Chapter Text
Mello pushes the heavy wooden chair back with as much force as he can muster before he collapses onto its uncomfortable frame. He lets out a painful grunt as he knocks his head back and readjusts the ice pack to rest against his swollen cheek. The massive bookcase looms in front of him and he can’t help but let out another frustrated snarl as he waits for Roger to arrive.
Restless, he spares a glance down at his tattered, grass-stained sneakers and takes pleasure in wiping the remaining mud onto the ugly ornate rug. Mello slides down the chair until he can slip his shoes beneath the edge of the expensive carpeting, then pushes back until the front two legs of the chair raise a few inches above the ground. He lets his head flop back again and glares up at the gilded chandelier as he debates the consequences of leaving before the old man has a chance to chew him out.
Before he can attempt his grand escape, the heavy door creaks open only to forcibly shut a second later.
“What on earth are you doing? Sit up straight!” Roger snaps at him as he makes his way across the room.
Mello ignores him and leans back even further out of spite. He hears the old man huff angrily as he settles into the large, cushioned chair on the other side of the desk.
“You broke Javier's nose and bruised two of his ribs. What have you got to say for yourself?”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to break his jaw and shut the dumb fucker up for good,” Mello grumbles, then leans forward to end his sentence with a loud thud as the chair legs hit the carpet.
He tilts his chin until he’s able to sneer at the old man’s furrowed expression. His words do little to vex him, and Mello can’t help but grit his teeth as Roger’s impassive eyes stare at him over the rims of his glasses.
“That’s all you have to say?” He asks, voice taking on an edge that implies this is his last chance to amend his previous statement.
“Fuck you,” he hisses, unable to quell the rage burning within him.
“Very well,” Roger says as he leans back to grab for his memo pad. “Then I suppose you won’t mind if I pass the message on to L.”
Mello feels his sneer double at the mention of L’s name. He ignores the stab of anxiety that pierces his gut at the mere thought of losing his ranking over this incident, and instead leans backward to kick his muddy feet into the side of Roger’s desk.
“Tell me, Roger,” he all but spits out. “When was the last time you actually spoke with L?”
The old man remains silent, but Mello doesn’t miss the way his pen falters before he resumes furiously scribbling down his note.
“That is none of your concern. Honestly, Mello, I don’t understand how someone as bright as you can be so rash. You don’t see Near-“
“That’s because the little prick has never had to fight for anything in his entire goddamn life,” he snarls, kicking at the desk for good measure.
He’s ignored yet again as Roger continues to dot his i’s and cross his t’s.
“I bet L doesn’t even read most of the bullshit reports you send him,” Mello bites out, desperate to get a reaction out of the old man. “Why would he, given how much of a liar you are.”
After a few seconds, Roger slams his fountain pen down against the hardwood desk and raises his head to meet Mello’s gaze.
“Mello, I think we both know that the only liar in this room is you.”
“Takes one to know one,” Mello says as he removes his feet from the desk so he can lean in closer. “I may bend the truth now and then, but you’ll lie through your teeth to save your fucking pride.”
“Is that so? And what exactly have I lied about, pray tell?”
Mello stands until he’s flush against the desk, then bends down to dig his nails into the varnished surface.
“You lied about B,” he states evenly, gaining more confidence as he notices the way Roger’s lips wrinkle into a grimace. “He never once assisted L with his cases, did he? Every time I asked you where he was, you didn’t have a fucking clue.”
“Mello-“
“Don’t waste your breath. It’s not like I’m ever going to believe another word that comes out of your mouth-”
“Fine. Think whatever you’d like. Lord knows there’s no use in arguing with you when you’re this deranged.”
Mello blinks at him, momentarily stunned by such a blunt dismissal. It doesn’t take long for the rage to bubble up the surface again, and before Mello knows it, he leans in closer and spits a wad of bloody saliva directly into Roger’s face.
An eerie stillness falls over the room as the weight of reality settles in, and in this moment, Mello feels as if he’s invincible. Time feels slow as he watches Roger sputter in surprise and scramble for his handkerchief, and Mello’s unable to quell the nervous bubble of laughter that passes through his lips.
The sound causes Roger to glare up at him and it’s enough to snap Mello out of his trance. His feet move on their own accord, and before he knows it he’s knocking the chair out of his way and leaping over the folded edge of the rug. He doesn’t dare to look behind him as he races to the door and hastily grabs for…
…the brass knob turns with a sad little wheeze as Mello opens the door and pokes his head through the threshold. He isn’t surprised to find Roger hunched over a stack of papers and steps inside when the old man waves him in. Another nauseous wave of bitter nostalgia washes over him as he makes his way across a room that hasn’t changed in the past nine years.
“You certainly took your time,” Roger mutters the moment he takes a seat.
“Roger, enough with the needless reprimanding. I’m an adult for Christ’s sake.”
The old man’s head snaps up, but Mello raises his hand with an impatient wave before he can scold him again.
“What is it that you wanted to discuss? Matt and I have to catch a flight soon,” he lies, determined to keep their conversation as short as possible.
“Well, I suppose I will start with an apology,” the old man mutters, almost to himself. “I am sorry that you had to discover…the crypt under those circumstances. And I regret how we ended things. I have to admit I was taken aback by your choice of wording.”
Mello squints at him as his mind races to figure out which part of the conversation he was referring to.
“Which words?”
“When you said I was full of- you know what. And that I didn’t care.”
It takes every ounce of his self-control not to laugh at Roger’s aversion to swearing.
“Well, I didn’t mean to offend you, but I won’t take it back.”
“No, I don’t expect you to. The reason I was so taken aback is that, well, Beyond said something very similar to me years ago. Right after A had passed.”
Mello tenses, but instead of blurting out, you should have listened to him, he shakes his head and looks out the window with a melancholic frown.
“They were close, weren’t they? A and B?”
“They were,” Roger confirms with heartbreaking grimness.
Mello shakes his head as he mulls over the tragic reality of their fates. After a moment, Roger clears his throat and resumes his previous sentiment.
“What I’m trying to get at is…I acknowledge that I wasn’t the most comforting at times. Perhaps I should have done things differently, but I want you to know that I have always cared about you children. Every child that has lived here for that matter. That being said…” Roger trails off for a few maddening moments as he tries to articulate his thoughts. “I agree with what you said yesterday. I want the current children living here to have a chance at a happier future.”
Mello’s momentarily taken aback and blinks in surprise as he tries to recall a single time in which Roger ever agreed with him.
“You can start by getting rid of the successorship program.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Get rid of the fucking rankings, I mean it,” he snaps, then holds up his hand as Roger shakes his head. “Be honest with me, Roger. Does Near even want to choose a successor?”
For a moment he thinks the old man is going to double down on a blatant lie but after a while, Roger leans forward to rest his elbows on the desk and lets out a sigh of frustration.
“No. The last time I brought it up he informed me that I would no longer be needed as his assistant.”
Mello throws his hands up in the air in exasperation, barely containing a laugh.
“Well, there’s your answer! You can’t possibly need more convincing than that.”
“Yes, between you, Near, and Linda, I’ve certainly had an earful. However, what the three of you fail to realize is that shutting down the successor program will do nothing but ensure the closure of Wammy’s House.”
“How so?”
“Watari worked his entire life to establish a network of investors and politicians who were dedicated to his mission. Even after his untimely death, they remain loyal to L and the idea that this institution will continue to provide successors of similar caliber.”
“So we really are just pawns to you, aren’t we?”
“Mello, you don’t understand. It would not be wise to disappoint those who-“
“Lie to them then. I can’t imagine Watari was entirely transparent about the successorship program to begin with. As long as you produce similar results, what’s it matter to them anyway?”
“How exactly do you propose we replicate consistent results without the successorship program?”
“Well…” Mello pauses for a moment as he attempts to articulate his abstract thoughts. “Instead of pitting the children against each other until one of them is rewarded with the L moniker…perhaps they should all share it.”
Roger’s frown furrows impossibly deeper and Mello knows he only has a short amount of time to convince him.
“Take what Near did with the SPK,” he says, desperate to put it into terms Roger will understand. “And what L did with the Japanese police force for that matter. They cultivated a group of skilled professionals and utilized their specific talents when the case proved too complex for L or Near’s personal capabilities. Now imagine what such a task force would be capable of if it was solely comprised of Wammy’s alumni.”
He pauses for a moment to let Roger mull over the implications behind his reasoning.
“How are we to ensure these students are reaching their fullest potential without having some kind of ranking system?”
“You can still assess their work without having them fight for top standings. Honestly, I don’t care how you do it, but the point is, you need to stop putting so much pressure on them. It’s not realistic to mold each student into becoming the next L.”
Another long silence drags on as Mello waits for Roger to give his reply. After a full two minutes pass, he gives up and throws his hands up in exaggeration.
“Roger, it’s not that hard to comprehend, is it? What I’m trying to say is, encourage them to work together. I meant what I said yesterday, I would have died if it hadn't been for Matt, I know it as a fact. There is strength in working together, surely that is something you can understand.”
“Of course, I understand that. This is exactly what I wanted you and Near to do when L died without choosing a successor. But if you’ll recall, you refused to cooperate.”
Mello fights the urge to storm out of the room, knowing if he were to leave now Roger will disregard everything he’s said.
“Did you ever stop to wonder why I loathed the idea of working with Near?”
“You were out of control back then, it’s hard for me to understand the reasoning behind most of your-”
“I refused to work with him because prior to L’s passing, the system you love so dearly had conditioned us to compete against each other from day one,” Mello snaps, emphatically ignoring Roger’s snide comment. “Maybe if we’d been encouraged to work together like I’m suggesting, things would have ended differently. Near and I were able to put aside our differences eventually, but think of how much easier it would have been if we’d been brought up to trust each other from the beginning.”
At last, a look of realization passes over Roger’s tired face as he leans back in contemplation.
“Alright, I suppose it’s something to consider… However, I’ll need assistance with reworking the system. Perhaps you could-“
“No. I don’t want to be a part of this in any way. Linda, on the other hand, has been trying to help despite your persistent stubbornness. You may want to start listening to what she has to say before she changes her mind.”
“Very well,” Roger says with a sigh. “Thank you for your input.”
“Is that all you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes.”
Mello feels exhausted and oddly relieved as he stands to leave. As he turns toward the exit, he pauses as another thought crosses his mind.
“One more thing,” he starts, unable to meet Roger’s eye. “Would it kill you to hire a few child psychologists? And I’m not talking about those quacks you have on call that tell you exactly what you want to hear. You need to hire a team that specializes in trauma and behavioral issues common in children and adolescents.”
“I will consider it,” Roger replies as Mello makes his way across the room. “Farewell, Mello.”
Mello pauses at the door to wave his goodbye and breathes out a final sigh of relief as he twists the knob open and steps outside. As he closes the door behind him, he nearly trips over Matt who’s sitting against the wall with his nose buried in his handheld. Mello can’t help but grin at him as he extends his hand to help his fiancé to his feet.
“How bad was it?” Matt asks as he tucks his DS into his pocket.
“Honestly, it could have been worse. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if what I had to say resonates with him.”
“Either way, I’m proud of you for trying.”
Mello flushes at Matt’s sincerity and laces their fingers together as they reach the end of the hall. The redhead moves to turn toward the front entrance, but Mello tugs on his hand and tilts his chin in the opposite direction.
“Walk with me?” He asks, breathing a sigh of relief when Matt nods and flashes him a small smile.
---
Half an hour later, Mello kicks down the rotting wooden doors of the old shed and bends to kneel in front of the large chain. He makes quick work of the lock and tosses it into a dusty corner along with the old skeleton key. Matt’s silent beside him as Mello opens the cellar doors and grabs for his hand. They quickly make their way down the rickety steps, and Mello refuses to stop until they’re standing in front of B’s makeshift columbarium.
He falters at the sight of it despite his initial haste, frowning as he briefly wonders what the hell he’s doing down here again. Before he loses his nerve, Matt lets go of his hand and replaces it with a large, jagged rock.
“What the hell is this for?”
Matt frowns and looks from Mello to the urn.
“Are we not breaking him out?” he asks, gesturing to the glass windowpane shielding the urn.
Mello stares at him for a long time, completely stunned at Matt’s ability to read his mind.
“Don’t tell me you were planning on using your fist. I am so not helping you pick glass out of your hand-“
“How?”
“Huh?”
“How do you always know what I’m thinking? I hadn’t even realized why I wanted to come down here yet.”
“Oh,” Matt shrugs. “I dunno, I just know you.”
Mello’s instantly overcome with the inexplicable need to kiss him, but he refrains and adjusts his grip on the rock.
“Cut it out, your ability to read minds is starting to freak me out.”
Matt shakes his head with a grin, then points at the rock.
“Will you throw it already? This place gives me the creeps.”
“I think B would appreciate it more if I used my hand.”
“B was fuckin batshit.”
“And I’m not?”
“I mean yeah, but in a sexy way. He was just bonkers. Please don’t smash your hand.”
Mello smiles at him before turning to face the glass case and takes a deep breath as he raises the rock above his head. The glass shatters easily as he forcefully slams the jagged stone into the side of the case. He makes quick work of knocking the broken shards to the side before leaning in to remove the urn.
“So what do we do now?” Matt asks, scratching his head as Mello shoves B’s remains under his armpit.
Mello pauses, then starts walking toward the exit.
“I have no fucking idea.”
Once they’re above ground again, Mello takes a few paces away from the abandoned shed, turning when Matt chuckles beside him in disbelief.
“This is not how I was expecting our engagement honeymoon to start; with grave robbing.”
“Frankly, I’m not surprised at all. And this is technically a prison break, not grave robbing.”
“Near’s going to be so disappointed when he finds out we broke the law minutes after he advised us not to,” Matt replies with a snort, and suddenly Mello’s composure breaks as they both burst out laughing.
“Mel, what the hell do we do with him?” Matt manages through giggles as he points to B’s remains. “Like…is it cool to bring an urn on a plane? Or is TSA going to make us chuck him-“
“I don’t want him! No. Absolutely not, we’re not bringing him with us.”
“Oh, thank fuck. I wasn’t sure how I was going to talk you out of that one.”
Mello rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath, then turns toward the playing fields.
“I know somewhere we can take him.”
“Tell me you’re not about to take me into those creepy ass woods.”
Mello shrugs and begins walking.
“We better leave now, if we’re quick we can make it back before sunset.”
“Please, no.”
“It’ll be fun, just like the old days.”
Mello shifts B’s remains to his other arm, then offers his free hand to Matt. He stares at it for a moment, then pouts as he reaches out to clasp their hands together.
“Help.”
“How are you still such a scaredy cat?”
“How are you still so fucking mean to me?”
“You’re into it.”
“Not when you’re leading me to my impending doom.”
“How is a walk through the forest going to lead to that?”
“We’re carrying the ashes of a serial killer, dude. This is how horror movies start, and you know who always dies in those movies? The dipshit couple that sneaks off into the woods to make out. We’re dead for sure.”
“We can make out a little, but first we have to bury B.”
“Please never say that to me ever again.”
They make a quick detour to the tool shed, and Mello’s not surprised to find it just as dilapidated as it had been ten years ago. He nudges the door open with his foot, then yanks the shovel from its post and hands it over to Matt.
“We’re really burying him in broad daylight? What if the cameras clock us?”
Mello sighs as he shuts the door and tucks the urn under his arm again.
“I’d like to see Roger try to fucking stop me.”
---
It doesn’t take long for Mello to spy the small opening through a patch of warped branches, and he doesn’t waste another second as crouches to shoulder his way into the hidden alcove. Matt breathes out in surprise behind him as they breach the thicket, and Mello gives him a moment to take in the calm beauty of the small clearing.
The dense patch of dirt B had camped on all those years ago is now completely covered in fresh, dewy grass peppered with the occasional wildflower. Subconsciously, Mello wanders over to the place where he once sat listening in horror as B confided in him about his forced hospitalization. He kneels for a moment and touches the soft grass where the fire had burned, then scans the trees across from him until he finds the right one.
Matt joins him at the base of the tree, and Mello grasps his hand as he places the urn against a gnarled root. He looks over just as Matt slips his goggles off and leans forward to trace the carving.
A + B
“Were they…” Matt trails off and turns to meet Mello’s gaze with a solemn frown.
Do you miss him?
Of course, I fucking miss him. What kind of a question is that?
“I have no idea. B never talked about him. Well, he did once, I suppose...”
“He brought you here?”
“Yeah, it was the last time I saw him before he ran away to America.”
“Jesus- seriously?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Mello snaps, then immediately feels guilty. “At least…not right now.”
Matt squeezes his hand and nods.
“When you’re ready.”
Mello smiles at him and squeezes back before turning for the shovel.
Even though Matt insists on doing it for him, Mello starts digging a hole a few feet in front of the tree. Ten minutes later, he chucks the shovel to the side and kneels to reach for the urn. Matt comes to stand by his side again, head bowed as Mello carefully places B’s remains into the soft earth. The blonde stands slowly, grasping a fist full of dirt in one hand, and clutching his rosary with the other.
“I’m sorry for what they did to you,” Mello murmurs as he stares mournfully at the makeshift grave. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you, but I hope you’ll finally be at peace out here…”
Matt puts an arm around his shoulder as Mello tosses his handful of dirt into the hole. They have a brief moment of silence, and Matt remains politely still as Mello’s lips move to utter a silent prayer. Another minute ticks by before Mello decides he’s had enough and bends for the shovel. This time, he lets Matt take it out of his hands and steps back as the redhead makes quick work of the small pile of dirt.
A gentle breeze drifts through the thin branches and Mello tilts his head up to catch a glimpse of the vibrant leaves dancing in the faded sunlight. Once Matt’s finished tamping down the last of the soil, Mello closes his eyes and listens to the gentle sounds of the surrounding forest. As he blinks his eyes open, he catches a glimpse of movement along the treeline and turns just in time to see a pair of robins leaping from branch to branch. He’s momentarily captivated as he walks a few paces to follow them; content to watch them flit about as they weave through the gnarled branches and shaking leaves. At last, the pair of birds take a final dive across the clearing before they land gracefully atop the large oak tree Matt’s standing under. Mello smiles to himself as they nestle together in their nest, cooing gently as they settle in for the evening.
---
Mello grins as he watches Matt swing his arm out to grasp at the branch above his head, dark auburn locks fanning out in every direction as he propels himself higher up the tree. Mello shimmies further down the sturdy limb as his friend gets his bearings and lowers himself to slip into the empty space beside him. Matt steadies himself against the trunk before he hastily wraps an arm around Mello’s shoulders and loops his legs around the branch below them.
Mello turns to say something but flushes when the tip of his nose brushes against his friend’s freckled cheek. They both giggle awkwardly at their closeness, but Matt doesn’t pull away as they look out onto the vast sea of green in front of them.
“How’d you know I’d be up here?”
He feels Matt shrug against him before he raises his hand to trace their initials carved into the branch above his head.
“I dunno, I guess I just know you. Besides, we have the same hiding places.”
“Who says I’m hiding?” Mello grumbles.
“I mean…I heard that you fought Javier earlier. I figured you wanted to get away from everyone...”
Mello scowls at the mention of the older boy’s name and crosses his arms over his chest protectively. Before he can think of something to say to defend his actions, he feels warm fingers brush just beneath his swollen cheek.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“How much trouble are you in?”
“I don’t know, I…didn’t stick around long enough to find out.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t think you should get in trouble anyway. In fact, you deserve a medal for knocking some sense into that prick.”
Usually, a comment like that never failed to cheer Mello up in some capacity, but it does little to ease his growing disdain as he glares at the orphanage’s distant outline. Matt must sense his sour mood because he remains carefully silent as they gaze into the retreating sunset. As the sun plunges further below the treeline, Mello feels his dread increase at the idea of having to return to the House.
“It’ll be dark soon,” Matt murmurs anxiously. “Maybe we should head back…”
“You go ahead, I don’t want to.”
“Oh, well I guess we can stay a little longer-“
“I don’t want to go back. Ever.”
Mello can sense Matt’s surprise and can’t help but feel a little guilty for making him worry. Regardless, he sets his jaw and refuses to look up at his best friend’s concerned face. A heavy silence falls between them and Mello’s powerless to stop the image of B’s miserable face from popping into his mind. The longer he thinks back to their final conversation, the more he feels himself succumbing to the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume him.
“Wanna get out of here?”
Mello’s immediately broken from his solemn trance and hastily turns to face his friend with a questioning look. Before he gets a chance to reply, Matt grins at him and turns to loop his legs onto the branch behind them. Mello watches as the brunette slips down the tree until he’s dangling a few feet above the opposite side of the fence. Matt carefully wedges his foot against the oak’s thick trunk before he reaches out to beckon for Mello to follow him.
Mello blinks down for a moment, entirely overcome by the sheer relief of not having to return to the House just yet. He feels his grin return the longer he stares at his dopey friend swinging through dusk’s heavy shadows and it isn’t long before he maneuvers his way through…
…The dense shrubbery clears, and Mello nearly breathes out a sigh of relief when he sees the outline of the iron fence in the distance. He all but drags Matt the rest of the way through the forest, almost giddy with relief as he realizes their time at the orphanage is coming to an end.
At last, they breach the edge of the forest and Mello turns to face his fiancé, laughing breathlessly as Matt leans against the fence to catch his breath. With a final exaggerated wheeze, the redhead pushes away from the iron bars and stumbles forward until he’s able to grab both of Mello’s hands.
“Where to?” he asks as he begins walking backward to follow the fence’s perimeter.
Mello smiles as he lets Matt guide him further away from the orphanage’s looming exterior. Before he can come up with an answer, the redhead yelps as he trips over a fallen branch and immediately loses his balance. Hands still clasped, Mello cackles as the sudden momentum pulls him down, and he doesn’t bother bracing himself as he lands on top of Matt with another shriek of laughter.
“Here’s fine,” Mello teases, then uses the grip he has on Matt’s hands to pin him further into the soft grass.
Matt huffs out a small laugh at his clumsiness, and Mello’s momentarily captivated at how lovely he looks splayed out against the green grass. Unable to help himself, Mello leans down to capture his lips in a quick, passionate kiss. When they part, he bows his head to rest against Matt’s tousled fringe and lets out another uninhibited laugh upon seeing the redhead’s dazed expression.
Time seems to slow the longer they lay in the dwindling sunlight, but neither of them make a move to get up just yet. The faint sounds of children laughing and shrieking can be heard in the distance, and it’s not long before church bells ring out across the playing fields to signal the day’s end. A gentle breeze blows through the clearing, surrounding them with the familiar scents of the neighboring undergrowth. The familiarity of it all sends a pleasant shiver down Mello’s spine, and he’s once again overwhelmed by the intense love he feels for the man beneath him.
He slots their lips together in another heated kiss, letting the blissful moment last a little while longer. Mello ends the kiss with another quick peck before finally rising to help Matt to his feet. Together, they retreat further away from their old childhood homestead, leaving the heaviness and heartache behind with each step they take.