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“Mello, I have something for you!” Matt said happily as she walked into their shared room. Her hands were behind her back and a bright smile was on his face. Mello looked up, his now blind eye looking off into the distance while his other focused in on Matt’s figure. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for the other to continue, “Oh yes! So, do you know what today is?” Mello shook his head and Matt’s grin widened. “It's Valentine’s Day!” That stirred speech into Mello’s throat. “We aren’t dating.” Matt faltered and sighed, walking over to her bed. “I know that but I can still give you gifts if I want.”
“You aren’t going to win me over with some che-“ Mello stopped as he stared at the box of chocolates in Matt’s hands. The highest quality chocolate they could get here in London. And since it was London, it was some fine chocolate. Without skipping a beat Mello seized the chocolate and ripped the packaging off. “I went out with Roger- I'm not allowed out unsupervised anymore—and found them for you. Costed a hefty ton too, thankfully Roger bought them and not me!” Mello nodded through his munching.
He tasted so many flavors at once, it was his favorite thing about chocolates. Cherries and strawberries with white chocolate, or maybe rich, dark chocolate with almond flakes and coconut. Matt watched happily as Mello closed his eyes and tried to savor the taste despite his quick hands shoving more in his mouth. She smiled, ‘One down,’ she thought.
Mello was easy to buy for, Near however was a different story. They didn’t accept gifts unless explicitly necessary. After leaving Mello with his chocolates, Matt went off to see if she could find L, Near. She stumbled across Ava and decided to ask her. “Hey A, have you seen Near around?” She turned to the taller and thought for a bit. “Not that Im aware of, try to look for Roger.” Thanking A, Matt went off to Roger’s office. Lo and behold, there was Near.
“Near! I’ve bee,-“ Near put a hand up, silencing her. They were reading something. A novel, Matt panicked silently, she had bought them a book, and it looked painfully similar to the one they were reading right now.” She sat down on the ground next to them and waved to get their attention. They looked up.
I have something for you. She signed. Near nodded and replied, Ok. Matt sat for a minute before whispering, “Can I speak?” Near shook their head, and Matt cursed. Moving his hands again she tried, Today Valentine’s Day, Gift for you. Near stared. You signed it wrong. They made two thumbs up at their chest, at the heart. They moved their thumbs up and down before unballing their fists and doing the same motion but with their whole hand. Then they finger spelt, Valentine’s Day. Matt made a small ‘Oh’ and nodded. She repeated the motion, crudely, making Near huff lightly.
They placed their hand out, waiting. Matt blinked before pulling out the book from her jacket. “I didn’t really know what to get you so I just got you a book.” She whispered, sadly shrugging couldn’t keep quiet long. Near just nodded, accepting his voice as part of their silence.
Near inspected the cover and giggled. Matt panicked again, Near picked up the book the the ground and smiled. Their smile was small but it was there, “Chronicle order.” They said softly, voice hoarse. Matt blinked, she had gotten them volume one and they were reading volume three. “Did you just start reading it out of order?” They nodded, placing a bookmark in the book before opening the other and starting to read it instead. Matt just watched them, grinning.
She got up and waved goodbye to Near’s figure on the ground but they didn’t respond. She didn’t care and happily skipped back to her room with Mello. Today was good.