We're getting closer and closer to the end, I swear! Four more chapters after this, guys! D:

That morning, Near had noticed a slight hesitation from Mello before the blond shoved him away. Had Mello simply been dazed from sleep or was there some other, more curious reason? …Oh, he was probably just overanalyzing the situation like he usually did whenever Mello was involved.

MNMNMN

"Dammit, Matt!"

"What?"

"Stop beating me at all these stupid video games!"

"Well, excuse me for being better than you at something for once!"

"Hmph. Whatever, at least Near is losing," Mello pointed out, smirking in triumph as he noticed that Princess Peach was in last place. Don't ask him why Near chose Princess Peach, he had no idea whatsoever. He himself was Bowser, of course. Matt was Mario, go figure. Crossing the finish line only a moment after Matt, he groaned and threw the controller at the floor.

"Hey! Be careful with my stuff, Mels!"

"I'm never playing Mario Cart with you again!" Near had to suppress a small smile as Mello pouted, a tiny glint of amusement in his eyes. Mello was so competitive, but that was yet another endearing trait of the chocoholic's. It was in his opinion, anyway.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Huh?" Matt muttered to himself, blinking in surprise. Who could that be?

"Yeah, who is it?" Mello called, looking a little confused too.

The last face they'd been expecting to see peeked inside with an extremely familiar trademark grin.

"Light?" the three boys exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening considerably.

"Hey, guys. What's up? You don't mind if I come in, do you?" Light asked, winking at them as he stepped into the bedroom. Not even a millisecond later, a redheaded blur jumped on him and embraced the young man.

"It's been forever, dude!" Matt laughed, eyes bright with excitement. Both Mello and Near were smiling on the mattress they sat on, happy to see their other mentor. Light chuckled at Matt's enthusiastic greeting, returning the hug.

"What is Light doing here?" Near asked curiously, knowing that Light and L had been pretty busy with a mountain of cases lately.

"Oh, just checking in on all of you," Light replied innocently, although the orphans could sense immediately that he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Seriously, why?" Mello insisted, crossing his arms over his chest. He already had a feeling about what the real reason was.

"Okay, fine. L wanted me to make sure that you hadn't violently murdered Near yet, considering your current… situation," Light admitted, grinning sheepishly. Mello frowned, but Near had to smile at this response. Well, let's be honest here, it was a possibility.

"Actually, things haven't been too bad around here. You'd think that the world would have ended by now, but I guess we should have had more faith in Mello's self-control," Matt said cheerfully, smacking Light on the back. Light winced as he gently rubbed the abused area, then raised an eyebrow as he smirked.

"You're kidding, right? We're talking about the same kid who punched a teacher in the nose for giving him a bad grade, aren't we?"

"Shut your mouth, jerk! Mr. Potts deserved it! "You don't understand Philip Iunior enough to do a report on him." Screw that idiot! He can kiss my-"

"Mello," Light interrupted, sighing and shaking his head.

"…He's been doing good with Near, at least," Matt corrected himself, dodging a pillow that was chucked at him by none other than a certain blond with temper problems.

"You two suck," Mello whined, looking miserable. Near had the sudden urge to hug the chocoholic in comfort, but restrained himself with the reminder that he actually preferred living.

"If that's the truth, then why is Near's ankle wrapped?" Light asked skeptically, realizing that the albino's joint was bandaged.

"It was an accident. The chain was jerked around a bend in the hallway and I tripped," Near explained quickly, seeing the flash of guilt on Mello's face.

"Alright, if that's what you say. Anyway, listen. I can't stay for too long because I don't like leaving L and Wammy alone for longer than a day, so let's start hanging out now before dinner comes and I have to go," Light suggested, apparently done with teasing Mello for the moment. The teenage geniuses nodded eagerly, Matt gesturing wildly at his Wii while Mello shouted about playing soccer. Near was quiet and still, which soon earned him the privilege from Light to make the final decision on the matter.

"Hm," Near mumbled, his gaze trailing towards Mello as he smirked faintly.

MNMNMN

Soccer wasn't easy to play with a sprained ankle and Near couldn't just watch the others thanks to the handcuffs, but an alternative had been discovered.

Actually, it had been Mello's idea.

"You've never played soccer before, have you? We'll teach you. You kick with your right foot, don't you? You should be fine, then. We just won't have you running around and putting too much pressure on your left ankle."

"Yeah! Great thinking, Mels!" Matt agreed, high fiving his best friend. While Near blushed, Light merely seemed slightly stunned. It was true. Mello and Near liked each other? He and Matt had discussed the topic over email, but he'd never really believed the redhead's claims until now. Were all geniuses gay or something? He had to wonder. It was clear that the two weren't actually together and Light was pretty sure that Mello didn't even realize his feelings for Near yet, but the brunette knew that his and L's top successors were definitely at least interested.

An hour later, Near had actually managed to score a couple of goals and Mello had been rather supportive in his own way.

"I suppose that wasn't an awful job… for a twerp," he commented after they'd been called in for dinner, Near suddenly feeling faint as he flashed that tentative smile again. Light had already said goodbye and vanished to reunite with L, so the trio was currently just walking in the direction of the dining room.

"I thank Mello, but I could never be an excellent player like him," Near murmured, smirking at Mello's appreciative grin.

"Aw, you've only seen me kick a few balls today while I was trying to show you how," he retorted, rubbing the back of his neck in an oddly modest manner.

"No, I… watch you sometimes when you play with the other children," Near said bashfully, staring at his feet. Mello blinked, a blush painting his cheeks as he opened his mouth to respond.

"What's with the lagging? I'm starving!"

"That's because you're an obese cow, Matt."

Anybody catch the LxLight implication in there? I'll give you an internet cookie if you did! Review, please and thank you!