Chapter 6

Mello woke with a shout. He sat straight up in bed, throwing the covers off of him. Dreams had plagued him that night. Mello wrapped his arms around himself protectively. Dreams were only dreams, not reality. He continued that mantra as he pushed himself up on shaking legs. He still had no shirt, but also found the absence of pants. At one point he must have decided that jeans were not the best thing to sleep in and removed them. Digging through the blankets, Mello searched for the lost article of clothing. After a few seconds of looking, Mello decided it wasn't worth it. Going over to the closet where he had found the blankets, Mello searched for something to wear. The closet had only odds and ends things, but in the very back was a light colored garment. He pulled it out and shook it off. A Kimono? Mello couldn't tell as he attempted to slide it on. If he wrapped it around himself, it covered him nicely and almost touched the floor.

Matt was still sitting against the wall. His eyes were closed and his shoulders slumped. It looked like he was sleeping and he was actually sleeping. Though sleep had snuck up on him and bashed him over the head with a frying pan, for he had not planned to fall asleep. His still loaded gun hung limply from his hand. He was sleeping in a rather uncomfortable and oddly cramped position. His one leg was bent at the knee and held up his right arm, in his right hand was his gun. His other leg was stretched out on the floor and his left arm dangled uselessly at his side. He looked like he would fall over any second.

The garment hung loosely from Mello's shoulders, partly exposing the bandages that still covered his arm. Satisfied that he had found something, Mello walked over to the door and opened it. The hall was still dark seeing as the sun had not come up yet. Mello looked down the hall, wondering where Matt had gone too. He was sure that at one point in the night Matt would have joined him in the bed. Looking the other way, Mello almost tripped over the man sitting on the floor. His gun was grasped limply as he sat in an oddly propped up manner. Mello smirked, bending over and removing the gun from Matt's hand. Intending to wake the man, Mello threw a leg over Matt's hips, straddling him closely and holding the gun to Matt's head.

The sudden weight on his body caused Matt's brain to click on. He stirred a bit, waking up not as quickly as maybe as he should have with a gun pointed to his temple. He opened his eyes and blinked. Giving a slight jump to Mello being so close. He stared at the blonde. He could feel the gun pressed against his temple, it was his gun. The realization that he had fallen asleep sank in, but he didn't think about it too much, trying to figure out why Mello was straddling him and pressing a gun to his head. "Mello?"

"If you were going to fall asleep, you might as well have come in to where you could had lied down." Mello spoke quietly, still in Matt's lap. "And be careful, the next time you decide to leave a loaded gun lying around, someone might get hurt." Mello made a mock 'bang' sound, imitating the jerk of a gun against Matt's head. Pulling it away, Mello blew out invisible smoke from the end and placed it back into Matt's hand.

Matt instinctually jerked away when Mello imitated the way the gun would recoil when fired. He watched Mello for a moment, grasping his gun in his hand. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. If I had planned to sleep I would have gone some where more comfortable, but since that was not my intent I did not complete that action." He was mimicking L on purpose, wondering if Mello would remember that time. The first time they had met L as the three eldest. Mello had asked that almost exact same question to the sugar high detective. He let the remark about the gun drop

Mello growled low in his throat. He had caught Matt's impression of L. He did not like thinking of the man. Standing, Mello straightened himself out and looked down at Matt. "It's late, go sleep in there if you can't stay awake." Mello reached into his clothes, picking and scratching at the bandages. "This thing is itchy." He stated simply, attempting to unravel it and starting to walk toward the bath house.

Matt remained sitting on the floor where he was. He had yet to really move at all. He knew that he had upset Mello again. He was apparently good at annoying the blonde. He tapped his gun on his head. 'Stupid, Matt, stupid.' He looked at his gun, the safety was off. He made an odd face. That could have ended badly. He clicked the safety on and put it away. He stretched out his other led and shifted his back against the wall. He leaned his head back looking at the ceiling. He didn't want to sleep, but he didn't want to be awake either. It was odd.

He sighed and stood. Stretching his arms out over his head to get the kinks out of his back. He walked into the room were Mello had slept. He went and layed down on the futon and pulled the blankets over his head. He fell asleep almost instantly, surrounded by Mello's scent of chocolate and gun powder.

Mello walked all the way to the bath. Sliding the door open, he entered the warm room. Making sure to close it behind him so all the hot air stayed inside, Mello wondered over to the bath. The water had cooled slightly, but was still hot. Deciding he needed a bath, Mello shed the long garment. He stood trying to undo the bandages for some time, unable to figure out how Matt had tied it.

Getting irritated with his inability to get the bandage off, Mello ended up ripping it off. A small amount of blood dripped from his arm where he had applied to much pressure. Cussing loudly, Mello threw the bandage on the floor and climbed into the bath. The water was hot, and felt good to Mello until it touched the portion of his arm and shoulder with the burn. It only took a few minutes for him to adjust to the feel. Sighing gratefully, Mello closed his eyes, relaxing.

Matt awoke less then an hour later. He had ended up fighting with sleep for the last twenty minutes as odd dreams plagued his existence. He told himself that they were only dreams and not read too much into them. He sighed and got up. He was a lot more comfortable on the futon then against the wall, which made him start wondering just why he had chose to not share the bed with Mello. Shrugging off the thought he wandered out of the room and down the hall thinking he had an idea of where said blonde was. Sure enough he was right as he saw Mello lounging in the bath. "You're going to turn into a prune if you stay in there much longer."

Mello lifted his head at the sound of Matt's voice. He had been dozing, and lost track of time. "It would do you some good to take a bath." He said with a yawn. Mello lifted his arm out of the water to examine it. Still disgusting looking. Groaning slightly, he stood, deciding to get out.

Matt rolled his eyes. "What-ever you say, Mel." He wasn't a bath person, quick hot showers where more his thing. He went over the cabinet and pulled out the first Aid kit. He took out the bottle of blue medicine and gauze. They needed to rewrap Mello's arm. He looked at the blonde's arm. "The bath probably did it good, it might still look horrible but it's actually healing better then last time."

Mello growled at Matt, seeing him holding the bottle of blue liquid in his hands. "If it's doing better then we don't need that stuff anymore." Mello wrapped a hand protectively around his arm, careful not to actually touch the burn. He had an intense urge to pick at it, but did not want to do it while Matt was watching.

Matt glanced at Mello. "You're being childish. This'll be the last time, most likely." He turned to him. "So are you going to let me do it, or do I have to catch you and hold you down?" He couldn't understand someone who deals with death and the possibility of getting shot daily who also hates being in any kind of pain. Matt couldn't say that he enjoyed it, but he could definitely deal with it much better then Mello.

Mello stood in front of the bath, rooted to the spot. He glared at Matt, almost saying 'I'd like to see you try.' This was ridiculous, why did they have to keep going through this? Never before had Mello ever treated a wound like this. Normally he would just let it go, and eventually it would go away. Though, Mello thought to himself, he had never had something this bad before.

Matt sighed. Mello could be so stubborn. He thought of ways to talk him into it. Your arm will get chopped off thing wouldn't work twice, it wouldn't get that bad if they left it completely alone now. Really it didn't need the medicine, just to be bandaged and cleaned a few more times before it went away, but Matt wanted to be sure and safe. And odd characteristic for an assassin. "Come on, Mel. Last time, promise."

Mello could see that Matt was rethinking putting the stuff on it. "No, Matt." Mello said, still not moving, and trying to see if he could talk his way out of it. "It doesn't need it." Mello have Matt another one of those 'Make me' looks.

Matt gave Mello a look. He shook his head. "You've never dealt with these kinds of cuts before. You've never fallen off a motorcycle before, so you have no idea how to treat a wound like this. Gun shots maybe, but not this. Just trust me for once, Mello?" He did his best to sound slightly annoyed and compassionate at the same time. He was trying hard to convince Mello into letting him do it.

Mello backed away slightly. He didn't want Matt to hurt him with the blue stuff again. He knew he was being childish, but something inside of him hated the antibiotics. "It'll heal." Mello said. He found it slightly strange that Matt was so calm, even with Mello standing naked in front of him.

Matt gave a slight growl and turned. "Fine...if you're arm stops working don't blame me." He started to walk out of the bathroom, then turned and nearly jumped on Mello. He pushed the blonde up against the bathtub. He gave him a little smirk. "I'm prepared to make you..." He bent Mello's uninjured arm behind his back.

Mello yelped as Matt came at him. "MATT! Get off!" He half yelled, half whimpered. He was getting angry, feeling Matt twist his arm behind his back. "I swear to god, Matt, let me go!"

Matt kissed Mello passionately hoping to distract him. He ran the cloth that had the blue liquid over Mello's hurt arm. He did it quickly but it was still effective. He broke the kiss and smiled. "All done." He stuck his tongue out at him for a second before holding out the bandages. "You wanna do it or should I?"

Mello was surprised as soon as Matt kissed him. The kiss was passionate, and it had drastically caught Mello off guard. Mello relaxed for a moment, but quickly went rigid as he felt Matt run the cloth over his arm and shoulder. Yelping slightly, Mello tried to pull away, but just as quickly it was over. He glared at Matt, making a face. "I..." Mello sighed, grumbling and holding his arm out to Matt.

Matt gave a little smile. He gently wrapped Mello's arm with the bandages. He worked quickly and quietly but made sure that the bandages were wrapped so Mello would have full use of the arm. When he was done, he kissed Mello on the cheek softly and left the bathroom.

Mello waited for Matt to leave before smiling and going to find some clothes. He remembered that the only thing that he had was the old kimono. Picking it up and slipping it on, Mello fallowed Matt out of the bathroom.

Matt sat on the floor of the bed room and pulled out his gun. He unloaded it and started to clean and check it. He looked up when Mello walked into the room. He raised an eyebrow, and then stood. "Be right back." He disappeared from the room and the hallways, heading to the car.

Mello shrugged it off and went to look out the window. The sun was starting to come up and Mello was relieved. He shivered a little. How long would they be able to stay in this house? Mello had visions of them living together in the house for the next few years, not worrying about the Kira case, or Near. Just the two of them. Mello frowned, scorning himself for more useless thoughts.

Matt reappeared in the room a few minutes later. "Miss me?" He set a suitcase on the floor. He knelt down in front of it and pulled out some clothes. Some of Mello's clothes. He stood and walked over to the blonde. "Here," he said as he handed over the clothes. He also pulled out a bar of chocolate. "For you..."

Mello took the clothes and chocolate bar. Staring at them both for a second, he looked up at Matt. "What? You don't like this thing?" Mello gestured to the outfit he was wearing, giving a little spin. He grinned at Matt. "Thank you."

Matt gave a slight smile. "I figured that you might want to wear your own clothes." He walked back to the suitcase and pulled out some of his clothes. He winked at Mello and walked out of the room heading for the bathroom, to bathe and change. As he walked down the hall he started to hum.

Mello wondered how Matt always seemed prepared for situations like this. Shrugging it off, Mello undid the tie to his outfit and let it fall to the floor. His clothes would come later, now it was time for chocolate. Unfolding the gold wrapper, he took a small bit, tasting it. Yep, perfect. The next bit was considerably larger. Mello sat on the futon, wondering if Matt deserved a prize for supplying one of these for him.

Matt arrived at the bathroom and stripped off his clothes after rerunning the bath water. He stepped in and relaxed into the warmth of the liquid surrounding him. He leaned his head back on the back of the bath and sighed. His muscles became loose and relaxed after a while. He had been tense for to long. He drew circles in the water lazily, mentally taking note that he should take baths more often. After relaxing for a while he set about the task of scrubbing himself clean.

Once he determined that he was clean he let himself relax in the bath, nearly falling asleep after a while. It was a bout twenty minutes before he finally got out and dried off, putting on his clothes which consisted of loose fitting jeans and a black long sleeved shirt. These were an older pair of clothes. The ones he had brought for Mello were fairly new, considering he had one bought them for the blonde a few months ago, just incase they had to fly away together. He left the bathroom and headed back to the bedroom, thinking about how much he wanted his goggles back.

Mello continued munching on the chocolate, hearing the bath water being run again. Matt must have been serious about cleaning himself. Mello tired to calculate the last time both of them had had proper baths before they made it to the house. Shuddering slightly at the thought, he realized it had been quit a while. Mello took a smaller bit of his food, looking over to observe what clothes Matt had brought him. Leather. Most of his clothes consisted of black, but leather was also a main point to them. Picking up a pair of leather pants, Mello pulled them closer for a better look

Mello had finished the chocolate bar, and was trying his best to get the rest of it off the wrapper. Licking it completely, the only other thing Mello had accomplished in the last twenty minutes was getting his pants on. The leather was tight, just how he liked it. The pants left nothing to the imagination as they were extremely low cut. Sitting with his back to the wall, Mello continued to lick away the chocolate, neglecting the small amount on his face.

Matt walked into the room. He saw Mello sitting on the futon leaning against the wall, finishing off the chocolate bar, with only his pants on. The red head smiled and walked over to the blonde. He sat down next to him and leaned against the wall as well. He didn't say anything, more because he couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't upset or annoy Mello.

Mello moved, leaning next to Matt. His pants creaked a little at the shift of weight. Mello turned to Matt, seductively licking his ear. Mello nipped at Matt, licking and sucking on the man's ear. Mello was in a strange mood after eating the chocolate. Probably because it had been so long sense his last helping.

Matt gave a slight jerk not expecting Mello to abandon the chocolate for him instead. He gave a soft moan, before going slightly red. It seemed like the oddest things turned him on. Though it could have been just because Mello was doing it.

Mello gave Matt's ear one more lick before breathing warm air along it. "Thanks for the chocolate." He whispered, letting his lips occasionally brush against the man's ear. Smiling to himself, Mello stood, pushing himself off the wall and looking for his shirt. The vest was more for show, not really keeping him warm, or covering him from onlookers.

Matt watched Mello get up and grab his shirt. "You're...welcome?" He sounded flushed and unsure. He hadn't expected that reaction at all. Needless to say it threw him off guard.

Mello found the vest, slipping it over his wrapped arm. The bandage protruded greatly, but Mello didn't mind much. Zipping it, Mello look around for something. Maybe Matt had packed one of his many pieces of jewelry. The long rosary was one of his favorite pieces, but that must have fallen off awhile ago. He scanned the floor, wondering if he could find anything.

Matt watched Mello look for something else. It took a bit for the red head's slightly fuzzy mind to comprehend what Mello was looking for. He got up and walked over to the suitcase. Opening the top pocket he pulled out a strand of beads with a Maltese cross on it. He stood and walked over to Mello. "It's not yours...but you can wear it...hell, you can have it, I have no use for it." It was Matt's mother's rosary, the last thing that he had to remind him that he used to have parents.

Mello took the rosary, turning it in his hands. It appeared to be very old, and some of the spots of color had started to wear away from being handled too much. Mello looked back up at Matt. Obviously this wasn't just 'nothing.' This must be something very important to the man. Mello undid the small clamp, and put it around his neck. It fell nicely over his chest, adding just what he needed to his normal outfit. "It's...nice." Mello was uncomfortable with expressing gratitude for such a heartfelt present.

Matt gave a slight sad smile. "It was my mother's." He fell quiet because he didn't know what else to say. He went back over to the suitcase and pulled out a PSP. He flipped it on and went to playing a newer video game that he had started about two months ago and never got to finish.

Mello was at a loss for words. His mother's? Matt never talked about his family. No one who came from the Whammy house ever did. It was just a constant reminder how they didn't belong, and that this was the only place they had left. Fidgeting with it slightly, Mello knew he already favored it more then all his other jewelry

He leaned against the wall and slid down until he was in a sitting position. He glanced up from his PSP and looked at Mello. He watched the blonde twiddle the necklace that he had given him. He gave a light chuckle. 'Speechless?' He went back to his PSP and started to hum a tune. It was something he rarely did. Hum or sing, but for some reason when he was around Mello he found himself doing it more often.

Mello crouched down where he stood, bringing his knees to his chest. "I didn't know you could sing until a few days ago." He had heard Matt humming, liking the sound of the red heads voice. Turning slightly pink Mello pressed for more information. "Who made that song you sang a few days ago?" Mello was unsure how to word his request, but he thought if he pushed Matt enough about the topic, maybe Mello would get what he wanted.

Matt looked up from his PSP again, staring at Mello for a moment. "That song? It's an old song from America. The man's name is Elvis Presley." Matt doubted that Mello would have heard of him, thinking the blonde didn't really listen to local music let alone something from another country, especially since it wasn't even recent.

Mello pondered this for a second. He had never been one for music until now, so it was no surprise he had never heard of this man. "...Does everyone know this song?" Mello questioned, watching Matt play his game. He noticed how Matt looked strangely vacant. Something about what Matt had on just wasn't right. It wasn't like he didn't have pants on, Mello would surly be able to pick that out. What was wrong with his appearance? Suddenly it hit him. Matt didn't have any goggles. Where had they gone? They had probable fallen off during the crash, or had been left behind while fleeing the house. Mello made a mental note to look for something like that for Matt.

Matt thought a moment about Mello's next question. "Well, it was really popular back in the mid-fifties in America." He paused, thinking again, making sure he had had his facts straight. "It's not as popular now, but the new generation of music is somewhat influenced by Elvis, since he was considered the king of Rock 'n' Roll." He saved his game and shut off the PSP. He looked up at Mello again, "Why?"

Mello blushed, looking away. "No reason..." He thought how he could bring up the subject again without seeming out of the ordinary. "I just wanted to know." Mello looked out the window; the sun was staring to rise over the wall of the house.

Matt gave a slight shrug and turned on his PSP returning to the game, not thinking too much into the questions that Mello had asked him. 'He was probably just curious...' Matt started to hum again, not really thinking about it, focusing on his game.

Mello sighed. His mood had done a 180 from a few minutes ago, and he now felt almost sad and lonely. Crawling over to Matt, Mello sat close, leaning in and putting his head on Matt's shoulder to watch him play his game. In reality, Mello just wanted to hear him hum over the annoying beeping of the video game.

Matt glanced at Mello for a moment, before his gaze went back to his game. It seemed almost like Mello wanted something from him, but Matt couldn't figure it out. He continued to hum for a moment, playing his video game, before he paused it and glanced at Mello again. "Mello?"

"What, Matt?" Mello said, slightly too harshly. For the first time he felt that his words had come out wrong. Sighing a little, he just closed his eyes. 'Don't stop humming.' He thought to himself. He was starting to feel angry, almost ready to yell and throw things. He tired to take another calming breath, but nothing was helping.

Matt didn't say anything more. He shut off the PSP not even bothering to save the game. He knew that something was bothering Mello and the blonde did not want to talk about it. He sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. He became bored quickly and started to softly hum again.

Mello kept his eyes closed, listening to the soft sound of Matt humming and breathing. If Mello listened closely enough, he could hear the soft pound of Matt's heart beat as he laid his head on his shoulder. His anger slowly disintegrated, as Mello felt a wave of calm wash over him. Damn Matt and his ability to send him through a thousand different mood swings.

Matt continued to hum, his voice getting a bit louder. He could feel the tenseness in the room ebb away. 'Maybe...he wanted me to sing...' It would make sense, he was asking about the song he had sung earlier. He started to murmur the words to the song that he had been humming. "If I lay here, if I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world…"

Mello relaxed, feeling extremely happy the second he heard Matt start to sing quietly. He had never heard the song, but that wasn't really important. Mello thought it strange that something so simple that Matt did could make him so happy. It might be the sound of Matt's voice that was the real cause of this happiness. Before when they were just business partners, neither of them said much to one another. Mello continued to lean in close and listen to Matt sing.

"I don't quite know how to say, how I feel...those three words, are said too much. They're not enough." Matt felt Mello adjust and relax. 'So I was right...' He smiled and continued to sing. "If I lay here, if I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what were told, before we get too old. Show me a garden that's bursting into life..."

Mello was surprised the song sounded so good without the background music. Maybe Mello just really wanted to hear Matt sing. That could be the reason it sounded so good. He found himself smiling for no real reason.

To be honest it was kind of odd. Sitting there singing for Mello. He had never thought that he would ever sing for anyone. He had been trained at the Whammy house to sing, because it was one of his strengths, and odd strength but they focused on anything that you were good at, anything could help you as L. It was impossible to tell what skills you needed. "Let's waste time, chasing cars, around our heads. I need your grace, to remind me, to find my own. If I lay here, if I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what were told, before we get too old. Show me a garden that's bursting into life. All that I am, all that I ever was, was here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see. I don't know where, confused about how as well. Just know that these things will never change for us at all. If I lay here, if I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world..." The song came to and end. Matt looked at Mello, wondering if the blonde wanted him to keep singing.

Mello felt rather content. He had settled himself leaning almost completely on Matt. The song had ended awhile ago, and Mello wasn't happy to just let the silence stretch on. Maybe they could go explore the rest of the house today. If Mello remembered right, there was a lot of garden to see. Mello couldn't remember if his father had ever owned a work shed. Maybe if he had, Mello could find some old work goggles for Matt.

Matt remained silent unwilling to break the silence and Mello's staying calm. He just sat there sort of staring at Mello, as if he was a puppy waiting for it's master's next order. In the silence Matt started to think about what would happen next. He knew that Mello would never give up on the Kira case and beating Near, he also knew that the case would be the end of his life. He couldn't exactly explain it, but he had a feeling that they were just pawns in a great game being playing by two gods. Of course he didn't believe in gods, but the feeling was still there.

Mello broke the silence, sighing and getting up off the wall. He stretched his hinds up over his head and yawned. "Mmm...We need to go get some food. I don't trust anything that's in this house. I'm not sure where the nearest grocery store is from here..." Mello looked at Matt still on the ground.

Matt broke from his thoughts and gave a slight nod. "I'll find one and get some food and chocolate." He stood and dusted off his pants. His brain understood the sentence "We need to go get some food," as "you need to go get some food." He understood it only as an order, already falling back into that habit of thinking that he and Mello were not equal. Mello was the boss and the genius and he was the subordinate and the reject.

Mello was a little surprised when Matt said 'he' would go find some food. Maybe he just needed some time alone. Both of them had never been people to spend extensive amounts of time with people. Mello shrugged, walking out of the room and out of the house.

Matt walked out of the house as well; he glanced at Mello for a moment before getting into the car and driving off, leaving behind only dust. It was oddly surreal. They had been together for most of the last few months after Mello had been horrible injured after he was nearly caught and killed by the Japanese Police. Matt was hesitant to leave Mello, but he had been given an order, Mello wasn't going to leave. Not yet anyway...

Mello watched Matt drive away, wrapping an arm around himself protectively. He had wanted to go with, but thought it better to just let Matt do it his way. As soon as the car was out of sight, Mello turned back to the house. He had never been left alone with it. The thought of being slightly scared angered Mello. It was just a house. Deciding he didn't want to go back inside, Mello decided to wonder around the grounds until Matt got back.

888

Matt pushed his bangs out of his eyes as he drove. He half wondered if he would be able to find his way back. He didn't think Mello had his cell on him anymore so he couldn't call that. He quickly shook the thoughts out of his head, he'd remember. He flipped on the radio and turned the channel to something hard rock. An unknown Japanese rock band blared over the radio. Matt preferred American music to Japanese, but this would do for now at least it kept his mind off of what ifs.