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I changed the title and updated the summary so they'd be closer to what I wanted to say.

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note

Message from Halle

Mello eyed his phone suspiciously, the message had been sent that morning, but Halle knew he only checked this phone at night. Plus it hadn't been long since she last contacted him, unless the fucking sheep had figured out something new and needed to have it rubbed on his face she wouldn't be contacting him so soon.

'Kira has our faces. Near's safe, please help him' was what the message said.

"What the fuck?" This had to be a joke. He tried calling her, but no one would pick it up.

"C'mon bitch, answer the damn phone!"

At the mention of the word 'bitch' Matt looked up from his PSP "Hey, didn't know you had someone like that."

"It's just Halle, idiot."

"She's got a niiice chest"

Mello rolled his eyes, resisting the temptation to throw his phone at the wall, or at Matt...

He opened the Text again, stared at it for a few moments until realization dawned at him: Near had lost. Then he started laughing hysterically. The almighty Near had been utterly defeated by Kira. True, he felt a little bad for Halle, but having worked with the mafia he had to learn that death was just something that happened, if anything you gotta be glad it wasn't you.

Matt walked over to him and snatched the phone looking at the message. His eyes narrowed as he said "Dude, we gotta go help him."

Mello stopped and looked at him incredulously "... you're kidding, right?"

"No. I'm not leaving someone I grew up with at Kira's mercy if I can help it." The redhead was usually laid back, but he had a better sense of justice than most, a consequence of saving the world a bazillion times in his videogames no doubt.

"But it's fucking Near!"

"So? The only thing he ever did was get better grades than you."

"He mocked me!" Mello whined, even knowing that once Matt decided to play hero he wouldn't back down. So much that he came to help Mello after he got himself exploded, despite the fact that it was his own fault and the bunch of people he'd hurt/killed/maimed for the mafia.

"Only in your head, man."

A moment of silence, Mello was debating pointing his gun at his friend's face just to make him go back to the usual Matt from the I-am-justice Matt.

"Whatever, I'm off!" Matt dashed to the door and slammed it behind himself.

Mello just stood there trying to figure out what to do when a slightly out of breath Matt reopened the door with a bit of a goofy grin

"Which way is it again?"

"Fuck it, I'm going with you."

"We'd better cover our faces" Mello said as they got out of the car.

Mello put his sunglasses and a surgical mask on, Matt only needed the mask since his eyes were never exposed anyway. In times of Kira the fact that Japanese had a habit of wearing masks when they were sick was incredibly convenient, even if wearing sunglasses when it was way past sunset was still suspicious.

There was an odd air about the building. Or maybe it was just that they knew at least three of it's usual occupants were dead. They headed straight to the floor Halle had taken him to when he came to retrieve his picture.

Dear Mello

He still wondered about Near had meant by writing that, at first he was convinced the albino was mocking him in a hey-I-knew-you-were-coming sorta way, Matt just thought it was cute that he retrieved the picture from the orphanage before anyone dangerous could do it and wrote something cute in the back. Stupid Matt.

"Drop the fucking DS" The blonde snapped, the sounds were irritatingly loud in such a quiet place.

"The boss is almost dead."

"You're the one that wanted to help that twit, so put it away before I break it."

"Spoilsport." With that he shut the handheld off and put it back in his pocket.

One of the first things they saw upon reaching the floor were Gevanni's and Halle's bodies. Gevanni's in a pool of his own blood and Halle's clutching her cell phone to her chest, whether she had been holding it like that before or after the heart attack they'd never know.

"So, where are we going?" Matt asked, nervously reaching for a cigarette.

"I don't know where Near's hiding, we'll have to look." Mello pulled out his gun just to be safe.

While it was a fairly big place, it was only one floor so it didn't take them long to find the door Rester was sitting against. With the building being as quiet as it was Rester had been aware of their presence for quite a while.

"Mello…" Covered as Mello was, he was still not hard to recognize "I never thought I'd be glad to see you."

"Don't move or I'll blow your brains up."

"Beats being controlled by Kira" Rester didn't joke often, but in this situation what else could he do? He was only half joking anyway.

"Where's Near?" Matt asked, not feeling very comfortable around a Kira controlled person. It didn't seem like Kira was expecting anyone to try to rescue Near so he just sat there obediently waiting for Near to show himself while an irritable blonde held a gun to his head.

"He's in the room behind me; only he can open it though."

Mello eyed the door for a moment before knocking on it. No reply, so he kicked it. A tiny voice was heard.

"Rester?" He sounded like he'd been sleeping, what was he? Five?

"No idiot, Mello. Open this fucking door before I decide to leave you there."

"... Rester has a cell phone with a camera"

"Fine, I'll kill him before you open it."

"NO!" Did Near sound upset? Could it be that the emotionless twit actually gave a damn about this guy?

"Near, I'm going to die sooner or later. My name has already been written" Rester said, having resigned to his fate hours ago, the fact that Mello actually seemed to be there to help was already more than he had dared hope for.

"But..."

"Let's tie him up. They'll be able to say goodbye at least." Matt had a look of pity behind his goggles.

"Whatever! Break the goddamned cell phone while you're at it." The blonde was clearly not happy with the sentimental version of Matt

Rester put up no resistance as they tied him up, maybe it had to do with the gun on his head, or maybe Kira had really neglected to program some defenses into his appointed photographer.

"It's done Near, you can come out now."

A series of beeps could be heard and the door unlocked. Near emerged from the room looking rather apprehensive, a backpack in one hand and a robot in the other, he was otherwise completely normal, white pajamas and all.

"Geeze, must be nice having people giving their lives for you. Everyone dies and there you are, perfect as ever." Mello sneered, resenting Near's perfect, white skin while his was a horrible mess from the fire he had to cause to save himself.

Near was visibly affected by the comment, Mello was about to continue when Matt interrupted.

"Now is not the time Mello, we've got to get out of here."

Mello snorted and looked away.

"Near" Rester started, Near immediately knelt by him "This is not your fault, ok? We gave our lives to catch Kira."

Near nodded, the lone tear streaking down his face was quickly wiped away.

"Catch Kira for us." Rester gave the albino a small peck on his forehead in an uncharacteristic display of affection, which was uncharacteristically accepted.

Near got up and Matt motioned for him to follow, Mello stayed behind.

A loud bang was heard as they reached the elevator. Near shuddered. Matt placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

A/N:

Mello may have seemed like a heartless bastard for laughing, but really Halle said Near was safe, who knows what he would have done if she said he was in danger.

I realize this is moving a bit slow, but please be patient, there will be a bit more Mello/Near next chapter.

Again, thanks to those who reviewed/faved/put this on alert. You have no idea of how much I appreciate it.

Thanks for reading, please review.