Bel was nervous as he awaited Rasiel's return. It had been early that morning when Rasiel had told him he was bringing his girlfriend over once he finished work, but the younger didn't like that idea; every other girlfriend Rasiel had been with had been cruel to him. He wasn't looking forward to having to meet another one, even though he had been promised this one was nothing like the others; he just wanted it to be him and Rasiel and no one else.

He rested on the couch in anxious anticipation as he watched the new anime collection Rasiel had bought for him. His kitten, Arashi, rested on his lap as it slept. He knew his brother would be walking into their home any minute now, so when he heard the car pull up and two car doors close instead of one, his heart started to race again; he wasn't looking forward to this…

There was the soft jingling of keys before the front door unlocked and opened. Rasiel stepped inside with a small, indigo-haired woman behind him. She wore a black jacket with a matching skirt, and a hood just as dark hid her eyes from view.

"Bel, this is Mammon." Rasiel's voice was gentle as he introduced the two. "She has something for you."

Bel raised his head slowly. He flinched when a hand came towards him, but it didn't take long for him to see the lollipop the woman was holding out for him.

"Siel told me you like sweet things." The woman was quiet, but there was an air of confidence around her, unlike the other girls Rasiel had introduced him to. "I grabbed some for you from work when I left."

Bel was hesitant as he reached out to tentatively wrap his fingers around the sugary treat. He held the lollipop by his kitten, unsure of what to do now; he wasn't used to strangers giving him gifts, after all…

"What do you say, Bel?" Rasiel was kind as he prompted Bel to use the manners the younger was still trying to work on.

Bel shook his head as he curled further into himself. Rasiel didn't force him; he knew that Bel would come out of his shell when he was ready.

"That's a cute kitten." The female – Mammon, Bel had to remember – kept her hands to herself as she complimented the man's pet. "What's his name?"

Bel didn't reply; he just stood up from the couch and moved to a different room and took his kitten with him. He knew that, so far, this girl had been nicer than the others, but could he trust her to stay that way…?

He didn't think so.

For dinner that night, Mammon stayed. The three were gathered in the living room, seated around the kotatsu with Bel sitting in silence as his brother and the woman conversed. He tensed uncomfortably when, without warning, Mammon's attention focused on him again.

"Siel has told me a lot about you." Mammon was vague; she knew better than to tell the damaged male she knew exactly what he had been through in his life. "You're just like as he described."

Bel frowned. He didn't know how to take those words. He looked up again when his brother spoke.

"Mammon has been looking forward to meeting you for some time now." The older male patted his brother's shoulder. "She's taken quite a liking to you."

Bel knew that those words implied Mammon wasn't going to hurt him, and that she'd treat him in a manner like the ones Tsuna and his friends used with him, but it was so hard to trust people with everything that had been done to him.

The younger male shifted in distress. He knew it would upset Rasiel if he didn't treat his girlfriend with the respect he was slowly being taught, but he still didn't know what was expected of him; how was he supposed to react?

He stood up and left the living room; if Rasiel wanted him to be nice to Mammon, there was only one way he felt he could do so comfortably and easily.

"Where is he going?" Mammon put her chopsticks down by her bowl as he stared after the younger twin.

"I'm… not sure, actually." Rasiel wanted to get up and check on his brother, but he knew that Bel still needed to learn how to be by himself and it was best to stop breathing down the other's neck with every little thing he did. "He should come back; sushi is his favourite and he hasn't eaten much of it yet."

"He really is messed up." Mammon didn't apologise for making her boyfriend wince; it was a fact, and they both knew it.

"He's… trying…" The long-haired man turned around as he heard his brother coming back down the hallway with a box in his arms. "What's he got now…?"

Bel sat down again by the kotatsu as he showed everyone the Monopoly box he had brought out. He smiled; though he always played with Rasiel, he was sure playing with Mammon too might slowly help him adjust to the woman if he could get used to her in his own way.

"You want to play?" Rasiel turned back to Mammon when his brother nodded. "Want to play with him after dinner, Mammon?"

"I have to warn you; Monopoly is my best game."

Bel smiled as he pushed the game past the tablecloth so he could leave it out of the way as they finished eating.

Bel was glad he had asked to play Monopoly; Mammon had been so nice and patient with him, he had quickly forgotten his previous distress about her. They had played several rounds, and with Mammon being declared the winner each time, Rasiel soon decided it was bedtime for Bel.

"Are you tired, brother?" Rasiel knew the answer; his brother was falling asleep where he sat. He reached out to take Arashi from Bel's lap and passed the kitten to Mammon so he could stand up and bring Bel with him.

Bel yawned as he walked with Rasiel down the hallway. He quickly became confused when, after trying to turn into Rasiel's bedroom they had just passed, his brother stopped him; weren't they going to bed now…? He was sure that's what his twin had said…

"S-siel…" Bel pointed to his brother's room.

Rasuel shook his head. He felt guilty for not having weaned his brother's dependence off him sooner; he had known it would become a problem, but he just didn't have the heart to let his twin be in pain. "Mammon is going to stay the night, and since we… need privacy, you'll have to sleep in your room tonight."

Bel didn't like that idea; when he was alone, his memories were worse than usual and it was only the older male's presence that could make him feel safe enough to sleep. "…But…"

"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep. How about that?" Rasiel knew he had won when the other started walking again.

When they had stepped into Bel's bedroom, Rasiel moved about preparing the futon while Bel got dressed behind him. Bel hesitated in laying down on the futon he had only used twice in all their years of owning it, but with Rasiel sitting beside him, holding his hand and caressing his head, he was quickly soothed into rest with his arm draped around Mink as the animal curled up with him.

"Is he asleep?" Mammon stood in the doorway. Her expression was passive, but Rasiel knew her well enough to know that beneath her stoic exterior, she was someone who cared about Bel and the pain he was still experiencing. She had told him before that she would help as best she could as her lover had an emotional breakdown from the stress associated with caring for someone so damaged; she knew Rasiel couldn't do it alone, and if the man kept trying, he would lose his mind.

Rasiel nodded. He leant down and brushed hair away from Bel's temple so he could place a kiss there. He then stood up and moved to Mammon to embrace her tightly.

"I love you, Mammon," he whispered as he led his girlfriend into his bedroom, wanting to make passionate love to her now that Bel was asleep.

Mammon pressed her lips against the male's, wanting it as much as he did.

Some time throughout the night, Rasiel awoke to someone nestling up to his back. He frowned. His arms were still wrapped around Mammon, so he slowly untangled himself to roll over and caress his twin's head.

"Go back to sleep, Bel…" Rasiel's voice was heavy with sleep. "It's late…"

Bel hummed. He was already content with how close he was to his beloved brother. He was out like a light, leaving Rasiel to briefly recall the fact that he and Mammon were still naked after their activities, and Bel would have questions and possibly a fit in the morning; sex was a very touchy subject with Bel.