#fsfics

Well, better late than never, right? ...Right?

Here is the sneak peak of my submission for the Cursed Moons: @meroniazine! The story will be accompanied by phenomenal art provided by the absolutely lovely Ivi (Ivibugg on Insta)

“I’ve got a case for you.” Mello says quietly. From where he’s sitting on his own at their dining room table he readjusts the morning newspaper in his hands, a lightly steaming mug of earl gray tea and plate of half eaten eggs utterly forgotten between where his elbows were propped on the tabletop.

“A case?” Near remarks from his spot on the floor nearby, his tone ticking upward with just the slightest hint of interest.

“Yeah…” Azure eyes scan the headline once more: Urgent Manhunt Underway… He can feel the way Near’s eyes slide up to him from his toys, full of silent questions and confusion. Never had Mello asked the younger detective to take a case of his choosing. And why should he? Near had the entire force of the world’s police agencies behind him, but Mello had the beck and call of every sector of the world’s underworld at his fingertips. What could Mello ever possibly ask of Near that he couldn’t track down uncover for himself?

…find suspect in shooting of 5 homeless men… Mello’s features are somber as he finishes the headline and lets his gaze slide down to the lead: Five shootings targeting sleeping homeless men in New York City were carried out by a single suspect. A familiar sting of ice touches his fingertips, seeping ever upward through the digits to his hands until he had only to grasp the paper tighter to fight off its encroachment. The bristling wind whips through empty, slumbering city streets screaming past his ears, lashing at the back of his neck.

“You need money?”The rough voice of a man suddenly whispers beside the blonde’s ear. Mello could hear the conniving glint in the man’s eye through only the sick, humorous tinge laden in his gruff voice.

“What do you need?” Near’s voice comes out lower, determined. Mello has his full attention, now, yet his ever-present inquisitiveness lingers like a shadow behind his person.

A single moment’s pause extends between them, a pensive silence between the two successors before Near finally takes charge to break it. He moves from his secure spot surrounded by his own toys to venture out across the expanse to Mello’s isolated island.

Mello folds the newspaper in half, tossing it to the wood tabletop as Near comes to stand before him. “This.” The reply is muttered so simply, and so certain. But there’s a heat of annoyance in him, too. Blue eyes are trail up Near’s being, watching and gauging him.

Gray eyes, dark as the ink printed upon the paper, scan the article which had so intently held Mello’s attention; his features betray absolutely nothing to the blonde. Slender, pale fingers reach out to gently trail over the words, giving just the slightest hint at the path the detective’s mind is taking in absorbing the information. “This?” Near suddenly asks. “Why would this be of any interest to me?”

“I’ve got something you could do…” The gruff voice whispers in Mello’s ear. “If money’s really all you need. What are you willing to do for it?” The man chuckles, and suddenly the mix of icy air reminds Mello of just how frigid the streets had been, while the warmth from this man’s breath toyed with a new kind of hell… He smells the alcohol lingering on the man’s breath, and the gunpowder burned into his skin… Bile bubbles in Mello’s stomach, working its way up his throat.

“Take it.” Mello forces out, his stare cemented on nothing but Near. The detective’s presence existed as the single entity connecting him to any semblance of reality while the printed words of the article strove the drag him back to all those years ago… To the nightmares he’d endured on those same city streets.

Near’s expression shifts momentarily upward to Mello before again refocusing down to the newspaper page, trying to see through the words to what exactly Mello was seeing in it. But he couldn’t… he’d never be able to understand what Mello saw, and Mello wasn’t sure he could ever formulate the words to explain it to him, either.

Near’s brows knit eventually together in confusion, “This isn’t the type of case that L would get involved in.” Dark eyes slide back to the blonde, “If I’m being honest, Mello, this seems far more like something your realm would be interested in.” His words were quiet, careful with the delicate blonde in front of him, and likewise ever conscientious not to cause any unnecessary damage to the pieces of the puzzle Mello had suddenly laid out before him to solve.

Near was right. It was far more within the realm of the criminal underworld to be concerned with the happenings of people without homes. But, “There’s not that kind of time.” Mello’s words are tight as they exit his lips, far more so than he would have otherwise meant for them to be. Then, he leans forward, tapping hard on the table, “The police are already involved, there’s already evidence, suspect images.” All things Near could easily get access to. If he wanted to. Why did any of this case need to be a manhunt when with L’s technology and Near’s mind the murderer could be caught in record time? Before anyone else…

“The Mafia-”

“I’m not asking the Mafia, Near, I’m asking you…” Mello cut in. “These are… people.” He cuts himself off before his words get the better of him. It is perfectly within his nature to let his feelings get in the way, to let his heart step in and say more than he objectively needs to, or should.

Arguably, Near was the only person on Earth who deserved to hear him say it… to extrapolate on his own experiences on the same streets where people were now being murdered while they slept. But saying any of it didn’t always mean that Near would understand… How could he? How could the chosen descendant of justice ever understand the constant war of the street or why he’d still feel connected to it despite how different things were now? And yet… “If L is truly justice, then he should be looking out for people, especially for those who already have nothing. It can’t just be about the cases that interest him.” The way Near’s eyes narrowed spoke of his internal protest to such an assertion. “Who looks out for the people who are forgotten? … Other than themselves.”

“Man, if you don’t leave him alone!” Another voice appeared in Mello’s opposite ear, “Look, he’s just a kid! If you’re gonna fuck with someone, it’s not going to be a kid. That’s fucked up…” The presence of the first man, with his gruff, predatory voice and stench of alcohol was slowly beginning to dissipate. “C'mon, kid. What are you doing out here? It’s freezing… You run away from home or somethin’?” A heaviness was draped over his shoulders, warmth against the bracing wind, “Come on, your parents can’t be worse than the streets…” Then lower, he’d added, “These streets will eat you alive… They’re no place for a kid like you to be.”

Soft, warm hands cupping his face suddenly pull Mello back to himself, and to their present moment, the flakes of snow that had surrounded his head and the voice of the man who had saved him that night receding back.

Now, there was no one but Near standing in front of him, concern written into his every feature. “What is this to you?” He whispered to him quietly, unable to read for himself past the careful construction of Mello’s façade. When he didn’t immediately answer, Near added, “Will solving this case help in assuaging your demons?”

Mello’s eyes closed, surrounded not by the ice and fear he’d known then, but instead by the warmth of Near’s hands on his cheeks. He melted into the other, kissing his soft, secure palms. “No… it won’t.” He muttered against him. “Take the case. Not because I’m asking you to… But because the fates of these people are not what you would have wanted to see for me, were I still in their place.” His surprise could be read in only the subtle tensing of Near’s muscles against his lips. “Take the case. Show me what the power of L can really do.” This time, when azure orbs slid open, they smoldered with the embers of a newfound challenge.

The next morning...

A directory to where else you can find me, my Meronica fanfics, as well as a (hopefully) comprehensive list of the pieces that I’ve published to Tumblr and Twitter over the years. If you happen to know of any piece that I left off, please let me know so I can add them! 

Directory

Twitter: @forbiddensoul56 

AO3: Forbiddensoul562

Fanfiction.net: Forbiddensoul562

Like what you’re reading? Consider leaving a tip!

Join the Meronia Discord Server: https://discord.gg/2dZ8ytQMWv

Want to help me make this list longer? Feel free to send an Ask with your own prompts or ideas!

Started: Sept. 9, 2021 Last Update: May 1, 2023

Access the free Meronia Zine

(Checkout my collab piece starting on pg 90)

Cursed Moons: A Meronia Fanzine vol 1

(Ask-based) Minific Prompts

Mello calls Matt over to help bake Near a birthday cake

Near researching sex, Mello discovers his search history - NSFW 

Mello’s zipper pants getting in the way... - slightly NSFW

Bad breakup

Mello joining Near in the bath

“Fancy seeing you here, acting like you weren’t expecting me at all.”

Choosing and adopting a pet

“Is it supposed to look like that?”

“What am I doing wrong?”

Near finds a human head in their closet

Gets lost in IKEA

“I may have accidentally said something and now my whole family kind of thinks we’re dating. Oops.”

“Is there any part of you that isn’t bruised?”

Finding the other wearing their clothes

Having their hair washed by the other

“Did you just go throw up?” and “Can you hear me?”

“I’m alive... I can tell because of the pain”

Mello becomes sick

Near becomes sick

Near gives Mello chocolate

Mourning Matt’s death

“I love you”

Everything about him was... lovable

Watching Near sleep

Feelings of loneliness

(Self-Created) Prompts

“You know, that’s the first time you’ve said you loved me.”

10 Sentence Fic: First kiss

It’s Just A Game - NSFW

Asking Near to take a case

Untitled Goose Game Near

Based on other fics

From The Art of Isolation/The Topology of Compassion

Near goes into labor 

Near experiences morning sickness 

Near experiences morning sickness (ver. 2) 

Buying baby clothes 

Near sings for Mello 

Near sings for Mello (ver. 2) 

Test chapter for Isolation/Topology trilogy 

Mama’s Day 

Event Writing (Meronia Week, DeathNotetober, etc.)

Meronia Week (2016)

Day 1: Reunion

Day 2: Beginnings

Day 3: Black/White

Day 4: Together

Day 6: Thanks Giving

DeathNotetober (2021)

Day 15: Redesign

Day 18: Heart (Based on: God’s Dice)

Day 22: Disguise

Meronia Event (2021)

Morning Routine

Fashion designer AU Omegaverse

Test Chapters/One-shots

Contagion - Post-apocalyptic, Zombie outbreak AU

Heart-Shaped Pizza Box - Mello!Pizza delivery, Near is enamored

Lessons in Cutlery

Parts and Parcel - A Robot!Near AU

Arranged Marriage - Victorian Era AU (Published on ff as: Orchestration)

Flower/Tattoo shop AU (Published on ff as: Canvas of Flowers)

Of Lies and Deceit - Spy themed AU

Near’s 21st birthday

The Way of Steam and Pirates - Steampunk AU - Ch. 1 (Published version)

The Way of Steam and Pirates - Steampunk AU - Ch 2  (Published version)

Proxy - Angst

God’s Dice (Published as: God’s Dice)

Twitter Fics

Severed head

Tending to Near’s hair

“I’ve got a case for you” - Later completed into this piece

Distracting Mello from work

Taking care of Near

Glad you’re safe

Only one time Mello beat Near on a test

@meroniaevent​ Themes included: Tea, Kiss, Morning, Bye, Ice, Home (Bingo card is at the end of the post)

This idea and submission sounded much better in my head, I swear... 

I also did not have the patience to edit this because I was so disgusted, so please be gentle with it

The gentle chiming of Near’s alarm from his phone rang at exactly 5:00am. Far too early than either occupant of the room would have preferred, verbalized at once by the grunt of displeasure from the far side of the bed and the rustling of thick, warm blankets.

Before gray eyes even opened his hand reached out and dismissed the alarm, casting the room back into its residual, peaceful silence. He gently hummed, allowing for only the briefest of moments to pass where he could stay beneath the sheets, warmed by not only them, but the presence beside him.

Mello was a furnace when he slept… as though the walls guarding the world from the first of his own ambition during the day were lowered in his unconscious state. It was familiar, comforting, wholly different from the cool sheets Near had fallen asleep beneath the night before.

He turned on his side towards the middle of the bed, reaching out through the darkness to find a golden thread of Mello’s hair. Beneath his touch he could feel the older successor relax. “When did you get home last night?” Near whispered to the air, weight just how likely it was that Mello would even deign to answer such a question.

Working in such polar spheres of the justice system necessitated a bit of secrecy of each’s actions… It was not that each didn’t believe the other couldn’t hold the weight of their daily actions. It was more like an armor of protection against the threats wrought by the outside world. Someday they would need to broach it all… but each day Near awoke hoping that that day would not be it.

“Late.” Mello’s rough voice grumbled back in response. “Were already asleep.” From the sound of it, the older blonde would be asleep once more were Near to let him.

“Should have woken me up, dear Mello.” Near mumbled to him as he spun a lock of hair around his finger.

“No.” Mello said definitively, even in his drowsy state. He shifted, turning to lie on his back, “You were tired. If you didn’t wake when I get in bed, you’re exhausted.” He had a point… but if only he realized that part of what made Near exhausted was due to the time he spent worried over the blonde’s well-being.

Near gently hummed, leaning in and pressing a kiss to Mello’s temple. “It’s still very early. Sleep a bit longer.” There was no need to venture back out into the cruelty of the world so soon.

In response, Mello turned on his side again, towards the younger successor, then shifted a bit closer to him. “Ought to just call me out of work.”

Near’s lips pulled upwards, his fingers more completely threading through Mello’s hair. “Gladly, dear Mello. Simply tell me who to call… Some names and phone numbers should suffice well enough.”

Finally, icy blue eyes dared to open halfway merely to glare at the detective before closing again. “You know I can’t do that…” But oh how Near wished he could… Were Mello to give him just a bit more information… some names, phone numbers or even some vague idea of where Mello even reported every day, he could have the Mafia whereabouts snuffed out completely. It wouldn’t free Mello from the shackles of their organization… but at least it could buy him some breathing time.

“I know.” He sighed, carding his fingers through the soft locks. “I know…” Someday…

Near gave himself just a few moments longer to stay next to the blonde, cherishing their shared moment of peace before returning to the controlled chaos of their lives. Each morning Near tried to take a second to appreciate such calm moments. Anything could happen throughout the hours of the day… Anything could cause these times to be ripped away from them.