Do you ever wonder why Dante is topless (with the exception of the coat) during DMC 3 and is wearing a vest and Underarmour-like shirt in DMC 1? Well… Here's an explanation. This here was my very first fic that I decided to revise a little and updates are sure to come.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lady, Vergil, Dante nor the other "well-known" characters that will make guest appearances. There... now you can't sue (licks out tongue). Please don't forget to R/R
Sleeping Dante
Chapter 1: The Big Chill
"Are you sure this is the place," asked Lady turning towards Dante.
"That's what the call said," Dante answered leading the way through the dark, winding alleys. She shined her flashlight around herself to get her bearing. She then rotated her shoulder under the weight of Kalina Ann, an enormous bazooka. A devil hunter can't be too careful you know. Lady was dressed in long black slacks, a white button down top, and a black sweater. No, this wasn't her usual attire, but a girl's got to at least try to dress for the weather. It may have been cold, but it was a beautiful, clear night, a rarity in the city.
"Buuurrr!" Her teeth began to chatter wildly. Lady closed her sweater tightly in a miserable attempt to stave off the cold. She managed to release her left arm from its cocoon to briefly glance at her watch. Six minutes past three, it read. "I wish your c-c-c clients would k-k-k keep decent hours," Lady said trying her best to hide her chill from Dante. "I'm sorry, Lady, but demons don't usually stomp around during the day," Dante returned. Before she could bat an eye, Dante had already draped his signature red leather trench coat over her shoulder. Ever the gentleman, she thought. He always pretended to be an arrogant chauvinist when he actually knew how to treat the ladies.
"Thanks," she blushed. She wasn't accustomed to this treatment, let alone from Dante.
"Well, we can't afford you getting sick, now can we?"
For a long time, there was silence between them and Dante's uncharacteristic stillness was driving her insane. Outwardly she was quiet, however she was screaming within. Say something, Dante! Anything! I don't care, talk about sports or something.
She stopped her inner ranting long enough to notice that Dante had picked up his pace. He wasn't trying to ditch her, but for some reason he was putting some distance between them. She caught on and gave him a little bit more space. She kept her flashlight trained on Dante's back so as to not lose him to the darkness.
Lady thought to herself about how warm she felt in Dante's coat. She soaked up his scent. She suddenly felt a wave of guilt wash over her. As she watched him walk, she realized that he was only wearing a pair of black leather boots, brown leather pants, gun holsters and his mother's cherished amulet. The howling wind swept his platinum locks upward, giving him the brief appearance of Vergil, the other devil she met at Temen-in-gru three years ago.
"You alright back there… not too cold I hope."
"I'm fine. Your coat is really toasty."
"That's good. We should be there soon enough," he said resting his massive sword on his shoulder.
He's fine, she reassured herself. She brushed away her guilty conscience. After all he's a demon and he is probably used to extreme cold and heat. Her heart sank when she took heed to a series of muffled coughs coming from ahead. Shame then hit her like a splash of cold water to the face.
"Um… Dante?"
"Yeah," masking his cough.
"I'm plenty warm now, maybe you should wear this."
"No, it's alright. We're here now anyways."
The skies grew darker and more ominous. Demonic auras were wafting through the air giving off the sense of overwhelming despair. The weight was unbearable. Dante had some trouble standing at his full height. Poor Lady dropped to her knees and felt like she was being crushed by her own sense of gloom. She tried to support herself on a nearby dumpster, but was quickly rendered unconscious by the intense atmosphere.
Two Hell's Vanguards swooped in from the sky, displaced themselves and surrounded Dante. "Only two? That hardly seems fair to you guys." Realizing that the aura was sapping his strength, he created a doppelganger to make quick work of these devils. The Vanguards rushed him and his double. He and the clone made a break for the chain link fence behind one of the Vanguards. They leapt followed by a flip and landed on top of the fence with perfect balance and giving just enough space between the two. The devils displaced in front of their respective fighters, hovering just above the fence. They tried to end it with a single downward swing of their scythes. Like clockwork, he and his replica blocked with Rebellion and swatted the scythes away like they were nothing. The scythes somersaulted through the air and landed blade first into the devils. "AAAOOOWWA," they wailed before shattering like stained glass.
The copy dissolved into Dante's shadow. "Com'on! You gotta to give me more credit than that," he cried out before letting out another string of coughs.
"Hey, Lady! Where are ya?" He looked around the alley to find a flickering flashlight and a pair of slender legs jutting out from behind a dumpster. No… Lady! He ran to her side and found that she was still breathing. He breathed a sigh of relief, scooped her up and carried her to his motorcycle.
He somehow cradled her head on his left shoulder and her legs hanging just off his right knee. She was enveloped in his coat and his left arm snaked around her back for protection. With this, he was still able to maneuver the bike adeptly using only his right hand. Throughout the whole ride, questions and other thoughts ran through Dante's head. Something about that whole thing sucks…Those Vanguards were way too easy… Since when do Vanguards give off an aura that strong? Something else was there, hiding…but what? Who's pulling the strings?
Dante stopped himself. No sense losing sleep over this. Besides, I need to get Lady somewhere safe. He cranked the handle to speed up. Lady stirred a bit in his arms. "Shhh. Rest now," he reassured her gently.
She was waking up but she fought to stay asleep; she was just too comfortable. Despite the cold, his skin felt so warm against hers. His embrace made her feel safe and his steady heart beat lulled her back into her dreams.
They finally reached his shop, Devil May Cry. He let down the kickstand and hopped off the motorcycle while still holding Lady like an infant. He turned his head to release another stream of coughs and this time sneezes. He walked up the stoop and opened the double green, wooden doors as carefully and as quietly as he could. He closed it behind him. He then tenderly laid Lady on the red couch flanking his desk.
And now for that shower, thought Dante as he made his way towards stairs. He suddenly felt dizzy and his legs gave out. As he began to fall darkness encroached upon his vision. Falling, falling… and then… he stopped. Although he couldn't see, he felt himself being supported by a hand placed in the center of his chest and an arm wrapped around his slender waist. They carefully placed him on the floor. He briefly saw tan leather boots walk past his field of vision. His eyes slid closed again. The last thing he felt was the unseen hand gently sweeping the hair off his eyelids.
[Chapter 1 end
It is time for the end of chapter outtake. Why? 'Cause I said so.
She stopped her inner ranting long enough to notice that Dante had picked up his pace. He wasn't trying to ditch her, but for some reason he was putting some distance between them. She walked a little faster. She finally caught on when she got a whiff of the foulest stench from the depths of Hell. "OO... Oh, Dante," she yelled, trying her best to dissipate the smell with her hands, and giving him a little bit more space. "I tried to be courteous," he said devilishly.
I couldn't help myself.