Chapter 3 - A Momentary Rest
"You think it's okay to just leave her alone up there?" Nero's voice was laced with concern.
He had brought the pizzas in and Dante had followed him up into the kitchen. Both leaned against the counter next to each other. Dante, considerable happy over his find, munched away on a day old burrito he thought to good for the trash, which Nero wouldn't even dare to touch anymore.
He just fixed himself some coffee and, with cup in hand, stared down on the tiled floor, pondering intently about what to make of all of this.
"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have left her alone. Or even bring her in to begin with." He knew well Nero to know, it didn't sit right with him, and the suspicious the kid was. "It was the right thing to do." He reasoned, with his mouth full, not even minding his manners in the slightest.
"I guess so."
Nero couldn't help the wariness that accompanied his statement. However, this was so typically Dante, it almost made him grin. And the fact, that he was right. She needed help. It had been obvious. And for that he admired Dante a bit. He just went for it, consequences be damned. If there even would be any at all.
Nero quietly sipped his coffee. He would leave it to Dante all the way. She wouldn't and couldn't stay forever. That much both of them knew. And he also knew, he wouldn't be the one to tell her. The way she looked. Savage, abandoned, dirty, bruised. He simply couldn't, even if he tried.
Dante had finished his snack and his wandering eyes stopped on Nero's scrunched up face. "Don't worry so much." He said and patted Nero's arm. Contradictory to his uncertain look, Nero said, "I don't. It's cool."
Dante was about to leave him be, but before he reached the door, he turned his head.. "And let me deal with Vergil." Nero chuckled into his cup, about to drink. "I wouldn't volunteer anyway." Vergil had quite the temper. And Nero wished to avoid testing it on any occasion.
Just as Dante was about to take a step through the door, he stopped dead in his tracks. He did not blink, when coming eye to eye with his dear, ever brooding brother.
Nero jerked wide awake at the unforeseen appearance, spilling his coffee all over his shirt, but Dante didn't flinch, when he looked into Vergil's eyes, which had narrowed notably.
Nero's senses weren't as keen as Dante's when it came to Vergil. Whereas he didn't really focus, the other twin could get by consistently unnoticed. Dante on the other hand could not so much as breathe as to know where he was. He may had already anticipated him.
"Aw, man." Nero groaned as he looked himself up and down. Over Dante's shoulder, Vergil's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement.
"Should have paid attention." Vergil chastised him with a low voice.
"Should have come in, greeting like any normal person." Nero shot back setting his cup down before he reached for a paper towel to dry himself up.
"Verge. I was just meaning to talk to you." Dante intervened nonchalantly.
"Is that so?" Vergil's amusement disappeared like a puff of smoke. His face went completely blank, but his voice hinted increasing discontent.
"Well, long story short." Dante took a step back to let Vergil pass him into the kitchen and to gather a few seconds in order to brace himself the oncoming argument.
"Yes, by all means, spare me the details." His brother replied sardonically waving him off altogether. "I laready heard the shower running and smelled the blood anyway." The sweet smell of copper was so close, Vergil had almost tasted it on his tongue. That was what initially had roused him in the first place.
Human blood. Not as uncommon in the household as one would think with Lady around. Sometimes injured after one or the other hunt. But still exceedingly rare.
Vergil yet knew the powdery, perfume-laced smell of that woman by heart. And this upstairs was not her. It was earthy and grimy. Utterly reminding him of the trash cans in the yard. Unpleasant to his keen senses.
"Was it a demon attack?" Vergil asked, as if this would be the only reason to verify the woman's presence inside the demon hunter household.
"No, nothing of that sort. You can relax..." Dante tried to soothe him, which did not work.
"Relax?" Vergil asked sharply. "What is she doing here?"
"She needed help. Some idiots tried to mug her. And then tried to beat her up." Nero suddenly piped up, feeling like Dante didn't forward the information as fast as Vergil wanted him to. And he hoped it would tingle Vergil's sympathy, if only by a tiny portion.
"Tried?" Vergil arched an eyebrow at him. "I think they succeeded." He said matter-of-factly and settled himself against the counter next to Nero.
"She managed to escape, but..." Dante clarified the situation further, but Vergil cut him off. "You weren't there?"
Dante sighed in dismay, when Nero, not even spoken to, shook his head no as answer.
Damn. Dante really didn't feel like going into much detail.
"And you trust her?" Vergil immediately demanded from his brother, not sparing Nero so much as a glance, with an edge to his voice.
"I know her." Dante revealed with a hint of frustration, when he finally let himself plop down on a chair at the dark wooden kitchen table.
To Nero this wasn't big news.
But to Vergil it was.
Nero busied himself with the coffee maker behind him and refilled his cup to the brim, waiting nervously for Vergil's reaction, before he turned back around.
"You know her?" Vergil spat sarcastically. "Could be a trap all the same." What was it with his brother to pick up strays by the roadside? Vergil shook his head in disbelief to the carelessness that was Dante.
"She's just one poor human. And she's injured." Dante reasoned with a hardening resolve. "She stays." His voice dropped, he wouldn't budge on this and certainly wouldn't leave any more room for discussion.
The tension was thick. Nero thought, if he would try to reach out with his bare hand, he could almost grab it.
Both brothers eyed each other. Vergil fumed silently, shooting daggers and Dante met his stare, but tried to hide his amusement about his brothers stuck up behaviour. He admitted though, Vergil had a fair point after all, but he just had to trust him on this.
"We are here to help people. Aren't we?" Nero spoke quietly, yet firmly. "Demon attack or not. She is just a girl." Luckily for Dante, Nero was in his side for once. He had seen her and knew how little a threat she was. She was just one meek human after all.
To both their sudden surprise, Vergil raised his hands in mock defeat. "Fine. Have it your way then." From where Dante was seated, he briefly gave Nero a complacent look. Vergil very much had reasons to feel protective over the family home. And they had to give him credit for it and everything he had endured. But on the other hand, he still lacked in the compassion towards strangers department.
Dante quickly fixed his face to a serious expression, when Vergil spoke again. "But as soon as she has healed, she leaves." For good measure he gave both of them a stern look. And Dante's narrowed eyes told Nero to not try to discuss this matter any further.
Baby steps. One thing after another. He didn't really know what to do and how just yet, but the hunter wouldn't want to throw her back out just like that. Not before he thoroughly knew about her circumstances and a probable way to fix them. Or at least help her, if only even a little.
"Yeah, yeah. All in due time." Dante reassured his brother.
Satisfied, Vergil turned and grabbed a cup off the counter, motioning for Nero to fill it with coffee as well.
At Vergil's depiction of back-to-routine behaviour, Nero and Dante felt the tension disperse.
"You know..." Vergil said, as he took a good sip of the strong brew, before concluding the matter with a wry smile. "I'm not even surprised."
He gave Nero an appreciative look as he quickly took another sip. Nero practically never failed to brew coffee strong enough to almost give you a heart attack, but yet it never tasted awful.
Dante wasn't even allowed to touch the coffee maker any more. Not that had he volunteered anyway. He had no talent in anything kitchen related. At all.
"You know me. I have a soft spot for those in need..." Vergil acknowledged the statement with a roll of his eyes.
Nero snorted next to him. "And women." He muttered lowly in a conspiring voice, leaning over to Vergil. They even clinked their cups together at the light teasing. But Dante didn't mind it in the least, as he witnessed once more how casually close they had actually become.
So, all he did was flashing both a dirty grin. "That too."
But that wasn't the reason. Every time he had seen her previously, he found himself wondering about her, until one day it had occurred to him that she had to be homeless.
Her appearance should had given it away the first time, but he had discarded it, not nearly paying enough attention. He had seen a lot of people like that, but her lifeless eyes had met his and they stuck with him from that day forth.
She was a little scrawny being. And when he had seen her few weeks prior, with that cataclysm brewing out there, he finally had made up his mind. She had hauled herself up in the rubble of some old building, trying to shield herself from the heavy rain. And his heart had quenched, because it had been a futile attempt and she was soaked to the bone.
Plus, she was too far into the area around the remains of Temen-ni-gru. It could have been particularly dangerous and he wasn't going to risk anything. So, he just had to pull over and approach her. And he had this strange gut feeling that told him he would regret it later if he would have left her like this.
And he had been grateful, that she had taken up his offer. And he owned Cesare another one and congratulated himself for even knowing the generous diner owner in the first place. Cesare had a heart of gold. And maybe it hadn't been his but Cesare's trustworthy presence that had drawn her in again and again.
Dante didn't even want to think about it, if he had one day found her lying dead in a ditch. Sometimes you couldn't save them all. That he had to learn along the way, yet it was no reason to not yet try. And he was sure, Nero felt the same on that matter. And deep down, buried under all the harsh indifference towards anything outside, Dante knew Vergil did too.
Nero was young and had been broken and build up again. Because of his youth and the spite that came along with it naturally, he came through, none the worse for wear it seemed. After all, he had a pretty cheerful attitude to begin with, though not at first sight. But Dante found himself smiling on the reminder of their first contact. He always saw a hint of his younger self there.
Nero had his period of self loathing and, surprisingly with Vergil's help, found himself valuable again. And how could Dante not take him into business? Give him purpose? And Nero had gratefully accepted. Everybody needs a place to call home. Not to mention, how capable the boy actually was.
Even Vergil stayed with them. He would never budge out of here again, Dante was sure of it. And out of the three of them, he was the one who had it the roughest. Broken down and defeated over and over again. By their mothers death, by him, by Mundus. By the Order.
And yet, Dante knew he was the strongest of all of them. It all came at a price, and how much of a toll it had taken on Vergil's psyche, only time would tell. But all he saw these days, was his sarcastic brother. He wasn't nicer or harsher from before. He was just Vergil. With a brash attitude to boot. But that might also just run in the family.
"Would you stop it with the creepy grin. You're freaking me out." Nero halted Dante's musings with his snide remark. But Dante's grin just widened in return.
"Do not encourage him." Came Vergil's fruitless instruction. He then cleared his throat dramatically. "So, since you so selflessly accepted the woman into our home, where do you exactly plan to accommodate the honourable guest of the hour?"
By the look on Dante's face, Vergil knew his brother had no idea. Vergil flared his nostrils as he snorted. "Well, it seems your eagerness at collecting strays matches your inability to think things through." They had no spare room left.
When he had mentioned the word strays, Vergil even had the audacity to take a side glance at Nero, who gave him a mock hurtful look.
Dante just laughed off the snide remark, for he knew Vergil was just trying to get a rise out of him. "Well if I would, you wouldn't be here as well. So, I suggest you go easy on the insults there."
Vergil smirked back. "Touché." He held his hands up, in mock surrender. "But I don't like to share nonetheless." He added under his breath.
"You did share Yamato a while though." Dante shamelessly grinned at him, nodding his head in Nero's direction.
Vergil huffed and straightened his posture, crossing his arms over his chest, careful to not spill his coffee. "That was different. I didn't have the physical appearance to wield it myself, you know that." He bit back. "I'd never let anyone else use it again, as long as I can hold onto it."
"Don't worry. It's a great sword and all, I give you that, but I prefer Red Queen over any other." The young hunter replied nonchalantly.
A dark chuckle escaped Vergil's throat. "Because you have witnessed only a fraction of what she is capable of, if not wielded by the right hands." The older twin sneered at Nero for so lightly dismissing a power he still hadn't come to fully understand after all.
Nero acted like he was rethinking his previous statement, but then just clicked his tongue and put it in his cheek. "Nope. I'm good, thank you very much." In secrecy, he was glad to not have to share his consciousness ever again with a presence that had felt so raw and too powerful for his human side of the body whenever he had triggered it.
It had been almost frightening. It had really strained him to keep the foreign presence in his thoughts in check. And that these thoughts hadn't been his own he had realised only later. It had been an exhausting and painful experience. Never did he want to feel that again.
"That remains to be seen," Vergil said, winning himself a good glare from the Kid, as Dante kept calling him which was actually more than accurate. Nero's spunk though often reminded him of his brother when they had been younger. The boy was missing a lot self-control and had a short temper. But that was exactly why Vergil could tolerate him in the first place. Entertaining persona and all that.
Dante had matured over the years, but thank the heavens he had never lost his humour and ability to see the lighter side of life. Vergil sometimes envied him for this. And Nero would mature too in the end and Vergil was indeed interested how that would turn out.
The Kid has earned his respect with courage, skill and an unshakeable resolve to get stronger and stronger. Plus, he could wield Yamato's power almost equally to Dante. It was remarkable indeed. Though none of them could grasp the true potential of his beloved heirloom.
"She can have my room." Nero offered suddenly, and Dante questioningly arched his brows.
He pressed a finger to his lips, needing to really ponder over the matter. "If you would do that, sure. On the other hand, I couldn't even offer her my room anyway, even if I wanted too. I can't let anyone go in there."
"That filthy, huh?" Nero snorted and ducked, easily anticipating Dante's move to throw the salt shaker, aimed at his head. Vergil quickly caught it before it could crash against the tiled wall behind them.
"Course not! But my collections are a bit...well they are certainly not meant for the human eye." Dante explained with a devious smile.
It was true.
His room was filled with so many things he had come across over the past years, it was ridiculous. He hoarded not only weapons, but trinkets of demonic origins, healing items for non-humans, quite a section of very old books in languages few could utter (purely for research though), and even a cursed mirror for reasons unknown.
So yes, he had a fair point. Once, he had it all on display in his last former shops. But they had to come to the conclusion that they indeed needed fairly more space for three hunters, so after they had moved into the vacant three storey building, he had stored it all away neatly in his room upstairs and since then never really entertained the idea of putting them all back up in the lofty office.
The neighbourhood around consisted of fairly normal humans, who intended to just live life, as much as the city allowed it to. They were on almost on friendly terms with the direct occupants left and right of their house, much thanks to Dante, who could be a charming bastard after all.
And Nero had this aura of a young harmless boy, who seemed quite approachable as well. But still, they couldn't help the curious looks they got once in a while, so with advice from Vergil, they kept interaction to a minimum to not raise too much suspicion on their lives.
And with that came the conclusion to leave the shop downstairs as normal as possible, though Dante insisted, that the bar he owned from his previous home be put up in the left corner once again. And the fridge.
His beloved couch had to be replaced eventually, because both Vergil and Nero refused to sit on the rugged piece of furniture. It had sported stains, possible older than Nero. And it had smelled badly, even Dante had to admit that.
A new dark red leather couch stood on the left side, accompanied by huge flat TV on a low dark wooden board, Nero had bought one day on a whim.
Dante's old big desk, whose style matched the TV board almost perfectly, still took an equally large portion of the room, not in the middle this time but on the wall across the entrance. The swivel chair still was same as ever. So was the old fashioned phone.
Vergil had added the finishing touches with old, but in good shape, carpets and paintings on the walls, which were a gift by Danzig, at one point. Their taste apparently was equal into baroque designs. Dark heavy, brocade curtains concluded the interior and shielded them from unwanted eyes, if the need arose. Or the sun disturbed Dante's nap time.
So it really was mix of things old and new and a compromise between three clashing personalties, but the interior profited greatly from that and it suited the big room. It felt homely.
The thought of leaving her to sleep on the couch had briefly crossed Dante's mind, it would have been safe enough to let her roam freely in there. But when Nero worded his offer, he could care less. It was alright by him. Nero's room was indeed the most appropriate and anywhere near what a human would consider normal, as well.
And Devon seemed like she could use a good nights sleep in a bed.
As for Vergil, he wouldn't let a stranger into his private space no doubt. The twin called the whole attic his, where he would retreat ever so often. He even had an accessible ladder to the roof. But Dante knew his brother chose the spacious, quiet place, because he meditated a lot and in addition he needed the whole place for repeating and practising his fighting routines.
"Well, Verg-" Dante trailed off noting the sudden vacant spot to Nero's left, his eye twitched slightly. "I hate when he does that."
Nero blinked and clicked his tongue in a frustrated matter. He knew the twins were fast and deadly silent, if the need arose, but this was beyond ridiculous. Vergil had mastered the ability to teleport to a perfection. One bat of the eye and he was gone.
The abandoned cup stood there and Vergil had used their distraction at one point as an opening to bow out and not take part in the discussion any longer. To him the matter was settled all right. No further need for his presence.
"Hello...?" A soft small voice had them suddenly both stand at attention.
Nero was the first to come into the shop respectively living room and he found her standing just on the last step of the stair case. He prayed she didn't see Vergil. And by the look of it, she still was oblivious to the third presence in the house.
Nero felt himself ease back at this. Her very first inquiries had made him nervous. How she would react to three man with that distinctive white hair, he couldn't tell. His story didn't seem to satisfy her earlier on.
"There you are all shiny and new. C'mere." Dante beckoned her over as he appeared in the door frame. Nero stood awkwardly in the middle of the large room and didn't know what else to do, since DAnte had already taken the spotlight.
Devon walked past Nero, who stood there dumbfounded at how lost she looked in his big clothes, and he also got a whiff of the minty soap, he used in the process. Her former tied up hair hung loosely in curly locks around her clean face with the bruise standing out in harsh contrast to her pale skin. It looked so out of place on the soft looking face, that he involuntarily clenched his devil bringer at the sight. The mere thought of who had done this mad ehis blood boil.
Devon joined Dante, as they entered the kitchen. The older hunter positioned her at the table and fetched the bag of medical supplies and carefully placed them on the table. Nero's large black sweater she wore concealed her wounds completely, but she quickly understood what Dante had in mind.
Nero just walked back in the moment she tried to get rid of said garment. Devon cursed herself for being so inconsiderate to put it on in the first place. It took some effort to pull it back over her head, and the shirt she wore under it hiked up enough to let both males get a clear look on the bruises that had formed on her hip and waist.
Nero's jaw tightened visibly as he ground his teeth at the short glimpse and the glum look from Dante told him, even the older devil hunter was for once speechless. This looked very painful and Nero could do nothing less, but admire her for the brave face she put on.
The silence was unnerving, seeing at how distressed both men seemed because of her.
And Dante in front of of her on his knees didn't help at all. He looked up at her with those piercing blue eyes and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold that gaze for long.
"I'm alright." She said cheerfully. "Don't make such a sad face." She turned her head to look at Nero, who scratched his nose as he caught her eyes.
"You, too." She added, sounding way to cheerful. Nero quickly lowered his head to avoid any more eye contact.
Dante chuckled heartily, but nodded and started to rip open packages of dressing materials plus a bottle of disinfectant. "Alright. Let's get you patched up."
Devon was prepared for the touch of his hands this time and it turned out to be not entirely unpleasant any more. His usual gloves were gone and his big strong hands showed a gentleness she hadn't believed they way able to. His fingers ghosted over the various cuts, inspecting which were the worst.
Devon watched as he turned and twisted her arms in order to get a good look on every single one, daring herself not to flinch. His hands were surprisingly warm. And the more he touched, she realized they were giving off heat like a stove. Why was he so warm? The unusual body heat almost resembled a fever, unreasonable so and it puzzled her.
Dante all the while noticed, how well she endured his meticulous examination. Vertical cuts on both her forearms told him, the she had used them to shield herself from the attack, for they were several larger ones close together. Her palms sported a few as well and one in particular caught his attention. It was as if she had tried to grab the knife by it's sharp blade.
Though the closer he looked, the more he became wary. In contrary to his former estimation, the cuts weren't that deep. But something bothered him. The edges of those cuts didn't look as fresh and new as they should, did they? Well, he certainly was no doctor and the thought of it almost made him giggle. And by no means was he on familiar terms with injuries and overall healing capabilities of the human nature. Seeing as his two house mates shared the same unnatural trait to recover on the spot and the only human, meaning Lady, he knew thorough enough, rarely got injured because of her mad skills.
Dante's chest still tightened at the thought of how Devon, not having any skill at all, must have defended herself so desperately. And he truly wondered how much luck one could have, if something like this were to happen again. By God, he already was aware of how he wouldn't be able to bear the thought of it. And this time he would be the one to blame, by sending her out there as soon as she would be alright.
"Okay, this will sting a bit." He warned her, as he began the task of disinfecting the wounds. "I have to ask though, have you anymore of those on you?"
"No, just a few bruises." Making it sound like nothing, Nero and Dante exchanged a brief sceptic look, in recalling what they both had seen earlier. But Dante already knew, she wouldn't let anyone close enough to take a look.
She bit her lip and hissed, the second the bad smelling liquid was applied with a cotton ball. She knew he tried to be careful, but she prayed he'd be faster for the sooner it would be over. Dante regarded her for a moment, scrunched up nose and apologetic smile. "Sorry."
"Just get this over with. Hurts like hell." She smiled wryly and squeezed her eyes shut as he tenderly proceeded.
At this Nero stood up and poured a glass of water. Returning to the table, he cleared hsi throat in order to get her attention and she cracked one eye open for him. "I bet, those would help, if only a little." He said, popping the flask of pills open, retrieving a few to give to her, next to the water.
"Oh, right. Cheers." She popped two into her mouth, quickly drainign the whole glass after them.
Dante gave Nero an appreciative nod. The older devil hunter wouldn't have believed Nero to willingly stay with them, but to rather go on his merry way the moment they had reached home. Well, he was pleasantly proved wrong.
As if on cue, Nero stood up. "Hey, you hungry?" He had forgotten about the pizzas, because of Vergil's short entrance earlier.
"I don't know about you..." Dante flashed her a bright smile. "..but I am."
"Yeah, no surprise there, old man." Nero muttered jokingly and taunted him with a sneer.
Devon was too taken aback by the once again rude use of the term old man to answer right away, barely nodding a single time for confirmation.
Dante nonchalantly shrugged the jibe off, relentlessly pursuing the woman's treatment. "Exactly, Kid." He made it a point to stress the last word teasingly.
Nero's eyes sparked with mischievousness as he regarded her, than Dante, then her again. He recalled their conversation from the ride home. "Ha, you know, some people would even mistake you for my father."
Dante stopped dead in his actions, standing up before shooting Nero an incredulous stare. The young hunter's eyes flickered over to Devon, who sat there mouth aghast in embarrassment.
"Who would say such a horrible thing?" Dante faced her with a mock hurtful expression, quickly catching up on Nero's sideways glance. "You? Sweetheart you wound me."
"Why would you tell him that?" She whined at Nero who openly giggled, gleefully watching Dante's composure falter.
"I am not old." He told her, pointing his index finger at her nose to flick it. With a laugh, she shrunk back into her chair rubbing her nose guiltily, though she was humoured by his funny reaction all the same. If someone woul dhave told her days prior that something like this would happen, she would have thoroughly laughed. Just the same laugh she used right now.
"And if he'd be my son, I'd definitely would have taught him some manners, among many other things."
The ambiguity wasn't lost on neither Devon nor Nero, who was getting agitated at the last comment. "Oh, please. As if I would take advice from you." He scoffed.
Highly amused, Devon could see he was blushing. In all his glorious handsomeness, he was apparently a rather innocent, shy being, which Devon found both adorable and positively enthralling.
Of course the whole banter was joking around on each others expanse and Devon found herself giggling at both, though she couldn't help but detect the slight discomfort at such a topic from Nero. The young man had turned away from them, trying to look busy over the pizza cartons.
Dante sensed that Nero was effectively shut up and got back to finish wrapping up the bandages around Devon's arms and hands. He held her gaze sternly, but she knew he was acting the strict part, for a small smile played on the corner of his lips.
"You better watch it, young lady." He chided her jokingly. "I am certainly not old. I am very handsome and in the prime stage of my life."
"Yes, sir." She played along accordingly and received a satisfied pat on the head. "That's more like it." The flirtatious tone and crooked smile still caught her off guard though.
"You clean up nicely, as well, if I might say so."
Devon bashfully averted her eyes, not anticipating where that had come from. Damn him, she cursed when he still stared, somehow turning serious.
Almost smouldering eyes beckoned her to take a deep look into bright blue pools of energy. And the heat. Was it hot? It was, wasn't it? If he was trying to prove his point, Devon could only acknoledge his absolute succession.
The clattering of dishes rose both from the intense stare they had just shared and Devon was appreciating the welcomed distraction.
"They have gone completely cold." Nero complained behind them to no one in particular. The silence had annoyed him to no end, so he just had to say something, anything, even if it was stupidly stating the obvious. But when their attention shifted from one another back to him, he faintly grinned to himself for efficiently disturbing the older man.
"I don't care. It tastes just the same." Dante shrugged, genuinely not interested in the temperature of his food. He'd always eat cold pizza because he was to lazy to even microwave it. Nero had insisted on such a device as being essential to the household, but no one else rarely used it instead of him.
"I really don't mind either." Devon said softly and this time Nero regarded her with a somewhat amused expression. He had grabbed a spatula from one of the many drawers. He pointed the thing at Dante accusingly, but kept his eyes on her. "Don't listen to him. He really has not even the slightest clue about food. So I wouldn't turn to him for any advice on that matter."
Dante grunted as this. "Shut it." Then he turned his observatory gaze back at the woman once more. "How are you feeling?"
"Good." She replied, testing her movement with the bandages wrapped up tightly around both forearms, tight yes, but not uncomfortable. Dante beamed at her and rose to his full height, towering over her seated form in all his glory. He grabbed the discarded black sweater and inspected it briefly, then he snorted, holding it up.
"Nero." Dante sounded half amused, half reprimanding.
The one spoken to looked over and winced at the use of his real name for once, grinning sheepishly. Dante shook his head at the print on the back, which was a red hand, giving him the finger. "Neat." He handed it over to the woman nonetheless.
"It's funny." Nero retorted.
"It is." Devon defended him abruptly. "I like it." She added, while trying to put it back on, which turned out cumbersome until she received a hand from Dante.
"Well, you can keep it." Nero offered gallantly, if just solely to annoy Dante.
Devon couldn't help the wide grin, threatening to split her face at the generosity. "Awesome." She cheered, completely forgetting herself in this very moment.
"So, immature." Dante huffed and pouted at the sweater, as it was put back on her skinny frame, putting both hands on his hips.
"What'd you expect from a Kid like me. "Nero asked, arching his eyes brows. And they all started laughing. Dante didn't come around to notice, Devon eased up more and more around them. The unabashed display of joy over something so simple like an ugly sweatshirt infused him with pride.
Yup, he had definitely done the right thing.
They all gathered on the table when Nero served a few pieces of warmed up pizza for Devon and himself and was about to fetch few more slices for Dante. As soon as he turned though, Dante already snagged a piece and was about to devour it, but Nero shot him a warning gaze over his shoulder.
"You are one greedy bastard. You didn't even want warmed up pizza. Go and get yourself a cold piece!" The look on Dante's face was priceless, Devon found herself yet laughing again. Even louder and heartily than before. It just bubbled up from deep inside and she couldn't have stopped even if she wanted to. Both males exchanged confused expressions.
Th efemale covered her mouth and lowered her eyes in embarrassment. "I'm sorry." But to her felt so damn good, being able to laugh like this again.
Dante chuckled. "You actually can laugh. That's good to see." He said it with a genuine voice, as he put the slice he had meant to take on a plate and shoved it over to her. "Eat. Laugh. Do whatever pleases you."
To her it sounded like such a corny thing to say, but she actually found herself appreciating his words, because she knew he meant them. For whatever reason, Dante she found enjoyable. Never had she met a person the likes of him.
And she really began to wonder what his deal truly was. The younger one, Nero seemed to boss him around and he didn't even mind. He called him kid whenever possible, though. And she got the feeling, that Nero quietly tolerated it, despite not really liking it either.
There was a strange dynamic to these two she secretly admired, but couldn't put her finger on it yet.
Nero obviously shared some traits with the demon hunter, but still he had a whole different vibe and effect on her. At first he had appeared moody and haughty. Now she understood it was more an air of confidence and for the lack of a better word, and because it was the first word that popped up in her head when he drove the car, coolness.
He was cool. With an underlying gentleness. His voice was different when he talked to Dante than when he had talked to her. It had been a bit deeper, soft and gentle. Dante's voice had a natural rasp, but could still sound very young and boyish, whereas Nero's could get as smooth as velvet.
And with this thought in mind she found herself stealing off a glance or two at the younger man, who had sat down opposite of her to finally eat as well.
His hair. His sharp nose. His light blue eyes. His smile. His confident posture.
Devon's train of thought suddenly stopped dead in it's tracks. She observed how he ate only with his left hand, the other one securely tucked away under the table. She remembered how he had worn a glove on his right hand as he drove and still wor eit at home. But, he didn't even use it at all anymore.
Curious. Very curious. A pang of sympathy shot through her. Maybe there was indeed something wrong with it and he just had the need to hide from her, because she was a stranger after all. She knew, she wouldn't mind, but he might thought so apparently.
Devon ate in silence, while her opposites chatted away easily, mocking each others eating habits . She focused hard on her food, but found she was pretty much still stuffed from the meal at Cesare's place.
So, she chewed her one slice meticulously to be at least occupied, while she registered in astonishment that both men rashly devoured two pizzas in no time.
"You two are pigs."
A cold hard statement funnelled it's way into Devon's ears. Pearced itself into it like the freezing tip of an icicle and the feeling spread out through her whole body.
"Have a seat as long as there's anything left, Verge." Dante would've laughed out loud, at how he had predicted, Vergil would show up once more, too curious about the female he had brought in without waiting for consent.
Completely and utterly untouched, not even bothering to look up at the newcomer, Dante's poor reaction let Devon relax, if only a little.
"I have to politely decline." The voice declared in a mildly conceited tone.
"Your loss." Dante remarked, while he finished towelling of his greasy fingers. Nero was the first one to raise his head to greet the person standing in the door frame.
The moment, the face came into her view, Devon did a double take. Closing her eyes and reopening them, she wished that her brain might be on dangerous overload of Dante- and Neroness so much, that it just painted her another image of Dante.
A Dante with a one hell of a harsh voice and appearance. Maybe it was the way he styled his hair, which made him look quite strict. Whereas Dante just wore it down loosely, with not so much of a haircut, the one with the same face had it slicked back, though it was still wildly sticking out on the back. He sported vivid blue eyes, a trait he shared with both man sitting on the table.
And of course, the hair was white. Go figure.
Sheesh. Another one. And with a wild laugh threatening to bubble up, she hoped or more begged inwardly that this was the last one to pop up. What a bunch of weird guys. Nice, but weird, Devon thought as she managed to swallow that inappropriate laugh.
Lucky enough for her, she deemed.
Somehow, Devon observed with cautious eyes, that nice wouldn't be the first thing that came to mind when describing the other Dante. The girl was so stupefied, she did not catch the name on the spot, which Dante used on him a mere moment ago.
Then the full weight of his icy attention landed on her, making her shrink visibly into her chair. He took a few steps forward to position himself to lean against the counter, arms crossed. His eyes never left her pitiful small frame. Devon swore she heard him scoff and even take some pleasure in the way she had reacted, mouth slightly open to express her shock.
"It's rude to stare." His voice was still stern, but could ther be a hint of amusement she heard? Devon couldn't quite tell.
Nero breathed a sigh, as he, too, recuperated from Vergil's dramatic entrance. Dante merely snickered and Devon was aware it was on her expanse. She did stare, didn't she? Getting a hold of herself, Devon snapped her mouth shut, her gaze wandering over to Dante.
"Yup." He immediatly nodded, for the unvoiced question was written all over her face.
"Twins." Nero confirmed it for her in a drawl. "Meet Vergil. Brother to Dante." He announced, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
It was though, wasn't it? Yet, Devon had never met twins before. Especially not as unique looking as the ones in this room. So, for her this wasn't normal at all. She literally couldn't take her eyes off both them.
Vergil, her mind repeated his name again as to get a feel for it. If she ever saw one overly confident and arrogant person, he surely hit the nail on the head, the way he viewed her from above with those prideful and dismissive eyes as he stood there as casual as possible.
"He's my least favorite brother." Dante stated about Vergil's aloofness and winked at her, trying to dissolve her tension and got rewarded with a faint smile.
"I am your only brother." Vergil admonished calmly.
It would seem they at least shared their dry sense of humor. Devon chalked that up as a remotely good point. First appearances did not mean anything. She of all people should know.
But to her surprise, Vergil's statement truly confirmed, what Nero had told her. He was not related to them.
Dante's twin slowly approached the table. One stern look, with an overwhelming authority, pressured Devon to quickly move over to sit on the other empty chair.
Satisfied, Vergil settled down next to a bewildered Devon, who helplessly looked over to Nero. The young man just rolled his eyes at Vergil's behaviour but remained silent.
Did the temperature suddenly drop or why did she fell a chill the moment Vergil had sat down? Her mind must be playing tricks on her. Or maybe it was her system, not yet fully adjusted to warm food and showers. Or indoors in general. Or, maybe it was the man next to her, that gave off a coldness, making her freeze.
Since everyone was finished Nero and Vergil wouldn't touch the rest of the food, he stood up to clear the table, filling the heavy silence with most wlecome distracing noises. He then went and busied himself with something on the counter, but Devon did not dare looking, for she feared to come eye to eye with the man next to her. Suddnely she resented the man, for he had ruined a perfectly fine meal and drowned her high spirits in the coldest of waters imaginable.
If possible, she pressed herself even more into the chair, in order to match the feelin gof being small, she so detested. Her steady gaze remained fixed on the table's surface and the few crumbs of pizza dough seemed more intersting than her sorroundings.
Not before long, Vergil's voice interrupted her stasis. "So, when mister lazy bum is finished. It is time."
She saw, how Dante waved him off . "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I haven't forgotten our appointment." It was the way he said it, maybe he didn't even realize the snide inflection on the last word, that pricked Devon ears up.
"Good." His brother acknowledged, sounding mildly pleased.
Then Devon heard the distinctive clang of dishware. And the sound of water boiling. She lifted her head ever so slightly to be able to observe the room and it's occupants in silence.
"I thought, I could come along." She heard Nero ask with slight disappointment in his voice.
"Not today. Also, it would be good for Mister Whatsit-of-Whocares here to use his body for something other than stuffing it once in a while." Vergil clearly used a teasing voice on his brother. From the movement Devon felt next to her, she incrediously realized, he might have just kicked Dante under the table for emphasis.
"Ouch." Dante pouted.. "And ouch." He pointed down while giving his brother a nasty glare, to which Vergil just sneered.
Dante looked much like a snotty brat, whereas Vergil still held a dignified expression as if nothing happened. Nero had returned in time before things might have escalated, judging by the defying stare of Dante.
Vergil received a mug and when he cleared his throat loud enough to will her attention towards him, she found herself under the questioning look of Nero with another cup in hand. The cup, that Vergil was holding with both his hands, gave off a steamy cloud accompanied by an aromatic, pleasant smell.
Tea, Devon slowly registered, when Vergil took the cup from Nero with an impatient sigh, due to the woman's lacking initiative.
He put it down in front of her, without so much but an annoyed glance.
She gave Nero an apologetic smile, careful to solely loo past Vergil, she thanked Nero in a small voice.
She mimicked Vergil's action and put her hands around the cup, revelling in the warm feeling with a soft sigh, even as the heat threatened to burn her palms and fingers.
So, to her Nero was apparently in charge of the kitchen, voluntarily or not, she couldn't tell. Vergil gave off the impression to be the one in charge of, well, of whatever it was they were doing. So, what was Dante's role then? Not only to be the sole provider of entertainment, Devon reckoned. No, there was far more to it than at first glance.
Nero, his beloved coffee in hand, took the seat opposite of her once more. "How long will you be gone then?" He asked the twins.
"Don't know. Couple of hours." It was Dante who replied, while giving a shrug.
"At least until dawn. You will be in charge of everything else. The phone as well." Vergil informed him rather seriously. "And I believe I won't have tell you, but..." Before he could finish, Nero let out a frustrated grunt. "I know."
"Splendid."
"With that being sorted out, come on. Tea time's over." Dante ushered Vergil to follow his example as he stood up, before he stretched his back.
"Take care. Don't do anything I wouldn't." Dante winked at both Devon and Nero. Vergil silently left the kitchen without another word or glance.
"There is nothing you wouldn't do." Nero replied sarcastically. Dante pointed his finger guns at him before he turned around and followed his brother.
Devon had tried to pay attention to the conversation around her to no avail. The mix of meds, tea and comfort under a roof added up to make her feel the sheer amount of exhaustion. It had proved harder and harder the whole time to focus and keep her eyes open. The sleepiness hit her unprepared, and her lids became heavy, while she wondered how exactly it was possible to feel this weary from on esecond o another.
Nero regarded her for a moment and saw how she seemed to nod off and he smiled the smallest of smiles. Devon was short before dozing off at the kitchen table. He had meant to clean up a bit at first, though one look at the tired female had him reconsider his course of action.
"Devon." He called softly. "Don't zone out on me."
Her head snapped up at the gentle voice and her eyes tried to focus on the young man, which became quite difficult. "Sorry." She rubbed her eyes. "Geez, I could fall asleep right here."
"You better not, when there's a perfectly fine bed waiting for you. Come on." They silently walked with Nero leading the way, until they arrived in front of a dark wooden door on the first floor, indeed the one he had vanished through earlier to find her some clothes.
And to a sleepy Devon it only occurred at this very moment that he was offering her his room, rendering speechless with his generosity. "I..." She muttered, not even knowing if she should decline or not.
Nero perfectly understood, what was going on and with a reassuring smile he shook his head. "It's fine. Really."
Devon's face scrunched up in an apologetic expression. "I...uhhh..." She bit her lip, averting her eyes for a second when he sighed at her. "I don't mind." He said firmly, convincing her finally to accept the offer. "Thank you."
"There you go." Slightly hesitant, he opened the door and flicked the light on, before proceeding to walk inside, but when she came to a stop beside him, there was nothing that would explain his reluctance at all.
Devon couldn't help but feel abashed, a million thoughts racing through her head and what she had anticipated it would look like. Well, she marvelled, certainly not this.
The room was pretty big, she noticed. And the first thing that popped up in her head was, how exceptionally tidy it looked. The queen sized bed was covered with a dark blue comforter, small cushions were neatly lined up at the wooden headboard. Devon wondered if he had cleaned it beforehand or if he really was this organized. Everything had it's own designated place apparently.
Little did she know, but this particular behaviour was the sole remnant, he still performed relentlessly, because of his upbringing within the The Order. Everything had to be in tip top condition, from sword and weapon cleaning to housekeeping and kitchen duty. Everything about his room had been organized in a painfully adept manner.
Her eyes briefly wandered over to him. In this moment, she saw him in a different light. He was young, but at the same time he could give off a hauntingly serious air, the very same Vergil had displayed earlier on.
She would have guessed him in his twenties. No, she was pretty sure he was. But beholding his room he came off like an much older adult with a strong sense of order, in comparison to the many boys his age, which had yet still to learn.
Devon inspected the room slowly. A large wardrobe made of the same chestnut wood stood as the bed on the opposite wall. A small desk sporting a laptop and stereo system stood under the window, which had closed curtain of grey heavy linen to keep the light out. Next to it on, covering the rest of the wall was covered by a broad bookshelf, almost reaching up to the ceiling.
"It's not much." Nero commented the, in his opinion and compared to Dante end Vergil, scarce furnishing. But he had everything he needed. And he certainly wouldn't want a pool table, a fridge, a fight dummy nor a sandbag in his room. And certainly nothing that would embarrass him in any way. He took pride in the state his room was in, no less.
"it is more than enough." When Devon looked at him with those big happy eyes and a huge smile plastered on her face, he rememberer her standards might not be as high as his due to her circumstances. She sounded so impressed, Nero coul ddo nothing but smile back shyly.
The only things that would have compromised him where Blue Rose and Red Queen, but those two weapon cases were stored away in the cellar. He only took them out, if he accompanied the twins to the occasional job. Not that he really needed those to defend himself. His devil bringer on his right side was defence and offence in one and most of the time completely sufficient. Even if someone would be stupid enough to attack the house.
In addition, Dante and Vergil always surrounded the compound with powerful wards upon their leave. Those poor idiots who would deem it wise to break in, if there really were any, wouldn't know what had hit them in the first place, if they tried to enter deliberately. Which brought him back to the present.
"Do you read much? You can take a look and read as much as you like." He informed her, when he realized her staring at the huge collection of books and comics.
"I would love to." If possible, she grinned even wider at his suggestion.
"Go ahead. And have a good night." But before he turned around, he pointed at the wardrobe. "Oh, behind the left door are shirts and sweaters and pants. Just take whatever you need." He offered her with a generous smile.
Despite having many clothes, when it cam edown to it, he only wore the same few pieces over and over again. On that note, he snapped his fingers. He hastily went over and opened the wardrobe snatching his favorite clothes. "All set."
"Right." She had observed him with an amused look. "Wouldn't want you to run around naked and catch a cold." Her voice sounded a bit more teasing, than she had intended at first. How embarrassing, she thought when his grin faltered, because she had baffled him out of the blue.
With a flustered expression he looked over his shoulder. "Yeah." He let out a nervous chuckle. "Good night." And he was gone.
She giggled lightly to herself as she closed the door, Nero hadn't bothered about as he practically fled from her. Maybe he wasn't as grown up, as she thought.
Devon didn't bother changing again, just discarded the sweat pants and crept under the covers and revelling in the clean and fresh smell of the bed.
She tried to bring her racing thoughts in order, positioning herself in a comfortable sleeping position and eyes glued to the ceiling. The joyous feeling of a soft bed. The secureness of those thick walls. The warmth that spread under the covers and through her heart.
The thousand megawatt smile that seemed to be Dante's trademark. The knots of tension slowly eased away, resting comfortably is all she could ask for, but the generosity that was Nero and Dante made it even better. Her thoughts were running at the speed of light and she didn't know, if she could fall asleep like that.
Strangely enough, before she could think that thought to the end her tiredness caught up with her and she fell into deep sleep, her body so desperately craved for.
Still, no plot whatsoever I guess. -shrugs-
Overly long chapter - dedicated to the ever supportive soul, that keeps encouraging and inspiring me. You know who you are.