Authors note: I can't believe this story has so many reviews and so many chapters. Thank you to everyone here and still reading. I'm not going to say that this story is going to have a sequel, it might or might not. I will say that I enjoy reading everything that you all post and it makes me so happy. So please, read review and enjoy the latest installment.

Game. Set. Match.

The room adjacent to the room that held Near struck Mello as small, cramped and completely Near like. It actually looked like it was his bedroom. The bed itself was covered with a crisp white blanket and a single pillow sat at the head. The bed was a huge structure taking up a majority of the room something much too large for Near by himself but seeing as he was positive Near was the devil and didn't sleep it didn't matter what his bedroom looked like.

Matt shut the door lightly behind him as he entered behind Mello. Green eyes weren't visible under the array of hair but Mello knew inwardly that he was watching him. He was right to do so because Mello was still restraining the feeling he should punch the other but he wasn't sure why. Was he upset with how everything with Matt had ended? Was he upset that Near knew about him before he himself did? Was he upset that the other said that Matt could potentially be smarter than him? Was he just mad for the sake of being mad?

The answer was hell fuck yes to all those things but right now wasn't the time to take out his anger on Matt. He had questions and he wanted answers one way or another.

"The bed's big enough." Matt mumbled but he wasn't particularly talking to Mello. Something was off, he wasn't sure if Near being around put the other off but something strange wasn't adding up. Why would Near offer such a deal? The usual forcefulness of the other Matt wasn't there. He seemed lost and confused. "So what's up?"

Mello watched as he sat on the bed, it bowed under his weight. He didn't seem to notice it. "Why did you never mention to me that you knew Near?" The other looked uncomfortable, it was a fleeting blank look before it digressed back into his usual cockiness. "Don't give me some bullshit answer either. You pretended to play stupid all that time."

The other sneered, "Look blondie, I know a lot of things that I don't need to let on to anyone. What was supposed to make you different?" he pulled the goggles off and tossed them hastily across the room towards the door. They clattered harshly falling to the floor. Mello's eyes followed, the crack that had appeared on the lens triggered something but he pushed it away. "Why should I tell you anything about me? You're the person that spent literally years hurting Matt. I don't owe you a damn thing."

Mello's eyes narrowed, "Matt's my friend. I would never hurt him." His reply was frank but soft as if unsure. "That's why I should at least know more than Near."

He shook his head. "Matt loves you. Or at least he loved you. He spent years at Wammy house watching you, taking care of you and letting you take advantage of him. You knew Mello, don't lie. You've always known how Matt felt about you and you felt the same but instead of giving in you buried yourself under anger, Near and becoming number one. I remember, you ran under the Catholicism platform." Mello didn't reply as the other spoke but he also didn't break eye contact. "I've been in contact with Near for years even after Wammy house. How do you think he got your number?"

Mello's fist clenched, "Okay." He breathed in deeply. This room had to have camera's, it wasn't Near's style to be blind. He was reading every little thing that went on in here even if he couldn't hear it. He cooled himself desperately attempting to stay calm. He leaned back against the wall. "If you've known Near for so long how many time have you met in person?"

"Three." He replied lightly picking up something from the dresser. Mello wasn't sure but it looked a lot like an action figure. Typical for Near. "Once at Wammy house, once after Wammy house and today." He didn't elaborate. "As for you I've met you on multiple occasions when you terrorized him. You control him with fear. Fear that you'll leave him again. Fear that he's not good enough to stand up to your standards and fear of your relationship." He smirked, "It was you that created me Mello. Don't you remember?"

The blond gaped, wide eyed and confused. "Excuse you?"

He leaned back, "If you don't remember then I won't tell you. I'm sure it'll come to you eventually. As for Near he's been the only thing that I could call a friend. I didn't get much interaction from anyone but you and what can I say, he's better than nothing. I mean I'm into your looks Mello, that fine tight ass, but you personality is something only a mother could love. Luckily Matt has a masochistic personality. He gets off on your anger, you remind him of someone else." Mello watched the dark look pass over the others eyes.

The silence that passed through the room couldn't count as awkward. It was far away from it actually. Mello knew exactly what he wanted to say and Matt knew exactly what he wanted to hear but it was Mello that had too much pride. It was choking him, cutting off his connection to his best friend and the only person in his life that had made a difference. "Matt is important to me."

The red head shook his head, "Matt is useful to you." He corrected. "You can use Matt so you do. It's that simple, I don't blame you."

The blond closed his eyes, "That's not true. I care for Matt."

"As a friend." The other corrected standing. Mello could hear him in the silence the flooded the room, heavy boot steps crossing the room. He was right in front of him. "Matt is your best friend. Matt is your malleable best friend that will follow you to the ends of the earth and do anything for you because he loves you but that's okay because you can ignore that love and us e him. I know that, you know that and even Near knows that."

Mello didn't open his eyes. He wasn't right. He didn't use Matt, or did he? Matt had never complained. He always stood his ground, or did he? The shadow of doubt wouldn't disappear. He had spent all this time hurting Matt and he didn't know. He had hurt his best friend.

Mello faintly felt fingers sift through his hair. He opened his mouth to comment before he felt lips upon his own. He didn't know how to react, Matt had never actually kissed him, well not forcefully. He attempted to move back but there was nowhere to go, he was stuck in the embrace. It was soothing, familiar and cooling. For a second he had forgotten the conversation, he had forgotten the pain and most of all he had forgotten this wasn't Matt.

The other pulled back green eyes showing from under the fray of red hair. "Don't ever forget that you kissed back Mello." He stepped back shoving his hands back into his pockets. "Our conversation is done. I hope you have an answer for Near." He opened the door disappearing out.

The blond took in a shallow breath. He slid down the wall his mind still buzzing with questions but the Matt that had walked out the door wasn't the Matt to ask any of these questions. He had heard those words before but he didn't remember where. He didn't want to remember where. Matt was his best friend. He was sorry he didn't feel the same way. He just wanted to keep his best friend but everything was slipping away from him like water in his hand.

He leaned his head back against the wall hearing a faint knock as it collided. If his Matt was a masochist by nature than the other Matt was his opposite. Everything pointed to that and therefore he was a sadist. The sick bastard was getting off on reversing the head games. That's how he worked.

xXx

Near didn't turn when he heard the door open. He knew it was Matt walking with the same slow leisured pace as he always did. It would still be several more minutes until Mello showed his face. Either way neither of them would be leaving here. Mello would give in and stay here but because Matt was released into the custody of Mello he would have to remain with the blond. Mello would never leave Matt here with him alone and so Near would have both Matt and Mello at his disposal. He smirked feeling the hand on his hair again. He glanced up in confusion but the red head didn't seem to be paying attention as he absently combed his fingers through his hair. It made him feel weird but not bad. Instead he returned to the train set he had been building before either of them had come in.

"That talk did not last long." He said absently feeling rather than seeing the red head shrug. In all the occasions he had met this Matt he had always been constant. He held the same intellect as the Matt they grew up with but the way he used it was completely different. While normal Matt dallied and used his intellect to Mello's advantage this Matt used it to manipulate. He always had to keep a firm watch on him. He could feel him manipulating Mello with each of his comments as if the blond deserved the pain. The blond was so caught up that he hadn't noticed yet. It all worked out so perfectly.

Matt sat in the middle of the circle with the other watching the screens. "I won't be able to stay here forever. Once Matt's back you'll have Mello back on his A-game." He watched the other nod. The operatives around the room were poised in watching the two of them together. He would never hurt Near. He liked him far too much for that. "You have to be careful but I can assure you that Matt won't let Mello touch you." He grinned. "He thinks of you like a brother."

Near paused looking back at the red head. His green eyes barely showed but even without the sight of his eyes you could tell he was a completely different person. The way he smiled, the way he carried himself and the way he spoke. "Brother?" He echoed watching the other nod. He was still flipping the strands lightly with his hands. "And you?"

He looked like he was thinking. "Well…"

The door opened and Mello strolled out looking paler than Near had ever seen him. He paused momentarily his eyes narrowed on the two sitting in the floor. Near watched the annoyance, jealousy and possession before the blond continued back to the chair he had moved from previously. He glanced up at Matt whose hand had fell to his side watching the blond with little to no expression on his face.

"Have you come to your conclusion Mello?" Mello couldn't say that he imagined the annoyance in the boy's usual deadpan voice. Had he really interrupted something that much? Good.

He nodded, "I have. I've decided that both Matt and I will stay here. That's how you were planning it wasn't it? If I agreed to stay you would release Matt to me but he'd have to be here with me. You knew I wouldn't walk out the door without my best friend." He shook his head. "While I'm here I'm calling the shots. Got it?"

"Okay." Near's voice had resumed its calm.

He frowned, "I'm not doing this for you Near. I want answers and I know that you have them. I'll be damned if I lose to you Near." His eyes flickered over Matt. "At anything."