Little Lost Boy

Mello likes the outdoors so Near likes the indoors. Because he is far away from Mello. Because he can sit down and think of nothing in a room with two entrances so that if Mello walks in, he can walk out without having to brush shoulders with Mello.

Near does not hate Mello. Near does not love Mello. But Near knows that Mello hates him, so Near stays out of Mello's way.

They sleep in the same room and Mello likes to sleep early, so Near stays out late, playing with his puzzles and games. Sleep, to him, is not a necessity, unlike to Mello. When you sleep, you are utterly defenseless. Near does not like that feeling.

Sometimes, Mello explodes and Near allows Mello to hurt him. He is a little disappointed that the process is always the same, but he learnt that people do strange things when angry. Some nights, it is almost nice. Mello always covers his face and Near knows why. Still, he allows Mello to do as he pleases because Mello needs to win sometimes.

Mello is not beautiful; he will never be beautiful. But Mello is undeniably intelligent. It's just that, Mello is not Near. Mello is just a highly intelligent little boy.

Near never loses. But he was taught to be sympathetic to those weaker than he, little lost boys who have been misdirected into believing they are something more. So, as Mello tries to suppress his sobs and fall asleep, Near goes over and kisses Mello on the forehead to tell him that everything is ok, that he has been forgiven.

He doesn't understand why Mello hates him more for it.