Matt was sitting in his room engrossed in his thoughts which recently only seemed to be swirling around two things video games like usual and Near. He was knocked away from his musings of white hair when heard Mello's voice yelling.

It was slightly muffled by the door, but once he stepped into the hall he could hear it clearly, "-re you doing with Matt?"

He approached the sounds and just managed to catch Near say, "Matt isn't here with me, I'm not doing anything?" He voice took on a questioning tone that Matt knew Mello hated.

"I know he isn't with you now, I'm not stupid. I mean, why have you been hanging around Matt so often? Why is he bothering to spend time with you, what did you do?" Mello asked growing progressively more angry. Matt wanted to stop the arguing, but he held off because he wanted to hear Near's answer.

"You informed me that nobody could ever want to be with me and I attempted to see if your theory was true, so I asked Matt on a date. After that point I played no part in Matt's continued interest aside from spending time with him when he asked," Near couldn't move because he was pinned to a wall, but he attempted to shrug.

"Are you suggesting this is my fault?" Mello asked in a voice that promised pain if Near answered in a way he didn't like.

"Why is there a fault? Matt is simply spending some of his time with me, I'm not completely monopolizing him, you spend more time with him than I do," Near pointed out and Matt silently agreed there wasn't a problem with them hanging out.

"The issue is that he likes you," Mello shook him once for effect. Near was too light to resist so he simply hung placidly a few inches above the ground suspended by Mello's grip.

"Likes me?" Near repeated cocking his head slightly. Matt almost smiled at Near's lack of understanding. He was so intelligent and seemed to know everything except when it was related to emotions concerning himself.

"Yes, he's distracted by you and I'm getting annoyed," Mello's eyes narrowed and Near continued to meet his gaze unblinkingly.

"What am I expected to do? I can't control what distracts him," Near responded.

"Just stop spending time with him, so he can get over you," Mello demanded.

"No," Near replied simply.

"What? Why?" Mello growled not used to being directly denied.

"I seem to enjoy my time with Matt, it makes me," Near paused for a moment mulling over his thoughts, "happy?"

"He makes you happy, do you even know how to be anything other than a crazy robot?" Mello looking at him surprised and Matt found himself shocked as well, even Near seemed slightly confused by his admission.

"I think that is the most likely explanation and I believe I make him happy," Near appeared thoughtful and ignored the robot comment. Mello for his part looked mildly disgusted with Near, and shoved him away storming down the hallway, thankfully in the opposite direction of where Matt was hiding. Matt was actually surprised that Mello didn't hit Near in his anger, but he knew that he'd receive a long rant later about how annoying Near was.

Matt felt slightly guilty that he didn't step in to protect Near, but he was feeling a particular brand of warmth at Near's words. Matt hadn't even been sure Near could truly admit he liked spending time with Matt, he seemed very level in his emotional state not moving in a positive or negative direction. He also acknowledged that Near was correct and he did make him feel happy.

He stepped out from where he was hiding to see Near still sitting on the ground leaning against the wall where Mello had pinned him. "Are you alright Near?"

Near seemed to think about answering the question before answering, "Why do you ask?"

"Um, because you're on the floor," Matt still trying to get used to Near. Matt knew he liked Near, but he couldn't pretend he truly understand the smaller boy.

"Oh," Near seemed to realize his state, "yes I am."

"So," Matt repeated the question slowly, "are you alright?"

Near moved to stand up, but winced slightly as he placed weight on his left leg. If Matt hadn't been watching so closely he probably would have missed the slight contortion on his face from the pain. Before he could do anything to help Near finally answered his question, "It appears I am slightly injured." Matt figured he landed oddly when he finally fell down.

"Yeah I noticed," Matt responded automatically and belatedly realized that might have been a bit rude, but Near didn't seem offended he merely shifted his weight against the wall to keep pressure off his left leg. Matt amended his statement by adding, "I'm taking you to the nurse just hold on." Rather than support Near and help him walk like a normal person would have done he decided to scoop Near up into a bridal hold. He didn't bother mentally denying he enjoyed holding onto the boy and feeling his warm body and slight weight press against him.

Near for his part didn't do much besides make an almost inaudible sound of surprise, which Matt found adorable as he did with most things related to Near. He tried not to be creepy by inhaling the boy's scent or something to that effect, but he could still smell that faint something that was wholly Near. He knew Near would be uncomfortable with any major contact so Matt resisted his urge to kiss his way down Near's neck and mark him. He wasn't a possessive person, but seeing Near's exposed collarbone and neck created some time of desire.

With a deep breath he calmed himself and kept a steady pace carrying Near who still seemed rigid in his arms. Trying to calm him Matt half whispered, "Near just relax I won't drop you." Somehow it worked and Near did relax if only a little. Although they received a few odd glances, nobody moved to stop them or do anything. Sure, there would be rumors flying in a matter of hours, but Matt simply took pleasure in the feeling of Near in his arms allowing everything outside their time together fade away.

Matt couldn't deny he was a bit disappointing when he came to the nurse's office and had to set Near down to open the door. With a few supported shuffling steps Near made it to the bed, but the nurse seemed to be out. Thankfully, Matt helped patch Mello up many times when he didn't want anyone to know he had gotten into fights or got injured breaking the rules. It was enough for him to feel comfortable binding Near's ankle, which he tried to look at as he peeled Near's sock off, thankfully as per usual he didn't wear his shoes.

It really wasn't bad, just slightly swollen and Near didn't seem particularly worried, though he never did. "Let me grab some ice, aspirin, and then I'll wrap it up. Everything will be fine," Matt gave his unprofessional opinion.

"I trust Matt," Near said without any obvious inflection, but like usual Matt managed to feel flattered that Near considered his opinion valid and put some degree of trust in him. After carefully placing a cold compress on Near's ankle and handing two pills and a glass of water Matt sat down deciding to wait for the swelling to decrease a bit before wrapping the injury.

Just before Matt thought they could have some stereotypical heart-to-heart in the hospital type of scenario the nurse walked in. She quickly noticed what was wrong and after a few questions she thanked Matt for his help and took over ruining his ability to privately speak to Near. He decided to excuse himself for a little while, "Near I'll see you in a little while, I'll come to your room so we can avoid Mello." The nurse walked out soon after she entered not having done anything to actually help Near. Apparently Mello took his anger out on some random kid and Matt didn't wasn't upset when she left. She promised to be back and warned them not to mess around so Matt vowed to leave Near's leg alone, he didn't want Near in trouble.

"Matt isn't staying?" Near asked and though his voice didn't truly convey it Matt felt there was some emotion swimming in the question.

"Would you like me to stay?" Matt asked feeling a small smile make its way onto his face. Near chose not to answer the question instead he simply waited until Matt decided to say, "On second thought, I think I'll stay here with you. You're better company than Mello anyway, especially when he's angry."

Once again Near didn't answer, but Matt didn't expect him to. So Matt pulled a chair next to the little bed the nurse had forced Near to rest on and carried the conversation as he usually did. He almost reached for Near's hand, but stopped himself halfway. Near caught the movement and glanced at Matt's hand then up to Matt's eyes. Matt blushed at Near's knowing eyes and felt the blush deeper as Near took the initiative and lightly held onto his hand. Matt managed to catch Near whisper, "Thank you for staying Matt."

"No problem," Matt felt the heat from his face finally fade as he ]held the cool hand in his own. Near was so small, so breakable and Matt felt a surge of protectiveness as a comfortable silence fell over the room.

A/N

Surprise, I'm back and no this story is not dead. Sorry for taking so long, I had completely lost inspiration for this story, but once I started the chapter I couldn't stop writing. If there are any typos I apologize I'm not feeling my best, but I tried to keep things in order.

I know the characters are somewhat out of character specifically Matt and Near, but I figure throwing a bit of love/interest/crush (wherever it stands now) is enough to throw things off center.

Thanks for reading please let me know what you think.