***TRIGGER WARNING***
This chapter contains mention of drugs, heavy alcohol use, and child loss.
Chapter 5: Breaking Down
24, November 2014
Noelle
The apartment was dark when she woke up. Noelle rubbed her eyes, pushing her hair out of her face. The sheets were a mess, and she was sticky from sweat. She kicked her legs over the side of the bed, shivering as her feet hit the cold hardwood. She stood, moving towards the bathroom with a dizzy sway. Her left foot hit something and she fell to a heap on the floor, an empty Jack Daniels bottle the culprit. She kicked it under the bed and struggled back to her feet. The bed guided her as she kicked last night's dress out of the way.
The bathroom light was too bright as she flicked it on and squinted, checking how awful she looked. She had makeup smeared across her face from kissing strangers and a hickey forming on her neck. She shook her head, putting the plug in the bathtub and turning on the tap. Hot water gushed into the tub, and she sighed. She looked down at her arms, happy to find that she hadn't been completely out of her mind last night. She let the tub fill three quarters of the way before turning the water off, along with the bathroom light, and sinking into the hot basin. Her muscles relaxed as she sat there in the dark, letting herself breathe.
After an hour of just sitting there, the water had begun to turn cold. She pulled the plug and got out, drying herself off. Her hair needed to be fixed so she plugged in her curling iron and set about removing and redoing her make up. Once she was satisfied with her look, she stepped to her closet and selected a tight, maroon dress that went to mid-thigh on her. The thin gold chains that worked as straps held the shafts of fabric up that covered her breasts. She slipped into her favorite black heels and grabbed a jacket, heading out the door.
She took the walk to a club that was having ladies' night a few blocks away. Her nights had been like this for over a week. The first few days since she had been back in New York had been rough. Being back had brought back the pain of her loss eight years ago. She had cried over the loss of her unborn child and over losing Dante. Gabriel had shown up once and she had chucked a shoe at his head. He hadn't returned since. She had vehemently denied his request to talk at night, shutting her older brother out completely. It had only taken one sip to turn her back to her dark coping methods. Whiskey, ecstasy, and dancing with strangers had brought out a side of the twenty-five-year-old that she hadn't let go in a while. She relished the highs but always went home alone.
Tonight would be no different. She was let into the club and four shots later, was wanting to find trouble. She scanned the crowd as she made her way to the dance floor, selecting tonight's partner. Tall, dark, and handsome, the stranger wasted no time putting his hands on her body as they danced. The club was packed, and she was quickly fading out of her mind and the painful memories of which she had come to drown. She could feel her dance partner's body against hers as he pulled her in by her waist. She felt his touch against her skin, a stray finger on her thigh. His knuckles kneading the underside of her breast. But none of it sent her body tingling the way she needed it to. None of it lit the fire of passion the way Dante's touch or kiss had.
Dante:
It had been almost two weeks. Dante was definitely hurting from the big reveal that Noelle had been the angel he had encountered. He had taken it out on Vergil, for suggesting he break up with the woman. He knew it wasn't fair to take it out on his brother. But things seemed so upside down now. Nero had been trying to convince the elder to go on a job with him, his own sour mood about his ex making them the perfect pair. Dante couldn't care less. His room was a mess. He had given up on keeping things clean. He had almost completely let himself go, often passing out with his feet up on his desk, a magazine over his face.
That was currently how he was found. Vergil stood in the doorway, Alexis beside him as they looked at the man in question. It was well after noon and Vergil had fetched her to talk over a cup of coffee. After a bit of convincing he brought her to show her the state that his twin was in. They had been in communication for a few days, discussing the demons from the attack that led to the angels outing. Now that they had been exposed, Alexis was free to fill Vergil in on what she could, though she had an attitude towards the cold prick every time. She looked over at him, arms crossed over her cream cashmere sweater.
"He's really gone off the deep end, hasn't he? It's been less than two weeks." she asked quietly.
"It would seem so. None of us can get him to do anything besides drink." Vergil answered.
"I hate to break it to you, but the obvious solution is to get them back together."
"And how," He asked. "Do you propose we do that. You have no idea where your sister has run off to."
"Of course I do. She went home. I'm blonde, not stupid."
"And where, pray tell, is 'Home'?"
"New York City. I have a plan to drag her back here. I just need a bit of time. There's only one person she will listen to right now."
"That person being?" He had a curious look in his cold eyes.
"Our third and oldest sister. Sage. She's coming back soon, and she can get Noelle to come back here."
"I hope you are right." He said as his twin began to groan and move.
Dante rubbed his eyes, the magazine falling to the floor. He looked over and his eyes darkened upon seeing his brother and the blonde standing there. He couldn't stand those two. Ever since Noelle had left, they had started to get closer. Lucky prick, Dante thought as he put his feet down and stood up. He walked around his desk, pushing between both of them on his way out. He earned a glare from the blonde but ignored her, the cold November air waking him up fairly quickly as he went in search of food and beer.
Alexis sighed, shaking her head. "I'm going home. I need to call Sage and let her know what's going on. And I need to call Noelle, not that I will get anywhere with that. It might help her to know I'm still trying."
"If you find anything strange…"
"I'll call." She said before leaving and making her way home.
12, December 2014
Noelle
Light shafts danced through the part in the blackout curtains, the morning sun determined to wake the sleeping brunette. A half a bottle of whiskey sat on the nightstand, with three more empty ones on the floor. The red glare of the alarm clock read 8:02. A sharp knock on the door jolted the brunette from her sleep. Her head was pounding as she stumbled free of the sheets that had wrapped around her legs. She hit the floor with a resound "Oof" before struggling to clamber to the door. The sharp knock sounded again as she undid the deadbolt and cracked the door open enough to see out. She groaned as her eyesight focused on the redhead in the brightly lit hallway.
"Mornin' princess. You look like shit." The woman said, grinning.
"Go. Away." Noelle groaned, resting her head on the doorframe. She could feel her stomach revolting as she took a deep breath.
The redhead shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. "Now Nells. That's no way to talk to your big sister."
"What do you want?" she asked as she tried to combat the dizziness she was feeling.
"I want you to let me in so we can pack your shit and get out of here." The redhead said.
"Sage I don't—" Noelle cut off, feeling her stomach revolt again. She hastily stumbles to the bathroom, barely making it in time to empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet.
Sage was beside her in seconds, holding the brunette's hair back. She rubbed gently circles on Noelles back until her retching subsided. When the younger woman's head finally rested against the cool tile of the floor, Sage sighed, helping to tie her hair back with a scrunchy. Noelle gave her a glare as the older woman flushed the toilet for her.
"How many bottles this time?" Sage asked quietly but with a firm tone in her voice.
"In the last month or the last six hours?" Noelle asked between panting breaths.
"Noelle…" Sage groaned, sitting on the floor. "Seriously."
"Two tequilas… Two vodkas… And three whiskey bottles." She said slowly. Sage gave her a dark look and she sighed. "Three and a half. It would have been four if I hadn't passed out."
"Drugs?" Sage asked sternly.
"Just X. You know me better than that." Noelle whispered.
"Do I? Or do we need the photos of the proof that you can be a total dumbass. You do know you can still drink yourself to death, don't you?"
"I know…" She sat up, lunging of the toilet once more as she heaved.
"Okay," Sage sighed. "You are definitely going to detox. Today. If that means I have Alex come here, I will."
"Fuck…. You…." Noelle panted. "You know that… fucking hurts…. Like hell."
"Tough. You want to be dumb; you get tough love. I wont sit here and watch you try to drink yourself to death over a guy. Fucking grow up Noelle."
"Get out, I didn't ask for your help!" The brunette growled.
"No. Alexis did. Because she's worried about you. How's that nagging feeling in your chest? Is ignoring the pull of that place working for you?"
"If you're just going to be a bitch you can leave."
"Sorry princess. I'm not going anywhere. You're lucky it's me you get to deal with. Azrael argued your case for me."
"I knew Az was my favorite for a reason. I'm not going back there Sage."
"You are." Sage said. "If I have to drag you myself. Now you need a shower and something to eat."
Noelle watched her sister get up and leave the bathroom, grumbling at the mess of the apartment. Empty bottles and dirty clothes were littered along the floor of the living room and dining space. Noelle hadn't cared. She barely made it to her bed most nights. Sage shook her head as she raided the fridge for anything she could feed the hungover angel. She found some bread that was fresh and made the girl some toast. Noelle must have gotten in the shower because Sag could hear the water running.
Ten minutes later, Noelle walked out in grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt. She took the toast Sage offered and nibbled at it, slowly eating one of the two pieces. Sage had started cleaning up, depositing empty bottles in trash bags. Noelle watched her, squinting through the sunlight pouring in from the opened curtains.
"I have a cleaner come in once a week." Noelle chimed in.
"So. I'm cleaning so I don't want to smack you. Where is your gear?" She asked.
"I left it behind. My bike is in the garage. I just need my duffel bag."
"Finish that toast." Sage demanded, heading to the bedroom. She shook her head and sighed with disgust at the state of the room. Noelle definitely needed out of here. Her self-destruction would kill her if she didn't leave this place. She pulled the red duffel bag out and packed anything clean she could into it for clothes. After zipping it shut, she slung it over her shoulder and went back to the kitchen. Noelle had eaten half the second piece of toast and was staring at the rest.
"You okay princess?" Sage asked, touching her shoulder.
"I'm fine. I don't think I can ride back to Redgrave though." She said.
"You aren't. I had Az orb the bikes back. He's waiting for my call to orb us back too."
"What about Gabe?" Noelle asked.
"He's worried. Less angry than I think he should be."
Noelle winced. "I figured. I threw a shoe at him, and he never came back."
"Nells…" Sage sighed. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Is it that hard to live without him?" She asked.
Noelle was quiet for a minute, tears forming in her eyes. Her voice was a broken whisper when she finally spoke. "I love him Sage. He made it all better. The nightmares. The darkness. It all went away when he was there."
Noelle tapped her phone which was on the counter. It opened up to a text screen. Several unanswered texts and calls to Dante were in the log, all from her from the night before. Sage took the phone and pocketed it. She knelt in front of the chair her friend was in and took the woman's hands.
"We can fix this. Or at least try. But drinking yourself to death wont do any good." She said.
Sage stood, calling out for her brother. On cue, a hooded black figure appeared in the room in a warm flash of white light. He looked at the two girls, his hood rustling as he shook his head. Sage sighed and helped Noell stand.
"Come on princess. Time to go detox your twisted little ass."
"Ugh. You're such a bitch." Noelle groaned. "Hey Azzy."
"Little Bird. Your brother worries. You owe him an apology…" Az spoke in his deep baritone.
"I owe a lot of people apologies it seems." she said softly.
"I will take you back to Alexis. Start with her. Gabriel will be patient." He said, holding out a boney hand for her to take.
He wrapped his arm around her as she stepped close to him. Sage stood at his other side, one hand on his arm. The white light flashed, and they orbed. Azrael let Noelle go as the touched their feet to the floor in the hall of the town house. Noelle lunged for the bathroom again. Alexis stood in front of them, giving Sage a hug and telling Az how much she appreciated his help. Noelle felt the healing touch of Alexis' powers on her body as she dry heaved over the toilet. Pain radiated through her veins as the healing touch burned out the remnants of the liquor and drugs. The sudden detox left her writhing and she vomited again, this time on the floor.
"That's what you get for being dumb. Welcome home Noelle." Alexis said softly.
Noelle wanted to curse at the blonde, but her vision wavered and faded to black. Sage helped Alexis clean her up and tuck Noelle into bed. She cleaned up the bathroom and put Noelle's bag in her closet after emptying it out. As she made her way back to the living room, she heard a male voice, cold and steady. She rounded the corner to see Alex in the hall, talking to a man in a blue and black duster with white hair.
"Am I interrupting?" Sage asked.
"No," Alexis answered. "Sage this is Vergil. Vergil, this is the third member of our trio, Sagen Torres. Or as we call her, Sage."
"Pleasure, I'm sure. You must be Sparda's eldest." Sage said, crossing her arms.
"You know of my father?" Vergil questioned coldly.
"I am a Reaper. I know a lot more than most." She said evenly.
"Well. That is interesting. We should talk sometime." He said.
"Noelle is resting. I will call you when she wakes up and I have a chance to talk to her." Alexis said to him.
"Very well then. I will keep Dante occupied." He said before leaving.
Sage watched the youngest of the trio, an eyebrow raised. Alexis simply locked the door behind him and went to the kitchen to get her coffee, taking a long sip before facing her eldest sister and friend. Sage leaned on the door frame, hazel eyes watchful.
"So you're planning to get Noelle and the jerk wad back together?"
"I just need him to hear her out. To listen. After that, we will let them work it out." Alexis sighed.
"And if they don't work it out?"
"Then we do what we do best. Keep her from killing herself with drugs and alcohol."
"I sure as hell hope this works out. Because I'm getting sick of dragging her out of the gutter." Sage said blowing a deep breath out of her lips.
"I know. Thank you, by the way."
"For?"
"Going to get her. She listens to you. Better than she does to me."
"It's the Healer in you. You're too motherly for her." Sage said. "It's not a terrible thing. She just can't handle it right now."
"I guess we just wait 'til she wakes up to see how much damage control we need." Alexis said softly, earning a chuckle and nod from her sister.
A/N Chapter 5 is a wrap. Noelle has some serious issues to work through. Angelic detox does not sound pleasant though. Chapter 6 may just shed a bit of light on her past.
Songs that Inspired this Chapter:
Wasting All These Tears on You- Cassadee Pope
Just Pretend- Bad Omens
Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry, its characters, or material. This is purely fanfiction.
Story Available On: Wattpad, AO3,