I'm sorry for the lateness and the shortness of this chapter. I know it's been a while since I've updated but here you go.
Disclaimer: not mine.
Feeling his own eyelids grow heavy sitting there eavesdropping on the conversation in the bar Dante decided his day had been long enough. For a moment he debated sleeping on the couch but the look in the boys eyes when he asked him to stay was too much for the grown man to handle. Slipping on a pair or red silk sleep pants he spooned behind the young man keeping the heavy comforter between their bodies. Dante wrapped an arm possessively around the smaller male bringing him as close to his own body as he could at the moment. The elder sighed deeply letting sleep take him just listening to the rhythmatic breathing of his Angel. The kid had been scared, there was no doubt about it, but the overwhelming need to protect the young man was something Dante was not accustomed to. It was something about Nero that called to him, some lonely place in his heart that hadn't been filled in forever. Just staring at the kid brought a smile to the elders face and Dante couldn't imagine being without the boy in his life. It was those thought that scared the great Dante. The Angel hadn't been in his life a full two days yet and Dante never wanted him to leave. Pushing those thoughts aside until a later time the half demon found solace in a dreamless sleep.
Downstairs Trish and Gabriel where still going at it. The Angel had stood from the stool, began pacing, hands folded behind his back, murmuring to himself; one hand occasionally waving aimlessly in the air as if swatting invisible flies. Trish stared on, absentmindedly shaking her head, she'd seen Gabe in this mode more than once. He was arguing with himself, justifying something only he found logical. The lady demon watched on, a bemused smile tugging at the corner of her lips. He stopped head hung forward, hands covering his face,
"I can't."
Trish barely heard the mumble face cinched in a disconcerting frown, "Gabe." his name rose cautiously from her lips. He took one look at her the tears visible in his green eyes,
"I can't." the two words were repeated just before the Angel bolted up the stairs. His form had turned translucent. It took Trish a moment to realize what just happened and took off after him taking the steps two at a time but she was too late. By the time she caught up with the renegade Angel he was standing over the bed Dante and Nero slept in. Nero had shifted in his sleep turning to face the half demon holding him so tightly in his arms. They were so close, breathing the same air, warm breaths ghosting over each other's flesh. Nothing short of phantom kisses.
Gabriel reached out to the boy, fingers barely touching the platinum locks, Nero mumbled incoherently in his sleep, Dante pulled him closer if possible. The archangel took one glance over his shoulder as Trish appeared behind him,
"I can't let this happen, I'm taking him home." The words echoed, hollowed, carried on the wind. He gently touched the boys cheek turning him as lucent as his superior. Dante forced to stay asleep by a simple mind trick never knew the boy left his grasp. With Nero now nestled safely in his arms he gave on last fleeting glance at Trish before a light appeared from above surrounding the two and they vanished within its confines.
Dante sighed contentedly gripping the comforter, Trish sighed letting a single tear roll down her cheek as she turned from the bedroom.
Next Morning (Heaven)
The illusion of comfort and a warm embrace were lost as soon as Nero opened his eyes. Instead of staring into the face of the man that saved his life he blinked rapidly trying to rationalize why he was wrapped in Gabriel's arms in the archangel's personal chambers. He thrashed, pulling away, enough movement to rouse the Angel. Gabriel woke with a start,
"Nero calm down, you're safe now."
Nero shook his head rapidly, this wasn't right, he's supposed to be with Dante, those were supposed to be Dante's arms he woke in. Nero's legs tangled in the white sheets as he fumbled to rise only to fall with an 'oof' after loosing his balance hitting the marble floor hard enough to make his head throb. Nero held the back of his head glaring accusingly at his elder who stared at him from over the edge of the bed,
"Where's Dante? What'd did you do to him?" the boy demanded.
Gabriel cocked an eyebrow, "Do not use that tone of voice with me Nero, you know better." His voice reprimanding. Nero wouldn't lower his gaze, he was supposed to be on earth with Dante not in Heaven with Gabriel. He could feel the first hot tears slip down his pale cheeks as realization set in that he may never see Dante again.
(Same morning, Dante's bedroom)
Dante woke with a smile, feeling more rested than…hell, he couldn't remember the last time he had such a good night's sleep. He reached out to pull the young man closer only to come up empty handed. He cracked an eye patting the spot, Nero was definitely not there,
"Hey Kid." He called to the empty room. After last night he didn't think the boy should be out of bed yet even though it was going on nearly noon.
He tried again, this time sitting up, "Nero."
Still no answer. Dante threw the covers off and began the search around his apartment only to come up empty handed. Maybe the kid wandered downstairs. Dante shrugged heading down the stairs only to be greeted with a mass of blonde hair splayed across the bar top. Trish was sitting behind the bar her head face down resting on the arms, she seemed to be asleep. Dante cocked his head to one side, his sleep addled brain couldn't understand why the hell Trish was sleeping at the bar. He reached out shaking her none too gently. The demon woman woke with a start. But visibly relaxed when her eyes meet Dante's. he gazed around the expanse of the empty club,
"You seen the kid?"
He was answered with silence. He turned back to the woman whose eyes were cast to the floor,
"Trish?"
"He took him Dante, Gabriel took him home."
The words took more than a minute to sink into the devils head, then realization hit, he grabbed hold of the counter to keep his knees from buckling. He felt cold, empty, that kid had touched something inside of him and last night he wanted nothing more than to keep a hold of the boy forever,
"You have to take me there, I have to get him back."