This has been Beta-read by NekoDoodle, thanks for helping! *big smile*
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B looked over at Near on a lazy Saturday afternoon, smiling as he saw him reading another Encyclopedia. "Hey, Near? How old are you?"
He looked up. "…Me? Uhm…Eight." He went back to reading, smiling as he read the details about the Hippopotamus. "Why, do I look four?"
"Yes." B smiled and then crawled over to pull him close. "You act about 10, play with dolls like a little kid, and you're eight, but look four. So, I got confused." He hugged him gently and kissed his cheek.
Near blushed a bit. "Well, officially and legally, I'm eight." He looked up at him. "How old are you, B?"
He thought a bit. "…Fourteen." He looked at him and smiled. "Not that the ages will keep us apart, right?"
"Right!" Near said, smiling happily as they embraced.
Still, Near couldn't help but be worried. What would the others think? Would L be upset? He inwardly shook his head and cuddled up close to B, not wanting such thoughts to force him to push away his first and only love.
A few days later, B was looking at Near's toys when he stopped and sighed, pulling out a new doll. "Near, what's this?"
Near looked up to see B holding a doll of Linda. "Oh…uhm…Harmless, I don't have her hair."
"Linda won't hurt you." He put it down and hugged him. "Hey, I have a grand idea!" He picked him up. "Let's go ask if we can go into town and get you some new clothes!"
He blushed as he was lifted up and nodded. "Alright, B!" He said happily, hugging him as he was carried out of the room.
Matt looked over as they came out. "Where're you two heading off to? I'm coming too, wherever it is."
"We're going to steal thousands of dollars from a bank, buy a room at a fancy hotel and make sweet love." B taunted, grinning as Near went red from embarrassment. "Haha! Sorry, Near! Nah, we're just going shopping to broaden his wardrobe, if we're allowed to."
"I'll go with you, then!" He nodded firmly and followed the two of them to Roger's office. After promising to be back by sundown, they were allowed to go out to the city beyond the woods and go shopping.
"No." Near shook his head at the black sleeveless shirt B had picked out for him. Matt held up a black and white, striped shirt and he shook his head again. "No, not that one, either." He pulled out a pair of light-blue jeans. "This is nice."
"It's bright." B pouted, and then he wrapped his arms around Near's waist. "C'mooooon, you don't have wear the other stuff we get, as long as you have it!"
Near sighed and looked at them. "Have fun picking one out, then. I'll only wear it for special occasions, and never in front of the others, got it?"
Both of the older boys beamed and ran to get things more in their style. Near quietly waited while they did so, watching them dash to and fro, here and there, looking at googles and stripes or black clothing with punkish appearance. He smiled a bit as they both ran over, arms full of the clothing, and then he was ushered into the dressing room as both outfits were shoved at him.
He looked at the clothing with a raised eyebrow and then closed the curtain as he changed, knowing that both of them out there were eager to see how he looked. After looking at himself in the mirror, he vowed ro never let anyone but these two and the clothing store staff see him in it. Sighing, he opened the curtain and stepped out, his white boots mostly covered by the black jeans, the white shirt he normally wore under his white over-shirt replaced by a black-and-white striped shirt.
B grinned and stepped forward to roll up Near's sleeves so they could see the sleeves of the striped shirt and then tied the bottom of his white shirt loosely in the front. Matt topped it off by putting goggles on Near's head, and Near glanced at the mirror to know that, by his standards, he looked ridiculous.
"Okay, I'm changing back." He stepped back into the dressing room. "I'm not going outside in this." He closed the curtain and changed back quickly, coming out in his usual white attire. "Pay for it and let's go."
"Awww, Nearie's shy!" B poked his cheek and grinned. "So cute, Nearie!"
"You're the only one I'll let call me 'Nearie', you know." He said in a soft voice. "And not in public, it makes me seem like a little kid…"
"Near, you're eight." B kissed his cheek. "You are a little kid."
He pouted and let out a soft sigh, one that made both boys' hearts melt. "Let's go back to Whammy's House, now." He said softly, nodding. "It's getting late."
"Yeah, because we totally took a whole day to buy clothes." Matt laughed and then took Near's hand as they started back. B took Near's other hand and they all made their way home.
When they got home, Roger was standing in the main hall and shaking his head at the three of them. "Really, must you take so long to go shopping in town? I never expected you to take so long."
"They kept trying to get me to wear weird clothes." Near said, twirling a lock of hair in his hand as he galnced at the other two, who winced and looked down guiltily. "I'm sorry we're late."
"Well, go to dinner, all three of you." Roger nodded his head in the direction of the cafeteria. "You don't want to starve, I'm sure."
B scooped up Near before Matt could and dashed off. "See you there, Mighty Matt!"
"Stop calling me that!" Matt said as he ran after them.
Despite himself, Near let out a little giggle as he watched Matt running after them, his hands clutching at B's shirt as they ran to get their food.
After dinner, B was sitting on his bed and listening to an iPod he'd bought in the city, enjoying the songs that played. Near sat near the window, playing with his toys; he looked over at B and slowly stood up. He didn't make a single sound as he crept over to B. The older boy was humming with the song playing, his eyes closed, and he hadn't even realized that Near was on the bed until he felt soft lips meet his. His eyes flashed open and then he relaxed. He wrapped his arms around Near, deepening the kiss.
"No. This is enough, for now." Near said as he broke the kiss. "This is enough." He nodded, then gently nuzzled him, laying on his chest.
"What got you to kiss me like that?" B said, sitting up slightly and stroking his hair gently.
"I need to trust you more." He whispered softly. "I need to stop being so scared." He looked over at the Linda doll. "…I need to trust people." He clung to him, and then looked back at him.
"I get it." He nodded and stroked his cheek. "Don't worry, Cottonball. I won't betray your trust."
He smiled happily and nuzzled him. "Thank you for that, B." He said softly.
Outside their room, Matt leaned against the wall with clenched fists. Near had let B kiss him, but shoved Matt away when he tried? It wasn't fair…
He would not be denied that treatment, no matter what he had to do.
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J-e-a-l-o-u-s-M-a-t-t, that spells "major trouble". Will Near never have any peace? Give the poor guy a break, you lunatic!
Review, please! Or we'll never find out what Matt's planning to do!