[His body is tense, his jaw clenched. Mello has always been shit at hiding his emotions.]

So — what.

[What, indeed.

You want me to just walk away from you?

[Mello: the eternal soldier. It's degrading, at best.]

At least tell me what I did.

[Inquisitive. Demanding. Because he wants to know, and no one else can tell him. Not from L's perspective, at least.]

I'll accept it. Only if you tell me.

[If his mentor wants him out of his sight, what else can Mello do?]