AN: Quickwrite i did on FB... wonder if I should start a series?

Suggested Listening: *The White Apple* - Of Verona (start at 2:49 :D)

-White Apple-

His head spun.

All he could hear was nothing. Static—a horrible nothing—through the headset he had on. He stared blankly at the screen in front of him, flashing a warning into his retina.

How could this have happened? He was supposed to have been watching Mello's back. To protect him, keep him safe.

In the background, smoke rose steadily in plumes; grey tinged with orange as the building blazed in the dark night. Matt felt sick. Horribly, horribly sick.

"Oh god.."

His phone rang, shrill and stark to the silence in his ears, and Matt jumped, fumbling with the headset and pressing talk at the same time.

"Hello? Mello?" Matt squeaked as the phone slid from the precariously pressed between ear and shoulder.

Heavy breathing littered the line for a long moment, and Matt leaned forward in his seat, fingers poised over the keys, hesitating.

"Jeevas," the tone, along with his surname, made Matt cringe and shrink in on himself, "Where the FUCK were you?"

"I looked away for only a second, that's all-"

"That's all?" Mello repeated. Matt winced. Oh he was in so much trouble-

"Do you know what you cost me? Do you, Jeevas?"

Matt did. He really did.

The level, the LAST level, on the only game Mello enjoyed, and was exceedingly good at. One they could play together. A nice co-op level. That required him to cover Mello.

Instead. Mello's character was...well it had been blown up. Poof. Sky high.

He lost all his progress since they began that gaming marathon the night before, all his status, points, etc etc. Oh Matt knew exactly what that death had cost Mello.

"I don't think you really do."

Matt turned, dropping the phone, as Mello's furious voice came from behind him.

"Oh shit." Matt's eyes widened, "Wait Mel, don't pull that-"

His desktop went blank, the power cord held tightly in Mello's clenched fist.

He had not saved either.

"You asshole."

Mello smirked, "We are not even close to even." And he advanced.

-The End-