A/N: Ok, I am SO SORRY it has taken so long to update. June is without a doubt the BUSIEST month in my life, and I'm actually just no approaching the busiest week of it. So I'm getting this up while I can. 2 of m best friends, my mom, my grandma all had birthdays. A baby shower. Another friend has a birthday. Plus extra stuff I've had to deal with. Please take pity and forgive me. lol.

Disclaimer: I only own the computer used to type up this story.

Warnings: Alcohol use. Language. Sexual situations.

Chapter 8: Runaway

How can it be boy?

You're still a runaway

You chase the dreams from heaven above, baby

Where in this world will you find a place to stay?

Runaway from love

Mello sat n his chair, eyes on the spot Naomi had been kneeling, unseeing. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions. They didn't know what they were talking about. He was doing this for Matt's own good. He didn't need to get mixed up in the shit Mello got himself into. He was a disaster waiting to happen. Matt deserved better than that in a friend. He was startled when a hand was placed on his shoulder. When he looked up he assumed BB had returned to lecture him some more, but instead found the coal eyes of L. He was wearing his jeans low on his hips giving Mello all the information needed to know of where he had disappeared to with Raito. Like he needed any help with that.

"Mello, may I have a word?" L gestured to the chair across from him. He knew it would be about Matt. The last thing he needed was to hear someone else tell him about how he was a stubbornly, stupid, selfish bastard. But how could he deny his mentor? So, he nodded his head, unwilling to speak yet. L sighed as he crouched onto the chair, his hand reached over and held Mello's chin for a moment before dropping. They stared at each other a moment, neither saying a word. The intense look from the elder detective forced Mello to look away. Her cursed. L was the only one who could force him to look away with only a stare. 'and Matt..' his mind reminded him. He heard L sigh and looked back up. "Do you not see him, Mello?" Came L's words. Mello turned his gaze to follow L's, landing on the fiery redhead, dancing with a passion Mello had never physically seen in him to an upbeat techno song.

"What about him L? Are you going to tell me that I'm wrong as well? That Matt isn't better off without me? He's changed. He has a life here. A good one. Who am I to disturb that?" Mello was entirely unprepared for the emotion in L's eyes. Anger. Disappointment.

"Who are you? You are Mihael Keehl. Mello. M. Whatever the hell you want me to call you. Rank number 2 of your time in Whammy's. One of my successor's if you so chose to accept. If you leave, you are only proving why Near is number 1, and not you. Near doesn't lack the common sense you are showing you do. The obvious. You have such a brilliant mind, and yet you're so brilliant, it becomes a weakness where Matt is concerned. You refuse to see past what you're eyes show you. Those years apart have made it hard for you to read him. Yes, he has changed. And yes, he has a good job and life here. But do you think he's happy like this? Without you? Have you ever asked him exactly what and how he does what he does for a living? It's not a pretty story Mello. You have been here for a short time. You don't know how anyone but I came to be a detective. You know little of Raito or Beyond. And you know even less about Matt now. You refuse to see the pain he has gone through. The pain he is going through. You can't see the scars he bares from losing you. I am not disagreeing with you Mello. Matt does deserve the better." Mello stared wide eyed at L. His mentor. Saying everything he never wanted to hear. The last sentence though, it burned. Badly. it was like a knife twisted in his gut and then wrenched out his heart. He felt a sting behind his eyes, but when he tried to look away, L caught his chin once again. "Do not misunderstand me, Mello. It is not that he deserves better than you. It is that he deserves better from you. Talk to him. Get to know him all over again before you make such hasty decisions. For all of our sakes." And he was gone.

Mello felt stupid. Of course he had no idea what events led to Matt doing what he does. He knew Matt worked under L, but doing what exactly? He assumed computers had something to do with it. He knew from the times he was at the office that Matt wasn't a detective as he was. He didn't go out. His gaze returned to Matt who was still dancing in the living room. With everyone else away, he was free to appraise his best friend as he pleased. He didn't look any different. Although, seeing the fluid and graceful moves he pulled while dancing was new to him. He had never known Matt to even like dancing let alone look like a god doing it. Matt was exotic. He would be stupid and blind to not be able to admit how attractive he was. He was lazy and laid back. Unless it was something he cared about. Then Matt had a temper that could rival Mello's. Passionate. Mello could just imagine how wild Matt got behind closed doors with a lover. But he would not imagine it. No. He refused to let the influence of his friends and the alcohol in his system effect his relationship with Matt. No, he did not find the smooth dancing luring. No he did not want to touch him in ways that he should never associate with him.

'Liar!' His subconscious was screaming at him. He narrowed his eyes. He could prove it.

Matt was so angry he was seeing red. He wasn't sure how long he danced his frustration out. He held the remote to the stereo in his hand. Any time a slower song come on, he his the skip button. He couldn't slow down. How could he make Mello stay?

'You can't.' was the only thought he had. He doesn't want to be here with you. Why did that hurt so much? He knew it was bound to happen. Mello was a drifter. A wanderer. Always looking for a home, never realizing he had one. He wanted more than what Matt could give him. He had always been that way. Matt was never enough. He was so lost in his thoughts that when a pair of hands landed on his hips from behind, he almost dropped his near empty bottle of rum and the remote. He knew it was Mello. Not only did he recognize the presence, but it was the only logical choice. He had seen BB leave with Naomi. He looked pissed, she looked concerned. He knew L was in holed up in his room with Raito. That left Mello. He stiffened as the hands circled his waist and pulled his back to the owners chest.

"Dance with me. You never used to before." He heard Mello whisper in his ear. He nodded, refusing to say anything to the blonde. When he felt the arms relax, he turned to face his dance partner. He wound his own arms around Mello's neck, and the hands returned to his hips. A new song began and Matt pulled his left arm from Mello, finishing the rum in a swig and tossing the empty bottle into a chair. Mello began to move to the beat, and Matt joined him, getting lost in the music. Once song turned into two. Two to three. And then both lost count. Mellos hands roamed up and down Matt's spin and sides. Matt kept his right arm slung over Mello's shoulder, remote at the ready subconscious. His left hand moved over Mellos bare shoulder and up his neck to trail back down over his chest. Feet shuffled. Bodies grew closer. Mello's hands finally ran down passed the dip in Matt's lower back, and lower to the curve of his jean covered ass. He pulled Matt's body against his more firmly, causing Matt to groan in a mix of surprise and approval. The move cause Matt to drop the remote and use both hands to tangle in Mello's hair. Their foreheads touched, eyes closed, just feeling. Mello moved his head to the curve of Matts neck, and nipped the exposed collarbone. Matt's hands tightened in the golden locks. Mello continues to move his lips. Just ghosting over the skin everywhere. Across the collarbone to the hallow of the neck, and up towards the ear. Moving back and forth, not missing smallest spot. When he reached the ear, he nipped again at the lobe before continuing across Matt's jawline. Finally.. Finally Mello's lips were ghosting Matt's. Breath's mingled harshly. They were pulling each other as tightly as they could. Mello turned his head letting his nose slide across Matt's. His right hand had moved up Matt's body and was grasping onto his head. Palm on his jawbone, fingers sliding into the flames of his hair.

-BAM- The slamming of a door had Mello pulling away quickly, ready to grab his always present gun that was currently shoved in his pants. Raito was strolling through the living room, white shirt unbuttoned, tie around his bare neck, without a word to the other two. He strutted straight out the front door with another -BAM-