Deal

Nami Child

Author's Note: Sadly, I don't own Death Note. These characters belong to Ohba-san and Obata-san. And um... This is my very first fanfic, so please be nice! Constructive criticism is lovely! Review? :D

The children were gathered at the foot of Roger's office, staring at the locked door and awaiting (with sick glee) the verdict. Of course, they didn't like punishments, but just as we stop and stare at a car accident -anticipating the outcomes- they also wanted to see the results of rebellion. Because there was a student behind those locked, heavy doors who has chosen to ignore all the rules and regulations, and has decided to do whatever he pleases. That student was Mello- the second most gifted, the second child at Wammy's House who had the ability to gain the title of the World's Greatest. However, being the second didn't suit his tastes at all, ergo he felt the need to show that he could be number one at things that no child at Wammy's would think of doing. For example, last week it was buying a vintage Harley Davidson motorbike and riding it through the streets of Winchester, despite the rules that clearly prohibited any student from leaving the orphanage grounds after seven pm. After he got caught, or rather, after he showed no need to hide from the cameras, nor the eyes of the guards, he was called into Roger's office. Mello didn't really care. His reply to the obvious wrongdoings was "It was before seven pm, Roger. Hell, it was three in the morning! Besides, there's no rule that forbids me from going off grounds early in the morning." Hearing such an intelligent argument, Roger merely shook his head and Mello knew that he was off the hook… For the millionth time.

However, this week was entirely different. The blond rebel was in Roger's office for more than half an hour. This wasn't a very happy omen. The young kids- who undoubtedly looked up to Mello- sat fidgeting and sharing anxious glances, very unlike the older kids. They were standing on their toes, excited to see the "Great Mello" humiliated and punished. Only a small handful of kids did not care for the drama; children like Near and Matt. Matt was hunched over his DS battling fictional monsters, whereas Near... He was in that room only because that's where he usually was. In a corner, playing with his robots and other somewhat evil-looking puppets.

Mello was staring at the wall behind Roger. Don't make eye contact with that dumbass, he told himself over and over and over again. His entire face was hurting, but he didn't care. He won after all; the sweet flavour of victory bursting at the back of his throat. Nevertheless, it ached, and he was sporting large purplish bruises on his face, as well as a bloody nose and a swollen lip. It also hurt to breathe. But he had to, didn't he? If he wanted to be the next L... He had to keep on breathing, even if it hurt.

"Mello. Why in the world would you go to a bar?" Roger rubbed his face, making an awful paper-y sound. Oh, how I hate your face. "I've put up with so many of your rebellious schemes... This is getting ridiculous." My rebellious schemes...? You're too kind. Asshole. "The entire structure of rules Watari came up with for your own sake and safety had to be changed, just so you don't end up in a heap of trouble!" Heap of trouble, my ass. "I'd understand your actions if you were in a prison, instead of this fancy orphanage, but come on! You are given countless opportunities that others would die for, but you seem to care more about a life... A life of a criminal!" He stood up and walked over to the window, turning his back at Mello. Thank the Lord Almighty.

"Anything you want to say for yourself?"

Mello thought for a while. He hasn't said a word since he arrived, which was no more than an hour ago. He wondered if it would hurt to speak, just as it hurt to breathe. It was a long time for him to go without an angry remark, though. It would seem strange if he didn't reply in his usual way... In his usual, signature don't-fuck-with-me attitude. But soon enough his thoughts channeled towards Roger. He hates us... No surprise there... Agh... What an incompetent fool, he thought somewhat savagely. Just because he's used to living in comfort, doesn't mean that other people are like that too. Mello sighed. "No." Surprisingly his voice was as strong as ever, thus he decided to ask what everybody outside the office were dying to know.

"So, what's my punishment for living the life of a criminal, Roger?"

"Your punishment…?"

"Uh-huh." Mello rolled his eyes, expecting something really dumb and pointless.

"You are suspended from all your classes until further notice. You are to stay in your bedroom at all times and…" Roger scratched the back of his head thoughtfully "… No chocolate or anything that has high amounts of sugar for a month."

Mello scowled at the old man. Obviously, Roger knew that if he missed his classes, his grades would slip. And he left Mello with no power whatsoever to go and make up for the missed work because he was under "room-arrest". If this actually happens, Near will finally be the top student, and he could not allow that. But if Roger thinks this will keep him out of trouble, he is sadly mistaken.

"Am I dismissed?" He didn't wait for an answer, he simply stood up and walked over to the door. As he opened it, the large circle of Wammy's children was presented before him, blocking his path. Life was full of damned metaphors, wasn't it? Always throwing things in his way. It's fine, he thought, he won't stop me from succeeding L, because it is my destiny, and when I'm L they'll all obediently…

"…Get the hell out of my way." Mello was containing his anger and the sudden burst of inspiration, all at the same time. It was strange, but nothing new to Mello. He felt the same bizarre mix of emotions every time Near got a better mark than him. Of course it was obvious that the white-haired fool never studied, and simply got his marks without effort, but it was also widely known that with or without studying, Mello was still be able to get the same scores as Near, unless he got too emotional; which happened all the time. These thoughts did him no good... He was getting angrier by the second. Control yourself, Mello. You'll find a way to catch up with your work and then you can rub it in that idiot Roger's face. He knew he could do it. Just as he knew he was capable of being the next L; the next mirage that everyone else will strive towards… The next hero that everyone will want to be. And then there was the issue of chocolate... Roger was a real bitch this time-

His gaze fell on Near, who was silently playing in the corner. That bastard... He seemed to pay no attention to the entire epis-

"Yo, Mello!" He knew without looking that it was Subject- the handsome, athletic boy that every girl at Wammy's had a crush on. "Wait up!"

Oh, what the hell. Mello turned and, as he has thought, everyone was staring at him. No matter how much he enjoyed the attention, no matter how superior he felt when he was praised so openly, the thought of no chocolate for a month (for an entire month!) made his palms itch and his stomach churn. Chocolate wasn't a simple addiction that he had. It was something that he needed; something that was a complete part of him. Nobody should dare to take such a thing away. No one. Not even that dimwit Roger... Mello's thoughts trailed back to reality. He made a big show of stretching, his shirt riding up and revealing the bruised stomach. Usually, Mello wouldn't flaunt the bruises, thus the gesture was assumed to be accidental, and not considered coy, so no one really noticed. The blond watched (with no appreciation) the handsome kid try to dodge the children, who were scattered along the ground, so he could come closer to Mello. Once reaching his destination, Subject grinned as he saw Mello's beaten face up close. "Who won, ya rabid dog?"

"Who do you think?" Most people cheered at that. Except Matt, of course. He was busy racing or slitting people's throats; however, when the cheers died out, the redhead stood up and cracked his back. And with that out of the way, he approached his rebellious friend.

"Was the victory worth the punishment?" He grinned and high fived Mello. What an idiot. Obviously the victory wasn't worth the punishment… This pretense was ridiculous, especially after the little meeting with that dipshit. He had decided that he needed to leave. Unfortunately, he did not feel like having a grand exit, so he simply waved at Subject and everyone else who was admiring him and beckoned to Matt with a pointed look on his face.

"Matt, I gotta show you something." Mello took big strides towards the dorms, and Matt followed him- out of curiosity- with his hand still permanently glued onto his gaming device. When they reached Mello's room, he grabbed Matt's vest by the collar and shoved him inside, shutting the door with a slam.

"The hell?"

"I'm suspended from my classes." Mello made an angry gesture with his arms and walked towards his desk. He picked up a folder and a plastic bag filled with little black spheres and gave it to Matt. "I need you to "borrow" extra worksheets for me and place bugs in my classes so I could hear the lesson" Matt took the bag and looked at Mello with disbelief. Mello was never that calm when something that serious had happened.

"Dude... You okay? Why aren't you throwing a tantrum?" Matt reached in to touch the blond's forehead. "Have you got a fever?"

Mello slapped his hand away. "Are you gonna help me or should I take away all your gaming consoles and force you to help me?" That seemed to catch his attention. Why is he so damn predictable? He smiled for once. Actually smiled- not smirked, nor sneered- smiled.

"But I skip. It'd be weird if I showed up in all of my classes." The blond shook his head vigorously, his hair catching lights.

"That's why you accidentally-on-purpose walk into my classroom and trip or something, because you were so enthralled in your game!"

Matt nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense… But you owe me a cig pack! I ain't gonna ever go outside after what happened last time with the clerk." Mello didn't want to know what happened with the clerk, but he remembered the time Matt came back from his usual sneak-for-a-cig looking very embarrassed and somewhat angry. He never asked what happened, simply because it might have been one of those Matt-is-antisocial moments.

But after hearing his reply, Mello was shaking with excitement and the after-effects of boiling rage. "Deal." Matt playfully punched his best friend on the shoulder, and winked "Don't do anything dumb, Mels." And as soon as the blond registered what Matt implied, the gamer was already out of the room, running for his life.

"MATT, YOU IDIOT!" But he didn't really mean it.

With Matt gone, Mello looked outside. I'll be number one, no matter how much you try and stop me. But he felt hopeless… There was the sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach that told him that maybe… Maybe no matter how much he tried, he'll never be number one. Especially since Near was in his way... Why could he be like Near? Why did he feel angry and sad? Why couldn't he just breathe without emotions...? Was it that hard? Because clearly, being emotionless was the exact reason why Near always had the upper hand. The reason why he was considered the next L. Absentmindedly he punched the wall with an immense force. WHY CAN'T I BE LIKE NEAR? Why? But the anger... The anger was gone just as quick as it appeared.

He sighed and shook his head. Being Mello is so difficult. Sometimes, he just felt like the entire world was against him. And then there was Near. That perfect little bastard… The root of Mello's problems. L's most likely successor. He scowled.

To hell with "room-arrest", I'm going to the kitchen.

And with that, Mello left his room, in hopes of finding his bitter-sweet chocolate.

A/N2Oh, I know Near's gotta be in there somewhere, but wait up! :D He's gonna come into the story soon enough /plots. Anything I should edit or update? Let me know, reviews are splendid!