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I Don't Know You | Robbie Reyes x f!reader | smut | minors DNI!
Warnings and notes: Smut, one-night stand with Robbie, oral sex (fem), Robbie having bi panic, mentions of sex and drinking, Gabe's sleep being disturbed, wrote this on my phone and with very little editing so tell me if I missed anything to tag, this was inspired by the song 'I Don't Know You' by The Marias it's so good, listen to rn,
The sun peeking through the curtains of Robbie’s windows shine over his eyes. They flutter closed again when he’s hit with the light. He moves around a bit and slowly sits up, a hand making its way to hold his head, the steady thump of a headache starting to bloom.
He groans as he takes in his surroundings. He’s home. Safe and sound. He can hear Gabe’s soft snores from the other side of the wall. He looks over at his nightstand, the clock reading 10:14. That’s waking up late to Robbie’s standard on a weekday.
Robbie becomes aware that he’s not wearing anything under his sheets, he takes in the sore feeling of his neck, his back, and his legs. The fan from the ceiling of his room is on the highest setting, spinning around and creating a fresh temperature in his otherwise hot room.
A soft groan comes from him as he stretches out his back, his mind bringing him back to the party from last night. The annoying voice of one of the assholes from his senior year of high school telling him to ‘let loose’ is etched into his mind.
He really did let loose last night.
He didn’t do anything too crazy last night, he hopes, just a lot of drinks and a lot of eye fucking from both him and the people at the party. He remembered the string tequila they had brought out and the Don Q vodka. The most he drank was beer and the occasional shot of something.
What he does remember though is the people he talked to. The redhead who was drunk on mojitos blabbered to him all night, making a not-so-subtle comment on how hot he was.
A few guys he had known prior but didn’t really get a long with. This chick at the bar that was all over him and couldn’t stop reaching for his belt. Yeah, he didn’t let her get too far.
A man who was maybe a few years older than him said he liked Robbie’s jacket, he seemed cool. He was definitely cooler than most people at the party. What he didn’t expect was that the same man was going to have him blushing as he whispered soft words of praise into Robbie’s ear.
In no time, Robbie was stuttering out excuses and apologies, telling the man ‘N-nah, I don’t swing that way. Sorry.’ When it was clear that he had been thinking it over for the last few months after that stupid dare he had done between him and his friends. He won’t admit it’s still buried in the back of his head.
After one too many drinks and flirting here and there, he didn’t even remember if he went home with someone or not. But he found out soon enough when he felt a shuffle from beside him. He was so immersed in his memories of last night that he didn’t even take into account that there was a beautiful someone in his bed.
He lies back down when he sees the back of a girl, her shoulders have hickeys and bite marks over them. Robbie covers his mouth as he smirks a bit. Her hair a slight mess as it lays under her head. He puts his arms out and pulls her to his chest, a soft groan emitting from her.
You could feed strong and rough hands pulling you to a warm source. Not wanting to wake up yet, you just stayed still, lying in the comfy bed. Robbie’s hands snake around your waist, squeezing and feeling your sore body.
Once you do finally open your eyes, there’s a slight dizzying feeling in your head. Must be all the alcohol you drank last night. A soft stream of kisses starts being planted over your shoulders, the coarse feeling of facial hair on your soft skin makes you tingle.
When you turn around you’re both met with unfamiliar faces. Jesus, how much did you drink last night?
Robbie’s eyes widen at how pretty you are. He smiles gently and leans in to press a kiss to your forehead, which makes a smile of your own bloom across your face. He pulls you in for a hug and his hands wander down your naked body, feeling your curves and your skin.
You accept the warm and gentle hug, fitting into him like a puzzle piece. Your own hands came up and scratched his scalp, a low moan escaping him. You chuckle at the sound.
After a while of touching and re-exploring, you find the courage to use your voice.
“I don’t know you.” You laugh lowly, hiding your laughter in his neck. Robbie chuckles as well, his hands never stop touching you, now tracing shapes and words into your skin.
“It’s fine. I don’t know you either.” He pulls back and kisses your cheek. “But I like this.” “Oh, definitely.” You both end up laughing, relishing in the glow of the morning. “I’m Robbie.” You nod, telling him your name. “Y’know, one would think you’d remember my name after the amount of times you screamed it last night.”
Your eyes widen as a gasp leaves you, a laugh following after. “You! I had- well, we had a lot to drink.” Robbie agrees at your words. He pulls back from the hug and bites his lip softly. “God, you’re beautiful.” He slides down the bed a bit so he can be level with your chest. He presses kiss after kiss to your body, sometimes leaving wet spots as he licks over bites that he left last night.
“I should make your breakfast.” He sighs into your body, his fingers pressing themselves into your plush thighs, kneading any part of you that he found sore.
“I think I wanna stay here a bit longer. Maybe go for another round…” you whisper cheekily. Robbie laughs and shakes his head. “I wouldn’t mind at all.” He pulls you down to face him now, getting to see his pretty brown eyes. Your hand comes up and you trace the freckles on his face, connecting them like constellations.
He can feel his cheeks dusting over with pink, quickly becoming fond of your gentle and calm nature. He sits up and has you sit up as well, your back against the headboard.
He leans down and puts your legs on his shoulders, his face leaning down to your core. Robbie presses a kiss to your clit and you can’t help but shudder. He doesn’t waste time diving in and eating you out.
A whine escapes you as your hands bury themselves into his cropped hair. “Robbie-“ “Mhm, love the way you say my name, baby.” He talks into your core, some of it muffled as he licks up your wet cunt.
One loud moan from you is all it takes for a light knocking on the wall from Gabe. “Robbie, shut up!” His little brother groans as he shuffles in his bed. This makes you and Robbie end up laughing and having Robbie put a hand over your mouth as he pulls orgasm after orgasm from you.
#[robbie reyes <3]#[v won’t stfu]#[my writing!!]#robbie reyes fanfic#robbie reyes x reader#robbie reyes#robbie reyes textpost#robbie reyes smut#robbie reyes fluff#ghost rider x reader#ghost rider#all new ghost rider#ghost rider textpost#ghost rider smut
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Blazing Meeting Part 2
Ghostrider x Farmer!F!Reader
Part 1
Summary: Johnny is closed off, leaving you to wonder what is going on with him
You didn't know you had fallen asleep until you felt someone nudging at your arm. You opened your eyes to immediately meet those of the daredevil. Oh gods, he was so close. He was…You shot up, shocked he was standing in front of you.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” Johnny said. He held a plate of food in front of you. Just some eggs, hash browns, and sausage. The smell had your mouth watering. “I made breakfast.”
“Where did you go last night?” You asked after finding your voice and taking the plate of food. Johnny froze.
After discovering him gone, you stayed in the guest house. You sat on the sofa to wait for him to return. You, obviously, fell asleep before he did.
“I, uh, went to do some thinking.” He said, putting on the most serious face he could muster. You arched an eyebrow.
“And did riding your motorcycle and lighting my pasture on fire help you think?” There was venom in your words that made Johnny wince.
“Listen, I can explain-”
“Why did you lie to me?”
“I didn't lie.”
“Then how the hell did you get that bike going if it had no gas?!” You demanded. Johnny’s jaw set. He seemed to be weighing his options with the way his eyes flicked between spaces on the floor and shined with nervousness.
“I…you'll think I'm crazy if I told you.” He said, finally looking at you. You stared into those intense blue eyes before breaking away.
“Ugh, fine, don't tell me.” You huffed, finally digging into the breakfast Johnny had handed you earlier. He looked taken aback.
“You don't want to know?” You shook your head, swallowing.
“Nope.”
“Why?”
“Man this is good. I didn't think a superstar knew how to cook.” You said through a mouthful. Johnny simply looked exasperated.
“Thanks,” he said quickly. “Why don't you want to know?” You halted and looked up at him, fork halfway to your mouth. You sighed and set your fork down as you looked at him more fully.
“When someone starts with ‘you'll think I'm crazy’ it's almost always a lie. Besides, when you've lived alone for as long as I have, you learn to care less about other people.” You say bluntly.
“Well…I mean, yeah, but…” He seemed to be at a loss for words. You watched with a small smile, eating your food. It really was good.
“Huh. Alright.” He looked at you for a moment, the very act making your cheeks burn.
“What time is it?” You asked, trying to distract yourself from the feelings that started to swirl in your heart.
“It’s, uh,” he checked his watch, “ten a.m.”
“What?!” Your eyes bulged out of your sockets as your fork fell with a clatter. Johnny jumped.
“Is everything alright?” He asked as he watched you grab your fork and start shoveling eggs into your mouth. “Slow down, you'll choke!”
“Did you eat?” You asked him through a mouthful, ignoring his question.
“What?” You swallowed and asked your question again. “Oh, yeah, yeah, I did.”
“Good, we leave as soon as I'm dressed.”
“Really?”
“You want to make it to town before nightfall, don't you?” He didn't argue with that.
“Does this thing have air conditioning?”
“Nope.”
“You're kidding.”
“Wish I was. I can't afford to get it fixed.” Silence.
“I'm paying for this damn thing to be fixed.”
That was the first thing you both had said to each other since the start of the car ride. It was nothing but pure silence, save for the jostling of the old truck and the motorcycle in the back. Johnny tried to play music, but considering you were in the middle of nowhere, no radio stations broadcasted out there. You purse your lips as the silence settles thickly and practically choked out all the air.
“So, how did the bike have fuel?” You asked finally.
“What?” Johnny asked, calling out over the wind roaring through the open windows.
“I said, ‘how did the bike have fuel?’” You repeated louder.
“Oh, I guess it just did.” He said, avoiding the question. You purse your lips, but don't press further. You could tell he was hiding something. You didn't know what, but it had to be something. Maybe he did commit those murders?
Silence befell you both once more. You weren't sure what to talk about, and it seemed Johnny didn't either. You worried your bottom lip, wondering if the silence was welcomed or not. If you should say something or not. Should you try humming?
Who the fuck hums? You thought to yourself.
“How long have you been farming?” Thank goodness your inner torment didn't last long.
“I'd have to say shy of twenty years? I started back when I was sixteen.”
“Wow, so that makes you…” You gave him a side glance, and he had the courtesy to keep quiet. You roll your eyes.
“Yes, that makes me thirty-six.” And only a couple years younger than you.
“Ah.” The awkward silence that fell after was palpable. Neither of you made another effort at conversation.
Due to the late start to your travels, you didn't reach the town until sunset. Johnny was getting increasingly antsy the closer nightfall came. He constantly asked ‘how much farther until the town,’ ‘how much farther until the hotel,’ and ‘will these hotel people hurry up?!’ Needless to say, neither of you had sighed a breath of relief until you both had received your room keys.
“We can go get that gas filled up after we put our things in our rooms.” You told him as you both entered the elevator.
“Uh, yeah, about that…” He started to trail off as he scratched the back of his neck. You immediately shot him a glare.
“What about it?” Your eyes narrowed, and your nostrils flared. Johnny had the proper sense to not meet your eye.
“Listen, we've been on the road for hours, we should get some rest and leave tomorrow.” He tried.
“I'm not tired.”
“Well, I am.”
“You didn't even drive!”
“You can still get tired from traveling!”
“You just sat there in silence!”
“I got tired of you!” The screaming match halted. For some reason, you felt your heart fall to your feet. Johnny's anger was quick to subside.
“I didn't mean-” The elevator doors opened with a ding!, allowing you to run out of the previously enclosed space and away from him. Johnny was left alone, absolutely dumbfounded.
You slammed your room door behind you. A frustrated grunt tore out of your throat as you threw your duffle bag to an armchair in the room. You were thankful you had the forethought to pack for the trip.
A blessing in disguise, you suppose.
Tags: @symmetricalkazekage @thelaundrybitch @eveandtheturtles @raphsmuneca @crocs-blogs
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weeps at Ghost Rider x reader writers
there should be more fics of Johnny Blaze guys
yes, I am begging for this
no, I am not sane about him
#random post#ghost rider x reader#ghost rider#johnny blaze#if any of you do write one go ahead and tag me if you want#i miss my husband tails i miss him alot#i'm desperate at this point chat#I AM EATING BREAD CRUMBS#GIVE ME JOHNNY PLEAASSEEEE
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So I completely forgot to specify type of matchup, my bad, so I'm redoing this. Id love a romantic matchup for Marvel in general and one for X-Men specifically, any gender but I have a small preference for the male characters (not really enough to count but
Age- 19
Height- 5'5
Gender/pronouns- nonbinary any pronouns (AFAB)
Hair- reddish brown above the shoulder
Eyes- dark brown
Other- glasses I don't wear enough, freckles everywhere
Likes/hobbies- I show dogs, I ride horses, draw and write, I like music, I enjoy a few video games and shows but I'm mostly an outside person
Personality- I try to be as kind as I can be, refuse to let the world make me bitter. Tend to be empathetic and giving to a fault. Affectionate sarcasm and teasing is common with me. I can be overly emotional and anxious sometimes, but I'm also very self aware and can get a handle on myself pretty quick when that happens. Im a bit insecure about my skin and dealing with acne, but I try to stay confident in my body anyways. I always take care of my loved ones, doing everything I can to keep them safe and happy, sometimes to the point of self-detriment
No worries about taking as long as you need to get to this, you're plenty busy and I really appreciate you <3
Hello!
Thank you for being so understanding about the wait! I really appreciate it! :)
I hope you are excited about both of your matchups!
As requested, general Marvel and specifically X-Men! After reading your information, I instantly thought about one of the characters listed. (*^▽^*)
I hope you like them! :)
<3333
Enjoy!
Romantic Matchups; Marvel and X-Men
~~~
Romantic;
~~~
Marvel;
Daniel "Danny" Ketch (Ghost Rider) -
(No gifs of Danny's Ghost Rider, so this will have to do! XD)
Your first meeting with Danny was purely by chance.
You were out horseback riding, enjoying a calm ride across the field of your farm, when you heard the oncoming roar of an engine.
Looking up, you saw a motorcycle coming down the road beside the field that you were in.
Initially, you were surprised by his sudden appearance, but the moment you saw Danny’s face - the dude wasn't even wearing a helmet - you sensed something unusual about him.
And not to mention, he was cute.
It was like the world had slowed, slipping into slow motion...
You rode side by side, a fence between you, your eyes met...
There was just something about him...
From there, your friendship grew over a series of accidental run-ins.
Danny had been passing through your area while dealing with his responsibilities as Ghost Rider, and more often than not, you’d end up chatting whenever he needed a break from his duties.
Sitting on the fence, you'd both eat sandwiches and just talk.
At first, your friendship with Danny was based on shared moments of peace whenever you'd have the time to hang out.
He would occasionally join you while you were horseback riding, and you’d both talk about life and how he felt trapped between two worlds - the one of his human self and the other of his fiery alter ego.
You noticed how hard he tried to balance his responsibilities and how the weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders, but you admired his strength.
Your empathy for him drew the two of you closer as friends, and he started confiding in you more about his struggles, something he didn’t often do with others.
He appreciated the way you seemed to understand him without pressuring him for answers.
As time passed, Danny started to realize that his feelings for you had grown beyond friendship.
He loved how you were always there for him, how you didn’t push him away when he revealed his alter ego.
Your presence was a comfort to him, and he noticed how he wanted to spend more time with you.
Sometimes, during long rides together, he'd catch glimpses of your smile or the way you interacted with your horse, and his heart would race without him realizing it.
He began doing little things for you - repairing anything, fixing your horses’ saddles, or even just bringing you coffee from the diner in town because he knew you liked it.
One evening, after a particularly dangerous encounter, Danny took a step he hadn’t been sure he could make.
He looked at you, exhausted from the fight, but saw you still caring for him, making sure he was okay.
"Would it be crazy... If I told you that I was falling in love with you?"
He seemed almost surprised at his own admission, his usual guarded demeanor slipping away as he stood before you.
You looked at him in surprise, then smiled softly, "No... No, I don't think it would be crazy at all. I'm pretty awesome. I get it."
Long walks after sunset, riding horses through the quiet fields, or sitting together in silence while the world passed by.
Danny’s romantic gestures were subtle but meaningful. He would write you little notes or help you with any task, always putting your needs above his own.
His favorite thing to do was surprise you with spontaneous adventures - taking you on motorcycle rides through the night to see the stars.
You loved to take walks together, with Danny at your side as you talked about everything and nothing. You’d both spend time at the stables, grooming your horses, while Danny playfully teased you about your love for the animals.
He was actually really interested in how you showed dogs, though.
At home, you’d make dinner together.
Danny would sacrifice anything for you - whether it was putting his life on the line or just being there for you in your time of need.
He’d always keep his promises to you and would move heaven and earth to protect you.
If you were ever in danger, you would see a different side of Danny. His transformation into Ghost Rider was all-consuming, but with you by his side, he kept his humanity intact. His love for you grounded him.
You would always offer him the unconditional love and understanding he needed.
Danny has a habit of waking up a little earlier than you, but he always stays in bed, pretending to be asleep until you stir.
When you finally wake up, he pulls you into a tight cuddle, his arms around you, and he buries his face in your hair.
He’s not a morning person, but the warmth of you in his arms makes waking up a lot more bearable.
He’ll mumble a soft, “good morning,” and kiss your forehead before you both lay there in comfortable silence for a few extra minutes, just enjoying each other's company.
Every morning, Danny would also brew a pot of coffee for the two of you.
His sleepy smile when he hands you a cup would be enough to make your heart skip a beat.
You both sit together, sipping your coffee in companionable silence, watching the sunrise.
Danny’s sarcasm and teasing are playful, but underneath it all, he’s always gentle with you.
If you’re having a rough day or feeling insecure, he knows exactly how to cheer you up.
He’ll drop a goofy joke or send a teasing smile your way, but it always comes with a reassuring hand on your shoulder, making sure you know he’s there for you, no matter what.
Danny has this endearing habit of lightly tugging on your hair when you’re being cute, teasing you with a soft, “Stop being so cute, it’s making me weak.”
If you’re sitting close to him, he’ll tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear with the gentlest touch, and his fingers might linger just a little longer than necessary.
Sometimes, during those summer thunderstorms, when the rain is pouring outside, Danny will grab your hand and drag you out into the yard or the porch, letting the rain soak you both.
He’ll pull you close, kiss you deeply, and it’ll be like the rest of the world fades away.
The rain may be cold, but in that moment, you’re both wrapped up in each other’s warmth.
You both end up dancing in the rain.
Whenever you walk hand-in-hand with Danny, you can’t help but smile.
You love how his fingers naturally intertwine with yours, and if you’re feeling cheeky, you’ll gently squeeze his hand or nudge him playfully with your elbow.
Movie nights with him are your favorite. You love being snuggled under a blanket together, your legs tangled, as you both settle into the couch. He’ll rest his head on your lap, and you’ll play with his hair, just talking about random things or commenting on the movie.
During the movie, you’ll share jokes and make faces at each other, which always makes him laugh.
You’ll laugh together until you’re both out of breath and then fall into a comfortable silence, knowing that even in the quietest moments, the love between you two speaks volumes.
~~~
X-Men;
Remy LeBeau (Gambit) -
(I instantly thought of Gambit for you.)
You met Remy through the X-Men.
You were both part of the team, but you were fairly new to the group.
Your ability to connect with others' minds and control them like a puppet on missions, and your ability to connect with people quickly and make friends caught his attention.
Remy, being a charming and playful soul, quickly warmed up to you when he saw how caring and kind you were to the rest of the team, despite their rough edges.
You’d often catch him watching you from a distance, a smirk on his face as you helped with the team’s more delicate missions.
You'd even spot him staring at you, smirk on his face, leaning against the wall - with his arms crossed - when you were bonding with the other members of the team or any of the kids/students at the mansion.
There was one mission in particular where you saved him when he was cornered by enemies, and the way you handled the situation made him see you in a new light - not just as an ally, but as someone he admired deeply and trusted.
He liked that you didn't hesitate to jump on and take change when needed.
In the beginning, your friendship with Gambit had a teasing, flirty dynamic.
He'd always throw playful comments your way, calling you "mon cher" or some other affectionate nickname.
This always made you roll your eyes, you couldn't help but smile.
Despite his flirty demeanor, he was surprisingly protective of you, often watching your back during missions.
You both spent a lot of time sparring together to hone your fighting skills.
When you weren't fighting side by side, you would both retreat to the gym to practice and joke around.
Remy admired your ability to handle pressure with grace, something he respected deeply.
You also shared many conversations late into the night in the X-Mansion, where you'd sit on the porch, or balcony, sipping on something warm, and talk about your lives.
Your love of animals, your horses, dogs, and how your art helped you express yourself.
Gambit admired your vulnerability, and you could tell he was gradually letting his walls down around you.
Lots of admiring...
Over time, the friendship evolved into something deeper.
You noticed the way Remy's demeanor shifted around you - the teasing became more sincere, the touches lingered just a little longer, and there was a softness, a gentleness, in his gaze whenever you looked at him, or he looked at you.
You were the first person to notice when Remy was struggling with his past.
You could tell he carried some emotional weight, and instead of shying away from it, you gave him space to talk or simply offered a shoulder to cry or lean on.
This was when he started realizing that maybe you were the person he had been looking for all along.
Someone who understood the complexities of life and didn't judge him.
His feelings for you intensified, especially when he caught himself thinking about you.
He would find himself thinking about you in the most random of moments when you weren't around.
When he was on a solo mission, he would think about you, wondering how you were doing back at the mansion.
When he is in the kitchen of the mansion getting something to eat, he thinks about you, wondering if you are hungry, before grabbing your favorite snack to bring you.
And at night, before bed, he'd lay in bed and think about you.
He'd close his eyes, and see your smile, the shimmer in your eyes, and he was positive that he could hear your laugh...
When you smiled, it was like the whole world lit up.
You made him want to be a better person, and he admired how you handled everything, even your insecurities, with a quiet strength.
He adored you.
It happened on a mission - one where you were both caught in a high-stakes situation.
Remy's usual cocky attitude faltered for the first time when he thought he might lose you.
You had been hit, bleeding from your side, and he held you. He held you to his chest as he waited impatiently for the jet to come and pick you both up.
He felt like his heart was being punched, kicked, squeezed, as he begged you to keep your eyes open, to stay alive...
Back at the mansion, he continued to stay by your side. But he was sent away during your surgery.
He paced and paced until he was allowed in to see you.
He sat beside your bed, a deep sigh leaving him.
"I don’t know how to say this, but…" He started, hesitating for a moment.
He took a deep breath and looked at you, his hand reaching out to take yours, "I don’t just care about you, mon cher. I’ve been falling for you for a while now. I guess… I didn’t know how to handle it before, but I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel it."
He sighed, shutting his eyes, and bowing his head.
"Remy… You… You’ve been falling for me?"
"You’re awake," He whispered, his breath shaky with emotion. "Thank God… I don’t know what I would’ve done if I lost you."
"Remy," You whispered, "You didn’t have to hide it."
His gaze softened, his hand still holding yours with a gentle yet firm grip. "I thought you might not feel the same," He said, his voice low, hesitant. "I didn’t want to make things harder for you."
You smiled weakly, your thumb brushing over the back of his hand as you gave him a reassuring squeeze. "I was too scared to admit it," You confessed, your voice barely more than a whisper. "But... I’ve been falling for you, too. I just didn’t know how to say it."
He froze, his eyes wide with disbelief, and for a second, everything seemed to stop as he processed your words.
Then, his face lit up with the most genuine, joyful smile you had ever seen.
"Mon cher," He said, his voice filled with awe. He leaned in close, his forehead touching yours as he whispered, "You have no idea how happy you just made me."
And before you could say another word, Remy leaned in and pressed his lips softly against yours.
It was gentle, you melted into it. It was the kiss you both needed - the kind that spoke volumes, full of love, relief, and the promise of a future together.
In the beginning, your relationship with Remy was filled with gentle teasing, playful exchanges, and deep conversations that went long into the night.
He'd often surprise you by leaving little notes in your things or pulling you into spontaneous kisses that made your heart race.
Remy loved showing you affection in large, but also small, subtle ways.
He'd walk beside you and slip his hand into yours as you walked through the mansion halls, just enough to remind you he was there.
He'd also show up with surprise gifts - a sketchbook for your art, a rare flower, or a horse-themed charm necklace.
Remy, knowing how much your horses mean to you, would occasionally join and sit on a hay bale as you brushed your horses.
He'd even let you teach him how to ride a horse.
During the soft and quiet nights, he loved surprising you with spontaneous outings, taking you on drives to the city, or evening art shows, or to a local diner at three in the morning for a shake.
On rainy days, you'd snuggle up together in front of the fire - or TV playing a video of a fire - and he'd play the guitar softly, serenading you with his sweet melodies.
He may even make something up for you.
You and Remy would have your own little rituals, like cooking dinner together.
While he was undoubtedly good at cooking, he loved watching you experiment with recipes.
Sometimes you'd end up making a mess, but the tow of you would laugh and clean it up together.
When you had a partially bad day, Remy would set up a cozy little space for you to unwind. Either with him or alone. He doesn't mind.
He'd light candles, put on some soft music, and hand you a cup of your favorite drink.
He would often surprise you - lots of surprises here from this guy, he's a giver - he would surprise you by joining you in your love of art.
And once in a while, he'd sketch something for you, like a really good drawing of you riding a horse.
For some reason, he is really good at drawing.
Remy would always have you back, that is a given.
No matter what, he is there for you.
If you are feeling insecure in any way, he'd lift your spirits with his gentle words and warm gestures.
If you were ever in danger or stressed out, he'd do anything to make sure you were safe, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way.
His devotion to you was unwavering.
He’d also do his best to help with your artwork, offering to model for you or assist with anything you needed.
Whether it was finding a place for you to sketch or supporting your writing, he’d encourage you to follow your dreams, always by your side.
(He'd love to be your muse, paint him like one of your Cajun girls.)
You always make sure Remy knows that you appreciate him, from picking up little things that might have been forgotten to offering words of affirmation.
You'd take care of his emotional needs as he took care of yours, giving him a safe place to be vulnerable.
When it came to his pat, you wouldn't pressure him to open up, but you'd always be there when he needed someone to talk to.
You'd remind him, day after day, that he was worthy of love and happiness, and that his past doesn't define him.
#cute#fluff#x reader#x you#x y/n#request#requested#anon request#matchup#matchups#headcanons#marvel#mcu#x-men#xmen#gambit#remy lebeau#Remy Etienne LeBeauGambit#gambit x reader#remy lebeau x reader#Remy Etienne LeBeauGambit x reader#ghost rider#ghost rider x reader#daniel ketch x reader#daniel ketch#danny ketch#danny ketch x reader
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Gashes To Gashes | Robbie Reyes x Reader
Rating: T (for non-sexual intimacy, undressing, mentions of injury, tooth rotting fluff, mild spoilers for AoS S4)
Word count: 1.7k
Summary: Robbie comes home one night and finds you already asleep on the couch. He decides he can’t sleep without you and takes matters into his own hands. Reader is gender neutral, no use of y/n
A/N: I miss him so much okay 🤧 I know there’s not a big audience for him or anything but someone’s gotta feed the few that are here! Enjoy <3
When he found you sleeping on the couch, the clothes you were wearing that morning still draped over your form and crumpled, he knew you’d had a bad day. Usually you’d be changed into pyjamas or one of his shirts by now. Although it was well past midnight, you were usually still very much awake when he came through the front door. But here you were, fast asleep on the couch in your daytime clothes. It was an adorable sight.
Two empty plates cluttered the coffee table in front of you. He knew there would be a cellophane-covered plate for him sitting on the kitchen table too if he cared to look. But he couldn’t have cared less about food right now.
Robbie hadn’t been home yet that day. Instead he heeded the Rider’s demands and went out on the hunt from the moment he finished work. He shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the hook by the door next to yours and Gabe’s. As the jacket slipped from his tired shoulders, the stress of the day did too.
Now, finally, he was home.
In the darkness, he relied on the deeply embedded memory of the house's layout to stop himself from bumping into anything. So many night sneaking out from beneath his uncle’s nose as a teen had prepared him for this. He knew each floorboard that creaked, each piece of furniture he might stub his toe on. All of this too avoid rousing you or his little brother from slumber.
He risked waking Gabe just to make sure he was alright. He twisted the bedroom door handle and let it open just a crack, there he saw his baby brother content and sleeping soundly. Golden street light streamed through the blinds and illuminated his soft face and the floppy hair that rustled in the breeze of his sleeping breath. His wheelchair sat at the bedside, piled high with school books he must’ve cleared from his bed in a rush of sudden drowsiness. Content, he closed the door behind him with a soft click and then turned his attention back to you.
He was glad you hadn’t waited up. He didn’t want you losing sleep over him. But the position and clothes you were in had to be uncomfortable. You’d definitely wake up cold and with a sore neck if he just left you there draped over the couch cushions. That’s what he told himself to justify gathering you into his arms and carrying you through to bed. In reality, he just couldn’t sleep without you - without knowing you were there beside him and safe.
Your very presence was a comfort and an anchor to him and he knew he’d miss you too much to sleep, even if you were just in the next room. He would never forget just how cold the sheets felt after the first night you’d spent there in his bed all wrapped up in his arms. It wasn’t just the company of another that he adored but also the way you snuggled into him like a stray cat to a rug beneath a roaring fire. Your soft touches were fresh air to him. The next night he spent alone, his bed suddenly felt too big, too empty and so painfully cold. Since then, he’s never been able to sleep well without you and despised the thought of even having to try.
“Robbie?” You croaked, feeling that distinct, unmistakable warmth radiating from him and seeping into your skin. “You okay?”
You stirred just as he pushed the bedroom door open - awakened by the hinge’s unoiled creak. After bringing a curled fist to rub your eyes, it was impossible to distinguish his features in the darkness but you knew him by his demeanour and touch alone. No one else you’d ever met smelled so distinctly like ash and motor oil or moved like he carried the weight of a thousand struggles on his back. No one else felt like home the way that Robbie did to you.
“Yeah, baby, I’m alright… better now I’m with you. Are you alright?” He answered softly with a press of his lips to your forehead followed by the gentle scrape of the hair on his upper lip. When you made a sound of disgruntlement at his question, he faltered, “Long day?”
“Longest I’ve had in a while. Can’t believe I fell asleep before you got home.” Usually your worry kept you up more than anything else. No matter how many times he came home in one piece you always worried.
“Lemme kiss it better then we’ll get you back to sleep, huh?” He set you down on the mattress and you yawned as soon as your back knew the plush mattress below.
You hummed. “I should probably get out of these clothes first.”
“I can help with that.”
He started with your shirt. Each undone plastic button exposed a fresh inch of your skin to the cool night air as he went. He let his eyes close as his warm lips pressed against your bare shoulder, the base of your neck, then the centre of your chest. His lips were void of all except appreciation and care. You laughed quietly as he undressed you so gently. Usually Robbie shimmying off your trousers meant an entirely different ordeal to this. But tonight he was just trying to get you comfortable enough to be able to rest with him.
He barely bothered kicking off his own trousers before getting into bed, much more concerned with wrapping his hoodie around your shoulders when he felt your slight shiver. He lay down beside you and in the dark you reached for him immediately, to feel his warm skin on yours. His arm wound around your waist then curled up your back to press you close to him. You found his cheek and he leaned into that precious, treasured touch. Being home with your hands on him after a night letting the Rider take over was the best medicine he could ever ask for. He thought it was more than he deserved.
“Mmhmm. I missed you.” You threw your arms around his shoulders and hugged his head close to your chest.
“I missed you too.” He replied, enjoying your embrace for a moment. You tried to enjoy it too but as you swiped your thumb over his cheek you felt the unmistakable raised and bumpy ridge of a gash entrenched into his skin.
“What’s this?” You questioned.
“It’s nothing, baby. Let’s just get you back to sleep.” His hand covered yours, turning your palm to press a single chaste kiss to it.
He needed so desperately to calm your worries but he should’ve known that wouldn’t work. Tiredness radiated off him in droves; It thickened his voice and weighed down his limbs. He just wanted to let the mattress swallow him whole, to rest here with you forever, but you had to know he was alright.
“Robbie…” your voice held a tinge of warning.
He sighed, knowing you wouldn’t let it slide and he couldn’t blame you for that. If you came home with so much as a scratch on you he’d want names and addresses - and that was even before he was possessed by a spirit of vengeance. His stomach knotted at the memory of Quake only a few hours ago. How she’d all but begged him to kill her but the Rider didn’t seem to think she deserved to pay her penance just yet. “Some powered chick was snooping around Canello’s looking for the charger. We had a uh…disagreement, and she punched me in the face.”
You broke out of his grasp and flicked the bedside lamp on to get a better look. Harsh light flooded the room and you both winced at the sudden brightness but the irritation at the bright light was soon replaced with worry. “She did that? With one punch?” You asked, examining his battered cheek.
It was just a small gash with some bruising surrounding it. Nothing to worry about, really. But the fact that it had yet to heal was strange and more than a little concerning. Robbie bleeds just like anybody else but the blood he came home covered in wasn’t ever usually his own thanks to how quickly the demon heals him. That woman must’ve packed one hell of a punch. It was nothing like you’d ever seen him recovering from before. You had yet to see a scratch on him that wouldn’t fade within an hour until now.
“Yeah, she was strong. But vida, you should go back to sleep. It’s late. You don’t ever gotta worry about me.” He's whispering so as not to startle you any more, thumb running over your chin as he looks up at you with his deep, endless brown eyes that almost pleaded with you to believe him.
"I always worry about you,” you replied honestly. Because of course you did, how couldn’t you? He might have been invulnerable by any reasonable standard but you dreaded the day he encountered something that the Rider couldn’t heal. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?"
Robbie swallowed thickly and shook his head before telling you something that almost made your eyes water.
"Nah. Just you."
All he wanted was you here in his arms and in his bed. With the softness and desperation in his eyes, you believed him. You flicked off the bedside lamp and settled back down in his arms. He thumbed your hip and tugged you closer with a touch so soft for such well-worked hands. You all but melted into him, into his chest, into the faint smell of burn and blood, and the comfort that he brought.
You let your hand rest on his chest as you often did. It was a sweet habit of yours, one which Robbie loved. But tonight things were a little different. You slid your hand down the soft burgundy cotton of his shirt before letting your fingers dive beneath the hem and graze just above his belly button. Your palm splayed out, rising with each slow breath he took. He wasn’t sure what comfort you derived from touching him like that but the touch grounded him, brought him back to Earth again from wherever he was floating that night, untethered. He needed your skin on his as tree roots needed soil and sunlight. That touch made him feel human again, like maybe the weight he carried wasn’t so heavy after all.
Robbie Reyes tag list:
@icy-spicy
I’ve lost the rest of the tag list for him yall I’m so sorry 😭 Please let me know if you’d like to be added!!
#robbie reyes#robbie reyes x reader#ghost rider#ghost rider x reader#AoS#agents of shield#marvel#fic#fluff#mywriting#mine
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hey, so…bull rider!simon??
more bull rider simon
“You come to wish me luck?” Simon purred in your ear as his hands gripped the back of your thighs and his body pressed onto yours, stabilizing you against the wall of a rundown dive bar’s back room.
“You’ve gotta be as dull as an ox if you think I’m here for any other interest than self, Beef-head,” you hiss as his fingers dig into the fat of your thigh, etching closer to slide your panties off.
“Beef-head, huh?” He murmurs against your neck as your hands fumble with his buckle, unclasping it before sliding the zipper to his pants down.
“Seems fittin,’” you prompt, as your panties slide to dangle around your ankles. He slips his jeans and boxers down in one swift motion. You slip your hand between the two of you to gently tug on his painfully erect cock.
You lean closer into him, lips barely grazing his temple. His sizzling breath fanning across your cheeks as you stroke him. “I bet this one gets taken care of when you’re tourin.’ Huh?” You tighten your grip around him; he releases an anguished groan, fingers digging deeper into your thighs.
“Ah—fuck,” he whizzes as one of his hands releases your thigh and instead braces against the back wall.
“Ya—I bet you find a pretty girl who's just jumpin’ at the chance to touch ya in every city,” your fingers move quicker on their volition, “you don't even have to try.”
If Simon didn't know you, he'd assume you were doing what everyone else does: stroke his ego, but he knew you.
You were majorily fucking with him.
“Fuck—don’t tell me you're—ah—jealous, babydoll,” Simon murmurs, his tone is dripping in arrogance. You let out a dry laugh, tugging his cock slightly harder, making him groan.
“Come on, Beef-bead. You know I don't have to do a damn thing before your comin’ up to me beggin’ for a taste,” you drag lips down his temple to his busted lip. “Beggin’ for a feel of me.”
He quickly moves his hand braced onto the wall onto your face, pulling your lips roughly onto his. He tasted of blood and Nicorette, which did nothing to tamper your reclusions.
Your teeth scrape against each other as the kiss becomes more fervent with each passing moment. The air is now dense and burning with desire.
His hand moves from your cheek to his erect cock still in your hand, cheekily pulling your fingers off to push himself inside your soaked cunt.
“Shit,” you wheezed, fingers digging into his shoulders. His hands wander, gripping your waist impossibly closer, back pressed tut with the cracked walls behind you.
“You’re right—fuck—been waiting to come back,” he pants as he increases his pace. “Just to get a God-damn look at ya,” he spits.
It’s almost pathetic. Almost.
“Suppose this ain’t half bad,” he brashly says. You find a slight smirk pulling at your lips at his quip, though your humorous expression quickly dissipates almost as fast as it came when he plows into you.
You lean your head into his neck, nipping at the flesh, then quickly soothing it with a swipe of your tongue. “Damn firecracker, you are,” he groans into your hair.
When you feel his impending orgasm nearing, you swing your legs down, easing his cock out of you. Slight regret passed through you at losing contact, but you would finish yourself later.
Simon hisses, gripping his cock, attempting to regain any ounce of stimulation, but to his dismay, it had passed.
“If I know one thing about you, champ, I know you don't like it easy,” you pant out. “So I’ll be damned if I let you think for a moment you got it easy with me,” your eyes lock to his.
You’re surprised to find his face paler and eyes smokier. Though they weren’t filled with anguish, it was more admiration.
“I didn’t get to finish last time, so you don’t get to finish this time round,’” you say, pulling your jeans back on and buckling your belt.
“Suggest you find one of your buckle bunnies to help ya out—with that,” you gesture to his now half-erect cock splayed out.
You reach into your back pocket, grasping a five-dollar bill, pushing it into his chest because you could at least give him enough to cover an ice pack.
He grips the money, an irritated smirk playing on his lips. As you leave, you approach the door, dipping your head to avoid catching attention.
You hear Simon murmur a faint, ‘Firecracker, my ass, that's a whole damn bomb.’
You smile because, well, karma is karma.
a/n: come on yk thanksgiving brings out all the freakies hence this!
#˚ʚ♡ɞ˚: rylea writes#call of duty#cod#cod x reader#simon riley#fanfic#simon ghost riley#ghost#ghost cod#ghost call of duty#simon riley imagine#simon riley cod#simon riley call of duty#simon riley smut#bull rider!simon riley#cod x you#simon riley x you#simon riley fanfic#simon riley x reader#ghost riley#ghost x reader#cod ghost#ghost x you#call of duty ghost#ghost cod smut#cod smut#ghost smut#ghost simon riley#simon ghost x you#simon ghost x reader
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No, I'm excited to see Jean Grey tear Thanos to the ground. After a long time, I started reading comics again. I hope it brings back my old passion for comics.
#marvel#gambit#kurt wagner#magneto#remy lebeau#x men 97#jean grey#magik#x men comics#x men evolution#uncanny xmen#x force#x factor#x reader#x men#uncanny x men#xmen 97#xmen edit#xmen meme#xmen fanart#x men movies#x men animated series#deadpool#deadpool and wolverine#deadpool 3#all new x men#all new ghost rider#all new wolverine#comic art#comic books
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Biker!Simon
Thinking of Biker!Simon picking you up from work because your car won't convinently stay running.
(A few of your spark plugs may be in his pocket, but minor details)
Thinking how Biker!Simon has to ride an actual cruiser of a motorcycle because he's such a big man for anything else. Watching him pull up to your work place, hands and arms high from the high bars.
Thinking how your breath catches seeing his large arms and legs hold up the bike, his ink flexing on his skin showing his muscles at work.
Thinking how Biker!Simon hands you a helmet he brought along because you know... Safety first. When you asked for a ride, this isn't honestly what you expected. But beggars can't be choosers at this rate.
Thinking how Biker!Simon puts your items in his saddle bags before getting on and straddling the bike. No. No you weren't just gawking at him, come on now, get a grip.
Thinking how Biker!Simon knows you're having a bad day, stressing about your car not starting. How he feels your hands resting between you both on the bike, in the sweatshirt you were wearing. He wants you to focus on the ride, not the easy fix that's already hanging around in his pocket. Thinking how Biker!Simon turns and squeezes the throttle making you jolt into him and quickly wrap your arms around him in surprise.
"What the fuck??" You asked startled not sure what else to say.
To which Biker!Simon rumbles his signature chuckle and answers. "Just wanted a hug."
Simon "Ghost" Riley Masterlist
#did i just write my husband into this?... i think i did#call of duty#cod mw2#call of duty mw2#mw2#ghost mw2#simon ghost riley#simon riley#ghost#ghost x reader#simon riley x you#ghost simon riley#simon riley call of duty#simon riley x reader#simon ghost x reader#simon#ghost simon riley x reader#simon ghost riley fanfiction#simon ghost riley x reader#simon ghost x you#simon ghost riley smut#simon ghost smut#ghost call of duty#cod mw ghost#ghost riley#ghost rider#hes perfect for that#simon ghost fluff#simon ghost riley x you#simon ghost riley call of duty
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Wukong and ghost rider reader?
GHOST RIDER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MARVEL ANTI HEROES!!🤩
(Lmk Wukong) You are so cool🤩🤩🤩 He's never seen anyone like you ever, and he's been around for a long time. He saw you one night with your flaming skull playing with his monkeys one night. At first, he thought you were an enemy, but when he saw that you weren't doing anything harmful, He decided to take an easy and just watch you. Then your flames went out and saw a pretty face underneath those flames. Now he's interested in you for a totally different reason now🤩🤩🤩.
(HIB Wukong) Well you are the Scariest thing, he's ever seen, but for some reason he didn't feel threatened by you. You may have been on fire but instead of attacking him, you were attacking the enemies who fought him. You had deemed him innocent which brought a cute blush on his face, before leaving him alone. Wukong was now very interested in you and was curious on the story of you and your existence.
(NR Wukong) He's so in love with you, and your flaming hot motorcycle. His eyes were sparkling at the sight of your flaming body and you were so hot literally. He loves having street racing against you and finds your powers interesting because you punishment on the evil around the city. He always had interesting questions for you and wanted to know everything, about you and your bike 🏍. I guess you have a nice travel/Battle companion😊.
(MKR Wukong) He heard the story of the ghost rider, the village that the monk and the pilgrims went to were told about the ghost rider who protected the innocent and punish the sinful. When he first saw you it was he felt fear 😨 and then mildly arousal as he watched you punish a man so bad that his face had burned off And you didn't even touch him. When Wukong saw you, your ruthless nature, your flames and your harsh beauty. All he could think of was Hello Future wife🥵❤️🔥💋
(Netflix Wukong) He saw your flaming skull before and he was frozen in terror. He met you during a fight of 1000 demons and when they tried to get the jump on him but then he saw you! Flaming skull and all you literally wip those demons away like nothing, Wukong was a tad bit bamboozled but continued the fight along side you. At the end he found himself looking at you and your flaming skull, with Astonishment and curiosity you looked back at him, and all you said was
Innocent ☠️
(BMW Wukong) Love at first Flames for him, you were ruthless, headstrong and quite brutal in battle and he never wanted so bad as to put on a ring on your flaming hot finger. That's how you receive a stalker in him as his curiosity got the best of him, wanting to know who you are, where did you come from, and what are your powers, and what's that thing you were riding. What caught Wukong's eyes was that you were another monkey, a powerful female one at that ohhhhhhhhhh Winning you over will be a breeze.
(The Destined one) Nothing could have ever Channel his inner curiosity the way you did. The flames, the brutality, the battles Everything. Your elegance makes fire so unique and beautiful. Especially stepping away from a field of flaming carcasses, the destined one has alot to learn about you and the mystery and Fire around you.
FEEL FREE TO REBLOG☠️
#monkey king netflix#monkey king reborn#monkey king x reader#nezha reborn#lmk monkey king#monkey king hero is back#x female y/n#ghost rider#marvel fandom#Marvel ghost riders#black myth wukong#the destined one x reader
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◖— welcome to my blog
(※) INTRODUCTION: helloo, i am Siddy, she/they, and i usually just write random stuff for DC—MARVEL—COD MW. sometimes i post some of my ART or SKETCHES if i feel like it or reblog stuff. hope you'll enjoy it and have fun! I take requests for the fandoms I wrote in my RULES
(※) — MAIN MASTERLIST (requests are open)
→DRABBLES:
COD Drabbles
BATFAMILY Drabbles
ROMTOBER (Batfam)
MARVEL Drabbles
→FANFICTION:
University Romance one
University Romance two
University Romance three
University Romance four
⟨ COMPLETE⟩ Pairing: Johnny 'Soap' McTavish x female!Reader Summary: You and Johnny are two professors at a university, and he often catches you working late in your office.Also, you're just really good friends and there's probably more to it
You're Only Sixteen one You're Only Sixteen five
You're Only Sixteen two You're Only Sixteen six
You're Only Sixteen three You're Only Sixteen seven
You're Only Sixteen four
⟨ COMPLETE⟩ Platonic story. Summary: child soldier joins task force141, stuff is complicated
It's All an Act one ⟨ ON GOING ⟩
It's All an Act two
Pairing: Bruce Wayne x fem!reader (Acotr!AU) Summary: Actor!Bruce plays as your love interest in your up-coming movie
Join us, please?
⟨ COMPLETE ?⟩ Platonic story. (xmen crackfic) Summary: Charles tries to get you into his school
→ART:
Resident Evil:
Leon Kennedy Chris Redfield
→SKETCHES:
Simon Riley Jason Todd + Simon 'Ghost' Riley Ghostrider
more to come :)
#call of duty#cod mw2#digital art#fanart#resident evil#fanfic#leon kennedy#sketches#masterlist#drabble#drawing#simon ghost riley#john price#kyle gaz garrick x reader#soap call of duty#jason todd#ghost rider#cod#damian wayne x reader#damian wayne#duke thomas#batfamily#batfam#x reader#female reader#reader insert#fem reader
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Robbie Reyes as textposts
#robbie reyes#robbie reyes textpost#robbie reyes aos#ghost rider#ghost rider textpost#robbie reyes x you#robbie reyes x reader#robbie reyes fic#text post#marvel text post#marvel#marvel television#agents of shield#aos#daisy johnson#quakerider#mcu textpost#ghost rider x reader#mine: text#agents of shield season 4
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He wants to seem like he doesn't care. At all. He wants you to just be still with your face pressed into the pillows and your back arched.
But how can Robbie do that? How can he when you look so pretty? When you squeeze onto him tightly?
It's impossible. But he can feel the Rider in his head, taunting, making him wait.
Show some restraint, Reyes.
You try having her like this and we'll see who can't hold back.
He'd fight back.
Yet he can't help but rock his hips against your tight cunt, he can't help but let his rough, calloused hands run over your back. And when he gives a short thrust of his hips and you moan? It's like heaven on earth for him.
Robbie sighs softly as he begins to start moving now, the little control he had over himself diminishing over the second. He doesn't want you to know that he can't help himself when he promised he would make you wait. That he was going to take it real slow tonight.
But Robbie is a weak man when it comes to you. So he settles by covering his mouth with his hands as the other holds onto your waist. He moves his hips slowly. He bites down on his lip behind his hand to prevent himself from making too much noise.
Then when he gives an involuntarily sharp thrust and you clench onto him tightly, his eyes roll into the back of his head.
And this time? Robbie doesn't hold back.
-----------------------------------------
I'm sorry. There's more coming. @kalllistos
#robbie reyes#[my writing!!]#[v won’t stfu]#ghost rider#gabriel luna#robbie reyes smut#robbie reyes x reader#[robbie reyes <3]#robbie reyes fanfic#ghost rider x reader#all new ghost rider#ghost rider textpost
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I'm entering many brain rots at once 😅 expect more of this
Summary: You find a random stranger on your pasture and are dumbfounded.
Ghost Rider x Farmer!F!Reader
Blazing Meeting
You were a big fan of Johnny Blaze. Even after the police convicted him of murder and set out a manhunt for him, you still rooted for that daredevil. So when you walked out to your pasture to do all your ranch-ly duties and saw THE Johnny Blaze passed out on the ground, it took everything in you to not freak out. You crouched and pressed two fingers against his pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when you felt it drum against your fingers. You looked around, only seeing an old-fashioned motorcycle. You allowed yourself a moment to admire the flaming paint job before you shook your head and turned your attention back to Mr. Blaze. You prepared yourself for another moment, then took one of his arms and pulled him up onto your back. He was heavier than you expected, but an entire life of ranch work has done you some good. Once you secured Mr. Blaze, you began your trek back into your house where you laid him on the couch. When you looked at his face, you saw it covered in sweat. You rushed off to your kitchen and grabbed a small bucket of cold water and a rag. You rushed back to Mr. Blaze's side and dunked the rag into the water. You wrung it out and pressed it against his forehead. Suddenly, he let out a shaky gasp, the first sign of life since you saw him.
"Mr. Blaze? You called out softly, moving the rag to his cheek. His eyes shot open, and next thing you knew, you were on your back with Mr. Blaze above you, fist around your collar, and the other fist raised and ready to strike. Shock took over your body, and you froze, wide eyes staring into his angry ones.
"Who. Are. You?" He asked through labored breaths. You gulped. You always wanted to meet Johnny Blaze, but this was not how you imagined you'd meet him.
"Y/N L/N." You stuttered out. "Y-you were passed out on my p-pasture, and I b-brought you in."
You watched as his eyes looked away from you, his features changing from anger to confusion. He took a moment to look around your home. You couldn't help but look at him. He was more handsome in front of you than on TV. His eyes shot back to you, and you froze again.
"Ah, um, sorry. About all of this." He said softly, quickly getting off you. You sat up after him, watching in horror as he stood, cried out in pain, and fell. You rushed to stand and help him back on the couch. He groaned when he sat, sweat glistening on his forehead again. You pressed a hand to his forehead, a movement he tried to weakly push away.
"You're burning up." You grabbed the rag you dropped when he jumped you and pressed it against his forehead. You also realized your bucket of water had spilled.
"Water." He said weakly.
"Of course, just hold the rag here, and I'll get you some water." He did as told and allowed you to run to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. Mr. Blaze took it from you and chugged it as if it was the first drop of water he'd seen in ages.
"More." He demanded, tossing the bottle aside. You raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" You put your hands on your hips. This made Mr. Blaze pause.
"Uh, more water? I'm parched." He said in disbelief.
"I bring you into my house and provide my services and you, Mr. Bigshot, think you can just command me?"
"Uh yeah." He said simply. Oh, how your blood boiled.
"Alright, out."
"What?"
"Out!" That got Mr. Blaze moving.
"Alright, fine. I didn't need your stupid hospitality." He got up, groaning and clutching his arm. It took everything in you to not help him. He walked out with a limo. You sighed and watched from the window as he limped to his motorcycle. It was painful to watch. You didn't know how long he was gone for. You had left to do your daily chores and keep up with your farming. It wasn't until lunch time did you see Mr. Blaze again. You walked up the hill with one basket in each arm, both filled to the brim with vegetables and fruit alike. You stopped when you saw him on your front steps. It took him a moment to notice you there.
"Ah, uh, hi." He said, standing. He looked nervous. "Listen, I'm sorry for earlier."
"Uh-huh."
"I shouldn't have, um, talked to you like that." He started rubbing his hands together and looking everywhere except at you.
"Uh-huh?" You lifted your brow. He sighed and finally looked at you.
"Look, my bike's out of gas, and I don't know where I am, and I'm also really, really thirsty. Please, help me."
"Alright." He perked up.
"Wait, really?"
"Yes, really, but I have a few ground rules."
"Uh…okay?"
"First of all, you will not speak to me like another one of your groupees."
"Groupees?"
"Secondly," you continued, "you'll help me with my chores for however long you're staying here."
"I'm not stayi-"
"You'll still help me until you leave." You cut in, effectively shutting him up. "Lastly, there's no one for hundreds of miles, and the town is even further away. We'll leave tomorrow at three in the morning."
"No!" He shouted suddenly, making you jump and drop some of your goods. He cleared his throat and started again, immediately walking over and picking up the fallen goods. "Sorry, I mean, I don't like to travel at night. Messes with my, um, focus."
"Focus?"
"Uh, yeah." You sighed, watching him place the goods haphazardly onto your baskets.
"Well, if we leave at sunrise, we won't get to town until the afternoon."
"Okay, we'll stay the night over there."
"I don't have the money for the hotel. It's a tourist town during the touring season."
"So?"
"So? Well, sorry, Mr. Richman, but that means everything is very expensive, and I'm only a farmer."
"I'll pay." He said with a roll of his eyed, catching you off guard.
"You'll pay?"
"Yeah."
"With what money? I thought the police froze your account." Mr. Blaze froze.
"You know about that?"
"Everyone knows who you are, Mr. Blaze." You said, holding out one of the baskets to him. "Be a doll and hold this for me?"
"Sure, sure." He took the basket. "And Johnny is fine."
"Well, Johnny," you said, trying out his name and noticing him pause, "this doesn't change the fact neither of us has the money to stay in that town."
"I have the money."
"You do?" You were unconvinced. You were both at your door now.
"Y-yeah, I kept some money squirreled away in another account, so I've got money." You looked at him, and he looked back at you. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle from the intense afternoon sun. Then, you looked away and opened the door and walked inside, leaving the door open for Johnny.
"Alright, I believe you. We'll leave tomorrow." You set down your basket on the coffee table and looked back out the door. Johnny was still standing at the door.
"Do I have to invite you in like a vampire?" You joked. It shocked him out of his halted state.
"No, no." He hurried in and closed and locked the door. You couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hun, there's no one but us for miles. You don't have to lock the door."
"I guess you're right…" He muttered, unlocking it and bringing your basket to you.
"Set it next to that one, I'm gonna go fix us some supper." Johnny gave a soft chuckle, surprising you.
"I haven't heard that in ages."
"What, supper?" You asked with a small smile, walking to the kitchen. Johnny nodded and followed.
"Yeah. It's been a while. Hey, mind if I…" He trailed off as he pointed at your several cases of bottled water.
"Knock yourself out."
You and Johnny spent the time mostly in silence. He asked you where he was, and you told him he was in Kansas. He looked very confused but didn't comment on it. he simply continued eating his sandwich. You tried asking him why he was in Kansas, but he brushed it off with some lame excuse of enjoying the sights. This was Kansas. There were no sights, just flatlands. You decided to drop the subject, reminding yourself it was rude to haggle guests.
After you both finished your food, you took him out to the pasture to help you with the rest of your chores. You looked back at him to see him downing yet another water bottle. At this rate, you'd need to buy more cases of water you simply didn't have the money for.
"Something wrong?" Johnny asked, waving a hand in front of your face. Shit, you've been staring.
"Huh? Oh no! I'm good." You coughed into your hand. "Now help me with these hay bales."
It wasn't until the sun started setting that Johnny started acting weird again.
"Are we done now?" He asked. You looked up from your rope to him, then ro the sky.
"We still have about an hour of sunlight left." You looked back at Johnny.
"Yeah? Well…I need an hour before dark to…focus…"
"Focus?"
"Yeah."
"Focus on what, the flames of your career?" He flinched.
"Okay, first of all, ow. Second of all, no. I just need to focus and channel some things."
"Ohhh, okay." You nodded slowly, acting as if what he said made sense. You went back to your rope.
"Y/N, I'm serious." His tone made you stop. It was calm but had a ring of danger within it. And he said your name in that tone? Your knees were weak. You looked at him.
"Alright, you can call it quits. I'll show you where you'll be staying." It wasn't that far a trek to the guest house. The house was in good condition despite its minimal use. You did like to keep things tidy.
"You'll be sleeping here."
"So far away from the main house?"
"You may be a celebrity, Johnny, but you're still a stranger who passed out on my pasture." You told him with a chuckle. You led him inside and gave a quick tour of the guest house.
"I don't really care what you do here just don't fuck with my shit, okay?" He nodded.
"Got it, don't fuck with your shit." He repeated with a nod. You smiled.
"Good night, see you in the morning." And with that, you left Johnny to his own devices. You quickly wrapped up the chore you left and then went back home. You paused at your door for a moment in debate, and then you locked your door. Just in case. You did the same for your back door. You may be a fan of Johnny Blaze, but you were no idiot. You walked upstairs, took a shower, and got ready for bed. The sun finally set completely while you were brushing your teeth, the silent calmness of the night enveloping you like a blanket. You yawned into your hand and made your way under your blankets, curling up and letting your heavy eyelids close out the outside world.
Only to shoot open at the sound of a revving motorcycle.
You quickly got up and shoved your curtains aside, pressing your face against the glass as you looked out. You didn't see anything from your bedroom window, so you grabbed your bathrobe and ran out your front door, slamming into it before unlocking and opening the door. You ran out barefoot as you looked toward the road. There was a trail of fire leading to an increasingly shrinking source of light.
"What the fuck?" You whispered to yourself as you slowly walked closer to the road. You back tracked the trail onto your land and quickly took off your bathrobe to put out the fire.
Great, another purchase. You thought. The trail led you back to where Johnny's bike used to be. Now, all there was was scorched earth. Your heart ached for the ruined land. Why the hell was the bike on fire? Didn't he say the bike was out of gas? It finally occurred to you. Johnny was still in your guest house. You ran to your guest house, happy it wasn't set ablaze. You tried the door only to find it locked. You knocked.
"Mr. Blaze? Mr. Blaze, wake up! I think someone took your bike!" You got no answer, so you ran to the back door. Unlocked. You hurried in.
"Mr. Blaze!" You shouted, running from room to room, thankful this was only one story. "Mr. Blaze?"
He was nowhere to be found. You quickly looked through each room again. This time, checking if any of your belongings were touched. Everything remained just how you left it. Did he just run out on you? Why did he lie about not having gas? Was he an arsonist? You had so many questions and no answers. You sat on the couch, completely dumbfounded.
Tagging who I know also enjoy Marvel (and mutuals), if you'd like to be tagged/untagged let me know!
Part 2
Tags: @symmetricalkazekage @scholastic-dragon @post-apocalyptic-daydream @red-phoenixxx @thelaundrybitch @eveandtheturtles
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Devil May Halloween - Ghost Riders In The Sky (Dante)
Devil May Halloween 2024 - Ghost Riders In The Sky (Dante's Halloween Special)
Pairing: Dante x Reader Summary: Oh, Halloween. Last year, you were almost forcefully married to a demon, so Dante's keeping his eyes on you. Well, this time, he will be the one needing help - and only a demon at the crossroads will be able to give you the powers to help your red devil. Rider, you should've known better to change your ways so you wouldn't ride with the ghost riders. Word Count: 25k words, it's a book, BEWARE. Author's Notes: Big big BIG credit to our beloved @furyeclipse who literally helped me write this year! We did this one as a sort of a collab and Fury wrote everything Ovid - so don't forget to sing her praises too!! We got you guys 55 pages of pure DMC crew Halloween shenanigans this time! I was on a big cowboy mood and I LOVE Johnny Cash's song, Ghost Riders In The Sky, with all my heart as well as... YES, THE GHOST RIDER MOVIE WITH NIC CAGE. NOT SORRY, I ADORED IT AS A TEEN. Hahahahaha those were the inspirations - oh, and of course Scooby-Doo inspiration with Nico and Kyrie on this one. Fury helped me getting the ideas going and I just finished writing it yesterday, if I'm not wrong. I do hope you guys enjoy it! I also hope Vergil's will follow soon, but I can't guarantee anything. Do apologize - but I hope Dante's can suffice for now. Happy Halloween, my dear critters, hunters and cheeky devils! ;)
“We’re stickin’ together this year, babe.”
You were almost laughing, but you didn’t want Dante to feel bad for wanting to keep an eye on you – your laughs would be of how endearing you thought he was being rather than anything else, but it would be too much to explain.
His protectiveness actually had a point, and you had to give him that.
“Ok, big guy.” Even so, you couldn’t refrain your voice of sounding a little dismissive. It wasn’t like you didn’t carry around a huge sword and a couple of guns to hunt demons by yourself as well – his worries had a point but, quite frankly, you could always put one hell of a fight if something even tried to touch you.
“Ei, I mean it!” You were walking side by side, but he pointed at you for emphasis. It was impressive how Dante could carry so much worry in his voice and still act absolutely nonchalant about everything – you thought it had something to do with the way his hips swayed during his laidback walks; even during a job, like you were at the moment. “Do I have to remind ya what happened every single last Halloween we had together?”
“I know, I know.” You sighed, but you had to agree with him. From a cursed top hat to being kidnapped to a demonic wedding, you had been through it all. Each year, you thought something new couldn’t happen, until Halloween arrived and, lo and behold, you were both in some new, crazy adventure. “To think it all started with that frigging top hat. How do you think Cheshire demon is doing? Any word from it?”
“Well, Patty allows it out of the hat from time to time. It seems to like her and protect her, who would’ve known?” Dante shrugged, letting out a long sigh himself. Patty practically stole the hat from the shop one day, and there wasn’t much Dante could do to have it back – the girl had a will of steel and, if he thought it was really dangerous, he would’ve never allowed it to touch her hands. In his eyes, everything was under control and Patty seemed… Happy. He would never steal happiness from her. “That spook is kinda her pet now. They’re ‘best friends forever’, who am I to get in the way?”
You let out a giggle. Dante looked like a father whose kid just brought a stray from the streets and looked at him with puppy eyes, asking to be able to keep it.
Only Patty’s stray was a skinny, creepy Cheshire cat looking demon, with a mischievous grin… But a good heart.
It looked worse than it acted, in all honesty. You were team Patty on this one.
“What…?” Dante side eyed you, noticing your endeared giggle and pleased expression.
“Well. You’re one hell of a dad, big guy. That’s all.” You answered in a sing-song tune, incredibly satisfied to be having that conversation mid-Halloween job with your half-demon life partner. “Best dad material I could’ve ever wished for. Really.”
And there it was, your life-long ability of making Dante speechless. It was something Vergil would almost always applaud if he was around, but you rarely left Dante speechless over thoughtful feelings in front of other people – those moments were mostly reserved to yourselves.
He immediately tucked his hands in the pockets of his pants – and you could almost say he was blushing. Dante turned pensive in the blink of an eye, and you couldn’t help but smile.
A father. He never really saw himself becoming one or even being one – and his expectations would be to be terrible at it, like his old man before him. Not that Sparda was a horrible dad when he was around, but he wasn’t. When Dante, Vergil and Eva needed the most, Sparda was nowhere to be seen. He never really knew what happened to him – just disappeared from the world and left them with the curse of his blood and stain of his name.
You knew very much what you were doing when you said he was great father material. You wanted Dante to feel proud of that – eventually, because he would have very much conflicting feelings about being seen as a dad… Mostly because, like everything else in his personal life, his immediate reaction would be to think he would absolutely suck at it.
Dante wasn’t the best at receiving heartfelt, sincere compliments. You were well-aware of that.
That’s why you had a personal mission to make him understand how amazing he was in your eyes – one compliment at a time.
“Well. At least I didn’t inherit that from my ol’ man.” He finally said out loud, looking back at you and flashing a half-smile on his lips. “Creepy-ass demons aside, you’re stayin’ under my radar today, hot stuff. With someone like yourself around, I’m gonna have to worry about demons tryna marry you every Halloween now.”
“Oh, please…” You rolled your eyes with his answer, making Dante immediately laugh in response. He was teasing, of course, but there was a sting of truth to his words. “That was… Awful. I hope it never happens again. If I have to wear one of those horrid wedding gowns again, I swear… I’m gonna start throwing punches.”
“Sucker punchin’ demons down the aisle, what an entrance!” Dante had to laugh alongside you – the previous Halloween had been one hell of a ride to say the least. “But hey, I’ll always be around to tear those horrible clothes off you, babe.”
“Oh, and that you do quite well, you devil…” You had to giggle in return as Dante had the cockiest grin slapped on his lips. Oh, how you loved bantering with your red devil.
Alas, it was Halloween, and all that sweet talking with your beloved red devil would have to wait. You two had finally arrived back at the hotel you were staying with the whole crew – courtesy of the inhabitants of the very western looking little town that called your services for that night.
Something had been brewing for quite a while: you and Dante had noticed it, but you weren’t able to actually identify what in the hell was going on. Ever since the disco incident with the hellish imps in Redgrave, it didn’t slip past your fingers that random summoning of demons was increasing around smaller cities – the hellish imps were probably a group that detached from the original summoning point and decided to wreak mischief right at the Devil May Cry’s backyard.
One city, though, seemed to be the most affected. Silverstone was quite small compared to Redgrave, but very much a tourist town. It thrived on its western look and it took pride in being known as a place that could take its visitors back in time to years of salons, gold rushes, wanted posters and duels at noon. Recently, though, the tourists were a little bit scared and decided to avoid the place, and with reason: demons were becoming increasingly common around the area.
There wasn’t much to do against it, for the demons seemed to come from the desert, at night, with a thirst for blood and human flesh – leaving only destruction in its wake. The political leaders of the city were taking too long to figure out what to do, so the tradespeople of Silverstone decided to come together and take matters into their own hands.
With a little council formed – mostly with owners of hotels, cafés, restaurants, shops, and every other kind of business that could benefit from tourists – you had quite the interesting proposition at the Devil May Cry for that year’s Halloween night.
*
“C’mon in! Door’s open!”
It was a chilly autumn evening at the Devil May Cry – nothing really eventful happening, so you took the opportunity to kick Dante off his chair and help you organize the shop a little bit. He didn’t complain – after all, things were a lot better after you came into his life; organizing the shop was one of those things.
You didn’t expect a knock on the heavy doors of the Devil May Cry, though. Since Dante was near the kitchen and your hands were busy putting your swords away on their rightful place at the wall right behind the desk, telling the random customer to come in was the best way to welcome them.
“Didn’t know it was time for a ‘Fall cleanin’ at this place! Looks like you can work miracles, after all.” That raspy voice and the smell of cigar was unmistakable. You giggled as you turned around to greet him.
“Well, you know how I roll, Morrison. If I can’t work miracles, I don’t even show up.” You rested your hands on your waist, having a cocky smile on your lips – which made Morrison laugh in return.
“I sure do hope you people can work miracles alright, pal.” What you did not expect to see, was Morrison’s client: a man well into his sixties, huge white mustache curled up at the ends, wearing light jeans, snake leather boots, checkered button up shirt to his neck and a white, quite imposing, cowboy hat – which he took off to greet you respectfully, revealing his combed back white hair.
“Well, if you call closin’ the Gates of Hell a miracle, we’ve been known to work those from time to time, Colonel Sanders.” As soon as Dante finished his sentence, you closed your eyes, controlling yourself not to giggle. You never wanted to seem rude to customers, but you had to admit, having a cowboy in the shop was a first. A cowboy other than Dante, that is. “Halloween is approachin’ and we’ve been havin’ more spooks than the usual around. Is that what this is ‘bout?”
The Colonel Sanders cowboy gazed at Morrison as if asking if the man had briefed Dante in advance. As the red devil sat on his huge chair, you rested on the edge of the desk, crossing your arms and allowing a proud smile to spread across your lips – Dante always played the goofy, reckless rockstar card, but he was far from being naïve and, how his twin liked to call him, foolish. When it came to his job, he was quick to notice patterns and underlying intentions of demons – and, since your hellish imp disco job, he had been keeping an eye on the increase of devils in and around Redgrave.
Oh, yes. You were more than proud to call him your lover.
“Told ya. He might not look like much, but he’s good.” Morrison answered the man’s look, making you giggle a bit. You could feel Dante glaring at you – the ‘he might not look like much’ would come up later, in a teasing and friendly banter between you both. “You guessed it, Dante. There’s a lot goin’ on, but I’ll let Mr. Carson here do the explainin’.”
“I take it you’re not from the city, Mr.” Dante pointed at the man’s hat, as Morrison moved to his favorite spot on the shop’s couch and the man approached the desk.
“Ye, not from around, indeed. Call me Buck.” The man took his time to shake Dante’s hand and yours – with a strong grip, but not as rough as you expected. You had to admit, you were a lot more familiar with rougher hands – like Dante’s. “I’m from Silverstone, you people probably heard of it.”
“Hmmm. Up north, smaller city. Got the name because of the silver mines around; one of the biggest cities back in the day, right?” You had to pull the mental map you had in your head to find Silverstone – it was a touristic city you had always wanted to visit but never really got the chance, hence why you knew so much about it. Also, it was good knowing maps by heart when you had to count on Nico driving you somewhere: you had been lost a couple of times with Nero, Dante and Vergil and it was chaotic, to say the least.
“Yes, pal, and we take pride in that!” Buck’s mustache smiled to hear you knew about his small town – something he didn’t really expect from people in big cities. Dante also looked at you, with his eyebrows raised, as you only looked back at him with a matter-of-fact expression in your eyes. He called you a know-it-all sometimes, but he actually loved that about you.
Vergil was a whole different kind of know-it-all – as per his words, the asshole kind.
“We been havin’ problems in Silverstone lately… Demon problems.” Buck’s dark brown eyes now turned serious, drawing yours and Dante’s attention. “It started with some small, flyin’ things. Annoyin’ little folk who liked to upset the cattle and do all kinds of mischief devilry around the city; they were drivin’ the tradespeople mad. But nothin’ a good ol’ rifle couldn’t solve. Some men and women took ‘em as target practice.”
“Hellish imps. You’re talking about hellish imps.” And even though you had a smile on your lips, you couldn’t look more annoyed. Dante couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“They’re easy to kill, but annoyin’ as hell.” He shook his head, remembering finding you in the disco, hopelessly chained to a chair, while the imps from Hell messed around with your stuff while Stayin’ Alive blasted through the amps. It was a sight to see – a funny, but rather cute one. “We also had some problems with ‘em recently.”
“Well, if we had only those… Hellish imps, you said… ‘Round the town, folks would take care of ‘em, no need for help. After a month, I think, it got worse.” Buck’s face turned somber and his shoulders seemed to recoil to himself – even if he was a naturally imposing kind of guy, it looked like he got a little smaller… Fearful, even. “Folks from farms started reportin’ dead cattle – not your usual disease or random poisonin’ from eatin’ bad food, no, poor cattle were bein’ torn to shreds; all blood drained. Some of us decided to take a look…” Buck shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh. “Overnight, farms turned into fields worse than slaughterhouses. I never seen anythin’ like it. And it was random too: some cattle dead, some alive.”
“Hmmm. Demons do have a thirst for blood, but only lesser ones wouldn’t risk going after armed humans.” You pondered, your memory going back to all the things you read in the Codex Daemonica. It was the best knowledge reference you knew… After Dante and Vergil. “You might’ve grown a reputation of being too tough for them not to attack you right away.”
“We tried to keep our lil’ town as protected as we could, pal.” Buck now had a thankful smile on his mustache, proud to hear someone like you appreciated their efforts and courage. “That didn’t keep those things at bay, though. We tried all superstition and priests to keep those things away. Some of us even tried shootin’ some in the dark, but they kept comin’ back. Farmers would be terrorized inside their houses at night, keepin’ their families safe and prayin’ they wouldn’t wake up to their cattle mutilated.” The man’s thick, white eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead, eyes turning somber once again. “We were fightin’, pal. Keepin’ things together as we could. ‘Til that thunderstorm; rumblin’ in the skies like the devil’s herd themselves, crossin’ our path to bring our doom.”
You felt a chill dripping down your spine, rearranging yourself at the edge of Dante’s desk as if you were trying to make your sitting spot more comfortable. You weren’t one to fear any sort of devilish stories – quite the contraire, you and Dante heard those with enthusiasm and even let out some good laughs while at it – but you had to give it to that cowboy. He knew how to tell an ominous story, and that was a rare find.
He would be a certified success at camps, telling ghost stories by a bonfire at night.
“Thunderstorm, huh? That’s no small demon.” Dante suddenly turned serious – and when that happened, play time was over.
“Nothin’ small indeed. The cattle mutilation got worse, if you can imagine. Their blood, their parts… Gone. Some folk in the city tried to see what was goin’ on, and they did see somethin’: dark figures, watchin’ us from over the hills. Always when the night was approachin’, when the horror would begin. The ones who tried to fight back… Well…” Buck sighed, taking a little embroidered handkerchief from his pockets and drying some of the sweat that started to appear between his bushy white brows. “We lost our first townspeople. Good folk. Fair, hardworkin’ people. Good with a rifle too.”
“I know it’s a rather insensitive question, but it’s important, Mr. Carson…” You immediately apologized before you could even ask what you had in mind – after all, you could see the sorrow in the man’s eyes. Sorrowful cowboys had your heart softened like ice cream melting on summer, and you had Dante to blame over that. “But were there bodies? If so, did they have anything missing…?”
“Hmmm, yeah, they had some parts missin’… Mostly hair, nails… One of them, those things they… Well, they…” Buck sighed once more, putting the handkerchief away. You and Dante were used to that sort of horror – having contact with someone who didn’t work in the business like you did was definitely grounding as to what was considered horrible or not. “They took tongues and teeth too. A grim sight, pal, a grim sight… They all had their throats slit, clean cut, pale with their eyes frozen in fear. Forever starin’ at the thing that took their life.”
“Wait, you said clean cut…? As in a blade cut?” Dante had both his arms on his table now, leaning forward with interest as his eyebrows betrayed the confusion that information caused him. “Not an animal’s claw?”
“Nah, friend, that was definitely a blade. I know my animals, and I’m a pretty decent tracker along with some folks who like to hunt together sometimes. We know what’s a cut from a knife and a cut from a beast. Even those beasts you two been huntin’.” Buck shook his head affirmatively with so much conviction you couldn’t doubt his words. “Every single throat was slashed with a blade, maybe a huntin’ knife. The rest that was taken… Well, I dunno. I don’t wanna think a human could’ve done somethin’ so monstrous to someone else. That’s gotta be those demons of yours… After all, they come back every night.”
“And they kill humans every night as well? How many so far?” You maybe had something in your mind, but things were actually quite foggy. Some things didn’t add up – and, judging by Dante’s expression, he was on the same page as you.
“Not every night, no. We’ve been keepin’ ourselves safe. We’ve been sleepin’ together at big places: hotels, churches, markets. Barricade the doors, guards with rifles takin’ turns so everyone has a chance to rest, town watch to keep an eye on the dark figures on the hills… But sometimes, that’s not enough, friend. Sometimes, one of us gets lost and the body turns up the next day.” Buck lowered his head, shaking it right after. “It took us some time to find out how to fight back. We never knew there were… Professionals in dealin’ with those things. We thought we were abandoned to our own doom and nothin’ could save us, until a random couple from Redgrave said a man named Dante might be able to help our lil’ town. Gave us a number, and Morrison picked up.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you found us, then.” You smiled back, trying to lift up the mood a little bit – something that was quite impossible, but you pitied the man. You just wanted to see cowboys smiling; again, something you would always blame Dante for.
“I hope so, friend.” His mustache curled up on a small smile and you already had some more joy in your heart. Dante almost laughed upon seeing you so happy from trying to cheer up a client – you would always do the best you could, and you would always let your heart open to empathy. Something so human, and so lovely to his eyes. “Folks in town weren’t so sure ‘bout me comin’ all the way down to Redgrave to check this ‘devil hunter’, but it’s the last chance we got. We decided to risk it.”
“Your gamble paid off, pal. You got me interested – and, if you’re payin’, you got me hired.” Dante sighed back in his classic nonchalant way, already getting up from his chair, offering his hand to close the deal.
“That won’t be a problem. A job well-done is a job well-paid – you get rid of those horrors in Silverstone, the whole town will be more than willin’ to compensate you, pal.” Buck put his hat back on, shaking Dante’s hand. “I’ll be goin’ back to town tomorrow first time in the mornin’ –”
“Ya don’t have to worry. We can keep up.”
The biggest smile in the room was Morrison’s: he always got a commission whenever he found a job for you and Dante, so the promise of the whole town being monetarily thankful to you both was a great prospect for him as well. As Morrison and Buck Carson left the shop, and you all said your goodbyes, Dante went around the desk, slightly leaning on it by your side while keeping his arms crossed and eyes on the door – just like you.
“Demons don’t usually use blades.” You finally said what you both thought was so weird about all that story.
“And when they do, they’re not the chaotic bunch of the imps. They’re much worse.” Dante agreed with you, his voice now serious and pensive.
“What do you think? Hell Generals? Higher rank demons?” You furrowed your brows a bit, looking up to his reflective face. “Angelos…?”
“Might be… Might be all of them, might be just one.” Dante sighed, slouching a bit on his desk while blankly staring at the heavy wooden doors of the Devil May Cry. “We’ll only figure it out when we get to Silverstone.”
“Hmmm. I guess you’re right.” After your own sigh, you did your best to reach out to his face and place a rather long kiss on his rough jaw – making Dante look back at you quite confused, breaking his blank stare and having life back into those sky-blue eyes. “You’re very handsome when you’re brooding, cowboy, did you know that?”
“Oh, you like it when I’m serious, sheriff?” And even if he kept his straight expression, you could hear the fun teasing and loving notes in Dante’s voice. “Maybe I’ve to play the ‘stoic cowboy’ more often to ya.”
“Eh, I love you anyway, red devil. You don’t have to play any roles for me.” You shrugged, giggling as Dante’s hands already pulled you closer to him, sneaking around your waist. “Blame it on that handsome face of yours.”
“Ya think I’m handsome, then…?” And now he had a bit of his goofy smile on his lips, hell bent on teasing you for the rest of the night. You knew exactly what you were getting yourself into – and, considering every single Halloween prior to this one, that kind of break would be very welcome. You could feel it in your bones. “My sheriff has a thing for handsome devils, huh?”
“For one handsome devil. I’m pretty committed, you know…?” You finally allowed him to playfully kiss your lips, both of you smiling between pecks. “I’m not one to think everyone is handsome. I have standards.”
“Oh, and this cowboy here is your kind of standard, yeah?”
“You bet you are, Dante.” With the certainty of your voice and the way you pulled his head to a deeper kiss, something ignited in Dante’s chest. You knew exactly how to get him going – and he would never complain about that.
“Ok, sheriff. You got what you wished for!” Breaking the kiss, Dante immediately lifted you in his arms, carrying you bridal style throughout the shop and up the stairs. “Undivided attention from your handsome devil tonight, no refunds!”
“See? You surpass every standard I may have, babe!” You giggled, leaving a few kisses on his neck.
That was something you both learned after a few couple life-threatening, serious jobs: always seize the moment you had before the storm; enjoy every kiss and every touch you could with each other prior to one of those dangerous gigs – it could very well be the last chance you would have.
*
“Well, well, rise and shine! Got enough of your beauty sleep?” Of course, Dante had to tease his nephew – or it wouldn’t be Dante.
“Yeah, maybe you should try it too. Be lookin’ too much like an old man, soon they’ll be mistakin’ you for Santa.” Nero’s answer was as sharp as his sword, perfect for a punk like him. You had to wheeze, receiving a side-eye from your red devil.
“What?” You shrugged back, while Kyrie stopped by the porch of the grand Wild West looking hotel you were all staying – property of Buck Carson – worriedly observing the hills in the distance against the orange sky. “You kinda asked for it. Santa.”
“Great.” Dante’s smile was poisoned with annoyance. “Lil’ angel is comin’ along too?”
“Nah, I don’t think it’s a good idea…” Nero started mumbling, and you could see it in his face: it was a topic of discussion between them both. Kyrie was brave and wanted to save people, while Nero was overprotective and wanted to save her at all costs. After the almost marriage, he became a little worse. “There’s plenty of people to help here in town…”
“The demons might have kidnapped and hurt people already, wherever they are.” Kyrie’s hazelnut eyes focused back on Nero – determined, but still kind. “If so, those people need help. You can kill the demons, but I can help the people.” She turned her eyes to you, like an accomplice. “It’s what we have been doing for a while now.”
“Yeah, it backfired last year. With both of ya.” Nero added, having you looking back at him with surprise, resting your hands on your hips. That was bold of him, to talk to you like that. He was your honorary nephew, after all.
You finally felt the pang of a parent being antagonized by their child and you were ready to give him your very first scolding – what a Halloween already.
“Eh, have to agree with the kid on that one.” But Dante got in the way first, and now your surprised gaze turned to your red devil – who immediately picked it up and was quite used to some scolding. “Ei, I’m just sayin’, babe! Last year, you both got yourselves in a pickle, this close to marryin’ a demon in a ceremony that would be a real pain in the ass to nullify if it had happened.” And Dante wouldn’t argue if he wasn’t worried himself: if it was just him, Vergil or Nero being headstrong about something stupid, he would let it go – but it was about you. And your safety was a subject he would never let go. “Cut us some slack here, will ya? We’re just tryna keep ya safe.”
You and Kyrie never looked so conflicted in your entire lifetimes up until that point. There you were, standing on the porch side by side, hands on your waists, ready to rebuke them like the most annoyed family member of the year – but how could you when your partners were only being that annoying because you were so important to them, the only thing they cared about was keeping you both safe?
You wanted to argue and kiss Dante, all at the same time – and Kyrie perfectly understood your conflict, because she wanted to do precisely the same with Nero.
“Well, you don’t want me to stay here in town, do you?” You finally asked the million dollar question. If you couldn’t disarm them with the old ‘you’re-worrying-too-much’ scolding, you had to appeal to logic. “I’m a devil hunter. I go on jobs by myself. I’m as important as Nero or you, big guy, on this one. Kyrie has been training with Nero for a year now to be able to protect herself on the field whenever she needs to come along to help people, and she’s been helping me a lot last couple of jobs. Even killed some demons herself.” With those words, Kyrie’s hazelnut eyes found yours with pride in them. You remembered telling her how Credo would be proud, and how emotional she got. Since then, she was becoming even fiercer, but still keeping her sweet kindness, only resorting to violence if she had no other option at hand. “If you think we can’t handle ourselves, then all that talk about humans being even stronger than demons is bullshit, and you only say that to feel better about yourselves. Your actions must match your words if you really believe in something, you know.”
Nero and Dante just stared back at you like two wet dogs who did something terribly wrong and now we're being lectured by their owner and asking for forgiveness. Not even in their wildest dreams they could’ve thought such calm words could make them feel so small and embarrassed for their actions. They were completely speechless, trying to find an argument back and trying to keep their pose – but failing miserably.
“Damn, did you go to Vergil’s school of winnin’ an argument…?” Dante shook his head, having his hands on his waist now – and a slight smile on his lips. “You know I do believe in that. You two get in trouble, I’m killin’ the bastard who touched you. That’s it for me.”
“Eh, that’s it for me too…” Nero scratched the back of his head, not being able to counter your logic. “But I’m stayin’ close to you, Kyrie!”
“Heeeeeey there, you suckers! Your magical ride arrived for the night!” Nico appeared just at the right moment, tires singing on the pavement as she parked the van. “Gotta say, the mechanic in town is pretty good! Not like me, of course, but we tuned up a few things that needed some fixin’ and the van is workin’ fine!”
That was enough to get Nero bantering with Nico and Dante on his way to the van, ready to get to work. You and Kyrie followed along together, with her entangling her arm on yours as you went down the stairs of the hotel’s entrance porch.
“That was good! Point for us!” She whispered to you while giggling, making you mirror her actions.
“Hey, I learned with the best.” You pointed back at Kyrie, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips. “Nothing like treating the Spardas like the kids at the orphanage.”
“Oh, a little bit of gentle authority goes a long way with Nero. Dante’s like that too, right?”
“You have no idea. Best thing I’ve ever learned from you.”
“Ei! Can you both stop gossipin’ and get on the van already…?” Nero tried to look annoyed and maintain the punk attitude but you both could see how that was cracking and his whole body looked a lot gentler than his words sounded.
“Eh, kid, we just lost all credibility. Time to accept that.” Dante gave his nephew a pat on the back as he hopped on the van, already used to that kind of situation. Nero just blushed as you both giggled together and he helped Kyrie up while you followed your red devil in.
Plopping right by his side, Dante was calmly reading one of the many magazines about gunsmithing. You scooted near him, landing a quick kiss on his jaw – his eyes finally looking back at you, a half-smile hidden on his lips.
“You know I love you, right?”
“Hell yeah I do, hot stuff.” And he landed a quick peck on your forehead. “I love you too.”
Dante’s attention got back to his magazine as Nico kickstarted the van and you took one of your guns of its case to check if everything was in order before the job. Nero sat by Kyrie’s side like a guard dog while she talked about something completely unrelated to hunting with the gunsmith virtuosa at the wheel.
With the sun almost hiding behind the hills, tainting everything in blood-orange, you all failed to notice the dark figures following your every footsteps and the tires of the van as you plunged in the night to find the demons terrorizing the little town of Silverstone.
*
You had to be fair to Nico: driving in the middle of a dark desert wasn’t an easy task. You were engulfed by a sea of darkness and the only light on the highway was that of the van. Granted, there was nothing for Nico to crash the vehicle on, but she wasn’t leaving the road either.
“What you’re seein’ today, is the new town. A few miles away, there’s the old town of Silverstone – the original, if you will.”
As soon as the sun shone in the sky that morning, you called Kyrie and briefed them of the job – which, of course, they were eager to be part of. Buck led you all to the city: riding ahead with Morrison in his truck, followed by the Devil May Cry van… And Dante riding the Cavaliere with you safely holding your red devil’s waist, as you always enjoyed the motorcycle rides.
He introduced you to all the members of the small council of townspeople who decided to take those hellish matters in their own hands and end the horrors – and soon, you were having a meeting to understand where the damn demons were coming from.
“It all started as a silver mine, closer to the hills. Folks started to settle around, built a church and soon, Silverstone was born.” An old woman, Frances Campbell, explained with a map opened on a big table at the hotel’s party room – the common areas now filled with mattresses tossed around and families refusing to dare set a foot outside; be it day or night. “The town was hit with a wave of prosperity, and even more people tried their luck in Silverstone. Soon, there were too many people for such a small little town – and that’s when the town you’re in was born.”
“Why change the location of the town, ma’am?” Kyrie had her attentive eyes analyzing the map and, as always, made the most insightful questions. “Was there something wrong with the initial town?”
“Nothin’ at all, my dear. At least at the beginning.” Frances added, fixing the thin glasses that were starting to slide down the bridge of her nose. “The original town was closer to the mines, but not the water. Silverstone now is a lot closer to the main river in the region.”
“Well, whenever there’s a peak of prosperity, there’s a peak of greed too; at least in my experience.” Dante crossed his arms, also studying the map.
You did love when he got all professional. That’s how you ended up showering him with kisses the previous night.
“And that you are right, Mr. Devil Hunter.” The woman pointed at Dante as a teacher does when a student makes a smart remark – you remembered Buck mentioning she was a retired professor, and you could see she still had that in her. “And with greed, comes crime. People started tryin’ to take advantage of each other, steal, cheat, murder… Everythin’ you hear in ol’ Wild West stories.”
“The type of thing that attracts demons. Maybe that’s why they decided to appear now…?” You furrowed your brows and looked at Dante, but he too had a not so sure expression. “It was long ago, though, as you are saying, ma’am. It’s a long shot, but I’m trying to understand here why demons attacking Silverstone of all places all of a sudden.”
“Well, rumors started goin’ around the town back then, of a man who made a deal with the devil.” And that made all of you even more attentive, as a pack of dogs who hear a favorite word. “He was the richest of Silverstone, built a huge mansion in the old town… Died a horrible death: he got caught in the middle of a stampede. People never found his horse, nor the cattle and the drovers, but they found his body teared in pieces across the desert.”
“How did they know it was a stampede, then…?” And you would never tell him as not to hurt his pride, but Nero looked like a child hearing a spooky story by a bonfire.
“There were roof marks everywhere. Some parts of the sand seemed burned, as if the roofs were made of hot steel.” The lady’s voice was ominous and you did think she and Buck would make one hell of a couple. Maybe that could be your side quest for that Halloween, if there was something close to a spark between them. They would be an absolute banger at the spooky orphanage parties. “The townspeople said the devil had come to collect his part of the bargain for all the money the man got of his contract. Soon, the man’s wife died in an accident at home, and strange, usually deadly, happenin’s started occurring at the mansion. Everyone left and the building was considered haunted. The town started havin’ more and more issues involving death and horrible accidents, and soon everyone believed the man had cursed them from beyond the grave. That’s when the townspeople decided it was time to build a better version of Silverstone.”
“Nothin’ like an old, power-hungry bastard to bring down a whole city…” Nero mumbled more to himself than to anyone else while reading the map – but everyone could feel who he was really talking about. Wherever Vergil was at his Halloween job at the moment, you were certain he was feeling a sting from being stabbed by his own son in the distance. “Gotta a name for this as-Gentleman…?”
You couldn’t hold back a wheeze when Kyrie elbowed Nero so he wouldn’t curse so much in front of Frances, and tried to correct himself.
“Beau Blackwell. My grandma knew him, snob fellow. She never liked him too much, and kept cursin’ his troubled soul ‘til the day she went to the grave herself.”
“The Campbell ladies were never the kind to mess with, that’s for certain.” Buck finally arrived back, having both his hands hanging at the edge of his belt, his moustache smiling to Frances. “Grandma Campbell was a tough one.”
“That she was. Ol’ Blackwell didn’t even try to get in her way.” She had a proud smile back in her thin lips, a spark igniting in her smart eyes as soon as Buck Carson arrived.
Oh, you knew that spark. Your side quest for Halloween was on.
“And what did your grandma think of this Blackwell guy, ma’am? He had a deal?” For Dante, that was the most important information at the moment. A contract could indicate a whole number of things, but there was a good chance the old town had at least one good demon summoning place – at worst, a door to the underworld itself.
“She sure thought he did. As far as she said, Blackwell was a useless wimp who couldn’t find a slab of silver if it was paradin’ naked right in front of his nose.” So far, Nico was serious and didn’t get much into the demon talk – probably studying the map and all the routes in and out of the old town, as she always did. But the whole naked silver slab thing made you and her have to hold a wheeze – Nico failing and trying to mask it with a cough. “He also got to marry the sheriff’s daughter, the most beautiful and smart woman around back then – and the one all men fought to get. For some reason, the woman fell head over heels for a spineless shrimp like Beau.”
“Doesn’t look like she was that smart after all.” Buck shrugged. “I always thought that was the Campbell’s title.”
Oh, yes. Buck was genuinely head over heels for his Frances – and judging by the way she glared him back, with a smart smile on her lips, it was corresponded.
“We kinda got the title after she chose that ass.” With Frances’ answer, Nero couldn’t help but beam a proud smile: if she was cursing, he could curse as well. “The fact is, Blackwell was suddenly hit with a wave of luck that was very much out of character. And then, found death in the most mysterious and grim circumstances.”
“Yeah. That has the foul smell of a demon contract right there…” Dante was pensive again, now looking at the map. “Is the ol’ Blackwell mansion easy to find?”
“Pretty easy, Mr. Devil Hunter. It’s the biggest one in the ol’ town, bigger even than the church. Damn Blackwell was a show-off with all that money of his.”
“Well, it sounds more and more like a contract to me.” Dante sighed, looking back at Frances and Buck. “If they’re watchin’ Silverstone from the hills and there’s that much history in the ol’ town, I think it’s safe to say that’s where the demons are comin’ from. Either way, we’re checkin’ it tonight.”
“Tonight?” Buck’s eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead, Frances copying his worried expression. “Don’t you prefer to go durin’ the day, when those creatures aren’t out?”
“Eh, I can’t put on much of a show if there aren’t any demons to kill, can I?” Dante shrugged and you had to smile. Buck had a point, but you knew the best time to check would be at night: if they were attacking when the sun was gone, that’s when you would find them. Prior to that, you risked finding anything at all. “Besides, I got the cavalry with me. We’ll be fine and you’ll be out of demons in no time.”
With the van riding in pitch-black darkness, though, you couldn’t make out any shapes in the distance: you would only see the creatures on the hills if you had the moon behind it – but it seemed like even the moon herself was hidden that night.
It was eerily quiet as well. You had checked your guns and your sword, making sure everything was in pristine condition. Now that you had nothing else to do, you were watching outside and paying attention to your surroundings – and there weren’t many noises. There were just a few sounds here and there that you couldn’t quite isolate and figure out what it was. But it felt, familiar in an off putting kind of way.
“Ei, sheriff. Everything ok there?” Dante’s voice took you out of your thoughts, and you turned your attention to him. “Your eyebrow will soon look like just one, the way you’re frownin’ there, hot stuff. What’s wrong?”
“Hmmm… I dunno…” You murmured back, trying to relax your eyebrows a little bit. That made Dante smile. “I have a… Feeling.”
“A feelin’, huh? What kind of feelin’, pretty eyes?” And even if he had that easygoing tone sprinkled in his voice and attitude, Dante did take on a more serious demeanor. “Good one? Bad one…?”
“A… Weird one. I can’t quite tell if it’s good or bad…” You had your worried expression back on, trying to understand what the hell was that thing stirring in your heart. Your feelings were notorious between you and Dante: he said it was your spidey-sense tingling, even if you didn’t have any heritage like his. “I just know something is wrong. I’m not feeling like things are completely… Ok.”
“Have they ever been ok in this family, y/n?” Nero had to put his two cents in the conversation, immediately making you a little less worried – and giggling with his question. “But hey, if you’re feelin’ somethin’s wrong, we should have our guard up.”
“Well put, kid. Y/n’s spidey-sense is no joke.”
“It’s not a spidey-sense, c’mon…” You rolled your eyes, already smiling with your red devil and honorary nephew.
But the moment couldn’t last for too long: soon, the van jumped in the air, as if it had aggressively ran over something.
“Hey, Nico! What the fuckin’ hell was that?!” Nero held Kyrie’s waist so she wouldn’t fly around the van – and only after you checked on them, you realized Dante had the very same reaction, but holding you close to him.
If you flew around, you would fly around together. You jump, I jump, as Jack Dawson would say.
“I’ve no idea!!”
“Don’t’cha know how to drive anymore?!” And now Nero stumbled over to the driver’s seat, as Nico stopped the van with a screech. He almost stamped on the front window like a sticker. “What the fuck is goin’ on?!”
“Why don’t you do the drivin’, if you’re so good yourself, huh?!” Nico fixed her glasses on her face, hands trembling and flailing everywhere. “I dunno what happened! It wasn’t an animal, nothin’ like that!! It was too fast and I didn’t see it! One minute, the road was clear, the other, I hit somethin’ and went over it!!”
“Oh, maybe it was a coyote or a wolf trying to cross the road…!” Kyrie’s heart was almost coming out of her throat, but you could all hear the tone of worry in her voice.
“It can very well be, those animals are common around here.” You had your own hand over your heart, feeling it beating like a samba school in peak Carnaval. “They aren’t used to cars, specially this time of the night.”
“C’mon, kid. Let’s check it out.” Dante got up from the seat, leaving Rebellion behind and carrying only Ebony and Ivory in his hands. “If it’s an animal, we can’t leave the pooch agonizing out there. If it isn’t…”
“They’ll regret gettin’ in the way.” Nero answered with a smile and already reloading Blue Rose, leaving Red Queen behind with Kyrie. “You better stay in the van.”
“Was that for me as well? ‘Cause you know, I got my own set of cool guns, too.” You looked back at Dante, waving your dual guns around – and winning a quick laugh from him.
“Hey, if it’s nothin’, it’s just trouble for you, pretty eyes. If it is somethin’, well, thank you’re more than welcome to join the party.” With those words, he winked back at you and left the van with Nero.
You remained close to the van’s door, telling Kyrie to seat beside Nico on the driver’s seat. None of you could really see what was going on: the only thing in front of you was the dark road and endless miles of pitch-black desert. For Kyrie and Nico, it was no different; although they had the headlights to light up a few meters ahead.
You could hear their steps as they quietly approached whatever it was that Nico ran over. Awfully quiet for the both of them. That feeling you had before only tightened in your chest, reverberating even more, almost making you forget how to breathe. Those seconds dragged like feet drenched in quicksand, trying to move but unable to get anywhere.
Until you heard a gunshot.
Before you could even ask what was going on, a dead demon flew over the van and landed on the hood with a loud noise, staring at all of you with its dead eyes and blood splattering everywhere – which made Nico and Kyrie immediately start screaming, almost hugging each other.
You jumped out of the van, finding Nero and Dante surrounded by demons – low tier demons, though, nothing you three couldn’t handle together. Wielding your dual guns, you started to shoot as fast as Dante had taught you.
Not as fast as he did, though. That was his demonic blood at work.
“Where did they come from?” You ran up to him, standing with your back to your red devil’s back – that way, you both could cover a larger area.
“No idea, babe. We were checkin’ out the dead one. Don’t move!” With those words, Dante used the dead demon as leverage to jump right above you and pull off his classic spinning move with Ebony and Ivory. With you in the middle, right below him, it was impossible to hit you.
You had to be fair: you would always be impressed when he did that and managed to keep you safe while slaughtering all the demons around you in one single move.
When you were least expecting, though, a blade flew by your side – superficially slashing your upper right cheek, but enough to make a constant flow of blood trail down your face.
Dark figures were approaching – like the ones the townsfolk described. You, Nero and Dante were already expecting higher rank demons; the ones who were really behind all that mess.
Until you all heard a motorcycle noise.
“What the…?!” Before Nero could finish cursing, though, you all turned around only to find a set of motorcycles running right into your direction. If Nero hadn’t grabbed you and dodged right away, you would certainly end up with a nasty injury.
You counted quickly. There were around sixteen of those dark figures, including the ones on foot and the ones on the motorcycles. One of them held an amulet that glowed with a blood red light in the dark, creating dark seals on the floor – the ones that summoned more of the lesser demons from the underworld.
That was where they were coming from.
“Nico, hit the gas! Get the hell out of here!” Nero immediately screamed, assessing the situation the same way as you did: it was a very bad situation.
“But…!”
“Now’s not the time to argue, Goldstein!” Dante’s voice was almost a roar – and Nico rarely heard him calling her like that. It was enough to make the gunsmith virtuosa get the van running. “Y/n…!”
“Ah, hell no, big guy! I’m not leaving without you!” You roared back, already shooting one of the demons that tried to attack Dante. The van’s tires screeched on the road as Nico turned it around abruptly to go back the way you came from – back to the new town of Silverstone. In a safer place, they could figure out what to do. “You jump, I jump! No refunds!”
Dante’s heart didn’t know if it wanted to jump out of his chest from desperation of having you in such a situation or from elation of you loving him so much as to put yourself in danger.
It was probably because of both.
“Kid! Y/n! Back to back, the three of us! C’mon!” He didn’t even had to say it again: soon, you had Dante’s and Nero’s backs to yours, the three devil hunters making it rain bullets over the demons. The motorcycles tried to approach, but you would always threaten them with killer shots.
With Dante’s sharp eyes in the dark, he eventually hit one of the motorcycles in such a way it crashed a few meters away from you. With the right shot, he could make it explode – and it was a strategy to use. He just wanted some more of those goofs to approach, so he could take a lot of them at the same time.
One of the motorcycles, though, decided to be brave – or suicidal, depending on your point of view – and try to run through the three of you, almost running you over. This time, though, your reflexes were quick enough to dodge in time, but that made you three separate.
“Alright… You clowns are startin’ to piss me off…” With that rumbling comment from Dante, he held out his hand, summoning Devil Sword Dante in a blaze of fire.
You could hear Nero groaning – he definitely missed Red Queen at the moment and ever since Dante managed to summon his two main swords, Nero always complained he couldn’t be that cool while fighting.
Understandable. You were missing your very own sword – you could only wish you could make it come over to you that easily.
At this point, you were pretty sure you would win. As Dante slaughtered the demons – and whatever figure who tried to come any closer – the odds were certainly in your favor. You helped with some shots here and there, aiding his kills and getting the job done.
Until you felt your fingers tingling. Furrowing your brows, you looked down only to see your hands trembling. Your vision became blurry, as the world suddenly tilted under your feet. The gash in your cheek burned with the wrath of the fires of hell.
“What the…” You mumbled, opening and closing your eyes a few times. You could barely hear Nero calling your name: it seemed like he was stuck inside a tin can. “Nero… Dante…?”
“Ei, babe, what’s…” Dante lowered his sword and, before he could finish asking, the dark figure with the amulet finally stepped near enough for you to see it was nothing but a human – which he confirmed when he lowered the hood of the dark robe he, and the other humans, were wearing. “You better start talkin’ before I decide to cut off that ugly head of yours. What’s goin’ on?!”
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquittance, son of Sparda.” The man allowed a calm smile to grace his lips framed by a well-maintained goatee as you felt a sting of fire coursing through your whole body. You tried to keep it in, but you couldn’t hold back a groan. “I am kindly inviting you and your… Relative…” The man gestured to Nero, still completely ignoring you and the ever so worsening pains. “To join us in the old town for a talk. We have much to discuss.”
“What the fuck did you do to y/n?”
The man looked into Dante’s blue eyes – now with some sparks of red, teeth already growing into fangs – knowing quite well all their intentions would be fumbled if Dante and Nero decided to trigger right then and there.
And that was why you were an insurance.
“It’s a simple poison, found in the underworld. If the cure isn’t administered soon enough, though, your… Pet, I take it… Will perish.” The man treated you with disdain, making Dante already try to walk towards him to have his sword on the man’s throat. The human, though, lifted his hand, showing a glowing purple vial. “No human antidote can counter it, only the demonic one. This is the only sample in miles. They have only a few minutes, if I am not wrong, and the death… Oh, it is exquisitely agonizing.”
Dante’s jaw was locked. You could barely see through your blurring vision, fighting every fiber of your being to remain on your two feet – but your red devil was tense and ready to fight… Ready to kill. If he let his demon out, there wouldn’t be a soul left to tell the story of that night.
“What do you want?” His voice had a slight tinge of distortion – as you could almost sense, Dante was a word away from triggering.
“You and your kin to put down your weapons and follow us. We have prepared a very important celebration tonight and you are the guests of honor – especially you, Tony Redgrave.” You choked upon hearing that name: very few people knew that alias and, judging by Nero’s confused reaction, even fewer than you thought. “Do this, and we shall save your… Pet.”
“Call y/n ‘pet’ again, I’ll cut your tongue off, smartass.” Dante scoffed, apparently not affected by hearing his old name from the lips of a shady character in such a desolated place. “Don’t usually trust strangers in the middle of a crossroads.”
“As proof of my good faith, son of Sparda…” With those words, the man handed the vial to one of the other hooded figures – another human like him, wearing a dark robe to their feet, keeping their head down under the hood – who approached you slowly. Dante had his eyes trained on them, watching their every move. “I’m taking the first step. Lower your weapons, and my assistant shall heal your… Human.”
You couldn’t keep yourself standing anymore. With your stomach burning, you feel to your knees, barely able to see Dante in amidst the darkness and your blurry vision. Closing your eyes, your head was in such pain you thought soon blood would run down your face instead of tears. Your heart pounded on your chest quicker than when you rode the Cavaliere with your red devil and, as much as you didn’t like to admit, you came to the conclusion that was like dying felt like.
“Alright. Do your thing then.” Dante lowered his hand and his sword was gone in a small set of flames, Ebony and Ivory being abandoned on the floor.
“What…?! Dante…!” Nero was ready to fight back, to get that vial and cure you himself, but he saw the plea in his uncle’s eyes. You were outnumbered and you were dying from a poison none of you had the cure – only them. If they wanted, they could break that vial in a million pieces and leave you to die a horrifying death. “C’mon, we can…” But even Nero didn’t know what more they could do.
“Hey, Nero. Please.” Dante’s voice had no edge of playfulness or the typical easygoing tone. He was serious, defeated even. He would allow himself to be enslaved if that meant saving you – and all he was asking was for Nero to put down his weapons.
And so he did, with Blue Rose hitting the floor right after.
As soon as the assistant inserted the purple antidote into your bloodstream, others quickly approached Nero and Dante, locking heavy silver bracelets around their wrists – immediately cutting out their demonic powers. It was a first for Nero, who stumbled around and seemed like a dizzy, drunk young man. Dante, on the other hand, knew exactly how that felt like, having gone through something similar during his time at the Temen-ni-gru. Ancient demonic wisdom, infused in those bracelets to suppress demonic power and subdue powerful demons to a weaker one’s will… Or to enslave them for eternity, as it happened to Vergil once.
“Come. The night has only just begun.”
You felt your head burning as you watched them viciously knocking down Dante and Nero – something you thought you would never see in your entire lifetime. Falling to the floor of the road, you tried to get up, barely having any strength in your arms. You would drag yourself to them if you had to, but you wouldn’t give up… At least, not until your body gave out.
“What about their… Human… Master?” The assistant checked, standing right beside you but not moving a single finger to help you up.
“Leave them. A weak thing like that deserves to die like roadkill.” The man dismissed with a quick wave of his hand, ordering the others to carry the Spardas back to the old town.
Warm tears trickled down your eyes. You tried to get up, but your body was slowly giving out – the burning sensation, though, was fading away. Indeed, the antidote was working, but your body took the toll of it.
You weren’t weak. You were not. All those years, Dante kept fighting by your side, singing your praises as one of the most powerful humans he had ever met. You defeated the worst of Hell, you faced nonstop hordes alongside your red devil. A stuck-up snob like that unknown guy had no right to call you weak. You were not weak. You were not…
Your hands started giving out as you slowly tried to claw your way to their direction – but they were already long gone and the only soul left in the middle of that desolated highway was you.
But you were human. More powerful than any demon, as Dante would say. Why couldn’t you get up, then…?
Your arms gave out and you hit your face on the warm road, eyes closing in the middle of nowhere. The last thing you heart before fainting, was a blade cutting the asphalt right next to your hand – ready for you when you opened your eyes again.
*
“What are we going to do?!”
“I don’t know!”
“We can’t just leave!”
“I know!”
“What are we going to DO?!”
“I don’t KNOW!”
That was the main conversation back and forth between Kyrie and Nico as the gunsmith virtuosa drove the highway as if the devil’s herd itself was chasing them viciously, their hot breath on their necks, ready to take their souls.
Kyrie was standing right by the driver’s seat, holding for dear life on the very thing, as Nico gripped the wheel like she never did before in her life. They both screamed while the van was practically trotting on the road, bumping on every single stone on the way since Nico couldn’t care less to dodge at that point.
It was actually very impressive she never came to swallow her cigarette.
“What do you think will happen to them?!” Kyrie immediately gripped the necklace Nero gifted her in Fortuna – she saw it as a good luck charm, and would wear it anywhere. It made her feel closer to him and, whenever she was in trouble or uncertain, touching it would make her feel safe.
But never in her life it was the other way around: this time, she was worried Nero wouldn’t be safe. And that was so new.
“I dunno! I-I-I mean... Dante will…! He will, right?!” Nico stuttered back, barely able to think. If she could, she would light five or six cigarettes in a row. “I mean he… He called me Goldstein, for Hell’s sakes! He never does that! I’m as scared as you!”
“I know! They never did that!” Kyrie was about to cry – and she didn’t even know which emotion was making her feel like overflowing. “What about y/n? All of their swords are here, they took only their handguns!”
“What?!” Nico quickly glanced back only to see the three swords calmly lounging in the van. “Oh, fuck! I mean… Well, Dante… He has that big ass flamin’ sword inside ‘im, right? He can summon at any moment…! Right?!”
“I hope he can! I’m used to Nero, I don’t know how Dante’s sword works!” Kyrie rolled her eyes in pure despair, going back in the van to check on everyone’s swords. Red Queen now looked so quiet, so… Dead. It didn’t sit well with her, not like that. It had to be with Nero. He needed his sword. “Y/n knows how Dante works!”
“Oh, be damned! We’re on a hell of a fucked-up situation here, Kyrie!”
“You don’t have to tell me that twice…” Kyrie sighed, plopping down on the couch and cradling her head with both of her hands. After a few seconds of pure desperation, the woman turned her hazelnut eyes back to the Red Queen. The sword seemed like it was ready to rev-up, burning to be back in the hands of her master – like it was as annoyed as Kyrie to be away from Nero, sensing, like her, that he needed his weapon.
In the distance, Kyrie saw Rebellion trembling, as if it had the very same problem. Differently from Red Queen, though, it didn’t seem like a figment of Kyrie’s imagination: even if the van was kicking and prancing around, she could clearly see Rebellion was vibrating, as if it was ready to take flight. She remembered Nero telling her Dante could summon his sword like that: a simple call and she would fly over to his hands, no matter where he was.
“We need to go back.” The resolution settled in Kyrie’s heart as she stood up, holding the charm on the necklace she loved so much.
“What?! Have you lost your mind too?!” Nico didn’t know if she looked back to Kyrie or if she kept an eye on the road. “Those creepy dudes will kebab us in half a second if we step in that ol’ town!”
“They need their weapons, Nico! Right now, we’re the only ones that can help them get back to their owners!” Kyrie walked back to the virtuosa – again holding on for dear life on the driver’s seat. “If we don’t do that, their chance of getting away is very low! They’re depending on us to do the right thing, Nico!” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Nero needs me. He saved me so many times, I will not fail him now.”
Nico remained silent for a while, frowning while chewing on the tip of her cigarette – the trotting of the van making her go up and down on the driver’s seat, almost hitting her head on the roof sometimes.
Kyrie was right. She knew the little angel was right. Nero hadn’t saved just Kyrie throughout the years, he had saved Nico too: she was just a crazy gunsmith with a very dubious driving style and a van to get the devil hunter around, but he was the one who would always get the job done. And when trouble came a little too close to them, Nero always made sure it would never even touch Nico. She could drive fearlessly through a horde of demons because she knew Nero would slay them all. That was something her heart always took for granted.
Now it was time to pay it back. It was time for her to risk her skin to get Nero out of trouble.
And damn well she would.
“Alright, little angel! We need a plan to save those three asses!” The resolution that resided in Kyrie now bled to Nico, making the angelic woman beam a satisfied and proud smile. “I’d say we go in guns blazin’, but we don’t have any guns – and those swords are useless for us.”
“I say we take a stealthy route. Calm down, breathe, think. Go back and give them their swords to let them do their job.” Kyrie’s voice now was a lot steadier, finally feeling a little surer of herself.
In the middle of nowhere, Nico slowed down until she stopped the van. The two women finally looked at each other.
“This gon’ be madness, you know that, right?” The virtuosa made sure Kyrie understood the seriousness of the situation they got themselves into.
“Yeah. But we’ve never really got scared of a little madness, have we?”
With an accomplice look, they giggled at each other, the tension finally seeming to dissipate a little. Leaving the driver’s seat, Nico stood up to check on the swords and think of a plan with Kyrie.
“What do ya think? They got kidnapped by that… What the hell was that, anyway?!”
“It sure looked a lot like the Order of the Sword…” Kyrie sighed, having memories of her younger days in Fortuna – making Nico remember as well. “I’d call it a cult. And I don’t know… Maybe they did get away, but…”
Nico waited for her to continue, but the words got lost in her tongue. Holding her amulet once more, Kyrie sighed before speaking.
“I don’t feel right. Something is wrong. Something’s wrong with Nero.”
“Eh… You and y/n with your weird ‘bein’-the-lover-of-a-demon’ bond thing…” Nico raised one eyebrow, pretending to have shivers. “It’s spooky sometimes. But well, if you’re sayin’ somethin’ ain’t right, I believe ya.”
Before the two women could keep going, though, Rebellion started vibrating more violently, stealing their attention. They frowned, looking at the sword as she threw a tantrum – seemingly looking like it would gain life at any moment.
“Uuuuuh… What’s goin’ on…?”
“I don’t know! You’re the gunsmith; you should know about demon swords better than me!” And even if Kyrie scolded Nico, she couldn’t take her eyes from Rebellion – after all, neither of the ladies knew what the sword was about to do.
“You’re the one datin’ a demon!”
“Nero’s weapons work a lot differently than Dante’s!”
With a loud clang, the eyes on the horned skull near the handle of Rebellion lit up in red, the sword perking up in resolve. Kyrie let out a loud screech as Nico jumped back, ready to have to tame the thing – after all, they had never seen that happening before.
In a blink, Rebellion went flying out of one of the van’s windows, crashing it like a million of stars, disappearing into the night.
Nico and Kyrie slowly looked at each other – their hearts beating furiously inside their chests.
“What the hell just happened…?”
“I think… I think that’s how Dante summons his sword…” Kyrie tried to explain in a whisper, still barely able to breathe.
“Doesn’t his sword come out of flames he summons from within’ himself, though…?” Nico couldn’t understand a single thing going on. She thought she knew how everything worked – but that Halloween was proving to be quite an adventure already.
“I don’t know…” Kyrie closed her eyes, keeping one hand over her heart. “Red Queen is very different…”
And, as if to agree with her, the sword herself revved up just a little, a few flames igniting for a couple of seconds. The two women stared at it, a little alarmed.
“And you? Not gonna say anythin’ for yourself too?” Nico pointed at your sword, not knowing what to expect.
With a little shake and a tingling sound, it seemed like your sword was telling off the gunsmith virtuosa.
Exchanging looks, the two women assessed the work they had in their hands.
Returning your sassy swords would be one hell of a ride.
*
It felt like the worst hangover of your life.
You slowly opened your eyes as pain reverberated through all the limbs on your body. Your head was pounding, every breath felt like your lungs were about to burst and your stomach apparently wouldn’t even be able to keep water down, if you had any.
As you came to your senses, you sat in the middle of the road, assessing your situation.
It was bad.
Really bad.
You were abandoned literally in the middle of nowhere. No one in sight: no town, no car, no soul, nothing. You could barely hold yourself together, let alone walk miles and miles in any direction to get anywhere. If you went to the old town to help Dante and Nero you would be more of a hinderance than anything else. If you went to the new town to get help and maybe meet Nico and Kyrie, you would probably arrive in the morning and, by then, the damage would be done already.
To say you were feeling useless was an understatement.
Looking around, though, you finally realized what was that slashing sound you heard before blacking out: Rebellion had carved the road, having come to your aid, as Dante said it would do if it felt you were in trouble – like it did to him. All you had to do was call; apparently, you did it unconsciously, seeking his help even when your mind was fading and all hope was gone.
You couldn’t help but smile – a bittersweet smile, but a smile nonetheless.
“Well, thank you for coming, old friend…” Your started talking, using all your strength to get yourself on your feet again. It took you more than you expected. “But I guess I’m not in my best shape at the moment… I’ve no idea what to do.”
With those words, you gripped the handle of the legendary sword and pulled it off the ground. At least you could still wield it, even if you were tired and defeated.
“We’re in the middle of a lost crossroads, in this godforsaken piece of desert, no way back and no way forward – also no prospects of helping Dante and Nero. Let’s face it, Rebellion. We need a miracle.” You sighed, looking at the horned skull that embellished Dante’s first sword. With that, you summoned all the strength left in your body to rest it on your shoulders as your lover would always do – taking a deep breath and beginning your way to the old town. “Standing here will serve us nothing, though. I guess we gotta make it happen.”
“One should know they can always reach out for a miracle in the crossroads, little one.”
You turned around, startled, ready to put Rebellion to use – but the only thing you found in that empty road was… Yourself.
Yourself, but not really. Something was off. That same gut feeling you had before, started to form at the base of your stomach now. It was like staring at yourself in the mirror, but the eyes… Something was wrong with the eyes – as if they were not quite yourself. Looking down, the figure who slowly approached wearing your form had two sets of shadows – while you, yourself, had only one.
“Some would call that kind of miracle a curse.” You rebuked carefully, still studying that creature’s intentions. You had heard Dante and Vergil talking of doppelgangers, but that didn’t act like one: it was too sentient, too intelligent to be one.
“Not all of them were in your shoes.” The figure smiled – it was your smile, but with a different edge that made you feel slightly uncomfortable.
Either way, the creature – whatever it was – had reason on their side. Your situation was pretty hopeless and you still had a long way to go… You had much to do. Dante and Nero needed you. Whatever those cult like people wanted, it wasn’t good. The man knew Dante’s previous alias, and that was never a good omen.
For the first time, it was your red devil who needed the saving – and you weren’t nearly in no way, shape or form to do so.
You needed whatever help anyone could offer. You needed a miracle – or a curse.
“Now if you’re thinking I’m like those foolish cultists messing with powers they think they can control, you’re wrong. Besides, I could have killed you at any point while you were unconscious at the crossroads, even without Sparda’s beloved Rebellion by your side. I’m simply a bystander that’s looking to be entertained and eager to make mischief on this moonless night.” The figure paused and chuckled. “Not even Hecate could interfere – like she could, anyways.”
“Who are you…?” You asked carefully, wary of the utter convenience and situation at hand.
“My name has been lost for the ages, but it’s not of great importance. You, however, are much more interesting; after all, you are Dante Sparda, The Legendary Demon Hunter’s beloved and prized human. Untouched by demonic blood and yet able to wield one of the most powerful blades known to demonic kind. Consider yourself lucky to have such a powerhouse of a weapon by your side. However, I’m guessing that you’re in need of something with much more firepower to get your nephew and lover back.”
“How do you–“
“Sparda may have had many enemies, but there were a few of us demons that stayed loyal to him even after he left The Underworld.” With those words, the creature mimicking your appearance bowed a bit before turning a soften gaze to the sword in your hands. “It’s lovely to see you again, Rebellion, and I’m quite fond of your new powers as well; it’s a nice touch.”
“Wait a minute, you knew Sparda and served under him?” With your question, the figure wearing your likeness nodded. “Then why can’t you stop the cult that took Dante and Nero?”
“Simple, I’m not the one they’re trying to summon. However, though, they do have something of mine that I would like back.”
“And what would that be…?” When dealing with demons, all wariness couldn’t be enough.
“Dear ol’ Beau Blackwell’s skull, of course!!” Your mirror cackled before coughing politely. “You see, one of my subordinates double crossed me and took the damn fool before he was ready, and soiled the deal I had with him. So, when I came to collect, the body was there, but the head was missing along with his soul. Come a few decades later, I find what I’m looking for, but it’s out of my reach. See, us demons expend huge amounts of resources to stay in your world. It’s not as nice as the Underworld, but it’s decent at times.”
“Huh. So, the town folks were right about him taking a deal with a devil.” You murmured to yourself, one hand resting on your waist.
“Such a smart human, after all. Besides, when you meet the devil on the crossroads, on a pitch black night, talking to your mimic with two shadows… Such a bad omen indeed for most – but to others, a risky chance to turn things around, for a high price. If you know how to make a proper deal without losing it all in the end.”
Your eyes turned to the mirror of yourself – standing calmly in front of you, a peaceful smile on your face. Their eyes were not your own, those were demonic eyes. You were dealing with a demon in the crossroads – and that could turn into something really bad. Even if they were fond of Sparda, the very nature of trickster demons such as the one copying you was uncertain.
They could very well give you what you needed to succeed – but they could ask for an unfathomable price. Usually, the highest prices were always asked when people found themselves in desperate situations such as yours.
But your body was hurting. Your feet were barely able to hold you standing. Your hands were trembling, and you were pretty sure you could only wield Rebellion because the sword herself was aiding you – as Dante would if he was there. You were not in a position to deny any aid, you knew that – and the demon right in front of you knew it as well.
“Knowing how to make a deal is of little help when someone needs a deal.” You answered carefully, still watching the calmly smiling creature. “It usually exploits the one with less power.”
“However, I think you’ll like what I’ve got to offer – and you’ve got nothing to lose, after all.” Hearing that answer, you instinctively grabbed Rebellion tighter, making your clone let out a distorted laughter in amusement. “Oh, relax. I don’t want your soul or to cross blades with you; I’d rather not have Dante put me into the ground like he did with Mundus. I simply want a favor done and, in exchange, you get a way out.”
“What’s the catch?”
“You’ve been trained so well.” The creature’s compliment came without malice. “I simply want that idiot’s skull back and, in turn, you save those two Spardas and prevent a demon from coming into this reality empowered with human sacrifices.”
“And how do I know you’ll make good on your word…?” You had one of your eyebrows raised, the deal sounding too good to be true.
Your mimic whistled loudly and a demonic horse with six legs came out of the right path’s fog. Four blazing red eyes looked over curiously, as the black strong body had strange demonic symbols on its shoulders. There was a saddle, reins and a chest plate adorned with a black feather inside a book with a claw clutching them both: the demon’s symbol, embellished on the surface. Its main was wispy like ashes from a fire, but the fire was coming from inside the creature itself.
What really caught your attention, was the sounds of snarls and soft growls, as multiple demonic coyote-dog-like creatures kept their distance – but stood at the edge of the fog, as if waiting orders.
“My horse, Slade, shall take you to the cultists so you can put the skull in his saddle bag here. Then sound the horn to signal the pack it’s time to feed. Afterwards, the pack of hounds will devour those cultists, since they are made of the souls of those they’ve slaughtered, itching for revenge. All you have to do is prove you are not terrified and step up to save the boys from a cruel fate.”
Oh, you knew what that was. You knew what you would have to become. Meeting a demon like that, in the middle of the desert, offering you their horse and pack of vengeful hell-hounds as power for you to control? You could almost hear the faint song, whistling ghostly in the distance…
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride, tryin’ to catch the devil’s herd… Across the endless skies.
With your skeptic look, your mimic smiled in amusement.
“Are you brave enough to take the reins or do you want to wander home without your lover and nephew?”
You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. You were out of options. Going back meant leaving them behind and failing to save them – you couldn’t do that to Nero, to Dante. Many times Dante tapped into the worst of himself, the darkest places of his soul, to summon a power he despised to save you and have you back home – safe and sound into his arms. Many times he became a demon fiercer and more powerful than those he was fighting against, even if he loathed it.
You could do that for him too. At least once in your lifetime – maybe for the only and last time.
Sensing your resolve, Rebellion settled herself on your back as you walked forward to the demonic horse and held its reins – knowing it was time to aid you, as she had aided Dante a thousand times before. Your mirrored image watched you with a pleased smile.
“Now, take the left path; it’ll take you straight to the abandoned church where the cultists are. Get going, rider, you’ve got until dawn.” The doppelganger reminded you before plopping a black cowboy hat on your head, only for you to look up in surprise when the figure was gone.
You closed your eyes for a second as your whole body seemed to be engulfed in flames – the pain lasted for only a little while, though. When it washed off, it was as if you had never been hurt in the first place: you could breath properly again, your limbs weren’t hurting and all your strength – and more – was back into your body. Taking another step, though, you heard a ringing that wasn’t there before.
Looking down, you realized your clothes had changed: an all-black cowboy attire, covered your body, fitting it perfectly; with a heavy black coat down to your ankles keeping you warm in the chilly desert night. The cowboy boots had spurs that ringed like little silver bells every time you took a step – and, as you did it again, you realized you left a trail of fire behind, melting the asphalt with your footsteps.
That wasn’t the work of the demon who used your appearance to strike a deal with you – as you looked back into the four curious blazing eyes of the demonic horse standing in front of you, you realized it was its way of saying it also chose you to be its rider. At least for a while.
“Demons are always dramatic, aren’t they…” You shook your head, sighing as you made your way back to the horse who kindly awaited you – now looking like a rider who deserved their service.
As you looked around the crossroads, you could see the pack of hounds remained, waiting for your orders. The horse lowered itself down to let you onto its back and the pack of demons perked up in excitement. As you got into the saddle and adjusted yourself, the horse got up and the demonic pack howled to each other – as if signaling it was time to move out.
You adjusted your new hat as you nudged the horse forward onto the left path. The soft sounds of claws were in the distance as the pack followed you both.
“C’mon, Slade. It’s time to burn some asphalt.” Hitting the open road, you cracked the reins and the horse took off into a gate and then galloped once he had hit top speed – the trail of burning fire in your wake, as you did yourself with your footsteps.
In the distance behind you, the faint noise of a stampede was close by, but as you looked over your shoulder, you could only see the pack of demonic coyote creatures following at a distance.
Yipping, yowling and snarling hungrily as they followed in excitement. You looked forward, holding Slade’s rein tightly and feeling the weight of the Rebellion on your back. Those cultists, whoever they were, better be ready to fight – you were coming for them.
Yippie-yi-o, yippie-yi-yay… Ghost riders in the sky.
*
If Dante had to guess, he’d say the cultists would lock them up in the desecrated church of that derelict town, as that kind of people would usually do. To his shock, though, he woke up on an old rotten bed that, if he moved too much, would definitely fall apart with his weight. Even so, it was able to cradle the half-demon with ease, and it didn’t turn into dust as Dante sat on it’s edge, massaging his head on the spot those damn cultists hit him.
“Took some time to wake up, old man.” Nero mumbled from across the room - making Dante look at his own kin on the same situation he was. At least, Nero’s bed was made of brass.
“Eh, those cultists weren’t jokin’ ‘round. Hit my head pretty hard; gimme a break, will ya?” Dante shrugged, shaking his head and looking down to his feet.
Nero furrowed his brows. In all his life, he never thought he would see his uncle so... Defeated. After all, it was Dante they were talking about, not some random human on the street. He couldn’t shake off that feeling that it was all so... Easy.
“Ei, kid. I know what’cha thinkin’. And you’re damn right, I didn’t fight as much as I should’ve...” Dante sighed, raising his head back up again. In the dark, Nero could see his blue eyes, and they had a tinge of melancholy even with the slight smile Dante carried on his lips. “But out of everyone in the crew, I think you’re the one who can understand me the best. Imagine if it was your lil’ angel on that situation. What would you do...?”
Nero scoffed, not wanting to look into his uncle’s eyes. Bringing up Kyrie was a sure way into Nero’s heart - and bleeding heart even. He would die for her, he would kill the whole world for her, he would destroy gods and demon kings if he had to - but he would never let any harm come to Kyrie. And if the only way to save her was to put down his weapons and let himself be taken - by enemies or even death - Nero would do it without thinking and without doubt.
Yes. Out of all the crew, he could understand Dante’s action the best. It was too easy to take them, because those damn people knew quite well the very best way to enslave a Sparda was to tear their heart apart.
“Eh... Guess there wasn’t really a good way out of it, huh...?” Nero massaged his own head, shaking it right after. “But we gotta do somethin’ now. I mean, we can’t sit around and just... I don’t know, what the hell do those creeps want with us anyway...?”
Weirdly enough, Dante smiled until it turned into a good laugh. Nero furrowed his brows, staring at his uncle thinking he had finally lost his mind - the kid wouldn’t complain too much, he could perfectly understand where Dante was coming from.
“What a situation, huh? To think one year ago, it was y/n and Kyrie in the same shoes as us!” Dante shook his head, slapping his leg with a hearty laugh upon realizing it. “There’s somethin’ of poetic in this, kid!”
“Huh. There kinda is...” With that, Nero couldn’t stop himself from laughing as well. He wondered if that weird tugging in his heart was what Kyrie felt when she was locked up in that church with you last Halloween, getting ready to forcefully marry a demon. “I just hope they won’t dress us up in those ugly ass wedding clothes.”
“Oh, no, no, no. If they try, I’m tearing them apart!” Dante answered letting a louder laugh out of his chest. Nero couldn’t help but smile alongside him: it was good to see his heart coming back.
“Well, not to spoil your party, but I don’t think we can do much with those things lockin’ us up.” Nero raised both of his hands, showing off the silver shackles supressing their demonic powers. “Never felt anythin’ like this before, it’s nasty.”
“Yeah, those things are no joke...” Dante glanced down at his own wrists, slightly sighing. “But I’ve been through it before. Just gotta relearn how to fight like a human, that’s all.”
“You say that as if it was easy.”
“It kinda is, kid.” Dante shrugged, looking around the room, trying to come up with some plan to get them out of there. “It took quite a while to have my demonic powers awaken, so I remember how it feels like. I fought as a human for a long time, as long as you did. Well... As human as we get.” He winked at Nero, getting up from the bed and pacing around the room - the wooden floor creaking as his weight shifted the old boards; but never looking like it would give out. “You just gotta fight without the good ol’ demonic leverages.”
“What do ya mean it took you as long as I did?” Nero had his eyebrows furrowed, head pending to the side. They never really talked about Dante’s and Vergil’s lives before Nero met them - even if everything they had lived shaped so much of what happened to him. Either way, it wasn’t an easy subject, and both twins didn’t enjoy much reminiscing about the past: Nero had to piece up their story like a huge puzzle he was only given jigsaw pieces every now and then. “I thought you guys always knew about your heritage. I mean, it wasn’t like me who didn’t know why the hell I was different from everyone else and had a weird demonic arm.”
“You haven’t had it easy, huh, kid...?” Dante wheezed, shaking his head as he still looked around the room, trying to pick up anything on the cult or on a way out. “I knew my heritage, yes, but not what it could do. Your dad found it out as a kid, when those demons almost killed him the night our home burned to ashes. But me...? Well, it took some time. I survived, remember? I started workin’ and opened up the shop, and your dad tracked me down. Instead of bein’ happy I was alive, guess what he wanted...?”
“Power...” Nero mumbled, looking down at his newly acquired human arm - something that was still so weird to him. If he had to be honest to himself, he still kind of missed it as a demonic thing or the prosthetic one Nico built him. It was very strange having to adapt being so... Mundane.
“Bullseye.” Dante winked at him, with a humorless laugh at the end. “It was his first attempt at opening the Gates of Hell, that dumbass. Still, he kicked my ass and impaled me with Rebellion.” With those words, Nero’s eyes shot back at Dante, a little shocked with that story. “At the time, I thought he wanted to kill me, but now... I have my doubts. Your dad’s a weird guy, you know? He won’t tell you he likes you, but he will stab you with your own sword right in the chest to awake your dormant demonic power so you can accept the legacy your dad of the year left you when you were born.”
Again, Nero furrowed his brows. Perhaps it wasn’t that strange he had such a hard time around his feelings - and it was actually a very good thing he had Kyrie around to help him let them out in a healthy way. He got to learn something Dante and Vergil never had the chance to learn: the only thing both of them knew was harshness. Could Nero really ask anything more from them...?
“I was around the age you were back when we met in Fortuna, I think... So you see, I spent quite a while fighting as humanly as possible, with no leverage whatsoever.” Dante pointed at himself, finally stopping in the middle of the room. “I think Verge would have more of a problem in this situation than both of us.”
“Well... If that’s the case...” Nero spoke slowly, still processing everything Dante had told him. With time, he learned not to make much of a fuss when Dante or Vergil shared something about their history and their life with him: it made them feel like it was ok to be vulnerable if it wasn’t treated as a big thing, so Nero would keep it that way. “Then I should have more of an easy time than you.”
“That’s the spirit, kid!” Dante now rested his hands on his waist, sighing while looking around the room. “Now. We have no idea what those Eyes Wide Shut wannabes want downstairs. Windows and doors are sealed with demonic stuff to keep us in, so we’re gonna have to force our way out somehow.”
“Ok. I say we try one of the windows and sneak out. We can try to take ‘em out quietly and figure out what they want with us in the way.” Nero finally got to his feet winning a grin from Dante - who was more than ready to agree with his nephew.
“That will not be necessary, Sparda’s kin.” Both of them were interrupted by the leader of the cultists - still wearing the dark robe, but now permanently without his hood. His eyes were cold, smart and arrogant; the beard well trimmed and intricate. He carried himself with an attitude that certainly screamed he thought he was much better than any other human in town. “I didn’t bring you here to have you in the dark regarding our festivities - you are our guests of honor, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah, King Charles, cut the crap.” Nero rolled his eyes, tired of the way the man behaved. If there was something that pissed him off, that would be entitled people, completely full of themselves. “What the hell’s goin’ on here?”
“Even if you have a share of Sparda’s precious blood, boy, you are not the main guest. Know your place.” The man was clearly respecting Nero more than he respected you because of his heritage - or else, he wouldn’t even be addressing Dante’s kin.
“And you should know yours, fancy pants. Haven’t your mother ever taught you to respect people?” Dante had his hands on his hips again, but his eyes burnt like the fire he carried inside him. “Remember you have to keep us with these things so we won’t kick your ass. Give us enough of a reason, we’ll do it anyway. With or without demonic power.” He showed off the shackles to the man, noticing the human winced ever so slightly - trying to appear Dante’s words had no effect at all. “Who the hell are you? And you better answer this time ‘round.”
“You can call me by my family’s name, Blackwell. I’m Beau Blackwell’s great-grandson - and it is an honor to meet Sparda’s kin.” The man bowed his head in a sign of respect - something Dante didn’t do back and that made Nero smile. “I take it the townspeople of Silverstone did their job of telling you my family’s history.”
“If you’re talkin’ ‘bout the contract, hell yeah they did.” Dante’s eyes were now sharp, taking a guess where they were at the moment. If he could bet, he would say that was the old Blackwell mansion at the abandoned old town. “Guess stupidity runs in the family.”
“Damn, you beat me to it...!” Nero mumbled, making Dante smile proudly. At least they shared the same sense of humor - and taunts.
“I will admit my kin did play with powers much too great for his understanding and that was his downfall. He was too arrogant to realize he was biting much more than he could chew.” As Blackwell spoke, Dante and Nero just exchanged looks, having the same thing in their mind: the irony that he was criticizing the same thing they thought about him. “I, in the other hand, am more careful. I have studied the arcane and occult arts; learned how to wield them, tame them. There’s much more to ask of demonic creatures than petty, mundane things like money... There’s power. That’s what my kin failed to notice.”
“Oh, now there’s a word I never like bein’ thrown around...” Dante shook his head while mumbling to his nephew- and Nero couldn’t refrain to notice it was because of Vergil’s obsession with it for so long.
But, in all honestly, after everything he went through in Fortuna, humans seeking demonic power was never a good thing in Nero’s book either.
“Come. I will take you around the old Blackwell Mansion and you can be aware of what you will be taking part in.”
But, even with the man’s gesture and inviting demeanor, neither Dante or Nero moved a single step.
“Yeah, you see, we make a point on not taking part in things against our will.” Nero crossed his arms, making sure he wouldn’t leave without Dante. If his uncle stayed, he would stay.
Blackwell immediately frowned - not the calmest cult leader they had ever seen. Something about it reminded Nero of Sanctus.
“I am not asking you and you will be part of it - whether you make it a point or not.” The man raised his head high, as if to overcompensate for the fact he was smaller than the two devil hunters inside the room. “I have tried to be cordial and I will remain as such. I planned this night for a very long time, and neither of you will fumble it. The ritual will go on. The sacrifices will be made. The blood will be spilled. The demon king will rise. You can either take part peacefully or by force - but trust me, if you choose the second option, it will be painful.”
Dante wasn’t afraid of pain - and neither was Nero. Those words weren’t alarming per se: after all, it was to be expected of a cult that they would be made of sacrifices and blood offerings somehow, but they didn’t know if they were the only victims chosen for it.
What alarmed them the most, though, was the demon king part. There were a few of them, yes, but Dante couldn’t stop his blood from running cold as soon as he heard that.
After all, Mundus was a king. Could it be that godforsaken spiteful creature found a way to come back, so many years after Dante put it to rest? That it wasn’t for all eternity as he thought he had managed to do so...?
If Mundus decided to rear up its ugly head again, Dante wanted to be at the seat of honor to watch him rise just to tear him back into pieces and make him taste death once more.
As if noticing the sudden shift in his uncle’s heart, Nero looked back at Dante, waiting for an answer - but seeing the murderous glint in those ever easygoing eyes.
“Show us around, then. I guess gettin’ to know the stage of such a hideous play wouldn’t hurt.”
Blackwell had a peaceful smile back to his lips, finally allowing them to leave the room - but Nero could sense something was different; it seemed as if Dante could tear a demon king with his bare hands in the blink of an eye, but he was just waiting for it to rise.
*
“How can... Y/n... Ugh... Carry this thing ‘round... So easily...?!”
Nico mumbled while carrying your sword, heavily strapped on the gunsmith virtuosa’s back like a backpack. She always thought it should weight very little - after all, you always pulled the most incredible acrobatics while fighting - and you were human, just like her.
But the woman couldn’t deny: after walking around with that thing weighing on her shoulders, she started feeling a pain she wasn’t used to. Demonic metal was more efficient and lighter than any human and earthly metal, but still... It felt like she was carrying at least two guitars strapped on her back.
“Y/n is a trained hunter, they’re all used to it.” And even with that comment, Kyrie’s voice didn’t seem to struggle as much as Nico’s. She had dragged Red Queen around countless times to bring it to Nero, so dragging it once again through the desert wasn’t much news to her.
Neither to Red Queen. The sword always knew that when it was in Kyrie’s hands, she would soon find her proper wielder’s hands again to wreak havoc.
“Tell me ‘bout it... We’re all a bunch of weirdos, that’s what we... Ugh... Are!”
Kyrie had to giggle with Nico’s complaints. Yes, you were a bunch of weirdos, but that’s what made you all a family, wasn’t it? And family was always there for each other.
After they decided to take your weapons back to you, Nico drove all the way to the old town - and as soon as the ghostly, abandoned wreckage of a city appeared in their view, the gunsmith found a hidden place to park the van. Behind a few tall rocks, the Devil May Cry on wheels would be safe until that night was over - at least, they hoped it would.
Taking the swords in their hands, the two women started making their way to the old town - away from the main road, so they would have a better chance sneaking in unnoticed - and formulated the best plan they could at the moment.
“Ok. We’re almost there. So, we’re going in, and we’ll find a place to hide...” Kyrie started going over said plan, to make sure she and Nico were on the same page. Too much had already gone wrong that Halloween, they didn’t need even more problems.
“We’ll listen around to those assholes and figure out where they’re keepin’ the damsels in distress.” Nico’s answer was almost immediate, making Kyrie giggle. It was a first, imagining Nero as the damsel in distress and her saving him. “We’ll head over where they are...”
“Give them back their swords, and let them do what they do best.” Kyrie finished with a rather peaceful smile, given the situation. “Here. Let’s sneak in through here...!”
Going around the buildings, Nico and Kyrie entered what would be a dark alley between two wooden, rotten buildings in town. Going in from the back, they kept themselves low, walking side by side until they were the closest they could be of the main street. They could hear the cultists talking and patrolling the street, so they maintained utmost silence to get through them completely unnoticed.
The main street ended in a big plaza, with a large, decrepit mansion being the last building on it - and the only one with a semblance of light: not electrical, but a set of candles lit it from the inside, almost like a jack-o-lantern. The cultists roamed around the main street, but the larger number was definitely inside the mansion; after all, Kyrie and Nico could hear them chanting something they couldn’t understand.
“What do you think...?” Nico whispered to Kyrie, barely being able to hear her own self.
“They’re either in prison or... In there.” The woman answered in the same tone, pointing at the mansion at the end of the road. Nico sighed.
“I was hopin’ you wouldn’t say that... How are we gonna find ‘em in there...?!”
“I don’t know, but we have to think of a plan.”
The certainty in Kyrie’s voice was a little more reassuring - after all, they had a whole city swarming with cultists to cross and a mansion to infiltrate; all while carrying your weapons. They thought it wouldn’t be easy, but they didn’t expect that level of difficulty.
*
“Ok, I’m sayin’ it... We got a huge fuckin’ problem this time, Dante.”
Nero and Dante found themselves in a big party room, entirely lit with candles and decorated with sigils drawn with fresh blood - on the walls and on the floor. The biggest sigil, forming a closed circle, was in the middle of the room, glistening on the wooden floor. Cultists guarded the two entries and every window - big windows, that still had glasses on them.
The two devil hunters were seated on the middle of the circle, with their backs to each other, arms tied together so they wouldn’t escape.
“Beau Blackwell played with a demon he could not tame and he thought he could understand it.” Blackwell explained as they moved into the party room, revealing the ritual setting - everything one would expect on a ritual to summon a demon. “I, on the other hand, intend to do something much smarter. And that, involves... You.”
With a gesture from his hands, some of the cultists overpowered the devil hunters, guiding them to the center of the circle. Nero tried to fight, but immediately stopped as soon as he saw Dante followed the cultists calmly, almost sitting on his chair as if he was indeed a guest of honor. With his eyebrows furrowed, Nero did the same. After all, Dante must’ve known what he was doing, right?
Right...?
“Well, you’d usually need human blood to summon a demon, smart ass.” Dante’s comment was calm and cheerful, even, while he allowed the cultists to tie his hands behind his back and intertwine the ties with Nero’s.
“Oh, that will be arranged. There are many in my flock who are willing to serve such a higher purpose.” Blackwell smiled kindly, opening his arms to show around the room. “But a man with your knowledge must have noticed, this is not a common demon summoning ritual. It’s for a higher rank, a king - and one with that status would only come with a more special blood being spilled.”
“Eh. That’s why you need us, then...” Nero murmured, shaking his head. “And then what, smart ass? Gonna strike a deal of your own, too?”
“Oh, no. To summon him, I need you. To bind him, I need Dante.” Blackwell opened a wicked smile, making the room fall into complete silence as the two devil hunters didn’t say a word. “My ancestor made the mistake of gambling with a demon. I shall not make the same mistake - I will bind the demon and make it answer to my very own command. I will have all its power to myself, and there will be no one to stop my will. But to do so, I need powerful blood to do the binding - and there is no blood more powerful than Sparda’s blood.”
“Well, I’ll like to see you try that, Blackwell!” Dante started laughing, leaning back on his chair. “Stupidity really does run in the family, eh?”
“Apparently, it does.” Blackwell made a small gesture towards Dante and Nero, calling the cultists back to their places guarding the room. “The festivities will begin at 3 a.m. It’s just a small wait, but you will have the time to catch up... And say your goodbyes.”
Those were the last words Blackwell told them before leaving the room. Since then, the devil hunters had remained in silence, thinking about everything that had happened so far - and how to get out of that situation.
“Well, kid... After livin’ as much as I have, you’ll be able to say...”
“You’ve had worse, yeah, yeah, I know...” Nero laughed, shaking his head while staring at his beaten up boots. “But I mean. I’m gonna be sacrificed with a random crazy cultist to raise a demon king from Hell. You’re gonna be sacrificed to bind the demon king. Things aren’t lookin’ too good, man.”
“I just wanted to know which demon king they’re tryin’ to bring up this time.” Dante sighed, leaning back on the chair again. “But I guess there’ll be no old acquaintances today. That’s already a good thing, kid.”
“You... You were afraid that Mundus dude would be back...?” Nero’s question was almost as quiet as a whisper, barely audible for anyone who didn’t have a demonic hearing like theirs.
“Hmmm...” Dante’s answer took some time to come, even after he hummed in return. Nero rarely saw his uncle being that quiet and somber. “The world doesn’t need him rearin’ up that ugly head of his again.”
“Well... You killed him a long time ago, didn’t ya...?” This time, Dante only answered Nero with a shake of his head and a quiet hum. “I don’t think we’ve to worry ‘bout him, then, you’re pretty good at your job.”
“Huh. Thanks, kid...” Dante had a slight smile on his lips, but his words had an uncharacteristic bitterness to them. “But some demons have trouble stayin’ dead. Someone has to make sure that doesn’t happen to Mundus.”
Silence fell between them once again in the room. Nero kept looking at his boots, but his thoughts ran at a thousand miles per hour. He knew it was because of Mundus that his family was as broken as it was, that he never had a chance to have something normal. He knew it was because of that demon that Dante and Vergil had broken childhoods and carried a trauma that shaped their whole lives. But he never really understood the burden Dante decided to carry on his shoulders of ridding the world of such a horrifying demon - of making sure Mundus would never do to anyone else what he did to his family, to him.
It was a good path. A right path, some would say. But probably the most difficult one to follow: it was certainly the loneliest.
“Well, you got me with ya this time. That should account for somethin’, right?” Nero nudged Dante with his shoulder, hearing a slight laugh from his uncle.
“That does, kid. It certainly does.” With that answer, Dante sighed again, stretching his back and legs for a while. “Now, remember what I told ya? Fightin’ like a human?”
“Yeah...?”
“Good. ‘Cause that’s what we’ll be doin’ when that clock hits 3 a.m. You better get those legs stretched and ready to do some damage.”
“Fuckin’ finally. I’m tired of waitin’ here!”
They didn’t really know what they would do to get themselves out of that one - but, at least, they were together. They would figure something out.
*
“Ok... So. We have to find a way in.” Kyrie murmured over to Nico, as both women found themselves ducking behind a set of dead bushes near the mansion.
They managed to get there undetected, counting at least fifteen cultists on their way to the house. Keeping themselves on the outskirts of the plaza, they circled around in the shadows and got into the main garden through a broken piece of the iron gate.
To their relief, there weren’t many cultists around the mansion: they were either inside or outside on the town.
“Yeah. Way in. The main door isn’t an option... Right?” Nico tried a little smile to Kyrie, who just shook her head in negative. “Yeah, I thought so.”
“Hmmm... I don’t see another entrance... Maybe there’s one in the back?” The woman tried looking above the bushes without being spotted but, as if on cue, a loud, ominous bell sounded from inside the house.
The two women immediately ducked even further, almost hugging each other from being startled. The bell sounded three times and they saw one of the cultists - now without wearing the cape’s hood - appearing on the balcony of the second floor.
“My children, it is time! Join us in sacrifice and festivity!” The man had his arms opened and his voice could be heard through the whole dead town.
Kyrie and Nico scooted even further in the shadows as the cultists on the main street left their duties to get inside the mansion. They watched the wicked procession of chanting voices through the dark street, entering one by one inside the house that seemed soon would fall apart.
“That’ll give me nightmares for years!” Nico whispered to Kyrie, shaking from a quick shiver that went down from the top of her skull to the base of her spine. “Damn cults.”
“Damn cults...” Kyrie whispered back, thinking how the Order of the Sword in Fortuna wasn’t that different.
As the heavy wooden doors of the mansion closed, the two women found themselves completely alone in that godforsaken ghost town in the middle of nowhere - being the only ones with some hope to save the devil hunters that night.
“What are we gonna do?” Nico had a tinge of desperation on her voice. “That creep said sacrifices, I heard it fine! You think they’re sacrificin’ the crew?”
“Well, if that is the plan, we can’t let that happen!” Kyrie had resolve in her hazelnut eyes, looking at the house over the dead bushes. “We have to try entering through the back. If there isn’t an entry through the back...”
“We are doomed!”
“No. We try something else. C’mon, Nico, they’re counting on us!”
“I-I-I know, but I don’t count on myself...!”
Before they could continue their discussion, they heard a thunderous noise in the distance - as if coming from the skies. Furrowing their brows, they searched everywhere, but there was nothing; not even a semblance of storm over their heads.
“You’re hearin’ that, right...? Right...?”
“Yeah...”
As soon as Kyrie answered, a vicious galloping came in with the wind. As they stared back on the main street, the figure of a fiery horse running with all might with a black rider on its saddle appeared like lightning, approaching at an inhuman speed.
“You’re... Seein’ that...”
“Yes. Yes.” Kyrie shook her head enthusiastically - probably with the same enthusiasm she wanted to ran away.
Before the two women could think of running, though, the horse reached the plaza - and they could finally see the face of the rider as the horse ran around the perimeter of the place; the rider cracking a fiery whip to draw the attention of the cult.
“Is that... Y/n?! But... We... They... Those assholes didn’t take everyone?!” Nico stumbled over her words, as both of them watched you in awe... And horror.
“Apparently not!” Kyrie’s heart danced inside her chest as the man who previously summoned everyone to the ‘festivities’ ran to the porch once again, having a few members of the cult join him - the others took glimpses of the plaza from inside the mansion, through the half broken windows.
You circled the plaza one last time, heading right to the iron gate - now open, which you saw almost as an invitation. You could feel the unease in the air, as Slade slowed its steps and entered the garden, coming to a stop without even your command.
Looking up, you finally saw Blackwell’s face for the second time that night. Now, he had his eyebrows up in shock, recognizing your face under the cowboy hat. In such a short time frame, you could say you had one hell of a makeover.
“Either you let me in willingly, or I’ll force myself in.” You stated loud and clear, having your hand ready on the hunting horn on the saddle horn. “You’ve got one chance to cooperate.”
“Bold words coming from just a pitiful human.” Blackwell’s response was almost spat on your face, with a small laugh that made his cultists giggle alongside him. “It’ll take more than just a few... Party tricks... To stop the ritual.”
“Oh, I got much more than some party tricks, smart ass.” You laughed as an answer, taking the horn out of its place on the saddle. “You’re not the only one striking deals with the devil on these parts. I think you will all enjoy meeting the souls you sent to the afterlife.”
You blew the horn loudly, allowing a ghostly sound to take over the air, as the demonic horse rose up on its back legs neighing loudly in a distorted tone with the demon pack howling in response - the mix of sounds making it seem like a cube of ice was running slowly down your spine.
When the horse landed, the pack took form from the darkness, making Kyrie and Nico scoot away trying not to get in those creature’s path. Blackwell’s eyes grew in terror, even if the man tried to remain arrogant and not show any kind of emotion - the pack raced forward hungrily with gnashing and snarling sounds as they opened their mouths with sharp fangs, ready to tear through the cultists flesh like butter.
“It’s the hard way for you all, then.” You pointed to the house, raising your voice once more. “Take what they owe from you!”
With that command and an intense howling, the pack destroyed the front door - and you could hear the symphony of roars and screams as some of the cultists tried to run away and others tried to fight.
“No! No! I will not be defeated by the likes of you!” Blackwell screamed from the porch, taking one of his followers and slicing their throat without a second thought, leaving the body on the ground as soon as he collected the blood. “Fight those creatures or sacrifice yourselves to their will! The ritual will go on and the main room is to be protected at all costs! That’s an order!”
The remaining cultists obeyed without questioning, willing to give their lives for that bizarre cult ran by Blackwell. You shook your head, watching as they entered in a rush, and still hearing the mayhem going on inside.
“Are you girls alright?” You finally broke the badass pose to look to your side, checking in on Kyrie and Nico. Both women were hugging each other, ready to scream and run, but now they just stared at you in awe.
“Damn, y/n, what the hell?! You almost killed me! My heart cannot take somethin’ like... Like.. A flamin’ demon horse?! How?!” Nico let go of Kyrie to wave her hands around in despair as they approached you - you, in the other hand, smiled back while caressing Slade’s head.
The horse was quite sweet for a demonic horse, if you had to say something.
“What happened? You were all fine when we left, I mean, you were all together...!” Kyrie tried to explain and you could see where she was coming from. “What’s with the deal you mentioned...?”
“Look, it’s quite a long story. But I had to borrow some powers - and help...” You pointed to the house as some growling and yelling was still happening, making Nico visibly shiver as you did so. “To save our damsels in distress for the day. Also have another kind of help.” And this time, you pointed to Rebellion strapped on your back.
“Oh, so that’s where she went!” And Nico could say she was relieved to see the sword with you. They would have a lot of explaining to do if they had lost Dante’s sword.
“We’re here to bring your weapons too...!” Kyrie took Red Queen out of hiding, since they had put the swords down for a moment while discussing their next steps. “We were just trying to figure out a way to...”
Before she could finish speaking, though, a loud noise came from inside the house and the windows started glowing with a flash of red for a while before going back to normal. The floor rumbled for a couple of seconds underneath your feet right after, and then everything went silent - even inside the house.
“The pack did their job, it’s time for me to do mine.” You took the reins back into your hands. “C’mon, Slade! Time to teach those assholes a lesson!”
“Let’s go...!”
“Let’s go where? Are you insane? We’re pretty ok here, outside, waitin’, while the hunters do their thing in there...!”
“Nico.” Kyrie rested both of her hands on the woman’s shoulders as you led Slade up the front porch stairs of the mansion and inside the house - taking everything in your path and leaving fiery steps behind. “They need their weapons. They need us. No time to back up now. Let’s go!”
“Everyone here’s insane...!” Nico rolled her eyes and, if it wasn’t such a dangerous moment, she would be lighting up another cigarette.
You rode through the dead cultists, ripped apart by the pack you summoned earlier - now gone, probably to finally have their rest. Following the chanting noise, you found a set of heavy wooden doors, locked from the other side and being well guarded. With your fiery whip, you took care of the guards in a blink; and with Slade’s hooves, the door was soon broken into pieces on the ground, with you riding inside the room and interrupting the ritual.
“Sorry the late, love. I got a little... Caught up.” You winked as soon as you found Dante’s sky-blue eyes fixated on you in pure amazement. He watched as you rode inside the room, whipping away any cultists who tried to get in your way. Your objective was to save Dante and Nero, and you had nothing but their safety in your mind.
“That flamin’ horse is pretty cool! Where did you get somethin’ like that?” And to say Nero was excited about it was an understatement: he looked like a child who just saw the coolest thing on earth and wanted that to himself as well - enough even to ignore the gash he had on his hand, dripping blood on the wooden floor.
Not a huge blood offering as they were expecting - but Blackwell didn’t want to waste too much of Nero’s precious blood on the summoning. After all, if Dante wasn’t enough for the binding ritual, he would use Nero as well.
“From a demon, no doubt.” Dante answered instead as you finally left the saddle and your feet hit the floor of the house - leaving fiery steps as you approached him. “Hope you didn’t do anythin’ too rash, babe.”
As you reached Dante, you could see the worry in his sky-blue eyes. He knew that kind of power, for a human like you, came only with a deal - and, usually, it never ended well for the human. Either way, what choice did you have that night, really? Not many, and you would do whatever you had to in order to save your lover. Dante knew that - and he would never want to be the reason of your downfall.
That’s why the first thing you did was to place your lips on his, on a slightly longer kiss. You hoped that would reassure him; that it would make Dante know you would make that decision over and over again if it meant he and Nero would be alright that night. You could think about your deal and your soul later, as long as they were safe.
Also, being Dante, he could easily take the increase in your body temperature after the deal.
“I did what I had to.” You answered as soon as you left his lips, smiling fondly even if you could see how melancholic his eyes looked. “Now, let’s get you both out of here. We have a cult to dismantle.”
“We’re experts on that!” Nero was already bubbling inside to fight, almost as if something told him Red Queen was nearby.
“It doesn’t matter what you all do!” Blackwell reappeared from a door on the second floor, holding a black box with silver carvings. “The gates have already been opened! The king will rise and with a few more spells, the binding will be done! Give up!”
“Why do all power hungry asshats always speak like that, huh...?” You shook your head, going back to freeing Dante and Nero: turns out, untying them was quite easy; the problem was the power suppressing shackles around their wrists.
“Eh, you know, babe... If they can’t sound like cheesy villains, then what’s the fun in that?” Dante shrugged, making you giggle in response. As you untied his feet, he finally got up, being followed by Nero as soon as you freed him.
Before any of you could do anything else, the floor rumbled once more and the red sigils in blood started glowing with a light you only saw in very well succeeded rituals. Indeed, the gate was opening, and the demon they summoned was about to come to earth - unless you did something about it.
“Hey, cowboy, can you take care of the cultists and their smart ass leader?”
“Sure thing, ghost rider. But dont’cha think you’re gonna have all the fun by yourself.” With that answer, Dante kissed you quickly before heading over to Blackwell. “C’mon kid. We got work to do!”
“About time!” Nero ran after Dante, even if he himself wasn’t sure what you would do with the ever trembling floor.
“Slade!” As soon as you called, the horse galloped over to you, having you back on its saddle in no time. You circled around the room, watching as the seal between dimensions opened and a metallic looking demon started poking its ugly head through it. Holding Rebellion’s grip tightly, you took it from the holster on your back, as you watched the creature who stepped into your dimension - black eyes oh so interested to finally be out of the demon world. “It’s time to work, Rebellion.”
“Ah... The Human world, at last...” The demon was almost as tall as the mansion itself, wearing a black metallic armor that you couldn’t tell if it was its clothing or its actual skin. It had a humanoid head, but the lips didn’t move as it spoke - almost as if it was wearing a mask made of marble; crowned with a thousand dark metallic spikes. Its black eyes, though, seemed to harbor infinite void; while its clawed hands dripped a viscous black liquid, pooling around its feet. The demon king looked around with no expression on its masked face, but soon those empty eyes found you: a rider on a fiery horse, carrying one of the legendary swords made with the fire of Hell itself. A human rider, wielding such power. “And already a hunter as a warm welcome.”
“To send you back home where you belong to.” You answered, raising your head with pride. “Can’t let you stay here for too long, your putrid highness.”
“A hunter with such power in their hands. This shall be interesting...” The demon king hummed, summoning two blades on each of his hands; forming from the dark liquid that dripped down from his claws. “Very well, hunter. I shall indulge you.”
You had no more words to say, for now it was time to fight. Charging in, you led Slade right in the direction of the demon king, circling around the creature to try to land a hit with Rebellion. In spite of his size, though, the demon was fast and you had to dodge a heavy attack from one of his swords - that buried on the floor, cracking the rotten wooden panels. You seized this opportunity to land a hit on his arm with the Rebellion - soon realizing the skin of the creature was, indeed, made of metal.
It would need a lot more strategy and power to land a blow that had an actual impact on that kind of demon - in all your life as a devil hunter, you had never seen nor fought against anything like it.
Meanwhile, Blackwell pointed his followers to take on Dante and Nero - who were running up stairs to deal with the man who was already setting up the second part of the ritual in a makeshift altar across the room.
The hunters just exchanged looks and a knowing smile before sucker punching their way up - even throwing some of the cultists down the stairs. If they had to fight like humans, they would... And they were actually very good at it.
“What the...!” Kyrie and Nico said in unison as soon as both reached the doors you brought down when you barged in the room - finding that mess of a scene: Dante and Nero running up stairs and you fighting a demonic king with Rebellion in hand. In a matter of fact, their shock came mostly from seeing a demon king for the first time in their lives. Other than Vergil, actually.
“Don’t t-t-tell me you wanna... Go i-i-in there.” Nico’s stuttering suddenly got worse, wincing as soon as one of the kings swords tried to bring you down - and you expertly held it back with Rebellion, keeping your balance on your horse.
It was actually quite impressive to watch.
“I... Don’t. We can... Wait.” Kyrie’s answer was almost a whisper, with both of them agreeing to hide behind something until the opportune moment to give the swords back to their respective owners.
“Blackwell! Time to end this party!” Dante announced as soon as he got to the top of the stairs, making the man jump in place.
There was a skull in the middle of the altar, sided by candles and behind a brass bowl - where he would probably collect Dante’s blood. Blackwell had already cut his hand and offered his own blood, chanting incantations written in an old book he had opened on the corner of the altar.
“It’s too late now, Dante. You should accept...”
“Man, you talk too much...!” Nero finally lost his patience. Before Dante could say anything, his nephew ran with all his might, drop kicking Blackwell on the floor. Dante couldn’t refrain from shaking his head.
“You never change, do ya, kid...?” He had his hands on his hips, watching as Nero kept Blackwell immobile.
The cracking sound of your whip drew everyone’s attention to the fight at hand. Looking down, Dante found you with the fiery whip on your hand, keeping the demon king at bay. Your foe immediately raised one of its huge swords to take you down in a swift sweep, but with a flick of your wrist, you wrapped the blade with the whip, cracking it with the sound of a thousand raging bonfires. Dante couldn’t help but raise his brows and watch you with amazement and admiration.
Indeed, you were a human to tame his demonic heart. There you were, mounting a demon horse, Rebellion on one hand and a whip made of the fires of Hell itself on the other, holding down the sword of nothing but a demon king in place. You didn’t back down nor felt fear - instead, you wrapped the whip even tighter around your own arm, making it shorter and forcing the demon king’s sword down. You knew it wouldn’t burn you, for you were the one wielding it. Keeping your gaze on those eyes made of oblivion, you commanded the whip to burn hotter and hotter... Until the very blade in the demonic king’s hand started to melt, pouring on the floor like molten mercury.
“Fuckin’ hell, y/n...!” Dante let out as soon as surprise hit his heart, watching it all while keeping his hands rested on the balustrade of the second floor. His mind couldn’t even think of that clown Blackwell behind him when he had you being such an incredible hunter downstairs, taming a demon king like he never saw any other devil hunter doing.
He was the only one he knew who ever conquered a king in his book - and there you were, proving the world why you were the owner of his heart.
“Rare are the fights worth fighting...” The demonic king’s voice echoed through the house, as the creature gained back his posture upon realizing one of his weapons were gone. “I can see why Rebellion stands with you. What is your name, hunter?”
“Y/n. Rebellion stands with me because I gained her owner’s trust.” Your answer came with your head held high, while you untangled your whip from your arm. As expected, there was no harm done to you nor your clothing.
“I reckon you gained more than his trust. It will be an honor bringing you down, y/n.”
“I wouldn’t be that concerned with y/n if I were you, ugly face.” Dante finally entered the conversation. He did like the fact that you owned the respect of a demon king, but he did not like it that the creature was now even more interested in killing you. His phrase, though, made both of you turn your attention to him on the second floor. “I mean, I know, my sheriff is givin’ ya a run for your money and, sooner rather than later, you’ll be back down in Hell in no time.” He had a smart smile on his lips, sprinkled with pride, which made you smile in return. It was good to see how much faith Dante had in you. “But we’re all forgettin’ the big elephant in the room: the smart ass who summoned you and has all the intentions on binding you to serve ‘im.”
“Huh. Son of Sparda. I did feel your stench when I arrived - I just concluded it was tied to the sword.” The demonic king raised his head up to Dante, now pointing his sword towards him. “But your words ring truth. You were not the ones who summoned me - and now you tell me a mortal thought itself to be powerful enough to try to bind me into servitude...?”
Oh, you could all feel the anger running on the king’s bloodstream - if he even had one.
“Oh, yes. Not even a honorable human like y/n, huh?” Dante winked back at you, making you giggle. You weren’t really scared of the demon king behind you - your lover had done one hell of a good job of drawing his attention from you and the fight at hand. “More of a...”
“Coward little shit hidden upstairs so you wouldn’t find ‘im!” Nero dragged Blackwell by the collar of his robe as the man stumbled to stand by Dante’s side - clearly trying to run. “And tryna complete the bindin’ ritual, will you look at that!”
“A cowardly move indeed, petty creature...” The demonic king’s voice echoed through the floor, trembling the boards underneath you all. “Weaklings like you should learn your place and which souls are bound to eternal servitude.”
With that phrase, the portal between dimensions opened once more, making you guide Slade away from it so you wouldn’t fall into the demonic world. The king pointed at Blackwell, making some of the black, viscous liquid dripping from its claws go up the man’s arms and neck, slowly reaching his eyes. Blackwell screamed in horror and pain as the liquid filled his eye sockets, turning into infinite voids completely out of a soul as soon as it was done. Nero let go of the man’s arm, watching him go down the stairs like a mindless puppet, walking obediently to the edge of the opened gate, staring into the demonic world as if he had no choice.
“You shall regret your hubris, petty creature.” With those words from the king, Blackwell willingly threw himself into the abyss, forever lost in servitude to the demonic king he thought he would be able to control.
It was the perfect moment. You couldn’t allow a demon king to stay, and he knew that very well. With a quick movement and a loud crack, your whip tangled itself around the demon king’s metallic arm. The expressionless face turned to you, staring into your eyes with that gaze devoided of soul. You held the look, once again wrapping the whip around your arm tightly, cracking Slade’s reins so the horse would walk backwards - helping you pull the demonic king with you.
You had every intention of pulling him down the opened gate, locking it right after he was gone.
It was a matter of strength and will. You kept pulling, and the demonic king kept anchoring his feet on the floor of the house. Dante and Nero watched it all from the second floor with their mouths slightly opened and hearts pounding viciously in their chests. Nico and Kyrie had their eyebrows furrowed, barely believing what their eyes were seeing. The hardwood floor started to crack underneath the king’s feet, but your eyes wouldn’t leave that soulless gaze. You wrapped the whip once again around your arm, making it even shorter, yanking the creature towards you - making him try to anchor himself down even harder.
Using the same command in your heart before, the fires on the whip got hotter and hotter, burning even brighter and making everyone in the room start to sweat - except for you and the king. The creature stumbled a little when you noticed the whip started to melt into its metallic arm - slowly, but surely, melting it... Destroying it.
If the demonic king wasn’t going back to his rightful place, he was going down. The way you stared into his black eyes made him know that.
“Y/n. I shall remember your name.” The demonic king’s voice reverberated through the room again, as he slowly glided towards the opened gate.
“You better. Next time you try to come up, you should know I’ll be here to take you back down.” Your answer was certain, causing a low laugh to echo through the room in return.
“It will be an honor. Hunter.”
Those were the last words you would hear from the demonic king. He finally let go and you yanked the fiery whip, dragging the creature down the same abyss Blackwell had thrown himself into. With the whip free, you had it back on its place on the saddle in a flourish, watching the gate slowly close up - too slowly, in a matter of fact: some demons had noticed it was open and saw an opportunity to come out and cause mayhem.
“Ei, y/n!” You heard Dante calling, as he ran downstairs alongside Nero. “Use the Rebellion! It’ll speed things up!”
Doing as he said, you killed a few demons who tried to come out - and, as you stroke one of them down where it belonged, you noticed the portal closed faster and faster, until there was only the tip of the Rebellion left buried on the very ordinary hardwood floor.
No demons. No gates. No kings. The mansion fell in silence - and the town had its ghostly quietness back to it. With the last stand from Rebellion, it was over.
Dante finally met you in the middle of the party room, watching you with a proud smile on his lips. He had defeated Mundus once, yes, but you had just put a demonic king back where it belonged without any help from him. That was quite a feat you could brag about as much as you wanted now - even if he knew you wouldn’t do it. He knew you paid the price for the power to do so, but he would be lying if he said it wasn’t worth it.
“Guess you saved my ass this time, ghost rider.”
“I believe ‘thanks’ are in order, cowboy.” You answered casually, approaching with Slade walking lazily towards your red devil.
“Oh, you deserve more than thanks tonight, sweetheart.” And the looks in Dante’s eyes made you immediately giggle - while Nero rolled his eyes.
“Ah, stop that you too. There are children in the room...” He shook his head while both you and your lover stared at him with eyebrows raised, ready to question him. Nero just casually looked back at you. “It’s me. I’m children.”
“Ya know... I’m quittin’ this job.”
You three finally looked back at the door only to find Nico and Kyrie walking towards you - safe to say, Nero immediately smiled and ran to meet his love halfway.
“The materials are good, but damn...!” Nico rolled her eyes, completely ignoring Nero holding Kyrie tightly in his arms, kissing the top of her head while she giggled. “You’re all crazy...! Crazy!”
“What can I say? It runs in the family.” Dante shrugged, making Nero laugh from their now inside joke. He turned to you as soon as your feet hit the floor by his side. “You too, babe. You’re family as well.”
“Good to know you think I’m crazy too.” With your answer, he laughed a little bit out loud before having his lips covered by yours - now burning like fire.
“Phew - gonna take a while to get used to that, babe. Is it permanent...?” You could see the care in Dante’s eyes as he pushed some of your hair away from your face - your cowboy hat still immaculate on top of your head. It was clear he didn’t want any kind of thing that transformed you to something more than human to be permanent, but he would accept it anyway: after all, it was you; and everything you did that day was to save him. Dante never really had that.
“Not really. I just have to keep my part of the bargain and it’s gone.” You played with his hair for a while, making Dante have a goofy smile on his lips - only for you. “Which is a shame, really. I liked having you around, Slade.”
The horse approached you, bumping your shoulder with its fiery nose - making you caress its demonic head. All in all, it was a good mount and you grew strangely fond to it.
“And what’s your part of the bargain, babe?”
“Beau Blackwell’s skull. I’ve to find it and give it back to the demon who first made the contract with him.”
“Ya know, the other Blackwell had a skull on the altar upstairs. It’s probably the one ya need, y/n.” Nero considered, still having Kyrie in his arms. There was no force on earth that would make him let her go before sunrise.
“Huh. The demon who made the deal with Beau made a deal with you too, then...?” Dante decided to follow you upstairs as you started making your way towards it.
“Yeah, pretty convenient, I know...” You sighed in return, now used to the fiery steps you left behind you. “But hey, I needed a way to get ourselves out of this one. Demon at the crossroads was my only way out.”
“Yeah, and what a way out. You make one hell of a sexy ghost rider, babe.” Dante teased and, as soon as you got to the top of the stairs, you turned around to let him see you in all your ghost rider glory.
“Right? I’m gonna miss it, I feel quite the badass!” You laughed in return as he whistled upon watching you.
“You’re always a badass, sheriff, you don’t need all that.” There was that unapologetic sincerity in his eyes as Dante spoke, making you know he actually meant it. In all your life hunting by his side, you never felt like you were missing something for being completely human.
“Thank you, cowboy.” You winked back at him, locating the skull inside the black box with silver sigils. Taking it in your hands, now you just had to keep it in the proper place on Slade’s saddle and let it take it back to the creature who gave you those powers for that night. “Though the fiery whip was pretty cool, huh?”
“That it was.” Dante laughed alongside you, stopping for a while before going back downstairs. “Thanks for the rescue, y/n.”
“No worries, Dante. I’ll always be here for you.” You smiled back at him, using your free hand to gently caress his face. “For better or for worse.”
“Usually for worse.” He completed with a slightly bitter laugh, making you shake your head.
“That depends on your point of view, love. To me, it’s always better.”
You left another quick fiery kiss on his lips before heading back downstairs - and, as you concluded your business with Slade and Nico kept arguing with Nero, who kept glued like a koala on Kyrie, Dante couldn’t stop himself from smiling upon thinking about your words.
You were always the better on his life.
*
“To whom it may concern,
Business in Silverstone is back on its tracks. Folks are regaining confidence and tourists are back in town. Things have been flourishing like never before: with the rumors of the latest ‘demonic rituals’, occultists and supernatural enthusiasts are flocking around to visit the old town. Some young folk in the city have even made a ‘Supernatural Silverstone Horror Tour’, or some stupid young people thing like that.
It’s been a hit, though. Not only the young ones, but some old people are coming to take the tour. The old town has never seen so much interest before - and the old Blackwell mansion is now a haunted spot, or something. Haunted house? Dunno. These people like making things up. Not complaining! The hotel is packed every weekend, and there’s plenty of money going around to help us rebuild from the chaos those pesky demons set around on Halloween.
Things are going steady and good around Silverstone - and we all have you people at the Devil May Cry to be thankful to. Whenever you want to visit, accommodation, food and whatever else you need is on the town. You all will always be welcome here.
Oh, the young ones said if you ever want to take the horror tour or whatever, they’ll be more than happy to have you around. It would be an honor, they said. Maybe you could come and show those kids what a proper scare is like, huh?
Well, that’s it for now. I thought you would like to know how things are going - and that you have made friends here in Silverstone. Once again, in the name of the whole town, thank you.
Buck Carson.
Ps: Frances and I have been seeing each other for a while and she agreed to moving in with me in the Hotel. Thank you for your help, y/n.”
“They’re moving in together! Mission accomplished!” You had Buck’s letter in your hand, having just read it out loud, and now you were in the middle of a very weird - and happy - celebration dance in the middle of the Devil May Cry; Dante watched you with his arms crossed, legs on the table and a huge smile on his lips, as always.
“You’ve been playin’ quite the long game to complete that mission, babe!” He laughed alongside you, watching your bare feet happily dancing over the shop’s floor - no fiery footsteps to follow you anymore; your deal was done. “Who would’ve known? You’re a Cupid too!”
“Oh, I’m a good shot, cowboy.” You pointed at him with finger guns, as if you were aiming for his heart. “I could make a wreck with a Cupid’s bow!”
“Oh, there would be no one left standin’! Ouch!” He took his hands over his heart, pretending he was shot as soon as you hit him with your finger guns. “You already took my heart with ya, sheriff!”
“And you took mine with you, cowboy.” You walked over to his desk, leaving the letter on a safe spot and sitting by the edge as you and the ladies always did whenever you were talking at the Devil May Cry. “Who knows, maybe if I make a deal again next year, I’ll get the powers of Cupid for a little while.”
“Ha! Now that I’d like to see!” Dante let out a good laugh, watching intently as you settled in front of him. “But we did get some nice things out of this one this year...”
“Yeah, the whole town is thankful to us, we could go there someday as a vacation.” You considered while Dante agreed, shaking his head. “That’s nice, for a change.”
“Yeah, a first one for me too...” He took his legs off the table, having his feet on the ground again, leaning closer to you. “And you got yourself your first devil weapon, pretty eyes.”
“Oh, my fire whip. I’m so glad.” You closed your eyes, having a huge smile spreading across your lips. Dante quickly glanced over his shoulder, seeing the whip was still sitting peacefully alongside his own devil weapons on a wall display, precisely where you both left them. “All demon kings better beware.”
“I can bet you’re already a legend in Hell, hot stuff. You’re earning your name.” He nodded towards you in a gesture of respect. You could barely think of yourself becoming a legend and making a name for yourself in Hell - but you had to admit it would be more than nice to be known for your abilities.
“But you know, I really like being known as the human who has earned your love.” You looked back at your red devil intently, leaning down on the desk towards him. “That is more important to me than any kind of power I could’ve earned.”
“And that is somethin’ you’ll always have, y/n.” With those words, Dante quickly pulled you into his lap, you both making his chair shift heavily on the floor and make quite the noise - while your laughs ringed with it. “’Cause you know, there’s a reason why Rebellion followed you.”
“Hmmm... I thought it was because I called you somehow before fainting.” You furrowed your brows, pending your head to the side while watching his kind eyes.
“You can call it too, babe, but that’s not what happened that night.” As Dante started talking, he took one of your hands in his, drawing random patterns in it as he spoke. “You see, my swords answer to my soul. And my soul, was worried about you that night. As soon as Rebellion sensed you were in danger...”
“It found me. But how...?”
“’Cause I’d find you anywhere, babe. No matter the place, no matter the circumstance.” His answer was certain; his sky-blue eyes going back to meet yours. “I’d find you anywhere.”
“I’ll always find you too, Dante...” With that, you took his silvery hair away from his eyes, in order to place a gentle, slow kiss on his lips. There was no job to do, no world to save, no gates to close - you could take your time and savor each other. “And save you from whatever demonic kings that decide to step in the way as well.”
“Oh, I’ll always count on that, sheriff!” Dante held you tight against him, placing another long kiss on your lips, making you giggle as he did so. “And I think you said some ‘thanks’ are in order...!”
“But you already... Dante!” Before you could finish speaking, he lifted you up on his arms, leaving his desk to take you upstairs.
“Job’s done and we’re in due for some lovin’. No refunds!” As he spoke, you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing at Dante’s antics.
After all, by now, you knew every Halloween would have a new adventure in store for you - and you also knew that after every storm, some celebration was to be had.
And celebrating with your red devil would never be enough; after all, loving with all the might of their human heart also ran in the family.
#devil may cry#devil may cry imagine#dmc#dmc imagine#dante x reader#dante imagine#devil may cry fanfiction#dmc fanfiction#dmc dante#dante sparda#devil may halloween#AND HEREBY I GIVE YOU ALL A BOOK TO READ#I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY#hahahaha I'm not being aggressive I really hope you're happy#'cause I really enjoyed writing this one xD#cowboys and ghost riders and wild west creepy tales and devils at the crossroads OH MY#I got a little lost on research on this one too 'cause DAMN#the cowboy wild west folklore is AMAZING#my mom is a big BIG fan of all things wild west so I was a little too happy writing this one xD#and wanted you all to feel like badasses saving the Spardas from a demon king#just you wait for Vergil's damsel in distress one too <3
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Storm & Blaze
(1-1)
Short story # 22
Gifs NOT mine.
Summary - You were once friends with Reed, and when he calls asking for some assistance on a project, you're happy to offer him a helping hand. But the moment you enter the lab, Johnny finds himself completely smitten. And when he learns who and what you are, he truly believes you're the one for him.
Year posted - 2024
Rating - SFW
Reading time (roughly) - 10 minutes
Johnny is OOC af but what do you expect?
"Wait so why can't you finish this project?" Johnny asked for the fifth time in the past hour. Ben groaned in annoyance. "I told you, an old friend of mine has the final piece to this project." Reed explained, growing impatient waiting for his old companion. "What do you mean they have the final piece?" Johnny pried, confused as to why someone Reed hadn't spoke to in years, would have something so important to him. "Look you're just going to have to-" But Reed was cut off when the lab doors swung open, a woman dressed in a black leather jacket, with a large chain wrapped diagonally across her torso, skin tight skinny jeans, and killer combat boots, strutted in as if she owned the place. "You're finally here." Reed breathed a sigh of relief, while the others were stunned into a silence. "Sorry about that, ran into some trouble on my way over." She said with a cunning grin, her voice making Johnny's heart jump in his chest. "Everything okay?" Reed asked as he met her halfway across the large lab. "Nothing I couldn't handle." She shrugged casually, her eyes practically glowing as she looked at the others.
"Oh right." Reed chuckled before turning to his friends, ushering (Y/n) over to them silently. "Guys this is my old friend (Y/n) Blaze." Reed introduced her to them, Susan approaching her first. "It's great to finally meet you, I'm Susan Storm." She smiled brightly at (Y/n), who shook her hand with a kind grin. "This is my brother-" She turned to introduce her brother, only for him to practically shove his way passed her. "Johnny Storm." He stuck his hand out with a charming smile, his skin feeling hot when she shook his hand. "Ben Grimm." The largest of the group introduced, offering his hand for a moment, then pulling away thinking better on it. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you all." (Y/n) hummed with an amused grin, her attention turning to Reed when he grasped her elbow. "I'm really glad you came." He said, silently leading her to the equipment he was working on. "Let's get to it." (Y/n) mused, sensing his eagerness to get on with it. "It's right over here. I probably should have waiting before installing it, but the rod is just through here." Reed pointed to the small gap in the side of the machine. (Y/n) peered inside, her eyes landing on a rod that glew a dull shade of purple. "What do you need me to do?" She asked as she observed the rest of the mechanism.
"Essentially I need you to give it a jump start... You know... With your ability." He murmured the last part, feeling a little guilty for dragging her all the way out here for something that seemed a little trivial. "What's it for?" She asked as she faced her old friend, ignoring the eyes that practically burned into the side of her head. "It's a machine that will contain Johnny's powers, in case he looses control, or just needs to let off some steam." Reed winced at the pun, clearing his throat. "What's his power exactly?" (Y/n) asked curiously, and before Reed had a chance to explain, Johnny appeared at her side. "I can control fire." He said with a charming smile, allowing his hand and forearm to burst into flames. "That's ironic." (Y/n) chuckled as she smiled at Reed, who found her words equally amusing. Though Johnny, Susan, and Ben were a bit confused. "Alright back up, don't know how this will go." (Y/n) said as she turned her attention back to the machine. Reed and Johnny took her advice, and stepped several feet away. "You ever tell them about me?" She asked as she glanced back at her old friend, who looked a bit bashful. "No I didn't." He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little bad, despite the fact that they hadn't been close in years. "Okay. Well no matter what happens, don't touch me." (Y/n) said as she looked to the others, who seemed confused though they still nodded their heads in agreement.
Content with that, (Y/n) turned back to the machine, reaching her arm deep into the gap, until her fingers wrapped around the rod. Susan wanted to protest, knowing it wasn't safe for anyone to touch the rod with their bare hands, but Reed stopped her, placing a comforting hand onto her shoulder. (Y/n) shuddered at the electrifying sensation that burned up her arm. "Fuck." She breathed out softly, tapping just barely into her power. Her eyes glew brightly as the rod began blazing with life, a horrifying screeching sound echoed throughout the lab. Everyone but (Y/n) clutched their ears, hissing in pain. (Y/n) grunted a gutteral primal sound, her skin burning and turning a bright shade of red. "Let go!" Reed hollered, knowing it had done the trick, and if she kept at it, she might actually bring the machine to life. (Y/n) hissed as she released the now bright glowing rod, pulling her arm out to inspect the damage. Susan gasped at the sight of (Y/n)'s fingers, which had turned a deep shade of black. The woman seemed unconcerned about the development however, wiggling her fingers to make sure they still worked before letting her arm fall back to her side.
"You did it!" Reed gushed as he rushed around the machine to run a few tests. "Glad to help." (Y/n) hummed, her skin slowly cooling, and fading back to its natural tone. "What the fuck?" Johnny breathed out in utter surprise, having been watching her closer than anyone else. (Y/n) glanced his way, and shot him a casual wink. "How did you do that?" Susan asked in astonishment, approaching the machine she had thought would be a lost cause. "He really didn't tell you guys anything about me huh." (Y/n) said with a chuckle, shaking her head a little with a grin. "He never even told us your name." Ben stated gruffly. "Sounds about right." (Y/n) said with an amused roll of her eyes. "Are any of you familiar with the name Johnny Blaze?" She asked as she moved to lean against a large metal table. "Wasn't he that stunt motorcyclist?" Ben asked, to which (Y/n) nodded in agreement. "And my father." She added, the news making Johnny wince inwardly, knowing he shared the same first name as her father. "Didn't he like go awol and disappear years ago?" Ben asked, and (Y/n) clicked her tongue. "Something like that I suppose. Anyways the point is he made a mistake when he was younger, a futile attempt to save his dad. He sold his soul to a demon by the name of Mephisto." She could see the skeptical looks in each of their eyes, something she was used to.
"Anyways it changed him, he was unknowingly bonded with another demon by the name of Zarathos. It's where his power comes from." She thought for a moment before correcting herself. "Came from." She shrugged casually, and while they seemed to find her story odd, they listened intently. "And well when I was a teenager I made the exact same mistake as my father. In exchange for annulling my father's contract, I would take his place, and take up the mantle of Ghost Rider." She licked her lips, pushing off of the table. "I sold my soul, and became a spirit of vengeance." She said as she held her hands out at her sides. Reed had come back around the machine just in time to see her burst into flames, her skin muscle and tissue melting away in an instant, leaving her a skeleton, her clothes unaffected by the flames. The laugh that rumbled in her hollow chest, sounded like the devil himself. Susan had jumped back in surprise, Ben watched with curiosity, And it took everything in Johnny not to tackle her in a hug. Feeling as if he'd found the other half of his soul, his eyes sparkled with astonishment, hypnotized by the flames that lapped at where her skin had been.
Without really thinking Johnny strode towards her, feeling the intense heat of her flames with every step. "Flame on." He muttered as he neared her, ruining his clothes that burned away the instant his body engulfed in flames. (Y/n) observed him with a small tilt of her head, her bony hand reaching out to touch his chest. Another laugh rumbled from her, sounding sinister and dangerous. "(Y/n)." Reed called out to her, afraid she might try using her Penance Stare on Johnny. She looked at Reed for a moment, then back to Johnny, who couldn't tare his eyes away from her. "Johnny what are you doing?" Susan hissed at her brother, who ignored her, as he placed his hands onto (Y/n)'s waist, surprised to find that she didn't feel like a skeleton, but a whole person. (Y/n) in turn wrapped her arms around his neck, anticipating what he might do next. "Don't so anything stupid!" Susan hissed at her brother. Who tightened his grip, and pulled (Y/n) flush against his chest, her clothes still unaffected by the added heat, he suddenly flew them out of the tower. The demonic sound of her laughter made something buzz in Johnny's chest, as he flew them far from New York, and high into the great rocky mountains.
When he landed, they simultaneously extinguished their flames. Leaving Johnny standing there as naked as the day he was born, and (Y/n) looking human once more. "Couldn't keep your hands to yourself huh?" She asked with a teasing grin, still standing chest to chest with him. "Not really." He admitted with a smirk, observing the fine details of her face. "I feel like I'm being pulled towards you, like I'm meant to hold you in my arms." Johnny admitted, more sincere about his admission, than anything else in his life. "I just told you I sold my soul to a demon, and that I am bonded with another demon. And you're infatuated." (Y/n) chuckled with a grin, humming in her throat when Johnny nodded his head in agreement. "You might just be the strangest man I've ever met." She added in a playful tone. "But you like strange don't you?" Johnny asked, slowly inching his face closer to (Y/n)'s. "What makes you so sure?" She taunted, despite finding herself leaning in as well. "We were made for eachother." Johnny stated confidently, finally closing the gap between them. Fire ignited at their feet, and made its way further up their legs, stopping just at their chests as they deepened the kiss.
#short stories#short story#reader insert#johnny storm x reader#johnny storm#johnny storm x you#Johnny storm x Blaze!reader#Ghost rider!reader#the human torch#The human torch x reader#The human torch x you#marvel#marvel fanfic#the fantastic four#The fantastic four fanfic#the fantastic 4#chris evans#chris evans x reader#johnny storm fanfiction#johnny storm imagine#The human torch imagine#The human torch fanfic#The fanatic 4 imagine#marvel oneshot#marvel imagines#marvel x reader#Marvel short story#blaze!reader#ghost rider#fluff
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