Flashback

Matt was wandering the halls of Wammy, alone, seeing as Mello had disappeared to go do whatever. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw three of the older boys walk towards him but ignored them, choosing to focus on his gameboy. It wasn't until they knocked the game out of his hands did he get the feeling this was going to be more than a regular act of bullying. Usually they took more care with his stuff, which was nice considering they had tried to throw him out the second floor window at one point. At least they had the consideration to leave his stuff unharmed.

"What the hell?" Matt fumed. One of the older boys slapped him. It was more humiliating than anything else.

"Such language for a kid." The older boy shook his head with mock sadness. He bent down a little so that he was eye level with Matt. "I heard your friend's talking shit about me. Where is he?"

"How the hell should I know?" Matt rubbed his stinging cheek.

"Well, you see, I have to teach your friend a lesson one way or another so," He was so close, Matt could smell the alcohol on his breath. "I guess you'll have to do." He aimed a punch into Matt's stomach, sending him to the ground groaning and gasping for breath. "Jed, Tom. Pick him up." The two other boys grabbed Matt's arms, hauled him to his feet, to slam him against the wall.

"You wouldn't dare, Brent." Matt gasped. "You're a coward if you need your friends to help beat up a kid."

"Shut up." Brent punched him again, though this time in the face, knocking Matt's head against the wall. He could swear he saw stars. Matt was beset by a barrage of punches to his stomach, though Brent would occasionally aim a few kicks to his legs when he started to flag.

"I believe that's enough." Came a quiet voice. Matt couldn't even lift his head to see who it was and the other boys had support all his weight.

"Get the hell away, Near." Brent snarled. At least he's not hitting anymore.

"Maybe I should make myself clear. Leave him alone." Near's voice held little emotion. Matt lifted his head just enough to see a boy dressed in all white with shockingly white hair.

"Or what? You gonna tell Roger? I'm not afraid." Brent laughed.

"No. I won't tell Roger. It probably wouldn't do any good." Near twirling a lock of his hair around his finger. "There's only one way to deal with people like you."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"I'll show you." Near quickly hooked a barefoot behind Brent's knee, dropping him to the ground, and then smashed his knee into Brent's face.

"Shit! You little fucker. You broke my nose." Brent scrambled backwards on the floor holding his nose which was bleeding profusely.

"Let him go." Near turned to look at Jed and Tom. They dropped him as if he had suddenly caught fire. "Now leave." Jed and Tom dragged Brent down the hall in their haste to get away from the milk-haired boy.

Matt was on the floor, curled up in a ball. Near dropped to the floor beside him. "Um, thanks." Matt mumbled.

"It was nothing, really. Would you like me to help you to the nurse?"

"No. Can you just help me up?"

"Of course." Near helped Matt to his feet. "I'll help you to your room." They walked slowly down the hall towards Matt's room. Fortunately most of the orphanage was out on a field trip so no one saw them. After he helped Matt sit down at the desk, he pulled something from his pocket. "I believe this is yours." He handed Matt his gameboy.

"Thanks. My name's Matt by the way."

"I'm Near." He took out of finger puppet from his pocket and started squeezing it between hid thumb and first finger. "You really shouldn't hang around with Mello. He'll only get you into more trouble. You can always talk to me."

"Um, I'll think about it." Matt was confused. Where was this coming from? "Thanks, again."

"Sure. I'll see you around." With that Near waved a goodbye and walked out the door.

In the weeks that followed Matt had seen more of Near than he ever had before the fight with Brent. At one point, Near had even sat next to him at lunch when Mello was gone. They hadn't talked much but Near was polite and seemed to genuinely care whenever he asked Matt how he was. Mello had noticed and developed a growing distaste for Near. Matt didn't want Near though, he just wanted Mello.

End flashback

"You're a freak. You basically stalked him. That's all there was to it." Mello was close to yelling.

"I think Matt could argue that." They both looked at Matt expectantly.

"It wasn't like that at all." Matt shook his head. "I got into a fight with another kid and Near helped."

Mello crossed his arms. "Fine. He helped you in a fight. He's still a freak."

Matt looked at Jay for some kind of help but Jay was sitting across the room, at the dining table, reading a book as he smoked. "Near, what exactly do you want?" Matt was exasperated.

"I want you to stay with me and help with the Kira case. Since someone's quit the case." He looked at Mello.

"You quit the Kira case?" Matt looked at Mello incredulously.

Mello blue eyes focused intently on him. "After the explosion-"

"That you caused and I could've died." Jay interrupted.

Mello shot him a glare before turning back to Matt. "After the explosion, I decided there were more important things then hunting killers."

"I don't mean to interrupt." Near spoke softly. "But I have to get back to headquarters so Matt, will you came stay with me?"

"Are you fucking blind." Now Mello was yelling. "He's going through fucking withdrawal and you ask him this now?"

"I don't want to upset you, Mello, but I can take better care of Matt at my place." Near gave Matt a smile.

Different thoughts raced through Matt's head. What's he trying to do? Should I go? After all, Near's never betrayed me. But what about Mello? He said he was sorry. Who do I chose? Do either of them even really care or is this another act of rivalry? "Let me think about it. Come back in a couple weeks." Matt said aloud.

"Fine. I'll see you in a couple of weeks then. Before I go, I brought you a gift." Near placed the laptop on the coffee table so Matt could reach it easily. He gave Mello a smirk. "Good to see you again, Mello. The way you ran off, I thought I was never going to see you again."

"Next time, I won't be so pleasant." Mello snarled as he placed his hand on his gun. Near was still smirking as he walked out the door. Mello spun on his heel to look at Matt. "You're not actually going with him, are you?" He demanded. Matt simply stared at the black laptop. I don't know. Maybe I…