Near POV

I wandered down the winding corridors of the orphanage, apathetic mood dampening due to the discomfort of my upright position. I dragged my bare feet, longing for the absent contact of the carpet on my legs and hands. Though my body begged to curl up on the floor, I willed myself onwards. After all, I had an important mission in the works. After gaining Matt's cooperation, all that was left was to squeeze out all the embarrassing secrets he held of Mello's. Exploitation was a task that would not require his presence, but to acquire the necessary knowledge, I would have to meet Matt once again.

After class, I had hidden a camera in a plant across from the door to Matt and Mello's room. Thankfully, my impressive levels of patience did not need to be tested as I saw a lonesome Matt dart out of the room not three hours after our initial encounter.

So here I was, scanning the mostly deserted halls for a sign of the unmotivated gamer. My mind drifted to the incomplete dice tower in my room. It was rare that I abandoned a project, but the situation was dire.

I had been searching for Matt for twenty three minutes, and the odds that he hadn't already returned to his room were steadily dropping. I strained my weak muscles onward.

Suddenly, a door swung open. I jumped aside, barely avoiding collision with the storage closet door.

"Near?" Well, it would appear that my little tool has found me.

"Greetings, Matt. I was just going out for a stroll."

Matt looked dubious. "Uhuh. Uh, well, see ya." He hesitantly turned to leave.

"Wait. Since we're here, why don't we chat?"

"Oh-kay?" I took that as an invitation to plant myself on the floor. My body instantly relaxed when situated in the familiar position. Matt awkwardly sat on the floor in front of me.

"So, Matt, how have you been?"

"Fine."

"Any particular reason you were in a storage closet?"

His eyes narrowed. "Nope."

"Well, small talk aside, let's get to the point."

"I never thought you would be one to make small talk."

"I thought it was customary."

"In most situations. So what do you want me to do? What's the plan?"

"All I need you to do is speak with me."

"We are speaking."

"I need you disclose some information pertaining to Mello." I clarified.

"What information?"

"Do you happen to know of any fears or phobias he has?"

Matt's eyes widened, and he hastily pulled his goggles over his eyes, presumably to hide this fact. "I don't want to scare him."

"I assure you, nothing will occur that will permanently compromise his state of mind. We just need a trigger, something to make him appear weak and useless in front of L."

"Th-that would hurt him."

"Did you think that tearing him from L would not require a compromise on his part? He is obviously emotionally invested. Emotions lead to pain."

Matt's lips curled up into a small, sad smile, as if he were amused by a private joke. "How true. But I still don't know if I can hurt him. This may be a bad idea..."

"I assure you Matt, he will have no way of tracing it back to you." Premature regret was etched onto the boy's face. Perhaps I should try a different tactic. "You are not in the wrong here, Matt. Think of it as... justice."

"Justice?"

"Yes. How many times has Mello hurt you, intentionally or otherwise?" Matt looked down, obviously teetering in indecision. "Matt? Don't you usually go everywhere with Mello? Tell me, what possessed you to venture out here all by yourself?"

"I-I'd rather not say." This was just to easy. Matt's emotions left him vulnerable, soft and malleable.

"Think of this as leveling the playing field. And perhaps, if he feels heartache, he will be more attuned to the pain of others, such as yourself."

"Emetophobia."

"What's that?

"Emetophobia. The fear of vomit, in Mello's case specifically seeing vomit. He's never told anyone but me. It makes him feel weak."

I smiled. "Thank you, Matt." Matt cringed.

He stumbled rather awkwardly to his feet. "W-well. Bye, Near."

"Farewell."

He took three steps before turning back, guilt already permeating through his goggles. "Near? Uh... just... whatever you're gonna do, don't make it too bad, okay? And make sure no one finds out?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Matt gave an uncertain nod before disappearing around a corner. Phase Two, Status: Complete.

Mello POV

My pace quickened as the seconds ticked by. Logically, I knew there was no cause for alarm. Matt hadn't been gone for a half hour, but damn it, where was he? I snarled as a misguided child dared to stumble in my path. Without breaking my stride, I lifted him by his collar and threw him into the wall. The miserable sounds of pain and fear left in my wake made me feel a little better, but not by much.

I was always with Matt. Always. And not knowing where he was... when he was so upset... I punched the nearest wall. My eyes didn't even pause to admire the dent I made in the ugly cream colored wall. They continued to sweep the hallway, searching for any signs, any indications that my little gamer had been here. God, I felt pathetic.

I heard the steady sounds of footsteps approaching. I froze, hoping, begging, that the footsteps would belong to Matt. My heart sank when a small boy with mud brown hair emerged. I clenched my fist in frustration and punched the kid in the gut, simply for not being Matt.

"Ah! H-hey! What was that for f-for?" I heard the boy gasp as he collapsed to the floor. I ignored him and randomly selected a new hallway to scour.

As I reached the end, my resolve began to falter. With a sudden shock, I felt the protest of my legs and feet from my thirty minute long rampage, and slowed to lean against another ugly cream colored wall. Really, what was with the decorating in this place? It's like they wanted us to go insane!

I sunk to the floor, agony ripping through my heart at the sign of surrender, of defeat. I couldn't find Matt... I had lost... Because really, if I hadn't found him by now, it was probably because he didn't want to be found. He wasn't in any of his usual hang out spots, and he wasn't sitting in some random hall, so he must have been hiding. Hiding from me?

I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to beat back the guilt and regret that was bubbling in my chest. It wasn't my fault. He was being stupid, he was angry at me for no reason, he was trying to keep me from being my best, he... Oh, hell it was all my fault. I pretty much just said to his face that he didn't matter to me at all, and that all I cared about was beating Near and impressing L. I wanted that to be true, but I knew it wasn't. No one insignificant can tear me up like this just because I hurt their feelings. Only Matt... Only Matt... Where is he?

A sharp intake of breath started me from my troubling thoughts. I clenched my fist, preparing to knock out whoever it was that disturbed me. I looked up, murderous glare already in place, and... my fist fell limp.

"Matt..." I whispered.

"What are you doing here?" He stood rigidly, but I could hear the concern seeping through his tone.

"I was looking for you." I stood, hating the fact that he was looking down on me.

"Y-you were?" He fought back a smile. It took so little to make him happy...

"What's this?" I ran my hand over his slightly red and puffy face. "Have you been crying?" The color darkened, and he turned away sharply, knocking my hand from his cheek. My throat tightened. He was crying because I hurt him. This wasn't right. I wasn't supposed to be the one that hurt him. I was supposed to be the one that protected him, that prevented him from getting hurt, and that beat up anyone who would so much as look at him the wrong way.

"I'm sorry." I murmured.

"W-what?"

"I said I was sorry. I-I do care about you, Matt." He looked at me, eyes wide as saucers and jaw hanging unhinged, an expression of pure shock. I was about to laugh at his cute expression, when his face crumpled and he clamped down on his lower lip. "Matt? What is it? What's wrong?" I panicked. Did he think my apology was an admission of sorts? That I liked him that way? Oh no, he couldn't have figured that out could he? Wait... did I like him?

"N-no. I'm okay Mels, just... thank you. I... care about you too..." He leaned in to hug me. I considered pushing him away, embarrassed at the horrendously public display of affection. However, I quickly gave up all thoughts of resistance. He felt so warm, so soft. Holding his body up against mine... It felt right.

"I don't want to hurt you, Mels..." He squeaked. What did he mean by that?

"I never wanted to hurt you, Matty," I softly replied, burying my face in his fiery red locks. Although his hair was wild, it was remarkably soft and silky, and smelled wonderful... intoxicating... strawberry shampoo and... something else. He smelled better than chocolate.

Matt broke our embrace and stepped back to look into my eyes. "I know you didn't mean to. You were angry." I fought the urge to hold him once more. I missed his warmth, his smell, and that strange, fluttering feeling in my chest that had dulled to a raw ache.

"That's no excuse." I stated firmly. He nodded slowly, indecision flittering across his face. What was he thinking about?

"Yeah. W-well we should go. It's almost dinner, I think."

I smiled worriedly. "Kay."

As he turned to leave, his hand reached out, brushing my own before he snapped it back. A glowing blush lit up his cheeks.

As I silently walked next to him, for some strange reason, I couldn't help wishing that his hand hadn't darted away.