Happy Ending (MattxMello)

3. Roadtrip

Matt
I wake up that morning with a smile on my face, today is the day. It's cold but I jump out of my bed immediately, taking one last shower in my shitty little apartment. It feels weird, all of my stuff is gone, making the place look like I'd never lived in it at all. Maybe I hadn't. Once I'm ready I sit on the hardwood floor with my DS and wait for Mello.

About twenty minutes and six levels later, there's a timid knock at the door. I push myself up and walk quickly to the door, the little kid in me is way too exited about the idea of a road trip and the grown up in me is way too exited about the idea of a road trip with him. I pull the door open to see a smiling Mello, a backpack swung over each shoulder. "Ready Matty?" He says cheerfully. I nod, "For hours, what's in the backpacks?" I say teasingly. He holds one up, "Clothes and..." He struggles to lift the other, "chocolate!" He drops it and let's out a huge breath. I just laugh, he's still got that little addiction of his. "What's in yours?" He asks, looking at my pathetic little sack. "Oh, nothing special really. Two changes of clothing, a toothbrush, my DS, two extra packs of cigarettes and nicotine gum." I refuse to smoke in my car, it deserves better than that. "Mmkay. Let's go." He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the door. "Okay, okay. Just gimme a sec." I pull my keys out of my pocket and lock the door for the last time. I swing them around on my finger, "Just gotta drop these off and then we can go."

He slips his arm into mine and we go, dropping off my keys on the way out then heading to my red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. I put our backpacks in the back and then open the door for Mello. After closing the door after him, I head to the drivers side and start the car. Here we go, I'm really leaving. I pull some of the nicotine gum out of my pocket and put it in my mouth before pulling out and leaving my shitty apartment building behind.

Mello
After about two hours of driving I start getting irritated, "Can we make a stop?" I say, sounding like a little kid. "Come on Mells, it hasn't been that long. Plus, if you haven't noticed, we happen to be on the highway." He smirks looking over at me for just a second before returning his eyes to the road. "I know, when we get off the highway." I say taking a bite out of the almost-finished chocolate bar in my hand. "Yeah, we'll do that." This doesn't ease my irritation at being in such a small space for such a long time though, "Let's play some music." He lets out a sigh, "Okay, pick." He reaches over and opens a compartment revealing at least a dozen CD's without taking his eyes off the road even once. I shift through them, finally settling on some random album by a band we both used to like. "Nice." Matt says, clearly approving of my choice. I'm quite impressed at his taste in music, most of what he has corresponds with the stuff I listen to. I look out the window as I listen to the songs play in the background. I'm actually kinda sleepy.

Matt
He's fallen asleep, face squished up against the window. I turn the radio down to make sure it doesn't wake him. He's so cute when he sleeps, so... Peaceful. A look he never really has when he's awake. When he came back he had this look in his eyes, like he'd seen and done too many awful things in the three years we weren't together. I shake the thoughts and concentrate on the road ahead.

He wakes up two hours later, "I have to pee." He says matter-of-factly. I glance at the sleepy looking Mello and laugh, "Ha, okay. We'll stop at the next gas station." He nods. It takes about ten minutes to get there and by then, Mello is clearly desperate. When we stop he flings the door open and runs toward the bathrooms. I smile after him and follow.

When we're done we get some coffee and sit on a bench just outside. I pull a cigarette out, "You mind?" I ask him just in case. "Nah, I'm used to it." I don't ask, simply lighting it and letting it hang delicately from my lips. Some things are better left unsaid and I assume that most of his time away falls into that category. He wrinkles his nose but doesn't say anything, continuing to sip his lukewarm coffee. I continue, being sure to blow the smoke away from him. After a while, I catch him staring. "What? Want one?" I ask teasingly, smirking in his direction. "Absolutely not, you keep your cancer-sticks to yourself." I chuckle, letting silence fall. We sit there and stare at the sky together for a while, not saying anything. Comfortably silent.

His eyes reflect the sky, although, his natural eye color isn't far off from the clear sapphire sky. I'm staring. I quickly look away for fear of making him uncomfortable. I get up and start walking back to the car, Mello follows and once we're in he says, "I guess I should tell you that long story. I want you to know what I've done before we go any further."

Mello
I tell him about my time after Wammy's, joining the mafia, the Death Note, the shinigami, everything except a few minor details. Leaving out all of the nights I picked up my phone wanting to call him but never having the guts to say what I needed to, writing and tearing up letters that I wasn't ever going to send, crying myself to sleep during stormy nights. I left out telling him how much I needed and loved him, how I thought about him every day. I never told him these things. "Wow, Mells. You're a badass." I laugh at the huge goofy smile on his face, if only he knew how miserable I'd actually been. Funny thing is, I only realized where home was after I left. He is my home and I don't plan on leaving home any time soon.