End Transmission

AN: Hm... not much to say about this one... other than I adored some of the cute moments there were... and that I forgot what this chapter was about until I edited it …..yeah... that what being 25 chapters ahead of posting can do to you XD (im on chapter 33….. so…)


Suggested Listening: Not Enough by Lacuna Coil

Chapter Seven: Enough

When Near knocked on their door that evening Mello had immediately tensed and accidently crushed the chocolate he'd been holding. Matt would have laughed had Mello's expression not been so stricken. It was his last bar.

With the exception of the emergency supply Matt had taken to keeping, though Mello didn't know about it yet. He would probably have to reveal it later on though.

He turned his game off and went to let Near in, and once the door was securely locked behind them, and they were seated on the floor, silence descended on them. Matt wondered, if things started out like this every time, what would actually get discussed once he had to spend most of his time with Linda for the project?

He sighed.

"Perhaps..." Near surprised him as he spoke quietly as he played with the rubix cube he had brought. "Perhaps we should leave Wammys." he finished.

Matt hadn't thought the albino would have been the one to suggest it. And from Mello's gaping jaw, he hadn't either. "What the hell?" Mello hissed.

"We would leave and take L's place at a later date. We would also be out of reach of Wammys influence." Near finished, though by the fact that he hadn't finished the cube, as Matt knew he should have by then, that he was waiting for Mello's reply with rapt attention. Matt wondered if Mello saw it yet.

"I don't like it. Too many things could go wrong with that." Mello stated with narrowed eyes. Near hunched a little further over the cube and Matt almost sighed again. Mello never did like the idea of backing away from a challenge, even to regroup, as it felt too much like failure to him.

"However... we should go through with the scenario as a backup plan." Near's head shot up at Mello's words and Matt swore he heard the boys neck crack. Near's lips twitched, as though he'd thought of saying something, but the moment passed and he merely nodded.

"It's always good to have more than one plan of action." Matt said to break the silence. Mello nodded and leaned back, eyeing the crumbled remained of his chocolate before popping a piece in his mouth. It was strange to watch as the customary snap hadn't come.

"Where would we go?" he prompted and watched as the other two's minds got going.

"Matt, you hack things, do you not?" Near asked. Matt nodded, not quite sure where the question was leading. "Then if we left, Matt would be able to hack our inheritance. We could go wherever we wanted until the time was right."

Mello hummed in agreement.

"I'm glad you both seem to think so highly of me, but I'm not sure I'd be able to pull it off with the updated systems. Not to mention, I'm sure L has that heavily guarded." he didn't mean to throw a wrench into the plan, but if it was based solely on his hacking ability, then it was flawed.

He was good, great even, but he was far from the best if all the times he'd gotten caught were taken into account.

"Matt does not put enough faith in his abilities." Near stated as he pressed a stand of hair between his fingers.

"No, he doesn't." Mello agreed with his calculating eyes trained on him. Matt sighed. It wasn't that he didn't know he was the best hacker at Wammys, but he wasn't better than L, and that was what counted, to him at least. But he didn't bother attempting to explain that to them, it would have been a wasted effort.

The rest of the time was filled with the three of them tossing idea's back and forth on where exactly they would go, as they would have to have things planned out if it were to actually be called a backup plan.

Then only got as far as covering up their immediate trail as they had kept getting sidetracked. But it was probably for the best, as they were all a bit drained from the days classes.

After Near left Matt saw how awkward Mello was being, pacing a few steps only to stop, and toying with the ends of his long sleeves. After a few minutes he paced up to Matt and instead of stopping and continuing the awkward display, sat down.

Mello sighed heavily and leaned into Matt's side, his head resting on the redheads shoulder. Matt smiled a little and took out his game. Though he did notice the way Mello eyed his empty chocolate wrapper forlornly; he could practically see Mello's anxiety levels rising from not having his addiction sated.

Wordlessly he scooted away from the blond, who looked a little startled, and got up to cross the room. He noted the way Mello seemed to shrink in on himself and cursed silently. He shouldn't have broken the contact like that, not when Mello had initiated it.

He hadn't meant to hurt him, and should have realized Mello would take his action badly. But it couldn't be helped at the moment, what's done was done.

He was at his dresser in moments and rummaged around the second draw, towards the middle, and knew that Mello was watching curiously him despite feeling hurt. His fingers finally brushed against the foil wrapped treat and his lips twitched.

He pulled it free of the confines of his clothing and walked back over to Mello and sat down next to him. He held out the bar and watched as Mello widened his eyes. The blond tentatively took the chocolate. "Thank you..." he whispered.

Mello unwrapped the tip of it and took a small bite. It broke and crunched loudly under the pressure of his teeth. Only Mello was able to create that exact sound. Mello paused, half-way into the next bite before he hesitantly leaned against him again.

Matt gave him a smile and leaned in too. It was comfortable, sitting with Mello like that, with their backs against the bed. And not for the first time, Matt was glad that Mello had come to Wammys, despite the obvious hurt it had caused him.

Matt doubted he would have ever gotten curious enough, or worried enough, to uncover what he had otherwise. Whether or not it was a good thing remained to be seen. Mello curled his hand under Matt's arm and leaned in closer as he nursed the chocolate.

Eventually Mello's breathing had evened out and Matt was surprised to find that he had fallen asleep. He looked at the serene expression on the blond's face and Matt knew he would never regret anything as long as Mello was always his friend.

Mello was that important to him.

.

Matt awoke in the morning, or what he took as morning, when Mello had fallen into his lap during sleep, startling them both.

"Damn, sorry!" Mello exclaimed and turned away to hide the blush he wore, though Matt wouldn't have said anything as his own face felt like a furnace. He did laugh though, as it was the kind of situation one only found in comedies.

Even though Mello's face was turned, Matt could see the way his cheeks puffed a little, indicating that he was smiling. All awkwardness aside, it had at least been a little humorous. Matt stumbled to his feet, his body protesting after being hunched for so long, and blinked wearily at the clock.

"Mello, we have about five minutes before we are late to breakfast." he told his friend. Mello swore and stood on shaky legs, flinging clothing as he rushed over to his dresser. Matt looked away with a shake of his head and decided that the only thing he would change was his shirt. At least for the moment; he would just take a shower later.

It wasn't ever advisable to be late to breakfast on the weekends, as most of the tasty food, or as Mello would call it, edible, was already gone. There was a small, marginally small Matt believed, chance that there would still be good food left.

Though Matt held little hope. He didn't truly care much, as he would eat something regardless. But Mello was far pickier at times and would forgo eating should it not meet his standards.

"Let's go!" Mello yelled as he dragged Matt from their room. Matt sighed but kept pace with Mello until they got outside the doors of the dining hall, where Mello had paused to glance at the rankings sheet, before darting inside.

Matt knew that it would take time for Mello to get over the fact that the rankings didn't matter anymore, that he didn't need to compete with Near any more. Matt just hoped that it didn't take too long.

As Matt had expected, the pickings were slim, and when it had appeared that Mello might just suffer without breakfast Matt found a chocolate chip muffin and handed it to the blond, who smiled gratefully.

It wasn't the best of things, but it was food. And it had chocolate in it which would ensure that it was devoured. As they sat, Matt spotted Near sitting at his usual spot, though he was stacking what appeared to be coffee creamers.

Near didn't generally eat breakfast on the weekends, for whatever reason, and yet he still made an appearance. It was as though he were on an internal schedule and hadn't thought to change it for those days.

Matt picked unenthusiastically at his own food, only taking bites when Mello was watching him. He could be such a hypocrite at times... but at least he could admit it. He just wasn't all that hungry for some reason, as he could usually eat what was currently on his plate.

He hoped he wasn't' getting sick...

"Hey Matt! We need to talk." Matt sighed heavily at the, sadly, all too familiar voice.

"Have you solved the case yet?" he questioned the brown haired girl. She shook her head shyly, her pigtails swishing back and forth.

"Then there is nothing to talk about." he told her. She blushed and opened her mouth to say something more when children began to leave their seats to dispose of their food. Matt grinned despite himself. Saved by the end of breakfast... or perhaps not as it was the weekend.

Mello seemed to get the hint and they quickly left while Linda was distracted. Again, it wasn't that she wasn't nice and all, but she was annoying. And Matt just didn't want to deal with her unless he had to.

That, and she was always... clingy with him, which was why he stayed away. He didn't understand it.

Someone called out his name, and as Mello was right next to him it could have only been Linda. He swore and pulled Mello into an empty classroom with him and shut the door. Mello, as Matt could tell, was fighting back laughter.

"You wouldn't be laughing if she was like that with you." he grumbled.

"No, because I would have told her off a long time ago, you're too nice at times for someone so anti-social." Mello told him with a grin, but Matt couldn't bring himself to be irritated. Instead, he shrugged.

They waited a in there a while longer before Mello had finally had enough and dragged them from the room, Linda or no Linda. As it turned out, the hallway was deserted and from what Matt could tell, most were outside as it was still sunny out.

Though the thick grey clouds that loomed in the distance promised rain.

They were back in their own room in no time, the only additive being that Near was in there was well. "Good morning Mello, Matt." the albino stated from the middle of the floor, a small army of toys spread about him.

Mello just sighed. "Any particular reason you couldn't wait for us before you let yourself in?"

"It would not be wise for me to be seen waiting outside of your room, project or not." and while Matt could think of a few flaws with that statement, he didn't say anything so as to not make trouble for Near. He suspected that Near just hadn't wanted to wait.

And with the amount of toys that scattered their floor, he could see why.

"Though I suppose for the sake of cover we should complete our project." Near told Mello, as Matt knew he had no part in that conversation. He watched as Mello's face drained of color for a moment.

"You solved it already?" he asked, voices slightly chipped. Near for once, shook his head. "I felt it would be best to simply work on it together, as there are far greater concerns at the moment. At any rate, results can easily be fabricated by the two of us."

Matt was surprised, as Mello smiled. Granted it was the one that spoke of trouble, a devious smirk, but it had been directed at what Near suggested rather than at Near. It was definitely a good sign.

Matt left the two of them at it and went to his games. If he were needed they would let him know. But he doubted it if they were doing the project. Matt found that it was oddly soothing to have the soft sounds of their voices in the background as he played, so when he could no longer hear them, he paused his game and looked up.

His eyes widened slightly at the sight that greeted him. Mello and Near had stopped working and were engaged in a silent battle using Near's toys. He honestly hadn't expected Mello to be coerced into something like that so soon, and with so little of a fuss that it hadn't alerted him.

Matt smiled slightly despite the familiar pang of loneliness stung at him. Though he knew there was nothing to worry about.

He refused to get ridiculous about all of this, and knew that Mello wouldn't desert him for Near. If anything, Near would become a friend to both of them out of this. He forced his eyes away from the scene and back to his neglected game; though by now he was unable to fully concentrate on it. Matt eventually conceded that he just wouldn't be able to continue on it any longer and shut the play station off.

He sighed. It was probably time that he actually 'looked' at the packet for the project and got to work on the case. Though he was rather bored with the entire thing. But he had to have something ready for Linda, as even should Mello or Near allow him to see the results of their own session, he wanted to have done it on his own.

Matt supposed that it was only the slight spark of competition, for what though he couldn't say, that was left in him.

The case was about a series of murders that had been committed years before; long enough that most if not all of the current Wammys children wouldn't have been born or too young to have been there.

They had been committed in their current country, England, though in a different area, more to the east then they were. He supposed he could see how it had attracted L's attention, being in the same country as he was, and with the victim toll looming nearly the twenties.

It was back before L was L.

There seemed to be no pattern; victims of all age, race and gender; and there were never any clues left at the scene of were the body was found. It had the police befuddled. And the rest of the world wondering if it would spread to them. It had been the talk of all the newspapers. It was one of the first cases that L had taken as L.

As Matt read on, the more interested he became, and he realized that it was probably part of the reason Mello and Near had stopped. They hadn't wanted to get sucked back into everything, especially the rivalry.

Matt had never really had that problem so he read on, finishing all of the material given; having known that the moment he stopped he would have been tempted to not finish it.

"Matt, are you done yet? I've been watching you read that for hours!" Mello's voice broke through his thoughts. He blinked and his surroundings came back to him. He turned his attention to Mello, who had a hand on his hip and was glaring at him, and to Near, who sat on the floor messing with his hair.

Had it really been hours?

"Yes it has!" Mello growled. "At first it was kind of amusing, since I never ever caught you studying, but now it's just annoying." the blond had narrowed his eyes and Matt thought that Near appeared just the slightest bit amused.

He knew he hadn't spoken aloud, so he must have let something in his expression slip. But he didn't really mind. He yawned and stretched. "I knew that if I stopped in the middle I wouldn't finish it."

Mello's anger seeped away in an instant and he snorted in amusement and Near allowed the tiniest of smiles. But it was true, had always been true; he didn't like to study and his attention always strayed to more important things. Like games or hacking. Or lately, to Mello.

"Only you Matt." Mello muttered in what Matt would call, a fond voice.

"Did the two of you finish reading it?" Matt questioned as he stood, letting the papers fall from his lap.

"We each read half and recapped. We didn't start the actual project yet though..." Mello trailed off. Matt knew that he wanted to get the project over and done with and had a feeling Near only wanted to draw it out as an excuse to hang around the room more.

He was surprised at how blind Mello was being about the entire situation. Then again, Near was sort of hard to read if you weren't actually looking for it.

"It doesn't really matter when it gets done, does it?" he questioned with a smile to which Mello shrugged. "I suppose not." he replied, though clearly unhappy with the answer.

"I shall be here again after dinner." Near stated before he got up, the conversation seemingly complete to him, and left the room.

"He damn well better be back!" Mello snarled. "He left all of his damn toys here!" the blond kicked a robot and watched in satisfaction as it skidded across the room. Matt sighed and shook his head.

"Let's just go eat dinner." he told Mello. He knew the only reason Near would have left is if it were actually almost dinner.

"Yeah... alright. That sounds good." Mello nodded to him and in a surprise movement grabbed his hand and dragged him from the room. Matt couldn't help the heat that rose to his face, but couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why.

He grinned despite it all.

Mello was back, and that was all that mattered.

-End Enough-

AN: Yes, a slow chapter, but it wont stay that way for long :P

I will say this only once... this will NOT end up as Choices did. Though as to what EXACTLY I mean by that... you will just have to read to find out. XD