Bizarre, tingling electricity still buzzed in Matt's skull as he left the weeping investigator's shattered haven. His heart was racing, and adrenaline still was intermingling with his blood. He couldn't quite place his emotional state; part of him was still so damn pissed...but another was deeply satisfied. Still another was left hungry, empty. It was a state of strange, lucid yet delirious confusion.

He paused in the long, somewhat ill-lit hallway (only a couple of lights remained on at this time of night) and leaned against one wall, gathering his thoughts. An odd discomfort registered on his face and he raised one gloved hand with intent to rid himself of it; the dark material came away glistening subtly. The faint, metallic scent sent a spasm of recognition through him. Blood.

Near's blood.

With an impatient huff, Matt nestled his face into the nook of one elbow and wiped once, further staining his shirt and leaving a smeared trail of ruby across his face and goggles. He didn't know if he'd gotten all of it. But then, he didn't really care if he hadn't.

He reached the door to Mello's personal suite and hesitated, staring at the keycard he'd been given. And for some reason, a deep pang of hurt rose with the mere thought of seeing the blond again. He set his jaw, swallowed down the unwelcome pain, and went inside.

He didn't say a word to Mello as he strode past him and into the kitchen. He merely went to the refrigerator and retrieved a bar of chocolate that had been left to chill for a while, then brought it with him back into the bedroom. Refusing to break the silence, he held it out in offering to the leather-clad detective, his expression unreadable.

-

Mello was still sitting on his bed, reading, but wondering where Matt had gotten to. It didn't take seven minutes to grab a bar of chocolate. And he had meant the chocolate in his own kitchen, not in Matt's. He was almost ready to get up and go get a damn bar himself when Matt returned, storming past him. He was inwardly pleased when he noticed the man return out of the corner of his eyes. Mello had taken the last bar from Matt's fridge yesterday, and he guessed the gamer had just noticed.

At first he didn't look up. But something gave him pause, something was off about the way his lover, friend, and confidant moved back into the room and over to him. Finishing the sentence he was reading, he took the bar and looked up.

Intending to say thank you, he froze instead.

Utter shock stamped itself deeply into his features, accompanied by an equally startled noise. His lips parted. For a timeless eternity, (which was probably only a few seconds) he could only stare.

"Holy shit.... Matt..." he swallowed and dropped the bar, blue eyes wide. Then he was spurred into actions. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he hopped up and moved across the floor quickly.

"Matt. What the fuck happened? " His eyes darted back and forth quickly, and he reached out, without permission to lift Matt's arms, turn him, trying to find the source of what he was sure was blood. What the fuck could Matt have done to himself in such a short time? Something was wrong though. He couldn't find anywhere Matt could be bleeding from. He looked up at the gamer, attempting to push the dark goggles off the cinnamon colored head. He still couldn't see where the blood was coming from...

It was slowly dawning on him. Matt couldn't have.... "Are you hurt? Is this blood? Where is it from?" He bombarded the gamer with questions, still looking the thin man over, just in case he had missed a previous wound.

-

The concern in Mello's voice nearly obliterated all of the jumbled feelings in Matt's mind; Mello always wore his emotions on his sleeve. Sometimes that was his most damning trait, but sometimes it was his most endearing quality. The smoker took the inspection silently as well, letting the gears in his head adjust speed and recalculate just what he'd done. He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about what he'd done. He wasn't proud, per se, of bloodying up Near as he slept in his own bed.

And yet, a weird wisp of glee curled deep inside him. He didn't regret his actions at all. Especially since he'd put that self-entitled brat in his place.

Yet another strange conflict of emotions.

Matt let his frantic lover search and manhandle him for just a few seconds more, hurl a few more questions his way, and then spoke softly. "Calm down, Mello. I'm fine."

He didn't notice that he'd begun to tremble faintly.

As soon as Mello freed his arms, he lit up and took a deep, much-needed breath of the pale fumes. Without the obscurity of the goggle-lenses, his dark eyes reflected the conflicting emotions still under the surface.

"It's not my blood."

-

"Well then, whose is it?" he almost snapped in worry, his nerves nearly vibrating themselves from the fear that electrified him. He was trying to remember what their slight conversation had been about the few minutes before Matt had walked out. There wasn't enough time for the gamer to get downstairs. There wasn't enough time for him to do anything really.

He became aware of the gentle trembling under his gloved hand, and gave the wrist a squeeze that was meant to be reassuring.

"What happened Matt? " he wasn't good at this whole 'caring' thing, but he knew Matt. He knew the gamer needed him at the moment. His own gut was a knot, still twisted with worry. It was almost foreign to him. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

Gripping the other's jaws much more gently than he normally would, attempting to smudge away the red streaks that marred Matt's face. His blue eyes were wider than normal, almost childlike in his obviously worried state. He didn't even want to think of Matt getting hurt. What would he do if he ever lost the only one he had ever felt like this for?

But he needed to know what had happened, and soon. What if they had to clear out? The acrid scent of Matt's latest cigarette filled his nostrils. The leather clad hands slid down Matt's neck and settled on the bony shoulders, squeezing gently again, as much to reassure himself as Matt.

All these thoughts flickered through his big blue eyes, as they always did. As cool and cold as Near was, Mello was the polar opposite.

He had to tell himself again, Matt was okay. Matt was here, in front of him. Stop doing flips, heart.

-

A quiver of Matt's lip betrayed his calm; Mello's fear was really bothering him. He hated to be the cause of such distress. And suddenly he felt a twinge of fear himself, though he didn't understand it at the time.

"...It's Near's," Matt heard himself saying, his voice soft, disturbingly calm in light of the words that were formed by it. "It's Near's blood. I just couldn't help it...I couldn't stand the thought of you...and him..."

His eyes had dropped as he spoke, and the trembling intensified without beckoning. His voice never wavered however, even as he raised his gaze to meet Mello's again. "I think he might really be hurt." There was no inflection to indicate anything resembling regret or fear; he might as well have said, 'we're running low on milk.'

His breath released in a soft exhale, a curious mixture of relief and trepidation. Near's blood. The voice repeated the statement, over and over in his head, until he registered the second part of the vocalization. The night's earlier conversation came back to him, and he felt his gut twist again. His boastful, proud nature had been the cause of this. His fascination with being the best had kept him from paying attention to his best friend.

He could kick himself for being so fucking stupid. Near's blood. What in the hell could he say to that?

"Well, at least it's not yours."

Shallow, uncaring Mello. This little episode had reinforced the belief that his obsession with Near was nothing more than the drive to prove how much better he was than white-clad boy.

A tiny sliver of curiousty imbedded itself into him, as he looked into Matt's eyes, and he managed a smirk. "Well, let's go see him. If anyone else knew, we'd be dead by now. But everyone's asleep. I want to see what you did..."

Not much of an Empath, was he?

He would try to make light of it. Try to prove to Matt that Near was just a toy to be tossed away at will. Matt was the one he cared about.

He could admire Matt's handiwork, and then they could get out of there before anyone was the wiser.

-

Matt didn't know what he'd been anticipating. To be screamed at, maybe, for being so reckless. To be punched in the jaw for even thinking of touching Mello's rival, in any way, especially violence. Or perhaps to be laughed at, for being so damn jealous of-- Jealousy. That's what it was. That thing beyond anger. That all-consuming rage beyond rage.

He almost laughed at himself. It was so obvious what it had been now that he felt stupid for not having recognized it before.

But what was this? Mello wanted to see...? Not only hadn't he chastised Matt, but he was so willing to embrace what had happened...

The gamer suppressed most of a smirk while his eyes were met with the chocoholic's. He never knew just what to expect of chaotic Mello, but that was part of what made him so fascinating. And sometimes the chaos went in a very pleasant direction.

He led his leather-clad friend back down the hall, to the room that seemed almost ominous now. Still unlocked, the door swung easily open. The hall light poured into the suite and cast a far different set of shadows than earlier. Structures had been demolished, with gaping holes leaving them with a skeletal appearance; shattered lego men littered the floor, in a path of destruction leading to the window-side bed. It truly did look as though some beast had ravaged a trail through Near's citadel.

Matt wiped the last trace of a smudge from his retrieved goggles as he let a curling tongue of smoke eke from the corners of his grin. Now that he had Mello's support, he felt triumphant in his dual-speared accomplishment; in one stroke, he'd both given Near a much-needed lesson in respect, and reinforced the bond he and Mello shared.

He waited at the threshold, toying with his cigarette idly as he watched his partner take in what mischief he'd wrought.

-

Mello was mad, but not because of what Matt had done. Only because he hadn't been able to do it himself. What he would have given to make the icicle bleed, to melt. His cold gaze swept the room, admiring the destruction. The corners of his lips raised slightly, feraly, when they followed the path to the small bed in the corner. His approval was instant.

Near's small frail body was still doubled over, as he hadn't yet roused himself to movement. Mello could see from where he was standing the dark stains smeared across the bed. The white-clad one didn't move, didn't look up, showed no signs of realizing they were back.

Mello chuckled, to give Near fair warning and sauntered toward the bed, wondering just how badly the creature had been hurt when the young man still showed no signs of movement. He could barely make out the tremors running through N when he made it closer, but other than that, there seemed to be no signs of life.

His bare feet hurt when he stepped on some of the scattered and broken toys, and the thought half-crossed his mind to make Matt retrieve and carry him for causing such damage.

Unceremoniously, he took Near by the shoulder and shoved him onto his side, and then his back, exposing the battered planes of the pale face. He almost recoiled when those dead eyes focused on him. The thin nose was swollen, definitely broken, and the cheek was also swollen. Both were still bleeding, though trying to clot. There was so much blood around Near's mouth and chin and the collar of his shirt.

Mello's smirk faded a tiny bit when he noticed the swollen eyes, how they slid away from him far too easily. There was no challenge in them anymore. The spark of fire that made the otherwise dark eyes oh-so-fascinating was nowhere to be seen.

He straightened and glanced at Matt when Near made no move to distance himself from the one looming over his bed.

"He's not hurt too bad. Just looks like you broke his nose." he said softly. "What'd you hit him with?" He glanced back at Near, and ground his teeth a little, agitated by the lack of response. "Stop being such a fucking pussy." he snapped.

-

Matt lingered for only a moment before moving to stand beside his scarred companion. "Just this," he replied, balling the offending fist and raising it slightly. A wave of ache flared in the joints of his hand at the motion, but dissipated.

His eyes traced the dark patches, startling against the canvass of white. The end of his cigarette glowed brightly for a few seconds.

It was so strange, alien, to see Near humbled like this. His arrogance seemed to have disintegrated, cracked and broken like the delicate structure of his nose. Where was that holier-than-thou attitude now? Cowering somewhere behind those dark, galaxy eyes? Or spilled on the sheets, forever lost in a gush of crimson pride?

Whatever the case, whether it was merely hiding away for the moment or forever lost, Matt felt a wicked grin creep over his face. Maybe this was the reason Mello was so obsessed over besting Near. Because it felt so damn amazing.

Yet that same thought triggered a jealous pang in him. He watched Mello's ire rise at the beck of that little pale brat, and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Part of him felt so proud, so warm and comforted that Mello accepted his actions so fully. But Matt's eyes were sharp, and he didn't miss the disappointment in Mello's eyes when Near didn't give him what he wanted.

No. Not again.

He took Mello by the shoulder with one hand, and took the cigarette from his mouth with the other. He'd never realized just how powerful he was until tonight, and he was definitely using it to his advantage; he spun Mello around and was upon him in an instant, mere inches apart. He didn't say a word, but his eyes conveyed his message well enough.

No matter how incredible of a rush you get from competing with him, I can promise a greater one. I know you inside and out. I know your every strength and gift, your every flaw and weakness. I know what you need, what you crave. And I can give it to you better than that ghost ever could. Because I'm yours, Mello.

And you are mine.

But just in case there was any miscommunication, he pulled his fiery lover close and kissed him, granting Mello a taste of that jealousy, that raw need to be accepted and loved, that desire to be the most important thing in his life.

After all, Mello was certainly the most important thing to Matt.

-

Mello was surprised by the way Matt spun and captured him with just a look. Those darker blue eyes had him pinned like some sort of insect specimen to a scientist's board. Something new, something primal and entrancing flickered deep in those familiar depths, and he was both surprised and intrigued. Who was this newly revealed man?

He read those emotions clearly. He and Matt had always had a connection. Like Sweeney Todd's blades, Matt was an extension of himself. He couldn't think straight when he didn't have the gamer close, and only felt complete when he knew that Matt was safe.

He could read those very thoughts from Matt's eyes as easily as if he were reading from today's paper. In an instant, he understood everything. Why Matt had come to him, why he had left in such a hurry. Matt had caught them together. Have thought there might be something more than rivalry between the two Wammy successors.

His lips were not un-responsive, meeting Matt's halfway, dropping his hands to cover and squeeze the ones on his hips. His body pressed forward against Matt's, trying to convey thoughts of his own. His actions said more than his pride would ever possibly let escape in words, his lips crushing against Matt's with an intent fervor.

I understand Matt. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I am yours. I always will be. I am not complete without you. Forgive me. But this is who I am

Who the fuck cared if Near saw them? There was nothing he could do to use it against them. And Mello had to admit. This Matt was a new and potent aphrodisiac. There was something less tame about him now. Wilder, stronger. Mello would have fun taming this side as well.

-

N was given quite a show for a few moments, if he so cared to watch, as Matt attacked Mello's lips and tongue, face and throat. He forgave his chocolate-flavored lover easily. He almost felt silly for letting himself get so caught up in his emotions...

But then, he was glad for it. It had given him the chance to solidify his relationship with Mello, and it had allowed him to effectively lay claim to Mello in the same gesture that let Near know that even he, the great N, the perhaps one-day L, was not invincible.

Which gave Matt a rather devilish idea. As he let his mouth and hands search his lover, he pulled them over to the moonwashed and bloodstained bed.

True, he'd become somewhat wilder for all this trouble. He wondered just how Mello would take to his idea... Something that would forever earn Near's respect and fear, to forever brand him with the memory and knowledge that he was human after all.

He brought one leg up to kneel partway on Near's bed, and broke the kiss to give Mello a dark, inviting look.

-

Mello followed the lips as they moved, not yet willing to let them go. But when Matt broke the kiss, and placed a knee on Near's bad, Mello had to stop. Not yet. He didn't have enough information to go after Kira himself, and there was no way he wanted to just walk away from he was getting from the SPK right now.

Matt beating the hell out of Near had thrown a wrench in that plan, but had not completely destroyed it... If he worked this right, they wouldn't be hunted down by Near's subbordinate's bent on revenge. If he did it wrong. Well. His gun was always in his pocket. If the whole thing ended in a shootout, he was confident (maybe overly so, in his gunslinging abilities.)

Like he previously thought, a few punches were a wrench in the gears, but Matt wanted to do more, and raping Near right now would be a complete fucking elephant. Perhaps a part of him wanted to be the one to humble N in this manner, before making the victory complete.

"Wait Matt." he said softly, giving his head the slightest of head shakes to convey his refusal. He lifted the gloved hand that had punched Near and kissed the gloved knuckle sensuously, conveying that this wasn't because he didn't want to...

"Go back to the room." he ordered softly, giving Matt a second look that was meant to say that he would be there in a few moments and Matt better be ready for him.

For now, he returned his attention to the white-clad one, taking him by the collar and dragging him easily up. Placing his lips close to N's ear, his voice was poisonous and full of contempt. His leather gloves creaked softly as his fingers ground against one another.

"Let's make this another game shall we? You know that having your dogs kill us will still prove nothing. We know that you still want what only I can give you.. " he paused dramatically for a moment.

"We're already here. If they come after us, we'll have no problem killing all of the SPK. And then you won't be here to even think of catching Kira."

"So here are the rules. You tell, you lose. You keep quiet... All of the SPK wins." Not that he was worried. The little white ghost had a proud streak in him that easily rivaled Mello's. He's never admit to being so thorougly whipped by either of the guests.

Now... We're going back to my room. If anyone but you comes to the door, we're going to assume you told... And then we'll make sure everyone knows that L is a sniveling crybaby...."

He added the last phrase for good measure, and was rewarded with dark glance, full of hatred, from N. Good. He had the little bitch's attention. Hopefully he could rouse up that fighting spirit again. Seeing N broken was fun to a point, but he wanted to do the breaking, and it wasn't the time to break him beyond repair.

He would be the one to finally put Near in his place. And he would be the one to catch Kira.