Matt often made it easy to forget that he too is a genius and trained as a detective; he isn't showy about it like Mello and Near, but when it truly counts, he's able to pull out a stunning observation like he's just done with Mello. Shit, he's so accurate it hurts. Mello has always had tunnel vision when it comes to Near, and Matt's just shown him that he's been a terrible friend for longer than this latest incident of getting him killed or leaving him behind. For a moment, Mello feels like the floor's dropped out from underneath him, leaving him struggling just to breathe.
Does that answer his question, then? Does he have stronger feelings for Matt, or is he stricken with another layer of guilt for treating his friend so poorly? Mello is afraid to admit it, even to himself, but he thinks it's both.
Slowly, he stands up and sets the pile of shards in his hand on top of the cabinet. Cleanup can wait; resolving this tension between them is more important. Matt is more important, and Mello turns to him wearing a sincere expression of sorrowful remorse. How has he been so blind, so stupid, for so many years?
"I see you, Matt." Better now than ever before, and Mello silently vows to never take Matt for granted again. He can do better - he can be better, and after everything Matt's done for him, Mello owes him at least that much - more, if he's honest with himself about it. He may not be able to ever truly make things right between them, but he won't stop trying.
There isn't much Mello will apologize for; he believes that even his worst actions have been justified in the name of reaching his goals, but he genuinely regrets how he's behaved with Matt. He effortlessly closes the distance between them so he can study his friend's face for a moment, searching for an answer he already knows. Mello isn't typically at a loss for words, but in this moment, he doesn't trust that any words he could summon up to explain his feelings wouldn't only do harm.
So he keeps it simple: "I'm sorry." And he leans in to show (not tell) Matt how he feels about him with a gentle kiss pressed to his lips.
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Does that answer his question, then? Does he have stronger feelings for Matt, or is he stricken with another layer of guilt for treating his friend so poorly? Mello is afraid to admit it, even to himself, but he thinks it's both.
Slowly, he stands up and sets the pile of shards in his hand on top of the cabinet. Cleanup can wait; resolving this tension between them is more important. Matt is more important, and Mello turns to him wearing a sincere expression of sorrowful remorse. How has he been so blind, so stupid, for so many years?
"I see you, Matt." Better now than ever before, and Mello silently vows to never take Matt for granted again. He can do better - he can be better, and after everything Matt's done for him, Mello owes him at least that much - more, if he's honest with himself about it. He may not be able to ever truly make things right between them, but he won't stop trying.
There isn't much Mello will apologize for; he believes that even his worst actions have been justified in the name of reaching his goals, but he genuinely regrets how he's behaved with Matt. He effortlessly closes the distance between them so he can study his friend's face for a moment, searching for an answer he already knows. Mello isn't typically at a loss for words, but in this moment, he doesn't trust that any words he could summon up to explain his feelings wouldn't only do harm.
So he keeps it simple: "I'm sorry." And he leans in to show (not tell) Matt how he feels about him with a gentle kiss pressed to his lips.