I'm getting used to saying "What the freak" because of Smosh. If you haven't heard of them (but most likely you did) check them out! They're awesome :))

Annddddd! Shout-out to TheExorsist and Trololol. Since I can't reply, I'll say it here. Thank you so much! :3

I also want to thank everyone who is still reading this. To be honest, I didn't know that I would reach chapter 7. Thank you for all the encouraging words you all gave me, it kept me motivated to write a new chapter. I love you guys. :)

EDIT: This chapter had been edited by the wonderful "That stalker chick O.o". Thank you my dear! :3


Chapter 7

"Miheal..." Matt shook the sleeping blond, attempting to wake him up. Said blond stirred and mumbled something obscure. Matt couldn't help but smile. He noted that the blond looked different when asleep; he looked peaceful, angel-like even. His seemingly permanent scowl erased from his lips, eyes flickering slightly.

"Miheal?" He tried again. This time, Miheal swatted his hand away, crossing his arms on his chest.

Matt frowned. He would've carry the blond inside the mansion himself, the only problem was that he wasn't physically able. He leaned forward, determined to wake the blond. "Miheal!"

Fear instantly engulfed Miheal's form by instinct and he jerked awake, looking around him. He didn't show his relief when he found Matt beside him, merely inches away from his face. He immediately placed a glare on his features. "What!" he shouted, pushing the redhead away. "Do you know what personal space means? God."

"Come on, we're here." Matt ignored Miheal's last statement and stepped out, stretched and waited for the older teen to leave the car. Miheal came out moments later glancing around his surroundings, still clutching his stomach. He approached Matt while limping, trying to not stumble. Matt noticed Miheal's difficulty in walking and made a move to assist him but stopped himself, remembering the last few incidents when he did try to help him. He also didn't want Miheal to go on rage, seeing as his voice would be echoed throughout the whole neighborhood.

"Follow me." He stated taking one last glance at the staggering blond.

He opened the wooden doors of their mansion, gesturing Miheal to step in. Miheal didn't need to think twice as he entered, wanting to do nothing but to lay down and rest. He stopped when the bright lights temporarily blinded him. He looked around and adjusted his vision. He was instantly amazed when he looked at the inside of the mansion. He seemed dazed, the way he turned and looked at the place with awe.

Matt checked his wrist watch and took notice of the time. It was 2:53 in the morning. The auction was located far from their mansion, roughly a two hour drive. He noticed the astonished Miheal and approached him stifling a yawn.

"It's about three am. I'll lead you to your room." Matt announced. Miheal unconsciously nodded and swayed, almost falling down. Matt immediately grabbed his arm and wrapped the other on his waist helping him stand up. He (as expected) glared at the alarmed Matt and tried to free himself but instead made Matt tighten his grip.

"I'll help you walk. You're obviously tired, and you're limping—"

"I'm not handicapped." Miheal said stiffly, Matt sighed. Why did Miheal need to be adamant about everything?

"You're sick." He declared. That earned another glare.

"I'm not sick you-!"

"Shh! You might wake someone up!" Matt hissed, purposely cutting Miheal's attempt to give out an insult.

"Come on, I'll lead the way." A scowl graced the blonde's lips but otherwise didn't protest. He just wanted to sit; his legs were killing him.

Both ascended up the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. Miheal tripped a couple of times, but Matt luckily held him firm.

The mansion was dead quiet, it could pass as a haunted house if you turned off the lights. The ceramic tiles were waxed clean; you could almost see your own reflection in it. The angel statues were shinning, the portraits balanced and dustless, the chandelier gleaming on the ceiling.

The redhead opened the door the Miheal's room (a random room he'd chosen, there were a lot of vacant rooms in their mansion) and slowly released him.

"I'll be back with the first aid. I'll clean the scratches, provide you with new clothes and bring you something to eat. You can sleep after that." Miheal ignored Matt and he immediately sat on the (rather bouncy) bed, sighing as he felt his legs relax.

Matt left the room and headed for the kitchen downstairs, vaguely remembering a first-aid located there. He yawned as he pushed the kitchen door open, flicked on the lights and searched for the first-aid. After a few minutes of searching and finding noting, he gave out an agitated grunt.

"Oh, welcome back Matto-san." He jumped, surprised at the voice he heard. He whirled back and sighed when he saw a lean blue-haired teen rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"God Aki, you scared me!" Matt admitted and once again turned around moving the different canned-goods inside the cabinet, still searching for the first-aid.

"I'm sorry." Aki muttered as he noticed Matt looking around. "Are you looking for something?"

"Hmm?" Matt distractedly replied then turned back and faced Aki thinking that the younger teen might know where he last kept the kit. "As a matter of fact, I am. Do you know where the first-aid is?" He asked, grateful when Aki nodded. Aki pulled out a chair and placed it beside the cabinet opposite to where Matt was searching and stepped on the cushion, tiptoed, and reached for the top drawer. Moments later he pulled out a box and jumped down handing it to Matt.

"Here you go," He smiled cheekily, "are you injured?"

Matt shook my head. "No, it's for someone else." He opened the kit and searched for the things he needed. Thermometer, pills, alcohol, band-aid—

"Oh, you bought someone from the auction?" Matt noticed Aki's sudden drop of voice.

"Yeah. Hey, is there something wrong?" He asked, confused.

Aki shook his head and flashed a fake smile. "No, do you need anything else?"

Matt studied Aki for a moment before he remembered the tired Miheal upstairs. He couldn't drink the pill right away; he must at least eat something so that his stomach won't be empty when he slept. "Can you make something hot? Like soup?"

Aki nodded. He was usually the one who made Kaylee's snacks when she was hungry or to simply annoy Aki. "Where shall I bring it when it's done?"

"The…uh," He thought for a moment. "The room opposite mine."

The blue-haired boy nodded "Ok."

He pinched Aki's cheek and ruffled his messy hair. "Thanks Aki."

Matt left the kitchen, not noticing the faint blush that colored Aki's cheek.

He returned to Miheal's room a few minutes later and found him lying on the bed, his long hair sprawled out on the pillow, his breath steady. He placed the first-aid on the top drawer and looked at the exhausted blond and studied his lean form. He had a deep cut on his leg and a few healing scratches on the other. His arms had violet bruises. Matt's once white handkerchief was now red because of the blood. His cheek had a bruise and had a light cut on his lips.

What had they done to him? He didn't need an answer to his question. He already knew. So they still tortured them. I wonder if—

He shook his head and dismissed the thought. He took a silent breath and placed a palm on Miheal's forehead. He was still fiery warm, not the normal temperature. He walked to the bathroom which was located inside the room and searched for a small towel. He took the basin located near the bathtub and filled it with cold water, soaking the linen in it. He left the bathroom, placed the basin on the bedside table and squeezed the cloth, thinking if he should wake Miheal up before he place the towel on his forehead. The water was ice cold, it may startle the blond. He shrugged and placed the towel on Miheal's forehead, earning him an instant towel on the face.

"At least warn me, you idiot! It's fucking cold!" Miheal screeched, sleep out of his eyes and replaced by ayou guessed ita glare.

"Sorry, didn't want to wake you up from your beauty sleep." He shrugged and soaked the towel back in the cold water, squeezing it afterwards.

"Beauty sleep my ass." Replied the blond.

"I'll place this on your forehead. There, warned you." And before Miheal could reply Matt placed the soaked cloth in his temple. Miheal didn't flinch this time, he just rolled his eyes.

Matt opened the first-aid and searched for the bottle of alcohol. He grabbed a small piece of cotton and dipped it in the alcohol. He sat on Miheal's bed.

"I'll clean your cuts, alright? It'll sting a bit."

The redhead started to clean the blonde's wounds and scratches. Miheal sat upright and grabbed the cotton from Matt's grip.

"I'll clean it myself."

Matt took the cotton back. "No, I'll do it. Just stay still." And for the first time this night, Miheal obeyed.

As Matt was cleaning Miheal's cuts and scratches a faint knock was heard breaking the room's silence. Miheal immediately jerked his arm back as Aki entered with a tray in his hands. Miheal curiously looked at the redhead then at the person who had knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, here's the soup you requested, Matto-san." Aki said politely, putting the try on top the table beside the bed. He looked at Miheal, who in turn raised one slender eyebrow as if saying, "Who the hell are you?" Matt awkwardly coughed which broke their little staring contest.

"Thanks Aki," He said, looking at what Aki had brought. Soup, an orange and a glass of water.

The younger male bowed. "Please call me if you need anything else."

"I will," Matt smiled genuinely, silently thanking who-ever that he had a friend like Aki. He was glad his sister bought him, he was responsible and respectful, not like someone he bought. But even thought Miheal's rude and doesn't seem to trust anyone, he can't blame him. He had been like this before; afraid to trust anyone because of the intense fear.

Aki smiled back and once again bowed, leaving the room. Matt looked at Miheal and stood up, moving the table closer to the bed and sitting beside him. He handed him the spoon.

"Here, you have to eat before taking medicine to cure your fever. How are you feeling by the way?"

"Shitty." Yes, leave it to Mello to leave a rude but blunt reply.

The blond took the spoon and stirred the soup, checking for anything out of the ordinary. It looked normal though, it even smelled good. He lifted the spoon to his mouth and tasted the soup. It does taste good.

"I'll be back with new clothing. Anything you'd prefer?" Matt stood up and headed for the door, looking back at Miheal as he waited for a reply.

"I'd prefer? You'll let me choose?" asked the blond, not sounding rude, just curious. First, the redhead let him enter the church alone, then helping him clean his cuts and taking care of him—fucking taking care of him then this? Letting him choose? What is this, some kind of mind game?

"That's why I'm asking," Matt resisted the used to add an insult at the end of his statement. Miheal eyed him carefully but saw no hidden agenda; Matt really was letting him decide what he wants.

"Anything black." He stated looking away and taking another sip of his soup.

"Alright, I think a have a couple of black clothing. I'll ask the butler to buy you new clothes afterwards." And by that, Matt left the room with a soft click of the door.

As Miheal was sipping his (delicious) soup, noting that it tasted somewhat Japanese. If the little blue-haired boy did this, credits to him. He thought of the different reasons why the redhead was so nice to him—and Aki too for that matter—and thought that maybe he was just acting it all out or maybe he was just pretending to be nice then would take advantage of the blond if he got what he wanted. Or maybe he'd return Miheal at the auction and he's just testing how he acts?

But whatever Miheal thought of the redhead's reason, he refused to believe that he was just doing this out of pure kindness. Miheal always thought that royals were disgusting, rude and stupid people. He wasn't going to change his mind just because of a little act of courtesy.

Matt entered the room holding a pair of black clothing. He placed the folded clothes on the bed.

"I think that'll fit you." He said and looked at the bowl in front of Miheal. He flashed a faint grin. "You finished the soup. That's good. Now you can take the medicine. You can sleep after that."

Matt opened the first-aid and searched for a pill. He took the pill out as soon as he found it and placed it on the table in front of Miheal. He took the glass of water and held it out to Miheal only to have it knocked away and fly to the floor with a crash.

"Why are you doing this?" demanded Miheal, his voice hard. He didn't want to take part of the redhead's game. There must be something he wants from the blond.

Matt, feeling more annoyed than ever, deliberately took a deep breath and glared at the blond. "You want to know why I'm doing this?" He gave out a fake laugh, "It's because I'm human Miheal. I'm not heartless, I'm not selfish, I have a goddamn conscience! Do you understand? You don't have to trust me. Just…just think of me as a human who has a soul. I know what you've been through, Miheal, more than you think. I've faced abuse before. Faced deaths…saw murders, listened to lies…the world is fucked, I give you that. The world is out of control. But still, there are some people who care. Someone who still have a bit of justice running through their veins. Someone who wants to help." Matt looked at Miheal with a pained expression on his face. He didn't want the blonde to see him as one of the people Miheal were around with. He didn't want to be compared to them, it was just unnaceptable. It angered him whenever people treated him differently just because of his social status.

Miheal just stared at him, emotionless. Matt sighed and headed for the door. Let Miheal believe what he wants, he's not even going to try anymore.

"I'll get you another glass of water." Then Matt was out once more.

Miheal just sat on the bed, confused. What was the redhead talking about? He spoke as if he understands, as if he was the one being treated like dirt. He faced abuse? Murder? It doesn't make sense. It's as if Matt has some dark secret kept inside him, maybe a secret just like his.

Miheal doesn't want to accept it, but he did agree with the redhead at some point. There were some people who still care. People like Rose, the maiden. People like his sister. Like God.

He looked at the floor with the broken glass. Maybe he needs to be more open to people. Stripes, as he often called him, didn't do anything wrong to him. He just showed genuine kindness.

Matt entered the room, looking glum and approached Miheal. He handed the glass, daring Miheal not to break it once more. Miheal took the glass and stayed silent. Matt wordlessly took a pill out of the container and placed it on the blonde's palm, who in turn popped it in his mouth and drank the water. Matt took the glass and placed it on the bedside table.

"You should rest. It's about four in the morning. Don't worry; you can sleep all day if you want. I won't try to wake you." He reassured, "Good night, Miheal."

He made a way to the door but a hand grabbed his, stopping him. "Wait-uh." he paused, "Call me Mello."

Matt was the only other person who knew about his nickname. He didn't want to be called as Miheal, it held too many memories.

"Me…Mello?" the redhead asked, uncertain. Mello nodded.

Matt smiled. "Alright, I'll call you Mello then. Wait, I haven't told you my name, have I?"

"No, I don't know your name. Been calling you Stripes in my mind." Miheal mentally smacked himself. Why is he even talking to this guy, anyway?

"Heh, makes sense," Matt grinned. "call me Matt." Matt. The name fitted him.

Matt stood up once again, finally opening the door; he held the knob and looked back at the now lying blond. "Sleep well…Mello." He flickered off the light and closed the door with a quiet click.

"Good night ...Matt."


Yes, I finally updated! It took me some time since I made a lot of changes. Please Review? ...please? :3