"Silhouette"

Prologue

+Silhouette+

It was still dark out when Mammon shifted from under the blond's arm. Sighing, he released the illusion, and growled inwardly at the curse he had to face as he entered the reality of an Arcobaleno. Fantasma hopped from its resting place onto its owners head.

The violet haired man looked back at the sleeping prince. In all honesty, Mammon found him annoying. That child refused to let go of the fact he held no power, his country had fallen, and he had no title; he still referred to himself as royalty and used that title as an excuse for everything. Still, for some unknown reason, Bel loved him. Mammon admired him a bit, his slight insanity excited him; Prince the Ripper was wild, untamed. He did not love Bel.

No, he did not love Belphegor. He could tell the blond loved him though. He admired the illusionist, help him perfect the solid form of his 'once self'. He reached out to him, and showed more emotion towards him than he had ever done with the others.

"But I don't love you." He muttered to himself as he looked back at the room, leaving it. "I toy with you. I humor you… And you're an idiot for loving me." Sighing, he went into his own room and locked the door behind him.

This routine… It had been going on for awhile. Ever since they had perfected Mammon's 'once self' illusion…

+Silhouette+

Bel snickered to himself as he peeked into the room. The lock really hadn't been hard to pick, he just wondered how long it would take for the small illusionist to notice him.

He looked around the room from his spot beyond the door before freezing. In front of the Arcobaleno's mirror stood… Mammon? He looked… human. Taller, hood down, royal purple hair splayed and messy… Electric lavender eyes stared at the reflection, concentrating hard. A hand reached out to the reflection, and much to both of their disappointment, the hand disappeared as it touched the glass.

"No…. No, damn it so close!" the Mist blew up, breaking the mirror in a rage, and earning a startled croak from Fantasma. Tears were biting at the Arcobaleno's eyes. "Fuck…"

The illusion fell, unstable, leaving the small Mammon behind.

"Harder… I have to try harder…"

"Ushishishi, my my, what will the captain say after he sees the mess you have made." Bel teased, pushing the door open.

"You…! If you're going to watch a master at work, it's going to cost you!"

"Maybe I can help."

He didn't know how he could help when he had offered it. It took another year for the illusion to become solid, and Mammon could parade around as… well, himself.

But, it was draining. It took too much energy, and it was difficult to keep stabilized. In the end, he could only really do it around the Varia mansion.

Around Bel, mostly…

Which the blond liked. This way, his … obsession… wouldn't seem as odd. He didn't look like the baby he'd become trapped as; he was a normal size… normal touches, normal… physical interaction.

It was the least Mammon could do to repay the prince for… doing the best they could to break that god forsaken curse.

That is… until the hunt….

+Silhouette+

He was pushed back into the red sheets. Red sheets… he almost remembered when Bel's bed had been white. After a while, they had grown tired of being asked why the room was blood-soaked. Red hid it all better.

It was the least Mammon could do… He loved Bel's sadism…

He was forced into the pillow, hardly able to breathe through it, but he didn't care. He stopped thinking about the position too much.

Biting down his neck, the prince left his marks, claiming him; nails ran down his back, leaving claw marks and goose bumps at once. A low moan escaped the illusionist, and Fantasma disappeared into its hiding spot.

An arm snaked under the dark hair; used to the hint, his mouth opened and took the fingers in, sucking the digits teasingly, getting the earned noise from the fallen prince.

It was just a distraction. Teeth clamped down as he was entered, unprepared, bleeding…

It was different… actually having sex compared to a realistic illusion.

Yes, actual sex. The illusion he usually used, the one that didn't come with pain, nor much feeling at all, was gone; wasn't needed. The years have been harsh… painful. His muscles had been aching as the Arcobaleno's were hunted and the Non Tri-Ne-Set waves had caused him to start to grow… to age again… a bit younger and slower than he hoped… he just couldn't believe he had once wanted this! Immobilized for some time due to the pain he had been in not long ago at all.

The current pain made him cry out, tears watering as the blond started to move, his love's hurt unnoticed. It was the only time Mammon had ever questioned Bel's feelings towards him.

+Silhouette+

Yes, the hunt… the hunt of the Arcobaleno, the Vongola… it was growing out of hand. Finally, the time came.

Mammon moved in the embrace of the man who loved him, violet eyes looking him over.

"…You've grown." He said lightly.

"…So have you." Bel was still half asleep. Once straight blond hair had turned into wild locks, he had gotten taller… And yes, Mammon had started to grow with him. Despite his actual age, his body said he was only eighteen. Much younger than he should have been.

"…You know."

"I'm a genius…" His voice sounded so heartbroken. How could he leave him?

'Because I don't love him.' He sighed inwardly at the secret he had kept hidden from the self-proclaimed genius. Sometimes he wondered if Bel knew that too.

"…I'll come back."

"I know." Yes, Bel was sure he would come back. The Mist wasn't as positive. Mammon brushed the blond locks out of the way, looking down at the secret only he knew. The beauty the prince held locked away from everyone but him… Before he knew it, he was caught back up into strong arms.

A passionate kiss. No beast was in control this time. Just Bel. Not Prince the Ripper. Bel was the one who loved him.

He returned the kiss, as always. When it died, slowly for the younger's sake, Mammon was able to pull himself away.

+Silhouette+

That was it. That was all there was. No love. No, unrequited love.

"Viper… You're going to make it out of here!"

He had promised to return.

"Fuck… No, damnit Colonello…!"

He never intended…

He could only stare up as pain rocketed through his body, crying out as his mind numbed.

…to keep his promise to Belphegor.

"YOU'RE A LIAR!"

"CALM DOWN! WHERE ARE YOU GOING? VOOIII, I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

"I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS BULLSHIT!"

The door slammed, Prince the Ripper escaped into the night, knives at the ready, eyes wide, the Prince Belphegor locked up in his head crying.

He didn't know what he had done.

"Ushishishi… Ushishishishishi! USHISHISHISHISHI!" Laughter echoed off the building walls. Blood was being splattered left and right. Screaming. Maniacal laughter cracked in his voice as his own skin grew tainted and stained with the rust-colored coppery tasting liquid.

He didn't know he had killed hundreds of innocent people by killing himself.

+Silhouette+

"…Look… The boss says we'll get you out when you calm down… When we can figure something out." He looked down at his officer, biting his lip in worry.

"Ushishishi…" He just rocked, unable to do much else.

"What you did… It was reckless. It was stupid! It was just wrong! Are you even aware of that?"

"SHUT UP ALREADY! SHUT UP!" The silver haired man shivered lightly, feeling the pure hatred emit off the youngest Varia in waves as his head snapped up and looked directly at him through those bangs. "…Get out."

"Listen you-!"

"GET OUT!"

+Silhouette+

He didn't know he had caused the only person who loved him to be locked away for almost a year… in a straight jacket… away from the only place he had ever been able to call home.

"Alright you idiots listen up!"

He didn't know there would be another…

"His name is Fran. Belphegor!"

"What?"

"You'll get to be the lucky one to look after him!"

"WHAT?" The blond looked over at the mint-green haired boy, glaring. "He shouldn't even be here!"

"Too damn bad!"

He didn't know there would be another replacement to fill out his silhouette.