AN- OK you guys convinced me. I'll keep the story going. Thank you, everyone who reviewed. Are you happy now?^_^
Six weeks past and the tension was so thick they could all feel it. Mello avoided Todd like the plague and they were rarely in the same room together. Jay and Mello were also rarely seen together but Mello didn't bare the same hatred toward him as he did Todd. The only positive so far was that Matt hadn't cut himself in those six weeks and he was finally able to get his cast removed.
"You're arm will be weak for a little while." The doctor told Matt. "I want you rest it for a couple of days before you start rehabilitation."
"OK, thank you." Matt flexed his arm experimentally, feeling some stiffness from its lack of use. He hopped off the examination table. "Thanks again." He waved to the doctor before leaving.
"How'd it go?" Todd asked, leaning against the wall.
"Fine." They walked down the hall together, to the garage. "Are you going to tell me what's going on between you and Mello yet?" He asked as he stepped into the Nissan Skyline.
"It'll either clear up on it's own or you'll find out on yourself." Todd stepped into the passenger seat. "I hope it's not the latter." He muttered under his breath.
They drove around aimlessly for about an hour. Todd blasting the radio and Matt smoking a cigarette.
"I'm hungry." Todd said suddenly. "Let's get something to eat."
Matt pulled into a parking lot in front of a restaurant without saying a word.
Todd looked out the window. "Chinese? Let's get Italian." His eyes widened and he pulled on Matt's sleeve. "Come on, let's go now."
"Can I at least get something?" He turned and looked out the window. "Mello!" He waved his hand out the window. "Gevanni! What are you guys doing here?"
Mello saw the red-head and reluctantly headed to the car, followed by Gevanni.
"Hey, Matt, how are you?" Mello asked before glaring at Todd.
"I'm fine. We just came out to get something to eat." Matt smiled. "How are you, Gevanni? What are you two doing out here?"
"I'm ok, thank you. We were just getting something to eat. Would you like to join us?" Gevanni asked.
"I'm sure they want to be alone." Mello said quickly.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want to ruin your time." Sarcasm clear in Todd's voice.
"Shut up." The blonde said through clenched teeth.
"Sure, why don't we all get something together?" Matt ignored Todd and Mello's bantering.
"You guys go ahead. Gevanni and I already ate." Mello pulled Gevanni away. "I'll see you back at the headquarters, OK?"
"Yes, leave... please." Todd sneered.
Mello flicked him off and continued to walk away, Gevanni following close behind.
"What is wrong with you?" Matt asked his friend.
Todd stared at him for a second and shook his head. "For someone who was third in the Wammy House, you can be really dense sometimes."
Matt poked his tongue out childishly. "No, I'm not." He drove until Todd spotted an Italian restaurant and jumped up and down on his seat until Matt stopped.
"Calm down." The gamer said. "What do you want?" He glanced at the menu.
Todd was silent. Matt looked to see his friend close to tears, biting his lip to held back.
"What's wrong?" Matt asked, immediately concerned.
"Nothing." Todd scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. "It's just…I've never been anywhere this nice before."
Matt raised his eyebrows. "Well, Near gave us a shitload of cash so order whatever." He looked at the menu again. "You know what? Fuck it. Let's get everything." He motioned for the waiter. He ran his finger down half the menu. "We'll have all of this and the rest we'll take home in boxes in an hour."
The waiter looked at him strangely but went to take their order. Todd pounded his fists in the table and practically danced in his seat.
"Yes!" He breathed. A smile plastered on his face.
Matt smiled with joy.
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"Matt…Matt, I can't stand you'll have to carry me." Todd said jokingly as he leaned on his friend.
"You? I ate more than you." Matt groaned. They both held bags full of food and carried them to the car.
"Todd!" Someone yelled behind them.
Todd spun around. "Hurry up, Matt. Get in the car."
"What? Why?" Matt turned to look to but Todd opened the door and pushed Matt in.
Just as Todd was opening his door, a hand came and closed it.
"Todd, where have you been?" A man, presumably in his late forties, leered at Todd. "I haven't seen you working." He held Todd's chin with his thumb and index finger.
"I don't…I'm not…I…" Todd quaked with fear.
Matt tried to untangle himself from the bags and open the door.
"Don't tell me you're not working anymore." The man said. "How much for a night?"
"A hundred." Todd said automatically.
Matt kicked at the door and tumbled out. He pulled Todd from the man's grasp. "He's not working anymore. So you can find your kicks somewhere else." He said angrily.
The man laughed. "I see." He handed Todd a card. "Call me when your friend here gets rid of you. You know I always pay well." He smirked before he walked away.
Matt grabbed the card from Todd and threw it to the ground. "Asshole." He spat. "Come on." He dragged Todd back to the car.
"I'm sorry." Todd whispered, looking down.
"There's nothing to apologize for. That guy couldn't take 'no' for an answer." Matt concentrated on the road and tried not to let his anger show, even though it wasn't directed at Todd.
The sun-kissed boy shook his head. "I basically told him I'd do it. I told him how much." He held his head in his hands. "Mello was right." He said with disgust. "I'm trash."
Matt took one of Todd's hands. "You're not. You're…" He searched for a good word. "You're Todd. My best friend and good person."
"…Thanks." Todd whispered.
Te rest of the drive was quiet, neither wanting to intrude upon the others thoughts. They brought the rest of the bags to the kitchens for storage and stole a cake on the way out. Matt held the plate as they walked.
"What's in these rooms?" Todd asked as he dug into the cake.
Matt shrugged and took a bite as well. "Near said that this floor was his private floor. I don't think any of them are used beside mine and his."
"Let's look." Todd gestured to one door with his fork.
"I don't want to pry." Matt licked his fork clean.
"If it's locked we won't try any more. Fair?" Todd asked.
Matt shrugged. "I'm not trying it though."
Todd grinned. "Fine, I'll do it." He pushed back the door.
What they saw made Matt drop the plate. He was completely blown away by what he saw. Todd quickly closed the door and held up his hands apologetically.
"Matt, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I didn't think…" Matt fell into his arms, completely drained of energy or will to even live. Todd was forced to carry him back to the room and lay him on the bed.
There was a knock at the door. Near entered followed by Jay.
"What's wrong?" Jay asked quickly, concerned by the expression on Matt's face.
In a hushed voice, Todd them what happened. Near held Matt in his arms while Jay stormed out the room, slamming the door behind him. The red-head was limp in Near's arms as the small genius whispered comforting sentiments into his ear.
It wasn't good enough. Matt could feel his world falling apart.