"What in the world are you two doing?!"

Emotionless, Near half-crawled, was half shoved off of Mello, who had turned a deep shade of red from anger and embarrassment.

"Fighting!" Mello yelled.

"I think you need to come with me," Roger said carefully, gesturing for them to follow him. Reluctantly, the boys got to their feet and were lead into a Roger's office, where he proceeded to tell them about the "birds and the bees."

"We are not having this conversation!" Mello bellowed, covering his ears. Near hunched his shoulders slightly and stared at the the ugly carpet.

"Mello, you're eleven now, and I'm sure you're going to start noticing some changes in your body, if you haven't... already." Roger's eyes darted to Near.

Mello was furious at the subtle accusation. "Oh, hell no. I do not have the hots for Near!" He yelled.

"Nor do I have the hots for Mello." Near said quietly, confused when an image of L flashed momentarily through his mind.

Roger looked relieved, but soon wiped the look from his face, adopting a more stern one. He cleared his throat. "Regardless of who you like or may come to like, we need to have this talk."

And this Near learned that it was "okay to like boys," but that he should, "wait until he was a little older" to act on these feelings.

A few days after this, L showed up unannounced at the orphanage. He skulked in Mello's doorway, calling the young boy's attention to him with a soft greeting.

"Hello,"

"L-- erm, Ryuuzaki!" Mello gasped, jumping to give L a quick embrace. "What are you going here?"

L gave a shrug, wrapping his arms around Mello briefly before pulling away. "I was in the area, and I know that we have a few things to discuss. Mello, your behavior is inexcusable."

Mello cringed. How like L, so concise and to the point. "I know." He mumbled, hardly audible.

"Why are you so unruly?" Mello cringed again, and told himself that L is just blunt, that he's not trying to hurt the younger boy's feelings.

"I don't.. know." He looked up at L to find him nibbling on his thumb.

"Could it have anything to do with your parents?" L questioned. Mello stiffened, and L gave a slight nod of understanding. "Most of the other children here have lost their parents in a similar manner, and they are not taking their harsh feelings out on others. There is a very talented counselor here and Whammy's, and I advice that you see him sometimes."

Mello was angry, hurt, speechless. He nodded. L set his hand on the boy's blonde head and then turned to leave.

"What-- Where are you going?" Mello asked, alarmed. He didn't want his visit to be just a lecture on good behavior. He's missed L and wanted to spend more time with him.

"I'm going to say hello to Near and then leave. I have work I must do."

"Well, maybe you can stay just a little bit longer and try something fun?" L placed his thumb to his lips.

"Fun? What have you got in mind?"

Mello smirked.

- - -

Near was wondering the halls, intricate paper plane in hand, making little engine noises as he flew it. He walked by Mello's door and was mildly surprised to find the door ajar; Mello cherished his privacy and almost had the door shut completely. The sounds of a game floated out of the room and Near resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course Matt and Mello were in there beating each other up in a fighting game. Near continued his treacherous voyage when he overheard something strange.

"You're not very good at this, are you?" The voice was unmistakably Mello's, but the words confused him. Matt spent almost his entire free time playing video games; it was the thing he was best at.

"I apologize that I haven't spent my days mashing buttons.

Matt had spent his days mashing buttons, and besides, that voice was much deeper than Matt's. And familiar. But whose could it be?

"Don't apologize Ryuuzaki-kun, just get better."

"Don't make fun of my possible heritage."

In disbelief, Near retraced his steps and peered into the room. Sure enough, as the voices suggested, there was L and Mello, sitting side-by-side, an overly violent video game flashing across the screen. Near blinked quickly, gave his head a small shake, and looked again. He had some pretty strange dreams, but this was pure nonsense. L wouldn't partake in such a mindless, immature activity.

L smiled sweetly at the blonde as his character sent Mello's flying across the screen with a well timed kick, fiery letters blazing across the screen, an announced saying, "K.O." Mello scoffed.

"You only won 'cause I went easy on ya'."

"You just can't admit that I beat you fairly."

"Oh, right. As if that could have ever happened."

And then, against all odds, L stuck his tongue out at Mello, who sniggered.

Near was transfixed. "This is ridiculous." He thought. He looked down at his paper plane, which had taken three hours, and realized he'd be upset if he'd only made it in a dream. And then he pinched his arm. Hard. Much harder than he'd anticipated.

"Ah!" he yelped. He was awake. And he felt two sets of eyes on him.

"Oh, hello Near," L greeted him, "care to join us?"

Mello rolled his eyes. "If he joined us, we'd have to play a racing game."

"I.." Near started, unable to finish his thought.

L pouted. "Aw, right when I was getting good at Tekken, too."

"Is this really happening?" Near thought, feeling awkward and out of place.

"Get in here, we won't wait forever." Mello barked. A moment longer, and Near trotted into the room, letting his plane drop to the floor. L picked it up and started to examining it while Mello switched the games. Slowly, Near sank to the floor, beside L, his knee to his chest. Mello passed him a controller, and near gripped it faintly, looking down at all the buttons.

Near chose his character last. It was some futuristic motorcycle game, and all he had to choose from her girls in tight clothing, which made him a little uncomfortable. But, sooner then he wanted, he was at the starting line. Mello took instant first, followed by L, and finally Near at the the very end. A little dazed, Near pressed the X button hard. This was his first time playing a video game. He soon caught up with Mello and L-- this may have been his first time, but he seemed to have a natural talent.

His concentration was shattered, however, when L got to into a turn, and pressed his body against Near's. The breath caught in his throat when he felt the older man against him, and either L didn't notice or didn't mind, as his eyes stayed on the TV, and his body stayed against Near's.

"Come on, Near." L said, his voice lacking emotion. "If we shoot Mello down, one of us can still get first place.

"Hey!" Mello yelled, his eyes not leaving the screen. The finish line was looming ahead and Near could hear the fake cheer of the games crowd, complete with camera flashes. Suddenly, L swerved his motorcycle into Mello's exploding his and causing Mello so slow considerably.

"Come on," L said, excitement creeping into his voice. Near avoided the wreckage and and flew over the finish line.

"PLAYER THREE-- WINS!" The game said.

Mello stared at the screen, and odd look in his eyes. "You.. beat me."

Near was just as shocked, his body tingling with delight. His mind buzzing from L's warmth.

"He actually helped me. He helped me win." And now he was leaving. L was getting to his feet, rolling his almost perpetually hunched shoulders.

"I'm afraid I've stayed here much longer than I'd plan and I must be going."

Mello leapt into a hug. "See-ya, Ryuu-kun!" He laughed, making another jab at L's peculiar nickname. L released Mello and reached for Near, who was still getting up from the floor. He walked into L's hug and breathed him in. He smelled of fresh laundry and sugar and a unique scent he couldn't place, a scent that was just L. One of the greatest things he'd ever smelled. He loved the way L's thin arms felt around him.

L ended the hug and left with a quiet farewell. Near stood silent for a moment, but before you could leave, Mello spoke.

"What is L to you? Who.. is he in your life?" Near felt the blood prickle under his skin.

"What?" He asked.

"He's kind of like me... Dad. You know? He's kind of like that father that I... didn't get to have.."

Near swallowed. "Yes. A father." And he left. He walked into his room and snuggled in under the sheets. "What is L to me? Why do I feel... this way around him? I've never felt like this before." He was confused, alarmed. L wasn't a father to him. But what?

He closed his eyes, deciding to save it for the morning.