Notes :
First fic in english (not my main language) so if you find any mistakes, tell me.
Warnings : None.
Summary : The training had been quite interesting, revealing another side of the sorceress and also intense. This wasn't something V could repeat, too much distraction...
Spicy training that force V to give the lead to Nero ? Woow... Prepare yourself for more spicy moments... Griffon's right, they can't behave haha
(V's POV)
The small training session with Lilith had been intense and surprising, he had discovered a new side of the sorceress, bold, playful and provocative, which was entrancing. Training with her wasn't easy, not only because of their dangerous flirting game but also because he couldn't focus completely on helping her learn to use the sword like he used to do...
Maybe I should pass the teaching part to someone else... My body is not suited for it either...
'And she got you all fired up with one move of her hips too.' The demonic bird squawked through his skull, 'I wonder what you two would have done if Nero's girlfriend hadn't showed up...'
The poet sighed, he could have pushed the game a little further but was she alright with it ? After what she had been through ? What that man had done to her ? Going with the flow they both provided without thinking about it once wasn't a good idea...
Lilith stayed with Kyrie the rest of the day, too tired to resume the training, only assisting the kind woman with small task that didn't implied a lot of movement. There were dark circle already forming under her eyes and she was dozing off from time to time whenever he passed through the living room.
Everytime he found her like that, V gently patted her on the back, feeling the warm side of the bright bird through the thin fabric of her dress. She slowly looked back at him for a second, eyes still full of needed sleep then blushed hard, breaking the eye contact without a word.
We will have to talk about it. No doubt.
The summoner had not real words for his feelings toward the witch but it was something that made him feel strong and weak at the same time, loved and protected like he ever wanted, accepted as what he was, for what he was, even with his bloody hands, terrible past, his thirst for power that only she could stop,...
"V ?" Nero's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, "Whatcha doing here alone ?"
His feets had lead him on his training spot with Lilith. The few rocks here and there wearing marks of some powerful strike from the witch that needed to be adjusted.
"Kyrie told me you were training with Lilith here this morning." The young boy scratched the back of his head, looking away, "It's pretty rare to see you apart from each other that long. Hahem... I saw her with Yamato, did you give it to her ?"
"Being jealous, Nero ?" V mocked, bemused by the boy's narrowed eyes "I let her use it for now, she needs a weapon until Nico can repair her swords. We were training together to help her learn how to make it work for her."
"It should not be that hard, she's used to swords." The white haired hunter simply said, "She's quite good at it for a sorceress."
"Yes, indeed. But fighting with two swords is different than fighting with one, she still need to adjust some of her movements." V paused, remembering the short training, he had let her work on her way to gauge her technique but got carried away with their little game. "She's pretty good with it already but she will need to learn more specifics techniques..."
The boy stopped, shocked, "Now ? V, there's only a few day's left ! She can't learn that and mastered it in time !"
"She's a fast learner. I can tell that"
The poet ignored the look on Nero's face, same with Griffon comments on this, proposing the young devil hunter to teach the technique himself as the summoner's body would be too weak to let him do the job in time. He didn't had the choice to be honest, Lilith and him couldn't train together anymore without being distracted again.
"But why me if she can already use it ? Why does she needs to know your techniques if the sword works for her ? There's something you're not telling me !" Nero grabbed his shoulder, forcing the poet to face him, "I know her father is good with weapons and that he knows her fighting style but he didn't used one back there, he used demons. And none of us are gonna let her fight him... No it's not about the fighting style..." The boy showed his hands up at his look, "Hey I'm just searching for answers... Is something wrong ? Did something happen ?"
A rush of embarrassment passed through him, burning his cheeks as he tried to hide behind his hairs and looked away, only called back by Nero's worried voice. Talking about this with the young hunter felt... awkward...
"I..." The poet clicked his tongue, irritated by his own shyness, "I kissed her."
'Umm, for the second time... Oh no ! Is it the third ? Or the fourth ?' Griffon's raillerie pressed against his thoughts.
Nothing. For a moment, V thought his voice didn't come out as he earned nothing but silence before his 'son' bursted into laughter.
"Wait, is that why you two are acting so weird ?" He giggled, "No offence. It's just... Come on. There's no harm in it, I would even say 'what took you so long'. Unless... You like her, right ?" The boy stopped giggling at the poet's serious look, "Hey, you're not playing with her, right ?"
"I'm not." His own voice sounded more irritated than what he wanted, "I... Just don't know what I feel for her... And she didn't stop me..."
"Of course she didn't !" Nero cut him, "She's deep in love with ya, it's obvious. It's not only attraction, the way she looked at you, the way she talked about you... Kyrie and I talked about it." He suddenly turned away, "It's a bit awkward for me... This whole situation... I mean... You look almost the same age as me, she's younger... Even talking about this..."
They stayed silent for a long time, not facing each other. V never really thought about the boy's feelings concerning the whole situation before their discussion right after their arrival with Lilith and the current events had postponed the questioning but now that they were together...
"Kyrie's better at this than me..." Nero was the first to break the silence, "She knows me better than anyone else, she's the only one that can calm me down even when I'm enraged, knowing she's safe with the kids, that she's the place I can call home, where I belong..." His voice was soft, full with so much fondness, "I can rely on her when I need it, she accepted me for what I was, even when she discovered my demon arm and even then she managed to make me accept it myself. When I got it... Stollen... She was still there. She's my rock, my air, ...My everything."
The young devil hunter paused again, gloom flashing in his blue eyes as he continued, "I almost lost her once, I... I thought I would never see her again... I didn't had time to think twice and chose to move my ass and go to save her. Because losing her would be the end of me. I don't know what I would do without her. I would probably go mad, I..."
The poet nodded, understanding what the boy wanted to say. He had almost lost the sorceress after all, he knew the feeling somehow... He couldn't imagine going back to Devil May Cry without her... What the young hunter felt for his girlfriend, V could relate in a way...
'Gee ! Ya finally made it ! Now go back inside and talk with the one ya should talk with.' The demonic bird hissed through his skull, mocking him.
The sorceress was sleeping on the couch, covered by a fluffy plaid, reminding him of her oversized fluffy sweater, the poet chuckled at the memory, though it was only a few weeks ago. He slowly sat by her side, carefully putting her head on his lap while he waited the right time to wake her up for dinner. The kids showed up a few minutes later, silently passing toward the kitchen while peeking on the sorceress face with worried eyes until Kyrie reassured them that she was alright, just a little tired. They then all disappeared, leaving them alone in the quiet afternoon.
Lilith's skin was soft and warm under his hand, faint tiny white lines spreading over her cheeks, barely visible but V spotted them. Warmer to the touch than her whole face, probably her bird's work.
Did I hurt her during the training ?
There were no wounds or cuts on the surface of her skin and she looked alright, no discomfort at all whenever he passed his hands on it. Maybe was it the phoenix's way of catching the sun's energy when inside ? Clouds were slowly gathering outside, darkening the sky before the sunset and announcing a rainy evening at least.
"It's going to rain tonight and tomorrow." Kyrie's soft voice whispered, he hadn't heard her coming, offering him a cup of tea. This simple action immediately made him think about the little witch sleeping on his legs, "She was tired so I made her sit down on the couch. She fell asleep a few minutes later. She might need to stay inside tomorrow. The rain might not be good for her in her state..."
"I doubt she'll listen..." V smiled, "But I'll try. Thank you. For taking care of her... And for Nero."
She smiled back, leaving him alone again with the sleeping sorceress. V passed the remaining time thinking about her bird's power and how the rain would affect them while gently stroking her hairs, savouring the peace and the warmth spreading through his heart. Waking her to eat and watching her almost falling back asleep after just sitting on her bed was heartbreaking, she was so tired from a small training session...
"You not comin' ?" She muttered, already half asleep under the sheets.
"In a moment, just rest now. You need it." He kissed her forehead, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, "I won't be long, I promise."
The moment he closed the door, she was already soundly sleeping.
Morrison's voice came to his ears once downstairs, speaking with Nero and Kyrie. The broker greeted him slightly, continuing his speech about some small demons hunting jobs nearby that Nero could take within a few hours.
The man told them that strange disparitions in the magic community were on the rise, the first ones hadn't been noticed as it was mostly dark mages but when potion makers, healers or well-known herborists started to be missing they changed their mind.
"You think it's him ? Lilith's father ?" Nero asked.
"Hum. Possible. But he left no traces behind this time." Morrison played with his hat, thoughtful, "Normally, the guy loves terrorising people, leaving a trademark of his work to brag about it..."
"They're just missing ? No... Nothing left behind ?" The boy glanced at his fiancé, nodded to her then looked back at the broker while the girl excused herself to bring them something to drink.
No bodies had been found that could be the missing ones, but most of the disappearances were occurring in the same area, around or nearby an old ruined city. The sector was too big to spot where exactly the victim were captured, even though most of the buildings were in pieces. The few hunters that had scouted the region didn't find anything but ruins and dust.
"What is he doing ?!" Nero tapped his fingers on the table, "Can't believe we accepted to simply wait till he gather more power..."
"Lilith wasn't able to fight along." V stated.
"She still isn't. Look at how tired she is after a simple training ! Her birds are draining all her forces, she won't be able to..." The boy didn't ended his sentence, V's look was certainly enough.
The poet sighed, no matter what they would do or say, the sorceress would come, the best way to prevent any hurt was to at least train her as much as possible. Dante would take the main battle against the mage with Nero, while the others would fight the probable demons he might call or provide support.
"Well the guy disappeared anyway, all you would have done is lose time searching in vain." Morrison interfered, his own research about the necromancer's hiding place hadn't earned a thing.
"I got some news for your mechanic, about Scarlett's swords." The black man put an thick folder on the table, tapping it with his fingers, "Those swords are unique, as the phoenix and the host, very interesting things."
"Who's Scarlett ?" As Nero asked that, V remembered reading the name in Lilith's new grimoire, right above her own name in her family tree.
"Her mother." The poet answered, "It was written in her book, in her family tree."
The broker nodded, not saying a word.
"Yeah, I never heard her name so..." The young boy scratched the back of his head.
As Morrison was about to leave, thanking Kyrie for the coffee, he took advantage of the couple little discussion together to talk in private to the poet.
He had heard about V's 'interest' for the witch and wanted to make sure the summoner wasn't after her power. Of course a powerful source of energy like her bird and the effects granted looked appealing but he wasn't after it, all he wanted right now was for the sorceress to be safe and sound, away from the dark mage, free and happy. The poet's past and how he managed to get Dante's attention on the job played against him, he knew that very well but the gentle sorceress had given him a second chance, a reason to work harder, to be a better person.
"You got lucky." The broker said after a long silence, "To have her on your way."
The poet nodded, there was nothing to add, it was true. He was truly lucky to have met such a lovely girl.
"I found a lot of her stuff hidden in different places, she's quite creative when it comes to find hiding spots. All I could find will wait for her at the shop though I don't know if she would want to go back one day... Dark magic leave traces." The tall man put his hat back on his head, slowly walking away, "Oh and..." He gave V a small notebook, "This is for the girl. It's a diary, her mother's. Don't know if she will be strong enough to read it but it belongs to her now."
The sorceress was still sleeping, facing the window with Griffon watching over her. The left side of her new mark on her back was less transparent but not as visible as the right one. Like in the afternoon, faint tiny lines spreaded over her skin, slightly glowing in the darkness of the room. Her face looked peaceful yet the poet could spot dark circle under her eyes as the dark bird consumed her forces.
"You should probably wake her up and give her one of her potions. She got some from the girls and I'm sure they will try to provide more knowing how reckless Missy is. The bag in on the shelf." The bird pointed small brown bag over the desk, "I didn't dropped anything this time, see ?"
"How careful." V mocked his avian familiar, debating on the idea, "How do you know there are healing potions in it ?"
"Huh, why would they give her something else ? That's what she'll need first. And if the other mages doesn't want to help, they're not gonna give explosive potions or things like that." That sounded right, unfortunately, "Plus, giving something to... Huh I don't like to say that ! But giving him more time to play with her by giving the girl healing potions... You see ?"
V's hands clenched around the sheets, he hated that thought as much as his companion but this could have convinced some wizards to 'help'.
"We'll wait tomorrow, this could possibly be her bird's way to capture some energy during rainy days, if those marks still shows off, I'll act in consequence. Now, let's sleep." V slid under the sheets, wrapping his arms around her frame, feeling the chill of the phoenix's mark against his bare skin.
He was so preoccupied with Lilith's state that he had forgot his top in the bathroom after his short shower. It didn't mattered now, it was too late and he wouldn't leave her side for such a thing when he had the opportunity to feel the smooth of her skin against his, her body warming up slowly in his arms, her heart beating peacefully, breath slow and even.
The girls had given her new clothes to replace the lost ones and to be honest, V was quite glad with the change. The fabric looked so soft and light, perfectly fitting her skin tone, right size... She was cute in her usual clothes back then but looked much more like her age now, even more mature, more...
"Already fired up with one dress." Griffon mocked, "From what I saw on Lady and Trish, man, ya gonna sweat !"
The poet doubted that the two woman had chosen outfits too revealing for Lilith, or at least not as much. The red dress was, on the opposite, covering a lot while still showing her curves. She had always managed to hide her body under larger clothing until coming here, even if he knew she had a good looking body from her battle outfit, the summoner had been surprised to see how beautiful she was in casual ones.
From the day he had saw her with Kyrie's dress, the poet started to pay more attention, struggling to not stare too much, to not detail the muscles slightly visible under her dark legging while she was talking with Nico about her new swords offered by the mechanic, how every movement of her arms made her hairs float around her during the battle... Physically, she was revealing herself a bit more everyday and he could not denied the power she had over him.
The angelic look she had while sleeping, those dangerous dark pink lips that called for him, the look in her eyes during their training... How could he not succumb to that ?
"V, shut ya mind." Griffon hissed, "Time to sleep now. Think and chit-chat tomorrow. Or whatever ya want with the girl."
The poet ignored the last comment, hearing his companion laughing for a moment through his head as he summoned him back before finally falling asleep.
The sound of heavy rain drumming against the window woke him up, another short night of rest cut by nightmares and angsts. The poet grabbed the warm form still sleeping in his arms as he stirred, tightening his grip on her waist a bit to make sure he was finally awake. Those awful dreams had stressed him, showing images of a dying witch, killed by her father, sacrificing herself to protect him, beaten by a powerful demon, stabbed by multiple purple crystals or again turned into a statue like the mage in Dante's shop, her body frozen forever, eyes wide open, terror written on her face...
V sighed in relief as he could feel her upper body slightly move with every breath, opening his eyes to make sure nothing really happened to her during the night, he carefully rested on one arm, detailing every part of her his green orbs could catch. Her body was still pressed against him, warm and soft, eyes closed, arms resting on the sheet or the mattress. Lilith looked fine but the faint glowing lines were still there, barely visible but there.
The poet slid his hand from her waist to her wrist to feel no wound, no other scars than the one left by the dark spell on her door at Devil May Cry. The skin under his fingers was soft, like nothing had never cut, burnt or even torn the light pink surface but the darker traces told other stories. There was numerous cuts here and there on her forearms, as thin as a sheet of paper but as close as he was now, V could see them.
He felt her shiver slightly under his touch, her heart accelerating in her chest thought she didn't move or opened her eyes. The poet observed her for a long moment, bemused by her reactions whenever he gently traced patterns over her skin, from her wrist to shoulder, hearing her breathing hitching slightly, goosebumps forming on her arms... She was so sensitive, so responsive, her body shivering against him, eyes fluttering yet she kept them closed.
How long are you going to stay still, little sparrow ? If this is a challenge...
V leaned back to kiss her forehead, her temple, scanning her expression as he moved his lips on her ear, only brushing them over the top part. Her eyes fluttered again, red colored her cheeks as he saw her lips parting slightly, fighting a smile. The poet smirked, moving a bit to catch the earlobe and nibbled at it gently, chuckling when a faint sound died in her throat. It had almost sound like a giggle, and the way her heart was racing, she was clearly awake.
"Hum. Are you awake now, my sparrow ?" She didn't replied but he felt her silently giggle, "I shall continue then..."
She had asked him to wake her up before lunch since she got the dark bird back, even if she needed to rest, the poet managed to do it while making sure she rested enough by not calling her too early and still respecting her wish thought this time, the waking was... playful. The kiss on the beach had triggered something, in both of them he could tell that, both growing bolder, riskier about their feelings and actions, tempting... Tension growing more and more whenever they were alone, sparkling under his skin like her little warning back then in the kitchen but more powerful and different, driving him to her, leaving him aching in the best way, wanting for more.
Without any rejection from the sorceress, V got back to the game, teasing her by sliding his lips over her neck, slowly, very slowly while his hand continued tracing patterns over her shoulder. She was trembling, squirming from time to time, eyes tightly shut, biting her lips as he kissed the tender skin between her shoulder and neck, earning a small moan that she tried to hide with one hand.
"Hum. Did I heard my lovely sorceress say something ?" He slightly nibbled at the base of her neck, hearing her breath hitching again. Not a word from her, how stubborn, and that malicious smile on her lips...
The next instant he felt her stretch out, straightening her back for a second before rolling her hips back on his, forcing a slight gasp from his lips as heat rushed through him. If she was sensitive, so was he. He waited a moment, trying to calm down the beating of his heart and the desire she had awoken in him. Now wasn't the best moment for this, even if he craved for it. Thought the damned girl had decided to make him pay for the teasing as she slightly wiggled against him, forcing him to grab her hip firmly with his hand to still her, heart racing, and gasping again with her actions.
"What a bold little witch..." He growled, flipping her over suddenly, facing a surprised flustered face, eyes wide open but shining with mischief. He tried to add something but was cut by her lips colliding with his, her hands cupping his face and forcing him to lean forward, straddling her hips and resting the rest of his weight on his arms on each side of her head.
Her kiss was soft yet eager, hands warm but shaking as they slid down his neck toward his shoulders, betraying how nervous she was. V broke the kiss, ready to stop her when footsteps came from the stairs toward the rooms, big and loud.
Nero... So subtile.
The poet sighed as the young boy knocked on the door and informed them that the lunch was ready, startling Lilith who was seemingly too occupied to have noticed him.
"L-Lunch already ?!" V watched her gaze flicker from the door to him and the position they were in, bemused as the redness from her cheeks spreaded to her neck, "C-Coming !"
Nero mumbled something through the wooden door then left them but the poet didn't move, straightening a bit but still covering her with his whole body. The sheets had fallen on the floor during their little game, revealing a pleasant view underneath him.
Dante's friend had even bought the sorceress a new night outfit as it didn't look like the spared ones from Kyrie. Lilith was wearing nothing but a little silky dark red halter with black lace and a small short almost fully in lace. The top was long enough to cover most of her upper body to her hips but was now barely hiding her stomach where V could see parts of some scars.
She immediately rushed to hide it, averting eyes, uneasiness written on her face. "We... We should head downstairs... They're probably waiting for us."
"They can wait a few more minutes, Sparrow." He softly grabbed her chin, turning her head back to him, "Is there something wrong ?"
He didn't let her look away, sitting beside her and encouraging her to sat on the bed to speak. The change in her behavior was quite abrupt and strange, meaning that this scar had a strong meaning for her, something she didn't want him to see.
"I'm fine. It's just... Not now." She shook her head, smiling sadly before leaving the bed. "We really should go."
"Hum." He stood up and grab her wrist softly, putting back a strand of hair behind her ear, "I suggest you to wear something else when you leave the room, as much as I like the view..." He paused, eyeing the sorceress from head to toe, liking how it seemed to chase the gloom of her face, "I'd like to keep it to myself."
V brought her hand to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss on the back of her palm, studying her reaction. The last time he had tried this, her dagger almost ended in his face, right between his eyes. Almost five months ago... No, this time no daggers, no weapons, no harm. No startled witch, just a cute, embarrassed and flustered young woman that would be the end of him one day. She looked away, fighting to hide her smile as her other arm vainly worked to cover herself.
He reluctantly left the room, taking back his shirt in the bathroom before heading downstair, joined by the sorceress moment later, fully clothed in a new outfit that suited her as much as the red dress, making her appear more adult, more...
She will be the end of me. Soon.