AN: Here comes chapter 2. And I have to say something. Some of you may have heard of my dislike for MelloxNear. Yeah. I don't like seeing them together. But, I've read some very good fics with them and found out about something: if Matt is somehow okay with it, it's okay. So I hate it, but I wrote some. And anyway, you'll see the romance isn't so developed (you won't see the mention of any sex in this fic I'm afraid, sorry to the pervert ones^^ but this is a friendship fic.)

I did a little change you might notice quickly. From now on, the parts in the present, are still in italics but it's also centred so I can use italic in other parts of the story, for written messages.

Be careful of the dots separating paragraphs, they also mean you change the scene.

Disclaimer: Let's pretend I wrote Death note. Let's pretend I'm that creative. Let's pretend I'm that smart. Why would I have waited for more than a year to publish this? Absurd. So I don't own DN.

Previously in Near and Matt:'So they had grown up together, remaining best friends, without interruption. And then…

Then came Mello.'

Enjoy!

Near and Matt

Chapter two: Love

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Where is the red car heading to? Even Near can't answer this question. Knowing the one driving, he may not know himself. Just let things play out and see what happens. Gevanni moves on his right. He seems to see something Near hasn't. Strange. He's becoming increasingly paler. Something is wrong and he doesn't know what.

.

Ah! Mello. A mix between the sun and thunder. That's how Matt had described him once he had met the boy. Near could remember how hard it had been for him to refrain a snicker. It wasn't usual to have Matt this sappy. However, he had understood the first time he had seen this new resident. As fair as the sun, as loud as the thunder. The boy had looked at him straight into the eyes and had seemed not to care at all. Near had found it fascinating. The problem was, Matt had too. And Near had found out being third could be useful. Because as the days went by, the white haired genius had become the first in line. Mello was second. The tragedy of their life. And Matt, as usual, was third. So, as Near had been on the receiving hand of the blond's wrath, the video games addict had managed to become his best friend. But surprisingly, even though the two childhood friends knew Matt's feelings for the new boy, he didn't act on them, and Mello and he remained friends. Why? Near wasn't sure his friend was considerate enough to do it because of the white head's own feelings. Maybe it was because he feared the blond would be disgusted. Then again, with Matt, it could be anything, really. And one day, it was too much for Near, and the drama really began.

Young thirteen year old Near was as red as a tomato, looking at Mello with big eyes, his voice high and unclear, stuttering like mad.

"Mello, I… I…"

NO.

This is Near we are talking about. So, even if he was stressed enough to act like that, the scene had not been this emotional.

The play room was silent, except for the music coming from Matt's games. Mello was in the room and Near was there too. There were no screaming or violent cussing involved. It was a rare occurrence, this quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The chocolate-fan was looking above the games-fan's shoulder, the light of the screen giving his eyes a strange glint, waiting for the boy to be finished with his game. Or well, to win. With Matt, those two words were synonymous. The puzzle-fan was playing with his own toys. Or well, trying to. He was still going over his talk with Matt last night.

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"Matt, do you think I'd have a chance?" Near's voice was unusually shy. He was still looking at his toys, but his body was stiffer than usual, and it seemed the toys would fall from his hand any moment.

"I don't know, I don't talk about this kind of things with him, I don't want to…" Matt hadn't raised his eyes as well. His back leaned on the wall, the feet dug in the carpet, anyone would have thought he wasn't paying attention. Anyone but the other boy in the room (or Mello for that matter).

"Matt can talk the truth, I know I'm not Mello's favourite person anyway. Matt should know I can see through any lie." Although the white head's tone was just as blank as usual, it was clear he was trying to distance himself from the matter at end. The redhead glanced at him. Yes, the top student's shoulders were lower than usual. He wasn't angry, just desperate. Matt stopped his game and looked at Near's face. Where exactly? The goggles didn't let anyone know.

"And that's exactly why I don't lie to you. No one can know what is going on in his head. Maybe he's so harsh because he doesn't know what to think about you. Maybe he's jealous of you for being my first friend" it was impossible not to notice the hope in his voice. "Maybe it's something else…" he said in a much lower voice.

Silence. Not awkward, both of them had left to their own world, just thinking. Those thoughts that make it impossible to utter a word. One minute, two, thr…

A sigh.

"If you can't bear not knowing, tell him." Matt's voice was definitive.

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Near heard the winning sound of Mario. Matt was finished, he and Mello would be leaving the room. The gamer was standing up but his blond friend was already on his way to leave the room. Near could nearly hear his thoughts: "Matt will follow me soon, no need to stay with the albino boy". A smell of chocolate took over his nose. The object of his desire had just passed by him. Near lifted his head. The blond was a foot away from him. Too late. He resumed playing. The talk was playing again and again and again in his head.

"Fuck, ouch!" It was Matt who had managed to fall after hurting his head on the tv. Chocolate smell came back.

"Mello, I love you." That was all. He hadn't even looked away from his toys. Really romantic isn't it? Mello hadn't answered at all, walked to Matt and waited with a smirk on his face for the loudly cursing boy to stand up. Then, they had left the room. And as Mello had passed Near again he had said: "Good." And just like that, they were dating.

Near didn't know what to think about that. He was happy, obviously. And surprised. Who would have known Mello would agree? Mello, who'd never look at him and always glare, who said he hated him but apparently didn't mind that much, who was closer to a redhead who loved him just as much as Near did. Yeah, this Mello was now his boyfriend. His alone. However, somewhere inside of him he felt he had betrayed his only friend.

So, that night, before going to bed, he went to Matt's room. That night, he found out two things about his childhood friend. First, his goggles weren't so detestable. It was thanks to them that the white headed boy had been able to pretend he could look at his pal in the eyes. Second, Matt was a true friend.

"Matt."

"Near, what are you doing here? I expected you to be with Mello now."

"So you heard us?"

"You know me, don't you?" There was more lingering through this question. You know me, you know what I think, you know how I feel. "So? What are you here for?" There was no anger in his question. He just wanted to know.

"I would have liked to be the one to tell you, you know, you deserve an explanation."

"Don't worry, I know how it feels to love, I understand."

"About that, I'm sorry."

Matt's face was the perfect representation of surprise and confusion.

"Why? You were the bravest, it's only fair you'd go out with him. I'm a coward, I'm not worth it. Besides… I'm the one who told you to tell him. And look at yourself now, you're a grown up. I'm so proud of you!"

And the smile on his face, tiny as it were, was genuine. They hugged. Matt's warm smell was more calming than any word. It had been such a long time since their last gesture of friendship. Being seemingly hated by your best friend's other best friend could do that to you.

"And Matt, I hope you'll understand I don't want you to try something. Mello is mine now. No flirting, okay?" If Near had said this shyly, Matt's laughter was not at all.

"Come on Nate, don't worry, as I said, you know me." And Near knew Matt would keep true to his word.

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Halle arrives in the room. No one spares her a stare. They all know what she's done. The red car turns again, a shout of victory resounds in the room as the image on one of the screens changes. They have the picture of a bike with two people on it. "It's heading to the outskirts of the city", Near thinks.

.

The period that ensued was the happiest of his life. Mello was surprisingly caring. And Matt was still there for him. Just as Near was for him. Even if the goggled boy didn't spend much time with his two best friends, for obvious reasons, it wasn't that less compared to the time when Near was the hated one. That period lasted for about 2 months.

"B was crazy, he is better off dead. If they had let him live, Wammy house may have been in trouble. And imagine if he had managed to escape… he wasn't second in line for nothing." This beautiful reasoning could be heard nearly every hours from Mello to one of Wammy other boys, Q for instance.

"Yeah but don't you think it's... hum... not right... not to assume your errors. B did grow up in Whammy after all…" Q's answer was a mere whisper.

"Hey! It's not their fault he was corrupted! I mean, he has always been strange. The Wammy house has nothing to do with it." Q didn't answer this. Whether it was because he had no more argument or he was afraid of Mello's glare, only he knew.

In the play room, Near was blissfully playing with his toys as Matt was using the X box.

"So what do you think about it?" Matt had asked calmly, as if talking about the weather.

"I agree with Mello. To merely take his freedom away would not have been enough. Have you seen the state of some of his victims? The families scream for revenge, if they had put B into jail, they would not have been satisfied and would have wanted to investigate further. And Wammy House would have been investigated as well."

"Oh! And don't you think it should be normal to investigate Wammy's? But Wammy is responsible. Yes, B's crimes were awful, but remember our psychology lessons? That's a cry for attention. Why do you think he did such a thing, whose attention did he seek? And all the knowledge he had to let him do as he pleased, where do you think he got it?" Matt asked, a glint of something in his eyes, attention on Near alone.

"B is the only one who turned out this way Matt. Your argumentation is flawed. He was an exception. That's all. Wammy can't change who we are. It's dangerous to bring the attention on Wammy for one outlaw."

"Are you so sure he was the only outlaw here, Near?" Matt seemed to be repressing a smile.

"I'm sure none of us can do anything while inside the house. It would be stupid. L and Watari control everything here. It would be the best and shortest way to have the three first detectives on your back. B would have acted sooner had he not been in Wammy."

"Maybe he would have, but he would have been caught sooner too. To fight crime, you have to know how to do one. Each and every one of the students here could commit an intricate murder. To get clues, you have to know how to get them yourself: we could all rob a bank. They give us the skills. It's up to us and our moral to make sure we use them for the greater good. The only moral given here is to be the best, no matter what. Not that it's surprising with L. B wanted to best L. It was just a matter of time before this would happen."

"But if they had investigated Wammy, L could have been in danger and that would have led to unwanted events."

Matt smirked.

"Oh! So it's okay to kill a murderer who could have been stopped a lot sooner, before he actually left the house, but it's not to investigate L? Why? Is L's life more valuable than 7 people's life? Have you ever heard of his methods?" Under Matt's casual and amused tone, lingered anger.

"Ours are in danger too. Come on Matt, what do you think would happen if L's enemies learnt of our existence? To hurt someone, go for their weakness. They'd kill L but most of all they'd kill us. And we're many." Near nearly shouted.

"Every life is important Near." Matt growled. Their eyes met. Matt's goggles seemed less thick than usual, his angry look passing through. Silence. Only breaths. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.

"But they're already gone." Near whispered, flat and usual tone back. More silence. Eyes back on screen and toys. Crisis avoided.

"I want to know what happened. I want to know why it was so hushed. Why the trial was like that. I want to understand what B said. I… You know, B valued life above anything else. He was the only one who had noticed A was in danger and he did everything to brighten up his days. I'm sure of that. Why did he think those victims were okay? Why did he say it wouldn't have changed anything anyway? There's something strange behind all this and I want to know what it is." Matt's voice was a mere whisper.

"You talk like a detective." Blank inexpressive voice but still a joke. Necessary joke. 'Sure you don't want to become one?' Matt laughed.

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Halle is looking at the motorcycle. What is Mello's plan? Why take Takada? Why now? Stressed by time? Doesn't seem so.

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"Yeah, I will be the next L, Near. Beware!" He joked.

And one day, there was no more Matt in the orphanage. A simple note. That's all.

'I will find out what happened. LA is the place.'

Matt and information, one of the four love of his life.

AN: I hope you didn't get lost in the flashbacks. And that you enjoyed the reading too, of course! It was quite the long chapter after all, and I think you can see it wasn't written on the same day. If you have any comment you want to tell me, and mistake you spot, anything you didn't like or anything you like (I swear, I can stand positive criticism too!), feel free to tell me.
After writing this part (long after as this was written a year ago) I read a fic where Mello and Mat were debating over L and Wammy's philosophy. It was awesomely and intelligently done and (so) a lot better than what I did. I can't give you the name of the fic, I forgot, but the author turned it into a discussion over the work of a philosopher (or something like that) but you could easily understand what the debate was really about.

Hum... the game's answer in the last chapter was... In January 2002, the euro became the money for the European countries part of the euro zone (meaning the EU at that time, minus the UK, Denmark, and Sweden, and the ones that were deemed not economically ready to enter it already.)

The game this time won't be linked with the chapter, I wrote the one for whapter 1 at the same time I wrote the chapter (same with the game on the third one) so here, you'll have two questions, one linked with chapter 1 that is harder than the previous on, the other is easy and related to the news:

- In chapter 1, Near says: "Look at what they did for Croatia about three years ago". The scene he says this is set in 1994. What happened with Croatia in the end of 1991?

- what is the name of the new pope?

Soon on Near and Matt: a group of hackers, a desperate boy, and a dead end... chapter 3: Separation

"You shouldn't believe wikipedia..."