[And what did Mello expect? L has always been an absent figure, with the exception of one time where he gave Mello enough information to write a fucking book, but that wasn't for Mello, was it?]

[No. Never was. The blonde thought differently in the beginning, considered hanging it over his rival's head — L, saw me, you little shit. — but nothing was ever revealed until his fingers touched the keys of that laptop, and even then — ]

[Nothing was ever revealed, was it? Only what his then-mentor specifically wanted him to know. As nothing will be revealed now. Mello has knowingly adopted some of L's methods: people are told what they need to know.]

[And from their last reaction? All Mello needs to know is that he's to stay away for reasons unknown to him.]

I didn't look for you.

[Let that be known, at least. And yet: here they are.]

[His teeth are digging into his bottom lip enough to draw blood. Should he just turn and walk away? How can he? What does L fucking expect?. No. Instead. He stands rigid. Ready for whatever L is prepared to dish out at him (or nothing at all.) His spine straightens; Mello lifts his head finally to face his ex-mentor directly. Whatever the reason is that L has dismissed him before now: he's done nothing.]

I would've been fine if I never saw you again. [A blatant lie.] I accepted that you were gone a long time ago.