Chapter four:
"I'm sorry for getting locked up here and not being able to help you around." Mello admits to Near making it quieter as he attempts for Matt to not hear. "I just got so angry and my demons came out." He watches Near trying to read him only to get interrupted.
"Hey." Matt speaks up making Mello a little irritated peeking around Near to glare at the red head. "Don't give me that look!" He insists with a pout putting down his goggles over his green eyes as they were on his head. "Anyways. I heard about what happened. And actually I think it that it was great what you did." His words get a surprised blink from Mello who finds his annoyance calming down. "You didn't have to do that yet you did. Thank you." He lets his gaze lock with Mello's own gaze. "I know it isn't favourable that it got you locked up here. However you defended Near even without him being there. Not many would have done that. They are nice around him though turn their backs when not by him." He admits and Mello glances to Near wondering if he heard that. "Don't worry about Near. I assured him that I wouldn't be like the others and just leave him behind. And after what had happened I know that you won't either. I made sure to tell Near about it too. That you are like me. Different compared to the others." He offers a smile to Mello who slightly glances down to his own knees.
Mello has a thought that comes up so he turns back to Matt. "You know what happened to Near. Don't you?" His question gives the red head pause as said boy turns away a little.
Matt looks to Near before slightly shaking himself. "We'll talk about that more when you're free." He whispers before getting to his feet. "Anyways. I have a session I should get to. I'll let you and Near hang out for a bit." He runs out after that making Mello confused. His eyes showed that he was lying about having a session to go to.
Mello finds the behaviour weird though he decides to shrug it off for now. He turns his attention to Near who remains sitting next to him. "Hey." He starts while keeping his gaze on the white haired boy. "I just wanted you to know that despite what happened you don't need to be scared of me. I want to get to know you." He swears his skin prickles with anger at remembering what was said about Near. He lets out a breath keeping his gaze on the other and he leans over laying his head on Near's shoulder. "Sorry. I just need this a moment. There's definitely something special about you." He takes notice of a slight change in Near's breathing. He focuses and realizes that it almost seems like… Relaxation? He hadn't expected that reaction from the other. He lets out a breath truly relaxing himself. He feels relief that he is alright with Near even if the other is still pretty spaced out looking. He wonders if he really can find a way for Near to start responding more. "Say." He speaks again after a moment. "Whenever I get out of this part and am able to do more together do you want to do an activity together? Maybe we could read or draw together or something. I don't know yet but we can figure it out." He watches Near for a reaction though he doesn't really expect one.
Near seems to just remain relaxed while still staring off into space so to speak.
Mello will take that as a yes from the other. He closes his eyes. "I'll think of something and hopefully you'll like it." He stays close to Near not wanting to move away from the other. He feels drawn to him as if he never wants to leave the other's side.
….
The doctors watch from the other side of the hidden window, Matt not having been allowed to come watch as well being sent off on his way for now despite his pleas to stay, all having a fascination from what they see.
"Could it be that Near is so calm that he radiates such things? Perhaps Mello is more sensitive to the auras of others than he might realize. It could be a part of his mental health condition that allows this to be a thing." Sam theorizes as they continue to watch the two just hang out together.
"And I don't see any distress from Near." Near's usual doctor mentions watching the two just as closely. "In fact. He seems relaxed. Even though Mello is so close and touching him. However it is hard to be sure what is going on his mind. All I can tell is that he seems alright with Mello being around him, so much so that the other can lay his head on his shoulder. I wonder if Mello gives off some sort of protection vibe that Near can perhaps sense? Making Near feel safe around Mello perhaps? It is hard to say right now I am afraid."
"So what's the plan?" Another doctor, a male, asks causing Sam and Near's doctor to look to each other.
"We explore this further. Perhaps they can help each other." Sam tells the other doctor. "I'll bring in some coloring supplies. Maybe we can let the two truly relax together."
"I think that is a wonderful idea." Near's doctor agrees so Sam heads away with that.
….
Mello sits up straight when someone enters the cell. He notices Near's relaxed breathing stops.
Near isn't tense or anxious though is no longer as relaxed as he was.
Mello quickly moves between Near and whoever it is just in case. He spots Sam who comes over placing down some paper and loose crayons. He blinks at her rather confused by this.
"Well I thought that since Near is visiting you two could maybe do an activity together." Sam explains giving Mello a smile. "If you want to that is. We are willing to offer activities to even those stuck where you are for now. Just like we offer it to everyone else who can roam more freely. We never intend to take away any of your rights for such things just because you're in here." She takes a step closer still seeming a little cautious. "May I take off your binds for a little bit?" She gets a nod from Mello so she moves closer taking him out of the jacket to which he shakes his arms a bit once freed. "Just call out if you guys anything." She leaves them alone with that as the door closes.
Mello turns to the paper and crayons left for them. He drags them closer before glancing to Near. "Want me to draw you something?" He offers to Near who as usual doesn't respond. He turns to the paper. "How about I try to draw you?" He uses a black crayon as outlines. His eyes darting to Near while he draws. He finishes his drawing which looks more like a childs attempt to draw someone. He holds it up where Near can see it… He isn't actually sure that the other can indeed see it though the thought is nice… "It's not that good though you might like it?" He just watches Near not actually expecting anything from even asking. He almost swears that for a moment Near's eyes focus before they stare off into the distance again. "What do you think?" He keeps a close eye on any sign from Near. "If you can indeed hear me then you can respond by your breathing. Slower if you like it. Faster if you don't." He keeps a watch… Only for nothing to happen for a long few moments. He is about to speak again when he gasps as Near's breathing slows for a moment before returning to normal. He grins happily at seeing this. He rolls up the picture and puts it between Near's legs and his body. "Here. You can have it then. Maybe you can have it put up in your room or something." He turns back to the supplies that were given. "Let's try to figure out what to draw next." He thinks that he might be able to break Near out of whatever trance he is in. He draws Near a picture of Mello himself and he even just draws a picture of a deer kind of wanting to see one sometime.
The nice time is quite a good bit, only to be broken as Sam comes in with another female doctor.
"I am sorry Mello. However visit time is over." Sam informs him.
"Can he at leas stay until the jacket is back on?" Mello requests and Sam nods. He is restrained once more then Near along with the remaining drawing supplies are taken out. "See you next time! I'll get out of here some day and we can hang out outside of here!" He calls in promise to Near as he leaves. He turns away trying to not think.
You could always hunt down those that dared to say things about Near.
Mello pushes away any thoughts his demons try to plant in his head. He is going to do his best so he won't be separated from Near so much. He thinks that he is starting to get somewhere with the other after all.
Meanwhile…
Near's usual doctor lets Near lay down on his bed in his room. She smiles and puts the pictures Mello drew for Near on the wall with some tape. She makes sure that it is at a height that Near can easily see. She looks to the distant boy. "I'll let you rest. See you tomorrow." She leaves closing the door softly at her exit.
Though after she leaves Near's eyes focus on the drawings, his lights are on a timer so they'll shut off after a certain time of the day so he doesn't have to turn them off. He stares at them for a few moments before closing his eyes to try to sleep just before the lights shut off for the night.
