I refuse to abandon a good story. So I'm back to finish this.

Mello stood frozen still, biting the inside of his cheek to try to calm his rising temper. The iron taste of blood filled his mouth as he managed to spit out between clenched teeth, "You have got to be fucking kidding me."

"I am not, in fact, 'fucking kidding you'," came the deadpan reply.

Mello drew in a hissing breath through his teeth. "You think you can seriously waltz into my life after two years and threaten me? I've got a good thing going here." He indicated the apartment behind him with a broad sweeping gesture. "You don't get to just drop in as you please and fuck it up by telling my roommate that I'm-" He stopped and cast a wary look at the closed door behind him. Dropping his voice to a near whisper, he finished, "-gay."

Near raised a blonde eyebrow so pale it nearly blended in with his face. "A good thing? Living in a shoebox of an apartment while lying through your teeth to your roommate about who you really are? Especially when anyone with a modicum of observation powers can tell that you're desperately infatuated with him. Which also raises the question of whether he's just ignoring it or too stupid to realize you're in love with him."

Mello bristled at the slight to his living situation. He worked hard for the meager paycheck he earned. He couldn't afford much, but it was his and he had worked his ass off to get it. "Sorry the accommodations don't suit your tastes," he spat out angrily. "We can't all live off Dad's money. And I am not-", he lowered his voice even further, becoming practically inaudible, "-in love with Matt. He's just-"

Near raised the eyebrow again, cutting Mello off mid sentence. Mello didn't even try to finish- it seemed pointless to argue when he was lying through his teeth.

"I'll have you know I make my own money now," Near moved on, dropping the subject of Matt, for which Mello was secretly grateful. He didn't have it in himself to try and argue against something that was so evidently obvious. "You could have been making money yourself," Near continued,"if you hadn't chosen to run away and hide out in this dump for two years."

Mello gritted his teeth- another comment about his apartment. 'Good to know some things don't ever really change,' he thought to himself, 'Near is still a pretentious asshole. Oh well- I like a little predictability now and then.'

"Like you and Dad didn't figure out where I was within two weeks," he retorted. 'More like two days,' he thought in irritation.

"We didn't." To this, Mello snorted in disbelief. "We really didn't," Near continued, unfazed by Mello's reaction. "You don't give yourself enough credit. You are Dad's son after all."

"Whatever." It wasn't the most cutting reply, but Mello was fed up with the conversation. 'Besides,' he thought while leveling a cool gaze at Near's impassive face, 'I really don't feel like getting arrested for assault today.' He had a brief moment of happiness as pictured all the wonderful ways he could beat the crap out of Near. But the moment was fleeting and he was swiftly pulled back to reality by Near's voice.

"I have a couple of things I need to get taken care of. I'll be back in a few hours with my things. It might be a long stay," he said, drawing out the word 'long' just a tiny bit more than was necessary.

Mello refused to rise to the bait. "No," he spat out. Just because he wasn't rising to the bait didn't mean he couldn't sound angry about it. "I have to work a double today, and I am not having you move in alone with Matt. I'm not an idiot." He held up a finger to stop Near's objections. "You can come tomorrow. But not first thing in the morning- it's my only day off this week, and if you wake me up, I swear to God I will chop you into tiny pieces and feed you to the birds."

Near sighed, the look on his face too smug for Mello's liking. "See you tomorrow then."

He walked out without ceremony. Mello watched him go, his lip curled in frustration. 'Why can't they just leave me alone?' he thought in exasperation. He had left home for a reason- Near being a huge part of that reason. He exhaled forcefully through his nose and stalked back into his apartment. He took pleasure in letting his frustration out slightly by slamming the door shut behind him and stamping his feet down as hard as he could with each step. When he reached the short hallway off the living room, he stopped to compose himself. He didn't want Matt to see just how rattled Near had made him. He didn't feel like explaining that particular dynamic at the moment.

"Hey." Right on cue the door to Matt's room creaked open, spilling blueish light from his computer monitor into the dark hallway. Mello reminded himself for the hundredth time that month that he needed to replace the bulb. He'd probably remember to do it sometime next year at his current rate. "So," he raised an eyebrow in question, "What was all that about?"

"It was noth-" Mello found himself starting to lie to Matt, but stopped himself. 'What's the point?' he thought miserably, 'He's going to find out tomorrow anyway." He sighed heavily. "That was my younger brother, Near."

This time, both Matt's eyebrows shot up so fast they disappeared behind his unruly red bangs. The reaction was so cartoon-like that any other time Mello would have found it a whole new reason to be bitter about Matt's overwhelming straightness. Today, however, he had other things on his mind. And to think, the morning had been going so well until Near had shown up. 'I am never answering the fucking door again,' he thought bitterly.

"I didn't realize you had a brother," Matt said questioningly.

"I try to pretend I don't," Mello responded, deadpan.

"I'm sensing a slight air of resentment here," Matt said. "Slight," he repeated, when Mello nailed him the most pissed off glare he could muster. He usually reserved that glare for Misa, but he made an exception. Matt held up his hands in apology, "Hey, no big deal. It's none of my business."

Mello sighed. He didn't want to cut Matt out of any part of his life. It was just that he didn't particularly want to share this tidbit with the red head. 'Pathetic,' he berated himself. 'How can you fantasize one minute about being in a relationship with someone, and the next not even be able to talk to them about something important.'

Mello scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. This morning was turning out just fucking delightful- and he hadn't even been to work yet. "I've got to get to work," he groaned, wishing desperately that he could just climb back into bed and start to day over- sans Near. "Look," he caught Matt's gaze and held it, trying to look sincere. "I promise I'll talk to you tonight about everything. I just- can't right now."

Matt gave him a lazy smile that sent Mello's heart racing more than it should have. "It's cool, man. Whenever you feel like talking, I'll listen. Sounds like it's an interesting story anyway."

Mello sighed and turned towards his room to go get ready for work. Now he just had to decide exactly how much he wanted to tell Matt. And how exactly to keep his secret from getting out with Near around.

Any reviews would be greatly appreciated. I hope you guys liked it!