A/N: Alright so I need to type this one up quickly cause I need to go to bed after this. I've been trying to be responsible lately and actually get sleep by a reasonable hour. Halp I'm adulting… I'm not used to this… XD Anywho, only excuse for the delay is laziness so… here ya go.

Disclaimer: Humans are space orcs. Don't ask, just google it. You're welcome.

Give an Inch

Vergil had sworn to himself that he'd only stay for a couple more days. That was a week ago. Now he was sitting in the living room, flipping through a borrowed book on the city's history with devils and was waiting on Amelia to return home. He had long gained back enough strength to return to the demonic world but for some reason just couldn't quite convince himself to go. He didn't know why he was so enamored with this one girl but she just kept surprising him. Perhaps that was why, he just always wanted to see what she would surprise him with next. The half devil looked up to the chess board that had been set up on the coffee table. The two of them had been taking intermittent turns for the past several days. It was a game that he'd played with Madeline and with Theuram, though with the devil they'd quickly turned to other complicated games to increase his understanding of strategy. It was Amelia's turn as he'd made his early this morning before she'd gone to work. She was surprisingly good at the game and Vergil had to keep most of his wits about him in order to gain the upper hand. He stopped after he'd planned out several strategies to counter her next move and stood, walking into the kitchen and checking on the meat that he'd pulled from the freezer for dinner that night. And then froze at the thought.

When had he become so… so… human? He could feel Yamato radiating bemusement at its master and he snarled at it, slamming a hand into the table, holding back his strength as to not damage the wood.

There is nothing wrong with protecting things you care for. The devil arm chimed in as he tried to calm himself.

"I don't care for her." he snapped, turning back to the meat, deciding that it was sufficiently thawed and began seasoning it for cooking. He still greatly enjoyed cooked food after a year spent in the wilds of the demonic world it felt like he was spoiling himself though he rationally knew that he'd always eaten it before. Well there had been a few times that his father had taken them out and he and Dante would catch something wild and raw. The thought of his brother made his chest hurt and though there was no scar he could still feel the spot where his brother had cut him from shoulder to him, nearly cleaving him in half.

Young master…. Yamato chuckled You are still but a young devil, you care for this young woman, even if you won't admit it. Vergil huffed and pulled a pan from the cupboard. Amelia had questioned him the first couple times that he'd done it but she was now used to the way he'd carry out one-sided conversations with the sword she couldn't see.

"And you don't have a problem with it? She's human after all."

Your father was the most powerful devil that I'd ever met, he loved a human woman. I believe that he fought harder after having met her. Humans need protection. You will fight harder for your vengeance if you have something to protect back home. Vergil tilted his head, he had never really asked the blade about his father, he knew its own past but hadn't confronted the blade on that topic either.

"I wouldn't say I love her." he snorted, filing the thoughts of his father and Yamato's past away for another time.

Hmm… was all the response he got from the blade before it faded back into the back of his mind. The half devil sighed, knowing that the ancient katana was done talking and got back to working on dinner. He looked at his watch. Amelia was late. He grumbled under his breath, he could wait a bit longer before getting worried and turned back to the task at hand.

The food was well on its way and Vergil was about to walk out the door and look for her when Amelia came into the kitchen, pulling her hood from her head and tossing it onto the counter before flopping into a chair. He was about to berate her for being late when she spoke up, clearly seeing it on his face.

"I know, I know. Krystal was late and we had an emergency. One of the soldiers came in with clawmarks that were so big we could barely stitch them shut. Damn demons are getting a bit riled up as of late." she huffed then paused and looked at him "No offense of course." the side of his mouth tilted up.

"None taken." Amelia finally took a second to smell the air and sighed

"Oh man… what is that?" Vergil pulled two plates and served the food

"Pork steaks. My mother used to make them when I was little…" he always paused when speaking of his past, his childhood in particular but she didn't press it. He had worried enough for one day, she could still see the tension easing slowly out of his form.

"Other than that work was well… work. Dr. Loran says that I may be able to graduate from apprenticeship soon." Vergil smiled then, a genuine smile and she couldn't help but return it.

"That's fantastic. Oh by the way, it's your turn." he gestured to the chess board and Amelia groaned.

"Oh man… again, I swear you're going to kick my ass."

"Nonsense." He waved a hand "You're holding your own quite well."

Till next time,

-Winged Element