Thanks for the reviews guys! Hope you're liking the story. I think this will push past ten chapters at least! This is YAOI and will be mature if you didn't know that anyways. No flames please and constructive critisim is loved! This is the first DMC fic I've written and i hope I'm getting the characters right although they may be OCC.

Leave a review, even if its one word.

-skittels

Devil May Cry was dim and dust particles could be seen floating past the beams of light that managed to make it in through the dirty windows. The place was old, strangely regal and beautiful but dirty and worn. In places, bullet holes peppered the wall and demonic weapons hung, gleaming faintly, deadly but yet they offered a comforting presence to the gloominess. It was a strange place, a blood stained couch and pizza boxes, loose ammo and porn. It told stories with every glance, with every bullet hole and gouge in the wall. But it was home, that was for sure. It was quiet apart from the fevered one sided conversation Dante was having with the phone.

He was sitting in his chair, the phone against his ear.

"Yeah...he seems really beat up about this, mentally I mean. Fuck...poor kid. Those bastards, how could they do this to him? He saved them. Humans are fucked up." He heard the protests of Lady about that comment but at the moment he could care less.

He waited while Trish talked. He had told her everything of what Nero had told him and his anger had steadily been building towards the fuckers of Fortuna and his heart went out for the young half demon. Really, the poor kid. The way he had clung to Dante and sobbed had really hit a spot with in the older man's heart. He felt needed, actually needed. Not just to kill demons or save the day but needed emotionally. He hadn't felt that in a long time and it felt nice, it felt really good to comfort someone, to be needed to comfort. A small smile graced his thin lips and his mood brightened a little.

It occurred to him that he had been drifting in his thoughts when he heard Trish yelling down the phone at him.

He hummed an answer and then stretched, standing up.

"Listen Trish, do me a massive favour and go food shopping for me. The kid's gonna need proper food and I don't want to get my ass kicked for eating pizza all the time...yes I know I'm paying for it...please Trish? Not for me, for the kid at least...thanks Trish...Yeah I'll look after him...you have his bag?...yeah bring it when you come over...later," he dropped the phone back in to the cradle and sighed heavily before looking up at the ceiling. He had been on the phone for a while; he should go check up on the kid. But before that, he was going to stick Nero's clothes in the dryer. He could bring up his weapons for him too or bring him so coffee.

He stopped himself suddenly; he was acting like a wife. The hunter snorted and shook his head, grabbing Nero's clothes from the washer and threw them in to the dryer then on his way up the stairs, picked up Red Queen. He hesitated; he should clean the blood off. It would be bad to bring up memories for the kid. Sighing he set about cleaning the sword, letting his mind drift off and he went over the familiar task, checking the blade was still sound and the core was damaged. It was soothing to clean the sword and he eventually moved on to Blue Rose. The kid handled these babies well, brilliantly in fact. He could put up one hell of a fight and even challenge Dante a bit, but not too much. After all Dante had a reputation to keep up. He finished looking over the weapons making sure they were working and clean. Satisfied he trotted up the stairs to see how the kid was.

Nero had been awake for a little while, lying on his side staring at the far wall with its old patterned wall paper and he sighed heavily. He couldn't believe he had broken down like that in front of Dante who Nero would say, never out loud though, was his idol the person he strived to be like, the person he strived to be better, faster, stronger than. Sneering at himself, the half demon rolled on to his back and stared up at the ceiling, he must think I'm a right pussy.

His body ached a little but it felt far better than it had a few hours ago, the muscles felt looser and the tender, freshly healed skin wasn't so fragile so there wasn't a danger of him tearing anything. Mentally he was tired but felt lighter having told Dante what had happened, like it was weighing him down less and he managed a small brief smile. Things felt better in general. Maybe he could stay here a few days, rest up and then head out to where ever the hell he was going, he knew the Order wouldn't stop until he was dead and cut in to little pieces. He couldn't stay with Dante forever, he had to leave, it wasn't fair on the older man. Nero groaned and closed his eyes, pulling the blankets up tight around his chin, curling up underneath them like he was hiding away from the world.

Footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs and Nero forced his eyes open as Dante walked in holding a bundle of clothes and Nero's weapons.

"I cleaned them for you, couldn't let the blood sit on the metal," he said setting Red Queen against the wall and Blue Rose on the bed side table. "I even washed your clothes, though they are pretty ripped up, the duster is okay and the jeans but your hoodie and tee-shirt. I think we need to have a funeral for them."

He chucked the clothes at Nero's head and then ruffled the kid's hair, falling in to his chair arms crossed and legs propped up on the bed.

Nero snorted and pulled the clothes away from his head, rubbing his nose as he peered up at Dante, trying to see if the man looked with him with contempt and anger but the man's gaze was surprisingly gentle and sent a flutter of warmth through Nero.

"Thanks Old Man," Nero mumbled, fiddling with the clothes as he sat up. "I mean it, really. Thanks for letting me cry and all," he gestured with his hand and rubbed the side of his nose, pale cheeks flushed with pink. Dante smiled and chuckled, hand reaching out to clasp Nero's strong shoulder.

"Listen kid," he ignored the irritation that flickered over Nero's face and continued speaking, "It had to be done and it's done you the world of good. Just my shirt is ruined now," he teased, reaching forward and hugging the boy tightly again, "Don't worry kid, we won't let them get you again, me Trish and Lady. We got your back."

Nero breathed in the warm scent, sandal wood and sweet sweat and then something that was just Dante. It was relaxing and comforting and he couldn't help but want to surround himself in it.

"You know they are gonna come after me yeah?" he looked up at Dante and the older man shrugged and grinned.

"It was getting boring around here anyways, it will be good to have you around. I never thought I'd have a partner that doesn't steal my money," he shrugged and looked down at the kid's surprised face.

"You want me to stay?"

"Sure, you haven't got no other place to go to, I have a free room and I could do with the company," his demon side growled and shifted, more like it could do with mounting this pretty one. He forced those thoughts away as images of Nero naked flicked in to his brain. He dragged himself from his perverted thoughts and focused on what Nero was saying.

"Thanks old man. I can go on missions and I'll pay for half of everything apart from your pizza, you're on your own with that," Nero was smiling widely and Dante wanted to coo and pet him, he looked so adorable. No Dante! Bad! No touching! But his demon side, oh it wanted to touch and do so much more.

Dante snorted and shoved the kid lightly before standing up, "Well then, guess you're staying here then. House rules! Eat my pizza and die and that's about it. You can do what you want just don't destroy the place and we'll get along just fine."

Nero nodded and slowly got out of bed, still a bit stiff and sore.

"Yeah, I think I can handle your dementia," Nero sniped grinning as he stretched. Dante tried not to watch that lean torso stretch and flex, it was nearly impossible though.

Managing to tear his eyes away Dante snorted, "I'm not that old, kid." He grinned as he left the room, he would get the half demon a tee shirt for his own sake not Nero's. The kid followed him, listing the reasons why he wasn't a kid and Dante grinned wider. Yup, Nero was still the little spit fire from Saviour. It would definitely be good to have him around.

The girls showed up a few hours later, Nero had showered, changed in to fresh sweats and a massive hoodie of Dante's that engulfed him and surrounded him with the man's scent. He had to hood up and secretly he would press his face in to the fabric and inhale deep. Dante had worked on cleaning the sofa and it was looking better surprisingly although Nero had draped a sheet over the thing and wrapped himself in a blanket. Dante had made more toast, a big pile of it and Nero scoffed it down along with mouthfuls of tea, he hated coffee. Dante called him a woman for that and Nero punched him in the jaw. Dante had only laughed and ruffled his hair and went about making Nero his womanly, milky sweet tea.

Nero was laying curled up on the sofa, dozing when the door burst open, Lady and Trish sauntering like they owned the place.

"Dante! Shopping's on the porch, get it yourself lazy ass!" Lady screeched and Nero winced. People shouldn't be able to screech that loud. He pulled himself up and stretched, finding himself suddenly surrounded. The two women were sitting on either side of him; each had an arm linked with his. He blinked and eyed them suspiciously.

"So...has Dante been treating you well?" Lady chipped in first with that devilish grin of her, her mismatched eyes flashing.

"Er...yeah...why?" Nero felt trapped and scared, women were scary creatures so damn fickle and he couldn't help but feel like he was playing with a bomb. A very large bomb that could blow up in his face at any second.

The two women grinned at each other, "Are you staying here then?"

Nero nodded silently, his fears mounting when the two girls grinned wider.

"Excellent, you can help Dante pay off his debt to us."

"Here, I found this," Trish scooped a bag up off the floor, she had dropped it when she walked in and chucked it in Nero's lap. "Your stuff."

Nero breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thanks Glo-Trish," the gun pressing in to his groin made him change what he was saying sharpish and blond woman dressed in tight leather smiled.

"Good boy." Trish's voice turned soft, "How you feeling kid?" and Nero shrugged.

"Better, nothing hurts as much anymore. Demon healing kicked in soon enough. I'm just a little woozy from blood loss," he bit his lip and looked at her rubbing the side of his nose. "Trish I-...thanks...for saving my ass," he mumbled.

Trish smiled and kissed his forehead, "It's okay, I can add to Dante's debt," she teased and then Lady's mobile rang. The dark haired woman flipped it open and spoke rapidly before hanging up.

"We have a mission," she stood up and patted Nero's shoulder winking at him, "Take care of Dante now, I'm sure he'll take care of you." She revelled in the blush that crept its way on to Nero's face and how he rubbed at his nose. Trish snorted with laughter and shook her head, walking out of the front doors.

"Tell Dante we'll collect our money later," Lady followed her lover out and a few seconds later the screeching of car tires signalled their departure.

Dante peered down from the upstairs landing, "They're gone?" he asked eyes narrowed suspiciously. With those two you never could be sure. Nero nodded and relaxed against the couch.

"Yeah old man, the big bad scary girls are gone. Man you're such a pussy," he teased as Dante trotted down the stairs to recover the bags full of food left outside.

"I just don't want another bullet in the groin," Dante muttered shuddering at the memory. Everything had grown back but still it was traumatising losing Little Dante for a brief time.

Nero laughed, "Those two have you whipped old man." Dante glared half heartedly at him.

"I'll have you whipped if you don't listen to your elders."

"Like you could. I'd beat your ass one handed," Nero ribbed Dante, relaxing in to the playful banter than came easily when he was around the older man.

"Maybe in three hundred years kid, when I'm six feet under, maybe then you could beat me, until then, you don't have a snow ball's chance in hell!" Dante grinned as he put stuff away, hearing Nero spluttered with indignation.

Dante's demon purred at the thought of dominating Nero. The boy could fight but Dante had been doing this for far longer and the idea of having the boy bloodied and panting beneath tickled his demon just right and made it growl and snarl, it wanted that to happen, it wanted to mount the sweet smelling boy.

Nero's scent slammed in to Dante, his demon showing him how good the kid smelt but he forced it away. He wasn't going to violate the boy with those kinds of thoughts. That would be just wrong, he was meant to be looking after the kid, protecting him.

But his skin is so soft, wouldn't you like to touch it? To mark it? Claim all of it? His inner voice was silken and purring, filling Dante's head with images of the naked teen.

Dante shut the fridge door abruptly startled out of his perverted thoughts by the shrill cry of the phone.

He hurried to the desk, slammed his fist down and caught the phone mid air, winking at the kid who rolled his eyes at the older man's antics.

"Devil May Cry," Nero glanced over at Dante and looked out the window, hiding his blush. The man had only winked at him but it was so sexy and sultry he couldn't help but blush and now the man's smooth comforting baritone washed over him until he was leaning in to the couch, eyes half lidded in a daze. He felt warm and safe, it was a nice feeling.

"Yo kid...kid?" A hand waved in front of his face and Nero jumped, blushing red seeing Dante so close to him.

"Yeah?" Good his voice didn't squeak, good Nero, smooth.

"I've got a mission, can you put the rest of the stuff away? I'll be back later tonight. Just hang about here, don't go out and keep Blue Rose on you just in case." The hunter patted Nero's head when the boy opened his mouth presumably to say he could go too.

"When you're all healed up," Dante promised as he ran upstairs to grab his trench coat and then pulled Rebellion off the wall, sheathing her on his back, holstering Ivory and Ebony at his thighs.

Nero watched him go, calling good bye lazily as he sauntered to the kitchen to put away the rest of the things. The place felt empty without Dante in it, much colder too and the kid shivered before glancing around. The place was a state. He was going to clean if he was going to live here. He didn't want to die because of mould or bacteria. He finished up putting stuff away and then investigated a closet under the stairs finding cleaning supplies. No doubt one of the girls had made him get this stuff but it didn't look like it had been used. Nero took a deep breath and glanced around the shop again. This would take a while.

It was late when Dante made it home, covered in demon blood and soaked to the bone. He stepped through the doors and stopped, something was different. A hand strayed to Rebellion and he sniffed the air, scenting for demons. That's when it hit him.

It didn't smell anymore of dust or old pizza or mould, instead it smelt airy and clean. Dante was sure he had come to the wrong place, this wasn't his house, hell he could actually see his coffee table and it wasn't covered in magazines, coffee stains or empty pizza boxes. He closed the door behind him and ventured further in to the cleanliness, the kid must have done this. Even his desk was clean, free of dust and organised. He just hoped Nero hadn't gone in to the drawers; even Dante shuddered at the thought of what was in there.

He hung Rebellion up on the wall and patted her gently before taking his guns from their holsters and setting them on the desk. He would clean them in a minute, once he figured out what was going on. Dante slipped in to the kitchen and his eyes widened. It smelt nice, not of rotten food and he wasn't scared to open the fridge or look in to the sink for once.

Whistling in wonder he shook his head and opened the fridge, everything was neatly put in and the insides were actually white. With a final glance over the kitchen, shaking his head in disbelief, fuck even the windows were clean; he trotted up the stairs and peered in to the bathroom. It was the same as the kitchen smelling fresh and faintly of lemon bleach.

He grinned; he could get use to this even if he did feel bad about the kid cleaning everything. He peered in to his own bedroom, noting the sheets had been changed and the bed made. The dirty clothes had been cleared up from the floor and if he listened hard enough with his demonic hearing, he could hear the washer whirring as it spun the clothes. His room smelt fresh and the musty stale stench was gone. He was looking forward to sleeping in between clean sheets.

Nero looked out in to the hall way, seeing Dante disappear in to his own room and he bit his lip, hoping the man wouldn't mind him cleaning up. He probably should have asked but still, if he was going to be living here he wouldn't be living in filth.

Trotting down the wooden hallway, he knocked on Dante's door and lent against the door frame.

"I cleaned out your pig sty old man, hope you don't mind," he said, arms crossed as he teased the hunter. Dante grinned and glanced over his shoulder, peeling of his trench coat, it would have to be washed but he had spares in his closet.

"Naw, you did a great job kid, thanks," he peeled off his shirt and toed off his boots. "I'm gonna order a pizza and then grab a shower. You want some?" he turned to face Nero and the kid went wide eyed.

A blush flung itself over Nero's cheeks as he stared at strong sleek muscle, chiselled abs and a delicious thick waist with sharp hip bones and a V that just drew one's eyes down wards, following a trail of hair that started at the hunter's belly button (which was an inny and so cute!) leading down before disappearing under the waistline of Dante's leathers. Nero swallowed, those leather trousers just clung to Dante so perfectly, slung low on his hips, tight around his thighs, god those muscular thighs. Nero shivered and pulled his eyes away from Dante's crotch, forcing himself to meet the man questioning gaze.

"You alright kid? You're not feeling woozy are you?" Dante stepped forward, suddenly close, a hand over Nero's forehead. The half demon just about died. Dante smelt of demon blood, sweat and pure strength with a teasing hint of sandalwood. Nero's demon growled and reared its head. It felt the power rolling off of Dante and it couldn't decide if it wanted to challenge this power or present itself to this powerful demon for mating.

"I-I'm fine," Nero managed to speak, eyes widening. All he could see was Dante's chest. Oh god, his nipples, he was so close, he wanted to curl his tongue around them and bite at them, maybe even drawing blood.

"You look a little flushed, maybe you should go lay down yeah? It's been a hard few days," Dante clasped the boy's shoulder in a large warm hand and gently steered him to Nero's own bedroom.

"I order you some pizza yeah? It will be about twenty minutes so I'll get a shower, need to get this stink off of me. Then I'll come check on you, just yell if you need anything." The hunter ruffled Nero's hair and flashed him a bright grin before sauntering down stairs to order pizza.

Nero thought his face was going to self combust and he rubbed the side of his nose and flopped on to the bed. He did not just check Dante out. Nero was straight. Very straight.

His demon refuted this, chuckling darkling in the back of his mind, flashing pictures of a half naked Dante.

Nero bit his lip and clamped down on the demon. Sure when he had first seen Dante he had wanted to kill him but he had been drawn in by the man's power and energy. He blushed more; admitting that Dante was sex on legs didn't make him gay. A guy could appreciate another guy without being gay...right?

Nero groaned softly and closed his eyes, granted Dante was the only guy he had ever checked out before.

Maybe you're gay for him.

He ignored the little voice in his head. He wasn't gay for Dante, he wasn't interested in seeing the man fully naked, he wasn't interested in seeing the man's cock and he wasn't interested in being fucked in to the mattress by him.

The very thought of sex with Dante sent shivers up his spine and heat to his groin. His demon purred at the thought of being mounted by Dante and Nero stared wide eyed up at the ceiling.

He wasn't gay for the older hunter.

He wasn't gay for anything or anyone.

He rolled over on to his side and curled up in a ball.

Then why did he have a raging hard on?