Click.
Pause.
Click.
Mello was not a patient person. Everyone knew that. Near, fucking Near, knew that, and yet he still sat there and purposely took an eternity to finish the puzzle he'd been working on- which, coincidentally, had been from the moment Mello had walked in. Trained or not, Near's underlings were entirely too easy to sneak past.
Click. Another piece slid into place.
A slightly longer pause.
"...Are you trying to keep me here or something?"
The snowy-haired male seated on the floor stretched out a hand to slowly grasp another blank division of his puzzle. "Yes."
Mello coughed awkwardly. He'd never thought of Near as one to dance around an answer or lie, but sometimes his rival was a little too blunt for him. "Well, why?"
"I have never felt anything but liking for Mello." Sliding another part into place, he stopped to stare of the pile of pieces yet to be used. "I enjoy Mello's company."
The blonde almost choked on the bite of chocolate he'd been swallowing. "You...you what?"
"I do not understand why Mello hates me. I believe this must stem from his competitive personality."
A snort. "I don't understand why you don't feel the same way. And there has to be a reason besides the fact that you supposedly enjoy my company that you're trying to extend the time I stay here."
Near's lips twitched into a lightning fast smile, gone as soon as it had come. "Mello does not seem eager to leave either, as he could have stated his business and left an hour ago."
Dammit! Mello could feel his ears burning in embarrassment and mild irritation. Near was right. Why hadn't he?
"I don't completely hate you."
Near's pale hand froze before it could pluck up another fragment and push it into position, but he said nothing.
"If you're expecting me to elaborate, I won't." Huffed Mello, already thinking that that one statement had been enough.
"I see. And why has Mello felt the need to tell me this?"
Click.
"You know what they say. You gotta tell people what you wanna say before your time runs out." Shit, he'd given away too much.
The younger male lifted his dark gaze to Mello, his stare burning into the other's. The blonde was determined not to look away.
"...And why does Mello think that his time is running out-"
"No reason."
Respecting Mello's silence, as well as his too-fast reply, Near returned his full concentration to his activity.
Click. Click.
Mello watched as the second to last segment was completed. Quietly, Near twirled a lock of his hair, staring at the floor where the disarray of pure white portions of a puzzle had once been.
"...this one has been missing a piece for a long time now." He spoke, voice at a monotone level as always. "I have yet to discover its location."
His blonde rival reached habitually into a front pocket, fingering the curved edges of the wooden object inside. "That's too bad."
"Yes. But it is most likely in a safe place." Although Near's face was impassive, Mello could see- somehow his adversary knew.
With a sigh, the older successor straightened; he figured it was about time to leave.
"See you around, Nate."
Looking almost startled at the use of his real name, Near hesitated before nodding.
"Be safe, Mihael."
As Mello left the room, grey eyes latched on to the photograph sent fluttering to the ground.
The only thing left to remember him by.
Written for DeadlyValentines on deviantart, who kindly donated her wig and her pants (xD) to my Near cosplay~. She's gonna be Mello and her sister will be Matt, so xD Fun fun fun!
Erm, anyways. This is supposed to be set a little bit before Mello goes off to kidnap Takada, if you can't tell...which, you might not. xD I don't really know how I feel about this piece.
Hope you enjoyed; thanks for reading!