#78 Cabin

Mello's never quite sure what to make of it when he sees Matt in his element. When he's playing his games and winning, his character making such graceful movements to the rhythmic tapping of his fingers.

Or when he's hacking into someone's high-security files for kicks, always with his goggles down and a manic grin on his face.

His driving that was second to none, if he ever forgot how to hack he had a decent career in racing cars waiting for him, of course, if it was mechanical, Matt could make it sing.

And finally, on a trip back to the land that birthed him.

Mello wasn't sure why he'd agreed to it, but after all that mess with Kira he supposed his loyal getaway driver/computer guy/boyfriend deserved a vacation.

Mello didn't really like hot weather, half his skin would tan while the scar would ache and need factor 400 sunscreen before it stopped stinging, besides, it made his leather wardrobe stick to him in unpleasant ways.

Not Matt though, he happily switched his fuzzy clothes for a striped cotton t-shirt and denim shorts.

Those clothes seemed to have been chosen specifically to show off the fact that Matt had developed muscles from somewhere in his arms and legs. He always said it was thanks to Wii sports and Guitar Hero, but Mello suspected he'd been using the time wisely when he had to follow Amane into gyms. Mello hated it, his own body, with its half-tan and half-scar pattern, looked spindly in comparison, he'd always been skinnier than Matt but back home that worked, because Matt covered up. Here, Matt looked gorgeous, Mello looked malnourished.

Of course, being a natural born son of Spain, Matt couldn't burn if he tried, instead turning a rich brown colour that made Mello think of chocolate.

Then there was the talking thing. Back home, Matt didn't speak to anyone other than Mello if he could help it.

But here, the second, the very second they had stepped out the taxi into the little Spanish town where he spend his formative years, people were calling to Matt. And he was replying and waving back to them in a stream of perfect Spanish.

Normally the Spanish would have floored Mello, something about the accent did it for him, but he was too busy concentrating on not being jealous that his shy little Matty was apparently popular here.

When they reached the cabin where they were to be staying for their vacation, Mello's mouth actually dropped open at how… easily Matt slotted in.

There were three or four children playing in the dirt outside, kicking a football around. It sailed towards the red-haired gamer who caught it with the side of his foot and sent it back to them.

Mello glared. "You never played football back at Wammy's."

Matt had shrugged, and kept walking.

Mello just watched. It was all so rustically Matt, the wooden cabin, the bundle of flowers tied over the door, the sweet smell of fresh bread. Though he'd never thought about it before, all these little homey things just clicked in his mind with the thought of his gamer.

Later, they went for a swim in the ocean. Or rather, Matt did, Mello sat on his towel complaining about the sand. Right up until Matt started showing off.

Mello hadn't thought the gamer could swim, let alone glide through the water like he'd been born there.

Playfully the red-head did a handstand in the water, his long legs kicking at air. He went under for minutes at a time and burst out of the water like a merman, gasping only for more air before returning to the water.

It was hard for Mello, seeing the boy he'd become so used to, shy, quiet, and graceful only through avatars, stride out of the water like an aquatic prince, totally in his element.