A/N: Yall really don't want to know how close I came to not posting this tonight... it's been pretty drama filled and I still feel like somebody's got my head in a vice. Despite that, I just couldn't stop thinking of Darkfire359... because of your review, I knew that I had to have another chapter posted for when you wake up :) I hope that it's up to par
Matt listened to Catrina's story as they sat on the couch, Mello still safely in his arms. He wasn't sure that he would be able to let the blond go for a while but he didn't seem to mind. The woman's account was amazing to hear and even harder to believe but here was Mello, docile in his lap, to prove it. As he listened he appreciated more and more what Mello had been through to find him. When she was done Matt was silent as he thought about what he'd heard. There didn't seem to be much he could say, only accept what she'd said as true.
"It makes sense that Mello would be smarter than other infected based on your theory. You were right when you mentioned he must be a genius." He looked down at the thin infected in his arms, pride washing over him. That Mello's mind could conquer the virus, even just a bit, was something astounding in and of itself, but that he could find his way to Matt bordered on the paranormal.
"So he doesn't kill people, just other infecteds?" Matt wanted to hope that somehow Mello was still human, even if it was just a small part of him.
Catrina shook her head. "I'm sorry, he's just like other infecteds, he just won't kill redheads. Apparently I remind him of you. Despite the reason he saved me, I'm still thankful. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here now."
Matt nodded but was inwardly grieving that Mello was just as messed up as all infected. He would still kill, his only limitation was Matt or people that his were similar to him in looks. He decided that this would have to be enough for him. If this was what Mello had become then he would simply have to be thankful that the blond still recognized him and that they were together.
Finally he stood up, pulling Mello with him. He realized how late it was and that Catrina was starting to show her fatigue. "I'm sorry if I've kept you up but thank you for telling me everything. You can sleep in my bed for tonight and I'll take the couch." Before she could protest he reminded her that the bed would be better for her back since she was pregnant.
Sheepishly she agreed and went to lie down while Matt grabbed extra blankets for himself and Mello. The couch was wide enough that he fully intended for Mello to sleep next to him. He supposed he was still scared that he would wake up and find Mello gone or discover that everything was a dream. As hard as it was to accept Mello's condition, it was a great load lifted to no longer wonder where he was or if he was ok. He'd spent so long thinking of the blond and guseing where he could be. The constant not knowing was harder than anything else.
As it turned out, he didn't need the blankets with the blonde's intense body heat. Instead he took in everything about Mello when he slipped to sleep, worn out from the journey. The biggest change was the scar covering the right side of his face. It was obviously not new but Matt wondered if it had happened before or after he was changed. It occurred to him that he didn't even know when Mello had become infected and there was no way to learn what had happened during they years they were apart. The redhead's biggest hope and worst fear had come true all at once and he wondered if it were a curse or a blessing. In his recurring nightmares, Mello was always infected and it was difficult to see them confirmed as he looked over the sleeping body next to his. On the other hand, he had Mello back with him. But was it really the blond without his brilliant mind? Was it just a body that looked like Mello and had a vague remembrance of him?
Matt refused to think of Mello as an animal, but essentially his mind was gone. Instead he tried to see the hot headed and passionate man that he had last known. Having Mello stay with him would be dangerous but if he was careful and the blond stayed as calm as he had been since arriving then the threat didn't seem too great. He would simply need to take precautions. There was no way he could shut Mello out; not after finding him, or being found, finally.
Still looking down at the blond he noticed how thin he was. His body was lean and muscled but in the way of an emaciated feral cat. He had grown taller while they had been apart, but he was still not as tall as Matt. The gamer chuckled at how Mello would be furious that he was still shorter before he understood that Mello wouldn't care. His personality was dead; everything that had made him Mello was dead. Matt found himself crying again, trying not to wake the blond as he finally let himself accept the loss of his best friend. Mello was gone, and in his place was mindless beast. Yet, something inside him still whispered that his blond was still present. The treacherous voice of hope told him that Mello had still recognized him, and still been able to find him. Mello was no ordinary infected but he wasn't the man that Matt loved either.
In the next room, Catrina stayed quiet even as she heard Matt crying. She couldn't imagine finding a loved one the Matt had and she felt her heart go out to hear him struggling with it. Not matter what though, she could see that his feelings hadn't changed for the blond and she was happy that her savior would be well looked after.