"Silhouette"

Chapter 8

BadApple: Why thank you. I've never heard that before, I like it! And thank you so much for the review, it's appreciated!

Yin69Yang: Hey, glad to keep you around!

"Falter"

+Silhouette+

"You know, I hardly hear from you." Fran stated simply, frowning at the taller figure.

"I'm very busy, get used to that."

"If I'm not going to hear from you, then what's the point of me being here anyway?"

"Patience." The mint haired shifted at the answer. "…Good luck on your new mission, little one."

The waking world came slowly, the loud hum of the shower in the bathroom being the first thing to hit him. The water shut off just as he opened his eyes to glance around for the time.

"Why bother showering if you'll just get bloody again?" The illusionist jabbed as the knife wielder stalked out.

"Because blood dries, no need to coat it so thickly." The blond scoffed, jumping into the bed. The previous mission in Hong Kong had gone quickly and painlessly – well, for the most part- the only problem was on the way back to the Varia manor, they were redirected to Moscow for more issues to clean up. Belphegor hardly considered it a mission, it being known as 'grunt work' the grunts weren't trusted with.

"I wouldn't think you'd care." There hadn't been time to clean up before getting off the previous the flight, and they were already jet lagged; Fran was more than experienced as a traveler, but rest was nice. Their need to let their bodies regenerate outweighed getting into a fight that was more than simple banter with each other.

"If it's yours, I wouldn't mind." The taller smirked.

"… So what happens when a Varia member dies?" Fran asked, practically feeling the blond stiffen across the room.

"They die. What do you mean?"

"Do they just get replaced? If so, why isn't there a Cloud Guardian?"

"Ushishishi. Technically, our Cloud was half of the Ninth Vongola. Half of our Cloud is still alive, so we can't replace him."

"Are our families notified that we died? Will it look like an accident?" Fran pushed.

"How should I know?!" Bel growled, annoyed already. "My family's dead, and Mammon was the first to die."

"So you don't know?"

"Nope~! Why, not thinking of offing yourself, are ya? You may wanna at least let Squalo know in advance so he can find a new illusionist; and you should let me watch, ushishishi."

The younger looked off in annoyance, eyes burning a hole into the ceiling. "I thought you didn't want a replacement?"

"I don't."

+Falter+

"Do you ever wonder if you go a little overboard?" Fran frowned at the floor, toeing the closest limb.

"Impossible." The blond grinned widely, looking over the mangled bodies. "If they think they can cross us so easily, they need to learn better."

"I don't think they live long enough to learn anything."

"Quiet you." Bel moved the hand that was near his boot with a kick, smirking to himself. "Now we can go back home."

"Oh goodie, I can't wait." Teal eyes rolled, gladly taking the lead on leaving the warehouse. The Storm, however, refused to move from his spot. "…. Coming, Bel-senpai?"

"Hush." Fran wrinkled his nose in discontent, walking back towards the blond. He wished he'd be able to see where he was staring, or what at. The warehouse, however, was empty. No sounds of movement or anything.

"…. What are you looking at?" The younger whispered, standing next to the knife wielder. Honestly, he hardly ever saw the older this serious. There was no answer though, like the entire place had frozen in time.

Suddenly, his breath got away from him. The mint hair chocked as he tried to catch his breath, back hitting the concrete floor hard. The older member's foot pressed against his chest- not painfully, but enough to keep him down. The feral smile on the fallen prince's face sent a chill down his spine, and he couldn't struggle back, eyes wide.

"S-Sen-"

"Say when." Bel hissed, voice hardly audible. Fran couldn't look at him, body going rigid.

'He's going to kill me. He's going to rape me, and slit me throat… He's actually going to kill me!' Oxygen was getting harder to obtain, minty green eyes looked past the figure looming above him in fear.

Then, there it was. Soft, anything but silent footsteps, the slight glimpse of a figure…. "When!"

The Storm turned, silver flashing as it flew and circled the unseen form. Several wires and knives captured the enemy, tightening around the first unseen body before digging into the flesh with a sick noise. As it fell heavily, the illusion fell with it, leaving behind a mangled corpse.

"Just a kid." Bel scoffed, moving off the younger to what was left of what looked like someone who couldn't be older than seven… He tugged the small blades from the opponent and shook his head; more in disappointment at the child's attempt than in any sort of pity.

"…. You knew there was an illusionist." Fran said, breathing quickly to get his lungs filled.

"And you didn't. You're the illusionist here, so pay attention. If you can't do that, you're useless to us."

+Falter+

"Would anyone even care if I died?" Fran asked, monotone as he played with the food in front of him.

"What?! Fran, that's awful, of course we'd care!" Lussuria nearly dropped the plate he was cleaning.

"Not just because it would make your job harder." Fran added with a slight glare.

"Fran!" The younger frowned at the tone. "How could you say such a thing? What would make you think such a thing?"

"… You're the only one who reacted like that…" Fran said softly, staring back at the remains of a pancake and syrup.

The Sun Guardian set the dish down, walking around the bar and pulling the younger close. "… We're a tough crowd baby, but don't think you're not important."

+Falter+

I hope you like, I'm not trying to be repetitive. Anyway, more to come soon, you can all yell at my college for the lack or production at the moment. My apologizes.