Mello
Also known as: Mihael Keehl
L's volatile second-ranked successor, a chocolate-snapping Wammy's House orphan who joined the mafia rather than work beneath Near. His scar, his rosary, and his partnership with Matt fuel a fanon presence far larger than his page count.
Popular Mello Ships
Mello/Matt
4k works
Wammy's House's chocolate-eating runner-up and its chain-smoking third place reunited for the Takada kidnapping, where Matt died as Mello's decoy minutes before Mello's own heart gave out. A handful of panels of loyalty unto death built one of fandom's classic minor-character ships.
Mello/Near
Common Tropes in Mello Fanfiction
Other Death Note Characters
Light Yagami
13k works
A bored honor student who found a notebook that kills and appointed himself god of a new world as Kira. His cat-and-mouse war with L — equal parts chess match and mutual fixation — built the template for every genius-versus-genius anime since.
L
12k works
The world's greatest detective, a barefoot, sugar-fueled insomniac who crouches on chairs and solves impossible cases under a single letter. He handcuffs himself to his prime suspect, calls him his first friend, and means at least half of it.
Near
4k works
L's first-ranked successor, a white-haired child who solves the Kira case with toy robots, finger puppets, and zero sentimentality. He inherits the title but admits neither he nor Mello could surpass L alone — a thesis fic has been arguing about ever since.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fanfics feature Mello?
Mello appears in 6k+ works on AO3, making them one of the most popular characters in the Death Note fandom. You can browse all Mello fanfiction using the Fanfict Reader app.
What are the most popular Mello ships?
The most popular Mello ships include Mello/Matt, Mello/Near. These pairings feature prominently in AO3 fanfiction.
What tropes are common in Mello fanfiction?
Common tropes in Mello fanfiction include Angst. Use Fanfict Reader to filter and find exactly the type of story you're looking for.
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