A/N: Okay, okay, I know this is a few days late, and I'm sorry, I really am. I'm trying to stick to my schedule…but I had finals and whatnot and a severe Deviant Art addiction (Anyone here have one? Mine's .com)
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Chapter 8: Advice

Matt's recovery was quite slow, but it progressed well. Eventually he was taken off his medication as well as allowed to go back home, if he took it easy; and with Matt's slacker personality, it was no problem, it just gave him an excuse to goof off and play more video games. Mello noticed something rather odd though, instead of dangling around his neck like they always had, Matt's goggles were always on his eyes, every time he saw him.

Did he even sleep with them on? Come to think of it, he hadn't even seen Matt's emerald green eyes since before the accident. He hadn't gone to visit Matt the day the bandages were taken off of his face, he had a test. Was Matt's face so badly burned that it damaged his eyes? Was he disfigured? Surely, had he been burned, it would have effected more of his face than just his eyes wouldn't it?

Before he could ask, Matt had spoken. "Look…Mello…can you help me out with something?" his oversized boots scuffed the linoleum floor of the hallway as he shifted his feet, his begoggled eyes not meeting the blonde's

"What?" Mello asked hesitantly. He'd never seen the redhead behave like this before.

"You're really popular with the girls and all…and see…there's this girl…and I really like her…and—."

"Let me guess." Mello cut him off. "You want to know how to get her to like you."

"Yeah." Matt said.

"Well-." Mello began.

"No no! Not here! There are people here!" Matt blushed until his cheeks almost matched his hair.
C'mon." he lead Mello out to the third floor balcony, climbing over the railing carefully before hopping down onto the Library roof.

"What it we—," Mello spoke up.

"Relax." Matt cut him off. "Nobody is gonna find us, we're not going to get in trouble. I come up here to smoke all the time." He said casually.

"Smoking? Matt—I swear to God when you—."

"Will you calm down?" Matt laughed. "It's a little habit I picked up after the accident."

"Whatever…" Mello rolled his eyes. "Anyway, back on topic…what you do, is be really nice…smile at her, y'know…tell her she's pretty or something. Then it's all in the eyes and in the smile, practice it in the mirror or something, it's how you reel 'em in, and once you've got liking you, kiss her." Matt only blushed more.

"Don't tell me you haven't kissed a girl yet?" Mello fought back a laugh.

"Shut up…" Matt looked away. "I-I dunno how…" he bit his lip. Mello tried several times to explain, but only succeeded in further confusing his comrade.

"Err…it's not something that can be explained…you just…it's like—…" he tried to explain once more, growing more and more frustrated at each failed attempt. "Like this!" with his newfound frustration, he yanked the back of Matt's head back, making the redhead drop his half-finished cigarette. Mello then forcibly smashed his lips against the slightly younger boy's, and while he stared wide-eyed into Mello's icy eyes, Matt began moving his lips as well to return the kiss.

After a few moments, Mello pulled away. "L-like that." He said breathlessly. "It was just practice! Don't get any ideas!" he added as Matt still stared on in shock.

"Yeah…just practice." Matt nodded. "Tell anyone about this, and I'll make damn sure you never see another chocolate bar again," he warned, standing and starting to walk away. "And Mells?" he turned back. "Thanks. You really were a big help. Now I'm gonna go try it out on Raine." He grinned and hurried off.

"Just practice." Mello said to himself, unsure of what had come over him. That kiss had been so…so…different. Normally a kiss was just a kiss in his perspective, but this one left his stomach in knots as the taste of Matt's cigarette still lingered on his lips, sending a tingling sensation throughout. "No…nonononnono!" he gripped at his hair, shaking his head furiously. "I am NOT GAY!"

In truth, he really wasn't. He enjoyed looking at the dirty magazines and websites the other boys had managed to sneak past the filters and staff at Wammy's. He enjoyed spending his time with girls, flirting and making them go all ga-ga over him, but then there was Matt. Matt, always true to his word, Matt, with the messy red hair and the dazzling green eyes, with his own opinions and no fear of sharing them. Rebellious, mysterious, Matt. He was Mello's everything, and Mello hadn't even realized how much Matt truly meant to him until he almost lost him.

It was no mistake, he finally realized, he loved Matt. There was no way around it, the feelings were there. The only problem was: he was his roommate and best friend. His STRAIGHT roommate and best friend. What would become of their friendship had he mentioned it? No, there was too much between them to even think about the possibilities. He only had one choice: to remain in secrecy, and pray the romantic feelings would fade away.
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Matt returned to his room late, grinning. Raine had said yes, Roger was allowing him to order a new video game, nothing could be better. He crept across the room, careful not to wake the sleeping blonde, his nose buried in his book, exhausted from his studies.

"Typical Mello…" he snickered quietly, stripping down to his boxers before crawling into bed. The day's events playing through his head, one scene in particular: when Mello kissed him. It may have only been practice, but it made his heart flutter. His lips tingled just at the thought of it.

He tasted like candy.

A/N: I really hope this wasn't OOC…
It's literally my first attempt at fluff with this pairing. What did you think?
Please review!