Chapter Nine: Bully

Sort of written in a hurry. Once again. My mind is far from easy. In these once familiar streets I feel shadows...everywhere. (LOL WHO GETS THAT QUOTE?) Anyway, hope you enjoy as always. Thanks for all the lovely reviews! ;3 Most input I've ever had, and it definitely makes me feel pretty damn good. Sorry if I don't reply to all of them, I've been busy writing. *laughs* Thank you though! ^^ Enjoy this chapter! Any input as to what should happen in the next few chapters is also welcomed too, (seeing as after this point I sort of have zilch. XD)

"Nuh-Uh! He def'wected it!"

"I'm pretty sure you cannot 'def'wect' something, therefore he is dead,"

"De...fwwwect... Deflwect..."

"No, he's dead, get over it,"

Mello's eyes filled with tears, and he grabbed his dinosaur and stuffed cat, cradling them in his arms. "Take it back!"

"You can't take a bullet back," Near replied, sitting next to L with a smug expression, "Sorry, he's dead,"

"No no no no no! He's not dead!" Mello sniffled, feeling as tears worked their way down his cheeks. He ran off to the hallway, leaving a smirking Near and oblivious L behind. He collapsed onto the bed, weeping and crying hard. He curled up next to his stuffed animals, getting them wet with tears.

"He's just 'wying... You're not dead!"

The small blonde looked at his dinosaur, staring into his eyes in hope that he would answer; and he didn't. This didn't bode well with the child, and he was stricken with much more powerful weeps, not attempting to hold them back any longer. He was crying so hard he didn't even hear the door open.

"Mello?"

The little child looked up, tears streaming down his cheeks. There stand a less than pleased Near, arms crossed across his chest, standing next to a serious looking L. He nudged the small albino, who grumbled something in reply, yet took a step further.

"What do you w-want?" Mello whimpered, rubbing his tears away hurriedly. Near in took a deep breath, and looked away.

"I'm here to apologize," he sighed, "I'm sorry, my transformer didn't actually kill your dinosaur, it was deflected,"

Mello didn't reply at first, glancing away with an angry glare. "I knew he def'wected it all a'wong... But 'fanks for 'da apology," Mello sniffled loudly, sitting up properly in the soft bed. The feather comforter encased him, and he giggled as it engulfed him in every move. Though, upon seeing Near standing there, he remembered he was supposed to be angry. He huffed, taking his animals and hopping off the bed.

"'Wuizaki, can I ha'b cake?"

The black haired man nodded, turning away to go back to the kitchen. Mello grinned, running after L hopping. Near watched the two walk away, deep in thought.

L was his and only his; Near was going to take over his position. This little brat who couldn't talk properly wasn't going to take this relationship from him.

Near would win, and that was all there was to it.

It was nine thirty-two, and Matt was speeding through the red lights, in order to get back to his child. He had gotten a job working as a computer programmer at the college downtown (which wasn't his first choice by any meaning of the word), but it was a job. It meant he would have some financial support. That being said, it was his first job, so he was a bit apprehensive about it all. He turned into the parking lot, and nearly jumped out of his car, hoping Mello was alright. Watari and L weren't exactly the best parental figures, who knows what his energetic child had gotten into? He could have gotten hurt and L being L might not have realized it! He could be lying on the floor, dead!

Matt ran through the long hallway, his breathing ragged. He nearly ran past the correct door, but caught himself in time.

He knocked loudly and hurriedly, trying to catch his breath. He rattled the doorknob to no avail, and continued to knock, until an elderly Watari opened the door.

"Matt, are you alr-"

Matt didn't reply, but instead pushed his way into the room, eyes huge. Watari simply stand at the doorway, looking back at the ragged man.

"L! W-where is he?" Matt asked Ryuzaki, who sit in a fetal position on the couch, as though it was totally normal. The raven-haired man point to the back bedroom, expressionless.

Matt run as quickly as he could to the back bedroom, swinging the door open loudly. "Mello!"

He glanced around the room, and his loud breathing permeating the silent room.

He then felt like an idiot.

"Mmmf...Daddy? Whatchya...doin'?"

There lie a half-asleep Mello, rubbing his huge sleepy eyes with small fists. He was on the bed with the soft comforters wrapped around his thin frame. Next to him, as expected, was his two stuffed animals safely wrapped in blankets.

"You're very loud, Mr. Jeevas..." a voice he did not recognize muttered next to him, and he turned to see who it was. In the dark room the boy who was almost entirely white stood out. He had been sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor, with an array of transformers around him. Matt ignored him, letting out a relieved sigh and taking a step towards Mello.

"Mello...sorry I just...my thoughts got the best of me..." he leaned over with a sad smile, wrapping his arms around Mello's frame in a tight hug. "How was your day?"

Mello thought for a moment, nuzzling sleepily into the hug. "It was ok... 'Wuizaki and Watari is nice... But Near is a stupid-face..."

"Shut it, girly-boy..." a tired reply came from beside Matt. Mello didn't respond, snuggling into Matt's shoulder.

"Daddy, I wanna go home..."

Matt nodded with a small smile, getting the two animals still on the bed. Mello snapped them up happily, holding them to his chest. Matt picked up Mello in his arms like a small baby, watching with a small smile as he closed his eyes and snuggled up to his chest. Matt exited the bedroom, watching as a concerned L and Watari met his gaze. A small, awkward smirk formed on Ryuzaki's lips. Matt blushed, muttering a 'shut up' before he approached the door. He stood at the door, looking back with a nervous, thankful smile, before leaving, still holding his child.

"Daddy...how was your jobs?" Mello's voice came, half muffled by Matt's shirt, as they walked through the parking garage.

"They were ok... I got one job, working in the college as a programmer. It'll be boring, but it's a job..."

"Can I come wi'f you to your job?"

"No..." Matt placed the small blonde in his car seat, smiling at Mello lightly, "Would you like to go to Ryuzaki's when I have to work?"

"Mmmkay...as long as Mr. Near isn't 'dere..." Just as Matt was about to start the car up, he heard Mello's small voice behind him, "Daddy, do I ta'wk funny?"

Matt glanced back, cigarette sticking between his lips, and he shook his head, small smile on his lips. "You don't talk funny at all,"

"Ok 'den, I knew Near was just being stupid..." Mello, satisfied with the answer, smiled, snuggling into his seat and grasping his stuffed dino tighter.

Matt continued smiling slightly as he drove out of the parking lot and onto the road. His mind traveled back to his own childhood, his own speech impediment of a sort. He had been missing many teeth, and was pretty much incomprehensible to the general public. He was made fun of, and without his parents to reassure him, he became shy. He hid himself, not speaking for weeks at a time.

Matt was going to make sure that didn't happen to Mello. No matter what it took.

He parked his car in the driveway, and unbuckled Mello quietly. He was sleeping soundly, not registering as Matt held him in his arms gently.

He walked through his apartment, glad to have brought Mello back into his home, where he knew nothing could harm him.

Matt lowered Mello into his bed, and smiled slightly, placing a kiss on Mello's forehead. "Goodnight,"

"'Night Daddy...'wove you..."

Matt stood, surprised at the sudden response. Yet within a moment he smiled once more, turning off the light. "Love you too, Mells..."

Mello snuggled up under his blankets, happy and warm and safe.