[ valentine's :: w/ Mello ]

[quicksavensmoke]

What a drag. The perk to today (or the past weeks) was having a full candy stock and maybe a 'warm fuzzy' or two -- from the latest 'love is everywhere' bullshit commercial.

"Right, if you're willing to spend five dollars on a card.." it was another boring day, and the hearts and pink and lace and over-pushed madness was getting old.

"Ask me what love is--" Matt flicked the channel on mute and shook his head as he lit up (another) cigarette.  "Nicotine." he breathed out the words as the smoke moved around him. Slumping, he grabbed his phone and while draining his cigarette of it's remaining life, started to text probably, the only person in his phone. Saved, anyway.

I'm bored, r u close by? There's chocolate n the deal for u - of course. :)
-- Sent.

Mello. Without a doubt, the only person Matt would want to spend Valentine's day with (or... any day, to be fair), and would be more than happy to show it. No shame here, however it was often translated.

Matt pulled his goggles back down, lit up another cigarette and held it between his lips as he settled back into 'gaming mode' as he waited for the buzz from his phone.

Comments

[blond_with_envy]

"In the deal"? Mello laughed. A genuine response, warmth rising from deep in his chest.
Only Matt could word it so strangely.

"Yeah, right. You're not 'bored'... You planned to ask me from the start." He grinned childishly, still mouthing the words as he typed them. "What's the matter? Minako stand you up?"

He paused for a moment, purposely provoking.
"Well, I don't need any second-hand chocolates."

[quicksavensmoke]

And audible scoff from Matt's end-- not that there was anyone around to hear it. "Pffst... right." He never had a problem with his cigarette dropping out of his mouth before this community got him (nothing had ever made him mouth-gape more than this damn community and it's reactions, and in effect, the things that people said... and that affected him.)

Still, a smirk stayed curled on his face as he sent out another rapid-fire text after shaking off the thought.

"Ur really funny, wow what a dick :( I thought u were my only date 2day? & fine, I'll keep the chocolate but ur still coming, right?"

he paused for a minute before sending the message, waiting one more second before sending, then directly sending another, tongue poking out from the side of his mouth as he typed.

"C U in 20-30! :) xox valentine"

[blond_with_envy]

"Valentine". Mello swallowed. ...Bastard. He'd probably meant every word. Really, meant it with all his heart, the idiot, and nothing was going to dissuade him. ---Not even the lowest of blows.

It didn't make sense to Mello. Why did Matt have to be so... clear?
He was visibly uncomfortable now, shifting a bit, growing tense as he responded.

"Fine. So I'm your 'date'. Whatever. ...It better be more than lunch with the cat."

[quicksavensmoke]

It was an odd relationship the two had created. No one person probably saw the same, the fluid and ever-moving reactions between the two caused for a chemical reaction not often found - not that it mattered to anything, really. At least, it never seemed to bother Matt.

He smiled more, texting again only now it seemed, to raise responses out of the other.
"Date? I'm flattered! I'll send the cat outside 2 have tuna with the alley cats." which was a lie in itself, because matt guarded the cat strangely with his life. However not much else implied (or what could have been) was much of a lie.
-Send.
Followed by, "Ur buying me dinner right? I mean, it's my birthday month after all. And.. u better be on ur way as u respond to this. I'm dying of boredom :("

[blond_with_envy]

Mello sneered.

"God! It's like you're homeless! 'No drinks, it hasn't rained! Spare a paper towel, 'bro', I need to dry my hair! Is there anything left in that box? 'Cause I need a place to sleep!"

He was flush with anger now, fingers heavy against the phone's surface.

"I'll get there when I get there, Matt. Faster still, if I'm not bringing sheets for curtains, or whatever it is you think you need."

[quicksavensmoke]

Hysterical laughter. Matt couldn't take anything seriously anymore-- not from Mello, anyway.

He managed to speak outloud in-between bursts of chuckles; "You mad?" as he typed with half-serious intent.

"O ur bringing curtains? I needed some, Mello#2 got upset and ruined mine :\ could u make sur they aren't actually sheets tho? Thx & <3" He was ready for the punch he would probably have to dodge when he arrived (if he DID arrive, which he knew he would, anyway)

One more quick message included; "Remember bro, it's valentine's! <3 xxo"

[blond_with_envy]

"#2"? There it was again. More talk of a "second Mello". "Heh. Was that all he ruined? At least it wasn't your reputation..."
He was bitter, that much was true.

"It's not like..." He muttered to no one, unconsciously fingering smooth strands of hair. "...We're the same, or anything."

Hands weaved through his hair compulsively now. ---Smooth. Not rough, and shorn, and damaged. Unblemished skin, highlighted pink between short bursts of anger. He was real, wasn't he? But, just how sure did Matt feel about this?

However reluctant, he knew he'd have to ask.

Again, Mello opened his phone.

"Whatever. I'll see you in 10."

[quicksavensmoke]

"9." it was a one word text, but enough. He knew Mello well enough to know how everything would be taken and with that, he sat back and flicked the volume up on the television. Of course, he made sure to keep the door locked - for kicks of his own.

Matt wanted to talk to Mello in anyway he could and, he wasn't "back up #3" for nothing. He was sure to get what he wanted - besides, he knew something was bothering the other deep down regardless of how much he didn't mention it.

He waited a few more minutes and sent another message.

"7."
....
"xo"

[blond_with_envy]

Mello's voice was strained, the harsh tone rising beneath Matt's window. He lay his head against the door, slapping his palm against the chipping paint.

"Weren't you listening before?! I said, I'm--- No, I said it twice. 'Matt, I'm almost there. Just leave it open.' You heard me! You heard me say it! That's all you had to do!"

For certain, Matt was grinning, which was kindling for a fire.

"C'mon!"

[quicksavensmoke]

Matt peeked out the window, looking every bit as childish as Mello was sure he was acting (Matt would never admit it -- of course that is, just to piss him off more).

"Who's there? Stranger danger..."

he waited another minute, before reaching for the lock.
"Almost there... isn't here. It means 'I'm almost there, but not quite there yet.' It means, 'don't leave your door unlocked, just because someone is 'almost there' -- not at the door' ..."

Still with his fingers on the lock. "What if someone came in and tried to take me away?"

click. He stepped back.

"You'd die. And never forgive yourself if something happened to me!"

[blond_with_envy]

Mello practically shoved his way past, surveying the room like a seasoned boy scout.

"Che..." It was worse than he'd suspected. Streaked floor, socks scattered like rose petals... Open cans, and a half-eaten bowl of Lucky Treasures. "Unbelievable", he thought. Was there porn underneath the mattress too?

He turned, mop of hair moving with the usual dramatics.

"Is this where you bring your dates?"

[quicksavensmoke]

"Sometimes, if they're lucky. Other times, they pay and we part at the diner." Matt looked at Mello through an orange tinted world, then around, wondering what on earth Mello could possibly expect to be cleaned up.

"So get cleaning if you don't like it. If you don't got shit, the chocolate's on the table." he shrugged, and fell back to his usually spot a couch that had seen better days.

"You're so hateful, man. Shit like that'll bring a quick death."

[blond_with_envy]

Mello breathed a short sigh, producing a bottle of something clear, then setting it hard against Matt's "table". He shifted his weight to one hip, regarding the chocolates with sudden suspicion. "They're... truffles or something?" Crossing his arms, he nodded towards the ornate vial.

"Fair enough. In that case, consider this a trade."

[quicksavensmoke]

"For this trade, they're whatever you want them to be, man." he smirked and leaned forward, grabbing the bottle and inspecting it with careful eyes. "Didn't have it laced with anything, right? I don't have to worry about the GHB?"

He looked back now, directing his attention back at Mello as he lifted his goggles to plant them on top of his head. "It's important to notice they haven't been touched. Usually, I eat one or two - you'll note I haven't this time."

A 'generous' gift indeed.

[blond_with_envy]

For now, the chocolates could wait.

"...Laced?" He smiled a bit, only partially to himself. "Is it truly necessary?" Again, Mello laughed, throaty and sure, tracing patterns in the table's dust. "Hmph. I wonder." Perhaps he was nervous himself. ---Just why, exactly, had Matt seemed so insistent before?

All at once, the grin dissolved, the playful lilt turning to something more somber. "In that case..." He made his way around the table, smoothly avoiding the splintered edges. "It's pretty obvious why you asked me here." Confident, he flashed his teeth, yet the smile never reached his eyes.

"Still. ...You'd settle for a copy?"

[quicksavensmoke]

"You sound awfully full of yourself- I was bored, and figured you were too! Since when did we ever pass up the opportunity to do something stupid together..?" Carefully planted, he avoided the last question, eying his partner easily, with a gleam of Something in his eye.

"I know you think I'll settle for anything 'good enough' if I want it, but I don't know what you're talking about."

[blond_with_envy]

He gave a hollow laugh. "Idiot... You said it yourself. It's different this time. ...Right? Something like that?" Unsure, he paused, more frustrated than defeated. "In any case, it's not 'your' Mello standing here."

It was true, after all. The "community" recycled souls. Stole them away from different worlds. ---Different times. How could anyone share a memory?

"It's too bad."

He moved as he spoke, pointedly avoidant. "Whatever it is. Whatever it is you say we did. ...I won't remember anymore."

[quicksavensmoke]

"What are you talking about?" Matt seemed a little hurt, genuinely- at that. "I don't- ... No, you're Mello. You're Mello and that's that. That's all I'm happy for." He didn't care what it sounded like how or pathetic it could sound, it was true.

"I don't care what the community thinks.. they'll get over it. I don't know what it's like, to come back or die or be 'someone else' than what other people know. " he winced to himself. It would be a lie if he said the memory still didn't hurt. He was still afraid admittedly; that something would happen again. To hell with his own safety, Mello had more to fear.

"You are 'my Mello'. You're not just another copy- I thought I wouldn't see you again. But then I got you again, I got a second chance not to take anything for granted."

"Well, with you" his brain penciled in the response to himself quickly. The others still weren't half as important.

"I don't know what it's like to lose your identity, while still having it intact because everyone thinks you're something else - but I don't. I know who you are. You're Mello. Born December 13th of 1989. I don't care about anything else. Why does there have to be anything else?"

[blond_with_envy]

"Wrong." he snapped, drawing closer. "That... "virus". That place? ---It's a factory!"

He looked to the side, silently recalling. "Just like she said. 'Forced to witness, ripped apart'."

Mello laughed, dry and mirthless. "There'll be another, you know. ...Once we're gone, we'll be replaced. He snapped his fingers, eyes narrowed. "Like clock-work." He paused, for a moment, lost in thought. Even so, wasn't there something he could do? Only one thing was for certain; people forgot once you allowed them to.

With that, he'd already decided. ---He wouldn't be forgotten.
Not by Matt. Not by anyone.

He shook his head softly. "I won't let it happen. I won't lose to anyone else. ...Not even another 'me'." He lunged forward, quickly but firmly, pressing his mouth against Matt's lips.

"...There." He wiped his lips and smiled, suddenly reassured. "Even if I die, you can't replace something like that."

[quicksavensmoke]

"Ah- ... A kiss of death....?" A pink-cheeked Matt looked up at Mello after he broke away, wide-eyed with a certain sort of 'innocence' behind them, even as a slow spreading smirk appeared on his face.

"You know you're competing with your own self? Not to mention, you're trying to win a battle that you win by default. You never did that before. " still, Matt stayed planted in his spot, staring at Mello. "You worry way too much. Get your ass over here, and bring the chocolate, wouldya?" He was feeling nervous. No, "old Mello" was definitely different- though all the same. His head was feeling like champagne bubbles.

[blond_with_envy]

Mello tossed his head, defiant. "Yeah? ...Good, then. I'll be the only one to do it." Comparable to his counterpart, he felt an immediate need to move. ---The chocolates were just an out.

He smiled, brief and barely discernible, but genuine all the same.

If anything at all, he was emboldened by Matt's reaction. ---He could practically hear the blood in his ears.

"And these..." he quipped, placing a hand atop the heart-shaped box, "...were mine to begin with.