Summary: Matt's fever results in him confessing something to Mello that he rather wishes he hadn't

"Mell, why's it so hot?" Matt complained. Mello sighed. They'd had this conversation several times now.

"It isn't hot, Matty. You've got a fever, remember? It makes you feel hot, but you've got to ignore it and get some sleep, okay?" Matt sighed.

"Kay… you know I love you, Mells?" Mello rolled his eyes.

"Sure you do, Matt. That's just the fever talking."

"No!" Matt protested, pushing himself up in bed. "I love you, Mello! I've loved you for ages! I love your face, your hair, your eyes, your skin…" he trailed off, tired from the fever. Mello stood up abruptly.

"Tell me you didn't mean that, Matt." He said. Matt frowned in annoyance.

"Noo, I did mean it, Mells…I love you!" Mello's arm was vibrating, and his fist was clenched tightly.

"Tell me it's just the fever, Matt. Tell me you don't mean it." He was almost pleading now.

"No, Mello! I mean it! I love you!" That was the last of Matt's energy used up; he collapsed back on the bed, falling asleep as he did so, so he didn't notice Mello bolt out of the room.

In the morning, Matt was feeling a lot better. The fever was gone, and while he still felt weak it wasn't something a bit of food wouldn't cure. He only had vague recollections of the day before, but there was something that kept butting against the haze, something important…then it came back to him in a rush.

"SHIT!" Matt growled, banging his hands against the bed. In his fever-induced state, he'd confessed his love of several months to Mello. Mello, the devout Catholic, who would verbally abuse anybody he even suspected of being gay. Matt brought his eyes hesitantly to the other bed in the room. It was stripped clean. Mello was gone and, Matt could now see, so was most of his stuff. He'd probably be back for the rest later. Matt sighed miserably, and did as he always did when upset; reached for his DS. Some furious button-pushing should ease his misery somewhat. But there was something on top of the DS. An envelope. Matt picked it up and slit it open, lowering his eyes to the contents.

Dear Matt.

Hey there, it's me, Mello. I'm leaving Wammy's House. You've been asleep for a whole day, so you don't know: L's dead. L's dead, and he hasn't chosen a successor. So Roger decided that Near and I should work together. Can you believe the man's idiocy? ME work with NEAR? Not happening. So I'm leaving to catch Kira myself, without the albino's help.

Now onto you and me: I don't know if you remember or not, but two days ago, you told me you loved me. Repeatedly. Now, I don't know if that was the fever talking, or the fever allowing you to say what you haven't 'til now. I- crap, this is hard, Matt. I'm gay. There we go, said it. I'm gay! I've liked you for a year now, but tell anyone and I swear I'll find out, and come hurt you.

You know I don't mean that, right? I just… I don't want anyone to know, okay? Anyway, for obvious reasons, I'm not leaving an address. I don't want to be tracked down by Roger or anyone! But I do want to be tracked down by you. So, here's how it'll work. I know you can do it, you're the best hacker at Wammy's. So if you really do love me, find me. If not, piss off.

Yours, Mello.