Chapter 4: Secret No More

12, November 2014

Nero walked up the stairs to the living area of the shop, surprised to see his uncle relaxed on the couch with a guest. A sleeping brunette was curled up against him on the wide sectional, his arm holding her close. The TV was playing some comedy show on a low volume as the older hunter glanced over his shoulder. He waved him off, trying his best not to disturb the young woman using him as a pillow. The younger male simply shook his head and made his way up to his room, passing his sire along the way.

"Dante… has a woman…" Nero said to his father, still in disbelief.

"It would seem so. He has been seeing her for about a month now." The elder spoke as he headed downstairs to leave.

Dante didn't look twice at his twin as he left for the evening. Vergil had been spending far more time cleaning up the Qliphoth destruction after the remnant demon energy there had spiked. He knew his little family was no stranger to his playboy ways. He was the king of one-night stands. But Noelle was different. After the last month of regular dates at the diner and walks along the pier, he had realized he didn't want anyone else besides her. The thought of picking up a chick in the bar hadn't even crossed his mind. Vergil seemed happier to not be seeing random women leaving in the mornings. But Nero had been back and forth to Fortuna to see Kyrie, trying to fix things after their breakup, and hadn't noticed.

Dante looked down at Noelle. She had been over a lot lately, with her sister being busy working at the local hospital. Today she had borrowed a hoodie from his closet and snuggled up to him on the couch. The November air had gotten colder, and the rain had been more common. Noelle got cold easily and had begun to dress more modestly as the seasons had changed. He ran his hand down her side and over the curve of her hip. The tight leggings were smooth under his touch, and it seemed to stir the sleeping girl.

Noelle blinked, nuzzling against the fabric of Dante's shirt. He had his feet up on the coffee table and her body pressed against his side. She shifted, looking up at him with sleepy green eyes. A soft smile graced her lips as he leaned his head down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She tilted her head, meeting his lips before he could pull away.

"Well hello to you too." Dante chuckled.

"Sorry I fell asleep." She said with a soft blush.

"No worries babe. I just like having you around."

Noelle sighed contently, turning her attention to the TV. She had come over after Alexis had left for another shift at the hospital. Dante's laundry had been piling up and his room had been a mess. She had learned, from her visits, that his twin Vergil hated a mess and also didn't quite like her. She had made sure to keep out of his way and well away from his demon blade Yamato. But he had given her a cold, approving nod when he had seen her cleaning up the other day. She didn't know what she expected. But it definitely hadn't been that.

Dante seemed lost in thought as her phone buzzed on the table and she reached for it. She scrolled through the texts, typing back a short one to Sage and another to Alexis. She sighed and sat up, earning a pout from Dante.

"I take it you need to go, huh?" he asked, pouting like a child.

"Yes. I've been gone all day, and it will get dark soon." She said softly and she stretched.

Dante saw her face fall as she looked at the hoodie she was wearing. She moved to take it off, standing up and he caught her wrist.

"Keep it." He told her, earning a smile from her.

"Okay." She hugged him tightly as he stood up.

Dante watched her slip into her boots and helped her into her jacket. He gave her a long, heated kiss goodbye and made her promise to let him know when she got home. Her sleek black Ducati waited out back by the alley and she put her helmet on before starting the bike and taking off. Dante watched her go until she was out of sight, before turning to walk back inside. The garage at the back of the building was where he housed his car and Nero's bike. He walked inside, flicking the light on and looked at all the junk off to one side. If I clean this out, her bike will fit… He thought as he rubbed the back of his neck. With a heavy sigh, he headed back inside, going to his room for the night.

As he walked in, he was met by his twin, who had returned almost as soon as Noelle had left. He sat at his desk and kicked his feet up, sighing as he folded his hands over his abdomen. Dante could see it in Vergil's eyes that the elder twin had something he wanted to say. Rarely did Vergil hold back his commentary or opinion, but this time it seemed the elder did not want to spark conflict.

"Alright. Lay it on me. What's on your mind, brother?"

"That girl has you distracted, Dante. You're getting lazy and sloppy." Vergil said coldly.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous."

"Then it's good that you know better. I won't tell you how to live your life. But consider the danger you put her in. She needs protecting and you can't always be there."

"I know…" Dante sighed. "But there's something about her. I just can't let her go…"

"That may just be the best way to protect her. Think on it." Vergil said as he left once again.

Noelle parked her bike as she got home, closing the garage and setting her helmet on the bench along the wall. She stepped inside, hanging her coat up and making her way to the kitchen to start dinner. A short text to Dante had her smiling at the words he sent back. She set her phone down and began getting a chicken casserole prepared and in the oven. Once she had everything in the oven, she set the timer and went to check the laundry. She jumped when she rounded the corner into the hall and bumped right into Rafael and her half-brother Gabriel. She frowned. They usually never came unannounced.

"Gentlemen. You both could have given me warning." She said.

"We apologize, Little Bird. But it seemed the best time to catch you was now." Rafe said.

"Well come on then. I'll put on some tea." She told them as she turned and went back into the kitchen, putting the kettle on for hot water.

She busied herself setting out three mugs and getting the tea bags ready. Once the kettle started to squeal, she poured it over the bags and set them in front of each man to steep. She leaned against the counter; arms crossed over her chest as she regarded them both. Gabriel took a seat at the island, occupying one of the stools as Rafe leaned forward, resting his forearms on the island. She was obviously not pleased with their sudden appearance. Her attention was turned when she heard the garage door open and close. She prepared another mug for tea, setting it out for Alexis as the blonde walked in. She was just as surprised when she appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

"It seems we have guests." She said as she joined Noelle by the counter.

"They just arrived. Apparently we are hard to track down." Noelle said.

Gabriel sighed. "Girls. Sage will be reassigned here for the near future. She is coming home. We wanted to tell you in person."

Alexis raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"

"No. Nothing beyond your reports. You both have sent back information about demonic energy here. We feel it is best, and necessary to have the trio back together."

Rafe nodded in agreement. "Things here are stable thanks to the Devil Hunters and to you both. But we feel having the trio back together will help in keeping things under control."

"Doesn't that risk exposure for us?" Alexis asked, earning a side glance from Noelle.

"You will just have to be diligent where you are. There isn't much we can do about it if you are exposed while working." Gabe said with a sigh.

The girls nodded, both taking their mugs of tea and holding them close. Neither woman had been close to the hunters in their work but had been close to being caught a couple of times. Noelle worried the most as she had been around when Dante and Vergil argued about the angel's presence in the city. Neither male was pleased that they hadn't found the angels yet. They looked at each other than the men. Both Rafe and Gabe had stood up, their tea finished. They gave the girls a nod and Noelle set her mug down, wrapping her brother in a tight hug. She sighed when the orbed away, leaving her and the blonde alone.

"Well at least Sage will be home with us." Alexis said, turning off the time on the oven as it beeped and pulling the casserole out.

Noelle just nodded. She was happy to be getting her sister back with them, but still worried about the risk of exposure. What she had with Dante was going so well. She worried what him finding out would do to their budding relationship. She stayed quiet, worried, and lost in her thoughts throughout dinner. As she did the dishes and cleaned up, Alexis went upstairs to shower.

Noelle went to the study to curl up in an old, worn armchair. It had belonged to her father, and she made sure it went with them. Between the comfort of the chair and the scent of Dante's hoodie, she felt safe. She twirled her hair around her fingers, staring at the ceiling as she pondered the new situation. She didn't like the feeling in her gut that said this wouldn't end well. She stayed there late into the night, almost falling asleep. She decided around one in the morning that she needed to head up to bed.

A pulse of strong demon energy would startle both girls awake. They dressed quickly in their warm gear, grabbing weapons and rushing to the site. Alexis stayed back, hiding on the roof of a nearby building. She let Noelle take the lead, the brunette dropping to the ground. Several Behemoth had shown up along with Pyrobats. She released her blade, her wings flaring wide. It didn't take long for her to realize she was in over her head. She shot at the Pyrobats, taking them out with blessed bullets. One of the Behemoth charged her, and she flipped, slicing at it from above. A familiar energy appeared nearby, and she saw a flash of a portal opening and closing. The sound of demons roaring in pain filled her ears as both Dante and Vergil joined the fight. Noelle cursed as she got distracted, trying to secure her mask on the fly. The Behemoth she was fighting turned to ash as her blade impaled its skull, the angel hitting the wall hard and slumping forward.

Alexis cussed softly from her hiding spot. The twins dispatched their enemies quickly, their sword skills something of wonder to the onlooking blonde. The last Behemoth turned to ashes and Vergil sheathed Yamato. Dante's blade disappeared as he approached the brunette girl who was starting to come to. Noelle's eyes widened as she looked up, struggling to her feet. She turned to leave, feeling Dante catch her by her wrist. As she spun to tug away and face him, her mask slipped down off her face. Dante stared at her, shocked. Vergil also raised a brow as Alexis landed behind her, a hand on one of her onyx blades and her wings flared wide.

"Noelle…" Dante said softly. "You…. You've been hiding this the whole time?"

"Dante please…. I wanted to tell you. I swear." Noelle said as he dropped her hand. She could see the emotions in his eyes and stepped towards him.

"Nells…" Alexis said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I trusted you." Dante growled. "And you kept this from me. What was the last month to you? Some game?"

"No! Dante please. Let me explain!" She begged.

"You had a chance to explain. And you refused. I believed you were human."

"Dante…." Noelle felt tears well in her eyes. "Please."

Dante simply shook his head as Vergil opened a portal. Noelle watched him step through it as Vergil gave her a cold stare. He followed his younger twin, leaving the women standing there. Noelle had tears streaming down her cheeks as she felt her heart begin to break. She turned to Alexis as a sob choked out of her throat. The blonde took her friend into her arms, letting the girl cry. She held her as they started to walk home. Alexis helped Noelle into the house, watching the girl go straight to her room. With a sigh, she put her gear away and headed to the kitchen to sit.

As morning broke over the city, Dante was reclined in his chair, snoring. A bottle of whiskey sat on his desk, half empty. Vergil simply shook his head as her came down the stairs, stopping near his son who stared at the sleeping man. Nero sighed and Vergil just stared.

"What happened to him?" Nero asked.

"Apparently his girlfriend is the half angel we have been looking for. And the blonde we met is one of them as well." Vergil said coldly.

"Damn. I guess getting drunk isn't the worst thing he could have done." The younger man said with a shrug.

His sire sighed. "No. But there will be no living with him. He truly did care for her. And I fear this may cause him to spiral. Regardless of if I liked her being here, she made him better."

"That's true. I guess we can see if we can talk to him about it." Nero said.

"I am going to see the blonde. I need answers about a few things. Keep an eye on your uncle." Vergil said before walking out.

Morning came before she knew it and Alexis woke up with a start. She realized she had fallen asleep at the kitchen island, as she stretched out her back and rolled her shoulders. She got up and went upstairs, poking her head in Noelle's room. She gasped, stepping inside when she saw the room was a mess and the bed empty. Noelle's red duffel was missing, and her gear had been hastily tossed on the bed. She looked at the wrinkled satin sheets that were still stained with tears, and the hoodie that had been left on the pillow. She checked for Noelle's phone to find it gone and prayed that the woman would call her.

The doorbell rang as Alexis was getting dressed after a hot shower. She slipped her watch on and checked the time as she headed downstairs. She grabbed her sword, Salvation and stepped to the door, undoing the bolt before opening it a crack. Her eyes narrowed at the half demon on the other side, his cool stare already locked on hers. She held the door firmly as she stood, keeping it just wide enough to fit her frame in. Her sword was clearly visible in her hand as she looked up at him.

"How did you find me? And what do you want?" she asked, anger in her soft voice.

"I told you before, I wasn't done with you. You are surprisingly easy to track down. Thank your friend for that. Her scent is all over Dante." He said monotonously.

"You have two seconds to make this worth my time or I won't hesitate to clean your blood off my doorstep." She threatened.

Vergil raised an eyebrow at her. "I came to talk. That is it." he said, taking in the wary look in her blue eyes.

Alexis frowned but stepped aside, opening the door a bit wider. "You try anything, and I will kick your ass."

Vergil stepped inside, waiting for her to close the door before following her to the kitchen. He watched her lean against the counter, keeping the kitchen island between them. Her defiant attitude and irritated look had a strange feeling nagging in his chest. He lay Yamato on the counter, motioning for her to do the same with her blade.

"A truce. I only wish to talk."

Alexis reluctantly lay her blade on the kitchen island. "Then talk."

"Your little friend said she could explain. I was hoping to get that explanation."

"Well you wont be getting it from her. I don't know where she is. She left some time last night." The blonde admitted.

"Then you can explain what two angels are doing in a city that you don't normally frequent." Vergil crossed his arms over his chest.

"We came here because Noelle felt called to this city. We haven't figured out what or why. But we were doing our jobs."

"And yet, she has left?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"Well the guy she was falling in love with basically told her to get lost. So I would imagine she's pretty emotional right now."

"Why didn't she tell him what she really is?"

"We can't…" she said softly. "We need to stay hidden and blend in as best we can. We have rules to follow and a code to live by. It's for our safety. It was bound to get out eventually, but we didn't expect it to happen like this." She said.

"I see." He watched her frown disappear and her eyes soften. "What is your name?"

"Alexis."

Vergil stepped around the kitchen island, his finger hooking under her chin as he invaded her personal space. His cold gaze searched her eyes, watching with a smirk as her body language changed to a more submissive posture. Alexis swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt her heart flutter. She could feel the heat of a blush on her cheeks as he pressed against her gently, her body tight against the cabinets behind her. She saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he leaned in close.

"We will cross paths again soon. I will require more answers."

With that, he grabbed the Yamato and was gone. She stood there for a moment, slightly stunned. Her phone buzzed on the countertop, and she grabbed it, breaking free of her trance like state. A deep sigh released from her lungs as she read the simple text from Noelle.

I am safe. I just need time.

A/N Well Dante found out. And Vergil has found something new to amuse him. Where has Noelle gone off to? What will happen if she comes back? And how well will the pair manage their sudden split? Find out in the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry, its characters, or material. This is purely fanfiction.

Story Available On: Wattpad and AO3