The following day after the attacks, Kyouya had kept his mouth shut and mentioned nothing about what had transpired to Mukuro, knowing the younger male would scold and punish Fran even in this state – it was much more sensible waiting until the boy was out of the hospital and more relaxed and aware of his surroundings before he was confronted about anything.

The boy had been quiet as Mukuro carried him out of the hospital and to Kyouya's cruiser parked not far away. He hadn't said a word as he was nursed in his guardian's arms during the drive home, teal eyes staring blankly out of the passenger-side window as thoughts ran through his head.

In fact, the only trouble that seemed to arise was driven by Fran's return home. He tensed once Kyouya parked in the driveway beside Mukuro's silver four-wheel drive, and he whimpered as he realised Mukuro was about to take him out of the car.

"What's wrong, little one?" The blue-haired man sighed as he tightened his hold on the boy, wishing he knew how to help.

Fran shook his head, whimpering again as his small fingers curled into Mukuro's white shirt. His body started trembling again, the jacket wrapped around him almost falling down his bandaged body.

"It isn't unusual for rape victims to act this way," Kyouya explained. He got out of the car, moving to his lover's side. He opened the door and silently took Fran from the younger, waiting for Mukuro to stand up before he passed the boy back. "He's just scared, and being back where it happened is stirring memories."

The younger man bit his lip as he looked down at Fran. He nodded, knowing that what Kyouya was talking about made sense. "What should I do with him...?"

"Find where he's most comfortable and let him rest there. I wouldn't advise taking him back to his room, but see how he goes anyway."

Mukuro pushed the front door open as he nodded to Kyouya; they had left in such a hurry, the man hadn't even thought about locking the door. To his relief, everything was still where they had left it.

"I'm going to put the kettle on." Kyouya parted from the younger males as he moved towards the kitchen. "Tea, herbivore?"

"Please." Mukuro closed the door quietly behind them before he moved to the stairwell. He climbed it slowly, knowing that while he was gathering belongings from Fran's bedroom anyway, he could bring the boy with him and see how Fran reacted to his room. Mukuro couldn't fathom what it was like to fear your own home, but he imagined it was something horrible.

Fran's eyes widened as they passed the threshold that divided his room and the hallway, and he couldn't stop the barrage of memories that assaulted him. He let out a soft sob before he screamed, his grip on Mukuro tightening to the point the man could feel fingernails breaking his skin.

"No!" Fran cried out as he thrashed in his guardian's arms, just wanting to get away from this place. "No! No more! Master! Master!"

"Shh..." Mukuro moved quickly as he swiped the iPod sitting on the desk, as well as a few books neatly arranged at the back of it. He next moved to the wardrobe, opening the drawer and pulling out a pair of warm, comfortable pyjamas. He then left, knowing that if Fran wanted anything else, he could always come back up later. "It's okay, Fran. We're going back downstairs now. It's okay."

The boy let go of the white material, raising a shaking hand to instead wipe at his wet face. He cried as he felt himself being carried down the stairs, hating how scared and unsafe he felt just by being in his own home.

Mukuro felt his heart break as he watched the way Fran curled into a ball once he was laid on the couch. The boy didn't even relax as the older male tried to clothe him, pulling away from the touches and flinching whenever fingertips ghosted over his skin.

The man caressed a tear-stained cheek for a few seconds before he straightened his back out again, moving to the kitchen to embrace Kyouya and convey his feelings.

Mukuro knew that if he didn't have Kyouya, there was no way he'd be able to handle something like this – he couldn't do it alone, and he didn't want to.

~~XX~~

When Bel's eyes opened, his vision was blurry and his body ached. He blinked a few times before he realised he was in an unfamiliar room with curtains drawn around him, the loud beeping of machines surrounding him. He was on an uncomfortable mattress, and what seemed to be drips disappeared in his arm.

"You're awake, brat."

Bel blinked again before he realised he was lying on his side, and the voice had come from behind him. It took him a while to roll onto his back and again onto his other side, soft hisses of pain and moans escaping his lips as he did so.

"Squ-Squ...?" Bel frowned at his two guardians, not sure what was going on. "Squ-Squ, what...?"

With lightning speed, Squalo stood up and raised his hand, bringing it down across Bel's cheek hard enough to force the younger's head to the side. With burning eyes, he snarled, "That's for cheating and causing this fucking mess!"

Bel's frown grew as he raised a hand slowly, massaging the spot he had just been slapped in. He remained silent, his mind too hazy to truly process what was happening.

"And this..." Again, Squalo raised his hand, "...is for not coming to us and being a stupid fucking idiot!"

"..." Obscured eyes just watched as Squalo went to slap him for a third time.

"This one..." Squalo was much gentler now, his voice suddenly heavy with stress as he brushed his palm against the blond's swollen cheek, "...is for worrying the shit out of us..."

"You're fucking lucky the bitch talked me out of it or I would have shot your fucking cock off for what you've done," Xanxus snarled. He was seated next to Squalo, glaring intensely at the blond as his arms crossed against his chest. "You don't deserve a boyfriend if you're going to cheat on him – Mammon's dead now because of you."

Bel's eyes closed at these words, fighting back tears; while it was true he would never forgive Mammon for what he had done to Fran, he knew it was his fault this had happened. He had been in a relationship, and yet he had willingly pursued another one without talking to Mammon. He had kept everything from the older male, and even once he had broken the news, he had done nothing to make sure Mammon was okay and coping with it – he had merely been considerate only of his own feelings, believing Mammon would deal with it by himself.

Thinking of it now, if Bel had been the one cheated on... He could only imagine how much it would hurt for someone you love so dearly to go behind your back the way he had...

And now Mammon was dead – dead because Bel hadn't been mature enough to talk things out before doing anything with Fran – scratch that; he hadn't been mature enough to not do anything with Fran.

"I'm sorry..." Bel whispered. His voice was hoarse and soft, testimony to how exhausted he was feeling. "...I'm sorry..."

"Why are you apologising to us?" Squalo questioned. "We're not the ones who need to hear it."

"I'm sorry..." Bel whispered again. He rubbed his cheek, not knowing what to do – this wasn't something he could fix, and now he'd forever have to live with the guilt of having pushed Mammon over the edge. "...I'm so sorry..."

"Brat..." Squalo sighed as he stood back up. He moved over to the hospital bed, pulling Bel in against him. He caressed silky blond hair as he frowned, knowing this whole situation was fucked up. "Brat, it's going to be okay... But fucking hell, once you're out of this joint, you've got some fucking explaining to do, Belphegor. Get your ass ready because we're going to kick the shit out of it when you're better."

Bel just hummed, knowing he shouldn't have expected any less of his guardians – they had always been quick to resort to physical punishments.

But then, that also raised the question of, had Mammon been telling the truth all along...? For years, Bel had talked himself into believing that his family had loved him, but they simply showed it in a different manner they did his brother. They had beaten and starved him, and done things to him he had been too young to understand – it wasn't until Squalo and Xanxus took him home did he slowly learn there was more to love than being punched and kicked all day every day.

But even so... Squalo and Xanxus had raised their hands to him many times, and though they had never hurt him like his family had, they had still frightened him on occasion.

Was Mammon right...? Or was Bel just looking too deeply into things?

~~XX~~

"...ster...?"

Mukuro's heterochromatic eyes opened slowly as he felt someone tug on his nightshirt. He blinked before he pushed himself into a sitting position, reaching out to flick on the bedside table lamp. Kyouya was still sleeping peacefully beside him, undisturbed, but Fran was standing by the edge of the mattress, looking scared.

"What's wrong, little one?" Mukuro reached out, grabbing Fran's tiny hand in his own.

"..." Fran looked to the ground, chewing at his lip. It took a few minutes for him to reply, but when he did, it was in a small, shaking voice. "...I'm scared... I don't... I don't want to be on my own..."

"Little one, you're seventeen-years-old." Mukuro caressed the back of the boy's hand with his thumb, trying to get the boy to understand. "You're too old to be climbing into bed with me."

"But..." Fran's lip quivered as his eyes filled with tears.

"What if I need my Kyouya time?" Mukuro tried to explain. "Or Kyouya needs his? Or your dreams... get you excited? No. You're too old."

A single tear slid down Fran's cheek, not understanding why he was being turned away at such a frightening time in his life – Mukuro had never had a problem with letting Fran sleep with him before, even if that had been several years back.

"Go back to the couch, Fran." Mukuro moved to lie back down in the bed, only to groan as a hard elbow struck him in the ribcage. "Kyouya..."

"You're too loud, herbivore." The skylark sat up next, his dark eyes glinting with the lamplight. "And inconsiderate. Let him sleep with you – what's a bit of morning embarrassment compared to making him worse?"

Mukuro frowned as he nodded. He knew his lover was right, but he didn't like the idea of Fran... well, getting excited right next to him – not when he had raised the boy for the past ten years and had his lover sleeping right next to him.

"Climb in, then..." Mukuro was hesitant to lift the blankets, and he couldn't help but scoot closer to Kyouya as a warm body nestled in against him, obviously seeking comfort. "Just... try not to let yourself get excited, please..."

"Doubt he will be..." Kyouya had laid back down already, his back to his boyfriend. He waited patiently for the blankets to be released before he smoothed them over his body again, closing his eyes as he prepared himself for more sleep. "Not so soon, anyway..."

Fran didn't confirm this one way or another; he merely cuddled in close to Mukuro, burying his face in against the man's warm pyjamas. His fingers curled into the material, and once an arm curled around him and held him close, he finally relaxed.

There was just one thing on his mind that Fran couldn't shake; why wasn't Bel here?

"Master...?"

Mukuro frowned as he opened his eyes again, looking down at the boy. He was tired, and Fran wasn't making it any better. "What is it...?"

"...Why isn't Bel-senpai here...?"

"You said you didn't want anyone to know, so I was going to let you tell him yourself..." Mukuro nuzzled his face against teal hair gently. "He doesn't know. Now go to sleep."

Maybe Mukuro was right and Bel didn't know, but Mammon's words rang through Fran's head, and the boy couldn't help but question if Bel had really loved him at all, or if the blond had just been using him – after all, if Bel did love him, he would be here, right...?

"Master...?"

Mukuro took a few seconds to reply, growing frustrated with Fran. "What...?"

"I want to move..." Fran pulled himself closer at these words. "Can we...?"

"..." With a sigh, Mukuro forced himself to speak in a soft tone. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. Now sleep."

"Sorry, Master..." Fran let his eyes slip closed, but he was sure he wouldn't be falling asleep any time soon – not when his mind was nothing but a chaotic mess.