Authors note: Another chapter. I already have three more written which is a wonderful thing. So now you know you have at least three upcoming chapters in the near future. Isn't that exciting? I think it's exciting also. Anyhow, please read review and enjoy...or something.
To bloo buscus: I like it when Matt pets Near. It makes me giggle too but probably for different reasons.

To Awesomenessknowsnobounds: Your review made me smile so hard. ALL THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AND MORE...Or something.

To Carottal: Your reviews are always top notch. They make me happy each and every time. I actually look forward to them. Matt2 has a lot of things in store for Mello in the upcoming chapters and Near is more than he seems to be. That's the only hint I'm giving.

Green eyes

"You should have known he was going to flip out when they tried to take his gun." Matt leaned against the same wall Mello had hours previously. His eyes traveled everywhere but the bed where the young boy sat staring into space. He hadn't met many people in his spare time but something told him that not many of them Near's age had his hair color. He didn't understand how Mello hated such a cute kid. He couldn't hate Near if he tried, not that he would.

After Mello's agreement the blond woman had approached him with the idea of taking his weapons. The fight that followed had showed Near and Matt both how inadequate Near's force was when it came to things that should have been simple tasks. Twenty minutes of fighting and both men that had been watching Mello the whole time were lying on the floor on their backs while the woman was glancing awkwardly towards Near and Matt every few seconds for some form of help. In the end it was Matt that had taken the weapons away from Mello.

Near shrugged.

"There's a way that you have to deal with Mello. I would know. Matt spends all his time tip toeing around him hoping not to invoke that anger." Matt closed his eyes. He was tired, today was wearing down on him. "Is it wise to leave him in there with a group of people he just beat up?"

"They won't touch Mello if he doesn't give them a reason to." He replied softly. "You speak of Matt as if you are not Matt."

He winced lightly at the others tone. "It's not like that. It's more of everything he goes through I go through. I know how he feels, why he feels that way but the only difference is I face it differently. His complete devotion to Mello and even the way he deals with the world around him." He shook his head slightly staring into space still. "It's different for me. I don't feel that way towards Mello. Don't get me wrong, a good fucking wouldn't be bad but I don't love Mello like he does. Matt can't help himself, he craves Mello's love or at least he did."

Near tilted his head slightly watching the other with blank eyes. "Did?" He questioned softly. His eyes flickered towards the door that led back into the main room. Mello was still out there no doubt staring at the door to the room they were behind with hated. He remembered the look on Mello's face when he walked out and saw Matt touching his hair. Jealousy was a fearful thing and things would only get worse. He was willing to allow it to go there. He liked having Matt around.

Matt finally looked at the small boy who had curled up into a hunched look. "Matt and Mello had this huge blow out so right now Matt's in 'I don't give a fuck' land. I don't know exactly how long it's going to stay that way because Mello will try and weasel his way back in like he always does." He looked disgusted at the sound of the words.

The white haired boy nodded. He could use that. If Matt wasn't devoted to Mello then he could easily manipulate them against each other. If they were on opposing sides they wouldn't be able to come together and oppose him. "I see." Was all he said aloud. He was beginning to weave his words to the other Matt.

xXx

Mello was spinning freely in Near's chair glaring daggers at anyone who happened to come across his vision. The first thing on his to-do list had nothing to do with Near. It all dealt with Matt and how to deal with him. He refused to take anything that asshole had told him in the room for face value and where the hell did they get off disappearing into Near's bedroom together like they were some kind of fucked up couple? Matt would flip shit if he found out he slept with Near.

He snorted trying his hardest to withhold the laughter bubbling behind his lips. A quick glance up told him that all three members of Near's 'crack team' thought he had lost it. No luck there, if anything he was thinking better than he had been doing previously. Without Matt clouding his mind with emotions and friendship and stupidity he could think properly. His eyes drifted back towards the door and he scowled. If he did decide to get up and interrupt Matt and Near's crash session 101 in Near's bedroom it would make him look bad. It would make him look jealous. It would make him look like he cared.

'You're jealous. Just admit it.' The voice deep in Mello's head sounded. He looked away from the door instantly refusing to so much as acknowledge that something that stupid could be true. 'If you're upset go make Matt talk to you. You've done it before. You can do it now. If you don't it makes it look like Near's won.'

Before he could even consider it the door opened and Near padded out without so much as even glancing in his direction. Behind him he pulled Matt the two still in deep conversation. Mello's eyes narrowed, now they were holding hands? What the fucking hell was up with these people? The members of Near's team seemed more than concerned as they watched the two of them together. Mello knew Near, he didn't like being touched. He didn't like touching people so why was he suddenly so damn okay with Matt being buddy buddy with him?

Matt glanced over and Mello noted that his goggles were covering his eyes even with the crack in the lens. His heart leapt at the prospect that his Matt was back and he wouldn't have to endure this alone. Near was still holding his hand speaking quietly to the blond woman that had brought Matt up. She nodded in affirmation before shooting Mello a dark look. Her finger lifted as she gestured for him to come with her. He rolled his eyes. That's not how you spoke to him. He wasn't a dog and refused to be called as one.

"Mel." Matt's voice was light as he glanced around the room like it was his first time there. "Come on, don't make this difficult like you do everything else."

The blond shifted to glare him down. "Don't you call me that." He snapped. "Like I do everything else? It's not me that makes things difficult, it's you."

A smirk passed on the man's lips. "O rly?" He replied in the same soft voice. "I could beg to differ but if it puts you to sleep tonight then I'll give you that." Mello knew by tone of voice alone that it wasn't his Matt. He deflated a bit but he did get up and stalk across the floor stopping several feet away from Near feeling everyone but Near and Matt tense. What did they think he was going to do with him?

Near released Matt's hand and stepped away. "Good night Matt." He said quietly not looking at the red head that held his hand up in farewell before following the blond woman towards the elevator. Mello followed the two of them, "Good night Mello."

The blond frowned, "Whatever. You better get some sleep because I'm not dealing with your bullshit tomorrow if you don't get your baby nap." He folded his arms over his chest as the group stepped into the elevator. He could faintly make out the smile on Near's lips as the doors closed. "Asshole."

xXx

"Near decided that it was best for the two of you to share a room." The woman pushed the door open. Mello noticed that it hadn't been locked and it shot a decent amount of panic through him. He pushed it down under indifference. Near had to be watching them. He could play this game because he knew Matt better, right? "It's actually more like an apartment than just a room. Near is just upstairs and you can enter at any time." She didn't look happy on that. "He trusts you two. Not quite sure why." She mumbled under her breath.

Matt was absently nodding his head staring off into space. The apartment was spacious and finely decorated. It was everything Mello would have done to their apartment if nice things didn't bother Matt so much. One day he would have a house that would work for the both of them. Right now he had to figure out his relationship with Matt and the person who stood so close to him with that familiar face wasn't who he wanted to see or talk to.

Hal was gone as soon as she opened the door. He guessed he deserved that. She was annoying and he wasn't in the mood to hear the mouth of a woman at that point. They weren't friends and had only met on one previous occasion and he had been considering killing Near in cold blood at that moment. It would have been so easy, so simplistic but he had decided against it because Matt would hate him for it. Matt would never forgive him for killing Near. He could beat him fair and square but he couldn't so much as go and kill him.

He glanced at Matt now. The man had collapsed on the couch after removing his goggles and placing them on the table in the center of the floor. "You don't have to just stare, just come in and shut the door." Mello glowered but he did move across the floor in cat like grace. He slid down into one of the other chairs occupying the room and stared into space. "Don't be awkward Mello, there's something you want to say."

"You piss me off." He replied but it didn't have the full conviction of anger in it. He was speaking matter of factly. "All the time. I wish you would go away and never come back."

Matt smirked sitting up on his arms to be able to see the other. "Ah, that's what you wanted to say? I make it harder for you to bully Matt, right?"

He glared, "I don't bully Matt."

"You punch him." He shook his head slowly. "Maybe you should refresh your etiquette on bullying because clearly you don't understand it. You scare Matt. "

Mello grinned, cold and deadly. "If I scare you then do I get my Matt back?" He looked about ready to pounce.

Matt sneered, "Is that what you think? If you think that's true then bring it on blondie. Be careful, I've been known to slap some asses in my spare time." He winked.