" Damn it! Near beat me again!" Mello vented.

He stomped around the room, which was littered with empty video game cases, controls, and wires all connected to various screens. Now, a small pile of discarded chocolate bar wrappers was also joining the mess, as Mello ate bar after bar, his anger spurring him on.

Matt leaned back on his bunk, grunting. At Wammy's house, the two of them were room mates.

" Don't give me that!" Mello screamed. He thrust the test results in the video gamer's face. " Do you see that⁉ Near beat me by 2.2%!"

Matt actually couldn't see it, considering the proximity of the page, but he nodded meekly, returning his eyes to the screen, where his character was currently kicking ass.

Mello seemingly ignored his lack of response, instead storming to the other side. " I'll never be good enough. Never. Near always prevails. I'm such a loser," he moaned. " Getting beat by a freakin' twelve year old. What have I come to?"

Matt frowned as his character got knocked over. He was battling two others, but as soon as he hit the ground, they ignored him, instead brawling against each other and completely ignoring him.

" I don't know what I'm going to do if Near wins. I'll be regarded as the biggest loser at Wammy's house," Mello whined.

Now one of the characters turned to Matt, stomping him into the sand. They were beaten up as well, but they continued to smash him down, unrelentlessly.

" I'll be the lowest of the low," Mello groaned.

Now the character that was just beating Matt stood up, walking way. The two characters continued at it, and Matt was forgotten.

' Nothing but sand...'

" Hey, are you even listening to me! My life might depend on whether I win against him or not-"

" Shut up," Matt said softly.

" Huh? What was that?" Mello asked, leaning in.

Matt's head shot up. " I said, shut the hell up!"

Mello's eyes widened.

" Matt?"

Matt wasn't finished. His eyes glowed behind his goggles. " Do you know how tired I am of your bitching? Your not the only one in this world, ya know! It's all about ' the next L,' and ' wah, Near got a better score than me on this test'‼ It's all about Near, Near, Near! ALL FREAKING NEAR‼" he exclaimed.

Mello stepped forward slightly, hand extending. " Matt, what do you-"

" Get away from me!" Matt yelled, slapping his hand away.

Mello grabbed his hand, hurt showing in his eyes. " Matt..."

Matt looked straight back at him, and to Mello's surprise, there were tears fogging up his goggles. " I don't even know you any more, Mells. It's lonely down here, ya know?"

Mello came closer, about to grab his shoulder. " Matt, why did you-"

" Please." Matt turned away stonily, eyes focussed on the screen. " Please, can you just give me some time alone?"

Mello stepped back, hand dropping away. " But why-"

" Now!" Matt yelled.

Mello flinched, turning away. " Fine," he said flatly. He exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

Matt went back to his game. The two that he had been battling previously were now far away, just dots on the horizon.

Matt growled, pulling the plug and blacking out the screen. He threw himself on his stomach, twisting the blankets in his fists.

' On the horizon. That's where Mello and Near will be soon. Far away from me.'

Matt took of his goggles, rubbing at his eyes.

It was lonely at the bottom.


Mello's shoulders shook as he brushed back his bangs, leaning on the door outside their room.

" You idiot," he choked, tears running down his face.

" It's lonely at the top, too!"


(AN) I just wrote this on a whim. I'm not a particular fan of either of these characters, but I thought this would be a nice little one shot.

Well? What do you think? Were they in character?
Please comment and favorite!