Knowing that Vergil would be outside a while yet in order to compose himself, Dante went upstairs to make sure Cassie wasn't brooding over Vergil's PMS.
Shuffling and the crinkle of plastic drifted from Cassie's room. Leaning in the doorway, Dante watched is girlfriend putter about the room. Now dressed in short denim shorts and mid-riff baring midnight blue tank, Cassie padded across the carpet barefoot. Sensing someone behind her, she turned.
Not in full brooding mode, Dante noted, But definitely worrying.
"Verge will be fine," the hunter assured her, "He'll be in once he clears his head."
Although she nodded in reply, Cassie's frown was still firmly in place and she nibbled her bottom lip worriedly.
"Babe," Dante sighed, pushing off the wall, "It'll be fine. You trust me right.?
Stepping easily into the hunters arms, Cassie's mouth curved in a half-hearted grin. "Yeah. I do."
"Good. Then stop worrying," Dante ordered, giving her a squeeze. He lifted an eyebrow questioningly, "You call that a smile? Hmmm, let's see."
Devilish fingers found Cassie's ribcage and tickled. Letting out a surprised shriek she tried to wriggle unsuccessfully away. "Dante!" she warned with a giggle.
Flashing a wicked grin, Dante's hand sought her sides again. "That sounded like a challenge and you know I love a challenge."
Laughing as Dante continued his torture, Cassie managed to squirm away, and grabbed a pillow off the bed, brandishing it menacingly.
Dante stepped forward and she swung, whacking the hunter in the face. "That's what get!" she laughed.
Blue eyes narrowed. "Now it's on."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Setting the empty bottle aside, Vergil laid back in the grass contemplating Dante's words.
I have Dante's forgiveness an quite probably Lady's but they are not the only ones I've hurt. Logically, Vergil realized that the past was unchangeable. But what does that mean for my future? Sitting up, Vergil came to a tentative decision.
All I can do is go on and attempt to atone for the things I've done. I owe Dante that much.
Nodding his head to himself and feeling slightly foolish, Vergil stood, dusting a few blades of grass from his clothes.
Stepping inside, Vergil listened for signs of the other three occupants. After a moment's concentration, Vergil heard a shriek of laughter come from upstairs.
Gliding up the stairs, Vergil paused outside Cassandra's room. He leaned against the doorjamb, one eyebrow arched in amusement.
White feathers flittered through the air, and numerous others covered the carpet and the furniture.
Cassandra ducked as Dante swung his mangled pillow at her popping up and landing a particularly vicious blow to the devil hunters head. A fresh wave of feathers and laughter pulsed through the air as Dante squawked in protests spitting feathers.
Vergil chuckled, causing both combatants to stop assaulting each other and face him.
"I hope you bought new pillows," He observed dryly.
"I did," Cassie assured him flushed with laughter, "But even if I hadn't it would be worth it." The red head swung her pillow into Dante's stomach, giggling at his mock glare.
Giving his girlfriend a playful shove Dante held the battered pillow out for Vergil to take. "Give it a try, Verge."
"No, I think not," Vergil declined though an affectionate grin softened his features. "I hope you realize that I am not cleaning this up."
Eyes narrowing, Vergil shook his head, steeling himself against the pout on Cassie's face. "No, it won't work, Little One. I did not make this mess and I will not clean it up . . . stop pouting damn it!"
Five minutes later:
"Hey, Verge, I think you missed some over by the bed."
Cassie's eyes widened in alarm when Vergil let out a low growl.
"Dante . . ."
"Hey! I was just kidding, bro! Vergil, what are you doing? Put the pillow down! Shit! Ow!"
A loud crash and a lot of yelling finally drew Lady from the soft, cozy warmth of her bed.
"What the hell?" Grabbing one of her guns, Lady slipped from her bed, creeping barefoot down the hall to Cassandra's room where the yelling was resonating from. Gun ready, Lady stepped inside and froze. Well, I didn't expect this though maybe I should have.
The twins wrestled on the carpet, the elder trying to smother the younger with a nearly featherless pillow. In between bouts of gasping laughter Cassie was trying half-heartedly to pull Vergil off.
"It was only a joke, Vergil!" Dante protested, struggling to hold his brother's arms from his face.
"You can't kill him, Vergil," laughed Cassie, tugging at Vergil's arms.
"I'm not going to kill him," Vergil replied calmly, "Just smother him a little."
Releasing Vergil's arm, Cassie staggered back shuddering under fresh peals of laughter. "Just . . . smother him . . . a little?"
"Damn it, Vergil!" Dante yelled squirming, "I'll be a little dead!"
"Don't be ridiculous," Vergil mocked, "I'll stop before you cease to breath."
"I'll pass thanks."
"You know," Lady chuckled, "You're just getting feathers everywhere."
"There were already feathers everywhere," Vergil informed her dryly, "and it'd be worth it."
"Uh huh."
"Very well," Vergil climbed off his little brother, who scrambled to his feet, dusting feathers off his clothes.
"How do you feel?" Dante said, concern clear in his voice even as he returned Vergil's glare.
"I'm okay," Lady shrugged, "Don't worry."
"Us girls are tougher than you think," Cassie said taking Dante's hand.
"It's not that we don't think you're tough," Dante replied.
"No," Vergil added, "It's that we think you're too stubborn to know when to quit."
"Shit," Dante murmured as two icy feminine glares scalded him, "Uh, Verge, I think we should finish cleaning up this mess."
"What?" Vergil asked, oblivious to the glares.
Dante gestured nervously and Vergil's eyes widened slightly when Lady and Cassie crossed their arms and shifted the full weight of their displeasure to him.
"I see," Vergil nodded, "You don't really expect me to be intimidated do you?"
"Do you want me to wait until the next time you leave and then redecorate your room with pink bunnies?" Cassie drawled.
"Don't forget the Tinkerbell sheets on the bed," Lady snickered evilly.
"You wouldn't dare."
Lady raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure? You've already said we're too stubborn to know when to quit . . . right?"
Dante edged carefully to the side, content for once to be forgotten. Vergil glared at his coward of a brother.
"I have no chance of winning, do I?" Vergil growled.
"Nope," Dante said cheerfully. Taking pity on his twin, he smiled at the girls. "We'll take care of the rest of this mess."
"What!" Vergil yelled.
Shooting Vergil a teasing glance, Cassie skipped over to Dante and dropped a quick kiss on his lips. "You're the best! I'll go bring the rest of the stuff up."
"More?" Lady asked eyeing the many bags scattered through the room, "There's more?"
The redhead shrugged sheepishly, "We've already established that I may have gone overboard."
"I have to see this," Lady chuckled following Cassie out the door leaving the boys alone.
Vergil glared at Dante. "You are spineless."
"I didn't hear you saying much," Dante glared right back, "Face it, I saved your ass."
"You did no such thing."
"From where I was standing you were digging a pretty deep hole."
"Then you, dear brother, need glasses."
"Whatever," Dante rolled his eyes, "Just start picking up the rest of this shit."
"Just so you know, I hate you," Vergil hissed.
"Uh huh."
Downstairs, Lady was looking over the remaining bags. "I do't know whether to be impressed or afraid."
"Me neither," Cassie admitted. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem a little pale."
"Yeah," Lady waved her good hand dismissively, "I lost some blood but I'll be fine."
"Vergil was pretty worried about you," Cassie said casually, sharp eyes carefully alert for Lady's response.
Lady started, "Really?"
"Mmhmm," Cassie nodded, "He had a fit when Dante wanted to go up and check on you."
"Dante always does that," Lady snorted, "He has to see for himself that I'm still in one piece. He always says I add years to his life. Like he hasn't scared me to death once or twice." Lady gave an ironic smile, "You know if you'd have told me three years ago that my best friend would be a half-devil I'd have laughed and then shot you for being an idiot." Lady cocked her head when Cassie looked sad suddenly. "What?"
"I . . ." Cassie sighed, "I think I hurt Vergil's feeling earlier. I reminded him that for a long time you were all Dante had. I think I made him feel guilty." Cassie ran a hand through her hair, "Dante talked to him and said everything is fine but . . . I should have just kept my mouth shut."
"Is he . . . jealous?" Lady asked crossing her arms. That could be a problem.
"No, not really," Cassie shook her head, "Not in the truest sense. I think he hates himself more than anything." The redhead fixed the other woman with a hard look, "I know I've said this before but you'd better not be playing with him, Lady. I'm not stupid
and I can tell you guys are getting close. If you're not serious get out now because I'm not sure Vergil could handle it."
Lady started to reply when the sound of shattering glass caused both women to jump. A round object thumped along the wooden floor emitting a pink smoke.
Instantly, Lady felt disoriented. "Shit," she murmured falling unconscious to the floor.
Deeply affected as well, Cassandra dropped to her knees, one desperate plea leaving her lips before she too passed out. "Dante!"
Author's Notes:
Mwaaaahhaaahahaha. A Cliffhanger! Don't you love 'em? Well, I wanted to get straight into the action in this chapter but Dante and Vergil wanted to further their sibling rivalry and Cassie kept encouraging them. Sigh. But . . .promises of action to come. Don't forget to Review!
RikkuDevil: LOL. Thanks. Sorry you gotta deal with another Cliffy. Let me know what ya think.
SUFFERINGLOSTSOUL: I think Dante and Vergil have to mend the rift between themselves if Vergil has a real chance of adapting to his new life. Thanks for the review!
MistressofDestruction:Glad to hear from you again. Yeah, this chapter was low on action but it's up next. I blackmailed them into behaving. Thanks for letting me know about the errors. I'll try to keep an eye out!
Leggy freak003: Thanks and I'll try and not have so many errors. Thanks for letting me know and I'm really glad you like this story so much!!
Ender36O: Thanks! I'll try and keep that in mind.
Eliina: So how was this? Too much fluff or still okay?
Narutohero30: What did I do again? LOL Thanks for the review!
Mach Farcon: Thanks!
Devil Rebel: Will do!
XxDawnRiderxX: LOL. Plot bunny in the making! I didn't want to over do the drama. Especially if Vergil needs a harder kick in the ass later. Thanks for the review!!
Azura Soul Reaver: Thanks!!
Infinite Freedom: Cassie probably will lose some of her control over Vergil though I don't think she considers it control. She loves him too much for that. And I think that as long as Lady makes him happy Cassie will be thrilled with the whole thing. Cassie instinctively empathizes with people. Have you ever known anyone like that? I've known one or two. That's kinda what I was going with here. And Vergil will always be loyal to Cassie. I wouldn't piss with her at least. But anyway, LOL, thanks for taking the time to review!!