Chapter XXVII – M for Memories

"Agon? What do you mean he scares you?" Alistair looked up from his police theory exam notes. Along with him in the room was Matthias also preparing himself for their entrance test into the police force. The redhead motioned his blonde brother closer and glared his friend to leave. Matthias quickly responded, not without shooting an anxious gaze at the blonde.

Shutting the door behind him, Matthias leaned against it to listen. He knew he shouldn't but … he never liked that Agon guy. Maybe it was because of the way he had always eyed Arthur like a beast hunting its prey slowly closing in. Or maybe it was since they started dating after Arthur's 15th birthday and something in Matthias felt like it had woken up. Until then, he had never really seen Arthur that way but now … every time he looked at the blonde, his heart hammered in his chest. And he hated Agon with a passion that would kill a man … if only that were more than just a metaphor.

Inside Alistair's room, Arthur took a seat on his brother's bed, feeling the watchful gaze of Alistair on him. He didn't know who else to talk to anymore. He didn't want to sound spoiled or to make it sound like there was any real threat but … …

"Tell me again. What do you mean Agon scares you?" Alistair's voice was low and almost trembling in bottled up rage. Arthur jumped and tried to calm the oppressing dominant pressure of his brother with his own soothing Omega aura. He really didn't want to make his brother go wild and kill his boyfriend. Not when nothing had actually happened.

"It's not … that big a deal … it's just sometimes … when he gets jealous … Agon is a bit … scary."

"How scary?"

"Well he … he doesn't mean to but his Alfa pressure is … he's a bit possessive, I know but I … I start feeling like a puppet … I can't stop myself from obeying his word …"

"WHAT?!" Alistair roared angrily, making Arthur cringe. The scarlet man forced himself to calm down as he did not want to oppress his brother under his dominance.

"Sorry." He mumbled, earning a nod in reply from Arthur. But as he spoke again, Alistair hissed in between his teeth, like an angry snake.

"Did Patrick explain to him? Is he mistreating you, Arthur? He should not force his word on you no matter the circumstance! Because you love him, you'll naturally let your guard down for him but that doesn't give the right to control you! Did you talk to Patrick about this?"

"… I wanted to but ... No. Not yet."

"Why not? It's his friend and he's the heir." Alistair frowned, now puzzled by his brother's reaction to come to him instead of Patrick. It's not like he and Arthur are known to get along well. They constantly argue about every little thing. Alistair thought he would be the last person Arthur would come for advice!

"That's why … I don't know how to tell him. I don't want him to punish Agon … or ruin their friendship."

"Arthur, you are more important than any friend we may or may not have!"

"… But Agon is …"

"I know you love him but … look, I'll touch a word about it to Patrick if you want but on your side, I want you to seriously discuss this with Agon. He must understand what it means to be allowed to date you."

The blonde didn't answer. Alistair tried to supress the dark aura of anger that threatened to flow out of him as he quietly spoke in a gentle appeasing voice.

"Arthur, don't worry. If he harms or threatens you … It will be the last thing he does."

Arthur nodded and started walking off when his brother spoke up one last time.

"I'll take care of everything."

Arthur nodded briefly and walked out of the room, pushing past Mathias but without seeing him. Arthur could easily be like that: Walking by people but never seeing them. Alistair waited a few minutes to collect his thoughts before he spoke up again in a deep and controlled voice.

"Mathias … I know you heard everything. I have a job for you."

The Dane peeked through the door and hastily nodded as he witnessed the redhead in such a state of controlled rage that it terrified him. Alistair looked all calm and composed. But Mathias felt that if he stepped even one foot in his friend's room, he would be killed by the mere pressure of his friend.

"I want you to fetch me my brother." Alistair spoke casually but his eyes glowed of a green demented light.

[Time Skip]

"I would know! There is absolutely no way Agon would …!"

"Are you telling me that you too went completely blind?! That guy is lying through his teeth! Even I can tell! Do you think he sparkles with innocence?!" Alistair roared in rage, the walls of the Kirkland household trembled under his pressuring dominance and it almost felt like the earth would start to shake soon too. Patrick took a step back, mainly due to shock. He was the heir. No doubt. So why was he feeling overpowered by his younger brother?

"Agon would not …!" The ginger argued, defending his friend.

"HE FUCKING WOULD SINCE THAT FRIEND OF YOURS IS A FUCKING BASTARD ABUSING YOUR OWN BROTHER! AND YOU ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT!" Alistair screamed his lungs out.

Around them, only William was watching since their parents were out and Merwin was on some job. Peter was taken care of by Arthur upstairs and Fiona was at a girlfriend's sleepover. Which left only Patrick in charge and Alistair to challenge his authority. For someone in the Clan to challenge the head, he must be extremely confident but also prepared to accept any form of punishment for the cost he is willing to pay.

"Alistair … know your place." Patrick seethed in between his teeth, his eyes glowing as bright and demented as the scarlet.

A soft chuckled escaped Alistair, making both Patrick and William watch him in surprise. Lifting his head up, the crimson hair fell out of his face as Alistair stared dully at the ceiling and whispered in a low confident tone, a small smile gracing his lips.

"My place … It's right here: Protecting my family. What about you brother? Where is your place?"

Patrick's eyes nearly bulged out as he pounced on his brother, blinded by anger and outrage for the insult Alistair had thrown at him. The two started to fight but it was unlike all their past spares and brawls. This time, they were not brothers playing around. They were two Alfas and they were out to tear each other apart. For pride. For blood. For love. They were two Alfas out to kill. For their rights.

William tried stepping in between them but only got injured in the process. He watched in horror his two brothers turn into bloodthirsty beasts tearing each other apart. Blood was becoming the new colour of their carpets.

"I … I'll fix it." The shy voice reached out, shivering and barely whispered.

Alistair and Patrick both froze as they smelled and felt the fear in their most precious being. William panicked and jumped to position himself in the doorway between the two enraged Alfas and his younger Omega brother. But Arthur was not scared of them. He wasn't scared of Alistair's rage. He wasn't scared of Patrick's outburst. He wasn't scare of William's warning growl of disapproval as he walked past the third of his Alfa brothers and faced the first two.

"I will fix this. So please … don't kill each other. I will never forgive you if one of you dies." Arthur spoke in a supremely calm voice.

Both Alfas stepped away from each other and their boiling blood and adrenalin finally settled down. They breathed heavily, soaked in blood and presenting both heavy injuries. Patrick's injured eye was now painting half of his face in blood with a large cut running down it. It will probably leave a scar. But right now, the ginger couldn't care less. He was unable to move a muscle since Arthur told him not to. And an Omega's wish … is absolute.

Shivering in fear, all three Kirklands suddenly understood what their grandfather meant when he told them about respecting Omegas: If Omegas were to rebel, the world would fall in their hands like breadcrumbs.

[Time Skip]

Agon looked down angrily.

"Arthur. What was that about?"

The blonde felt a hand pull on the chain and crushing his neck. He couldn't breathe. His body was bruised and there was absolutely nothing he could do, immobilised by the taller and larger body holding him down. Agon watched with pure glee at the pain-stricken face of his boyfriend. Who knew that it would be so pleasurable to crush the only Kirkland Omega under his will like that? Who knew he would enjoy it so much?

"You complained to your brother about me? Do you know Patrick is now distant with me and they keep sending that puppy thing … what's his name again? That Danish guy …"

Agon looked down as he heard a soft whimper. He took hold of a whip and slashed down Arthur's back, blood trickling down the already beaten body.

"What was that?!"

"Ma-Ma … Mat-thias …" Arthur breathed rapidly and when the pressure around his neck eased, he coughed and vomited.

"Ah right! I forgot even dogs have names! Heh! That's guy's been pissing me off since the beginning! He's always been hanging around to keep an eye on me. I thought I got rid of him when you became mine but now he's even more of a pain! I bet it was Alistair's idea to put him on my tail! That brother of yours is a little bit too possessive, don't you think? It's weird … after all, he's just your brother. Isn't he?" Agon's eyes turned cold and cruel as he spat those last words and forcefully made the younger teen look at him.

In between his tears, Arthur could see the burning jealousy of his lover and the cold hatred. Why? Why did Agon become like this? Why would he be jealous of Alistair? Not just Alistair … whenever Arthur speaks to someone or even looks at someone, Agon will get angry and recently even started punishing him.

Possessiveness …?

No. This was abusive obsession. Mentally illed obsession.

"He's … my brother …" Arthur spoke in a croaked voice.

Agon, hearing the odd sounding of Arthur's voice, seemed to briefly snap out of his state of rage and looked down in half-shock and half-amazement at the state he had put Arthur in. With trembling hands, he gently undid the chain around Arthur's neck, flinching at the bleeding red marks it had left. He apologised in a panic and started carrying Arthur to a room with a bed to rest and where he tended to Arthur's wounds.

Arthur watched with a sad smile and let himself drift to an agonising sleep, silent tears falling out of his shut eyelids.

Why did love … hurt so much?

[Time Skip]

Arthur watched in shock and fear.

A beast. A bloody red beast tearing to shreds its prey and leaving nothing but bones and torn flesh. That is what Arthur was witnessing.

Alistair stepped back, whipping the blood off his face where a cut near his temple was bleeding abundantly. He shot a glaring green gaze at his older ginger brother who was frozen in shock, then his gaze soften as it landed on his blonde brother, currently safe and secured by the side of his Danish friend. Alistair looked back at his prey. Agon was lying on the lawn of the Kirkland household, beaten to a pulp and still lucky enough that Alistair had left his legs in one piece but that was mainly so that the bastard could walk out of their lives and disappear forever.

"You are undeserving of my brother. Disappear. Never attempt to speak to my brother again."

Agon spat in the grass growing in his face, his eyes no longer sparkled as he glared hatefully at the man who had beaten him. This was the first time Agon tasted defeat. And the price it came with. His mirror gaze turned to the one person that brought light to his world. Arthur was looking back at him … in fear and horror. There was absolutely no love left in those beautiful emeralds.

"You are not the Head." Agon smirked back at Alistair, ignoring the terror in Arthur's gaze as if the blonde was trying to warn him not to test his brother.

Alistair only smirked.

"Aye. I'm not. Ain't that pathetic of you? You didn't even get kicked out by the Head!"

Agon realised the weight in those words. He had lost. The look of terror in everyone's eyes watching them … that was not due to Alistair's display but to him … they were watching him with disbelieving rage and horror … like mirrors … he watched his own terrorised expression in the dull emeralds surrounding him. It was his own fear that he was seeing on their grim faces. He looked up at the red monster smiling down at him.

"Yield." The order rang and the sentence fell.

[Time Skip]

There's … no way … right?

Arthur stared with wide terrorised eyes at his boyfriend. He couldn't even scream since his voice went mute from fear, his lips trembling. The shackles on his wrists were becoming painful and the more he struggled, the more blood seeped out of the wounds. Agon looked down on his precious little Omega. Arthur was really beautiful even when he was terrified … no, maybe he was even more delicious with that look of terror in his emerald eyes. Grinning sadistically the man leaned down to bite at Arthur's rose tattoo on his left hip. Birthday present from Alistair … eh?

The man growled and pulled out a knife. Before Arthur could scream, the blade was driven into his flesh and ripped the rose to shreds. Tears poured out of Arthur's eyes as he screamed in agony. Agon licked the boy's blood flowing form his leg. He looked up and smiled to Arthur. His perfect sparkling smile.

"Let's get you another tattoo. One from me rather than your stupid brother." He spoke in a light and teasing tone. Arthur shook his head in fear and panic but could only watch as the man licked and kissed his body, slowly moving up until Agon reached Arthur's neck and started biting, leaving bleeding marks on the boy's collar bone.

"Does it hurt?" He chuckled, enjoying the terror of his victim.

Arthur cried but could not speak a sound.

"Oh! That's right! I forgot I forbade you to speak! Hm~! What a good little obedient Omega! That's my little Arthur~! Well, that's fine! I need your mouth for a different purpose anyway!"

Arthur felt his mouth sudden get assaulted, a tongue sliding in and devouring him. In the past, Arthur used to enjoy kissing those lips. But now, these perfect kisses terrified him. It hurt. It felt wrong. He was absolutely hopeless …

"You didn't think I'd let you go, did you? I don't care about your Clan's tradition! I don't care! So what, now I can't have you just because your stupid brother beat me?! He's not even the heir! You thought by telling your brother, you'd escape from me? I'm never letting you go, Arthur! Never!"

Arthur cried silently as he felt the man move down, ripping a packet of condom with his sharp white teeth. His perfect smile and his mirror eyes … why was Arthur so scared of them now?

"Ah shit … ripped it when I opened it." Agon threw away the condom and a hungry grin grew on his face.

"Well, it doesn't matter, I guess! After all, you're all mine, Princess!"

Arthur's eyes widened as he watched the other male on top of him pull of his own clothes. Agon leaned down close to Arthur's ear and whispered darkly in that perfect voice of his.

"You can call the giant, the dragon, the unicorn or any beast you wish … I will still find you and I will catch you, Princess."

Arthur opened his mouth but no sound came out. Agon looked at him, slightly puzzled before smiling softly.

"Alright. I'll let you speak this once. Go on! What is it?"

Arthur suddenly felt a pressure on his lung and his throat lessen and he felt he could speak and breathe again. Swallowing, Arthur spoke in a weak and trembling voice.

"I … I'm not … a Princess …"

Agon stared down in surprise at the words. He expected everything from beg to fury. But he did not expect this. Arthur's emeralds still were terrorised and he still kept forcing on his shackles pointlessly. But why was he still challenging him? In this position … Arthur should be helpless … in fact, he is helpless. One word of Agon and Arthur would do anything. So why is he still…?

"Eh~ … You really are the strangest Omega … Still challenging me when you know nothing can save you … just because I was forced away by your Clan, they still could not stop me from finding you … and now, here you are … alone … all mine …" Agon leaned to steal another long and sensual kiss.

Arthur heard himself moan and mentally hated himself for it. Agon, on the other hand, was rejoicing in this.

"Oh! Letting you speak is a much better idea after all! I want to hear more of those!" He leaned down and teased Arthur's nipples, grazing at the boy's skin with his teeth.

"A-Agon … P-please … I don't … want … this …" Arthur breathed out in between his moans. His vision was blurry from tears and he soon felt a tongue wipe them away and Agon's face returned in his field of vision, grinning like a Prince Charming … how terrifying.

"I never said you did. But I want this, Arthur. I want you. And I will have you."

"N-No …" Arthur felt a scream get caught at the back of his throat as Agon slammed his lips on his.

The door flew off its hinges and landed into the wall.

Agon looked up in sudden anger at the interruption but his face soon paled at the sight he was faced with. His body unconsciously began to shake at the memory of his last punishment and beating, remembering the pain of each blow. Whoever thinks fairy tales are sweet … has never opened a book of Grimm. A giant, a dragon and a unicorn charged in … no, wait … can unicorns look like beasts of fire and blood? Alistair Kirkland stopped seeing clear the moment he landed eyes on his brother's condition. Patrick's expression was probably the one showing the most of emotions, among them betrayal and revenge. William was losing his carefree façade, a roaring beast losing all control took over.

Arthur cried but this time, a smile on his lips before he completely passed out.

There was nothing but ruins as the beasts walked away after their punishing rampage. Somewhere in the rumbles they left behind the broken body of what used to be a man. Now, you'd be generous to call him a corpse.

Patrick stared in disbelief at the marks of beating and abuse on his brother's body. He had no idea that this was going on under his nose. Of course, Alistair had kept warning him about it, pushing him to do something but … he really was blind. Blinded by sparkles and trust.

"I'll never forgive you. If you hadn't made Arthur meet that guy …" Alistair hissed at his older brother while Patrick was tending Arthur's injuries.

They were alone in Arthur's room. Alistair's eyes kept themselves narrowed on Arthur's destroyed rose tattoo since he knew if he looked at his older brother, he might truly kill him. Patrick could not answer. Even just now, the only reason they were able to intervene before Arthur was raped was thanks to Alistair's idea to bug Arthur's clothes with a tracking device and the constant watch of Matthias over him. Patrick had not known that Arthur was constantly suffering oppression and beatings from his boyfriend. And when the blonde came to him with a bleeding face, Patrick had seen red and charged to beat the crap out of Agon … but he never did. Instead, Alistair did.

"I didn't think … How could this … happen …?"

Alistair stayed quiet. He knew how terribly guilty his brother must feel … but he also knew that he would never forgive his negligence. Feeling his phone vibrate, Alistair looked down at the text he just received and his expression darkened as he recognise Matthias' worry for Arthur. He never answered that text.

"A-Agon …" Arthur whispered, tears falling out of his closed eyes.

Even in this unconscious state, the bastard was still completely wrecking Arthur's mind. Alistair and Patrick both felt the weight of responsibility and guilt crush them. For the first time … their brother had shown someone weakness and trust … and in return all he was given was torment and tears.

[Back to Present Times]

Alistair stared at Arthur in the quietness of the room.

"I can't tell you what I said last time. And I can't say that I lied before either." He finally spoke.

Arthur looked up, his expression blank as he listened to his brother.

Alistair cursed himself, clearly remembering his own words when Arthur had first come for his help and again when Arthur returned all beaten up by Agon's hand: "I'll take care of everything." And that time, despite beating Agon to a bloody pulp, the bastard had still managed to kidnap his brother and nearly completely wrecked him. Once already, this promise had been broken. Alistair never thought that, after being left for dead, Agon would return and hunt down Arthur all the way here. Persistent is the least you can say about him.

Arthur shook his head and let out a small smile.

"I never thought you lied."

Alistair once again felt the crushing guilt break over him and offered a small smile in return to the blonde's. He let out a nervous chuckle, more to hide his own emotions than to show comfort.

"You really have a taste for weirdoes!" He sighed heavily, making Arthur frown in confusion.

"What are you saying?"

"Well, Agon isn't exactly normal, we both know. And now, you have that freaky Italian kid."

"Feliciano is not freaky! And we are not dating!" Arthur suddenly felt his face flush as red as his brother's hair.

Alistair let out a laugh, satisfied that he was able to distract his brother away from any dark thoughts about the past. After all, the only way he will allow Arthur to escape this is by aiming for the future. And in that regards, it's the only reason Alistair tolerated Feliciano's … over-friendliness. He didn't have the same fear that Feliciano would turn abusive of Arthur. But he was worried the Italian might hurt Arthur eventually by other means … even if neither Arthur nor Feliciano realised it yet.

"Well, good thing too! Because I would not approve! In fact, you better feel grateful that I'm allowing you to hang out with all those Alfa friends of yours!"

"You have no bloody right to decide who I befriend!"

"News flash: I do! Because I'm your bloody Head Alfa, brat! Remember that!"

"Difficult to forget with you reminding me every fucking day!" Arthur mumbled angrily.

"Are you talking back to me, brat?" Alistair's irritation level quickly spiked up.

Soon enough … another argument erupted. For as long as they can remember, Alistair and Arthur never got along. But for as long as they could remember, Arthur always called on Alistair when he was in serious trouble. And for as long as could be remembered, the Unicorn always answered the King's call.

Arthur was right ... he is not a Princess.