Stone Children

A/N: Demon’s Sinner- Can I just say that in truth I love have Mello is dresses. *blushes* He is a cute little shota!!! Though normally Near is my Shota baby.

A/N: Karaage- all dresses are actually real ones I picked out on Lolita websites.

Ch. 24 Dance In The Dark


L sat up all night monitoring Roger and Watari as he kept up the time loop on B's room. At around 9:20 the next morning, he got ready to switch it.

Mello did as he had been told. When the caretakers left to greet the men that had come to get B, he quickly unlocked the door and then silently went to L's room. He bit his lower lip as he got closer. Thankfully the people guarding L had gone and Mello was able to knock.

L opened the door quickly. "Come in." he said urgently. He pulled Mello in shutting the door, and placed him on a chair across from the couch, where half eaten sweets, two tea cups and a half played game of chess set. "We had been here for an hour eating and playing." He held his hand out, "Key."

Mello gave him the key and sat there quietly. "L... what will they do if they find him?"

"I don’t know." He said as he put the key back on his key ring and then put that and the video camera back into his desk, then made the switch. Afterwards he quickly closed the laptop and sat down on the couch, moving a chess piece, as they heard screaming and running footsteps.

The search for Beyond Birthday continued for three weeks. During that time L was out under strict guard encase the psychopath came back. Mello spent some time with L and the other was spent studying. In a short time he had moved up to the number three spot. Near stayed at the second while Matt stayed number one.

"We really need to do something about this L, He's got into so much trouble. I feel like we should isolate him." Roger said as he stood in L's office. "No, don’t separate him. There is one student he hasn’t fought with, Matt. He can learn from him on how to behave and he can help him with his studies. Place him in Matt's room, it’s bigger than the others and there is already another side for someone." L said in a monotone. He had been very depressed since B had left and he only ever smiled and was happy when he was around Mello.

Roger nodded. "That an excellent idea. I'll go get him." Roger then left to go to Mello's room.

The blond was pacing about. He had some bruises from the fights he kept getting in. Every student was just being horrible to him and he was becoming wilder and wilder. Roger knocked on Mello's door. "Mello?"

He opened the door with a glare. "Yes?"

"L has requested that you be paired with someone since you have been getting in fights a lot lately. Can you please pack your things? I'll come back in an hour to take you to your new room." He said then turned around and left. He gritted his teeth but nodded his head. He packed his things and was taken to his new room. When the door opened and he saw Matt he couldn't help but bite his lower lip. Fuck... he was with this guy.

"Matt, I hope you will make Mello feel at home and help him with his studies and such." Roger said as he turned to leave.

"Course." Matt said before the door was shut. He sighed.

Matt paused his game and got up off his bed. He walked over to the other side of the room. "This is your bed, dresser, desk, and closet." He said as he pointed. "Make yourself at home." He went back to his bed and picked up his controller and started playing his game.

Mello put his clothing away opened a drawer putting in makeup and perfume. He placed a rosary and a bible on the dresser top. The blond finished putting his things away and then turned to Matt. "Hey what are you doing?"

Matt just ignored him, he wanted so badly to beat this level.

"Hey." Mello climbed up on the bed beside him. "Hey you! HEY!" He grabbed the band of the redhead's goggles and pulled on it. He snapped the elastic against his neck.

Matt growled and paused his game. "Why the fuck did you do that?!" He yelled, pulling the goggles back up over his eyes.

"I asked you a question."

"What do you want that so fucking important?" He grumbled rubbing his neck.

"I want to know what you’re doing."

"Playing a video game. You know the thing I asked you to do with me about 3 weeks ago and said maybe then you ignored me." He unpaused his game and started playing again.

The blond looked away. "Well sorry if I was grounded for fighting."

"I could have come to your room. Me and Near do it all the time." He said as he continued playing.

"Near," Mello sneered brushing his hair out of his face. "I don't even know why they stuck me in here. You and he are my biggest competition here." He moved away to go to the desk. "I want to be L."

"I couldn’t give a shit about being L. I just do it for the games." Matt sneered. "They put you in here because I’m the only student who hasn’t tried to beat the shit out of you."

"They put me here because you’re the only one I haven’t hit yet."

"Because I haven’t tried to beat the shit out of you." He said with a smirk.

The blond walked back over and slammed his fist into Matt's face for the second time. "Try me you fucking prick!"

Matt dropped the controller and fell back on the bed holding his nose. "What the hell?! That wasn’t an invitation or a challenge. I was just stating a fact!"

"You couldn't beat me if you even tried so don't think you can! I don't even want to be here!"

"Well... shit! If you don’t want to be here than maybe you should go tell Roger to go with Plan B! Isolation from everyone! Even at lessons and meal times! If you don’t want that then maybe they will ship you off to another orphanage!" He said as he walked over to the bathroom and tried to get his nose to stop bleeding. "I have been the only one who has been nice to you! Defended you! And you treat me like shit!"

"I don't need you to defend me! I've handled myself in Moscow I can handle myself here!" He stormed out of the room and the sound of his voice was full of tears.

Matt heard him and ran after him, catching up with him down the hall and wrapping his arms around his middle. "I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Tears were falling from his eyes as Matt held him. "I-I don't n-need a-anyone!"

"Shh... I know, I do it because I want to...” He whispered as he held Mello tightly.

He took a few deep breaths trying to relax. As they stood there a group of older boys came up to them. "Hey check it out! The whore and the ginger!"

"SHUT YOUR MOTHERFUCKING MOUTHS!!! OR I WILL FUCK YOUR SHIT UP LIKE I DID J!" Matt yelled turning around and standing in front of Mello, in a defensive stance.

Mello looked over at the older boys as they grabbed Matt and one of them smirked at Mello. "You know if you put that mouth of yours to work I could make it so that Near and Matt never pick up a pencil." The blond wrinkled his nose at the offer before punching him. "Fuck you! I can beat them without help!"

Matt swung his leg back and kicked one in the groin while he grabbed the hand of another and twisted his arm behind his back and pulled. They heard a loud pop and a howl of pain. He let go and rammed his head into the one that was next to Mello. He grabbed his hand and twisted it. "One more move and I can snap your wrist. If you Never let your whore self talk to him or go anywhere near him again, I'll let you go. If not, I'll snap it." He hissed violently.

Mello was shoved to the ground but before the guy could get him Matt grabbed him. The boy howled in pain and tried to get away. "OKAY OKAY! You can have him!"

Matt smirked and pulled just a fraction more, just to cause pain. "Do we have an understanding?" He asked viciously

"YEAH WHATEVER YOU SAY!!"

Matt let go and push he away. "Go on! GET OUT OF HERE!" He stood up and helped Mello up.

The blond slowly got to his feet and smiled at him. "Thanks... I mean I don't think I could have gotten out of that..."

"It's okay. I'm used to shit like that back home." He smiled and grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the room and shut the door. "Hopefully, they will leave you alone now."

"Normally I would have someone watching out for me. Either one of the girls or else the guys that follow us."

Matt raised an eyebrow. "What?" He asked confused.

"Nothing. Forget I said anything." He turned away. "I'm going to head back to the room."

He nodded and walked into to the room and climbed up on his bed and continued his game. Mello sat on his own bed and took out his hair brush. He ran it through his hair a few times. "I'm going to see L in a bit." He hopped off and walked over to the dresser and took out the perfume bottle. He tapped it on his wrists and neck. The room filled with the sweet scent of honey and rose apples. Matt looked up and frowned. "It looks like your getting ready for a date." Matt muttered going back his game but taking in the smell of Mello's perfume and sighing happily at the smell.

"Please, if I was going to see a John you would know." He looked at himself in the mirror before turning and walking out. "I'll see you later."

Matt raised an eyebrow at the statement. Wow, he thought, Mello must have really been a prostitute. This only proved the rumors about Mello being true. He couldn't help how he spoke. When he got to L's door he knocked on the door. "L, May I come in?"

L opened the door to his office and smiled at Mello warmly. "Of course." He said moving to the side to let the blonde in. He skipped in looking at him. "Was it you who put me with Matt?"

"Yes." He said as he shut the door and turned around to look at Mello.

"Well... I guess I can live with it. I mean it could be worse, you could have put me with Near."

"No. You would end up killing each other, for completely different reasons." He smiled as he walked over to the small couch and sat down. The blond followed and sat beside him. "Are you busy today?"

"Just doing some follow up on some cases nothing much, why?" He grabbed the cup in front of him and started sipping from it.

"I was wondering if we could spend time together."

"Of course. Just let me finish this up and we can go have tea and play games in my room." He sat the cup down and walked back to the desk and started typing furiously on his laptop. Mello sat calmly and took a piece of cake, eating it.

After about 15 minutes L closed his laptop and got up. "Come on." He said as he walked to the door and held it open for him. He stood up and followed him with a smile on his lips. "We could play chess again."

He smiled. "Of course. Maybe I can win this time." He chuckled as he shut the door and lead the blonde to his room. He pulled the blonde in and shut the door. "I got you a new outfit!" He said with a smile. He went to the closet and pulled out a black and red plaid Lolita school outfit.

He giggled as he took the dress and began to strip. "You know I've never had anyone buy me such nice dresses before. I think you like it more because I am a boy." He pulled off his shirt and pants revealing the black panties that he wore. He then slipped on the dress and brushed his hair out with his fingers.

"I don’t like being around women." He stated blushing. ”I’m glad you like them. If you want something different you could always tell me and I can get it instead."

"I like your choices in clothing. How does it look on me?" he asked turning to face him.

"Gorgeous, like always." He smiled as he walked over to the bed and started setting up the board and pieces. Mello really enjoyed compliments like that. In truth back in Russia most of his clients just wanted someone to sit with them and listen. The blond liked doing that more than anything because people found him to be a good listener. "How are you copping with B being gone?"

"I'm sad." He said is face falling into the frown everyone else was familiar with. "I miss him, and I'm lonelier than ever." He said truthfully.

"I know I could never hope to replace him but if you like I could visit more." He touched L's hand looking up at him with his soft gaze.

He smiled. "Visit me whenever you like." He leaned down and placed a small sweet kiss to his forehead.

"I will!" He blushed at the kiss as they started to play. After a few rounds, L sat back and smiled at him. "I finally won and it only took 4 rounds." He chuckled.

"Yes so what do you want since you won?"

He blushed. "Do you know how to dance?" He asked a bit hesitantly.

"Sort of. I can waltz."

L smiled and got up from the bed and stood in the middle of the floor. "Come here."

Mello got up and walked to L smiling sweetly. L turned to an old record player hiding in the corner and blew dust off it. He then placed the needle on the record turning it on. A static, sad slow tune played from it. He pulled Mello into his arms and started to waltz with him. The blond moved with him in slow circles, dancing with him. He hummed with the music as he danced.

L chuckled. "I haven’t danced like this in years." He pulled him closer to his chest.

"The Ladies taught me to dance. They said that a good lady must know to dance."

"Watari made me learn, for god only knows why. I've never really had to do it." L said as the song got a little more statically.

Mello giggled as he danced with him. "You are a good dancer."

"Thank you." He smiled down at him and leaned down and placed a sweet chaste kiss to his lips. "You’re not bad yourself." He said pulling back a bit.

"Thank you L." He pressed closer and smiled as he moved in circles.