A/N: HAULED ASS.

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Azure Paler than the Sky.

eight.

"He's… energetic."

"Yes, he is."

Both Matt and Near lay sprawled out on the floor of the apartment in the aftermath of World War 3. The furniture was knocked over, things had fallen all over the already cluttered floor, a good section of Matt's video game collection had been whizzed around the room as well. It was about one in the morning when Mello had gotten tired of terrorizing Matt and left in a huff, slamming the door behind him and leaving his best friend and lover to clean up the mess. But it would more than likely be waiting for him when he got back.

Near had been quite the mediator during the fight, as he always was, but this time, he couldn't keep Mello at bay and the two older boys rolled about the apartment, causing a ruckus. Now he was sure that the rumors about a threesome between he, Mello and Matt would grow to epic proportions. He shook the thoughts away though and sighed, relaxing on the floor.

Matt looked over at him and grinned. "So. Was it as good for you as it was for me?"

"Oh, Matt!" Near huffed and blushed, closing his eyes tightly.

The redhead giggled and patted Near on the head consolingly. "S'all right, kiddo. Now that Mello's gone sand storming out of here, I get a chance to hang out with you. We never talk anymore, you know? It's like we're growing apart…" Matt punctuated his claims with an overdramatic sniffle.

Near bought in, turning to him and saying, "Oh no, Matt, it's just that we've all been so busy lately, you included…"

"Ah, I know. I'm guilty. We're all getting older."

"Yeah," Near sighed, looking to the ceiling.

"How's it feel to be seventeen, anyway? I remember that age like it was yesterday. All the good times. Bet you got hair under your arms, huh?"

"…"

"Lemme see!"

"Matt!"

"Fine, fine. I'll check later. Well, at least we know Mello will never change. Kid's like the energizer bunny."

Near nodded, smiling a little. "Yes. It's funny… it was just a little while ago that he was upset with me for sharing my first kiss with a rabbit."

Matt blinked. And I was just talking about bestiality on my radio show! … Maybe Near will send me postcards…

"It was a stuffed rabbit, you know, the one in my room that I used to carry around," Near continued and he didn't notice Matt's expression drop. "I was young, I can't believe he got so upset about it. Honestly, he doesn't see me getting upset knowing that I wasn't his first kiss. Childish things like that he really should've grown out of."

There was laughter and Near looked over to see Matt grinning. "Ah, man! I remember that!"

"… Remember what?"

"Our first kiss. Dude, the memory is like yesterday and I had almost forgotten until you brought it up…" Matt stopped then and looked up, his thoughts fading on his lips. He really had forgotten, hadn't he?

"Your… your first… excuse me, what did you say?"

"Me and Mel's first kiss," he said, pointing to himself, "like when we were fifteen. I guess that's just what happens when you've known someone for that long, it just… happens."

Had Matt even looked at Near, he would have seen the horrified expression on the boys face as he lay on his side, staring owlishly at Matt. Just happens? It… but… and Mello didn't even tell me! And he says I'm keeping secrets… I-It wasn't even that long ago! So they sleep in the same bed every night and… just how many times did they kiss, anyway? Should I ask? No… I… Oh, Mello!

"Uh, Near? You okay?"

"Oh…" Near was shaken out of his thoughts and saw Matt in front of him, propped up on one elbow. "Oh, I'm fine. I just didn't know."

"Really? I thought he told you."

"He didn't."

"… Okay… well, this is kinda awkward. Really, it was like four years ago. He probably doesn't-"

Ring ring ring.

Both boys looked up at the phone over by the bed. Near sighed as he rose to his feet and walked over, picking the receiver off of the cradle. He held it up to his ear and said, "Hello, this is Near."

"Ah, there you are. I called your dorm just now with now answer."

"L?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I've been here with Matt…"

"Where's your counterpart?"

Near frowned a little. "I don't know."

"I see. Well, you best just bring yourself up here then. We'll round up Mello some other time."

"Where… oh! Oh, all right. I'll be right there."

"Good." The line went dead.

Near turned around, setting the phone back down. "Sorry, Matt," he said as he headed towards the door. "I have to meet L down at the studio. Please… if you see Mello, tell him to come as well."

"Okay. You sure you're all-"

The door shut.

Matt blinked. "Hm. That can't be good."

-

It was a long time ago, thought Near as he climbed the staircase in the painter's building. He had been thinking long and hard about it since leaving Matt's apartment. He knew he shouldn't - Matt was his friend after all. But, really, Mello should have said something. Not that Near would even think of being jealous. The very thought itself was too childish.

But then again… if it was one kiss that Matt told me about… couldn't there be more? The door opened as he turned the handle and just as he looked up through his thick, white bangs, his eyes rounded. Standing in the moonlight that came from the wall of open windows was L, shirt off and barefoot in the middle of the room, his hair falling into his eyes. He looked up at the doorway upon hearing Near enter and smiled lightly in a way that made Near blush.

"Oh, L…" he murmured and then the door shut behind him and he snapped to attention, fidgeting with one finger in his hair. "Ah, um, hello…"

"Near, prompt as usual," L hummed, turning to face him. He motioned for the boy to come to him.

Near smiled politely, walking over. "Did you get an idea?"

"Something I want to try out."

Near nodded and just as he was within arm's reach of his teacher, L reached out and grabbed the boy around the waist, pulling him in close. Near gasped at the feeling of L's bare flesh against him and looked up in question. "L, what are you-"

"Relax; contrary to popular belief, I am not like the other teachers here and do not take pleasure in molesting young students. Understand?"

Near nodded quickly.

"Good. Now, I'm just going to…" He took Near's left hand in his and kept his other arm wrapped securely around his waist. He leaned into Near a bit and on instinct, Near leant back and in the mirrors which caught Near's eye, they looked as if they were dancing with the moonlight coming as a silhouette behind them. Near was so interested in their image that when L said, "Now, stay there," and walked away, Near almost fell backwards.

"Ahh-"

"Ah. I said stay," said L, holding up Near's back with one hand. Near caught his balance and looked at L upside-down, his bangs falling back from his forehead. L smirked. "See, this is why I asked for Mello as well. So he could do these things and I wouldn't have to touch you."

A frown tugged at Near's mouth but he determined not to let it show.

L shook his head. "No, no, it's not that I have anything against touching you, it's just that when I do…" He took a step forward and put his arms around the boy's waist again, leaning over until their noses were three inches apart. Near make a little noise and turned pink. "That happens," L continued.

"Mm… I just…"

L blinked, his large eyes boring into Near's. "You're a little tense. What's wrong?"

"… Nothing." Near averted his eyes. "I can stand now," he said and L took that to mean 'please stop holding me now' so he did and walked over to the wall of mirrors. He leaned on one and looked at Near's body from afar studiously.

Near was very aware of L's eyes on him and maybe for the first time in his life, he understood what Mello had said about being watched and that it was an odd feeling. He tried to keep his balance but something was bothering him and he just had to ask…

"L… why aren't you wearing a shirt?"

"I was crushing paints earlier and got warm."

"Oh…"

"Does it bother you?"

"N-No, of course not…"

L nodded silently.

Near looked over at him, caught his gaze and then looked away again. "Are you going to use us as models?"

"It's crossed my mind. Does it not appeal to you?"

"Well… not this position…"

"Oh, you can stand normally now. It's not going to work."

Near sighed and stood upright just as the door opened and the both of them looked over towards the door. Mello was standing there, hair disheveled and a smudge of chocolate at the corner of his mouth. He yawned widely and walked in, scratching his side.

"Nice of you to join us, Mello," L said, watching him.

Mello looked over his shoulder and then halted, turning around fully. "Uh, L, you're…"

"Yes, I was crushing paints earlier and got warm."

"… All right… um, what's this big emergency that we need to come down here in the middle of the night? You done flopping around yet?" He grinned.

L returned the grin with a smirk. "Perhaps. I was thinking about having one of you model."

Mello gaped suddenly. "Aw, no, L! I don't wanna just lay around, I wanna-"

"Don't twist my words, Mello. Who said it would be you?"

Mello blinked and then looked over at Near, who was staring at L in a confused fashion. Then his eyes widened a little and he made a small noise which L ignored. Mello pointed. "Near?"

"Yes, Near."

"Near doesn't want to model," Mello explained.

"I think he can answer for himself. Don't you want to model, Near?"

"I think-"

"See, he would like to try."

"He didn't say shit!" Mello complained.

L gave a little tilt of the head and examined Mello. "Oh, are you jealous, Mello? But you just got done saying how you didn't want to laze about here."

"I'm not jealous," Mello laughed incredulously. His gaze flickered from Near to L. "I'm just looking out for his best interest!"

Near frowned. "Oh, is that so…?"

"Huh? D'you say something, Near?"

"Not a word. You know, L… I think I… might like to try it… if you want." He looked aside, his eyes downcast.

L smiled. "Good."

The boys didn't get out of the studio until four in the morning and by then both were very tired. Mello had been recruited to help L crush paints and mix them and Near was busy when L had spare time - he would direct the boy in almost a hundred different poses, angling his body in the moonlight. Mello would glance over from the table at the two and frown at the way L touched Near but continued to do his work.

When they exited the room and said goodbye to their teacher, Mello was stretching his arms above his head. He sighed, "God, are we going to be at his beckon call all the time now? We're not going to get any sleep…"

Near had already started down the hallway and said faintly, "You wanted this responsibility."

"Well, yeah," Mello responded, catching up. He reached down for Near's hand but Near swung it forward and put it in his pocket. Mello blinked and nudged his shoulder - it just occurred to him that they had not made eye-contact since he entered the studio. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Aw, come on. You're not mad at me for trashing the apartment, are you? I was just letting off steam."

"It's your dorm, why would I care about that?"

"… Well, I don't know. But you seem-"

"I'm fine."

Mello looked on as Near went ahead down the staircase without another word. Mello shrugged and chalked it up to hormones.

-

Two days later, Matsuda was in the main room of his dorm, sitting eagerly in front of the radio he had recently bought. Beforehand, he would have to go into Raito's room, not just because he wanted to hang out but because Matsuda didn't have one. But now that he had purchased a used one from the pawn shop down the street, he could sit there and take notes with his little notepad in private and waited for the now familiar introduction of…

"This is Matt with the Irai noon-hour radio show!"

Matsuda squealed excitedly and readied his pen.

"I'm super excited right now because you guys decided to send in some postcards! It's been really boring, sitting up here listening to myself talk. I was starting to think I was boring or something, or maybe people didn't like gaming tips. Haha, as if! Okay, but before we get to those, I have a question for listeners. What household items can you use to get stains out of your toilet bowel?

"Nope, not a riddle, just an everyday-life thing. Anyway. Get back to me on that because I don't have money for those fancy cleaners."

"Come on, Matt, get to the letters," Matsuda whined.

"Okay, time for the letters!"

"YAY!"

"Ooh, got a couple here. This first one has kitty-cats on it! It reads: Dear Matt, you are very cool and I was just wondering why you wear those goggles. I've never seen your real eye-color but you shouldn't hide them, 'cause they're probably really pretty. Signed, Katy the Painter.

"Okay, well, first off, my eyes are green. Secondly, I wear the goggles because my eyes are pretty sensitive to sunlight and I don't wear sunglasses because I'd rather look like a uber-cool hero than a FBI agent. Thanks, Katy the Painter! Let's go to the next one… oh, chicken-scratch. Must be a boy. It reads: Hey, Matt, I need some help. My girlfriend isn't doing well in math and to get an A on her midterm, she plans on sleeping with her teacher. The professor seems all for this but I'm not liking the idea. What should I do? Signed, Good At Math.

"Well, Good At Math, the teachers here are all perverts. Throw your girlfriend in the trunk of your car and go to Julliard because Irai is not the place for you guys. I mean, if you want, you could always take her place… though I'm not sure if the teacher would be okay with that. So hard to make everyone happy, you know?

"Here's another one. It reads: Dear, Matt! I've got a crush on my classmate and really want him to go out with me. Only there's this other guy who is after him too and he's a horrible, mean guy but he acts all angelic around the guy I like. I really want to punch him in the snoot. This guys outdoes me in everything - I get flowers for my crush, he gets BIGGER flowers for him. I cook him something and this guy buys him a huge, fancy lunch! I just don't know what to do. This guy's taller and better looking than me, I think… How can I get R - my crush to notice me? Love, Cookies n' Cream.

"… Hmm. Well, Cookies n' Cream, kinda sounds like your screwed."

Matsuda fell off the couch.

"But! Never fear, Mattie's here. Sounds like this guy is super smooth, huh? Why don't you try to get your crush alone and sweet-talk him some? Candles are a nice thing and maybe if you show some skin, that might entice him. Get the mood just right and…"

Matsuda was scribbling down like crazy. "Yeah, and, and…?"

"… then that booty will be all yours!"

"W-WHAT?" Matsuda turned beet-red, dropping his pen and pad. He covered his face with his hands and turned away from the radio shyly. "Oh, Matt it's not like that…"

But, as Matsuda kept his hands up to his face, the more he thought about what being with Raito would be like. He blinked from between his hands and began to smile, sending himself into a fit of giggles until he fell over and shouted to himself, "Oh, I just couldn't! That would be… oh my gosh!"

"Thanks for your postcard, Cookies n' Cream, tell me how it pans out for ya! Send pics!"

-

While Matt was on the air, both Near and Mello had the boys' apartment to themselves and would for at least another half an hour. At the moment, Mello was sitting next to Near on the bed, his arm around him and his lips planted on the boy's neck, working attentively on a love mark. Near squinted at the feeling and then struggled a little when Mello pushed him down to the bed and hovered over him, dragging his fingers down to the hem of Near's shirt.

Near turned away from it all and mumbled, "Mello…"

"Mm?"

"M-Mello, let's stop. I really don't feel into it right now."

There was a pause in Mello's movements and he finally lifted up from Near and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Then his blue eyes traveled down to Near's groin where his pants had grown tight and said, "Not into it, huh?"

Near flushed. "It's just my body…"

Mello groaned and retreated from him completely. "Come on, what's your problem? We haven't done anything in two days and you've been acting really antisocial."

"If you long for company so much, Mello, maybe you ought to wait until Matt gets back," Near huffed, sitting up and readjusting his clothes.

Mello blinked warily. "What's that mean?"

"Ask him." With that, Near went for the door and was gone, shutting it quietly behind himself. Mello growled, rolling his eyes.

When I was that age, I was never so moody!

-

to be continued.

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A/N: If you want to send Matt some postcards, go right ahead. I won't use all of them but I'll use the ones that pique my interest. Review, yeah?