devilstars

[devilstars]

YESSSSSSSS

[devilstars]

Finally rolling to a stop, I lay with my back facing the night sky. Gasping for air is hard. I think the wind was knocked out of me after slamming into the cliff.

Fifteen minutes ago, I was a passenger princess in the car. Now I’m covered in dirt somewhere in the desert after getting tossed off a cliff.

Tossed probably isn’t the right word. Dante would likely say that Vergil was “strategically propelling me to safety.” But I’m not sure he knew about the 20-foot steep embankment on the other side of the pile of dirt he threw me at. Or maybe he did and was hoping I’d be dead on impact, freeing him from my torment. What I did was pretty dumb this time.

Yes, the 40-foot bug demon was coming at us. I should have stayed back, but Nicole needed a good distraction to grab Yamato from the car. I did what any good friend would: lead the demon away by screaming and running. It’s not my fault I tripped on a rock; I can’t see well at night.

Technically, Vergil “saved” me, but I refuse to give him the benefit of the doubt, not after what he said when grabbing me before the launch.

Catching my breath, I sit up on my elbows, bones creaking and popping, and glance up at the cliff's top. The sounds of gunshots and metal clangs faintly ring out, so the fight must still be going on.

They probably don’t even know I’m down here.

Finally, having a moment to myself, all the emotions from the last few days kick in, and tears well up. The constant teasing and taunting from Dante, worrying about Nicole pushing herself too hard, and the idea of meeting a gruesome and untimely death creeping up on us at any moment. Worst of all, Vergil. He’s been more uptight than usual, and I’m sure it’s because he’s upset about leaving this world. I don’t know why he would miss this nasty place, but he’s been taking his frustrations out on everyone, and I just so happen to have been getting the short end of the stick the last few times.

The overwhelming emotions make the tears pool over.

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

After who knows how long, the sound of dirt crunching in the distance reaches my ears. Looking up through bleary eyes, I see someone walking towards me.

Yuck.

The last person I want to see right now.

The white hair and black jacket is basically a curse for me at this point. I'd rather be blessed with Dante's presence instead.

“Vergil, I’m so mad at you right now,” I yell out, wiping the tear tracks from under my eyes.

The steps falter for a second but continue my way.

“I get it, okay? You’re upset. You don’t know whether you wanna leave this place or stay. You’re processing a bunch of emotions right now, I understand. But this was way too far, you- you- you emotionally constipated man!” He finally comes to a stop a few feet in front of me.

“You threw me off a cliff! I try to be patient with you, I really do, but what you said earlier! I- I’m not-… I’m not stupid, okay.” Wiping the last traces of tears from my eyes, I take deep, calming breaths.

“My dad always called me stupid so I would really, really, really, appreciate if you didn’t call me that, alright? I know it’s dumb to be mad at that over being thrown off a cliff but-“ I finally look up at him but it’s too dark to make out his facial features. There’s a hint of amusement in the air though so I’ll take that as a good sign.

After a few beats, he holds his hand to me to help me. I hesitate but eventually grab it, and he hoists me to my feet. With an unstable standing, he grabs me by my waist to right me. I mumble my thanks while pushing off him and stumbling back towards the cliff.

He lingers a few paces behind me, but I don't dare look back. If I look at him now, I’ll probably start crying again, and I refuse to cry in front of him right now.

My notorious bad luck catches up with me and I trip on another rock. But instead of hitting the ground, I’m grabbed by my waist again and pulled taunt to his side.

I sputter and roll out from his side. He huffs a soft chuckle, and I turn away, face flush and eyes looking anywhere but him.

“I-! I can’t see well in the dark. I left my glasses in the car.” He reaches out and pulls a few twigs from my hair. As he goes to slide my hair behind my ear I turn to keep walking, but since the Lord hates me, I stumble on a third rock. Before I can fall again, he grabs my hand and takes the lead. Striding forward, he pulls me gently with me.

Bewilderment flies through me.

Vergil?

Being sweet?

To me?

Maybe I hit my head too hard rolling down that cliff, and I’m just imagining this. But the warmth of his hand is keeping me grounded. Again, I refuse to look at him because I know it’ll make me lose my mind. Following him blindly as he guides us, we continue on a path that will take us back to the top of the cliff.

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

Turning the corner of a boulder, we hear Nicole’s relieved shout of my name. She starts to jog towards me but stops abruptly, her eyes wide. Dante behind her also stops in place, but only for a minute, as a huge smile breaks out on his face.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Guess it’s a whole family reunion.” Dante snickers. He glances at our hands and raises a brow.

I let go of Vergil’s hand quickly as he stays standing behind me. “Well, duh. Your brother shouldn’t have tossed me over the cliff.”

“Hey babe, don’t talk bad about his dad like that.”

“What? What the he-?” Before I can finish, I see Vergil, the actual Vergil, walking towards us from the car parked off to the side. I look back at Nicole, whose wide eyes still look behind me. A hand lands on my shoulder.

“I finally caught up to you two. It's time to go home now.”

I spin around. Now that I’m up close, I finally realize who my savior is. How did I not see it before: the shorter, cropped hair. The strong square jaw, the silver ring with the rose insignia on his finger.

This was Nero.