Written (quickly) for Mello and Matt's deathday. It's not incredible, but I had to have something to post, because it's the date right down to the year, and that only happens once.

I don't own them.

Lifeline

"Here. Have a bite."

Matt looked up from his videogame, raising his eyebrows. Mello was stretched languidly out on the couch, staring up at the chipped paint of the ceiling, waving his chocolate bar in Matt's direction.

"…You know I don't like chocolate," the redhead said, instead of pointing out the very obvious fact that Mello was offering, which meant something was wrong. But of course he already knew what that was, so there was really no point.

The blonde turned to look at him, eyes narrow. "Damnit, Matt! Of course I know that! I'm offering to share. You should take full advantage of that." The dark tissues of his scar crinkled as he glared.

Matt signed in resignation, setting his handheld to the side and crawling over. What Mello wanted, Mello got, after all. He took a bite of the proffered chocolate, swallowing it before the candy had to chance to melt and spread its taste. Even so…

"It's too sweet," said the gamer, making a face. "I don't know how you can eat so much of it."

Something flickered across Mello's face and he set his jaw, turning over so his back was to Matt. "Yeah, well, sorry for trying to be nice for once," he muttered bitterly.

The redhead smiled a little, climbing up onto the sofa and over Mello, getting between him and the back of the couch. "Come off it. Just think of how much you would hate it if I tried to make you play my games." He settled into the cushions, looping his arm around Mello's waist. "You don't have to be nice. I love you anyway."

The blonde frowned at him. "How can you be so calm? I mean… I know you're a laid-back kind of guy, but… even when you're facing a suicide mission-" his eyes dropped guiltily at this. "-Even now, you're still so… collected."

"Well, you've been really out of it for a while," Matt replied cheerfully. "If I started to freak out, too, where would you be? I am the stable one, after all."

Instead of getting annoyed, Mello sighed, shifting closer and returning the embrace, shutting his eyes against the soft cotton of his redhead's shirt and listening to his heartbeat.

And as they lay together, mere hours before their time was up, the same thought crossed both of their minds.

Really… Where would I be without you?