Graffiti chapter 19: View by blackdragonflower
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Mello sat squeezed between two branches of a tall tree his back against the trunk. He lazily swung his legs back and forth and watched puffy white clouds drift along the currents of the wind. A gentle breeze kicked up and blew the hair around his face. The leaves ruffled and one floated down into Matt's crimson hair. The redhead paid no attention and continued playing his gameboy, his fingers flying across the many buttons. It was a different matter when Mello's shoe slipped off and hit him in the head however.
"Oi! Hey that hurt!" Matt whined rubbing the forming bump. He noticed Mello was staring off into space and became curious. Leaving the shoe where it resided Matt scrambled his way up the trunk and to a branch slightly below his companion and friend. "Mello?"
"..."
"... ... MELLO!" Matt yelled. The blonde jumped and nearly fell from his dominating perch. He clutched to the trunk and sent a glare Matt's way.
"What the hell do you want Matt?!"
"You okay? You seem out of it... more than usual."
Mello threw icy daggers at Matt with his eyes. "Oh do I now?"
The gamer sweatdropped and retrieved his gameboy from his pocket. "Yeah... What ya thinkn' about?"
"It's what are you thinking about."
"What?"
"Forget it."
"Okay... well?"
"Everything's gotten so quiet lately..."
"I like it..."
"It's boring."
"Maybe so but I don't have to worry about Moska anymore or getting hurt beside you nailing me in the head with a fist or a soccer ball or something."
"But... at least in the gangs we had freedom..."
"..." The game beeped. "Freedom comes with a heavy price."
"You sound like old people."
"... Your point?"
"I hate old people."
"What about L?"
"Fool he's not old! And even if he was he's a cool person worthy of respect!" Mello growled as he broke off a stick and threw it at Matt. The redhead was grateful it just barely missed.
Matt smiled. "I saw Ari and Spike yesterday... they seemed... I don't know... at peace for once. Usually they're smoking pretty heavily but... they just weren't and Ari's sister was hanging out with them too. She never came by Rulebreakers... I think the gang's been disbanded for the most part."
"Probably has... They were just a bunch of kids looking for something to do, someone to follow."
"Some people need someone to follow... Hey Mells... What do you think about building a tree house?"
"... A tree house? Honestly Matt where'd you get that idea?"
"I hear about them from time to time... they sound like fun. Why don't we build one!? We could make it into our hideout from Roger."
Mello smirked. "I think I'm beginning to like this idea..."
"We could stock it with chocolate and soda!"
"God Matt shut up! You won me over already alright?!" Matt laughed and decided to tease his pal.
"Geesh Mells, I swear your temper gets worse every day!"
"..." The blonde's cheeks turned an angry red. "Shut up Matt!"
"It's only a matter of time now before you start cussing at me... Maybe I should go hang with Near..."
The blonde gasped. "Don't you dare! You fucking piece of shit... I will disown you if you go hang out with him, you hear me?! I. Will. DISOWN YOU!!"
"Mello you can't disown me... I'm not apart of your family."
"Yes you are and don't you tell me otherwise." The chocolate loving boy huffed.
"...Okay." Matt sounded skeptical but inside he was overjoyed to hear those words. Mello considered him family.
"Now don't get like a girl and get all teary about that. It means nothing you hear me nothing!"
"Ahem." Both boys were interrupted by a softer voice that cut through their playful arguing. Both looked down to find a pale young man with greasy -if not messy- onyx hair and a thin frame clothed in a white long sleeved shirt and faded blue jeans.
"...?"
"L!"
"Hello boys. Roger requested I come fetch you for dinner since he and Mr. Wammy are talking." Mello got out of the tree at a record pace and put himself on his best behavior.
"What are you doing here L?"
"That's top secret Mello-kun."
"Of course it is..." The blonde pouted upset he'd not been given the answer he was hoping for. Matt took a little while longer to shimmy down the trunk without falling and causing harm to himself.
"I've heard interesting things about you two..." L trotted slowly off his posture hunched.
Matt stared at L slightly weirded out his head cocked to one side. This was his first "real" time meeting L. He had to admit, this person, this man wasn't what he'd expected. Mello hissed as he grabbed Matt's arm, "Show some respect Matt. This is the greatest detective in the world. He's not a weirdo so stop staring at him like that."
"... Sorry..."
Mello's snarl turned into an honest smile. "C'mon, dinner's waiting. Can't miss it." He paused a moment. "Ya know what... don't worry about the staring this time... I did that too when I first met L. You'll learn to like him."
"Are you two coming Matt and Mello?"
"Yeah we're coming L!" Mello gently gave a tug on Matt's striped sleeve and ran off. The redhead soon decided to follow without much thought.
"What kind of trouble did you get into this time Mello-kun?" L questioned thumb to his lip and a knowing smile twisted on his face. He knew there was a story to come.
"It's long L! Are you sure you have the time."
"I always have the time... Are you implying something?"
"No... I will need Matt's help to tell the story though!"
The redhead gulped as the penetrating dark eyes turned to him. "Really? Will you assist Mello-kun Matt-kun? I'd be very interested to hear what you've both been up to that's had Roger bothering Mr. Wammy so much." Matt found a smile on his lips as L pulled a sugar cube from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
He laughed. "Sure I'll help."
"Then I shall meet you after dinner in my room. Save some room for dessert." The greasy haired teen waved slightly and turned down a different path than that of the boys.
"So that was L huh?"
"Yeah he's the greatest detective in the world bet I'll beat him one day."
Matt grinned and playfully punched Mello's arm. "Sure you will. As for now let's go eat... I'd hate to see the view of the bottom of an empty lunch container."
"Race you there!"
"You're on!"
Graffiti lines the streets and hearts of many. Graffiti is a nuisance, an art, a blessing, and a thorn in your side. Graffiti is what graffiti is, raw unrestrained emotion painted on the wall for the world to see, just like a story with many interpretations.
That is it. This is the last comment you'll be reading from me besides the ending big disclaimer thing for the story Graffiti. It was so long ago that I started this and now it's just... over. I think all in all, this story had a good life and I hope people continue to enjoy it and share it with their friends. XD
There is no sequel to this story as it stops about where everything starts happening in the manga take away a few years. Basically, it's written in the hopes it could possibly be canon without being canon. Does that make sense?
I'd like to thank everyone who read this and especially those who left me all the encouraging comments! You guys are why I write! I love hearing your inputs. For all the Stripes fans ;P You guys are the bomb. I never knew he'd become this popular. giggle Since this is the last chapter if you have anything big to say you better say it now! lol. Well, catch ya later!
Love, bdf