Author's Note: I've had requests for pure Ashira/Vergil fluff for quite awhile and, considering that I'm going to be working on a 100 Theme Challenge for 2020, I'm finally able to deliver. So, here's so fluffy feels post Divergence.

Enjoy!

Snowfall

In which Ashira challenges Vergil to a snowball fight, and starts a war instead.

It was supposed to be a simple job, if a little bit out of the way. Dante had hesitated to take it for "personal reasons", which was Dante's way of saying that he wanted alone time with Lucia. But Vergil wasn't complaining, as both his and Ashira's patience for his brother was running dangerously thin. And, considering their only two options were sleeping on a loveseat in the basement of Nero's home or going back to the Underworld, taking the job seemed to be the most beneficial option for all of them.

And being entirely fair, the job had been a simple one. Just a small pack of lesser demons that looked somewhat like wolves if one squinted just right. Ashira had used more energy flying them there than Vergil had used cutting them down. After that was done, they had three choices: stay at an inn that was about ten miles away, sleep outside, or fly back to Devil May Cry. The first two sounded marginally more appealing than the inevitable fight the twins would get into if they barged in on Dante's private time, so they choose to strike that option out.

Ashira took the unconsidered fourth option.

She hit Vergil with a snowball.

To her credit, the shot had been spectacular, smacking him right in the back of the head before he'd realized she had even left his side. But to his credit, he'd been distracted staring at the virtually useless map that their client had given them along with payment.

And who in their right mind would dare hit him with a snowball?

"The same woman who willingly married you," Her teasing voice echoed in his head. "Free point for me, Saina."

He growled at her laughter, both amused and irritated when he couldn't see her. The snow wasn't particularly deep, but it had started falling in a quiet flurry. The trees were his greatest obstacle, as Ashira was more than capable of blinking between the branches in absolute silence. The trunks themselves were wide enough that she could very easily hide between any of them. And he could just pull on her power and watch for her soul. But Vergil would never cheat in a battle of wits. And if she could land hits blind, then he could…

A second snowball hit him in the shoulder. That's two. He whipped around in an instant, gathering a moderate amount of snow. Except he clearly needed more practice making his own snow artillery, as it crumbled in his hand as he dodged a third thrown at his feet. Undeterred, he shot after the source instead, but only saw a flicker of fire as she fled her hiding spot.

Normally, Vergil would feel a sense of pride at how her control over her demon powers had improved over the last however many years. Or, at the very least, he would think this entire thing foolish. But it had been ages since they'd just enjoyed themselves without much thought. He'd let it slide for now.

And so the two continued like that for a while. Except he started using Yamato to block the assault, which Ashira begrudgingly acknowledged did not count, though she was still hitting something. A few he phased through. Others he simply stepped out of the way. Eventually, when he shot one out of the air with a perfectly crafted snowball of his own, Ashira had been so stunned that she stopped moving completely. A foolish mistake. A barrage of summoned swords shot a literal pile of snow in her direction. Most of it missed, but he smirked when a decent chunk burst in her hair. "Two points for me."

She glared at him. "Your definition of 'snowball' is sorely lacking."

He stood up straight and crossed his arms. "You're welcome to surrender," He said with a shrug of indifference."I'm afraid you've lost your element of surprise."

Her borderline wicked grin caught him off guard. "As far as you know."

A barrage of snow smacked him in the back of the head. Again. He spun around in time to see Shadow vanish back into the snow with a purr that might as well have been laughter. Then, barely remembering the woman behind him, Vergil yanked Yamato around to block a rather impressive series of snowballs from her, before getting hit by a stray one from yet another direction. He scowled towards her, but Ashira was long gone. At least her laughter was no longer contained to their mind. "You're welcome to surrender," She said from the branches of a nearby tree, tossing snow between her hands. It took him a moment to realize there was a feather inside of it. No wonder her aim had been so true. "You are outnumbered, after all."

"Some people would consider that cheating."

"Most people don't have demon powers to begin with."

"... Fair point."

Ashira tilted her head in thought. That grin had yet to leave her face, but it suited her. Vergil couldn't deny how nice it was to see her this relaxed. The two rarely had time for anything, much less something as frivolous as this, so her smiles were usually offset by exhaustion. "How many points is that now?" She said. "I lost count somewhere around ten."

"Your points will mean nothing in the end," Vergil said. "Defeating the source is an instant victory."

In the second it took her to realize what he meant, Vergil was already inches away. Ashira darted backwards. He followed, hopping between the trees with the agility of a natural-born predator. When he nearly caught her, she flipped to the side, shoved off the trunk, and surged straight past him. A barrage of feathers nearly knocked him off balance, but a simple teleport dodged them. Ashira broke into a full, demonically energized sprint through the same clearing where they started. Vergil caught up with relative ease. Then she twirled to the right, ducked below his hasty attempt to follow, and slammed her hand on the ground. An onslaught of feathers rained down from the sky. Vergil hastily made an umbrella of summoned swords to block most of them. She ripped the last few from the ground which he instinctively jumped over. The two teleported backwards, landing in the snow about ten feet away.

"Those are strangely shaped snowballs, little flame," Vergil said.

Ashira glared at him. "You've already broken that rule," She said. "Besides, snowballs, feathers, swords. It's all the same in the end."

Vergil scoffed. "Bending the rules for your own benefit, I see."

She gasped in mock offense. "I would never."

He shook his head, but couldn't let go of his own amused smile. "We may be too old for this."

"One is never too old for a snowball fight."

"How philosophical of you."

She curtsied with the coattails of her (his) coat. "Always."

Ashira charged first, but Vergil was lightning quick to follow. A blade of feathers collided with a summoned sword. He swiped Yamato at her feet. She flipped over his head and tossed a wall of feathers through the snow. He dodged to the left. She slid to the right. The two went back and forth like that for quite a while. Blue energy and golden flame danced around one another, neither ever quite overcoming the other. Though, one could argue they weren't really trying. The thrill of battle, after all, was arguably better than the victory As long as Dante wasn't involved. Both of them would have gone for the metaphorical kill in that case.

Eventually, the wings came out and their weird game of evasion took to the skies. It didn't stop the assault of snowballs from Shadow on the ground, as the panther was more excited than both of them combined. Vergil swore he saw V tossing a few from time to time, but his attention was understandably divided. The soft snow was slowly turning into a storm, but it practically melted around them.

Finally, Vergil caught Ashira off guard with a summoned sword tossed in Shadow's general direction. He dove at her, ensuring that he hit the ground first, before flipping both of them and pinning her. She stared at him curiously, as if surprised she'd been tricked by something so simple. "Checkmate," Vergil said as his tail wrapped around her leg.

Then a snowball dropped on top of his head, followed by a rather familiar cackle. In another moment, it was Vergil on his back, staring up at her in true surprise. Ashira grinned, victorious as she teasingly pressed on his shoulders. "Queen takes the king for the victory."

Vergil snorted, but let himself relax. "I'll allow it."

Ashira chuckled. "How gracious of you, your highness" She whispered as she leaned in. Her hair, now covered in snow despite the flames that flickered off of it, fell perfectly around him. Her eyes were glowing, one a blue ring with a golden iris, and vice versa. When he lifted his hand, she shifted slightly to let him, and Vergil caressed her cheek. "How strong you've become," he murmured. "Little flame doesn't seem appropriate any longer."

"I like beloved," she said as she brushed her lips on his. "It sounds quite beautiful in our language."

" Saina is technically the same thing."

She hummed at that. "That has many different meanings."

"Bending the rules again."

She chuckled. "Only for you, Saina."

Then, she kissed him with such tenderness that he couldn't help but lean into it. He moved his hand to the nape of her neck to guide her closer. She tilted her head, but when he tried to take control, she pushed down on his shoulders and licked his lips instead. When her fingers eventually found their way through his hair, he surrendered to her completely. Eventually, she gave him enough reprieve to wrap his arms around her back and pull her closer. The warmth of their demon halves melted the snow around them, soaking through to the skin for a brief moment before evaporating. The world was silent aside from two hearts beating practically in sync. A breathless moan escaped him as her soothing flames seeped deeply into his skin.

She pulled away far too soon, her eyes glazed over with desire. "I heard that inn is rather cozy," She purred as she slid her fingers along what little skin was exposed above his collar. "Though I'm more than happy to keep your warm here if you'd like."

He rose slightly to catch her lips again. "You won, my beloved." He whispered with a smirk of his own. "Your choice."

She giggled. "I'm honored, Saina, " then pulled back, transforming midway. She nuzzled her beak against his chest before rising to her full height and stretching her wings. "Don't worry," She said. "I'll take good care of you." Vergil chuckled as he blinked onto her back, hoping to hide his desperate desire. But he knew (and accepted) that he had failed spectacularly as they flew off into the snowy night.