a/n: I do not own any rights to the Panic! At the Disco song quoted within.

Baby we built this house on memories

Take my picture now

Shake it til you see it

And when your fantasies

Become your legacy

Promise me a place

In your house of memories

Those thoughts of

Past lovers

They'll always haunt me

I wish I

Could believe

You'd never wrong me

Then will you

Remember

Me in the same way

As I remember you

House of Memories – Panic! At the Disco – Death Of A Bachelor

"So…we never got that romantic dinner date in London together." Light murmured as his fingers played with the hair at the nape of L's neck. The younger man was not playing fair and L knew it. He leaned into the touch that Light was aware drove him crazy.

"Mmm, no we didn't." L muttered. "And I don't know if I'm quite ready to take you back there yet after all that happened." The Alpha growled lowly. "Especially knowing Max is there and not knowing where Beyond is right now."

"What?" Light paled considerably. "Max isn't in jail? You told me-" The Omega stopped himself and looked away.

Ah, Beyond lied to you about this too. Not surprising.

"Clearly I was misinformed." Light bit out angrily. "But…Max kidnapped me, that's illegal, its-" His voice was rising, growing more upset by the moment.

"In most cases, yes, but since he professes he did it to challenge my claim on you, it wasn't." L interrupted, still annoyed at the whole situation. "Apparently it's perfectly legal to abduct an unbonded Omega under pack law…" L fought back a growl.

"It didn't help that we couldn't find you in his home when I took in a team to try and retrieve you." The Alpha squeezed the brunette's hand and sighed in frustration. "There was nothing we could do to charge him, and all of the deaths amongst his people just made him a more sympathetic figure…almost like he was a victim in all this." L snorted and shook his head.

"What do you mean? Who died?" Light's eyes widened. "I have a feeling there's a lot I missed…"

L took a deep breath and steeled himself to explain what had happened. Tell Light just how much blood covered the hands that had taken him from Max's home that night under the guise of being his mate.

"I came upon the first two near the front entry of the house…"

xxx

Light rolled onto his side, facing the back of the couch as he pulled the blanket tightly around himself. He felt L run his hand up and down his back soothingly. "All those people…"

Dead because Beyond came in there to take me. Guilt coursed through him, even though Light knew it was irrational that he would feel responsible, he couldn't help it. He didn't just feel guilty because of that though. He actually felt bad because he didn't feel one shred of pity upon hearing that the blue eyed Beta was dead. Should I feel sorry that he died?

Nick… Light had been terrified. He'd feared that his life was going to end at the blonde's hands in that hallway. It had been his assumption that the Beta had gone to jail along with Max for assaulting him. Light fought back a smile as he huddled in the blankets, not wanting L to see the blatantly pleased look that threatened to creep across his face.

Of course, he still felt horrible about the guards who'd died and the assault team members who had been injured and killed by the bomb. But Nick had not just insulted him repeatedly that evening, but also assaulted him, threatened his life and had very likely been on the verge of ending it.

Sometimes I just think that this world is rotten…and people like Nick really should be killed off. He thought with disgust. He didn't condone what Beyond had done, he hated the dark haired Alpha. Yes, I hate him. But on the other hand, he couldn't say that Nick didn't have it coming.

The young man was surprised momentarily at how dark his thoughts had turned, how easily he had become judge and jury for a man in his mind. It wasn't like him. You're just growing up that's all…no more room for childish illusions around how justice really works… His mind whispered back.

"What happened in that hallway, Light?" L asked quietly. "You were there, weren't you? Your fingerprints were all over the razor that was used to kill Nick. Last we heard from Aiber, Max had taken off with you up to his room…" Light was quiet for several moments, trying to determine where to start.

"I managed to…incapacitate Max-"

"Yes, quite an alibi he had to cover his ass with all of those bodies on the floor…handcuffed to the bedpost." A hint of jealousy crept around the edges of L's voice, a slight growl to it. "How did you manage to convince him to agree to that little scenario?"

"The only thing I was able to convince Max of was that he shouldn't pin me down and rape me, L." The brunette snapped indignantly, unwilling to put up with any attitude from the Alpha. "I didn't do anything you didn't encourage me to do when we had our little video chat." Light replied sharply. "Anyways, when he realized I was trying to escape there was a struggle and when he hit me-"

Light felt sudden waves of anger pouring from his mate and took pity on him, freeing one of his arms from the blankets and reaching back to grab L's hand. He guided it to his waist and wrapped the man's arm around him, pulling L down on to the couch to lie alongside him. Light felt L take a calming breath, inhaling deeply of his scent as he pressed his chest against the younger man's back.

"I got knocked off the bed, and that's when I got this…" Light murmured, reaching up to his forehead to graze across the still sensitive healing skin. "My head slammed into something, I'm still not sure what…it's kind of fuzzy, I'm guessing it was the nightstand maybe. I was really disoriented at the time. I just remember there being a lot of blood on the floor." L's arm tightened around him and the Omega patted it gently.

He had to remind himself that this was the first time L was actually hearing all of this. Light had told Beyond weeks ago of course as they lay in bed, trying not to cry and occasionally failing to hold back the tears, as he recalled the events of that evening at Max's. The brunette had worked through most of the emotional fall out from that night with care and support from his pseudo-mate, but L…it was all raw and fresh for the Alpha holding him in his arms at the moment.

"It gets a bit hazy from there…it's odd. Like someone put a lens over everything and then there are gaps of time." Light sighed, still a bit frustrated that his usual infallible memory was not crystal clear regarding the events of that night.

"I know that I left the room obviously and made my way down the hall, but I was mostly just thinking about how I needed to get to you and warn you that Max was going to have a sniper take you out if you came to the meeting with him, that I had to protect you. He was fully planning on keeping me for himself." Light snorted derisively, flashing back to memories of the things the other man said in his lust fueled state.

"He was sooooo fucking delusional L. Even when he found out I could understand Russian and had heard all of the dirty secrets they'd been trying to conceal all evening, he just said it made me perfect for him."

Light laughed bitterly as he continued, sharing what he'd found to be some of the most ridiculous and disturbing of the statements made by the Syndicate leader. "The sickest part was when he told me how we were going to have the most 'amazing pups' and that he couldn't wait to 'breed' my…how did he put it, 'gorgeous ass'. Ugh…as if." The brunette's mouth twisted into a scowl.

Light couldn't help the rage that welled up inside whenever he thought about those words from Max. It spoke to the stereotypical treatment of most Omegas as baby machines and homemakers that were only useful when they were spreading their legs or being a perfect little 'wife' for their Alpha. We are so much more than that and most are never given the chance.

The young man was so caught up in his thoughts that it took a few seconds to pick up on the low growl that was building at his back. "I'm ok L." He calmly reassured his mate, who had begun to mouth at his neck, nipping possessively at the unmarked scent gland within view.

"Mine…" L grumbled almost petulantly, his voice was rough with a restrained need to claim and mark his mate.

"Yes…I'm yours L." This seemed to mollify the Alpha, who let out a huff of breath against Light's neck as he began to nuzzle the brunette's nape. "Are you sure you want to hear the rest of this?" Light asked tentatively.

"Yes…" L muttered, so Light continued, telling the other man about how he'd made his way down the hall with the razor he'd stolen from Max and had been confronted by Nick, choked until he passed out and then when he woke up briefly…

"You were there…well I thought it was you, obviously it wasn't." Light cleared his throat before continuing. "I vaguely remember hearing him say something to Nick at some point during all of it, but then I was unconscious again. I had that pretty bad knock to the head after all and Nick had done a number on me." Light's hand reached up to his throat. "I had, umm, bruises from his fingers on my neck for a while, too. I'm honestly not sure what Nick was planning on doing with me, but I was scared L." The young Omega shuddered. "I really thought he was going to kill me."

Light didn't need to say it, but he knew the thoughts hung heavy in the hair for both of them. If Beyond hadn't come along when he did, would Light even be alive right now?

Even if Beyond's actions were motivated by selfish reasons…I don't know what would've happened to me if he hadn't been there. Light was conflicted. He couldn't be grateful to Beyond after all he'd done, but…

"Well I think that's enough of a stroll down memory lane for one day if that's alright with you." L murmured and Light nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "Hmm, maybe you were on the right track earlier regarding what I owe you and I believe you're right that we could use some time together away." L brushed Light's hair away from his neck and placed a soft kiss there. "How about that trip I promised instead? A proper honeymoon? We could be on our way as soon as you'd like, take the jet anywhere…"

Light grinned. "You've gotten better at this romance thing, already planning to sweep me away…who were you practicing on? Should I be jealous?" The young Omega whispered playfully, snuggling back into L's embrace. The Alpha just chuckled in reply and continued to kiss Light's neck, breathing in his scent like he couldn't get enough. "I think that sounds amazing…but what about investigating-" Light asked.

"I'm sure that Mello, Near and Matt will have things well in hand and since we'll be in one of the locations I use for work, it'll be set up for us to get updates from them." Light made a small sound of discontent as L sat up, leaving him colder without the Alpha's arms around him as he reached for his laptop. "I'll get the list of locations pulled up."

"Ah…you might like this one." L murmured after a few minutes of scrolling through the options. "Lots of potential for daytrips and the flight only takes two or three hours. It truly is a beautiful estate, though sadly under used." L side-eyed his mate, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he scrolled through the information. "Tell me Light, do you happen to speak Italian?"

Light grinned and sat up to look over his shoulder at the screen. Now this is getting interesting.

xxx

"What is it Anna?" The Alpha muttered, not taking his eyes off his sparring partner as he caught the woman's scent when she walked in the room. He grinned at the other man and crooked his fingers in invitation, encouraging him to continue. James smirked and came at him without hesitation. The auburn haired Beta was well used to Max's tendency to multi-task during their sessions.

"Our friends within the Met have smoothed over the incident in the alleyway the other day." Anna replied as Max blocked the other man's kick and managed to land a right hook to the Beta's ribs, knocking him back several feet. The dark haired male bounced on his feet, adrenaline surging through him. To Max this was a necessity to maintain his combative skills, so he'd be able to deal with any physical challenges to his authority within his organization and on top of that…

…it's just fucking fun. He loved letting off steam this way. It spoke to a very base part of him to trade punches with another person. But he always made sure he sparred with a Beta. It just got too dangerous between Alphas.

Last thing he wanted to do was rip a guy's throat out like he did that one time a few years ago. God, what a mess that was. Max thought as James caught his breath and started back at him for more. That's what I'm talking about…c'mon. The Alpha smiled darkly.

"Good…have you heard anything about finding our new friend?" Max dodged a punch, but was unable to completely avoid the blow to his side that James landed. The Alpha growled, glaring at the other man, who just shrugged and raised an eyebrow. This is why Max asked him, of all his Betas, to spar with him after all, to provide a challenge…

Max started to chuckle and stopped to grab a towel and bottle of water. "I think we're done for today. I'll see you tomorrow James." The Beta grinned and nodded, picking up his own things and leaving. Max took a long drink of water and tried not to laugh as he caught Anna staring out of the corner of his eye at his bare upper body, her gaze trailing down lower to follow the beads of sweat as they dripped down to where his low slung pants rested at his hips…

"Anna?" He said sharply to get her attention. Doing his best to ignore her distracted state as he pulled on a tank, hoping that would help.

"Hmm, oh, yes…we managed to get quite a few case files on his criminal activity from our contacts as well and I have to admit it was…disturbing…" Her voice trailed off. The normally composed blonde's eyes taking on a haunted look.

"Jesus, Anna." He reached out in concern to tentatively squeeze her arm, hoping it would break whatever spell she was under. She jolted slightly, eyes coming back in to focus as she looked to Max's face with an apologetic expression.

"Sorry, the one case file I looked at was incredibly, umm…graphic." The fair haired Beta gave him a tight smile and took on an air of forced cheerfulness as she continued. "Anyways, the files are on a thumb drive on your desk when you're ready to view them."

"I'll take a look at them in a little bit. Is that all? No sightings?" Anna shook her head.

"No luck, but we've got everyone keeping an eye out."

"Alright, I'll let you know if I have any questions about the files, but why don't you head home. It's late." The Alpha watched her quickly go and let out a sigh as he headed to his office, unraveling the wraps that he wore when sparring from around his hands as he went. He was deep in thought as he made his way through the house, willing to admit that he was curious to see just what kind of things that this Beyond Birthday character could have done to make Anna react so strongly. After all, this was a person who knew exactly what Max did down in the black room and didn't flinch. Well…most of the time anyways.

The Alpha tossed the wraps on his desk and sat down, popping in the usb drive and entering his password to gain access on his laptop. He clicked open the first folder he saw and leaned forward to look closer as thumbnail size images of crime scene photos populated his screen.

Wow… A look of dark fascination passed over Max's face as he opened one up and grinned. Now this is getting interesting.

xxx

L sat perched on a chair in his home office. He'd been working for god knows how many hours now, but was intent on wrapping up this particular case that evening. I've got a flight to catch in the morning after all. He sighed and hopped up, heading towards the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

The raven haired Alpha frowned as he strolled through the house, trying to recall whether he asked Watari to pick up gummy bears while he was out or not. As he reached the kitchen, L went to the pantry and rifled through it, grinning when he found a stash of cookies tucked away. The detective popped one in his mouth and took an additional two in one hand before heading to make himself a cup of earl grey.

The room seemed darker suddenly as he stood there before the tea kettle as steam began to rise. He set down the extra cookies to seek out a fresh teacup with just the light above the stove illuminating the room in his search.

Light…why does that remind me of something? He shrugged and tapped his foot impatiently as the water began to heat. Why isn't it making any sound? He thought quizzically as the steam rushed out rapidly, his heartbeat starting to pound as the familiar terror of the memory set in. No…not again…

"Hello L…" The detective turned slowly, forcing himself to stay calm as he caught the scent of pomegranate. Across the kitchen island, his dark reflection smiled back at him, eyes narrowing as he watched L's body tense and prepare to move.

"What are you doing here Beyond?" L surprised himself with how relaxed his voice sounded, even though he was anything but. "Leave immediately." B giggled maniacally and started circling around the island that separated them, forcing L to move in counterpoint to maintain distance.

"You gonna make me Lawli-pop?" B eyed the block of kitchen knives with a grin, his hand reaching out towards them. "I'd love to see you try." He growled, burgundy eyes flashing a bright red as he pulled one free, giving L all the indication he needed that it was well and truly time to retreat.

Shit, need to get behind a locked door, find a weapon…anything. He thought as he sprinted down the hallway with the footfalls of the other Alpha hot on his heels.

"Ugnh!" He grunted out as Beyond tackled his legs from behind and dragged him down before he could reach a room with a lock on the door. The serial killer was no idiot and was well aware of how dangerous L's legs could be in a fight, so he'd moved to take them out of the equation first. He climbed on top of the struggling detective, pinning down his lower half with his own and shoving his face into the hardwood floor with a groan.

"Stop this now B."

"No." The other man replied in a cold, controlled voice as he used the knife to rip through L's shirt. "Ooh, look at all of this lovely pale skin…" L felt a tongue run across his shoulder blade and shuddered with disgust. "…can't wait to make it bleed…make it red."

L's eyes widened at the other man's statement and he began to struggle anew, growling as he tried to press up off the floor. Beyond grabbed a fistful of L's hair and smacked his forehead into the ground, dazing him. "You know darling, you're only hurting yourself if you fight it…" B traced the knife down to L's lower back. "Hmm where to start? Ahh, how about…here!" He sliced in on the detective's right hip.

It felt like B was cutting forever, even if it was only seconds as he dragged the knife across L's skin, splitting it open to let rivulets of blood pour down on to the tattered remnants of his shirt and pool on the floor.

"Ngh…hnh…B…stop…" He groaned in pain.

"Nope." The Alpha replied moving on to cut a long curve down from his shoulder. "Oh, that's much better L…so pretty…" Beyond's hand smeared the copious amounts of blood around and giggled before sticking one of his fingers in his mouth for a taste. "Mmm, you taste delicious Lawli."

B's hand trailed down to play with the waist band of L's jeans. "You know I've never fucked an Alpha…but I bet you'd be a lot of fun L." He whispered darkly, grinding himself against the raven's ass and slicing into his skin once again to force a loud cry from his mouth. "Oh yes, those are just the sounds I'm looking for…well, shit" Beyond tensed as both he and L heard a gun cock and the other man rolled off him, diving into a nearby doorway as a shot echoed through the hall from behind them, a bullet embedding itself in the wall.

L tried to move as he lay there on the floor, but collapsed as his hands slipped in the blood pooling there. He heard glass breaking, Quillish talking to him…

"L…"

"L…wake up."

The raven opened his eyes to dim early morning rays illuminating the room around him and felt a hand on his back, tracing along the scars. L went rigid, growling lowly, still only half awake. The soft touch along the almost imperceptible lines where Beyond had cut him immediately catapulted him back to the dream he'd only moments ago escaped.

"L, it's just me."

"Light…?" The tension left the Alpha's body in a rush as he took a ragged breath, his voice rough with emotion. His mate's arms came around him and it wasn't long before he calmed with Light's soothing warmth to steady him. "I'm sorry, I…that dream…I haven't had it in so long…"

"It's ok...it's ok…" The brunette murmured, continuing to hold him close and run his fingers through L's hair until the other man eventually fell asleep once more. Light smiled as he heard the other man's breathing even out and wrapped the blankets tighter around both of them before letting himself drift off as well, happy to catch a few more hours of rest curled up next to his mate.

xxx

Max straightened his tie in the mirror before turning to leave his bedroom. The Alpha's expression was dark and forbidding as he stalked down the hall, just daring the people he passed to approach him, test him. He'd been like this ever since reading the files on Beyond Birthday the other night, a storm they were all trying to avoid, hoping to escape the destructive force. James hadn't been so lucky. Max had broken several of the Beta's fingers when they'd sparred again the following night.

He'd seen what the man could do and had been impressed at his ingenuity, both in his methods of murder and ability to evade capture time and again. The man is a criminal genius. But to think of Light having ever been in Beyond's sadistic hands drove him crazy with worry, fearing exactly what kind of state the young Omega might currently be in. Nothing in the files indicated that the Alpha possessed even a shred of mercy or sympathy for his victims after all.

Then to be put back in L's unworthy hands…tch… Max thought with disgust. From what I gather in the files, Beyond absolutely hates L. He's made it a mission to screw with L again and again when committing these crimes. Of course I'm sure the feeling is mutual on L's end. The Alpha stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing as he considered this. I wonder if I can use this. Play them against one another somehow…

A dark smile crept across Max's face as he made his way down the main staircase to the entry, grabbing his coat. Revenge can be a powerful thing and Light has been put in the middle of it all far too much. Hmm, maybe you two will kill each other, save me the trouble of doing it myself…

He chuckled as he opened the front door, stepping out into the bright sunshine that instantly warmed his face. He strolled down the stone path towards the main gate. Yes, I think that sounds like the perfect solution. Max sighed happily, thoughts of a certain golden eyed brunette filling his mind as he slid into the waiting towncar and drove away.

Endnotes:

AF: Max… *knocks on bathroom door* Are you about done in there?

Max: *groans* Yeah, I'll be right out…ngh…just give me a couple minutes.

Beyond: *whispers in AF's ear, grinning naughtily* I saw him head in there with some of my crime scene photos a little while ago. I think you may want to give him a little privacy *winks and leaves*

AF: *stares at door for a few seconds in disbelief and shrugs before walking away muttering to self* Whatever works…who am I to kink shame?

Feedback please my lovely readers….what did you think? Flashback to the break in at L's house mention in Treaty: Claim! Max scenes! Upcoming trip! Any guesses as to where they're heading? J

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