#41 Friend

A Friend in Need…

In his dingy apartment lit only by the faint blue glow of six computer screens, Matt yawned. He stretched his arms and cracked his fingers like an expert pianist, technically speaking he could play the piano, and he just hadn't since leaving Wammy's.

Perhaps it was time to log off and turn in for the night. He'd got a lot of work done, hacking into various agencies for various other agencies, placing spy-bots into numerous email accounts. There'd be a nice little nest egg in his account tomorrow, maybe enough to allow himself a couple of new computers to cannibalise for his latest project.

On the surface, he wasn't doing too bad. He had his own place; he was covering the bills, the work was steady (just not legal) and he seemed to be getting on with life.

He lit up while he debated the merits of going to bed at this late hour. He wondered if, wherever he was, Mello was sleeping.

God, Mello. Not a day went by when Matt didn't think about that pretty little blonde kid with a temper problem.

But he was gone. Vanished to places unknown to avenge L, and all he'd said to Matt, his best friend since they were four years old was 'If I need you, I'll call you'.

That was just a nice way of saying 'I'll never see you again'. Matt knew Mello would never really need him. That kid had never needed anyone in his life, he could manage on his own.

It was only after he left that it really sunk in to fourteen-year-old Matt's brain that Mello really was gone for good from his life. It was only then that he realised maybe he liked Mello a little more than a friend. And then he'd cried for three days solid.

But now he was a grown up, and sure he regretted never telling Mello all that sentimental crap he felt, but life went on, the world would keep turning even though Mello wasn't there.

Matt shook his head and started shutting the computers down.

His cellphone started to bleep out the Super Mario theme song, and he groaned, not another job, not this late.

He was half-way to leaving it to go to voicemail, he'd take the job in the morning, when he was less knackered, but…

He wasn't sure what it was that made him pick up the phone, but later on he theorised that when you've grown up with someone you get a certain sixth sense about when they're in trouble.

He picked up, "Hello?"

At first there was nothing but a hissing noise, Matt almost hung up, figuring it was a prank call.

Then a couple of choking gasps. And finally, "Ma… t…"

Matt gulped, grinding the end of his cig into the wall, leaving yet another burn-mark, "…Yeah, this is Matt, who is this?"

There was a nasty wet sound and Matt had a vision of some horrible monstrosity dripping blood onto a phone.

"Me…l…"

Matt almost swallowed his tongue. "Mello?"

"…Hel…me…hur…t…"

That sealed it. All the information he needed was right there, Mello was hurt.

He took a breath, "All right Mello, deep breaths, I'll come help but I need to know where you are. Say it slow and careful."

"Use…. GPS…. Idiot." That voice sounded so faint.

Matt nodded, remembering that all cellphones had a GPS chip now, all he'd have to do was a bit of low-level hacking and-

He bit his lip and shook his head, "Ok, ok, I'll do that, Mello, are you in America?"

"Yes." His voice sounded so weak.

"Thank god… me too. Ok, I'll be with you as soon as I can… hold on for me, ok?"

He didn't even have to question why of all people, Mello called him first, or why the idiot didn't call 911 if he was that badly hurt. All he needed was the knowledge that right at this moment, after god knows how much time, Mello needed him.

They were lucky that they'd ended up in the same city after leaving the house. Later on, when half his face was behind bandages, Mello would call it divine intervention, while nodding at his cross. Matt just said Mello was a lucky asshole, while making him another mug of hot chocolate and making sure his wounds were healing.

Eventually Matt asked him why, as Mello had lain dying in the ruins of his base, he called Matt.

Mello eventually admitted it was because he was convinced he was going to die, and above all things, he wanted to tell his best friend in the world that… well, that he was his best friend and for that, Mello loved him.

Matt had laughed and pecked Mello's scarred cheek, and muttered back, "You're my best friend too."