Chapter thirty three:
Near turns back to the darkness still with a small smirk, Mello doing the same, on his face still. "Thank you for naming yourself."
The darkness turns to look to Near wide eyed. "What do you mean!?" He questions.
"Welcome to the survivors Nera." Near says.
The darkness now named Nera snarls. "Why you little." He is obviously pissed.
"Well time to go back Nera." Near says and though he had let go of the jewel not long after letting Nera out he raises the same hand to tap the center of the jewel.
Nera disappears in a poof of black smoke that disappears midair.
Mello and Matt chuckle that Near did actually just name the darkness Nera just to piss said darkness off most likely for everything said darkness has done.
They allow themselves to mourn the loss of Allen but they are glad to know that he is with his lover and the one that killed him is dead.
"We should get going soon." Mello says.
The rest nod and once they make sure everyone is ok to continue moving they go out on their way.
Back to their adventures as survivors to roam around to survive and fight beasts.
"The lighters may need to be replaced at some point." Matt says. "We'll need to try to be aware of that. Especially in battle."
When we stop next time we can check it then.
Matt nods in agreement.
They run into no danger and they walk looking for a good place to have as a shelter tonight.
Until they end up finding a cave that they decide to settle into.
It is quite late in the day.
Matt and Mello go out to gather fire wood while Near stays with the younger two in the cave at Mello's request in a moment where Mello shows a strong leadership side at that moment.
Near sits on the ground watching Kaori and Igneous try to forget any images of what they saw of Allen's death by distracting themselves coming up with games they can play within the cave. He is glad that the two are not holding on to what had happened since he understands very well that the weight if such a thing being held onto as a child is not something good.
Matt and Mello return with fire wood.
Mello begins working to light the wood once it is placed in a good place for the fire to be.
Matt goes to check on the weapons that are by the rest of their stuff.
Near stays where he is watching Mello as well as Kaori and Igneous since the three are in about the same general area.
Once Mello has started the fire Igneous and Kaori quickly rush over plopping down by the fire wanting to feel it's warmth.
Matt comes over to join them as does Near.
Now the group of survivors who are left are now sitting around the fire.
Though the death of Allen weighs more heavily on the minds of the three older ones they just sit there enjoying the warmth of the fire.
Eventually they chit chat a little until it begins to get late.
Near turns to glance to the two youngest ones seeing that they are looking ready to fall asleep. He gets up going over to the bags they have left and takes out a clean piece of clothing that would work well as a make shift pillow. He goes back over to them and lays it out so the two youngest ones can rest their heads on it. "Come here." He tells the two of them.
The two younger ones move over to him and lay their heads gratefully on the makeshift pillow.
Near hums a soft lullaby until he is sure that the two are asleep. He then silently gets to his feet moving away to let them sleep.
Mello can't help but smile seeing the motherly side of Near come out around the two youngest ones of the group.
Near settles back into a spot by the fire which is between Matt and Mello.
Matt goes and grabs the book coming back to write in it. He writes about their adventure then once he believes it is the right time he explains the rescue of Near even getting Near's help on that part.
After that he adds his own words.
The happiness I feel here is nothing like anything I have felt before. We were once all not close at all but now as our time together ticks on we find ourselves as a true family. I trust the others with my life and I will gladly lay my life down for them. The rest of us will do the same I can tell.
Matt pauses after writing that. He turns to look to the other two. "We've become some kind of family and you know what." He adds as the two turn to look to him. "I'm sure as hell glad that we did. I have never felt like this in a very long time." He looks away and slightly up from the area in front of him. "It feels good. Really good." He closes his eyes happily.
Mello and Near make soft sounds as they are agreeing with Matt's words.
"A family….." Mello says slightly glancing away smiling. "Yes. We have become some sort of family as we continue to grow closer. We together are a family and a damn good one at that."
Near can't help but smile more than just a small smile that he recently has been using quite a bit ever since the invasion of the beasts started. "And it's a family I am happy to be a part of."
Matt can't help but grin widely.
Yes a family, that's what they are and even in this dark time the prospect of themselves as family brings about a brighter feeling inside of them.
"I'll take watch tonight." Mello says after a few moments.
Matt grunts sounding tired then he flops back careful since the ground is hard. He uses one of his own arms as a make shift pillow.
Mello moves closer to the cave entrance sitting on a rock to be look out.
Near kind of watches him go.
Matt's P.O.V.
I close my eyes and soon I find myself in darkness as I go unconscious… Only thing is my dream is just Allen's death repeating over and over in my head.
He saved me and he paid for it with his life.
It feels unfair that it had to happen that way.
It, his death, troubles me truly as I feel responsible for his death but I do know that Allen would not want me to just hold on to those feelings of guilt especially since the beast that killed him is dead.
Allen would have wanted me to move on to let myself still do what's best for the group.
I know that Allen is now happy with his lover as I got a peek at the ghostly image of him being reunited with what appears to be his lover.
That helps give me comfort over what happened.
No one's P.O.V.
Mello sits there watching outside the entrance of the cave watching for danger.
After a little bit Near comes over to Mello sitting on a smaller shorter rock next to where Mello is sitting.
Mello turns to Near who meets his gaze. "You should get some rest."
"I can't sleep." Near responds. "I just feel too wide awake to sleep." He explains glancing outside afterwards.
Mello follows his gaze. "It sure looks like a peaceful night." He says.
Near nods. "Yeah it sure does."
Mello closes his eyes for a moment. "Near."
Near turns to look to Mello twirling a strand of his own hair. He looks ready to listen to what Mello has to say.
Mello opens his eyes half way still gazing in the direction of outside. "Thank you. You know for saving me. For both from darker Near who is now Nera and from the beasts." He says.
Near smiles a small bit. "It's what we all do for each other." He says. He closes his eyes softly and lowers his hand from twirling his hair so he can lean against Mello's side though mostly against Mello's arm.
Mello turns to look to Near not minding one bit of Near leaning against him.
Near opens his eyes and glances up to Mello. "You have looked out after me and have saved me too." He says.
Mello smiles softly then shifts his arm to around the other's shoulders letting Near lean against his side. "Yeah you're right. It is something we all do for each other especially now."
Near closes his eyes relaxed in Mello's arms. "Yeah." He says on an exhale of breath.
Mello glances back to outside as the two remain silent for a little bit. "Say Near." He finally speaks up.
Near hums softly as if asking 'what is it?' to Mello.
"I've been meaning to ask this." Mello begins. "I've been thinking about it for awhile." He pauses slightly biting his bottom lip.
Near opens his eyes and shifts his head to look to Mello's face as best he can.
Mello lets go of his bottom lip then turns to Near. "Near. I was wondering… Even with all of everything going on… Well I was wondering if maybe… We could be more than friends." He finally says it.
Near blinks as he hears Mello's words.
Mello starts to fear that Near is going to say no but before he can say anything Near smiles only to shift to give a soft sweet loving kiss to Mello's lips. . Maybe
Near pulls away then looks to Mello right in his eyes. "You have no idea how long I have been waiting for you to say that." He says.
Mello smiles. He uses his hand that isn't around Near's shoulder to gently grab his collar only to kiss him lovingly.
They share the loving kiss that has no tongue but just them letting their love be felt by the other. They break apart after a moment smiling happily to each other.
Near snuggles against Mello's side.
Mello kisses the top of Near's head. "I love you." He says after as his breath ghosts over Near's hair.
"I love you too." Near responds.
Mello looks back to outside and a few moments later he let's his eyes flicker back to Near.
The other is asleep.
It makes Mello just smile then go back to his watch duty letting Near sleep against him.
Matt, who had awoken after a little of Allen's death repeating in his dreams, glances to the two and smiles seeing them snuggling together. "Meant to be." He whispers to himself. He then let's his eyes close hoping for some more rest. He does end up falling asleep again
There is a distant growl and Mello gains a determined look more than ever before.
He will not let the others down.