A/N: Hey! I really have nothing to say here so... I've been lazy with this chapter.
Disclaimer: Yeah, I still own nothing.
"New York, NEW YORK!" Matt sang loudly. Everyone else sat sullenly on one of the various chairs in the living room area, having been dragged from their beds with the fabulous news that the bus had broken down.
Grumpily using one hand to rub his eyes, Mello pulled a gun from his black pajama bottom's waistband. Aiming at Matt's head, he spoke through gritted teeth. "If you don't shut the hell up, I will shoot."
Matt quickly sat down on the remaining white armchair, and began to jiggle his foot impatiently. However, he did remain silent.
Allowing a slight smirk to cross his face, Mello placed the gun back in his pants. Shifting slightly in his chair, he turned to look at Rester, who had just come in from checking out the bus. "So, what's going on? Are we stuck here? Because, I mean, the concert's in..." He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "seven hours."
Rester sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I called a tow truck. Something's wrong with the engine. I also called a taxi service and their sending over two cars for you guys. I'll be staying with the bus." Speak of the devil, two taxis roared up to the side of the bus, their blazing headlights cutting through the night.
Matt sprang up, all his energy returned. "I call L and Halle! Race you!" And with this, he bounded out of the bus, running wildly to the taxis.
"Well, it sounds like L and I are going with Matt. Gevanni, why don't you stay here with Rester?" Gevanni looked briefly from his computer screen and nodded. "Okay, great. Near, Mello, you know the hotel address right?"
Rolling his eyes, Mello replied. "Yes Halle. You've only told me about ten times." Leaning over Near's sleepy form, Mello gently shook his shoulder. Near didn't respond; he just turned over and snuggled deeper into the soft cushions. Rather than wake him up, Mello carefully lifted him up bridal style and began to carry him to the farther taxi.
It was a scene right out of a movie. Near's small, white body being cradled softly against Mello's black clad chest. Adjusting his arms briefly, Mello popped open the door and placed Near inside. Going around to the other side, he paused to wave and then also disappeared inside. Their taxi took off into the night seconds later.
Halle glanced over at L's slumped over form before starting to briskly walk off the bus. "Come on L!" she shouted over her shoulder.
-Next Morning-
"Gooood Morning!" Matt said joyously, throwing open the door that connected Mello and Near's room to the kitchen area of the hotel suite. He walked over to the windows and pushed them open, then began to lean dangerously out, taking deep breaths of air. "Mm, smell that car exhaust! So invigorating. Nothing like a drive-by shooting to start the day, eh?"
Mello made a sleepy groan and merely rolled over, yanking the covers off Near in the process. However, he didn't mind as he was already sitting up, rubbing a miniscule bit of sleep from his eye. "Good Morning to you as well Matt. Do you know what the itinerary for today is?"
Sticking his head back into the whitewashed room, Matt struck a thoughtful pose. "Well, today marks the beginning of Video Game Con NY 2010!" A quick switch into a triumphant, hero-like pose. "So I will be going to that, of course. Halle's dragging Gevanni and Rester on some tourist trap tour thing. L... I have no idea. As for you, Near m'boy, Mello's got some plans. And now, I must be off to go finish my Beat cosplay. Bye now!" He exited the room with a dramatic roll.
"Near?" Mello's sleepy head poked up from underneath a pillow. "Is the idiot gone yet?"
Near's petite, pale hand was clasped in Mello's rough, tan one. The conjoined hands were swinging slowly as they strolled through the hotel's vast navy and cream lobby. They were talking in low voices, heads bent near each other. Suddenly, lights began flashing frantically, almost as if a small lightening storm was centered around them.
"Near, look over here!"
"Mello, give me a smile!"
Around ten photographers and eight journalists had been lying in wait at the hotel's entrance. As soon as Mello and Near had exited, they pounced.
A large microphone was shoved in Near's face by a short bossy-looking women with flyaway red hair. "Does this," she said, waving to their hands "mean you are back together?" After a nervous glance up at Mello, who was stoically standing next to him, Near gave a small reluctant nod. The women's pushy expression broke into a smile. "Oh, you forgave him, even though that whole thing with Naomi happened, and not long ago too?"
Near's small smile stayed transfixed on his face, and only if you knew him very, very well would you know that it was forced. He quickly swiped his lips with his tongue, and opened his mouth to speak. "No comment." And with that, as fast as they had come, Near began to pull Mello back into the hotel.
Two thoughts rang simultaneously through Mello's head. Damn, I never knew Near was this strong and Oh shit, I'm screwed.
As soon as they were in the elevator, Near dropped Mello's hand like it was on fire. He stared straight ahead, not one hint of emotion showing on his face. Hesitantly, Mello tried to place an arm around Near's shoulders. He shrugged it off and snapped his head around to glare venomously at Mello.
"Don't touch me." His voice was still dangerously soft and calm, as if they were discussing the weather or the price of cucumbers. "Do not touch me right now. In fact, don't come near me." He began to shake his head slowly. "I can't even stand to look at you."
"But Near-" Mello tried to interject, his voice pleading, eyes big and round.
"No." Near snapped, his voice rising a decibel level. "There are no buts Mello. Were you planning to tell me what happened with Naomi? Are you planning to tell me now? I think you had better."
Mello seemed to deflate. This has got to be the longest elevator ride ever. Almost as if Mello had willed it, the doors opened with a cheery ding. Near stalked towards the door of the suite and ran the card through the scanner. The door opened with a soft click, and again, Near stalked towards the closest chair, pulling up his leg to his preferred sitting position. He starred blankly at Mello until he had settled in a similar looking black chair.
Clearing his throat, Mello looked away from Near's penetrating eyes. "The thing with Naomi...was a mistake. After I saw you at that red carpet premier, I got really drunk at the after party, with Naomi as my date. We went as friends, but we were both intoxicated, and well, we ended up going," he paused as if not willing to say. Near's look forced him to. "All the way. When we woke up the next morning, she was all 'I like you, let's try going out.' And I was like 'Sure, I like you too.' But I really didn't. We went out once, and I couldn't stop thinking of you Near!" Mello's voice took on a desperate sound. "I'm sorry, okay. God, please don't, please don't-" His voice began to falter.
Near's steely-eyed gaze grew no warmer by the end of Mello's sorry tale. "I'm sorry too, Mello. But sorry doesn't cut it. We had been broken up for like a week or two then. You just jumped to the next star. This is all probably some part of a plan you have. Planning to break up with me again, huh? Well, that's not going to happen. We are beyond through."
With that final, chilling proclamation, Near stood up and swept into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed in the nearly empty suite.
Mello sat, still as stone, letting the true magnitude of the situation sink in. He took a deep shuddering breath and blinked, confused. He was crying, again. Near, I've cried twice because of you. No one else has ever made me cry once.
While Mello was preoccupied, L slunk into the room. Grabbing a room card, he opened the door and stepped out. "I told you I needed to protect Near. I knew you were only going to break his heart." The door shut with a definite, loud slam.
A/N: Whew, that was a pain to get through. Writer's block, y'know? Anyway, it's here, enjoy! Reviews do prod me on!