never to be bothered. He had wanted to lose himself in his video games forever. But now, ever since Mello had said those three words Matt felt like he could tear the whole fucking world down. All he needed was his video games, his computers and Mello by his side… his drug, the one thing that motivated him more than anything.

Together they could take on the world.

"Here…" Matt trailed off as he pointed at one of the computer monitors. Mello jumped up and rushed to stand behind Matt. "Misa commented that she's dating Yagami Raito. Yagami-san is working on the Kira case," Matt finished. He turned to face Mello as the words faded from his lips. Mello's eyes turned a very mischievous shade of green.

"I know Raito is the first Kira. Amane is definitely the second… will you follow her for me, Matt?" Mello asked, adding the last part "for me," deliberately, knowing that Matt wouldn't say no to him. The game continued…

"Sure," Matt replied, attempting to sound bored with the whole situation. "Let me lock in the location of her last event, I can follow her from there. I'll plant some bugs in her home tomorrow night and we'll go from there."

Mello smirked silently. Just as he thought, Matt couldn't help but follow every order Mello gave. All Mello had to do was speak and Matt came running to his call just like a dog.

Even so, this dog belonged to Mello and he wanted to make sure that it came back to him… and only him. Mello placed his hands on Matt's shoulders, snaking his arms around Matt's neck, hugging him tightly as he lowered his face next to Matt's cheek. The sudden contact made Matt jerk away from the touch, his social anxiety kicking in. He started shaking from the contact, his breathing hitched and his heart raced… he wanted to escape. Mello held him tight, letting him struggle against his chest until Matt finally gave up. He hated being so close to other humans, but that didn't stop him from reveling in the affection Mello gave him. Mello very rarely showed Matt any sign of affection, but when he did Matt couldn't help but feel empowered… needed.

"Make sure you look for the notebook…" Mello whispered into Matt's ear, letting his breath tickle Matt's cheek. Just like giving the dog a pat on the head, it was so easy. Matt closed his eyes as his breathing slowed, he waited for the contact to end. Mello lingered a moment or two longer letting the physical contact sink into Matt's brain, letting him remember the kindness. Mello released Matt quickly and walked over to one of the computers. He sat down and began to type.