Authors note: Oh look another chapter, I'm on a roll. Anyway, thank you all for the reviews. I'm currently writing the story I mentioned in the previous chapter. I'm not sure when it will be posted, but Matt and Mello move into a haunted house. Good stuff, it's like angst mixed with paranormal activity with all the epic fun of Matty and Mell. Anyway, I'm excited about it and you should be too, or not, it's all good. Anyway here's the newest installment. I'm loving the long reviews, they make me smile and want to update more. So as usual read, review and enjoy. Also, if you have any questions about any story or this one feel free to drop me a line. I have endless amounts of time.

Silent footfalls

Mello glanced awkwardly around the corner his blue gaze running over the group standing in front of the post. Of course there would still be people here. He tried his best to wait until later so no one would be around when he examined his score. Only he should be so lucky to find three people looking back over their scores. What the hell did they think was going to change in a few hours? The new results wouldn't be out until next week so once this one was up nothing on it could be changed. There were no mistakes.

Second place. His mind rang with the words sending a cold chill through him. Ever since Near stepped through that door he had been Second. It was a position, but not the one he desired. He was behind someone else. The very thought of it boiled his blood. Near who always sat alone doing various childish things while he studied, worked and prayed through endless nights only to wind up back in Second place. He knew the looks the others gave him when he came around. They felt bad for him, to be the first previously and be beat out by that freak of nature.

His fist clenched in anger. Since Near reared his ugly head here his anger had spiraled out of control. They thought he was a liability, he would hurt someone because of his outbursts but he didn't know how true that was. When everything went red he acted on it, he needed to act on it because bottled up would only be worse. Days of therapy with Roger wouldn't do a damn thing for him. The only thing to release him would be to beat Near at his own game. He had to become number one. He had to be the one to take the L code. It's what they all aspired to be. It's what they all wanted. The person in first was envied, Godly in this dank world. To become L was all that mattered.

No, that wasn't true. Matt had no want or need to become L. He spent his time playing games and hiding behind those goggles all the time. Mello couldn't think of one instance that he had seen the red head pick up a book and study. He stayed up all night for their A-level's and Matt had went to bed around two in the morning and slept like a baby. In the end the red head came out at third and he was still second. It infuriated him that Matt didn't try but it scared him at the idea of the red head trying. If he could do that without attempting what could he do if he actually wished to become number one. His intellect could possibly surpass both Near and himself.

But Matt was his best friend. Matt was the only person he cared about other than himself. Matt, who was always there for him. Matt who he could confide in without fear of being judged. He was the first person that he had told that the teachers and Roger thought he was a threat to the other kids. The red head hadn't responded, he had simply continued to play his game and Mello almost didn't believe that he heard him. The next time in Latin that Mello had simply got an A, while Near made an A plus because he had found a flaw in the test he had freaked out. Before he could even completely act out Matt had tackled him to the floor. He still remembered the cool tiles on his face and back. The red head over him looking deadly serious as he held his hands down. He leaned down and whispered one thing to him, 'Don't let them win.' Matt was his best friend. He would do anything for Matt even if he wouldn't mention it aloud.

He opened his eyes finding his hand gripping his rosary. He frowned, being around Matt recently had been unnerving. There was just something about him that unsettled him. He wasn't sure what it was but he assumed it was because Matt was the only person he considered family. An occasional hug wasn't bad but the way the butterflies settled in his stomach…he didn't want to talk about it.

He turned the corner, be damned if they were still there or not. They were gone though, and his heart settled from the pattering it did when he thought about Matt too hard. He took a deep breath and strode forward to the list.

xXx

The door gave way under his push before he slammed it heavily behind himself. Second. Fucking. Place. Second. Fucking. Place. Why? He worked harder than anyone he knew. He worked harder than Near and he still couldn't pass that smug bastard. His fists clenched harder when he saw the red head sitting in front of the tiny television playing that damn game. He didn't even look like he was paying attention to him. He glared but continued his pace past the red head dropping into the bottom bunk and curled up.

Anger swirled in the deepest recesses of his mind as he fought the urge to throw things. Matt was innocent. If he started throwing things in here the red head would certainly get hurt and that was something he didn't want. He had already done the other enough damage. Since the day he told Matt about the teachers and Roger the red head had made it his mission to stop him if he grew out of control. Matt went as far as actually running out of the class when he heard him down the hallway to stop him. Even if they digressed into a punching match the red head wouldn't go down as long as Mello was still upset.

The bed caved lower with another's weight and he knew Matt was there. The sound of a click and there he was playing his game waiting. Matt knew him. He frowned, Matt knew him too well. He peeked up but the red head didn't turn so he moved closer. What could possibly be so interesting about playing a game constantly? The best thing about Matt was that he was always bored and he was so easy to get into trouble with. Even now that steel concentration was on multiple things, Mello included.

He swallowed; he wanted someone to tell him it was okay. He wanted someone to tell him he could do better and then he could lick his wounds and get to it. "Second." He whispered and the sound of the word leaving his lips made his heart break.

"Mello…" the red head said slowly as the scowl crossed the blond's face. That wasn't the voice of someone who was feeling sympathetic towards him. "Why do you do this to yourself? The ranking are nothing but a way to turn us against each other." Mello's eyes narrowed at the words. Matt didn't know what he was talking about. "I mean, we're the only two close people here." Mello conceded to that. They were.

"Are you saying that if I had a room to myself I would be better than Near?" He smiled slightly. Matt made him feel better even when he wasn't trying. "If that's the case pack your stuff and get out." He lay back blowing a few wisps of blond hair from around his mouth. "It's the same every time. Even when I study, even when I stay up late and skip mealtimes nothing changes. I can do it. I know I can do it."

Matt sighed, "Yeah Mello, I know you can too." His voice was soft as he stood up walking across the room back to his game. Mello frowned, why did he move? "Maybe you should take some time off. Near will eventually burn himself out. Poor kid."

Mello jerked, he didn't say what he thought he said. Where the fuck did Matt get off sympathizing with the enemy? "Excuse me?"

He glanced back, "Near doesn't sleep nearly as much as he should. He's constantly moving and thinking, he'll burn himself out." Who gave a flying fuck if Near tired himself out? Roger dearest should be the only person who cared about Near not Matt, not his best friend Matt. Matt should be just as pissed that Near was back in first place but Matt didn't care about anything but videogames.

Blue eyes narrowed. "Not that, the other thing. What did you call Near?"

Matt paused the game again sighing at the others words. "Let's not go through this Mello. I'm sure he's lonely and maybe a bit misguided. He spends all his time alone and playing with toys. They're like his only friends." Matt was speaking like he was supposed to give a damn. He didn't owe a damn thing to that short, deadpan, monotone asshole.

"Out." Was all he could manage his fist balling.

Matt frowned, "Seriously? Mello, it's not that…"

"Out!" Mello repeated already moving to get on his feet. The red head was already on his feet moving hastily out of the room. He didn't slam the door behind himself, instead he paused closing the door in silence. Mello picked up his Math book and chucked it at the door. If he had been a few seconds faster it would have been Matt that he hit. Damn.

xXx

Mello didn't turn over when he heard the sound of the door opening. He didn't want to so much as look at Matt right now. He would just crawl up into the top bunk and go to sleeplike he always did. In the morning everything would be back to normal. Mello already knew that he would forgive him. Matt knew the same. He was just upset because of the rankings so it led to him throwing a fit. It wouldn't be the first time and it wouldn't be the last time.

His bed creaked slightly under the weight of another person. His body tensed in response before he felt the familiar touch of Matt. He sighed gently, was he trying to apologize? He rolled over to find the other watching him with an interested look. He cocked an eyebrow, "What do you want?" His next sentence was stifled when red hair brushed his forehead and lips met his own. Blue eyes flew open but he couldn't pull away. The other was holding him, tightly in place as his fingers trailed downward over the blankets.

Seconds passed before the red head pulled back. Mello tried to laugh but he couldn't. He was growing hysterical. His heart beat wildly in his ears the sound of pure horror.

"What are you doing?" He barely managed to whisper feeling fingers cup his face. "Matt, what the fuck are you doing?"

He couldn't make out the others eyes in the darkness. Black gaping and emotionless eyes stared into his own. "Does it matter?" He replied in a voice unlike his own. He sounded cocky, much more than he should have if this was also his first kiss. "Close your eyes and just like it, okay? I'm doing us both a favor."

Mello couldn't possibly figure out what he was talking about. Before his mind could clear the panic the other was on top of him again. Fingers brushed his hair, lips met his own and another hand roamed freely ghost touching the skin under his night shirt. Mello gasped at the touch releasing a whine from the others onslaught. Matt's tongue twined as if tasting him like the finest wine. He teased, managing an exposed groan from the blond.

Matt pulled back, he was close enough to see his eyes for once but they were pits in the darkness. Mello's hands dropped from around the others neck dumbfounded of how they got there. He swallowed watching the other leisurely move away from him. Cold air rushed to the spots the other had just occupied. His shirt had been torn in the moment but he barely noticed it as the light turned on.

"Matt?" Mello was still breathless watching the red head that stood on the other side of the room. "What the hell?"

He grinned, "You liked it. I thought you would but I rather be able to see my work so let's keep the light on, okay?" Mello wasn't sure but he thought he saw the other wink. Matt took a step, the sound of something crunching under his foot. He barely glanced down but Mello did. He had stepped on his goggles, something was wrong. Was he getting him back for being mean? He was at a loss. He didn't understand this. He didn't want to understand this. "Now, where were we?"

He was too close. The red head loomed over him. He leaned and before Mello knew it he had punching the other squarely in the face. Matt staggered giving him a dark look. Mello scurried off the bed picking up his study books chucking them at the red head who dodged with ease. "Leave me the fuck alone Matt. I'm serious." His hands were shaking and his aim was shot but if the other got close enough he knew he'd lash out. This wasn't the Matt that he knew. What had he done, broken him?

Matt held his hands up in surrender, "Okay, okay you win. I'm done for the night but don't ever forget you kissed me back. You enjoyed it, Mell." The way he said his nickname made the blond feel dirty. He shivered throwing another book but the other was already gone out of the room. His eyes widened before dropping to the floor.

His fingers gnarled in his hair. That was a lie, it was all a lie. He hadn't liked it, he wasn't gay. He was Catholic, that was impossible. Matt was gay, that was the only reasonable explanation. He snatched his rosary from the bed post and dropped back to his knees. His hands shook as he began to chant. He wasn't gay. He wasn't gay. Why would Matt do this to him? Faintly, from outside the door he thought he heard a chuckle. It only made him pray harder.

xXx

Mello stayed up all night in the same spot praying. The dark circles around his eyes told, he had been tiredly moving around picking up the books he had thrown. When he grew close to Matt's goggles he left them in place unable to bring himself to touch them. He couldn't touch them, there was no way. He jumped dropping everything in hand when the door opened. "Matt." He turned attempting to school his face into indifference but it couldn't come. He wasn't sure if he was coming off shocked or scared. Maybe, it was a mixture of both.

Matt looked awkward, completely different than he did last night. "Mello, I'm really sorry for last night." Mello picked the books back up setting them on his desk before nodding. What did he want him to say?

"Okay." He mumbled keeping his head down as he walked into the closet and pretended to be busy hanging clothes up.

"Are you okay Mell?" He continued shutting the door behind himself. Mello felt himself jump, he was locked in a room with him again. He pushed down the fear that bubbled in his chest.

"Yes." He whispered quietly.

He could hear the sigh, "I really mean it though Mello. I'm sorry about last night."

"Okay." Why couldn't he just drop it? Why couldn't he leave it alone?

"Come on Mell, it's okay."

He winced, it wasn't. It would never be okay until he was able to forget last night. He wasn't sure how long that would be. "I know."

He stayed where he was willing himself not to shake as the other began to move. "What happened to my goggles?"

"You." He replied. Did he not remember stepping on them?

Seconds turned into minutes. Mello didn't have a choice but to leave the closet but when he did the red head was lying quietly in his bed. His back was turned to the blond and Mello released a breath he didn't know he had been holding.

xXx

A muscle in Mello's cheek twitched at the others words. He had to be joking, right? "Oh look Near you finally developed a sense of humor. It's a bit late and it's not funny. Don't piss me off." His fingers were digging into the leather of the chair.

Near smirked, "It wasn't a joke Mello." His finger twirled white locked. He barely flinched when Matt reached down to touch his hair. He glanced up slightly confused but the red head just shrugged mumbling something about baby soft. He turned back to the blond, "Now that he is here I don't have to release him from my custody. The same goes for you but I'm willing to reason with you."

Mello didn't look interested but he waved the other on. He looked like a king on his throne, blue eyes taking everything in but his calm look didn't fool anyone. His gun was still within reach, it only took one time for Near to say something to set the blond off. If Near knew this he didn't look bothered by any of it. "Shoot, because you're investing that I give a fuck enough to do something for you."

The white haired boy nodded touching the spot on his head that Matt had petted. Matt had actually wandered across the room and was watching the monitors a decent distance from Mello. "I'll be willing to release Matt to you in the case that you remain here with me to complete the Kira case. If not I'll keep him here and use him to complete the case. Either way I win."

"Win?" Mello snorted. "That's an interesting word to use. What exactly do you think that you're winning, Near? You're asking for help because you need someone to string along. Matt, of course, would be perfect for that, right? I'll be damned if it's me."

Near smirked, "Then he stays with me. Matt was third. With a bit of a push he'll be just as good as you."

Mello gaped at the other his eyes narrowed. "Like hell. Matt will never be as good as me."

Near didn't respond but Matt did. "I don't know Mello if he tried I think he could give you a run for your money." He didn't move to look at the other but he could feel the blue gaze on his back. "No offense, I hope this doesn't hinder our relationship. I'm really into you." He grinned. "And I can see you getting into me. Don't play coy you bad boy."

Mello face palmed himself not even sparing Near a look. "Matt is not just as good as me. I don't give a fuck if he's trying or not."

"Of course." Near's voice was soft.

"I mean it." He folded his arms. "But I still won't help you. Fuck that, I'm going to beat you fair and square. Besides, I'm not some pussy running around asking for help."

"You're lying. You need Matt to hack into Kira's computer system." He left out that it was him in the system with the other two but Mello quickly put it together on his own.

He slammed his hands on the chair causing everyone to jump except Matt and Near. "You son of a bitch, that was you wasn't it? That's bullshit, you planned that shit."

Near shook his head, "No I did not know you would be attempting to infiltrate the same system as I but I did rid the system of you." He heard the growl. "It was actually easy, fighting against Matt was the complication. I knew it was him so I allowed you back into the system in an attempt that maybe we could occupy him. It did not work."

Mello was scowling his leg shaking as if he wanted to move but didn't dare yet. "Fuck you Near. Whoop-de-fucking-doo you figured out Matt is good with computers. You're not further than I am."

"Mello calm down." It was the blond woman from the elevator. "We allowed you in here and we let you keep your gun. Near is trying to show good faith."

Blue eyes locked with hers. "Near doesn't have a faith, he's a damn atheist like Matt. You can't talk about Near and faith, it doesn't work so shut up. You're hired help so stay in your place." Her lips pursed slightly at his words but she did stay quiet.

"Well damn." Matt mumbled from across the room. "Hostile much. Calm the fuck down blondie, you have enough testosterone to run the whole fucking Olympics." He saw the others face. "Sir." He added softly.

Near cut off Mello before he could speak again. "The choice is yours Mello. Either leave Matt here with me or stay here yourself. Of course, if you're not capable of capturing Kira Matt will do well."

He frowned, "I'll think about it only if you let me talk to Matt alone."

Matt grinned, "I agree. We should talk alone. So alone, in a room, with a bed." He looked thoughtful. "Or the floor, maybe a wall. Oh yes, I like this idea."

Something passed over Near's face but he nodded lightly. "That is fine but I want my answer soon."