(Near P.O.V)
Two weeks had gone by since Light entered the Wammy house and both Matt and I were happy to have him there. When we were done our classes we would usually try to find him right away, with Mello tailing behind, and he'd happily spend time with us. Other kids wanted his attention as well, but he spent most of his time with us. Something I enjoyed thoroughly. It was like he was our big brother of sorts, but better. He was always kind, always spoke softly to us, and didn't treat us like nuisances like others in the past. He even treated Mello with the same respect, but the blonde still shied away from him. It was beginning to get annoying how much Mello wanted nothing to do with him.
But, I said nothing. Not that he'd listen to me anyways.
During the first week Watari had seen how much Matt and myself liked to be around him and offered Light a job as our mentor.
The mentors at the Wammy house were usually adults who were assigned to specific kids in order for them to have a safe place to speak and do as they pleased. It was sort of like a therapist, and it worked in the same way. L had been our mentor, but with cases starting to pile up, I suppose it only seemed fair to ask someone else to mentor us. L himself was asked how he felt about us switching over to Light, and had been all for it. Soon, Light became our new mentor. However, Mello wasn't too pleased with the idea. I'd like to think Light tried to get the blonde on his good side but it was hopeless. Mello was just too stubborn.
But at least he had Matt and myself.
Our classes were finished for the second week and our weekend began quickly in the playroom with us being the only ones there. I had been playing with some cards while sitting in Light's lap, and Matt was on his video games again. Mello, as always, was sitting on the windowsill reading away. This time he was reading 'Animal Farm', which I suspected would be done within the hour at the pace he read.
I could tell, even if I wasn't looking right at him, that Light wanted to be friends with Mello. But had he seen what the blonde was capable of, I don't know that his feelings would remain the same.
Mello hadn't had a tantrum in the past two weeks, which meant he was gearing up for one soon. At the moment Light saw this display of rage, I could kiss my comfortable seat goodbye. No one stayed for too long with L after it came to one of Mello's famous rage attacks. And through those weeks I'd prayed Mello wouldn't have one around Light.
My prayers were not heard.
I had stacked the cards up into a small tower as carefully as I could until I heard some boys laughing at something. When I looked up, I immediately cringed. Four of the teenaged boys were picking on Mello again… but weren't ready for the storm that was brewing.
It started when one of them took his book away and was holding it above his head, making him jump for it.
"Come on you stupid kid, get it!"
Mello jumped again but failed. "Give it back, Peter!"
"Why?" Peter asked as he threw the book to another of the teens.
They tossed the book around until there came a loud and deafening rip that filled the air. When it was evident that the book was destroyed, Light made the move to help out the blonde…
But Mello was faster.
In a blind fury, Mello knocked down Perter and began punching him as hard as he could throwing profanities at him and screaming like a madman. It was a well-known fact that Mello treasured his books like they were his own children. So seeing one being destroyed right in front of him was enough to send him in a fit of rage. However, Peter was stronger, and he threw Mello off of him with ease and he hit the bookshelf with a hard thump.
When the teen got to his feet he went after the blonde once again, but was sent back to the ground by Light. To be honest, I was so engrossed by all the events that I hadn't seen the man move from his spot.
Light stood between Peter with his friends and Mello. Matt had ran to the blonde's side the moment he saw him hit the shelf. I would have done the same were I not so afraid of what might happen between the teens and Light.
Peter got to his feet again and looked at Light with some fear. Probably because no mentor has ever treated another Wammy kid like he had. However, if L were told of this incident, I doubt he'd make an issue out of it. I think he may even have been proud of Light for doing so. Peter was just as ruthless as Mello when it came to beating up people. The only difference was Mello had a reason most times.
Seeing who he was facing, Peter up and just left. Always the coward.
I looked over to the blonde again and paled. He wasn't moving.
I followed Light towards the lifeless body of Mello and was relieved to see that he was in fact breathing. The sheer shock of being thrown across the room must have sent him into unconsciousness.
The man before us picked up Mello carefully and cradled him closely. "Matt, Near, go find L and Watari. Tell them what's happened and to meet in in the infirmary."
We both nodded and went out to find the two. Matt went after Watari since he was faster and I went to get L from his room. For the first time in my life, I was worried about Mello. He'd taken hits before, but never this badly.
Hopefully he'd be alright.
(Light P.O.V)
I couldn't believe what I'd just seen. Some teenaged sociopath actually kicked an eight year old boy into a shelf! I swear, had I not had the control at the time, that kid would have paid dearly.
Mello was still under by the time I got to the infirmary, but he had been muttering something while unconscious. There was hope that he'd wake up soon then.
After I told the nurse what happened, she was just as angry as I was. But, feelings aside, she did her job and told me to sit on the bed with Mello to keep his head elevated. Within seconds of doing so, L entered the room with Watari and the other two boys in tow. None were pleased to see the blonde still unconscious.
"Watari, I want Peter expelled immediately!" L fought. "Four times he has sent someone to the infirmary! I don't care if Miss Abigale has faith in him, this is outrageous!"
To be honest, this was the first time I'd actually seen L angry at anything in particular. But I couldn't blame him. What that teenager did was unforgivable, especially if he's done so beforehand, and it's now affecting more people in the process.
Even Watari seemed visibly upset. "Yes, of course. I'll get to it immediately. Let me know if anything changes." He said before hurrying out the door to see what he can do about Peter.
I looked up at L. "Miss Abigale?"
"A teacher here. And she's favoured Peter more than anyone else that lives here. Any time he's put someone in the infirmary, she comes up with some cockamamie excuse for him. However, it would seem we have a few eyewitness accounts to his actions now."
I looked back at the blonde, who still hadn't moved. "Why would he do this to a kid?"
"Peter is… a case, to say the least. He as well as others are part of the… special programs."
"Special programs? What do you mean?"
L took a minute to compose what he was going to say. "Well, Light, the special programs are for the kids who don't function properly among the others here. It was started when a certain Wammys kid… had a bit of a falling out. He was a genius, like the rest of us, but he thought 'differently' than us. So we sent him away. Peter is much the same, but nowhere near as violent. But Peter is part of the group where we keep a close eye on them. Unfortunately, it looks like he will have to go…"
"No, he won't." Came a shrill, female-like voice.
We all looked towards the voice and saw a plump, snobby looking woman with hair that resembled a crow's nest, while wearing a too tight dress, standing at the entrance of the infirmary.
She strode in rather coyly. "Peter is a fine student and has informed me that Mello was the one to initiate the fight."
"Is that true, Near?" L looked down at the albino.
Near said nothing, but merely hung his head. We had all forgotten that the blonde initially started the fight. However, Mello barely made a scratch whereas Peter knocked the child unconscious.
"I would also like to add," She started up again, "that your little boy toy over there threw Peter to the floor out of anger…"
"Anger?" I exclaimed. "I threw him to the ground because he lunged towards Mello after kicking him into a shelf! And who are you anyway!?"
"My name, is Miss Abigale, you discourteous little slug."
Before I could start up with a few insults to make even Satan himself blush, L got in between us.
"Look, Miss Abigale, I know you have faith in Peter, but despite Mello having started the fight first Peter sent another child to the hospital wing. We can't risk this happening again. I'm sorry, but he has to go."
"Fine, then so does Mello."
"Excuse me?" I gritted. "Why on earth does Mello have to leave?"
"Because of all the damaged he's caused us. Him, and his anger, have done nothing but cost us thousands in damages."
"You say 'us' like you're contributing to the building and livelihood of this establishment." L stepped in. "And furthermore, Mello has not yet caused anyone such health problems that they have to be hospitalized."
"Not yet, as you said, but how do you know it won't happen in the future?" She said knowingly as she turned away from us. "Think about that for a few days."
And just as fast as she arrived, she was gone.
I glared at the doorway from where she came. I could not hate the woman more than I did right at that moment.
"So what do we do, L?" Matt asked quietly. "You won't actually send Mello away, will you?"
"Absolutely not." He stated. "Mello is a part of our family. It would be wrong to send him away."
"But what about Miss Abigale?" Near spoke.
As L answered him, I began to think of ways I'd be able to help in this situation. Mello had a temper, this was true, but he didn't seem to hold any grudge on people. In fact, it looked more like he lashed out more than anything else. Today was an exception, being that he was defending himself, but the way he was treating me, being friendly one day then ignoring me the next, and the days he bullied Near and a few of the other kids. Something didn't sit right with me.
I shifted the blonde in my arms as the nurse put a cold compress on his head. There was definitely something he wasn't telling us. Maybe if I could…
I looked up toward the detective. "L, if it's alright with you, I'd like to work alongside Mello for a while."
L seemed surprised, to say the least. "May I ask why?"
I could only shrug and say, "I think it would be best. Just for a while. Maybe I can get some information from him, ask him about his past or why he's so angry."
Matt suddenly laughed. "Good luck, Light! L's been barking up that tree for four years!"
"Yes, Light. And he hasn't been all that cooperative. I don't know what his real name is, where he came from, what his past was. All I know is that he goes by Mello, and was living on the streets when I found him."
"I think there's much more to it than that. I mean, you saw it yourself. On my second day here he was actually warming up to me and then he just disregarded me. I'd like to know why, if I can get anything out of him."
There suddenly came a stirring in my arms and the blonde ball of rage started blinking his eyes open.
"Where am I?"
Matt suddenly jumped in. "Why, you're in wonderland Alice!"
Mello only rubbed his head. "Shut up, Matt."
The gamer grinned while crossing his arms. "Worth a shot."
The blonde then looked up at me and saw where he was. "What happened?"
"We'll talk later." I replied. "You might have a concussion, so I suggest resting for a while."
"Concussion? From what?" He looked about and saw where he was lying. "Why am I in your lap? What happened?"
He tried to sit up but the nurse made him lie down again. From then on, she went about checking his vitals and everything in-between. Unfortunately he wasn't too happy with being touched and prodded like that and he ended up falling to the floor once more.
Matt helped him back onto his bed, but I doubt he saw what I, as well as L, saw.
"He doesn't like to be touched." I whispered to the detective as I got up to stand beside him. "Do you think…?"
"You've got your wish." He interrupted. "You can work alongside Mello if you want, but only if you agree to let me know if anything turns up. The more I know about him the better. But I suggest not telling him anything aside from wanting to work with him."
"Alright then. I suppose I'll give it a try."
L suddenly planted a kiss on my cheek. Before I could even question it…
"Because you cared for my brothers when I wasn't around to do so."
I could only smile at him. "I'm glad I could help."
