Well, this one is about Matt. Shocker, I know. But, Matt is my third favorite character from Death Note and this plot just literally attacked my mind in a massive hoard of plot bunnies. I just thought that it was sort of plausible because of Matt's habit of keeping his eyes covered and his reluctance to venture outdoors. So, here you go, another of my strange plot bunnies born into the world.

MATT - A VAMPIRE

Summary: Matt was determined. Today was the day that he was finally going to tell Mello. The only problem was, where the hell did he run off to?

Matt walked down the never-ending hallways of Wammy's House looking for his elusive best friend. Mello was always, always running off somewhere. It was like he was just completely unable to stay in one spot for more than 20 minutes. Even in the classroom, Mello would have to fidget in his desk until the teacher for whatever class they were in at that moment, decided that class time was over.

Matt had been hoping that he would be able to catch Mello before he ran off in some God-only-knows direction, but as fate would have it, Mello chose today, of all days, to literally sprint out the door without a single glance backwards. Matt let out a sigh of the slightest frustration at the thought, still reluctantly determined to track Mello down and get this stupid confession off his chest.

He had, uncharacteristically, been mulling over this one single confession for years now, and when he finally decided on the perfect method to inform Mello of his secret…

…Mello can't be found.

Matt silently cursed his rotten luck.

With another sigh escaping his lips, Matt stuck his hands in his pockets and headed towards the exit. He needed a cigarette. After staying up late last night finishing up the details on how to confess to Mello, the near-panic he had suffered through all day, and then having Mello just run off- effectively ruining every plan Matt had thought up, Matt was far too stressed out for his persona.

Not that anyone could outright tell it of course. Matt kept his feelings very well hidden. In fact, now that he thought about it, Mello was just about the only person who could even begin to really read him. It probably stemmed from all of their years spent together. There was no one in this world who knew Mello better than Matt, or who knew Matt better than Mello.

Which was why Matt had to tell him. He kept the secret for far too long already. And…well, Mello deserved to know the truth.

Matt opened the front door of the orphanage and stepped outside into the chilly air. It was mid-September and the air was just on the verge of being too cold to stand being outside, but regardless, Matt stood under the small awning above the door and dragged out his pack of cigarettes, pulling one from its confines and placing it between his lips. He replace the pack in his pocket and began hunting for his lighter, knowing it was somewhere on his being, but unable to figure out just where that somewhere was exactly.

Suddenly, a hand holding a shiny silver lighter was thrust into his face, forcing Matt backwards in his shock. He had thought he was the only person stupid enough to go outside in this weather. As his eyes followed the hand to the arm, the shoulder, then to the face, Matt felt both relief and a weight dropping in his stomach. It was Mello.

Matt gave a tight-lipped smile at his best friend before reaching up and grasping onto the cold metal of the lighter and pulling it away with a small, "Thanks." Mello nodded back once in his haughty way before pulling his arm back to his body and crossing them.

Matt brought the lighter up to the end of his cigarette and flicked it open causing a small flame to burn the end of it when Mello spoke.

"So, are you over your mood that you were in, yet?"

Matt froze, lighter still burning. Mood? Did Mello think that he was mad about something? Matt quickly closed the lighter and turned to face Mello. He took a deep drag before calmly reaching up and pulling the cigarette from his lips.

"And who said anything about me being in a 'mood' today?" Matt asked in a cool tone.

Mello overly exaggerated his eye-roll at Matt.

"Oh Please! I'm far from an idiot Matt. You've been freaking out about something since yesterday. I was trying to give you some space to get over whatever the hell it is, but its already been a whole day. I'm sick of waiting." Mello finished with a concerned glare on Matt.

Matt blinked once, then twice. Then promptly burst out laughing. Mello stared down at his friend doubled over in laughter in affronted shock.

"What the hell is so fucking funny?" Mello near-shouted at his manic friend.

Matt hastily began reigning in his laughter, knowing that Mello was already offended enough and would easily turn and walk away if Matt didn't explain his actions soon. But it had just been so funny. Knowing that Mello had spent the entire day avoiding him because he was freaking out over something, when that something completely revolved around Mello himself!

With a couple lingering gasps of laughter, Matt stood up straight and smiled at his friend.

"Sorry, Mello, but that was just too funny. I've been freaking out all day because I needed to talk to you." Matt tiny confession apparently caught Mello off guard because his glare instantly faded into confusion.

"Ok, well I'm here now, so talk." Matt's smile faded ever so slightly at Mello's bluntness. Matt had been accustomed to it for years now, but he could have done without it at the moment. This confession was going to be hard enough.

Matt took a deep breath, then thought better of it and instead took another deep drag on his cigarette still clutched in his hand. He turned slightly to the side and brought his free hand up to his face, lightly touching the plastic frame of his goggles, glancing over at Mello's curious gaze. Matt smiled.

"I wanted to tell you why I wear these things." Matt said happily when he noticed Mello's curious gaze became even stronger. Mello had been bothering Matt for years, ever since they had met, about those goggles over his face. Matt never took them off, not for anyone, even Mello, and he never gave a clear reason as to why he wore them. Mello eagerly awaited the reasoning that Matt had.

Matt took a firmer grip on the goggles before slowly pulling them away from his face, closing his eyes in the process. Matt could hear Mello quick take in of breath that Mello would deny ever being a gasp, and his smile grew a bit more tense. With the goggle fully removed from his face and his eyes still closed, Matt turned back to face Mello.

"I wear them because I'm different Mello. My eyes aren't like yours. Or any other human's either for that matter." Matt could almost feel the confusion running through Mello. And with only a second's hesitation, Matt opened his eyes, for the first time actually seeing Mello without a gold tint.

At first, Matt could only stare in wonder at his hyperactive friend. Then a single thought formed in his mind.

'Wow. Mello really is beautiful."

With the gold tint that usually covered Mello's being gone, Matt could finally see all the color that truly was Mello. His hair actually was nearly the same color, a bright golden halo surround his face, giving him a slightly-feminine aura about him. His skin wasn't the golden tan that Matt had come to expect, but instead a pale peach color that fit well with his personality. But what truly stood out in Matt's opinion were the bright, near-glowing, sky-blue eyes that were opened wide in shock. They were the most amazing color Matt had ever seen. A slight string of regret flew through Matt at the knowledge that he would have to put the goggles back on, removing that perfect color of blue from his world.

Then, Mello spoke, apparently getting over his shock and now moving back to confusion.

"I didn't know that anyone besides albinos had red eyes."

Matt gave a crooked grin at Mello. Well, at least he wasn't panicking. That was a good sign.

"Yeah, on humans. I told you Mello, I'm different." Matt said, his grin never fading. Mello raised his eyebrows in disbelief and opened his mouth again, this time a stream of disbelief ringing in his words.

"Are you serious, Matt? This is what you've been wanting to tell me? That you're not human? Give me a break. What are they, colored contacts?"

Matt could easily understand his friend's reluctance to believe and so he turned fully to the side, taking another drag of his cigarette before talking again.

"Have I ever lied to you Mello?"

"No, of course not." Mello stated as though it were obvious.

Matt tilted his head to the side, glancing at Mello from the corner of his eyes, grin still present on his face.

"Then what reason would I have to start now?"

Mello furrowed his eyebrows, clearly thinking it over. Matt did make a good point. Suddenly, Mello looked up and straight into Matt's bright crimson eyes.

"So then, if your not human, then what are you? Some kind of vampire?"

If possible, Matt's grin got even bigger when he replied with a blunt,

"Yeah. I am."

Mello's eyes widened at the declaration so carelessly tossed about. Matt turned back to his friend and continued speaking.

"I am a vampire Mello. I always have been. That's why I don't go outside. We all have a disease in our blood that makes us allergic to the sun's UV rays. We can't stand more than ten minutes outside without getting serious burns. It's why I wear these tinted goggles, all vampire's eyes are red." Matt paused in his speech to meet Mello's eyes again, nearly loosing himself in the bright pools of blue. "I…I just wanted you to know Mello. You're my best friend. You deserved to know. Even if you don't believe me"

Mello's eyes narrowed as he seemed to be judging Matt's story, most likely turning it over and over in his head, trying to determine whether or not Matt was being honest or trying to pull one over on him. After what seemed like forever to Matt, Mello nodded once to himself, then focused his attention back on Matt.

"Ok, so you say you're a vampire, then I'll believe you for now. Besides those eyes don't really scream 'human' anyway. Now, you want to go get a snack from the cafeteria? I'm hungry and I think they had chocolate pudding for dessert today." Mello said turning around and walking off.

Matt's eyes widened before he let out a small laugh and shook his head, tossing the butt of the cigarette on the ground, stomping it out. He pulled his goggles up to his face and adjusted them as he followed behind Mello's retreating figure.

And to think. He had been worried about Mello's reaction.

…...

So there it is, another chapter in the MONSTER WITHIN story. And about our favorite little genius (besides L and Light of course), MATT!

And I had to throw in a comment about Mello's eyes. I knew a guy once who had the most gorgeous blue eyes that I have ever seen and that's kinda what I pictured for Mello.

And, in case you didn't notice, there was no slash! I know, I can't believe it either. That's why I had to at least put in the bit about Matt thinking Mello looked beautiful. It just didn't feel right without at least a hint =)

~nakia