Disclaimer: I do not own or make money from the anime Death Note

Suggested Listening: Beating My Heart by Jon McLaughlin; HAPPY by Monika Linkyte

Part 10

Mello tried to move his arm but the heavy, warm weight against his side prevented it. Squinting against the sunlight, he glanced down. His smile was instantaneous. Matt was curled up beside him in his sleep, tucked under the roll of blankets that had accumulated overnight. They had fallen asleep sometime after midnight while talking over the late night reruns of "I Love Lucy" and "The Munsters".

Mello reached over to his night stand and fumbled with the remote until the power button shut the tv off. The couch was spacious and comfortable yet it was not a pullout and was not made for the two of them. So Mello had fixed up his bed with an extra blanket and pillows; Matt fully intending to take the couch when both were tired. That had obviously failed. With hesitance usually unbecoming of him, Mello played with the ends of Matts hair. Red silk was exactly what it felt like. He moved his fingers to gently brush through the hair, careful not to wake the sleeping red head.

Mello could hardly believe that the day before they had simply been friends. There was no definition placed on what they were now, had not been discussed the night before, and Mello was uncertain they needed one. Mello did however, want to find out what made the seemingly straight male beside him decide he wanted him, or if he always had. Matt shifted and Mello's hand left his hair.

"Don't stop...feels good," Matt murmured, voice thick with sleep. Mello smiled at the droopy eyes that greeted him. He continued to play with Matt's hair and watched half amused as Matt closed his eyes with a contented sigh. Who knew it was so easy to make him happy?

Eventually green orbs peered open once more and with a soft groan, Matt stretched in place. He did not however make any attempt to remove himself from Mello's side. "Mornin' Mel," he mumbled.

"Sleep well?" Mello arched an eyebrow as Matt draped an arm across his stomach, and pressed closer.

"Yeah actually. Really well. You?" Matt yawned and glanced up. He was sort of adorable all half asleep as he was.

"Yup. Except when I woke up and could not move my arm for some reason." Mello smirked at him. "I also did not know you were a cuddler."

"I do not cuddle." Matt's argument was completely ruined by the position they were in. He did not seem to mind.

It was all sort of surreal in a way. Mello never could have imagined such a conversation between them, even in jest. It was a nice break from all the little stresses, worries and hiding they both had.

"Keep telling yourself that," Mello laughed. The redhead let out an indignant scoff and rose to his knees. The blankets fell around him and after a moment of struggling, a leg stretched over the edge of the bed as Matt leaned over him to slide off. What Matt had not counted on were the blankets snagging his other leg. Matt collapsed on top of him, winding them both for a moment.

"You don't need to make excuses to do that." Mello told him, the joke only half there. He was well aware of every inch of Matt that was pressed against him, straddling him. Oh God-

"I guess I don't now, do I?" Matt said softly with a slight blush. With purpose he leaned down until their lips brushed. Mello expected the kiss to stay the same kind of uncertain and seemingly inexperienced ones they had shared the night before, and was pleasantly surprised when Matt forced his tongue into the mix. The room became warm, hot even as he slid his hand up Matt's shirt. For how long had he wanted to do that, and was finally able to? Not only able but urged to.

The skin under his fingertips was smooth and heated, becoming warmer the more he touched and caressed. Matt moaned against his mouth, grinding down onto him as Mello touched a sensitive part of his lower back. Mello could not get enough.

He arched against Matt, wanting more friction to his growing need. Fingers brushed down his chest, to his stomach and lower. Mello squirmed as warm fingers pressed into his hip and dared to move lower. Every nerve ending in his body responded to Matt as if pulled by strings. God how he wanted him.

Matt's hand slid further down his thigh and through the searing kisses Mello flinched away. Matt had brushed the end of his stump. Mello looked away, ashamed that such a simple touch to that area had startled him. There was a moment of hesitance in which Mello almost believed the action could be forgotten. Then Matt moved away and he was left to curse himself. Matt had sensed the change in mood, even if only slight, and he most definitely had felt the flinch.

Matt slid off him and out of bed before he could utter a single word. The redhead leaned in for a last kiss that held none of the previous passion. "You might want to hurry and dress since I plan on making an epic breakfast out of last nights left overs," Matt told him with a smile as he turned to leave the room.

Mello laid in bed silently for a long moment before slamming his fist into the mattress. Why did Matt have to touch him there―the goddamn stump? That horribly mutilated part of his body. Mello was used having to touch the area to clean and inspect it. He was alright with that. Matt had even seen the stump plenty of times without the sock. However...touching and seeing were two different matters.

Mello knew how it felt under his own fingertips, even with the sock on as it was. The dreadfully disproportioned sections of scarring, and the odd compact shape that had formed at the end. The stump disgusted him.

Mello slid his leg over the edge of the bed and readied the prosthetic with practiced ease. At times he wished the object could be more useful, perhaps attached to any remaining nerve endings and function more normally? Able to bend and move like the remaining one. He carefully slid on a pair of jeans and managed to button them despite the problem he sported. There was no time to take care of it.

Matt could not possibly want to touch the scarred flesh. It had to have been a mistake. At the moment Mello could see how, they had been preoccupied. Emphasis on the had. "Damn leg," he swore.

With a little hesitance he exited his room and headed for the kitchen where the unmistakable smell of cooking oil managed to reach the hallway. Matt stood in front of the oven with a saute pan on the front burner. He had not be joking when he mentioned making something of their leftovers. Mello would have simply eaten the leftovers as is, breakfast or not.

Mello let his presence be known as he retrieved a water bottle from the fridge. As he took a swig matt craned his neck to view him. "Took you long enough. I thought maybe you had fallen back asleep."

There was a soft smile etched across Matt's lips and Mello had to believe there was no resentment for his slip up.

"No. Too late to sleep." Or more precisely, he was not lucky enough to hide from his problems using sleep. He guzzled half the bottle and capped it when done. Matt was not the issue; he was.

"So what are we having?" Mello asked as he peered over the red heads shoulder. Matt swatted him away with rolling eyes.

"Breakfast stir fry. Now go sit down like a good boy any maybe you will get seconds." Matt winked in such a way that he could not have been thinking of food. He twitched. Matt was going to be the death of him.

With a sigh Mello did as suggested. He tapped his fingers on the smooth surface of the table as he waited, all the while watching Matt move about the kitchen with a practiced ease that should not have been there. He appeared to belong. He always had.

"Breakfast is up." Matt placed the hot pan in the middle of the table on top of a pot holder along with a plate for both of them.

"You seem entirely too comfortable doing this. Have you been sneaking around here when we are not home?" Mello eyed the redhead with faux suspicion. Matt turned sheepish.

"No. I just had this in mind since last night. I knew I wanted to make you breakfast so while you set your bed up I looked around for what I would need." Matt shrugged it off and divvied out the portion. Mello shook his head with amusement. Only Matt.

"Thank you." Mello took the full plate and wondered how Matt thought he could eat all of that. Matt stared dubiously at his own plate. There had obviously been a miscommunication between eye and stomach.

There really had not been all that much for leftovers either. Mello ate as much as his body would allow and trashed the rest. Matt seemed a little miffed that he had created so much waste; there was nothing to do about it. Halle would not eat it.

"Mello come sit with me," Matt gave a small almost devious laugh and dragged him from the kitchen. Mello stumbled only once and recovered with the next step. Matt flopped down on the couch and the motion pulled Mello halfway across him. He stared up at Matt irritably.

"Was that necessary?"

Matt smirked. "Of course. I have plans for you and can not let you have the chance to escape." Matt told him as he powered up Mello's laptop―that had been left sitting on the coffee table the night before.

Mello was able to squirm into a seated position next to Matt, rather than on him, though was not allowed to drift farther. Honestly he did not mind. At least until he noticed the red light of the built in web cam light up. Oh Hell no.

"Mello, please?" Matt's hand was on his arm, neither holding nor restrictive, as he gave a soft plea. Matt knew he hated taking pictures. That was why his family had so few of them. Yet, the hopeful expression Matt wore made him cave.

"One." He grumbled around the word and frowned deeply as Matt let out a loud 'woot!'. Was it really that important to have a picture of him? Matt quickly positioned the laptop until their images were on the screen. Mello sighed.

"You are supposed to smile." Matt told him. Mello watched as his frown only deepened. He could smile, and he did, just not for pictures. What was so useful about pictures anyway when you had the person beside you? Matt poked him in the ribs until Mello finally rolled his eyes. He cleared his throat theatrically and put on a smile. It felt so incredibly fake to him.

"It will never work like this." Matt grumbled. "You need to smile, not frown the opposite way." Matt no longer looked at the laptop and instead focused completely on him. Mello was transfixed by his eyes and the emotion expressed through them.

Matt leaned forward with a teasing smile and with slow fingers caressing the hidden portion of Mello's face, kissed him. It was more than a simple pressing of the lips, yet did not progresses into the heated ones from that morning; regardless Mello was left breathless.

"That is a smile." Matt said as he broke away. He directed Mello's gaze to the laptop where the sneaky bastard had snapped a photo. It was taken just after he had pulled away.

But that wasn't him, was it? Surely he did not look like that after such a simple kiss?

Matt wrapped an arm around him and Mello heard the shutter sound again. His smile was less pronounced in the next one, but no less real. Matt had such an effect on him, it was a little frightening.

"I thought you were straight," Mello found himself asking. He bit his lip, and in the next photo Mello could see his expression darken. That was meant to be a thought only.

"I am, well mostly." Matt shrugged. "I never put much stock in the whole gender thing. I'm glad too, otherwise I would have missed this with you and regretted it my entire life."

Mello could not help the smile wide smile that formed in response. Damn cute red head. He sighed and let Matt do as he wished with the camera. For that morning, if only, he deserved it.

Matt settled on five pictures to keep―a surprisingly small amount with how many were taken. Matt explained that he did not want to push his luck, and would value the ones he had. Mello liked the ones he kept, though he scoffed and said otherwise. He did hate having his pictures taken after all.

"Hey Mel, what should we do for―oh hold on that's my cell." Matt cut himself off, fumbling with getting a hand in his pocket to retrieve the phone. It was amusing to watch. Matt greeted whoever was on the other line; his expression however, grew annoyed as the seconds ticked by.

"Yeah ok. I will see you then." Matt sighed and snapped the phone shut. "I was just called into work. I have no choice but to come in as no one else can."

Mello frowned. That was not how he had expected the afternoon to go. In fact, not his night either.

Matt stepped forward and stole a kiss, just a small one, and uttered "Sorry, Mel" against his lips.

"It's fine. I had you all yesterday. I guess your work can have you for a few hours." Mello smirked at the affronted expression sent his way. Matt was obviously a little more unwilling to leave than he had thought. Good.

He took 'pity' on the redhead, and with a hand behind Matt's neck to pull him forward, they were heatedly kissing. Mello pressed himself close, throwing himself even more into the kisses. He could easily lose himself in those soft lips, wet tongue and overwhelming fire between them.

But there was no time right now. Matt had work. So with that in mind he abruptly severed the kiss, and smirked at the affronted glare Matt gave him.

"Oh God, you are evil." Matt groaned and stepped away, and Mello was pleased to note the hitch in his breath. So perhaps he was being a little evil when Matt had done nothing to warrant it, he hardly cared. In part, he just wanted more than a peck on the lips. He wanted Matt, breathless and pink faced, knowing that he caused it.

"I really have to go," Matt hesitated a moment. Mello knew the redhead would be miserable, and perhaps anxious to leave work the second he arrived. "I'll call later, okay?"

Mello smiled with a curt nod. "Don't be late on my account." He shook his head slightly as Matt hesitated one more second before he was out the door. Mello was left to stare at the closed door, and listening for the sound of the car starting and leaving.

Two minutes later he received a text. He may or may not have flushed at the contents.

.

The doorbell rang and Mello sighed from watching the coffee drip into the pot. "Goddamn I am popular this week." He grumbled all the way to the door, his leg stiff from sleeping awkwardly the night before.

He had an armful of blond, that almost knocked him over, the second he opened the door.

"Mel-Mel, it's been so long!" Misa squealed and held on tighter. The grip was somehow different from her usual clingyness. "How are you? What about your leg?-"

She jabbered on as he closed the door, locking it again, and watched her bounce over to the couch. Her voice sounded the same, just as her appearance and mannerisms were. Yet Mello was certain he was missing something, or perhaps not being told. He hated secrets.

"We never get to talk any more, why is that?" Misa pouted and for the first time, he noted that her eyeliner was thicker than normal. It had been applied too many times and was not befitting of a person who wore it daily. He knew then, it was not a social call.

"That would be because Light bothers me too much about living here. You all know it's the best course for me." Mello said carefully. He watched her expression deflate at the mention of his name and knew for certain he had the real reason she made the impromptu visit.

"Misa, why are you here?" He asked in a tone that left no room for placeholders. Spill it or get out. He had not had his coffee yet to be polite.

Misa had the grace to look ashamed; for she only visited because of a problem and not simply for company. He did not blame her, that was simply how she was.

"I think Light may be cheating on me. I mean I have to be wrong, he would never―it's just that he has been more distant than usual." She stammered out.

Mello frowned. She was still clinging to hope? He sighed and took a seat opposite her, knowing the conversation was long overdue.

"He hardly ever touches me anymore-" Mello winced, that was not something he needed to hear, "-no hugs, kisses. Nothing. Yet he seems so satisfied when he comes home."

"Honestly Misa, this has been brewing for a long while."

She paused, glancing up sharply, appearing scandalized.

"Everyone else knew, it was obvious." Mello shrugged. It was not that he was heartless, he only wanted the sneaking around and the drama it caused to be over. She would be happy too, maybe not right away, but she would be.

"Why would none of you say something?" Tears rapidly welled in her eyes, and it would not be long before charcoal tracks were left on her face.

"Would you have listened if you still thought everything was perfect?" Mello asked in a softer tone. He may have been fed up with her inability to see the obvious, but he was not heartless.

With tears falling, Misa shook her head. She launched herself at him, burying her face in his shirt. When had he become the person to cry on...become so approachable that it was comforting to do so? The thought came unbidden to him. Matt.

With a soft sigh, he rubbed Misa's back in an awkward attempt to comfort her. He had no idea what to tell her. With Matt it was easy, with Misa, it was damn complicated.

"W-who?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and yet Mello heard it clear as day.

"Lawliet." That one word had her freeze in his arms.

"I think...I think I knew that." She murmured. "It makes sense-" she choked on her words, yet looked up at him with blurry eyes, hopeful.

"Do you think he makes Light happy?"

Mello did not have the heart to berate her for such a question. So he said "Yes."

Misa closed her eyes, more tears falling until she reached up, arms untangling from around his middle, to whip them away. "Then I think I will be alright."

Her devotion to him was frightening. It made him angry, alright perhaps pissed was a better word, to think that she may never allow herself to love another. Only time would tell.

"Thank you Mello, for telling me the truth. I'm not sure the others would have." She stood, still wiping her eyes. How she was smiling, Mello could not fathom. She was stronger than any of them gave her credit for.

"May I use your bathroom for a minute?" She asked and he pointed down the hallway. She disappeared and somehow he doubted she would only be cleaning up. That was fine by him, she could cry all she wanted. Just as long as he did not have to deal with it any more.

Mello scrubbed his face and wondered why all the people he knew were so fucked in the head.

While Misa was in the bathroom, Mello busied himself with drinking the slightly burned coffee and properly waking himself up to caring. What would have happened with Matt, if he had caught him on a morning like this? It was a depressing thought.

He was on his second cup when Misa emerged, makeup reapplied and hair thoroughly brushed to perfection. The redness in her eyes betrayed the illusion that every thing was fine. He did not call her out. She needed time to deal with everything, and confront the bastard. He doubted very much however, that there would be any yelling on her part done.

She walked up slowly and hugged him, careful of the coffee between them. "Thank you," she kissed him on the cheek as she pulled back. She had always been too touchy-feely. "I think I have a few things to discuss with my b-boyfriend."

Her lips trembled but she held strong.

"You can visit any time you like." Mello said. He meant it. Though he hoped she would not bring drama each time. He followed her to the door, where she turned to say something only for her attention to be grabbed by something over his shoulder.

"When did you start wearing stripes?"

"What do you mean?" Last time Mello checked he owned nothing of the sort.

Misa pointed and he followed her gaze across the room to the side of the couch where a shirt lay discarded on the floor. How he had missed that from the last time Matt was over, Mello had no idea.

"Oh, that is Matt's."

Misa squealed loudly and Mello winced.

"What? It is from when he last stayed over." Mello said, trying to divert her train of thought, only to stumble over his words as Misa hugged him in a death-grip.

"You don't need to hide it from me MelMel!" She told him with a bright, almost approving smile. "Just one thing, please don't let your leg get in the way, okay?" Misa asked him, and Mello pretended not to understand what she meant.

"You can call and tell me all the juicy details too." She winked at him as he watched her saunter down the hallway. What the hell.

Mello stared after her for a few long moments, before he shook his head and closed the door behind him. He shuffled across the room after a dirty glance over at the shirt—that would be returning to its owner soon.

He flopped to the couch, with an arm above his head, and sighed heavily. He closed his eyes tightly. Misa was an airhead. Had no common sense, and had hit the nail on the head.

He wanted to be angry, at the very least annoyed, for her comment. What did she know about him, when she could not see what was in her own life? And yet..

He felt at peace.

Inexplicably, and oddly, at peace.

He hid a smile against his arm, though there was no one to see it.

.

.

Mello withheld a groan as fingers pressed hard into his stump. He could not show weakness here. He was at a final checkup, provided he did not notice any problems afterward that required immediate action, such as a possible clot or swelling lasting more that three days.

His stump was being felt, poked, and prodded for any signs of pain or undue tenderness. Funny how that worked, as the only reason he felt any pain was because of the damn fingers digging into him. He said nothing, however.

There was a small sigh of relief as the man nodded approvingly and backed away. His leg was throbbing now, fucker.

He listened on as he was told, once more, how well his body had taken to the strain, and how it was mostly due to the great shape he had ben in before.

Mello almost scoffed. That had nothing to do with it, and everything to do with determination. If you did not have it, all the strength in the world would not help. He stayed silent. The faster he was out of there, the better off he would be.

He smiled even as he was asked to stand, turn, and even walk around the room so it could be viewed. Did he mention he was in shorts for this?

"Hmm," Mr. Wammy paused him, leaning as much as his ailing knees would allow, and pressed on the area his skin met the sleeve. "This may need to be adjusted."

Mello's heart sank. Adjustments meant more appointments.

"Your leg shrank more than it appeared it would." Wammy smiled at him as he straightened out. "It is not a bad thing, and will not impede how you walk with this for now. Come back in say, three months, and I will check it again."

Mello nodded. No date meant three months to the day exactly. Fine by him. Though he would have preferred no more appointments. He would not complain however, as Mr. Wammy was not concerned.

"Thank you," he shook the elder mans hand and waited until he had left the office―perhaps to tell the secretary about the newly made appointment―to gather his throw over pants and shove them on.

He left the door open when he exited, receiving a smile from those in the office who had dealt with him before. He nodded to the secretary when she waved him over, and continued on his way. He did not need the details when he heard them from the source.

He stepped out into the waiting room and found it was no longer empty. Four people took up the seating on the far left wall; one was a little girl gripping crutches tightly as her parents chatted beside her. Her right foot was clearly missing.

Despite the image, Mello smiled as he walked out, glad to be free to move on his own.

-End Part 10-

Special thanks to reviewers: LissaRojas, e, CatatonicVanity, Awesomenessknowsnobounds, Keono, Wandering-Through-Wonderland, WammygirlZ, Amour en Rayures, Deadly Nightshade1395, S'moresForMooses

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