Looseleaf

CXXIX. Misfortune

Mello's eyes went wide. He interrupted himself mid-speech to shriek, "HOLY CRAP, NEAR!"

Matt winced, thinking, Is it natural for his voice to go that high...? as he watched the blond high-tail out of the room. With a weary sigh, Matt dropped the shirt he was in the middle of folding and followed.

Mello was the first to arrive at Near's room. First, he checked the mailbox outside the door, in case Near hadn't gotten the card yet. Unfortunately, the mailbox had been emptied. "Damn," Mello muttered to himself.

"I don't really get what's going on," Matt said, appearing around the corner, "but at least he doesn't hate me. Yay." He twiddled his fingers in the air sarcastically.

"Matt!" a certain chocoholic barked. "Get over here!"

Matt did.

"Now, open that door, go in, grab the card, and get back out," Mello ordered.

Matt frowned. "But why should I do it?"

"Because this is all your fault!" Mello all but screeched.

Again, Matt sighed. Mello's reasoning was fucked up and Matt would never ever try to understand it. "Yes Mello," he said resignedly, and twisted the doorknob. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Near?" he called into the dark room. "Did you get a card from- Mmph!"

Okay, why, all of the sudden, was there a pale boy practically clinging to his front? And-

"Oh god," Matt groaned, struggling to hold the weight. He nearly doubled over when he felt himself being kissed. "Near!" he exclaimed, un-sticking the boy from him and flinging him back. "What was that for?"

Near blinked. "You're not Mello," he said.

"Really," Matt snapped.

"What was that?" Mello asked angrily, walking in. "Near, tell me that you did not just rape my Matt's mouth."

"But I did," Near said bluntly.

Mello's face colored red in frustration. "This. Is. Mine!" he growled, yanking Matt back protectively. The blond pouted like a petulant child. "Mine."

Near adjusted the collar of his pajamas, declaring, "I was going to experiment whether or not I like boys before I can answer your declaration of love."

"So you ambushed me?" Matt was still hysterical.

"I was planning for Mello to be in your place," Near said, almost thoughtfully.

Mello patted Matt's head comfortingly. "So, Near, do you like boys?"

There was a small pause before Near replied, "I don't know." He held up a card. "I believe this is yours," he said, expertly throwing it at Mello.

The blond caught it. "Let's go, Matt," he said haughtily, turning around and beginning to drag Matt back to their room.

This year's Valentine's Day was really weird, Matt thought. First, to this day forth, I was apparently Mello's property. Second, a freaking little albino stole my second kiss. And third...I'm pretty sure said albino just winked at me...

I swear there was a part in the manga when I saw Near holding a puppet that resembled Matt. Complete with the gameboy, too. :P