Mello led Light back to his apartment, which was run-down and dirty. It was as if the guy were a starving artist. But, Light held back his judgments and sat down on Mello's ratty couch, being sure to move away from the suspicious brown stain on the pillows. He hoped that it was chocolate.

Mello set down a bottle of cold beer in front of his guest and walked over to look himself in the mirror. While primping his hair, he spoke to Light's reflection behind him.

"I've always wanted to be a famous singer..." Mello swirled around, as his boyfriend—whom Mello introduced as Matt on their way to his home—took a puff of his cigarette and rolled his eyes.

He sang, "Do you think I have what it takes?" His voice cracked on the last note and Light did his best not to cringe.

"Hm. Maybe you should try acting," Light said as kindly as possible, rationalizing that this guy was dramatic enough to pull off an acting career.

Mello merely shrugged and jumped onto Matt's lap spontaneously—to which Matt responded "Jesus Christ, watch the goods, Mello." He rubbed his crotch, and Mello turned his attention to Light once again. He was examining him.

Light stared back, and without turning his attention away, took a sip of the beer in front of him and placed it down.

"So, Light," Mello put an arm around Matt's neck and got smoke blown into his face. He coughed recoiled his arm, glared at Matt, and continued, "What was a guy like you doing sitting at the bar alone? You could have probably gotten any ass you wanted after that performance today." Matt looked over, interested as well.

Light felt his forehead get hot, because he knew he would have to revisit the dreaded memory again. He said, irked, "My ex cheated on me, and I guess I'm still not over it. Which is ridiculous, because I shouldn't be the one feeling bad…"

Mello and Matt said "Ohh," in unison and looked down in remorse.

"That sucks balls. Do you know who with?" Mello asked.

"With my professor…who is a woman."

"Fuck. How could someone give up cock?" Mello turned to Matt questioningly and they both shook their heads slowly in disapproval.

"Whatever, I don't want to talk about it." Light said and drank an I'm-depressed-because-my-boyfriend-is-an-asshole sip of his beer.

Matt and Mello looked at Light with compassion as he drank away his problems. They watched him down beer after beer. Mello eventually sat down next to the heart-broken man and said, "You know what. I have an idea."

"Here it goes. Watch out, Light." Matt interjected.

"Shut up, and go play with your favorite toy." Mello shooed his hand toward Matt.

"My DS is not a toy." Matt said, genuinely hurt. Mello ignored him.

"I can set you up with some guys that I know. Who would pass up a hot twink like yourself?" He patted Light on the back, and Light burped. Mello frowned but it didn't last long. "Why would I do this, you ask?" No one had asked. "Because I'm a giver. I give things."

Light smiled drunkenly. "I would like that." His eyes lit up with pure and unadulterated joy.

"Let's see…" Mello tapped his foot. "Robbie. He's good."

"Robbie has a boyfriend." Matt added.

"Oh. Well then Natsume will have to do…"

"Mello, Natsume is a paraplegic. Plus, he lives in Japan. He wouldn't come here to California just to meet a guy he doesn't know."

"Fine. Then Ryan. He's perfect!" Mello shouted in happiness, certain he'd finally gotten one right.

"For god sakes Mello, Ryan is straight!" Matt shouted back.

"Well…the guy is misleading, jeez." Mello mumbled to himself. Looking at Light, he said "You know what; I'll have to get back to you on that."

So, Mello and Light exchanged phone numbers and Light walked—staggered rather— back to his dorm.

Two Weeks Later

The school year was coming to a close and Light was thrilled. He needed a vacation desperately. Light managed to maintain straight A's all year, so acing his finals was important. Focusing on this had pushed L further and further out of his thoughts.

While Light sat, trapped in a classroom and determining if a function was continuous and differentiable, Mello had just begun his hunt for Light's future boy toy. Scrolling through his phone book on his cell, he called up prospective dates. He got many uninterested responses, but came out with at least two people who'd be willing to go on blind dates.

Satisfied and bored of staying inside all day, he kissed Matt goodbye and took a brisk walk outside. He passed clothing shops and restaurants, looking into the window-fronts longingly at what he could not have. On his way past the Stanford University Café, he halted his stride. He saw the disheveled raven hair that he had known very intimately as a young boy—hair that was like a father figure to him. Mello was certain it was him. How many people had that kind of hair?

Mello opened the door swiftly and stomped into the café anxiously.

"L Lawliet! Is that really you?" Mello yelled as all the customers of the café looked in his direction.

L had stopped mid-sip, and turned his face from the shadows into the light. He placed the coffee down slowly.

"…Mello?" He said, as he showed a shy smile.

"No fucking way." Mello ran toward L and hugged him. The table shook, and L's muscle tightened. He patted Mello's back lovingly. Mello parted from L and took a seat at the vacant chair next to L, smiling stupidly. He was ecstatic. "I don't believe you are here, right now, sitting at the same table as me."

L's eyes were wide, and he was feeling the same amount of surprise and appreciation as Mello but not expressing it in the same manner. "I don't either."

"When you left us in Japan to live here, in America…we were only kids. We never got any kind of way to keep in contact with you. Matt and I were devastated. Mainly because you were like the father we never had. But, it's great to see you now. How have you been?"

"I'm sorry, Mello. I had important duties here. I did miss you and Matt very much. It was hard on me too. But I was assured that you two were strong enough to make it. And I was right. Anyway, I've been well, thank you. How about you?" L smiled weakly.

So, here is where started to unfurl his life story. Mello spoke on and on about his life with his lover, Matt, his inability to get a job, his shaggy apartment, and other trivial activities—including his new role as match-maker.

"Match-maker? Interesting." L repeated.

"Yep. I thought it would be fun. This kid was down in the dumps, so I offered to set him up with a couple of people that I knew." Mello folded his arms proudly across his chest. "You want in?"

"What?" L asked, hoping he hadn't heard correctly. He hadn't said anything about his relationship status, and certainly didn't want to tell Mello about his infidelity. L wasn't sure if he should be dating this soon, but he reasoned that it was time to move on. He may still have had feelings for Light, but he knew that that was taking him nowhere. All of these thoughts fluttered in L's active mind over the course of several seconds. Mello interrupted.

"I don't know, you just seem like you're single."

"Yes, I am."

"Perfect-o. I'll call you to give you the information. This guy's a winner, no doubt." Mello smiled, feeling accomplished. L smiled back, uncertain of what was to come.

-x-

Wow, a short chapter.

Next chapter will contain strange blind dates with some characters you are familiar with. ;)

Anyway, only a couple of chapters to go. Stuff is going down.

Peace.

Thanks for reading/reviewing! :D