Silence.
Mello was scowling and his hands were on Song's shoulders. His back was to Matt and he hadn't noticed Matt's entrance. Song's lips curled into a smile when she saw the red-hair.
Matt could only stare.
Anger started to boil inside him. Like a sleeping beast had woken and was fighting to get out of it's cage. He felt an anger like never before. This anger was black, was endless. He wanted get Song away from Mello. He wanted to rip her limb from limb. He wanted hurt her, destroy her.
"Bitch!" He hissed and, just as Mello pushed the girl away, Matt pulled back his fist and punched her squarely in the face.
She slammed into the wall before she slid down to the ground. She held her eye, the target of Matt's punch.
"Matt." Mello gasped, staring at the beyond furious red-head. Matt ignored him and pointed at Song who stared up at him, shocked.
"Get out." He snarled, injecting so much venom into his voice that Song cringed away from him. She stumbled as she tried to get away, her visible eye wide with fear. She fell out of the doorway and Matt slammed the door so hard that a poster of Mario and Sonic was knocked from the wall.
Matt's vision was red and his breathing heavy. He kicked the door and ignored the pain in his toe. He wanted to break something, to smash and utterly destroy something, anything.
"Matt."
Matt turned to glare angry at Mello who was trying to get a straight face but there was a trace of something in those icy orbs... fear? Was that fear? Fear in his eyes? Was Mello afraid of Matt?
Matt fell to the knees as all the anger drained out of him. Leaving him weak and empty.
Tears filled his eyes and he stared down at the floor "I... I... Mello...I..."
But he was unable to finish as he began to shake uncontrollably. A sob rose in his throat and many followed the first. He couldn't stop the tremors that shook his body like an earthquake. He let out a gasp when warm arms encircled him and Mello hugged him to his chest "Shh Matt, it's okay. It's over, calm down."
But Matt couldn't calm down. Not when Mello was holding him like this.
He pushed up his goggles and let the water drain from eye wear before he pressed his face to Mello's shoulder. His tears soaked Mello's shirt but Mello didn't say anything. Matt's curled into fists around Mello's shirt and he cried harder, letting all his tears flow, wet and desperate. The smell of rosemary was there, it always was when Mello was. Matt hiccuped and tried to suck in a breath but the air wouldn't come. He gasped for it as the tears came out faster and harder.
"M-mello... I'm... I'm sorry...I"
"It's okay Matt. Calm down. Don't worry just calm down."
Matt cried till his eyes were dry and red. Even when his gasps for breath became nonexistent and his shaking slowed to a minor tremble Mello still held him. Matt slowly let himself go limp against the blonde. Mello's warmth comforted him and he was perfectly content to stay like this forever. He dreaded the moment when Mello would finally push him away and let him fall.
"Are you alright Matt?" Mello asked, his voice soft.
"Y-yes." Matt muttered, his voice still trembling.
"What you did..." Mello started and Matt winced. Mello must have felt him flinch and his grip around Matt tightened "Let me finish. I want to thank you. Song is..."
"Obsessed." Matt said into Mello's shoulder.
"Yeah, I guess you could put it like that."
Matt pulled away slightly, rubbing the water that still clung to his face away. He stopped when Mello gasped.
"Matt your eyes..."
So Mello had seen them...
His eyes. Matt's eyes.
The skin around Matt's emerald eyes was covered with scratches. Long jagged cuts covered the space under his eyebrows and his eyelids had shallow scars. Every inch of skin that the goggles lens covered were covered with some kind of cut or scar. The skin around the eye was red, wither from the tears or abuse Mello couldn't tell.
Matt tried to ram his goggles back down but Mello caught his fingers. Mello slowly trailed his index finger along a scar that ran under Matt's right eye. Matt looked down, trying to keep Mello's finger in view.
"Who did this to you?" Mello breathed.
"...My parents." Matt muttered, his voice low and cracked. Mello let out a small breath and retracted his finger "But how?"
"They...drank a lot. These are from the bottles." Matt gritted his teeth. Although he had always managed to close his eyes in time that still left his lids defenseless. The dropped bottles always left their mark, always.
"That sea glass..." Mello whispered but Matt shook his head "That was my brother's...he...didn't... survive."
Matt's voice broke on the last word and he curled up into a ball against Mello's chest, his eyes screaming for tears that wouldn't come. Mello brushed the hair gently away from Matt's face "What happened to him?"
"As I said... my parents drank a lot." Matt whispered is voice low "They couldn't...they couldn't... control...I should have stopped them... I could have saved him!"
Mello took Matt's face in his hands and looked into his eyes "What did they do Matt?"
Matt used Mello's shoulders to push himself up. He was shaky as Mello rose, eyes on Matt's still uncovered eyes. Matt reached down and with trembling finger, slowly pushed his shirt up. Mello gasped. The higher the shirt went the purpler and blackened his skin grew.
Mello grabbed Matt's shirt and shoved it down, looking away.
"That's horrible." He muttered, his voice strained. He felt sick and he had to use the wall for support as his legs turned to jelly "And I... hit you... I..."
"I don't blame you Mels."
"But I hit you! I added another bruise to the pile! I..." Mello slid down the wall, his hand over his mouth. Matt knelt beside him "Mello... you saved me from Mich...all is forgiven. I never held it against you."
"But then you got beat up by Mich again! Because of me!" Mello snapped, looking at Matt with what looked like... regret and …..hatred. Mello was hating himself... because of Matt. Matt felt his throat swell with emotion and he slowly leaned forward to wrap one arm around Mello's shoulder and the other around Mello's arm.
"That was my decision and not your fault. Mello please... I don't blame you, for anything." Matt pressed his face to Mello's hair "All I ask is that you don't hate me."
"Why would I hate you? You've done nothing."
"I spit on you."
Mello snorted lightly "Oh yeah, I'm going to hate you forever because of a bit of saliva."
Matt smiled weakly and Mello smiled back.
Mello's smile.
This was the first time Matt had ever seen it.
It was lovely.
That was the first night Mail Jeevas dreamed of Mihael Keehl.
…
"Come on Mello let me go!" Matt struggled in Mello's grip but the blonde held him tightly.
"Give it back Matt."
"Never!"
"Then no."
Matt wiggled and squirmed but Mello's grip didn't slacken.
"Fine." Matt grumbled, inching his hand into is pocket and drawing out the bar of chocolate he had stolen. Mello plucked it from his hand and released Matt.
"You didn't have to go that far." Matt grumbled as he pushed himself up, jiggling his aching shoulder. Mello smirked as he unwrapped the rescued bar and took a chuck off the top. Matt eyed the chocolate, one bite...
"Do it and die." Mello growled through a mouthful of chocolate. Matt sighed and collapsed onto his bed "Your meeeeeeeeean Mello!"
"Huh." Matt shrugged and threw the chocolate wrapper into the garbage. Matt let out a loud and exaggerated sigh. Mello rolled his eyes and threw the rest of the chocolate into his mouth.
"Don't blame me when your teeth rot."
"Don't worry, I won't."
"Okay, just making sure you know."
"Go get a life Matt."
Matt grinned and presented his DS to Mello "My life is digital!"
Matt flipped open the DS and flicked it on "You know Mello, you should try playing. You might actually enjoy it."
"In five years your thumbs will be wore out and weak." Mello opened a chemistry book and propped it against his knees. Matt raised an eyebrow and watched the blonde while his game loaded "We've still got three more weeks of vacation. Why not take it easy and do something fun?"
Mello's expression turned dark and he replied bitterly "If I slack off for even a day my chances of beating Near become smaller."
"You took a day off to go into town with me."
"Yes and after Christmas I studied twice as hard." Mello turned the pages of his book till he was about half way through. There he stopped and trailed a finger along the page to find where he had left off.
"Do you usually go to town?"
Mello didn't answer instead he just turned one more page and leaned back against his bed post.
"I'll take that as a no," Matt smiled "You only went because I asked you to!"
"..."
Matt's smile widened and he looked down at his game just in time to dodge a missile Daisy had sent at him. He hummed quietly as he played, the noises flowing effortlessly from his smiling lips.
"Hey Meeeeeeeeeello."
"What?"
"Are we going to town this year?"
"I don't know. Christmas is pretty far away."
"It's never to early for Christmas!"
"Yes it is. Isn't it dinner time?"
"Yeah why?"
"Go eat and stop bothering me."
Matt rolled his eyes but shut his game never the less. He waved to Mello who waved back. The wave made his lips curled up and a small bounce was added to his step.
"You look happy." Lily observed as Matt dropped into the chair next to her still grinning. He shrugged and pulled a salt shaker toward himself. He sprinkled the snow like mineral into his bake potato before he buried it in ketchup.
"It's just a nice day-"
"Matt."
"GOD NEAR!" Matt roared as once again he almost choked when the boy's soft voice sounded right next to his ear. He coughed a piece of potato into his napkin before he turned to face the small albino "WHAT?"
"Roger would like to see you in his office." Near said, emotionless and even. Matt sighed and got up "Honestly I'm going to have a heart attack before the end of the year if you keep doing this."
He followed Near out of the dinning room and down the hall.
"So are you Roger's messenger or something?" Matt asked, the silence awkward.
Near didn't response.
"Your kinda creepy you know."
Nothing.
Matt glared sideways at the albino "Are you deaf?"
"No."
"What does Roger want anyway?"
"I have a theory but I'd rather not say."
"Why are you coming if he wants to speech with me?" Matt scowled, glaring down at the pale boy.
"He requested my presence as well." Near answered, voice still dull.
Well this was an exciting conversation.
Matt was relieved when they reached the wooden door that led to Roger's office. Near knocked and was given permission to enter. Matt followed him into the large office. Roger was at his desk, shuffling through a nameless file.
"Good evening." He said, gesturing to the two empty chairs before his desk. Matt sat down in the one Near hadn't occupied and watched Roger as he set the file aside and gazed at the two boys.
"Matt," Roger addressed Matt who shifted uncomfortable under the old man's gaze "dorm thirteen is where you sleep correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Mello is your roommate, correct?"
"...Yes sir."
Roger nodded and let his eyes wander to the wide window that over looked the ground as he continued "I'll get straight to the point then. In one weeks time I wish for you to move to Near's room. Not permanently but only for a couple of days."
Matt blinked, not quite taking in Roger's words "What? Near's room...what?"
"I just wish for you to stay there for about a week."
"Why?" Matt glared over at Near who was curling a piece of white hair around his pale index finger. He wasn't showing any reaction to Roger's words. Either this had been his theory or he was just a dull person. Probably both.
"I don't want to be anywhere near this kid! Why do I have to switch rooms?" Matt demanded again, raising from his chair and pointing at Near. Roger looked surprised "You have something against Near?"
"I don't like him!"
"Well then Mello is a very appropriate roommate for you."
"Exactly! Why should I switch rooms?"
"It's only for a few-"
"I don't care how long it is! Why do I need to move at all?"
"Please sit Matt." Roger said, it wasn't a suggestion. Matt glowering at the old man but sat.
"Thank you," Roger nodded "Now, Matt, in exactly a week from today the results of the exams will be posted. We have already gone through the exams and found out who did the best and who did the worse."
"And?"
"And I have decided after seeing the list it would be...um... safer for you to be away from Mello when he gets the news." Roger looked uncomfortable but Matt's eyes widened "Near beat him, didn't he!"
"That is correct," Roger answered without pause"We ask that you not share this information with Mello till-"
"Can't I stay with someone else?" Matt glared over at Near who still hadn't said anything.
"Near's roommate has reached an age in which he will be aloud to leave the orphanage. His roommate's grades were not high enough for him to have a shot of taking over for L. This means that Near is the only person without a roommate." Roger replied. Matt glared at a pen on Roger's desk, pretending it was Near's nameless roommate.
"What is I don't want to leave room thirteen?"
"It is not an option." Roger dismissed Matt's question. Matt scowled but keep his mouth shut as Near finally spoke "Mich finished moving all of his stuff yesterday. He should be ready to leave soon."
"Mich is your roommate?" Matt snapped his head around to stare a Near who nodded.
Well that was one good thing. No more Mich.
"In that case Matt, you can move some stuff into that room when ever. It's room six correct?" Roger asked and Near inclined his head, eyes closed. Matt sighed "Should I tell Mello? That I'll be gone for a week?"
"No."
"Is that all?" Matt rose.
"Wait just a moment Matt. Near you can go."
"Yes sir." Near muttered, shuffling past Matt out of the office door. Matt was left alone with Roger who stood "Matt listen."
Matt turned back to look at the old man who's serious expression had dropped. He cleared his throat and continued "I just want you to know that this really is for the best. Mello is not safe to be around when he's angry."
Matt's expression hardened and he turned back to the door "If that's all I'll be going now."
"Goodnight Matt."
But Matt didn't response as he slammed the door behind him.
…
"What are you doing Matt?"
Matt jumped and almost dropped the box he was carrying "Mello you scared me!"
"I know, what are you doing?" The blonde asked again as he dropped a book on his bed and watched Matt adjust his grip on the box.
"Trying to clean out the closet." Matt lied quickly and Mello blinked "Why?"
"Because it's a mess."
"Have fun."
"I will."
Moments later Matt went into a coughing fit as two full inches of dust was knocked from a shelf in the closet. Lucky his eyes were spared thanks to his goggles but his nose and mouth were hit will flurries of dust.
"Still having fun?" Mello asked without looking up from his book.
"Thanks for the sympathy." Matt crocked as he stepped further away from the closet, batting at the air as he coughed. He sneezed violently and ran into the bathroom for water. He recovered from the fit after several minutes and approached the closet warily. He tied a shirt over his mouth and nose and opened the closet door all the way. He took a deep breath before he ran in and threw everything out that wasn't breakable. Yes, threw, as in literally tossed. Good thing Mello's bed was not in the immediate line of fire or Matt would have an angry blonde on his case.
Matt felt like a gladiator as he continued to empty the closet even when the dust became to thick to see through. He removed anything breakable last then slammed the door him with a sigh of relief. The relief was replaced with guilt when he saw Mello was now the one in a coughing fit.
"Ha, sorry Mels."
Mello glared at him but couldn't speak through the dust clogging his throat. Matt ran to get him some water which he gulped down so fast it ran down his chin and onto his shirt. Mello spit up most of it since he was still coughing as he drank. He rubbed the water from his chin and rubbed his throat, glaring at Matt. Matt laughing nervously and patted the blonde's arm "Sorry!"
Mello just shook his head and waved Matt off. Matt began to gather the things he had throw and put them all together in a pile. Next time he would need to come up with a less time consuming lie.
"Crap, keep, crap, crap, keep." Matt sorted through the stuff from the closet. He found an old game boy color and immediately pocketed it. He didn't know why it was there but it was to exciting of a find to put back. He also found the missing remote that he had looked for when he had first dragged out the TV and under a large boxes of bored games he found a small striped long sleeved shirt.
"Sweet!" he cried, slipping it on over his Legend of Zelda T-shirt. He twisted around and showed Mello "What do you think? Suites me huh?"
"You looking like a strangely colored candy cane." Mello replied.
"I like it!" Mello did a small spin. The red and black striped shirt was a bit to big for him but that was good. It meant he would be able to wear it longer.
"Excellent! Look Mello! Another one!" Matt picked up a white and black stripped shirt that, other than the colors, matched the first. He slipped off the the first and put the second one on. It was slightly bigger than the first but was just as comfortable.
"I'm keeping them!"
"Give them a good wash first then. I don't want to have to live with at smell." Mello muttered, wrinkling his nose. Matt sniffed one and shrugged. They smelled bad, but not that bad.
"Who's are they?" Matt asked, slipping of the shirt and folding it up with the other. Mello shrugged "No idea, that closet hasn't been cleaned out in ages. That stuff was here before I was."
Matt dived back into the pile of closet junk. New eagerness driving him to examine each and every object. He found a couple games to go along with the game boy and a small robot which he watched walk around the room with fascination.
"I can't believe it still works!" Matt breathed as it bumped into the TV several times before Matt moved the small robot onto his bed to walk around.
"It's newer then most of that stuff." Mello muttered darkly and Matt glanced over at him "Is it yours?"
"Yeah. Near gave it to me the first year I was here even though he knew I hated him." Mello snorted, watching the robot as it walked off of Matt's bed and fell to the floor, still moving.
"Why didn't you just get rid of it?" Matt asked curiously.
"Roger wouldn't let me."
"Oh." Matt picked up the wiggling robot and turned it off "Well I'm done looking through the stuff. Was there anything you wanted from the pile?"
"No. You can just get rid of it all." Mello closed his book and used it as a pillow as he rolled over. Matt busied himself looking for a box while Mello just lay there. Matt began to load the unwanted junk into the box he had found while he put everything he was keeping to the side. He put the boxes by the trash can and threw his new shirts into his laundry bin.
He picked up the half full box of stuff he was taking to Near's room and pushed it under his bed. He would have to continue his packing another time. He pushed an old looking Pokemon game into the gameboy color and turned the same handheld game on.
"Awwww Sparky is so cute!" Matt cried as he played, smiling as he clicked away at the buttons.
"Sparky?"
"My pikachu!"
"... Sparky was the best name you could come up with?" Mello asked, glancing over at Matt who laughed "Yep!"
"What is that?"
"A gameboy color! I found it in the closet!"
"So, does Lily know your a gamer?"
"Only you know. Unless you told someone."
"Who would I tell?"
Matt shrugged and used thunderbolt to weaken down a pidgey. He stick his tongue out as he concentrated on catching the weakened Pokemon. He watched eagerly as the pokeball tilted to the side twice then turned black.
"Whoo! Pidgey your mine!"
"What did you call it? Piggy?" Mello asked without looking up.
"Nope!" Matt grinned from ear to ear.
"Birdy?"
"No."
"Flying thing?"
"Not a chance."
Mello sighed "Well those are the only stupid and obvious names I could think of right now. What did you call it?"
Matt smiled.
"I called it Mello!"
Author's note: Hoped you all liked the Song punch and all. School week ahead but I will try to update before next Saturday. GETTING MY MAC BACK WHOO! Thanks to my reviewers: Mercory, FrenchKissOfMandM, and insanepersonishappy.
Now I would like to once AGAIN thank insanepersonishappy for leaving another hilarious review and also a very funny message when I didn't update fast enough. I would now like to crown insanepersonishappy my favorite reviewer.
*puts crown on bonfire's head*
Thank you insanepersonishappy.
Please R&R!