Gloria Victis

A/N: Ok, so I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted and I’m very truly, painfully sorry but my life has been constant drama, what with the holidays as well as a family crisis or two but I think I’m on track again…Anyway, sorry for the long wait. Hope you like. Much love.

CHAPTER FIVE

BAD INFLUENCE

Beyond started to send L 'presents' on Mello's fifteenth birthday. The videos still came regularly, and they were all able to watch the boy deteriorate right before their eyes. This was more than enough, but like his mentor; the kidnapper was easily bored, even with the blond teen to keep him company. The first time, it could have been a coincidence. The first news reports came with the victim having been stabbed 'multiple times'. Then more reports flew in, mostly directed to L himself. It was only the first case as far as they knew, but it had all the trappings of a serial killer in the making.

The victim had been stabbed fifteen times. Bound and left to bleed to death. It had just been a runaway, a vagrant, his system full of various drugs. He had been male, small for his age, which was guessed to be somewhere between around thirteen to fifteen years old. L remembered once when the kidnapper had come to him, exclaiming happy birthday, and did he want to know how many more he had. The significance was not lost on the detective. The child that had been killed was blond; blue eyed, and almost definitely the same age as his Mello.

The next victim was similar, around the same age, though this time his eyes had been more green than blue, and his hair had been bleached blond. This victim had belonged to someone. The detective and his young investigation team had watched the news reports of his mother commanding the search party, watched her tearful tale of how he had been last seen late Sunday evening at services, had stayed behind to help some of the members tidy up the tables and chairs, fold tablecloths and put away the leftovers from pot luck. His mother had gone ahead, trusting her son to make his way home. He was such a good boy, she'd said, always so helpful, so kind to friends and strangers alike. He was a volunteer at several homeless centers, was a member of the choir. His body had been found a few miles away, stripped naked in a field. The mother appeared one last time, begging the police to find the twisted killer that had burned the shape of a cross into each of her son’s palms then slowly strangled him to death as he was being…violated.

The ICPO had called again, wanting L's opinion when a third boy appeared with a similar profile. Near took the calls of course, since the detective was far too preoccupied with trying to contact Beyond himself. After several days, and multiple murders, he received a very short response. BB inquired as to how the detective was enjoying the show, then offered an apology for not responding sooner. It seems he had been quite busy. L waited for the rest of the message, expecting another video. He was greeted with one, but this was of two new victims, ones the police obviously hadn't seen.

They were both obviously drugged, the blond of the pair who resembled the other victims was heavily sedated, eyes fluttering open and shut as the older child stripped him. B's voice could be heard in the background, giving directions. The older child was brunette, had light blue eyes. He was fully clothed, directed to only undo the fly of his loose black jeans. He had a knife in his hand, shaking as he held it to the blonde's throat from behind him. He was begging B not to make him do this, pleading, when there was an audible click of the safety being taken off a handgun. Still the child begged, but he'd taken the blond boy's hip with one hand, pushing into him, fucking him while the child under him cried, begged him by name. They were obviously lovers, the brunette teen was whispering into his ear, telling him it was alright, he was sorry, it would be over soon. He tried to ease the process, reaching around his lover to stroke him gently, even as B ordered for him to go harder, faster, to not be such a weakling. Did he want to die? The bullet whizzed past his head, and he finally complied.

L watched in horror as the brunette was seeming to start enjoying this, despite the terrifying situation. He worked at pleasing the blond child still, but Beyond only screamed, coming towards them and taking the wrist of the hand that held the knife, helping him press the length of the blade into the child's throat. Blood welled up around the knife, but still the kidnapper held on, pressing it further. The child gasped, choked on his own blood, falling flat onto the bed. The brunette teen tried to pull out, was slapped hard by the older man. "Finish!" He commanded. The child was crying, begging, his lover needed a hospital, even though it was obviously too late. The brunette teen stopped moving, pulled out even as the barrel of the gun was pressed into his temple. Then he was begging for it to end, whispering how sorry he was to the blond. He stroked his hair, kissed the back of his neck, crying into his shoulder. The camera was dropped, and they all heard the sound of the bullet exploding out of the gun, cutting off the voice of the pleading vagrant. Then the feed went dead.

"L..." Watari laid a hand on the detective's shoulder, shaking him. "L! It's over, come now, your tears can not bring them back." L turned around, wiping tears from his face and shooting his caretaker a disgusted look.

"That could have been him! It could have been Mello!" Watari rubbed L's back, pulling him to his chest. The detective tensed. "How can you take this so lightly!" The laptop was pushed off the table, crashing onto the floor, cracked and ruined. "How can you watch that and not care!"

Matt rushed forward, cleaning up the mess of the ruined computer and wiping the surface where a cup of tea had spilled, was dripping onto the carpet. He carefully carried the equipment back to a seat on the couch, inspecting it to see if there was any hope of life again. L could get another one, but the redhead hated to see the abuse of a fine piece of machinery. Aside from that, the hours that he might spend fixing the thing would be a nice distraction, might take his mind off of what he'd just seen. "Near, sweetie, can you get my tools?" The albino kissed the redhead's cheek, uncurling from his seat to search for Matt's box of tools. His lover had been teaching him how to resurrect broken computer equipment, how to use the machinery to gain access to anything in the world. Matt wouldn't have a boyfriend that didn't understand his hobby. "Get my fags while you're at it, will you love?"

Near returned shortly, setting the various tools beside his lover, then producing a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pajama pocket. Watari glared from a distance, watching the albino place a stick into the redhead's mouth, lighting it with a suggestive smirk on his face. Matt patted the younger boy lightly on the ass, then proceeded to inspect L's damaged laptop. "Matt, have many times have I told you not to smoke in here? And you're underage!" The redhead just smiled, closing his eyes and taking a deep drag.

"Watari, do leave the child alone. He deserves his vice, after all the stress he has been through. Imagine what he would be like if he were made to witness what we just have, all while suffering the effects of nicotine withdrawal." L stood, crossing to the couch. He leaned down, meeting the redhead's eyes with his own. The boy looked up at him curiously, noting the expression that usually meant he was up to something. "As much as I do not condone underage smoking," L used his index finger and thumb to pluck the cigarette from Matt's mouth, who reached out to snatch it back, but L was too quick, already crossing the room. He placed the cigarette between his lips, sucking on it as if it were something covered in strawberry sauce. "I understand the need for it, to calm and relax the nerves. Ah, yes, I feel my mind clearing already." L spoke, tilting his head as he blew the smoke towards the ceiling.

"Whoa, I like, feel like I just walked in on you having sex or something dude." Matt smirked, then pouted at Near, who was already extracting another cigarette, lighting it like he had before. Then he lay his head in the older boy's lap, looking from him to L. Yes, it was sort of like walking in on their mentor having sex. Almost exactly. Near was reminded of his lover's need for the vice after intercourse, the thought making him squirm uncomfortably.

"Hmm, yes, the effects are similar to that of post coital bliss, as it were. Not quite as preferable, mind you, but close." It was the first time in months that L had made a joke, and though it was definitely cringe-worthy, it was nice to see the detective smile. "Watari, I'll be needing another laptop brought in here. Mine is just upstairs. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to walk down the hall with this in my hand." L took another drag, grinning evilly at his caretaker as he released the smoke through his nose. Matt was surprised. It had taken him months to be able to do that without feeling like he’d set his sinuses on fire yet L had managed with the grace of a seasoned smoker…how the hell had they missed this? Did Mello know? "While you're at it, would you mind stepping out and getting me a pack of my own. I do not think Matt will be feeling quite as generous the next time round."

"Love ya, L, but you're damn right I won't." Watari left, heading to do as ordered, much as he didn't approve. If this would help L relax, then he wouldn't complain. Though he did take the time to wonder where Matt was acquiring his own cigarettes, wondering if he ought to search the child's room for the false i.d. he had no doubt made himself. Maybe Roger was right, a school for geniuses had been a horrible idea.


It was easy enough for Beyond Birthday to pick up his victims, to draw them away from a street corner, a club, sometimes their very own homes. And up until recently, it had been simple to pick them out. His own vanity was always a factor, choosing those who shared his initials, or looked like him. He'd once thought himself rather beautiful, his pale skin, dark eyes and hair. He used to wonder why his former mentor had made comments to how unattractive he was. Now he knew.

After taking what was so rightfully his, after acquiring the precious toy that was Mihael Keehl, it was far more difficult to pick out victims. Each slash, each limb broken and torn, had always excited him, thrilled him. But now he was growing bored with these ordinary people, whose dying breaths, whose pleas and frightened expressions couldn't match those of the pretty blond he kept. With each passing day, little Mihael was coming to love him, to ask him to administer his new and exciting tortures. B's victims only screamed help, and no, stop. There was no thrill in having to drug them, have them lying limp and useless as he cut them up.

These days, he couldn't wait to finish his work and head home, to see the blond waiting for him, chained to their bed, his bright blue eyes wide with excitement as soon as he heard the older man's footsteps approaching. Beyond had abandoned all his former criteria for victims, was now treated to a young green eyed blond (close enough, damn it) hanging on his arm, babbling drug inspired nonsense quicker than the older man could process the words. The boy tripped over a crack in the sidewalk, and B instinctually caught his arm, his movements lighting fast, thanks to the martial arts training he'd learned in youth from watching L.

The blond boy smiled gratefully, standing on tiptoe to reach the face of the taller man. Even in his platform boots, buckled up nearly to his knees, his was much shorter than the murderer, and B had to further slouch to allow it. There was the other thing that perplexed the maniac, who had never before had much an interest in carnal pleasures. Before Mello, the last person that he had kissed, though unwillingly, had been L himself. The man had said nothing of it, gently pushing the slightly younger boy away and returning to his work.

Yes, Beyond had a new obsession. Once it had been L, the fates' greatest gift to mankind, the genius, the embodiment of justice itself. Few goals were more difficult to achieve than that of becoming the detective's successor. But Beyond Birthday had finally found the one thing, the ultimate prize that was better than any title. Alternately, he'd found the loophole to earning that right. If he possessed L's greatest pride than he was L himself. There was no need to wait for the older man to expire, or to kill him even. No, if he earned the love of Mello, than he was L. Because Mello loved no one other than L, never could be able to feel such affection for another human being. The boy had said it himself.

With each passing day, Beyond felt himself dying, felt the persona of L finally taking over each time Mello spoke to him. He hardly needed to kill as often these days, to feed the emptiness he felt in his own skin by bathing in blood. He used to have to take lives just to feel alive himself, but now he was not empty, was slowly filling up with every touch from Mello. He was making him whole. Now the murderer understood all those silly love poems, all those proclamations of affection he'd heard from the lips of the man he aspired to be. Mello made him feel whole. BB wondered if the detective felt it already, how he was draining him each day, scooping out his soul bit by bit and swallowing it like the sweetest strawberry jam. He could feel it, far away as he was from Wammy's House, like an invisible line cast into the older man, a hook caught up on his guts, twisted up and pulling him apart from the inside out.

"Heeeey..." Green eyes cast up to deep crimson, a hand tugging on the collar of his shirt. "Where are you...can't see you in there..." B smiled sweetly, laughed as he saw those impossibly wide pupils trying to bore into him. The eyes couldn't hold their focus, flicked left to right. He blinked, shook his head. "Your eyes..." The blond boy giggled, reminding his new friend of another teen, at home and waiting.

"What about them, love?" The boy shook his head again, the drugs muddling his thoughts. It had been almost too easy this time around, the child had indeed done most of the work for him, pardoning himself to the nightclub's bathroom before they left, coming back several minutes later sniffling and hazy eyed. Beyond could barely stomach this type; they took the fun out of the hunt. Not that his work was all that satisfying any more anyway. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm? Oh. Yes. Very very good." The child took his hand, leading him down a darkened alleyway, pushing him against the wall, chilly fingers running up his shirt already. "You're so hot, you know. Much nicer than the other guys in there too."

BB had noticed this one before, avoiding him due to a reputation he'd heard whispered by some older men at the bar. There was a fair chance that this one was sick, though the rumor had yet to be proved positive. Beyond pulled a few bills out of his pocket, holding them up for the child to see. But the teen pushed his hand away, already dropping to his knees in the alley. Bless the fates, there were all kinds of sharp instruments on the ground, broken bottles, abandoned needles. The teen had been about to kneel on one of these, was quickly yanked up to his feet again. "Careful, love."

"Oh...thank you!" The teenager threw his arms around the older man's neck, forcing him yet again to stoop even lower. This one might be shorter than Mello, though it had been quite awhile since he'd seen his favorite toy stand for more than a few seconds. "That's why you don't have to pay. You're so nice." The boy kissed him, and BB had to force himself not to spit in disgust at the taste of the liquor and cigarettes on the child's breath. One of the few traits that he had not had to force upon himself was his taste for sweets and fruits, and he despised anything bitter. A few reports of the bodies he'd left behind had come to his attention in the newspapers, and he was quite disappointed to see himself dubbed as the mysterious cannibal of the area. Yes, he had taken a few souvenirs, but he most certainly did not normally consume them. He adored the taste of blood, possibly as much as his sweets, but human flesh had a greasy, almost salty texture, and was quite unpleasant. His reasons for taking back spare pieces was simply a scientific fascination, a hobby not unlike that of collecting puzzles or fine china. "Can we go to your place now?"

The green-eyed boy was shivering in his skimpy outfit of leather pants and fishnet shirt. Beyond himself was quite comfortable in his usual attire, and loved the cool air. He ran a hand up a goosebump-covered forearm, delighting when the teenager shivered in pleasure from such a small touch. He'd thought that the boy had only taken some cocaine, noticing his rapidly changing thoughts and excited gestures, but changed his mind now. He must have taken one of those lovely club drugs, the sort that made touching anywhere feel erotic, that made it so very easy for these foolish children to be prayed upon. It was his own fault.

BB stayed silent, letting the child kiss him again. The teen's eyes fluttered shut when the older man gripped a handful of his hair. He went limp at that small touch, and for a moment the murderer thought he was about to black out, had taken too large a dose of the drugs. The brunette spun the child around quickly, pressing his face into the brick wall, pulling bony arms behind the teen's back, holding both wrists in one hand. The boy moaned loudly, encouraging. He was so caught up in his drug induced haze that he didn't notice the sound of a bottle shattering, made no move to get away until a shard was pressed into his throat.

"Oh please don't stop now, angel." Beyond pressed himself against the boy's back, immobilizing him and letting him know just how well the attempt to struggle was pleasing him. His fantasies were out of control these days, and though he'd much rather be at home with Mello, he needed to get this out in case he lost the will to stop himself. It would be so easy to keep going, to draw the glass shard over a different throat, to lose himself in the gurgling noise of someone choking on their own blood. He had to keep taking victims, because he wanted to have Mello forever, but he was so pretty each time he cried out in a mix of pain and pleasure, that sometimes B wanted to keep going, to push the teen's body past it's limits.

Warm blood spilled over his hand, the thick shard cutting into his own hand as he pushed it, getting caught on the bone. The boy was dead of course, as disappointing as that was. He'd gone without much of a fight, had practically asked to be killed when he just stood there, limp, his arms hanging at his sides, his slight weight held up only by the murderer's arm around his waist. Many before him had tried harder, had fought enough to give their attacker that release he felt during their futile attempts.

Only Mello had lived through it all, had been able to please B without the need for a death. The brunette let the teen fall, smeared the blood on his lips, licking each finger clean. Yes, Mihael tasted better than this, but he needed these victims to keep control of himself, needed this vice to prevent him from going too far. He almost felt guilty, seeing this as an act of adultery, but his Mello loved him too much to be angered at the indiscretion.

The body would be found only hours later, reported by a couple from the same nightclub who'd ventured into the wrong dead end. B would be curled around his captive lover, sated and able to sleep like he never had before. Hours later, he would wake the blond; tell him that he was venturing out for breakfast, stopping at a newsstand to see the report. He would sing to himself, taking quick strides back to their love nest, needing to have the teen again after seeing the image of the dead child in the alley.

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'Vampire Killer', 'Perverted Cannibal', the headlines would read, the articles droning on for pages and pages, suggesting everything from a lover's quarrel, to a political cover-up, to a real life monster roaming the streets, preying on little boys, drinking their blood and eating their flesh. Of course the ICPO had called again, asking about Kira's involvement. L actually wrenched the phone out of Near's grip when he heard this, calling them all complete useless idiots before hanging up.

"L, you don't think..." Matt couldn't quite bring himself to finish the sentence, but the face in the full color picture that L held out before him was eerily familiar, though the clothing and the setting was nothing he would expect to see his friend in.

"It is times like these that I wonder if Matt is really deserving of his position as my successor." L pointed to the photo, letting the redhead get a better glimpse before he continued on. "The victim is obviously several inches shorter than our Mello. His nose is wider, lips narrower. This does not look a thing like him. Anyway..." L pushed a plate of untouched sweets across his desk, shoving a stack of newspapers onto the floor. Finally, the mouse was uncovered and he brought up the newest of videos that the kidnapper had sent, the time stamp reading early that morning. Mello was alive, though unconscious.

"L...I'm sorry to have to say this, but I'm sure you noticed it by now as well. There's a pattern here. The killings are getting more and more frequent and my mistake only further proves how much closer in appearance they're getting. I..." The detective had been more on edge than anyone else lately, his eating habits getting worse, his temper flaring at anyone that dared even step in his way. Just the day before, a younger student had accidentally bumped into him, and with only a look the child had turned and jogged away in tears. L was barely speaking unless it was about the case, and he'd even been getting cross with Watari lately. So as Matt stuttered out his observations he made sure to keep as much distance as possible.

It wasn't L that responded, but Near. He'd been quiet throughout most of this, taking his duty of L's replacement very seriously and doing what he could to keep everyone else calm. They may not have realized it, but inside he was more than a little worried about his rival. It wasn't as if he cared about Mello, but he did care about Matt and L, and he knew that if the blond wasn't brought home soon than neither might recover. "I do not believe that BB intends to kill Mello. There is plenty of evidence against that theory. Matt believes that our fallen colleague is working up the courage to kill our Mello, that is correct?"

Matt nodded, then hung his head low. Even with his goggles firmly in place he did not dare to direct his gaze at either L or his boyfriend. Near took the redhead's hand, squeezing it gently, then placing it on his knee. Matt seemed to take great comfort in their physical closeness, especially lately. It made the albino feel very special to be the sole person that could do this and now that he'd discovered it he was unable to stop. Matt smiled, moving closer and leaning against the younger boy. "You think Mello's different from the others?"

"Yes. Firstly, BB has never hesitated to inflict violence when he felt the desire, so if he planned on killing Mello, he would have already done so. Aside from that, it is obvious that he feels some kind of affection for him, that he might even believe he is in love with him. Furthermore, it is plain that Beyond Birthday desires to replace L, and that the relationship with Mello is a large part of what makes L who he is. BB plans to make Mello his own. Instead of forcing Mello to stay, he has managed to convince him that it is what Mello wants. I believe that the murders are a way of keeping himself from submitting to his appetite for violence, to keep him from going too far with his prisoner. We have seen the way B reacts when administering acts of violence to Mello. It is like a drug to him." It was difficult for even the albino to state these facts, though they must be obvious to at least one other person in the room. Even Near felt the bile rising in his throat, choking it down while he tried to comfort the redhead by rubbing the back of his neck and squeezing his hand tighter.

Matt looked nervously to L, wondering if he planned on attacking the albino as he had the older teen. Near's statements had made a lot of sense, though it wasn't much easier to hear than if he had said the exact opposite. At least Mello was still alive, but was he even worth saving at this point? Near had said it himself, BB was trying to break him, and from the looks of the most recent tapes, the job was almost finished. "Near is correct. Beyond will not kill Mello, because I would risk anything and everything, I would give up my own life to keep him with me. However, the psychological violence will continue. As strong as he is, I am not certain that Mello's mind will endure much longer. If he is not returned to us soon, I am afraid that there might not be any hope left."

It was the first time that L had admitted what they'd all known. They'd all been thinking it, that Mello might return as he was now, so submissive that he wouldn't even speak without permission. There was barely a hint of his old personality left. For once, when Watari came to lay a hand on L's shoulder he said nothing. The old man always knew what to say, to comfort them even during the most insignificant trials, but he appeared to finally be at a loss for words. Matt only ever said the wrong thing, the meaning coming out a complete opposite of how he'd meant, so the redhead also remained quiet. Again it was the albino who spoke. "Beyond Birthday will not be allowed to take Mello from us. We will bring him home." Near was a habitual liar, and though this was probably no different, they all wanted to believe him. "Such an injustice will not be permitted. B has forfeited his right to walk free. If I must catch him myself, he will be brought to justice."

Near's gray eyes sparkled with excitement, his boyfriend knowing that the look was reserved for when the albino concentrated on a difficult case and was winning, when he bragged to the ICPO about single handedly doing their job for them. The look said that there was nothing to worry about, that the good guys were indeed going to win. No, not the good guys, just Near. The smile always made the redhead think that the albino was dangerously balanced on just this side of the 'good side', that he might be capable of some truly scary deeds if it weren't for the careful guidance of Wammy's. But then again, the hacker had probably just read too many comic books. Looking at Near again, who lay on his back, making a toy airplane soar over his head (sound effects included), the idea that the albino was anything other than totally innocent seemed sort of silly.

*************************************************

Mello awoke to an oddly familiar sound, and for a moment he was more than a little frightened. It had been so long since he'd heard this that he couldn't believe his ears, was wondering if maybe he'd missed a dose of medicine, or if he'd overslept again. L was always scolding him for sleeping too much; it wasn't good for his mind he said. Dreams could be dangerous things he said, after one night the blond had related one of his to the detective. He'd been dreaming of a strange room filled with forbidden books, one of the many computers in the room clicking and beeping, a redheaded boy cheering occasionally. Matt, he knew. Mello had thought this boy to be his friend, but L had said that he was no friend. Matt, as well as the other children at the orphanage were too cowardly to help in the fight of their pursuer, had all but abandoned the lovers for dead when they'd gone on the run from Beyond Birthday.

The blond realized that he was not dreaming, that in fact the noise that he heard was very real, and coming closer. L was singing! He hadn't done that in ages. Before these terrible trials had begun, L often hummed to himself while he showered or worked, and had even learned a few hymns in Latin to entertain his lover. It was one of these he sang now, though Mello remembered his voice being softer, cracking a little on the higher notes. The singing was growing louder and louder, almost deafening by the time the brunette sat on the edge of the bed.

"Hi baby." The detective had been gone for the better part of an evening, and when they kissed he could taste bitter cigarette smoke and...was that liquor as well? The blond had no right to accuse, but could not help uttering his shock when they parted. "Were you drinking?"

"I am quite surprised that Mello would even suggest such a thing. He should know better." The older man laid a hand on the teen's cheek, and left a smudge of blood there, which he licked off immediately, making the blond sigh contentedly. Every touch from his lover was intoxicating. If only they could stay connected every waking moment then the teen imagined that he would never need his medicine again. These few touches left him with a rapidly beating heart, had him squirming against his restraints.

The brunette reached into his jacket pocket, extracting the broken piece of glass that he'd kept as a souvenir. The blood had dried on the edges of the shard, turning a sickly shade of deep brown. He held the neck of the broken bottle, dragging the sharpened edge over the blonde's bare chest. Mello hissed in pain, cried out. Then when his lover leaned down to lick it away he shivered, struggling even more against his restraints. He felt the sudden impulse to hold his lover's head there, to keep the lips that sucked at the wound clamped to his sweaty skin for as long as possible. It was moments like this that he actually disliked his cuffs, when he would have given anything to have his hands free to encourage the attention.

Mello had just noticed a cut on his lover's hand, still bleeding as he caressed the freshly trimmed blond locks that had been mussed from lying in bed all evening. "You're hurt! Oh my god, L, are you alright?"

"Shh. Don't worry love, it's all over now. I was...attacked, but was able to defend myself." The blonde's eyes widened, every muscle in his thin body tensing in fear. Could it have been him? God, please, anyone but him. If he found them it was all over, he would take L from him. He would destroy the only thing that mattered in the whole world to the teenager. "There's nothing to worry about. It was not Beyond Birthday." Mello cringed at the name. To even speak the words was like calling the devil himself, would surely have him materializing before his eyes. The blond was not allowed to say those words, never was he to even think of the man. To do so made L scared, and when L was scared he quickly grew angry. Mello did not want his lover to be angry with him. He would be punished for it. Mello wanted to be a good boy for L, always.

Another cut was made on Mello's chest, the brunette dragging his index finger through it, then laying it against the teen's lips. Mello sucked gratefully at the gift, already anticipating where this might lead. L was so good to him, he was going to make love to him, to remind him that he was here and he was all right. "Please don't ever leave me L. I love you."

"There is no reason to fear. Mello is mine." Mello lifted his hips as the brunette's hand went between his legs, was surprised when the older man only pushed his thighs further apart, crawling between them and pushing his dick in without the slightest bit of preparation. The blond bit his lip, trying not to make any noise. L must have had a very bad night indeed, as he was already angrily thrusting into the teenager, was placing a hand around his throat. Of course it had to be done this way, they needed to remind each other that they were still here, the threat of B closing in on them every day. There was no better way for this than to make love right now, needless preparation would only delay what they both had to have right now.

As Mello began to lose consciousness again he heard that wonderful phrase muttered over and over again, and despite the pain and lack of oxygen, it could not have felt better. He wanted to thank L for this, to tell him how good it felt, though the hand around his neck only squeezed tighter when he tried. It was all right, he thought before he blacked out, L already knew.