None of the workers at the Varia had been able to believe just how much progress Bel had made in the year-and-half Fran had been here for; the blond was calmer than he had ever been, and he was much easier to care for, too; he was no longer angry and aggressive all the time, and though he was still very depressed, he wasn't trying to kill himself or fighting with the other kids. Fran as well seemed much happier than when he had first arrived; he was coming out of his shell and was starting to interact with the others easier and less fearfully than he used to.

It was progress all of the workers were happy to see, but even so, they all knew they were about to hit another bump in the road, one that they were sure could potentially ruin all progress both kids had made; while the two boys were upstairs together, the workers had gathered together to discuss their futures as they couldn't ignore the fact that Bel's eighteenth birthday was just around the corner.

"Just because he's almost an adult doesn't mean he's ready to be out there by himself…" Tsuna frowned at the thought of all the progress Bel had made depleting without any support; it would happen, and they all knew it. "He's only just settling down and we all know it's only because Fran's here. We can't let him take Fran if he decides he wants to go."

"Voi, the simple thing to do is just keep him here." Squalo crossed his arms against his chest as if it was that obvious.

"But he'll be old enough to decide whether or not he wants to go and if he can provide suitable arrangements for his own living, we can't stop him," Lussuria pointed out.

"Just let the trash go," Xanxus added in. "If he wants to stay or go, it's his business. Nothing we can do about it."

Squalo knew that there was no arguing with Xanxus, so he quickly moved the subject along. "What about Fran? We can't let him go with Bel."

"Maybe we should talk to Fran and see if he'd be happy staying with Mukuro and Chrome if Bel does leave?" Tsuna suggested.

"He'll kick up a fuss," Squalo pointed out. "They're basically joined at the hip now."

"Squalo's right, dear," The chef agreed. "When I go in to check on them at night, they're always sleeping together in Bel's bed. I tried to tell Fran he needs to sleep in his own bed but he started crying and protested."

"Voi! Gaylord! You let them get too close too fast!" Squalo was unable to admit that he also had a role to play in this; he hated knowing how it was him who had said to let the two brats do what they wanted because it had steadily evolved into something none of them had any idea on stopping. "Did you not notice you've been letting a ten year old play dating with a seventeen-year-old? And when Bel turns eighteen, what are you going to do about that? He's still going to want to be with Fran – and it's far from legal, even right in the beginning."

Tsuna, who had always been nervous around the ever-unpredictable Squalo, quietly excused himself to the bathroom, leaving the others to deal with the silver-haired male's yelling.

"Calm down, hun." Lussuria's hands were raised as he tried to calm the other, but Squalo was upset, and all he could do was bounce the blame on everyone else. "All of us are at fault here. We just need to try and wean them off each other."

At this point, Xanxus pushed himself off his red-cushioned chair and stood up. He stretched for a few moments before he said, "Handle this yourselves, trash. I've got a meeting to attend."

No one said anything as the man left the room; they instead waited for Tsuna to come back. When the brunet returned, the first thing he did was question where Xanxus was.

"Boss went out," Squalo stated. "Gaylord came up with a solution, by the way."

"Oh, that's good. What is it?" Tsuna turned to look at the oldest of the trio.

"Wean them from each other," Lussuria repeated himself. "If Bel's truly ready to leave, we'll know once we see how he copes without Fran."

The brunet nodded. "How are we going to do that?"

"Just keep them separated. I'll have Bel help me with the cooking so I can keep an eye on him."

"But what about Fran?" Worry seeped into Tsuna's soft voice as he tried to imagine how the teal-haired child would cope; it was no secret Fran was so attached to Bel, he couldn't function properly without the blond.

"He can help me around the house," Squalo volunteered. "I can deal with him better than that little shit."

Tsuna nodded in understanding; Bel was very difficult to take care of and Squalo's short temper didn't make it any easier for him. "I'm taking Lambo, Gokudera-kun and Ryohei out to meet up with Yamamoto. Should I tell the boys you two are looking for them?"

"If you may, hun. Tell Bel that Mama Luss needs help in the kitchen."

"And tell Fran what-fucking-ever." Squalo pushed himself off the couch he had been sitting on, sick of the conversation. "I'll be wherever the fuck I am."

Tsuna watched as Squalo left before he smiled at Lussuria and said, "I'll tell them now."

~~Bel and Fran~~

Bel sat on his bed with his back resting against the wall as he held Fran on his lap. He was reading a book to his boyfriend since Fran, who had never been taught, didn't know how to read, and to be honest, he kind of liked the feeling of being needed for something – it gave him purpose he had otherwise been without his whole life.

"And then the ugly duckling-" Bel was cut off by Fran's curious voice.

"Senpai, why does everyone treat the duckling like he's ugly?" There was a look in Fran's eyes Bel had long-since become accustomed to; empathy.

"I don't know, Froggy," Bel replied back in a soft tone. He leant down and pressed his lips to smaller ones before he spoke again. "The prince knows what you're thinking and he thinks you have a kind heart."

Fran smiled, knowing it was very hard for Bel to acknowledge these things openly. He snuggled back into the other's chest as he waited for the blond to start reading again.

"And then the ugly duckling – really?" Bel glared at the door that was being opened, frustrated that his time with the younger was being ruined; couldn't he just sit here with Fran in peace? "Whoever that is had better fuck off right now or the prince will turn you into a cactus."

Tsuna was the one to poke his head into the room with an apologetic look in his eyes. "Sorry, Bel, but Lussuria wants you down in the kitchen."

Bel made a strangled whining sound as he buried his face into the crook between Fran's neck and shoulder. He bit down on the skin and growled possessively as Fran moaned; he had come to resent when people would get in between he and his boyfriend. When he looked back at Tsuna, he snarled, "Tell him the prince is busy."

The brunet blushed at the scene before him, but he shook his head anyway, knowing he had to get them away from each other because as predicted, Bel's hands started to roam his younger partner's body suggestively next, and he knew this was one of the reasons this had to stop.

"Belphegor, this is important." Tsuna had to put his foot down on this matter, especially when Fran let out a squeak as fingers rubbed against his chest; he couldn't let this go on any longer – it had gone on long enough and all it had done was allow Fran to experience things he shouldn't have at his young age. "Luss needs your help in the kitchen."

Bel sighed. He knew the brunet wasn't about to give up, and that it would only cause a headache if he continued to protest because then Squalo would come in to scream at him, too. He pushed Fran off his lap and stood up. "Come on, then, Froggy. Let's go see what Gaylord wants."

"Fran needs to stay here." It was rare for Tsuna to assert himself against the kids, but Bel was one of those cases where if he let the blond walk over him once, Bel would only keep doing it again and again and would get aggressive when stood up against.

Bel growled again and crossed his arms against his chest. "Then the prince won't go."

"Belphegor!" Tsuna hated shouting at the kids but sometimes it was needed. "Do as you're told!"

"I am a prince!" Bel yelled back stubbornly. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"Bel…" Tsuna sighed. He reached up to rub at his face; sometimes the boy really tired him out. "…Bel, Luss wants you to help him, and Squalo needs Fran's help."

"Why can't you do it, peasant?"

"Because I'm leaving with the other kids. No one else will be here."

Bel grumbled before he turned around and pulled Fran's body into his. He crushed his lips against smaller ones as he demanded entrance; he wasn't going anywhere without a kiss first. When lips parted to let him in, he ravaged the hot cavern as his dominating characteristics highlighted from his almost-aggressive manner of kissing.

Tsuna could only watch with horrified eyes, not knowing what to do. This needs to stop… S-should I say anything? Pull them apart? What do I do?

The brunet didn't need to say or do anything as Bel pulled away when he knew Fran needed air just a few seconds later; the kid's lungs weren't strong enough to be able to kiss as long as his lover could.

"I'll see you soon, Froggy." Bel was placid as small arms wrapped around his middle briefly before Fran went off in search of Squalo. When the blond turned to look up at the Varia worker, he glared hatefully. "You're a real ass, stupid peasant."

Tsuna didn't get a chance to say anything back as the blond was already storming off towards the stairwell, cursing under his breath. No wonder Squalo volunteered for Fran… Good luck getting him to listen, Lussuria.

~~Kitchen~~

Lussuria could hear the tell-tale rampage of Bel's approach a mile away despite the noise he was making as he pulled pots and pans out of the cupboard. He looked up when the kitchen door slammed against the wall, and he couldn't help but smile at the death-glare he knew was there; he knew Bel's moodiness too well.

"Welcome, hun." Lussuria gestured to the pantry. "Mind getting me some of the ingredients? The list is on the counter."

Bel stomped towards the pantry, still uttering hateful words beneath his breath. He ripped the pantry door open before slamming it shut again once he had grabbed what he needed and then he turned to face Lussuria. He was smart, and he knew there would be no reason for him and Fran to be separated like this; both Lussuria and Squalo were very independent and the only time they had help was when one of the other kids asked to do chores for their allowance.

"Why the fuck am I here?" Bel spat.

Lussuria was not one to beat around the bush. He put the pot he decided he wanted to use on the counter before he spun around so he could meet Bel's look of hate. "You've been spending so much time with little Fran, and it's not healthy for either of you."

"What do you know, peasant?"

"Bel, I'm much older than you. I've had a lot more experience than you have. It isn't good to be spending so much time with Fran."

"It's because he's young, isn't it?" Bel's hands itched to pull a knife out from the drawer he was standing next to and use it against the man; he knew a lecture was on its way and he didn't want to hear it at all. "That bitchy shark and the boss have already been on my back about this."

"All we're trying to say is that he's so very young, he can't possibly know what he wants and needs." Lussuria turned his back to Bel as he went about his business. "You're doing him damage with letting him experience things he shouldn't yet."

"He's fine." Bel's snarl was possessive. "He's happy with the things we do. They're not hurting him."

"Hun." Lussuria's cheerful voice turned serious as he swung back around. "It is hurting him. Do you not remember all the things your father did?"

Bel's voice became low, defensive. If he were a cat, his fur would have bristled. "That's different…"

"No, it isn't. Tell me, Bel. Did your father ever touch Rasiel?"

He was good to that fuck… Bel thought grimly. He felt a familiar shudder of fear rolling down his spine as he thought of things he hadn't thought about for a while now. Rasiel was only too happy to be touched because he was never raped.

"What difference does that make?"

"Why do you think your brother did what he did to you?" Lussuria's voice had become gentle now. "It wasn't what he did wrong, it's what your father did wrong. If Rasiel had never been touched the way he was, I highly doubt he would have done what he did."

"Don't you dare try and compare that with Fran!" Bel shouted. "You're trying to tell me I'm a monster, too, aren't you?! Well, I don't want to be! Why can't you just leave me alone!?"

Lussuria moved forward and pulled Bel into a tight hug. He rubbed the teenager's back soothingly as he tried to hush the younger, hating the way the blond's body trembled in his hold. "Bel, you just have to know that Fran is too young to be touched the way you touch him. Look at what it did to you and Rasiel…"

"It's different…" Bel whispered, almost as if he was trying to convince himself. "…It's… It's not the same… I'm not hurting him, and he likes it…"

"Bel, honey, I know it hurts, but you can't use Fran to make yourself feel better. Remember what he's been through has left its own scars. You might not realise it, but you might be hurting him in a way he doesn't know how to tell you. Just let him have some time by himself so he can learn to live without you."

"…I didn't mean to hurt him…" Bel whispered back. He felt hot tears well up in his eyes as he finally realised what Lussuria was trying to convey; he was hurting the only person he didn't want to hurt. "…H-he always seemed happy…"

"I'm sure you didn't mean to, hun," Lussuria soothed. "He loves you very much, and I know you love him back. But you need to wait until he's older before you touch each other. Let him enjoy life while he can."

Bel nodded back weakly. He fidgeted uncomfortably as his mind became plagued with thoughts he couldn't quite handle. I… I never asked him to have sex with me because I was sure that would hurt him… I've tried so hard to make sure he's comfortable with everything we do, and not make it painful… I think I've just been selfish… Putting my needs before his…

"Should I…" the voice was so sad and tentative, Lussuria was almost sure it wasn't Bel he was talking to, "…should I stop touching him…?"

Lussuria nodded. "It would be for the best. It's really not good for him to experience this kind of pleasure at his age. It's damaging."

"Okay…"

Lussuria sighed in relief, knowing he had just won an almost-impossible battle with the teenager. The blond allowed him to hold the younger for a few minutes more before Bel started pushing him away and mumbled something about too much contact. He watched as the blond wiped at his wet eyes before he turned back to the pantry to help with the food, obviously wanting to keep his pride and act as if nothing had happened.

Thank you for listening, Bel… Lussuria didn't want to bring the subject back up now that Bel was trying to recover. I know it's not easy for you to talk about your father or Rasiel, but you did a good job. And I'm so glad you've listened to what I was trying to say. I just… I don't think I could bear it if anything happened to little Fran because you didn't realise you were making things worse. I know that would be devastating for you, and you wouldn't understand what had happened, just because you loved him. You'd never trust anyone ever again – I know you well enough to know that.

Lussuria watched as Bel rummaged through the contents of the pantry and paused every now and then to wipe his tears away.

You're so good to little Fran. Lussuria smiled at the thought. You've made him so happy and he in turn with you. I've never seen you truly show your smile for anyone until he came. You were still so traumatised from your family and had never found anyone you could relate to. I think that's why you both get along so well – you both understand the pain. I'm so glad you have each other. You deserve each other.