Chapter three:
Mello and Matt glance to each other in confusion as nothing happens.
"Surely he'd be back by now right?" Mello questions and Matt nods with a slight concern on his face. "Then why wouldn't he load up the flash drive and make sure what he wants is there?"
"Maybe he wants to make sure that it doesn't contain a virus?" Matt suggests clearly just as unsure as Mello is over all of this. "It is possible that he'll ask me to help him make sure of it."
"Hmm..." Mello thinks that this might be able to work in their favour. "We could use this." His words get a glance from Matt who isn't sure about the direction Mellos going. "If he does come to you about it we can see what on it if the flash drive is virus free. Then if needed we can put it in Near's room then tip off Roger."
"We don't even know what's on that flash drive yet." Matt reminds the blonde who turns to him with a slight smirk on his face.
"Perhaps not but it can't be too bad to plan ahead." The blonde gets to his feet as the red head watches. "I'll head to bed. If I don't see Near in his room I'll come back." He promises and Matt can only nod his head in agreement. "Goodnight Matt." He turns away heading out of the room.
"Goodnight Mello." Matt's words is the last heard by Mello in that room before the door shuts.
Mello makes his way down the hall making a quick stop to peek into Nears room.
Near is seen just getting into bed to go to sleep.
Mello leaves and heads to his room for the night. He flops onto his bed with a sigh. "What are you hiding Near?" He questions no one before closing his eyes hoping that he'll be able to sleep well. He lays there for a bit only for the thoughts about what he had found today troubles him. He tosses this way and that way hoping for some form of relief to be able to sleep. He doesn't even know what time it is when he finally passes out. He was tired after all.
The next day...
Matt walks along after having had a shower after classes ended for the day. He pauses noticing Near walking around and seeming to look for someone. His eyes briefly meet with Nears own before the other heads off. He tilts his head wondering what is going on. So he decides to follow after the other orphan. He tries to not be obvious and hides as much as possible. He is about to leave when Near heads towards the rooms. He figures that it must have been his imagination... Until he notices that Near goes right past his room.
Why would Near go past his own room when there's nothing else down this hall?
Matt continues to follow after Near, quietly wondering if Mello was more right than he thought. He picks up the pace when the white hairs boy turns into the red heads room. He looks inside noticing Near pulling one of the laptops closer to himself. He charges in as Near pulls out the flash drive from his pocket. He tackles the other to the ground almost accidentally breaking the laptop. He feels Near try to escape though he grabs his wrists to be able to pin him down.
More hurried footsteps sound as Mello hurries in. "Matt!" He calls out before blinking as he almost steps on the flash drive. He picks it up before looking to Near. "What is this?" He questions to the other who looks away. He moves closer and crouches to look at Nears face. "Answer me! What is on this thing?! And why did you sneak to Matt's room with it?!" He demands and Matt blinks at him.
"How did you..." Matt stops as the other answers.
"Followed you while you followed him." Mello admits getting a nod of understanding from Matt.
The two look to Near once more.
"I can't tell you." Near informs them and Mello snorts before getting up.
"Matt. Cords? Rope? Anything?" Mello questions his friend who looks truly wary of Near wondering what he was planning.
"Under the bed. Shoebox. Bottom one. Ignore the top one." Matt responds watching Nears face for any hints at what this is about.
Mello pulls out the shoebox mentioned. He also spots handcuffs and other restraining type sex things. He ignores that as he helps Matt shift a squirming Near.
The two get the boy tied up and have him sit against the wall under the window.
Mello gives Matt the flash drive. "Are you able to safely check what's on here?"
"I can. Just after I check for any virus." Matt mentions looking over the small device.
"You won't find anything of note on there." Near mentions causing the two to look at him once more. He looks calm despite the situation he's in.
"Oh please." Mello snorts stalking closer to Near before stopping to glare down at him. "We all know that you're smart enough to not incriminate yourself. Especially by begging us not to look at this."
"And how do you know that it isn't a gift to Matt?" Near asks calm as ever.
Infuriating Mello.
Though making Matt pause.
Mello stomps at Near in his anger. He crouches before grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "Fuck that! We saw you pick it up from a weird spot! Why would it need to be there if it's a gift?! What is this?! Were you just going to use someone else's computer just in case it had a virus?! Oh how charming of you!"
Near lets out a breath closing his eyes softly while Matt grabs something in his room. "Mello. Things don't always fit your little narrative. You don't even have enough clues to truly build a good case against me."
"Then why don't you explain yourself!?" Mello demands pulling Near even closer.
"Hold on Mello." Matt mentions causing Mello to turn to him curiously.
Near opens his eyes looking away from them both.
Matt has a horrified and worried look on his face. "This flash drive has a bad virus on it. Sending everything on a computer to another source. I can't track the source I right now. However it wouldn't be good if this thing got plugged in."
Mello turns back to Near with a glare and a growl directed at him. "You're caught now! No way you can make this some innocent misunderstanding now!" He shoves his face into the other's to try to intimidate him. "So it's time to spill! And tell us what you have planned! An attack against L!? Some sort of spy mission?! An attack against the orphanage!? Spill!" He demands with Near keeping his gaze turned away from the other.
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into." Near tells Mello who huffs angrily.
"I'll decide that." Mello insists only slightly pulling away from Near. "If you think you're right then why don't you tell us all about it?"
Matt hovers by Mello as he's also curious about what Near was doing exactly.
"Are you secretly a part of some criminal group?!" Mello demands only to be interrupted by a ringing coming from Nears pocket. He grabs the phone and opens it only to pause at seeing the message.
We know you have the flash drive. You have until tomorrow night is over when the sun rises. We wont wait forever. You know what can happen if you fail us.
Mello turns to Near not fully sure what to make of this message. He finds his anger is suddenly gone and he surprises himself with his concern. He can tell that something is going on and that Near isn't actually doing this willingly. "What's actually going on?" He questions without the same anger in his voice. He ignores Matt who reads the message over his shoulder then looks to Near as well.
Near glances away sadly as emotions break through his usually emotionless mask. He lets out a breath as the two wait for an explanation.
