When morning came around, Gokudera was the first one awake. He looked down at the boy in his arms, finding Bel still sound asleep. He couldn't help but smile, placing a kiss on the other's forehead. The blond stirred, but he didn't wake.

Untangling himself from the teenager, Gokudera sat up. He let out a yawn as he dragged his fingers through his silver locks, deciding that a coffee was in order. Taking one last look at the younger, he was just about to get up before he noticed that the front of Bel's pants looked as if they were damp. Reaching out, he swiped his fingers against the material before bringing them to his nose and determining that the boy had had a wet dream.

Gokudera's eyes softened at this, wiping his fingers against his pants before ruffling golden hair in an affectionate manner. He had almost forgotten how excited teenagers could become, and though Bel seemed very uneducated and naïve when it came to sex, at least he was still somewhat sexually healthy.

Climbing off the bed and making his way out of the infirmary, Gokudera made a mental note to bring Bel a hot chocolate; he could sip at it once he woke up.

"Gokudera-kun."

Turning around to find Tsuna approaching him, Gokudera halted. "Tenth."

"Is Belphegor doing okay?" Standing close by his best friend's side, Tsuna waited patiently for an answer.

"Yeah, he's fine. I think he's still just in a little bit of pain, but he's otherwise okay."

"That's good. I'm very worried about why the Bazooka effects still haven't reversed; it's never taken this long to go back to normal before."

Gokudera shrugged. "I'm not complaining; I like him better this way."

The brunet chuckled. "Is that so?"

Nodding, Gokudera started walking once more, knowing his friend would stay by his side. "He's more tolerable, and not as annoying."

In a knowing tone, Tsuna asked, "Do you think he's… something more to you now?"

"Something like that." Unsure of whether or not he wanted to talk about this so soon, Gokudera shook his head. "I guess we can just see what happens; who knows when the Bazooka effects will end."

"How do you think you'll take it when things go back to normal?"

"…" Stopping, Gokudera frowned; he hadn't thought of that. How would things work once the Belphegor of this time returned? Would they continue on the kind of relationship Gokudera was having with the younger Bel? Or would they go back to antagonising and hating each other? "…I don't know…"

Offering a kind smile, Tsuna shook his head. "I wouldn't think too much on it, Gokudera-kun; focus on now and get to that when it happens."

Gokudera nodded, knowing that was all they could do.

~~XX~~

Returning to his room not long later, Gokudera put a mug of hot chocolate on the bedside table. He sat down in the chair and pulled his phone out of his pocket, waiting patiently for the younger to wake

up. It didn't take Bel long to rouse; he had been startled awake by a bird flying into the window with a loud thump.

"Hayto-kun…?" Rolling onto his side to face Gokudera, Bel let out a yawn; he had been quick to relax when he realised he wasn't under attack.

Gokudera didn't speak until he had grabbed the mug of hot chocolate and lifted Bel into a sitting position. Resting the rim against the boy's lips, he waited patiently until the blond had tilted his head back in order to drink. "Is it good, Bel?"

Pulling away once he had had enough to drink, Bel nodded. He wiped milk from his chin before saying in a voice slurred with sleep, "Needs more sugar…"

Gokudera blanched at this. "Who the fuck puts sugar in their hot chocolate? Disgusting!"

Yawning, the boy cocked his head to the side. "You don't like sugar in your hot chocolates?"

"Fuck no! I like my teeth in tact!"

"I like sugar. Lussu always gave me lots of sugar when he made stuff for me."

Shoving in a playful manner at the younger, Gokudera said, "No wonder your teeth are shit."

"Oi, my teeth are just fine! I'm a prince! They're perfect!" Bel couldn't help but pout, crossing his arms against his chest in a stubborn manner.

The silver-haired male couldn't help but chuckle, ruffling the Varia Storm's hair. "I know, Bel. I was teasing."

His pout growing further, Bel fidgeted. "That's not very nice, Hayato-kun."

Leaning down to kiss soft lips gently, Gokudera offered a gentle smile. "Haven't I always been mean to you?"

"Shishi~" Bel nodded, wrapping his arms around Gokudera's neck. He kissed the corner of the older male's lips as he felt his pants grow tighter, his hips bucking up slightly in search of friction.

Gokudera, however, had to push the smaller male away reluctantly. "Don't get too excited unless you can get yourself off; I have to leave soon for an appointment in town."

"Appointment?" Putting his hand over his growing bulge, Bel moved closer to the other; he was more interested in what Gokudera had to say as the other's voice alone was making his downstairs twitch eagerly. "What for?"

"To test my eyes. The Tenth likes us to make sure we're in top form." Stretching slightly, Gokudera gestured to the younger's lap. "Are you going to take care of that or not?"

Humming, Bel looked down to where Gokudera was pointing. A thoughtful look crossed his face for a few seconds before he nodded. "Yeah, maybe. But you're more interesting, Hayato-kun; you make me feel good just by speaking."

Gokudera snorted. "How the fuck does that work? You gonna cream your pants if I say hello to you or something?"

"Cream my pants?" Cocking his head to the side, Bel waited patiently for a reply.

Smirking, the silver-haired male reached out, flicking Bel's forehead playfully. "You really don't know anything, do you?"

"Shut up! I'm a genius!" Pouting, Bel crossed his arms against his chest. "Just because I'm not a pervert like you!"

"Says the little boy with his dick begging to come out of his pants." Pulling his packet of cigarettes from his pocket, Gokudera laughed. "I need to go and get ready, so take care of that or something, freak."

"Hayato-kun, wait!" Moving forward to grab the other's sleeve, Bel's cheeks turned red. Beneath his long bangs, he avoided eye contact as he licked at his lips, trying to force his words from his mouth. "…I… I want you to be my boyfriend, Hayato-kun!"

Gokudera blinked, stunned by these words; surely Bel knew as well as he did that what they had right now couldn't last forever – it was only a matter of time before the boy was forced back into his own timeline.

Reaching out, the Vongola Storm cupped Bel's cheek as he leant in closer. "Bel…"

Closing the distance between them, Bel pressed his lips against the stronger male's. In a tone softer than usual, he said, "I know I can't stay, Hayato-kun… But I really want to know what having a boyfriend is like… The Hayato in my own time will never be with me like this…"

"Bel…" Closing his eyes, Gokudera wasn't sure how to reply; he hadn't wanted another relationship after losing his girlfriend the way he had; he hadn't been able to protect her, and he didn't want to lose another person the same way. He knew that if he were to be Bel's boyfriend, he wouldn't even get a chance to say goodbye when the time came; Bel would simply disappear without warning. …Just like his girlfriend.

Bel raised his own hand, resting his palm against warm cheeks. He used his thumb to brush away stray tears that were sliding down the soft flesh, not understanding the pain in his chest; never before had he felt anything but excitement at the sight of someone crying. Tears had always egged him on, encouraged him to cause pain and shed blood. But now…

Now, Bel didn't want to see tears coming from Gokudera at all.

"Don't cry, Hayato-kun." Not knowing how to go about the subject, Bel could only mimic the way his parents had once treated his tears. In an aggressive tone that could almost be considered threatening, he growled, "Crying is pathetic. You're weak if you cry. Useless."

Through his tears, Gokudera couldn't help but let out a choked laugh; oh, how contradictory Bel's words and his actions were. He shook his head before saying, "That's what someone always told you, isn't it?"

Bel startled at these words, though he wasn't sure why; was it because he had been read so easily? "…"

"Well, whoever told you that, Bel… They're wrong. They're so wrong. There's nothing wrong with crying. We're human. It's what we do. We all cry, for one reason or another. So whoever told you that you're pathetic, and useless and weak… They were wrong, Bel."

"…" Looking at his lap, Bel chewed at his lip; come to think of it, the last time he had cried was a few months after joining the Varia. He had been having nightmares ever since he had killed his family, and he had been so sleep deprived, he had lost control of his emotions. He had cried over everything, from Squalo yelling at him and making fun of him, to not getting to watch TV when he wanted to. He had thrown so many tantrums due to his struggles with sleep, but no one else had treated him the way his parents had whenever he cried; Lussuria had gently shushed him and rocked him to sleep, and Squalo had shut his mouth and left the room with an uncomfortable aura around him. Hell, Mammon had even taken to using her illusions to soothe him without expecting payment.

None of the Varia had ever treated him like shit for crying; they had instead accepted it, in their own weird little ways.

Letting his own tears slide down his cheeks, Bel let out years' worth of repressed emotions. Feeling Gokudera wrap his arms tightly around him, he pressed closer to the older male; he had never known comfort like this before, and he was liking it very much. "Please, Hayato-kun… You're… the only one… I trust…"

"…" Lifting Bel's chin so that their noses brushed together, Gokudera stared at where the younger's eyes should be. Letting out a small sigh, he then nodded. "Okay. I'll be your boyfriend. Just… don't forget that you won't be here forever."

Putting a feather-light kiss on his Vongola counterpart's lips, Bel nodded. "I know…"

"Good." Brushing golden bangs back, Gokudera was disappointed when the younger squeezed his eyes shut tight instead of letting him see his eyes. He didn't say anything about it; he just said, "I need to go and get ready, Bel. Stay here and get some rest. I'll be back soon."

Bel nodded, rubbing at his eyes. "Hayato-kun…"

"It's okay, Bel. I won't be long." With that said, Gokudera left the infirmary. Stopping just outside the door, he leant heavily against the wall as he raised his arm to cover his eyes. He bit back his emotions as memories of his girlfriend crossed his mind, wishing he could move on already, but not knowing how.

Was he just setting himself up for more pain and heartbreak by being with Bel? Or would this be what he needed in order to finally heal? Gokudera wasn't sure; all he knew was that he was soon sliding down the wall in order to sit on the floor and cry as grieving struck him.