A/N: I edited the last chapter to fix a few small mistakes. I write un-beta'd and I am sorry for that.

Music- Bullet Proof Love-Pierce the Veil

Undressed

~Mail~

I held Mello's waist loosely, the cold of the wind whipping past us only adding to the bone-deep numbness that filled me. I don't know why I never moved out of that damn apartment, I intended to, I was going to pack when I sat down on the couch. I don't know how long it was between that and Mello's arrival.

The ride was fast, my state of mind lending itself to the blur of traffic. Around us the city fell away and I swallowed hard, too aware of Mello's presence. I had shut down a lot but still was always aware of him, of this golden beauty.

We arrived at the base, the sound of the sirens answering the fire had been lost to us almost before we heard it so there was no fear we had been followed. Mello was off the bike before my body had fully registered the stop, the bag he'd pack was in his hand and he was staring at me.

"Matt, c'mon you have to shower." He tugged my arm and I went with him willingly enough, certain that he was right about that.

He lead me through a maze of rooms that I had never seen, having only stopped by the base once, to a bedroom that I barely got a glance at. It was a wreck, metal, lace, and leather thrown around, the bed had rips in the actual mattress and it was clear someone tortured lived here.

The door to the large bathroom had gunshot holes straight through it and I was motivated to tilt my head at them, Mello did not comment. He pushed me under the spray of the shower a few moments later, not bothering to let me undress.

He stripped bare in a few seconds, I could only stand and watch him in confusion as the water soaked my clothes and beat against my skin, washing away weeks of grime.

Without a word he tugged my pants down and I hissed. Mello did not pause before tearing my shirt of and gently lifting my goggles, setting them all aside. He stepped into the shower behind me and closed the door, heedless of how much water he had already allowed to spill out.

I stared at him and him at me. His blue eyes were reddened, looking at him properly I realized he looked like he'd been through the ringer. He stepped closer to me, lightly touching the blood-dried cuts that marred my hips.

We never broke eye contact as he ran his hands over my body, washing away what was there. Finally I found my voice fully.

"Mel, why did you go, why did you lie?" I asked, my voice scratching up from wherever it had buried itself.