Summary: Patty Lowell had never honestly realized how much she had to sacrifice by accepting one of Dante's missions by herself – overcoming her fears was one thing, but not being allowed to wear her cute frilly clothes? God had forsaken her.
Parings: Nero/Patty / but the story's focus isn't entirely on it. Since the suspense of adventure and character development is a nice thing as well.
Warnings: violence and cursing / somewhat probably adult situations / gore and blood / kids making bad mistakes due hormones / basically patty being a rebellious teenager and enjoying the hell out of it, kinda
Notes: So I was actually going to update sooner. Since I didn't want to disappoint the first reviewer, since I understand the feeling of reading interesting stories which never get continued. I'm glad it's being enjoyed by people though. School and other stuff keeps me busy but I've decided I really want to finish this story, I'm going to do my best to make it great, I just hope I manage to satisfy my readers! Updates are probably going to come faster from now on depending on the amounts of school work I get. (but the story will be finished, don't worry, it should be around 30 chapters or more)
MINGLED
Verb
1: To be or become mixed or united with:
2: To associate or take part with others
ACT 2: Beloved Fakery, where should I go?
"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" was his response. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." -"
"Trina, quit it!" Patty hissed under her breath – her gaze franticly shifting from the teacher to her friend as she avoided the tenth paper ball thrown in her direction, her eyes deadly and filled with death promises as she watched the other crumple another ball of paper. "Trina!"
Trina lifted her head in the air haughtily and stared at her with determination, "True women never back down."
The blond gaped as the next piece of paper flew right against her forehead and she should hear her friend let out snorts of laughter. Patty grabbed her penile case and threw it back with with full force, watching with sick pleasure as the small bag hit her right in face, Trina let out a gargling sound as she held her nose and cringed, glaring at her friend with anger as she whispered lowly, "This battle isn't over yet."
"Miss Arched and Miss Lowell, out."
And there they were, patty stood in the hallway, fuming with her arms crossed like a child as Trina stood smugly, examining her nails mockingly, pretending not to notice in the slightest.
"I can't believe you." Patty began, exasperated. "All I did was ask you for notes and you just couldn't do that, could you?
"One day, we will be sitting somewhere watching our children together from a bench as we recall this as a good fun old time, and we will totally laugh over it."
"Somehow, I highly doubt that."
Trina laughed as Patty plopped on on the ground, she sat down next to her and patty pouted."Sorry, alright? I guess I couldn't help myself since..."
She trailed off, closing her mouth hesitatingly as ran a hand through her brown hair and Patty simply looked at her. Her face easing her up when she realized her friend was honestly bothered by something. "Since what?"
"I don't know it's just that.." The brown head bit her lower lip and she relaxed with a heavy sigh, "You've been so down since a few days ago and I just got worried you know? I figured I tried something to just.."
Oh.
Her thoughts shifted back to the events of last week – the agurment with her mother and the found message by the phone person which she still hadn't returned. The relationship between her and her mother had gone downhill from there, they barely spoke anymore and it seemed like her mother was talking extra more work hours, which caused her to see her mother even less then before.
Her jaw muscles jumped as she considered Trina's words. With a short side glance she gave a tolerant smile. "Don't worry about it Trina, things have just been a mess but it's going to be alright."
Trina narrowed her eyebrows and stared suspiciously at her friend, looking unsure. "And...you know this for a fact?"
No, no I really don't. Her mind shot back but she swallowed the unwelcoming thoughts somewhere deep within her and nodded. "Likely. So don't worry about it. I'm a strong girl, I can handle my stuff. If it really was that bad I would have already told you about it."
There was a moment of silence between them and Patty almost was sure Trina realized she was bullshitting her. She blinked when she felt a squeeze at her hand, glancing down she stared at her friend's hand holding hers and watched as Trina smiled comfortingly at her, the grip on her hand tightening more.
"After school, let's go out."
It was then she understood her friend already knew. She couldn't help but feel very touched as she tried to keep her eyes as dry as possible when she smiled back with a nod.
The sound music of the club blared loudly in her ears and she watched with amazement as random strangers danced intensely, barging into others personal space as they started grinding against each other – it hadn't been the first time Patty had come to a club (against her will, mind you.) but the sight of indecency had always left her slightly flustered. She turned to her friend who had now gulped down her fifth beer glass, face red and eyes glazed, a silly grin ran across her face. "Take some."
She pushed back the glass that was offered in her direction and snorted. "No thank you. One of us needs to be sane enough after us to take us both safe home."
"Suit yourself." She tilted her shoulders up in a shrug as she shoved the beer bottle against her chest. "More goods for me."
"Would you remind me why we came down to a club? And how you actually managed to get me here, again."
"Well for starters, you need to loosen up." The brown head pointed out as if it was an obvious fact. "And what's a better place to loosen up then a night club? This is where all the magic goes down."
She silently begs that she will never have to grace the the pain and humiliation of ever coming across Dante in this kind of place. Whenever he would simply be surprised or angry, which is likely the latter – she had a little princess status to keep up after all; he would probably hold it against her for years. No, she figured. Being found out going in a club with strippers and drunken idiots probably wasn't the best way to spend her evening.
Anything better then home though, her mind whispers and she frowns.
She looks at her now overly emotional friend – probably under the influence of alcohol as she bangs her head against the table for the tenth time, doing some satanic chantings – or at least that's what it sounds like if one asked her.
"You know what sucks?"
She blinks at the soft murmur coming from her friends mouth as she opens her cola can which was served earlier. "What does?"
"When you want to have something." She breathes, pursing her lips as she stares at the a group of dancing people from her relaxed position. "But you don't have enough confidence."
The blond almost sits in shock, staring openly at her usually overly cheery friend, she had been completely excited until now, and she couldn't tell if it was because she was drunk or not. She speaks up softly, trying to not sound worried. "What do you want?"
Trina doesn't answer at first but musters a strained smile in her direction, "Many things."
She tilts her head questioningly. "What could be considered as many?"
"For one, I never got the puppy I was promised at the age of ten from my mother, that really sucked. I think I might have cried for like months about that."
"Well then, I sure do hope you get that puppy then one day. I will cheer for your future."
"Yeah." She laughs and pauses. "Thanks."
Her friend opens another bottle, this time what seems to be a cocktail; she isn't sure what the brand is called and neither does she honestly care. She watches as her friend gleefully fills up another glass. "Something else you wish for?"
"Huh?" Trina blinks as she looks up, an eyebrow raised like she had actually forgetting the conversation they just had so she elaborates.
"You said you wanted many things." She recalls thoughtfully, shifting in her seat as she pulled down one of Trina's uncomfortable short dresses she was given at her house. "What else do you want?"
A cleft formed between her eyebrows as her eyes veiled themselves with doubt; like she was considering something. Her eyes skipped across the room; left and right, anywhere but hers, and Patty felt like the overly pained expression did not suit her friend as she leaned forward with curiosity. Speaking up.
"Well? What's-"
The words were stolen from her when something soft was pressed against her mouth, dry, but strangely soft. With a loud horrified beat of her heart which stilled down in one second. Because her friend's face had been planted right against hers. The brunettes lips against hers. Her fingers crushed the cool cola can in her hand in surprise as she shoots backwards in her seat, with vigor and uncertainty, almost toppling. "-Shit."
Trina quickly catches up on the situation and realizes what's she's been doing – because she sure as hell doesn't as she stares with fear at her friend, a hand over her mouth and shaking eyes. "Oh god – did I just?"
"Yeah, you did." Patty's words shake, her eyes wide as she can do nothing but stare. "You, really, really did."
The silence between them is their breaking point and Patty realizes how messed up the situation is, and she almost can't bare it. Trina runs a hand in her messy hair as she tried to swallow. Her lips trembled in an insecure smile. "...Fuck."
Patty cannot find herself correcting the foul language. She bites her lower lip; trying to think of something – anything, that would help ease up situation. Just to forget about it all and go back to their conversation from before.
"It's fine." She tries desperately. "After all. Accidents happen. You were drunk, this stuff happens, right? let's just forget it, okay?"
She thinks she said something very wrong when Trina's face twists from shock into frustration. "What?"
"Christ Trina." She hisses. Holding her forehead in disbelief and shakes her head. "I said i'm willing to put this behind us, alright? Let's just f-"
"What if I don't want to?"
Patty arched her eyebrows, not sure if she heard correctly – but she's sure that she did. She wants to just ignore it all and get over it, she doesn't want to know what it means, but that's all just a case of selfishness on her part. The loud music roars in their ears and all they can do is stare at each other and Patty can only hear everything crumble down, one by one. The heartbreaking sound of bonds shattering down.
One by one.
"Patty, I really like you, more then just a friend...?"
The confession is a crumbled mess coming from Trina's mouth. It sounds like a riddle that the teenage blond is supposed to answer, but she knows that's not the case, at all. The pain and and suffering reflected in her eyes tell the story her mouth doesn't and Patty can only let the tears fall, rolling down her red cheeks. She willed her eyes to looks at green ones.
"I'm so sorry." Is all she can say in return, all she can offer.
Trina smiles, her face teared between weariness and pain. But a bright smile nonetheless. "I know."
And she leaves.
That same night, time stops for Patty Lowell, she walks down the streets and ignores the leering stares from disgusting men at her appearance as she walks barefooted down the streets, holding her heeled shoes in one hand. She ignores the filthy pigs – she ignores everything. She can only think about how Trina is probably crying alone right now in room, tearing her own heart out in pain and she feels so guilty.
It's a undeniable pain that resounds in her chest and she keeps reminding herself every seconds she has the breathe, to think.
Today had moved by too fast. Had torn itself to pieces too quickly.
Trina.
She opens the door to her house and is grateful to see that has mother hasn't returned home yet. She wouldn't have to worry about her fretting about were she had been going out dressing out like this, she doesn't think she would have the power to answer either. She walks up the stairs and goes to her room, she doesn't remember how long she cried after that. Because everything was going so – so wrong. She was slowly losing everything.
Things weren't supposed to keep ending like this, would she eventually lose her family at Devil May Cry as well?
A deep shuddered gasp escaped her as she muffled her soft whimpers in her pillow. It was a silly thought – because she was aware it was the pain that was catching up with her that was causing this. But she felt so worthless, and so why – why.
"Trina is disgraceful." Her mother had once told her, but all she could remember was the hyper and excited girl was would frequently throw out curses here and there to express her feelings, the girl who would try to cheer her up after she felt down. The way she would ruffle her hair and let out random cackles at her own jokes. It had all seemed so stupid then, but now-
She couldn't afford to lose it.
But she couldn't afford to think about it any more either.
'Can't I get away?' the reminders of the past few days ago kept bugging her mind, but this time, she fully embraced it. Her mouth was pulled in a firm straight line as she squeezed her pillow to her chest. It's fine even for a few days, just take me away, for weeks, or months. It's all fine. She doesn't know why the the first thing she focuses on is the now worn out crumbled tissue that lied down innocently on her desk.
Her heart skips violently as she remembers her mother's violent outburst, 'I think this isn't working out anymore.' Trina's strained but beautiful smile, 'I know.' she whispered before she walked out. Her heart beats once more.
It hurts.
She doesn't even wait to pick up her mobile phone in one hand, eyes on the note as she dials down the number. She hesitates as she pulls the phone against her head, her insides throbbing as she hears the buzzer going off.
She immediately realizes what she's actually about to do, she's crossing a line she's never crossed before, hysteria comes down ticking like a bomb and she pulls the phone from her ears with a cry and -
"Hello?"
A gargle escapes her and her voice quavers. The voice resounds in her room and she wonders what in gods name she's trying to pull off. Because this isn't something is used to, she never steps over her comfort zone, not like this. This isn't something she's supposed to do?
"...Hello? Is anyone there..?"
The voice snaps her back to reality and the teenager knows she has to do something. She has no choice. "Hello, It's me."
It sounds stupid even to her own ears, because how is the phone person supposed to know or remember a voice they heard from a few days ago. She knows for she herself wouldn't. But she can't find her voice to say more.
"Oh god? Is this the girl from the store? Shit, woman. I told you to call back later, not wait for a million days. Christ. Oh shit – well, I guess this works out in both of our favors."
She doesn't know what she is supposed to say and even considers hanging up, trying to remind herself she shouldn't do this unless she wants to feel more guilty.
The voice is relaxed, calming even, without the frustration and inpatient edge she remembers from the first call. She slumped. "Really?"
"Yeah. What more, I'm glad you've finally decided to move your tired ass and do your job. A female is the most suited for this job so it works out in our favor, nobody distrusts a woman after all. Ha."
Most suited for the job? She almost faints right there and then. Her skin sticky with sweat.
"...You did call back because you were going to accept the job, right?"
Patty looks around hurriedly in her room, her blond locks flying around her shoulders as she shifts, her breath comes out in small gasps of air, most likely because she's about to have a panic attack, but also because –
"Yes. I am."
Because of that.
She doesn't know if it's her insanity speaking out, but it's too late to take it back anyway. The words flow out of her mouth almost too naturally, too confident. Too brash. She sits down on her bed, holding the mobile against her ear.
"Good then. You want to hear the details then?"
No, I don't. I really don't want to hear the details, Dear god. She cringes as she pulls the cover of the blanket over her knees. "Please."
"..It's probably not the typical missions you demon hunters are used to, but I can't help but feel like you would be the most suited for the job either way. Have you ever heard about Fortuna, young lady?"
"No I haven't." Not the typical job we are used to? What was she going to do? Dig out graves with her bare hands? Defeat huge and big demons thirteen times her size? What? She honestly needed more information before she actually started to shit her pants. Because she wasn't sure she was going to hold out any longer.
"Well, i'm not surprised. It's a rather enclosed tight knit society. They barely let anyone come in." A pause. "Or for that matter, out."
What.
"But a way was found in. While it's not common for new people to join, lately a woman called Lucasta Riano, a young nun who just finished her training. She was supposed to start living there somewhere around next week to help as an extra hand in one of the orphanages. But unknown to the island, she died on her way there, some kind of demon attack or something."
Patty kept silent; because honestly, was was she supposed to say? she only could listen further.
"We want you a demon hunter to take up the task of her name, and live there to gather information. Fortuna has been up to some sneaky stuff. Stuff people are itching to find out and expose. Now I know, this looks like a boring job! But I guarantee you, the pay is really good, we can even discuss it after."
No it wasn't – it wasn't a boring job. It was perfect. It was like vacation, she cheered mentally. She wouldn't have to worry about trouble coming to her, because she wouldn't have to deal with it. No demons, no nothing, how fortunate and lucky could a girl be? She tried to hold down her nervousness. "Is that all?"
She wouldn't have to worry about any of her problems anymore.
The person on the other side of the phone hummed. "Fortuna is a very strict place. A culture that revolves around worth-shipping Sparda. They will likely not trust you at first so watch out for that. Also the most shitty part, gender roles. Some shit I always hated. I'm guessing this is going to sound sexist as fuck, but look, things are going to be different there, whenever you like it or not, women there are oppressed. Do to speak out of turn and remember that men are and will always be superior, their opinion there matters more then yours."
She clenched the blanket around her tighter. She sank in her soft bed; her eyes half closed. She would have to do some information on whatever Sparda was, although was certain she heard the name before. But she was very bothered about the last part. Patty was raised to a decent and fairly independent woman; while she believed it was fine for men to take charge and woman to be more dependent, (it was also alright if it was otherwise as well, she didn't judge.) she didn't like the thought of being seen as the lesser gender, how disgusting was that? Weren't they long over the phase of oppressing women?
She didn't think she could handle the thought of somebody telling her to get back in the kitchen, and play the role of a nun one top of that?
She suddenly remembers why she is doing this; her heart feeling heavy once more as her last bit of hesitation slips her by. "Anything else?"
"Write down the name Lucasta Riano and memorize it, you're gonna hear it a lot. All what Fortuna knows is that she took a small break and is resting at her family's house. You go there and have this carriage pick you up, we can't assign one of our own men as every person that passes Fortuna will be throughly checked. So your pretend story will start right from there." The voice took a short break there, as if they knew she were struggling to keep up with writing everything down at her desk, scribbling quickly down the paper while making sure it was all readable. "When you pass Castilo village, you take a break and you will ask around for a woman named Mary Lawins, she will take care of you that night and will fill you with further information and give you the necessary items to pass Fortuna with flying colors. So you spend the night there and will hopefully hit down Fortuna by the evening. The nuns there will teach you everything you should know."
I'm leaving here. Her mind chants repeatedly as she keep writing. I get to leave this suffocating house, I won't have to worry about my mom throwing me out or either having to deal with Trina.
It sickeningly comforted her to know that.
"Also remember for safety, please do not bring your guns with you. They will be taken from you through the examination and you will be thrown in prison to rot for life-"
Patty jolts when she hears the front door open – mom, she thinks hurriedly as she eyes the door to her room. She chews on her tongue and waits.
"Don't forget that-"
"I have to go." The blond girl speaks up right off the bat, clearly interrupting, her stare at the door more fierce when she hears loud steps on the stairs. "I understand and will call back for more information later, goodbye."
She hangs up the phone and throws it on her bed; right at that moment the door opens and it takes every bone in her body to not jump in fright. With bags under her eyes her mother looks at her, looking more tired then anything and Patty couldn't help but feel bad. She looked a little watchful.
"I thought you were staying at your friend's house tonight?"
Her voice sounded awkward, as if she wasn't sure she said something right or not; it had been a few days of avoiding each-other after all. Patty forced a smile on her face and replied, "Yeah. But things got in the way and I decided to stay home anyway."
Just go away, her mind screamed. Her smile twitched slightly at the sides and she hoped it didn't look fake.
Her mother seemed to find this explanation reasonable and nodded her head, giving Patty one last glance before leaving and closing the door behind her. Patty exhaled out deeply as she collapsed and fell in her chair, hands covering her face. Her blue eyes fluttered shut and a crimson flush spread up from under her collar, feeling more exhausted then anything.
Patty Lowell could only think that this week had been absolutely great, from reaching breaking point in her relationship with her mother, crushing her friend's heart after rejecting her confession, to accepting a job that was never even supposed to be hers. All of it had felt so unreal and fake, but she only knew from the fear that was edging in her heart, that it was all truly happening.
And what kind of name was Fortuna anyway?
I imagine having your friend confessing to you fucking sucks. But it sucks more to be the person that pours of the feelings right out of your heart and confess. I don't even want to imagine how painful that shit is. I hope nobody is homophobic because I will have to smack your ass the bdsm way, if you don't like that you could also leave, yeah. I'm a tough girl. Rawr.
But don't worry. The story focus is on nero and patty, no bitchy love rivals (god how I hate unnecessary love triangles.) Talking about that stuff, no hate for Kyrie either, she's such a sweet and selfless woman. Love that girl. Also since we know so little about fortuna I created my own overview on it. (I thought sexism would be a common thing there since the societly there seems there seems rather...old style.) I had friends help me and stuff.
See you in the next chapter and please share your thoughts! Also question, What is your most favorite smell on a guy? What would it be?