"Drop a heart, break a name.
We're always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team.
We're going down in an earlier round
And sugar, we're going down swinging.
I'll be your number one with a bullet.
A loaded god complex; cock it and pull it."
-Fall Out Boy, Sugar We're Going Down

Mello was beginning to feel the crazy kick in. His brain was a bomb set for detonation at any moment without any warning to those around him. Now that he once again had Butterfly on his side, perhaps he finally had a leg on up Near.
The blond laughed aloud at the thought, thanking the lord above that no one was around to see his pathetic state. Still chuckling, Mello plopped himself down on a musty couch that groaned like a man struggling to finish the last leg of a race. The sitting position was quickly switched into a lounge as Mello's cracked smile was finally replaced with his normal mask of dissatisfaction. Eyes hot like Hell's blue flames, Mello reached into his pocket and slipped out a foil wrapped wonder; chocolate from Switzerland. In Mello's mind, no other country could make chocolate taste as good as the Swiss could. Just like no one can caught Kira better than L…

But where was L now?

L was dead; six feet under. As Near said, he had lost the game.

It was funny how Near could make L's crushing defeat seem minor, as if it were no more than a kick to the shin and not a shot to the heart. It was funny how Near could make their mentor's life seem like a game of football and nothing else.

It was funny how Near would continue to dart ahead even without Butterfly's assistance.

He didn't even fuckingneed her! Mello thought angrily. I bet the little twit just let her go without a second thought because he only needs himself.

"Selfish little runt," Mello growled, snapping off a square of chocolate with a vicious chomp. Still agitated like a rudely awakened lion, he chewed the chocolate, thinking thoughts that could send a person to prison.

Near knows tons more… Or does he… Maybe I just think he does. Perhaps I'm letting this whole inferiority complex thing reach a far more toxic level. Mello's jaw relaxed. He's not some perfect god or anything. He has to have some flaws.

Mello's eyelids closed as he thought that over, swallowing the chocolate. Everyone lacked something whether it was esteem or social skills. Near wasn't very social but Mello didn't think he would be able to use that to his advantage. There had to be something deeper, something that could allow Mello to take lead in this race. Rolling from his side to his back, Mello's gifted brain processed as many thoughts as he could. The chocolate bar in his arm was tilted towards his face but he didn't take another bite.

Then it clicked.

I got it! A smirk appeared on the young man's lips as he formulated a plan.

Near never took a risk once in his life. That's my key. I'm not afraid to do whatever it takes to succeed L. Near, however, won't put himself up as an open target, at least, not yet. And by the time he considersit, I'll already have made my move.

It was perfect.

But horribly dangerous.

-

Butterfly was half awake, her face pressed against the fabric of Mello's couch. The couch was nice but her cheek felt flat and sweaty against the plush material. Sounds of explosions and machine guns being fired rapidly played in her ears as she watched the blurry colours on the television move about through her clouded vision. She had just woken up.

Her jaws opened as she released a yawn that could easily be mistaken for a groan.

"Matt…?" she groaned softly, forcing herself to sit up.

"Huh?" came his half grunted response. Butterfly blinked thrice more before she was able to register her surroundings. She was with Matt, that much she knew. On the couch, a toss blanket laid over her body, her body sore from passing out curled up, and he stomach was empty. Matt is playing video games she thought, pulling herself up more so that she was sitting down rather than lying limply across the couch.
Matt stayed focused on the screen, eyes narrowed in concentration. Video games always took up most of his attention, so she was not surprised by his neglect to notice that she was waking up.

"Good morning…" Butterfly yawned, gently slapping her face to wake herself up more. Sneaking a glance at the clock, she realized that her statement had been inaccurate. "Or should I say good afternoon…" she corrected herself. A small smile appeared on Matt's face but he did not respond. The girl sighed, knowing that all forms of communication would be in vain until the brunette gamer reached a save-point.

The save-point came quicker than she had thought for he soon turned off the game and looked at her, goggles around his neck.

"How long have you been up?" Butterfly asked, mid yawn.

"Not long," he responded. "A few hours, give or take." Butterfly nodded at his response and placed a hand on her stomach which growled, demanding sustenance. Matt chuckled.

"Are you hungry?" He asked with a smile.

"Yeah…" she admitted sheepishly. Matt got up from where he sat and walked over to the console system. Turning it off, he peeked over at her from over his shoulder.

"There's a Coney Island down the street, if you wanna go grab a bite with me."

"Why not just make waffles here, or something?" Butterfly questioned, gesturing towards the spotless kitchen, a bit hesitant on the idea of spending any money when they could simply whip up a batch of waffles. Maybe some crispy bacon, if they had any.

But at her suggestion, Matt laughed. She flushed a bright red as he explained.

"There's barely anything in the fridge, let alone the cupboards." His smile disappeared. "Mostly we just stock up on chips, soda, beer, and chocolate."

"Ah, but doesn't eating out put a damper on your funds?"

Matt shook his head. "With Mello… working with the mafia," his voice lowered almost out of instinct; as if there were a threat someone would hear, "we don't really have much of a problem with money. He's making the big bucks now." Butterfly nodded, understanding.

"You're so damn lazy, Mail."

A small blush crept across his cheek at the use of his real name. Without another word exchanged between the two, she took his hand in hers and they left; bed hair and all.

-

"Yeah, you have a good trip," spoke Mello honestly, barely smiling at the brunette girl looking up at him with wide eyes.

"I will," she smiled, clutching onto the handle of the suitcase tightly. Her limbs shook slightly from the weight but she seemed as if she could manage it herself. "It's been awhile since I've seen my parents." Alissa seemed happy about leaving the country for a little while. Which was good in Mello's mind.

I would rather you not get hurt because of my actions… He knew he was taking things away from her still. The bed she slept in here, along with all the possessions she had tucked away, would not be there when she returned. In fact, he was even taking away her loving uncle. Simply because he could not win without taking risks and sacrifices that were not his to make. Looking into her eyes he felt guilty. Guilty that she had no idea what he was planning to do.

"Be good," he teased, placing a hand on her head in a loving manner.

Blushing, she stammered, "I will." Then, on a teasing note of her own, she added, "You behave yourself too, alright?"

All traces of a smile disappeared.

"Yeah…" he trailed off, looking away from those beautiful eyes. "I'll do my damn best." Lies…

She was not stupid.

"Mello… You're not telling me something." There was concern in her voice; a beautiful sound that he had not heard in awhile. Genuine care was such a rare thing in his life.

"What does it matter?" he retorted rudely, his voice harsh. She flinched away from the tone but held her ground.

"You should talk about it," she insisted, taking one step closer to the explosive blond. "Please, bottling it all up inside is only going to hurt you even more in the end."

Mello took a step back, eyes narrowed to slits.

"Why should you care? Why should I trust you?" Suddenly all the guilt and nerve of the actions he would soon be taking poured out through his words, making them sound cruel and… scared. No, I'm not afraid. I know what I'm going to do. To her he probably sounded like a terrified little kid cowering away from confessing to a crime. I knew I would have to be a criminal going into this but…

Alissa was fed up but still concerned. She dropped her baggage at her side and approached him at once, her eyes met his and he saw the determination in them.

"Because I care about you, dumbass," she hissed. Yet, even though her words seemed cold… They meant so much. His eyes widened as he registered what she had said. That four lettered word, care, was spoken softly. It was spoken true. And hope filled his being.

No… no… this is not part of the plan! I cannot let this happen.

Instead of saying was his caged heart sang, he turned away.

Speaking in a low voice of a criminal he said, "Like anyone could care about a guy who's name she doesn't even know."

He left her there, standing alone in the hall, reaching towards him, her suitcase at her side.

She left at one-thirty, just as she had planned.

Mello wasn't there to wave goodbye.

-

"Matt. Matt. Matt."

Matt rolled his eyes as the girl beside him continued to poke at his chest. She was curled up beside him, lying her head on his chest as he challenged the Elite Four for the billionth time it seemed. He needed to pick up some new games soon or else he would die of boredom, he supposed. Butterfly continued to repeat his name in a sing-song voice as she jabbed him, staring up at the screen held above both of them.

"What?" he finally asked, not missing a beat in his steps towards the next member of the Four.

"I just… wanted to know what you've been doing since I've been away…"

Matt saved his game, waited for the painful loading time to go by, closed the DS, and set it beside him.

"Well, things haven't been that interesting. Wammy's was a lot more fun. Now Mello's desperate and full of more hot air than usual," he explained, stroking her soft hair. "But mostly I take care of anything I need to hack. That's how we get some of our money. Plus, the mafia needs a few things… erased on certain sites. Naturally Mello takes all the credit." He shrugged, uncaring.

"Ah," she whispered, her poking ceasing. "Near mostly just had me running computers and going over similarities between victims and stuff."

He nodded and planted a kiss on her head. "But God, I've missed you…" His words were husky and low, setting the butterflies in her stomach free. Peering up at him shyly, she held his gaze for a few moments. Then, their lips met with passion and soon they were rediscovering every inch of other that they had not forgotten in their years apart.

Until the phone rang, that was.

Matt sighed and raised himself off the bed and walked over to the phone shirtless. Disgruntled, he answered.

"Hello?"

"Matt…" Mello's voice came on the other end. "Matt, I just want you to know that if I do not come back from this, that you're my number one. Got it?" Mello sounded frantic yet determined. "I think we have enough money tucked away for you and that black-haired bitch to live out a pretty decent life. She's smart; she'll get a job and support your lazy ass." Mello laughed. Yet the laugh seemed all wrong.

"Mello…" Matt started. "Listen to yourself. You're writing out my entire future without my consent. Now," emotions took a hold of Matt's voice. "What the hell are you planning on doing?"

"Matt… just listen to me. Just be okay and live out your life."

With that, he hung up.

Matt held the receiver against his ear longer, listening to the dial tone. His face was set in a grim fixture as he hung up.

"What's wrong?" Butterfly asked from the bedroom. Matt stormed in and snatched his shirt off the floor, pulling it over his head almost instantly.

"Get dressed," he ordered urgently. Catching his tone, she buttoned up her shirt and pulled her pants on, watching him the entire time.

They both walked out of the room and towards the door at a quick pace.

"We're going to go save Mello's sorry ass," he explained, snatching the keys to his car off the desk.

"You have a car?" Butterfly asked.

"It's nothing fancy," he told her as they took the stairs two at a time. "Just a crappy Ford I stole."

Once in the stolen car, they drove in silence. Butterfly was stony quiet, not sure how to assess the situation while Matt gnashed his teeth together the entire ride. He knew where Mello was. But he had not a clue what he was planning.

"He's not leaving me again," he spoke firmly. "Not after last time. I'm not losing anyone ever again."

But as they both caught sight of the soaring flames in the distance, they realized that such a notion could be stroke like a match.

"Mello!" they both cried in unison as Matt's fears were made real.