A/N: Hey guys! So I just had an insanely stressful day, I had my District Solo this morning and just barely squeaked through with a 1 rating (which is good), this means I can move on to States but the judge only gave me a 1 because I'm a senior and will not have another opportunity and does not think I will do well at States, so I say "challenge accepted". Anyway, I just got done with a stint of playing DMC3 and watching cutscenes from DMC4 (and trying Bloody Palace mode for the first time, which is insanely fun). So now I'm bursting with ideas and have a little more idea where this fic is headed. Onward to the chapter!

Disclaimer: Okay, who's the moron who still thinks that I'm Capcom?

Manic Monday

Dante blinked slowly when he woke up, feeling oddly refreshed considering the previous night's activities. He stretched leisurely and looked over at his bedmate; Nero was sprawled out on his back, sun shining lightly on his face, his mouth was slightly open and… the kid wasn't breathing. The elder slayer had a moment of panic and put his ear to the teen's chest, and let out a sigh of relief when an unsteady heartbeat met his ears, he couldn't remember exactly, did vampires need to breathe? The kid shuffled slightly, no motion coming from his chest, nor did he seem uncomfortable so the half devil assumed the answer to that question was no. He was still trying to wrap his brain around the concept of his partner being a vampire. It was just odd. After stretching once more, he hopped out of bed, deciding there was no harm in letting the partial devil get a few more Z's.

As he walked downstairs, Dante was startled to hear someone shuffling around, and then he remembered that that girl… Kylie? No. Kyrie. That's what it was, yeah, she was here. And… the elder was currently having second thoughts about coming downstairs right away without the kid's backup, he didn't know what she had heard last night, or what she had seen, or thought she saw. The redhead looked up when he strolled into the kitchen, appearing as nonchalant as usual but was panicking, just a little, on the inside.

"Good morning Dante." She greeted casually and the devil hunter gave a quiet grunt in reply, headed directly for the coffee machine which already had a nice pot waiting.

"Is Nero up?"

"No, he's still asleep."

"I see…" she trailed off awkwardly and Dante sighed.

"I'll go get him." He rose to his feet once more and began heading for the stairs, mug of black coffee in hand.

"It's alright, I can…"

"I got it, kid should be up by now anyway." The half devil wanted his face to be the first one Nero saw upon waking, he also didn't want Kyrie to go upstairs and panic after finding the teen not breathing. The sun shown on the vampire's white hair, making it look almost like a halo floating around his head, the elder grinned and put the mug on the nightstand and bent forward.

Nero inhaled deeply when he felt soft lips against his own, his lungs felt oddly stiff, as though they hadn't been used properly in a while. His ocean blue eyes fluttered open and he saw Dante looking back at him with his trademark grin.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." The elder teased and the younger rolled his eyes, yawning a second later.

"I'm still tired…" he attempted to roll back over; the warm sun was just making him… so… sleepy…

"Nope. Time to get up." and his partner pulled the sheets from under him, causing the teen to fall from the bed with a startled yelp.

"What the hell?" he snapped, jumping to his feet and glaring at the half devil, only to pause in his retort, the other man looked completely serious.

"I think your girl wants to talk to you. I'm pretty sure she saw or heard something last night, the two of us weren't exactly silent." Nero paled and swallowed dryly. Dante offered his mug of coffee.

"Here, it'll at least wake you up a little."

"Thanks." The younger said softly after taking a large swallow of the bitter liquid.

"Oh, and Nero?" the vampire turned to look at the half devil once more, a question in his gaze. "You might want to get dressed first." The teen turned a brilliant shade of red and sputtered a few excuses before dashing down the hall in a hastily grabbed robe to get dressed.

"Good morning Nero." Kyrie greeted the vampire with a smile when he entered the main office area.

"Good morning." He returned, covering his mouth with a hand as he yawned again. The younger slayer had begun to notice that extending his canines was an involuntary reaction when he yawned, which was a total pain in the ass.

"Nero, can we… talk?" it was a bold statement coming from the redheaded female and it did nothing to resolve that tight wound ball of nervousness in the pit of his stomach.

"Sure." The teen sat down next to his former damsel and the girl let out a strained sigh.

"I saw you… and Dante last night…" Kyrie took another deep breath "You were… sharing a rather… intimate moment…"

"Kyrie…" Nero whispered, unsure of what to say.

"Why?" his adoptive sister turned to him, her brown eyes boring into his blue ones. "Why him?"

"He… we just… it wasn't…" the teen didn't know how to answer her question, as he didn't know just where he stood with the elder slayer himself.

"I could give you what you want…" she said so quietly that he almost didn't hear her. "He just makes it worse… you're more… demonic. When you're around him." This was a step too far in Nero's book and the confusion in his gaze turned to anger.

"No Kyrie. Dante doesn't change who I am, that's what you did, that what Fortuna did, I can be me here. I don't have to worry about the looks, the stares, the whispers behind my back." The redhead had opened her mouth but Nero continued before she had the chance to say anything. "Don't tell me they weren't there, they were. I'm accepted here, the old man cares about all of me, not just the human part, the demonic too, all of me. I'm willing to help you get back on your feet again, I owe you that much, but don't expect me to take you back, not when I've got something special of my own starting."

Dante couldn't help but smile from the stairs upon hearing Nero's words, so the kid thought that there was something between them to?

A/N: I feel like this was a pretty lighthearted chapter, but I was feeling pretty lighthearted. Things'll start getting shaken up again next chapter, I think. I can't say if I'll post tomorrow, or rather, later today because I've challenged myself to finish every. Single. Essay. Tomorrow. Wish me luck?

Till next time,

-Winged Element