Mello fell onto his bed face first as Matt made his smartassed comment. He glared over at Matt, feeling the alcohol burn out of his system from the shock of what just happened. "What is THAT supposed to mean?" he growled.
Matt looked up from his game and shrugged. "Lately, every time you are alone with Near, you come back looking like someone ate the last piece of chocolate in the house. By the way, Rodger came by for a surprise inspection and saw the liquored chocolates. He confiscated them." Matt said in a bored tone of voice.
"He what! And you didn't hide them for me? Did he do a spot check or is everything gone?" Mello asked.
Matt sighed, saved his game and sat up eyeing Mello. "No, he didn't check the floorboards under your bed. Sheesh, Mello, you know he never even checks under beds at all. Why the cubby under there?"
Mello rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "I keep the important or forbidden stuff there, is all." Mello said.
Matt looked Mello over and came to a decision. "Mells, you know your my best friend, right?"
Mello looked over at Matt curiously. "Yeah, whats's up Matt?"
Matt took a deep breath and continued. " I don't know what happened just now with Near, but I know something DID happen because of how freaked you were when you came in. Only Near can get you that worked up. But you two aren't enemies. You haven't been for a while now, no matter how much you tell yourself you still hate him."
Mello started to interrupt but stopped to hear what his best friend was saying. He gave Matt a dirty look at the comment of him not hating Near and made a 'go on' motion with one hand.
"You watch him constantly when he's in the room, and not in a 'I hate you' way. He watches you, too. He made you a puppet YOU asked for, and I think it was a peace offering. What I'm saying, Mello, is get your head out of your ass and try talking to him SOBER," Matt finished and waited for the shit storm to start.
Mello was staring at him like he'd grown brass balls the size of hot air balloons. "Matt, I'm mostly sober right now, and I'm trying to decide whether to kick your ass or just pretend you didn't say that and go to sleep." Mello said in an overly calm voice.
"I'd rather you not kick my ass but I really don't want you to go sailing on de-nile either. Just think about it, ok? You know I'm at least partially right." Matt said and flopped back onto his bed.
XXXXXXXXXX
Near sat amidst his cards and slowly touched his lips, still staring at the door Mello had bolted out of.
A thousand thoughts a second were flitting through Near's mind, all along the theme of 'Mello kissed me'. Near absently began gathering up the scattered cards as he put his mind back in order.
'I wonder if this means he doesn't hate me, like I thought. What will he do next? Is he going to get angry and blame it all on me? Will he hate me more than he did before?' Near slowed the racing thoughts down with a deep breath.
'He tasted of chocolate and alcohol again. It might not mean anything beyond the fact he was drinking again. Is it possible I am driving him to drink?' Near thought bemused.
"If I am, I must find a way to stop him. It isn't good for him, after all." Near mumbled aloud.
Near carefully placed the cards on his dresser and straightened his pajamas. He resolutely walked out his door and made his way to Mello and Matt's room.