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.

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Near or Far

Chapter 1: Loved

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"Come on, Mello," Matt insisted softly.

"No! It's against the rules and you know it!" Mello snapped, pushing Matt away.

"It's been years, Mello. Will it really bug you so much to break a rule?" Matt frowned.

"It has nothing to do with me," Mello retorted. "We were given rules for our own protection. If you want to have sex with me, then get permission from Master."

Matt huffed softly and shook his head. "Haven't you played at slave long enough?" he hissed when Mello's open hand connected with his cheek.

"You're the one that made it a part of who I am!" Mello turned, storming from the room with a scowl.

"I saw it all," Near said softly when Mello sat down next to him.

"Can the punishment wait until I've calmed down?" Mello frowned.

"You will not be punished for slapping him," Near replied.

"Why not?" Mello snapped. "I broke the rules."

"A valid point," Near agreed, "but you had good reason, and resisted breaking a much bigger rule."

Mello grunted. "You should be careful that you don't start getting soft."

"The rules will naturally grow more relaxed," Near smiled. "I can't be your master forever."

Mello jerked as if he'd been slapped. "What?"

Near chuckled. "Did you think you would belong to me until one of us died?"

"Well... yeah," Mello replied softly. "I thought... it was a lifelong promise."

Near reached out, threading his fingers through Mello's hair. "It was a promise to be your master until you don't need me anymore."

"You think that time will ever come?" Mello smiled sadly, leaning into the touch.

"You're strong," Near's smile warmed. "I'm just helping you find that strength again."

"Master," Mello sighed.

Near leaned in, kissing Mello's cheek. "I will always be here for you, even when I'm no longer your master."

Mello sighed, lowering to his knees and draping himself over Near's legs. He folded his arms and hid his face in them.

Near returned to his work, threading his fingers through Mello's hair. It was a familiar comfort for them both.

Matt had already placed himself in the punishment closet, since he knew it was coming. He also knew that Near kept streaming surveillance footage up at all times.

Over an hour passed before Mello moved and when he did, it was with a heavy sigh.

"Master, I don't want to be released," he said softly.

Near glanced down as his fingers slid through Mello's hair again. "I don't intend to simply step out of your life. I would much rather be your friend than your master, is all."

Mello turned his head to look up at Near. "Sometimes I wish I could love you."

Near chuckled. "You do love me. You're just not in love with me."

That brought a smile to Mello's lips and he nuzzled his head into Near's hand. "You're right," he agreed. "I'm glad we did this."

"Me, too. Why don't you go unlock Matt? He's been very well behaved in punishment," Near suggested.

Mello nodded, slowly getting to his feet. "Would you like me to get anything out for you?"

"No, have him lie face down on the bed," Near instructed. "I would like you to watch the punishment."

Mello nodded and gave Near's hand a squeeze before heading into the bedroom. He opened the closet and unlocked the shackles. "Master wants you face-down on the bed."

"Sorry," Matt said softly, sighing as he stepped out of the closet, heading to the bed and assuming the position.

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to," Mello replied with a weak smile, taking a seat on the bed next to Matt. "Belonging to Near isn't a means to getting back into my life. It's a recovery. A way to learn to be a good person again, like we used to be."

"Like before the drugs?" Matt whispered.

"Yeah," Mello agreed with a sad smile, reaching out to slide a hand along Matt's arm. "You just need to be patient, to give Near all the control and let him show you how to control yourself."

"You make it sound easy," Matt complained.

It made Mello chuckle softly. "It's not," he assured.

Near smiled as he came into the room. "It's very difficult, but you are making very good progress," he said. "Remove your pants and underwear."

With a sigh, Matt did as he was ordered, squirming out of the clothes and kicking them to the floor.

"You will count to twenty," Near instructed as he returned with a studded paddle.

"Yes, Master," Matt muttered. He lost count once and he'd received thirty-five spankings before he was pulled into Near's arms for comfort.

Mello went to fetch the bruise ointment for Matt and offered it to him.

"Thanks," Matt muttered, his face still hidden in Near's neck. The pain in his rear was unlike anything else, like he'd stuck his butt in boiling water. It was suitable, he supposed, since his infraction was probably one of the worst he could have done. Still, he was embraced gently afterwards and to his own surprise, he began to cry. "I'm so sorry," he whispered as he clung to Near.

"It's all right," Near assured. "You're learning. Mistakes are expected."

It was nearly half an hour before Matt's tears faded. Once they had, Near applied the ointment and ordered him to rest. Matt settled face-down on the bed, arms curled around the pillow and goggles tossed on the night stand. He was sore, but there was something he had realized, when the punishment was over.

For the first time, Matt felt loved.

He had always known that Mello loved him, had always loved him in return, but he'd never quite had the molten-brownie feeling that was settled in him now. The strange warmth that seemed to weigh his chest down with the enormity of the emotion. He slept with a smile on his face.

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A/N: And here we have the very first chapter of Near or Far. I will be updating on a weekly basis, since I've got this entire story finished. There will be at least one more story to follow this one, which I'm beginning to write even as I start to post this one. =3