#18 Destruction

It was a bloodbath.

Arms and legs, a few severed heads scattered across the floor of the room… Near stood wordlessly in the doorway, maroon eyes wide at the horror he had found, returning to his bedroom.

All his precious toys…

In pieces all over the floor of his room, their plastic or plush limbs resting in among the thick white carpet.

His heartbeat quickened and he raced to his bed, whimpering at the pain as vicious pieces of plastic jabbed at his bare feet. Hoping, praying that the invading beast had missed one, just this one-

He pulled back the covers.

His plush panda was gone. His precious plush panda that L gave to him for the first birthday he had any memory of. The one toy he had to have with him because he couldn't sleep without it. It was always in his bed…

"Missing something, sheepy?"

Near span around in the room, scowling at the boy in his doorway. Who else would have done something like this?

"Mello." He growled. "What did you do to Panda-chan?"

Mello threw back his head and laughed. His voice was like a shattering chandelier, beautiful and painful. "It had a name? Jeeze, how old are you? Three?"

Near's scowl did not recede. "What does Mello mean 'Had'? What has Mello done with Panda-chan?"

Mello smirked viciously. "Oh…nothing… nothing as bad as I did to these guys anyway." He kicked one of the dismembered figurines torso's across the soft carpet.

Near's eyes watered with rage, fists clenching, though he knew there would be no point in fighting Mello, he was too strong.

"Where is Panda-chan." He repeated darkly.

Mello combed one hand through his soft blonde locks, teeth flashing like pearls. "Are you crying? Over a stupid little toy?" he sneered, "What would L say if he could see number one crying over a damn plushie?"

Near could feel his nails digging into the palms of his hands. "WHERE IS PANDA-CHAN!"

Mello started to laugh again.

Near raced across the room, ignoring those same pieces of plastic jamming into his feet, and tackled Mello to the hallway floor.

He was lucky; he had the element of surprise. Mello caught a bump on the head as he landed on the wooden floor. He was full of angry adrenaline.

And Roger was only around the corner, so when Mello let out a scream of rage and started to fight back, he only landed two punches before the boys were yanked apart.

~*~*~

Near crouched on the bed of the medical room, shaking and clutching his knees.

He couldn't sleep. Panda-chan was still MIA. Mello had been sentenced to a week without chocolate and no break-times, plus his pocket money was suspended until Near's toy collection had been replaced, but that was very little comfort.

There was a little tap at the door. Near looked up weakly, and frowned. It was Mello's henchman, Matt. Doubtless sent to rub it in some more.

"How're you feeling?" He hissed.

Near shrugged.

Matt smiled a little, but not cruelly like Mello. "Sorry about what he did." He shuffled uncomfortably in the doorway.

"Was there something Matt wanted?" Near asked, softly. He didn't really dare believe that Matt was here as a mutual friend, though he knew that the red-haired boy was almost incapable of violence, and mostly hung around Mello for protection from other kids who would destroy him.

Matt shook his head, red hair flopping in his eyes, reminding Near of the ears on a puppy. "No, but… I managed to grab something before Mello ripped it to bits."

Near's eyes widened as slowly Matt produced from behind his back his most precious possession.

And though Near hated contact, that day he ran across the room and hugged Matt.