***Warning***

Chapter may contain graphic violence, depictions of explicit sexual scenes, nudity, and vulgar language. Please be advised.

Chapter 12: Training

5 April 2015

Dante

A deep chuckle rumble from my chest from where I lay on the ground, shirtless in the afternoon spring sunshine. Nero and Vergil had just finished sparring, the young hunter barely breaking a sweat as he kicked his fathers ass yet again. Vergil just glowered, sitting down next to Yamato and throwing a bottle of water at my head.

"And just what is so funny?" My twin asked.

"The fact that you drag your kid on his training, and he still beats you seven times out of ten." I laughed.

"You forget he made you need a break ten minutes in." Vergil countered.

"You both are just getting old." A feminine voice called, making us all look towards the back door of the shop.

Lady stood in the doorway, tilting her head in that playful manner she always had. Her bi-colored eyes watched us as we all basked in the sun. I sat up, cocking my head to the side.

"I assume the girls are with you or at home with Trish." I said.

"They're here. Well… Two of them are. Sage was headed to India for a mission. Azrael picked her up before we left." Lady confirmed. "I'm heading home for a bit so they're here with you three."

I nodded and looked to Nero. "Guess you're gonna be a grouch for a few days."

"Shut up old man." Nero grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

I chuckled again as Lady stepped aside and Noelle and Alexis stepped out. Vergil tensed and I rolled my eyes at him. He had been avoiding the blonde again, making her moody and intolerable. I hadn't been much better, avoiding being alone with Noelle as much as possible. But the warmer weather and melted snow meant we had to start training the angels. Things had been too quiet lately and the threat of the Fallen had hung like a dark cloud over the girls. Alexis had been itching to get out of the house more now that Noelle was healing.

"Ladies." I said in acknowledgment.

"Noelle is cleared to start working again. So it's time to start training her. I worked with Raphael all morning so I'm resting the rest of the day." The blonde said, clearly not here to work judging by the book in her hand and the sundress she wore.

Noelle sighed as she watched her friend and Lady go back inside. Vergil shook his head, earning a wry look from the brunette. Nero was the first to walk over to Noelle, giving her a fist bump in greeting.

"So… All cleared to train again. Must feel nice."

"Yeah. I still have a lot of work to do with my wings. But I can hold them up again and my balance is getting better." She said.

"Small improvements are still improvement." Nero said. "I guess we gotta start training then."

Noelle nodded as Nero grabbed his black t-shirt and put it on, the tight fabric stretching thin over his upper body. "You probably should just start sparring to get a feel for fighting one at a time before we toss you in with the old man and my dad."

"I agree," I chimed in, "Sparring with Nero will also help me see what you can and can't do against someone like us. See what needs improvement most."

I glanced over as Vergil stood, putting his own shirt on before heading inside. I frowned at him but refocused on the brunette who was now holding her katana. Noelle tied her hair back as her wings formed. They hovered a foot or so off the ground, unlike her sisters who still could hold their wings up against their backs. Noelle seemed to struggle to hold them up any higher, but her pride would not let them touch the ground.

"Alright. Lets get started then." Noelle said, determination in her voice.

I stood, moving to give them some room and finding my own shirt. Noelle's lingering gaze on my upper body didn't go unnoticed and she blushed when she met my eyes as I pulled my Henley over my head. Nero took up his stance with his blade, Noelle standing a few feet away. She looked stiff but determined. This would be interesting.

Vergil

I stepped inside quietly, finding Alexis seated on the leather sofa near Dante's desk, book in hand. She glanced up ever so briefly before ignoring me completely. I frowned and stepped over, looking down at her with my arms crossed. The blonde remained focused on her book, though she was more likely to stare a hole through it before actually getting progress on the reading.

"You are upset."

"No shit. Go away."

"Rude." A smirk formed on my lips.

The blonde simply rolled her cerulean eyes. I reached down to tilt her chin up and she swatted my hand away. I watched her attitude shift to that of a pouty teen. She set the book down, crossing her arms and sighing as she turned her face away from me, hiding behind that curtain of soft blonde locks.

"Alexis…"

"No." Her voice sounded broken. "You don't get what you want anymore."

"What are you taking about?" I asked, a frown forming.

She turned, glaring up at me. "You don't get to ghost me and then act like you've done nothing wrong!"

"Alexis. We need to talk about this…"

"There's nothing to talk about Vergil. You got what you wanted. You got me in bed with you. Don't act like you gave a shit."

"Alexis… I growled softly, closing my eyes as I tried to keep my anger and warring feelings suppressed.

"No, Vergil. I'm done." she said, shaking her head as she stood to brush past me.

I gripped her arm as she passed, forcing her to wait. She tugged gently at first, a warning to let her go. I sighed, a lot needing to be explained. I had been distant from her. Nearly nonexistent in her life to be frank. She deserved better but I had needed to work through this on my own first. Her glare was filled with anger and hurt as she turned to look at me.

"I have been distant. And I apologize. I was… unsure." I said, struggling to come up with the best way to say this.

"I don't care." Her voice seemed to be quieter, the tone still angry but not as hostile. "Let go of me Vergil."

"Alexis you need to listen to me."

She tugged again and I let go of her. I was slightly surprised when she didn't immediately walk away. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked down. I could see the hurt in her eyes as she spoke softly, meeting my gaze.

"Drop your claim on me."

I froze. "No. You know I can't."

"Vergil. Please…" she sighed. "I never thought it would happen so fast… But I got addicted to you. Your presence, your touch, your words. They all have a hold on me I can't resist. I care about you more than you could possibly imagine, and I think about you constantly."

"Alexis…"

"Let me go. So I can stop feeling this pull towards you. And I can stop hurting because of you."

"I can't."

I saw the anger flash in her eyes. Her tone grew harsh as she stiffened. "Why? Give me a good reason." She was near pleading.

I turned away, shaking my head. "I just can't. You need to accept that."

"No! Not until you tell me why."

My frustration boiled over at last when her hand landed on my shoulder, the words exploding from my lips before I could stop them, as I spun around. "Because I love you!"

Her face fell to a look of surprise as she stepped back, her hand falling to her side. An awkward silence fell over us for a moment as we stared at each other.

"I love you Alexis." I said finally. "And that terrifies me. Because everything I love gets taken away. I pushed you away because I didn't want to lose you. I couldn't bare to lose you."

"Vergil…"

"I have made many mistakes. Killed so many innocent people. Lost my parents, my brother… my son… even lost who I am. And you walk into my life and love me without hesitation. I do not deserve you."

I closed my eyes as I tried to stop the flood of emotions I had buried for months now. Her soft hands rested on my cheeks, thumbs wiping away the stray tears of anger and hurt that had escaped. She pressed her lips to mine, the kiss brief, soft, and gentle.

"Look at me." She prompted, and I did. "You deserve to be happy. It is not my place to judge your past. It is God's. And I don't care about who you were. I can't change that. Neither can you."

She paused as I sighed, my left hand coming up to hold her palm against my cheek as my right arm encircled her waist and pulled her closer. She was quiet for a moment, pressing her body against mine. I felt a sigh escape my lips as my eyes searched hers for any hint of anger or doubt.

"I can see the man beneath the icy mask you wear. He is a father, a brother, and a warrior. But he also is a man who is hurt. Who tries his best to atone for what he's done. And who deserves good things and love in his life."

"I will never understand how the angel in you can love the devil in me. I am sorry for the hurt I have caused you…"

Alexis sighed. "I was angry that you were avoiding me."

"I was wrong to do so. I will try to be more honest with you. But feelings are still…. Difficult. I have repressed them for so long."

"I love you Vergil. Nothing will change that. I don't think I have the ability to let you go."

"You captivated me Alexis. I want to be better for you. I just need your patience. Can you give me that?"

I smiled as she nodded, leaning down, and pressing a kiss to her temple. "Good girl." I whispered in her ear, earning a shiver from the blonde. We stayed in an embrace for a moment before I let her go. She went back to the sofa, and I retreated upstairs for a shower.

A/N: I struggled hard with writers block for this. I wanted to carry on, but Vergil deserves his moment without any follow up. That moment was pure vulnerability.

Song inspiration for the moment: The Devil in Me (Acoustic) by Anthony Mossburg

Now back to our regularly scheduled writing. I know this one is short. But it felt right.