Golden

The blank white puzzle piece fell noiselessly to the polished marble floor as the owner of said piece came to an alarming and marvelously obvious realization.  

Peculiar was one of many, many words that could be used to describe the boy that sat in the middle of the room.  A mop of snow white hair matched his silk garments to perfection along with a half completed puzzle filled with blank white pieces as to which no particular pattern could be distinguished.  Near was one of many orphans currently living in the daunting, isolated “Whammy’s House.”  The purpose of this orphanage was to prepare intelligent, homeless children to strive and achieve a certain goal.  Calm, controlled, reclusive and frighteningly brilliant, Near was the first child in line to become the successor of the infamous detective mostly referred to as “L.”  Yet, right now clues of various cases weren’t floating through the vast cavities of Near’s mind.  Nor were mathematical formulas or titles of old leather bound books.  Six simple words…

One hand was twirling a strand of hair at an alarming pace while the other hung limply at his side while he contemplated the numerous possibilities and outcomes of his startling theory.  As Near whittled them down to the most likely option, a small smile appeared on his usually blank face. Can loathing be confused with love?  As quickly as it came, the rare glow of happiness vanished, replaced by a sigh of disbelief.  “It cannot be helped. I must find out what is happening to me and if he feels the same,” Near spoke quietly to himself in his unemotional voice as he cleared away his toys into a neat pile.

Suddenly two loud voices echoed off the hallways as the door to the common room nearly flew off its hinges due to the force of which it was flung open.

“But Mello!  You promised me, you big idio-“

“GODS!  I know Matt!  Just go to your room, I’ll be there in like, two minutes.  I just gotta kick Near’s sorry little ass for beating me on that test yesterday.”

A thoroughly disgruntled teen with flaming red hair, large orange goggles wrapped around his neck, a striped shirt and a tan vest stomped away as the door was slammed rudely in his face.

That poor door has suffered enough… Near thought with an inward smile.

As Mello started to turn towards him, Near began to absorb every last detail he could for about the sixth time that day.  Mello was also one to be described as peculiar.  Clad in loose black clothes which brought out the stunning splash of blond hair and the dazzling blue of his cold, yet soft eyes.  Mello was known as many things within the Whammy House such as the best sports player, or quite the bully at times.  But the most important thing of all -- leastways to Mello – was that he was second in the rankings to become L’s successor…right behind Near himself.  It was this fact that drove Mello absolutely crazy.  No matter how hard he studied or the amount of tedious work he put through, Near would almost always beat him.  It was times like this when Mello would seek out Near and try to teach him a lesson.  This was impossible, obviously as you cannot push or shove the intelligence out of someone.  Yet someday Mello could get carried away as unlikely as it seems, and that would not work out in Near’s favour.  So he concurred that the best thing to do was avoid Mello at all costs.  Over the past couple of months however, Near found that accomplishing this task was becoming harder to do with each passing week.  As to why…well he was about to find out.

So today Near quelled his minor fear.

“HEY YO-“

“Mello.”

An astonished Mello was abruptly cut off from his sentence by the strength and finality of Near’s quiet voice.  But Mello’s jaw really dropped open when Near grabbed his wrist and forced him to kneel beside the pale boy on the floor.  Still keeping a firm grip on Mello, Near first began to twirl a strand of hair, then he began to speak.

“Mello…I’m not quite sure how to explain this.” He sighed in frustration.  So close…but how to proceed?  “Near not being able to explain something?  That’s a first in my books!”  Mello sneered as he spoke; a small victory had been accomplished.

“Enough of this.”  Near’s quiet voice escalated in volume.  “If you won’t listen to me then perhaps I’ll show you.”

Gloating turned into curiosity as Near’s words piqued Mello’s interest.  He couldn’t help but lean forward slightly as to see what Near could possibly do.  This gave Near exactly the advantage he needed.  Taking a deep breath, he turned towards Mello.  Deep blue orbs met inky black pools for what seemed like an eternity before Near acted.  Quickly, he reached for Mello’s face with both hands, balancing himself on his knees bringing their faces close.

At the last second before contact, Mello jerked away with such force, he fell backwards onto the hard floor.

“WHAT THE HELL, NEAR!”  Near had moved into a crouch, eyes staring silently at the ground, ears pricked and waiting.  After a while Mello seemed to calm down somewhat.  He tentatively reached out his hand and placed it on Near’s shoulder.  “Hey…you of all people should know by now that I always make the first move!”

Near looked up with a mischievous smile on his face.  “Ah…so he admits it.”

An immediate reaction came over Mello’s serene features.  Anger, hate and hurt returned once again to fill every line of his face.  Hands curled into fists, he stood up ever so slowly, as if to give Near an idea of just how he was feeling.  “I hate you Near.”  The loathing was apparent in his voice, but Near noted that the anger didn’t quite reach his eyes.  

With that final word Mello turned and walked calmly out the door.  Near watched him go with a heavy feeling of guilt.  A typical response, one that Near expected.  But in this case, for him…typical was heartbreaking.

~*~

From his sneaky yet uncomfortable hiding place, Matt watched his friend walk out the door and sighed heavily.  Yanking himself from the bushes, breaking off several limbs and small branches, he cursed under his breath and closed his game console with more force than usual.  “Damn.  No company for me tonight…”  That said Matt sauntered off to find a secluded place in which to properly lose himself once more in the world of Pokémon: Pearl.

~*~

It was only after he was sure the door was securely closed that Mello broke into a run.   Too many thoughts were swirling through his head to notice if he was knocking into anyone and even if he was, he didn’t care.  The second he had barricaded himself in his room, Mello did something he rarely ever did: he broke down completely.  

He fell onto his bed, clutching his head in mental agony.  He had been used…again!  It was just a stupid test!  Which he had failed miserably, no doubt.  …Or had he?  “NO!”  Mello shook his head frantically like a dog that had just been swimming.  What was happening to him?  Mello became increasingly bewildered as one single thought began to surface, to break away from the deadly whirlpool.  Near…Near…Near…NEAR!   “What the hell is going on?!  What did that…freak do to me?!”  Mello’s cries of desperation turned into whispers of confusion as his hands moved slowly down from his head to his heart.  “What are these feelings?”

Mello had no idea how long he sat there thinking, hoping, questioning… accepting?  A gentle knock on his door immediately broke his deep concentration and an almost feral snarl broke through his lips.  “GO AWAY!”  A few seconds past and the door opened anyway.  Near closed the door quietly and looked across the room at Mello, who was staring daggers in his direction.  

“I…I know how to put it into words.”  Near broke eye contact and chose to stare at the ground instead.  “It started a while ago.  The feelings grew larger and more powerful until…  Near paused, suddenly becoming more determined.  “I can’t seem to stay away from you Mello.”  Always so blunt and honest was Near.  But Mello continued to frown as he began to grasp the magnitude of his feelings.  What Near said started to feel awfully familiar.  Right now, he decided all he needed was comfort and consolation from this dreadful situation.  As if Near could read his mind, the young boy walked over to where Mello sat and lowered himself to sit on the bed.  Near gasped inwardly as he took in Mello’s appearance.  The usually strong, fearless orphan was now shaking and almost gasping for breath with his hands clenched tightly at his sides.  Near did the only thing he could think of.  

Gently he placed his hands on Mello’s shoulders and turned his body so that he was facing Near.  A warm smile appeared on Near’s lips as he leaned forward and took Mello into a tight embrace, softly stroking his hair as if to say: don’t worry, someone is here for you.  Mello stiffened at the sudden contact.  No one had ever touched him like this!  Not even Matt!  But the constant, rhythmic motion of Near’s hand on the back of his head soothed him.  Almost too much so.  Despite his original discomfort, Mello felt all of his exhaustion and worry melting away and he entered a state of peacefulness as he wrapped his arms around Near’s back in a return gesture.  

Near sighed in contentment as the desired effect took place.   Happiness, bliss, calm and peace all dissolved into one euphoric emotion.  Was this the true definition of perfection?

~*~
So let me think of how to word it…
Is it too soon to say perfect?
~*~

On a whim, Mello broke the contact and placed a hand on Near’s cheek.  Time to take this a tad further…  Mello couldn’t help it.  He needed to get the last “word,” it was his nature!  Lips met lips as instinct and improvisation took over mere cautiousness.  Begging silently for acceptance, Near left everything to Mello, for he was two years older, he must certainly know more about this subject than Near did.  Never had Mello felt such passion and longing for something as simple as this.  There could be no other explanation for this startling chain of feelings. Love. How else could it possibly be described?  Albeit, childish and unknown, but love all the same.    He knew as soon as the kiss started that Near would be the death of him somehow, a drug he couldn’t possibly live without.

~*~
Tell me once again…
That you’ll love me to the death…
~*~

Near on the other hand was doing all that he could to keep up with Mello’s heated actions.  But then again, he was a pretty fast learner, being number one in Whammy’s House.  Lack of oxygen eventually forced them to separate, both panting, staring into each others eyes.  Near began to wonder just how much precious time they would have together.  Destiny forced them to be rivals after all.  Bearing this thought in mind, Near squeaked in surprise to find warm streaks of water running down his cheeks uncontrollably.  Tears?

~*~
And should I die
You swear that you will come for me.
~*~  

Mello stared in shock at the boy sitting beside him.  Where was the unemotional, apathetic Near he had always known and hated?  Mello surprised even himself as he wrapped his arms around Near’s shaking shoulders and lowered his head so he could whisper into the boy’s ear.  “I promise…that I’ll never let you go.  Trust me.”  Near gave a shuddering gasp as his heart swelled with happiness and fear.  Happiness because of the kind words Mello had just given him, fear because he knew it couldn’t possibly be true.  A day must always come for even the best of lovers to separate.  But the troublesome thought slipped his wavering mind, he felt as if his entire being was fading, being consumed by Mello’s presence.  

~*~
As I fade away…
You reach out your arms.
~*~

The harsh sound of the bell outside signified that it was time for lights out and all the children to return to their rooms for bed.  Neither Mello or Near moved, too lost in each others embrace to care.  “Mello?”  Near’s eyes began to droop as sleep started to overtake him.  “Mmmm?”  Mello was also succumbing to the darkness, against his will.  “Can…can I sleep here with you tonight?”  As if to authenticate this statement, a small yawn escaped his lips.  “Yeah, of course.  Come on.”  Mello smiled serenely as the pair lay down on the bed, not bothering to cover themselves with the sheets.  Mello’s promise would be kept at least for tonight.  For the last thing on his mind was to let go of Near and risk losing this wonderful state of bliss.

~*~
Oh please don’t let me…
Please don’t let me go!
Oh please don’t let me…
Please don’t let me go!
~*~

Near searched through the endless corridors of his brilliant mind for something…anything that could describe this beautiful scenario. Mello poured over the extravagant capacity of his vocabulary for the perfect words to describe this wonderful paradise.  Near clasped Mello’s hand a little bit tighter as he alighted upon the faultless saying…Mello leaned forward slightly and kissed Near’s forehead, a final goodnight.  He smiled at his impeccable saying…

Silence Is Golden.

~*~
Does his deafening silence mean nothing to no- one but me?
~*~