Light sat silently sketching in the notebook Julie had given him to work in. Occasionally flicking his eyes to the raven, who seemed to be lost in thought while cooking in the kitchen. Beyond's cell phone buzzed silently on occasion, causing him to quickly lift the device and eagerly read what information it had to display.

Light sighed out and Beyond glanced up from his task. "You alright?"

Nodding quietly before snapping the book shut in frustration, Light groaned. "Why are hands so hard to draw!?"

Chuckling to himself, Beyond turned the stove off and slid the food into the small oven. "Need a model? Sometimes when I can't get something sketched out, I need a real life model."

Sighing heavily again, Light stared at the sketchbook. "I think I just need inspiration in general."

"We could go out, maybe a change of scenery will help you."

Shifting his eyes to the sliding glass door Light stared dully outside. "A change of scenery is literally just steps away." Rolling his ruby eyes as he read his most recent text message. Light sat forward and hugged his knees. "Who have you been texting with so much?"

Slowly lifting his eyes from the device, Beyond took a shallow breath and braced to get yelled at. "Uh, Maddog, she left town to see some friends over the holiday."

Light gently laid his head onto the tops of his knees and smiled. "That's good. I know she was talking about maybe going. She needed to skip town for a bit. Get a break from the city. Let me know when she reaches her destination, I just talked to her yesterday, I don't want to bug her."

Fluttering his eyes in confusion of the smoothness of the whole situation, Beyond felt a small smile tug at his lips. "Yeah. I'll let her know you miss her. She was leaving me instructions to feed Bruno."

The brunette smiled softly again. "That explains it."

"But, uh, I wasn't talking about just going outside. I meant, uh, do you, maybe, want to go out?" Beyond darted his eyes towards his feet and mentally chastised himself for how timid the request came out.

The brunette shrugged his shoulders. "We can. It's cold though."

Beyond dropped his shoulders in disappointment and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay. Let me clarify, without any pussification and full transparency. Would you want to date me? Like a relationship, like now."

Light froze momentarily then whipped his head to where the raven was standing, analyzing his body language to see if the other was being serious. "Seriously?"

Beyond rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I mean, if you don't want to, that's fine, I just want to know where the boundaries are. It's been a little blurry where the boundaries between us lie. I don't want to do or think about anything that isn't there. If all you're after is a situationship, like, that's fine, but, I want to know before I commit any emotions to this. I'm not trying to take advantage of someone who may still be grieving. I don't want to get wrapped up in something that isn't there. If you need a distraction, trust me I am down to give you a physical distraction. But… if that's all it is, I don't want to fall for you." Taking a shaky breath in Beyond continued while still averting his eyes from the brunette. "Your answer doesn't change anything right now. Okay? You're still welcome to be here, I'm still going to teach you… I don't want to be manipulated. If you're only after physical gratification, I will happily oblige, but I don't want to get feelings caught up where they aren't wanted."

Light could feel the pit of his stomach drop at the presentation of the inquiry. "So, here's the thing, I really like you. So, full disclosure, at this point, I already have feelings for you, and I think a situationship would break my heart. I would want more than just physical."

Lifting his eyes from the floor, Beyond gazed over the room with a perplexed expression while processing what Light had said. "So, is that a yes?"

Light blinked a couple times slowly before smiling. "Yes. That is a yes." The two stared at each other for a moment, both unsure of what to do next. Light cleared his throat and laid back on the bed. "So, you want to actually come over here, so I can kiss my official boyfriend?" He smirked coyly at Beyond who returned the smirk with a lopsided smile.

Beyond padded over to the bed and flopped next to the brunette, pulling him into a tight embrace, careful to avoid the still healing tattoo while nipping at his neck. Light pulled himself as close to the other as possible, running his hands up Beyond's back, digging his fingers into the ebony locks while sighing happily. "I don't want to scare you, but I think it's possible I already have some strong feelings toward you."

Light rested his hands on either side of Beyond's face, gently running the pad of his thumb over the cheek that doesn't have the piercing. "About time. You're everything I've ever wanted in someone." The raven bit his own bottom lip as the brunette spoke. "You're kind, thoughtful, and caring. What more could I ask for?" Light laughed quietly. "You look like a tough guy, but you're quite the gentleman… sometimes." He smirked after adding the last word.

Beyond leaned his lips right above Light's and whispered. "Yeah? Sometimes?" Light nodded smugly. "I see…" Beyond closed the gap between their lips and bit the brunette's bottom lip, causing a breathy moan from the other. "Mm. Shouldn't tease you. We need to let your tattoo heal before any kind of activities like that."

Releasing a flustered huff out of his nose, the brunette grabbed the sides of the other's head. "Oh, I don't think so. I want you. Right now."

Responding to the aggressive behavior, Beyond smirked deviously. "If you say so." Sitting himself up, Beyond pulled his shirt off of himself before quickly undoing his pants. With Light doing the same. They're lips clashed together for a deep kiss before the brunette was flipped onto his stomach without realizing what had happened.

Light's body instinctively shuddered as fingertips traced his spine. Arms bracing the raven on either side of Light's shoulders. The brunette could feel a trail of goosebumps follow the pair of lips that traced up his back, before gasping loudly at the sensation of teeth sinking into his shoulder. Light released a breathy moan as a hand gently caressed his neck, pulling his face upwards for another kiss. They're lips grazed each other before Light's phone started ringing loudly, tearing any romance from the moment.

Beyond groaned and dropped his head onto the back of Light's shoulder. "Can we just ignore it?"

Lifting the phone, Light glanced at the caller ID and felt his world crumble away. "Fuuuck. It's my sister, I have to take it." The raven groaned once again and rolled away from Light.

The raven gave his partner a devious smirk. "Can I ignore it? I can't guarantee it won't be obvious you're distracted though."

Light laughed and wiggled away from the other while sighing before answering. "Moshi moshi."

"Where are you? Is Christmas Eve and you aren't home. You should be with your family if you aren't going to be home!"

Light turned his head while being lightly scolded and smiled at his unamused partner who seemed to be starting at the ceiling with annoyance. "Sorry Sayu, I…"

"No! No! I want you to look me in the eyes before you lie to me!" The phone started ringing again with a video call. Light flashed his eyes at Beyond with panic. He shrugged silently while still glaring at the ceiling but tossing a blanket over Light's body.

Beyond whispered in Light's ear as he was rolling back away. "This is bullshit."

Mouthing back to Beyond, "I'm sorry." The video connected and Sayu started into the screen, face full of anger. "Sayu… like I was saying… I decided to spend some time with people that I couldn't spend any time with while L was alive. Isn't that what you wanted? There's no way you actually wanted me to sit at home and wallow away in sorrow. What happens when I find someone I'm interested in? Are you going to mother me and tell me no?" Light returned her intense stare.

Sensing there would be no further actions in their previous engagement, Beyond pulled his shirt back over his head and slipped some sweatpants on. "No! Of course I wouldn't ever dream of denying you trying to move on, that's really great! I'm sorry, with everything that's happened, I feel more and more distant from you than ever, I never hear from you, I've stopped by your home a couple different times and you're never there. I want you to do whatever you need to do to move on!"

The oven beeped, and without thought, Beyond sat up and proceeded to the kitchen. A moment of silence passed over Sayu before she took a deep breath and shouted excitedly. "Oh my god! You were having an affair!"

Light's eyes widened and a loud laugh escaped. "No! Not true! It's… " Light's golden eyes trailed to Beyond who was quietly making plates of the dinner he had made. "It's that guy we kind of talked about, remember? The one that was helping me with the house?"

"Onii, I told you to marry the diner chef." Sayu pouted out playfully.

Light smirked at the phone. "Oh, but I'm dating him. They are one in the same."

Sayu squealed elatedly. "I told you that you had more game than L!" She froze for a moment, her smile dampening a bit. "I mean, not that L wasn't a good looking guy. He was just a shut in, and, well, a little weird. You guys were kind of ill matched."

Light smiled happily and waved Beyond over. The raven stared at the phone for a moment before sighing and bringing Light his dinner and sitting next to him in view of the phone. He took a deep breath and waved. "Hi."

Sayu's eyes narrowed to inspect the image further and leaned closer to the phone. "What color are your eyes?"

"I have albinism in my eyes. Technically, they don't have a color."

"The guy from the party!" Beyond flinched at her accurate memory. "Wait. I thought you hated him, Light? Some weird drama to do with L?"

"Oh jeez. That's a long story." Light sighed out.

Beyond narrowed his eyes slightly at Sayu before speaking. "Long story short. I'm L's brother. Your brother has a thick skull. L never talked about me because we had a tumultuous relationship to say the least. Anyway, L got iced, I inherited the house, which should have been inherited by Light, but they weren't married. So, I ended up making a bunch of repairs on the house so that it was suitable for Light to live in. We ended up running into each other and have been pretty inseparable since."

Sayu nodded knowingly. "I see, grieving together. I see why Light doesn't need me. Thank you for helping him! I didn't catch your name?"

"Beyond Birthday."

"Oh! I'll have to tell Nate that Light has been with one of his relatives!"

"Don't!" Beyond barked out. "I dont have the best relationship with most of my family. He doesn't need to know, just trust me when I say, your brother is in good hands, I won't let anything hurt him. I'm not a serial killer or a whack job. I'll take good care of him, I promise. But, my identity can be our little secret." He winked and raised his finger to his lips. Light shifted a suspicious side glance towards the raven.

Sayu gave a thumbs up and a brilliant smile. "Oh and Onii, tell your colorful friend, Maddy, I said hello!" She waved goodbye and blew a kiss before disconnecting the call.

Light set the plate of food off to the side as he got dressed. "So, is there a reason you're dodging Nate?"

Beyond sighed sadly as he absentmindedly pushed food around his plate. "He thinks I'm dead. I doubt he'd recognize the name I gave Sayu. It isn't my birth name. That name died with my freedom."

Light scooted a little closer to Beyond, placing a warm hand onto his knee. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."

Setting his plate on the table, the raven sighed as he scooped Light's hands into his. "No. I should. I went to juvenile detention and then later prison for second degree murder. My dad… if he could be called that… because he wasn't my dad." Scarlet eyes lifted and locked with concerned golden irises. "Nate and L are both my half brothers, I didn't lie to you when I said, my brother from another mother. And the situation is so fucked and out of control at this point… how do you even begin to fix it? L's mom and Nate's dad had an affair."

Light raised his eyebrows in realization. "Albinism. L's uncle, Nate's dad… he has albinism."

Beyond solemnly nodded. "When I was born, L's dad, he wasn't a fool, L came by his intelligence honestly. He knew he was a carrier of the gene, but how could his wife also be a carrier, when neither of her parents or grandparents had it? Carriers don't pass on the mutation. But, a parent with albinism can pass on noticeable traits to their offspring who are now also carriers. How could a carrier and a non carrier pass on a dominant trait?"

Glancing his eyes away from Light's. "He gave my mother the option. Terminate the pregnancy or give me to my father, because he was not about to raise someone else's kid. It worked out. Nate's mom was struggling with fertility. They couldn't conceive, had they been able to conceive when they wanted to… Nate would have been about the same age as L. Which would have put him a year or two older than me rather than three years younger. Either way, she raised me as her own. God, not a day goes by that I don't think about my adoptive mom."

"Why haven't you contacted her?"

"My biological mother told them I died in prison. She didn't specify that it's not that I was actually dead, just dead to her. Not to discredit, she did pay off a couple of inmates to try." Saddened crimson eyes drifted back towards the brunette. "How do you come back from that? I'm a criminal that killed my dad's brother, my brother's dad, my mother's husband, my other brother's uncle."

"But, how did you get into the situation that allowed for that in the first place?"

Beyond sighed heavily. "My dad lost his job at the factory he managed. They were going into debt. L's dad offered to take me off their hands. They didn't want to. My dad was adamant that I didn't go live with them. But, I didn't want my family to suffer with money over me. An inconvenience, the product of an affair. I promised my dad that when I turned sixteen I'd get a job and help him with money so I could move back in. I'd only have to live there for two years. In the meantime, I could get to know my other brother better… or, so I thought."

"How did you figure all this out?"

Beyond took a deep breath in through his nose and wiped a stray tear. "Like L, I came by my best trait honestly via my father. My dad was always an honest man. He never lied to me or sheltered me from the truth. If I asked. He answered honestly."

Light's lower lip trembled with sorrow for Beyond. "You're so incredibly strong, but so, so stupid." Light reached out towards Beyond, pulling him into his arms. "I don't know a whole lot about Nate's extended family, but he always gushed about his brother. I need you for a moment, to put yourself in his position. With everything you know about the situation between you, L, his own family, his extended family…" Light sighed and held the raven close in a tight embrace. "I think he doesn't just deserve to know you're alive, he needs it."

Wrapping his arms around Light's waist and resting his forehead against Light's neck. "You're right. He's going to be so pissed."

Tilting his own head slightly to gently rest on Beyond's, Light sighed. "I'll help you where I can. If this is what you want. If you don't want to do anything about it? I'll support that decision too. I'm not going to force you to do anything. But, it sure would make holidays easier." The brunette chuckled at Beyond's lighthearted scoff.

-x-

Sayu tapped her pen on a piece of paper while pondering the previous phone call. 'I definitely see the resemblance between Beyond and L. First at the engagement party and now. But… I've seen him before…'

Standing herself up from the table, the brunette smiled at her husband who had fallen asleep on the couch watching Christmas movies in the living room. Her eyes drifted to the decorated tree in the corner of the room. Her eyes fell on a particular ornament. 'No…'

Sayu tiptoed towards the tree and reached out for a picture that was framed in ornament size. Her eyes fell onto a young Nate hugging another boy with a bright smile, a small robot toy abandoned behind him. Her eyes drifted to the other boy. Scarlet eyes, a brilliant smile, clutching Nate just as tightly. 'Beyond Birthday, is Nate's dead brother?'

Shaking her head she narrowed her eyes, replacing the ornament carefully back onto the tree and walking over to her laptop. She quickly opened a search tab and searched - "how rare is albinism in human eyes?" Sighing at the results on the page that read - "1 in 60,000 males" 'Okay, so pretty rare, but not rare enough to eliminate the possibility of him just being a relative. Genetic components from the X chromosome… it clearly runs in the family, so it's not impossible they're different people, he could very well just be a cousin.'

Sayu picked up her pen and chewed on the end of it before searching related topics to keywords "Beyond Birthday."

An article popped up from a website detailing Beyond's tattoo artistry profile, some minor details about the artist's life. Sayu sighed in defeat when she read the paragraphs. 'So, no one knows who you are.'

"Very little is known about the artist Beyond Birthday, he plays a hard defense game when interviews ask too many personal questions. It's unknown where Beyond was born, but what we do know: Beyond has been a British citizen his whole life, he made his debut in Rogue Salon and Parlor as the legendary Julie Fife's second apprentice. He has been tattooing for four years on record, though, with how well practiced his art is, there is speculation that he has been tattooing in the past. Rumors suggest that Beyond is somewhere between his mid twenties and early thirties. His most recognizable art forms are his realism and natural styles. He's best known for his small details and shading."

Humming silently she heard Nate stirring on the couch. She quickly exited the search and shut her laptop. 'I need to talk to him. There are too many coincidences, and just as many loopholes.' She made a note in her phone - "Rogue Salon and Parlor."

The cold wind swirled snow through the air silently. The earliest morning rays breached the sliding glass door. Light smiled tiredly at the sleeping raven next to him. His golden eyes drifted to their hands that were still interlaced. Smiling at the memory of falling asleep facing each other while talking into the late hours of the night. Light lifted the raven's hand and read the lettering on his right hand, the letters spelled 'free', one on each finger. His eyes drifted up to the diamond dermal piercing that sat perfectly on the other's cheekbone.

'The more I look at him, the more I see both Nate and L in him. Higher cheekbones and strong jawline like L, but a rounded face and smaller ears, like Nate.'

Scarlet eyes opened groggily causing Light to give a tiny smile in response. "I promise I wasn't being weird. I was just admiring your face."

Beyond tiredly chuckled and pulled Light into his arms tightly. "That sounds a little weird."

Snickering quietly, Light smiled and cuddled close to the raven. "I never got you anything for Christmas. What do you want?"

Yawning deeply while closing his eyes, Beyond hummed. "I'm set. I've got what I want."

"Come on."

"Getting laid wouldn't hurt." They both shared a tired laugh as Beyond kissed Light's forehead. "We'll worry about that later."