Since Bel's brief awakening, he had remained unconscious for three days. Gokudera had stayed with him, keeping him comfortable and making sure he was okay; the weather was cold, so sometimes more blankets were necessary. No one had come in to bother them, knowing that the silver-haired male was probably just trying to sort out his head in the only way he could see fit. They hadn't been wrong; Gokudera had been struggling.

I thought he hated me as much as I hated him… Reaching out to brush golden bangs away from closed eyelids, the Vongola Storm frowned. He never gave me any reason to believe otherwise, and yet… But why would he like me in the first place? I've only ever given him hate… Does the Belphegor from our own timeline like me, too? Or just this one?

What the fuck… goes through his head if he thinks I'm someone to like…?

Looking over his shoulder as he heard the infirmary door opening, Gokudera offered a smile to Tsuna. The brunet returned it, the room silent until he had sat by his right-hand man. "How's Belphegor?"

"Still out to it." Shrugging, Gokudera sighed. "I'm not sure if he's going to wake up and remember what he was saying – or if he even meant any of it. I don't know if he was delusional or not, but it wouldn't be surprising if he was."

"He wasn't delusional." Knowing full-well that Bel had been honest, Tsuna clapped his best friend on the shoulder. "He was telling you exactly how he felt. He must have been hurt and scared enough to drop all of his walls and tell you the truth; he wanted you to help him."

"…" How was one supposed to react to information like that? If it had been Tsuna in the blond's position, then yeah, Gokudera would know exactly how he felt, but… Belphegor…? "But why would he…? I mean, to me of all people…? And what about the one from our own time?"

"I don't know, Gokudera-kun. But I have a feeling that even the one from our time likes you just as much; he's always listened to you the most when it comes to the Vongola, and you and Yamamoto are the only two he hasn't tried to murder since the Ring Battles."

"…"

"What I do know is that this Belphegor likes you more than he wants you to know."

"What do you mean?" Cocking his head to the side, Gokudera frowned; what was Tsuna talking about? This was all just too much for him to take in.

"He likes you. He has a crush on you." Smiling softly, Tsuna shrugged slightly. "He knows his feelings are one-sided; he knows to keep it to himself."

"One-sided, huh?" Letting out a sigh, Gokudera palmed at his face; why did these words invoke more confusion in him? "…I… don't even know how I feel anymore…"

"Don't worry so much about it, Gokudera-kun. You'll work it out." With that said, Tsuna got back to his feet. "I need to go talk to Hibari-san about his next mission. I'll come and see you soon."

Gokudera nodded, not saying a word as his boss left the room. With a sigh, he turned back to Bel, glad that the unconscious male was at least peaceful in this state; he wasn't sure how he would feel if there were a permanent grimace of pain on that pale face.

Wishing he could feel the same, the Vongola Storm instead curled up on his chair, wondering if perhaps he himself could get some sleep. He wasn't sure he could cope with this when he was already so tired.

~~XX~~

When Gokudera came to an uncertain amount of time later, he found himself just staring at Bel. His mind was running rampart, trying to understand how Bel could like someone like him, and for so long – especially after the way the silver-haired male had treated him. He wondered if Bel had ever felt depressed due to their unstable relationship, or if the older male truly didn't let it bother him. Bel had a displaceable personality, so it was hard to read him and predict the things he did.

Thinking back to that night in Sweden, Gokudera remembered how Bel had told him no one had ever wanted him, and how in return, he had stopped being wanted. Had the blond been through enough heartbreak, enough pain to shatter his trust in others? It would certainly explain why the Varia Storm had never seemed close to anyone but Mammon. It was as if the blond continuously pushed people away on purpose, only letting himself grow close to those he wanted to be near.

So why was Gokudera someone he wanted around in the first place? Because the blond had a crush on him? That couldn't be it; Bel had never been one for romantics because he fucked and he lusted, but he never loved.

Unless… Gokudera had always been the exception to that, for whatever twisted reason went through Belphegor's head.

Sighing, Gokudera reached out, brushing his fingertips against the younger's cold cheek. "You're confusing as fuck, you freak…"

But then, as Gokudera settled down once more in his chair, a question crossed his mind; what if… Gokudera did return his counterpart's feelings? What if… that was the reason their relationship was the way it was? Because of unspoken emotions?

If that were the case…

"Fuck."

And with that said, Gokudera decided he had done enough thinking for the day and would leave the rest for Bel when he came to.