Chapter 21

A/N: This was late for a reason. AND Excuse any typos, ugh I have to type these things up fast. Time is money. Quite literally in my case....ugh

"There´s something Mello isn´t telling me. It´s in the way he talks...the way his eyes glaze over when he edits his responses." Green eyes met grey and held them. "I know," The redhead sighed."I know he´s trying to protect me from whatever evil monkey is clinging onto his back, but...Near, you dont have a reason to lie to me."

The silver haired vampire was more than a little taken aback by the teens sudden attack. "I don´t know what you´re talking about." He replied cooly. The last thing he wanted was to explain his human life to some child.

"Mello once told me that vampires couldnt cry." He paused to watch Near place different silver tubes and compact discs on the bed. Though this confused him a bit, he decided that this was to be delt with first. "You managed to do it though...Why is that?"

"I did no such thing. It´s impossible, Matt."

"Well...not entirely, I mean...you were sad and...will you fuckin´look at me when I´m talking to you?"

Nears eyes darted in Matt´s direction.

The two stared at each other for the longest time. Neither moved, nor blinked. Matt knew that if he faltered even the slightest, he would lose this chance to force some information out of the mysterious vampire.

After what seemed like hours, the young vampire caved. A defeated sigh slipped past his pale lips. "Very well." His grey eyes came to rest on a spot on the wall, above Matt´s head. "It´s a long story."

"I have time. You have time."

"Oh I know I do. Plenty." A small smile tugged at Near´s pale lips.

Matt returned the smile. It seemed like things between them were starting to ease up. And who wants an angry blood thirsty vampire that hates your guts for stealing his hot blond boyfriend knocking on your bedroom door late at night? "Before you tell me anything though...what the hell is up with all this make-up?"

Near touched a single pale digit to hs chin, as if he were thinking hard on an answer. "It´s for you." He held up a wig with ruby red curls; the same color as his hair. "A disguise. You and Mello leave for New Orleans, tonight. For a vampire Masquerade Ball." He then proceeded to jump into a full explanation about the importance of this particular disguise.

"So, you see? If Mello brings along a female, the female being you of course, it wont rouse suspicion. The plane you will be boarding is run by a full staff of vampires, so its only natural that the only passengers will be vampires. It´s common though, for Male vampires to bring along a human female as a snack. And vice versa." The young vampes voice was calm, recent events forgotten.

"Matt?"

The redhead was staring past Near to the closed bedroom door, clearly contemplating his chances of escape. There was no way in hell he was going to cross dress.

"I´m not going." He said firmly.

Near blinked once. "Don´t be stupid, Matt. You´re going because Mello demands it." He took a small step back towards the door, probably so he wouldnt have to do much if Matt planned to run for it. "What Mello wants, Mello gets. And what Mello wants, is for you to stay at his side."

Matt shook his head stubornly. "If he suddenly feels the urge to dance, can´t he just do it here?"

The young vampire sighed. Mello had given specific orders on what he could and could not say. "No...You see, he needs to get some information on someone."

"Who?"

"Someone, Matt."

"Who damn it? Another vampire?"

"Can´t say."

Matt seethed. He jumped to his feet, fully prepared to walk out of the room and make a scene, but Near had him flat on his back in no time.

The silver haired vampires´face hovered only inches from his own. "Matt I´ve been given permission to do anything necessary to get you to cooperate. Please don´t force me to resort to drastic measures." White fangs glistened behind the young vampires lips. The mischevious glint in his pale grey eyes, showed that he really didnt mind resorting to drastic measures.

"I want to know what´s going on." He said after a long search for his lost voice.

"In due time, Matt." Near´s eyes became hazy and unfocused for the tiniest fraction of a second. "Didn´t you say you wanted some sort of explanation to my earlier reaction?"

Matt had completley forgotten about that. Being human had its faults. Like the redheads easily derailed train of thought. "Yeah." He answered. Matt watched Near´s graceful, cat-like movements as he crawled off him and went back to rummaging in the bags. He sat up.

"I warn you, it will be a long story with no happy ending to look forward to." The young vampires´tone was solemn. Matt wondered how he kept his face so composed when his voice sounded so close to breaking point.

"Story of my life." It seemed he and Near had a few things in common. Despite the completley different pesonalities. Ice and fire.

Near´s grey eyes swept over the redheads form, taking in his body language; his expression. "A Story I hope you will share with me someday?"

The corners of Matt´s lips tugged up into a half smile. It really did seem as though things between the two were beginning to brighten. If only a little. "In due time."

To the redheads immense surprise, he smiled back. A small almost invisible smile, but a smile none-the less.

Near held up a small silver tube. He popped off the cap with a movement too quick for Matt´s human eyes, revealing the smooth red color of the lipstick. "Mello loves the color red on you."

Matt flushed and Near chuckled.

"I have to agree that red does compliment your skin nicely."

"Th-thanks..."

"Lets move on." Near cleared his throat quietly. "Close your eyes, Matt."

Without hesitation, the teen obeyed. It surprised Near a bit. The boy trusted him enough to let his guard down this way. Brave?...or foolish? He couldnt decide.

With a quick breath -ignoring the redheads delicious scent as best he could- he pressed the new Cherry red lipstick to Matt´lips and began to whisper the story of his past.

A/N: You´re probably wondering why on earth I took so darn long to update right? Yeah, I know you are. Here´s the answer. The number of reviews was a little lame. Two or three at the most. No motivation whatsoever. You all know that with the right number of reviews I update faster. -shrugs- you could have had an update sooner. Oh well, this chapter is being seperated into diffeent chapters because i only have so long to type things up, again I apolgize, but an update is an update, right?

REVIEW. Or no update, the usual.

Matt.