When Bel's eyes fluttered open, the first thing he saw was Gokudera. The Vongola Storm was seated by the bed, a tired look on his face.
"Hayato-kun…?" Hating how scratchy his voice sounded, Bel winced; why did he have to sound as weak as he felt…? "Hayato-kun…"
Gokudera blinked a few times to wake himself up. Staying slouched in his chair, he allowed his green orbs to fix on the younger. "Yeah…?"
"What are…" Moving closer to the edge of the bed, Bel coughed. "…What are you… doing…?"
"What?" Reaching out to run his fingers through golden locks, Gokudera sighed. He wasn't oblivious to the way the younger leaned into his touch, and it made him wonder; what was that fluttering feeling in his chest? "I'm allowed to sit with you."
Bel hummed in response, letting his eyes slip closed; despite the pain coursing through his system, he was content; being so close to Gokudera soothed him more than even Mammon ever had. "…"
"How are you feeling?" Paying special attention to a certain spot on the side of Bel's head that had the boy purring, Gokudera rubbed the tips of his fingers against it.
"…Cold…" Not wanting to admit that he was in pain, Bel hid his discomfort. "Want 'nother blanket…"
Getting to his feet, Gokudera reached out and pulled the blankets higher. Tucking the boy in, he then sat back down. "Better?"
Bel nodded, letting out a yawn. Lifting a hand, he rubbed his wet eyes. "Hayato…kun…"
Gokudera wasn't entirely sure of why he was feeling so peaceful; was it because he and Bel weren't at each other's throats like usual? Because they were actually getting along for once? Surprisingly, Yamamoto had been right; Bel actually wasn't that bad when he wasn't getting on one's nerves. "What is it?"
"…Stay…?"
Gokudera nodded. Without thinking, and with truly no idea why he even did so, he leant forward, claiming Bel's lips with his own. The boy let out a started gasp, but he was quick to relax into the kiss, his tongue fumbling against the other's in a way that only inexperience could do. He reached out with one arm, shyly fisting the stronger male's jacket as he arched his back to press his chest against Gokudera's, melting into the kiss.
When they broke apart, a thin string of saliva connected them. Bel panted softly, peeking up at the older male beneath his long bangs. "Hayato-kun…?"
"Did you like that?" Not even sure of why he was whispering, Gokudera brushed golden bangs behind Bel's ear. He smiled as he received a nod in a response, not in the mood for fighting with his Varia counterpart. "You can have more if you want them."
Licking his lips in anticipation, Bel nodded. "I want them…"
With a nod, Gokudera leant in once more. He was gentler than he had ever been with Bel, his hands cupping pale cheeks. The blond let out a moan as he moved closer, not entirely sure of what the feelings inside of him were; just that they were nice and comforting for him.
Breaking apart once again, Bel reached out, wrapping his good arm around Gokudera's neck. His mind was hazy, and there was pressure in his pants once again, despite his pained state. "Hayato…kun…"
Kissing Bel's cheek, Gokudera straightened up, returning to his chair. "Let's not fight anymore."
Bel nodded in agreement, not wanting to fight if he could instead receive attention such as this. Letting his head fall to the side to look at the silver-haired male, he moaned quietly again. "Hayato-kun… I'm…"
Gokudera understood; moving to sit on the edge of the mattress, he pulled the blankets off of the thin body and palmed the bulge before him. Pulling Bel into a string of seemingly-endless kisses, he unzipped the younger's pants and reached past them, bringing the boy pleasure he had never received from someone else before.
When Bel had cried out with the force of his orgasm, Gokudera let the boy curl up in his lap, holding the slightly-shaking body close. Gokudera couldn't turn him away; not now, not anymore. If being close like this was what the younger wanted, then he would get it.
Gokudera couldn't be sure, but he felt as if he were quickly returning feelings he didn't even know he had inside of him, and he wondered just how far this would go when Bel had yet to return to his own timeline. Was it right of them to be like this when they both knew it would never last? Or should they enjoy it while they could, not knowing how long they had left with each other?
Deciding to just go with whatever happens, Gokudera pulled Bel into one last kiss before he laid them both down on the mattress, caressing blond hair until the boy had fallen asleep. The stronger male followed him, finding that, for the first time in his life, this kind of contact felt right.
Hopefully they would at least get a few more days out of it before the effects of the Bazooka finally wore off.
~~XX~~
Later that day, Gokudera had taken it upon himself to be the one to look after Bel. He had kept the boy comfortable and given him all of his medication, and even handfed him meals. Bel hadn't minded; in fact, he had preferred it; he liked the attention that he was getting, having always sought it from the Vongola Storm.
"Hayato-kun?" More coherent now that he had had another shot of morphine and wasn't in so much pain, Bel reached out, grabbing the man's sleeve. "I'm really tired. Will you sleep with me?"
Nodding, Gokudera put down the bowl of mush he had been feeding the blond out of. "Now?"
Bel nodded, letting a yawn escape his lips. "I've never… slept with someone before… Only Mammon…"
Gokudera nodded, climbing onto the bed. He felt Bel snuggle in close, and he couldn't help but wrap his arms around the boy. "Are you okay?"
Bel nodded, clutching tightly to the other's jacket. He let his eyes slip closed as a soft mumble escaped his lips. "Have you ever had a boyfriend before…?"
Not sure what was with the random question, Gokudera hesitated before he answered. "…I've had a girlfriend before, but… She died. I couldn't protect her."
Bel couldn't understand what it was like to want to protect someone; he had never been able to love, much less feel the need to protect. He just did what he was told, and if people happened to die during, he blinked and never gave it a second thought.
"Did you love her?" Keeping his eyes closed, Bel moved closer against the older male.
"…Yeah, I did. I loved her a lot."
"Can you show me what love is?" Lifting his hand to pat Gokudera's cheek, Bel sighed. "I've never had love before. I don't know what it is."
Gokudera nodded. Reaching out, he tilted Bel's head so that he could kiss the corner of the boy's lips. "If that's what you want."
"It is. I want to see what I've missed out on."
"Okay, then." Wondering how long he would get to show the younger what love is, Gokudera nodded. Pulling the boy as close as possible, he held him tight. "We'll start tomorrow."
Speaking words he had never said before, Bel whispered, "Thank you…"
"…Yeah. Now go to sleep."
Bel didn't need to be told twice; he was out like a light within seconds.