A/N: Yo, everyone… agh, I'm so tired…
-
Azure Paler than the Sky.
ten.
We'll just see how it goes is what L had said to quell Mello's rising temper on the subject of Near posing naked. Near seemed to be pouting not on the prospect of the whole thing but on not really having a choice in the matter - as if it were all to be decided between Mello and L. He stood there while they argued for a bit and then got tired of standing and decided to sit down at the table. No sooner had he sat that L stopped talking to Mello and turned his attention to Near, telling him to go to the middle of the room and stand there.
Near sighed but did as he was told. The next hour or so was spent with Near standing in place and occasionally turning around under L's instruction. He didn't much like looking like a ballerina and, for some odd reason, he thought, I feel like a rotisserie chicken.
And even when he was turned to face the other way, he could see them in the mirror at the table. It seemed to Near that in the small course of time the three of them had been working together he had noticed that L had been teaching Mello about crushing minerals to use. Near heard L talking about how painting was, in a way, a lot like cooking. Everything needed to be fresh unless you were planning on creating something to strike fear and horror and make people's stomachs turn. Then you could use everyday, rotten things.
But for what he wanted to create, he wanted unadulterated beauty. Mello didn't seem to have any comment on this, emerged as he was in his job. But L looked at Near all the time, even if his hands were busy. More often than not, they would be working at night at odd hours thanks to L's insomnia most nights. So when they came to visit, Near would more than likely be in his pajamas which hung on him and clouded up his shape.
"Near," L called from the other side of the room. Near had been standing for almost an hour and thirty minutes then and was about to fall asleep in place.
He tilted his head back and blinked. "Yes, L?"
"Would you be so kind as to remove your shirt?"
Near flushed a little and whipped his head back around, fully aware that he and Mello could see his reaction just by looking in the mirrors. Mello, whose head had popped up at hearing this request, frowned at L. "Hey, hey. Do what you want to me but leave Near out of your fantasies."
"Mello," L said quite seriously, turning to the blond. "I'm simply asking for him to remove his shirt, nothing more. Don't you think he should get over his shyness, if he has any? It's only us after all, we're not exactly a crowd. Besides… as a famous sculptor once said, this is a very intimate situation."
Mello's eye twitched. "Don't quote Raito!"
"Ah, so you've heard of him."
"… You-"
Near made a small noise, cutting Mello off. The blond looked over but L had never really looked away and they both saw that Near had unbuttoned his shirt and was letting it slide down his shoulders. The cold air hit him and he shivered lightly, letting the cloth drop the rest of the way to the floor around his ankles. His bare back, pale and slender shone in the moonlight and Mello stared, a small, hungry grin resting on his features.
L's expression remained the same and he said gently, "Turn around."
Near sighed and did as he was told, his arms wrapping around himself uneasily. He looked up through his bangs and saw L's expectant face and let his hands drop to his sides. It was apparent then just how big Near's pajamas were on him, how the bottoms sagged on his hips, revealing milky white hipbones and the little curve of his waist. Near swallowed lightly at the silence and looked up, shocked, when L smiled and said, "Near, you're the perfect shape."
"L…"
"What the fuck?" Mello snorted at L, eyebrows furrowed.
"I would think that you'd agree with me, Mello."
Mello blinked, caught off guard. He saw the pleased look on L's face and recovered quickly, saying, "Well yeah, but you don't need to-"
"I like it."
Mello looked up at Near, his face hidden by his bangs. He was twirling a lock of hair furiously around on finger. "What?" Mello asked.
"I… I said I like it." He looked up. "I like it that L thinks that about me."
"W-Well, hell, Near! I think that too but he's just perving on you!"
"I am not," L interjected.
Near frowned slightly. "Are you sure you don't think Matt is the perfect shape?"
"I - what?"
"Matt," he repeated. "You didn't tell me about Matt and yet you got upset over my rabbit."
"… What're you even talking about?"
"Your first kiss. It was Matt, wasn't it? Mello, why didn't you say anything? And after you went on a tirade about how we should be honest with each other…"
Mello blinked and then thought back. He growled to himself, balling a fist. Matt, you idiot! Just wait until I get home! He turned back to Near, "Is this why you've been so pissy lately?"
"It's your own fault."
"Dude, that was fucking four years ago, I didn't even know you then!"
"You know me now and you didn't say anything. You sleep with him every night and-"
"Fucking hell," he groaned, standing up. He rolled his eyes. "You don't think we do anything, do you?"
"That's not what I said; I completely trust Matt not to do anything. He's the one that told me anyway-"
"Oh, okay, so you trust him but not me."
"T-That's not-"
Mello laughed a little, a forced sound, and slammed his chair into the table, startling L. Mello then headed for the door and slammed it shut, shaking the wall of mirrors right beside it. Near yipped at the sound of Mello stalking away, his boots heavy on the tile and L pushed the chair back out distractedly.
"Honestly, Mello," he sighed, casting a glance over towards Near who stood there, shaking a little, his arms wrapped self-consciously around himself once again. "… Near, are you all right?"
A pause then and Near nodded slightly, turning around. "I'm fine."
-
Matt was thoroughly enjoying himself at the moment. Really, nothing was better than kicking back when the entire school was asleep and playing the hell out of Luigi's Mansion. Well, maybe sex was better. But this came in close second in Matt's humble opinion. As he sucked up ghosts with his handy vacuum cleaner and leant back into the coffee table, he thought about telling this to the listeners of his radio show who were lonely and without vibrators.
Mentally, Matt had just congratulated himself on getting to the next floor and was currently beating a ghost down and riding it across the floor when the door to the dorm burst open. Matt fumbled for the pause button and looked over his shoulder, goggles askew.
"Uh… hey, Mel…?"
Mello was standing still, his blonde hair swishing across his face as he looked down. Matt tensed up visibly and crouched down, awaiting some horrible calamity. But none came. And instead of breaking into a frenzy like Mello usually would after throwing open the door like that, he stomped inside - more pouting than enraged - and sat heavily on the couch and looked down at Matt skeptically.
"… Something wron-"
"You idiot, you told Near," Mello snapped, his head falling back into the cushion.
Matt perked up, interested. "Told him what, dude?"
"That we, like, kissed and stuff…" Mello's head rolled to the side a little and he frowned, looking from Matt back to his hands twitching on his thighs. Matt made an 'oh' sound and slowly turned back around to his videogames, not wanting to get in the middle of that sort of thing. Mello continued, mostly to himself, "But, fuck, it was like four years ago. He said he's worried about us sleeping in the same bed."
"… Really?" Matt looked over his shoulder, grinning. "Oh, he's right to worry, because I do molest you in your sleep, you know."
Mello threw a couch cushion over and it hit Matt on the head but he was laughing even as he pulled it off.
Mello rolled his eyes, smirking. "I know it's stupid but he was pretty upset. He's been upset for a while now and he just now told me. Just goes to show how much he trusts me…"
"Aw, come on, Mel, he trusts you."
"Could've fooled me."
Matt sighed and got up from the floor, making his way to the couch and sitting beside his friend. Mello eyed him warily as he lounged back and put his hands behind his head. "Well," he said, "I guess it's all right. Near's pretty reasonable, he'll come to his senses soon."
Mello coughed a laugh. "Reasonable! Yeah, okay. S'not reasonable anymore; he's turned into a right little bitch! I wish he'd go back to being sixteen! I don't need this shit."
"Mel…"
"What? Am I supposed to take shit for something I did four years ago? Fucking hell, I didn't even do anything, it was you who made the move on me," Mello accused, huffing.
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Oh hell no, you're not blaming this on me. You totally wanted it - you'd been bitching for days about how ugly the scar made you look. So I couldn't take your whining anymore and kissed you to show you."
"… Show me what?"
"That you were still just as cute as you'd always been."
Mello looked over at him and Matt shrugged.
"Matt… call me cute again and I'll punch you."
"You say it 'cause you love me."
"Mm."
"So," Matt said cheerily, hopping off of the couch and heading towards the kitchen, "how come you're not pissed off and throwing shit?"
"I'm not a kid," Mello snorted.
"Oh yeah?"
"Matt."
There was some rummaging in the refrigerator heard and Matt laughed along with the sound of the fridge door closing. Matt was soon seen hovering over the back of the couch, waving a banana in front of Mello's face. Matt said, "Look what I got, Mel! I went down to the cafeteria today and took things off people's plates."
"Matt, we have money for groceries, you don't have to resort to petty theft - stop waving that shit, I'm not a monkey! Where's my fucking chocolate?" He growled, irritated, and took a swing at the fruit.
Matt pulled it out of his reach and began to unpeel it. "What's the matter with you, huh? I'm not a thief. People gave stuff to me. I'm a celebrity!"
"That so?"
"It is. I'm like Oprah. I'm going to start having guest stars."
"… Like who?"
"Dunno. Wanna volunteer?" Matt grinned.
"S'yeah, okay."
"Really?"
"No."
-
"It's Matt with the Irai noon-hour radio show! God, this weather's really pumping me up! I was on WOW earlier and went on a raid with my group, it was fucking badass. I'm still at level 69. I think I'm unconsciously holding myself back from leveling up because that is such an awesome number.
"Yeah, so, relationship problems. Friends arguing over stupid shit, this is way too high school for me. See, this is why I'm not in a relationship. Who needs that shit, huh? I ask you. My hand doesn't talk back, we're the picture of happiness. Haha, Mel walked in on me last weekend. Doesn't even phase him anymore.
"… Anyway, let's get to those post cards. This first one reads: Dear Matt, I've been dating this guy all my life but we're no engaged yet! How do I get him to pop the question? Signed, Jessica Green. Well, Jess, I think you should force his hand a little. Talk a lot about marriage. If he doesn't pop the question then, you could always do it. No shame in that. Really. Serious!
"Next! Reads: Dear Matt, I'm a female student who has recently moved to this school, and I was just wondering how one would turn a gay male straight. Because all the really hot guys in this school are obviously queer and taken and they're the only interesting ones around! Like, I know this really sweet guy... we'll call him Close; and he's adorable and talented and sexy and has that cute lil' bunny rabbit- what do you think would attract him? Signed, Frustrated Female.
"Haha, well, Female, I think "Close" is about as gay as they come. But no worries, maybe if you're after a hug or a bit of a snuggle, you can tempt him with a stuffed something or other.
"All right, here's another: Dear Matt, I have read Carrie! In fact almost all of Stephen King's books! What's your favorite one? And are you still feeling down about Raito? Don't worry you deserve better! Signed, Roxas. Aw, thanks, kid. I'm over him. As I stated earlier, me and my hand are getting along just fine. Uh… my favorite King book would probably be Misery. Who doesn't love a good massacre every now and again, huh?
"Oh, before I forget! I'll be having some guests on the show in the future so if you want to be on the show, come talk to me, okay? Of course, that means I'll have to actually wear clothes while I do this.
"… Ah, screw it. We're all family, right?"
-
"Class dismissed," said Mikami, looking at his students the next day. Over the course of the two-hour class, Mikami had finally saw fit to let them work individually on their first project. He spent more than half of the class with Raito, talking him through the previous class he missed, even though when Raito wasn't in class the other day, Mikami was too depressed and distracted to teach anything.
Matsuda's station was on the other side of the room and while everyone else was working with electric tools, Mikami had given Matsuda a chisel and hammer, deeming him not ready to use electricity. Matsuda probably would have had less of a problem had Mikami not spent the session with Raito, his hand on his shoulder, cuddling up to him. Even other students occasionally looked over their shoulder at Raito and Mikami and gave skeptical glances.
As everyone walked out of the room, Matsuda overheard Mikami saying, "So, I'll meet you there later, all right?"
Raito nodded. "Okay. See you then, Teru." With that, he walked out.
Matsuda sighed. He couldn't even get Raito to say Matsu. Just what could he do now? Sure, he'd gotten out of trouble with Dean Wammy but how could he ever hope to change Raito's mind about Mikami? Matt's advice didn't really help at all and he felt himself drifting further and further away from his goal of finally going out with the beautiful and talented Raito… just what could he do now?
With that thought in mind, he gathered up his books and stood up. Just as he walked for the door, Mikami who stood by his desk, called to him, "Oh, Matsuda, could you stay behind for a bit?"
Matsuda looked up warily. "What for?" he asked, hugging his books to his chest.
"I trust you heard about the janitor getting fired, right?"
"… Oh. Yeah, I did."
"Well, they still haven't hired another one. That being the case, all there wood shavings and pieces of marble need to be cleaned before my next session. Be quick about it, yes?"
"…" Matsuda stared.
"Don't look at me that way. Lock up when you're finished." With that, Mikami set a ring of keys down on the desk and then went for the door, closing it behind himself.
Matsuda stood there for a moment, looking around him at the mountains of garbage surrounding him. There was a broom in the back but it was splintered and had only a few pieces of straw left on it. Matsuda's face suddenly became thunderous and he threw his books down.
MEANIE!
-
"It's been a whole day, L."
"I'm very aware but what would you like me to do?"
"Ugh… something," Matt sighed, leaning back into the couch. He had invited L over just after Mello left for an evening class. Near was holed up in his room across the hall and hadn't spoken to anyone save L in the past day. Either way, Mello was much too stubborn to go over there and apologize and Matt wasn't allowed in, so he had to call someone. L just happened to be passing by and Matt lured him into their apartment with the promise of cake.
Thus far, L was not given cake and made to hear about the problems of his students.
"Why doesn't Mello just go over there?" he asked.
Matt looked at him pointedly.
L sighed. "I can't do anything."
"Come on, L, don't you care?"
"Of course I care. I need both of them to help me out and their lover's spat is getting in the way of my progress. I have a schedule to keep."
"… No you don't!"
L looked over towards the window, shaking his bangs out of his eyes. "I suppose this is what I get for utilizing teenagers," he mumbled.
Matt sighed. "Maybe. I just feel bad because, you know, I feel like this is my fault…"
"Matt, it's-"
The door burst open and then slammed shut, both men looking up in alarm, expecting Mello.
"MATT!" cried Matsuda, running to the couch and the young redhead, tears streaming from his face and his cheeks bright red. He jumped and just barely missed L, landing on Matt and knocking the two of them to the armrest on the couch. Matt yelped out of surprise and a bit of pain, the armrest digging into his back.
"M-Matsuda…" Matt winced and opened one eye to look at the man on top of him. "What're you doing…?"
"Oh, Matt, Matt, Matt," Matsuda cried, rubbing his face into Matt's striped shirt and crying loudly. L, who was recoiling to the bed so as not to be kicked again, looked over curiously with his thumb hanging from his mouth. It was quiet for a bit with only Matsuda's crying and then, finally, he lifted his face and looked at Matt. "Matt, please… you've got to h-help me…"
"Sure, Matsuda, whatever you need… j-just… get off me, dude…"
"Oh! Okay," he sniffed, scrambling up and sitting across the couch. He looked over his shoulder at L. "I'm sorry if I was interrupting…"
"It's fine, if you need a moment alone, I can go to the cafeteria," said L.
"No, no," Matsuda said, "don't leave."
"Okay." L nodded and got up, heading to the kitchenette. When he was out of view, Matt looked back to Matsuda and shrugged, tugging his shirt back into place.
"So, what's up, dude? S'not everyday you come flying in here."
"It's…" Matsuda looked down, blushing. "It's Raito…"
"What? What's the matter?"
"I don't know what to do about him! I don't know how to get him to… like me… S-So I was wondering… I was thinking maybe you could tell me what to do… since you've been so close to him." Matsuda watched as L came back into the living room, armed with a slice of cake on a paper plate. He took his seat on the edge of the bed and began to munch. Matsuda continued, "If you don't mind…"
Matt blinked. "Oh no, man… it's cool. Um. Okay, well, Raito's favorite color is dark blue. He likes mirrors. With Raito, it's really important to tell the truth."
"A truth he agrees with," L interjected.
Matt nodded. "Right."
Matsuda looked over towards L. "Oh, L… that's right, you and Raito are like best friends, huh?"
L quirked an eyebrow. "I… suppose."
Matt nodded. "Yeah, ask him. He's known Raito way longer than I have."
"Mm, thank you for shirking your duties onto me, Matt."
"Welcome."
"L, please, is there anything you can tell me? If I don't hurry, Raito will be deflowered by Mikami!" Matsuda begged, giving L puppy-dog eyes.
There was a moment of silence, after which Matt broke out into a fit of laughter. L turned his head to the side and grinned but Matsuda was left completely clueless, blinking about the both of them.
"L…? Matt? What's so funny?"
"Y-You, dude," Matt laughed, patting Matsuda on the head. He smiled and his laughter died down until he was able to say, "Deflowered. Raito's not exactly a virgin."
Matsuda's eyes rounded.
"Not to tarnish him in your eyes or anything," he giggled. "Just… I don't know how many people there were before I got there so…"
Matsuda blushed and whipped his head around to L. "D-Did you know about this, L?"
L nodded, putting another forkful into his mouth. "Of course. There was probably one or two before even I got there."
Matt laughed. "Yeah, I mean - huh?"
"Hm?" L looked up, a bit of frosting on his lips. "You didn't think I was a virgin, did you?"
"Well I… uh… um… shit…" Matt slowly reached for his goggle strap and scratched underneath it. "I…"
L shrugged. "College years were very productive for the both of us."
-
to be continued.
-
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please continue to send post cards!