"Mello."
"Near."
The two boys acknowledged each other. If was early in the morning. The sun had not yet fully risen, yet the two young boys had come.
"He really was a great man," the smaller of the two commented. "That he was. Finally, something we can agree on," the older one agreed. The eleven year old known as Near sat down in front of the large cross. Mello, now fifteen, joined him, looking in awe at the stone. "Do you think a lot of people loved him?" Near asked. Mello nodded in response. "Do you think he loved a lot of people?" the older one retorted.
Near began twisting his white curls around his pointed finger, a habit. "Probably more than he let on. I have a feeling he loved Mr. Wammy, maybe he had some friends," Near said, never taking his eyes off the stone. "Us?" Mello thought out loud. There was a silence. "Near, did he?" Mello asked again, a but firmer. "I don't know. I have a slight hunch he did, but I'm afraid to get my hopes up. This is just something I would hate to be wrong about," Near said, hugging his knees to his chest.
Mello pulled out his chocolate bar and gave it a crunch. Near pulled out a white, edgeless puzzle piece. After flipping it in his palm a few times, he set it on the soil in front of the grave. "What are you doing?" Mello questioned with a raised brow. Near sighed. "It's stupid," he mumbled. "No, what is it?" Mello asked, swallowing his mouth full of chocolate. "I just don't want L to get bored in heaven," Near whispered.
Mello wrapped the remaining foil around his chocolate and set it beside the puzzle piece. "Don't want him getting hungry either," he said, sending a small smile in the child's direction. Near looked as though he was thinking something over. After a few seconds, he threw his arms around Mello. Mello almost fell back, but caught himself with one arm. Mello's legs were stretched out, helping him steady himself. Near buried his head in the teen's shoulder.
Using his free arm, Mello hugged Near back, almost reluctantly. "Mello? Why do you hate me?" Near whispered. "Because... Near, I-" he couldn't finish his sentence. He stopped at the quiet sniffle. "Hey, don't cry! L never cried," he said, trying to calm the child. Near nodded and scooted away from Mello.
Their fingers stayed interlocked as the sun began to rise and people began to leave their homes. "Maybe we could work together sometime?" Near said quietly. To his surprise, Mello nodded. "Love you," he said, trying to cover it with a cough. "You too," Near smiled in understanding. Mello smiled back and the boys turned to walk to their homes.
Near slowly trudged to Wammy's House and Mello walked briskly to his warehouse.
But not after a goodbye.
"Mello."
"Near."