Hi all, thanks for the reviews. I really refrained myself from using another chapter title that sounds identical to the previous chapter but gave up. I have one reply so far as it was an anonymous review so I can't PM. I apologize if this response makes me come across as mean/nasty but that is not the intention.
To the Guest who asked if Lady would be in the story and when I said no they then said I had no business bringing in Arkham: Firstly, this is my fanfic, which means anything can happen. Secondly, this is a fanfic, which also means anything can happen Third, therefore who I choose to bring in is my business and ultimately my final decision.
Aside from that, sorry if that response made me sound like a douchebag *puts a cent into Douchebag Jar* I take into account all aspects of constructive criticism and that reply was not geared to everyone so many thanks to those who have been very supportive and understanding.
IT'S A DATE
(aka POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL)
MORNING
"Vergil?"
He didn't realize someone was calling for him from outside his door and he snapped out of his thoughts, glancing away from the silver, rusty locket he was holding in his hands. The knocking on the door persisted until he said, "Yes, Beatrice?"
"May I come in?" Her voice was muffled.
"Yes, of course." He said, before he pulled open the drawer of his desk and safely stowed away the locket inside just as the door opened and Beatrice slipped into the room before closing the door quietly behind herself.
"How are you?" She asked.
He smiled. "Very well, thank you." He replied, as she moved to stand beside his desk. Glancing over, she saw that he was on the laptop, looking through articles containing a man named 'Kyle Ryder'.
"Mundus?" She said, and he nodded.
"I'm conducting some research. His main assets appear to be the Virility Factory and Raptor News; they're his most practical resources for control and surveillance over the city. Kat and I went to the Network's premises yesterday to inspect it for ourselves." Vergil replied, and he started typing away at the keyboard. Another window on the internet browser popped up and the Raptor News homepage took over the screen.
"Did you find anything interesting?"
"Yes." He confirmed, "...And how was your tour with Dante?"
She shrugged. "It was okay."
"Just okay?"
"Yep." She replied, nodding, "...Hey, Vergil?"
"Yes, Beatrice?"
Fumbling in the pockets of her blazer, she fished out two little pieces of folded paper and presented them to him, "Listen, I know this is really, really short notice, but if you're free tonight, I have some tickets to – "
She was interrupted by a loud chuckle. "Beatrice, you know I don't have the time." He said.
Beatrice pouted instantly; he'd read her mind, but did he have to interrupt her? "But I saved up for these and they don't come to Limbo City often. I only managed to get tickets for today and this is their final performance. I didn't think I would get tickets as I was on this waiting list but just this morning they had two people pull out so they gave them to me. Please?"
"Why don't you ask Kat to go with you?" Vergil murmured, never taking his eyes off the screen.
She sulked slightly. "...Please...? Just this time?"
"Beatrice, I'm sorry but the answer is no." He said sternly.
"Okay, I know you're busy..." Turning away, she began to waddle out of the room and Vergil finally glanced away from the computer screen.
"Beatrice, wait. Let me have a look." He said, and she immediately returned to his side and presented her tickets to him proudly. Scooping the tickets out of her hand, he inspected them thoroughly. "Hm. I see. This is the show you've always wanted to watch, correct?"
She nodded vigorously. "Yeah."
And he chuckled, "Alright, I'll go with you. Tonight?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay, I'll go, but I might be late because I'll be at The Order."
She began jumping up and down on the spot, "Yay! Oh, thank you! Thanks, Vergil." She cheered, and he smiled widely. "Okay, you keep your ticket and I'll keep mine. I'll wait for you outside! Seven o'clock at Limbo City Concert Hall. Don't forget!" She bounded out of his room without further ado and Vergil watched her with a smile before returning to his work, lifting his cup of coffee to his lips and taking a quick sip.
Accidentally, he settled the mug over the ticket.
...
He felt miserable.
"I don't get how Sparda dropped me off at St Lamia's and Vergil was..." He left his sentence trailing; he lowered his gaze to the cool beer in his hands. Glancing up, he added, "...It's just so different. Did my dad not realize it was run by demons?"
"I don't know." Kat said quietly, as Dante downed a few gulps before wiping the back of his mouth, "...It was to keep you and Vergil safe from Mundus."
"I'm glad Vergil was adopted into a good family, I mean...just look at this place. I'm happy for him."
She glanced to the side and back, "From now on, you can live in Vergil's house too."
"Don't get me wrong here, but I don't really want to. I'm not used to it. I just want my trailer." Dante replied. Taking a few more gulps and he'd finished, he scrunched the can underneath his palm before tossing it into the bin without looking. It went tumbling down, an accurate shot.
"Yes, I can see why."
"How come you don't stay here, Kat?"
She said, "I don't want to impose." And they simmered into a steely silence, he was sitting limply on the large wooden window pane of the lounge whilst Kat leaned against the armrest of one couch. He could see Beatrice sitting outside on the swing – it was a large swing decorated with pink and white ribbons and roses. She didn't seem to have noticed that he was staring at her from behind the window. Whilst Dante gazed at her a little forlornly, Kat suddenly began fumbling around in her pockets and protruded out a photograph. "...Here. Vergil asked me to give this to you."
He peeled his gaze away from the girl on the swing outside, took the photo off her and saw that it was a glossy print of his mother and father with himself and Vergil sitting on their laps. They were children, maybe three or four years old. He distinguished which twin was which because of the amulets around their necks – one had blue, one had a red one. Dante stared hard at the photograph; he was sitting on his mother's lap and Vergil sat on their father's. Whilst Eva smiled at the camera, her cheeks rosy and glowing with love and life, Sparda, their father, was far more solemn-looking.
"Mom..." He muttered under his breath, "...This is the only photo Vergil has?"
Kat nodded. "He wants you to have it."
As he clutched the photo in hand, he glanced around the lounge, "Where is Vergil anyway?"
"He's doing some research. We're going to The Order in a few hours. Vergil is going to tell you more about Mundus and his weaknesses, and our next plan of action."
"Alright. Great." Dante murmured, pocketing the photo safely, "...Hey, Kat? Before you head over first, I... uh...I have a question for ya."
"Yes?"
Dante averted his gaze to the window again and uttered, "Beatrice. How did he meet her...? Vergil said they met through private school?"
Kat nodded. "Yes, that's what he told me."
Again, a silence spawned between them. Dante glanced to the side, and back and made a flimsy gesture with his hand. "...Uh-huh..."
"You don't believe him?"
"No, it's not that. Would Mundus ever find this place?"
"No, I don't think so."
"And Beatrice can't fight and won't have any active parts in any of our missions?"
"It's too dangerous."
"Does Vergil...look after her? Does he care for her?"
"Vergil cares deeply for Beatrice."
"Y'know, I noticed he doesn't allow her to go out much." He said, "Is she lonely, bored? Does she have anyone to talk to around here?"
"Um...Just me and Vergil, I think."
"Are they... intimate?"
Kat's face went slightly pink in response. "...I don't know." She muttered, turning away, "...Why're you asking all these questions?"
"Just curious." He replied with a shrug, "...Just curious."
...
AFTERNOON
"Silver Sacks Tower," Vergil said, "The world's most powerful investment bank. And who runs it? CEO Kyle Ryder."
The name rang a bell but Dante couldn't remember where he'd heard it from. They were at The Order Headquarters; Kat was beside Vergil who stood in front of a computer monitor showing various articles containing an intimidating-looking bald man with various persons of interest.
Vergil continued, "A human vessel: the physical manifestation of Mundus, the demon-king. Through debt, he controls everything. To Mundus, the world is a factory farm for human souls. And he likes to keep his animals monitored and docile. The monitoring is done by the Raptor News Corporation, a global network of CCTV cameras, satellites and spies. The way he keeps us docile is a...a little more insidious."
"What is it? Dante asked; he was holding a can of Virility in hand, lifting it to his lips for a sip.
Both Vergil and Kat turned to him expectantly before their eyes landed on the can, "...It's in your hand. Planet earth's most popular soft drink, Virility. The demons have spiked it." Immediately Dante turned to the side and let it spew gently out of his mouth and onto the floor. Vergil made a mental note to get a cleaner to mop that up later on and he chuckled, "Hah, it's ok! It has no effect on us. Only humans. It's lobotomy in a can."
Despite Vergil's reassurance, Dante tossed it into the nearest bin. "So what's the plan?"
Turning to the computer, Vergil opened one window showing a bizarre image on it. "The hell gate," he explained, "A conduit from which Mundus draws his power. While he is connected to the hell gate, he is immortal. But if we get him away from the hell gate, our swords will do the rest."
"So how do we do that?"
"We get his attention. Mundus is petty, he's impulsive. If we hit him where it hurts, let his anger rule him, I believe we can draw him out."
"Okay, so to kill Mundus we need to drag him away from the hell gate. We do that by pissing him off." Dante said, gesturing to the screen whilst sauntering over towards Kat's direction.
Vergil gave a brief nod, "...Roughly speaking, yes."
"And we piss him off by taking out the Raptor News Network and Virility?"
"That's it."
Glancing at Kat and Vergil, Dante said, "Which one do you wanna do first?"
And Vergil smiled. "Virility. How does that sound?"
"Virility it is." Dante replied.
"Kat will be your guide." Vergil added, turning to the girl who nodded firmly in response. "She'll take you there this afternoon."
"I'll make the preparations." Kat said.
"Sounds like a plan." Dante replied, and Vergil returned to the computer whilst Kat made her way towards her own desk in the room; essentially a rundown, dirty and half-broken table with a few broken drawers. She pulled one out and began rifling through for her spray cans and stencils.
Dante hovered by Vergil's side before he spotted a little piece of paper sticking out of Vergil's planner on the desk. Tugging it out, he saw that it was a ticket for a show this evening. "What's this?"
Vergil was busy typing away at the computer, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. "Oh, that? It's nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes," Vergil murmured, before he shut down his computer and turned to Dante, smiling. "Now let's get you prepared."
...
EVENING
Once the mission was over, Dante went to take a shower. After he came out of the Virility factory, he was reeking of demon puke despite never being in direct contact with the vile sludge but the stench was enough to rub off on him during the fight with the twelve hundred year old succubus. Once he'd showered, he emerged from his room with a damp towel over his head, raking it through the short strands of his hair. Vergil was downstairs in the trophy room on his laptop, conducting more research. Outside and there was a bad storm; rain was pouring heavily and the sky glowed occasionally from lightning.
"Verge?"
"Yes, Dante?"
"What's the next target?"
"Raptor News." Vergil replied, "But we'll lay low for a bit then go when you're ready."
"I was born ready." Dante replied with a smirk, before he caught sight of a little cut-out piece of paper stuck to the bottom of Vergil's mug of coffee; he recognized it to be the ticket he'd seen earlier before. "...Aren't you late for something?"
Vergil did not glance away from his laptop. "Hm? What?"
Dante reached over and gently pulled it out. It appeared to be a ticket of some sort to see some show in Limbo City Music Hall. "Verge, aren't you supposed to be somewhere?"
Finally, his twin peeled his eyes from the flashing screen. "Ah. Yes, I remember now. Beatrice's concert."
"Concert?"
"Yes, or opera. I can't go; I've too much work at hand. Our next target is Raptor News."
Dante walked over and stood by the desk with the ticket in hand, "Is she there? You left her waiting for you? The show started over half an hour ago!"
"Dante – " Vergil began, but Dante was already on his way out, grabbing his jacket off the seat and tugging it on.
...
Meanwhile, Beatrice waited impatiently in the torrential downpour, checking her wristwatch whilst huddling to herself in her long coat in a bid to keep herself warm whilst holding her umbrella upright in one hand. It was getting dark and Vergil was late; everyone had entered the hall by now and she was still outside, waiting. She felt foolish and continued glancing left and right down the street, hoping to catch sight of Vergil or his car. Squinting her eyes, she saw a figure coming towards her direction and as the figure came closer and closer she could see that it was the dark-haired twin making his way towards her, braving the rain as if it didn't even bother him.
When he finally stopped before her, he was squelchy and damp and raindrops were dripping over his hair and down his brows, his tank top underneath his jacket clinging to his muscled chest. He looked ridiculous and he shook himself, causing water to fly everywhere. Beatrice winced slightly and glanced up at him in confusion. "...What are you doing here?" She didn't notice it herself but she'd brought the umbrella over his head, shielding him from the rain, and she demanded, "Where's Vergil?"
"He's not coming." Dante said, taking in how equally soggy and bedraggled she looked, "He's busy."
Beatrice slowly averted her gaze from him and to the ground. Her lip wobbled slightly but then she turned away, frowning. "Busy. Yes, of course he is." She uttered, before she began to storm down the street and into the rain.
"Hey, hey hey." He said, grabbing her by the wrist and jerking her back round to him, the umbrella shook slightly in her grip but he paid no attention, "Where are you going?"
"What does it look like? Home." She had to yell slightly so she could be heard above the deafening noise of the pouring rain.
"Do you wanna go home?"
She gave him an exasperated, helpless look in response.
Dante glanced to the concert hall building. "Look, I've got Vergil's ticket." He said, holding up a crumpled little paper that was clenched firmly in his hand.
Beatrice stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then finally, it dawned to her what he was trying to do and her gaze softened somewhat. A few seconds passed and she gaped at him in astonishment. "...You..." She muttered, "...You want to watch it with me?"
His expression was somewhat troubled. "...Would Vergil say anything?"
She blinked blankly again, then shook her head. "No." And when Dante said nothing, she meekly lowered her gaze to the floor. Her cheeks felt slightly warmer than usual; clearing her throat, she mustered a quick glimpse of him before hastily glancing away when she noticed he was gazing at her intently. "I-I didn't think you would like this sort of thing. You'll probably find it boring and fall asleep."
"No, this is my kind of thing."
"...Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, if you want to come then we should hurry. It's started."
Brushing a hand through her damp hair, she strode past him and into the hall, closing her umbrella in progress. Dante followed her and she took the ticket off him and handed their tickets to the worker behind the booth. "Sorry pal," said the booth worker, "You're forty five minutes late; show's already started. Too bad."
Whilst Beatrice glanced down glumly, Dante grabbed the little man by the front of the shirt before roughly slamming his face down against the desk. It rattled loudly and Beatrice gasped as Dante let go and the man, now unconscious, slipped off the desk and out of his swivel chair and dropped to the floor. "Dante!" She exclaimed in alarm, but he merely grabbed her by the arm and led her up the stairs. She glanced frantically left and right; to her relief, no-one had witnessed the act.
"Where's our seats?" He said and she stared at him in bewilderment.
"We're sitting in the gallery..."
"Okay, then let's go."
"But..." Despite her protest, he led her up the stairs and they made their way to their designated seats. Dante didn't even know what it was she had wanted to see; however, as soon as they found the right section, she opened the doors and choral music could be heard. A man was on the stage in costume, belting out long, low notes in an unfamiliar language. French or Italian. He was serenading to a lady who was singing to him in an incredibly high-pitched voice. Dante inwardly grimaced at what he'd inadvertently signed up for.
Beatrice ushered him inside. They were seated at a private VIP booth which he wasn't surprised considering Vergil's wealth. He plopped himself beside her and crossed his arms, lifted one leg and let it rest over the railing before grabbing a glossy two-page leaflet from the side, rifling through. One of the most popular, well-known romantic operas of all time, it said, Received five stars from every publisher and has won more than ten Academy Awards.
Beside him, Beatrice took off her jacket (which was sopping wet) and let it hang over the rack provided in the booth. She was wearing a little black cocktail dress with short sleeves; as he eyed her, he could see the lithe S-shape of her back and he looked at her for a little longer than he intended but she didn't seem to notice. Then she went into her little handbag and scooped out a pair of those fancy binoculars on a stick and put them over her eyes. He rolled his eyes at the pretentiousness of it all and folded his arms over his chest.
Can't believe Dante's here and Vergil's not, she thought. The fact made her a little nervous and she fidgeted in her seat. They sat silently in the darkness, and all of a sudden, roughly half an hour into the opera, something hit her shoulder and she leapt slightly. Turning round she saw that Dante was resting on her shoulder, his eyes closed. He'd fallen asleep. She sighed loudly in response and shook her head in disbelief then carefully reached over to move his head off her shoulder.
However, she stopped halfway, hand poised in mid-air, having decided to utilize this rare moment to study his face a little carefully, scanning his face from his eyes, his mouth, his jaw. He didn't seem to have noticed and continued sleeping. Whilst Vergil was gentle and sophisticated, Dante was the exact opposite. He oozed out testosterone, exhibiting rough, manly appeal. He didn't even have to do anything; he was already baring the full package, from his mohawk hair, his sculpted, muscled body and gruff, dominating exterior. She almost cringed at her own revelations, and for some reason...Dante was familiar to her. She had the same feeling with Vergil too; his face was familiar, made her at ease and safe. It dawned to her that Dante had the same effect on her too, although she wasn't remotely close to him, not one bit...and with Dante, the effect was stronger tenfold. It was such a strange feeling, to feel close to someone you hardly knew.
Beatrice promptly lowered her hand and returned to her seat. As the opera continued, she found that she couldn't really concentrate on it.
...
Finally, the concert, or opera...whatever that was...had finished and the viewers were now rising from their seats, collecting their bags and jackets as the curtains lowered over the theater stage. Beatrice nudged Dante and he jerked awake, glancing at her groggily.
"...What'd I miss?" He grunted out, yawning loudly.
She gave him a tired look. "All of it. You were asleep the entire time."
"See? I told you this was my kind of thing."
"Let's just go."
"Right behind ya."
They grabbed their belongings and shuffled out of the VIP booth; by the time the opera ended, her jacket had dried and she slipped it on carefully over her shoulders before flipping her hair over one shoulder. He was watching her the entire time, and when she looped the strap of her bag over her shoulder, she turned to him and their eyes met. Beatrice immediately glanced away and cleared her throat. "...We should probably head back. Vergil will get worried."
He nodded. "Sure."
"We can, uh...get a taxi a few blocks away; it's just a ten minute walk."
Again, he nodded briefly.
This is so awkward, Beatrice thought as they left the theater, I don't even know why. They walked side-by-side quietly to the taxi stand; there was hardly anyone in the streets at night and she felt a little safer knowing Dante was with her. Any thug would probably think twice about wanting to rob them if they saw Dante. Across the horizon and she could see the destroyed silhouette of the Funland ferris wheel poking out between St Agares church and another tall building, the multicolored lights still flashing limply. Further away and she could see Silver Sacks Tower. Occasionally, she could feel his glance lingering on her and she didn't know why he kept looking at her. Once they arrived at the taxi stand, they climbed into an empty taxi and were on their way home, sitting silently beside each other in the backseat. Finally, she turned to him and he turned to her.
"I saw the news before I came out this evening," She murmured, "They called you a sexual deviant and that you spread disease."
The taxi fell silent for a brief moment until Dante let out a snicker under his breath, "That's the nicest thing anyone has said about me." And she glanced at him in acute surprise; however, when he grinned playfully at her, her lips curled into a smile and she found herself giggling. Soon, Dante began chuckling louder and louder, and soon, they both erupted into laughter. When the laughter died down, they were staring at each other but she was still smiling.
"...Thank you for coming with me tonight." She said quietly.
He contemplated her words, then uttered, "You're welcome, Beatrice. You're welcome."
She glanced to the side and back. "...Trix."
"Huh?"
"...You can call me 'Trix' if you want. I don't mind."
With that, the corner of his lips tugged upwards into another smirk and she smiled at him in return.