"Gokudera-kun."

Turning around to face his boss, Gokudera put the plate of dango he had pulled from the fridge back onto the shelf. "Yes, Tenth?"

"Yamamoto and I have gotten Belphegor into the infirmary and settled him in." Tsuna brushed his fingers through his brown locks, a sigh escaping his lips. "He's been badly injured; I suspect he was caught off-guard by something. It looks like he was shot at first; through the knee, so he probably couldn't run."

"Tenth, you know I really don't care about…" Sighing at the look of disapproval on the Vongola Tenth's face, the silver-haired man bowed in submission. "Apologies, Tenth…"

"He's still awake, but he's fighting sleep." Putting his hand on his friend's shoulder, Tsuna offered a gentle smile. "Go sit with him for a while and make sure he's alright; he's been through a big ordeal and he likes you most."

Gokudera wanted to protest, rant about how much he despised the boy and everything to do with him, but… He was also the Vongola's Storm Guardian, the Tenth's right-hand man; he couldn't refuse such a simple order.

"…Yes, Tenth…" Grabbing the plate of dango from the fridge once more, Gokudera took it with him as he made his way to the infirmary. It wasn't a long walk, but he was truly dreading stepping into the room with his Varia counterpart inside it; he wished things would just go back to normal and Bel would fuck off back to Italy already.

Finally making it to the infirmary, Gokudera stepped inside. Looking over to the first bed on his left, he frowned as he noticed Bel lifting his head from the mattress, blood matting his locks. He could see stitches on the younger's face, a bandage wrapped around his neck, and though his body was hidden beneath the blanket, he had one arm resting on his chest, a cast on it. IVs disappeared beneath the blanket, a heart rate monitor beeping in the background.

"Hayato…kun…" Bel seemed disoriented, very unlike his usual self; had he really been hurt that badly? "Hayato…kun…"

"What do you want?" Sneering at the boy, Gokudera reluctantly took the furthest seat from the bed possible. "I'm only here because Tenth asked me to be."

Rolling onto his side, Bel hissed in pain. "…Hayato-kun… Why do you hate me…?"

"Why?" His sneer widening, the silver-haired male narrowed his eyes. "Why wouldn't I? You give me every fucking reason I can think of, and every time I so much as see you, you make me wish I could snap your damn neck myself."

With a sigh, Bel shrugged. Rolling onto his side, he muttered, "Whatever... I still like you, though."

Gokudera wasn't sure why hearing these words for himself bothered him so much; it was different hearing it from someone like Tsuna – it coming from Bel's own mouth was what made him stop and think; why would the blond even like someone like him in the first place? He thought his Varia counterpart hated him just as much; it would certainly make sense with the way they acted towards each other.

Trying not to think so much on his confusion, Gokudera instead stomped forward, grabbing golden locks and tugging the younger's head up. "What the hell are you trying to pull, you little shit? Stop fucking lying to me."

"I'm not lying." As tired, as injured as he was, Bel was sincere. Lifting his obscured eyes to stare into green ones, a stoic expression crossed his face. "If I didn't like you, I wouldn't have continued to annoy you as much as I do. I don't let just anyone treat me the way you do, Hayato-kun; I have more respect for myself than you do."

"..." Looking to the ground, Gokudera bit his lip; why did these words agitate him? They pissed him off, but it wasn't for usual reasons; Bel wasn't annoying him like he always did; it was something inside of himself that made him want to hit the boy.

Turning around to leave the infirmary, Gokudera called over his shoulder, "You'd wanna fuckoff back to Italy when you're out of there; I don't want to see your face around here again."

"But I don't want to leave, Hayato-kun~" Gokudera wasn't sure it were possible, but it seemed as if the younger was back to his usual self already; if there was one thing he had to give the other, it was that Bel was one resilient little brat. "I want to sleep in your room with you~"

"Fuck off!" Slamming the door shut behind him, Gokudera huffed; fucking cocky little shit he was...

Heading towards the stairs, Gokudera ascended them in silent annoyance; he was going to talk to Tsuna and make sure the brunet understood something; while Bel was still here with them, he didn't want the other let anywhere near his room, much less even know what one it was.

For all Gokudera cared, Bel could go sleep in Hibari's room and get the shit beaten out of himself.

~~XX~~

To Gokudera's immense anger, Tsuna hadn't listened to him and instead taken the side of the blond; it was nine-thirty at night, and the silver-haired male was sitting on his bed, watching as his boss and the Rain Guardian made up a futon on the floor of his room. Grinding his teeth together, he narrowed his eyes as Yamamoto moved the boy over to the futon.

"Damn baseball freak..." Dropping himself onto his side, Gokudera pulled the blankets over him. "I bet you're the one who talked Tenth into letting the knife bastard in here..."

Yamamoto laughed cheerfully, shaking his head. "No; Tsuna was the one who agreed."

"Fucking liar." Too tired to argue, Gokudera closed his eyes. "Turn the light off on your way out."

Listening as Yamamoto and Bel talked a little more, the Vongola Storm was glad when the taller male said goodnight and left the room; now all that was left was for Bel to go to sleep as well.

"Hayato-kun?"

"For fuck's sake..." Lifting his head from the pillow, Gokudera turned around to glare at where he was sure his guest was. "What."

"I'm not tired." The boy huffed, rolling around in his bed. "I want to talk to you."

"Well, I'm tired!" the older male snapped. "Get to fucking sleep!"

"I want to annoy you."

"I want you to sleep!"

"It's working." Gokudera could almost hear the smirk crossing the boy's face. "I'm annoying you."

"...You fucker..."

"Shishishi~ Goodnight, Hayato-kun~"

"..." Lying back down on his mattress, Gokudera sighed; it was going to be a long night.