To say that Dino Cavallone was excited to start his new career in psychiatric nursing was an understatement; he had shown up early for his first day on the job, and now that he had been shown around and had his duties explained to him, he felt more and more eager with each passing minute; he couldn't wait to start working with the patients.

"And the patients in this wing are the ones you'll be spending your day getting to know." Dino's new boss, a short, petite man, smiled as they stopped in the middle of the corridor. "Would you like to start meeting some of the patients now, or do I need to run you through things once again?"

"No, I'll meet the patients." Dino returned the smile as he threaded his fingers through his blond locks. "Where should I start?"

The man pointed to the first room on their left before he said, "Start from the left. But… Well, the fourth room… Perhaps skip that room – at least for today. I'm not sure if you're ready to handle a patient like him just yet."

Dino frowned. He looked at the room the other was pointing to; he sincerely hoped someone was already caring for the patient in there because it hurt to think that they were just being left all alone without anyone. "Is anyone looking after him already?"

"No; another carer walked out on him again just yesterday. That's the fourth one in two weeks." The man shook his head. "We've never had another patient like this one; I think he's beyond help."

"No one's beyond help if someone's willing to help." Dino's mind had already been made up as he walked over to the door; if no one was going to give that patient a chance, he would; he wasn't going to abandon someone who had no one, after all. "I'm starting with this patient. What's his name?"

"His name is Belphegor, but… You're in for a surprise if you think you'll be able to do something for him."

Dino didn't reply to these words; he instead grabbed the door handle and twisted it. He peeked through the crack he had created before he knocked against the door to announce his presence; the occupant of the room was laying in the bed with the blanket over their head, and Dino wasn't sure if they knew he was there or not.

"Hello." Dino called out to the occupant before he opened the door wider and stepped in. He waited until his boss had followed him into the room before he closed the door behind them; he wondered if the door being closed would help soothe his new patient or not. "You're Belphegor, right? My name's Dino; I'm new here."

When the body didn't move an inch, Dino moved closer to the bed. He slowly reached out to ghost his fingers against the lump beneath the sheets before he swallowed thickly; was the patient okay…? "Belphegor? Are you alright…?" Turning back to his boss, he asked, "Does he always do this?"

"Yes. That's how he sleeps. He's ignoring you on purpose."

Dino knew he had to teach the patient to respect him, so he reached out and removed the blankets in hopes that it would show the other they shouldn't ignore people trying to talk to them. He pulled them down until he was met with golden locks splayed out against the pillow, long bangs hiding what looked to be a teenager's eyes from view. The other's mouth was downturned in a frown, but the thing that truly upset Dino was the fact that, not only was the other in a straitjacket, he also had security mitts on his hands and a restraint roll belt keeping him in bed. The younger still didn't speak; he remained as still as a statue.

"Let's get these off you." The young man reached out to remove the restraints on his patient, but he stopped at the startled gasp the other man made.

"Don't take those off him! That's a bad idea!"

Looking his boss directly in the eyes, Dino said, "This is my patient now, and I will care for him to my standards. I don't see these kinds of restraints becoming of anyone, and I won't leave them on him. They're inhumane, and I won't allow them to be used on him while I'm caring for him."

"You're asking for trouble letting him out of them, Cavallone."

Dino didn't understand what the older male's problem was – not until his patient finally turned around to look at him and he was fixed with the angriest look he had ever felt.

"I suggest you leave my room before you make me mad, peasant." The voice that filled the air was soft and silky, but the underlying hatred and irritability beneath it betrayed what could have otherwise been a soothing voice.

"I'm afraid I can't leave you, Belphegor." The stronger blond was gentle as he removed the security mitts from his patient's hands. He offered a small smile. "I want to get to know you."

"The only thing you'll get to know is how it feels to die in agony." The boy tensed as unwelcome hands next lifted him slightly so that the rolling belt could be removed from him. He hissed. "Get your hands off me, peasant!"

"I am not a peasant, Belphegor; my name is Dino, and I'm here to help you."

"I don't need help!" His legs kicked out violently as the younger started thrashing once Dino begun removing the straitjacket. "Fuck off! I hate you!"

"Belphegor, if you –"

"Stop calling me that!" The boy screamed as the straitjacket was pulled from his body. When he was free of it, he launched himself towards Dino. "My name is Bel! Bel, damnit!"

Dino wasn't afraid at the sudden attack; he simply caught Bel and held him tight while the other continued to try and attack him. He said nothing but soft, soothing words, making sure to keep their bodies pressed close enough so that the blond's arms were trapped between them. He remained this way for what felt like forever until the patient returned to his bed, seemingly knowing that he would only tire himself out if he were to continue on.

"It's your fault…"

Not taking the accusation to heart, Dino shrugged it off. "What is?"

"Everything."

"I'm sorry, then, Bel."

"…" With his arms now free, Bel pulled the blankets over his head and fell silent.

"I told you he's a handful, and that you're too inexperienced for someone like him."

Dino looked at his boss before he shook his head. "I'm taking him on. Even if you give all the other patients to the other new staff; I'm making Bel my priority."

"You'll be sorry, Cavallone."

"Maybe. But I won't turn my back on him." Following the man out of the room and back into the corridor, Dino sighed. "I would like to spend my evening with him, if that's okay."

"It's up to you. Just don't come telling me that I told you so."

Dino nodded. "I won't, because I'm going to help him."

"You can try. What he did just then was tame compared to how he usually is."

The young man shook his head. He hoped he would prove the other wrong; surely there was some way to help Bel; no one had just found it yet.