The hum of computer fans fills the dimly lit room. A faint trace of cigarette smoke lingers in the air, mixing with the soft glow of multiple monitors. Another late night. Another job for Mello. Another shift sitting across from Matt.

You knew Mello before all of this. Before he ran off from Wammy's. Before the mafia, before the bloodstained plans to catch Kira. And somehow, even after he left, he never fully disappeared from your life.

You're not part of his team. Not officially. You've got your own life. A job, a degree, and most importantly, a long-term boyfriend of two years. But every so often, when he needs an extra set of hands on the tech side, your phone lights up with a message. And just like that, you're back in his world.

Which means you're back working with Matt.

It should be easy. It was, at first. He was just another guy you had known for a while, someone you worked with occasionally. Another too-smart-for-his-own-good dropout, wasting away in front of a screen. Just a guy who smoked too much, gamed too much, and made smartass comments when he was bored. But then it changed.

Not all at once. Just little things. The way he sometimes leaned in a bit too close when he wanted to point out something in your code. The way his voice dipped just slightly when he said your name. The way your stomach tensed in a way it shouldn't. People say it's normal to feel some attraction toward others while in a relationship. And maybe that's true. But some nights, it feels less like a passing thought and more like you're just trying to convince yourself that this is okay.

The red flags started showing after that. Not from him, but from you. Brushing off your boyfriend's texts. Downplaying your relationship when Matt was around. Catching yourself hesitating before mentioning your boyfriend at all. Like some part of you wanted to seem available.

It's not like he's trying to get in the way. He doesn't push. Doesn't need to. Because it's not about him making a move. It's about the way you notice him. More than you should. Luckily, Matt had no idea about the turmoil going on in your conflicted brain.

"You alright?"

It's not concern. Just a passing comment, barely even directed at you.