Authors note: I know you hate me because it's almost been a year. It's so hard to write this story and keep it in context so please bare with me. I'm trying but you can thank Carottal for this update. Total encouragement on this chapter and here it is two days later. Anyhow I'm going to try and keep it up but I'm mainly focusing on 'And you are' so I can finally finish it. No, I don't know how long that's going to take but I'm doing what I can. Classes start back in three weeks and in two weeks I won't have Internet any longer unless I'm on campus. So with how it's looking I'll try and that's the best I can do. If you have anything you want to talk about, drop me a line. Anyhow read, review and enjoy.
Painful collaboration
"If you want me to tell you the story then maybe you should shut the fuck up while I'm talking." Mello's voice came out as a cool whisper sending the agents into a slight frenzy. The one other time they had managed to meet the blond he was all fury and anger so the sound of him attempting to reason with Near, who he hated more than anyone else in the world, was frightening. The groups stood poised at the door waiting for something to happen but the blond remained seated in the chair in the middle of Near's play area. "Now, if you would kindly shut the fuck up while I'm speaking then we can continue."
Near blinked slowly, "Then continue Mello," His deadpan voice whispered. He kept his place on the floor right in front of Mello's feet but the blond didn't seem to take any notice. If his expression was a clue for anything Mello didn't want to be here. He actually didn't look like he wanted to be anywhere. His hands twitched nervously and his legs jittered but nothing about him seemed threatening. He actually seemed tired, drained and worried. Whoever it was that they were speaking of certainly must be important to him. "I understand that something has happened to Matt. Excuse me; you believe something has happened to Matt even though Roger believes otherwise. Due to your panicked and stressed behavior he sent you here to me." Near picked up several of the dice and ran one between his fingers. "Do you need my help Mello?"
Mello was silent for several minutes continuing to stare blankly out the window. "Near I wouldn't ask for your help even if you were the last person on the planet. You know that." His fist clenched in annoyance. They both knew the truth and they both knew that Mello would never admit to the truth. There was no use in bothering to bring it up. "A week ago I was at work," He ignored the glance the boy gave him at the word 'work.' "And I called Matt, he seemed fine enough. He said that he had gotten a job and he was going out. It wasn't usual, I mean I hadn't been home in nearly three weeks so I just assumed that he was looking for something to do. If he would have told me about his paranoia…"
Near hadn't glanced away, "You would have attributed it to his normal nature. Matt alone is paranoid but not excessively so. You would have ridiculed him for feeling it in the first place. In the end if not Roger, you would have been the one to lull him back into a sense of security." He replied seriously. "Continue."
Blue eyes blared in hatred. "No. I wouldn't have just ridiculed it. Yeah, it's really easy for me to chalk most of what Matt says up to his own insanity and anti-socialness. And yeah, it's easy to forget that he was ranked third in Wammy house but if Matt believes that there's something wrong I've grown to know that he's not usually wrong." He locked eyes with the young boy on the floor before immediately looking away. "I know Matt better than anyone."
"Not enough to know that something was wrong when he answered the phone in the process of being kidnapped." Near replied snidely turning back to stacking his dice one by one in a miniature castle. "Continue."
Mello's jaw tightened, "If you want to know Near shut the fuck up. Keep your bullshit comments to yourself before I decide to kick you in the fucking face for being a smartass." He watched the knowing twitch in the others cheek. He was smirking. Mello's threats weren't idol but the other still didn't believe that he would carry them out. In all actuality he needed Near right now and that might just be enough to keep him from doing it. It might. "He said he was going out and I accepted it. I got busy and Matt was the last thing on my mind. I've never really had to worry about something him. I didn't make mistakes and I trained him in case I did one day fuck up and he was taken."
"Oh good, at least we know he knows how to conduct himself in a hostage situation. Unfortunately, I doubt Matt is a hostage and even if he was at one point with the way he handles things they would probably save themselves the worry and kill him straight out." Blue eyes narrowed. "Matt's not known to be able to get along with people for more than five minutes. You're charismatic Mello, in some instances you have a personality large that the largest room. You draw people to you in a way that's unknown. Matt is your polar opposite. Sarcastic, cold and startlingly odd. It would be much easier to cut the losses if that were the case but the people who have Matt don't care about you. I assume that's a good thing on your part."
Mello's eyebrow rose, "Why do you say that?" He quizzed.
Near shrugged with one shoulder, "You would willingly trade yourself for Matt's safety. They would probably kill both of you. At least we know Kira simply wants to keep Matt but reasons we aren't entirely sure."
Mello looked uncomfortable. "Actually, I think I do know the reason. I think Kira is in love with Matt." Near's fingers stilled in his hair. "I visited Roger and from there I was led to the warehouse where I found Matt's car. While I was there I got a phone call from Matt and Kira. He's in love with Matt." He almost chocked on his own words. No one should be in love with Matt. Mello wasn't even entirely sure that he was in love with the red head but despite everything else he was his lover. No one should have known what an amazing person Matt was and how funny he could be when he was relaxed. No one was supposed to know certain things about Matt except him. He barely realized Near was speaking to him."
"…phone." The boy concluded expecting a response.
Mello frowned, "Come again?"
Near shook his head slowly, "Where is the phone?" He repeated in his same dull tone. "The one that Matt used to call you. If the time came he would certainly call you on that again." He waited for the other to mention it being in his pocket or something. When silence reigned he glanced up to find Mello staring into space again. "What did you do with the phone?"
"Shut up Near." He replied coolly. He folded his arms over his chest. "Don't worry about it."
Talking to Mello like this was like persuading a baby to sleep when they didn't want to. "Something happened to the phone, correct?"
Mello shrugged, "Shut up Near."
Near sighed, "Get Mello a new phone with the same phone number as before. If anything that would be our life line to Matt if he's able to get ahold of a phone somehow. If it's happened once it may very well happen again."
~*xXx*~
"Matt!" Mello's voice came from down the hallway but the red head didn't move from his post. He stood with his back to the bedroom staring intently out of the window as if there was something that he had missed. He kept it up as if something was going to change. He couldn't help it. He had been doing this for days and it was beginning to form into a habit not that Mello knew. Mello was rarely home now he couldn't possibly bother him with his problems. That's all they were problems and they probably weren't even real. "Matt?" Mello's voice came from directly behind him.
The red head bristled slightly before drawing the curtains. "Yeah?" He replied turning and leaning against the window. Mello always looked so beautiful even if he didn't know it. His blond hair was shaggy now to cover the scar on his face. Matt didn't mind, it didn't damper what was already there. If anything it added to what he already saw. It turned Mello's old cute look into something completely more badass. His leather trousers hugged his waist and the shirt only reached the top of his belly button. "Did you just get home?"
The blond gave him an odd look. "You don't know?" He questioned leaning past the other to look out the window. He wondered what the other could have possibly been looking at but if he asked he would certainly pretend that it was nothing. Matt was good at pretending nothing was wrong. He was even better at backtracking out of a conversation that he didn't want to be a part of and if Mello pulled him there he would be left with hours of silence when the red head fled back into his own little world. So, for that not to happen he kept his ideas to himself. "Yeah, I just got home. You look tired."
Matt shrugged, "Yeah. I haven't slept." He noticed the look on Mello's face. "New game and all. I got it delivered a few days ago and I've been playing nonstop." He flashed the blond a bright smile. "I should probably get to bed but you're home now."
Mello shrugged, "Don't stay up on my account." Actually the idea of snuggling with Matt was something he had been thinking about for days. "Are you sure that's all that's wrong? You seem…on edge?" He offered.
Matt shook his head wrapping his arms around the blond's neck. "No. I just missed you is all. Welcome home, Mell."
~*xXx*~
Raito frowned in distaste at the two standing together in the hallway. It was interesting that Matt had picked up on the cameras so quickly, and to think that he thought that he had done a fair job. Everything about the man was just so interesting. He couldn't help but have distaste for his relationship with Mello. Someone who is supposedly more intelligent than him and belittles his every little progress. He didn't understand how Matt could live that way.
If he could just have the red head with him he could show him how much he was worth. How wonderful he was. How much he loved him. Everything about Matt was amazing. In due time. Everything would work out in due time.
~*xXx*~
Mello could have kicked himself. He should have guessed with Matt's behavior that something was off about him. But Matt acted so strangely all the time that when he wasn't with the red head every moment it was harder to read him. He felt terrible and even with Near's interference finding Matt would be like finding a needle in a haystack. If anything it might be harder than even that.
"Mello." Near's voice said from in front of the computer monitors. The blond hadn't even noticed him move from his feet. "Apparently Matt was picked up by several security cameras on the way to the site where we located his vehicle."
The blond looked up, "And? They pick everything up, they're on every corner and don't do shit." He replied seriously.
Near sighed. "Matt was doing the speed limit and executing legal turns. He is alone in the car but he seems to be more distracted than usual."
Mello frowned, "Matt always drives normally when he doesn't know where he's going." He replied raising an eyebrow. "Which means that he had directions to get there?" He moved to stand watching the agents spread out in the room snap to attention. He moved to stand close to Near but not so much that he could hit him. Deep down he knew that wouldn't be enough to stop him if the boy upset him. He had never been able to put his hands on the little freak. Matt was always the one stepping in between the two of them.
He glanced over the smaller boy. Maybe that was why Near wanted to help find Matt. Matt was his only saving grace, the only reason Mello hadn't taken him out years ago. Matt kept him sane and a world without a Matt would be a world without Near.
"Nothing was found in Matt's car." Near replied snapping Mello from his reprieve. "Everything had been wiped clean."
Mello sighed, "Near what the fuck does that have to do with Matt? Of course they didn't want to be followed. The last thing they want is for me to get Matt back."
Again the white haired boy nodded, "Indeed but he allowed Matt to call you. Despite it being on a cellphone we can get an in general area that the call was made from. It will take time and a lot of effort but we can close in on Matt as long as they don't move him." A small smile played on his lips. "How do you think Matt is faring?"
~*xXx*~
Mello had trained him. He had trained him what to say if he were ever taken. He had trained him on how to act if he was taken. He had trained him how to deal with different types of people but Mello never trained him on how to deal with a sociopathic asshole that was deeply in love with him and edging on the deep end as is. No, Mello had mentioned mafia bosses. He had mentioned soldiers. He had mentioned the government but never Kira. Why? Because, much like Matt, Mello believed that he was so far off of Kira's radar that there was no point. There apparently was a point. Mello had always told him, 'be prepared to think on your toes.' Well, Mello never told him to prepare for when Kira laid in bed with you and stroked your hair. Hell, Mello didn't even do that.
"What do you want from me?" Matt's voice was strained. Not for any reason in particular. If anything Kira, other than the beating, had been taking decent care of him. He even gave him a handheld with a bunch of games for him to play to pass the time but aside this was still weird.
Raito, who up until this point, was lost in thought, glanced over. "What do you mean?" He questioned continuing his petting of the young man beside him. They couldn't stay here much longer. The more he thought about it giving into Matt and allowing him to make that call was bad. The longer they stayed here the more they risked Mello closing in on them. He couldn't have the red head taken from him, not now, not ever.
Matt raised an eyebrow trying his best not to pause the game to look at the other, "You know kidnapping me…"
"Saving you."
Matt frowned, "Right, saving me. Tying me up…"
"So you won't hurt yourself." Raito fixed for him.
He blinked, "How the hell would I hurt myself?" He questioned this time actually pausing the game.
Raito stared at him as if it were the most simplistic thing ever. "You don't know?" He asked aloud as he shook his head slowly. "Running back to Mello where he hits and screams at you, even belittles you in some cases is hurting yourself. Matt, you're much too good for that. If you stay here with me I'll give you the world. All the games you want and you can be my companion."
Green eyes locked with almond ones. "That's great but I didn't really need any saving. I've lived with Mello all my life. I assure you he wasn't trying to hurt me…he just has too many emotions and sometimes they all just come out at once."
Raito's hand stilled, "Battered women's syndrome." He shook his head slowly. "You no longer have to worry about any of that Matt. I will never hurt you as long as you don't disobey me. I only want what's best for you." He ran his finger down the side of the red heads body. "It's because I love you that I do these things." The man pushed himself up from the bed, "I have to make some arrangements now. Be good and play your games Matt. We can talk more later." He didn't bother looking at the red head that had gone back to his game.
He gently closed the door behind himself, "God, this isn't right." Mikami's voice was a soft whisper as to not alert the red head in the room. He didn't expect the swift slap that came across his face leaving a stinging bruise and a startled man. "Why?"
Raito didn't look at him, "I don't have time for you. I don't have time for your insecurities. You may not second guess me or else something terrible may befall you at the hands of your God. Watch over Matt while I'm away."
The dark haired man nodded frantically still holding his face. "Of course God. I apologize."
He nodded beginning down the hallway, "Of course you are."
