Every Saturday, like Clockwork

Ice-Puppet

Kingdom Hearts and Death Note crossover.

Author note: Yep, another crossover. Because I love them so.

Disclaimer: Don’t own DN or KH.

Chapter 1 – I’ll make you a deal

Mihael Keehl and Matt Jeevas had been friends since they were little. They had met in day care when Mello had defended Matt against a boy who had been making fun of him by beating the snot out of the kid. Since then they had become practically inseparable, that was, until the day they went off to college.

While Mello had managed to get in to their dream college, Destiny Art University, Matt’s parents had convinced him to go to community college first, and get a transfer degree. Two years later, Matt found himself in Mello’s apartment, looking over his class list at DAU, wondering why he hadn’t just gone there in the first place.

Mello was mumbling on and on about how they needed to celebrate his arrival and Matt, knowing his blonde bombshell of a best friend would not stop talking until he got his way, least it be three days later, agreed.

And so, they hit the town.

The club Mello brought him to was loud and there was a line down the block to get in. Mello, however, glided up to the door and gave a wave to the bouncer, who greeted him and let him through without so much as a blink of hesitation. “I know the owner,” Mello explained to Matt once they were deep into the music-filled place. “I had classes with his sister my first year, she and I became somewhat good friends.”

Nodding in understanding, Matt looked around. It took him only a few seconds to realize that the club they were in was not a normal one- in fact, it was quite the opposite. It was a gay club. He shot a look to Mello, who grinned and held up his hands defensively.

“Hey,” said the blonde. “You may like girls and guys, but I only like guys. Besides, this place has the best music and the most reasonably priced drinks. Go find a seat, I’ll be back in a sec.” Then he was gone in a flash, weaving his way toward the bar. Matt found an empty table and took a seat, sparing a glance toward the dance floor.

His heart caught in his throat.

Honey blonde hair, spiked to perfection into a mohawk that grew longer as it hung around the base of his neck. Sea blue eyes that were half-lidded, blinking in time to the music. Clothes that looked like they could be painted on, a splash of aquas and blues, fish net and bubbles. On one pale cheek, a small tattoo of a music note, just to the corner of his right eye. His stomach was flat and his hips swayed to the music, as if it had been written simply for him, or he ha been written simply for it.

“His name is IX.”

Matt jumped in his seat as Mello sat a drink down in front of him. The blonde sat in the empty chair on the other side of the table, sipping his own drink as he smirked around it’s rim, before glancing at the dance floor.

“IX?” Matt repeated as he half feigned nativity.

“The blonde dance god,” Mello informed, nodding at the very person Matt had nearly drooled over. “IX. As in the roman numerals. Not his real name, obviously, unless his parents hated him. He’s here every Saturday, like clockwork. And every Saturday he leaves with someone new. You can always tell his latest catch when he asks them to dance. They usually don’t even make it through one song before they’re leaving for their apartment. He’s gone by morning.”

Suspiciously, Matt inquired, “And you know this because…?”

His response was a look that said, ‘I know you’re not that dumb’. “Three Saturdays ago. He’s pretty good in bed, too.”

Unsure if he was willing to peruse someone who not only his best friend, but half of the club, had been with, Matt didn’t get to dwell on this thought long. His eyes fell on IX – hey, no harm in looking, right? – and blue eyes fell back on him, followed by a sensual smirk and oh- he was coming over.

“Hi,” IX greeted, sparing Mello a friendly smile before focusing his attention on Matt. “I’m IX. Would you care to dance?” One hand with thin fingers was extended and before Matt could register that he was reaching out, he was on the dance floor.

Matt wasn’t the best dancer, but he wasn’t the worst, either. Still, he was nothing next to the ‘Dance god’, as Mello had put it. He was tempted to try and show up his friend by making it through one song, but IX had other plans. And even though Matt hadn’t even though Matt hadn’t even taken a sip of his first drink, he couldn’t remember the ride back to Mello’s apartment.

The rest of the night was perfectly clear, though.

IX had two other tattoos on his body, one over his heart that was of a heart, stitched on, and another on his back of a koi fish. Matt was reminded of his own tattoo, two scripted M’s on his shoulder that represented his friendship with Mello, when IX brought his attention to it by nibbling on it. Amongst other things.

At about 10 am he awoke to an empty bed and the sound of someone moving around in the apartment. Grabbing his pants, he slipped them on and unlocked his bedroom door, heading out into the living room.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Mello greeted from his place at the kitchen stove, where he was making pancakes (no doubt with chocolate chips in them). “Did you sleep well?” Matt didn’t answer, falling onto the sofa, where he could still see Mello. The blonde snorted. “I came home around 3, thanks for asking. He was already gone.” Still, no answer from Matt. “It’s not like you to have one night stands. Did you change in the two years I haven’t seen you, or did you fall under the siren’s spell?”

“The second one” Matt finally said, dropping his head into his hands.

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” Mello commented, setting a plate in front of Matt on the coffee table. “Nothing wrong with a little nameless sex every now and then. Not like you took a random stranger’s virginity. We’re all sinners, we have a right to indulge.

“You sound like my mother,” Matt muttered, grabbing the plate.

“That’s depressing,” Mello hummed. He then grinned in a way that made Matt’s eyes narrow. “So, who topped?” The look he received was priceless. “What? I’m curious.”

--

“I told you the drama teacher is a bitch,” Mello continued, lowering his voice as they pushed open the door to the lobby. “Either that, or she hates me and now hates you because you like me.”

Matt shook his head. “Why did I let you talk me in to taking drama, anyway? I can’t act.”

“And I can’t do photography, but I’m taking it with you,” Mello reminded. He stopped walking and motioned around them. “This is our library. The best place to study, in my opinion.” As Matt hummed, Mello eyed the counter.

“Mello,” came a voice that Matt didn’t recognize. Upon looking, he found the boy behind the check-out counter looking at them. He was albino, short white hair and colorless skin and eyes. He was wearing white clothes too big for his tiny body and had a sort of secret smile on his face.

Matt had never seen Mello give anyone just a ‘stupidly in love’ look.

“Hi, Near,” the blonde greeted. He was speaking with such obviously forced confidence that Matt wondered if ‘Near’ could hear it too.

“Are you enjoying that book you checked out?” Near asked, lifting his right hand to curl his bangs around his tiny fingers.

“Yeah,” came the response. “Thanks for recommending it.”

“Of course.” Near’s eyes traveled toward Matt. “Hello.”

Obviously catching on to what the check-out boy was trying to hint, Mello introduced, “My best friend, Matt. Matt, this is Near. He’s the library assistant.”

“Nice to meet you” Matt greeted politely. Near nodded in response.

“We should go study now,” Mello said suddenly, grabbing Matt’s arm. “See you around, Near.” He waved before practically dragging Matt through the library, away from the counter.

Matt was smirking, even as they found a seat in a relatively uncrowned area. “The best place to ‘study’, huh? Sure, if its not schoolwork you’re studying.”

“Shut the fuck up, Matt” Mello snapped, his cheeks somewhat pink.

Laughing, the redhead defended, “Hey, I don’t blame you. He’s cute.”

Sea colored eyes rolled as Mello reached into his backpack and removed his laptop. “Yeah, well you can keep dreaming, just as I do. He’s taken.”

Matt rolled his eyes before looking around, taking in everything new. Then his eyes rested on something and he gasped, turning completely toward the object that had caught his eye.

“What?” Mello asked following his line of sight. He didn’t see it at first but then he, too, was gasping. “No way! I had no idea he was a student here! Damn!”

There hunched over a book and writing notes in a notebook, was none other then the god of dance himself, IX.

After they sat there for a few moments, staring, Mello nudged Matt. “Go talk to him!”

“What!?” Matt hissed lowly in response. “Why the hell would I do that!?”

Mello was grinning. “Because I know you. You don’t do one night stands. Besides, I’m curious, too. Or are you chicken shit?”

Matt’s eyes narrowed. He glanced over to the studying boy and sighed. Pushing his backpack onto the table, Matt stood and approached IX, slowly. “Excuse me…” he addressed, noting the head phones covering the other’s ears and preparing to speak a little louder. However the blonde seemed to hear him as he lifted a hand and removed the headphones, lifting his eyes to Matt.

“Hello,” IX greeted in a voice that was unlike the one Matt remembered him having- before he had spoken silkily, seductively. Now he spoke with a smile in his voice, his eyes trained on Matt’s own instead of roaming all over his body. “What’s up?”

“Um, you probably don’t remember me…” Matt began, rubbing the back of his neck. “But we, er- ‘met’ last Saturday. I saw you sitting here so I figured I’d come over and say hi?” Did that sound as lame as it did to his own ears? Could he really not come up with something better then that? He might as well have said, ‘We fucked last Saturday, want to be my boyfriend?’

Blue eyes drifted to the side as the blonde thought. He hummed, shaking his head. “No, I don’t remember you.” Matt frowned, feeling like he had been shot. “But I was home all day last Saturday, so I think you have me mistaken for someone else.” There was no way that was possible. How many people in this town could have that hair style (although it had been spiked up in the club and now hung loosely atop his head), those eyes, and that tattoo on their right cheek? “It happens a lot, actually. Don’t worry about it.” His smile was dismissive as he went back to his book, rather rudely.

Feeling defeated, Matt went back over to Mello, who frowned at him. “What happened?” the blonde asked as his best friend fell back into his chair. “Did he shoot you down or something?”

“Worse,” Matt replied. “He’s pretending like its not even him.”

They went to their studying for a while before Mello bid Matt farewell and headed off to his next class, promising to come back afterward and show the redhead around some more.

Just after Mello had disappeared, a tall, lanky man with spiked red hair and teardrop tattoos on his cheeks approached, taking a seat next to IX rather loudly. The two of them whispered quietly to one another for some time and although Matt couldn’t make out what they were saying, it distracted him from his studying. After about ten or so minutes, the redhead stood and approached, taking a seat across from Matt.

“Hi,” he greeted with a wide grin, holding out his hand. “I’m Axel.”

“Hello,” Matt replied warily, taking the offered hand in a uncomfortable hand shake. “Matt.”

“Well, Matt,” Axel smirked, leaning forward and motioning for the other to do the same. Once he had, the speaking voice was lowered, “I noticed you watching my friend there. I remember you from the club last Saturday.” Matt’s eyes widened in surprise. “See, I can tell what you’re thinking- is that the boy from the club that I went home with?” Axel’s grin widened. “Well, you’re mistaken. They’re not the same guy. This is actually his cousin. But, hey- don’t let that throw you off. Talk to him sometime. Oh! I’m late for class. Catch you later.” Then he was gone, heading out of the library just as noisily as he had come in.

Matt glanced at IX’s ‘cousin’ warily, who’s eyes trailed after Axel before falling on Matt once more. He lifted a hand and waved for a moment, then returned to his book, pulling his headphones back on.

--

“Cousins that look like twins, huh?” Mello asked, eyes elsewhere as the two of them sat on a bench outside, Matt taking a drag from a cigarette and his blonde companion with a chocolate bar in his lips.

“You’re a little more curious then the average bystander,” Matt commented as he too looked off, the same way Mello was looking. A group of students were gathered across the large picnic area, music blasting from a stereo as they danced around to it, laughing to themselves. Amongst them was IX’s ‘cousin’, whatever his name was, and the Axel guy from before.

“Hey, I’ll back off, he’s all yours,” Mello hummed around a melting bite of chocolate, smirking.

Matt spared him a glance. “That’s because you want that cute little librarian.”

“I told you, he’s taken!” The blonde reminded none too gently, eyes narrowed. “Besides, you know cute and innocent isn’t my type.”

“Then why do you turn to goo whenever you see him?” Matt laughed.

“Matt, right?”

The two of them turned in surprise. Axel was standing before them, his arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face. Mello’s eyes went wide, before narrowing dangerously, but Axel took no mind. As Matt nodded, he spoke again, “You’re still watching him, man. Just ask him out already, Jesus. You’ll probably like his attitude more then IX’s anyway.”

“What are you, a match maker?” Mello practically sneered.

“What, can’t someone set his best friend up with a hot guy?” Axel asked uncaringly as he shrugged. “If you’re not interested, that’s fine. Though he’d prefer it if you stopped staring at him so openly. See you around.” He waved and headed back over to his group of friends, who laughed as he approached, one of them patting him on the back.

Mello sneered in the spiky redhead’s direction. “Douche bag.”

“What do you have against him?” Matt asked curiously.

Instead of answering, Mello pointed off toward their left. Following his finger, Matt noticed that same albino kid, Near, walking along, a book bag slung over one shoulder. Curiously, he continued to stare as Near approached the large, dancing group, and was pulled into the arms of Axel, who tilted his head up and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. With a smirk, Matt turned toward his blonde best friend. “Jealousy is a sin, you know.”

“So is faggory, but I don’t see that stopping you,” Mello responded, turning away from the scene bitterly.

“Mello!”

Matt turned as two people approached- the first was a girl with blonde hair, tied up into pigtails, dressed in a sort of gothic style. The second was a tall boy with almost silver hair and aqua eyes, dressed in a mix of blues, whites, and yellow. They both took a seat on the other side of the table, the girl smiling while the boy curiously looked at Matt.

“Hey, Misa,” Mello greeted in response, before turning to Matt. “Matt, this is the girl I was telling you about, the one whose brother owns the club. Misa, this is Matt. Then this loser right here.” He motioned to the silver haired boy, who waved. “Is Riku. He’s a painter, but he’s friends with Misa, so I forgive him.”

“Hey,” Riku greeted with a nod, while Misa waved with a smile.

“Are you Mello’s boyfriend?” Misa asked curiously, causing Matt to laugh.

“Hell no,” he answered, earning a punch in the arm from his best friend. “He’s been my best friend since before preschool. It would be like fucking my brother. Which, trust me, I wouldn’t do.”

“That’s because your brother is like, ten years older then you,” Mello reminded. “I’d do him, though.”

“Disgusting!” Matt whined, grabbing his head in his hands. “Oh god, the images in my head!”

“Mello and Reno sitting in a tree,” Mello sing-songed.

“Given up on Near so easy?” Riku asked as he removed a canned drink from his backpack and popped it open. Matt laughed at the face that Mello made. Grinning, Riku continued, “I keep telling him he should go for it, that Axel and Near are bound to break up one of these days and if they do, he could be there as a shoulder to lean on, but he’s too much of a pussy.”

“This guy knows you well, Mel,” Matt commented.

Sea colored eyes snapped to him as Mello snapped, “You’re one to talk! I bet you’re too scared to go talk to that blonde like Axel suggested!”

Before Matt could defend himself, Riku pipped up, “What blonde?”

“The one with the music note on his cheek,” Mello informed.

“From the club?” Misa asked.

Matt shook his head. “His cousin… who looks just like him. They have the same tattoo.”

“Demyx,” Riku informed, catching Matt’s attention. “That’s his name. He’s friends with my boyfriend’s twin brother. I’ve met him once or twice. He’s a nice guy, kind of shy, a music major… plays, uh- the sitar, or something.”

Rolling his eyes, Matt glared at Mello. “I didn’t go talk to him because I’m not interested.”

“The hell you’re not interested,” Mello replied, giving him a serious look. “I know you better then that, you bastard. Go talk to him! Its been how long since you had a boyfriend? Seriously!”

There was a moment while Matt pondered to himself, before he smirked. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll talk to him- ‘Demyx’, right?- if you promise to ask Near out. Not on a date! Just as a friend, or something?”

Riku and Misa both laughed at the pissed look on Mello’s face. “No fucking fair!” He snapped.

“Deal?” Matt asked.

Mello sighed. “Deal.”