"But Mello has someone else he likes to hold, now," Near accused.

Mello blinked- frowning slightly and seeming confused.

"...What?" He asked.

"And its 98% likely that Mello does more then just 'hold' him," Near went on - was that jealousy in his voice?

"...You're talking about Nate." Mello replied flatly- looking very irritated suddenly.

"No, I meant Matt," Near said - actually using sarcasm.

"Huh, yeah...I bet you'd think that." Mello nodded slowly. "I bet there's a what? 97.5% chance that I'd hook up with one of the two of them in eight years...right?"

"Nate, 98%. Matt, 4%. Together at the same time, 13%," Near explained.

"Which leaves a 2, 96 and 87% chance that I didn't do any of it." Mello replied- standing up. "And I don't know about you, but those are some pretty damn good odds to me."

Near turned his face away, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"I am not one to talk," He admitted, weakly. "I could never choose."

"...No, you couldn't." Mello replied. "I guess wishing that I did slip up makes you feel better...whatever. At least I was never indecisive."

"It isn't as if it matters now," Near whispered, weakly. "I can't have Mello or Matt."

Mello frowned and stepped forward- kneeling down in front of Near.

"You think I've changed?" Mello asked. "Changed so much?"

"Its the fact that I haven't," The white-haired boy whispered, locking eyes with the blonde once more - his face blank, but his eyes an open tragedy. "I don't know anything that has happened to Mello... I haven't been here... and Mello is an adult now, while I am still a child."

Mello stared at Near a moment before he nodded.

"Things have happened." He said softly- pushing his bangs back behind his ear to reveal his scar and further emphasize the statement. "The whole world changed...but I'm still the same too."

"I want to believe that," Near admitted. "But rationality tells me it isn't true..."

He sighed, before he got up and moved closer. Slowly the boy reached up and put his arms around Mello's neck, pulling the blonde down and pressing their lips together.

It was like... Like tasting a food you'd been craving for the first time in years. Familiar and sweet, but better then he could ever remember it being.

Mello pressed back gently- his own arms going around Near and scooping him up- he couldn't have done it like that when they were kids. One arm holding the tiny boy against him, Mello's other came around and held the back of Near's head- keeping him in place as their kiss deepened slowly. After a moment, Mello's mouth opened slightly and parted Near's lips just enough for his tongue to slip inside and carefully meet the tip of Near's.