Near or Far

SPOILERS: All manga, all anime, L's true name, Another Note, Law and Right, Truth and Justice, Motive and Mayhem, Hell and Healing.

~!~!~!~!~!~

Near or Far

Chapter 2: Moose and Squirrel

~!~!~!~!~!~

Mello was plastered in leather again. It was soothing, feeling that second skin against him, running his hands over it and giving a happy sigh. "I've missed this outfit," he sighed.

"That's why I gave it to you," Near replied easily. "I'll keep in contact with you through the ear bud," he assured. "Stick to the plan."

"I will," Mello replied lazily. "Mom."

Near rolled his eyes. "Go on, then. Just be careful. This should be a quick job, so don't take any unnecessary risks."

"What part of I'm not suicidal anymore didn't you get?" Mello asked with a grin. "You act like it's my first day in the field."

"It's the first day since seeing Matt again," Near pointed out.

Mello gave a soft hum. "Well, you're right on that count, but it's not going to hurt me any," he said with a soft smile. "So don't get so worked up."

Near sighed softly, giving a deep frown and shaking his head. "All right. Just... go," he replied wearily. "Just don't give me a heart attack."

"I won't," Mello replied, kissing his cheek. "Promise." He went over to Matt, kissing his cheek, too. "I'll be home soon."

"I'll be here," Matt promised, giving a faint smile.

Mello nodded, and went for the door, glancing through the window at the snowstorm that was just starting to hit . As he pulled on his parka, the strangest feeling of dread settled in Near's stomach, but he pushed it aside, reminded himself that Mello could take care of himself.

Mello's mission was simple. He had to get a little information from a known criminal, just enough to convict her. First, Mello had to earn some trust from the criminal in question. He'd already reconnected with some less than savory contacts he had in Japan, and it gave him an in with the criminal.

Still, that didn't mean it wasn't dangerous. He had dropped off the grid for a long time, and that meant even his own contacts were going to be a little suspicious. So, Mello went to the arranged meeting, settling into a booth across from the woman, giving a lazy smile. "Well. Hello," he said lazily. "It's been a while," he purred, trying to keep himself from grinning. The woman's accent reminded him far too much of Natasha from Rocky and Bullwinkle.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing these days," the woman across from him replied in a thick Russian accent. "Last time I heard, you'd gone inside for prostitution."

Mello shrugged. "I was having a tough time with a breakup. I'm over the bastard now and ready to get back on top," he replied easily. "I heard you had a pretty big job coming up. I was wondering if you needed an extra man."

"Extra man for what?" she asked, giving a quiet laugh. She pushed her black hair out of her face, though it fell right back over her eye again. "My crew is just fine as they are."

"Are they?" Mello asked with a grin, and pulled a manila envelope out of his parka, sliding it across the table to her.

She picked it up, flipping it open with her gloved hands, pulling the photographs out. She flipped through them, giving a quiet hum. "You think this compromises him?"

"I know it does," Mello replied quietly. "His last score was three grams and he was laid out in that flop house for over twenty-four hours, using it all. You think someone like that can take a three day trip without a hit?"

"A valid point," she conceded. "But what makes you think I will hire you?"

"I'm just looking for an opportunity to prove I'm capable again, to get started. I can give you a hair -- which will show my sobriety record."

She considered it for a moment before leaning over and reaching out, grabbing a strand of his hair and giving it a nasty yank, pulling it free. "Very well, but these things take time," she replied softly. "You will meet me again in two days, this place, this time."

"I can do that," Mello agreed easily. "I'll see you then."

The woman nodded, and watched him leave. She stayed right where she was, sipping coffee for another twenty minutes before someone else slid into the booth across from her. "I have done as you asked," she said softly, frowning sourly.

"And I'm grateful," the young man replied lazily. "When he comes, you're to put him to work right away. He knows he's meeting you just an hour before the shipment moves. You get him on that shipment and I'll take care of the rest -- but remember what I said."

"Nothing incriminating," the woman replied quietly, giving a soft nod. "I know how to keep myself from trouble. I will not throw myself in prison for the likes of you," she spat. "You will keep your end of the deal, or I will destroy you," she said darkly.

"Don't you worry about that," he purred. "You'll get precisely what I've promised you."

Still, his grin made her shift in her seat. She huffed, leaving enough yen on the table to cover her bill and got up, storming out.

The man settled back in the booth, chuckling to himself and ordering himself a sundae with extra hot fudge. He ate it lazily, licking up the chocolate and staring at the waitress. It wasn't long before the manager came by and asked him to leave. So, to avoid calling further attention, he did as he was asked, smirking to himself as he walked off down the street.

There were plans to be laid.

Mello sighed softly, pulling off his coat and hanging it up, pulling off his boots and putting them neatly away before going upstairs to the observation room. "I'm home," he called out.

"She's going to put you on the shipment, without giving us any details until it's too late," Near frowned.

"You want me to pull out?" Mello asked as he plopped down next to Near on the sofa.

"No, it's too important. You'll just have to get a look at the shipment. She's not going to give herself away so easily," Near sighed.

"I told you she wouldn't trust me right away," Mello pointed out. "I've been out of the game for too long, and if I give them some stuff I worked on overseas, it would be too easy for my cover to get blown."

"I know," Near sighed. "Just be--"

"Careful, I know," Mello replied with a soft smile. "Stop worrying so much. This is what I'm good at, remember?"

Near frowned at him, but leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I know," he grumbled. "Matt's been reminding me every ten minutes."

Mello chuckled. "He does know it better than almost anyone. He and I worked closely together for years."

"I know," Near gave a soft smile. "He should be back soon. I sent him to get groceries."

"Chocolate?" Mello asked hopefully.

Near just laughed, shaking his head a little. "Of course," he agreed. "You've been very good."

Mello smiled, putting his feet on the coffee table and crossing them at the ankles. "Why thank you," he replied lazily. "But since Matt's gone... I've been thinking. It's been a couple years since Matt joined us, and I think... I'm ready."

"For?"

Mello flushed darkly. "Sex."

Near hummed softly. "Then you have my permission, and I'll tell him when he gets home so that when the moment is right, you don't have to hesitate."

"Really?" Mello blinked.

"Of course," Near replied with a soft smile. "He's been respectful with you for a long time now, I think you're both ready," he assured gently. "Just be sure you don't let him take a master position over you again," he said quietly.

"I know better than to let that happen again," Mello promised with a soft smile. "But I doubt you'll ever stop worrying about it," he replied, reaching up to touch his collar fondly. "I'll have to leave this behind for the long job."

"I think it's nearly time to take it off for good," Near replied, though he reached out to take Mello's hand.

Mello laced their fingers. "Yeah, but if Matt and I leave... you'll be all alone again."

"I'll be fine," Near replied easily.

"How do you expect me to follow your rules when you won't even follow them yourself?" Mello laughed. "That's a lie and we both know it."

Near flushed. "I just need to find my own companion, that's all. Someone I can love, the way that you love Matt."

"That sounds a little more reasonable," Mello agreed softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek sweetly. "But until you've gotten a start on that, I'm not going anywhere," he promised.

Near actually squirmed a bit. "If you put pressure on me like that, I'll never be able to do it."

"Do what?" Matt asked with a cheeky grin as he came in with two plastic bags of groceries.

"Find himself a girlfriend," Mello grinned.

"Boyfriend," Near corrected with a dark blush.

Matt laughed warmly at that, and tossed Mello a bar of chocolate. "You'll have to leave the house if you want to do that," he pointed out, and took the rest of the groceries into the kitchen to put them away.

Two days later, Mello slid into the booth across from the Russian woman again, giving a faint smile. "I trust you like my record?"

The Russian woman gave a quiet hum. "You will be acceptable, but do not expect me to keep you informed. I will tell you what to do, you will do it. That is all. Understand?"

"I understand," Mello replied easily. "What's my assignment, then?"

She gave him directions to a parking lot. "There will be one truck there. You are to ride in the cabin with the driver and protect him, protect the shipment. You will be provided with ammunition and weapons upon arrival at the site, but do not think you can break into the truck. I have already ensured that you cannot," and she slid a piece of paper over to him, tapping it once.

Mello took the paper, looking it over with a soft frown. It was way more sophisticated than anything she could have come up with on her own, and it had the hair on the back of his neck standing up. "Well that's one way to deter theft," he mumbled.

She smirked. "Anything breaks the seal and," she clapped her hands together. "Boom. Like cartoon with Moose and Squirrel."

Mello chuckled softly. "Is that why you call yourself Natasha?"

"What do you think, Boris?" she asked with a faint smirk. "Protect what is mine and you will find yourself with unlimited prospects in the near future," she assured. "Go. You will be late if you do not leave soon."

Mello grinned. "Yes, ma'am," he replied brightly, and got up, hurrying out the door. He really would be late if he didn't step on it.

~!~!~!~!~!~

A/N: And this chapter ends! At last! =DDD I think I may keep Natasha around for a long haul. We shall see~