Mello disappeared right away in his apartments, letting the boys get rid of their muddy clothes while he got ready for the evening's one on one. He also wanted to think over who would go home in the next elimination, just after the date. There were guys that he really didn't care about and that he would have no problem getting rid of, it was just a matter of deciding in which order, only two would leave tonight although there were at least five he wanted out. They were handsome but he wouldn't do them for various reasons. One for the obvious reason that his back was full of acne, that was gross. The others, he didn't really feel an attraction in the end, he'd rather fuck Lou if he had to choose, he was the cutest anyway, and much more to his tastes. Overconfident guys were quite the turn off for him.

He plunged his body in the warm water of his bath, relieving his back muscles. They were being a bitch lately, since the accident he had on stage at the latest TV show Mind Pollution had participated to. It had been pretty thoughtless to jump from that ramp at the end of the song, but damn, the effect on the fans! They had been crazy! Danny had to help him backstage, and the next day, Facebook, Twitter, every media only talked about that, there were communiqués on every channel to give news about his health condition. He probably had never gotten so many fans' letters and presents than that time. He probably had never gotten such a bruise either, almost half of his back was a giant purple patch and the doctors said he was lucky he didn't break anything.

Actually, all he knew was who he was planning to keep longer: Lou and the redhead. The first because he had a nice little ass that asked to be banged, and Mello didn't even have to manipulate him to bed him, he just had to take what he wanted. The redhead... Matt... that guy had some attitude for sure, but there was more to him. He actually used his brain, and damn, that body. Maybe with a little hair dye... Mello felt challenged when thinking about him. He would get him sooner or later. And it was a funny idea to think about keeping him until the end when the boy obviously didn't care, if he didn't run away before that... he could always call to the contract clause that allowed him to leave.

Or he really was playing hard to get, on a very, very pushy level... that would explain why he was still here although he claimed that he didn't give a shit. If he really needed the money, he would at least put some effort into not being kicked out, right? Interesting...

Or... no, that couldn't be, he wouldn't be so unconscious as to do that right here, on that show? He had chosen Pink Shirt to leave at his place and informed Mello that the guy was feeling Lou's ass in the musician's back, and he had helped Lou during the little contest, talked in favor of the petite boy even, and Lou had kissed him on the cheek and showed some connection with the redhead, searching for support, in the pool. Mmh...

Mello was confused, many possible scenarios came to his mind. Maybe those two knew each other and one was here to help the other win, or Matt had his mind set on Lou, not Mello, anything could be possible given the clues, if they were actually clues. The singer stood in his bath and got out of it, uncaring for the foam dripping all over the carpet, grabbed a towel and dried himself quickly, marching to his bedroom after tossing the towel on the ground.

"Danny?" Mello called out to his right hand man. The tall bodyguard's head peeped through the door he just opened, careful not to see anything he didn't want. Mello was standing in front of his wardrobe, choosing clothes, and Danny was relieved to see he was alone in there, so he entered completely. He didn't care for Mello's naked ass, he had seen every part of the man a thousand times, and Mello wasn't particularly self-conscious, at least not in a confidence-lacking way.
"Yep?" he asked.
"Tell Lou to get ready as well, I wanna take him to half of the date, but make sure to tell him that at some point I'll send him back here to enjoy my alone time with Matt."
"Okay boss. The kid will sure be in heaven." he smiled.
Mello chuckled. Poor Cry baby, this time he was gonna cry of joy. He was cute. Needy but cute.

"At least you dressed nicely." Mello winked at Matt as he watched the two contestants approach the limo.
Matt was wearing dark blue skinny jeans and a striped red and black long sleeved tee-shirt. He hadn't left his usual Converses behind though. To his opinion, this was a very casual outfit, and he was half disappointed to think that Mello believed he had made an effort, when he had made none.
Lou searched for Mello's eyes but the man didn't comment on his outfit, when he was the one that had made a real effort, sporting the clothes he had bought especially thinking of a date with the musician.

Mello couldn't help but notice the boy's slight pout, and slapped his ass as he entered the limo, making him giggle. "Hurry up baby, the earlier we get there, the earlier I'm back here to take care of that sweet ass of yours."
Matt rolled his eyes and looked by the window, although he couldn't see much with the tinted glass.
"Aw Mattie, you can join us you know, there's enough of me for the two of you..."
"No thanks." Matt gave him a dark look. He wasn't going to give in to Mello, and he wasn't certainly close to participating in a threesome. He may have lost some dignity when accepting to enrol in the show, but that would be all he would lose.
"Then it will only be you and me Lou dear..." Mello replied, grabbing the boy's chin and pulling him into a sloppy kiss while eyeing Matt teasingly, making the redhead roll his eyes once again.
The petite boy was indeed in heaven right now, Matt thought, but the fall would be extremely hard on him, Mello didn't care hurting him, although Matt was sure that he was aware that the boy was very much into his little dream of dating the rockstar seriously.

The limo parked in front of the rock bar, and they exited the car to enter quickly inside of the Whisky A GoGo before any fan could reach to them. The boss himself welcomed them, leading the trio to a special booth where they could see the scene and catwalk as well as have some privacy.
"Three specials." Mello simply said to the waiter, ordering their food right away so it wasn't served too late, Lou had to get out of here before the end of the date, and the earlier the better. Another waiter arrived with drinks already.
"Good evening sir." the young male deposited a full glass in front of each of them and left quickly. All the waiters here knew the instructions when it came to that special guest: no useless talking, always call him sir, and be quick.

Lou immediately tasted his drink, opening wide eyes at the flavour.
"That's strong!" he squeaked, making Mello laugh.
"That's a man's drink baby, not for you obviously."
The boy took another gulp, forcing it down his throat, grimacing.
Matt gave it a try, and indeed it was strong, there was obviously some kind of juice masking the alcohol but there was a good dose of the latter in the drink. He looked at Mello who sipped half of his glass like water.
"Lime, sake, pepper." the musician cited, "It's just like semen, you wonder why you swallow it, but you can't help coming back for more."
With that, he squeezed Matt's thigh, who slapped the invading hand away. "You've got your toy at your right, so leave my thigh alone. Or any other part of me for that matter."

"Tell me, Puppy, do you wanna win this show?" Mello asked suddenly to his ear, out of reach of the cameras and microphones, leaving Matt puzzled, not getting why he was asked such a thing. Hadn't he been obvious until now?
"I already told you all about it, well, except that I'm also here on a dare, but it doesn't change anything. I have no interest in you, I don't really enjoy this, I'll gladly take the money, but I can drop anytime if that gets too much for me. And it's very close to it right now." he whispered back, forced to get closer in the process for Mello to hear, his arm touching Mello's, getting goosebumps against his will.
It didn't go unnoticed, and Mello removed his arm from between them to encircle Matt's shoulders, bringing him closer.
"You could win." he murmured, lips very close to Matt's lobe, curling a crimson lock behind the redhead's ear. "Actually, and I won't ask a second time, please stay." he added, his breath tickling Matt's ear, the alcohol in his system already giving the redhead some issues with the proximity.
The scent of leather mixed with Mello's perfume woke up his senses, and he cursed inwardly for the way his body reacted. The man sure had things on his side when it came to getting what he wanted. But he wouldn't give in. No way. He should stop drinking that shit first before he got drunk enough to make a mistake.

Mello wasn't blind, he could see the slight blush on Matt's face even in the darkened place, and with the goosebumps and the way the redhead's breath became erratic sometimes, he knew he had the upper hand. He also knew that it would never be enough, because Matt's jaw clenched in determination and he wasn't about to give in just now.
"You know I'm not serious about this whole thing, but still, I think we could have a lot of fun you and me, if you just stopped being so cold... see, you're warming up already, come on, don't be so tight-assed, I..."
"You don't do redheads."
"You'd be cute with brown hair." Mello brushed the fiery bangs out of Matt's eyes with a hand, slowly.

Matt put some distance between him and Mello, getting rid of the arm around his shoulders.
"If you want me that bad, you could at least have the decency to take me as I am."
"Aw... does that mean that you'd give yourself as you are?" Mello chuckled, knowing he had probably hurt the boy but not failing his rule to avoid apologies.
"If anything, you just ruined your chances. Not that you had any to begin with, but I had it with guys that always find something they want to change in me. I'm not cut like a model, I have red hair, I'm a gamer that hardly goes out and I hate being around too many people, I like stuff that some may call childish and I have no fashion sense whatsoever, that's it, that's what I am, and as unappealing as it is, I have no intention to change. If you want someone who will morph at your every demand, look at your right."
"Easy, easy there!" Mello laughed, "You really are a mystery, coming here on this show..."
"Consider me for elimination tonight because if you don't, I'll drop off anyway." Matt stated. This time it was enough. This was pure nonsense to be here, and he was even arguing with a guy he didn't even care about, seriously... He had earned enough money for two weeks and coupled with his savings, it would be enough to help him with his bills until he found a new job, in a month he could probably find something.

Mello was silent for a few seconds, and brought his attention to Lou, leaving Matt in peace while he groped the boy.
Lou was half drunk, giggling like a girl and sticking to Mello like glue, kissing him in the neck.
The food arrived and the younger downed it like he was starving, while Mello ate slowly, listening to Lou with only one ear while his mind was working. Matt barely picked at his fries, waiting impatiently for the date to end.

"Can we at least enjoy the evening and our food?" Mello said all of a sudden, looking at Matt, searching for a positive sign.
"I suppose." the redhead sighed. He did feel bad, because he didn't want to be here although others that would have been a better company would have killed to be at his place, and even if he didn't like the guy, he was still ruining his time right now, and that wasn't fair after all, so he would at least try to be a little more open right now. He didn't have the right to be an ass when he had voluntarily come here, happy about it or not.
"Yay!" Lou exclaimed, his voice a little slurred, "Let's party!" he raised his drink but Mello took it from his hand and downed the rest of it.
"I think you had enough baby. Finish your plate now."
Matt was surprised to hear such a soft voice out of the musician's mouth. It certainly wasn't like him to take care of anybody. Sure, he was talking to Lou like a to a child, belittling him in the process, but still...

Lou was almost falling asleep on Mello's shoulder and the singer decided that it was time for him to be sent back to the mansion, the boy had had too much alcohol and obviously couldn't handle it. Danny showed up in the entrance after Mello's phone call from his cell, and came to pick up the sleepy mess, shaking him a bit to wake him up so he wouldn't have to carry him to the limo.

Once they were both out of sight, Mello grabbed Matt's lighter along with a cigarette, stopped mid-gesture and asked: "Can I?"
Matt was about to reply some nasty comment about how Mello usually took without asking but he refrained, and simply nodded. It's when Mello held the lighter in hand, trying to light up, that Matt understood that the rockstar himself wasn't that sober, his hand shaking slightly.
Matt barely had the time to pull Mello's hair back when the flame rose from the lighter before they caught on fire.
"You've got some reflex." Mello chuckled, finally getting the cigarette lit up, Matt still holding his hair. He let them go only when the lighter was on the table.
"A little more and the rockstar look would have been ruined." Matt joked, but his eyes were glued to the lips where the cigarette dangled. There was something different in Mello's whole expression, he couldn't really place it, but it started with Mello's mouth. The usual smirk wasn't there but it wasn't only that.
He was quickly cut out of his thoughts though.

"Alone at last." Mello gave him a lopsided smile, catching the cigarette between two fingers, exhaling smoke.
"I was soooo impatient." Matt chuckled.
"Do you really want to go tonight?" the singer asked genuinely, and suddenly Matt placed what was so different about him: his whole expression was relaxed, there was no sick amusement, no overthinking, no teasing, he was just normal. The icy eyes weren't even that frightening anymore, and for once he looked simply like the common run of people. Still more handsome than average though.
"It's better for both of us."
"Okay." Mello simply replied, keeping silent for a moment before he crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray, stood up, and started walking toward a backdoor. He turned around before he was out of ear from Matt: "I won't be long." he winked. Suddenly, Matt felt a bit leery...

Note: Aha, what is Mello up to? :D
Take your guess!
And thank you to followers/favoriters/reviewers/all readers! *muah*