A/N I wrote this chapter in the break room at work as I was waiting to start. Because my manger had to meet with our support manager, I noticed as I read through I got confused and wrote a few random words and sometimes accidentally used first person. I think I've fixed all the confusion up, but if anyone notices something they think is probably a result of my distraction, please let me know so I can fix it.

When Fran awoke the next morning, he was surprised to find that Squalo wasn't in the bed anymore. The spot where the man had slept last night was still warm, meaning he mustn't have left very long ago.

The sounds of a shower were audible, and the teal-haired boy realised that was where the long-haired male had gone.

Fran yawned as he sat up, shivering a little as the blanket fell from his naked torso, the cold morning air hitting him like a bunch of ice cubes.

"Squalo...?" The boy climbed out of the bed, grabbing his black turtleneck and Varia jacket Squalo had taken off him last night from the floor. He slipped them back on, a little happier now that he was warming up.

Moving to the bathroom to his left, the Mist Guardian was quiet as he opened the door, suddenly overwhelmed by a heap of steam.

Squalo, who had been in the middle of shampooing his long hair when Fran walked in, shouted as he fumbled in surprise, not used to people walking in on him as he showered.

"Voi!" Squalo roared as a strand of his long hair hit him in the eye, the shampoo burning it already. He raised a hand to his eye as he turned to look at Fran, using his free hand to cover himself. "Fran, you shithead! Get the fuck out!"

Fran just stood where he was, a dark blush coming to his face. He didn't know why he had just walked in like this, having not thought it through before getting out of the bed; all he knew was that he had wanted to be back by Squalo's side.

"Don't just fucking stand there!" Squalo roared, grabbing the bottle of shampoo he had placed on the shower rack behind him, throwing it at the boy. "Get the fuck out!"

Fran just blushed harder, not quite understanding why his body was suddenly feeling as warm it was when the weather was so cold.

"S-sorry..." Fran turned around quickly and left, feeling very embarrassed about what he had just done. He honestly hadn't thought at all about Squalo being naked as he showered; all he wanted was to say good morning to him and give him a hug.

Fran could feel the way his pants tightened as he replayed the image of Squalo's naked body over and over again in his mind. He wasn't entirely sure why such a thing would be arousing for him – he had been certain that, even without his memories, he had been straight. Well... he actually hadn't thought about it at all, but he had never felt the need to question his sexuality – it just hadn't seemed important at all when he was more stressed about his amnesia.

Could I be gay...? Fran frowned, not sure how he felt about the possibility – he didn't feel as if he were a homophobe, but he also didn't feel comfortable with liking boys. What if I am? Does anyone know? What if they don't because they're against them? What if... What if I'm against it, and I do turn out to be gay...?

Fran was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice the shower turning off. He was vaguely aware of the bathroom door opening, and it wasn't until Squalo called out to him did he snap back to reality.

"Voi! Shithead!"

Fran jumped as he turned to look at Squalo, noticing the way the man was dressed once more in their Varia uniform. "Y-yeah...?"

"Stop spacing out like that; you're making me feel as if you're fantasising about me." Squalo didn't sound as if he were joking. "It's uncomfortable."

Fran blinked before he replied, "Am I gay?"

Squalo snorted. "Fuck if I know. You never showed interest in anyone. Don't think you've ever jacked off before, either."

"Oh..." Well, that doesn't help me understand... "...Well... Are you gay, Squalo?"

"No." Squalo snorted again. "I'm bi, you dumbass."

"Then..." the pieces slowly fit themselves together in his mind; if Squalo was bisexual, he surely couldn't be a homophobe... right...?

"Don't get the wrong idea, kid," Squalo continued. "I may be bi, but that side of me disgusts me."

"Oh..." Then that means I probably won't be accepted if I am gay... "...What... What if... What if I'm... G-gay...?"

"Then you can keep your filthy germs to yourself and go fuck around with Lussuria," Squalo spat, almost as if the idea of Fran being gay offended him. Like fuck I'm going to let him touch me ever again if he is gay... Filthy! "Now shut the fuck up and let me get ready."

Fran closed his mouth, feeling his eyes tearing up; it hurt to have Squalo snap at him like this – all he wanted was for the older man to accept him.

Squalo, who noticed the strange glinting in those teal eyes, sighed as he reached out, patting teal hair. He then knelt down, grabbing his bag as he retrieved his hairbrush from its confines.

Fran pulled his knees to his chest, holding them as he rocked back and forth, watching the Rain Guardian curiously; he had never before taken notice of how well the man took care of his hair, brushing out the slightest tangle so that it was silky smooth.

"Your hair is really pretty," Fran said, extending an arm to touch at the silver hair. "Why is it so long?"

"Because I fucking want it to be!" Squalo snapped. As much as he was trying to keep his temper with the boy, he was in a foul mood today and didn't want to have to put up with Fran. "Now shut it!"

Fran was silent once more, pulling his hand down to poke at the mattress instead. He listened as Squalo continued getting himself ready, the background noise slowly fading away to nothing as he started thinking again.

If Squalo is bisexual, why is he acting like this...? Fran sighed. I thought he would understand what it's like to be confused... I thought he might even be able to help me... But here he is, treating me like a disease... I don't... I don't even know if I'm gay or not, and he's...

Fran jumped as his shoulders were grabbed by Squalo's large hands. He tried to turn around and see why the man was sitting behind him on the bed, but he was met with a hairbrush to the head instead.

"Voi! Keep fucking still!" Squalo snapped, waving his hairbrush around in the air threateningly. "Do it, or I'm going to hit you again!"

Fran tensed instinctively, but he soon found himself relaxing as Squalo's aggressive nature was contradicted by how gently the man was brushing the boy's hair.

I don't remember anyone ever brushing my hair for me... Fran frowned before he continued on with the thought, ...But then again, I don't remember a lot of things...

"I'm leaving soon for the mission," Squalo growled out. "You can stay here and wait for me to come back."

"But you said I could come and stay in the car," Fran protested. "Please?"

"You don't even like cars! Make up your fucking mind, brat!"

"Cars are okay as long as you're with me..." Fran whispered, fumbling with his hands. "I just... don't trust them if you're not there... That accident... It was so scary..."

Squalo sighed. Why was he giving in to this kid so much? It was almost as if he was getting a soft side to him with the way he was bending to Fran's every wish. "What-fucking-ever. But get out of that car just once when I'm gone, and I'll..."

Fran nodded. "I'll stay in the car as long as you keep the heater running for me."

"Alright. Go brush your teeth; your morning breath is atrocious."

Fran huffed as he got off the bed, moving to his backpack to grab his toothbrush and some toothpaste. "At least my morning breath doesn't smell as if I was eating shit all night."

"Voi! Little bastard!"

Fran disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Squalo by himself. The older male was annoyed – very annoyed; he hadn't woken up about to jizz his pants since he was eighteen, and the fact that his dreams had involved a very naughty Fran made things worse.

Little fuck probably doesn't even have a sex drive... Squalo thought to himself as he moved to put his boots on. That'll explain why he's never shown an interest in anything sexual before. So why am I dreaming about him?

Fucking body – such a traitor. I haven't felt anything for another male for almost ten years now – I don't want to start again, and with that little brat to boot.

As Squalo waited for Fran to get himself ready, he occupied himself with the TV, distracting himself from his thoughts.

For a Stategy Captain of the Varia, second in command of the strongest assassination squad, Squalo made a lot of mistakes – bringing Fran on this mission was a disaster waiting to happen.