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The wind was picking up outside as all the students that had been invited to the party of the year got ready. Near stood shyly in front of the mirror, trying to remember everything Matt had told him. Tiny, adorable shorts, check. Big, oversized t-shirt, also adorable, check. Tousled hair, cute small boots, bit of eyeliner, yup, he was ready.

Nervously, he looked at himself, wanting to be perfect for Mello. His heart beat fast in his chest, just thinking about what could possibly happen between them, what he wanted so much to happen.

"Knock knock." Matt said, opening the bathroom door. Near reddened as Matt took his hand and spun him, looking him over. "Fantastic. You look irresistible." Near smiled, clutching Matt's hand with his smaller one.

"Mello's downstairs." Matt informed him. "He's already begun staking out L and Light. The party's in the ballroom."

"He's already there..?" Near whispered, coiling his hair around his finger anxiously. "I-I told you we should've left earlier! . He's probably off with some adorable...bimbo right now!"

"No, it's ok." Matt grabbed Near's shoulder. "This way, he'll look at everyone else, and realize no one stirs his you come in...you'll take his breath away and weaken him. He won't be able to resist you."

"Stir his lions..?" Near asked skeptically.

"His loins." Matt corrected, reaching out to cup Near's privates with a hand, making Near whimper. "Stir them till all they can think of is stirring your insides."

"You're so filthy!" Near blushed, too shy to admit he'd been thinking about something along those lines just moments before. "Keep talking and I might just prove you correct." Matt whispered, enjoying making Near all the redder. "Now c'mon." he grabbed the smaller boy's hand and left the room.

"You guys have to try this stuff...it's the best I've ever tasted." Mello smiled, handing L and Light drinks. As L happily sipped the sweet stuff, Light squinted at Mello. "You said the last 4 drinks were the best you'd ever tasted." He said, wrapping his arm around a tipsy L's waist.

"Each was better than the the one before." Mello grinned, staring at Light's arm. Light downed the drink. "Shit, it is good." he said, using his hip to hold up L.
"Damn straight." Mello was on the top of the world, although he knew L was at a dangerously high alcohol level. The ridiculously loud music and strobe lights probably would kill everyone anyways.

L swayed his slender hips to the music, the alcohol in his system already kicking in. "So good." he echoed, his head lolling to rest against Light's shoulder. Mello's smile turned into a beam as he watched. Nothing could ruin his day, or make it any better.

As he turned, he spotted Matt and waved, sighing when he saw he had the little white-haired kid with him. He tried to keep himself from thinking what he'd already begun thinking, but he just couldn't help thinking it. Near was incredibly adorable, it was as if someone had reached into his mind and pulled out everything he thought was cute in a person, and then...formed it into this amazing being. He stared openly, making Near blush.

"How much have you had to drink?" Matt asked, looking up briefly from his game.

"Not enough..." Mello sighed, downing another. Damn his mind for thinking such thoughts. Near smiled shyly at him and he very nearly smiled back. "Urgh!" he snapped, turning away. "I'm going to go party or something."

"But you don't know how to party!" Matt shouted after him.

"I'll figure something out." he snapped, joining the throngs of horny, grinding teenagers and awkwardly attempting to move his body. L and Light were interlocked in a dance that could only be described as ridiculously dirty, and he was too distracted by Near's adorable to even glance their way.

"We have to strike at the right moment." Matt nodded, quickly smashing various combinations of buttons on his console. Near watched Mello dance out of the corner of his eye, nodding. Matt winced, pausing to tighten the glove he had on. "Damn carpal tunnel acting up again." he snapped.

"When's the right moment?" he asked, twirling hair gently around his index finger. He bopped from foot to foot, rocking his hips gently. "When he's drunk enough to be a good dancer, but not yet drunk enough to be a bad one. It's a very thin line." Matt answered.

Near watched Mello clumsily move about. "So not yet then." he said gravely, nodding.
Matt smiled at him. "You're adorable." he said, shaking his head. "Just watch him, he'll get there soon enough if he keeps downing drinks like that."

"Hai!" Near nodded, watching Mello carefully. "But." Matt said, holding Near's small shoulders. "Don't lose sight of him. If you lose sight of him at the wrong time...someone else might snag him."

Near stiffened, his enormous eyes unblinking. "I'll watch him carefully." he said, tightening his fists at his side.

"Good." Matt said. "Hopefully he'll see how amazing you are, and something'll spark between you tonight. I'm gonna go take a wizz, ok?"
"Don't leave me.." Near said softly, grabbing onto Matt's jacket, while keeping an eye on Mello.
"You'll be fine.." Matt said, smiling. "I don't want to pee myself." He loosened Near's tiny hands off of him, before rushing off.

Near stood at the end of the punch table, watching out of the corner of his eye as Mello came back over and over for the spiked drinks, and as he began finding untapped rhytym, making his dancing better and better.

He kept his eyes on him, watching, though he was already beginning to feel tired. What time was it? He clutched his cup, watching Mello weave and grind his way among all the other weavers and grinders that were...grinding. He turned to get another drink, and when he turned back, Mello had disappeared.

"Ah!" he squeaked, scanning the crowd quickly. "Wh..how!" Trembling with nerves and frustration, he made his way into the group of gyrating bodies, being bounced around as he stumbled through the darkness.


Matt, after washing and reapplying the bandages and glove to his hand, stood over the sink and sighed. Was there a way to get rid of this capal tunnel nonsense? It kept coming back, always hindering his gameplay. He wondered if he could get L and Light to make him some voice controlled game, what with their genius minds and all. He sighed, thinking about the idea of not being able to touch buttons.

"At least I have you.." he mumbled, pulling out a cigarette.

"I was about to say the same thing." An all too recognizable voice called from behind him. Matt stiffened. "Mello, get back to the party.." he said, without turning around. He already knew how Mello looked right now, oozing sexual appeal that only came about when he let his guard down. Slender hip cocked, tight, tight leather clothing, sinfully clinging to his perfect lean body and showing off everything. Sharply cut blond hair, perfect in every way. He put both hands on the sink, realizing they were shaking and kept his head turned away from Mello.

"I want to stay here, with you.." Mello said softly, in a voice that was hot enough to raise goosebumps on Matt's arms. He walked towards Matt slowly, before pressing up behind him, slinging an arm over his shoulder and interlocking it with the fingers from his other hand underneath Matt's arm, so his chest pressed firmly against Matt's back, and his lips were centimeters from Matt's neck.

"You're drunk." Matt said, feeling his voice shaking along with his hands. He felt hot and cold all over. Matt's hand trailed up his chest, and he felt his chest rising and falling. He wanted to touch him. But he couldn't. Matt needed someone like Near, Matt needed someone like Near, and he told himself that all the time, over and over.

"Save me Matt.." Mello whispered. "Just like you did before, from him. Keep me safe." he was shaking, and Matt couldn't help turning to hold him, pulling Mello's slender form towards him. "I can't." he said. "You know I can't. I was a part of that too, I affected you...and as long as you see me, you'll remember. The depression won't end and...and..." he looked down. "That's why I can never be with you. You need someone new, someone gentle.."

"You're gentle." Mello said, looking into his eyes. Matt felt his hands shaking again, and he bit his lip. "Not always." he said, looking down. "Not when it counts."
Mello stared up at him. "You still blame yourself for what happened? I would've done the same thing. I would've..."

Matt clutched at Mello's shirt, his hands shaking so hard as he remembered the sick things they'd both pushed from their minds.

"I would've wanted to protect you too..." Mello said softly, moving closer.

"Don't..." Matt said, although he didn't pull back. He didn't want to pull back. The warmth from Mello's lips was unbearable, and he dragged him closer, feeling their hearts beating together. He wanted much more than this, and still, in the back of his mind, he knew even this was not supposed to be his. He just couldn't remember why.


O: Please review! I'm nervous to see if you guys still like the story, so leave feedback please and thanks!