His husband smiled a little bit and pulled into the garage, before killing the engine. "Home sweet home..."

"Damn, already?" Mello looked around. "You look so good behind the wheel."

He smirked at Near.

"Mello is so perverted," Near laughed as he unbuckled his seat belt. "But I like it."

"Not sure if that's exactly what I meant, but...wait...what?" Mello blinked.

"Mello had better hurry or he'll be left behind!" Near called as he climbed out of the car and headed for the door into the building.

"Oh no you don't!" Mello pushed the door opened and climbed out. "Ah, fuck! I'm not gonna come up second!"

"Then Mello had better hurry~!" He heard Near tease through the rows of cars. "Last one to the room has to be tied up~!"

Mello heard him giggle rather deviously.

"Tied up?" Mello blinked and started to limp faster. "Near!"

"I was only teasing," Near giggled as Mello approached. He was standing by the garage door that lead into the hallways. "Mello knows I don't like such things... I didn't mean to frighten him."

He reached out and took the blonde's hand, before pushing open the door and slipping into the hallway.

"What made you think for a second that I was frightened?" Mello snorted.

The albino only stuck out his tongue and started down the hallway.

After only a few moments, however, he was getting tense. It seemed that everyone that passed them was staring at him rather openly - usually it was just new students who stared, most of them having never seen an albino before... the kids who he'd been around for some time were so used to his appearance that they passed by like he wasn't even there... but for some reason everyone's eyes were on him once again, like they had been on his first day.

Mello observed this a moment before he reached over and pulled the boy to him- an arm around the ivory-haired boy's shoulders.

"Hey, relax...we're home." He said.

"They're acting as if they've never seen me before," Near said with a frown, looking up at Mello. "What is going on, Mello?"

"...Hmm..." Mello frowned. "Let's get back in the room."

With a nod, Near stared back toward their room, gripping Mello's hand tightly.

"What does Mello want to do for his birthday tomorrow?" The albino pressed, trying to ignore the stares.

"Tomorrow?" Mello blinked. "It's tomorrow!?"

He seemed completely shocked.