Bel was in the kitchen the next morning eating breakfast when Squalo came in. Squalo cleared his throat awkwardly and Bel slumped over his cereal.
"Look, Bel-" He began. "What the hell are you eating?" He said giving him a bewildered look.
"Corn flakes and orange juice," he said. "Uh, Froggy showed me," he added lamely.
Squalo starred at him for a moment. "Er, anyway, about yesterday-"
"That wasn't what it looked like!" Bel said quickly.
"Well, whatever it was, it isn't my business, but Bel…" He hesitated. "Just be careful. None of us want to see you hurt again. What Mammon did to you…"
Bel's face darkened. Speaking of Mammon was taboo.
"It just took you a long time to get back to your old self," he said. "And we can't afford to have a shitty assassin in the Varia again," he added so it wouldn't seem like he cared too much.
"Che. You worry too much," he grumbled. "I'm not with the Frog."
"Shut up, trash," Squalo snapped. "That's all I have to say about it. I won't bring it up again."
"Fran isn't like Mammon…" He added quietly and Squalo almost didn't hear him.
"I know he's not," Squalo said. "But he is a little brat."
Bel's temple twitched in annoyance. He suddenly felt the need to defend the Froggy, so he did the next best thing: insult Squalo.
"You're limping Squalo," he called to him as he was leaving. "Boss must have given it to you good. Who knew you'd act like someone's little bitch?"
"VOIII!" Squalo roared, turning a deep shade of red. "You shut your mouth, trash!"
Bel had to jump back as Squalo's sword came slashing at him and shattered his bowl. Juice and corn flakes were sent all over the kitchen.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, SPOILED PRINCE!" He yelled.
Bel bolted out of the room, knowing he was in deep shit. He immediately regretted the comment.
"Liking Froggy is already getting me into trouble," he grumbled. He ran full out down the hall, with Squalo hot on his heels.
Fran peered over the banister to see all the commotion. "It seems my partner is in trouble," he said watching with interest.
Bel dodged a few attacks, hardly having the time to counterattack. Shit… He really is mad. Bel hissed as he narrowly avoided a fatal blow. He could hear his shirt rip and feel his skin tear.
"Fuck! Ow!" He cried out. "Shit, Squa, I was joking!"
"Fuck that!" Squalo snarled.
"I suppose I should help," Fran muttered. He didn't like how close that last attack had been to really hurting his Senpai.
Squalo cried out suddenly as a wall appeared between him and Bel. He looked around and spotted Fran.
"DAMN IT! DON'T HELP HIM!"
"But Senpai," he droned. "You told me I was supposed to."
"NOT NOW!"
Bel gasped for breath, feeling very relieved. "Thanks, Froggy!" He called up. He could see Fran smiling, and he couldn't help grinning. He quickly made his escape, Squalo roaring after him.
Squalo panted for breath, after Bel was long gone. He looked down at his sword and saw blood. "Shit…" He muttered, coming back to his senses. "Maybe I went a little too far… Eh." He shrugged and walked away. "Little bastard."
Bel went and found Fran. He bent over gasping for breath, resting his hands on his knees.
"I think I owe you one, Froggy," he panted.
Fran smiled slightly. "I'll be sure to save it for later. You're out of shape, Senpai."
"Che," Bel snorted. "Am… not…"
"Maybe you shouldn't eat so much," Fran goaded. "You're getting fat."
Bel made a sound of indignation. "I am not!" He cried, his voice getting higher.
Fran found himself laughing, but suddenly stopped. "Ah… You're bleeding, Senpai."
"I know," he said, irked. He moved past him and Fran followed.
Fran was getting the sense of déjà vu when he followed him into his room.
"Shall I patch you up again, Senpai?" He asked.
Bel shoved the medical supplies in his hands and flopped down on his bed. Fran sat beside him.
"You have to take off your shirt or I can't do anything for you," he said.
"I can't," he said pouting. "I'm fat."
Fran snorted. "You're too sensitive, Senpai."
"Hmph," Bel grumbled.
"Senpai," he said trying not to laugh. "I didn't mean it."
"You did too!" He practically whined. "Quit laughing!"
Fran really was laughing now. "I'm sorry… You're just acting like a little girl."
"I am not!" Bel cried, his voice high again. Fran laughed harder and Bel shoved him off the bed.
"Ow. Okay, okay," Fran said, trying to catch his breath. "I'm sorry. Really… But we should get that cleaned up."
Bel scowled down at him. "You're a mean little Froggy," he said still pouting.
Fran moved back over to him cautiously and tugged at his shirt. Bel grumbled and pulled it over his head.
"Don't look," he said sulkily.
"Yes, Senpai," Fran grinned. He observed the slice across Bel's side. It was deep, but he was sure it didn't need stitches.
Bel hissed quietly as he cleaned it, but made no other complaints. He put a bandage over it and sat back.
"There. All better now, Bel-Senpai," he said.
Bel grunted. Fran gazed down at Bel's torso. Calling Bel fat really was laughable. The guy was perfectly toned with lean muscle. Fran could feel butterflies forming in his stomach as he starred at Bel's birthmark. There was something about the little crescent moon that got Fran all flushed when he saw it. He wanted to lick it. This only got him flustered. He had never thought about doing something like that to anyone before. Damn puberty!
"Quit looking!" Bel whined, pulling the sheets up around him.
Fran felt disappointment at no longer being able to ogle, but he was finding it very fun to see Bel act like such a child.
"Perhaps we should be training more?" Fran suggested. "More exercise."
"No way," he said.
"Lazy."
"Get out!" Bel ordered and Fran had to quickly stand so he wouldn't be shoved off the bed again. He left before Bel could throw anything at him.
Fran watched Bel curiously that night when Lussuria brought out dessert. It was strawberry cake. Bel was starring at the cake with the saddest look of longing. When Lussuria handed a piece to him, he shook his head and pushed it away.
"But Senpai, strawberry is your favorite," Fran said, confused.
"I'm fat," he said sourly.
Fran had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. "So… You're on a diet then?"
Bel didn't say anything. He was looking so dejected that Fran was starting to feel bad about it.
"You're not fat, Bel-Senpai," he said.
"Hmph," he breathed.
"Really, Senpai. You're not." He nudged the cake towards him. "Eat it. You know you want to."
Bel whimpered as he looked at the cake. "Princes can't be fat."
"You're not, so it's okay," Fran said. "Y-You look good."
Bel paused and then grinned. "I look good, huh?"
Fran could feel his cheeks heat up and he rolled his eyes. "Just eat your cake, Senpai."
"Shishishi," Bel giggled happily and started eating.
"That didn't take much convincing," he grumbled.
"Hey, wait! How do you know strawberry cake is my favorite?" Bel asked, turning to him, fork still in his mouth.
Fran frowned. "Didn't you tell me?"
"No," Bel said frowning as well. "When would we have been talking about cake?"
Fran shrugged. "I don't know. You must have told me at some point."
"I didn't," he said.
"But, I'm sure you've told me," Fran said.
"I haven't," Bel insisted.
"Then how…?"
Bel's heart suddenly leapt. "You might be getting some of your memories back, Froggy."
Fran's eyes widened. "Y-You think so?"
"Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't hit you over the head then," Bel said thoughtfully, tapping his chin.
"Hitting me probably won't bring my memories back," he said.
Bel grinned. "I think I'll just do it anyway. When you least suspect it."
"I'll give you my cake if you don't," Fran offered.
Bel paused to consider this. "Yeah, okay," he said pulling his plate towards him.
Fran was a little taken aback by this. He could bribe his Senpai with strawberry cake? He really needed to learn how to make it.
Fran was excited about the idea of getting his memories back. He may have only received one pointless one, but it was a start! He wanted more than anything to remember what happens between him and Bel. What kind of relationship did they have? Had it been just a causal thing or something more serious? No one had been clear about it and he certainly couldn't ask Bel. He doubted Bel would ever tell him and he didn't like the idea of asking Lussuria or any of the other Varia members either. Fran spent hours thumbing through his brain, desperate for any new information. When he was fed up with everything he went to see Bel. He knocked on his door.
"Senpaiiii," he called dispassionately.
"What?" Bel called back.
"Senpaiiii," he repeated.
"What?!" Bel snapped and Fran heard shuffling behind the door. He pulled it open. "Whatever it is, it better be important."
Fran peered past him and his eyes widened. "You're playing Borderlands," he said.
"Duh," Bel said, rolling his eyes. "Your point?"
Fran looked up at Bel with innocent shining eyes. "It's my favorite game."
Bel frowned at him. "…Yeah?"
Fran nodded. Bel huffed and pulled him inside.
"Then you may play with the prince," he said.
"Really, Senpai?" He asked hopefully.
Bel tossed him a controller from the Xbox 360 and he nearly dropped it. Fran took that as a yes and joined him on the couch.
"You can play as the girl," Bel said.
Fran gladly picked Lilith the Siren. She was his favorite and Bel chose Roland, the soldier (Hopefully those that have played Borderlands 2 will get the joke here). They started a new game and ended up playing for most of the day. To Bel's surprise, Fran was very good at the game. This made him happy. He could never get any of the other Varia members to play with him. He was usually stuck playing with people online. They ended up playing after dinner too and well into the night. Bel paused the game around 2:45am. He yawned and stretched.
"I guess the prince needs his beauty sleep?" Fran asked.
Bel ignored him and turned the game off. They both stood up and Fran went to the door.
"We can play again," Bel said offhandedly.
Fran nodded and checked his watch. "Ahh… It's now my birthday," he said simply and left.
Bel's eyes widened. "Birthday?" He said to himself. He'll be 16. Maybe now I'll feel like less of a pervert when I look at him.
Yeah... I love video games. My boyfriend (RIP) and I used to play Borderlands all the time...
