#dxlweek

Royalty:

Lady chokes back her tears when she finally sees the bluest eyes stare right back at her. A second ago, they were closed and she honestly believed they would never open again. If they did, they would have been a different color, not something this beautiful.

“The curse is finally broken,” he croaks from the weight of her body on top of his, gently moving her and the tears with his hands. His human hands. Despite finally being able to sit up, he has to catch her in his arms and fall back down. He doesn’t really mind, it doesn’t matter how sore he is. It’s just… it feels so awkward to be so human after years of being a devil, he used to treat her with careful touches due to his strength but now it feels like he needs to be the one treated gently.

“I thought you died” she says after her calms down, they’re lying down in the midst of fire and destruction from their fight with the evil wizard (her father) who cursed him to begin with. The Lady Knight traces over his features, admiring how different he looks now. How princely he seems to be, fitting for the fate of ruling his kingdom… with someone more queenly. Someone not her…

Steeling her heart from their possible future of separation, Lady moves her hand away from his face but he takes hold of it. Placing her palm above his heart, she realizes where he’s going with this. He can’t be doing this now, she doesn’t have the heart to say no if he does. So she speaks up first, before he can break her resolve.

“Dante I can’t, we talked about this. I’m not cut out for this, never been educated to rule a Kingdom. Being a queen is not the life for me.” There, she said all she can with her resolve still strong despite the quake in her voice.

“I wasn’t raised to rule either, younger twin remember? Besides this kingdom has been without the royal family for a long time.” As he spoke, he uses his free hand to guide her to look up at him, his thumb tracing the fresh scar by her jaw.

“Dante… what are you trying to say?” She’s not trying to be hopeful, to be so selfish when all she’s been through was for the sake of the kingdom and the people that cried for help. But oh, it feels so good to feel this loved and safe.

“I’m saying forget Dante the Prince, everyone else has and let me just be Dante. Your Dante.”

Chase:

They were walking hand in hand, the sand between their toes under the twilight of the night sky. Both are recounting the game earlier that Lady instigated, she laughs when Dante brings up the smoke grenade she threw at him earlier.

“Speaking of, I think I see it. Hold up” he says while letting go to move back. She clasps both of her hands together at his release, still feeling and already missing the warmth of his. She admires the moon reflected on the sea while waiting for Dante to come back to her side, but she doesn’t want to admire the moon in silence so she quips up.

“You can’t seriously be mad about that, the grenade was harmless and I needed to get the upper hand if you’re going to be chasing me.”

“Not mad, just wanted another memento of how crazy I am to always go after someone like you.”

“Hey now- son of a bitch,” Lady is completely speechless when she turns around to admonish her lover. He’s down on one knee, the pin of the grenade is held between his fingers like a ring.

“I’ve been chasing you since we first met and I ain’t ever gonna stop. Will you let me chase you forever?”

Western:

“Still mad sweetheart?” Dante has to raise both hands up now, trying to diffuse the situation he landed himself in. Despite his life being in danger, he still has time to appreciate how much of a beauty she’s become, wild back hair cropped above her shoulders. Angry bi-colored eyes accompanied by the scar across her nose. He would wax poetry if he knew how, but he’s been an outlaw for a long time with all his manners beaten out from the wild west. He thinks she should at least know how pretty she is, so he lets out a low whistle that only earns him another bullet grazing his cheek. Same spot from the shot she made earlier, well damn she’s got aim.

“You stole from my father and made me an orphan on our weddin’ day.”

“He was a bad man, Mary. Bastard had it comin’ and you know it.”

“Didn’t let me finish cowboy and don’t ever call me Mary again… Ain’t my name no more.” He has to bite his tongue or lose his head for real when she gets up real close and puts that barrel right against his forehead. There’s honest to god real anger in those eyes, hurt too if he looks any closer than he’s doing so already. He keeps himself real quiet by finding some of his lost manners and waits for her to finish.

“You left me at the altar, didn’t take me with you. You know I would’ve… I could’ve, still can you know… but you ran off and I was alone. Only had your Ma’ to keep me company when I lost everything. Even name, but that was choice. Think about it, still think you got the right to come back after all this time, Dante?”

“I…believe I did, still do but Law didn’t agree so much, would’ve hanged me for killin’ yer old man… I tried to ya know… to get you that day but they already were expectin’ me. Settin’ you up like bait… I still want to… if you do… It ain’t right what I did, but that don’t mean I still can’t now. ” He’s careful to remove the barrel when her gaze softens and her strength against him relents. It’s awkward now, when Dante’s been gone for so long but feelings are coming back like a water breaking down dam. He’s glad she’s still so understanding after all these years. Maybe still loves him even…

“What do I call ya then if not… well…” He asks tentatively, taking off his hat to groom himself a bit more presentable. She shrugs, lowering her rifle in silence. Nervously, he tests out her patience and forgiveness.

“Then… how about Missus Dante Alighieri?”

Bodyguard:

“Can you stop pacing like that?”

Mary looks up and past the bars that holds her to see the monster –devil-boy she thinks spitefully- that her father summoned from the depths of hell to keep her imprisoned. He’s so bored that the chair he sits on should be breaking from the precarious angle of him pushing the back legs at. He hasn’t stopped leaning that far back, using only his propped legs as a tether to a table full of empty cups and scattered cards. He may be skillful in the art of lazy guard duty but the chair is old and will give out. When it does, she’ll be there to laugh at his stupid face since it’s just themselves to keep each other company.

“No,” she answers back petulantly, bringing her nose up in disdain and the devil rolls his eyes.

“You going back and forth is giving me a headache, just take a nap or whatever. I can’t believe I accepted this deal.” The last part, he muttered underneath his breath but she heard it anyways. Curiously, she goes up against the bars of her cell and peers out to read his expression. His face is human, but she’s seen what he’s capable of. Knows that his albino appearance cannot fool her from where he’s truly from and that she’s out of her depths if she thinks she can defeat the demon.

“Having a change of heart? Feeling bad that daddy dearest wants to sacrifice his only daughter for power?” She sneers, her lips twisting into a snarl after openly declaring her fate.

“Well… yeah, I don’t really wanna screw the world over… or you even.” His answer took her by surprise, what was that? She has to stare at him, long and hard to find any lies to his admission. His blue eyes staring back now, a look she recognizes as regret and she can feel anger bubbling out from the mockery that is his turnaround.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Why are you even doing this? Following that man’s orders. Just free me and get lost then!” She has half the mind to beat him with the chair right now.

“I can’t… the deal was that I’d keep an eye on you and I get a bride in return, else the contract breaks and I’m dragged back to hell.”

Mary scrunches her nose, her life was on the line and the devil wants a wife. Yeah, she’s definitely justified in the chair beat down. But… she can use this to her advantage, her guard in red is giving her an opening. She just has to get at his level, make a bargain better than her father’s.

“My father said to keep me from running away right?… it’s not really like you’re breaking the contract if I’m willing to go to him… you’ll still be watching over me. Like… a bodyguard of sorts. Did he say anything about me stopping him from ending the world?” She smirks when she sees how much he’s perking up at the word, bodyguard. So she’s got a hero-wannabe devil… she can work with that.

“You have a point there, I won’t be breaking the contract if we… look at it like that, didn’t say anything about stopping you from going to him… but there’s still the bride issue…”

She deflates, still with that bride-bullshit… ok minor setback. “Why does having a bride matter so much, I thought souls were the kind of things you guys prefer.”

He rakes one hand through that silver mop of hair and finally gets up from his position, walking over to her. She definitely has his attention now, she can make him change his mind. “Not my kind of thing really and I just want some sort of love in my life. It’s lonely in the business.”

“Then how about me?”

He’s definitely looking at her now, brows furrowing to an unreadable expression. She can’t stand the silent stare and continues with her sudden proposal.

“I don’t want to die as a sacrifice, you want a wife without going back to hell. If we go by that logic then contract still stands and we all get what we want.”

“You sure you want this?”

She gulps, but she’s not backing out of her proposition and keeps staring him straight in the eyes.

“Just protect me as I stop my father.”

Past/Future:

“You know what? Future looks pretty good.” Nineteen year old Dante declares Forty-whatever Lady, who’s sitting at his desk on his chair like it’s her’s. He knows what’s up and he likes what it might mean. He can’t explain why he’s in the future or how he got there… at least not yet, mind’s still foggy from some sort of magic.

But he’s not so out of it that he can’t recognize the furnishing he bought not too long ago from his timeline. He knows what his business looks like and the years hasn’t changed it one bit. The only new additions he doesn’t recognize are the women who occupy the space. One being Trish, his mom’s clone and the other being Lady… who he has to assume might be his significant other. Like he can’t not be with a woman that gorgeous. At least he hopes that’s what she is to him when she’s looking that damn fine and in control behind his desk, on his chair like that. It’s like twenty-whatever years into his future, sounds like a good time to settle down with someone, he thinks. Especially if that someone is her.

He wants to know how important she is to him, to older him. It’s only been less than a day since they got acquainted after showing up in this timeline, and he likes her. He like likes her when she’s so funny and crass and doesn’t give one damn about things. She’s cool like that.

She also got him pizza, his favorite kind.

Lady quirks a brow to his words and replies with that same crass attitude of her, “because I’m treating you with pizza? Don’t hope too much, I’m not that generous with you.”

He laughs, not too put off by her teasing. Now he really wants to know how much of an item they are. He tries to, but words don’t come out when the alternative pervades his mind and he shuts down. He likes the idea of being with her a little too much that if they’re only just friends and he has to hear that kind of reject from her, it’d hurt like shit. But he’s curious and a tad restless with his anxiety that he excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

He knows his way around that he manages to find his room on his way not to the bathroom. It’s not locked and he peers in to see his bed neatly made. Yeah… no, he doubts he’s neat enough to clean his bed even at Forty. Carefully, he enters the room and snoops a bit more. He’s both delighted and disappointed to know Lady sleeps here but only because of the bags that contained her clothes and weapons. It shows how temporary her residence is when the only clothes in his closet are just his, so it doesn’t really say a lot at what they are. There’s not even a picture of them together, if he’s enough of a sap to keep a picture of his mom then it can’t kill him to have a picture of them together.

He solemnly swears to remedy that when he goes back to his timeline and finally meets his Lady. Then it hits him at the revelation to his thoughts, so if there’s nothing that says what they are out in the open, there might be something hidden instead. Dropping on all fours, he looks under his bed to find a hidden compartment. He spots a small familiar latch and reaches deep under to open it, just his luck that something actually does fall into his palm. Something not his usual stash of cash. He gives himself a congratulatory fist pump for buying a bed with a hidden safe and using it for something not money in the future.

“Whatcha got there, kid?”

Dante’s startled to hear Lady in front of him that he doesn’t have time to register what is in his hand. By the time he’s straighten himself up, both he and Lady are staring at a red velvet box that he’s holding out. Oh fuck.

He opens it to see a golden band.

“Oh fuck,” the both of them swear.

Role Reversal:

Through the rubble of the wreckage that is Fortuna, Dante carries Force Edge nonchalantly above his shoulder, he saunters over to the stoic older figure in the middle of it all.

“I guess I should thank you…”

It’s weird to be indebted to the man in the navy dusker when hours before Dante impaled him against the statue of the legendary, Virgil. Nero turns around to face him, showing that stupid smug grin of his that irks and amuses Dante to no end. The old hunter scoffs and waves off Dante’s gratitude, telling the young Knight that he had his reasons to do what he did. Reasons to look after the long lost son of his deceased twin, Sparda. A reason Nero can’t bring himself to reveal to Dante after all that has happened. At least not yet.

Dante is surprised with Nero’s goodbye when he makes his way out, it’s not tenderness behind the Hunter’s word but it’s the lack of persistence of the return of Force Edge that was clearly still in his arms.

“Wait,” he called out “you forgot this.” And he presents the sword out but Nero shakes his head.

“Keep it.”

“What? Thought this meant a lot to you…” The weight of the sword feels so much heavier when Nero shows no sign of wanting it back.

“That’s the kind of gift worth giving. I’m entrusting you with it so what you do from now on? Your call.” Dante’s touched and honored at the answer and watches Nero finally make his exit. The young knight finds himself lost in his thought while drawing Force Edge back into his devil arm, he wonders if they’ll ever meet again. He hopes so, there’s something comforting and familiar about the Devil Hunter.

“So…” A voice calls out behind Dante and he turns to see Mary in her knight’s uniform.

“This the end?” She asks while adjusting the strap of her sword. The splattering of blood that stained her uniform indicates her recent dealings with the monsters that now lurk about in their city. Dante doesn’t have the strength anymore to fight with Mary about putting herself out there when he just saved her from being Sanctus’ living battery. Telling Mary to not risk her life for others has been a lost cause since they were kids and god damn, he loves her more for it.

“Maybe,” he says but the end to what? Despite the city being a wreck, he still sees a better future. From the look in her eyes, she’s thinking the same thing.

“We’re still alive…”

That’s true… they’re still alive but not the same. He’s not the same, not human anymore and the thought shames him to know she might choose to reject him because of his damnation. But he has enough resolve to respect her wishes, he always will. He brings up his devil arm, grasping it with his human arm, trying to find the courage to voice his fears.

“Mary, if I’m a demon and not a human anymore… would you still-” he’s finding it hard to look at her, afraid to see the look of disgust. Mary is strong, proud and above all else, honorable that Dante can’t bring her down when he’s become what she’s sworn to kill.

It’s her hands that takes a hold of him from the fear that could swallow him whole, its firm with a resolve that is reflected in her eyes. He sucks a breath in from her sudden affection, everything right now is giving him the kind of hope that makes him lean in to her touch.

“Dante you’re you…” she’s stepping in close to him, bringing up their joined hands in reassurance. “And it’s you I want to be with and I don’t know anyone who’s as human as you are.” He does everything in his power not to mess up the moment, because he can be an ass and now is not the time. Not when he’s fishing out his pocket to return to Mary her mother’s necklace. She gasps and leans forward to let him clasp the only family heirloom she has left. Someday he’ll give her something more than just a necklace, something to fit her finger and really cement what they really mean to each other.

Homecoming:

The Sparda twins are flooded with a sense of relief upon seeing the neon lights of Devil May Cry, after months of fighting in hell a little bit of peace was a nice change of pace. A little bit of peace being a rundown building in the seedier side of town. Dante’s not complaining about it and Vergil will just have to grudgingly suck it up, because home is home.

Dante perks up to see the women in his life sitting inside, and with Vergil finally by his side the family picture that he never knew he wanted is starting to feel so real. He has to wipe his nose to reign back any tears, he’s not going to freaking cry in front of Vergil.

When he’s certain he still got his bravado, he claps behind the other man’s back and goads him to go further. There’s a look of warning to not pussy out or start a fight with Lady and Trish. His twin is gracious to give him a scoff instead the usual verbal threat of bodily harm. That’s what Dante calls character-fucking-growth.

With everything falling into place in his life, he swears to protect this weird family and keep them together or die trying. He has a nephew, friends to call upon and a brother who’s not dead.

Then there’s Lady…

She’s jovially responding to whatever Trish must have said because the blonde is moving her head back and looks to be laughing now. She’s at such a good place right now, far from the days of Temen-ni-gru and recklessness. Well she’s still reckless but so is he...

Okay, maybe they’re reckless with the lives they lead but that’s the perk of the job not something detrimental to their health, so he thinks… But that’s beside the point. The point is that there’s Lady and he wants something more to make this family picture in his mind more…

More…

More tangible…

“Dante?”

That’s not Vergil speaking to him… He snaps out of his thoughts to see that asshat inside Devil May Cry and talking to Trish while his dear brother was left outside in the cold. He’s out in the cold alone, or not alone because there’s Lady right there in front of him.

Oh.

“Heeeey Lady…” He totally did not lamely greet her like he hope he wouldn’t. She offers him a smile, and he’s still being lame because he’s certain his own is coming off crooked and awkward. In no time, he takes her into an embrace, making up for his lack of charm and she returns his hug by wrapping her own around his shoulders. It feels so good to feel her this close that he lifts her from the ground to pull her closer. She can’t walk away when she can’t touch the ground. Heh heh.

They might as well be like this for eternity, he wants them to. Stay like this and probably die like this too as long it’s something she wants as well. His eternity ends though when she looks up and asks to be put down. He’s reluctant at her request, but the look in her eyes has every wisecrack he could think of die on his lips. He obliges by letting her feet drop to the ground, still holding her but she’s moving out of his grasp and it feels so empty to have her move away like that.

“Lady I-

She stops him by getting on one knee and presents to him a familiar ring he’s kept hidden from her before his venture to hell.

Dante hardly expected any kindness from the woman he had just met in that damn tower. Neither of them was in any state of mind to help anyone else out. At least, he didn’t feel like being kind. After watching his brother, the only family he had left, topple off a ledge and into Hell where he could have no inkling of an idea if he would survive or find his way back, he felt like lashing out. Screaming. Fighting anything that moved. It didn’t help when they returned to his shop and he found it in shambles, reminded of the fact that he would have to have repairs done for his home to even be livable again.

Unlike Lady, he never would have thought to offer a near stranger a place in the hotel room she had called home for a few months. He followed her into the small room after she struggled to find her key, curses mumbled under her breath. He shut the door behind him but remained awkwardly in the doorway, hands shoved deep in his pockets. There was only one bed in the room and a small recliner. A small TV sat on a stand across the bed next to the door to the tiny bathroom. He felt claustrophobic, and he sighed in relief when she opened the window. The storm had passed, and the smell of fresh rain wafted into the room.  

“Make yourself at home.” His gaze fell on Lady as she shoved her prized rocket launcher, Kalina Ann, in the corner. He still didn’t know how she had convinced the front desk not to bother her and now him about the very obvious weapons they carried. Judging by the look of the place, he assumed she easily bribed them with a little extra money each week.  

Following her lead, he removed his own weapons from his person and his coat. He hung his coat on the headboard and set Rebellion against the wall. Ebony and Ivory were placed on the nightstand next to the lamp.  

Lady sank down into the recliner with a sigh. Now that he looked, he realized how exhausted she looked. Her eyelids drooped over bicolored eyes, and her posture was limp and bent forward. He knew it wasn’t just the physically demanding trials of Temen-Ni-Gru that weighed on her. She had been through emotional hell and back just as much as him that day.

“I, uh, I can help pay for this,” he muttered, toeing his boots off and tucking them next to the nightstand. “I don’t have much, and a lot of what I have saved is gonna have to go toward fixing my shop, but I can give you something for sharing the room with me.”

Lady glanced up from her boot strings. Even from here, Dante could see redness in her eyes from the tears she shed herself. As if hearing his thoughts, she glanced back down at her feet and kicked her boots off.  

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she muttered as she lifted the makeshift bandage on her thigh to check the wound her own bayonet had left thanks her own father. The blood stain reminded him that she was human. A formidable, strong, talented human. But human. One that didn’t heal in seconds and wouldn’t survive an impaling or being shot in the face. And yet she still fought demons. She had fought him without batting an eye. “Not now, at least. You can pay me back later. This...hasn’t been the easiest day for either of us.”

He nodded, inwardly relieved. He hated being in debt to her already; they had only met a few hours ago and she had shot a rocket at him after soaring through the air on a motorcycle. Damn...If he wasn’t sure she hated him and they weren’t both so emotionally spent, he might have actually tried to woo her. He had a thing for badass women, but, at the moment, his libido felt nonexistent. He felt lost, and he hardly recognized himself in that moment. If he had looked into the future to this moment but twenty-four hours before, he wouldn’t recognize himself. He would scoff at the puffiness around his eyes, the slump of his shoulders, the fact that he wasn’t on top of the beautiful woman he shared a room with. It was a strange feeling. It made him uncomfortable, though he didn’t have the energy or willpower to do much about it. The bed started to look more and more inviting, lumpy as it looked. But first, he needed a shower.

“Mind if I get a shower?” He managed a smile, though he doubted his really reached his eyes. It felt forced. Dead. “I smell like a demon’s asshole.”

The smile that twitched the corners of her lips matched his. “You really do. For my sake if not yours, please do.”

Dante snorted and headed toward the bathroom. “Feel free to join. We can save this place on their water bill.” The offer was half-hearted. And empty attempt at finding his old self again. At least it distracted him from his troubled mind.

He flipped the switch in the bathroom and closed the door. Leaning against the wood frame, he released a sigh. Hot tears burned his eyes and he finally let them drip from his eyes. His frame shuddered as he fought to hold back his sobs, the screams of anguish caught in his chest. He felt like a failure again. First his mom, now his brother. His hope (small as it had been) to live a life with even one member of his family was extinguished as quickly as it had sparked. He should have tried harder to save him. Convince him to stay. That their stupid father’s home wasn’t meant for them. They were meant to be there. In the human world. Together. Living something of a normal life after all they had been through.  

His fingers curled into his palms as he cursed under his breath and swiped at his eyes. He started to unbutton his jeans when he paused. The only soap in the shower was obviously Lady’s, and the last thing he wanted was for her to find any other reason to put a bullet between his eyes. Now that he had allowed his devil to awaken, he itched to resurface at even the slightest irritation. He didn’t want to give himself a reason to lose control.

Dante opened the door and began to ask for permission to use her lily scented shampoo but paused. Lady had moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Her face was buried in her palm, and the other hand gripped the comforter beneath her. Sensitive ears caught the sound of her soft sobs despite her attempt to muffle them with her hand.  

The sight made his heart ache despite his own sorrows. She just watched her own family burst to pieces as well, and he suspected many of her wounds were fresher than his. He didn’t know the whole story; only that her dad went crazy and killed her mom to break the seal Dante’s own father had place on the demon world and bring literal hell on earth. Gain the power of Sparda and whatever bullshit he led himself to believe. Judging by her rage, she was at least old enough to know exactly what was going on.

Silently, quieter than one of his stature should be able to move, Dante crossed the room to her. The second the mattress sank down beside her, Lady flinched away, nearly sending herself off the edge of the bed. His hand hovered in the air where her shoulder had been, but the glare she shot him lowered it.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare ya...”

“What? Think you can take advantage of me because I’m crying?”

Dante flinched. The sad part was that, if she had been someone else, that might have actually been his plan. “No...I just...I don’t know. I’m shit at this comforting stuff.”

Lady crossed her arms and scoffed. “Then why are you even trying? I thought you were going to take a shower.”

“I was, but I didn’t want to use your soap without asking.” Out loud, it sounded a little stupid to even ask. Though, he supposed the twitch of a smile that he nearly missed as she wiped her face with her hand was worth it. “That stuff ain’t cheap. And I didn’t see anything provided by this shit hole.”

“Help yourself. Never thought a demon could be so considerate.”

The comment stung. It was a reminder that his heritage had caused all of this. That, in some ways, he was responsible for her family shattering to pieces. Did she blame him like he blamed himself?

“I’m sorry.” He glanced away from her, but he could feel her curious gaze burning a hole in the side of his head. “I know this whole thing was because of me. Well...my dad and him being a demon who betrayed his kind but...I’m sure you hate me because of what I am but I am sorry.”

Silence fell over the room for several minutes, one so full it seemed as if the sound of their breathing had ceased along with their words. He should say something else. Even get up to go take his shower and leave her in peace. He had already made the situation uncomfortable, so he should ditch now before he made it worse. Lady couldn’t care less if he was sorry. Not because she was cold, but because he was a demon. To her, he was the worst of the worst. Demons were never sorry.

The featherlight touch on his wrist stopped his train of thought dead in its tracks. He glanced over to find Lady resting next to him again. She wore a small, tight smile despite the tears in her eyes. Guilt and relief washed over him at the same time; he wasn’t sure how to read her reaction. Did he upset her more or was she happy?

“No...It’s not your fault. None of this,” she finally croaked out. Her free thumb wiped away her tears. “You’re different. I know you are. It took me a while to realize it, but I know you’re not evil, even if you are part demon.”  

Her bicolored gaze fell. He took a chance and shifted his hand into hers. She didn’t flinch away. “I’m learning quickly that some humans are worse than demons.”

Dante squeezed her hand. “Yeah...” He smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. He could have added more. Added how that was a harsh reality he still needed to learn. Something that might help him accept himself for who he was. He couldn’t change it after all.  

He glanced down at the woman resting against him. Her eyes were closed and her breathing had evened out. He chuckled softly to himself and wrapped an arm around her frame to support her. The whole ordeal must have exhausted her more than he thought, though he wasn’t surprised. He didn’t quite mind either. His shower could wait.  

A person can spend all their life holding onto legends and prophesies when the kingdom falls into chaos. The last of the royal family no longer existing to protect those against the monsters that terrorizes these lands. One prophesy regales that once the Red Devil of the Black Woods is slain, peace will be brought back. Another prophesy (a bard’s tale really) is sung as a love story where true love's kiss will prevail by awakening the slumbering prince hidden away, his destiny to slay the Red Devil. One knight in White begs to differ, finding that no such prince exists and best to get the job done herself.

“You know, gratitude should be rewards for saving one’s life. Like, Oh you saved me how shall I ever repay you for your good deed?” The pitch of the high falsetto grated her nerves, but not as much as the idea of being indebted to Him.

“You did not save me, Red Devil.”

“Okay, spared???” The devil before her air-quoted himself in mocking fashion. Bits of embers falling away with each movements he makes. Having enough small-talk, the White Knight took out her crossbow and aimed between the eyes, the bolt whistled through the air of the dark woods that surrounded them.

“Here we go again” the wretched demon groaned.

Like clockwork, he moves his head to fashion what the Knight recognized as an eye roll before ducking and rolling away as more bolts came his way. “Listen Lady,” he spoke with the kind of familiarity that annoyed her. She swears the annoyance is solely because that’s all the Demon would refer to her as and that it has nothing to do with herself warming up to the moniker. Because she’s not feeling’s anything. She has to not feel anything.

“As much as I enjoy our dances of modern weapons and spitting insults, will a much sweeter waltz be more enjoyable. How else shall I appreciate your beauty if not in a courtly manner?” He croons in a teasing tone.

“You proclaim false beauty when I am covered in scars you have made!”

“My apologies Lady Knight! If they hurt you so, shall I kiss away the pain? I promise a chaste peck for every mark I have dishonored your beauty with.”

“Ugh, your flirting is as terrible as your jokes.”

Fervently, she rushes forward to slash the bayonet of her musket across the Demon’s chest. Every slash she made was parried by the wings or claws of the Demon. Every parried met, she would twist her movements to take another well-aimed shot with the crossbow on one hand and the gun-powdered ammunition of the musket in the other. As unusual as her fighting style for a Knight is, the Lady Knight was heralded as one of the best Demon Hunters across land for the number of monsters slain from her unique style. Her infamy recognized well-enough to earn knighthood for such skill and bravery. All, but one. That One happened to be jesting and moving against her attacks with a kind of familiarity that spoke volumes of this….this… long time rivalry.

Every scar she wore on her skin, was a tale of each encounter with the Red Devil trapped in the ever burning forest. The trees and its roots, burning and charred from the hellish flames that could only come from he who curses these lands with his existence. Her first encounter the cursed Demon was an embarrassing one, she had been so angry and so ready to die for her people, for her duty. The recklessness of her behavior led a quick defeat by the Red Devil who then started reprimanding her to value her life more before knocking her unconscious and leaving her to be found outside his dark woods. The wound of her pride gave birth to the kind of stubbornness that only worsened year after year as she would train to best the Demon that continued to spare her life. Ironically enough, no other supernatural creature had ever landed a mark on her but her demon,

Lady stumbled at the slip of her thoughts, her demon?!? The shock distracted her from incoming claw that knocked her on her back. She gasps, trying to regain her senses.

The Demon stood still, it wasn’t his usual smugness that Lady expected after her defeat. It was different…no is it different because she can’t lie anymore. Dammit all, she had been trying too hard for so long. To ignore it all until the very end. If only, he wasn’t so kind and caring for a demon.

“You’re crying…”

Neither knew what to do about her tears, Lady did her best to hide them by turning her body away. But she’s shaking now and her whole body quakes in unison with her heart. Lady felt the pressure of her duty to free these lands decade old curse that awakened these monsters and growing blight that’s been destroying what little harvest left to keep everything alive through another winter. If she couldn’t kill the Him, then it was the end for humanity. Her heart ached from that chasm that deepened from the choices she had to make. Kill the demon that softened her heart or let everyone live their last days in famine and terror.

“Damn…that punch just really hurts …” She laughs as her excuse, it sounds so comical to turn this into a joke. It has been a joke from the beginning. Who was she to believe she would be the end to save her land when she’s been in denial. That she was just a stupid girl picking a fight to get her crush to notice her. Finally admitting everything she wanted to lock away made the joke even more hysterical to her.

“Lady…” Lady laughed while wiping her tears, damn he’s as awkward as she is about this. Except he doesn’t know why she’s crying, why she’s trying to hard not to look at him. The knight could feel nervousness growing from her demon –it feels so freeing to call him her’s, the kind of possession that feels so wrong but so sooo cathartic- and when she finally looks at him, she sees that he’s getting ready to fly. To run away from her, knowing him, it was out of guilt and shame.

“Don’t go.” She reaches out, but she can only grasp air, he was too far from where she had fallen. Feeling silly at the thought of how she must has looked, she dropped her outreached arm. In a flash, the devil places his balm under her’s and gently helps her up. Lady’s pleased to see him react so quickly to her whims, as if he really was her demon. She allows herself the decency to blush now that her feelings were more apparent. No turning back now.

“I’m not angry” she continues, bringing up her other hand to clasp his claws to her hold. Afraid whatever might happen next will cause him to fly off. This was new territory, she’s not sure how to proceed and the thought terrifies her. She knows how to slay demons, not woo them.

Not that she’s doing all this with the intention to court, despite all the earlier jokes earlier made by him. She might feel more for him, but she’s not about to throw away her duties just like that…

But her duties asks her to make logical choices and right now. She can’t think straight when her heart is hammering so loudly just by the mere contact she’s making with him.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Excuse me?”

“I wouldn’t cry over something like that. I’m not weak.”

“I kno-

“I can’t bring myself kill you anymore.”

“Not that you ca-

“Because I think I’ve come to care for you.”

He says something in his inferno mother tongue, Lady can bet that it’s swearing based on his body language. She’s known him for so long that it’s a natural to read him as well as she does.

“You can’t” He quickly says, worry and confusion so evident in his tone and body. She rolls her eyes, his cockiness was all bark and no bite as soon as she offers anything not threats his way.

“Too late now” she retorts dryly, she can feel him surrendering to her hold but she doesn’t relax her grip. It’s not paranoia feeding into the fear of losing him, it’s not unfounded when he looks so scared and ready to bolt.

“What about the people?”

“I’m going to save them.”

“By not killing me? It’s the only way to free t-“

“I’ll find another way.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re kind.” He’s opening his maw to retort, but she’s not letting up. “You care, you’re so gentle that it’s unfair how trapped you are in this forest! Nothing adds up! How can someone so kind cause all this? Please tell me there’s another way than your death!”

“The prophesy says-

“Fuck the prophesy.”

He cracks a grin, and she’s doesn’t bother fighting back one of her own. Her grin grows even more when he takes his other claw to encase her hands in his.

“I’ve hurt you though…” he argues once more but she can see his resolve to deny her what she wants crumble away. His  bat-like wings move to gently graze over her scars, his guilt for creating them.

“Then make it up to me by kissing away the pain.” She replies.

He makes the strangest noise as he twitches his head in surprised. Her mouth shapes itself into an “O” out of surprise as well.

“Are you choking???”

“Shut up Lady, we’ve been at this for years and you’ve never been like this! I wouldn’t have minded if you killed me.” The last part, he said so weakly that her heart broke. She does her best not to show it on her face and words.

“Hm. I think I prefer the gratitude of sparing your life instead.”

“When you’re not trying to kill me, you’re a real smartass” he snaps.

“Yes, yes and I’m quite the knight too, saving damsels in distress and whatnot.” She verbally parries his remarks with her own.

“Are you saying I’m the damsel in distress here?” He lifts one clawed hand to his chest in pretense outrage.

“The fairest of them all.” She says dryly.

“Well you know, I used to be the prince of these lands.”

“What.”

He’s taken aback by the ferocity of her response and shuts up when he sees her glare.

“What do you mean by Prince?!?”

“I’m uh... I used to… My mother was Queen???”

“Queen Eva???” Lady’s mind was racing at the newest revelations that was coming to light. “Are you Dante? The Prince Dante?!!”

Dante opened his maw then closed it, then opens it again but no words could come out. It’s been so long since anyone had call him by that name. Not since his brother, who sought power by making a deal with a warlock to sacrifice Dante’s humanity for kingship. But here he is, having heard Lady say his name just like that. He’s trying not to hope, that small glimmer of hope that could very well end up being nothing after all. He tried in the beginning and nothing came out of it.

Until Lady came into the picture, fresh faced but ready to take on the world with weaponry he’s never even heard of. When he laid eyes on her for the second time after their first encounter, to see the pure determination of not giving, he knew he was done for. All these years was just him being a silly boy teasing the girl he fancied just to make her angry enough to keep coming back to fight him. After all, one couldn’t love a demon, so Dante would make do with hatred instead.

“Are. You. Prince. Dante?! Hello??”

“Yes… yes I am” he finally responded, growing annoyed from how impatient she was acting with him. Annoyance turned regret when she let’s go of her hold on him. He wasn’t being too harsh with his response to deserve the sudden cold treatment. He fought back from whining about the loss of her touch, doing his best beat out his childish need to have that physical intimacy once again. He hates how needy he is when it come to the smallest of gestures she would throw his way. Too lost in his own inner turmoil, he hardly notices the turmoil of Lady’s own as she paces back and forth.

“UGH! I’m so stupid, how could I not realize this. Okay, this is fine, it’s better actually! We can save everyone without killing you!” She finishes triumphantly, drawing her attention back to him and walking with the same determination in her eyes that sets him aflame that no one else ever could. It’s the sudden maneuvering of her jumping to grasp him by the horns that he falls forward into her manhandling embrace, his fangs pressed against her chapped lips.

What.

Lady lets go of him and he’s stumbling back in shock.

What.

He’s sputtering, trying to bring back his senses but they’re all scattered like circling stars that leaves him a daze. He can’t forget that kiss, it wasn’t soft, definitely not sweet, and felt more like a head-butt unfortunately. But somehow it feels so her that he wouldn’t mind it again, if only so he can improve her head butt make out skills. He could very well give her some pointers.

“Wait, where are you going Lady?”

“I’m going to kill the Warlock that placed the curse on you and on this land.” All her weapons are securely locked and she counting the potions on her person on her way out.

Dante shakes his head in disbelief, distracting himself from the drop of gravity inside him, twisting from her departure. Was that what the kiss was about? A goodbye kiss?

He moves in front of her and stop her from her fruitless pursuit. He shakes his head again and bites his tongue to stop himself from grinning at the annoyance that flashes her bi-colored eyes. Damn she’s so cute.

“Don’t bother, I tried and I’m still like this. Still cursed even when I killed that bitch of a Jester.”

“He’s not dead, that’s one of his many disguises to throw you off from ending the curse.”

His confusion must have been obvious because she’s softening her glare and continues to explain. She’s shifting her body, almost shying away from him.

“I…What you did you him, back then… you didn’t really kill him… only because he never existed.” She looks nervous now, unsure how to proceed but he quietly encourages her to continue with a touch.

“I wish he was… The Red Devil suddenly appeared out of nowhere and killed his creator, that’s what everyone believed. I had hoped for him to be gone finally and placed the blame of the continual devastation on you… that it’s been happening still because of you…  I’m sorry.”

Dante didn’t know what to say, all these years he thought the same thing too. It was all he was accused of by every hero that crossed paths with him, entering his domain with a blade in one hand and a shield in the other. What else could he assume when the world was ending and no other answer presented itself but the obvious, that he blew it all by killing the one person who could undo this disaster.

“Knowing that you’re Prince Dante now, cursed like this can only mean he’s not dead.”

“But I killed-

“You killed his alter-ego, he sacrificed a part of himself to allude you and the rest of the world. He’s why no one was able to catch on because he created the false prophesies and faked his death to keep everything under the dark. That has to be why nothing’s ever worked.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because the Warlock who cursed you was just an ordinary man who got wrapped up in the dark arts, he doesn’t hold any real power that could go beyond death. That man was Arkham. Grand Duke Arkham…”

Dante could see that this was the rawest of Lady’s vulnerability, he could see no ever wound he has ever marked her with was as deep as the one left by the Grand Duke. He wonders if the scar on her nose was cause by the man too. Dante pulls back his touch to clench his claws.

“So I’m going to find him and kill him.”

She had said it so simply, like it would be so easy. Dante frowns, he didn’t want her to confront the bastard alone, and he faintly remembers the difficulty of trying to fight the Jester. Lady is strong, but in good conscious he didn’t like the idea of her going alone.

“Then I’m coming with.”

“But you can’t.” She countered hotly and he growls just as hotly, his annoyance growing.

“What do you mean I can’t, I’m the better fighter between us.” He folds his arms in challenge, daring her to rebuke the obvious.

“Only because you have cheating demon powers!” She snaps back defiantly.

“Meaning I have the advantage to deal with him better!”

“How can you when you’re trapped here!” It’s cute that she’s finalizing her point with a stomp, but she’s wrong.

“I’m not trapped, I can go freely around the world.”

“What?”

He has the gall the scratch the back of his head, feeling sheepish enough to admit what should have been known from the start.

“I’m not trapped… I just stayed here to be left alone after so many of my own subjects wanted me dead if I even popped my head above these trees.” It sounds so pathetic that he raises his arms and wings to gesture a shrug to lessen the sad reality of his own seclusion.

“Oh… I-then… I guess this will be like an adventure then. A cursed Prince and a scarred Knight, aren’t we the strange duo.” Just like him, she’s trying to make light of these revelations and he’s thankful of her lack of rejection.

As they walk out of the forest, he’s greeted fields upon fields of grass and a road that lead to a town further away. Nervousness gnawed against him whining thinking of the fear of his ex-subjects, but it will never compare to the dreaded possibility of losing Lady. He turns to look at her, appreciating how the Moon’s light flatters her complexion, something the ash and smoke of the woods robbed him of.

“By the way…” he starts ever so slyly, watching for a reaction. “That kiss earlier, what was that for?”

“Oh…”

He’s delighted to see pink tinging her cheeks, once was not enough. Dante wants nothing more than to spoil his greed to see these new sides of Lady that he can feel his urge to tease her more than ever.

“That was… I thought a kiss could break the curse… because you’re a prince like… like…”

“Like in the fairytales? My my, that’s rather maidenly of you.” He teases, her reactions are oh so tantalizing he wants to prod further until she puts a bolt into his head.

“Shut up your majesty before I spear you with the end of my weapon!”

“Dante is just fine…” He says rather softly, ignoring her earlier threat.

She looks at him in surprise and turns her gaze away from him shyly. Suddenly his heart beats faster when he catches her smiling to herself.

“Dante…” if his heart beats any faster than Lady actually would succeed in defeating the big Red Devil, “you can keep calling me Lady… I quite like that name.”

Today feels so different, that he’s even recalling his courtly manners after years of living as a devil robbed him of his royal identity. He bows before her, wanting nothing than to bring back his humanity.