"Did you and Bel have a fight?"

Squalo looked up from where he had been picking at the stitching in his jeans. He frowned as he noticed Takeshi standing next to the couch; he hadn't even heard the younger come in… He shrugged. "The little shit's just spoilt rotten… How's your arm?"

Takeshi offered a smile. He gestured to the bandage still out in the open as he hadn't rolled his sleeve over it. "It's okay. I just had a shower; it's stinging a little bit but I can handle it."

Squalo looked away so he could glare out of the window as he mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like 'sorry'. "…"

"Where's everyone gone?" Takeshi could sense that Squalo didn't mind his company at the moment, so he took the opportunity to sit on the couch next to the older male.

"Bucking Horse has got Bel at the physio for his pelvis. Not sure about the other two brats."

The Japanese male grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table in front of them so he could turn it on. He then said, "Can I ask you a question? You don't have to answer it if you don't want to."

"Yeah…"

"Dino told me you don't enjoy sex, so why do you do it with Bel?" Takeshi couldn't keep the sadness out of his voice; why was the man turning him down, yet engaging in all of that with the blond…?

"Takeshi." Squalo's tone had become serious, and the man had fixed a hard look on the younger. "I don't enjoy sex. I fuckin' hate it. I slept around for money to buy drugs and alcohol, but I haven't done that shit since I've been trying to get off it all. I hate sex; what I was doing was nothing but stupid attempts at pretending I was okay. And if Bel wasn't as fucking horny as he always is, I'd have never touched him. I do it with him because he wants it. Not because I want to, but because I do it for him. So don't go getting the wrong fuckin' idea; all it's ever been between us is me trying to give him the comfort he needs."

Takeshi let out a breath of relief he hadn't even realised he'd been holding. "So… It's not because you're choosing him over me…?"

Squalo shook his head. "His family had been selling him as a prostitute since he was three; it really fucked him up in the head. He actually loves sex, and he craves it. It helps him feel safe and comfortable knowing he has some control over his body now. He trusts me most, so it's usually me he seeks out. I'm not choosing him over anyone, Takeshi; I'm just trying to help comfort him."

"But… If you can do that for him… Why are you scared of me…?" The younger male sighed. "It's clear you like me, too… But I just don't get why you'd let me kiss you and then… And then…"

"Takeshi. I have not kissed anyone in eight fucking years. Not even Bel. He tries to kiss me all the time and gets my foot up his ass for it. But you… You're different."

"If I'm different, then it's okay, right? For me to kiss you. And hold you. And for us to be together."

"…"

"It's because of Xanxus, isn't it? You're just scared of having to go through all of that again." Takeshi slowly reached his hand out until his fingertips were resting ever-so-slightly against Squalo's cheek. "But I'm not like Xanxus. Give me a chance to prove that to you. Please."

Squalo chewed at his lip in worry. It was true that over the past weeks he had contemplated long and hard about how he felt towards Takeshi, and he knew he was attracted to the other – but after everything he had been through…

Surely Takeshi could do better than him…

"I'm not like Xanxus, and if you'll let me, I can prove that."

Squalo closed his eyes. It was true he wanted so badly to be able to accept Takeshi, but he was just so afraid… But, oh, fuck it; what did he have left to lose? He didn't have anything left. "…Okay…"

Takeshi's smile brightened. He pressed his palm against Squalo's cheek so he could cup the other's face and leave a soft kiss against pale lips. Squalo didn't reciprocate this time, but the younger had expected it; instead of trying to deepen the kiss, he instead pulled away and beamed at his new boyfriend. He said nothing as he wrapped his arms around the older male in a tight embrace; it was the only way he could express how happy he was right now.

Squalo gasped at the sudden intimacy. He instinctively tried to break free, but the fact that Takeshi only seemed to tighten his hold now was enough for him to be on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Squalo?" Takshi finally released his hold when he heard the other's panicked breaths. "I'm sorry; should I wait longer before I hug you?"

Now that Squalo wasn't feeling so claustrophobic, he shook his head. "…No, brat… It's fine, just… Just warn me or some shit next time…"

Takeshi nodded. He placed a soft kiss on the man's cheek before he stood up and asked, "Have you eaten breakfast yet? I can cook us sushi if you're hungry."

Squalo nodded. He knew it was going to take a long time to be able to adjust to being with someone again, but at least Takeshi wasn't being a prick to him…

All Squalo hoped for was that Takeshi would never turn out to be like Xanxus; if it ever came to that, he didn't think he'd be able to handle it.

~~XX~~

When night came and everyone had eaten their dinner, Takeshi stood with Squalo out on the back veranda. The long-haired man was smoking a cigarette into the cold night air, but Takeshi didn't mind; he was too busy gushing about how happy he was for Squalo to finally have accepted.

"Ne, Squalo?"

The addressed man sighed. He never had been very big on socialising, and he would be lying if he said Takeshi's constant talking wasn't irritating him. "What…?"

"Can we sleep together for tonight?" Takeshi quickly continued on when he noticed how tense the other had become. "Not like that! I mean, can I sleep in your bed with you?"

The clarification didn't make Squalo feel much better; though he was used to sleeping with Bel, it was Bel and not… not Takeshi… "…"

"Do you need more time?" Takeshi didn't mind when he received a nod in response; he instead smiled in understanding. "Okay. Not tonight, then."

"Voi…" Squalo took a deep puff of his cigarette before he spoke again. "What do those other brats think about us…?"

"Eh? Tsuna and Dino are really happy! Gokudera… We haven't told him yet; I don't… know how he'll take it…"

"Don't tell him; I lost a fuckload of friends when I told them I was with Xanxus… Just keep it between the other two. …What are your parents gonna think? Will you tell them?"

"My mum died when I was real little…" The Japanese male sighed sadly, but he quickly perked up again when his dad crossed his mind. "My pop will be happy for me, too, though; he's the kind of dad you know will always support you, no matter what."

"You're lucky to have a father like that, brat; mine just treated me like a punching bag and made sure I knew what a failure I was. My mother was the same; she just yelled and screamed and did whatever she could to bring me down. I was ten when I was diagnosed with depression from it all."

The younger reached out and took Squalo's free hand. He squeezed it tight before he said in a soft manner, "I hope you can meet my pop one day; I know he's going to like you lots."

Squalo sighed again; somehow, he doubted those words. "…Yeah, brat."

A peaceful silence fell between the two for several minutes before it was broken by the sound of the back door opening and Dino calling out. "Hey, guys, we're playing some board games. Are you joining?"

"I will, Dino!" Takeshi laughed happily as he grabbed at Squalo's arm and tugged it. "Come play with us, Squalo!"

The long-haired man grunted in annoyance before he pulled his arm back to himself. "Nah, brat. I'm goin' for a walk."

"Okay~" The teen leant down and placed a kiss on his new boyfriend's cheek. "I love you~"

"...Hn…" Squalo put the cigarette butt out and stood up. "…Have fun, brat…"

Squalo had put his back to the younger male as he got ready to leave through the back gate, but he quickly stopped and froze on the spot when he felt strong arms wrap around him. He almost panicked again, but this time, he was able to remain mostly calm; he had to remind himself that it was only Takeshi trying to be affectionate with him; something he hadn't experienced in – well, to be honest, he never had experienced it before.

The long-haired man didn't say a word when Takeshi released him; all he did was give a soft grunt in acknowledgement before he left the backyard.

"How's he doing, Takeshi?" Dino smiled at his guest when the younger stepped past him into the house.

"Ah, really good!" Takeshi beamed up at his host. "He even lets me hug him!"

"I'm glad." The blond patted Takeshi's head as they walked to the living room. "This is the best I've seen him in years."

"Do you think he's almost off everything for good?" Takeshi's tone was hopeful.

"I think he's halfway there, but he's still got a long way to go." Dino's smile widened. "He's only gotten this far because you've been there to help him. Keep it up."

"Thanks! I can't wait for tomorrow; I wanna go out for breakfast with him."

"You might get lucky. You're the only one he's gone into town with in five years."

Now that they were standing in the doorway of the living room, Takeshi didn't respond directly; Hayato was sitting by the board game in the middle of the floor, listening to them, and he didn't want the silver-haired male to find out that he was dating Squalo; it was hard to predict how the younger would react, and the last thing he wanted was to lose Hayato as a friend.

Instead, Takeshi's smile became impossibly wide as he took a seat on the floor between Tsuna and Bel. Tonight was going to be a good night; he could feel it.