Chapter Text
"L hadn't decided yet."
You could hear a pin drop in the room drop as both boys froze. They glanced at each other, sizing the other up in an attempt to come to an agreement. After moments of nothing but silence, Roger, sitting at his desk looking worn down and irritated, snapped a pencil in half breaking apart any discussion that had been happening during that time.
A beat later a musing hum arose from the floor, the all to familiar sound freezing Mello's thought process.
"We could always work together," Near suggested from the floor just a bit too high to fit the memory Mello had been reliving automatically snapping him out of it.
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The albino cringed at the blond's reaction well aware of what Mello was thinking about. After all, he was avoiding mirrors for the same reason. He didn't regret his suggestion and he didn't particularly regret making the blond relive the memory but he did regret the fact that the person he so much resembled and emulated wasn't there with them and never would be. It was difficult being the last living remnants of who L was and what he looked like. It was difficult for everyone else too but especially Mello who was one of three people to ever get to know and be close to ...him.
By the time Near drew himself out of his thoughts, Mello was gone and had taken Matt - the only person besides Mello who Near was close to - with him. And with the departure of the two people he grew up with: Near was finally and truly alone.
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Mello couldn't take it anymore. For weeks he'd been avoiding Near and couldn't bare to look at him. Everytime he caught a glimpse of the boy all he could see was the ghost of his pseudo-older brother. The very same brother that the last words Mello ever said to him were, "If you choose to leave right now, I hope you never come back."
All L had done was smile and said, "I don't plan to," then shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked away.
At the time, all Mello had thought about it was that L was being spiteful as per usual. Now? Mello didn't have many regrets in life but that was his biggest. So, looking down at Near, he knew he couldn't do it....couldn't work with Near. The boy was too much of a reminder. Even now, he was stuck in thought just like L would've been.
Knowing Near wouldn't hear what he was saying, he spat at Roger, "We both know who it would've been. Who am I to stand in the way of a dead man's wishes? I'm leaving. But mark my words: I WILL catch Kira and avenge L," he then stalked over to the door before turning back, "Tell Near I said goodbye." With that he exited and slammed the door on his way out.
Storming into his and Near's shared room, Mello took one last look around at the place he called home and said goodbye. Goodbye to Wammy's house, to it's residents, to his home, to Wammy, to Near, and finally to L. He then searched the room from from top to bottom for any pictures or records of his name. He only found two. His true name carved into the desk he and Near shared which he promptly scratched out and a photo taped to the inner top of Near's favorite puzzle which he shredded. Lingering at the puzzle, he impulsively took one piece carefully shoving it into a nearby evidence bag. Mello then dug out his go bag from a hidden panel in the back of the closet and after placing the evidence bag in one of the side pockets, he slung the bag over his shoulder and took off towards Matt's room.
Knocking their sequence, which was just O-P-E-N in morse code, Mello let himself into the room. Matt was sitting back in a desk chair, cigarette in mouth, and computer in front of him running an encrypted software. The red-head gave Mello a bored look before blowing out a puff of smoke.
"It's time." Mello stated from the door, leaving no room for doubt.
Matt sighed, put his cigarette out, and nodded.
"I already erased all records of the both of us existing sans whatever you had left to get rid of in your room." He informed the blond, closing his laptop and tucking it under his shoulder before slinging a poorly hidden duffel bag that had been under his bed over his shoulder.
Mello eyed him for a second before asking, "You gonna say goodbye to anyone?"
Matt shook his head, having already met Mello at the door, and lit another cigarette, "Nah, some things are better left....open ended."
Then without another word, both boys disappeared into the night not to be seen for many years.