Yaoi warning for this chapter. And it's not going to be the only time in the story, either, I'm warning you right now. xD

This was...incredibly fun. Enjoy.

Chapter Six - Questions Lead to Questions

"Question...all right. Let us simply start from the beginning. This cult you spoke of, using people for rituals to summon a demon...why were these, erm, virtues needed? Why you, and the six others?"

"I was told that I was to be fed to the demon, as a violation to God, along with the others. Feeding the embodiment of virtues to a demon sounds like an appropriate sacrifice if you are evil. Yeah, there were seven of us, not much older than you or me. One person for each virtue. We each had the eye in a different place to identify us as the virtues. Hope was the oldest of us, and she acted like our guardian. If one of us fell out of line, Hope took the punishment for us. Love and Empathy were brother and sister, twins, and they were about...six, perhaps seven."

Mello, for being the emotional one, wasn't looking perturbed, only grim. He knew how the story went, and he was going to tell the entire thing and try to keep his head.

"Love, Empathy, Hope...you were Courage..." Near bit his lower lip, gazing intently at Mello as though it were all just another lecture. "Who were the other three? And why were you chosen?"

"Patience and Knowledge were close friends with each other, and Honesty was like Hope's little lean-on. I was chosen 'cause I got some kid his toy back a long time ago from some dumb-ass bully. So they abducted me, killed everyone, and dragged me to the god-forsaken installment."

He cocked his head, trying to remember the details for dictation.

"When I got there Hope took me under her wing, although she was my age. That girl could give Kira a run for his freaking money... She was the one everyone looked up to. She was stronger than any of us in willpower and physical strength."

"And she was the one that died...what happened then? You said something about Shocking?" Near's eyes were unblinking.

"Yeah, she got Shocked to death. There was this one guy, he was absolutely obsessed with her. He was a cultist in charge of discipline, and none of us knew his name, but he'd always take Hope away from us when it was time for bed, and she'd come back with bruises and cuts and her mark would be bleeding. Now I realize what he did to her, and I feel sick remembering it. One day she escaped him though, and she died in front of all of us because of it. We were horrified. And then...he started killing the others off. It started a mass hysteria, but I got out of the room. I grabbed Hope's ring in the process though, the one that they had let her keep for some reason. That day still gives me nightmares..."

Mello sat back up straight, his tone low and sullen.

"I still have that ring. I carry it everywhere."

He reached into his pants pocket, pulling a golden band out and holding it out to Near. The ring was engraved with small hatch marks, the old metal worn, but still very beautiful. Near paled (impossibly) and turned away, uneasy. Mello took note of Near's reaction and slid closer to him, replacing where the map used to sit and replaced the ring in his pocket.

"I...can't imagine how difficult this all must have been...did you come directly to Wammy's after this? What...happened to your parents...?"

"Parents were in the cult. Fucking bitch ran the goddamned show. I don't miss them one bit, trust me. As for Wammy's, I ran like hell until I found a city ad passed out on the street. Some orphanage got me and then L found me a month afterwards. So there you go... That's it."

That was not, in essence, the full story, but it was a fine summary of it. Near's eyes were a clear indication that he was very far from happy, and Mello raised an eyebrow at him.

"Near, don't worry. I put it behind me..."

"No," Near said quietly. "It's...not behind you." He glanced at Mello's shoulder. "Because yesterday, L did something to make it hurt you again. Yesterday, a lot of things happened that weren't...normal...weren't logical. What were those four-point stars? And...what is that?"

He indicated Mello's shoulder weakly. He had no problems with what he'd been told; after all, Mello was Mello, and Near had known the same one the whole time...they all had pasts...

"The four-pointed star was the Eye, the mark of the demon who would apparently rise from the depths of our blood and devour us alive. It's actually a magnetized skin, like a tattoo of sorts, but they drove something into us to make it impossible to remove. The things stay active for Shocks. They would take tiny specific waves of electricity and magnify it to shoot us. They rigged it so that the whole thing would bleed and shoot pain though us in different magnitudes. Believe it or not, that Shock from before felt like a baby ride..."

Mello pulled his collar down, sliding his arm out of the shirt and exposing the mark to Near. "If you look closely there is a line of scraping scars around the black where the mark bleeds out of."

Near's fingers ran over it, a phantom's touch.

"I don't need to look closely. I can see it fine. There are still specks of dried blood here...you did not do a very thorough job cleaning. Or does that hurt?"

"It kinda stung, but it's alright."

Near's fingers burned, so he pulled his hand away. He refused to meet Mello's eyes, as he knew his own held the one thing Mello never wanted to see...pity. And...pride.

"Thank you for trusting me with all of this, Mello...it means a lot to me."

"Thanks..."

He wondered if Near noticed him tense under the touch, and how he did not relax as Near pulled away. Near's touch was caring. It showed that he cared for Mello...how much? How much did Near care for him? The question burned into him as soon as it echoed in his mind, and all of a sudden, he was curious. How much did HE actually care for the smaller boy? He didn't hate him. That was obvious. And he trusted him enough...and his touch...Mello's brain was making his already jumbled emotions become seriously confused.

"Near..."

He needed to know. He needed to know.

Mello pulled his hand up to Near's chin, forcing the albino eyes upward. He needed to know how much he felt for this boy; how much Near felt for him...and his emotions were hijacking him again, but he was too curious to fight them.

So Mello gently placed his lips against Near's in a soft kiss, practically out of nowhere, but...Near's lips were soft. He didn't listen to his own twisted forms of logic, the stubborn person he was. He was giving in to emotions that had simply attacked him.

When Mello had spoken his name, Near had been prepared for anything. Part of him expected Mello to request this all be kept secret...another part expected, and even feared, that Mello would tell him to go away. He didn't answer, because the moment Mello touched him, no matter how gently, Near's pulse quickened, his breath coming as a sharp intake of air...

The kiss...was not something he'd expected. Ever. But he didn't struggle, and he relaxed...not kissing back, not pulling away, just staring at Mello, waiting, his emotions consisting of mild curiosity and...whatever was making his heart pound this hard...

Mello stared into the apathetic eyes. So, he had made Near confused, because the boy was certainly reacting, showing the same curiosity he did. It left the initial question unanswered, though. Silent questions with no answers just lead to failure...Mello's eyes flickered the questioning gaze of "What are you going to do now?" Part of him, no, MOST of him, wanted to pull away and apologize immediately. The portion of him that was still curious made him apply a bit of pressure onto Near's lips, not enough to hurt, but enough to ask for a response.

Near made a small, shocked noise against Mello's mouth, and began to draw away...he was...unsure of what was going on, and there it was, that uncertainty that terrified him so, so badly...but...

When unsure, it was Mello that protected him, Mello that comforted him...so if Mello was the one making him unsure, that had to mean logic wasn't involved...had to mean instinct and emotion should take precedence...right...?

Near kissed back, shy, still staring at Mello, though his eyelashes fluttered as he blinked rapidly. Mello was...shocked. He was kissing back. Near...Near liked him. And it couldn't have been this one day. How long had he liked Mello? Dark blue eyes widened for a moment, and then closed as he gave in, raising his hand to place it on Near's cheek gently. If THIS was what L had intended...

He was suddenly struck with an overwhelming load of feelings, and they commanded him. So he obeyed, deepening the light kiss and licking Near's lip, asking for entrance.

L most likely considered the possibility. What was he playing at, matchmaker? No. L wasn't the puppeteer controlling them at the moment. Near closed his eyes, shivering slightly and opening his mouth on instinct, his breaths shaky. After years, years, of Mello hating him, picking on him, making his life a living hell, something was different, and Near wondered, very briefly, what he had done to deserve the change. Then again, he was too grateful to care.

The only thing going through Mello's mind was that Near was responding, like he wanted Mello to do this. Mello didn't deny that this younger soul was causing the loss of any control he had left. Mello's tongue brushed against Near's, cheeks dawning a slight blush as he pressed closer to his former rival, other arm snaking behind his back and holding him.

Numbly he wondered what set him off in the first place. Why had he initially hated Near? He certainly didn't right now. Near's white cheeks were tinted with pink, and he felt them burn as Mello deepened their kiss even further. For just a moment, he pulled his tongue back, still shy, but the older boy's arm around him was gentle, comforting. Another mild tremor ran through his frail body, and his tongue left its hiding place to play with Mello's, wet and unusual, but somehow feeling...good...

Near's lungs were crying, and very carefully, he brought an arm up to hug Mello closer, his slender limb wrapped around his companion, pulling him down, closer, because now he was almost afraid of having to let go...because he felt...safe...and good...

Mello's lungs, too, felt like they were on fire, but he stayed a little longer to wrestle tongues with Near, the very act sending small jolts down his spine. Near's mouth tasted unique, but in a good way. Eventually though, his lack of breath caused him to pull back, pressing his forehead against Near's as he panted, noting how terribly hot his skin felt. His heart throbbed against his ribs like a frightened animal in a cage.

"N-Near..."

And that's when the realization of what he was doing to the younger boy hit him. Ocean eyes filled to the brim with absolute shock and uncertainty...

He wanted to continue...but he didn't...

"M-Mer...n-no, Mello...are you...okay?"

Near's gaze was concerned. He was panting slightly, and his fist was still gripping Mello's shirt, but his eyes were on Mello's, and the hurt there made Near's chest ache.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"N-No. Do you...want me to continue, Near...?"

Honestly, Mello's body was now shaking from the internal conflict. If Near said yes, it was over. If Near said no...well, either way, it was going to be an emotion battle.

And he couldn't believe what he had just asked. Not for a second. It was the most extreme emotional switch on the scale. Enemies, to allies, to fuck-buddies? What world was he in?! And he was definitely feeling the need to continue... What he was feeling, had turned into need, lust.

Lust for Near.

Near could see the raging turmoil in Mello's eyes...there was a storm brewing, and the ocean was violent. He couldn't decipher the emotions, and his own quickened pulse certainly didn't help matters much. Balance mattered, and at the same time that Near hated being touched, and hated the thought of possibly doing something to anger Mello...

It had felt good, and he'd felt secure with his rival, no, his COMPANION, perhaps even his friend...he stared down at his hand for a moment, blinking thoughtfully.

"...do you want to?"

"..."

Mello couldn't speak the word he wanted to. He wanted to continue, but the aftermath...damn it. So many thoughts and fears, but...

"Yes. H-How do you do this, Near? How do you make me lust for you, when a day ago, I hated you?"

Mello's face contorted into an expression of utter inner turmoil, which relaxed into one of defeat. He was actually going to continue. He was actually going to do this.

Mello breathed a shuddering sigh and pressed his lips against Near's forehead.

"If you...want me to stop, then tell me..."

Although the effort itself most likely would have been futile...

Mello straddled Near's stomach, pressing his fingers against Near's sides in soothing circles. He was not going to be evil. Not like that man was with Hope. He was not going to force Near into anything. He was going to try to not hurt him. Mello pressed his lips against Near's and closed his eyes yet again, emotions possessing him entirely. Near made a muffled sound of consent against Mello's lips, and his eyes closed again. His body, too sensitive, shivered under the older boy's gentle touch, and while he tried to replay Mello's words in his mind, he found undecipherable emotions were clouding his logic, his judgment. The only words that remained in his conscious mind were "lust" and "hate," and...neither...made sense to him.

He snaked a hand into Mello's hair and twisted his fingers into the honey-gold locks, kissing back timidly.

It didn't have to make sense. It was Mello, after all. Mello continued to massage Near's side with one hand, while the other snaked up to his neck, tracing practiced fingers down Near's throat, again with the same gentleness that had perched upon him. It was a walking contradiction. He could be utterly destructive and ferocious, and then totally and utterly gentle. And it was all from the same source, that terrible Eye...

He was gentle because he knew how it felt when someone was rough. He'd seen how it ended up.

Mello slipped his hand under Near's collar, rubbing the base of his collarbone with a soothing circular motion, not yet moving the other hand from Near's side. The boy's shivering was adding to his growing want, an ever pounding longing echoing in his clouded mind. Mello's tongue played with Near's, twisting and curling in wet but pleasing shapes, enjoying his taste more than he probably should have.

Near's trembling only grew, a result of his heightened emotions and his irrational fear...the fact that his intense hatred of being touched was overcome by his desire to continue his actions with Mello was simply ridiculous to comprehend. His tongue danced with Mello's, and with it, a wonderful sensation that made a small noise rise into Near's throat. Mello's hands were so gentle...and he felt so safe, so SAFE, with his rival, that it was almost as if all of his logic had simply died, then and there...

Mello turned his head slightly and relinquished Near's lips, pressing a soft but fiery kiss onto the side of Near's mouth. A shivering palm caressed the skin under Near's collar, pausing a moment to unlatch the top button of Near's shirt. He gently took care in the new skin that was revealed, tracing light fingers over Near's practically emaciated form. Finally he moved the hand that was previously occupied with Near's side to join the other one in unclipping buttons. He was slow as to not alarm Near. Rushing things was not a good way of doing this.

He was fully aware of what he was doing, and he was now focusing entirely on not hurting Near at all. Although his body demanded he hurry and satisfy his desires, he was not like that man, that man that stole Hope away. That man that destroyed all of them...

He was not a rapist...

Near simply stared down, watching Mello's actions with wide, glassy eyes, his small hand still tangled into Mello's hair, stroking the locks gently. He sensed Mello's inner conflict, but said nothing, did nothing; he just waited.

Wait, and tried to calm the emotions boiling within himself...for he'd surely break otherwise...

Mello stroked every inch of Near's pale skin as he worked his wait down the several buttons, finding it extremely difficult not to just ruthlessly murder him in bite marks. His skin was so pale and flawless, and Near was so fragile. He'd have to be careful not to break this little boy. The shirt finally hung open at his hands, and Mello drew back a moment, trailing his fingers teasingly over Near's ribs, lowering his face to lick the bones visible beneath the skin carefully, tracing every single indentation.

Near bit his lip softly, tense at the touch, and removed his hand from Mello's hair; he trailed it over his shoulder lightly before dropping it, still shivering, still confused...and still thrilled, though only god knew why.

His skin was too sensitive, and Mello's touch was too light...Near's breaths quickened with his pulse, his eyes bright. Mello allowed his hands to roam Near's chest, while he rose back up to the pale neck, gently nibbling on the boy's collarbone, increasing the pressure on his motions, not enough to cause pain, but enough to extract reactions out. It was almost too slow for his liking, so he increased his pace slightly, trailing a line of soft bites around Near's neck and hands traveling to the boy's hips, pressing into them slightly. Control hadn't been an issue for Near, until Mello touched his hips, and at that point, he let out an involuntary whimper.

Mello hoped to God Near realized what was going on by now, and the fact that he would be hurt in the process. Near sighed softly. Everything that was happening, pain or pleasure, felt good...he'd never studied this, never really learned it, but he knew what was happening, what was to come, and with that knowledge came a rush of adrenaline that made his breaths quicken further.

Mello's desire for the boy was growing, for his skin tasted so pure and clean. The pit of lust was being fueled, and it felt as if he were suffocating in his clothes.

How much did he really want Near? How much did Near want him?

Near was...hot. He wriggled his arms free of his sleeves, and his shirt fell softly to the ground behind him...he...didn't suppose he'd be needing it. Mello watched, aware that his own shirt felt like it was choking him, burning his very skin. Following Near's example, he slipped it off, not losing much time at all, replacing his hands where they were as his lips found Near's again. The hands snuck under the waistband, finding the boy's hip bone and curling skilled fingers around it, moving pressured circles with the tips of his fingers over the soft skin, the circles traveling lower down his legs, turning to more pressured teasings as they moved.

The entire process was painfully slow for the amount of lust building up in his chest. His heart was in unnaturally high palpitations, cheeks flushed with the actions and reactions he was experiencing. He broke the kiss to let out a soft moan, eyes half-lidded and lashes brushing against Near's cheek.

"Nia..."

Near whimpered again, white cheeks painted pink, his eyes wide even though the light burned him. His legs twitched at Mello's gentle caresses, and he locked his gaze onto Mello's, greedily drinking in the sight of his eyes, dark and full of emotions Near could barely begin to comprehend...Mello's lips were right there, and shyly, so shyly, Near tilted his head forward to press his own lips against Mello's; he'd stopped shivering, but the way his heart fluttered in his chest made him feel as though the walls were echoing around him. He applied more pressure to Mello's lips, and a quiet moan escaped from his throat, startling him.

Mello kissed him back, pinning the smaller boy's head back to the soft carpet and licking the his tongue. The moan sent a jolt down his spine, and the desire spiked. He couldn't do this forever.

Reluctantly he broke the kiss, tugging at the waistband of Near's pants as his hands continued to go lower, eventually reaching the beginning of his thighs and trailing the insides of them, all the while in the effort to get Near's white pants off, which he had easily brought to the boy's knee's. Mello replaced his hands, with small nips from his teeth on the inside of Near's thigh, his hands running back up to the rim of Near's boxers to tease his hips a bit more forcefully, eventually ghosting touches across Near's pelvis.

Near had to bite his index finger to keep from whimpering again. He closed his right eye and watched Mello, his body trembling, his legs occasionally twitching involuntarily. If anything, Mello was being too gentle...but it felt...too good. FAR too good.

"Ah...Mero..."

He couldn't be bothered to be articulate. His own breathing was betraying him, and his heart was pounding so forcefully that it seemed to be threatening to abandon him, to leap from his chest and run away...Near sighed shakily.

Mello trailed his tongue up the underside of Near's thigh, finally placing his one hand teasingly upon his crotch, massaging the sensitive spot while he kicked off his own pants without much difficulty at all. He tangled his bare legs with Near's, shuddering at the skin to skin contact white still continuing his ministrations. The other hand had found a calling sliding up Near's side to his shoulder. The blonde bent over the boy's chest, hair tickling the thin ribs. He brought his mouth down to the muddle of Near's chest and trailed a stream of butterfly kisses down his waist.

Near arched, his frail body tense to the point of snapping, and cried out weakly. He hated being touched, but this was...bliss...Mello...

"M-Mero..."

There was no logic to describe it. His entire body felt as though it had been jolted with electricity, and his fingertips twitched, as did his legs...it was all too much. He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly with his heavy breathing.

Only two things mattered to his mind just then.

His body.

And Mello.

Mello's ears perked at his own name, the slurred version that Near had always said in times of severity. This was severely out of the ordinary for him, and therefore, he wouldn't be likely to withstand much teasing...

It was fine with Mello, but if he rushed, things could get ugly...

He wasn't entirely sure what to think of himself at the moment. He would definitely not give anyone this kind of attention, but Near was special...Near was...something. He didn't know what, but something that he couldn't describe.

Mello slipped his hand under Near's boxers, hooking his fingers and pulling the white article off while his tongue distracted Near greatly with tiny bites to his thin stomach, not enough to bruise but enough to be felt. Mello brushed Near's arousal with his fingertips, amused to know that Near was hard...for him.

How DID Near have this power over him, the power to turn his ferocity into the ridiculous gentleness that controlled his body at the moment? Near made it so that Mello's voice turned to a hoarse, needy whisper, his breathing coming out in pants of air...

How did Near seem so special, so set out...?

"Nia...how do you do this to me?I want you. So. Fucking. Much..."

The words made Near's lips twist into a tiny smile, and he gazed at Mello, his no-longer-secret eyes vast, crystal pools of emotion that he didn't know, but maybe, just maybe, Mello would. It was Mello. It was always Mello.

"Then take me," he whispered softly, and again, he didn't know why.

"As you wish...I have nothing...to make this easy on you, though..."

Mello heard the words coming out of his mouth and bit his lip. Those three words, on his tongue again, but this time for a different purpose...this time they were not wretched words of demons.

Mello lowered his head, licking Near's length slightly, tasting Near to the fullest extent possible. His hands came around to hold Near's hips firmly as he caressed his young counterpart's erection with his gentle tongue. Near was doing to get the full blown effect of it...

Right now Mello wasn't exactly sure if it was possible to want this little creature more, to crave his skin as much as he did...Near writhed under Mello's touch, still whimpering softly, a patch of twisted silver and white on the soft carpet. His fingers clenched at the fabric, and he tried to hold his breath to keep the sounds in, but he COULDN'T, because he was just panting so hard...a small, strangled cry escaped him, followed by a soft whisper of "Mero" that sounded foreign to pale ears...

It felt too good...how was it possible that Mello...that a fallen angel like Mello...could have been chosen, for...Near bit his lip sharply and gently brushed his fingertips over the mark on Mello's shoulder; his fingers became the only part of his body that weren't on fire, and he gasped and pulled his hand away as Mello continued.

Mello shuddered at the ghost touch, pulling his head up, dizzy with Near's sounds. The way he said his name...

It was nearing too much. Mello quickly removed his own boxers, crawling back up Near's small body, creating friction between their skin. Small droplets of sweat had formed on the surface of his skin, rubbing onto Near. He convulsed slightly as their arousals brushed together, diving for Near's lips and wrapping arms around his waist, using one leg to gently force Near's legs apart. This kiss was far, far more heated than the others, full of lust and something else. Was it the concern?

It hurt him that he was about to inflict this kind of pain on his white-haired counterpart. He only hoped that Near would anticipate it.

"I know," Near said breathlessly, breaking the kiss for only a moment to gaze affectionately into Mello's emotional eyes. "It's okay."

How the hell he'd managed to speak, especially so calmly, was beyond him. He snaked his arms around Mello's shoulders and pulled him close until their chests were touching, and kissed him, timid, but with more force than he had before. Mello...was asking for his trust. He knew it. And he had it. Near arched his body into Mello's, grinding their hips together and gasping softly at the pleasure that shot through him. Again, he whispered Mello's name...

Again, he mispronounced it...

"Nghh...ah, Nia..."

Mello slurred the ending of Near's name, just as Near mispronounced his. The blonde bowed his head, slipping away slightly to focus on the task at hand. He wanted to not hurt Near, but that was impossible. For now, he just wanted the pain to be bearable. Mello licked his fingers, coating them with a film of saliva and bringing them down to Near's entrance.

Near trusted him to do this...Near wanted Mello to do this. He showed attachment, affection, and it stabbed Mello's emotions into something different. It was still lust, but...longing, wanting, more than sheer need...

Near was so small. It would hurt, horribly, but he couldn't stop. They had come too far, and Near wouldn't want him to stop either way. Mello slid a slick finger into Near, distracting him with a firm grip to his side as he adjusted. Near winced, his uneven breaths stopping for a moment. He closed his eyes and relaxed, exhaling softly, trying hard to calm down, because they couldn't both be insane, could they? No, of course not. He would be calm for Mello...he had to be.

So his kissed him again.

Mello accepted Near's kiss as he added a second finger, slightly withdrawing the first, slowly driving them in and waiting for Near to adjust to the foreign feeling.

His mind was absolutely blown away by the fact that Near had let him go this far, being resilient to touch and accepting any form of it with open arms. Mello quivered at the sensation of being inside Near with only his fingers. He'd have to fight to keep his head and not fuck the poor boy until he bled out. Mello scissored the fingers carefully, stretching Near in preparation of what was to come, continuing to kiss him, licking his tongue eagerly and enjoying the taste still.

Near's soft whimpers were only a partial result of pain...he knew it, too, because his mind was buzzing, a dull drone that only called out "Mero, Mero, Mero," deep within his conscious mind...his tongue continued to dance with Mello's, his cheeks still painted pink, his open eyes practically sparkling, like stained glass who had shattered a beam of sunlight into a million pieces...

If Near hurt with only this. He would be in agony very soon. Mello added a third finger, continuing the careful movements. A sharp tremor ran through Near's body, and he inhaled sharply through his nose, clamping his eyes shut and wincing. It was unnatural. It didn't feel right. It wasn't logical...but after a moment, he relaxed again, letting Mello continue, for he had never felt so much before, so much trust...so much desire?

Mello's other hand continued massaging Near's side in an effort to keep him relaxed. He stared into Near's eyes, marveling at the lights behind those eyes. Who knew Near could feel this much?

Who knew Mello would do this? Not out of anger, either.

Mello drove his fingers deeper and, at the same time, deepened the kiss. Distractions weren't going to work in a minute and he knew it, but they would help for now.

He couldn't ignore the now throbbing desire within his chest; it was hard to focus at all. The heat drowned him as his eyes drank in Near's shimmering ones. He fought not to lose it. He fought the urge to slam his counterpart into the floor, and it showed on the surface of his eyes. He wasn't going to give in though. He wasn't going to break under the burning lust...

As Near kissed Mello, his eyes remained open, memorizing Mello's emotions when he opened his, and counting the lashes when they closed...they weren't done yet. They weren't close. But...Near, patient, calm, logical Near, wanted to be. He wanted to be close, to be closer to Mello than he'd ever been to anyone...and...that's why the words that next left his lips didn't startle him like they should have.

"M-Mero...please..."

Mello shivered. Near was not going to hold out against preparation. There was no choice. He couldn't deny Near's request.

He cautiously removed his fingers, bringing them instead to rest on Near's waist. He carefully parted Near's legs, situating himself carefully and gazing at the boy. His eyes screamed desire, but they also screamed silent apology. Mello panted softly, wrapping his arms around Near's middle and burying his face in the younger boy's chest, eventually moving to Near's neck, lips latched onto the collarbone. His hands ran along Near's sides in quiet apology, and he carefully pressed in, slowly enough as to not agonize Near, but quickly renough to cause friction. Mello moaned, clenching his eyes shut at the sensation that ripped through him.

Near forced himself to bite back a cry of agony, and he tossed his head back, breathing raggedly, small body trembling in pain. He felt as if he was being split in two, the pressure too much, the stretching far, far too much...

His eyes prickled with tears, so he closed them, afraid to let Mello see. He raised an unsteady hand and guiding it downwards, because all he wanted just then was to feel Mello and feel safe, because he was scared, because it hurt, but...Mello was right there against his chest...

Near's fingers rested on the coldness that was Mello's brand, and he didn't move them...it was still Mello, after all, and his body burned with fire otherwise...

Mello knew he'd hurt Near. It was all too obvious. Near was so tight, it was driving him insane...but he didn't give in, body shaking from the restraint. He held the position there, waiting for Near's consent before moving. He knew the pain Near was feeling; he'd tried to do whatever he could to prevent total agony, but it was inevitable.

"Ngh...Nia...h-hurts, d-doesn't it...? Tell me...when..."

He was amazed he could squeeze out that much of a sentence between the soft series of gasps. Mello massaged Near's sides more fervently, trying to quell the pain he knew was there.

"It...it's okay...I'm okay..."

Near wasn't. But he would be. That's all that mattered. His delicate fingers traced Mello's brand lightly, more as a distraction than anything, and he ached, but he knew, and thank the gods for this logic, that Mello wouldn't have been doing this if it wasn't going to feel good, at least for Mello...Near wanted to give him that much...

Mello deserved that much...

"Go...ahead."

Mello knew Near was lying, but he couldn't refuse he. He was relieved that the small boy seemed to be handling this somewhat well.

"It will...feel better. I promise..."

Mello slid slowly, the friction making him shudder with pleasure and press his lips to the pale neck. He held Near close, continuing to attempt a distraction with his hands, dancing lower to Near's thighs.

He wondered if Near sensed what he was trying to fight. He was fighting so hard against the urge to tear him apart, break him into pieces. It was lust that drove him, but his past that held him back. He wasn't going to hurt Near like he had been hurt.

Near snaked a thin, trembling arm up around Mello's neck, hugging him closer, burying his eyes into his neck, golden hair tickling his face...he could sense Mello's inner conflict, and it scared him, but he wasn't going to make Mello stop...he trusted him too much...

But at the same time, through his pain, he could feel Mello's aura darken with negative emotion. There was no rage in the older boy's touch, no anger in his breathing, but something was wrong.

"Mero..." Near whispered into his rival's shoulder. "What is...the matter?"

"Not...the time, Nia..."

Mello began to rock against Near's body, moaning softly as he gripped the smaller boy's body tightly. Near was trusting him still, and even as lust boiled in his blood, even as the urge to fuck him senseless burned his skin alive. Mello found it ridiculous that Near was concerned for him, when the albino was obviously in more pain then he was.

The past was seeming to ghost into reality, and now he disbanded it, he deserted it. The past didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was Near.

Mello sped his pace up, desire and want flooding his mind entirely. His hand trailed down Near's fevered body, finding the boy's erection and trailing his fingers over the length carefully.

Slowly, very slowly, Near's pain was fading. His breaths came in soft gasps and he whimpered, shivering at Mello's intimate touch. As Mello moved, more fire shot through Near's body, tearing him apart, but with it, an electricity that made his mind and throat vibrate in delight...he was afraid to open his eyes...between the fire and the electricity, he was sure to be blinded.

He crooned Mello's name softly, a ghostly whisper escaping ghostly lips, and his body arched to meet Mello's, two puzzle pieces fitting together exactly, away from Near's conscious mind. He purred softly, subconsciously digging his nails into Mello's back, his weak fingers trembling.

Mello's body was moving out of control, faster, mind utterly drawing a blank. He caressed Near's length with one hand, the other arm wrapped securely around his back, moving inside him in a quickly accelerating rate. He was gasping for air, moaning Near's name between every thrust.

"Ngh...Nia...ah..."

The fact that Near was liking this was overwhelming, and it drove him to move faster, creating the desired friction, such pleasurable friction.

Pleasure...

They were both feeling it...

Who knew...?

Near's hips were moving on their own, moving with Mello's as if both bodies were one, as if they were made to fit. Near clenched his hands into fists in order to keep his nails from Mello's flesh, and instead dug them into his own palms, his arms laced around Mello's neck, his eyelashes fluttering; he kissed Mello's throat gently, moaning as Mello brushed against somewhere deep inside of him...it felt good again, it felt so good.

His soft voice carried out the mantra of his rival's misspoken name, a quiet chant that didn't quite reach Near's ears because they were already so full of his own name, full of Mello's voice...

The electricity had almost completely replaced the fire.

Never in his lifetime had Mello felt so full of pleasurable sensations, and he was going to lose his mind. He lost track of his pace, vision utterly blurred, lungs screaming in protest against his uncontrollable gasps. His rival, his enemy, was no longer his rival, nor his enemy. He was just...something else.

Mello slammed into Near's sweet spot as his hands continued their unceasing movements, and Near's scream was strangled by his own failing will to stay silent. Both bodies, they were so perfect for each other. Every indentation had a place, like a two-piece puzzle finally complete. Night and Day were one.

And the feeling was ecstasy...

"Nia...Nia...can't...restrain much...longer..."

Near understood perfectly, for his own body was saying the exact same thing to his mind...it was all too much to bear, really, and Near finally opened his eyes, weak with pleasure, weak and safe and just...too much...

He knew what was soon to come from both of them...to come...yes. He didn't want to, but he had to, and that made a soft whine build in his throat, a sound that would likely have escalated into an embarrassing cry unless he forced his lips into silence. So he did, pressing feather-light kisses to Mello's neck and throat and shoulder, his eyes stinging, his body shaking and sweating and moving far too fast.

"Mero..."

Near didn't want to be Number One anymore...he'd let Mello have the pleasure...this time. Too much suffocating pleasure, and way too much constriction. Mello shuddered violently, tightening his hold on everything possible, squeezing their sweating bodies until there was no definition between the beginning of either. Mello trembled, slamming one last time into his rival before succumbing to the pressure, releasing his desires, seeing blinding light as his body arched into Near's even further.

"Ah! Nia! Don't...hate you, Nia..."

He drew out the name in a last moan, pleasure knives ripping his mind once filled with rage, to bloody shreds.

"I...ah, I know, M-Mero..."

Near finally gave up on his restraints, and he closed his eyes, seeing a light brighter than he'd ever been able to stand before, holding onto Mello like he couldn't let go...wouldn't. With a last shudder and a soft cry, he finally released, and his arms trembled weakly against Mello's back.

He was grateful Mello was holding him too. He feared he may have slipped away otherwise. His mind and heart and lungs all ached horribly from working so hard, and he exhaled shakily, lowering his head so that his weak eyes were pressed into Mello's soft neck. The puzzle had been solved.

Mello shuddered in post-orgasmic waves, raising his hand now covered in Near's release and bringing it to his lips, licking it away with a dazed expression on his face. He clung to Near as he withdrew, holding him yet, letting his other arm join in the embrace. Whatever the reason they did this, it felt too good to regret.

He fought to wrestle his pulse down to normal, his breathing actually stinging his lungs with the intensity. So the question was answered. Near trusted him with an undying loyalty, and liked him. And Mello...he was confused. Was it possible he liked Near?

At the moment, he was concerned for him, knowing the feel of being on the receiving end of this kind of act. Mello noted a bruise upon Near's neck and eyed it uneasily. His skin was way too weak...and it would be visible. So much for people not talking...

I dunno, if I was Linda I'd be too busy stifling a nosebleed to talk. ...wait, I am now. Oops.