G is for Grave
Rating: K+
Genre: Angst
Characters: Mello
Mello walked from the Yellow Box Warehouse silently, stalking through the frigid air. Watching Kira crumble before them hadn't been satisfying, nor did Mello care to acknowledge Near's praise. What did it matter?
"Mello!" Linder called out, running after him. He ignored her and swung his leg over his bike. She ran up to his side and started babbling about him and Near working together. He ignored her. He grabbed the goggles that hung around his neck, the only thing he took from Matt's body. The coroner never noticed the eyewear or its absence.
He pulled them up around his eyes, forgoing the helmet he usually wore. He gunned his bike and took off, leaving Linder in a cloud of dust while he made his way to the airport.
Mail Jeevas was laid to rest in Winchester, England three days later. Roger was in attendance, along with Near and his personal body guard. Linda was there, along with about twelve Whammy's kids. Matt had always been popular and easy to get along with.
Pointless talk was exchanged, memories of Matt running around the orphanage and slacking in classes. Mello watched apathetically as Near stepped forward.
"Matt was a good soul and a brilliant mind. He will be missed by all and the world will be a darker place without him," the albino said softly. All eyes turned to Mello, the last speaker, who stepped forward and dropped to his knees before the coffin.
"Matty... I'm sorry. I got you killed, when I should have been the one to die. You had so much to do and live for and so much potential. You could have done anything. And they don't know you. Not like I do.
"You could have surpassed L, easily. But you didn't. You didn't want to be L, you just wanted to follow me and do what I told you. We were both happy with that. But what I told you to do got you killed.
"You were my best friend. You were my sanity. You took everything I threw at you with that goofy grin and no complaints. You put up with me and forgave me for everything I put you through, as though it didn't matter to you.
"I hope that in Heaven, you're happy. You'll be missed by everyone here and the world will be darker, but... no one will miss you like I do. I love you, Mail."
Everyone placed roses atop the coffin before it was lowered into the ground. As the dirt was packed in, everyone slowly wandered off. Near placed a hand on Mello's shoulder briefly, in passing, as a semblance of comfort. Mello drew no strength from the simple touch, not moving from his position on his knees. The drizzle of the afternoon turned into a heavy downpour, but Mello stayed on his knees, hands folded in his lap while staring at the tombstone.
Hypothermia set in slowly. Mello fell back against the unforgiving ground, losing strength quickly. He had no will to move... All he wanted to do was sleep. Was that too much to ask?
Mihael Keehl was found the next day, crumbled beside the grave of his best and only friend. His lips were a startling shade of blue and his skin was pale. The coroner determined that he had fallen asleep and hypothermia had killed him.
Nate Rivers was called in to identify the body. He nodded when Mello's peaceful face was shown, and then placed his small hand on the coroner's as he made to remove the goggles. The orange plastic that had meant so much to Matt in life and to Mello in death.
"Let him keep them. Hang them around his neck."
Once the eyewear was in its proper position, Near took his leave and went to the funeral home. He was escorted inside while carrying an armful of toys. The director raised an eyebrow at the credit card that was handed to him.
"Everything is to be charged to this card," the white haired boy said. "I will take care of the arrangements for Mihael Keehl's funeral. He is to be buried, not cremated."
The director nodded and jotted the notes down. "Do you have a plot in mind?" he asked politely.
Near thought about it for several seconds. "Yes," he eventually answered. "He is to be buried beside Mail Jeevas."
