"Who the hell is Chester?" Mello demanded.

"You mentioned him before." Matt added.

"Uh... this creeper dude who, like, fell in love with the concept art some chick did of Near the moment he saw it?" Nate sighed. "He preaches about liking beautiful things, but really he's a freak and only likes little boys who are pretty. I don't like him, but he buys me shit."

He stepped back and closed the closet door, grumbling to himself.

"Hopefully Mihael and Mail stop him from doing that bullshit," He muttered. "But I wouldn't count on them. They're jerks."

"Holy shit, you were taking advantage of some pervert?" Mello frowned.

"Near's smart, he won't get roped in by some creepo." Matt offered.

"Why not?" Nate asked, lifting an eyebrow at Mello. "If it puts food on the table."

"That's just...gross." Mello crossed his arms over his chest.

Clearly, he had no idea that according to the script he would later worm his way into the higher ranks of the mafia with his scheming and- hint, hint -his closeness to the criminal lord Rod Ross.

Nate was about to snap, before he paused and frowned at Matt, deciding not to pick another fight.

"I mean, you should be smart enough to survive without having to degrade yourself like that." Mello went on.

"Enough." Matt sighed. "Near'll be fine...I'm sure my alternative self there...what he like?"

He turned to Nate with a curious look.

"Alternative...wait..." Mello blinked. "What were the names of your friends again?"

"Mail Jeevas, which is a stage name," Nate informed. "He thought it sounded 'cool' and 'unique'. Its spelled like Mail-box. And Mihael Keehl, who isn't from Germany, by the way."

He took a seat on Matt's bed, crossing his legs and shifting uncomfortably in Near's big clothes.

"Mihael is a famous singer," He informed, a dreamy look on his face. "He's got a voice that could make you jizz in your pants by the mere sound of one syllable... plus he's drop dead sexy and wears tons of leather and shit... Mail is, uh..." His smile dropped. "...Kind of a jerk."

"...Ouch." Matt blinked.

"...Mihael Keehl?" Mello repeated- his eyes large and his skin suddenly paler.

"Well, we slept together and then he used that against me!" Nate cried, flopping back on the bed. "He leaked it to the press to make himself more famous! Like he needed it... he's the freaking most popular character of the second season!"

"Mihael?" Mello frowned.

"No, my asshole counterpart." Matt replied bitterly. "What a creep."

"I felt sorry for him, too!" Nate cried, starting to unbutton his shirt - it was way too warm in there with all the computers. "He said he was a foster kid too!"

"He lied?" Matt blinked.

"What about Mihael Keehl?" Mello cut in.

"I don't know if he was ly- can't you wait?" Nate groaned. "Impatient, geeze!"

He shed Near's button up and tossed it aside, leaving himself shirtless.

Both boys fell silent as they look Nate's bare chest and back over. These two were such boys sometimes.

Nate didn't seem to notice, flopping back on Matt's bed. He was sweating heavily - which was rather funny as people who were vastly under weight tended to be overly cold, not overly hot.

"What time is it, anyways?" He asked, noticing Near didn't wear a watch and not surprised in the least. "Shouldn't you guys be asleep or something?"

"Where do you get off telling us to go to bed, old man." Mello replied bitterly- watching the way the sweat made Nate's porcelain skin glisten.

"Hey, I'm only like a year older then you," Nate pointed out, lifting an eyebrow in Mello's direction. "And technically you're older then me, since I'm in the past."

"Yeah, but there's still hardly any proof." Mello replied hotly. "All you did was tell us a bunch of crap we already know that no-one else does."

"Believe what you want to, I don't have to prove anything to you," Nate informed as he rolled onto his stomach and curled against Matt's pillow, the full details of his back tattoo displayed to the two of them.

Mello actually caught Matt's shoulder as he leaned in closer to Near's back. Matt blinked- blushing when he realized and leaned back.

"It's probably early morning by now." Mello informed.

"I'm extremely tired," Nate mumbled, hiding his smile in Matt's pillow. "I'm going to sleep... maybe I'll wake up and be back in my bed, staring up at Mihael's poster."

"What!?" Mello burst and Matt waved frantically.

"It was a joke, you misheard." Matt attempted.

"Actually, it's not a joke," Nate informed, turning to frown at the two of them. "Like I said... he's a famous singer. Then again, I wound up tearing the poster down when he saw it..."

"Why?" Mello asked with a frown.

Then he realized how it sounded and blushed lightly.

"Like I really care!" He added. "Your teenage wet-dream on the fucking wall! What about the real guy?"

"...What about him?" Nate actually sounded a little defensive, rolling back over and sitting up, his eyes narrowed.

"Well, he's some weird ass version of me you gushing over, right?" Mello crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes right back.

"He's not you!" Nate snapped, defensively. "He's an actor that plays you! And his version of you is way sexier! I doubt you could fit into a pair of leather pants or wear them like he can, plus I bet you's be too much of a pussy to point a gun at Near's head-!"

He threw his hands over his mouth, cursing himself behind his fingers.

"Gun at Near?" Matt repeated.

"What, what was that!?" Mello ran over and climbed onto the bed. "What'd you say about Near!?"

Nate scooted away, his eyes wide as the blonde advanced on him.

"What, what happened!?" Mello crawled closer. "What did you say about Mihael and Near!?"

"It was in the show, okay!?" Nate cried, backing away even more. "Get away from me-!"

"What was in the show!?" Mello cried back.

"Mels!" Matt shouted. "Back up off him! He can't breathe!"

Matt was right - Nate's breathing had become labored and his shoulders were tense. He felt cornered and trapped, causing bad memories to flash back through his eyes. "I don't... I can't think! Just... just stop, please!"

"You have to tell me about Ne-!" Mello was suddenly tackled down on the bed by Matt- the redhead pinning him down while he had the surprise advantage.

"Just breathe Nate, breathe!" Matt said desperately while Mello struggled.

"G-get off!" The blonde sounded more alarmed than angry.

Nate watched the two of them for a moment before he jumped off the bed and moved to the closed window, sneaking behind the black curtains and throwing it open.

He inhaled deep breaths for a moment, trying to calm himself down.

Matt took his pillow and put it over Mello's head- making his loud voice into a muffled whisper as he continued to thrash and fight.

"Hey, careful, you might suffocate him!" Nate told the redhead as he pushed the window closed. "Especially with all that screaming!"

"Maybe he'll pass out, but I can't even get off him with him rolling around like this!" Matt replied- looking at Nate pleadingly.

"Ugh, I hate people who are unreasonable," Nate groaned before he moved over and grabbed hold of one of Mello's thrashing hands.

In the show, Mello was right handed - so he had to just assume that was correct. Grabbing the blonde's left wrist, Nate applied pressure to a spot between his thumb and pointer finger - knowing that it was an instant calmer one of his foster moms used to use on him when he'd act up.