A/N: Okay so I have what could be defined as the absolute definition of first world problems. Adam cranky with me and I'm cranky because he's cranky because in amongst all of this our grocery delivery isn't going and now we have to go get the groceries ourselves. Neither of us like doing it and now we're both cranky… like I said, first world problems…

Disclaimer: I do, in fact, own the groceries in my fridge.

A Man of Guts and Honor

Nero wasn't looking forward to his next words, but there were few other options available to them at the moment.

"What if we all become beasts?" he said to Katherine, he wasn't overly worried about going on a rampage against everything in the area. It's not like there was much left, not to mention he was going to need every bit of energy to try and beat back this creature before them. It flared out… wings? A cape? Gore? Nero wasn't sure and it mattered little as it leapt skyward, tossing out bits of flesh that exploded on contact with the ground. The duo rolled around them as the creature did its best imitation of a frog over their heads.

"Are you sure?" Katherine asked as they went back to back again, watching the monster warily as it landed once more.

"No time to-" he didn't get to finish his thought as it let out a wailing, anxious cry, and lightning split the sky, arcing through the water toward them from the body that Katherine had called Kos. They both raced for shore as the monster clambered after them, swinging its blade before it, the electricity not phasing it in the slightest.

"Shit!" Nero gasped as electricity tingled painfully through his back and legs. "Yes I'm sure! Blood! Now!" he shouted to Katherine, who had rolled slightly away from him in her own attempts to get away from the creature. She nodded, hand diving into the myriad of pockets that decorated her outfit and coming back with one of the blood vials that she had, syringe already loaded as she ducked under the creature and tossed it to him, he caught it and didn't hesitate before slamming the needle into his thigh just as he'd always seen the Hunter do and pushing the plunger home. The effect was nearly immediate and the partial devil felt his heart begin hammering away in his chest, the smell of the Orphan's blood taking priority in his brain. He needed to see more of it, the creature was nothing to them. It wasn't worthy of the title that it had barely been born to. He reached back, feeling more in control of the bloodlust this time since he'd been expecting it and revved Red Queen as he dashed forward, gleeful grin splitting his face. The fire split the Orphan's skin so beautifully, the burnt flesh tearing open beneath blade and claw. He used his Breaker to grapple off to the side as the creature raised its own blade to strike at them again, only to be thrown off balance by the Hunter who had stepped in, their own eyes glinting with pent bloodlust as they struck, teeth of their saw hacking off bits of ragged skin and muscle. The devil hunter saw a chance and leapt forward, slamming a spectral wing down into the Orphan's leg, feeling their breath pick up at the sound of snapping bone. The Orphan let out another long, low howl, but this time, the partial devil nor the Hunter paid any mind to the lightning that raced down from the sky or through the water. The devil hunter would even argue that the shock of pain added to the cloud of bloodlust in his mind.

The fight had definitely turned in their favor now, but that wasn't to say that they escaped with no injuries from the battle. The partial devil took several as the bloodlust made him more careless, a smashing swipe from the Orphan sliced him from hip to shoulder and cracked more than one rib but Nero just laughed as the Old Blood went to work, stitching him up and healing that which had been broken mere moments before. There was a moment of stagger again from the Orphan and the devil hunter took full advantage, grabbing wings and arms alike, shoving the monster splayed to its knees and the Hunter caught on instantly, clawed fingers reaching up and inside the monster's ribcage, coming away coated in the milky blood and grasping the infant Great One's beating heart.

The Orphan collapsed onto the ground, any semblance of life fading from its ancient eyes as its lifeblood clouded the water at their feet. Both of them stood, panting, staring at one another for what felt like an age but was rather likely only a minute as the bloodlust slowly started to fade, satisfied for now.

"Thank you for lining that one up for me." Katherine said, breaking the silence.

"Figured it was your turn," Nero shrugged "I'm more surprised that it worked, that thing was crazy strong."

"Wow, a man with guts and honor, will wonders never cease." the Hunter said, shaking some of the gore from her own weapon. It was only then that Nero took a moment to look at his own state of disrepair and then her words caught up with him.
"Wait, since when do you make jokes?" he said, and she just glanced up at him, mirth in bright red eyes.

"One has to lighten the mood from time to time." she said and Nero just shook his head

"I think I'm rubbing off on you." he told the Hunter, she sighed

"Is that such a bad thing? I keep more of my humanity speaking and joking with you. Before you came I feel that it was… slipping. This, while I struggle more with the bloodlust, is much better." the saw clanked open and then shut as the pair of them turned to face the next challenge.

A/N: I have cheesy ham soup for dinner :)

Till next time,

-Winged Element