Chapter edited 16th April, 2016
Mukuro had never thought he'd miss Fran's childish innocence, no matter how annoying it was at times – but here he was, trying to help piece the boy back together after having suffered needlessly at the hands of a deranged blond. It didn't matter to him that Bel wasn't fully to blame, having been taken from his family at just eight-years-old and traumatised greatly by the 'training' he had endured; Mukuro would never forgive him for dragging Fran into what had messed Bel's mind up in the first place.
Fran had become lifeless, sitting on the couch day after day, curled up in a ball as he stared blankly at nothing in particular. He rarely spoke and, when he did, it was only to whimper that he was scared. Mukuro knew he loved Fran – more than he should for so many reasons – and he would do anything to bring back the younger's happiness.
But it seemed that nothing he could do was enough to save his beautiful Fran.
As several years had passed by and Fran had turned sixteen, Mukuro knew there had to be something he could do to heal the boy. He had an idea in his head of what may help, but at the same time, he was afraid of damaging Fran further.
But he could only try, right?
Mukuro called out to the boy curled up on the couch. He was worried when Fran took no notice of him and instead kept starting straight ahead; it was a sign that he was lost in his memories.
"Fran?" Mukuro stood up and approached the boy so that he could kneel in front of him. "Fran, can you hear me?"
Emerald eyes slowly focused on Mukuro, unclear and hazy. Fran's voice was broken and hoarse as he spoke. "…Mu…ku…ro…?"
Mukuro smiled weakly as he brushed teal hair from the boy's face. "Yes… That is me. How do you feel?"
"…Scared…" Fran's lip quivered as his eyes filled with tears.
"Would you like for me to show you that there is nothing to be afraid of, little one?" Mukuro could only hope that Fran would accept his help because he couldn't bear to leave the other like this.
The boy nodded as his body started shaking, just wanting the pain to be over; he hated feeling so scared, so weak all the time; he was desperate to feel the way he once did, happy and safe.
Mukuro reached out to pick Fran up and carry him into his bedroom. They had long since moved out of the motel room and into a small apartment, and they had the pleasure of being the only ones home at this hour.
Fran didn't speak as he was laid out on the bed; he just looked to the side, unable to make eye contact with his carer. Mukuro didn't take offence to this; he merely leant down and kissed Fran's cheek.
"Tell me to stop if I do anything you do not like, okay?" The older male whispered as he ran a hand down Fran's clothed chest.
Fran shivered at the contact but he didn't resist; he simply sighed, almost as if he were numb to what was happening. That thought alone made Mukuro feel as if he were no better than Bel, no better than the men who had taken the blond and raped and abused him daily until he was shaped into their desirable toy.
"Is this okay…?" Mukuro bit his lip, stilling his hand. Fran nodded as he looked down at the hand resting on his green turtleneck. The older male was careful as his hand trailed down to Fran's hip, searching for the slightest sign of discomfort or pain; he would stop the second the boy displayed it – but again, again, Fran barely reacted. "Can I take your shirt off, little one?"
After he received a nod, Mukuro slowly pushed the boy's shirt up so that he could see soft nubs. He looked back at Fran and gulped as he noticed the other staring intently at him with more recognition in his eyes than there had been ever since his kidnapping.
"That's what…" Fran trailed off before he continued to whisper. "…That's what Bel-senpai started with…"
"Touching your chest?"
Fran nodded. "…He… He touched…" He raised his hand to touch his right nipple. "…Here… I thought we… were just playing a game…"
"It is never just a game, little one," Mukuro soothed. "What he did to you was terrible, and you did not deserve it – but it was never your fault. I promise you that."
"Are you going… to do the same to me…?"
Mukuro shook his head. "What I want… is to show you that it does not have to be a scary thing, little one. That you don't have to live your life being fearful of… of what Belphegor did to you."
Fran reached out and entwined his fingers with the older male's. There was the familiar display of trust in emerald orbs as Fran lifted his free hand to stroke Mukuro's cheek.
"I won't…" Fran choked slightly before he continued. His eyes welled up with tears as he started to speak again, "…be scared if… If it's you, Mukuro… I know you wouldn't hurt me…"
Mukuro felt warm at these words. The love he had held for this boy had only grown stronger over the years until he was sure he had fallen head-over-heels in love with the traumatised male, and so to hear such an open declaration… Well, it gave him hope that he could still salvage the boy.
The older male leant down and pressed their lips together softly. Shyly, the smaller male wrapped his hand in blue hair, as if anchoring himself to the fact that it was Mukuro here and not Bel. When they broke apart for air, Fran's cheeks were flushed and his eyes were half lidded. His lips kept parting silently, but he didn't speak.
Mukuro smiled down at the boy. He reached out to brush teal strands from Fran's face before he cupped a warm cheek in his hand and leant down to place a kiss on his forehead. "Is it okay if I…" Mukuro trailed off, not quite sure how to put it in terms to the damaged boy.
Fran, who seemed to understand what was being asked of him, nodded. "I told you… I know you won't hurt me…"
Mukuro nodded. He rested his hand on Fran's stomach and slowly rubbed circles along it. He slid his hand upwards until it was resting between slowly-hardening nubs, almost too nervous to touch them; what if he only caused more distress for his charge?
When he finally gathered up his courage, Mukuro carefully rubbed his palm over the boy's left nipple, drawing a small squeak from the younger. He glanced down and found a small bulge pushing against Fran's crotch, and he couldn't help but wonder if it were the boy's body responding to sexual stimulation naturally or if Fran was truly enjoying this – he hoped it was the latter with all his being.
"How does it feel?" Mukuro asked.
Fran blinked a few times before he replied, "…D-different… I… I felt… uncomfortable with Bel-senpai… B-but you're… making me feel… good…"
"I'm glad, Fran." Mukuro continued to rub the boy's nipples, too nervous to use his mouth; he remembered all too clearly the bite marks Bel had inflicted all over the younger's body, and he was afraid of triggering the boy who was doing so well.
When the older male slid his hand down to wait at Fran's hip, he looked into emerald eyes as he searched for permission.
"It's okay…" Fran whispered, glancing away. "Just… J-just don't… I don't want… you to… to… put it in…"
"I won't, little one," Mukuro soothed. "I promise."
Fran closed his eyes as he felt large hands sliding his pants and boxers down. He shivered, not sure if it were from the cold, nerves or memories, but he didn't stop Mukuro; he trusted the other, and he so desperately needed his pain washed away. He whimpered and cried out softly when he felt a warm hand wrap around him. He glanced up at Mukuro and watched with wary eyes as the older male stroked his hard shaft gently. There were no cruel squeezes or rough grips like with Bel; it was pure gentleness, caring for his wellbeing and happiness.
Fran could feel the safety he had thought he'd never experience again as the love he had forgotten about washed through him again; he remembered now why he loved the older male so much, and it was because, no matter what, Mukuro would never hurt him.
"Mukuro…" Fran whispered, grabbing the other's attention. The addressed male stilled his hand, listening to what Fran had to say. "…I… I love you, Mukuro…"
"I love you, too, Fran." Mukuro leant down and pressed his lips gently against Fran's. He didn't mind that the other didn't give him entrance; the understanding that it would take the younger a long time to recover fully was acknowledged, and Mukuro would never force him into something he wasn't ready for.
In Mukuro's hand, Fran's engorged member pulsed a few times before he spilt over the calloused skin. The boy moaned softly as he closed his eyes and turned his head to the side, finding that the amount of pleasure that had crashed through him was relaxing.
"Was that okay?" Mukuro asked as he wiped his hand clean.
Fran nodded before he rolled onto his side and crawled across the bed so that he could rest his head in Mukuro's lap. "Tired…"
"Go to sleep, little one." Mukuro smiled as he caressed teal strands, content to be here for the boy like this; he could see already how much better Fran was because the boy was speaking again, and seeking out comfort, and for the first time in years, he didn't look as if he were scared and ready to cry for no apparent reason. "I will still be here when you wake up."
Fran didn't need to be told twice; he was out to it like a light before his guardian even finished his sentence.
There's only one more thing to do now, Mukuro knew. I have to do whatever I can to get him to start living once more.