DON'T LEAVE ME
"The desolate wind, the widespread fog, the rolling rain, the boundless snow,
Every step you take I will accompany you,
Hold my hand, do not be frightened, no matter what happens tomorrow,
Even if we are destined to wander, to the ends of the world."
...
...
It had been a long night of preparation for his upcoming trip to Red Grave City and Dante returned to his shop, whistling jovially as he opened the door only to spot a lone woman standing in front of his desk with her back to him. Whoa. First, the mysterious one named V and now this woman? Two clients at once?! He'd never been this lucky. However, this woman looked surprisingly suspiciously familiar...and he stopped at once, breath lodged in his throat in disbelief once she turned round. He knew this woman. It had been a few years but she hadn't changed at all. She promptly lifted up the sunglasses from her eyes, leaving them to rest over the crown of her head, dark green eyes settling on his form.
"Hello, Dante." She said quietly.
His jaw went slack as he looked at her from head to toe. She was dressed in a white blazer, black top, pencil skirt and matching mid-heels. Her human form. "...Mia?"
She smiled, a little anxiously. "It's been a while."
"Mi!" He exclaimed as he dived for her in seconds, letting the door slam shut behind him and he seized her by the waist, crushing her into his chest. Stunned, she blinked wide-eyed until he started burying his nose into her hair and finally, she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. "Mi...I didn't think you'd...You came back." He murmured, and she let out a weak chuckle, nodding.
"Yes, I came back."
"Baby, you came back to me." He repeated, and when he let go of her, she was dabbing at the corner of her eyes and he could see her eyeliner smudging, her mascara running. He let go of her to plant his large hands on her shoulders, grinned and peered at her, then plopped one hand on top of her, ruffling her hair before cupping her cheeks. "Where did you go?"
"...Nowhere in particular, just...the ocean. Specifically, the Pacific."
He chuckled. "Look at you...all these years and you haven't changed one bit. I missed ya."
She gave him a wry smile briefly but then dropped it quickly. "I missed you too. I'm sorry, Dante. Can you ever forgive me?" She said, gazing at him in return. She took note of how grizzled he looked, his stubble, change of outfit and the fine lines under his eyes and his jowls.
"'Course I forgive you." He muttered and they exchanged a tight hug, "But I gotta go now."
"What do you mean?"
"I got a job. There's a big, nasty demon in Red Grave City that needs to be taken care of."
She appeared at a loss. "...But I just got here."
"I know, I'm sorry, babe." He said, and she lowered her gaze to the ground.
"Then I'll come with you."
He shook his head. "You can't. Mi, just stay here and wait for me." He said, "Stay here and watch the shop for me. I'll be back, I promise."
...
Present.
... Apparently V had seen her naked (twice even), and now this. She'd been possessed by three demons and attempted to seduce him. She didn't remember being possessed and she didn't remember what she had done or what had been said, except when she came to she was straddling him, her shirt was unbuttoned and her skirt was shamelessly pulled up to her thighs. Scrubbing a hand over her face, Lucy had initially wondered how things could get any awkward between her and V and now this had really taken the cake.
"Look what I found!" Hag could be heard exclaiming, and Lucy was not focusing because she was so wrapped up with many thoughts; for instance, she believed she should take her leave by all means for she could not face the man or look at him properly in the eye anymore following that incident.
However, throwing a quick glimpse over her shoulder and she saw Hag with a violin and its correlating bow in hands. They were still helping Hag pack. Hobbling over to V, Hag said, "Can you play?"
V looked at her silently then took the violin off her hands. It was dusty and old before he lifted the instrument over his bare shoulder, lowered his chin over the black rest and further nudged the violin into appropriate position and began gently pulling the bow over the strings. Hag's eyes widened before she gleamed as a nice melody began playing. Lucy twitched slightly but otherwise paid no further heed and continued in her packing.
Griffon could be heard, "Playing the violin? Who knew? What other tricks do you have up your sleeve, pretty boy?"
V stopped and put it down. "...That's all I know." He murmured, before he threw a glance to Lucy's direction. She stayed a good distance away from the group, quiet and keeping to herself as she packed.
...
Meanwhile.
"Dante? Dante? Hello, it's me, Patty! You totally missed my eighteenth birthday party! Like, where were you? And why aren't you returning any of my calls? What's wrong with your line anyway? I can't even get through, it's always engaged - "
She placed the phone on the holder, effectively putting a stop to the voicemail left behind by a cheery young woman name 'Patty'. She didn't know this girl although Dante had mentioned her once. Glancing around the empty office, she slid off Dante's chair and walked towards the stairs. It had been a while but Dante's shop remained the same - old, a tad dusty, messy and seemingly always out of power or water. Heading up the stairs, she slipped into the bedroom she once shared with the devil hunter and glanced around. He'd changed the bed. That was the only thing that was different.
Suddenly, she heard the front doors opening rather roughly, the doors slamming against the wall and the hinges squeaking.
"Hello? Anyone here? Morrison?" yelled a loud voice.
Leaving the bedroom, she walked to the banister and glanced over to the entrance. A young man stood as he dusted himself down, looking up and around and certainly looking rather out of place. He was pale, white-haired, young, looking a bit angry too. The fact that he had one arm was really the first thing that caught her attention though. She proceeded to head downstairs to greet him. "May I help you?" She asked; however, upon closer inspection she squinted her eyes at the young man and said, "Wait, you're..."
"Huh?" He said, glancing at her, "Where's Morrison?"
"Morrison's not here."
The young man rose a brow. Instead of replying to her comment, he looked at her up and down and then said, "Who are you?"
"I'm Mia," She paused briefly, before adding, "Dante's mate."
He let out a choked, rasping noise. "Mate?"
"Yeah." She couldn't help it, she stared at where his arm should be which he noticed and she saw his brows furrow somewhat. She looked away immediately and said quickly, "Ah, I remember you now. I saw you in the ocean before. Dante told me your name is Nero; you're the deadweight."
"WHAT?!" He roared, before he grunted under the breath, "Bastard..."
"Why don't you have a seat, Nero?" Mia said, gesturing to the lounge whilst ushering him to take a seat on the couch. "Come on in."
He seemed disgruntled, "I didn't come here for coffee. Just passin' by. I should take off."
"You don't want to stay for a while?" She asked, and he shook his head.
"Nice meeting ya."
"Nice to meet you too. Bye."
Mia watched as Nero promptly left the shop and stalk down the streets before she returned to the main desk and resumed in her dusting.
...
A few days later. Night-time.
"You are leaving."
Lucy turned round to see the snake rising through the fields. "Shhh, not so loud, Circe." Lucy said; she was sitting on the front porch, tying her shoes with a backpack full of necessities slung over her shoulders. She rose to stand once she tied her laces properly and threw her glance to the side as the snake slithered up the steps and peered at her.
"Why?"
"...It's awkward." She muttered, "Didn't Hag tell you what happened?"
"Yes, my master told me you had shamelessly thrown yourself over that human male in an attempt to seduce him." The snake said with a snicker, eyes glowing with mischief, "But you were possessed by three demons. Succubi, nonetheless. You should...'cut yourself some slack'."
Lucy sighed heavily under her breath upon the not-so-friendly reminder of what had happened approximately a couple of days ago. "I don't think I can be around V with a straight face anymore."
"You should return, Lucy. Master said you aren't better yet and it's not safe if you wander around alone."
"I'll be fine. I'm just going to find Dante." With that said, Lucy began to head towards the direction of the trees and Circe followed after her.
"Ah, Dante. Good idea." said the snake, "I accompanied him on a few missions a long time ago. It was very exciting. Very well, I'll accompany you too for a while...I'll help guide you out of the woods."
Lucy was surprised and stopped in her tracks. "...Thanks, Circe."
"Don't get used to it. I'll just be leading the way, that's all." Circe hissed, and began to slither in front of her through the trees and towards the direction of the path.
Lucy inwardly swallowed. Although she didn't exactly want to leave, nor did she really want to leave in the middle of the night, she felt as though she needed some space. Despite wanting to stay with V, the incident left her very disoriented and unhappy with herself although V assured her he knew what had happened and luckily they had exorcised the demons from her body in time, she felt embarrassed and uncomfortable to be around him. Deciding to leave, she left him a note explaining her reasons, thanked him for his care, and informed him that she would be going to find Dante. She wasn't abandoning him or disregarding his feelings for her completely. She just required some much needed personal space and room to breathe.
With Circe guiding the way through the dark and freezing Deathwoods, Lucy was safe from getting lost and attacking demons for Circe was quick to dispose of them. Circe was indeed powerful, and Lucy felt at ease knowing the snake was on her side. She constantly threw glances over her shoulder, causing Circe to stop at least on a few occasions. The third time the snake stopped, Lucy stopped also.
"What's wrong?" Lucy asked.
"...Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Circe replied, "Because I'm getting the feeling you don't really want to."
The girl shook her head. "No, I do. I have to leave."
Circe huffed and a brief silence spawned until she added, "That man...that human, V. There's something unsettling about him. I don't like him."
"Why?"
"I abhor him." The snake said, lifting her head that she rose above Lucy and half her body left the ground, "I feel a sense of familiarity to him, as though I have known him before. I'm over five hundred years old and I do not remember ever seeing his face, but...I feel an animosity towards him, the same as I do towards Vergil."
"Vergil?"
And the snake nodded. "I have few enemies...but I have never been inferred with such loathing and hatred towards and from this man...even though I, myself, have not spoken to him much, if at all. I cannot explain this hatred."
Lucy pondered. Circe can't stand V...even though she barely knows him?
"Never mind that." Circe said with a snort, "It is strange to dwell on this matter any further. The thought of his existence, his entire being, repulses me. Perhaps I knew him from a past life, and he is indebted to me somehow."
Circe continued guiding Lucy out of the woods until she finally arrived at the entrance where the path ended and Lucy could see the familiar stretch of the interstate and the occasional car and truck zooming past. High above and she could see the full moon and the spray of stars in the dark sky, and in the distance away, she could see the small flicker of light from a settlement - probably a motel or something. It was truly bizarre... here she was just a fraction away from oblivious, normal humans, well aware that she had a mythical, talking snake companion beside her which was almost double her height if Circe stretched up properly...
"This is it." Circe said, snapping her out of her thoughts, "I'll be returning to master. Be safe, Lucy."
"Thanks, Circe. See ya."
"Goodbye."
Lucy watched the snake slither back inside the dark woodland and she was alone. Sighing, Lucy began to head towards the direction of the interstate; she had only taken one step when from out of nowhere, a familiar bird came bursting out from one of the trees and she leapt, turning to the source of the noise as the bird flew over to her side. "Griffon!" Lucy exclaimed in shock, "What are you doing here?"
He shook his head. "So, you're really leavin'...you're gonna break his heart."
She bit her lip. "I'm going to Dante's shop. Tell V I'm sorry."
The bird sighed loudly. "I got a better idea: why don't you tell him yourself?"
"Griffon..."
"Whatever, V wanted me to give you this anyway." He said, and her eyes widened. Did V know she was leaving already? As Griffon gestured to a white folded paper that was he was holding in his claws, Lucy reached over and grabbed it, unraveled the paper to see that it was V's completed poem. It read:
Thoughts of you surround me.
You're the beating of my heart.
The love you give defines me.
My life is no longer dark.
You give your hand so sweetly.
I am lost if you're away.
You have me so completely.
I cherish you night and day.
Without your breath I cannot live.
I need your lips on mine.
Nothing at all I wouldn't give.
I'll take nothing and be fine.
Lucy stared.
She reread the poem again. Then another time.
Biting down on her lip, the corner of her eyes were beginning to prickle with hot, wet tears. She sniffed, smothered the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand. Looking up, she saw that Griffon was still here, beside her.
"Griffon." She said, clutching the sheet tightly in her hands.
The bird sighed heavily. "...You two are really somethin', you know that?"
"Where is he?" Glancing around, it was too dark to see anyone or anything.
"Not too far behind."
Then what the hell was she waiting for? Adjusting the straps her bag, Lucy took off into a sprint back towards the woods. She had a brief moment of clarity, and running through her mind at this minute were thoughts of V. He had done so much for her and they had traveled together for a while now. He cared for her and Lucy realized she cared for him too.
How could I do this to him?
She picked up pace.
"Wait up!" Griffon yelled, trailing after her.
Lucy frantically raced into the woods. She didn't have to go far as she soon saw the familiar figure of V, panting slightly with his cane in hand. She was surprised that Shadow was nowhere to be seen and it looked like he'd made his way out here on his own. "V!" She exclaimed and he saw her, his thin lips spreading to a smile.
"...Lucy." He muttered, a little breathlessly. He stopped by a random tree, attempting to recuperate.
"V!" She stopped before him and promptly threw her arms around his neck. "V, I'm sorry."
He chuckled weakly, wrapping his arms around her in return.
"I'm so sorry," She said, closing her eyes as she felt his arms tighten around her waist, "I'm so sorry, please forgive me."
Notes.
Um okay... I came back to this fic after a month long hiatus... I can't remember the feel of the story so far but I need to go on hiatus again to get my shit together. By shit, I mean life haha. Anyway, please see below for this chapter's notes -
1. Yay! Dante! Yay Nero! And Mia returns! She's the OC from my first ever fanfic on this board... Siren. Uh...since it was written 7 years ago(?!), please do not read it. It's so embarrassing... you don't need to know much about Mia, she was written as Dante's mate and she is a water demon. She left him after she accidentally triggered her demon form and ate a few humans, and Dante was forced to fight her and she returned to the ocean. In this chapter, she has returned, seeking redemption. The sequence of my fics should therefore be: Before I Die Alone, then Siren, and now Stay With Me.
2. Devil May Cry introduces us to various demons of all forms, levels and sizes. The majority of the demons I write about are modeled from religious origins of demons ie, Christianity, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism. I've based demons using a particular type of order, but not canon in any manner, such as below so its easier for readers to imagine:
Demon hierarchy: (Weakest to Strongest:)
Lesser demon (normal demons you fight in the game/Aramis/Reaper demon)
Demon (Dante, Vergil, Nero, Hag)
Deity (Circe)
Ancient/God-like (does not need to be a living being such as Qliphoth/Tim)
Most of the demons at deity or ancient level are not particularly concerned with wreaking havoc on humans.
3. The quote is from a show I started watching on Netflix called Eternal Love, which also helped me write a part of this fic because it's about past lives and how people are connected. It's the english translation of the theme song lyrics. It's awesome! Also, here Circe mentions she hates V, but only because she despises Vergil so she feels a strong hatred for him too. She ends up thinking that she may have known him from a past life and they had a vendetta which carried into their next lives because it was so intense.