A/N v.4: Credit for the poem in this chapter goes to the Liebeslieder Waltzes we had to do in Vocal Music. It's the last chapter of this fic, and it makes me a little sad to see it end. But I've grown a lot as a writer since then, and this gave me my first boost of confidence to actually write, so I've always been grateful for this fic. Thanks for suffering through this with me, guys. I appreciate it a lot. Happy reading! :)
Chapter 9
"Dammit!" Matt growled, futilely searching the apartment again. "And just when I was ready to confront him, too! Damn coward!"He was unable to believe it was simply a coincidence, even though Mello couldn't possibly have known what Matt was going to do. Matt sighed as he flopped onto his bed, then jumped right back up when his action sent an envelope fluttering to the ground. He quickly picked it up and flipped it around to read the back. A puzzled expression flashed across his face as he read the words, "To my love: Forgive me."
Matt opened the envelope and took out the letter inside. He quickly unfolded it, taking in the messy scrawl on the paper before quickly scanning it, letting random words and phrases jump put at him: That day back at the base…I want us to work…risk you leaving…head of the New York City Mafia…a relationship with me…my final request…Near…insensitive bastard…gone on dangerous…always be after you…defeated the leader…took his place…broke up with me…get rid of you…listen to the letter…I will be waiting…Sorry…Sorry…Sorry….
Matt's eyes lingered at that last piece of organized scrawl: Sorry.
Thinking he ought to know what Mello was apologizing about, his eyes flickered back up to the top of the page and slowly worked their way down, this time reading every word.
Matt, it read.
I know you want to know about that day back at base. And I know it would be stupid of me not to tell you if I want us to work. And I do, so bad. But I'm a coward, and I can't bear to tell you face to face and risk you leaving. So I'm doing the next best thing: writing a letter.
First, I want to tell you something. I'm the head of the New York City Mafia. You can decide whether or not you want to keep reading. I know this is a huge thing to spring on you, but it's who I am, and if you can't deal with that, maybe you shouldn't be in a relationship with me.
Obviously, you've continued reading. I rather thought you would, but I still had to give you a choice, and the chance to deny my final request, as it were. A request I haven't even made yet. I'm getting way ahead of myself. So how about we start at the beginning and work our way from there?
To save time, everything I told you at Il Buco is true. I really did go to Wammy's. I really did leave Near, and now that I think about it, that was such a f***ing stupid thing to do. And I'm sorry. I know I came off as an insensitive bastard, but what I did was wrong, and I know that now. And yes, I did have a girlfriend who kicked me out of her apartment. But she didn't just not like me. She hated that I was constantly gone on dangerous missions, putting her in danger as well by association. So she found a prettier, safer man to be with and left me on the street. That's another risk in our relationship, if you choose to have one: people will always be after you.
But I said I would start at the beginning, so I will. When I came to NYC, I was jumped by the current head of the Mafia andhis right-hand man. My years at Wammy's allowed me to easily dispose of them. Because I had defeated the leader, I took his place, and he became second-in-command. I've had that post for about a year now.
When you…broke up with me, I hardened my heart again. I set a field exercise of sorts to get my subordinates back in shape. I looked into Kal's history, and I know about your feud. I'm betting he was trying to kill two birds with one stone: he could get rid of you and end the feud, as well as triumph in my challenge. That's when I walked in. And lucky I did, too, or you would most likely be six feet under by now. But you're not, and that's all that matters.
But I'm making a request now and my request is this: listen to the letter. Do what it says. As I said, in the end, it's really your choice. But I will be waiting, and I hope it isn't in vain.
One last thing before I leave: Sorry!
I'm sorry for everything. For all the pain, the anger, the stupid actions, the worrying, the hurt, everything. Just…
Sorry.
Matt reached the bottom of the page and saw a small arrow, telling him to flip to the other side. He did so, and saw some more writing. It read:
In such a way my spirit
Begins to shake and flutter.
Come to me, you dark-eyed maiden.
Kiss me when 'tis dark'ning.
When tasting joy and sadness,
My heart seeks thine, my heart seeks thine.
Meet me when the stars are greeting.
Kiss me when 'tis dark'ning.
Nightingale, you sing so sweet,
Yield your love, my fondest heart.
Would you rather keep me burning?
Kiss me when 'tis dark'ning.
Found this online. Thought it was perfect. Central Park. 7:30. Remember: I'll be waiting.
Love, Mello.
Matt quietly set the letter to the side, flopping back onto the bed. He mulled over everything he had learned, trying to force it to make more sense.
"Mello's in the mafia," he said aloud, hoping it would help him clear his head. "In fact, he's the head of the mafia—fact. If I choose to be with him, I will be in danger—fact. I will never be safe again—fact.
"But…he loves me—fact. He's sorry—fact. And…I love him." Matt's eyes widened at the instinctive statement. "I-I love him," he repeated. "I don't care that I'll constantly be in danger. I don't care that I'll have so many more enemies, more than I ever thought possible. Because…
"I love him."
Matt looked at the clock. It read 7:00. He quickly jumped out of bed and ran to his closet. With a faint smile playing on his lips, he quickly pulled out his zebra-striped shirt, his fur-lined vest, his dark skinny jeans, his combat boots, and his orange goggles—the same outfit he had been wearing when he first met Mello. He quickly donned the outfit before jumping onto the cheap motorcycle he had bought. It wasn't as amazing as his other one, but it did the job.
Within 20 minutes, Matt was wandering through Central Park, trying to find Mello. The park was deserted this late in the day, and he easily spotted Mello's blonde head. The blonde was facing away from Matt, gazing at the sunset. Matt quietly walked over and interlaced his hand into Mello's.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured, not wanting to disturb the perfection of the scene. Mello just nodded, watching as the sun started to set dip below the horizon. Sensing instinctively that the moment was right, the two boys turned to face each other.
"So you'll stay?" asked Mello, trying to confirm what he already thought he knew.
"Find out for yourself," Matt replied, smirking, before leaning in to place his lips against Mello's. The two teens stood silhouetted against the setting sun, enjoying their moment of quiet perfection and happiness. Though the day was ending, their story had only just begun.
FIN
