#credo dmc

Most importantly though things went quick through the grapevine here

Small gossip making its way through nearly everyone

For as big as this place was it sure was more like a small town with how in 2 days you’d heard about bob the butchers wife apparently having an affair with his rival across town

Or how Samantha of 5 buildings down shared Patricia’s secret family pie recipe which started an all out war between angry housewives

You tried the recipe, it wasn’t anything to go home about though you guess it’s the intent behind leaking it that mattered

In some ways the gossip was annoying especially since you honestly didn’t care much

But other times it was helpful in getting accidental tips about not so friendly demons lurking around

But right now it was a bit more on the less helpful side as you kept seeing people point and whisper at you

Great, seems like your neighbour told people that you were the one stealing her succulents she’d left out to die

Cindy could say with full Earnesty that you and Dante had to be dating

No if’s, and’s or but’s about it

It was obvious to her after years of both your loyal patronage at Fredi’s

Yet as she served the rather busy diner some seemed to have their doubts on the subject

“No way! Have you seen them with that lady with the short hair? Apparently they go wayyyy back. Childhood friends or something! They’re 100% together!”

“Nu uh! Them and Trish are for sure dating! I’ve seen them both use the same changing stall several times! If they’re not dating explain that!”

“Then you explain why that knight the other day on a walk with them laid down his coat for them to cross over a large puddle like it was 50’s romance movie!”

“Personally you should have seen the mementos they have dedicated to Dante’s twin brother, if that doesn’t imply something then I don’t know what does”

To be honest this entire speculation session started when she made a comment about you and your very obvious boyfriend Dante

How the two of you came here for dates frequently

But from then on it spiralled with damn near everyone in the little diner arguing over who was dating who

None of them could pick up romantic tension like she could apparently

Not even when it was staring them directly in the face

It would have been entertaining for her already long shift if not for the fact that everyone else here was completely wrong (plus she’d rather not have Fredi blowing a fuse)

They hadn’t seen the way you and Dante interacted as she did

Though she does admit she is a bit intrigued by what the others were saying

Especially since she didn’t know about Dante having a twin brother, a knight walking around Redgrave nor the fact that lady was your childhood friend?

She taps a spoon against an empty glass getting the fighting patronage’s attention “Alright! Everyone settle down. Why don’t we all give our accounts and go from there! When we hear what everyone has to say we can settle who’s dating them”. There’s a pause and then a murmur of agreement across the floor, thankfully settling everyone down back in their bar seats or booths. “I’ll start first since I have the floor”

Cindy can remember clear as day the first few times you and Dante had begun coming to Fredi’s

It was a few months after she had been initially hired

Redgrave was shit after that weird tower rose up from the ground and crashed down like a jenga tower gone wrong

Admittedly the hush money from the government was nice but not enough to get by stabley

So she had begun taking shifts at the newly opened Fredi’s to make ends meet

And that’s where you came In

Apparently you had found the place for specially Dante

Before that tower he got his sundaes at a different spot but when things hit the fan his usual was nothing but a pile of rubble and melted ice cream

So Dante was without his precious sweet treats for awhile

Well until you’d found Fredi’s

You came in one day soaked to the bone and clearly recovering from some major injuries just to ask if they had the strawberry confection

And when she had replied they did your face lit up like a Christmas tree

She hadn’t known why until a day later you’d come in with the red coated Man

Him insisting you slow down and not hurt yourself or else his ass would be grass alongside his already thin wallet

His face softened visibly when you muttered a small “surprise!” Pointing at the desert menu after being seated at a booth

It was right then and there she knew something was in the air about the two of you

Not just small sparks but entire fireworks that could rival the Fourth of July in their intensity and only got stronger as time went on

A particular habit she’d caught onto was the fact that just seemed to always known what to order for you before you’d even spoke

Not in a toxic ex controlling what he wanted you to eat sorta way

But moreso he knew you so well he knew what you’d want before you’d even said it way

Sometimes it would be your regular

And other times before you could even vocalize you wanted something a bit different he was already on it

Already noticed whatever you were eyeing on the cheap laminate menus with a keen eye

Dante always seemed to notice the smallest details about you

He moved from sitting at the booth to the counter seats because the sun would hit you just right

You don’t notice or mind

But Cindy did when she’d catch the white haired man look at you through pale lashes as the sun hit you just right

Creating a halo around your head that highlighted your everything

Wasn’t just him either

You did your fair share of stuff too not even taking in the fact you admitted after the fact you’d scoured the half destroyed Redgrave trying to find a new place that served strawberry sundaes for him while injured

(Also not taking into account the nickname he always calls you by!)

But Cindy thinks that the cutest thing she’s noticed that you’d done for Dante is you give him your strawberries

When you think he won’t notice you scoop some of your berries off your own sundae and add it to his

It’s discreet and nonchalant enough to not get most people’s attention

But Cindy isn’t some regular gal

Not when it comes to her favourite lovebird regulars

She damn near changed her whole schedule when she thought you and Dante had picked a different day to come in instead of her shifts

How could a girl like her go on without seeing such a picture perfect pair of lovers!

Though back on the topic at hand she noticed this action

And evidently so did Dante

Too caught up in giving your strawberries to him you never noticed he’d purposefully make himself distracted so you could do this

Not out of greed for more berries but because it made you happy

And by how his usually impartial face lit up a red that rivalled the strawberries on his sundae it’s suffice to say he was flustered by the action

By you

By your small actions made to make his day even if you thought he wouldn’t notice

Each time you’d both leave Fredi’s he’d hold the door open for you to leave first

And each time Cindy sighed to herself wondering when she’d get that sort of love

“With my example done who’s next?”

The pizza delivery boy raises his arm “me! I volunteer as tribute”…..Cindy nods but internally cringes to herself at that reference, nerd-

Brad’s usual spot to deliver to was the oddly named shop of “devil may cry”

At first it was a little hard to find since it was hidden away in a particular spot in Redgrave and even more intimidating to enter

But after nearly countless trips he’d gotten comfortable enough to say he could find the shop with his eyes blindfolded with muscle memory alone

He’d talked to its owner Dante enough times

Usually small talk as the man scrounged up a few wads of scrunched up cash or already added it to “his bill” that his boss had specially for the man

But usually 9 times out of 10 the one to answer the front door was you

Polite and friendly and like him tired

Maybe not tired in the way he is physically but moreso mentally checked out

Like in a minutes time after you shut the door you were about to stare blankly into a wall kinda mentally tired

Apparently you manned the place when Dante was gone

But he’d ordered beforehand so when he got back he’d have a hot meal waiting

Or the man simply wanted to give you a surprise

Either way Brad delivered a lot of pizzas at that address

And maybe like Cindy he would’ve thought you and Dante were a thing

If he hadn’t delivered one Friday night

The weather that day was shit

Absolute shit with buckets of rain no one was prepared for let alone him

He was lucky the pizza’s weren’t drowned by the time he got to the double doors

But before he could knock a woman was already inside

Two toned eyes staring at his pathetic soaked to the bone ass with you not too far away

He thanked whatever god there was that you and the woman he found out went literally by Lady let him in

It was his last stop anyways, plus even if it wasn’t he couldn’t give a shit

Not when he’s probably catch a cold at this rate

From afar the interaction with you and lady seem neutral at least at first glance

But as Brad found himself warming up and bribed to at least sit down on the couch he found himself in an awkward situation

You and Lady were close

Close in a way that didn’t need to be physical to be extremely intimate with one another

It’s in the way red and green eyes light up when you laugh at some sort of inside joke

How lady instinctually leans in to say with you a line from the movie you both have on

Some obscure film he’d never seen before yet finds himself invested in now for the plot but just how much it seemed to mean to the two of you

And then there’s the way your hands drift to hers

He feels weird watching the moments between you two even though you’d both invited him in

Both welcomed him to take a minute to sit as the rain poured outside

And yet at the same time seeing this solidifies something in his gut

He’s been through a couple past relationships that didn’t work

Some messy and some going away on decent terms

But with all of them he’d never had something like the two of you have

Close without distance, loud without words

Whatever is between you and lady is physical in its weight yet invisible in the air

Like a sort of haze that fills you both with a nostalgia Brad can see with clarity

It’s all levels of intimate he’s never seen before

And he sees it time and time again when the two of you greet him at the door when Dante’s gone

The way she takes the boxes before you can with a cheeky grin

Or how you make it a sort of race to get to the door before her

The both your you pushing and shoving each other lightly with a few giggles tumbling out from smiling lips

The few times Dante is there to watch all this he looks just as awkward as Brad does looking on

Pouting lightly and grumbling under his breath about wanting to be let in on their jokes as well

Yet you nor lady never tell him

Never give him context with cheeky grins

It feels almost Voyeristic to Brad

Like he’s a creep spying in on a pair of lovers rather than supposed best friends having fun

But Brad keeps that to himself

He’s not paid enough to ask but he is paid enough to remember since you and lady always tip nice when compared to Dante

He still isn’t over the time he got Monopoly money and a “demon hunter” coupon

His hopes and bets were on Lady but if all else failed he’d be fine so long as that red coat jerk didn’t end up being your supposed partner

“All im saying is that there’s definitely something going on between them”

“Oh please kid, if you thinks that’s close then listen to this!”

Working at a boutique at the Redgrave mall wasn’t anything to write home about in Diane’s book but it got the bills paid

Normally she didn’t really recognize customers

Didn’t exactly need to when a hundred or so people revolved through the door on the daily

But you and Trish were frequent customers to remember

Particularly because the two of you always picked the best pieces

Diane had seen many a couples buy together but none had worked in such synergy as you and Trish did

The two do you seemed to know each other in and out to know what the other would like

Browsing the store sometimes hip to hip or a few racks away from the other you’d both sift through cloth and found stuff the other would like effortlessly

There were no if’s, and’s, or buts you both always found each other stuff the other was guaranteed to enjoy

For Trish you found her daring pieces

Black leather, laced up corset tops, stuff that accentuated her figure and form perfectly without it being too much

It was always the right balance of elegant and sexy you’d knew she’d like

Never too much on either end

Making a perfect balance

It’s the same for her as well though on the other end of the store

She finds stuff that she knows you’d like

Practical for work but comfortable and stylish

Sometimes something a bit daring too

Nothing that would make you properly uncomfortable but maybe pushes you a bit from your typical comfort zone

Made you feel a bit more confident in your own skin with how she insists you’d look great in it

And she’s right

You do

You do in whatever Trish chooses

Because she chooses to cater to you

Your taste

What would best suit your body and accentuate your features

Colours that make your eyes pop and patterns that flatter you

It’s clear both of you know each other inside out

Knowing each others taste was as easy as breathing

Or counting ones fingers

It’s admirable to Diane

To know your partner so well that you both knew instantly what the other wanted and liked

But it didn’t stop there either

Sometimes when Trish was playful she’d slid up to your side with her arm wrapped around your waist and whisper something in your ear

Whatever she said always seemed to give you a small shock

You’d have a full body shiver and yelp that made the blond giggle at her own antics

Seemingly enjoying how she could tease you into embarrassment

She did that a lot

Not out of cruelty as some others would do

But out of a love that struck a balance of being fun yet never cruel

Never malicious in her teasing

Because all Trish wanted was for you to laugh

To smile

To get flustered at whatever she whispered huskily in your ears with red painted lips

Though perhaps if none of that was damning enough there was one other common occurrence with you both that made Diane know for a fact you were both dating

The change rooms

Awhile back the store was being renovated leaving only one change room at the time open

Diane had felt with her overwhelming share of patrons nagging at her about it

As if she was responsible or could somehow speed up the construction process at all

Safe to say she was tired

But her day brightened when you and Trish made your daily rounds to the boutique

And even moreso when you politely asked about the change room situation and sympathized with Diane’s dealing with shit customers

Diane left you and Trish too it

But as she left she had paused

Because she heard you discuss who’d go first

In which Trish aptly said “it’s fine, we can just both use it. We’ve both seen each other in way less before cause of work and with living with one another”

Diane had no idea what that last part about work implied

But the rest was pretty blatantly obvious

Now, it was against store policy to let two people in a change room at once that weren’t say a parent and a kid

But Diane was willing to turn a blind eye

Because you were her favourite customers

Also because she trusted the two of you

She trusted neither of you would cause trouble

Or fuck as many horny teens saints unfortunately caught

And also because Partially for the fact she owed Trish a large thank you for the time she caught someone trying to shoplift

And for the fact she shipped it

Plus hey, when your young and dumb in love you do stupid shit sometimes

God knows the decisions she made with some of her ex boyfriends in the past

But she digresses, Diane turned the blind eye to it when it happened

Because it wasn’t a one time occurrence

Though thankfully it was when no one would notice so she never had the reason to be forced to report it at all

But you and Trish kept using the same stall even after the changing rooms were changed and reopened

Because it seemed more comfortable for the two of you to simply just be together

And Diane wasn’t sure if there was a reasonable explanation from all this that explained you both not being a couple

“See! If they weren’t a couple explain that!”

“That is weird but I saw them on a date the other day”

Isaac needed inspiration on how to get Cindy’s attention as of late

Sure, they were dating but when coming home from Fredi’s her nose was tucked into some romance novel all the time

One of the schlocky ones from the 80’s with the bodice ripper covers as well of some knight in shining armour

Honest, he tried to get her attention in various ways

But she’d been off in her own world reading that he hadn’t been able to get what felt like a solid 60 minutes with her himself

So he may or may not have resorted to some old bad habits

He knows it’s a wrong

But when hearing there was some big shot actual knight in Redgrave just like in the book Cindy was reading he couldn’t help but maybe want to see the guy and get some ideas

You know, spice things up a bit

But what he hadn’t expected was what he had found when stalking er…strategically watching the guy

The knight he’d figured out was named Credo went to a variety of different places before meeting up with a mystery person he found out later was you

Firstly credo had went to a small florist

For as awkward as he was there was a sincerity in how he seemed to come through various arrangements of flowers for imperfections

He fixated around a specific few

Mumbling under his breath about which were ones that this mystery person (aka you) would like

Then also asking the florist what each flower meant which made them passionately explain to him each

With each meaning to each flower he slowly nodded to himself

Picking a few with the help of the florist to make a nice bouquet with a meaning to each petal

A silent sort of confession of feelings

And then he headed out once more with Isaac tailing him the entire way

Walking to wherever he was headed Isaac saw credo fidget

It’s subtle but he keeps trailing gloved fingers across the elaborate embroidery on his coat sleeves

With each minute ticking past it got worse

His dominate hand holding the bundle of pristine flowers more like a sword or shield than anything

For a man as stoic and confident as he presented the knight seemed nervous

Or well…maybe flustered was the better word

And then-

Isaac remembers you clear as day when he was also strategically watching Dante (stalking, it’s stalking-)

And there you were waiting for the knight who held out to you a bouquet

Something that makes you slap his arm but accept it with a small smile that makes the knight look like he was about to nearly keel over

And with that Isaac watched and followed

Though now he was admittedly a bit sloppy since he was a bit aghast

You were dating the knight?

You had to have been with the flowers he gave you that all had romantic meanings to them tied in an elaborate golden bow

Walking through Redgrave you seemed to have been taking credo to a bunch of places

A quaint cafe with good coffee and pastries

The book store on a corner

Through the park and into a small grove where weeping willow hung down like garlands

Credo looks at you like your the world

Like your holy

Like every word falling from your mouth is gospel and he’s a simple follower to it

And your an angel from above

Isaac sees devotion in how credo offers you his arm to latch onto as to not get lost

How he insists on paying for the coffee you rave about at that cute cafe

How he insists on opening doors

And the most damning example the damn thing with the coat

Isaac always thought that stereotype of placing a coat over a puddle was fake

It was a thing of chivalry only in old black and white films

Yet he witnesses it

Credo, the literal knight in shinning armour does it

Without any hesitation when his coat was stark white and expensive looking as hell with its silk lining on the inside

Even you look surprised

Yet with a small shake of the head and a laugh you concede to it

Making the man before you melt like butter

And honestly Isaac can kinda get the appeal now to Cindy’s romance novels if they were like this

This earnest and utterly sincere placed in actions

Sometimes small and others grand

However he also sees you how look at credo as well

There’s a special sort of shine in your eye

A pride not for yourself but toward him

For the effort he puts into things

In how he polarity pauses your date to help an elder woman with her groceries

The way he fumbles with interacting with others without being too formal

How he takes in the modern city before him while muttering about wherever he was from wasn’t like this or didn’t have that

When he seemed to grapple with himself for whatever reason you’d ground him with your touch

Immediately recognizing what he needed in that moment

Like you know him inside out or at least whatever he’s going through

He may be a knight that protects you but your his armour

Shielding him and his heart

It feels beautiful to watch

To see with his own eyes

And when credo walks you to your apartment there’s a lingering on both your ends at the door

As if savouring each others company before credo turns away to save you the pain of being the one to close the door first

It’s selfless since Isaac sees how credo wishes to stay longer

And you clutch the flowers with a touch as delicate as glass

Isaac safe to say felt like he realized quick what he needed to do to try and get Cindy’s attention

However after the knight saw you off Isaac quickly learned that he perhaps wasn’t as sneaky as he thought

Not when Credo immediately then turned to him and started questioning him with an actual god damn sword-

“What have I told you about doing that?! And is that why you came home that one night spending 200 dollars on flowers I was allergic to?!”

“I was just trying-“

“Alright, alright calm down! You damn youngins and your fighting” the old woman’s cane hit the tiled floor as she got up from her booth “I’ll go next”

Judith lived one floor up from your apartment

She’d always liked you the minutes you moved to the little apartment complex

You were quiet compared to other neighbours

And most importantly you were kind to her

You had various times helped her carry heavy things to her apartment and accepted her occasional requests to have some afternoon tea

In all honesty you were the type of person everyone dreamed of having as a neighbour (even if you were technically a floor down from her own)

Judith liked you very much as she would a grandchild if she had any

So it’s safe to say she was a bit invested in your life even if you didn’t clue in

It’s why when you invite her over to have a nice lunch in your apartment for a change of scenery she takes notice of various things in your little space

The pictures framed on the wall

Little souvenirs of sorts

The magnets on your fridge

And most oddly enough a small shelf in the corner of your living room

Laid over silky blue cloth was various small items that told a story of someone

A shard of what looked to be a blade

Poem books of various kinds

A small journal

A lamp shaped like a moon

And what looked to be a drawing of a man framed in gold

It’s safe to say that Judith can’t help but be curious

And Judith has lived long enough to know how to ask without making it intruding

So as you give her tea in a homemade mug shaped with care she asks about the poetry books on that shelf

Blake’s collection in various volumes in vintage covers lovingly clear of dust

You smile, and with nostalgia you say that Blake was something you and another person bonded over

That entire shelf was dedicated to him

And that he was….someone special to you

That’s how you worded it

Not just a friend nor a family member long gone

Special

And Judith could relate in that aspect

She too had a small shrine of sorts dedicated to someone she loved that was now gone

It was her way of grieving

Or honouring their memory

For what was, what didn’t and what life couldn’t give her

Judith understood more than anyone want that meant

And over more visits she learns more tidbits

Blake was his favourite

You didn’t have a first good encounter with him but with some time found footing with the shared loved or poetry

Unlike his twin brother who was your boss he preferred blue

And unlike the boss you lightly chid about being reckless all the time he was careful

If a bit absorbed in his own ideals that it blinded him

And above all else his name was Vergil

There’s a small smile when you mention him

Sad but still a smile regardless of the bitterness that comes with remembering someone who’s gone

She understands it better than most

And Judith also understands just how much he meant and still means to you when your eyes get misty

Clouded like a stormy sky ready for rain

If a few tears drop then she pretends not to notice

For your sake and dignity

But with the sad smile are also actions she doesn’t see herself but finds the aftermath of

The shelf is always dusted

Kept neat and clean minus the small tear stains in the blue silk

Becoming one with the cloth as if rejoining the ocean

Sometimes there are flowers in a china vase

Petals of various colours dancing with intricate blue paint strokes of a Chinese dragon mingling with intricate swirling clouds

She looked some of them up

Found their meanings of longing and love for someone just out of reach

It’s as touchingly beautiful as it is sad

Especially as she flipped through the small journal to find conversations written down from memory

Interpretations inked in blue for him and black for you

The occasional page dyed in more tears making the ink blotch like watercolour

Judith may have not know Vergil but she can tell that his memory haunts you

“And that’s why they must’ve been with him and never moved on”

“I guess the special part is pretty damning but if he’s dead it doesn’t mean they can’t be with someone now”

“They were literally on a date with that knight there’s no way-“

“People can have platonic outings! What can’t be platonic is spending 15 minutes in the same changing stall together!”

“This fixed nothing”

With the fighting between patrons (+ plus the one super adorable waitress) no one had heard the small bell above the door ring

It’s small ding-a-ling more like the chirp of a bird in a thunderstorm

But it’s your very recognizable appearance that makes everyone settle quick

Especially since a trail of others followed closely behind you

“Hey Cindy sorry for not booking or telling you this in advance but do you think you can get us a uhhhh-” you pause for a moment and counted the small army behind you “10 seater?”

Behind you Dante gave the pink uniformed waitress a wave and smile

He attempted to slide his arm around your waist but what Cindy assumed to be his twin in blue (who was alive?) swatted the arm before it could land

Lady and Trish just behind the brothers rolled their eyes but also subtly tried to hip check the other away from you

Credo meanwhile just looked plain awkward as Nero and Kyrie seemingly did their best to motion him towards you

And then there was patty and Nico

The two young women looking at the entire situation with muffled amusement paired with a look to one another

Both were enjoying this wayyy too much

But you were none the wiser and just trying to get everyone seated

Exhaustion rolled off you in waves the size of tsunamis and Cindy couldn’t help but laugh

Speak of the devil and he will come

Or in this case speak of honey and their pack of devils shall come

Oh how the world and this shift has suddenly gotten better

“Sure thing hon! Just give me a minute to set it up”

“Thanks again Cindy, I hope it’s not much of a bother. Dante Thought it would be nice to get some dinner but turns out everyone wanted to come as well”

Looking at the odd group you’d attained Cindy can’t help but come to realize something with how they looked at you

It wasn’t just Dante as she first had thought

They were all in love with you like the others had said

But, maybe the expressions in their eyes were more akin to longing?

Or it was the fun option

The fun confusing option

“Oh great and powerful emperor!, I got something for you and your harem”

“Huh?? Emperor what? Harem?-”

“Hey then what are we? Were certainly not like them” Nero pointed to himself, Nico, party and kyrie before turning his thumb to the rest of the group.

“Your the heirs, simple as that kid”

“I call first in line to the throne cause they met me first!” Patty said striding past Nero grabbing a menu from Cindy who chuckled at the young woman’s brazenness. She can remember when patty was such a little cutie when you and Dante first brought her here, oh good times. Cindy felt old now especially since patty was now a budding young woman compared to the little lady she met initially.

As you and your group sat down the others in the diner watch on with bated breath. Seems like they’d have to figure out just who you’re with more observation….and maybe start a betting pool.

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