Chapter ten:
Matt and Mello crouch behind a tree and peer out to try to see if they can see anyone that is hunting them. They move forward at seeing no one making a break for it while trying to stay as quiet as possible. They don't want to possibly end up alerting anyone hunting them to their location. They get to a spot with a gap in the trees making for a perfect place to take to the sky. They spread their wings and take off since this way they won't make noise from going through any of the trees. They make it safely into the air and fly off towards the changeling home while making sure to not go in the direction that the humans had last gone in. They make it back safely and land to which Near, who happens to be out of his room, heads over to them.
"You don't need to give me whatever lecture you think I need. At least I had tried to get some information about how to get home. It may have not gone to plan but I already know that." Mello hisses quietly to Near when he arrives to them clearly just not wanting to worry the others right now; it is clear that they are already worried about the news of the humans searching a certain area for them.
"Actually I was just going to say that I am glad that you are safe and unharmed." Near corrects Mello who blinks in surprise at this. He looks pretty serious about that too so the blonde can't really argue about it.
Mello clenches his teeth and his eyes glance away. He unclenches his teeth in order to speak clearly to the white haired boy standing before him. "Yeah. Thanks."
"You two should take a little time to relax a bit. It looks like it'll start getting dark here soon. It is just a suggestion though." Near then heads off and makes sure that the schedule for the guards for the changeling's home is good to go just in case.
Matt turns to look to Mello who is watching Near move around to finalize guard schedules. He smiles softly as he hopes that this moment will help Mello in working with Near on this whole thing. He has a feeling that his blonde best friend is truly considering his thoughts of Near and their situation now. He'll just wait to let the other think things over as he knows that it is the best way to get things to go in the best possible way.
Night has fallen in this world and Near is laying in his bed asleep. He shifts around with soft sounds as he dreams. In his dream he finds himself looking at some humans that he doesn't know. He can hear a voice call out that sounds like his own yet somehow has a very different tone than he would ever use.
"Humans are evil. They all deserve to be taken care of if you know what I mean. Take the city. Make them regret ever being the evil beings that they have chosen to be."
"No." Near whispers as the people stare at him as if waiting for him to do something. "I'm not going to do a mass killing spree just because they're defending themselves."
"They deserve it. They want to kill all of us changelings. If we don't take care of them first then they will wipe us out. They don't care about our circumstances or that we have no choice about how we eat. They only care about killing all of us."
"No." Near shakes his head and takes a step backwards. "There has to be a better way. A mass killing is never the solution to anything."
The humans start to advance towards him looking like they are now demanding for him to do something.
Near keeps taking steps backwards until his back hits an invisible wall in this black room.
"Kill them!" The voice shouts with a command at him.
"No!" Near shuts his eyes tightly then raises his head from his bed with a gasp. He finds himself panting slightly to which he glances around in the darkness. He realizes that it is still night time and that he is still in the changeling world. He calms himself down and gets up. He steps out and glances around seeing that everything seems peaceful. He can actually see pretty well thanks to the full moon and since his eyes are used to the darkness. He looks to where the holes are made for the changelings to sleep in with comfortable material placed inside. He spots Mello and Matt both asleep in spots by each other. He stays quiet not wanting to awaken anyone. He sees no reason to after all. He glances to the sky staring up at the full moon and the twinkling stars. He wonders if when they get back home that the changelings here will indeed attempt a possible mass killing on the city. He just isn't really sure that he can change things. He honestly doesn't even know where to start.
Mello blinks awake and his eyes flicker to what he spots from the corner of his vision. He sees that Near is awake and staring at the sky. He isn't sure if he is seeing things in the dark but he could swear that Near actually looks troubled. He raises his head and makes up his mind. He gets up sliding out of the spot that he had chosen to take as his spot to sleep. He heads over to Near who stops looking at the sky to look to him. "You're up late." He whispers not wanting to wake up anyone else out of curtesy.
"I could say the same about you." Near points out just as quietly to which Mello hums softly.
"I suppose." Mello slightly glances to the moon and out of the corner of his eye he sees Near do the same thing.
"Mello… Can I ask you something?"
Mello lowers his gaze and turns to look to Near wondering what it could be that the other wants to ask him. "Sure I suppose you can." He agrees truly wanting to know.
"If there was a chance that when we get home and those who actually own these bodies return to them then they'll try a mass killing spree on the humans… Should we really just leave it and just go home? Or should we try to find a possible way to stop it? If there even is a way to stop it?"
Mello is quiet for a moment as he thinks it over. He decides to buy himself a little time to respond. "Whatever makes you think that the us that belong in this world want to go on a mass killing spree on the humans?"
"I had a weird dream. A voice was telling me to do so while facing a group of humans. That they deserved. It almost sounded like my own voice but at the same time not. I just can't help wondering if that's actually a warning on what will happen in this world if something doesn't change." Near explains to which Mello turns away to look around the changelings home.
"Well dreams are dreams. They don't always mean anything. Maybe you're just worried about the way that these beings feed their hunger thus it manifested. But lets say that you are right and that will happen if we don't do anything." Mello begins and can feel Near's gaze as he turns to him. "Honestly if that is a true thing and not just a dream being a dream then it wouldn't sit right with me to just leave this world to allow such a thing to happen. But what can we do? The humans hate us so much that they are so goddamn paranoid about anyone new that enters their city. I learned that the hard way. I really don't see any way that we could change their opinion."
"I feel the same way." Near admits to which Mello turns to him and their eyes meet with one another. "I just also can't think of how we can change their minds about changelings. Besides, once we are back home there isn't really anything that we can do about what happens in this world. No matter how much we hate the idea of what might happen. Though you could be right that it is just a dream. That it doesn't actually mean anything."
"Yeah. That is true." Mello glances to Matt who remains sleeping peacefully. "Lets just not say anything about this to Matt. It doesn't matter if it is a warning for what will happen or if it is just a meaningless dream, he doesn't need to have the idea of it weighing on his mind."
"I agree. I am sorry to have put that on your mind Mello." Near apologizes looking away.
"It's fine. You don't have to worry about that." Mello takes a slight breath. "I think I may be ready to truly work with you on all of this in order to get back home."
"I was hoping you would say that."
"Just answer me this. Do you enjoy being in charge and bossing people around?" Mello just has to know.
"Honestly not really. So much relies on me. I know that they are hoping that when one of us is picked as L's successor we have expectations. Expectations to lead others in order to catch criminals. However that is nothing like this role. This role puts more on my shoulders than just needing to catch a criminal then move on. I always have to be so confident and ready to solve any problem that comes up. It is a bit much on the responsibility scale. Whenever anything happens it falls on me to be able to handle it knowing that everyone is relying on me for guidance. I would rather do L's work than be a ruler like this."
"Heh. I didn't think you'd say that." Mello admits realizing that there is so much about Near that he doesn't actually know… Even though he had thought that he had known all that there is to know about him.
"Well I know you wanted an honest answer." Near shrugs lightly.
"Yeah. Well how about we try to rest a little more? We have a lot to deal with tomorrow. I'll try to help shoulder the weight of the whole ruling thing if you want." Mello could potentially learn more by working so closely with the other. Plus he's made a bit too much trouble for them for now so he might as well take a step back to let things calm down.
"I really appreciate Mello's help." Near confirms with some gratitude in his voice. "Though yes. Let us try to get some more rest to prepare for tomorrow."
The two split up heading back to where they are sleeping to do just that.
