There will most likely be a time skip next chapter as I want to get past most of the depression and stuff as it gets repetitive after a while and I think you've seen enough to mostly get the gist of the characters anyways.

'Town' was much bigger than it had looked to Fran when he had been in the car that was bringing him to the Varia Orphanage the first time. His emerald eyes were wide as he stared all around him, having just gotten off the bus with Bel; he couldn't believe how differently it was to his new life within the orphanage. There were people all around them, with lots of buildings and cars everywhere, and the road looked much longer when he was standing still. The people who were passing by them looked to be happy as they talked to the people they were with, and the atmosphere was completely different than it was with the Varia – he couldn't explain it, but back at his new home, it felt so negative.

But this… This was different, and he would prefer it any day.

"Are you alright?" Bel squeezed Fran's hand.

Fran looked up and nodded. He raised his hand and pointed to their left. When he spoke, his usually quiet voice quivered in excitement. "L-let's go this w-way, senpai."

For once, Bel was placid as he was tugged along. "Do you even know where you're going, Froggy?"

"No, but… t-there's so much to look at." Fran stopped pulling at Bel and instead turned to look up at him with pleading eyes. "C-can we go everywhere that's fun?"

Bel, who was in a rather good mood at the minute, nodded. "There's a game arcade not far from here."

"Game… arcade…?" Fran's eyes clouded with confusion. He tilted his head before he asked, "What's that?"

Bel leant down and kissed Fran's forehead. "You'll see."

Fran let the teenager lead the way. He kept close to the older male as he tried to look at everything he was surrounded by at the same time; it was all so new to him and he was mesmerised by the simplest of things, the entire concept alien until just a few minutes before.

But then, Fran's eye was caught by something that both upset him and yet intrigued him. He halted and pulled Bel to a stop as he pointed at the pet shop they were standing in front of. He was mesmerised by what he could see in the window, and he swore his heart was breaking once again. He looked up at Bel with unfocused eyes and whispered, "Bel-senpai… Why are they in cages…?"

"What?" Bel turned to look where Fran was now pointing. He couldn't say he cared much for the animals the younger seemed upset about as he had never liked anything other than frogs and minks – he would have thought his hate towards the majority of living things was obvious with the amount of pets he had stabbed for no reason other than being there for 'target practise'. "What about them?"

Fran wasn't sure, but he thought he might be tearing up now. "They're in cages…"

Bel, having never learnt love and affection, just couldn't bring himself to even try to sympathise. They were just stupid animals, even lower than people - how the fuck could someone even want such a disgusting creature in their lives?

But Fran's different… Bel looked down at the boy he was able to care for. He knows what it's like to be in a cage… He's not disgusting or stupid – just hurt. And so young. Fuck… he must think those things have feelings like him.

"Froggy, they're just animals," Bel tried to soothe. He ran his hand through teal hair, really not knowing what to do in this situation; all he knew was that he didn't like seeing Fran in this state, and he wanted to be able to fix it. "They don't matter."

"Y-yes, they do!" Fran loudly protested as he pulled away and stuck his bottom lip out. "They're… It's so scary being in a cage…"

I have no idea what it's like to be in one of those, the blond acknowledged. I do know what it's like to be scared, though… Is it really that frightening being locked up in such a small space?

"H-haven't you…" Fran moved back to cuddle into his boyfriend, whispering softly, "…haven't you ever been put somewhere and not allowed to leave…?"

Bel felt as if he was slowly understanding what Fran was saying now; he didn't know what it was like to be caged, but locked in a room he couldn't get out of? Yeah… Plenty of times… Locked away in that closet until Father wanted to fuck me… And those stupid fucking foster parents… locked me in the bathroom all day every day so they didn't have to deal with me… Then there was that sleeze-fuck of a bastard who only wanted me for the money… Snap his annoying bird's neck and he thinks he can keep me locked in the pantry…

"Bel-senpai?"

Bel shifted from his thoughts and looked down at Fran. He carefully brushed a lock of green hair out of emerald eyes and hummed softly. "What is it?"

"Can I…" Fran's eyes darted to the ground as he looked at his feet. "…C-can I… go in there…?"

Bel nodded. "If you want to, Froggy."

The blond watched as Fran hesitantly approached the building, almost as if he was too afraid to go in despite having asked. The teenager sighed as he moved back to the boy's side so that he could guide him in. Once they had crossed through the doorway, Fran was quick to run to the cages and put his face up against the metal bars as he stuck his tiny arm through the gap, trying to pat whatever was in there.

Bel walked back to Fran's side and ducked so he could peek into the cage. A dog? Yuck. I should turn it into a cactus.

Fran laughed when the puppy licked his hands. It was a joyous sound the blond hadn't heard from him before, and he couldn't help but feel a little jealous; only he should hear that sound… The younger boy's attention quickly shifted to the kitten that was in the next cage, and Bel could only wish he had a knife; oh, how he detested these filthy creatures…

"Touching the animals is not allowed."

Fran's shoulders tensed and his body froze at the unfamiliar voice. He quickly pulled his arms back to his side as he pressed himself against Bel and stared at the floor in submission; if he made himself look smaller, the newcomer might leave him alone.

Bel wrapped his arms around Fran; while it was true he himself found no interest in these things, Fran had been enjoying himself until one of the workers had approached them. His brunet hair hung in his face as he gave the two stern looks – quickly changing into one of disgust when he realised the relationship between them.

"He's not hurting anyone." Bel struggled to keep himself calm; he didn't want to deal with the police again right now, after all. "Just let him pat them some more."

"It's not allowed, fag…"

Bel, who had been ready to leave Fran's side and show that fuck why he had been in and out of foster homes and orphanages, quickly stopped when he felt the child's body shudder violently against him. He could see the way emerald eyes had widened as if Fran was going into shock, and he was scared; what was happening? Was Fran okay? Was it his fault? So many questions but no answers.

"Froggy?" Bel placed his hands on trembling shoulders and pushed carefully on the tiny body to see if Fran could move by himself. He was surprised when the kid started walking, as if it had been a cue he had long since reacted automatically to. He guided the younger out of the shop with no incident, but he was worried; what was going through Fran's head right now?

And then, as quickly as it had begun, Fran seemed to snap out of it. He continued staring at the ground as his body trembled, gathering the attention of bystanders. He didn't pull away when Bel pulled him into a hug but the teenager had heard his startled whimper.

"What's wrong, Froggy?" Bel whispered. He leant down to press his lips to Fran's cheek. "You're scared, aren't you?"

Fran nodded. He raised his arms in silence, wanting to be picked up; he wasn't feeling right, and he needed comfort. He wrapped his arms around Bel's neck when the older male did so, trying his hardest to block out memories he hated, but they were overwhelming and all he could do was whisper to the older male. "…He called us… t-that… T-they… T-they always told me I was a fag… Does that mean they were right…?"

Bel rubbed his hand against the younger's back, not quite sure what he was doing; he was trying to mimic what Squalo and Lussuria would do for him on his bad days, hoping it would work – but he doubted it, because he found that whenever they did that for him, it only made him feel more distressed. "Froggy is not a fag. The prince promises that Froggy is a froggy and that's all he is. The prince's Froggy."

Fran nodded. He didn't want to think about things that were upsetting him; he wanted to focus on this new experience instead. He rubbed his cheek against Bel's as he forced his attention away from his upsetting thoughts and said, "Senpai, I still want to see what a game arcade is. Are we still going there?"

"Of course." Bel felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders; his Froggy was smiling again and that in turn made him feel happy. "You have to help me win tickets; there's a frog teddy there I've been wanting."

"Tic…kets…? Wow, senpai, there's lots to learn about 'Town'. And do you really like frogs that much?"

"Hey, I love frogs!" Bel poked Fran's nose, eliciting a giggle from the younger. "You haven't seen my froggy pyjamas Luss bought me for my birthday."

"Hey, Senpai, when's your birthday?"

"December twenty-second." The boy puffed his chest out as he continued on. "The prince will be seventeen."

Fran smiled and nestled in closer. "I want to help you get the… t… tick…ets… It will be my birthday present for you."

Bel rested his face in teal hair, chuckling happily. God, Froggy… I… I really love you… I wish I knew how to tell you that… I just hope you can see it.