A/N: A short-and-sweet MattxMello oneshot.

Bus Ride

The bus made a harsh swerve around the curb.

Matt lifted his hand to the seat in front of his own and clutched the cheap leather, rendering himself steady in his spot by the window with a gentle lean sideways. He ensured that the man at his side, likewise, remained steady, and he delicately tightened his arm around the man's waist before caressing his side with his fingers. Once the bus had steadied, he lowered his gloved hand to the pocket of his tattered jeans, slipping it inside to take hold of his iPod. He rotated the click wheel amid hundreds of songs, and selected one, taking a glance at the man at his side.

He smiled at him – at Mello – who had laid his head on his shoulder and fallen asleep. Matt used a gentle hand to ease strands of the man's blonde hair from over his closed eyes, and he even stroked his cheek with an affectionate thumb, noting such smooth skin beneath his gloved finger. Mello uttered a small noise of objection. He pushed Matt's hand away.

"Mmmm. What'do you want?" he grumbled, his voice groggy.

Matt chuckled, lowly, by the man's ear. He kissed his cheek. "Nothing, Beautiful. Shhh."

Mello fluttered his eyelids. He looked up at his friend, but spoke nothing, instead staring in wordless protest. He glanced towards the front of the bus. They were seated in the seats farthest towards the back of the transportation vehicle, even though the company on the bus was virtually vacant.

He glanced around. "Are we close?"

"Sorta. I'm guessing a half an hour, at the latest," Matt answered him. With a sigh escaping him, he leaned back, sinking further into the weathered seat's worn-out cushions. "…I really want a cigarette."

The other man scoffed. "You'll get it," he assured, then returned his head to his friend's shoulder.

Matt's bluish gaze shifted over his friend's face, beginning to study and analyze his handsome features as the man, once again, closed his eyes and surrendered to a revisiting state of slumber. Matt found his arm pulling Mello close against his side, and one of his hands against the sleek texture of his dark, leather jacket. His hand sensed the hard muscle of the man's stomach, never slipping into the jacket, but stroking the exterior meticulously. He felt his gentle breathing, felt his stomach rise and fall, his breaths deepening, decelerating.

Matt slipped his hand into Mello's, and weaved his fingers in-between the man's.

He grasped, and wouldn't let go.

Mello barely squeezed back. He smiled, his eyes still closed.

Matt felt compelled to gather the man's lips in a kiss, one that was nothing quite impassionate, but nevertheless, sincere in love. The flavor of chocolate blossomed on his tongue, and a similar scent could be sensed floating from his skin. Desires for so much more of the man's flesh coursed through him, but he had no choice but to suppress them in such a public environment. He deepened the kiss for less than a moment, then parted his lips away. He thought he perceived a faint whisper beneath the noise of the bus' engine and the small talk among the others - something that sounded like, "I love you."

Had it been Mello?

He had never told him before.

Why say it now?

Matt looked at him. Gentle sedation had ghosted the blonde's complexion, and rendered him a look of peace and serenity, as if his mind were bound in something – transfixed in a dream. Could he have uttered those three words in his sleep, or was Matt fantasizing?

It didn't matter.

Nevertheless, he brought the man even deeper into his side, and with his lips by his ear, he murmured in reply, "I love you, too."