"UGH THIS ROOM SMELLS DISGUESTING!" Matt clapped a hand to his nose.
The room smelled of clay and plastic, these two smells were not actually unpleasant to Matt. But he certainly wasn't going down with out several complains as Roger set Matt's packed things down on Mich's old bed.
"And what the crap is all this?" Matt gestured to all the toys scattered around the room. Near was in the middle of assembling a small train track that ran around the entire room. Matt watched as the pale boy set a small train with one engine down on the toy track.
"They are Near's toys." Roger answered, his tone implying that Matt's question had been a stupid one. Matt snorted and threw his pillow onto Mich's old bed.
"Try to get along." Roger muttered before he backed out of the room, missing the scowl Matt aimed at him. Matt huffed out a breath and glared over at Near who had started up the small train's engine. It whirred and slowly began to chug around the tracks, a small cloud of silvery steam rose from it. Near followed the train with his eyes, shifting around to keep it in sight.
"Well this is boring."
"You say that only because you dislike my presences."
"No, I'm saying it because I'm bored. Is this what you do all day?"
"Considering Mello's hobby is eating chocolate, I would say my actions are less likely to cause boredom." Near replied, not once looking up at Matt. Matt glared down at the pale boy but didn't reply. What could he say?
"So, how is life as Mello's roommate?" Near asked as the train came to a halt in front of him. Matt bristled "That's none of your business!"
"It was a simple question." Near answered "No need to get defensive."
"I'm not getting defensive." Matt grumbled, pulling out his new gameboy color. Near's lips twitched but he didn't press the matter. Roger was posting the results as they spoke and Matt could hear people yelling about it in the hall. Some worried they hadn't done well while others were yelling that they thought they were in the top five.
"How do you think you did?" Near asked, letting the train go around once more as the noise outside grew louder. Matt shrugged "I don't know."
"Are you going to go check?"
Matt scowled "I plan to."
He stalled by the door, tingling with excitement while Near didn't move from his place on the floor. Despite knowing Mello would be upset, Matt was excited. He always felt so satisfied after he had done well on a test. For this reason he pushed out of the room and to the front of the crowd milling toward the library. The results were to be posted on the doors.
Matt was shocked to see his name was near the top of the list.
"Wow Matt you got third!" Lily cried as she joined him. Matt eyes trailed farther down the list. Pavel's name was under his and then Mich's. Lily was number seven and West was above her. Right above Matt's name was Mello's,then Near's which dominated the list of twenty-six students.
"Matt listen... about Mello. "Lily started but Matt shrugged her off "Don't worry Lily, I'm staying with Near for the next week or so."
"Thank goodness." Lily breathed quietly and Matt got the feeling he wasn't suppose to have heard. Matt turned away from the list and pushed back through the crowd. He saw Mello hanging out at the back of the crowd, hands in pockets and staring at the floor.
"How did you do?" He asked without looking up.
"Alright, I got third."
Mello nodded.
"Waiting for them to clear?"
Mello nodded again "I don't see any point in rushing."
Matt knew as well as every other student was that Mello want to rush to the front to see if he was first, to see if he had finally beat Near. But past years of failure had taught him that if he got his hopes up to high people would get hurt.
Near hadn't moved an inch from his place on the floor when Matt returned the white room. Yes, the room was white and Mello's was dark. Typical. Matt glared silently at the albino. He crossed his arms and leaned against the door.
"Why are you upset if you already knew the outcome." Near asked without turning.
"Because it's times like these where it's best to have a friend around. Mello has no one now that I'm stuck here."
"Are you his friend then?" Near asked, turned to look Matt full in the face. Matt narrowed his eyes and nodded.
"Then by all means go back to room thirteen." Near fidgeted with a small action figure in his hand "Of course because of Roger's orders you will have to sleep here. But if you truly think it's safe then by all means leave."
"So what happens? Mello goes into a rage or something?" Matt asked instead of leaving. Near smiled. It made him look so much like a little creepy clown that Matt almost cringed.
"You'll have to see for yourself. I bet he's seen the results by now." Near smiled and popped the head of his action figure right off.
C-r-e-e-p-y-!
"He works so hard for the title of L yet you seem so... uncaring!" Matt growled and Near tilted his head "Mello let's his emotions get ahead of him. This is why he might not be a suitable successor of L."
Matt scowled and pushed off the wall. He flung the door open and walked down the hall toward room thirteen.
"Hey Matt where ya going?" Lily said in a cheery voice as she stepped out of her room.
"Going to see Mello." Matt kept walking.
"Matt you can't! Me and my roommate heard banging-"
"That's why I have to go Lily!" Matt exclaimed as he neared the room. Lily grabbed his arm and tried to hold him back "Don't do it Matt! Are you suicidal?"
"Let go!" Matt shook her off and reached for the handle. Lily stepped away looking scared. Matt had to jump back as a book was thrown right through the open door. Lily let out a small scream and Matt felt his stomach do a funny flip.
"Matt please!" Lily pleaded but Matt had already taken a deep breath and stepped into the room.
The room was a mess and was getting messier every second. Mello was shoving things off of shelves and smashing everything he could reach. A foot sized hole had been put in the TV and the remote was thrown out the window as Matt entered.
"Mello!" Matt gasped as the blonde blindly ripped most of his books up. Mello didn't response. He smashed a small glass jar of powder that was in the box by the trash can. Matt gasped again when he saw blood dripping from Mello's finger. He had cut himself on the shattered glass.
Matt ran forward and tried to grab Mello's arm but Mello knocked him away into the nearest wall. Matt blinked stars out of his eyes and shook his head to clear it. He stood and tried to grab Mello again but the blonde smashed him to the floor.
"Mello!" Matt yelled and clung to the blonde's leg. Mello violently attempted to shake Matt off but Matt clung tightly to the pant clad leg.
"Mello!" Matt hissed again, trying to bring the blonde to his senses.
"Get off!" Mello snarled and Matt was finally throw against the side of his bed. His goggles slipped from his face and he felt something snag his cheek. He felt the skin on his cheek rip and blood oozed down his face.
Matt touched a hand to his face and stared at the red that leaked onto his palm. He looked back up at Mello who was still rampaging around the room.
Matt stood, he felt firm as he prepared himself. He ran and dived at Mello. He tackled the chocoholic to the ground and tried to pin him. But soon the blonde rolled on top and Matt received a blow to the cheek. He raised his arms to protect himself and he felt Mello's fist smash again his forearms.
"Mello!" Matt screamed, cringing away as his arms threatened to give way.
Mello pulled back his arm and Matt shut his eyes. He felt a whoosh of air hit his face as Mello's fist rocked toward his weakened defenses.
"Matt?"
Matt eased his eyes open to see that Mello's fist had frozen, inches from his face. Mello's eyes seemed clearer then before, the haze had left the blue orbs and they were now wide and frightened.
"M-mello?" Matt stuttered, his arms still raised. Mello slowly lowered his fist and blinked "Matt... your face. What? Did I? I... are you alright?"
Mello pulled Matt to him before Matt could answer and the gamer could feel the blood drip from Mello's hand onto his neck. He felt nauseated as the scent of blood filled his brain "Mello..."
"Did I do this to you?"
"...It doesn't-"
"Answer me Matt. Did I do this?" Mello asked, his breath blowing a strand of Matt's hair into the air. The rage that had filled him seemed to have dispersed and had been replaced by guilt and confusion.
"Mello the blood... I can't think" Matt struggled to keep his voice even as Mello pulled away. Matt squeezed his eyes shut and breathed in the scent of rosemary.
Mello sighed "Matt, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...I just...I guess I have no excuse but-"
"Don't worry about it Mello. I'm tougher than you think." Matt covered the still sharp smell of blood with the smell of his own shirt.
"That's not the point."
"Are you okay Mello?" Matt asked, squinting at the blonde's face. For a moment he thought he saw moisture around Mello's eyes but the blonde blinked and it was gone.
"I think so. But Matt you should leave in case-"
"Roger ordered me to stay with Near for the week." Matt made a face but Mello nodded "Good. As much as I hate Near I'd rather have you sleep there than here."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Matt gripped Mello's arms tightly. Mello didn't meet Matt's gaze "I'll be fine. Worry more about yourself. Your cheek is still bleeding.."
Matt smiled "If you need any company I'm right down the halls Mels!"
Mello rolled and ruffled Matt's hair "Thanks Matt."
Matt smiled "Does this man I can call you Mels from now on?"
"No. This was a one time thing."
Matt smirked "We'll see about that."
"Are you okay Matt?"
"I'll be fine!" Matt's smile took up more than half his face and his cheek was really starting to hurt.
Mello smiled.
Matt's smile grew even wider.
Mello pulled Matt up with him and dragged him into the bathroom. Matt protested loudly when Mello dabbed the wound with some cold water then stuck a pink dora the exporter bandaid over it.
"Where did you even get a bandaid like that?" Matt asked while Mello smirked at the pink bandage "They were really cheap so Roger bought a bunch for the orphanage."
"I can't go out with this on my face!"
But a smirking Mello had already pushed him out of the door with a word of farewell. Matt grumbled and ran into room six before anyone saw the big headed dora... thing on his cheek!
"Nice bandaid."
Matt glared daggers at Near who was constructing a tower of cards. Matt walked right over and blew down the large formation before he collapsed onto 'his' bed with a sigh. Near simply began rebuilding it while Matt scowled at the small albino.
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"The library is closed for today so no. Also unlike you I enjoy this." Near muttered tonelessly as he set the final card on top of the stack. Matt threw his pillow at it and it once again went down. Near wordlessly became to gather the cards "Don't you have something better to do yourself?"
"KAALASMALLTEETH IS A CREEPER!"
"...What?" Near looked at Matt blankly.
Matt looked super smug as he met Near's gaze "Oh? You don't know? Well then I'm not going to tell you."
Near shrugged and began re-remakeing his card castle. Matt hummed softly as he thumbed his DS on. Near was silent as the card castle grew taller than before. Near blocked the pillow Matt threw at it but the breeze the pillow had created toppled the tower. Matt smirked "You dropped something Near."
"I don't see how you are still alive," Near finally put the cards away "knowing Mello I would have thought you would be dead on the first day."
"Then I guess you don't know Mello very well." Matt grinned, his smile hidden by his game console. Near shrugged "How much do you know about Mello?"
"He likes chocolate."
Near blinked "That's obvious. I mean, do you actually know him. Could you tell me his favorite season?"
"Uh..."
"Or his real name? Do you even know that much?"
"..."
"Do you know his dreams? His fears? His family? Could you even name his favorite color right now?" Near asked with a small smirk on his face. Matt glared at the albino "Mello isn't the sort of guy that would talk about that stuff."
"Have you ever asked him?"
"Do you know any of these things?" Matt asked instead.
"I know his real name, we were enrolled together. His parents killed themselves and he had a younger sister that is now in a metal hospital. Although I don't know his favorite season or color I don't have to. I'm not his so called friend." Near finished with an up raised eyebrow. Matt avoid his gaze but Near knew he had won "Maybe you should learn a little more before you call him your friend."
Matt stood "Tell me Near, how much would you know about Mello if you haven't been enrolled along with him?"
"None of it."
"Then really, your no better than I."
…
"MATT! YOU! YOU! I'LL-"
"Calm down Lily I'm fine." Matt sat down next to the worried blonde with a roll of the eyes.
"Then whats that on your cheek!" Lily demanded, hovering over Matt as he nibbled at his shepherd's pie.
"A dora the explorer bandaid." Matt answered evenly and someone further down the table choked on their soda. Lily glared at him "And what's under it?"
"Monkeys."
"Monkeys?"
"Yep."
"Matt please take this seriously!"
"Look Lily," Matt turned in his seat to look her right in the eye "there is nothing for you to be worried about! If I was seriously injured I wouldn't be able to walk or talk! So calm down."
"How can I calm down if you don't tell me anything!" Lily huffed hotly, spooning up some of her corn. Matt shrugged "Trust me I suppose."
"Just don't let Mello kill you. Promise me" Lily looked at Matt with pleading eyes. Matt snorted "Whatever Lily, I promise."
"Good. Now where are you staying tonight? Roger surely isn't-"
"Near's room, I already told you that." Matt made a face and picked at his meal. Lily smiled "I heard the Mich left! Well that's better than Mello."
"Are you kidding me? I hate that little freak!"
Lily shrugged "I'd rather you be there than with Mello."
"It's not about what you want." Matt muttered quietly. Lily scowled "Obviously Roger thinks it's for the best."
"Yeah well just because Roger thinks it's 'for the best' doesn't mean it is. I bet Mello could out smart that cracked up-"
"Don't talk like that! God Matt I think you've been spending to much time with Mello." Lily snapped, slamming her fork down and causing several people to jump. Matt glared at her "Try putting yourself in my shoes. I hate Near and I'd rather take anything Mello can dish out then spend the week with him!"
"Really? You would rather be beaten black and blue then to simply avoid Near?"
"Yes."
Lily glared at him "Alright, time for you to be in my shoes! My best friend is a suicidal manic who would rather be beaten to death than suffer spending a week with a person he dislikes!"
"Hey, I went to see Mello and do I look dead to you?" Matt scowled and Lily huffed "The whole point was that it could have been worse!"
"It could have, but wasn't!"
"Matt you are the most insen-"
But Matt rose and left half his dinner untouched as he left the wet eyed Lily and the dinning room behind.
…
"I swear if you start to snore I will shove this sock up-"
"I don't snore." Near interrupted before Matt could tell him just where he would put the sock. Matt grumbled and climbed into the unfamiliar bed while Near flicked off the small lamp. The bed blankets smelled like laundry detergent and rather Michish. He sighed and stared out of the window. Near's bed was the one closest to the door and Matt was glad for the opportunity to stare at the stars.
The smell of the room was unhomely and several minutes into Matt's attempt to sleep he gave up. The stars were not worth it.
Roger could suck it.
Matt shuffled across the room with his blanket wrapped around him. He closed the door quietly and made his way to room thirteen. He peeked in to see that a Mello shaped lump was curled up in Mello's bed. Matt closed the door carefully and flopped down onto his own bed. The smell there was familiar and Matt smiled.
He curled up and pushed his goggles up onto his forehead.
"Goodnight Mello." He whispered to the sleeping blonde, a smile curling onto his face.
…
"Matt?"
Matt's eyes opened slowly and found himself face to face with Mello. Matt looked around groggily before he sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Good morning Mello." He yawned. He checked the clock and saw it was seven-o-clock "Bit early isn't it?"
"What are you doing in here?"
"Huh?" Matt asked, pushing his goggles back down on his face and stretching. Mello sat crosslegged on the foot of Matt's bed, chin on fist.
"Your suppose to be in Near's room."
"What- ohhhhhhhhhhh... oh yeah." Matt brain slowly woke up and he remember why he had come to room thirteen "Near's room smelled bad. So I came here."
Mello chuckled and Matt mentally recorded the small sound. Mello's first laugh.
"You should get back to room six before Near wakes up." Mello rose from Matt's bed and Matt followed. The room was still a mess but it was more like home then room six could ever come close to.
"Hey Mello did I tell you I washed the shirts yesterday?" Matt smiled sleepily as he unloaded the two striped shirts from his laundry. Mello glanced over "I forgot about them actually."
Matt changed in the bathroom before he splashed his face with some cold water. His eyes had bags under them and were dark. The bags only made the skin around his eyes look uglier and Matt made sure to replace his goggles before he left the bathroom.
"You really should go," Mello muttered from his bed "the little freak will be awake soon."
"Mmk." Matt mumbled before he patted Mello's head and headed for the door "Bye Mels."
"I told you, that was a one time thing! And what's with the pet?"
"You head looked very fuzzy!" Matt grinned sleepily at Mello who scoffed"I am not fuzzy!"
"Yesh you are! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Mello! Fuzzy Me-"
"Go away Matt."
Matt pushed out of the room still smiling and hopped over to room six. He rolled onto 'his' bed and stared at the albino in the bed across from him. Near showed no signs of movements and Matt wondered what would happen if he poked the pale boy.
"Poke." Matt whispered as he dug his index finger into Near's side. The pale boy slapped him and Matt stumbled back.
"Stop." Near muttered, opening his eyes "You say I'm creepy but look at yourself."
"I was just testing your reflexes!"
"How did I do?"
"You failed! How long have you been awake?"
Near pushed himself into a sitting position and didn't response as Matt glared at him, rubbing his red cheek. The red-head laid back on his pillows, his gaze still on Near while the albino dropped to the floor and walked into the side bathroom. Matt stretched and felt his back cracked in a couple of places. He sighed in satisfaction and stood.
After a hasty breakfast he jogged outside where a couple of early raisers were throwing around a Frisbee. Pavel waved him over and Matt ran to join them. He grabbed the Frisbee aimed at Percy and threw it to Pavel who threw it on to West then back to Matt. They played keep away with Percy till the older boy quit with much swearing and spiting. They boys continued to play and soon others came out to join them.
Lily joined them around eleven. She avoid eye contact with Matt which was fine with him. He threw it to her a couple time and she miss every time, to focused on not looking at him. He didn't want to not throw it to her encase that made him look like a childish sulkier but really, she was being as childish as he often was. He ended up throwing it to Pavel more than anyone. Matt would throw the Frisbee as hard as he wanted and Pavel would usually catch it unlike West who wasn't putting much effort into the game.
"Hey Pavel, who's that." Matt called after a while, breathing hard and feeling great. Pavel looked around just as the front doors of the orphanage closed and the figure Matt had spotted disappeared within it.
"Don't know, I didn't see him... or her." Pavel catch the Frisbee thrown at him ,cutesy of Lily, in the tips of his fingers and chucked it at West. Matt watched the door till he had been hit in the head twice and had narrowly avoid being hit for a third time.
"I'm going in." He finally called as Pavel glared at him for missing a particularly good throw. All the players waved as he jogged back into the orphanage. He glanced around for the stranger he had seen but they were no where in sight. He ran along corridors and around corners. He checked the dining hall and the library. He asked Mrs. Mik about the strange person as he pasted her in the hall way. She pointed toward Roger's office and Matt bowed before he ran off toward the large office.
He had almost reached the office when he smashed headlong into a man that looked like he was a bit older than twenty-five. His stance was hunched and he was barefoot. His head looked like it hadn't seen a brush in years and his cloths looked dull and faded from use. He was the man that Matt had seen walking into the orphanage.
"H-hello." Matt stuttered, unsure what to do. This man seemed important even if he looked causal.
"Hi. Your Matt aren't you? Third in the running."
"Um, yes sir." Matt shifted uneasily under the man's gaze. He felt like the man could see into him, his deepest secrets and thoughts. Feelings and fears.
"Good morning Matt. I, am, L."
Author's note: Whoo! Fast upload! Sorry to those Near fans for the Near bashing. Also, Matt, he has been getting beat up in most chapters, so, sorry... ^-^"
So... L ... dun dun daaaa. Please keep in mind that Matt doesn't know who L is. Anyway thank you Reviewers: Kaizami, kindacravingshortcake, Bedessica, scrambled_eggs_at_midnight, Otaku-chii, and of course my favorite reviewer: bonfire! (insanepersonishappy) Still love you reviews!
Please R&R!