Bel wasn't sure how much time had passed since he had kissed Fran, but he did know that no matter what he did, the younger boy wouldn't talk – not even make a sound; he would just lay there and stare, almost as if he were lost in his mind.

Neither of them had seen Rasiel or Olgert again in this time, but the younger twin was almost certain it was only a matter of time before they'd come back.

Currently, Fran was cuddled against Bel's chest, trembling as he stared lifelessly around the room. The older male knew Fran was damaged, and he also knew the only thing that could bring him back to reality was his voice.

"Hey, Froggy…?" Bel had, by now, stopped feeling the freezing cold that had been plaguing him, but the infections that had set into his wounds didn't make him feel any better.

Fran jumped, almost as if he had been startled by Bel – like he had been so locked inside his head, he had forgotten that Bel even existed, much less was lying next to him.

It took a few minutes for the dazed, unfocused look in those teal eyes to disappear, but Bel was patient, understanding Fran was suffering his own pain. The blond pulled Fran closer to him once he could see the boy was focused on him.

Running a hand through bloodied teal hair, Bel whispered, "I'm trying my best to look after you, Froggy… The prince… I… I promise you that… I'm just so sorry you got caught up in this…"

Fran was silent as he raised a shaking hand, bringing it to rest on Bel's cheek. His eyes moved downwards, resting on the older male's red lips, the tip of his tongue poking past his own, as if he were trying to envision them kissing again.

Bel smiled as he cupped a bruised cheek, bringing their faces closer so that their noses touched. The blond tipped his head forward so that his forehead rested against Fran's, not knowing how else he could comfort the distressed boy.

"Froggy…" Bel whispered, sliding his hand down the boy's side and grabbing a trembling hand. He squeezed it tightly, trying to let Fran know that he was here. "Froggy, it's going to be okay… We're going to be okay…"

Fran shook his head, almost as if he didn't believe these words. His tongue poked out further, licking his dry, split lips.

Bel reached out, caressing the younger's lips with his thumb. He leant downward, placing his lips gently on them, his tongue coming to meet Fran's. He snaked one hand behind the other's head, holding him close, his other hand still holding the smaller one.

Fran moaned as his eyes slipped closed. His free hand fisted itself in Bel's bloodstained Varia jacket, pushing himself closer to the taller body. He shivered as he felt the Storm Guardian's hand travel down his naked back, and he moaned again when it came to rest against his rear.

"Is this okay…?" Bel whispered, hoping he wasn't overstepping any boundaries – all he wanted was to make Fran feel alright again, to wash away every little thing he was feeling because of them, replace their filthiness with something the boy could want and enjoy.

Fran made no acknowledgement he had heard these words, but aside from the once-more unfocused look in his eyes, he made no move to protest.

Bel slid his hand over to Fran's stomach, rubbing circles against the scarring flesh. Fran's breath hitched at this action, jerking away as if the action was hurting him.

"Froggy?" Bel kissed Fran's throat, too scared to leave any marks – the bruises that had so clearly came from mouths left him with the worry that the younger may react badly if he tried to copy their actions. "Froggy, I… I don't know what I'm doing anymore…"

Fran's mouth hung open as he stared into Bel's eyes with a dazed look. "…"

"I…" Bel buried his face into Fran's neck, whispering about his fears, "…I'm scared I'm not doing enough for you… I don't… I don't want you to be broken… I just… I just don't know what to do… Am I doing the right thing, or… Or am I making it worse…? I just… I don't know… what to do…"

As expected, Fran didn't reply to these words; he just kept staring distantly. Bel wondered if he had even heard a word of what he had said.

"But I guess…" Bel sighed as the hard truth made itself known in his mind, "…I guess you'll never be the same anymore… You'll never tell me how to help you… You'll probably never talk again…"

As if it were a testimony to Bel's fears, Fran remained silent. His teal eyes were slowly slipping closed now, almost as if the small boy was powerless against the sleep that was consuming him.

Bel just ran his hand through teal hair as he hummed to his charge, wishing there was more he could do.

Why am I feeling like this…? Bel frowned as he fought back the urge to throw up, a strong wave of nausea hitting him. Why do I… Why am I trying so hard to protect him…? I mean… I came here hating him, but… So why does my chest hurt so much at the thought of losing him…? At the thought of never hearing his snarky comments again…? Were all of his previous expressionless faces because he was hiding his emotions? Is that it? Seeing him now… It's so different to before… There was still life in his eyes back then… Now… He's nothing but a lifeless body…

Bel held Fran as tenderly as he could, burying his nose in filthy teal hair. You deserve so much better than this… than me… I'm… I don't deserve the way you're trusting me… I hated you… I belittled you and hurt you… Made you feel so bad about yourself all the time… I made you believe you were nothing but Mammon's replacement…

I don't deserve you, Fran… You don't deserve this…

Your heart was never cut out for this kind of life… You're too soft… Too gentle… That's why you've been hurt so badly…

Fuck it, Fran… Even now, I still don't deserve you…

~~Later that day~~

Rasiel had danced into the room a few hours after his two captives had fallen asleep, a large grin on his face. He stabbed his twin in the arm with a knife, jolting the younger back into reality. Fran jumped at Bel's shout of pain, a small whimper escaping his lips at the sight of their tormentor standing before them. The boy pressed himself against Bel, wanting the Storm Guardian to protect him.

"I have great news, ushesheshe~" Rasiel licked the blood of his blade, his grin widening as his brother swore hatefully at him. "I was told that our boss killed Mukuro Rokudo~ It's actually quite the coincidence that his prized student is here with me, isn't it~?"

Fran whimpered again as tears welled up in his eyes; he had loved Mukuro, the man being more of a father than he had ever had.

"Isn't also fantastic that both Varia and Vongola are almost ready to stop looking for you both?" the older twin continued on. "They're all starting to believe you're both dead, ushesheshe~"

The boy rolled onto his side, his back facing Rasiel. He buried his face in Bel's chest and sobbed, feeling protective arms encase him.

Rasiel laughed again, noticing the way the other blond's limbs were jutting out in odd angles where they had been broken – Bel's elbow was most noticeable, the joint extremely swollen, the injury preventing the young man from straightening out his arm.

"Oh, dear, little brother~" Rasiel laughed as he reached out, grabbing his twin's broken arm. "Looks like the bone hasn't set properly. Looks like we're going to have to re-break it, ushesheshe~!"

"Sick bastard!" Bel snarled, trying to pull his arm back to his person. "Let me go – ahh, fuck!"

Bel curled in on himself as he shouted, the pain of having his ruined elbow snapped in half worse than when it had originally broken. His shouts and profanities could barely be heard over Rasiel's insane laughing, and Fran could only freeze up at all of this, locking himself in his mind again.

"I'll fucking kill you…" Bel snarled in between heavy pants, the hatred he felt to his brother worse than ever. He pulled Fran closer to him with as he screamed, "I'll fucking kill you!"

"Ushesheshe~ You can only dream, shitty little brother." Rasiel moved down, grabbing the leg that had been broken in three different places.

Grinning a sick grin that put Bel's own murderous smiles to shame, the older twin snapped the younger's shin before moving upwards, making his way to Bel's kneecap. He laughed at his brother's shouts and screams, feeling his pants become tighter as the younger thrashed in pain.

Fran was still lifeless as Bel writhed all over him; the shock of everything that had happened, and then finding out Mukuro was dead was just too much for him.

Rasiel, noticing the way Fran just laid there, grabbed the boy by the hair, pulling him from the bed. "I think the cute little frog needs some more… special attention."

"I hate you!" Bel screamed, wishing he had his knives – no, he didn't care what he had – he'd use his fucking bare hands if he had to! – to rip his brother to pieces, just like what he thought he had already done. "I'm going to kill you! Let him go! Let him go, you sick bastard!"

"Ushesheshe~ Me? The sick one?" Rasiel sneered as he moved his hand downward to grope at Fran's crotch. "Aren't you the one who tried to kill me when we were just eight-years-old? Weren't you the one who got aroused at all that pain from our fights? From all that blood? It turned you on, didn't it? You sick little whore."

Bel dragged himself to the side of the bed, reaching out. He grabbed Fran's wrist, holding it tightly, almost as if he were trying to pull the younger away from Rasiel.

"Let him go…" Bel panted, tugging at his comrade. "You don't… deserve him…"

"And you don't either, ushesheshe~ Don't try and delude yourself otherwise – this boy is cute and desirable; all you've done is treat him like shit. Even when you first came here – you didn't care for him or how he was feeling; all that mattered to you was how you felt. You wouldn't have cared had I killed this boy on day one. Do you really think he's going to love you after this? He won't. He's going to hate you for not helping him sooner. Just think; if you had supported him earlier, you both may not be in this mess. Blame yourself, little brother – it's all your fault."

Rasiel's hand shot out, grabbing blond locks as he pulled his brother to the floor. Bel shouted again, but no matter how hard he tried to grasp at the bottom of his twin's pants and stop him from leaving, he was just too lightheaded to see straight.

Rasiel left, Fran in tow, leaving Bel alone once more.

Laying on the ground in a defeated heap, Bel cried. Please… Please don't give up on us… Xanxus… Squalo… L-Lussuria… D-don't stop looking… Please… We're not dead, but… we may be soon… We will be if you stop looking… Please… You're all we have… If not for me… Please, come and help Fran… Get him away from here… Please… Help him…! Help him!

As Bel pleaded silently with something that would listen, all he could think about was Fran. What if the Varia did find them? What if they couldn't help Fran? What if Fran was going to forever be broken?

Please no… Bel knew his brother was right – this was all his fault.