Chapter 11

L went over the results of the work the boys had done and nodded his head.

"Acceptable, very acceptable," he told them and stood from his desk. He looked at the beaming smiles from the three youngsters, and then caught the uneasy looks between the blonde and red head.

"Matt and Mello you are dismissed, you may go back to your room. Near—if you would stay for just a few more minutes, I'd like to go over a few items on your project with you." Near looked surprised at first, but then immediately understood when he caught the glances between Matt and Mello.

"Sure L, no problem," he answered and got up to join L at his desk as Matt and Mello headed for the door.

"I expect all extraneous situations resolved by tomorrow's lessons," L called after them as they walked out of the door as Watari walked behind them.

"If you require a mediator, please come and see me," he told them, "I understand the situation better than you know," he added.

"Thanks Watari," Matt said knowing exactly what he meant and smiled at him before turning and following Mello down the hall to the stairway that led back to the main area of Wammy's.

"Now what happens?" he finally asked Mello as they neared their room. Mello shrugged his shoulders as he opened the door and walked in.

"I don't know, Matt," he answered, "I'm not sure of anything except I don't want to be mad at you anymore." Matt smiled at him.

"That's a good thing," he said and then looked down at the floor, "Then I guess I was wrong…about how you feel about me?" Mello sat down on the bottom bunk and put both hands over his face as he felt tears behind his eyes.

"I don't know how I feel, that's the problem," he looked up at Matt who was looking down at him sadly, "I know I care about you but…"

"You don't know if it's how I know I feel about you," Matt answered and Mello nodded.

"L thinks that I do, he thinks the way I acted when you kissed me proves it, but…"

"I know how I feel Mello, I thought it was crazy when I first realized it but I looked it up and everything it said was true. I really care about you, and it's more than a best friend. But if you don't, that's okay we'll just stay friends and I promise I won't try anything again." Mello looked up at him as tears ran down his friend's face. He didn't want to keep hurting Matt's feelings, making him think he was wrong when in reality, he now knew and admitted to himself, he had been right. L had been right; he did care a lot more for Matt than just as a friend, he could feel it in his chest. Now all he had to do was admit, say it out loud. He stood up and walked over to Matt who stared at him in question. Mello stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed.

"You weren't wrong Matt," he said and Matt's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean? You mean you…" Mello leaned forward and quickly pressed his lips to Matt's, once again feeling how right it seemed. When he backed away Matt stared at him for a moment and then closed the space between them, throwing his arms around him. Mello slowly raised his own arms and wrapped them around the red head. After a few moments they pulled away enough to look at each other, before meeting again in a longer kiss.

When they pulled apart this time, Matt ran his hand through Mello's hair and smiled at him. Mello smiled back, but then frowned.

"What's the matter?" Matt asked him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know what to do next, I mean, now what?" he asked and Matt laughed.

"Well, I told you I looked stuff up. I don't think there's anything special we have to do, just be us. Now we're just a closer us, but still us. But if you want I can show you what other guys do, I mean, I don't know exactly everything but we can look." He suggested and Mello nodded.

"Okay, let's look," he said and Matt pulled his laptop and put it on the desk.

"Maybe we can talk to Watari about it, he understands," Matt added as he booted up the computer.

"Oh yea? Why would he know? Wait…is he…gay?" Mello asked and Matt laughed as he shook his head.

"No, but L is," he said and Mello stared at him incredulously.

"What? He told you that?" he asked and Matt nodded.

"Well, not in exact words but he made it clear that he was." Mello looked away in thought, that would explain how L understood exactly what he felt even when he didn't even know. He smiled as he looked at the screen that Matt was bringing up, now even in this L understood him. He took a deep breath as he watched Matt work on the keyboard; he couldn't believe how much better he felt now that he admitted his feelings, and that he no longer felt there was something wrong with him; but mostly that he knew that his relationship with L had not changed.

Near smiled at Watari as he sat the plate of cookies and milk down in front of him and a slice of cake in front of L as he sat next to L at the detective's desk.

"You realize I kept you back so that the two of them could try to straighten out their situation," L said to him as he sipped his coffee.

"I assumed that," Near answered taking a big bite out of a cookie, "Do you think Mello will admit his feelings or will he continue to deny them?"

"I imagine he will admit them eventually. I believe his biggest fear was that he thought I would disapprove somehow and since I assured him that was not the case he should not have a problem," L answered holding his fork between his thumb and forefinger as he cut a piece of cake with it.

"I hope I don't walk into anything too…mushy when I go back to the room," Near worried and L shook his head as he took another bite.

"I would doubt anything too physical would be happening, they are not ready for that part of the relationship yet, I'm sure. But in time you may wish to knock before entering," he advised and Near visibly shuddered which made L smile.

"Do you have a problem with this new situation?" he asked and Near shook his head.

"No, I was just concerned because Matt was so upset when it happened, but it is no matter to me if they wish to be a couple now. Maybe Mello will be in a better humor now," he answered

"Perhaps, but that will not change his animosity with you. He dislikes being second best to you in school, but I'm sure you know this," L told him finishing his cake.

"It's not my fault he isn't as good as I am. He should just accept it and stop blaming it on me," Near said testily and L shook his head.

"It is not that he is not as good as you are, all three of you are equal in intelligence and aptitude. His gifts simply lie elsewhere than paperwork. I am quite pleased with what he has accomplished, as I am with all of you," he finished his coffee and watched as Near thought about what he said, then finished his cookies and milk.

"I believe enough time has elapsed that you can safely go to your room now," he said standing up with his coffee cup, "I will see you all tomorrow evening." Near nodded and got up from his chair and headed for the door. As he put his hand on the doorknob he turned back to L.

"If I get there and they're…busy, can I spend the night here?" he asked. L stopped refilling his cup and turned towards him.

"I doubt that would be necessary but should there be a problem, yes you may come back here," he answered and went back to his coffee. As Near opened the door he heard L call his name and he turned back.

"I am sure Matt appreciated your friendship at this crucial time when he was in need," L told him with a small smile. Near smiled back then went out of the door.

Near made his way back to their room and then stopped when he heard a burst of laughter from inside. He leaned closer to the door to see if he could hear a little more of what was going on inside. He heard Mello groan loudly as Matt continued to laugh.

"Oh man how does that even work?" he heard Mello say loudly and then they both laughed.

"I dunno, looks really painful though," Matt answered and then heard them both come out with a resounding "EWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

Near decided he'd try knocking just to be on the safe side and when he did he heard them both giggle.

"Come on in, we're not naked or anything!" Mello called out making Matt laugh again. Near opened the door slowly and peaked in, not sure he could trust Mello or not. When he saw they were both hovered over a laptop on the desk he breathed a sigh of relief and came in.

"I guess everything's okay then?" he asked as he closed the door behind him.

"Yea, we're good," Matt answered and Mello proved it by kissing him quickly. Near frowned and shook his head.

"If you don't mind I don't need any proof, thank you," he said and began to get ready for bed as the two laughed.

"You sure you don't want to come over and look at our study guides?" Mello asked and once again Near shook his head.

"Not if that's what you were watching when you were making all that noise I heard from outside the door," he answered as he pulled on clean pajamas.

"You should though, you wouldn't believe the places they put things!" Matt said laughing and Near groaned.

"I would appreciate it if we could just go to sleep," he said pulling the pillow over his head. The two looked at each other and nodded, and Matt powered down the laptop. They got up from the desk and walked over to Near's bottom bunk. Then together they reached out and pulled the hapless albino from the bed onto the floor so that he was in between them.

"What are you doing?" he yelled as they did.

"I wanted to thank you for being so understanding," Matt told him.

"Yea, it's so not like you," Mello added and then at the same time they leaned forward and kissed the cheek that was closest to them. Near yelled and pushed them both away, crawling quickly back into bed and pulling the covers over him.

"Don't EVER do that again!" he yelled from under the blankets but all he heard in reply was their laughter.

"Good night Snowball," the two said together and then got ready for bed. Matt turned off the light before he got into bed, still laughing.

As the lights went out, Near climbed out from under the covers and now that no one could see him, he smiled.