Ebony and Ivory Queens CHAPTER 25

Theme: Fork in the Road

SirenaLoreley: I love sweetness in stories, I crave fluff sometimes like it's crack XD I just thought red would be a good idea since Dante wears a red trench and red pants, he must love red so why not since they have to paint the place anyway XD Thanks for reviewing! *Gives cookies*

Kendecia: I wish I could have been satisfied that day but I was just so tired, I'm glad you left a review, here's more! Thank you! *gives cookies*

Asile3762: I know what you mean about the user manuals XD There's only 3 hawt guys to do them about. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

KookieMeow: Yush! I loves the cuteness! XD Patty does some crazy things to DMC, but leaves the poor guys to pick up all the 'girlie' stuff later XD Thanks for reviewing! *Gives cookies*

Semjaza: Glad you thought the last chapter was sweet, it was very fluffy at the end, this one has a bit of fluff at the end too :3 I've only seen bits of the anime, but my friend thinks it's okay. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

Blood of Dusk: I agree, Patty is adorable and Dante is a big softie for her XD I would kill someone if they redecorated my room or house like that too! I love having fluffiness in a story especially with these two because it seems like it would be so rare that they're just honest and straight (lol, puns) with each other. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies* (Oh, and I got both your reviews XD it's all good)

Crimson: Yeah, the guys reaction to the shop would have been hilarious to watch as long as their anger wasn't geared towards you! XD Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*

Thanks again to all of you guys who reviewed, you made my week a little brighter :3 I've been having a much better time this week as well, last update I was just, stressed and worn down, but I thank all of you for your kind wishes and bring you another chapter!

Background: Ch. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

"Move your ass kid!" Dante snapped, snatching the back of Nero's coat, yanking him roughly and throwing him out of the way as a huge beak came down where he'd been standing.

The younger male tumbled and flipped over, growling as Dante unleashed a hailstorm of bullets on their griffin-like opponent. A blue light flashed off the teen, and taking Yamato in his claws he let off a series of slashes that after a few seconds left the demon a heap of body-parts on the ground.

Nero was pissed off but he forced his trigger back down before stalking up to the older slayer as he was holstering his guns and grabbed his shirt.

"What was that about!" he demanded.

"That was saving your life-a 'thank you' would be the appropriate response."

"I had it under control!"

"I could see that the way that thing's beak came down a split second after I pulled you out of the way, I'm sure that you would have pulled something out of your ass to get out of that one." he deadpanned.

Nero snarled in response.

For most couples their first real argument is a fork in the road of how the rest of the relationship is going to work-or not work as it often turned out. For Dante and Nero it was almost a constant factor of their relationship.

The young devil's fist clenched trying to fight off the urge to beat the smug look off his wonderfully 'loving' partner's face. He instead settled for shoving the man away, using enough force to make him stumble, before turning on his heel to walk away.

Dante sputtered a chuckle. "Kid, car's that way, unless you're hoofing it home." he stated.

Nero gave a glowing one-fingered salute over his shoulder. The older man tilted his head back and gave a groan of frustration. What the hell did he do? He kept the kid from getting pecked to death by a giant griffin!

"Kid!...Nero, come on." he sighed.

"Go home Dante!" he snapped in return as he kept going. He just wanted to be by himself for awhile, he was pissed-really pissed off and he didn't need to open his big fucking potty mouth and spout out something he'd regret the moment it passed his lips.

Eventually he was surrounded by forest, it's nighttime song singing him back to a peaceful state of mind. The cicadas chirped, fireflies drifted past him, crickets sang and somewhere an owl hooted. He sighed and flopped down onto the grass.

Okay, Dante could be a total ass sometimes, but maybe this wasn't necessarily one of those times, maybe he overreacted, but he had everything under control! He could have finished off the demon right then and it would have been fine. Why did the old man find it necessary to pull him out of the way? Even more importantly however why was he so angry about it?

Dante was right. He should be thanking him, not beating the hell out of him, at least that was what the rational part of his brain told him. The emotionally driven part was still upset.

'Well I'll have plenty of time to think about it I guess. Dante probably left and it's a few miles back to the shop.' he thought, mentally kicking himself as he got back to his feet and brushed the grass off his clothes. He made his way back to the road.

'If I had it under control and he still interfered...what does that mean? I guess that means he didn't think I had it...' he thought to himself trying to work his way through this to the root of his frustrations. 'If he didn't think I had it and I did...well...does that mean he doesn't trust my judgment? Or that he doesn't trust me?'

He reached the asphalt and started back towards the city, head down, hands in his pockets. 'Is that it? I don't think Dante trusts me? Wow...if that's the case I'm a real girl.' he rolled his eyes to himself continuing along the path. After a few minutes he saw headlights approaching and the car slowed making him look over his shoulder to see Dante leaning out the driver's side window of his car.

"Hey baby, going my way?" he grinned.

Nero sighed, but couldn't keep a smile from quirking his lips. "You're an asshole."

"Aw, you don't need to go sweet talkin' me before you're even in the car babe. You gonna get in or what? You're holding up traffic." he was still smiling, talking in a joking tone.

Nero looked back but there was no one else on the road; so he was not, in fact, holding up any traffic.

"It's a long walk home." the older slayer commented keeping pace with the kid's walking gait. "And I am going to burn up the car if I have to drive next to you like this the whole way."

"Do you trust me Dante?" he asked abruptly, glancing over to see his partner's reaction.

Dante blinked as if cold water had been splashed on him before looking at the kid like he'd grown a second head. "Do you really have to ask that question?"

Nero looked away and scratched the side of his nose. "You gonna give me an answer?"

"Kid...Nero, of course I trust you kid. If I didn't I wouldn't exactly let you come on missions, live in my place, go anywhere near my food, oh and let's remember the little detail that I sleep with you. I trust you more than I trust anyone else. What happened-with that demon thing-has nothing to do with not trusting you."

"Then what was it about?"

"I worry about all of you guys." he said so softly Nero almost missed it over the rumble of the old car's engine. "Honestly I've probably pissed off Lady and Trish a time or two trying to keep them from getting hurt."

Silence hung in the air for a few moments. "You're a big softie, you know that?" Nero said, his words seemed scathing but said with that light smile of his made it a compliment. "Stop the car."

The older man obeyed and Nero walked around the front and got into the passenger side, turned Dante's face towards him and gave him a kiss. "Let's go home."

Wow, someday I swear I will go back to these one-shots and put them in a chronological order so that they make sense! This would have happened before the last 3 chapters -_-; Ah well, I'm not 100% satisfied with this, but I think it's cute and it deals with some of Nero's doubts and issues in their relationship :3 Hope you guys liked it. Until next time!

Ja ne!

~Bitbyboth June 28, 2011