"Matt, I swear to God, if you don't take me seriously I will shoot you myself."

I quieted. I had to…Mello never spoke to me like that unless he meant it. Things were…changing. That moment, the moment that I became something more…I felt it, and it was coming up fast. I couldn't help myself, my heart was pounding, and even my cigarette trembled in my lips. Mello was worse off than I was, pacing the garage with his helmet bag in hand. His rosary chimed quietly against the zipper of his vest.

I don't know where he bought those clothes, but I'd never have the nerve to wear them myself. One of those things that only Mello could pull off, ya know?

"Matt…you realize we may die doing this, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay…" He resumed his path…and I think if I'd let him, he'd have walked there until the concrete wore away beneath his heels. Finally, he paused, next to his motorcycle and clutched his crucifix so hard, I could hear his leather gloves squeal. This was the part where he'd say a prayer, shake my hand, and we'd be off. Another of those secret rituals he went through. Mello was so religious, it was frightening. Catholic, and serious about it. People these days wore crucifixes like fashion statements, but Mello…no not Mello. Mello was dead serious in his faith, and if you called him on it, he could quote scripture at you in Latin and shoot you between the eyes without missing a beat.

That was Mello in a nutshell.

I lit another cigarette, placing it between my lips as the other hit the ground. I looked up again to find Mello staring hard at me. It was mildly disconcerting, because Mello hardly ever made eye contact with people. But here, he was staring at me. Meant it too.

"What's up?"

"C'mere." I hopped off the car hood and walked over. Was he mad? He kept looking me over, and it was…scary almost. Mello never looked so serious.

"Hey Mello…don't worry about it, it's gonna be…" He cut me off with a hand, and I shut up. I just didn't like the look on his face. He worried too much, it was going to be fine. How can a firefly lead you astray?

"Matt…pray with me?" The cigarette fell to the ground as my mouth fell open.

"What?"

"I want you to pray with me." Well…shit. That was personal. That was really personal. That was something I got pistol-whipped over if I dared interrupt him while he was at it…and he wanted me to pray with him? As in…stand here and listen? Or participate?

"Will you?"

"Um…Yeah, sure. If you want…" He nodded once to himself and set his helmet on the motorcycle seat. One glove came off, and then he held the crucifix up between us. A moment past and I realized that he wanted me to hold it too. Participate, then...

Wow. I mean Wow.

Mello didn't do this. Ever.

I wrapped my fingers around it, and he put his bared hand over mine. Our fingers touched where my fingerless-gloves left off.

"Repeat after me."

"I…yeah, okay." He put his free hand on my shoulder and bowed his head. When he spoke, it was different…reverent, respectful. Not Mello.

"Suscipe domine universam meam libertatem…" I swallowed thickly and repeated, fumbling through the latin.

"Suscipe domine universam meam libertatem."

My Lord Christ, accept my freedom.

"Accipe memoriam, intellectum atque voluntatem omnem."

My memory, my understanding, and my will are yours.

I suddenly realized I knew this prayer. When he spoke again, I picked it up. I could almost hear him smile, he slowed down to accommodate my rusty latin. I hadn't said these words since I was a child.

"Quidquid habeo vel possideo mihi largitus es - id tibi totum restituo, ac tuae prorsus voluntati trado gubernandum."

All that I have to cherish, you have given me, and I surrender it all to your will for your guidance.

"Amorem tui solum cum gratia tua mihi dones, et dives sum satis, nec aliud quidquam ultra posco."

Thy grace and love are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Christ, and I shall ask for nothing more.

"Amen." I lifted my head and he was smiling at me. Really smiling. I could count the number of time Mello had smiled on one hand. He tilted my head down and kissed me on the forehead. A second passed before I remembered that I was supposed to do it too. I blushed a bit, but then I managed to return the token. I missed a little and caught the corner of his eyebrow. He just shook his head, chuckling at me.

Not Mello…not Mello at all. Then he smirked and punched me in the arm.

"See you in hell, Matt." And that was my Mello. That was my firefly, my best friend, and tonight, we were gonna change the world. I grinned and pulled my keys out of my pocket, heading back toward the car. Mello hit the button for the door, and the cold night air crept in through the crack as it rose.

Crisp, clean and perfect. My kind of night.

I opened the door, and Mello's voice stopped me.

"Yo Matt…"

"Yeah man?"

"…Be careful, you piece of shit Hacker." I grinned as he strapped his helmet on and swung a leg over his bike.

"Yeah…love you too, man." I don't think he heard me over the engine.

I hoped he knew anyway.