Chapter 3: Falling or Fallen?
4, October 2014
It had been just over a week since Noelle had been out with Dante. She had been going for long walks in the city and checking in with Alexis regularly. She had even joined one of the volunteer groups helping to continue reparations on the city. Noelle was helping a pastor clean up a church that had been turned to rubble. The plans were to rebuild the city as much as possible, and the church was an integral part. Noelle had found that she was far less consumed by her thoughts when helping the people rebuild. Today was a chilly fall day and she had a large hot cider from a local coffee shop warming her hands as she sat on the park bench, she had occupied a week prior.
She checked her phone once again, hoping to see a call or text from an unknown number. She sighed, wondering why she even got her hopes up. The wind picked up and she pulled the fur lined hood of her favorite jacket closer around her. She was just about to leave the bench and start for home when a shadow caught her attention beside her. The smirk on Dante's face made her smile. He sat down, crossing his ankles with his legs stretched out in front of him.
"Well. This must be your favorite place." He said.
"I wasn't busy today, so I thought I'd come for a walk." She smiled as she sipped her cider.
He nodded and held up the card she had slipped into his pocket. "Sorry I didn't call you. I had to go out of town for a job." He said.
"Oh…" She paused, tilting her head. "It's okay. Really. I figured you would call me if you wanted to see me."
"Well I found you instead. So you weren't busy today. You've been pretty busy all week?" He asked.
"Yeah. I started helping the rebuilding efforts and the volunteer groups. It's been nice to have time to help the community."
Dante watched her cheeks as they turned rosy from the cold. He had just returned a few hours ago from a job and his demon had demanded he find Noelle again and check on her. As he sat here watching her, his demon was purring softly with happiness at the proximity to the girl. He scooted closer a bit as she shivered and put his arm over the back of the bench behind her. She smiled at him, her green eyes captivating his attention. Her laugh broke him from his trance.
"You sure do stare a lot." she teased.
"What can I say? You're beautiful. Any man would stare." He countered.
"I… I don't think so. But that's very kind of you to say." Noelle blushed deeply.
"Well then they don't deserve you." He said, honesty in his tone.
"Thank you… That's very sweet of you."
Dante didn't have long to contemplate her downplay of his compliments. His mind wasn't fully registering the fact that she was so close to him when she leaned her body against his chest. His demon was ecstatic as her sent of strawberries and roses hit him like a wave. He glanced down to see her eyes closed. She shivered again as the cool breeze hit her.
"You need to get somewhere warm." He commented. "You might just freeze to death out here."
"I'm not used to the cold. But I suppose I should get inside soon." She agreed.
"Hungry? We can go get food again… So you don't have to eat alone." He suggested. "Unless your sister is back."
"No. She's still off on her job. I would love to go get something to eat with you." She said, giving him a nudge and a smile.
Dante stood up and helped her stand, holding her hand between his for a minute. "Girl your fingers are frozen!" He chuckled.
Noelle simply stuck her tongue out at him. He shook his head and started walking to the diner they had gone to before. He still held her hand, figuring she would pull away if she wanted to. He paused to let her drop her empty cider cup in the trash before continuing along. Noelle watched him, appreciating that he kept himself between her and the street. She had been a bit lonely over the last week, missing her sisters of course, but missing the presence of the red devil more. Dante must have picked up on her slight shift in mood because he gave her hand a gently squeeze.
"You can always come by the shop if you need company when your sisters away." He told her as he held the door to the diner open for her.
She thanked him and smiled as she took up a space in the booth they had occupied last time. She tried to hide her distaste as the waitress flirted with Dante while taking his order. She quickly ordered her food before the girl huffed off. Noelle wasn't trying to get jealous. She was well aware Dante had a long line of one-night stands and girls that would crawl all over him for a chance to share his bed. But it still bothered her. Dante smirked at her, seeming to catch on to that. She simply rolled her eyes at him and returned the smirk with a giggle.
Noelle wasn't sure where time had gone between them enjoying their food and her getting a call from Alexis. She was short and concise on the phone, the usual check-in procedure running through her mind. As she hung up and pocketed the phone, she sighed. She caught Dante's look and shook her head.
"Sorry. Just checking in for the night. She wanted to make sure I was okay." She said.
"Hey it's no problem. Good to have someone looking out for you." He said as he left money on the table and offered her his hand again.
Noelle stood and gave him a look of protest. "I could have paid for it. You got the tab last time." She pouted.
"My treat." He said, holding the door for her once again. "So are you gonna let me walk you home this time?"
"I suppose you can walk me home." She said, not wanting the night to end. "Or you can show me your shop?"
"I guess that's an option. Here I thought you would want to rush off again." He teased.
Noelle frowned. "That's not… I'm sorry…" She said softly, looking down.
"Hey. I was only teasing. It's alright. Honestly I prefer you not getting mixed up with the demons and all the fighting." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Noelle nodded as the started walking, him leading her along hand in hand. The walk to his shop was short and Dante was extremely grateful that the others weren't around. He could only imagine what they would say. He let them in, flicking on the lights as he let her hand go and made his way to his desk. He had cleaned up most of the trash and magazines after his last mission. Having Vergil around had come with one perk, and that was that the older twin was a bit of a neat freak. The place had never looked cleaner.
Devil May Cry was a large, older brick building. The stairs next to Dante's desk lead to an open mezzanine that held a television and several comfy chairs and a sofa. A reading nook sat in the corner of the upstairs next to another staircase that lead up to the bedrooms. The building had a room for each of the team, bathrooms attached for convenience and privacy. Nero, Trish, and Lady had spent a good amount of time renovating Dante's dated abode while he was in the Underworld with Vergil for a year. A second desk had been placed near Dante's to accommodate his twin and the hall behind them lead to a half bath and the kitchen. A space in the back, out the back door of the kitchen, offered a private outdoor sparring ring that was hidden from view by another building across the alley.
Noelle looked around at the devil's arms on the walls and bookshelves lining one corner as she walked in. She could feel the energy of this place as well as smell the mixed scents of the hunters who lived her. The place looked clean, and she was pleasantly surprised. Dante plopped into his chair at his desk and leaned back with a sigh, his arms behind his head.
"Welcome to Devil May Cry. Everyone else is out right now. But they should be back in a day or two." He told her as she walked over to him.
"It's nice. Very homey." She told him as she walked over and perched on his desk. A faded photograph sat on the desk, and she looked at it curiously. "Who is that?" she asked softly.
Dante glanced at the photo and his eyes saddened a bit. "My mother..." He said, trying to shake off the memories.
"She's beautiful." She said, putting her hand on his knee.
"She was. She definitely was."
Noelle met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat as she realized how close they were. Dante had leaned forward, playfulness in his eyes. She blushed softly and glanced down at the desk she was seated on. Dante took the opportunity to lean in and press his lips to hers. Noelle stiffened briefly then melted into the kiss as his hand slid to the back of her head, tangling gently in her hair. She closed her eyes, her heart beating hard in her chest. Dante finally pulled away, his thumb lingering on her cheek.
"Dante…"
"You intrigue me Noelle. I want to know more about you. Want to spend time with you." He said.
"I… I want that too…" She said as she leaned her forehead against his.
Her thoughts were confusing, plagued with doubts and insecurities. She felt herself being lifted and the next thing she knew she was straddled on Dante's lap on the leather sofa along the wall of the office space. He held her waist, his eyes searching hers. She sighed and ran her hands through his hair.
"We can take it slow. I know there's a lot of things to learn about each other. But we don't have to rush." He said, trying to get the sparkle back in her eyes.
"Okay…" She said, giving him a soft smile. Her long hair brushed his cheek as she leaned in, hesitantly, for another kiss.
Two days later Alexis found herself orbed back into the kitchen of the townhouse. She gave Michael a long hug and said goodbye as he orbed out. She took her bag upstairs and knocked softly on the closed door across the hall from her own. No answer was heard so she popped the door open and stuck her head in, finding the room dark and empty. Odd… She thought. She unpacked her bag, sorting out her laundry and taking her full basket to the washer downstairs. After loading and starting her clothes in the washer, she turned to head back upstairs.
Keys jingling in the front door caught her attention and she stopped in the hall, leaning against the doorframe. Noelle stepped inside and closed the door, hanging her scarf and jacket on the coat rack in the corner. She turned and jumped, hand on her heart as she stared at the blonde.
"Alex! You're back! Is everything stable in Ireland?" She asked.
"Ireland is fine. Sage is fine. Where were you at…" She checked her watch. "Nine-thirty at night?" she asked with a raised brow.
"I was out… On a walk." Noelle said, moving to the kitchen to start some hot water for tea. She got out two mugs and their favorite herbal tea and set the bags in the mugs.
Alexis had gone to put her basket away, returning to the kitchen still expecting an explanation. "So?"
"What? I was out on a walk. I stayed out of trouble," Noelle countered as she poured the hot water over the tea bags and let it steep.
"Noelle… Your cheeks are pink. You look like you've been making out with somebody. And you have a hickey." Alexis scolded.
"So… I may or may not have been on a date. And it might have ended really well." She said with a grin.
"You went out with Dante, didn't you?" She accused.
Noelle sighed. "Yes. I cozied up to the devil hunter while you were away. But so what?" She countered.
"Just be careful. That's all. I just want you to be safe." Alexis sighed.
Noelle nodded and sighed, looking down at her hands. She knew what Alexis meant when she said to be careful. But there was something about Dante that she couldn't let go. She knew she was falling for him, despite her swearing off love. She just knew there was something different about him. Alexis would understand. She just wasn't sure how long it would take to build up the courage to admit the truth out loud.
The brunette hadn't noticed her friend go upstairs and return until a hand touched her own ever so gently. The blonde had a worried frown marring her features as she took their tea to the living room, motioning for the other woman to follow. Noelle did so, taking up a seat on the plush cream-colored sofa. She sipped her tea, looking up at her friend.
"You sure everything is okay?" Alexis asked softly.
"Yeah. I'm sure." The brunette said softly.
"Nells…." Alexis paused, using the old nickname for her best friend. "I worry about you. You've been really spacey lately."
"I'm fine Alex. I really am. I've been doing better. And Dante has…. He's really good to me." Noelle said softly. "I really like him."
"I'm happy you've found someone. But you know we can't reveal ourselves. What if he finds out you have angel blood. Noelle…. I worry. You know that."
"I know. I do. And I don't plan to reveal myself on my own. But I really think I have a chance to be happy. At least for a little while."
"We all do. But if he hurts you…" The blonde's sapphire eyes darkened. "I'm going to beat his ass."
Noelle laughed. "Okay sister. You go right ahead."
The girls sat and talked for a few hours longer, drinking their tea. Noelle asked about Ireland and how Sage had been doing on her own. Alexis was satisfied that she had done all she could but needed to return here for a bit of a break. The discussed the things that had been plaguing Noelle's dreams, and the feelings that she had experienced out on her own. Neither of them had come up with anything by the time they had decided they needed sleep. Noelle bid her friend goodnight before closing her bedroom door and changing her clothes. She was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The morning over Redgrave City was stunning, the sun rising over the buildings, creating a glow about the architecture. Three figures stood atop a ruined building, surveying the damage that hadn't been repaired yet. The smaller of the trio, clad in a black leather corset and leather pants, flicked her long inky locks over her shoulder. She crossed her arms over her chest as the larger male next to her flexed his black feathered wings in the sun. The skinnier male, though still tall, watched his brother before turning his attention to the female.
"The Qliphoth did a real number on this place. Too bad the usurper king is too preoccupied playing deadbeat daddy. We could have used him for the cause." The female said.
"There is no need for that. He will only be the king until we end him and his spawn. Sparda's line will end soon enough." The larger male said.
The female huffed softly, already bored with their scouting mission. "I still don't see why we can't just kill them now instead of letting them continue killing demons."
"All in good time, Feather. All in good time." The larger male said.
"We could have just brought KinKin and saved the trouble of this mission dragging out." The skinnier male said, frowning at the female.
She bared her teeth at him and hissed softly. "She is not to get involved in this. You know better than to push me on my twin." She growled.
The larger male, unamused by their banter, spoke up from his spot. "Enough. We are not here to collect yet. Only to observe. Our new friend is eager to begin. We only need to learn more about the girl's companions for now."
The two glared at each other, still pressing the boundary of acceptable behavior for a scouting mission. The eldest male pinched the bridge of his nose. He still wondered why he had agreed to take these two along with him. A portal appeared behind them as he held out his arm. Both of his companions looked surprised they were leaving so soon but he simply motioned for them to move along.
"You two can fuck or fight it out later. For now, the city is waking up. And we need not get caught." He said as he walked through the portal, the female following and the younger male trailing after them. The portal closed without a trace of them as the city began to awaken. In the presence of the dark winged trio, the demon energy reverberated through the ruined parts of the city. It seemed to respond differently as haunting laughter was heard throughout the deserted streets below.
A/N That is a wrap on chapter three. Noelle is cozying up to our favorite red devil and feelings are starting to form. Who are the three with dark wings? And does the one called Feather have a true name? Read on to find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry, its characters, or material. This is purely fanfiction.
Story Available On: Wattpad, AO3,