Chapter eleven:

Mello turns to look to Near who is gently leaning against him.

Near shifts off Mello then turns on the tap lowering his head to take a drink.

Mello shrugs figuring that solves the dilemma.

Once Near is finished he turns off the tap.

"Sorry. I just…." Near begins but Mello almost laughs.

"Don't be sorry." Mello says. "You have no reason to be."

Near turns to Mello.

Mello smiles. "Now how about we get ready for tonight? I'll even stay in your room if it would help you."

Near smiles softly. "Can you at least come with me to my room?"

"You'd really think I'd let you go alone?" Mello raises an eyebrow at Near.

Near lets out a short and breathy laugh. "Point taken."

Mello's heart soars at the sound.

So the two head on their way towards Near's room.

The door is wide open but there is no other human being in Near's room.

The two stop in front of the doorway.

Near turns to Mello. "Thank you Mello." He says. "You should go get ready."

"If anything happens make noise." Mello says hesitant to leave.

Near nods. "Don't worry Mello. I will make sure I do."

Mello nods then watches Near walk into the room before heading off to his own room. He digs a backpack that he has in his closet.

It's a teenager to adult sized backpack that Mello came with that held his stuff.

He knows Near has one like this. He turns and begins packing starting with everything he needs as well as anything important to him. He then begins adding anything else that'll fit.

Once done he securely zips the bag closed only to let go of it letting it fall from sitting on the bed to laying down on the bed as he looks at it with confident satisfaction.

He just barely managed to fit everything that is actually belongs to him in the bag. He wonders how Near is doing then he remembers the funds. He bites his lip wondering how they will get the funds in their savings account without alerting Rodger.

They'll need to go to an ATM machine and withdraw the money however as a safety precaution in place Rodger is alerted if the funds are withdrawn.

Each orphan is given a card when they are deemed old enough so that way they can access the savings placed for them so they don't start out with nothing.

He pushes his backpack under the bed so no one sees it then he heads to Nears room.

Near is just finishing his packing when Mello knocks on the door making Near pause as he had started to zip closed the bag before turning to look to the other who is in the doorway.

Mello enters the room. "I was just going to ask how we are going to get the funds without alerting Rodger."

Near looks slightly thoughtful. "We can get it once we leave." He says. "If we get it from the closest ATM machine then continue he can't track us especially if we take all of it out at once."

Mello nods in agreement. "Yes. That'll work."

Near finishes zipping up his bag with a hum of agreement.

Mello looks around at the toys still out. "Do you need a second bag?" He asks.

"Those are not important to me." Near says. "I have no problem with leaving them behind."

"Are you sure?" Mello asks turning to look to Near.

Near turns meeting Mello's eyes. "I am sure."

"If you're sure." Mello responds. "Anyways." He turns to look out the window. "Soon it'll be time to go." He says noting that it is getting late.

"You should head to your room." Near tells Mello. "Wait and I'll come to your room."

Mello doesn't argue especially since it's getting quite late. "Come as soon as you can." He tells Near.

Near nods. "I will." He hides the backpack under his bed.

"See you later." Mello heads off to his room and he settles on the bed staring at the ceiling as he begins to think about what their future might hold.

The money they'll get from their savings will be enough to get them started but they will need to find a way to make their own money if they are to survive out there.

But no matter what hardships lie ahead Mello won't abandon Near.

They'll work through this together.

The door opens making Mello blink as he comes back to reality.

Mello's eyes flicker to Rodger then his eyes narrow in anger towards the old codger.

"Good job. Now you will only ever be seen as a failure." Rodger says then he leaves closing the door behind himself.

Mello rolls his eyes. "Pfft. Yeah whatever." He brings his arms to act as a second pillow while he closes his eyes. "Fuck you. You old codger."

A little later the door opens again this time Mello sit up then turn to look to the doorway.

Near stands there with the backpack safely on his back.

Mello turns and gets up then kneels down grabbing his own backpack putting it onto his back. He heads over to Near once it's securely on. "Let's go." He says as reaches Near.

Nera nods then steps to the side to allow Mello to go first.

Mello takes the lead and the two head off as quietly as they can moving through the hall. He peers around the corner slowing down to do so then continuing at the original speed as he confirms the coast is clear.

Near continues to follow as close as he can to Mello while still being respectful of personal space.

As they move through the orphanage their hearts begin to race and adrenalin rushes through their body's at a flashing rate.

The two continue through the orphanage then they arrive to the front door.

"Keep an eye out." Mello says taking out his lock picking stuff from his pocket glad that he remembered to put them there when he was packing.

Near nods then turns and watches for any signs of anyone seeing them or coming in their direction.

Mello in the meantime begins picking the lock on the door. He slightly yet gently bites his tongue in concentration.

Near slightly wishes Mello would hurry up but he doesn't bother Mello about it as he continues to keep watch for anyone coming their way.

Mello continues trying to pick the lock as a bead or two of sweat drip down the back of his neck then finally there is the satisfying click letting the two know that the door is now unlocked. He removes his lock picking tools stuffing them into his pocket. "Let's go." He opens the door urging Near out.

Near hurries rushing out the front door but waits for Mello to follow as well as close the door behind themselves.

The two hurry jogging for the front gate.

"Go." Mello urges Near onto the gate who starts climbing it. He looks back at the orphanage one last time before turning away following Near in climbing the gate.

They reach the top of the gate then they jump down to the ground below on the other side.

With no time to waste they jog away from the orphanage.

Mello looks around for an ATM machine and finds one a few seconds after the orphanage disappears from view as they, slow down to walking, walk away from the edge of town to deeper within the town. "There." He points making Near turn.

"Perfect." Near takes the lead as they head to the machine.

They do the withdraw taking out all of the money at once.

Now the cards are useless so they'll need to cut them up then throw them away but they put them in their pockets for now.

The savings stop once any money is withdrawn from it.

It's just how it works since when you withdraw it is because you are no longer a part of Whammys house.

"Let's go." Mello says and the two head off on their way to get further away from the orphanage.

The streets are lit with the street lamps as if to light their way as they walk.

They stick close together.

Near moves closer causing Mello to subconsciously move to hold Near's hand.

They both understand that the night can be dangerous but they can be assured that they have each other. They finally stop to rest in a elementary school's field. They look to each other with a smile, releasing their hands, then fall onto their backs with a small laugh.

"We did it." Near says as they stare at the starry sky above.

"We escaped Whammy's house." Mello says.

The two lay there as Near turns his head to look to Mello while Mello closes his eyes content.

Yes. They did it. They ran away from Whammy's house and boy does it feel good.

Mello turns his head then opens his eyes halfway to meet with Near's gaze. "We should be able to find a hotel for tonight." He says.

Near nods in agreement. "Then tomorrow we can figure everything else out."

Mello nods.

The two get up after a minute of deciding which way to go to find a hotel. They have things like a passport and ID card with an alias just in case L sends the orphanage on a trip that Rodger likes to make sure there are educational purposes to it.

Mello knows that the age is put to eighteen since the ID is what they have when they leave the orphanage so in order to not be sleeping on the streets they need to make sure that they can get something.

Anyone over eighteen who is still at Whammy's gets a new ID though Mello doesn't know what age they go for with the new ID since he's only sixteen.

After a bit they get up then head off on their way to find a hotel.

After about ten minutes of walking they come across a hotel.

They head inside and go to the front counter.

Mello has a feeling that having a bed big enough for them both to share is going to be cheaper which is good since they don't have any income.

"Hello what can I do for you?" The guy behind the counter asks trying to be very polite but in his eyes he just wants to go home to sleep.

"We would like a room." Mello says.

"Al we have are rooms with one bed but they will fit two people quite comfortably." The guy explains.

"That's fine." Mello responds.

"How many nights?" The guy questions.

"Two." Mello decides since they will need time to find a house.

After paying for the two nights they get their room keys so both have a room key only to head away to go find their room.

Mello looks down at the room number. "426." He reads out loud. "So the fourth floor." He looks up and heads for the elevator. He pushes the button only to wait for it to come.

The doors open then the two step inside only for the doors to close after Mello pushes the fourth floor button.

The elevator begins moving up while the two wait for it to reach the fourth floor.