Ebony and Ivory Queens CHAPTER 2

Theme: Complicated

PayingInNaivety: Yep, Nero has Dante now so that's good! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

SirenaLoreley: Meetings with strawberry sundaes are always nice, I figured I needed to make it different from the intro to Rebellion and Blue Rose Productions :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

Pushka: Yeah, I got this story up a single day after I finished my last story XD Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

CommanderRatchet57: I really want a strawberry sundae now too…and I have no ice cream! DX Thanks for reviewing! XD *gives cookies*

.vendetta: Glad you like it! I don't think it's likely that Nero falls out of love with Kyrie at the drop of a hat some time has to pass and some meddling from the townspeople could draw them apart. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

Kendecia: Here's more! XD Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

Britt601: Aw-you've never tasted a sundae! ? That's so sad! Dante probably did know it was Nero who was standing outside his shop and saw him walk away and was like-'hey where's the kid going?' *follow* XD Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies

I do not own Dante Nero or any of Devil May Cry! Enjoy!

Background(need to have read): Chapter 1

Dante sat dozing idly in his desk chair, smiling slightly as he considered how smoothly things had gone over the past few weeks with the kid around to give him a hand. Sure he had Trish and Lady, but the two hardly came around until they wanted something from him, whether it be money or forcing him to take some job they didn't want. Nero was different. He was a raging ball of fury and grace on the battle field, but at home he was like a totally different person-the one he'd glanced, but hadn't fully seen right before he'd left that spit of an island.

He was actually a little shy, and he did that adorable thing where he swiped at his nose when he was embarrassed. Not to mention the young man seemed to have picked up a few good habits from living with a girl for a few months. He hated the garbage and grime that covered the floor and walls of Devil May Cry and had taken it upon himself to clean up, though Dante couldn't seem to catch him doing it the shop got a bit cleaner every day the older man went away and left Nero alone.

He glanced said young man out of the corner of his eye, sound asleep on the couch, a thick white comforter pulled up around his bare shoulders, his hair disheveled and his demonic arm hidden under the blanket. Dante slightly tilted his head and chuckled as he spotted a cobweb in the kid's platinum locks. Looking up he noticed that indeed all of his eight legged friends had either moved out or been evicted. Nero perked up at the sound, shifting slightly on the lumpy couch in his sleep. He was fully roused a moment later a soft groan escaping his lips as he opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing at a crick in the back of his neck.

"Ugh, damn couch."

"Hey, that couch has survived more demon attacks than you've ever seen."

"I don't care. It's a lumpy piece of shit." he stated grumpily, twisting his back until the vertebra popped back into place. He sighed running his hand through his hair, freezing and a blush dusting across his cheeks as he ran into the cobweb Dante had spotted before.

"Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the couch this morning." the older man snickered.

"Shut up." he grumbled, standing up and giving another stretch. "I'm getting in the shower."

"Hot water's out again." Dante stated, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair.

Nero groaned and started towards the back of the office, pulling up the part of the floor that lead down to the damp and cold basement-home of the water pipes, fuse box, as well as a few forgotten books and weapons.

The kid sighed as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and shivered as the bottom of his feet touched the damp stone, making his way over to the frozen hot water pipe. Even with as many problems as Devil May Cry had Nero just couldn't help but love the musty old shop, with its lumpy couch, grime covered floor, pizza every waking hour of the day, frozen pipes and touchy jukebox he'd have to call it home. More so at least than the fragile people and perfectly manicured scenery in Fortuna.

The young hunter wrapped his devil bringer around the frozen pipe, and focused some energy into his arm, making it glow and heat up slightly, he repeated the procedure along the length of metal until he heard a crack, causing him to clench his fist and bang it lightly against the pipe, breaking up the trapped ice so it would be fully destroyed once hot water was running through again.

With his task complete he rushed back upstairs finding Dante in the same place he'd left him.

"You know if you didn't talk so much I'd think you were comatose old man." he teased as he made his way past the desk.

"You get the pipe fixed?"

"Yep."

"How do you do that?"

"That is my little secret." he answered walking into the bathroom and turning on the water, blaring the hot for a few minutes in order for it to truly heat up. A small smirk still graced Nero's features from his banter with the older man as he stripped and stepped into the warm spray. He lived for moments he could outwit his partner, it was like knowing the answer when the smartest kid in the class had no clue.

The teen frowned as he picked the soggy cobweb out of his hair and shook it off his fingers. His relationship with Dante was so…complicated. At times they acted like the best of friends, like when sharing pizza or playing team pool against Trish and Lady and at others they were fierce competitors and worst enemies like when they went toe to toe with one another or decided to get a little too competitive during a mission with a horde of demons.

Yeah, and maybe there was something else, but Nero didn't like to think about it…too much. He figured it could only be a crush, he'd only been staying with Dante for a few weeks, he'd really helped him out when he was in trouble and that's what Nero was feeling-he felt indebted to the man and that's why he cleaned up when he wasn't around and cooked for him sometimes, and ignored his skin tingling then they brushed past each other and the way his face would heat up when he was pinned to the ground, not because he'd been defeated but because of their close proximity.

He wasn't in love with Dante-he loved Kyrie-he liked girls! Didn't he?

"Why do things always have to get so complicated?" he grumbled to himself, closing his eyes before deciding to concentrate on finishing his shower.

Sorry it's so short! I couldn't think of anything else to happen but Nero is developing some complicated feelings so-YAY! Next prompt is 'Making History' if anyone has any ideas I'd be thrilled to hear them! XD Until next time!

Ja ne!

~Bitbyboth October 12, 2010