#but they weren't awful. just a bit on the short side and the silhouettes were off

[swaggy-skeletons]

being a nerd is awesome tbh like i love being a nerd

[smol-dargon]

I think I might have a problem lol here's another one

*tosses a bunch of loose paper into the tumbly*

"More zombies. How unexpected."

Certainly enough, between them and the massive hill, hordes of zombies milled about, eager to end their journey before it could properly begin. But apparently, they weren't the only ones eager for the slaughter. Atop the hill, in the shadow of the mausoleum, the familiar silhouette of the former court mage raised his staff overhead. A pair of gargoyles at the peak sprang to life, spewing boulders that raced down the path, effectively blocking their path. Zarok disappeared into the building, leaving the two wayward knights to sort their undead adversaries out.

At the foot of the hill, Dan caught sight of a chest off to his left. After a brief skirmish with some zombies, they checked it out. There wasn't an obvious discernible way to open it. No lock, no keyhole, nothing but a set of chains and a peculiar seal. In frustration, Dan kicked it. The whole chest glowed bright red for a split second, just long enough for them to brace. Then, the thing exploded in flames.

The knight coughed, shaking the soot from her chain mail. Dan shot her an apologetic look.

"Ah, the old fireball-in-a-chest trick… 's always funny.", she shrugged with a flat, unamused tone. "I take it you're alright?"

Dan nodded and the two made their way back out of the dead end area. She stopped for a few moments at the foot of the hill, evaluating the situation. Dan began looking for alternate routes, and noticed right away that there were zombies and a chest behind some large boulders. He nudged the knight and pointed to the area, then to the ledge a short distance up the hill. Perhaps they could get in that way.

She nodded and made her way up the hill with a surprising amount of agility. Of course, chain was a good bit lighter than plate. It made sense that she was so much faster. In no time at all, she had dropped down behind the boulders. He heard fighting, followed by the sound of a few zombies hitting the ground.

Moments later, the boulders in the way were blown to bits. The knight emerged, dragging a large club behind her. She stepped aside and gestured for him to take it instead.

"Too clumsy for me. And it's unbalanced in my hands."

Dan hefted it easily, momentarily sheathing his sword. She looked startled at how little effort he'd needed to carry it, but only for a brief moment. Dan led the way around the other side of the hill, into a copse of trees. In the side of the hill, a few more boulders seemed to block the way of something. He checked that the knight was clear of his weapon, then demolished the boulders with one solid swing. He offered a grand "ladies first" gesture, chuckling inwardly at her expression of awe. Evidently she'd never seen someone take out a solid hunk of rock in one blow before.

The knight was quick to regain her composure, and led the way inside, axe at the ready. The doorway led into a small foyer, and another room beyond. A voice on the right coughed and spluttered.

"Aaah, fresh air!", sighed a very relieved sounding gargoyle. "We hates these dark old caves and their filthy stench of witches. A coven of the warty old hags lived here once--unholy fires burning all night while they brewed up unspeakable muck in their cauldrons. They moved on years back but the smell still makes our eyes sting."

The creature settled back into its rest and they made their way forward. A few more zombies accosted them in the next room, but the two knights made short work of them. Dan was immediately intrigued by the placement of a bookshelf on the lower level. There was a draft coming from behind it. Perhaps there was something on the other side.

The knight headed up the stairs and into the room beyond. Dan tried very hard to simply move the bookshelf, but it was either bolted down or else sealed in place with magic. With a grumble, he destroyed the thing with his club. Inside was a hidden workshop. Tomes of arcane magic were in every nook and cranny, and symbols were carefully engraved upon the floor. In the center of a room, a brazier still had a healthy fire roaring.

Before he could explore much further, he heard shouting and combat from upstairs. Fearing the knight might need help, he dashed back into the hall. As it turned out, she handled it without any need for him. Just as he crossed the threshold, he caught sight of her cleaving the last of a small pack of zombies in half. They seemed to have been held behind several holding cells around the room. The bars had retracted and allowed them to escape and make their attack. Now, there was only a bit of treasure left behind in the cells, along with a strange artifact and yet another chalice.

Just like before, when Dan collected the chalice, Canny Tim took shape from the swirling reddish mist within.

"Hurrah! I knew it would take more than an army of the evil dead to throw your stride, sir. I have something that may help you on your quest, captain."

This time, Canny Tim offered a bottle of strange green liquid. It almost looked like the same sickly magic that had brought Dan (and the rest of the dead) back to life. Perhaps it had healing properties. Tim poofed back into the ether before either of them could ask.

With the strange talisman and chalice in hand, all that remained now was to scale the hill. Easier said than done, with those gargoyles at the top sending boulders and flaming debris rolling down the path.

"Got any ideas, Captain?", she asked teasingly.

He grumbled at her, but shook his head. The only way forward was to face those boulders head-on. And hope he was half as agile as she was.

She led the way, using crevices in the rocky cliffs to get out of the way of oncoming rock. At the corner, she found a chest and kicked it open.

"Incoming, Dan!", he heard her yell over the boulders between them.

He darted out of the way at the last second, only to be smacked in the face by a smaller object. Ah, so that's what she had meant; she'd thrown him a shield! This would make his ascent much easier. Dodging in full plate mail was virtually impossible.

The rest of the way up was done in similar fashion, with the knight dancing around the falling rocks and Dan resolutely shouldering his way through them. She fell off a ledge once, landing bodily on his shield. With a boulder hurtling towards them, he did the only thing he could think of; he grabbed her waist, threw her behind him, and braced them both behind his shield. After that scare, she allowed him to lead, keeping a watchful eye out for the molten boulders that sometimes fell through crevices above them and fending those off with her axe.

They finally made it to the top, ready to face down the gargoyles that had given them so much trouble.

In unison, the statues rumbled, "We have failed the Master. We give our lives."

They promptly exploded with little fanfare. Dan and the knight glanced at each other, shrugged, and entered the hilltop mausoleum.

[thedyingmoon]

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

XVI

***

At first, he thought this was some kind of a practical joke but, when Morrison saw you there, sitting alone on one of the swings of that playground that one particular night, he knew that there was, indeed, trouble.

"At this time of the evening?" The Broker asked, his voice laced with concern. "Tell me what happened, my Lady."

You looked up and smiled weakly, trying your very best to look normal when you could barely subdue your own tears. "Dante has forgotten that I'm coming home."

Morrison took a seat on one of the swings, joining you. "Why would he forget about a lady such as yourself?"

You shrugged your shoulders helplessly, showing the man just how much this kind of situation drained you emotionally. "I told you about his girlfriend, right?"

"The one who always visits him and - "

"... takes over the place and his entire schedule, yes." You finished for him, then sighed. "I intend on using the back door, like I always do. It's,... locked. I tried the front, no luck. Then, I heard them. They were talking about me."

The man's eyebrows furrowed, his sweat trickling down his forehead due to the very tense, yet sad, situation. "What did they say about you?"

"Dante wants me out of his life. He hates me and doesn't want to see me anymore."

"He didn't!"

"Unfortunately, yes." You sadly confirmed. "I don't want to quit Devil Hunting. But, it seems that I just got fired."

"No! Until I say so, you're not quitting Devil Hunting."

"What will I do?"

And so, a month later, Dante found himself knocking on the door of your very own unit in one of the most posh apartments in the city.

"Come on, (Y/N). Answer." The man nervously said as he waited for you to open the door.

"I'm coming!" He heard you say from the other side, and when you finally came to answer, you were startled to find yourself face to face with him.

"Hey, (Y/N)! I - " Dante began when you tried to close the door on his face. He held it just in time and pleaded. "Wait! Let me explain."

"You've made yourself clear, Sir." You answered sarcastically, not wanting to let him in at all. "Now, if you would kindly,... "

"(Y/N), listen to me very, very carefully." The man pleaded once more, managing to get past the barrier separating you two. "I can explain everything."

You just rolled your eyes in defeat and allowed Dante to enter your unit.

As you sat back down on your sofa, the man's jaw dropped in awe of your place.

"You got this place fully furnished already, huh?" The man uttered as he positioned himself on another sofa opposite you.

"Unlike you, I work my ass off really hard." You answered nonchalantly as you picked up a leather - bound edition of Lovecraft from the glass - top table.

"How did you get this place?"

"Morrison's recommendation. Personally knew the owner."

The man flinched at the hardness and coldness of your voice. At first, he didn't believe that you would get so upset for what happened.

He didn't expect it to be this bad.

"Whatever you heard from us that day, none of it was real. I don't want you out of my life. I don't hate you, and I definitely want so much to see you back home."

"This is my home."

"Look at me!" Dante snatched Lovecraft away, making you look at him involuntarily with much anger in your eyes. "You have no idea just how much you affect me!"

"Isn't it the right decision for you to let me go, then?!"

"You're wrong! Everywhere you go, you leave traces of you behind! Everything you've touched, every piece of furniture you've laid your hands on, even those sad movies you've left behind! Everything reminds me of you! I was so confused. I thought that if I let you go, I won't be burdened by thoughts of you anymore but, I was wrong! (Y/N)," the man said, leaving his chair, coming closer to you, and taking your hands in his. "... go back home, please. I beg you!"

You raised an eyebrow at Dante's pitiable state. You tried to take your hands off his tight grip and failed.

"Your girlfriend will kill me."

"I broke up with her."

This surprised you a lot, knowing how much the man doted on that woman. "Since when?"

"Doesn't matter. She's gone."

Eyeing the man suspiciously, you leaned your face closer to his, trying to see if he was telling the truth or not.

"You do know what our deal is, right?"

To this, Dante's sweat quite literally ran cold. "Y - yes."

"No one would belong to anyone. Right?"

"Yes, yes. I know."

You nodded in agreement, then succesfully took your hands off him while he was confused and flustered. You stood up, went to the windows, and parted the heavy curtains, letting the sunlight in and letting the man see how you looked clearly.

Oversized shirt, ponytail, shorts, wool socks, fluffy slippers,...

... that intoxicating vintage wine scent that gave him sleepless nights,...

To Dante, you were the most beautiful thing in the world.

"As a matter of fact, I, too, have a proposal. Accept it and I will return to Devil May Cry."

Dante stood up and faced you. "Tell me."

You stepped forward, your gaze not straying from Dante's eyes.

"I've been searching for someone." You began as you crossed your arms. "I can feel that I'm going to meet him soon. So, when that time comes, you will let me go."

"Who is he? Why would I let you go if you meet him?"

"You will find that out for yourself. Just, please. Agree to this and I will return, I swear."

During that time, he had no idea who this man was, or how important it was for you to meet him. And, who could blame him? All he wanted by then was to be with you,...

"Agreed." Dante finally relented.

"Good. Now, I have to - " But, you were distracted as the man suddenly took you in his arms and wrapped you in a really tight hug. "Ew! Dante, you stink!" You shrieked, trying to free yourself from his grasp. "When was the last time you took a bath?!"

"A while,... " the man unapologetically answered, happily sniffing your fragrant hair. "I can't live without my lovely assistant."

"Oh, my God! You're hopeless without me, aren't you?! Please, take a bath first! I'm dying here!"

"Would you like to join?"

"NO!"

And so, without having to join the man in the shower, you were able to return as his assistant. Days passed, weeks, months, everything was going really well for the both of you,...

... until,...

May 17, 07:45 PM

The room was dark. As expected, the building was deserted. You've already heard from the local news that the Demon King that threatened Red Grave with the Underworld Tree was already defeated.

So, as instructed by your boss Dante, you went back a day later to finally meet the others, including the supposed client who offered the job. Yes, particularly him. He said that you two might get along.

You placed your pale pink fur coat on the sofa, seeing a familiar silhouette sitting behind the desk.

"Dante, I thought you're already paid in advance by your client?" You said, walking towards your boss, unaware of everything that took place during the fight. "Where are the others?"

"What are you doing here?" He said to you in a raspy voice. "You're not supposed to be here,..."

***

"Imbecile!"

"Useless!"

"That's what friends are for, right?"

"NO!"

"Why, V?!"

"What evil lurks, I must destroy!"

"The other night dear when I lay sleeping,

I dreamt I held you in my arms.

But when I woke dear,

I was mistaken and I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine.

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

I'll always love you and make you happy.

If you will only say the same.

But if you leave me to love another,

You'll regret it all one day.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are grey.

You never know, dear, how much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away."

Ugh, that radio again,...

You woke up to that song on the radio and to Nico practically shaking you and slightly yelling at you, worried of your state.

"Hey, honey! You look like you're having a nightmare."

"Huh? Oh,..." You grumbled as you finally woke up, opening your eyes and letting your sight adjust to the light. "I hope it stays like that - a nightmare."

"Why? What happened?" Your friend asked, positioning herself beside you on the sofa.

"It felt,... so real." You answered, your voice hoarse due to dry throat. "It's like someone stabbed me in the chest over and over and over,..."

"You're still here. Don't worry."

You suddenly felt all the blood drain from your face as realization harshly hit in. "That's the problem. I can see the future,..."

To this, Nico only boisterously laughed. You sneered at her as you kicked her out of the sofa. She fell from it, still laughing like crazy.

"That's never a big deal for ya, hon!" The freckled woman informed you through fits of laughter. "You can heal! Anyone can stab through your chest and you'll still live!"

"Ugh, are you really my friend?" You shook your head as you sat up straight and rubbed your temples. "Stabbed, burned, skewered. You name it, I went through it. If it weren't for this entity inside me, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now. But, nowadays,..." you sighed, still feeling a bit worn out from the events that took place the last time you were awake. "... I feel,... completely drained. Like, I'm running out of lives to spare."

"Is that even possible?" Nico asked as she stood and made her way to the back of the trailer to make you a decent meal. "I mean, you've been with that entity for ten years, and you never complained about getting tired."

"Yes but, lately, I've been feeling, I don't know, worn out? Like I've been running an endless marathon with hardly any breaks."

"I can tell." Your friend answered with a knowing smile.

"What time is it?"

"Eight fifteen."

"What? I couldn't be sleeping for only fifteen minutes." You questioned, feeling confused.

Nico laughed as she put a mug of hot coffee down on the table. "Hon, you've been asleep for twenty - four hours straight!"

"Excuse me?!" You shrieked in disbelief as you hastily made your way towards the dashboard to look at the clock. Yes, it was nearly sixteen minutes past eight in the morning, and you also found out, in horror, that a full day has already passed. "No. Way!"

"V was lonesome, ya know? Wanted to spend the rest of the evening with ya." The freckled woman declared as she put a plate of scrambled eggs on the table for you to eat. "But, ya had to be sleepin' freakin' beauty all day. I knew he should have kissed you awake. Ya know what I'm sayin'?"

"Where is he?" You asked, ignoring her jokes and settling back down on the sofa.

"Patrollin' the streets with Nero. They should be back any moment now." Nico answered as she sat on the sofa opposite you. "They took out Eleison."

"Eleison?" You uttered as you took the mug. "Who's that? Another Devil Hunter?"

"Oh, that's Nero's motorcycle. He named it Eleison for some reason. I don't know but, everytime Nero mentions it to Kyrie, the girl would not stop giggling. Maybe some lovers' inside joke or somethin'."

"Yeah."

You were about to enjoy your breakfast when you heard someone knocking on the door.

"Since when did I start locking this car, psycho?!" Nico wildly screamed as she stood up and went towards the door to open it,...

"That Fleminger guy better pay me double for this!" Nero raged as he and V made their way back to the mansion after a hard night's work.

V only chuckled. "As silly as a man's folly can get,... you should not blame anyone for your own mistake." He simply said. After two nights straight of Devil Hunting, he felt really worn out to the bone. He longed so much to take a rest, maybe sleep for five hours or so.

But, most especially, he wanted to see you again,...

Nero looked at the thing in his hand and grumbled. "I'm sorry, Eleison."

When the trailer finally came into view, the two men noticed that not two but, three people were waiting for them.

"Is that,... ?" Nero quietly asked as he pointed at their surprise visitor.

"It is." V confirmed as memories of that last night went back to him.

As soon as Nico saw the two men approaching, she started waving her arms excitedly, wanting them to meet them faster. And when they finally did, she noticed the suspiciously familiar handlebar on Nero's hand. Except that it was burnt and slightly bent.

"Yo, dude!" Nico exclaimed breathlessly as she took the thing from the man's hand. "Is this what I think this is?"

Nero sighed. "Yes."

"Poor Eleison! What happened to her?!"

"This Demon we fought, a huge thing with tummy teeth, sucked it like a damn vacuum and spew it out at us with fire! That's what's left of,... her."

"I knew she'll break one day!" Nico said, unintentionally blissful of her accurate conjecture. "I just didn't know it would happen this way."

"And we found this." V added as he threw a horn - like thing at her. It was dark - colored and still smoking slightly. She caught it excitedly and sniffed it like it's the most fragrant thing in the world.

"Hooee! I'm gonna make something AMAZING out of this!"

"Did you just sniff that?" Nero questioned, utterly revolted. "Do you have any idea where that's been?"

"Up your butt?"

Nero helplessly shook his head. "Focus on the mission!"

"The boy is right." A fourth, unknown voice informed them.

All three of them looked behind them to finally notice the Fleminger Head, himself, who was sitting on one of the abandoned chairs of his once pristine ballroom. Next to him, they noticed you, waving at them with a nervous smile.

Fleminger stood up and made his way towards Nero. "I believe you are the hero who defeated the Demon King of Red Grave."

"I'm hardly a hero." Nero, not being used to open recognition despite the way he looked, only muttered. "And you must be the man behind all of this."

The man chuckled. "You have no idea what your words just now meant. I' am Lord Fleminger, your humble servant."

"He gave us a week worth supply of food, for your information!" Nico declared proudly as she pointed at the trailer behind her.

"That is,... unusually kind,... of someone like you."

All four of you, including Fleminger, himself, looked at V as he said those threatening words. He has never forgotten his strange and suspicious encounter with the man, and after that, he became even more cautious of him.

Not to mention it irked him that he was sitting close to you.

"My Lord, it is a pleasure to see you once more." Fleminger calmly answered V.

"You've met?!" Both Nero and Nico said, startled at what they just found out.

"Pleasure." The poet monotonously replied.

"A word or two. In private. If I may?"

You watched worriedly as Fleminger drew V away from Nero and Nico, excusing themselves. You noticed as V glanced your way, his facial expression telling you not to worry, when you honestly felt the opposite.

You smiled at him, reassuring him that everything would be fine.

V allowed himself to be led by the man, and as he cautiously followed him all the way to the other side of the mansion, he began to suspect something more dreadful, like he was willingly walking into a trap laid by the enigmatic man.

However, despite his gut feelings telling him of impending trouble, V remained silent, his metal cane and their footsteps the only things making noise against the cold, marble floor.

Fleminger, who was talkative, as always, opened his mouth and spoke.

"You have not forgotten about my advice, haven't you, my Lord?"

"How could I forget such a thing?"

Fleminger chuckled, his voice low and seemed to vibrate.

"Fetching little thing, actually. Came to see her for myself."

For some reason, V felt the hairs on his nape stand on end at those words. Vague, they may be but, it surely caught his attention in a very bad way.

"Pardon?"

Fleminger did not elaborate. Instead, he turned to the right and faced an ornate wooden door that must have led to an office of some sort. He simply opened it, letting V enter first.

Albeit hesitant, the poet obeyed.

What greeted him inside really didn't look dangerous, at all. The room was vast, with several portraits of what must've been Fleminger's ancestors hanging on the wall. The heavy oriental maroon curtain was not drawn, and the mahogany floors looked like they have just been polished to a certain degree of perfection. There was a sofa facing a warm hearth, and in the middle of the room was Fleminger's desk.

"Ah, the errors of humanity, I have forgotten to let the sunshine in!" Fleminger exclaimed theatrically as he made his way towards the curtains to part them, splashing light all over the gorgeous, yet dreary room.

"Why did you choose to stay here?" V inquired, his suspicions of the man getting the better of him.

"My Lord, this is my home." His companion answered as he leaned on his desk, his gestures similar to when V first met him. "I' am old, and have nowhere else to go. But, with Devil Hunters such as yourself, I feel secure."

"Tell me what this Demon is." V demanded. "You know things that we don't. You said so, yourself."

"Getting straight to the point, aren't we, my Lord?"

"Tell. Me."

Fleminger smiled at him, his facial expression very much unreadable. "Do you know why the Dreadnought have an army of Demons at its beck and call?"

V didn't answer and instead allowed the man to continue speaking.

"It is said that the Dreadnought have this,... unusual characteristic. A unique trait, if you will. It draws both higher and lesser Demons to it, enabling it to manipulate them in unspeakable ways."

"And what is this characteristic?"

"My Lord, what did I tell you the last time we met? About blocking your own sensations?"

V ransacked his convoluted mind for that one encounter, and what came up utterly shocked him to his very core.

"You know how some pleasant things send so many different kinds of sensations all throughout the body. I suggest blocking all of them all the same." V clearly remembered the man speaking. "It's best to know what is truth, and what is not."

But, then, if the Dreadnought could manipulate Demons, both higher and lesser, then he knew - !

In an instinct, V called upon Shadow, who instantly materialized and bared her fangs at Fleminger.

"How did you know who I was?!" V hissed, pointing his cane at the man and threatening him.

Fleminger only laughed. "There is no need to threaten me, my Lord, for I' am not your enemy. I' am here to serve you."

"For what?" V said at the same time that Shadow growled.

"For a greater purpose." Fleminger left the table and pointed at the portraits of his ancestors. "This Demon has been an archenemy of my family for a hundred years. I'm sure I have already told you that. Putting an end to it means giving those poor souls an eternal rest in Heaven. Ending it means putting an end to my grandmother's life - long sorrow."

"And why do I have to be involved with your ancestor's problems?"

"Oh, because you are the only one who could deal the finishing blow to this unstoppable enemy. Having experienced firsthand this,... Demonic characteristic,... our Dreadnought has, I' am confident that you would overcome it, seeing through the lies and uncovering the truth."

"I demand you cease this nonsense! I have not experienced this Demonic trait, nor,... "

Something made V stop mid - sentence.

Manipulation of the Demons through a particularly unique characteristic?

Manipulation?

Demonic trait?

Fleminger's smile widened as he noticed V unwillingly drop his defenses at the sudden realization. His suspicious smile even widened as the poet called Shadow back.

"It seems, my Lord, that you have finally understood something."

"Tell me,..." V quietly said, unable to believe everything he just found out. And still refused to do so. "This trait - what is it, exactly?"

"Scent, my Lord." Fleminger answered in a whisper, leaning his face closer to V's direction, casting an uncanny shadow. "Demons are drawn to a particular scent this Dreadnought releases. This scent depends on the personality of its target. It hypnotizes them, and when it finally has them on its grasp, it manipulates them to do its bidding."

"This,... is impossible."

Metal cane dropping to the floor with a loud clang, sweaty hands trembling in both fear and nervousness, V's eyes widened, shock and pain tearing at his own heart and soul.

"I'm afraid it isn't, my Lord."

Hands going up on creased forehead and eyebrows furrowed with conflicting emotions, V spoke. "How do I know you are not spouting lies?!"

***

You patiently waited for V to return, and when you finally saw him walking towards you, your face lit up in delight. You excitedly ran and met him halfway.

"V!" You cheerfully said, looking up at the man. "Welcome home."

"Not now, (Y/N)." The man answered in an uncharacteriscally cold tone. "I'm tired."

"... what?" You managed to speak, easily hurt by his sudden distant attitude towards you.

"Give me a moment. A minute, an hour, I do not care. Please, I beg you,..."

And with those words that cut through your chest like an ice - cold knife, he left you and isolated himself from the rest of your group.

***

🖤🖤🖤

***

~ A V X Reader set in an Alternate Universe where today's events probably unnerved you ( Did you see them coming? Be honest ). 😨

~ Tagging these lovely people, @diabeticsugarush , @gxthghoulfriend , @ceruleanworld , @ehrzeth , @boundbysoul , and @simmy-ships . 🖤

~ And to these special people who stayed with me and supported me. Who I don't deserve for their kindness and patience. Who I' am grateful for and will always treasure. @heaven-on-a-landslide , @lessy86 , and especially you, @krazy06 . Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. ❤

Note: Nero's motorycle is named, "Eleison" . Combined with Kyrie, "Kyrie Eleison" , a latin phrase which means "Lord Have Mercy". 🖤

P.S.: In line with the changing tone of the story, from this point onward, this would be the new format. We will still have the regular teasers but, expect meatier add ons. 🖤

***

🖤🖤🖤