Every stumbling word Matt says, every glance he gives Mello feels like knives sliding into the spaces of his rib cage, seeking to pierce his impossibly-beating heart. Mello has seen more than his share of death, even been the cause for some of it, but he’s never been in the position to watch a friend struggle to process a truth of this magnitude. Mello almost wishes he hadn’t said anything - then Matt wouldn’t have to carry the burden of knowing that he is dead - but wouldn’t the truth come out sooner or later? Better to cause a quick hurt now and give Matt more time to heal.
“There was a news report,” he begins, eyes closed while he searches the archive of his mind for the details. So much happened so fast. “I saw it when I was driving the truck. Your car was all shot up, and the report said the driver was killed.”
Matt’s question snaps Mello back to the present, eyes open wide with horror at the suggestion. He shakes his head firmly and reaches to place a gloved hand at his friend’s knee.
“No - Matt, no, not at all. It was Kira. A heart attack, of course, and Near was supposed to see that there was a fake notebook, but if he’s here too, that means he didn’t figure it out.”
Which is frustrating in its own right, but additionally so in that it meant that Mello failed, that his entire plan was useless, Matt’s death and his own ultimately served no purpose. Wasted resources. He’ll have some choice words for the big-headed twit later, but right now, Mello’s focus is on making this make sense for Matt.
“You were supposed to get away. I wanted you to get clear of the city so you’d be safe, not for any reason having to do with me.”
And even though Mello hasn’t admitted it outright, Matt’s smart enough to put the pieces together and solve the equation, if he chooses to make the effort: Mello planned to die.
no subject
“There was a news report,” he begins, eyes closed while he searches the archive of his mind for the details. So much happened so fast. “I saw it when I was driving the truck. Your car was all shot up, and the report said the driver was killed.”
Matt’s question snaps Mello back to the present, eyes open wide with horror at the suggestion. He shakes his head firmly and reaches to place a gloved hand at his friend’s knee.
“No - Matt, no, not at all. It was Kira. A heart attack, of course, and Near was supposed to see that there was a fake notebook, but if he’s here too, that means he didn’t figure it out.”
Which is frustrating in its own right, but additionally so in that it meant that Mello failed, that his entire plan was useless, Matt’s death and his own ultimately served no purpose. Wasted resources. He’ll have some choice words for the big-headed twit later, but right now, Mello’s focus is on making this make sense for Matt.
“You were supposed to get away. I wanted you to get clear of the city so you’d be safe, not for any reason having to do with me.”
And even though Mello hasn’t admitted it outright, Matt’s smart enough to put the pieces together and solve the equation, if he chooses to make the effort: Mello planned to die.