This chapter has lots of fluffiness and humor in it. Remember this chapter as one of my favourites just because of how silly it is. xD

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Nulli Secundus, Chapter 11 – Strip Go-Fish

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Mihael led Nate through the tunnels that led directly to his hallway, oh so conveniently, pausing and kneeling at the trapdoor before unlocking it and slipping into the air vent. It was past curfew, but no chaperones seemed to be in this hallway at the moment. Mihael unlatched the grate and crawled out, opening his door and motioning for Nate to slip in.

It was very dark when Nate entered the room, and he nudged something hard with his toe; immediately, he removed his lenses and put them in the case in his pocket. At least some good came out of these accursed eyes.

"Your room is a war zone. How do you find anything? How do you not fall down and hurt yourself?"

Mihael closed the door and laughed softly, glancing at his clock. Nine at night?! How long had they been talking and walking? Mihael sighed and sat upon his bed.

"I'm just used to it I guess. Do you want to try to sleep or do you want to stay up? You should rest so you don't come down with anything."

He made no effort to hide the concern, the suggestion being half-demand, half idea. He reclined on his bed, scooting closer to the wall in case Nate wanted to join him. It wasn't near as comfortable as the Loft bed, but it felt the "home-ishness" a bed should feel.

Nate crawled into Mihael's bed without even a moment of hesitation. He sat on his knees, staring down at Mihael, blinking curiously.

"Your bed is very clean," he said, as though it surprised him.

He was very tired. He was unused to emotional outbursts, or reacting to them, and between he and his counterpart, they'd both had a lot of those lately.

"Yeah, surprises me too..." Mihael pulled back the covers, burying his legs and leaning back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling, a thoughtful look on his face. It felt good and right to be lying here with Nate, it felt like...like it was meant to happen.

"Hey Nate?"

"Hm?"

"Why the hell didn't we move to the bed? It was right there, like, not even five feet away."

The question was mingled with a whispered laugh. It was a valid question, one that made him smile at the oddness and irony. Nate burrowed into the sheets like a small animal, crawling and turning beneath them until his head and fingers rested right before the opening leading to the pillow.

"I don't think we were really planning ahead, Mihael. Just kind of happened. The floor was very comfortable, though."

"Yeah, it's kinda funny though."

Mihael turned on his side, curling around Nate and breathing in his scent in a light sigh. It was comfortably warm under the covers, with Nate giving off what little body heat he possessed. The entire scenario was like deja vu...

Mihael reached over Nate's head to set his alarm and rested the arm over the bulge under his blankets, pulling the younger one closer to him.

"Kuuthekrd cfaad uha..."

In the slurred whispered language, Mihael had whispered a goodnight, pressing a kiss to Nate's, not Nate's, forehead. His own eyes drooped and fell into darkness....

Turning slightly to nestle close to Mihael's chest, sighing contentedly, safe and happy. He wondered intently what the language was. He'd heard Mihael speak it before, but didn't understand. He figured Mihael's words couldn't be bad...Mihael's might not have been either.

By the time his words finally left his lips, he was already asleep.

"Good night, Mihael..."

(NS)

Mihael woke before his alarm, and blinked blearily at the light of day, immediately noticing the small body nestled comfortably against him and sighing. He buried his head in the soft white locks and willed the day to just get the fuck away from his window so he could spend some nice time sleeping. It was an hour before he had to wake up at eight, and he sure as hell didn't want to.

He didn't find it disturbing to be sleeping in the same bed as Nate, for it felt too nice to be unusual. Mihael sighed. Today was going to be a fucking long day, the beginning of a fucking long week. Nate stirred in his sleep, sucking on the bridge of his index finger and unconsciously nuzzling Mihael's chest; he sighed softly, whispering his companion's name, his mind at ease...

It...had been a long, long time since his rest had been this simple. No dreams, no nightmares, and no physical pain...just the bed, and shroud of sleep...

And Mihael...

Mihael observed his companion, studying the small boy's features with a traveling eye. He'd said it before; he was cute, the type of creature you saw on some mattress commercial just sitting there, blending in with all the white. He couldn't help but be softened by his companion's habits when he slept. They were just...cute. Mihael continuously felt the urge to protect this little one, but even more so when asleep, when Nate was at one of his most vulnerable points. Mihael curled around Nate tightly, protective against any spooks or living things that would try to hurt his Nate.

His? Nate was his? It was most likely true, but a shocking revelation nevertheless.

Nate opened his eyes suddenly, grateful for the black fabric blocking his eyes from the sun. He grabbed a small handful of the black fabric and rubbed his face into it, nuzzling Mihael affectionately.

"Good morning..."

"Good morning to you, too."

Mihael didn't have the motivation to get up, so he didn't, head still comfortably set upon his fluffy pillow and body kept snug courtesy of the smaller boy clinging to him. The affection in which Nate was lacing into his movements was heartwarming, and even just drove him more against going to classes today. Mihael kissed Nate's hair gently, not giving a flying fuck about the rivalry right now.

"Feeling better, I hope?" Mihael caressed the white locks of hair absently, amused at how soft the strands were, like spider silk.

"Yeah," Nate murmured, "I am. You do that to me. Always used to, actually, even when you claimed you hated me...but now I can hardly get upset around you unless I'm worried about you..."

He trailed off into a tired yawn and pressed his sleepy face closer to Mihael's shirt, as if melding with him. He wanted to close his eyes, but that would've resulted in him falling back asleep, so he didn't.

He'd always liked to play with his hair; his fingers enjoyed the strands, and vice versa. But Mihael's idle stroking was comforting. Everything about Mihael was comforting.

"Hm, it crossed my mind why you would always go to the common room although you knew I knew where you'd be. Did you purposely provoke me to get my attention, or did you just refuse to move from your usual spot?" He nuzzled Nate's hair, not really caring one way or the other what he said for an answer, but curious. He honestly felt like chucking his alarm cloak against the wall right now... "Fucking classes, I want to stay here, but I suppose we have to appear someday..."

"I just liked the common room. It was the most convenient place to play. You being there was just..." Nate yawned. "A benefit."

Nate didn't want to get up. He was too tired, too warm. Silently, he cursed his classes...they were too easy anyway, he already KNEW all of the things they learned there.

"I honestly don't understand why we continue to take the classes anyway. They're old news. Well...at least we have an hour before we really have to do anything."

He pondered asking Nate what he wanted to do, but he wasn't sure that either of them really wanted to do anything right now. Mihael sat up, leaning against the backboard and glancing out the window from the corner of his eye.

"It's going to rain again, but I doubt it will be as violent as the storm."

"I like the rain," Nate replied quietly. "It smells good, and it sounds good, and it makes the sky dark so my eyes don't hurt as bad. When I was little, I used to go stand in the rain and stares at the sky with my eyes wide open." He smiled at the memory, snuggling closer still.

The topic of L and the assignment still weighed heavily on his mind, and it suddenly occurred to him that they had no idea what the assignment was...odd.

"I like the rain too. Maybe later we can go outside after classes when it is raining; no one's usually around when the weather is bad."

The thought was pleasant, but he didn't want any questions he couldn't answer. A thought occurred to him that made him tense a moment, but relax again a second later.

"You think Linda's at your door this morning?"

"She might be," Nate murmured. "But I doubt she'd be by yours. People tend to avoid your door in the morning. We can split up...unnoticed..."

He trailed off, shivering at the thought of splitting up. He truly didn't want to. He snaked an arm over Mihael's shoulders to hug him, then drew it away, pulling back to look Mihael in the eye urgently.

"Mihael, your Brand is...cold. Very cold. More than before. Does it react to the weather?"

"Not sure to be honest with you. Maybe it is the weather. I can't feel it unless I touch it myself. Sometimes it gets really, really, hot too. It might just be related to the amount of metal in the area. I don't rightly know. It's not a big deal."

Mihael instead wrapped an arm around Nate to hug him close, now quite curious as to why the Brand changed temperature often, but not willing to dwell on something he most likely couldn't find out.

"Hah, nope. No one but Matt has the guts to lurk around my door. I'm a morning person, but not many people know that."

He felt very much awake indeed, but still unwilling to really move anywhere.

"You can't feel it...so does that mean it doesn't bother you?"

"It bothers me that it is there."

Part of Nate wished Mihael would let go of him, wished he would stop hugging him and shove him off of the bed. He was comfortable, and he didn't want to get up and be separated from him...and likely wouldn't without pressure. He let out a soft sigh that sounded more like a purr than anything, and closed his eyes.

"Can we play hooky and go up to the Loft?" he muttered, his voice childish and slightly pouty.

Mihael laughed at Nate's request, knowing all too well that it would look mighty suspicious if both of them were to suddenly go missing at the same time. It WAS a very tempting idea.

"I don't think it'd fly very well, but I guess if we wanted to later."

Just as long as Roger didn't go looking for them they were fine. And L was gone, no doubt, for he left without a peep, and the four month time limit…

They definitely had The Loft to themselves.

"You could say I'm sick," Nate murmured tiredly, "and that you see no point in challenging with no challenger..." He was warm, and wanted to go back to sleep...the Loft itself had nothing to do with it. And neither did L.

Mihael pondered Nate's suggestion and smirked. The kid did seem totally against leaving the room today, and he wasn't in any way motivated to get up either.

"That wont work on my end, I'd get in trouble with the authorities. I don't want to leave any more than you do, but this is the way it's gotta be if you don't want to lose the Loft."

The thought repulsed him. The Loft was theirs now, and it wasn't going anywhere on his watch. The prospect for the week seemed intensely sullen, but he didn't want to think about that right now.

Nate opened his eyes and let out a huff, pushing himself away from Mihael's chest with a pout drawn over his pale lips. His eyes were tired.

"Fine..." He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed at his eyes, his back to Mihael. "So instead of the Loft and L's assignment, we get whiny idiots and stupid teachers and Linda. Great."

Mihael smiled devilishly, eyes trained on Nate's back and slowly creeping up behind him. He wrapped his arms around Nate's shoulders and bent over his neck, nibbling the sensitive skin playfully.

"Too bad, isn't it? At least we get the time we make so stop whining and enjoy it."

He gave Nate a quick kiss on the neck, noting that his bruise from earlier was still plain as day. He couldn't help but smirk at his own mark as he rested his head atop Nate's.

Nate shivered lightly at the touch, reaching to grasp Mihael's right hand gently within his.

"I can keep up my indifference and not really mean it, Mihael. Just promise you won't believe your own act and really and truly start to hate me again."

He tilted his head back, back, until his white hair tickled Mihael's throat; he kissed the older boy's lower jaw, smiling. "Promise?"

"I promise."

Mihael wrapped his legs around Nate's middle and again threaded long fingers through Nate's hair. It was going to become a habit, he could feel it. If Linda walked in right now to see this, oh how the sparks in her annoying brain would absolutely fry and cause a complete meltdown.

Actually, that would be kind of funny. He hadn't thought about it lately, but the girl was getting on his nerves more than usual with her constant advances. Mihael pondered the thought and bent over Nate's neck, licking and then sucking on the bruise, making it even more obvious. Mihael smirked. He was getting possessive very quickly indeed.

"You can show that to Linda and she'll probably leave you alone for awhile."

"That or she could get jealous and kill us in our sleep. I always wondered if she was a psycho."

Linda was an idiot. That much was certain. She was also a nuisance. And in that way, she...kind of reminded Nate of Mello. He contemplated, even while Mihael toyed with his hair and neck.

Both were annoying and constantly around, both picked on him, both had unusual obsessions with him...but Linda's were based around a stupid, girly crush...Mello's, a nagging rivalry. Still not all that different...no, Nate thought. Very different, for one reason.

Linda was just Linda.

Mello...was Mihael.

So Nate leaned back to nuzzle Mihael's neck, grateful this nuisance was obsessed with him.

"Good point. Although she'd probably kill me and not you. Wonder what she'd do if she found out I gave you AIDS. I'd have to laugh if she honestly believes that. I seriously am going to pull the werewolf thing though. Just to see her react."

Mihael laughed and glanced at the clock. They still had a bit of time to do whatever they wanted.

"Do you want to do anything or just sit here? I'm fine with either."

Nate turned around to look at him, pale blue eyes glimmering with affection. His lips were twisted into a smile; he had not a shred of his mask on. "What do you want to do?"

"I have a few ideas..." Mihael smirked and hopped off the bed, glancing around in the absolute massacre of a room and thinking a moment. "I have cards here somewhere..." The 'somewhere' was disheartening, for the room was an absolute disaster. "Ever played Strip Poker?"

Nate blinked. "I've never even played REAL poker, Mihael."

Strip. Poker. It didn't take a genius to figure out what THAT was about.

"You do realize we've less than an hour, right?"

"Alright, that's fine, we'll play Strip Go-Fish. And yeah, I know, but this game goes by fast if you aren't wearing much clothing."

He smirked and opened the top drawer of his desk, withdrawing a nice pack of standard playing cards.

"It's actually more fun under a time limit."

He grinned psychotically and cleared a spot on the floor, sitting down and dealing two hands.

"Playing?"

Nate was struck by a sudden urge to simply pounce Mihael and tear the clothes from that arrogant body. He shook the thought away and sat across from him.

"Fine. I'll play."

This would be interesting.

Mihael picked up his cards and flashed a smirk. He felt lucky today, and Nate couldn't win against luck.

"You can go first. If I get a match from your cards, you take something off and visa versa with me."

This was going to be fun. A really quick game in the time they had. God forbid anyone walking in.

Nate smiled. "Alright...do you have any, um...fives?" He didn't like Go-Fish, but...maybe this time, with this opponent, and these rules...it'd be more fun.

Nate's mind whirred.

"Nope, go fish." Mihael scanned his cards and thought a moment, running a finger over the cardboard edges and landing them absently on his knee. "Any threes?"

Nate drew and stared at his hand. "No, no threes. Go fish. Um...any...aces?"

He hoped Mihael would play fair for once. His gaze flicked up to meet his companion's.

Mihael sighed and threw the red ace down, quickly slipping off his shirt and tossing it behind him onto the floor. The mark upon his shoulder seemed to flicker, black as pity, more blank than Nate's 'mask-eyes.'

"Lucky little sheep." He smiled and stared at his cards. "Nines?"

Nate smiled. "No nines. Go fish."

He was blushing slightly, his gaze averted from Mihael's chest...his instincts wanted him to look, but he didn't. He simply stared at his cards. "Any sevens?"

"Go fish." Mihael smirked at Nate's blush, feeling accomplished even though he was losing by one. It was a mixture of amusement and pride. He didn't mind showing off his body; he was attractive and he knew it. "Any tens?"

"No tens," Nate sighed, drawing his card. "Go fish. Honestly, you are bad at this game." He smiled slightly at his hand. "Any...threes?"

"Go freaking fish. Not my fault if I'm unlucky, Sheepie." Mihael pondered what was left. He was positive Nate had royals. "Queens?" He eyed his rival, yawning slightly and turning his head as the sound f light raindrops hit his ears. He was right, a nice rain shower to soothe them both.

"You cheater," Nate laughed. "I KNOW you have a three, Mih..." He paused, smile fading. "Mihael." His lips flickered back into a smile, his eyes amused. "I know you do. You're not allowed to cheat."

"Maybe I do... I'll give it to you when you take something off." He grinned and eyed Nate playfully. He never was the honest card player. He crossed his arms, the three he had under his thumb securely. "Sound like a deal?"

Nate frowned. "I don't think that's how this game works, Mihael, so no, no deal. You play right, or I stop playing." He extended an insistent hand for the card, his eyes serious, his lips drawn into a stubborn pout. Mihael sighed and rolled his eyes, tossing the card to him and quickly shedding his black pants, in nothing but his silky black boxers.

"Lucky little sheep. I should've just removed your clothes manually." He smirked, crossing his legs, hair tickling his shoulders as he looked at his cards. "Now about them queens..."

Nate leaned forward to brush a strand of golden hair behind Mihael's left ear; he kissed his cheek softly, then whispered, "Go fish."

When he finally drew back, he requested a two. His smile didn't falter.

"This time I really don't have a two, Sheepie." Mihael smirked back, shrugging as he took a shot in the dark, not really caring at this point if he won. "Fives?" He had drawn a five on his last turn and knew the albino had to have the number.

Nate grinned, removing his pants; his oversized shirt compensated for their loss.

"Hey Mihael. Got any nines?"

"Pfft, beat me again, little sheep. Go figure." Mihael removed the boxers, now standing completely shameless and naked in front of Nate, arms crossed and expression in a comical smirk. "Happy?"

He did a small turn on his heels, slightly tanned body contrasted by the utterly black star upon his shoulder. The kid had muscles for his age and still retained a thin structure.

"Mihael..."

Nate crawled forward and stood, running his hands upward from Mihael's legs to his abdomen and chest, then snaking them up around his neck and shoulders to hug him. He stood on his toes to nip Mihael's ear shyly.

"I have a secret for you...."

Mihael leaned into Nate's touch, wondering silently what on Earth someone would think if they waltzed in the room at this moment. He was pleased in Nate's reactions, and smiled.

"What is your secret?"

He snaked his arms around Nate's hips, knowing that this was a little beyond friendship. How close did they get over the span of a day and a half? Nate kicked at the cards; a queen and a ten were both visible, along with a couple of other cards that had been called. Nate pulled back to kiss Mihael lightly, blushing.

"I cheated."

"I know. I just like showing off my body."

Mihael laughed at the little hypocrite, sneaking his hand under Nate's shirt to massage his bare back teasingly. Yes, somehow they had gotten indescribably close, as Near and Mello, and Nate and Mihael...

"I would LOVE to see Linda's face at this..."

He lowered his head to lick the bruise again, satisfied at the purple mark. He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes. Damn.

"I wouldn't," Nate whispered, pressing closer to Mihael, hating every moment he'd ever spent shying away from the boy's touch. "She'd tell everyone, and we'd get no privacy."

"Well. I have to get my clothes back on for class."

Mihael sighed, glancing at the clock in a fit of sudden agitation. His head was filled with intoxicating thoughts about what he could do in their current position, but he swallowed that reluctantly, pulling away and beginning to redress himself.

He pulled on his shirt and stared at the cards under his feet. "Nah, I'll get em' later..."

Nate sighed in rejection, grabbing his pants; he sat at the edge of the bed and pulled them back on. "I wonder how often you say that?" he murmured, the mock in his voice only there to hide his sorrow at the impending departure. "Your room is a MESS."

"There are twenty-four hours in a day and divide that by the time I spend in my room and you get the better part of...a lot."

Mihael rolled his eyes, now glinting with sadness as the alarm clock beeped, the tone shrill to his ears. He leaned forward, placing a tender kiss upon Nate's lips and pulling away, a smile on his face.

"I'll see you around."

"Good-bye, Mihael..."

He would wait for Mihael to leave. Simple enough; when he left, Nate would wait, then go to class...no one would notice they'd been together...

Nate's fingers grazed the bruise on his neck.

Mihael nodded to him, then left, closing the door behind him and already feeling the sadness of being apart from his other half. He suppressed the feeling and continued down the hallway, a cocky swing to his walk as he remembered his role.

"See you soon, Nate."

Alone, Nate flopped onto Mihael's bed with a huff and stared at the ceiling for a moment before rolling over. He inhaled deeply; the bed...smelled just like Mihael...just like him. Nate whispered his friend's name quietly and glanced at the clock, waiting.

"Soon...soon...I can wait."

When the time finally came, Near left, his eyes dead, his fingers in his hair.

-

While talking to Akane I was struck by the sudden negative realization that this story (which does have a sequel…or…will…ugh) reaches a complete dead-end where the sequel is concerned. Granted, there are still at LEAST six chapters (and two yaoi sequences :P) left before the end, but please, take note.

When the story draws to a close, I will be creating a poll regarding the sequel. Please keep an eye out when NS is over.