Rubik's Cubes

Had anyone looked in the slightly open door, they would have merely seen two boys, one blond; one with pure white hair, each intent on solving a Rubik's cube. But it was much more than that. It was a competition to prove once and for all who was the better than the other.

The pair stared intently at the cubes. The blond looked up to the desk where a stopwatch sat on the corner of the desk. He reached over, and plucked it off the edge of the desk. He handed it over the albino boy to a shorter brown haired boy.

"Time us, Matt. I want to see how fast I can solve this."

"Alright, Mello…" He looked at the stopwatch with a curious eye.

"You press the button labeled power to turn it on." The albino said pointedly.

"I know that, Near!" Matt nearly threw the stopwatch at him.

"Then perhaps you should turn it on instead of staring at it dumbly."

Matt glared at Near with venom in his eyes. Near merely turned back to his cube and continued to puzzle it out. "Why don't I time the two of you?" Matt said after a moment of silence.

"Why, to see who finishes first?" Near wasn't keen on the idea.

"What Near, Are you afraid I'll beat you?" Mello taunted.

"Not in the least. But if you insist…"

"Matt, time us. Lets see who finishes first."

"Alright, Mello. Whenever you're ready…" Matt mumbled, still staring intently at the stopwatch.

"Just start the timer."

"Okay, okay!" There was a pause. "There. I've started it."

The following minutes were filled with an intense silence between the boys. The soft clicks of the Rubik's Cube being turned were the only noises heard. After a short while, Near set his solved cube on the edge of the desk.

"I think that means I win."

Matt continued staring at the timer while Mello used some choice words to describe the cube and its inventor. Not long after, he too sets a solved cube on the desk.

"I hate you, Near." Mello was more than a bit miffed.

"I'm sure you do."

"Can we just go now? Powell hasn't shown up and we've been here for almost half an hour." Matt placed the timer face down on the desk.

Neither Mello not Near said a word. The three of them simply left the room, leaving the Rubik's Cubes behind. A moment after the three boys had closed the door and walked away, a man stepped into the room. He looked at both cubes and then plucked the stopwatch up off the desk. It had never been turned on.


A/N: Happy birthday, AceyDearest!