A/N: I do not own Madhouse, Caliban Leandros, Niko Leandros, or any of the characters so contained in the works of the Cal Leandros series. These characters are owned by Rob Thurman. I do not own the song used to start the chapter!

I'm just borrowing the ideas for my own twisted games.

What would happen if Niko was not a saint, but a sinner? What if Cal was an abomination...but Niko was a monster? How would their lives be changed? It's a dark descent into the depths of depravity, dependence, hate, and abuse. Strap yourselves in tightly. It's going to be a violent ride.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Physical and emotional abuse, self-injury, alcohol abuse, victim complex, murder, torture, overall misuse of Cal and total destruction of Niko's character.

Welcome to round three! Let's get this party started.

Madhouse AU - In Flagrante Delicto
Part of the Malum in Se universe

In flagrante delicto: From the Latin; in flaming wrong
Malum in se: From the Latin; evil in and of itself, an act that is considered wrong to commit.

Chapter One: Old and New

I know there's pain...
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?
No-one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Mmm, is it really fair to feel this way inside?
-"Hold On," Wilson Philips

I was sweeping the giant garage when I heard the knock on the door.

As I went to answer the door, I heard Niko, up in the apartment, crank up the radio really, really loud. I recognized the song, and grinned as I opened the door.

It was Robin, standing there outside the old fire station that was mine and Niko's new home. After a little negotiation with the Italian Mob, we were the proud owners of a heap of junk that needed a lot of serious cleaning and re-furnishing before it was really livable. But it was ours and hell, we could clean. We'd stayed in worse places, and this time, nobody was going to evict us unexpectedly. This place was ours.

I grinned at Robin, and didn't ask how he'd known where to find us. This was Robin we were talking about, after all.

He started to say something. I silently held a finger to my lips, then beckoned to him, still grinning. He frowned, puzzled, but obeyed, following me in. The shutting door was hidden by the song on the radio, the female voices crooning sweet and gentle. It wasn't until we'd crossed the two-firetruck garage space and started up the stairs to the firemen's apartments that the drums and guitar kicked in loud. Niko had it cranked almost all the way up, and I knew exactly why. I shushed Robin again - unnecessary, really, he was creeping along silently in good humor, though wincing at the loud music.

I stepped through the door, and stood grinning as I watched. Robin stepped in beside me, and stopped, blinking.

With his back to us, Niko was dancing barefoot to the music with his broom. I knew he was also lip-syncing to the lyrics, and his braid swayed as he tossed his head, the end snapping like a whip-crack. He was really into it. He loved this song. I leaned on the doorframe and watched the show, because really? This was hilarious. Blackmail gold.

'You could sustain...mmmm, or are you comfortable with the pain?' I nodded my head to the song, and yeah I was going deaf pretty much, but I wasn't interrupting Niko's impromptu dance with his beloved broom there. Nah, definitely not. I glanced at Robin. His expression had gone from shocked to deeply, deeply amused, especially as Niko snatched the broom and held it like a microphone, all dramatic and shit. It was hilarious.

It was even better when he spun around, and saw us watching.

He immediately jerked to a halt, whipped the broom behind him, and blushed a brilliant, flaming scarlet.

Mark that down on the books - Niko never blushed.

I laughed as I walked over and turned the radio way down, until the next song coming on was only a low thrum. "Damn, Nik, you were putting some sexy moves on that broom. True love, eh?"

"Oh, fuck you with a spork." He was still bright red - hah, even his ears were flushed!

Robin wore the expression of a man trying desperately not to laugh lest he end up violently murdered via broom. Me, I didn't care if Niko tried it, mostly because I knew he probably wasn't going to kill me. He'd spent the last twenty years keeping me alive; why waste all that time to kill me now? Yeah, who was I kidding, Niko was probably plotting exactly how to dispose of the remains even now. I grinned cheerfully at him. He flipped me off.

"The things you can do with your hips are truly divine," Robin said at last, laughter barely constrained.

I watched the ensuing explosion with great interest. I'd never really seen Niko spar against someone he didn't actually have to hold back on. With Robin, if Niko didn't push, he was halfway to ending up trounced already. Robin was a damn good fighter, despite his self-proclaimed cowardice. He snatched up the broom I'd left in the corner, and blocked Niko's overhead swing. Grateful Niko wasn't wearing his weighted gloves, I took a seat on the floor and watched the entertainment.

Niko wasn't actually angry, just embarrassed and looking for an excuse to change the subject. I crossed my legs, propped my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands, and watched them go. Wood clattered on wood as they duked it out. Niko, liking the heft, wielded his broom with the straw on the far end, like an axe. Robin, on the other hand, kept the straw end behind his hands like a hilt. Niko was snake-quick and favored powerful blows; Robin was agile and made quick darting strokes. The footwork was impeccable and impressive. It was like dancing, almost, because no-one was mad or even trying for killing blows. I could tell, against Robin, that Niko's style of fighting was patchwork from over a hundred different styles. He blended them almost seamlessly, but Robin fought with a pure, simple style I was willing to bet they'd used in the gladiator's arena. Ancient as fuck, but no less deadly, and I watched as he ducked his curly head under one of Niko's strikes and very neatly poked my older brother in the solar plexus. Niko doubled over wheezing. Chuckling, Robin stood back and lowered his broom. "Truce?"

"Only if you stop ogling my ass," Niko retorted, straightening.

"Well, that means I've got time to go make popcorn," I chimed in, brightly. They both looked at me, and I realized the mistake I'd made. "Oh fuckit!" I scrambled and they lunged. I was laughing, though, and Robin's forest green eyes were bright, and Niko was smiling.

With both of them out to whoop my ass, I didn't last all that long. Hell no. I was a good fighter, but they were both better.

I lay sprawled on the floor ten minutes later and pushed at Niko's leg over my chest. Robin was sitting on my shins. "Fuck, you guys don't fight fair," I whined, mostly just to whine because hell, I already knew Niko didn't fight fair. I'd been a little surprised by how Robin had followed his lead, but maybe I shouldn't have been.

"All's fair in love and war, little brother," Niko told me, affectionately. I flipped him off and he chuckled. This had to be war, then, 'cause love sure as fuck didn't mean you ganged up on your baby brother with a thousands-of-years-old immortal.

My cell phone started ringing. It was on the kitchen counter. I shoved at Niko's leg again. "Lemme up, bastard!"

"Fine, fine." Niko moved his leg and Robin climbed to his feet.

I scrambled off into the kitchen. There were only three people who called these days, and Niko and Robin were two of them. That left Promise, and it wasn't right to keep a lady waiting. Promise was a lady, and Niko had taught me to have good monster manners. So I hurried and grabbed the phone. I'd mentioned to Promise, a few months ago, that I was job-hunting. She apparently had decided that meant she should find me odd jobs to do with her...friends or less-than-friends. Not that I was complaining, fuck no, but it was confusing.

Robin had actually gotten me a real job last month, with a not-exactly-friend of his. So now I was a bartender in a bar for paien. The first week we'd had a barfight every night, two murders, and not a policeman in sight. Definitely my kind of place. Unfortunately, every peri in there had taken a distinct dislike to Niko from the moment he'd shown up. Since myth said they were supposed to be related to angels, or were angels, and Niko wasn't exactly a shining example of virtue... Yeah. He didn't come in much. It really irked him too; he was used to coming in to whatever shitty bar I was currently working at and lurking for at least part of the evening. He could get away with that, because nobody in a bar cared what you did as long as you at least bought a beer. And everyone wanted to talk to the bartender anyway. Bartenders were apparently the cheapest form of therapy most people could afford. I don't give good relationship advice, though. "Grow a pair and talk to her," seemed pretty damn straightforward to me, but apparently it's not all that simple.

What the hell would I know, anyway? I've never had a girlfriend, and the only consistent relationship I've managed over my life is the one with my abusive brother. And that's only last 'cause he won't let me rot in a corner like my monster half deserves.

Family. There's no living with them, no living without them. I would know.

So Niko would come check up on me and make sure his little monster brother was minding his monster manners. I did return the favor, but the places Niko picked up work didn't look too kindly on loiterers. Niko chilling in a bar is one thing. Me chilling in the waiting lobby of the mechanic shop is another, and with the look I sport I'm bad for business. I look like trouble. Niko does too, but he's more charming than I am anyway and can get away with it.

I wondered what kind of job Promise had this time as I answered my phone. "Hello?"

"Caliban. I hope this afternoon finds you well?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm good. What's up?"

Promise began to detail the job. I got a notepad and took notes. Hey, I've got a good memory, but I wanted to give all the details to Nik. He was the one who handled that shit, really. I was pretty sure Promise knew that Niko and I were both going on these jobs she kept finding me, but she never talked to Niko. After she'd figured out he was the one bruising me up seven ways 'till Sunday, she'd stopped liking his ass and hadn't said a word to him since. Me, though, she kept talking to. I think she was under some delusion that she'd be able to rescue me or some shit. Make me see the goddamn light and get away from Niko.

Fat chance of that. I knew exactly what I was doing. I knew that it wasn't right or normal for people to abuse other people. But the thing was, I wasn't people. I was a monster. Half Auphe, half human, and all Aupheling. I didn't deserve the happy normal lives other people got, because I sure as hell wasn't normal. But Niko didn't hurt me because he hated me. He kept me in line, made me think, reminded me to keep myself in check. He loved me and he was the only one in the world who'd stayed by me despite everything. He'd protected me and kept me safe and he loved me.

Monsters don't deserve love, either.

I didn't deserve Niko, but he didn't give a damn. He'd stay with me anyway.

Promise had the wrong idea. She thought Niko was keeping me. Hello no. I could leave any damn time I wanted to. Niko'd made that clear. If I got done with his shit (and he freely admitted he had a hell of a lot of shit to deal with) then I could go. Get up and leave and he wouldn't stop me, if that was what I wanted.

But I didn't want to. Not only was there the question of who else in the world was going to trust somebody half-Auphe, or even give me the time of day, but there was the fact that Niko needed me. Niko needed me. He was a wreck, my brother, screwed in the head and half a drunk and with a temper like a rabid wolf...but he was my brother, who loved me and needed me to remind him that life wasn't always shit. Sometimes, it was okay. I could make him laugh and that was good in my book.

We hadn't had a lot of friends in our lives. But hearing Niko and Robin talking in the background, I thought that might be changing. Good. Niko needed a friend who was not me and my bundle of emotional issues. Hell, I was half of Niko's own triggers to melt-downs and blow-ups of the psychological kind. Yeah, outside influence. Robin was good. Annoying as hell, but he was optimistic, smooth, and had a sense of mischief that Niko particularly enjoyed. Trouble was all good fun.

I thanked Promise for the call and the job, and hung up. I wandered back into what was going to be the living room. "Let's have a job full of trigger issues. It's a kidnapping and ransom! Pack the tranqs and get ready to fly over the cuckoo's nest."

Niko gave me a long measuring look, grey eyes speculative. "Well, I didn't hit you in the head. Robin, did you?"

"No." Robin was grinning, though. "Your method of coping with your mental trauma is certainly interesting. Immersion is not exactly the path I'd have chosen."

Immersion, sure. It was called getting the hell on with life. Niko had been kidnapped by Robin's crazy evil twin (here we go with the family again) and I'd pretty much flipped my shit so hard I'd come back out sane. Or something close enough to it. Then I and my monster half of the family had wrecked Hob, torn him to pretty little pieces, and I'd rescued Niko who'd been pretty much catatonic for three days after. Oh, and I'd rescued the little psychic girl who barely half a year earlier I'd tortured and almost killed - and three days after the rescue she'd told me she forgave me everything and didn't hate me.

Hell, and people wondered why I had issues.

"Hey, a paycheck is a paycheck. Besides, we survived, and it's been, what, six months? Niko's leading this gig anyway. Here." I tossed him the notepad. He caught it effortlessly and examined the information on it.

"Tonight. Such wonderful advance warning. This will curtail our cleaning spree." Niko sighed, his gaze fixed on the paper. I watched him reach up and absently scratch at the healing scar on his left temple. No more stitches or scabbing, but the wound that had once been a cracked skull via troll-caused-cave-in was healed up, mostly. It was still a livid red-purple of a new scar, but that would fade. The hilarious thing about it was the four-inch-long scar extended back into his hairline, and the hair around it was starting to turn silver and white. Niko, vain as anything, was utterly appalled. He liked his blonde hair, and greying prematurely, well.

I did not have blonde hair. My own hair was black as black, and my skin pale to Niko's olive tan. The only thing that really marked us as brothers was our eyes; we both had iron grey eyes. I sighed and sat on the floor - there was nowhere else to sit. Our new place had shit in the way of furniture. We were working on that.

"She invited me to lunch again," I reported to Niko. "Tomorrow. That awesome pizza place we went before."

"Mmm. Try not to eat all it of, this time. Bring me some leftovers." Niko tossed me a grin.

He'd be there, no mistake, but he wouldn't be eating with us. Niko and I didn't trust Promise one bit. She's as good as said she'd protect me from Niko if I ever left him (and that made it sound like some kind of bad teenage girlfriend-boyfriend drama) but Niko said he wouldn't put it past her to up and kidnap me for my own good. She gave to all kinds of charities and shit, and after some thinking I'd agreed with Niko. So I never met Promise entirely by myself. I wasn't sure if she knew that or not, but I knew it and that was good enough for me.

"Well, that leaves off tomorrow for me," Robin sighed. "I was wondering, Caliban, if I could treat you to lunch somewhere. I feel like I've been paying an inordinate amount of attention to Niko lately."

Damn straight he had. I'd been avoiding the hell out of Robin for months now.

Why?

Because somewhere during out kidnapping adventure, he'd found some of the bruises Niko had given me. Not the bad ones, just the speckling across the back of my neck where Niko always pinched me. Reminders, affection, reprimand...he pinched me to get my attention for whatever reason, on the back of my neck and along the backs of my arms, where it was tender and would sting and leave a dark bruise. I didn't care, but Robin had known somebody was pinching the hell out of me. And I think he knew it was Niko, and I think he knew it wasn't just pinching, but I didn't want to talk about. I'd told Niko I would, but I didn't want to.

It would change things. Robin would look at me like Promise did; with pity. I didn't need anyone's pity.I wasn't a victim. I was a monster. I was here with Niko by my own damn choice, and if I wanted to make bad life choices, who was going to stop me? My dead whore mother? My alcoholic brother? My monster half of the family? Yeah, right. If I was going to dive headlong down the road to destruction, they'd be running with me every step of the way.

A big part of it, though was that I liked Robin. I did. I didn't want that to change. Half the time he acted like he'd forgotten I was a monster, and that was new and refreshing. Not just knew and didn't give a damn, like Niko, but forgot that was I an Aupheling. I halfway liked that and halfway thought it was damn stupid because it was like forgetting the snake in your pocket was a rattlesnake.

But yeah. I didn't want to talk about it.

Fortunately, I had a ready excuse today to even avoid answering Robin. "Oh shit, if we're going on a job tonight, I need more ammo! Nik!"

Niko stared at me, then hit himself in the head with the notepad in exasperation. "God, Cal, today she closes early! Why didn't you think about this an hour earlier? Fuck! Go get your shoes and wallet. Robin, help me get the car out of the garage." Niko shot to his feet in one lithe motion.

I scrambled up and pelted to my room. Well, okay, the one room that was currently habitable. Had I mentioned this place was a wreck? I grabbed sneakers for both of us, my wallet, one of my Glocks, my jacket, Niko's jacket, and trusted he had a short sword in the car he could use. I also snagged both phones off the kitchen counter as I went charging down the rickety metal stairs in bare feet. Robin was manning one giant sliding door, and Niko was easing our puke-green El Camino out onto the street, skimming it under the opening door with inches to spare. As I ran past Robin, I shouted a thanks his way. Niko did me one better, though. As I climbed in the passenger side and slammed the door behind me, Niko leaned out his open window and flicked something at Robin's curly head.

Robin ducked and flashed up an impossibly quick hand to catch the glittering missile. It was a key ring, with keys.

"Lock up," Niko called, cheerfully. "And keep them, they're yours!"

With that he gunned the motor and peeled out into the street, leaving Robin standing there in our driveway with a startled look on his handsome face.

"You gave him the keys to our house?" I asked, as I squirmed on the seat and shoved my feet into my battered black Keds. I set Niko's in the middle of the bench seat for him, along with his jacket. "It's our house." I used the pocket-holster already in my jean jacket's inner pocket to hide my Glock 30. I checked the other pockets for extra magazines. Check and check. Ready to roll. I shoved my cell-phone in my back pocket.

"He is now our backup plan. Since we are staying, we can't be lone wolves anymore. And I don't think he'll betray the trust. He's not very used to being trusted at all, and that we do is something very important to him." Niko shrugged a little. "Pass me the kodachi under your side of the seat."

I wasn't sure I agreed entirely, but I trusted Nik's judgement. The man should have been a psychology major instead of a History major. I bent over and fished blindly for the requested short sword. "Say that after I tell him you beat my ass."

"Cal." Nothing else but exasperation, disappointment, and annoyed expectations. Only Niko could deliver and entire rant in a single word, and that word being my name.

"Look, I just...Niko, I..." I sat up with the sword in hand and tried not to see how close niko cut it when he snapped between a taxi cab and a limo to get into the other lane. Niko drove like he owned the road, and right of way was a challenge to be taken by the bravest warrior who got there first. It wasn't road rage, it was simple disregard for any and all rules. Rules, he said, were for people who didn't know how to do it right. Funny how the cops never agreed.

"To be honest, Cal...I think he already knows." Niko changed lanes again, and leaned briefly on the horn before flipping someone the bird. "I think he just wants us to tell him ourselves. Some of the things he's said..." He trailed off, and shook his head. "Did I tell you last week I saw him at one of my cage matches?"

I blinked. Niko got his kicks and extra spending money in illegal cage matches. I say illegal, it was just...they weren't sanctioned, and most of the guys doing the betting were drug dealers. Niko had actually been in some on behalf of the Italian Mob, because we were both now apparently associates. Do a supernatural fetch job, get an in with the Mob. Go figure. And an old fire-house. But most of Niko's fights took place in down and dirty bars, warehouses, and back lots. Not the scene I would think Robin would frequent at all.

"No. Really?"

"Really. He was...with someone." Niko's delicacy covered a multitude of carnal sins, there. I was glad for the discretion. Robin was voracious in his sexual appetites, and I didn't want to know. "He looked just as surprised to see me as I was him. We didn't talk, though. No time."

No, not with the way Niko's fights went; too fast, too violent, and barely enough time between matches to spit the blood out. I used to go with him. I didn't anymore. It was just...too much, for both of us. Niko couldn't keep an eye on me in the crowds. I couldn't stand him fighting without being able to freely join in if he needed it. Not that he ever did; Niko only lost on points and technicalities, never in the actual fighting. But still. You watch your brother get pinned to the floor and take a few shots to the kidneys, and see how well you stand it. I couldn't. I only went now on special occasions, and didn't follow along, because Niko went regularly. It was almost like he needed the fights, in a way; he loved the brutality, the fighting itself. The money was just a bonus. Niko worked two jobs already; he was a mechanic at an antique car shop days, and worked as a TA at the local college in the evenings. He'd always worked damn hard, long as I could remember; money was always a concern for us. We lived hand to mouth, most of the time. Lately, though, with three jobs, Niko's fighting, and monster-hunting on the side, (and not having to pay rent) we were edging into the territory where we didn't collect our pocket change just to make a grocery run for the week.

Niko had made sure I'd always gotten fed, though. Even when money was at its tightest, he'd never skimped on feeding me. I knew there'd been times he'd gone without, just to make sure I had enough...and not long ago in the past, either.

Niko was many, many things...but first and foremost, he was my brother.

"The only thing he asked, next day at lunch, was how often I went. I told him maybe every month or so." Which was a blatant lie. Niko went every two weeks, or less. Just enough time to let the bruises go green before he got more. There were some fighters who wouldn't fight him now, he said. I knew why; Niko didn't hold back and didn't give out mercy.

"Oh shit Nik truck!" I yelped.

"Fuckin' hell!" Niko spat, and did some maneuvering that would have done a stunt driver in any Fast and Furious movie proud. I held onto the door handle and didn't scream. Why anyone puts a delivery truck right in the middle of the lane, stopped, in afternoon school traffic is beyond me. I really didn't need any coffee now, though. Probably wouldn't for a whole damn week. Jesus Christ.

"We almost died." I slumped in my seat.

"It'll take more than a traffic accident to kill us," Niko retorted, but his words were bitten sharp and I could smell the touch of fear and adrenaline.

Yeah. Right. Ultimate ignoble death, but I'd seen the results of traffic accidents at the speed Niko drove; hamburger meat pretty much described it. Even if you were wearing a seatbelt. I was. Niko did too. I rubbed at my face and wondered if praying would get us to Arkady's safe. Probably not. I wasn't completely convinced God even existed, let alone cared, but what the hell.

Arkady was Niko's preferred weapons-dealer. We had others, but Arkady has the best. I didn't know what she was, but she wasn't entirely human. She smelled...interesting. She was about four feet and some inches tall, with a bushy afro and huge dark sloe eyes. She was a mix of many races, weighed probably ninety pounds soaking wet, and took no bullshit from anyone. In fact, when she saw us walk in, five minutes from closing time, she sicced her stupid parrot on us. Blue and gold macaws can take your damn finger off if they like, and they've got wicked claws. Niko, the bastard, hip-checked me into tripping over a footstool (they were everywhere in the shop, I told you Arkady was short) and left me to my doom of parrot-bites and scratches.

"We need some forty-five hollowpoints and any forty-four magnums," Niko told her, towering over her only because there was a two-foot difference in their height. "Cal, if you can't keep yourself from being parrot bait..."

"Fuck you, I bet if I kill it she'll do something nasty to us!" I flailed my way up and dropped my jacket of the damn bird, pinning it to the floor. I was scratched and had feathers in my hair. The bird waddled out from under my jacket.

"Fuck you runnin'," it told me, saucily, and then flew up to perch on the top of a shelf.

"Spot on, child," Arkady told me, and bustled behind the counter. She was wearing jeans and a white tank today, with a plaid button-up thrown over it. "The usual, then. Niko, I have a brand new set of khukuri you will want to be looking at."

I went to the counter to pay up for my boxes of bullets, and Niko instantly went to investigate the sharp and shinies. Ammunition was expensive, but hell, there wasn't anywhere legal I could by this much in one go and not have people start marking me down as the next serial killer. Arkady probably thought we were serial killers anyway, what with Niko's obsession for anything with a bladed edge, but she didn't care because she was just that way.

Niko bought a khukuri and she gave us a discount. Hot damn.

We had a few hours left before we had to go meet with our kidnappers. Niko and I got takeout, because the kitchen in our place was still jacked up and had no stove. Niko had assured me that as soon as he got the place cleaned up a fraction more, there would be furniture and appliances, courtesy of our Mob friends. I wasn't so certain on that, but hell, if he said it I'd roll with it.

I got to drive while Niko at his nachos supreme. Burritos were easy to eat one handed while driving. While I ate and drove, Niko ate, outlined planning, and made contact with our customer via cell-phone. I just tried not to rear-end the moron in front of me as I drove home. I did notice, though, when Niko reached up and pressed two fingers right over the new scar on his temple.

"Hey, okay?" I asked, glancing his way.

"Yes. Headache. It'll pass." Niko offered a wan smile. Apparently a skull fracture left you prone to recurring headaches. Who knew. I was just glad it hadn't left him with recurring seizures. Jesus, once had been enough for me. More than enough. I had nightmares about it still. "So tell me what you remember about lamia, little brother."

Monster quiz review time. Yay.