A/N: Well, I updated on Thursday like I promised. The chapter's kind of short, but I think it's good =) I like this chapter better than the last one, and I hope you people like it, too~

Please enjoy this amazing chapter~

Matt sighed as he walked back from the cafeteria. Luckily, he hadn't bumped into Mello yet; Matt didn't think he'd be able to look him in the eyes, after what he did. Matt's scowl deepened.

Why on earth did he hug Near?

Matt knew the answer to that question, so he discarded it. Near being sad, no matter how annoying he could be, made Matt feel upset as well. Matt admitted that he enjoyed talking with Near, especially when Near was happy. He knew that Near had no other friends, and being hurt by his only friend probably hurt a lot.

"Damn it," he cursed. Was their friendship developing too quickly? Mello and Matt were fast friends, sure, but they never hugged or anything like that. Maybe that was just due to the fact that Mello probably wasn't as physically affectionate as Near, but there was something that still bugged Matt relentlessly.

Matt, lost in thought, opened the door, his blush gone and his gaze fixed on the floor as he set down his and Near's food. He was originally going to make Near get his own, but decided against it.

Near turned when he heard the door open. He was surprised to see that Matt had brought him lunch as well, and a smile was about to form on his face, but a blush would be coming with it, so he hid it behind his expressionless face. He wouldn't be broken down so easily. "You didn't have to get me anything," Near said, trying to keep his voice as calm and normal as usual, but finding it was extremely difficult.

Matt looked over at Near. Damn it, how was he able to keep himself so composed? Matt would've expected at least a smile. "Well, I did. Now eat up," he replied, his voice coming out equally calm, as though the past events had never transpired. It was rather nice, though this was the same Near that everyone else probably saw; the one that didn't really care about much of anything, and hid himself. Matt felt a smile threatening to appear on his face at the thought. Matt was different from the rest. Near had allowed Matt to see raw emotion, something Matt suspected very few others, if any at all, had seen from Near.

Near stood up and joined Matt, sitting on the bed next to him and the tray of food. Matt had brought him a bowl of soup, whose steam looked like little arms beckoning for Near to dig in. Near grabbed at the spoon, but accidentally touched the bowl, which was scalding hot. "Ow!" Near let out a pained whimper. He rubbed his victim hand and frowned.

Matt sighed, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "Jeez, Near. Can't you do anything on your own?" he asked, taking the spoon from Near. To hell with consequences, this was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Matt wanted to know more about how Near worked, so he was now the subject of Matt's 'experiments'. He dipped the spoon in the liquid, and brought it up to Near's mouth.

"Open up," he said, his voice void of emotion, despite the small smile on his face.

Although Near felt a bit affronted, he opened his mouth to let Matt spoon feed him.

Matt was surprised that Near complied, and stored the information in his brain. Maybe it'd be of use later- Near didn't seem like the type to be helped like this, so why was he letting Matt feed him like this? He grinned.

"Good puppy," he cooed quietly, sticking the spoon in Near's mouth. Half of him was wondering what the hell he was doing, and the other was laughing like hell.

Near could take a lot of things and it wouldn't bug him too terribly much. He could take being called mean names, he could take being treated as though he were a child, and he could even take being hit by Mello. He could not, however, have Matt insulting him the same way Near had insulted Matt. Especially not in this position. Of course, Near wasn't one to act on his feelings, and he wasn't going to stop Matt from spoon feeding him because he knew he'd regret it later. So Near swallowed his soup, and settled on the deadliest glare he could muster.

"It seems you are mistaken, as you are the dog, not me," Near practically hissed.

Matt sighed. According to the death stare he was receiving, he went too far. "Riiiiiight." Matt rolled his eyes, getting more soup on the spoon and bringing it up to Near's mouth once again.

"So, if I'm the dog, then why am I feeding you? Or am I just your mother?" Matt asked.

"You're… You're toying with me, aren't you? Trying to see how I tick," Near guessed, narrowing his eyes, though there was a slight smirk on his face. Then Near opened his mouth for the next spoonful, his hand drifted to his hair, curling it subconsciously.

Matt rose an eyebrow, frowning in reply to the smirk. "Why would I want to know how you tick?" he asked, pouring the soup into Near's mouth.

Near swallowed before replying. "Perhaps you are curious about me."

Matt's frown deepened, and he lightly hit Near's forehead with the spoon.

"Near, that just sounds gay."

Near frowned slightly. "It was only a theory… But I suppose Matt wouldn't really care, anyways. Of course, I would be more than willing to be subject to any of his experiments… as long as they are within reason."

It was Matt's turn to smirk. "Oh really? Why would that be, Near?" he asked. He leaned forward a bit, his smirk increasing.

"As I said before, perhaps Matt is simply curious about me." Near tried to be as expressionless as possible. He had shown three emotions with every one of Matt's replies, and he really needed to stop. Matt would only figure it out sooner if Near started showing emotions he'd never shown before. Though the actual reason for Near's changing emotions wasn't exactly to keep his secret, it was more because he was so nervous and didn't want to say anything stupid.

Matt pulled back.

"Oh really now? So then, if I am oh so curious about you, then why are you willing to satisfy my curiosity? It doesn't seem like something you would do." At this point, Matt wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. Something seemed slightly off with Near, and Near was never off about anything. So naturally, Matt wanted to figure out exactly what that something was.

"Because I think you deserve to know at least something about me," Near responded easily. He took the spoon in Matt's hand without actually taking it from Matt and dipped it into the soup to feed himself another spoonful with Matt's hand still holding it.

Matt didn't really mind that Near was feeding himself now, so he let go of the spoon. "And why exactly do I deserve to know about you? If you're going to succeed L, then having someone who knows about you will put at a bit of a disadvantage," he pointed out.

Near frowned and dropped the spoon. He wanted Matt to continue feeding him. "I've never had a friend… It would be nice to know that at least one person knew me and… appreciated my company at least a little."

Matt didn't speak.

Oh.

Matt's mind backtracked, keeping a closer eye on what he said. "Well, I guess you have a point there," he replied, picking up the spoon again, "but that's not true in all aspects. Whoever said I don't appreciate your company?" he asked, looking up at Near.

"I never assumed whether you did or did not appreciate my company, I was merely answering your question." Near's expressionless façade was back in place and showed little sign of weakness. Now that he had his guard up, he didn't have to be so careful with his emotions.

Matt held back a frown, his face returning to normal. "Well, now you know that I don't hate your company," he revised.

"Yes, I suppose that is a rather comforting thought. I'd rather be ignored than hated." Near nodded in understanding.

Matt bobbed his eyebrows once in a silent agreement. He dipped the spoon in the soup, and brought it up to Near's lips. Apparently, Near wasn't going to eat on his own.

Near opened his mouth to allow Matt to continue feeding him. He was overjoyed that Matt was still doing it, although he made sure none of it showed on his face.

Matt stuck the spoon in Near's mouth again, a tiny feeling slithering its way down it's spine. Matt didn't know what the feeling was, but it was warm, though slightly uncomfortable. It was rather nice, really. He kept his face emotionless, though a smile wanted to show.

Matt fed Near until there was no more soup left, at which point, the two separated and retreated to themselves. Not many words were spoken, as the silence that remained in tact was comfortable. It got rid of any chances for them to argue. They were both tired of arguing, but disagreements always seemed to arise when they spoke, so silence was the best option.

The sun began to set, and the two ate dinner in silence alone. A janitor had come by a little while after they had finished their meal to take all of the dishes and glasses they had used for the whole day. Matt had decided to sleep in his own room that night, and while Near was slightly upset, he didn't say anything or even show any sign of disapproval.

The next day passed by at a nice pace, and there was a little conversation between Matt and Near. There were no arguments because they both kept the banter lighthearted and simple. Both of them appreciated the small talk, as they were finally off to a smooth start in their short relationship.

For Near, sunset had come to quickly. For Matt, he had been waiting for it. While Near was going to miss talking to Matt, Matt was anxious to get back to his own room and his own life. However different their perceptions of the end were, they were both glad that the bruise Mello had given Near was healing nicely.

Near frowned as he watched the clock. Matt could leave at any time now, and Near wasn't quite ready for it. Their relationship had just taken a nice turn and now Matt was going to leave soon. Near wanted Matt to know that he was going to miss Matt, and that he didn't want Matt to leave, but he had no idea how to convey it in a way that wouldn't make himself feel embarrassed. There was also the fact that Near was a coward, and anything he thought of would probably be too bold for him to actually do. He hoped the frown on his face was enough for Matt, because he wasn't going to do anything else.

"Come on, Near. I'll see you during some of the classes, alright?" He ruffled Near's curled hair lightly, and turned around. He walked over to the door and opened it before turning to look back at his new friend.

"See you tomorrow."

Near's heart pounded. This was the last moment. Now or never. Do or die. Was Near ready? No, of course he wasn't ready. Would he do it anyways? He had to do something. Near had decided. His heart pounded so loud that he swore the room was pulsating to the beat of his heart. Near stood slowly and then took an uneasy step towards Matt. From that point, throwing caution out the window, he quickly shuffled over to Matt, nearly sprinting, and threw his arms around Matt's neck. Standing on the tips of his toes, he placed a kiss square on Matt's lips that he didn't dare to break.

A/N: Well, there ya have it folks. What will Matt do next? What will he think? Will he bitch-slap Near? Or will he pass out? Well, I'm not gonna tell, so you'll have to tune in Monday to find out~

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