"Huh?" Mello blinked in surprise. "You're...River?"

"Why does everyone keep thinking that's weird?" Nate asked. "Is Near's real last name River, or something?"

"How do you know Near!?" Mello demanded Next- giving Nate a rough shake.

"Ow- STOP!" Nate snapped, bringing his knee up to hit Mello in the stomach before he roughly threw the blonde off of him. "My gosh, you are a bully!"

Mello coughed and hit the floor- holding his stomach a moment before he growled and got back up- charging at Nate.

Years of the street took over and Nate dodged Mello's attempt to tackle him, before throwing his weight into the blonde and sending them both crashing to the ground, the smaller boy on top of the teenager in black.

Mello rolled on the floor- hissing with anger and reaching up to take a handful of Nate's hair- cocking his fist back.

Nate glared at him with a look that was so very un-Near, despite their similar features, that it was almost breath-taking. "Go on, hit me! Pussy!"

There was a momentary pause- who could have helped it -when Mello only blinked at Nate in surprise- giving Nate more than enough time.

But Nate didn't react. He didn't break Mello's hold or try to fight him off... what would it prove? What would it help? The blonde would just get even more mad and attack him again. Best let the idiot hit him and when he refused to reply, Mello would grow bored and stop.

Wasn't that the rule of bullies?

"Mello!" Matt grabbed Mello's wrist during the pause. "Knock it off man!"

Mello whirled on the redhead and shoved him.

"Who is this!?" Mello demanded as Matt sprawled on the floor. "Where's Near!?"

"Leave him alone!" Nate snapped, glaring at Mello. "Your gripe is with me, right? So leave Matt out of this! And trust me, if I knew where Near was, I wouldn't be here!"

"You stay out of this." Mello pointed at Nate before an idea struck him and he wriggled out from under Nate- grabbing up Matt roughly from the floor instead.

"Oh please... Aren't you supposed to be a genius?" Nate groaned. "Using him as bait? I just met him! Hell, if I knew my mother, I wouldn't even let you use her as bait! I've lived on the streets, kiddo! Your pissy temper tantrums don't scare me!"

"Thanks...Nate." Matt sighed before he was thrown into the ivory-haired boy.

"And what if I get the staff involved?" Mello asked.

"They already know." Matt- rubbing his head.

"Roger and the chick with the glasses already know I'm here," Nate informed, lifting an eyebrow. "...They thought I was Near. It was only until some freaky chick told them I wasn't that they shut up. Oh, and I talked to L."