Mello scowled at the test. Another perfect score for Near, another near perfect score for Mello. No matter how hard he tried, the stupid brat always did better than him.
And now L was obviously favoring him.
How dare they have the audacity to team up against him like that! It's not fair in the slightest bit.
And there they all are, fawning over Near. Perfect, genius, never-makes-a-mistake Near. It makes Mello sick, to see all of them craning to see what Near got. Near looking all shy and uncomfortable. But he was probably secretly enjoying it. He probably loved laughing at Mello for always being second. He's probably thinking, "You have to be first to be L. Sucks to be you!"
Mello took a seat at his desk and jammed the test into his bag, grabbing a bar of chocolate in the process. Matt came over and sat in the desk in front of him.
"What did'cha get?"
"98." Mello snarled, devouring the chocolate and grabbing another.
Matt frowned. "I got a 76."
"You should study more."
Matt snorted. "Yeah, it's doing you a load of good. You study 'til your eyes bleed; Near glances at a book, and he's still first."
Mello's fist twitched. He longed to swing at Matt, but he instead took a vicious bite of his chocolate bar.
Matt cocked his head to one side. "What, you're not going to hit me?"
"I promised L I wouldn't." Mello replied through a mouth full of chocolate.
Matt nodded in understanding. "Say, you wouldn't happen to have any batteries, would ya?"
"I hate this." Near thought to himself as kids crowded around him. There's nothing new. A 100 in big red letters and a smiley face, proclaiming he got a perfect score. Last time there was a 110 because he answered the extra credit question.
Near hated the end of class when the teacher passed back the tests. He loved getting a perfect score, but he hated the attention it brought. He hated standing there in the middle of a bunch of kids, them saying "let me see, let me see!" even thought it was the same thing.
Near shook his head and sighed. He thought about just throwing the test into the swarm of kids, wondering if they would tear it, each trying to look at it for themselves. He hated the rockstar feeling that washed over him.
If this was any other place, when someone got 100 the kids would say "Congrats!" and that was that. However, here, a 100 is amazing (unless you're Near. Then someone would die if he got less than 100.)
When the day finally ended, Near just wanted to go to bed. He didn't want to have to focus on anything. His usually flat line life was a rollercoaster, ever since L showed up. He was constantly trying to figure out his feelings for the older man.
"My feelings..."
He hadn't had time at all that day to concentrate on his dream. Now, as the sun was setting, he dropped his pen on the open notebook and looked out the window.
The last rays as the sun were nearly blinding as the glowing orb sunk below the horizon. Near subconsciously chewed on his lower lip. It was obvious now. There was no denying it.
He was in love with L.
Or as in love as 10 year old boy could be.
This realization wasn't nearly as shocking as one would think. Near merely twirled his hair, contemplating this new discovery.
"The main question is, how do I get im to like me back?" Near thought, his long fingers attacking the light colored strands. He was young– only 10 years old. He'd probably have to wait a few years before L even thought about looking at him as more than a successor.
Near was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the girl enter his room.
"Hi Near."
Near turned his head to look at the girl, biting back a gasp of surprise. "Hello Kinoko."
"I was wondering if I could hang out?"
"I'd prefer if you didn't."
"What if I'm quiet?"
"I really doubt that'll happen."
"Hey!" the girl said, her voice full of mock anger. "That's mean."
"I suppose it was."
"Well, as payback for being mean to me, I'm going to stay in here."
"If you must. I'm going to study though, so I wont be paying attention to you."
Kinoko pouted. "It's not like you need to study!"
"Yes I do. I can't seem to get the hold of Russian."
"What, are you afraid Mello will get ahead of you?" Kinoko teased.
"Precisely." Near just wanted her to leave.
If he had been looking, he would have seen the fire that his statement sparked in her deep, brown eyes.
"That's the problem with you, Near!"
"Excuse me?" Near asked her, unsure of what provoked her sudden outburst.
"You think you're better than everyone else!"
"No I don't–"
"You think that just because you might become the next L that your all high and mighty! Well let me tell you something– you're not. Here I am, the only girl that will talk to you, and you don't even care! You're to caught up in yourself to notice anyone else!"
"Kinoko, that's not–"
"Don't you care about how I feel?" The girl asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "Haven't you ever bothered to take the time and think about me, and how many times I try to get you to talk to me?!"
Near blinked. "Why would you want me to talk to you?"
Kinoko stopped, her eyes wide in shock. "Because I like you, Near! For a genius, you're pretty stupid!" then she ran out of the room, crying.
Near stared after her, virtually unfazed by what had just taken place.
He picked up his pencil, relocating his train of thought.
"Ok," he thought, "there's an example of one way how I should not try to win his heart." then the platinum haired boy got to work on his Russian homework.
Matt watched tet hysterical girl run out of Near's room, sobbing. It was no secret that she harbored a crush for the mysterious boy. But he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was actually quite wanted. He'd probably be very popular if he wasn't so anti-social. Matt shook his head, his fingers moving skillfully over the gameboy. He walked down the hall, humming quietly to himself.
Matt wandered into Mello's room. He sunk onto Mello's bed, still humming.
"Not now Matt. I'm studying."
"So is Near." Matt informed, leaning back against the pillows. "Apparently, he can't master Russian."
"Russian?"
"Yep."
Mello smiled. "Interesting."
"You sound like a sick pervert, you know that right?" Matt asked. He yelped when the CD hit him square in the forehead.
"Owww." He complained, rubbing his head. "I thought L told you not to do that anymore."
Mello smiled at Matt. "Like one CD throw is going to jeopardize anything."
"It very well could. I'll make it!"
"Shut up, Matt. I've done worse to you." Mello said, turning back to his book. Matt pouted, but went back to his game, all well in the Wammy house. Weeks passed without any word from L. Near was starting to worry, though he had no idea why. If anything bad had happened to L, Roger would have told them.
Then one day, Roger called the boys to his office. Near sat on the floor-- he rarely stood for long, and Mello stood next to him-- He loved feeling superior when he towered over the lighter haired boy.
"Well," Roger began, "I've heard from Ryuuzaki and he's asked that you two be ready tomorrow by 8:00 A.M. for a surprise."
"What about classes?" Mello asked, not that he really cared.
"I think that since you two are the top of all our classes that it'll be fine if you miss a day."
Mello beamed. He asked if they were dismissed; he couldn't wait to go brag to Matt about his surprise.
Roger said they were free to go, and Mello ran out of the room. Near got to his feet and followed him, walking into his room and setting his toy on the ground. Then he climbed onto his bed, face down and buried his head in the pillow. He was eager for this surprise, but in all honesty, he was afraid to see L.
The day arrived and both boys were ready. Roger had ordered them to sit outside on the front steps and wait for the black car to arrive. L was right on time, a black car rolling to a stop right in front of them. L rolled down the window and smiled faintly. The two boys jumped up and ran (Well, Mello ran. Near kind of shuffled, not used to the loose shoes that adorned his feet.) to the car. L opened the door and the kids climbed into the spacious vehicle. They settled down on the expensive seats where Near fidgeted. He couldn't get comfortable. He longed to put his left leg on the seat beside him, but in respect of L and the car, his sneakered foot stayed on the floor.
"Good morning." L greeted them.
"Good morning!" Mello exclaimed happily.
"Good morning." Near said, much less enthusiastically, still struggling with the urge to lift his leg. "Is something wrong?" L asked Near, looking at the boy curiously.
"It's just that..." Near started, pleasantly surprised by L's concern. "I don't like shoes, or sitting like this."
A smile flitted across L's lips. "Then sit as you please. Anything to please you two." L said, handing Mello a chocolate bar. Near happily kicked off the nearly brand new shoes and pulled his foot on the seat.
"Today I have arranged a test for you two. I know it's probably not the surprise you were looking forward too, but I do believe that you two will enjoy it more than
you would any other."
Mello looked up from his chocolate bar. "What is it?"
"I have solved a case the other day. I am taking you two to a hotel room where I've arranged all the data I've collected. Think of it as a contest... Whoever solves the case first."
Mello's eyes lit up. He was excited when ever someone mentioned "Contest", especially against Near. "What do we get if we win?"
"Now that," L said quietly, his eyes shining, "Is a secret."
"Anything interesting happen in the time I was gone?" L asked the crestfallen boys.
"Well," Mello pondered. "Some guy mistook me as a girl."
L smiled slightly. "Oh really?"
"Yeah! I know I have long hair, but I don't look that girlish!"
L chuckled. "No, you don't. It's a mystery as to how anyone could mistake you as female."
Mello smiled happily at L.
"What about you, Near?"
"Nothing interesting happened..." Near said quietly, remembering his dream.
"Then tell me something uninteresting."
"I wouldn't want to bore you--"
"He made a girl cry." Mello cut in, biting into the chocolate bar.
L raised his eyebrows.
"You did?"
"N-no! Not on purpose anyway..." Near jumped to defend himself. "She came into my room and started to talk to me. Then suddenly she started yelling and ran off crying."
Mello leaned into L like he was telling him a secret. His eyes sparkled maliciously.
"She has a huge crush on him, and I think he likes her too, but is afraid to admit it."
"Ah." L replied, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Near.
"What? No! I--" Near stopped himself. He was about to say "I like L."
"I?" Mello teased.
"I don't like her."
"I believe you." L said convincingly.
Near blinked up at him.
"Thank you, God."
The time passed with some chit chat to make the minutes more bearable.
They arrived at the hotel and filed out of the car and into the glass doors. The trio climbed a few flights of stars before stopping in front of door 417. L slid his card key and opened the door.
They entered the room, which was neat and tidy aside from two computers with stacks of paper beside each.
L stepped to the side of the door and gestured around the room. "You can use anything in here. All the data I used is presented before you, but raw. I solved this case in 13 hours-- finding all I needed and figuring out the who did what. You should be able to find the culprit in 13 hours or less. You may begin."
Mello and Near took they're seats at a computer as far from each other as the could get. L didn't leave, probably so they couldn't help or sabotage each other. He instead sat on the couch eating an ice cream cone.
(A/N This part is shortened because I'm to lazy to write out how they got to this conclusion)
Near had reviewed every fact, now all he needed to do was put together the puzzle. He already had idea's where the pieces should go. It was obvious that Rebecca didn't do it, and Ahmed had no reason too, which means it has to be--
"Got it!"
L looked up, expressionless. "Who was it?"
"Mira Neonavic killed Bruce English."
"Good job. You got it."
The winner looked almost as sweet as the chocolate he regularly consumed.
Near gaped at the blonde.
"He beat me?! He got the answer mere seconds before me?!"
"I suppose you want your prize?"
"Oh yes." Mello replied.
L pulled out a piece of paper and handed to Mello. Near got a glimpse of the thin paper, which happily proclaimed that it could be used to spend the 12 hour day with L. The coupon was decorated with what appeared to be panda's, dancing in the corner and across the bottom.
"There are regulations." L continued. "If I'm in the middle of a case, I can't just drop everything and come see you. You can't expect me to arrive in 3 minutes, especially if I'm in another part of the world. However, when I do get here, your 12 hours start when I am officially in front of you. They will end no sooner than 12 hours, unless of course you ask me to leave. Any questions?"
Mello blinked down at the paper. "What's with the pandas?"
L blinked back at Mello, an almost embarrassed look spreading across his features.
"I was bored on the plane ride over here." He said very matter of factly.
Mello smiled. He'd been smiling a lot lately, Near noted. Smiling at his L.
"I think they're cute." Mello said lightly.
L smiled. He's been smiling a lot too, at Mello of all people!
"Me too."
Near was distressed. They were sharing a moment. Multiple moment's! All because Mello beat him. How could he finally lose to Mello, and at something so important to him!
He wanted to blame someone. There was only one other time he'd failed like this. He had to place the blame on someone else before his own self loathing got out of control. But he couldn't. He knew it was all his fault.
L dropped them off and drove away. After losing to his rival, Near was even more closed off than usual. He gave a weak goodbye to L before he was gone and Near dragged himself up the front steps to the orphanage. Mello grabbed onto the other boys sleeve, smirking as he turned around to meet Mello's gaze slowly.
"Whoever would have thought that I finally beat you-- and at something as important as this! you really should have lost to me at a geography test, Near. Now I'm in the lead and we both know it."
Then he released Near and walked through the door.
Near stared after him, motionless and silent. He watched the door swing shut.
Mello was right. He knew that L could see Mello's full potential now.
Near didn't want to go inside. He instead walked through the looming darkness and to the swing set.
"How depressing. Like in movies." he thought to himself as he took a seat on the swing.
He closed his eyes and pushed off from the ground gently, his toes grazing the dirt as his ankles flexed, propelling his body into a slow swing. He kept pushing, soon pumping his legs until the chains were no longer swaying slowly, but swinging ferociously. The cold wind of the night lashed at his hair and chilled his face. It easily went though his thin pajama's and sent goose bumps to raise across nearly every inch of his pale, angelic skin.
He'd never felt more alone in his whole life.
I wrote half of this chapter in gmail because it has spell check and autosave. There was no way I was using notepad, and my new computer doesn't have wordperfect yet. Oh, the pain.
But about the chapter.
This chapter originally started as a seperate story, a oneshot. It was going to be called "Sweet Imperfection." But after writing the first paragraph, I decided to turn it into a chapter.
The reason L is all nice to the kids is because he remember what it's like to be an orphaned child, and thus treats them differently. He is softer around them and more relaxed. So it's kind of like a new side of him, not an OOC thing (Even though it kind of is... X( ...)
Somethings to look forward to:
Near's past-- Revealed! (In chapter 7)
Lind. L. Tailor's big part! (In chapter 7..)
L and Near sleep together!! (But in the innocent way, not the screwing each other way. But it's in the next chapter!!)
So stick around! You might find it worth your while!
-Hybrid
(EDIT-- In my eagerness to post this, I didn't see that it said "24" instead of "12" which what it was supposed to say. I also meant that Near's past and the Lind. L. ness would happen in chapter 7. I forgot what chapter this was... //Blushes//)