Authors note: Thank you to everyone that is still reading. I hope you enjoy this installment! Please read, review and enjoy.

Red

Matt barely remembered what had transpired in the last few hours. Actually, that was wrong. He remembered yelling at Mello but he didn't remember why. When he woke up again he was sitting in the only chair in his room that was pulled towards the fireplace that was now dying. The embers crackled softly barely giving off heat any longer. The sunlight streamed through the curtains and he couldn't place how long he had been sleep. What he did know is he owed Mello an apology for freaking out like that on him. It seemed like it was beginning to get harder to separate fiction from life. He needed out but he wasn't sure if Mello was the right way. The blond had left him once already and never looked back.

"Fuck," He hissed throwing the blanket off of himself before standing. He regretted not thinking this all the way through. In actuality he would have never guessed that the mafia boss that he decided to steal from would be the same one that Mello would work for. Actually, that made more sense when he figured out years ago that madam fate liked to kick him in the ass any chance that she could. This was just another one of those chances. If he made the wrong decision he would wind up dead before he could make a plan B. "I've royally fucked up this time."

"Well yeah." The answer came from the door causing the red head to jump. He turned to find Demetri giving a sympathetic smile as he shut the door behind himself. "But come on Red, everyone knew you were fucked up when you walked through the door the first time. We're all fucked up in some way it's just that you wear it a bit better than the rest of us. Plus, I've never heard you yell before." He flashed a perfect smile leaning against the door.

Matt returned the smile but no warmth touched his eyes. "I'm only human." He replied. All he wanted was to be alone right now and clearly Demetri wanted something. "What do you want anyway?"

Demetri shrugged, "I've looked out for you since you've come here. If that blond man is planning on taking you from here I want to come with you. I worked for Louis not these freaks. I want my life back." He folded his arms his dark gaze locking with Matt's green. Those eyes held something frightening behind them, almost feral in a way, but he would never say anything about it. There had always been something a bit more off about Red than everyone else that worked here. He always kept to himself and when he didn't have to work he stayed in his bedroom. He did whatever he could to stay out of the way from the others but Demetri couldn't stop watching him. He had to because the person standing in front of him is nothing but a ticking time bomb and when he went off Demetri wanted to be as far away from it as possible.

"That's not why you came in here." Matt responded tilting his head slightly. Seconds passed before he turned his back to the other and began to drag the chair back across the room to where Mello sat in it previously. "What do you actually want Demetri?"

The man smirked, "I meant what I said but the Don is requesting your presence out there." He tilted his head back.

Matt nodded, "I'll be there soon." He replied hearing the door open and close. Mello wasn't the way out if everyone had already figured out that the blond wanted to get him out of here. Mello wasn't the way.

~*xXx*~

"Mello," The Don shifted lightly glancing back at the blond who was sitting close. "Why don't you go and see what's taking my pet so long?" It wasn't a question but a command asked in the way of a question. Mello moved to stand before spotting Matt taking his dear time across the lobby. He settled back down barely taking notice of the smile that appeared on the face of the Don. "Red, how nice it is for you to join me two hours after I asked for your ass to be here."

Matt shrugged lightly. "I was busy." He replied watching as the Don's eyes narrowed.

The Don sat a bit straighter, "Daniel please show Red what happens to those that don't come when I call them." He took pride when the eager young man walked across the space striking Matt roughly across the face. To his defense Matt didn't make a noise. His face snapped sideways for a few seconds before he turned back and stared blankly at the Don. Mello was on the edge of his seat.

"Was that it?" He asked folding his arms across his chest.

The Don bellowed a deep booming laugh. "You would make one hell of a soldier Red." He grinned but Matt didn't return the smile. "I had a few questions to ask you before I let you become my pet." Matt didn't respond but he did shift his weight on his other foot. "How do you know Mello?"

Matt's gaze slid to the blond sitting behind the Don along with everyone else around. He shrugged, "I don't." He replied in the same carefree tone that he used when he arrived and told the Don that he was busy. "Why?"

"Daniel here told me that the two of you recognized each other. Was Mello one of your customers?" He offered as Matt shrugged again. The Don pursed his lips, "I'll ask you again do you know Mello?"

Matt locked eyes with Mello who looked slightly pained. "We grew up together." He said airily. "I hadn't seen him in years though. Mello used to be my best friend." The jeering that ensued with Mello's fellow mafia members shoving him and laughing that he had a best friend despite his tough guy exterior. "But that was many years ago."

The Don nodded, "I see. I see." He glanced back towards Mello who stared on coldly. "I supposed that's right. Mello doesn't have many friends and I'm assuming you two knew each other before he came to work for me. Were you two lovers?"

"No." Matt replied vaguely. "We were just two parentless kids that formed a friendship. It wasn't meant to last." He stared into Mello's blue gaze as he spoke. "We never expected it to last."

The Don smiled opening his arm as everyone in the room watched Matt take careful slow steps before settling into the lap of the man. "You're more beautiful than all the girls I kept around me for all this time. You're probably better in the bed too." Matt smiled feeling hands roaming lightly over his body.

"Perhaps, I guess you'll have to find that out later." His voice was light almost sweet as he leaned in to kiss the man. His attention wasn't on the old man that seemed more than eager to move to the bedroom but on the blond that watched with stoic anger.