Well, I thought I would do something for Near's birthday and I really hope you enjoy it.
So, happy Birthday to my favourite cotton ball!
It's not like Near actually acknowledges that it's his birthday (he's not sure if he's ever done), but for a second it still feels different getting out of bed and no longer being twelve. When he turns his head, he sees a toy robot with a small red bow standing on his bedside table. He should have asked Roger for a new puzzle instead, Near thinks – and to not enter the room in the middle of the night.
There's a knock on the door, and thinking it might be Roger (which seems unlikely, but still the most probable scenario), he calls, "Come in."
But it's Mello.
"I, uh, got you this," he says and throws a small box onto the bed, where it bounces off and lands on the floor with a soft rattle.
"You looked at my file," Near says, as he picks it up and comes to stand before Mello.
The box is even wrapped in some hideous paper with a reindeer pattern he recognizes from last Christmas. His throat feels very dry all of a sudden.
"Yeah, well, whatever you saw mine, I thought it'd be only fair."
It's true, Near supposes, and it's not like he hasn't expected Mello to, sooner or later. His chest feels really tight and he's not sure what to make of it, and he wants to say something, but he isn't sure what. This really isn't something Near is used to.
But it appears Mello isn't waiting for a response anyway, because he leans forward and presses their mouths together. His lips are chapped and dry, and his hands are soft and clammy, as he brings them up to the sides of Near's face.
Near feels even more out of his depth now, and he thinks he should close his eyes, or do something with his hands, but before he can do either, Mello's already pulled away again.
"Happy birthday," he says in a strange voice, and his hands are still cupping Near's face, and Near wants to say something smart, but he can't find his voice.
Mello looks at him for a moment, like he actually expects him to, but then he lets go and leaves.
Near watches him walk away for a while.
Mello's almost down the hallway, before Near finally calls, "Thank you!" after him.
"Go fuck yourself!" There's a pause. Then, "I expect a present on my birthday, too!"
"Okay!" Near answers, but he's not sure if Mello's even heard him.