Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A click sounds, then static for a good long while, and then, "Case Shadow is advancing-" more static cuts it off, in the same spot as always, of course, "-victims - the - them-" more static, then a click to signal the end of the message.

Mello snorts, then cuts himself off to resteady his hands. He's cutting his waist-length blonde hair to shoulder-length, so he has more of an excuse to keep his bangs long as well, although Matt always says, "Stop covering your scars, I'm the only one who sees them, and you know I love them." It might be a wrong word choice. But Mello normally complies.

"I could recite that thing in my sleep," he comments. Matt laughs.

"Like you do?" This gets Mello to freeze. "Yeah, lately that's what you've been saying. Better than that constant 'head west, I'll see you there.' I mean…" the brunette frowns, "how smitten were you with her?" Mello's knuckles turn white from gripping the scissors too hard.

"Matty. I'm gay. Capital G-A-Y. Christ. Besides, dummy, I'm smitten for you." Matt brightens as quickly as the mood turned dark, and Mello smiles. "Anyway, turn that fucking radio off. No matter which direction we go, the static stays the same, and nothing clears up. It's annoying as hell." He reoccupies himself with cutting his hair, this time adjusting the scissors so it's at his chin.

Matt complies, flicking the switch off. "It's been so long. I don't think anyone will ever change or update it." Mello grunts to acknowledge that fact begrudgingly. They then fall silent.

After finishing with his hair, Mello turns the scissors over in his palm, knowing that he's only a couple of moves away from accidentally stabbing himself if he was jolted.

Matt snatches the scissors out of Mello's grasp, but ends up cutting the leather-clad blonde anyway.

"Shit!" Mello hisses. The sharp pain is over as soon as it began, and is replaced with a dull ache. He shoves his hand through his belt and gives Matt a weak smile, then dips quietly to the bathroom that the trailer they're staying in has. He runs his palm under warm water and frowns, remembering his and Matt's theory that what's making people disappear is a virus. A fast-spreading virus. But then there'd be bodies, wouldn't there? That was the question they couldn't answer, so they let that theory go.

Matt slips in behind Mello with a sigh. He wraps his arms around the slightly-taller male's waist, and Mello leans into him by habit. "Let me take care of it." Matt whispers. Mello shakes his head. "It's my fault, so please."

"I don't like help." Mello answers sharply. Matt sighs again, and, knowing how to deal with Mello's occasional irritation, he guides Mello to a sitting position on the floor.

"I know, Mells. But help is inevitable. You'll have to learn to accept it." You'd think in his twenty-one years of life, he'd have learned to by now, Matt thinks. He doesn't think it harshly, it's mostly an inside joke of his.

"Hmph." Mello turns his face away as Matt uses the gauze in the mirror door to wrap around his injured hand.

"Flower, gleam and glow," Matt whispers quietly to himself, "let your power shine…" Mello giggles under his breath.

"Make the clock reverse," the blonde continues.

"Bring back what once was mine. Heal what has been hurt, change the Fate's design, save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine. What once was mine," they finish together. They glance at each other and laugh.

"Oh my god look I'm healed!" Mello jokes, holding up his hand and turning it around, pretending that the bandages aren't wrapped around his palm. "What!? I don't understand, how in the fuck did you heal me?!" Matt snorts and swats the back of his head.

"I'm pretty sure Flynn Rider doesn't say 'fuck' in the movie." He scolds playfully. Mello sticks his tongue out at him.

"Yeah, but you fucking know he wanted to." Matt rolls his eyes. They both know that Mello just said "fucking" to annoy the brunette, but sadly it doesn't work.

"Aw, so you're my R-rated Tangled movie Flynn Rider?" Matt teases. Mello chuckles to himself, calming some. Matt inwardly frowns, not wanting the fun to be over. He still feels bad for slicing Mello's hand open in the first place. "No, I saw how long your hair was. I watched it grow out. You'd be Rapunzel. I'll be Flynn Rider, thanks." Mello gasps incredulously.

"No! So… role reversal? Flynn Rider is the heal-y one, and Rapunzel is the surprised, toootally-not-freaking-out one?" Matt nods. "Hm… not sure I like that development."

"Well, whatever." Matt nudges Mello's shoulder with his own, sitting down beside the boyfriend.

Mello falls silent for a long while, and Matt lets him, content to have his eyes closed and resting. They didn't get to sleep much the night before because of a loud storm, so he's sure they're both exhausted.

"I can be more in-character though," Mello murmurs quietly, "I wanna go. I wanna stop staying in one place…" Matt smiles slightly. Mello is always the one to suggest it, and Matt rarely ever stops him. But when Mello paused on that first sentence, "I wanna go," he freaked the fuck out, not gonna lie. If therapists were still around, Matt would sign Mello up. The blonde would be going, no exception. Mello needs to work through some things.

"Alright. We can do that. Make it happen. Which direction?" Mello holds his hands up and creates some sort of four-way direction thing with his fingers.

"Waffles has always been my favorite direction… but soggy is an option." Matt nods.

"Soggy it is." They're heading south.

Chapter Text

"Aha!" Matt exclaims. Mello looks up from his solitaire card game and peers around the corner, trying to see the brunette. "Hey, look, we still have a bag of microwaveable popcorn!"

"Nice," Mello replies distractedly, looking back down at his game.

"Aw come on, Mells, don't act that way. Isn't this the last night we're going to be staying here?" Matt comes into view, arms crossed and holding a bag of microwaveable popcorn in his hand. Mello snorts a laugh.

"Yeah. Not that we have an actual plan."

They never have a plan. They head in whatever direction they choose. Sadly, though, they routinely find a car crash, because the people have disappeared randomly while driving, apparently. It's hard to move. Occasionally they find a good vehicle to use, which is good news. It's hard to find cars with gas that is still usable. The people they found a while back had lots of them. So they stole the trailer - not that there was anyone to steal from - and moved on. Mello was only a little traumatized, or so he told himself and Matt.

The silence becomes a little too awkward for them both, after a bit. Mello refrains from clearing his throat.

Matt disappears again, and Mello devotes all of his focus back onto his game. After he wins (again, just saying) he tucks his knees up to his chest and buries his face in them.

A soft touch to the shoulder makes him raise his head, and his icy-blue eyes meet Matt's dark blue ones. Mello's boyfriend from since the apocalypse, and best friend from since childhood extends his hand, and Mello takes it. It's a dream, the way Matt's hand matches his own perfectly; only a little rougher, around the same size, warm.

But if Mello knew what the future holds, he'd also think of a different hand… colder, pale, smaller, softer. Sadly, Mello isn't a fortune teller. A future seer. Even if he were, what he'd see might not make him want to go down that path.

Matt draws Mello up with the blonde's help, and they step outside silently, walking over to the large boulder that they occasionally sit on, that lays just outside the trailer. They sit on it, both leaning against each other. They watch the sunset and eat popcorn, comforted by the sound of crickets and their own breathing and heartbeats. Finally, one of them speaks.

"This is the only show I've watched where the plot is slow and steady," Matt comments offhandedly, "actually, movie and show." Mello laughs with his mouth closed, muffling it.

"It's your fault. You're the one who keeps picking action movies and dramedy shows." He retorts. Matt opens his mouth with a comeback, but Mello beats him to it, raising his hands, palms facing Matt's direction. "I'm not without fault either. But I prefer the guns-a-blazing types. That or supernatural, paranormal of every kind, comedy, syfy, horror, humor… romance, but only if it's a rom-com, I can laugh at their stupidity. Oh, and drama-romance things. Those are funny as fuck."

Matt raises a lazy hand to twirl some of Mello's hair. Mello smiles and thinks that it must've been a lot easier when his hair reached his waist. But it was becoming a nuisance; always in the way, getting knotted in things, being yanked by people… Mello jerks then freezes, mind going back to what happened then.

Matt shifts in his seat. "Mello…?" The blonde doesn't look at him, but reaches out a hand and fumble to search for one of his. When he finds one - with Matt's help, not that he'll ever admit that - he grasps it tightly. Matt takes this as a go-ahead to continue talking, and just let Mello work through whatever's in his head. "I don't 'keep' picking those movies. I 'kept' picking those movies, babe." He pokes Mello's hand with a finger from his other. "You're lingering in the present-tense again," he adds, seemingly as an afterthought, then pokes Mello's shoulder.

"Hey, you asshole, don't do that!" Mello yells playfully, suddenly, coming back to the present as Matt pokes him. He yanks his hand away from Matt's, and launches himself as the brunette. Matt yelps and covers his head, but that's not where Mello was going for.

Mello wraps his arms around his waist, so in the beginning it looks more like a hug where the one giving the hug has his head down low, and the receiver is covering his face.

But then Matt begins flailing as he slides off of the rock, taking Mello with him. They land on the ground and immediately begin tussling. Matt gains the upper hand once they're both lying on the ground, but Mello quickly recovers from the shock of falling and the worry that his weight hurt Matt.

But as it turns out, it wasn't meant to be, and Matt ends up sittng on Mello's chest.

"I'll get you," Mello growls. He reaches up and yanks Matt's face down as gently as he can, and then kisses the younger male. Slowly, Mello sits up, propping himself up with only one arm, since the other is busy with Matt. He then pulls away from the kiss, ignoring his boyfriend's protests.

The blonde pushes Matt down on the ground, Matt's legs around his waist still. Mello leans over him and kisses him once again, then boops his nose.

"It's because you're more weight than I am." He decides, laughing. "But look, I win." He smirks. "And I'm top, bitches." Matt flushes.

"Um… when you say that, it embarrasses me, can you not?" Mello watches the other squirm. Matt bites his lip and glares at Mello.

"My sweet switch," Mello purrs. Matt growls and shoves Mello off him. Mello lets him, and lands beside Matt, so they're both looking up at the sky… at the stars that have decided to begin coming out at this point.

"There, can we call it a draw?" Matt murmurs. Mello shakes his head and muffles his laughter with Matt's shirt. "Ugh. Fine. I will win next time." But there's a laziness in the other's voice that suggests that it doesn't exactly matter that much to him.

"I want a plan this time." Mello says, changing the subject entirely, without any warning. That's how he rolls, most of the time, but he picked the spontaneity up from Matt. "I want to not take the trailer, but just go on foot with what we have until we find a suitable car, then keep driving on roads… maybe we'll find people, if we stay on the backroads. And anyways, highways have the biggest car crashes. Then if it gets to be nighttime, I want to find some place to stay. I don't wanna sleep in the car…" he yawns, and Matt takes this break to speak.

"Then why are we abandoning the trailer again?" Mello smacks him, unable to reprimand him with his voice.

"Hmm… alright, there. Because, Matty, I'm afraid that the trailer is too big to get around things. With a bigger… 'luggage' I suppose, we have to clear a bigger space if there's, say, a fallen tree blocking the road." Mello raises an eyebrow, and Matt curses Mello inwardly for being so smart.

"Alright, that's reasonable enough." The brunette gives in. He really isn't a fan of walking on foot; or being outside in the first place.

"Damn right it is!" Mello exclaims, a hint of incredulousness sneaking in at the edges of his words. A little bit of a hysteric thread in there, too.

Matt takes this as a sign of tiredness, and he curls up on his side facing away from Mello, as his normal position. Mello also turns on his side and wraps his arms around Matt's waist.

"Go to bed, Mells," Matt yawns, "we can leave in the morning."

And so they fall asleep under the stars.

Chapter Text

Mello hugs his arms around his waist, stomach feeling upset for a reason he can't place. Matt walks beside him, looking a little worried. The brunette knows what Mello looks like when he isn't feeling okay, and now is one of those times.

If he could, Mello would definitely let his arms fall down to his side, hanging limply. Except maybe even that would betray some of what he's feeling. When he really thinks about it, he has no idea what he does with his hands normally when he's feeling fine.

The feeling of pain and uneasiness in his stomach is getting more and more often now; it makes Matt bring up their virus theory more and more. And to be completely honest with himself, it makes Mello think of it too.

But someone disappeared just that day. They're gone… another person.

The place, the neighborhood where they're staying has a large community of people. A lot of people lived here before, but some people who did disappeared, leaving houses empty. So the kind neighborhood lets straggling people come and stay, if they want. Some are just passerbys.

Mello and Matt were lucky to have found this place so early into the apocalypse. They have a small house that used to have people in it, but they disappeared, leaving everything.

"How do they disappear?" A question that has been echoing around in everyone's minds since the beginning. Large masses of people, gone, erased from existance.

No one knows who's next.

Mello's stomach heaves, and he winces, clamping his jaw shut, just in case. He leans against the side of a house, and his long hair falls over his face, hiding it. Hopefully, at least. Matt shifts uncomfortably next to him.

"Help!" Someone yells, a few houses over. Mello takes a deep breath, forcing himself to "feel better," as he's been doing for a while now, anytime anyone needs something. "She's gone! My daughter's gone!"

Mello stands up straight and begins fastwalking over to where the woman is yelling. For a second, he was worried; he has a friend who he's gotten really close to, because she's been in similar situations, so when the woman said "She's gone," he automatically thought of her. But she doesn't have parents anymore, so it isn't her, thank god.

Doesn't mean he shouldn't help or see what's going on, though.

He hears the scrape against the road behind him and Matt follows him.

"Is everything okay, ma'am?" Mello murmurs, reaching the woman. She's crying, and her shoulder's are heaving. He'd be surprised if she can speak. "Does anyone else know?" He asks the crowd that's gathering. Everyone shakes their head. And then there's more cries for help, along the whole street. Everyone looks around, surprised.

Mello was hoping this wasn't going to happen. He's found a pattern; sometimes several people from one area will disappear. Sometimes it's one, but sometimes a whole cluster of people, from ten to over a hundred, depending on how large the area is, will disappear.

Mello blinks, the pain in his stomach coming at him more than it was before. He has to crouch on the ground to keep himself steady. His arms automatically wrap around his waist yet again.

"Mello?" A sweet voice calls out. Mello looks up and sees his friend. Cathy. "Mello! Hi! Get up, here, I'll help." She crouches next to him, wraps her arms around his chest, under his arms, and pulls him upward. "Mello, you're too thin," she reprimands.

"Matty… Cathy…" he breathes. "We have to go, y'know. This area isn't safe. Whoever or whatever's causing this fucking apocalypse…" he takes a pause, trying to steady the world and stop it from spinning, "…targets areas. We have to go."

"Mello." Cathy looks him in the eyes. Mello turns his head away. She growls under her breath, and promptly slaps him. "Mello. You are the one causing your stomach to hurt. You need to stop worrying, goddammit." Mello shrugs, and holds his arms out to Matt. The blonde's boyfriend grabs one of them and tugs him to his side.

"Mello, you have to listen to me. I can't go right now. But here… head west, I'll meet you there." Cathy smiles sadly and runs off again, legs pumping as fast as she can go - which is pretty damn fast.

"Matt." Mello says. "Matt, come on." He snatches his boyfriend's hand and begins running in the opposite direction.

I know she's dead. I know it. I know it. This thought repeats in Mello's head over and over again, so much that he doesn't notice Matt's fingers slipping out of his own.

But when the absence of the warmth becomes too much in the rushing wind, Mello finally skids to a stop and looks back. He sees Matt standing in the middle of the road, arm outstretched to him, mouthing something, "help."

Mello knows that if he tried to go back, he wouldn't be able to reach Matt in time, but if he continued forward, he might make it. He looks back in the direction of where they both were headed.

When he looks back, Matt isn't there. The pain is so crippling. Mello falls over onto the ground and begins rocking back and forth, hyperventilating, choking. He whimpers, feeling the dread of it soon being him overcoming him.

He knows it's his turn.

"Mello?" Matt shakes Mello awake. Mello blinks his eyes open, and as soon as he does, tears rush out of them. "Mello? Are you okay?"

"No," Mello whines, sitting up and scooting away. "No no no no, no you're gone." Matt gives him a confused-puppy face, tilting his head to the side. "You're gone." Mello sobs, burying his head in his arms and beginning to rock back and forth like in his nightmare. "You're gone and I can't be here any more… I don't wanna be…"

"Oh no," Matt breathes. He sits down and stares at Mello worriedly. Mello can't bring himself to meet his gaze. "Mello, you're bleeding." Mello looks at his palm, which has begun hurting again, and sees red starting to come through the pale gauze.

"S'fine." Mello says shakily. "Maybe I'll bleed out this way." Matt stands up and begins pacing, no doubt holding in the urge to kick something and begin yelling. He's very obviously worried and hurt.

"You need to fucking stop wanting this. I can't function without you… but I don't wanna put any pressure on you or anything. Oh god I can't help…" The brown-haired male covers his face with his hands. "Mello, we're going today. Maybe if we find a really cool place to go to, it'll be okay, at least for a little bit."

"Maybe." Mello mumbles. "I don't wanna be here. Can someone… well, I mean, we can still go. For you."

Chapter Text

"Alright! You ready?" Mello looks behind him, where Matt is shouldering a backpack awkwardly, obviously not used to the weight on his back. "Ha! And you laughed at me for putting it on like you're taught at school."

Matt frowns. Mello seems to be feeling better, but what the brunette has learned is that NEVER TRUST HIM. Not on that stuff, as least. Mello has too big of a reputation of hiding his feelings under anger, and anger-happy.

Anger-happy is when he acts really happy, but angry at the same time. It's hard to describe. Matt had to be told that's what Mello calls it, and then the blonde had to point it out to him for him to know how to spot it himself.

"Yeah, I'm ready." Matt offers his boyfriend a smile back. "So… south, eh?" Mello nods, laughing joyfully. So he's given up on Cathy… hm. Kind of makes me sad. As much as that very pretty female makes Matt jealous, he trusts Mello on that, and he knows how close that the slightly-older male and Cathy had gotten. Because they had gone through several similar things.

"South it is." Matt walks forward until he's side-by-side with Mello, and the blonde reaches for his hand automatically. It's his right hand that's hurt, so thankfully Matt walked up to his left side.

They begin walking hand in hand, barely able to let go, because of what happened that morning. They stick to the backroads, which is pretty good for finding good cars, pretty good for avoiding car crashes, but bad for avoiding fallen trees. They have to scramble over two in the first couple hours.

"So…" Mello begins, on their first break since starting, "what's your new theory for this stupid-ass apocalypse? The disappearances…?" Matt shrugs.

"I don't know right now. We've gone through virus, heart attacks, kidnappings…" he pauses, frowning, "but all of them either should have bodies, or it'd have to include a worldwide community of people plotting to take over Earth. I don't like any of it. All that I can think of now is… magic."

"Magic…" Mello appears to turn the word around in his mouth, tasting it. "Perhaps. I never thought that I live in a place of magic. And this magic seems uncontrollable."

They fall silent, unsure of any other topic. They've slowly lost things to talk about since the apocalypse, since there is no newsfeeds or groups… there's nothing going on anymore.

"I like this track," Mello murmurs, "I feel like we're finally going somewhere. But it's getting closer to nighttime, and I'm kinda scared of these houses."

Matt glances at the houses they're next to impulsively. They're cozy-looking. Cute little houses in a row. And yeah, the grass is overgrown, and it looks a little dead, but with the birds chirping and trilling, and the sound of squirrels chattering, it's still alive. Flowers are blooming. There are vines of just flowers growing over the windowsills.

The only problem with them is that they look like the ones that the community they were in had. And that's a good enough reason, at least in Mello and Matt's eyes. And they're the only ones around, so it's just their opinions that count.

"Alright then. We'll continue on for a little bit longer. I don't mind." Matt himself isn't exactly scared of the houses, but he respects Mello an exceptional amount, so he is not going to object at all.

Mello nods, and they continue walking. "So, who do you think's left?" Matt shrugs, truly unknowing. "I hope Cathy is."

Matt stops abruptly, wanting to set things straight, because he's sick of feeling helpless. He knows he will anyway, later, but for now he wants to fucking help, goddammit. He turns to face Mello, setting his hands on his boyfriend's shouldes. He cringes inwardly at Mello's surprise and fear that flashes across his face for maybe two seconds at the most.

"Is Cathy alive for you?" Mello takes a pause, then nods. "Good. Then we will never ever stop looking until you think she's gone. Do not dare give up, okay?" Matt's voice turns from harsh to loving, moving a hand to cup Mello's chin lightly. "I love you, Mells. Never forget. I will do anything for you, for you to be happy. So if I have to go around the world looking for your only friend who gets what's happened, I will. Because I don't understand, so… I feel that you need someone who does."

"It doesn't really matter, you know," Mello laughs. The laugh breaks Matt's heart. It sounds so broken and bitter… and he will not have that.

"Yes, it does. It all matters. Let's take a left, I'm wondering if there's a city behind this neighborhood." Matt takes Mello's hand and pulls him along, stomping self-assuredly across the lawn of one of the houses. Then in the back… following the fence…

"STOP!" Mello cries, tugging back. When Matt glances back worriedly, he sees an awed, happy expression on the blonde's face. "Okay okay okay. Look!" He points to the left, but Matt looks back over to the thing he saw that convinced him to try and go behind the houses. Reluctantly, he looks to where Mello's pointing.

The fence is low on that side, so Matt can see a beautiful, thick, steady tree, a tire swing, a trampoline, and a pool. And although he isn't going where he wants to, he is also in awe, and his mouth drops open. Mello is the one who tugs next, this time back over to the front of the house. He bounces up on the porch, letting go of Matt's hand, and tries the doorknob.

"Locked," he calls back, "but that's okay." They've dealed with a lot of locked doors in their life. And overcame them, too. So they're kinda experts. It's all a part of being able to call themselves scavengers… which is a thing that makes them truly proud of themselves.

Matt remembers, back when life was normal and no one just disappeared randomly, he and Mello were sitting around, Matt with his legs crossed on the floor, and Mello laying on his side, propped up on an elbow, carding his fingers through Matt's brown hair, watching him play his game from behind him.

"If there was a zombie apocalypse, or an apocalypse of any kind…" Mello had said, "…what would we be?"

"Scavengers." Matt had answered. He answered quickly, a little too quickly. Because he already knew. Now, Matt wonders if that's even what Mello meant when he asked. They weren't together back then, so was that truly what he meant? Or was he asking what they'd be… friends, more, enemies…

It makes Matt feel bad even now.

"Done!" Mello sings, bringing Matt's attention back to him. "Come on in." He finishes that last sentence with a wink, and Matt chuckles, shaking his head, and climbing the porch after the human he's happy to call his.

Chapter Text

"Mmm…" Matt yawns, putting his game on the coffee table in front of the living room couch. Mello laughs quietly, eyes half-lidded. He watches his boyfriend's features change because of the light and shadows dancing across his face. The orange glow of the lit fireplace is the cause of it, and Mello revels in the feeling. He remembers when he used to be calmed by select things - still truthful now -, and watching a fire was always one.

"I love you. Are you sure you can stay up with me?" Mello teases, walking over and curling up next to Matt, poking the brunette in the shoulder. The blonde recieves a scoff in answer.

"Yes, I am so so sure. Don't worry about me, worry about yourself. You look like you're about to pass out!" Matt jokes back. Mello frowns and swats him playfully.

"You watch your mouth, sucker." Mello leans back, but wraps his arms around Matt's head and forces the slightly-younger male to rest on his chest.

"You really want me to?" Matt doesn't object the new position, probably understanding that Mello likes taking care of and holding people he loves, and instead just looks up at Mello. The other in question gapes down at him, and flicks the side of Matt's head sharply. "Ouch!" Matt cries out, only a little bit being overdramatic. And by "a little bit," he means extremely.

"You're so annoying," Mello says fondly. Matt raises his eyebrows.

"I love you too." They fall into a comfortable silence, glancing at each other occasionally, settled with watching the fire. Mello is happy with Matt in his arms, and Matt is… well, fine with it, but he'd prefer to not be so closely held. Either way, they're quite enjoying the evening.

"Hey, c'mere." Mello says finally, causing Matt to look at him again. Matt shifts so he's more eye-level with the blonde. "How long has it been since we've had such a calm evening?"

"Uh… a while, I think." Matt responds, tilting his head like a confused puppy. I thought so… Mello thinks with a mischievous smile. That confused expression turns into a wary one, and for good reason.

Mello tilts Matt's head so their lips meet gently. Matt relaxes some, which is exactly what Mello wanted. The blonde shifts so he's "taller" than the other, and he deepens the kiss, creating it into a passionate, wild one. They haven't kissed like that in a while, either.

"What are you doing?" Matt asks suspiciously, pulling away. Mello frowns and pulls him back into another kiss, this one briefer. "Hmm…" The brunette gets up and pulls Mello with him, then lets go of Mello's wrist and sits back down, this time the long way on the couch, one leg dangling off the edge. Mello growls, narrowing his eyes. Matt smirks in response, sticking his tongue out a bit.

"You and your small, annoying little taking-control things." Mello doesn't actually truly hate it when Matt does that, but it's a war within himself. He never can tell whether the side that says that it's hot is winning, or the side that says that it's annoying is winning. At the moment it's a mix of being turned on by it and being irritated.

Mello ignores it, either way, and joins Matt back on the couch, hovering over top of the brunette to engage in another kiss.

"Here, Mello?" Matt asks incredulously, breathless from the kisses. Mello snorts.

"If we were to go elsewhere, I won't be spurred on by the fire." He smirks, poking his boyfriend in the shoulder, the opposite shoulder than he did earlier that evening. Matt pouts.

"Well damn Mellsies! Now both of my shoulders hurt! Ouch, you're super mean." He laughs while saying this, letting Mello know that he didn't hurt him too badly. Either that or Matt's disguising it. "You and your odd connection with fire. Maybe it's your element." Mello tilts his head to the side, pondering it. Using this opportunity, Matt shoves him away until Mello's sitting right, and plops into the blonde's lap.

"Sure, but then everyone else has to have an element. Too bad video games aren't an element, Matty." Matt grins and shakes his head slowly. "I think yours would be ground. Like it or not, Matty, no matter how much you like the inside, you prefer to be grounded. You don't wanna soar into the air like as if you were the element air, you are calm and peaceful and solid. I love that about you."

Matt flushes, thinking that this is why he'll follow Mello around anywhere. This person, calm but fiery, blazing, heat-filled, dancing, unsteady thing is his soulmate. No matter how much he plays around, or his flames begin to tire and glimmer low, Mello can always set fire again.

"I love you." Matt murmurs, kissing Mello's jaw. Mello scowls and yet impossibly smiles at the same time.

"Love ya' too, babe." And they settle onto the couch for the evening, watching the fire.

Chapter Text

Matt stares out the window, eyes narrowing further, the longer he looks. His mind is actually on the track of how to ask if he can go there…

He's staring at the same thing he was looking at before Mello convinced him to stay in this house. That damn building, he huffs. He just wants to know what it is, that's all. But Mello seems to be avoiding it at all costs, always steering him away from the window with something else to look at. Sometimes something to eat. Sometimes to have a conversation about how things were before, and if the world's population will ever reappear. Oh, and if the whole world was affected by this shit, or if only the USA was. Or even just the few states Mello and Matt had passed through.

"Why?" He hears Mello groan breathlesly behind him. He turns around and leans against the windowsill (which is, in fact, something he would not have done in the old world, if the window were facing a neighbor's window. Or if it was a front window. God forbid it be a front window…

Matt shivers before returning to the blonde in front of him. "Why what?" He has a blonde devoted to him. Wow. What an accomplishment; what a dream. Not that Mello's like "typical blondes." Or, more accurately, "stereotypical blondes."

"Why are you so distractable today?" Mello mutters, most likely not directly aiming that question at Matt, but just wondering why. "Why do you keep staring over there?" So Matt was right. Mello does not like that place. "It has a high fence that could still be electrified, doors that could be locked, it's a creepy building with super dark-tinted glass, so we have no idea what the fuck is in there, overgrown, very yellow grass…"

Maybe Mello realizes that some of these points don't matter, and the slightly-older male shuts up. Matt pauses before coming over to wrap his arms loosely around Mello's waist.

"Babe, what if there's still stuff in there. Look at the place, it's in pristine condition… besides the grass of course. I don't really think anyone tried to go in there. Probably for the same reasons you just said. They are valid reasons." Matt smiles and moves an arm to boop Mello's nose, then returns it to it's earlier position.

"I've thought that too." Mello growls, and moves away from Matt's grasp. "I was wondering about going there too. I just don't like the feel to that place. I feel like… it's…" he trails off, looking behind Matt's shoulder, presumably at the building, although Matt can't tell.

"I just want to go. You don't have to." Ah, but the brunette knows that Mello does not want him to leave him alone again. Although at least this scavenging mission is right outside their window.

As expected, Mello snaps back to reality and shakes his head fervently. "No no no. I. Don't. Want you to go! So you aren't going. Not without me, and I say no." Matt bounces one of his legs up and down, feeling desperate. He wants to do whatever Mello says, as a good best friend and boyfriend, especially since 1, they're in this together, and 2, Mello seems pretty afraid of it. Why, he doesn't know.

But at the same time, another half of him wants to go there. He wants to check it out, give himself and his strength a challenge. He hasn't climbed stairs besides the ones leading to the porch of this house in… a while. At least, steep stairs. And what with this building having several floors, it seems like that's what he's got. He also wants to go past the gate, which seems like it could be an ordeal if he doesn't have the right tools for it.

"Hmm…" he hums quietly, trying to decide, "I… still want to go. I don't care if you're going with me-" go with me, go with me, "-but I still want to go."

"No!" Mello yells, throwing his hands up. "Why!? You have never wanted to do this before, I've never had to convince you. Why now? Why, Matt." Matt winces, slowly lowering himself to the floor, where he covers his eyes with a hand, sighing, and trying to calm himself from the outburst.

"I'm sorry." He murmurs. "It just… it seems to be calling me."

"It is a non-living thing." Mello puts an emphasis behind his words, speaking low and terrifying. "Why would an inanimate thing be calling to you louder than I have been?"

What? Matt looks up at the blonde in surprise and confusion. When was Mello trying to get his attention? "I… I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"You don't understand," Mello mumbles, throwing his hands up again. "Well, I've been trying to get your attention. I thought you'd notice. I… yeah. I'm sorry, maybe I've been fucking stupid, but I just keep thinking about it, and then I get afraid…" he trails off yet again and slides down the opposite wall into a sitting position, mirroring Matt's.

"Afraid of what?" Matt asks softly. For such a tough act, the big bad wolf is really a sheep in wolf's clothing. That thought makes him want to laugh, but he holds it in for Mello's sake. Curse his easy distraction. And bad social cues. Now is definitely not a time to laugh.

Mello heaves a loud sigh, blowing his bangs up away from his face before they settle back down. "Afraid of that building. I want to go too, you know. But I'm afraid of being lost in there."

"Being lost…? Oh, sweetie, you aren't going to get lost. There seems to be windows wrapping all the way around the building, so all we have to do is break one. Or, we could leave a trail of some sort. Plus, the buildin isn't even that big." Matt smiles gently at his boyfriend.

"But what if only you go in there? You're going to get lost." Mello frowns, but does look slightly better; less worried. "I want to make sure you'll come back to me."

Matt frowns, an idea forming in his mind. A suspicion, really. "Mello…" he starts slowly, not wanting to upset the other, "Mello, babe, what are you really afraid of?" He doesn't like questioning Mello, but what the blonde just said doesn't match up with his fear. Because, if Mello and Matt could leave a trail or any of the suggestions mentioned, Matt could absolutely do it himself.

"Matt!" Mello huffs annoyedly, grabbing a lock of hair and sliding his hand down, seeming startled when he's cut off. Matt supposes that he's still not used to how short his hair is.

Mello," Matt says in a warning tone. He wants to know exactly what Mello is really afraid of. If he doesn't, then what's the point?

The older male's blue eyes travel up to meet Matt's. "Fine. I'm afraid of us, or you, being stuck in there. What if you can't come out?"

Chapter Text

"Okay." Matt sits down on the edge of the trampoline in the backyard of the house. Mello sits down next to him, smiling down at his hands. Matt almost melts at the picture; the blonde look so peaceful right now. Does he really want to ruin that? Maybe. "Let's have a civilized talk about this, okay?" It all depends on the outcome.

"Sure. I can have a civilized talk." Mello pokes Matt in the shoulder, and the brunette frowns and swats the hand away. "So. You want to ask me why I'm afraid, don't you?" The icy blue in Mello's eyes turn into blue fire, either that or the coldest you can imagine. Yet they sparkle, and Mello puts on one of his winning smirks.

Matt hesitates to open his mouth again when he sees this expression, afraid that Mello's going to launch himself at him. "Uh… not… exactly? No. I want to go around that subject for now-"

"Why, afraid you might hurt me?" Mello taunts, standing up. Oh great… Matt thinks, he's going to make this difficult for me, isn't he? I'm glad he's feeling playful, but seriously!

"No, not really. I mean, yes, and no. Anyway, we're moving on now. I want to come to an agreement on this situation." Matt watches Mello step onto the springy part of the trampoline carefully, testing how strong the material is. It's surprisingly still new-looking, not worn down. The blonde takes a few experimental jumps before really jumping on it.

Matt sighs, wanting to do that too, but also wanting to try adulting for a minute today, so he can somehow compromise to go to the building. He seriously wants to know what's in it. It's… so… odd. Really dark windows, a couple floors… large wire fence - electrified wire fence. It's… it's so interesting. Matt wonders why it's there. And why is it so close to a neighborhood? Seriously, from this house, he probably just has to walk maybe fifty yards before hitting the fence, and if he gets around the fence, maybe ten more yards.

Mello has to take a few deep breaths before being able to talk, still jumping on the trampoline. "Can we settle… on going outside… and just… staring at it?" Matt snickers at how the blonde's voice comes out, but shakes his head. "Really? Why… are you so… so unreasonable?"

"I'm not unreasonable, Mells." Matt groans. "I'm wanting to explore this new place. Why must you always stay in one place? And then move! Stop doing that. I want to explore too, but in my own way. In my own time. So if you want to stay in place, go ahead, but I'm also going to go exploring until I want a few days in docile stillness!" Wow. This has got to be the hardest he's ever pleaded his case. And look, he sounds like he came prepared. He deserves to pat himself on the back. He's not going to, because in his opinion, that looks weird, but it's still very… fun. New. Exciting, for him.

"Then go," the words are quiet. And Matt doesn't think that this quiet is because Mello's in the air when he says it.

Matt frowns. "No. Not without you." He supposes that that's his new argument then. "What if we just look at one floor? One. The first floor." Please say yes…

There's a moment of silence, and Matt feels like it's the second most longest moment in his life. Probably not, but it feels so long to him. The seconds, minutes, hours, days pass by, tick tock, and Matt is getting impatient. He actually has no idea how long he's been waiting; probably five minutes, but if feels like five months. Like he's anticipating the pregnancy of a wife he doesn't have to end.

Mello just jumps. And it feels like it takes so long, that Matt gets up and begins jumping too, causing their limbs to occasionally collide. Doing this, he easily forgets what he was asking, proposing. Maybe this was Mello's idea. Sneaky bitchy blonde…

Matt giggles to himself at that thought. He's probably really mean to everyone else in the world for calling his boyfriend that, but he knows that Mello would laugh too and/or like it. Because of course he would.

"Yes." The answer comes so suddenly that Matt trips once he lands on the trampoline. Mello trips over him and they both fall down in a heap.

Matt grins so hard he feels like his fact his splitting in half. "You said yes." Mello nods, smiling back at him, albeit not as excited as Matt. "Yesssss!" Matt rolls onto his back and dangles and arm off the edge while flopping the other on Mello's stomach. "You know that I want you to go with me, right?"

"Yeah, I got that when you asked me to go with you." Mello teases. "I guess compromisation is… not that bad. Now I feel better about it." They fall into a comfortable silence.

Matt breaks it with, "I want a smoothie." And shit, he really does. He wants it so so bad… why did shit have to go down before he had a large-size smoothie yet again (even though he used to get them once every week) in his mouth? Seriously? And why in the hell is there no one to ever re-start up the dairy stuff? Everyone needs smoothies. That thick, smooth substance… wow… pure heaven…

"Okay, get out of smoothie land. Or, let me join you." Mello prods him, sounding irritated. Matt can't tell; he's too busy floating in lakes of blueberry smoothies. "I think I prefer chocolate ice cream, but smoothies are nice."

"Oh my GOD!" Matt exclaims, looking at Mello in a pure horrified expression. At the blonde's smug look, he realizes that Mello just said that to play with him and get him out of his fantasy. "Ugh. Don't say horrible things, Mells."

"Haha! I swear though, if things ever go back to normal, we're making smoothies a twice-a-week thing." Mello raises his eyebrows suggestively at Matt. "How about it? Sounds delicious? Have you noticed that saying the word 'smoothie' a lot makes any conversation weird?" Matt shakes his head, having not actually known that. "Yeah… let's stop saying 'smoothie.' Just say… uh… smooth ice cream."

"What the fuck bro?" Matt says on impulse, too surprised and humored to have a filter.

"I wanna get me some smooth ice cream around here!" Mello says in a weird accent, causing Matt to try to push him off the other end of the trampoline.

Chapter Text

The day after their decision, Mello and Matt agree to get it over with as soon as possible, so they immediately get up and grab a small backpack full of things they might need that thry don't just want to carry in their arms the whole way. Matt jokes that it makes them look like they're going to be staying in the place, but Mello helpfully - if not snarkily; and we always know he's snarky - points out that no one's around to think that, and anyways, it's too small of a bag to look like that.

"So uh…" Mello looks helplessly at the wire fence around the building. "Yeah. What, did you bring pliers?" Sarcasm, check. Dry humor, check. Matt smiles and rolls his eyes.

"If it isn't electrified, yes. If it is, no. And judging by the fact I can't hear any crackling or static in the air around me, since we're literally a foot away, I'd say its not electrified."

Mello raises an eyebrow. "You're quite mean. But yes, I see that it appears not to be the dreaded." Even though he truly was hoping it might be electrified. There's a sense of foreboding over the building that makes him deathly afraid of it. It looks like it holds secrets that he doesn't want to know. Also, probably lots of spiders, and while he doesn't want to ever admit it, he's afraid of spiders in dark places. Especially when they're seen scuttling through a light patch of wall and then into the shadows. Mello will definitely scream like a girl and then play it off.

"Nope! Alright, here we go… am I strong enough? We shall see." Matt murmurs to himself, flexing his arms and studying the fence design. He then fits the pliers in between one of the gaps and, using his strength, snaps it.

Mello takes the pliers from his best friend and hip-bumps him out of the way. "My turn." It remains his turn throughout the whole way, too busy focusing on the task at hand to notice when he makes a large hole in the fence.

"It's done now," Matt tells him softly, grasping Mello's wrist. "Sad, because damn I was loving how pristine and perfect the fence looked. But here we are again, making the world look a little bit more devastatingly empty." Mello tilts his head, agreeing. When the world was looking full, everything was taken care of. Anything on the opposite side of those tracks was less than. We all know that abandoned houses look dead.

Bu at the moment, intense thinking is not on the to-do list. Mello shoves his way through the gap in the wire fence, opening it up further for Matt to follow. The blonde turns around and waits, but as soon as the brunette makes it, he swivels around and strides fearlessly towards the door.

After all, they're not doing the what, seven? floors above them. No. Just the one that is closest to the door. That's all. Nothing more.

Mello hesitates with his gloved hand on the handle, frowning at Matt and trying to appear impatient. When the other male catches up, Mello finally opens the door, and he smiles at the inside.

He thought it was going to be messy. Well, it kind of is. Instead, it's more of a clean, organized kind of messy. You can see what goes where and see all the things that might be useful to him and Matt. Even things that aren't useful, but might be interesting, such as books, folders, lots of sticky notes everywhere - a part of the "messy factor - and other reading material.

"What is this place?" Matt breathes behind him. Oh, Mello forgot he was there. Huh. "It looks like it belongs to some sort of mad scientist. Look at all of those notes!" Mello frowns at his boyfriend waalks past him. There… why are there so many notes on the first floor? This place is so random… the higher floors are a lot safer. Anyone could walk in and steal everything. "Found a switch to the fence. As it turns out, like the sign said, it was electrified. High voltage." Mello swivels his head to the side to see Matt, next to a type of control pad mounted on the wall.

Mello holds a hand out and finally begins walking inside. He doesn't want to linger inside the doorway while Matt gets to check everything out. "Don't flip that. With our luck, it's solar-panel-controlled, and so it'll actually turn on. And even if you turn it off, I'm sure the electricity will linger for a while." Another thing he doesn't want to admit is his lack of experience with large, strange electrified fences. Oh well. At least he's in his "it's better safe than sorry" mood, and not his "let's get dangerous" mood.

The blonde finds his way across the room, stepping over stacks of books in the way, and he fingers a sticky note attached to the top of a monitor. It reads, "Progress. Not much. Very temperamental." He rips it off to inspect it closer, but notices two others close by. One on the side of the keyboard in front of the monitor (does that make it a computer? it definitely looks more like a monitor) and one on the very top of the computer-thing.

Mello picks up the keyboard one first. "Wants to have their own stash of food because they feel 'trapped'." Mello frowns and tilts his head to the side curiously. He rips the other note off and reads that one. It's only three words… three words that makes him freeze. "Out of control," underlined two times. The print is hard-pressed, in a scrawl. As if in a hurry.

"Hey Matty, come look at this." Mello calls. He hates how his voice sounds far away, distant. Definitely distracted. But it also has unease in it. The brown-haired male comes over and reads the notes over Mello's shoulder.

"Uh, woah. That's seriously weird." So very creepy, he means. And yes, Mello agrees. Shit, he knew coming here was a bad idea. Here comes that sense of foreboding again. And where he was thinking that maybe they don't have to carry things back; they could just come here randomly and get what they need, now he's thinking that they should get the hell out. "Are these mad scientist people keeping an animal that can talk?" Matt suggests, speaking Mello's thoughts. "Or. Or… I mean, I don't want to think this… are they keeping a human?"

Both of their eyes raise up, towards the ceiling, towards the upper floors.

Chapter Text

"We have to find it," Mello says suddenly, a little too loud for Matt's tastes, inside the silent building. Matt knows what the blonde is talking about but gives him a genuine confused face anyways. "Well, we have to find what the notes are talking about!" Mello looks exasperated.

Matt smiles against his will. He's always bad at hiding his faces, which is why he wears the goggles and doesn't normally turn his face towards people. "Yeah." He agrees amiably. Mello's obviously startled, but he hides it a lot better than Matt would.

Silently, Mello holds out his hand, and Matt takes it, both drawing close to the other. They know that this isn't some zombie apocalypse, but they still seem to anticipate someone attacking them. For a good reason; someone might still be alive and not want them there.

Matt sincerely doubts there is enough food, if any, in this place. At least to last this long, months after the apocalypse started. Unless if a whole entire floor is devoted to just food. And even then, who would keep that many shelf-stable things in one place? Yeah, no. He seriously doesn't believe anyone does that.

They step in time to a door in front of them, not labelled with anything, just a wooden door. It would be nice if it stated "staircase," though.

Matt's heart begins beating faster, in anticipation and excitement. Mello decides to open the door first, always the one to jump off the cliff without hesitation. In a figure of speech, obviously. The door leads to another room, this one cleaner and looking more like a meeting place, with a long table filled with chairs, one chair at the head of the table.

And then another door, this one off to the side of the room. Matt frowns, wondering what kind of maze this is, and if they've been set up. How would they be set up though; that's ridiculous thinking. Stop being ridiculous, Matt, he tells himself.

No one is alive to set them up. Perhaps this strange floor was built for a different purpose. Keeping someone out? Hmmm, that doesn't seem right, exactly…

Either way, they approach this door with more confidence than the first, and Matt is the one who touches the mental knob, turning it slowly. The door swings open once the latch is released, which is odd. Most doors they've found like being pulled. Maybe this door hasn't been used that often? Oh, but that wouldn't make sense, because why would it be opened in the first place? Not unless whoever worked here still took refuge in this place.

The brown-haired male is nearly tempted to look for a body, but reminds himself that more likely than not, the person/people who might've taken refuge in here would've disappeared before starving.

Matt takes one good look at the next room, and his mouth drops open. If he were confused five minutes ago, he's both confused and concerned now. The room is just… doors. Doors on every single side. The door that they entered in, obviously, but several doors. All of them identical. Dark, tannish wood, silver metallic knobs. Same size. All of them.

He can hear breath whispering out of Mello's throat, before the other speaks, "This wasn't to keep someone out… this… this was made to keep someone in…" The blonde is staring directly across the room, at the doorless doorway at the other end. It's the only wall without one. It very obviously leads up stairs.

Matt can't help but agree with Mello's strained conclusion, and is slightly excited that the taller male had originally thought the same thing as him. Good, he wasn't alone in his ponderings and ideas.

Mello takes a deep breath from beside him, drawing Matt's attention back to him. The blonde takes a step forward, but Matt holds him back, thankful for their intertwined hands. "Are you still sure? It's not worth it if you don't want to." Mello gives him an odd look, and nods.

"Of course I'm sure. Nothing bad will happen, because we're here for each other, obviously. So. Let's go, let's make it worthwhile." Mello winks and turns back to the door, this time beginning to stride confidently towards the stairs. Matt follows him without a problem this time.

The stairs are long, and look like they're not stopping on the next floor, but skipping to the third. In fact, Matt thinks that's exactly what's happening, because of the windows all lined in a row, level with the middle of the staircase. So, Matt thinks, whatever they want to keep up here is afraid of stairs maybe? Or is it just that everyone would slow down when going on these stairs, because of how narrow they are and how they have no railing? Or… wait, why haven't these people thought of the fact that whoever they have might want to commit suicide?

At the top of the stairs, there's another door. This one is locked, but from the outside, so Mello easily unlocks it. They go through this one with no doubts. Or, little doubts. In Matt's case, of course. It opens to a… living space. A living spot. Seriously, it looks like an apartment that stretches across the whole first floor of an apartment complex. So it's more like a tiny house, then?

There are zero doors here. That's how Matt knows that it's a living space. He can see directly through, and notices that it looks so very clean and perfect. It also is very repetetive; the doorways line up exactly with each other, and most of the rooms are the same size. The only different thing would be the singular door at the very end of the room Mello and Matt stepped into.

There's noise. There's a clank, like chains hitting the floor. Then a scraping sound, like they've been dragged across the ground. Matt flinches and feels really terrified for the first time since stepping foot into the building.

Matt lets go of Mello's hand and drifts forward, curiosity taking over and filling his mind. The blonde trails after, face calm but twitching occasionally with other unknown emotions.

In the last room - which is the kitchen - Matt sees what's been making the noise. He first notices the thin chains lying in a coil on the floor, looking like it belongs to a metal snake or something. He follows the chains up, and sees that they're attached to a human, sitting on an unrecognizeable box with one leg tucked up and the other dangling.

Matt immediately notices several things about this human.

One, he notices that this human's gender isn't noticeable just from even looking. He has no idea what it is, and can't pinpoint it.

Two, their hair is waist-length, like Mello's was, and it's white.

Three, they're wearing all-white.

Four, their mouth is curved up into a very small smirk-like smile.

Five… their eyes. Their eyes are dark gray, wide, shiny, interested. Reflecting emotions such as amusement, interest, anger, serenity, happiness, sadness… and it's so strange seeing all of those emotions dancing around, twinkling all together. How do they not clash? And their eyes… well, they grow wider as the very-pale human grins. And all of the emotions besides interest and amusement disappear all at once.

What a strange ability.

Also, why are their wrists chained, and where does the chain connect to? The wall, Matt's question is answered almost immediately. But why? Why are their wrists chained?

Matt just can't take his eyes off of this strange human to look at Mello…

Especially when the strange human in question speaks in a voice that's dull and monotonous, but peals like a bell, sharp and beautiful. "Hello. I'm Near. Do you think you could unchain me, if you're going to stay long?"

Chapter Text

"What kind of a name is Near?" Mello asks curiously. The person who said that their name is just that raises an eyebrow. It reminds Mello of the way he raises his own eyebrows; swift, with ease, and briefly, before letting it settle back down. What an interesting thing to share with someone.

Oh, but Mello's probably reading too much into this situation, isn't he? He's surprised to see someone new, and probably internally freaking out, so he's connecting them as much as possible. It was probably really common before the apocalypse for people to share eyebrow-raising techniques.

Techniques, Mello snorts in amusement, earning yet another raised brow from Near. If they continue doing that, Mello's just going to laugh more, and that'll make him be reprimanded by Matt. Which isn't fun, most times.

Finally, Mello relents with the meeting Near's gaze with wide eyes, and looks away briefly before looking back with a more… "eh" look in his eyes. "The name Near is what I was given, blondie. Can I ask questions now? As someone who's home has just been invaded, I think I deserve a couple questions."

Their voice is so confusing… it's soft and gentle, yet inquiring… and also takes command, but not by force. It's quite intriguing, and it's making Mello relax slightly.

"Of course you can ask questions," Matt responds before Mello can open his mouth to answer. The quick, choppy sound of the brunette's voice cuts through the vision of serenity that Near brought, startling Mello out of the haze he never thought he was in.

This "Near" human seems to possess skill set after skill set, and if Mello's being honest with himself, it's enticing, and also suspicious.

"What are your names?" Near asks, tone hushed. Once again Mello falls under their spell. Matt appears to as well, if the lazy expression on his face is anything to go by. Come to think of it, Near's own expression loks a little bit smug, as if the know exactly what they're doing. Perhaps this is how they got such lavish quarters. Then again, if you were to keep a human, Mello expects you'd give them as much space as possible.

After all, this is a human. Humans can't just be fucking used like possessions. They can't just be studied. They can't just be kept. And if Near was kept, Mello will get immensely pissed. If anyone was kept.

"Mello," Mello responds, offering a small, wary smile. Near nods in return, giving him their own smile, which looks slightly pained, if Mello's looking right.

Matt clears his throat awkwardly. "Matt." He looks down at the floor and shuffles his feet. What, has the sense that he's being social just kicked in for him? Mello might've teased him, were they not in this situation. (Which, in all complete honesty, isn't looking as dire as Mello's making it look.)

"Nice to meet you both," Near tilts their head to the side, eyes dropping down from wide to half-lidded. Their face settles into a bored, emotionless expression, and their voice changes to more of a low tone. Mello blinks isurprise at the sudden change. Maybe they experience random mood swings. Who is he to tell? "Are you staying long? What are you doing here? May you please unchain me?" The usage of "may" instead of "can" shouldn't be funny, but it kind of is. After all, who uses "may"? Grammatically correct people, that's who.

"We have no idea how long we're staying," the blonde speaks up, normally the one who talks first, "but I imagine it'll be for at least an hour. We're here because Matt here wanted to check this place out, and because scavenging yada, yada. And as for the unchaining thing, sure. As lon as you don't attempt to kill us."

There's a strange twitch of something in Near's face, but it quickly returns to neutral, and they nod. "I wouldn't attempt to kill you." The emphasis is on the wrong word, Mello quickly notes, but so many people he knows - used to know - did that accidentally on occasion.

"Where are the keys?" Matt finally speaks up, seeming to have gotten over his moment of "oh shit I'm talking to someone new." Near tilts their head to the side yet again, and their eyes flick past the two males and through the doors. The hint is taken, and Mello swivels on his heel to head back down the stairs, when Near begins to speak again.

"You don't have to." The stranger's voice is so sorrowful that Mello feels his throat tighten and close up. The blonde looks over his shoulder and raises his own eyebrows. "Walk with me?" What an odd request. Mello nods slowly, sizing Near up as the other slides off of the boxes. They're shorter than him by a couple inches, and they look too weak to hurt the blonde at all, so he should be safe.

Matt just continues watching them helplessly, lips twitching into a slight scowl. Mello gives him a "really," look, then changes it to a comforting one, before turning back to Near, who is now at his side, and stepping forward slowly, unsure of what pace the smaller of the two wants.

Near also begins walking, but with a shuffling stride of two steps per second, roughly estimating. Mello matches it, but with difficulty, since he often makes longer strides. The chains clank behind them as they slide over the tiled and hardwood floors, and it's the only sound on their short journey.

They both stop just before the stairwell, and Near murmurs and beckons for Mello to move out of the way and watch. They then walk until they're just a couple inches before the doorway… and they tip over, falling forward. Mello's whole body jerks, moving to catch the strange human. But Near doesn't need it; they're suspended a quarter way to the ground, staring at the ground with a sheet of hair covering their face and therefore their expression from Mello's view.

With a glance to the chains, the blonde sees that they're taut, and the things keeping Near in place. And the white-haired stranger's arms are pulled back so their wrists are as far behind their body as possible.

The position looks so uncomfortable, the thought of someone with restrainments makes Mello see red. A truckload of anger washes over him like a tsunami, and he's suddenly dragging Near back as gently as possible by their waist and growling at them to stay right there before basically sprinting down the staircase with no prior thought.

Mello goes back the exact way he and Matt came, looking all around himself to a damn key. In the first room he and Matt came across, he rummages through everything, muttering curses under his breath as angrily as possible, slamming cabinet doors and knocking things over.

Finally, he finds a set of keys. They're placed on top of a monitor screen, blending in quite well in the dark. Mello scoffs and rolls his eyes sharply, before walking slower up the stairs, but still with force.

His anger melts away once he finds Near leaning against the wall next to the doorway to the eating area, and Matt on the opposite side of them. It's such a domestic, docile scene that it causes the blonde to be real careful as he steps over to the small, fragile-looking human being and crouches next to them.

He takes their wrist - which he notes is quite small - in his hand and unlocks the cuff around it, letting it fall away. He repeats thd process with the other one, and lets out a small breath at how they look.

Near's wrists are covered in scratches and bruises. A lot of red marks, most likely from rubbing, several purple and blue-ish splotches, and many slices from the metal. It looks as if Near has pulled one too many times on the cuffs, attempting to break them off, or just deciding to trust fall with them for fun, because of boredom Mello could totally see them experiencing.

It very nearly breaks Mello's heart, if he's being honest with himself. But that's okay, because now Near doesn't have to have that fucking kind of abuse happen to them.

The blonde smiles softly at Near, and revels in the relief in the smile he gets in return.

Chapter Text

Near is the first to stand up, much to Mello and Matt's obvious surprise. Near can read it on their faces that they expected Near to remain down there with them. Well… they would have stayed down there, but now they want to be a good host. It's been… ever… since they've had visitors other than the people who were "working on them."

A flash of anger runs down Near's spine, making them grit their teeth and swallow it down. They're trying to not have another of their pissed sprees in front of their guests, but their brain keeps bringing up the people that continued to hurt them in different ways.

Near tilts their head to the side and smiles slightly. "Welcome to my… house, I suppose." They spin in a circle, feeling ridiculous, but happy to be able to do that without tangling themself in their chains. Speaking of… they kick the blasted metal links across the for, to gather in the corner.

The beautiful, blue-eyed blonde stands up first. Near suspected he would. And following, up comes the brunette. Mello and Matt. Interesting, because… well, the names fit. Except for two things about "Mello"; it isn't really a name, as far as Near knows, and the blonde looks far from mellow. In fact, he still looks incredibly angry, just as he looked when Near showed him exactly how far their chains reached.

Near opens their mouth before either Mello or Matt can speak first, a habit or theirs that always has worked to protect themself in some ways before. "Is there anything you'd like me to do to help?" They offer, lowering their eyes to the floor and to the side, before raising them halfway up again.

They know the type of expression this gives them. It makes them look innocent, tired, and sad. The last one isn't too strong, but there's still a hint to it. Near remembers looking in the mirror and testing this out. They were very disappointed in this expression, because basically it's a way to make the people they talk to give in to whatever they're saying.

They mostly used it on the group of people that raised them, and it worked every time. As well as the determined expression they put on when trying to do something. That one has a kind of affect Near doesn't know how to explain.

"No…" Matt answers, his voice more of a breathless word uttered in wonder. It causes Near to flush a light pink and scowl, knowing that they've accidentally made the brunette… well, charmed, if there's any specific word that goes directly to the point.

Near just hates that word. Ah, I must be a fabulous host, then, they think bitterly. "Let me know, though. Again, people haven't visited in a long while. It's surprising that I was able to live this long…" they mutter that last part to themself, and peeks up to check that neither of them saw it.

"Fuck, this is actually a cool place." Mello says that with a frown, as if hating to admit that. And yeah, Near doesn't like saying it either. Minus the chains and the monitors, yes, this is a place Near would most likely choose if they were ever placed in society.

Oh. Speaking of.

"What's it like in the real world?" Near says. Or, snaps, in the nicest way possible. Their gray eyes are wide open, and they most likely have a severe, serious, pressing expression on. Ah, expressions are everything to them. Things they had to be taught to school perfectly. But when people started disappearing - Near winces, and a tug of intense sorrow pulls at their chest - they stopped practicing. Which is why, here they are now, letting their face to as it pleases. "Cities? What's it like in schools? What's it like in a stupid grocery store? What's having neighbors like?"

They know they've been missing out on so much, their entire life. It's been over a decade, soon to be two, and they've experienced little to no things that an average human would experience.

Then again, there is a reason for that. Near just hates to dwell on the reason for too long. It makes their head hurt and their chest ache.

Mello looks around the room for a moment, before heading over to the couch and plopping on it, beckoning for Near and Matt to follow suit. Near does so, sitting on the opposite side of it, while Matt gets pulled directly into Mello's lap, despite the brunette's protests.

"Cities have large buildings, averagely. They reach to the sky and are made of lots of glass. Shorter buildings are often made of brick or some other strong material. Houses are mostly built in the suburbs, but apartment complexes can sometimes be in the downtown parts… they're incredibly expensive, though. There are businesses and hotels and stores… different parts have restaurants and gas stations and fast food chains." A small smile graces Mello's beautiful face, somehow highlighting his light blue eyes. Near watches this transformation from anger to wistfulness with interest, captivated by the "story." The blonde continues, "There are people milling about, and a lot of cars. The city is dangerous, but sometimes worth it. Especially movie theaters.

"School…" Mello groans with a laugh, "school has got to have been the worst and the best time of my life. That's where there was so much fucking pathetic teenage drama, and that was funny. I had a posse, I was a bully. I was an asshole " His eyebrows come together, and he remains quiet for a moment. "Anyways. School has a lot of children and teenagers in one room, where an adult teaches them and shit. It's boring as fuck. Only lunchtime in the cafeteria and recess and breaks in between periods were nice. I liked the outside, still do.

"Neighborhoods!" Mello widens his eyes theatrically, now. "They were sometimes dumb and sometimes the bomb. It depends on the neighbors you have. There will always be the Joneses, the people who- ugh, their houses! Always!" Near raises a solitary eyebrow, and Mello scoffs, then smirks. "I can't explain. Maybe if you want, we can show you around a neighborhood someday, and we can point out what I mean. Anyways. Some people are the ones who ask for money and favors a lot. Some people are the kind ones, and that's often the majority, if you live in a quiet neighborhood. And some are the suspicious fuckers that you never see." His eyes begin to narrow. "Those assholes, I wonder what they were up to…" he starts to sneer, but Matt whacks him on his shoulder.

"Ignore him," the brunette tells Near. "He's suspicious of most people, but the people who no one had anything to do with just because they're private people who mind their own business-" this is pointed at the blonde, "-doesn't mean they're 'up to something.'" Near adores the finger quotes that comes with that statement, and it brings a smile to their face.

When Near gets a grin in return, it's heartwarming and amusing both. "I can tell about the grocery stores." Matt offers. Near nods. "Grocery stores have lots of variety of foods in one place, produce in one section, dairy products in another, canned foods, baking supplies, bathing things and such, shoes, clothes, fish, which is right next to the pet supplies, for the most part. People walk down these aisles with metal carts, filling them with things on their list that they need, or just things they want. When they're done, they go to a check-out - with or without a cashier - and check out their stuff. Then they pay and walk out to their cars." Matt snickers. "In the parking lot. Where they put the stuff in their cars, put the carts in a cart spot, and drive away." Even though all of these things sound quite boring and average, Near's still interested in what it was like.

"Although we're known for making chaos in stores. Or… we were known." Mello pipes up, finally over being shushed and smacked. "We'd knock some shit over or something. You know, something unbreakable, so we wouldnt have to pay, and then we'd either run or apologize and help pick it up, while sneaking some in our pockets or something." Matt facepalms.

"Yeah, mostly it was candy or something like that. Jesus, it was stupid. In fact, all of the times we helped, it was candy. We'd steal Reese's and Kit Kats and Hersheys and all of that. Damn, we were stupid. Hey, remember the gum thing?"

Mello laughs loudly. "Absolutely. That was the best watermelon gum I've ever had… We're lucky they didn't put those things to tell that we're stealing like with shoes and some clothes or somethin'."

Near probably shouldn't be feeling left out, but unfortunately they are. They purse their lips, and keep themself from scowling, instead making their expression as blank as possible. "I'm glad you both had fun. Do you want a tour?"

Their words catch the two males' attention, and two sets of blue eyes - one light and one dark - come to stare at Near, shocked.

"What?" Near asks innocently. Heh, they think. "I just thought you may want to see the kinds of things I have." This time they allow a half-smile, and they raise a hand up to twirl their hair.

Chapter Text

"Alright. I'm intrigued." Mello says, after a small pause. Near slowly blinks, processing those words. Well, one in particular. Intrigued… they don't know why that one stuck, but it did.

Near nods. They stand up swiftly, crossing the room in a way that seems slightly as if they're moving to a rhythm. They do this at times, mostly out of boredom. One step, two steps, arms out, peer to check if they're following… This rhythm has been built out of excitement and anticipation.

Intrigued, they repeat in their head. The word echoes around up there. They ponder this, tilting their head to the side, slowing down their pace. This word means that Mello is interested in seeing it. Yes, well, that's new, even if it sounds ridiculous that Near's so happy about it. No one has been intrigued to see anything of Near's.

Well, the… people that Near had to put up with not especially long ago (then again, time mixes and bleeds together in this endless place), they were interesting in seeing Near accomplish new things. That's the only thing they were interested in. They were interested in seeing how far Near could go, and if Near could form new abilities. Because Near was - and still is - stubborn, so therefore new things that the people forced them to learn were rare.

In short, Near wanted nothing to do with it. In all of their years here, being kept secret from every other human, so much that the neighborhood that Near had heard about in earlier times was made up of people who worked here and their families, and that's it.

It's very angering. As you may have imagined.

Near enters the kitchen with Mello and Matt closely following behind them. They point to a door, the pantry, and then the fridge. As soon as the two make moves towards the things Near pointed at, Near slides to the ground, wrapping their arms around their knees.

Mello opens the pantry. Immediately, he makes a noise of approval as he sees what Near knows is there; food. Shelf-stable, of course. Things that could be there for a while, and if not, then Near obviously would have used it. Checking expiration dates is a common occurrence for Near, mainly because they're paranoid of losing food, and also because there's not much else to do here. Perhaps maybe losing their mind slowly from isolation is an exception.

On the opposite side of the kitchen, Matt opens the fridge, mostly out of curiosity, if his face is anything to go by. His mouth drops open as soon as he gets it wide enough to see. Near smiles slightly, burying their face in their hair. "Don't leave it open too long, you'll let the cold air out." They murmur.

This catches Mello's attention, and the blonde swivels in his place to see what Near's talking about. His mouth, too, drops open. "What?!" He exclaims, "How… how?!" Near spaces out, no longer paying attention to Mello's loud words, and Matt's quick, excited answers. This reaction is what Near guessed would happen, since surely most places run on electric plugs and… etcetera. Unlike this place, of which was made with other powers. Solar, windmill, and other natural-made electric things.

They can't believe neither Mello nor Matt noticed the large set of windmills on the other side of the building. Unless if this building really is taller than them? Near never has been sure, since they've been unable to go to higher floors in quite a while. And even if they were able to, the roof is the ideal place to check, and they have never once been allowed up there.

Near's brough back when they hear Matt saying their name. "Uh… Near, you alright?" The brunette asks once Near's fully focused.

"Oh, yes. Thank you." Proper etiquette… they were taught then when they were young. Near had no idea why back then, and even asked someone what they were for, if Near will never be able to use them. It was an interesting time.

Near smiles softly at this, eyes feeling heavy and tired. They glance up at Matt, then move their eyes to Mello. The two stand, looking expectantly down at them. Both pairs of blue eyes are bright, obviously excited for what else Near might have in store.

They sigh. "I'm going to be honest with you two… I'm tired, and sad, and so completely unmotivated, and your excitement is making me feel guilty, so I'm gonna postpone… you can… um you know, do whatever."

Mello blinks, Matt blinks. They both smile. "Wow, that really was candidly said. Huh. Alright," Mello laughs. "We can wait. You'd really let us stay here?" Near nods, feeling a bit better with Mello's good mood, and both of their acceptance. "Thank you. We won't mess this place up, or use any of your supplies. Not that I know anything except where your food is…"

It's funny, because Mello seems to ramble an extensive amount, but Near isn't annoyed with it. Not like they were with one of the people who did the same thing. And Matt's silence and distractedness doesn't bother them either.

They're also relieved that their blunt words didn't appear to bother the two, in return. They only have so much practice with interaction. But these people are okay with that. Also, at least they aren't alone anymore.

"Okay, I'm going to go to bed… sleep for a little bit… if you decide to kill me, do it quickly," they smirk, get up, and walk to their bedroom (which has an open door of course; Near despises doors to a great extent, and usually has the pantry door open), the laughter that follows their words making them feel like they're gliding on top of the world.

Chapter Text

The woman sighs, standing in front of the gate around the building she's oh-so familiar with. All she has to do is enter the code, and the gate's electrical pulses will turn off for the count of three minutes exactly, so she can open it to walk through.

She doesn't like this method, but it is the safest option. Or, so everyone else tells her. She's not much liked here, though, so the others might just be telling her that to spite her and her thoughts.

Hopefully she's showed up early enough to be alone here for at least a couple minutes. Get herself a cup of coffee from one of the back rooms so she can relax. And then, as soon as everyone else shows up, she can get to her favorite part of working in this building; interacting with the child that lives upstairs. It's so fascinating, how intelligent the child is… it's also fascinating, how blunt and stubborn they are.

She does her routine; turn off the gate, enter the building, make herself some coffee, then secretly steal a sucker from one of her co-worker's personal jar of them. Not for herself, although that would accentuate her morning perfectly. It'd accentuate it better if she gets to see the child's face light up, gray eyes blinking in a rapid fashion.

Sometimes, she wonders if it's a part of their… manipulation, a skill they can't control very well at the moment… that's making her like them so much. Either way, it doesn't matter whether it is or isn't. Perhaps she'll ask them, or maybe it'd be better if she left it alone. Their days here are already not that enjoyable. And that counts for every single painstaking year they've been here.

She looks up from her coffee when she hears familiar voices. The first room of the building fills up with everyone else, so she takes this as her time to leave and go up the stairs.

Before she can, she hears her name. "Smith." This gives her pause. She turns her head to glance at the person who called out to her. "Teach them proper etiquette this time around. They're too rude." She definitely doesn't appreciate the disdain in his voice. She nods, and as she walks away, she rolls her eyes expertly.

"Oh, and turn off the monitors. They work better if they're off." She calls behind herself, climbing the stairs. She doesn't care how upset they get about her words; it's true and they know it. And if they don't turn off the monitors in the child's living area, hindering the child's ability to learn, they're all going to pay for it.

She opens the door. Immediately, she's hit by a burning smell, and she wrinkles her nose. A long string of unintelligible words come from where the kitchen inevitably is. "Shit," she hisses. She shuts the door behind her.

She travels to the kitchen (checking to see if the monitors are off on the way - luckily they are), and standing there is the abnormal child with a pale complexion and white hair. She sighs. "Hey, hon?" This catches their attention. Gray eyes seem to peer into her soul, barely visible between long waves of white hair covering their face. "Turn it off and throw the food out, okay? Let me help you."

She's always insisted in teaching them things that matter; survival needs. Knowing how to feed yourself with what you have is very important. But everyone else says that she's ridiculous; they can provide the child with whatever they need for however long, until they're ready to enter the real world. Which most likely will be never, so she keeps that piece of information to herself. She doesn't want the child to have hope and then have it crash down.

"You may call me Near, you know," The soft voice enters her thoughts, calling her back to the present. "I like it. But I don't appreciate being called 'the child' behind my back." She smiles. "Hello, Ashlee."

"Hello, Near," she returns. "Here, you can have this." She hands them the sucker she stole. "Now bring a chair over here so you can sit while you watch me. I'm going to make eggs for breakfast, okay?" Near nods, immediately unwrapping the candy and sticking it in their mouth. They do as she says, bringing a chair over to sit on.

She gets the correct dishes to make the eggs in. She then directs Near to get the milk, the egg carton, and then salt, pepper, garlic, and onion. She can feel them watching intently as she cracks the eggs, adds the milk and seasonings, and whisks it, before pouring it into the pan on the stove. She hums as she does all of this, feeling at home here.

"Eat with me." Near says. She knows that, if she looks at them, she'll be met with an intense gaze. One that leaves no questions nor protests. It's fine; she's actually hungry. She wasn't able to make her own breakfast before leaving her house to walk here.

She nods. "Alright. Go put the chair back, and I'll set the table." Near complies easily. She smiles.

After the table is set, and she pours them both glasses of milk, she sits down with Near across from her. Near watches her throughout this, but only with curiosity. She knows that they have a question from the way they look conflicted and apprehensive.

They speak up. "How long have I been here?" She nearly chokes on her drink. That question… the answer is simple, but tough to swallow.

"Your whole life, love." She answers, softening her voice as much as possible. She knows that talking about being in a building for… as long as Near can remember, is a very touchy subject for them. They have a bit of a temper if they get too worked up. They sometimes break down when it comes to hearing too much. Mostly that means running into their bedroom and not letting anyone in there to see them.

They take a deep breath. "I thought so. Alright." As much as they seem fine and calm, she can see that they're struggling. "So… what am I learning today?" Now, when they look at her, they just seem tired. But she doesn't miss the small amount of hurt and anger in their eyes.

"Proper etiquette," she snorts. "Because the others insist apon it. Thought I don't know why they'd say you have to learn it when you're no more rude than they are. They're so disdainful, it's painful. I swear, I'm so done with them." The ten-year-old gives her a smile.

"I realize that you're supposed to sit me down and give me lessons, but I believe that I'll learn all the same, if not more, if you let me do it on my own. By observing. I'm very excellently skilled in that area." Boy does she know that's true. "So just relax, and we can hang out for today. It's not like I can go anywhere."

That's true. She doesn't tell them that the others have been considering giving them chains so, even if they manage to break the lock on the door entering into their living area, they can't go further. She doesn't get it. It's been ten years, and Near has been perfectly behaved except for yelling at everyone occasionally. They've never attempted to escape. And she's sure that they know, if they want to escape, they just have to mention it to her and she'll help them.

"Alright. Come up with what you want to do today while you finish your breakfast. I'll clean up."