A/N: I decided Matt needed a little more love at this point (mostly because he's my favourite) so i decided to do a semi-short chapter for him. :) Enjoy!

(Matt P.O.V)

It was strange at first, wearing the goggles. But it was definitely a relief off my eyes. The constant glare of the sun or T.V screen would always send me into a headache before, but now it was just the opposite. Well… I guess I could've done without the stares. But even then, they didn't bother me that much. I always had Mello by my side to defend me, and since people had to get through him to get to me, the bullying was gradually fading. I didn't know what Mello did to make everyone so afraid of him, but it didn't hurt me so I didn't care.

The orange tint of everything was slowly becoming a part of my vision. In all truth, I'd rather the orange than the blinding light. And since I could concentrate more in school, my grades skyrocketed! I was looking at being second to Mello, which – to me – was better than being first. Maybe they'd even allow us to be partners in the future.

Even if we weren't, we still would've been friends.

I hadn't had been lying to Mello when I told him he was my first friend ever. I never got the chance to make friends in Romania since I was always too busy looking for food or clothing. So, in all honesty, Mello was my first – and best-est – friend.

Speaking of the blonde bombshell himself, there is one more thing you should know about him; His nightmares.

I'd be playing on my Gameboy at night in the orphanage, only to hear Mello start pawing at his bed. Soon after he'd start screaming his head off and I couldn't do anything to help. Every night was the same thing, and I worried more and more if he needed help. I asked him once, but he brushed it off. It wasn't until he fell from the top bunk one night that he finally told me.

I had – of course – been playing on my Gameboy to help me fall asleep, when the pawing started. I even waited for the screaming… but nothing happened. It fact, after the pawing, there was silence. That's when I think I worried the most. But it wasn't until I heard a loud thud that I finally got out of bed to help the poor kid.

I still can't believe he fell from two feet from the floor and didn't get injured. Save for the minor concussion.

"You okay, Mel?"

He gave me a look of pure terror. Like I had been the one to invade his dreams and create the horridness that followed them. It wasn't long before it dimmed down though and he could recognize me again.

He nodded. "Yeah… I guess. Is… is L back yet?"

What had he wanted with L? Maybe he knew what to do when it came to Mello's nightmares.

I shook my head. "He's still in Cairo. He won't be back for a few more days."

I think I saw a tear fall from his eye, but I didn't call him on it. A kid as tough as him must have had some weak points in his life.

He nodded, then made his way for the ladder to his bed. I stopped him, if only to save him from another trip to the floor. "Why don't you sleep in my bed? It might be safer, and I promise to keep the nightmares away."

He looked at me like I was giving him a gift he had always dreamed of. "You mean it? You can keep them away?"

"I can try. That's what best friends do, right? Help each other?"

Mello hugged me at that point. I think he was so desperate to rid himself of this evil that plagued his waking dreams, that he'd believe anything. I can remember him trembling from the fright too. It was the first time I ever saw him so scared.

We climbed into my bed after that and I hugged him close, making sure he had nothing but good thoughts when he slept. I suppose it worked, since he fell asleep instantly and didn't once scream from his dreams.

This happened more often than not.

Every time Mello had a nightmare I would offer my bed and he'd finally get a peaceful sleep. Of course Roger took away the bunk beds after his concussion, replacing them with regular beds, but it didn't exactly stop my worrying for him. I had even gone to L for help, but he didn't tell me anything. Only that Mello needed to ask for the help himself. Since he never showed signs of threatening his own life, L wasn't too worried. But he promised he'd look into a psychiatrist for him to talk to… if he wanted to that is.

Until then, Mello – I would believe – suffered in in silence. The only one who knew of his plight at the time, was L. However, the only one to truly make the nightmares go away, was me. It made me somewhat happy to know I could help Mello when he needed it. Considering he did nothing but defend me, I suppose the least I could do was defend him against what troubled him.

And truly… I believe it only brought us closer.

One specific night, while sleeping in the same bed once again, Mello had begun smiling in his sleep. Something very new to the restless blonde. He even began cuddling me during his sleep, mumbling about something to do with his mother.

I smiled at that thought. The only person Mello ever spoke about, other than L, was his mother. He loved her more than anyone, I would believe. He would talk about how she would comfort him whenever he was scared or alone. He would even admit to missing her from time to time, but would quickly shake it off.

Funny… he never spoke about his father. Not for the longest time.

I didn't mind sharing my bed with Mello. In fact, it was nice having someone next to me when I slept. The calm breathing usually put me fast to sleep, and the extra warmth was nice. Truly, the setup we had for each other was better than I could've imagined. We both defended each other from our own nightmares. Mine in the waking world, and his in the dream world.

It was perfect.