#nero. in the distance: so proud

[lady-of-endless]

Things you do that make their heart melt

(La Squadra x reader)

Author's Note: Those are random but that's the point. I tried to be a bit explicit for those who are at the start of Jojo part 5 and maybe don't remember each character's Stand name or ability. I couldn't write this only for my 3 darlings from La Squadra as I started it because I love them all too much. Proud La Squadra stan. Excuse any grammar mistakes. Enjoy!

Risotto Nero

- How you can balance being serious and being affectionate so easily. This is something he admires a lot and wishes to be capable of too sometimes. Yes, he's a serious and stoic man but the whole La Squadra knows just how big his heart is. Sometimes Risotto wishes he could show a bit of affection to the ones dear to him. Risotto is a softie inside but the nature of his occupation forces him to be as reserved and stern as he is now.

- How you can protect yourself. Being a hitman is tough, nothing new under the sun, but being the leader of the team is even worse. It's hard to watch out for others when he also must make sure that everything is working out smoothly. But he cares about you and your safety so damn much it's almost dangerous. So seeing you handle enemies alone helps him fall asleep at night with fewer worries. Also, watching you fight and come up with strategies makes him smile slightly and so subtly that of course, no one can notice it.

- How you look dressed in black with silver accessories. Aesthetically wise, black is one of his favorite colors and no one can tell otherwise. When you decide to match him with a dark outfit, his gaze will follow you more than usual. Be sure of the fact that he'll use his Stand, Metallica, to give you subtle signals, or not so subtle, by pulling onto your belt or necklace.

(it's loving Risotto hours)

Prosciutto

- How you calm yourself down after an intense moment. Prosciutto himself is not proud of when he snaps at people, thinking that it's not graceful behavior so he starts studying you from afar while calming down. He analyzes your soft tone, your calm face but alert eyes after being harsh, to learn from you but he finds himself falling for it. Like his brother, he also craves a bit of softness in his life but will never admit it, not even to himself so seeing you simmer down and transform into someone calm and understanding makes him want your presence more.

- How you counter him when he is too cruel to his brother. He is harsh with Pesci and he knows it, but he thinks it's only for good. It's not about how you're stubborn enough to argue with him but about how it reminds him that if something ever goes wrong with him on a mission, someone else will make sure that his brother is still alright and progressing. Also, as you two are arguing, things get pretty heated in no time and as the distance between you closes in, everyone knows that it's better to leave you two alone.

- How focused you look when deciding on an outfit. That and how you ask him for an opinion. You can see him leaning back in an armchair just looking at you searching through your clothes with an amused but admirative look on his face. Prosciutto likes to make himself look presentable and if you do the same, he can't help but find that fact attractive. Plus he can play dress up with you without you even suspecting it and he can't get enough of it.

(why is he like that? Love him though)

Ghiaccio

- How you let yourself be angry sometimes. To him, almost anyone seems calmer than him, but seeing someone being as furious as him from time to time and that someone being you? That's new. It doesn't happen often and in some odd way, he finds it fascinating. As much as he enjoys teasing you, he'll never be the type to say "Just calm down" or "You're exaggerating" because he knows how much it enrages someone already angry to hear this. He will be very understanding when you're like that. Plus, if someone or something gets you angry, he gets angry too so it will end up with the two of you being a scary couple.

- How your eyes shine when you smile and your smile in general. He is baffled by how when your lips are curved into a smile, your eyes are radiant too. Usually, he uses this expressiveness of yours against you, teasing you about it but when you smile so warmly, he feels like he's looking at the sun and that's unnerving because it makes him blush. He can't understand it.

- How your nose scrunches when you get a brain freeze from consuming something cold. This along with how your cheeks and nose redden when you're cold. He rolls his eyes at himself for like such a shallow and obvious thing but can't help it. It's not how adorable you look it's more how no one notices such details but him. It's his guilty pleasure. He has a kink when it comes to your reactions to cold temperatures.

(ugh I love him so much it's pathetic)

Pesci

- How you encourage him randomly sometimes. Pesci's already having a hard time adjusting to hitman life and constantly being scolded by his brother. At first, when you encourage him, he's stunned, flustered, embarrassed even but in time he starts to feel so much better overall because of it. His stress goes down and he gets more confident and sure of his actions because of your praise.

- How you're kind to the innocent - animals, kids, etc. Since he followed his brother and joined the team, the shock from seeing so much violence in his life all of a sudden left a mark on him. When he notices you being soft to the innocent and helpless while still being a hitman, he starts to heal. His only wish is for you to keep this side of yours so he can keep his too.

- How peaceful you look while sleeping. Again, being in an Italian hitman team is not easy, it distorted any perspective on peacefulness he had before. Seeing you rest without a frown on your face reminds him that there still is peacefulness in this way of living.

Melone

- How you're intelligent enough but don't flaunt it. Sure, he likes good looks but that's not as important as intelligence, any type. Melone is a bit of a sapiosexual, he knows it. If you come up with smart questions during meetings, his attention is immediately on you from that point on until the end of the meeting. Also, if you're genuinely curious about how his stand, Baby Face, works, it only adds to your charm.

- How you pick up on his "di molto" catchphrase. Melone works a lot. I mean A LOT. Besides progenation, he's skilled at finding out hidden info about the target, too. But usually, he does it alone, no one accompanies him and sometimes he can't help but feel slightly ignored. So when you start spending enough time with him to start using his phrases, he starts to feel less alone.

- How you walk. Simple as that. He has been caught many times staring at how some people walk, it's a well-known fact. So if you walk a bit slower and move your hips a bit more intentionally, making it look natural, he's dead. To hell with the mission for a few moments of pure admiration.

Illuso

- How confident you are. You don't need him to hype you up and he won't, but you'll always catch him looking at you with a proud look on his face. However, not everyone can be confident all the time and Illuso knows it very well. When he finds you letting your guard down and looking disappointed with yourself, he'll act right away. He hates seeing you struggle with shallow insecurities as you are just so wonderful in his eyes...

- How you take time to relax. He always insists on you taking everything a bit more slowly, so when you finally do it, he's more than pleased. He likes to see your facial muscles loosen up, causing a relaxed expression. He wishes to see it more often and he wishes for you to prioritise taking care of yourself.

- How you study yourself in the mirror while getting ready. He will use his Stand's ability to enter that mirror's dimension just to look at you from that perspective. This applies to intimate moments as well, just a heads-up. However, his favorite moment to do that is when you're fixing your hair, there's something about it that he finds so damn attractive.

Formaggio

- How you focus on the mission at hand. That, and how serious you look while doing it. Don't get it wrong, he's also focused on the missions but he looks more laid-back, like a natural. He finds it funny and adorable how you look so stern and even suggest him to pay more attention.

- How you always mention Sorbet and Gelato after their death. Everyone knows that Risotto said to forget about it after the funeral to focus on getting back on track as fast as possible and avenging them afterward but to Formaggio, this never felt right. So when you mention a memory from time to time to everyone, his heart feels a little bit lighter.

- How you dance to your favorite songs. He thinks that the majority of members of La Squadra are too stiff and grim sometimes so catching you dancing around alone to your playlist makes him smile. For him, it's like a breath of fresh air. Expect him to join you.

[gor3-hound]

MAMA'S BOY - NERO

ft. nero x fem!reader

a/n: if nero does not stop looksmaxxing omfg why is it so hard to find a pic where he isn't mewing? this is admittedly so super self-indulgent and idek what the dmc fandom on tumblr is saying so... if this gets four notes i'll still die happy. feedback and reblogs appreciated :3 ty to @thevirgincherry for beta reading !! ilysm MWAH

cw: 18+ content, mdlb, nipple play, tit play(?) in general, use of mama, handjob, cum eating, super sappy smut basically

word count: 1.8k words

“You've gotta be fuckin’ kiddin’ me.” Is the first thing that spills past Nero's lips when you mention shifting the dynamics a little bit in your relationship. He's giving you an incredulous look, one of his brows arching towards his hairline.

“I'm really not. You're so irritable all the time. You need to let yourself relax. All that cynicism is getting to your head.” You say with a frown, your brows furrowing as you look at your boyfriend. He's giving you that look again - the one that says he's about three seconds away from saying something downright horrific, but he's choosing not to - to spare your feelings, of course.

“Right. And so, what… you coddling me like a kid's meant to… miraculously make me a ray of sunshine?” He scoffs, his own brows pinching together in frustration as he runs his hand through his hair. The cybernetic one, ‘cause his human hand is currently twitching at his side. “Baby, I love you, but seriously. I've been handling myself for a long while. I don't need you to do it.”

You know it's not that - you know Nero well enough to recognise the uncomfortable shift of his feet and the way the tips of his ears turn a slight pink. He's embarrassed, even if he's trying to hide it. A sense of unease always comes over him when he thinks about being taken care of. It's a luxury he's never had - one he thinks he doesn't deserve.

You give him that look that he really, really hates. ‘Cause you really are the only person that's always looked out for him, so seeing the way your eyes narrow in frustration is enough to have him wanting to kneel at your feet with his tail between his legs, rubbing himself against your thighs and pleading until you forgive him.

Shit. Maybe he's more cut out for this whole ‘mama’ shit than he thought.

His resolve wavers, his hand awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck before he lets out a soft sigh and nods. “Alright, alright. I’ll try it out, but I ain't promisin’ shit.”

                              ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗

Turns out all Nero needs is a few stern words and gentle touches and he's rolling over like a good boy, exposing the soft underbelly he tends to try and keep hidden. When he comes home drained and you're quick to guide him to a bath, it's hard for him not to completely melt under your attention.

Scratch his scalp when you're washing his hair, and he's fully ready to go all ‘yes, mama’ to whatever you want. He's happy to bare himself for you. You want him bent over the back of the couch? On all fours? He'll stick his tongue out and beg for it like a good boy if it meant you'd give him that proud expression that makes his heart feel like it's beating again. Mama gets what mama wants, and that's an irrefutable fact.

“C'mere, baby.” You coo after he makes his way into the apartment after a long day of ‘work’. Blood splatters his feet dragging against the floor. His movements are exhausted - slow and rugged. You can see that glazed over look making itself present in his eyes, his gaze somewhere off in the distance.

His body is working on autopilot as he makes his way to the sofa you're sitting on. He flops down next to you, and the change in him is immediate. The tension melts from him as he buries his face into your chest, nuzzling his way between your breasts as his hands clutch your waist tight enough that it's almost painful.

“Mama…” He croaks out, pressing himself right up against you, trying to wriggle his way on your lap without ever having to disconnect any part of himself from your warmth. You cradle him as best you can - it's not necessarily the easiest thing to have a 6’2 demon hybrid trying to curl up on your lap like a kitten, but he always manages to find a way to worm himself into your arms, clinging to you like he's scared you're gonna vanish as soon as he closes his eyes.

He's never found it so easy to be loved by someone. You gave him that unconditional, no strings attached love. You loved him just ‘cause he was worth loving in your eyes. Not because you needed him for something, or because you had some sense of pity for his situation.

You were easy to love, and his love for you was unwavering and all consuming. It was far too easy to fall into you with your kind eyes and gentle touch. He didn't have to deal with the shit of his life when he was with you. He could finally relax. He was safe.

“Missed you.” He breathes out against the skin peeking out from the low collar of your shirt, his blue eyes flicking up to gaze at your face. His nose brushes your skin, his hands pawing at your shirt as if he's trying to entice you to take it off. “Mama… please.”

“You gotta ask properly, baby. Use your big boy words, c'mon. What do you want from mama?” You coo, running a hand through his white hair. You let your nails rake over his scalp lightly, enjoying the way he shivers at the touch.

His hands slide under the fabric of your shirt, trying to tug it off anyway. He's never been good at this part - getting the words out. His cheeks grow all pink and he gets quiet, just whining until you let him pull the shirt off of your body. As soon as your tits are in view, he's licking, biting and sucking at every inch of skin he can get his mouth on.

“So impatient, baby.” You scold lightly, helping him adjust slightly so you can slip down his trousers, freeing his cock. It's already rock hard and leaky, the tip flushed red as it oozes precum down his length. “S'okay though. It's not your fault. Mama knows you can't think straight without her help.”

You give his dick a squeeze, his face scrunching up so prettily as he bucks his hips into your tight grip, his cock pulsing in your hand. “Mama… Mama, please. I'll be good, c'mon. Been good, just tou-”

His words are cut off with a groan as you finally start pumping his length in your hand, circling your wrist and running your thumb along his slit everytime you fist the head of his cock. You let go to spit into your palm before stroking him again, leaving him panting into your breasts.

His lips latch onto one of your nipples as you continue touching him, slick sounds filling the room. He suckles greedily, his eyes becoming heavy-lidded as he looks up at you, his tongue flicking eagerly against your nipple.

Your free hand cups his head, holding him against your tit as you let him fuck your fist. Your thumb brushes back and forth on his scalp as he pulls away from your nipple, biting and sucking marks into the flesh of your tits instead as his thumb plays with one of your nipples, stroking and pinching the bud.

“You're making such a mess, baby. Leaking all over mama's hand.” You tease, digging your nail lightly into his slit as he bucks his hips, a low whine spilling from his lips. “You sound so pretty, though. Lucky I'm so good to you, huh, pretty boy?”

You can see the conflict on his face at that nickname, the twitch of his brows and the way his face heats up, his teeth biting down just a little harsher as if he's trying to protest the choice. He can act all he wants, but his dick doesn't lie - and it always kicks when you call him that.

“Mama… gonna cum, mama, please…” He grits out, fucking your fist with more urgency. He pulls his face away from your tits just so he can shift his body to gain better control of his hips, rutting into your hand desperately as he chases his release. “Tits, mama. Lemme… lemme cum on you, please. I'll clean it up, promise. Please.”

You pause to think about it for a moment, watching him writhe as he struggles not to cum, his eyes tearing up and his face all flushed as he continues to jerk his hips, unable to stop chasing the pleasure you're giving him.

“Alright, baby. C’mere then.” You murmur, shifting to lie on your back. As soon as your grip on him loosens, he's quick to straddle your waist, kneeling over your body as he hungrily fists his cock, aiming it down towards your breasts.

“Fuck, mama. Gonna… gonna cum.” He grits, his hand quickly coming down next to your head to support his weight as he slumps forward, ribbons of white coating your chest. His lips part in a silent moan, his breath coming out in heavy pants.

He takes a couple of seconds before he leans down, his tongue sliding along your soiled skin. He laps up every drop of his release happily, his eyes practically shimmering with satisfaction.

“There we go. Such a good boy, cleaning up your mess.” You say softly, your hand finding his hair once more, scratching behind his ear in a way that never fails to have him melting in your grasp. He rests his head on your stomach when he's cleaned you up fully, his hand reaching out for yours. He yawns a little, letting himself lie across the couch while using you as his personal pillow.

“You sleepy?” You ask softly, gazing down at his hooded eyes. Nero nods softly, blinking slowly a few times. You smile at him, still stroking his hair with one hand as your free hand comes down to rest on his back, your thumb rubbing small circles there. “Take a nap, baby. Mama will be here when you wake up.”

He gives you another one of his looks - the one halfway between pure adoration and complete confusion. He knows you're someone that sees him. That sees Nero behind the front he puts up. Somehow, you're aware of how fucked up he is, and you're still willing to stay. He doesn't know how to take it, he can feel himself getting choked up as he meets your eyes. And he can't cry, not in front of you. So he nods again, closing his eyes to keep in the unshed tears, wrapping you up tightly in his free arm while his hand squeezes yours as hard as he can without hurting you.

“Alright, mama. Night.” He croaks out, the words he wants to say dying on his tongue. But when you rub your thumb over the nape of his neck and squeeze his hand back, he knows you felt it. He knows you love him, too. He knows that despite everything, it's enough for you. 

He's enough for you.

[whumpbby]

Vergil coming back to Nero's life and deciding that yes, the offspring is strong and smart, he is proud. He will try to be a father.

Except he has no idea how to start, because memories of his own father as hazy and indistinct, and what he remembers of his mother doesn't seem to fit the situation.

He looks to Dante for pointers, but Dante is not a father material with vengeance, desperately trying to stick to the role of a fun uncle, because emotional vulnerability is a dirty word for him. Even though Nero is visibly desperate for a genuine familial bond with the younger Sparda twin, to the point even Vergil can see it (he may not be emotionally versed, but he's goddamn observant, had to be to survive). No help there.

But then, he notices... The children.

Nero's little gaggle of orphans.

The kids Nero and Kyrie took in and care for, ostentibly as caretakers, but anyone with eyes can see there's more to it. The kids are theirs. They are a family. A small, strange family made up of broken pieces, but more cohesive and caring that anything either twin has experienced in their life. Dante seems terrified of it.

Vergil is intrigued.

When on a job, he watches his son on the phone with the girl, and then inevitably some of the children, listens to his voice and the way it softens around the edges into something gentle and careful. None of the brash roughness, none of the swearwords, just - care and softness and emotion.

He watches the boy around his family, the first time Kyrie's request to finally meet him bears fruit. As difficult as it is with a human, Vergil admires her resolve to seem brave, because the girl is smart and knows how devil power tastes like in the air, and when she finally sees him Vergil can hear her heartbeat stuttering. Still, she steps in closer and reaches out to shake his hand, and it dawns on him she's doing it for Nero and the children. Her bravery, artificial as it is, feeds theirs, settles something in his son's eyes. It's easier to admire her after that realisation, so brushing his lips on her knuckles in an old-school greeting is no mockery.

Well, just a little. She giggles, bashful, and his son's hackles raise against his batter judgement. Amusing.

Thankfully, the children keep their distance and Vergil is glad for it. He's not comfortable with things so small, with sticky fingers and snotty noses. The oldest boy is in his teens, weedy and wide-eyed, and at his age Vergil already had blood under his fingernails and knew how it feels when his heart stops. The littlest one barely toddles behind it's adoptive mother and smells sweet enough for his teeth to ache and his instincts stir.

Children unnerve him and vice-versa. Maybe he should be blinking a bit more often?

("Blink, goddamnit!" The weaponsmith told him once, high on nicotine and new research materials, forgetting herself enough to stop stuttering. "It's like I'm talking to a fucking lizard!")

No, too much effort. The children will either shore up their courage or not, no point in condescending to them this young.

But his son doesn't seem to share that outlook - again, this softness. His step shortens, his eyes grow soft, his hands gentle as he brushes hair and cleans little mouths, and allows little hands to hang off his fingers. His voice drops an octave when speaking to them and Vergil wonders if the boy knows it's not a human trait. Demons don't care for their young like humans do, but strong offspring is coveted (either as legacy, potential opponents or food). Physical affection is always dangerous when instincts to care and feed are joined at the hip, so vocalisations take it's place.

The children respond, surprisingly. Young minds are easily trained, he knows, but Vergil never expected that instincts could be adjusted alongside. Not in humans. But it seems it's possible, because the pups flawlessly and haplessly follow every cue given by their caretaker.

Interesting. He's pretty sure his son is unaware.

A devil enough to follow his instincts, but human enough not to realise. Keeping himself between his brood and his father, regardless of his seeming eagerness for them to bond - somewhere under his skin he has to know how tasty they look, easy pickings for any demon around.

Vergil would never - well, not human children at least. Not his future kin (as soon as they prove themselves to him that is).

(But his son doesn't have to know for sure as long as it's amusing. Sue him, he's vindictive by nature.)

It gives him an idea, though.

He had no hand in raising his son, quite the opposite in fact (heh, Dante was rubbing off on him) and so he has no idea what sort of a parental care his son craves. Asking is out of question - his pride would never let him. Nero's pride would never give him honest answer. Explosively honest as he is, the boy guards his heart almost more than Dante.

Trial and error is also not viable - when the error carries danger of breaking the tenuous bond they have. Distastefully, Nero has a family to sate his emotional needs and a place to retreat to, if hurt enough he will not bother to stick around his awkward terror of a father. And it doesn't sit well with Vergil. Not now, when he's decided to claim his offspring as worthy of his attention.

No, it has to be a flawlessly executed plan without a chance of failure.

Luckily, he has a perfect example to follow that will get him into his son's good graces.

Nero.

The boy acting like a father to the strays under his care. Without an example to follow, he's still a good parental unit - in both human and demon sense. It's not instinctive to their breed of beasts, Vergil knows, thus it stands to reason his son built himself to be an ideal he wished for himself.

A caring father-figure appearing in the life of an orphaned child desperate to belong.

So, Vergil studies what he sees. It's not above him to take the easy path, he will use any and all advantages in battle. It's only fitting that Nero did his homework for him on this occasion too - just as he managed to somehow solve the age-old conflict between two brothers, regardless of their opinion. As if it was easy, as if he didn't pay it off with blood and heartache.

Still, a good example begs to be followed.

Before daring to put his plan into action, he tests it. Slowly and softly, out of sight of anyone with keen ears. The test material is right there after all, already primed - all three of them, his son's pups.

Dropping his voice is easy. It takes a couple tries to find the right tone - he never had a need to learn, but finds it as satisfying as any other type of research. The right combination of dominance and coaxing is fairly easy to find and hone.

He might have visited Kyrie a couple times to test his options behind his son's back - easily explainable by slowly growing interest in the weaponsmith's research tomes stacked in the mess of the garage-workshop. The fact he choses to visit at the least convenient times of the day, when the children are high on energy after returning from school and Kyrie is distracted by preparing food, is never mentioned.

The girl is always happy to see him - after her initial fear subsided, she exhibits the same desire for companionship as his son. She's also an orphan, after all, too young by far to be a mother of three. It doesn't hurt that his presence brings a steep decrease in the noise-level around the house.

Yes, the pups are responding well to his presence and verbal cues. Soon enough a low hum is enough to stop the boys running full-tilt in their tracks and quiet the youngest one's wailing.

Vergil tries not to feel accomplished at the last one, a paltry feat as it is compared to his other successes, but it still touches something within him when the child's eyes grow wide and glassy, staring at him in startled wonder.

He might have allowed himself to touch the little thing in a moment of weakness. A slight gesture, a brush of fingers across the soft, reddened cheek. A small reward for compliance, he explains it to himself, exchange of favours. A demon's rare tenderness for a moment of quiet.

It would last longer if it wasn't witnessed by the wide eyes of his son's girl, but may as well, no point in overindulgence. The child still smells too sweet, but at least now that sweetness doesn't make him salivate.

He knows Kyrie will tell his son of that short scene, of course she will. She'll want the boy to know his father is able of gentleness, she'll want to give him hope. Vergil is okay with that, if it makes the boy more open to his attempts.

He never refused an advantage in battle, after all.

[lanymme]

"Master, Master!" the tension between them is broken by the boisterous cry of the loudest monk Ritsuka has ever known. Kiara's hand surreptitiously drops from the small of her back, and she feels a disconcerting mix of relief and loss at the retreating touch.

Her thoughts are scattered as Caster bounds down the hallway, her strides eating up the ground between them until she comes to her feet before them, grinning at Kiara.

"Ah, a dancer!" The Third Beast of Humanity claps her hands together and tilts her head like an excited young lady at a festival. "My, Chaldea truly is open to all kinds. Master, you truly have put together a special collection of people."

Sanzang's boundless energy halts, and with heartfelt, almost passionate solemnity, she bows with her hands clasped together. "Namo Buddhaya," she intones, and her eyes hold a weight of wisdom and uncreated joy, like bubbles of light trailing up from a stone cast into deep water. The moment melts away as her puppy-like cheer surfaces once more, and she turns to Ritsuka, clasping her hands in her own. "Why didn't you tell me, Master! A nun, another nun is here!" They both stare at her, Sanzang up in her face, giddy and gleeful, while Kiara waits at a more appropriate distance, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.

Fujimaru Ritsuka, once the Last Master of Humanity, has spent more than two years here, in Antarctica where the wind always whistling and howling on the windows is drowned out by the even more constant chatter of humanity's greatest heroes (and some villains) in constant discussion, camaraderie, and, often enough, argument. She has mediated disputes between Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great, between Nero of Rome and Boudica of the Celtic Iceni, between Minamoto-no-Raikou and Shuten Douji, Atalante and Fergus--she has personally reached the heart of a god of Central America through words and actions, and negotiated peace with a vengeful spirit (she is kind of proud of it, too). Her ability to connect with other people, to read the room, is… really her only skill. It’s something she has faith in.

Her palms begin to sweat.

"...Right. Yeah, I guess I should... introduce you?" Sanzang nods at her. Kiara continues smiling.

"So, uh, this is Alter Ego, Sessyoin Kiara," Sanzang gives her a small wave, and Kiara tilts her head, smiling radiantly with closed eyes. "...And this is Caster, Xuanzang Sanzang."

"...Oh?" Kiara's expression does not change. She continues to smile, gentle and relaxed. But Rituska feels a chill down her spine, feels her heartbeat pick up its pace, and a strange pressure fill the room. "What a pleasure it is, to meet another woman who has taken the Bodhisattva Vow for the sake of all living beings.”

She makes eye contact with a passing staff member—Marcus—before he puts his head down and hustles quickly down the hall. Ritsuka’s not the only one who has had to develop a keen sense for tension.

You might think Sanzang would have that kind of intuition as well—or at least have learned to be a better judge of character, after being kidnapped by so many disguised demons. But, well, the Journey to the West wouldn’t have been quite as memorable a story that way.

She thinks of tendrils and eyes, splitting flesh and tangling outward from head, from chest, in a small room far below the ocean. Her skin crawls.

“And especially one so accomplished. I believe it is thanks to your efforts in your time that I was able to receive the Dharma in mind. She is motionless, just for a hair too long, looking Sanzang in the eyes. “Yes, I owe you a particular debt.”

“Kiara, uh. I think we have to keep going to make our appointment with the acting Director.”

“… A shame,” she says. “Truly.” She doesn’t shift her posture in the slightest.

"Awww, are you busy? Sorry for taking up your time! But we should totally have tea later! I think I would learn a lot from talking with a like-minded follower of the Buddha!"

Sanzang, please stop being so friendly, she thinks, just this once.

“If you want,” Kiara says, “perhaps it will happen. I think you will find my understanding of the Dharma to be quite unique.”

And Ritsuka takes that as her cue to grab her hand and pull her down the hallway, waving at Sanzang with a tight smile as they go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a little excerpt from the in-progress chapter 7 of Karuṇā.

[imma-write-stuff]

Crossover Headcanons: Dante Reacts to His Adopted Jotnar Kid Reader Helping Nero Fight Vergil With Their Shapeshifting Abilities (Some Vergil)

Author’s Note: I’ve been watching too much DMC and God Of War Playthroughs. I’m planning to play both of them soon I’m excited. This was inspired by Atreus and Angrboda. Love these two so much.

- I think Dante would’ve laugh his a$$ off watching you and Nero. Seeing you using different animal forms to screw with Vergil or at least distract him.

- Vergil would be like: Wtf?

- But at the same time he would be a bit worried about your safety. However you kept a safe distance and used different ideas to keep his brother on his toes. This would ease Dante a bit.

- After the fight is over and you return to human form to check on Dante. He would let you know he’s proud of you and Nero in his own way.

- I can imagine Vergil wondering what kind of being you are, you were clearly not human but not a demon or a devil. I think Dante would explain to his twin during their thing in the Underworld.

- Vergil is wondering how a Jotnar managed to come to this world and how of all of people you choose Dante to be your adopted dad. Dante reveals what you been through losing your family to Odin. How you managed to escape thanks your bio parents, meeting you and all the jazz.

- Vergil is curious, he read books about Norse Myths in the past. (He’s got questions,)

 - Dante will tease his brother how he try to shoo his kid while you were in bird form. Or you biting his ankles in mouse form. (Why does this image makes me laugh idk lol)

- Vergil: -_-

@lady-of-spades​

[polarisbibliotheque]

Vergil with his s/o using Yamato in a fight

Pairing: Vergil x Reader

Summary: Vergil had been training you on the art of yielding the power of Yamato. When one of his jobs alongside Dante and Nero went wrong, it was up to you to save the Sparda's - even if you weren't totally ready for it.

Author's notes: I just marathoned The Matrix and watched the 4th movie and, well... How can I put it into words... All the feelings I have were summed up by Trinity in the 4th movie and I am SCREAMING at how amazing she is and how much the power of love™️ is the thing that saves these two in ALL the movies (and everyone seemed to have missed the point that yeah, the movies are about a bunch of phylosophical things, but also love. My kind of story). So, here we are with Vergil, his ass-kicking s/o and the power of love™️ :D

*TRIGGER WARNING*: Vergil has a panic attack during one paragraph. It describes the feeling and I'm gonna keep it in purple in case you want to jump that part!

Vergil couldn’t precisely say when things got out of control.

He was effortlessly slaughtering another powerful demon when, suddenly, Nero appeared. He got used to fighting alongside Dante – it was something Vergil didn’t think he could enjoy but, secretly, he found it was better than doing things alone. But Nero…?

He wanted him out of the way.

The boy thought it was because his father didn’t like him – but Vergil knew that wasn’t true. With Nero around, he had a disadvantage. He got worried. It threw him off his focus – and that, for Vergil, could be lethal.

Of course, he was too proud to explain that to his own son. It was better if Nero believed he didn’t like him – that way, the kid would have a good reason to stay away. It weighted in Vergil’s heart, but he was already used to dealing with that kind of weight.

“Nero! Get out of here!” He didn’t want to be the kind of father who would always scold his son, but there he was.

“Why, huh? You’re that annoyed to have me around, ol’ man?” Nero had one of his sarcastic smiles plastered on his lips, already fed up with all that avoidance from his own father whenever they were hunting. “Guess what? No way to get rid of me now!”

“Of course. As foolish as your uncle.” Vergil muttered while using one of Yamato’s attacks to sever through multiple enemies, sparing both him and Nero.

That only made Nero angrier.

“Ei! This is between you two!” Dante hit another demon as if he was using a baseball bat, sending the creature flying in the skies never to be seen again. “Don’t drag me into this; you’re the one who needs to learn to deal with people!”

“Both of you need it!” Nero exploded in rage, using his anger to sucker punch a demon right in the face before it could even think about attacking them. “You two have issues, ya know?!”

“Ei, kiddo, I’ve been around longer than ‘Mr. Power’ here.” Dante didn’t even look at the demons, resting his sword on his shoulder and just shooting at the ones who dared to approach too much.

“It didn’t do you too good.” Vergil rolled his eyes, keeping demons at bay with long distance cuts from Yamato.

Nero laughed, agreeing with his dad. Something inside him wanted to kick himself for being nice to Vergil – but, as soon as he saw a slight smile on his father’s lips, Nero thought maybe his reaction wasn’t that bad.

“See?! It’s so much easier if we get along, you ass!” Yes, he wanted to sucker punch Vergil. And Dante. And whatever approached him at the moment.

Nico mentioned he might have anger management issues – and honestly, Nero just disagreed because it was Nico. But she probably was right.

“You need to learn to listen…”

Vergil stopped everything he was doing to stare at Nero – and he would drag the kid out of there if he needed to, but it was too late. The demon who sent all his minions to do its bidding appeared – crowned in the helmet of an Angelo Commander. One of the creatures who used to hold the ones like Vergil on a leash back when he fell on Hell.

“A son…?” The demon’s voice reverberated through the ground, making Vergil’s blood boil. It was the first time Nero saw such rage in his father’s cold eyes. “He will make a good addition to my army.”

“You will only try.” It was the last thing Vergil muttered before disappearing in a blur right in front of Nero and Dante. They exchanged looks while searching for the blue demon – but Vergil was already unleashing all his rage on the Angelo.

Dante immediately triggered to fly into battle. He could see how emotional Vergil was – and that was never good. Vergil losing his temper could only mean two things: either he would bring the whole city down in his rage or he wouldn’t be focused enough, falling right after that big burst of energy.

Dante considered both a disaster – he had to do his best to bring Vergil back to his cold and calculating state.

Nero jumped into battle right after his uncle – he didn’t need to be protected; he could do it himself. They were very aware Nero was stronger than both of those fools together and now they treated him like a child? He didn’t want to admit it was an instinct from both of them to protect family – after all, what did Nero and Vergil know about paternal instincts? – so he settled with them being dumb and belittling Nero’s power.

It was the most logical explanation after all.

That was why you couldn’t believe your eyes as you approached the fight. You were helping Trish and Lady with other demons, but, after finishing your job, you decided to check on them with the big guys. And that’s when you found Dante being held down by a bunch of demons, Vergil struggling against a good batch and the Angelo Commander trying to assimilate Nero as the boy fought viciously to survive.

It was when Nero heard his father being hit by a demon that his focus shifted. With that, the Angelo Commander managed to grab his opponent – Nero struggling as much as he could. Vergil screamed something no one could understand, because at that very moment, a swarm of demons launched themselves at him, knocking Yamato out of his hands.

That never happened before.

Nero watched in disbelief as his father was brought to his knees right in front of him – Vergil lost his beloved Yamato for trying to protect him. It downed on Nero that, after all, it was an instinct.

His dad was trying to save him.

“I waited long enough to have you in my ranks once more, son of Sparda.” The Angelo approached with big steps as Vergil kept being held on his knees, trying to make himself free. Dante screamed something, but with all the demons holding him face down on the ground, it was impossible to understand – he was trying, though, to reach his sword and save his brother and nephew.

Nero couldn’t understand what was going on. What did he mean by “once more”? No one ever told him what happened to Vergil. Did that mean his father was made into one of those mindless demons and managed to break himself free? Nero wasn’t aware of that but… Well. It was something to be respected. He couldn’t let Vergil fall again.

Specially not because of him.

“Hey, you ass, you already got me! Forgot it already?!” He tried to get the Angelo Commander’s attention, but it was to no use. The demon already summoned an Angelo helmet, ready to assimilate Vergil into his army.

Those silvery eyes were never as scared and angry as they were at that moment. Vergil had all his memories of his first “coronation” coming back like a punch on his stomach – he thought he would be sick. He couldn’t breathe. He wanted to break away, but his body was trembling, and he wasn’t able to fight. Vergil couldn’t feel his fingertips, nor his legs, and it looked like the world was slowly crumbling apart around him. His heart raced and it seemed like he would die – as if there wasn’t enough air in the world to help him fill his lungs. His eyes overflowed with anger and fear – and Nero was speechless.

He had never seen Vergil having a panic attack before. He thought Vergil wasn’t able to feel all that.

“Welcome back… Nelo Angelo.”

Dante and Nero struggled once more, screaming while trying to break themselves free. They had to save Vergil. They had to do something.

And, as the helmet was inches away from Vergil’s head, the Yamato stopped it from touching him.

“Round four, bitch.” You had a cocky smile on your lips, holding the blue and white hilt of the katana with pride, piercing through that hellish helmet, and breaking it in half.

“Y/n?!” Nero couldn’t believe his eyes. With a swift movement, you made the Angelo stumble back, the helmet breaking into a thousand little pieces. Vergil looked up at you with relief mixing with the despair in his rapid beating heart – if he didn’t know better, he would say you were an angel.

“You are not… The blood of Sparda.” The Angelo was honestly confused as you yielded Yamato to swiftly kill a bunch of demons in a matter of seconds, making his way towards him.

Focused. Powerful. Staring at your prey. Just like the Dark Slayer.

“No. But I do have the heart of one of them.” You raised your head with pride, getting into position with Yamato right by the side of your face. “And that is enough to yield his power.”

Running towards your enemy, the Angelo Commander did the same, finally letting Nero go. It wouldn’t be easy, of course: he was immediately surrounded by a swarm of bloodthirsty demons – Nero did his best to kill them as fast as he could to help you.

He thought you wouldn’t be able to tackle a demon that powerful – you were human, after all. You could get seriously hurt. And, even if Nero didn’t want to admit it, he couldn’t allow you to get hurt because of their foolishness.

You had been training, though. Night after night, you and Vergil got together so he could teach you how to use the Yamato. You weren’t ready to yield its whole power, but you knew a thing or two. And, if it meant saving Vergil from that doomed Angelo fate, you would do everything in your power.

The demon didn’t even know what happened. You hit it with a powerful combo, making it take a few steps back. You took your time to think and stare at the demon, figuring out your next move. It tried to hit you with its sword, but you managed to dodge every blow, not taking a single hit – if you did, you’d probably be dead, though. Sheathing the Yamato, you took it as an opportunity to block a few blows, using your own energy to help you.

Yielding the Yamato demanded a lot. You studied enough occultism to be powerful on arcane arts, but you had never seen anything like that before. You were always astounded by Vergil’s seemingly effortless use of his power – both his arcane and martial abilities at the same time – making it seem like it was the easiest thing in the world. You would be drained after that fight, but you wouldn’t allow any of them to fall.

“How…? How can a human…?” The Angelo was as astounded as Dante, Nero and Vergil watching you, the three of them trying to set themselves free from the ever-growing population of demons used to hold them down.

“Love. That’s how.” Those were the only words you would say, unsheathing the Yamato so quickly all the Angelo could see were the rapid slashes of a void cut engulfing it. Stepping as quickly as Vergil had taught you, the next combo used both the blade and the sheath to stun the demon – who fell to its knees.

“You… Cannot win.” The Angelo panted as you approached slowly, the same look of the Dark Slayer in your eyes. The demon could see it – and fear it. “You will all die.”

Taking a look around, you understood what it meant. His minions wouldn’t stop breaking down the Spardas and you, a mere human, could kill an Angelo Commander – but could you kill all those demons as well, before one of the Sparda’s fell?

Vergil could. But, in all your training sessions, you never managed to pull that off. He tried to train you, to teach you to hone your power, to focus and bring nothing but death to those pitiful demons around, but it was to no avail. You always ended up exhausted, never able to finish the attack.

You raised your head, taking a deep breath. Sheathing the Yamato, you tried to remember everything Vergil had ever taught you. It was time to calm down, to focus. Closing your eyes, you lowered in your legs, getting into the posture Vergil had corrected a thousand times.

Dante immediately realized what you wanted to do – and it could be your victory or your demise. You were human. Even if you had honed your skills up to that point, a judgement cut of that scale would probably kill you. Dante tried to reach to his sword in a desperate attempt to help you – his fingers brushing on the hilt, but never enough to grab it and break free from that mess.

Nero screamed your name, but you only ignored it. He tried to shoot his way to get to you, losing his Red Queen and Blue Rose in the process. Nero kept calling you, now trying to punch his way through those damn demons – but they were too much. He would never get to you in time.

Opening your eyes once more, the Angelo Commander could see in you the same determination he saw in Vergil himself before he fell on Hell. Holding tightly onto Yamato’s hilt, everyone felt as if a storm was approaching. Time seemed to bend, everything around being engulfed in a dark blue aura.

That was it. You always failed at that point. Risking a look to your lover by the Angelo’s side, you met Vergil’s silvery eyes – now filled with something so different than the motivation you were all so used to.

Vergil looked at you with a mix of hope, love and respect.

And that was all you needed – for the Dark Slayer only respected the power of a few beings in this world. And you were one of them.

“Yamato… Slay all.” You whispered to yourself, letting all that power be released.

You moved faster than the eyes could see. None of the Sparda’s, none of the demons and not even the Angelo Commander could watch your form as you killed every single damned soul that tried to take away your family. It was only when you appeared once more, your back facing the Angelo Commander as you kneeled on the floor and slowly sheathed the Yamato, that they understood what happened.

“How…?!” The Angelo Commander tried to ask again, but the blade was finally covered on its hilt. And, when it did, every demon gushed blood and fell on the floor – lifeless in their doomed existences.

You managed to get up and take a look around only to see Nero running towards you as Dante got himself away from the pile of demons it took to hold him down. As you tried to turn around to find your lover, you felt your world spinning violently while your legs simply couldn’t take your weight anymore, giving out as soon as you tried to move again.

Before you could hit the floor, though, Vergil managed to catch you. Your hands never left Yamato, holding tightly to their family heirloom.

On Vergil’s eyes, you could see nothing but pride.

“Y/n! Are you crazy, huh?! You could’ve died!” Nero quickly approached, almost breathless, as if he was competing with Dante who would arrive faster.

“Y/n might be dyin’ at this point. Verge?” Dante nudged his brother, who ran his fingers on your face, proudly watching you.

“Drained, not dying.” Vergil noted, raising your limp body from the ground on his arms. “It is normal after a perfect judgment cut.”

Dante and Nero just exchanged looks. Did it mean Vergil, when he first learnt it, spent his time trying to recover himself all alone, tossed on the ground until his body had enough strength to bring him to his feet again…?

They rather not think too much about that.

“We should see Kyrie. She’ll know what to do.” Nero concluded, a little less exasperated.

“Yeah. You call Nico to grab us here, kid?” And Dante decided to take the lead for a while. It seemed like Vergil’s attention would be all yours for a while.

“Well, we need to find a phone in this hellhole.” Nero sighed as they started walking towards what was left of civilization in that town, being slowly followed by Vergil’s silent steps.

As you were left alone, Vergil looked into your eyes – a faint, proud smile hidden in his lips.

“Love…?” It was the only thing he would ask, for he knew you would understand.

The Dark Slayer never thought love would be the source of your power – he could have never imagined it was what you needed to tap into to pull that off. But it was exactly what he saw in your eyes before you commanded Yamato to slay all.

“Love.” You agreed with a calm smile coloring your lips, as you closed your eyes to allow yourself to rest. “Sometimes… It’s more powerful than rage.”

No one was paying enough attention to see Vergil smiling at those words. You were right, indeed – love was more powerful than rage.

And now, he knew.

[untilmynextstory]

Little Boo | Sons of Anarchy | One-Shot AU i. F&MU ii. Change Your Life

Jax knows realistically there are a lot of negatives to his lifestyle in the eyes of his neighbors and the United States government. He recognizes that the life he lives meant if he was lucky he would get to spend his old age behind iron bars rather than a pine box. 

Someone shouldn't have to keep in mind that they have to always be vigilant on what can keep them alive for the day to keep him alive for tomorrow. 

He knows it is fucked up. Yet, it's his life. A life that he has grown up in. This is part of his legacy. This is his father's kingdom - legacy. And he is proud of it. He loves his club and his brothers. 

Yet, what most people don't realize is that sometimes the business can be boring as shit, or worse they get stuck cleaning up someone else's mess to smooth alliance on the streets. 

Fortunately, the club had found themselves in a cozy comfortable spot of being Switzerland between the Niners, Mayans, and even the Triads. Yet, Jax knows that even sometimes that is uneasy and Tig makes his stance vocally clear that they were simply being everybody's bitches. 

Yet, Jax would take being errand boys and cleaning men over another Bloody '92. However, nothing could have prepared him for the day he had. 

The cordial alliance when the Mayans had only happened due to Mya in a way. She had loose connections with the Mayans as her dad did business with them as he was a co-founder of the Byz Latz that he ran with his cousin, Nero. 

Due to some territory problems, Renaldo, a member of the Byz Latz, had reached out to Mya to see if she could arrange a deal for some guns. Not only did that piss off Jax, but it apparently pissed off Nero, who she viewed as an Uncle. 

Jax had met Nero a couple of times. He knew Mya viewed him as a father figure. Yet, there was always some distance due to her grandmother not approving of the gang lifestyle and Nero respected that. 

In those few small meetings, Jax had come to admire Nero. He was an OG. He gave Jax a different perspective on things when it came to the streets and what it means to be a man. Jax loved and admired Clay. However, he could admit there was a coldness in his stepfather. With Nero, he had no problem showing and accepting the intense emotions life brought. 

And as much as Jax didn't want to make the deal with the Byz Latz, he couldn't regret it as he took point and got closer to Nero. With that business relationship, it was able to expand and he and Nero had come to an agreement to expand Nero's escort service, Diosa.  

Yet it wasn't all roses. Clay had been a tough sale as he hated that they even became partners with Luann for Cara Cara. Then there was the issue in the beginning when a disgruntled father of a girl, who showed up demanding money, ended up smacking the girl when she refused. Unfortunately, that had also been the day his mom had been visiting to get a feel of the place and tried to intervene and the bastard hit her too. 

Clay had not been happy with that and a thorough beat down was given. 

Then after that was settled, Rat Boy had decided to sample what Diosa had to offer despite dating Brooke, who wasn't even mentally stable and got caught. 

A fight broke out between her and a visiting girl, Emma Jean, and soon after the cops raided and Nero lost his lease to the original location. 

As a request on Nero's behalf, he wanted them to find the girl before his crew did. They believed that she had ratted. Thankfully they did find the girl first and a chase had ensued with him dropping his bike with the girl on the back. 

Somehow he had been able to convince Renaldo and Fiasco that they could handle it except they made the bizarre request of asking for her fucking thumb and tit. 

So he had to ask Skeeter for that odd fucking request and have him desecrate some poor woman's body.  

The kicker of it all, it wasn’t the girl who ratted, but the disgruntled father. 

Errand boys were what they were. 

Today, thankfully, was a little bit easier. It was a simple protection run for Unser, but it kept him away from home so he knew Mya was going to be pissed. 

It was already 10 pm and judging from the lack of lights no one was up. Yes, Mya was pissed. 

Jax parks his bike in the driveway. He doesn't bother with opening the garage door as he doesn't want to risk waking anyone up. He unlocks the front door and enters the home as quietly as he can. He locks the door and proceeds to slip his shoes off. He hangs up his kutte and hoodie before going into the kitchen to grab some water. 

He smirks as he sees a glass cup on the counter with a sticky note telling him that there is a plate for him in the toaster oven. He turns the dial on and walks over to the fridge and pours some water. 

He takes a big gulp of his drink and turns to go back to the toaster oven.

"BOO!"

"Jesus Christ." Jax jumps before his body freezes. He looks down at the small figure standing in front of him covered in a white sheet with holes cut out for the eyes.  

"I'm a ghost, Daddy!"

Jax doesn't know whether to frown, laugh, or be mad as he looks down at his three-year-old daughter. 

Leticia Ria Teller was a wrecking ball of energy since she came into the world. Jax didn't really know love until he held his baby girl into his arms. It scares him sometimes how much love he has for his girls and he prays he comes home every day to them. 

Jax takes the sheet off his daughter. He is rewarded with a bright smile that shows all her baby teeth. She is dressed in her pajamas of a black SAMCRO shirt and satin zebra sleep shorts with a matching headscarf protecting her curls. If there is one thing his little girl is going to do is to have all her outfits matching even down to her underwear and painted nails. 

She looks so much like her mother it pains him thinking of his little girl getting older. 

"What are you doing out of bed?" He asks. Her bedtime was typically 7:30 pm.  

"I heard your bike, Daddy," she answers simply. She moves closer to him and she does the universal signal of wanting to be picked up as she extends her hands. 

Jax knows he shouldn't as Mya has been on him that it's going to be an issue in a few months. Yet, Jax can't deny his princess of anything. 

As he picks his girl up, he is rewarded with a kiss and a hug. "I missed you, Daddy."

"I missed you too, Letty," he tells her softly and places a kiss on her head. Letty smiles and he is rewarded in seeing her two dimples. "Still you shouldn't be out of bed."

Letty pouts slightly. "But I didn't get to see you all day!"

"I know. I'm sorry, baby."

"How come I can't come to work with you instead of Mommy?"

Jax hides his wince. He doesn't mind Letty coming to the shop. He loves it and it's always fun seeing Letty imitate his mother doing paperwork. However, since this new deal with the Byz Latz was fresh he didn't want his daughter on the lot in case something happened. He couldn't help his paranoia even though it was messing up his daughter's routine. 

Letty had started Daycare part-time. She would go two full days and rotate every other Friday. On the days she didn't go she would spend time with Mya at her shop or at Teller-Morrow. However, he had asked his mom if she would just take Letty out for the day for a few hours especially if he was not on the lot like today.  

"Did you not have fun with Grandma today?" He asks as the toaster oven dinged. He grabs a potholder as he gets his food. He opens the tin foil to find homemade Mac n cheese with some fried chicken and he's not surprised to see some garlic bread. Mya has been craving that lately. 

"We went shopping! Grandma gots some new shoes. She also brought me some hair clips that are flowers! We also got a cool Halloween costume! Daddy, you're still going tricks or treating, right!"

Whereas Mya was obsessed with Christmas, their little girl was obsessed with all things Halloween this year. He didn’t even know how a three-year-old could become obsessed with a holiday, but all things witches, vampires, ghosts, and any other scary little creature his little girl liked. He blamed it on some corrupt soul at the daycare, which Mya only rolled her eyes at. 

“And what’s your Halloween costume?” He asked. He doubted it was going to be the little peacock costume when she was a baby and last year she dressed up as Frida Khalo. 

“It’s a surprise, Daddy. And I got two costumes. One for school and one for trick or treating. Mama told Grandma what to get so we are all matching!”

Jax’s eyebrows fly to his hairline. “Matching?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Letty says exhaustingly. Jax moves them to the table and he smiles as Letty grabs a napkin for him. 

It’s quiet as Jax works on eating his dinner with his free hand as his daughter plays with the rings on his other hand. He practically inhales his dinner as he knows that his daughter shouldn’t really be up this late as she is going to be cranky. Though he treasures these small moments the most. 

“Oh, Daddy, you got a package today. Ollie dropped it off. I don’t think Mommy liked it. She scrunched her nose when she looked at it.” Letty points toward the side door, which leads to their garage and he knew whatever it meant she didn't want Letty to snoop to see. 

Jax frowns. “Okay, let’s get you to bed.”

Letty gives him a frown of her own and he knows she is going to give protest, which he nips in the bud. “Come on, you don’t want to be tired for trick or treating. You know Mommy and I are letting you stay up late with your cousins.”

Letty sighs but doesn’t object as she jumps down from his lap. He leaves his plate on the table as he walks up the stairs to Letty’s bedroom. Her room is an emerald green color, which she requested a couple of months ago. She jumps on her bed and gets under the covers of her floral duvet. He tucks her in snug causing her to giggle. He bends down and kisses her forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

Jax smiles and gives her another kiss before he leaves the room. He makes his way back to the kitchen and cleans his dishes before going into the garage. He finds a box on his workbench taped. He opens the box to see a small red cooler. 

He opens the cooler and sighs as he looks at the thumb and tit that the Byz Latz requested. Jax runs a hand down his face before closing the box. It doesn’t take a genius to know why Mya is pissed. He makes his way back into the house to go to the master bedroom. 

Is he surprised to find Mya up, no? He knows that Letty wouldn’t be moving along the house freely without Mya knowing. Mya, with her hair wrapped in a scarf and one of his oversized shirts, is up on their bed with her small portable drafting table. 

“Hey,” he greets. 

“How was the run?”

“Easy. No issues,” he tells her as he begins to remove his clothing. “You didn’t have to stay up.”

“You think I stayed up for you? I knew Letty wouldn’t go to sleep until you came home. Might as well work on a sketch,” she tells him as she powers down her tablet and looks at him fully. 

Jax shakes his head as he walks over to Mya’s side of the bed. He leans down and places a kiss on her lips. She doesn’t deny him as she returns it. 

“How was your day?” He asks as he moves her drafting table to the side and sits on the edge of the bed. 

Mya leans back against her pillows. “Jax.”

Jax sighs. “I didn’t know it would get brought to the house.”

Mya had made it very clear that their house wouldn’t be a breeding house for club business. As much as Mya was a supportive old lady, she had boundaries. She didn’t want club business on their front steps. She wasn’t like his mother where they would use his mother’s dining room table to discuss tactics. This was their home for their family - daughter. He respected that boundary as there are days when he needs to leave club shit at the club and not bring it home. 

“So that makes it all better?”

“We didn’t kill anybody,” Jax replies. “Just…” Jax trails off as he doesn’t want to really be discussing this. 

“Just what?” Mya presses. Her brown eyes lock with his blue ones. 

Jax runs a hand down his face before he grabs her free hand. “That worker at Nero’s place, Emma Jean, Renaldo and Fiasco wanted that as proof we handled it.”

Mya scrunches her nose. “That’s fucking disturbing, Jax.”

“Exactly why I didn’t want to say anything.”

Mya rolls her eyes. “This doesn’t work when you tell me things that you think I don’t want to hear.”

Jax huffs. He moves his hand from hers and then places it on her abdomen. 

“Don’t use this as an excuse.”

“How you feeling?” Jax asks as he knows this conversation is going to get him nowhere good. 

At his question, it seems all the fight leaves her. Her hand covers his, “Okay. Letty wants to paint my belly as the baby needs a Halloween costume.”

Jax snorts as he runs his thumb back and forth on her slowly expanding stomach. She was 17 weeks pregnant and at their next doctor appointment hopefully, they would be finding out if they were going to have another daughter or a son. “She said we had matching Halloween costumes.”

Mya laughs, “Oh yeah. I’m not telling you. It’s going to be a complete surprise.”

Jax smiles and places a kiss on her lips. “I’m going to get ready for bed. I know we’re going to be in for a busy day.”

. . . 

Charming Tots wasn’t the first option Mya wanted to send her daughter to for daycare. One, she thinks the name was stupid. When she says it, it reminds her of tater tots. Two, it is expensive as shit. However, out of all the childcare centers, it is the one that had the best curriculum. 

As much as she is grateful that Gemma has no problem being free childcare, her little girl needs to socialize with other kids and not the adults at Teller Morrow and her tattoo shop. 

However, as much as Gemma had warned her about the uppity mothers, she still wasn’t prepared for how they would actually act. Mya knows she stands out in Charming from her tattoos, outfits, and her skin. She knows as much as the women in the town put on the front of hating the club and being disgusted by Jax, they wouldn’t hesitate to sleep with him. 

She does not look forward to the mommy politics of Letty’s school years. It doesn’t help that her little girl is a social butterfly and even if parents weren’t scared of Gemma shoving a cappuccino up their asses, Letty is friends with them anyways. There were a lot of playdates in Letty’s calendar that she and Gemma rotated with. 

However, she thinks she prefers the small superficial playdates over the seasonal festivities the daycare throws. It’s one thing to be subjected to the parents of her daughter's class. It’s a whole other thing to be subjected to the looks and whispers of the whole facility. 

Mya is standing off to the side as she watches Letty, dressed up as the Grim Reaper, with Jax tossing some rings on a display of pumpkins. She had to hold back the laughter she felt once the other parents realized what her daughter decided to go as. The Reaper was inspired by the club’s insignia. Jax had laughed when he saw it. It was a bit of twisted humor, but his daughter was in this intense obsession with all things Halloween. 

Mya laughs to herself as she notices one of the teachers approach Jax and Letty. She can tell her daughter is instantly annoyed by the interruption to the game and her time with her daddy. Letty is the epitome of a daddy’s girl that she knows once the baby is born it is going to be an issue. 

She watches as Letty’s nose scrunches up and cocks her hips and places her fists on her hips. It’s a perfect imitation of Gemma. 

“They have no shame, do they?”

Mya turns and finds herself looking into the eyes of a pretty young blonde. The woman looks familiar, but can’t place her. 

“I’m Lyla. I have a son in the preschool class, Piper.”

“Mya.”

“Jax Teller’s old lady,” Lyla adds. 

“Is that all I’m known for?” Mya remarks a bit bitterly. 

Lyla’s face goes red. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean -”

“You’re fine,” Mya says a bit dismissively. Despite the years of being with Jax, all her accomplishments were ignored as it seems her status with Jax took precedent. 

“No, I mean,” Lyla closes her mouth before taking a deep breath. “I just moved to town. I work for Luann. I’ve seen you in passing at the clubhouse. I’m sorry -”

Mya softens. “You’re okay. Welcome to Charming. How long have you been here?”

“Only a couple of months.”

“Just you and your son?”

Lyla nods. “Once the Brandy Bunches found out they were real welcoming.”

Mya snorts. It seemed with the presence of the club, the town wanted to push for those family values of a happy family meant marriage, the family dog, the minimum of two kids, and the white picket fence.  “Yeah, as much as I love this school, the gossip is a bit ridiculous.”

“Mama, look what I won!”

Mya looks down to find her daughter holding a stuffed Ghost plushie. 

“I’m going to name her Meg!” Letty announces in her excitement as she hands over the stuffed toy. “Oh, Mama, can I go paint some pumpkins!”

Mya is barely able to nod her head and get a word in edgewise when Letty takes off and joins her friends. Mya looks back to see where Jax is still standing with that teacher talking to him. 

Mya isn’t blind to the fact Jax is a beautiful man. She doesn’t mind that people look. It’s just the blatant disrespect people have for her relationship with Jax. The fact they can openly flirt with him at a school function with their daughter in view. 

“Excuse me, Lyla.”

Mya makes her way down to the ringtoss where Jax is still standing with his arms folded talking to the teacher. “Is everything okay?”

The teacher, Ms. Miller, jumps and gives a burst of nervous laughter. “Oh, Mya, I was just telling Jax how smart Letty is. She has an amazing vocabulary for a three-year-old. She is a joy to have here.”

Mya eyes the teacher and what is a conservative white sundress with a pair of gladiator sandals. Ms. Miller is the Group Supervisor of the Pre-K kids. Occasionally, Ms. Miller would be a teacher in Letty’s class occasionally. Ms. Miller always had nice things to say about Letty to Jax. Every time Mya picks up and Ms. Miller happens to be in the room instead of greeting her, the woman asks about Jax. 

It’s petty bullshit that she can’t stand. 

Mya gives a strained smile that Jax can see through as he throws her a wink. Asshole.

Jax clears his throat and moves over to Mya and throws an arm around her shoulder. “It was nice talking to you, Ms. Miller.”

Mya lets herself be led away. She can’t help the frown on her face. 

“You okay?” Jax asks. 

“What did the ever perky Ms. Miller have to say?”

“The usual.”

“Hmmm.”

“You know she came to a clubhouse party. One of her friends is a croweater.”

“What! Why in the hell didn’t you tell me that!” Mya growls. 

“Honestly, forgot about it,” Jax tells her truthfully. He doesn’t pay much attention to the ever-changing girls at the clubhouse. Besides, these days he was at home with his girls to take stock in who were becoming regulars, or if they were on the lot not during a clubhouse party.  “I don’t really pay attention to those girls, My, you know that.”

Mya elbows him in the gut causing him to let out a pained oomph. “You shouldn’t entertain her bullshit anyways.”

“Well she is our daughter’s teacher, babe, I can’t really ignore her,” Jax says diplomatically. 

Mya rolls her eyes. 

“I saw you talking to Lyla.”

Mya scowls. “Jesus, when did you become mister fucking social butterflies with all the moms.”

“Apparently carrying a kid on my shoulders makes me a baby magnet,” Jax tells her with a waggle of his eyebrow.

“Are you trying to sleep on the couch tonight?”

Jax laughs as he places a kiss on her head and they join their daughter at the pumpkin painting table. 

. . . 

Jax isn’t sure how it was only him that had a matching costume with Letty. He is also confused about how he was Georgie in a yellow raincoat with the red balloon and his daughter was Pennywise. Mya had tortured him and his daughter both with plenty of pictures. Then they all met Opie, Donna, and the kids for their round of trick or treating. 

It was nice seeing Opie and Donna managing to be in the same room after a particularly nasty divorce. 

Of course, as expected, his little firecracker of a daughter had expunged all her energy fairly quickly. She refused to take a nap after the festival. Mya and Jax had chuckled quietly as they watched Letty's energy wane and she turned sluggish. Jax had picked her up and taken her to a couple of houses before she had dozed off completely. 

Letty slept like a rock as they worked to remove most of the Pennywise makeup and costume. They tucked her in before they made the trek back to the living room. 

Jax smirks as he eyes Mya rummaging through Letty's candy on the couch. 

"Stealing our daughter’s candy, eh?"

Mya rolls her eyes. "I'm checking it."

"Sure."

A Reese hitting him in the forehead is the response. Mya giggles as she takes a Kit Kat. 

Jax opens the package and stuffs it in his mouth. He waits until Mya is down eating her piece of candy before he pounces gently as Mya is pregnant.

"Jax!"

Jax laughs as he traps her in his arms and blows a raspberry in her neck. Mya tries to wiggle out of his arms with no success. She huffs annoyed, but she melts into him with her back to his front. 

Jax smirks. He places a soft kiss on her neck as penance and his hand trails down and gently cups the small swell of her belly. 

She is going to give him another child. He would have been happy with just Letty, but he had been ecstatic when Mya had said she wouldn't mind another baby or two.

"She's growing up so fast, Jax."

"I know," he says. It seems it all went by in a blink of an eye from Mya telling him she was pregnant to him holding his daughter. Now, she was three and had him wrapped around her fingers just as much as Mya did. 

"You think she's going to be okay with the baby."

Jax frowns as he knows Mya has been worried about Letty's reaction. They told Letty that there would be a baby coming, but they both didn’t know if she understood what that meant. 

He knows Letty is territorial and possessive. He knows any child getting a sibling struggles with the adjustment. 

However, he knows his daughter. Despite her little bossy nature that will have him sprouting gray hair, she will be just as territorial and possessive of her sibling. 

"She's going to be fine, babe. She'll probably like having someone to boss around."

"Yeah, I wonder where she gets that from."

"Gemma," Jax replies and is rewarded with a laugh from Mya. 

Mya wiggles and he loosens his hold as she turns to face him. 

"Will you be upset if it's not a boy?"

Jax frowns as he looks into her dark brown eyes. "All I want is a safe and healthy delivery for you and the kid."

"Jax…"

"What?"

"Unless you change club bylaws, you can't pass the club down to Letty."

Jax doesn't like where this is headed. He is also worried about who is pushing that shit in her ears. He can only guess who it is.

"Babe, you, Letty, and this and any future baby, are more important than anything. I love my club, but I love you and the children more. The club isn't my legacy. The club isn't my dad's legacy. The kids are. So this shit about needing an heir to the throne or whatever is bullshit."

"You mean that?"

"Of course, I do. Nothing comes before this family - before you."

Mya gives him a watery smile as she leans forward and presses a kiss on his lips. Jax smiles into the kiss and nips at her bottom lip to gain access. She allows him in easily as he switches their position and slides between her legs. 

He's mindful of his weight as the kiss becomes deeper. Mya’s legs come up and wrap around him. 

He pulls back once the need for air becomes too much. Mya’s eyes are hazy with lust and her lips are fuller. He loves her so much it scares him sometimes. 

"I love you."

She rewards him with a soft, gentle smile. "I know, but I want you to show me."

A lecherous grin spreads across his face as he knows that she's it for him. The ring he has been holding onto for far too long deserves to be placed on her finger. 

He has waited long enough. 

[limitlessgojo]

Blood Bound: Red Strings of Fate (Ch 7)

Warnings: Action, Coarse Language, Fighting, Descriptions of Blood

Previous Chapter: Speed of Sound

Next Chapter: Red Strings of Fate

Tags: Soulmates AU, Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Fem!Reader

Taglist: @lessie-oxj @rizzo-nero @whoreuc @fkngkumiko @isl3t @gojoussunglasses @onepotatostand-blog @s-t-f-u-b-i-t-c-h @sunaswife

Notes: If you want to be tagged for every update, please mention it in the comments below ty <3

Double Update today, because these two chapters go hand in hand. It didn't feel right to upload one without the other.

Chapter 7: Bird of Flame

You faced Todo off in a clearing. Everyone else was at the far side watching. “Just run away if it gets too much.” You worriedly said to Miwa and Mai pushing them back.

“It’s okay, I’ll hold off any attacks.” Noritoshi assured you. You beamed up at him, “Thanks senpai.”

“Someone’s being awfully friendly today.” Momo half coughed and half murmured out. Noritoshi just gave her the side eye.

As per your style of fighting, you stayed still if you did not know of your opponent’s cursed technique.

“I won’t immobilise you this time since we are sparring.” You called out to Todo. “Fine with me!”

You could hold out your protective space warping around you for several hours. You just had to make sure it was activated in the space around you.

Todo didn’t hesitate to start off with punches and kicks. Nothing moved you of course. 5 minutes passed with him getting nowhere. Is that all he has?

You narrowed your eyes, but lifted a hand to push him back into a tree. You manipulated its branches such that they were all pointing to him. He was about to hit them until he clapped his hands and suddenly, you were there.

Your eyes widened, barely having time to brace yourself as you guarded for impact. You hit the branches hard. “Shit.” Looks like you might have to use your extended techniques against him.

He was in front of you in a split second and you quickly moved to dodge. You tried to maneuver your way around him, but it was hard to pinpoint the exact origin of the hits as he kept swapping your positions before landing a hit.

Sometimes, when you brace for a hit, he doesn’t swap your positions. How annoying!!! Of course your spacial barrier is still active and taking the hits for you, but it does have its limits.

Moving at mach speed in a short distant range won’t help you too much as it’s better for transport rather than combat.

You breathed out low and slow, before channeling your concentration into your 6th sense. Spatial awareness. Faster and faster, you started bracing for his hits and pushing him back.

And when he was unprepared you lashed out with your hidden twin blade only for him to dodge it. You can’t deny that the 2nd year's have more experience than you in battle. And Todo's specialty is obviously close combat.

You had both blades out now quickly slashing at him dangerously. He avoids it and the slashes cut all the way to the trees behind him.

You gave in, sheathing your blades and turning around to recuperate but he was faster as he finally caught you by the arm. “I got you!”

You grinned. Who got who?

With one hand, you straightened 4 fingers out towards Todo and folded your thumb into your palm. “Extension cursed technique, focus range: Niflheim”. Your applied cursed technique slows down the movement of molecules in an enclosed area, forcing items to freeze.

A layer of ice covered Todo’s entire body. The branches that binded around him were also covered with ice, stretching behind him in an ice pillar.

You quickly released your hand from his hold and slowly breathed to the sky, releasing an icy smokey breath. You turned around with a slow smile. “Checkmate”

He struggled against the ice but, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. That is way under 0 degrees celsius. You might lose a limb or 2 Todo senpai.”

He sighed, “I g-g-guh-give!” He could barely utter the words as his teeth chattered. You gently focused on raising the temperature, melting the ice off of Todo first. You couldn’t do it too fast or else he would combust.

As soon as he was free you reached out and applied your reversed cursed technique on him, healing the cold in his body. “Thank you so much for the match! It’s been a while since I felt that much fun in battle!” You excitedly said.

“Good game. As expected of my little sister, you’re very strong.” Todo patted your head. You stared, “Excuse me, whose little sister??”

“You should have buried him y/n!” Momo exclaimed. “Hear hear.” Mai chanted. Mechamaru just said, “I almost got buried by her once. She should have done the same with him.” You just laughed, “It’s okay, I’m satisfied with this.”

You turned to Noritoshi and he walked up to you and Todo went back. At this distance, the others couldn’t hear your conversation. “That was incredible.” He had a very proud smile on his face. “I hope you take our fight seriously as well. That’s all I ask of you.” He whispered.

“Of course I will senpai. But like with Todo senpai, I won’t use immobilisation techniques so we can spar properly okay?”

“Okay” he patted your shoulder and gave it a small squeeze before moving backwards. ‘Kamo clan, blood manipulation. They can manipulate their blood freely.’ you thought to yourself.

Your eyes zeroed in on his bow and arrows. The smell of blood was always on him, but you bet he had blood on those arrows. “Begin!”

He launched arrows at you only for you to stop them. Projectiles were the worst thing he could do. You frowned as you turned the arrows on him and sent them back. He dodged and shot more.

What on earth? This was so ineffective against yo-

He suddenly came from the side and punched you. Diversionary tactics dummy, you didn’t think about it.

You got pushed back from the force but stood your ground. He was insanely fast for a human. He is currently faster than Todo and any of the male cousins whom you’ve fought with.

It was a jarring experience. “Flowing Red Scale” He moved backwards, one eye wide open with a red blood x mark on it.

Your brain went into overdrive in a hurry to connect the dots while you defended against him. Blood. Red blood cells. Oxygen. He’s increasing his physical abilities.

You quickly lashed out with a double kick only for him to bring out a blood bag. “Blood manipulation: Crimson binding”. Blood strands wrapped around you and caged you in.

But you froze them and easily broke it in the process. You hurried to try and bring him down with mixed martial arts, not wanting to hurt him too much.

Sparring with him actually felt like a dance. You dodged and had an instinct as to where the next move would come from, and he was the same. Barely any hits landed on each other for a while.

Ah right, you promised to go hard on him. You put two hands out in a V shape, with palms facing him. Noritoshi’s eyes widened at the familiar hand signs. It’s the very first one you showed him.

“Tatsumaki” A huge horizontal cyclone hit him and forced him back. “Enhanced Gravity: Output level 4%”

“Aarghhh” Noritoshi groaned as he was forced to the ground. You didn’t notice his hands moving.

“Convergence! Piercing blood” a sudden fast stream of blood shot out and grazed your cheek. It would have been worse had you not moved your head aside. Noritoshi’s eyes widened as blood poured from the wound.

You quickly made tree branches hold his hands apart and forced him back onto the ground. You pointed both your twin blades at his head. “I give!”

You released your technique and knelt down. “Are you oka-”

“Are you okay? I hit your face!” He exclaimed in worry, hand hovering just over your cheek. You stared at him in amusement. “It’s a serious matter!!” he insisted.

You covered your face with one hand, then wiped off the blood to reveal a flawless cheek. He gaped, “Reverse cursed technique. I see. Good fight” He wheezed out.

"You actually hit through my defenses in battle. That was amazing Noritoshi senpai." You whispered in amazement. There was something different about the blood he manipulated.

His bond to it was far stronger than your hold over his blood. So if you tried manipulating his blood, it's a low chance that you could get it to attack him.

You can manipulate anything and everything, even at molecular levels to some extent. But you can't produce what's not there. There seems to be a limit to your manipulation over certain items.

"I still lost. Thank you for the match." He said.

You held his hand for the first time as you pulled him up, when suddenly a searing pain hit the inside of your wrist.

"Ouch!" You exclaimed while Noritoshi winced as well. You both pulled back your sleeves to see a large bird surrounded by flames just below the inner wrist on your right hand. Noritoshi had the exact same symbol, but it was in the inner wrist on his left hand.

You quickly pulled over both your sleeves to cover the markings, “Just say we both got wounds, let’s keep this a secret.” You pulled back and acted on purpose, “Good fight. You almost got me there.”

He naturally followed your lead, but there was a brightness to his eyes that told of something else. “.... Yeah you got me. I’ll do my best to catch up to you next time we spar.”

“What happened?” Utahime ran towards the both of you upon seeing you both flinch forward. “No, Utahime sensei we just got some scrapes that stung badly, nothing too bad.”

“I see. I have a first aid kit on hand, feel free to use it if you need to.” She said, and pushed you two back to where everyone else was.

You both stayed at the back watching the other students ask to spar with each other. Noritoshi quietly tugged at your sleeve, hidden from view with his own large and wide sleeves.

You tugged back twice on his sleeve and grabbed his hand to squeeze it. His hands were rough and calloused from fighting, but also had a tenderness and warmth from the way they tried to hold onto yours.

Both your marks flashed with heat when your hands touched. Noritoshi turned to you with all the world's curiosity in his face.

But you pulled back and put some distance between the two of you so it wouldn't look too obvious. "That binding technique that you did earlier was cool. Is it possible for you to manipulate the blood even after I freeze it solid?" You asked to try and divert the attention.

"Actually I haven't tried yet. But I should be able to as the main composition is still my blood." He admitted.

The remaining time left on the field was spent mostly on the others working on their cursed techniques against each other, and with you engaging in tactical discussion with the other students.

You all bid each other goodbye and went your separate ways. Except… Noritoshi mouthed "library" after he waved you off.

You lifted your eyebrows silently in agreement and walked back with the rest of the 1st year's.

Blood Bound: Table of Contents

[megashadowdragon]

comments on reddit

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"Master, Master!" the tension is broken by the boisterous cry of the loudest monk Ritsuka has ever known. Kiara's hand surreptitiously drops from the small of her back, and Chaldea's Master feels a strange mix of relief and, disturbingly, loss, at the retreating touch.

Her thoughts are scattered as Caster bounds down the hallway, her strides eating up the ground between them until she comes to her feet before them, grinning at Kiara.

"Ah, a dancer!" The Third Beast of Humanity claps her hands together, like an excited young lady at a charming spectacle. "My, Chaldea truly is open to all kinds. Master, you truly have put together a special collection of people."

Sanzang's boundless energy halts, and with heartfelt, almost passionate solemnity, she bows with her hands clasped together. "Namo Buddhaya," she intones, and her eyes hold a weight of wisdom and uncreated joy, like bubbles of light trailing up from a stone cast into deep water. The moment melts away as her puppy-like joy surfaces once more, and she turns to Ritsuka, clasping her hands in her own. "Why didn't you tell me, Master! A nun, another nun is here!" They both stare at her, Sanzang up in her face, giddy and gleeful, while Kiara waits at a more appropriate distance, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.

Fujimaru Ritsuka, once the Last Master of Humanity, has spent more than two years here, in Antarctica where the wind always whistling and howling on the windows is drowned out by the even more constant chatter of humanity's greatest heroes (and some villains) in constant discussion, camaraderie, and, often enough, argument. She has mediated disputes between Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great, between Nero of Rome and Boudica of the Celtic Iceni, between Minamoto-no-Raikou and Shuten Douji, Atalante and Fergus--she has personally reached the heart of a god of Central America through words and actions, and negotiated peace with a vengeful spirit. If she were a proud woman, or indeed a person with healthy self-esteem, she might recognize that these feats of diplomacy place her among the heroes that surround her in the annals of human achievement. Between her inborn talents for recognizing the feelings of others, and her copious personal experience, she has an almost prenatural ability to read situations.

Her palms begin to sweat.

"...Right. Yeah, I guess I should... introduce you?" Sanzang nods at her. Kiara continues smiling.

"So, uh, this is Alter Ego, Sessyoin Kiara," Sanzang gives her a small wave, and Kiara tilts her head, smiling radiantly with closed eyes. "...And this is Caster, Xuanzang Sanzang."

"...Oh?" Kiara's expression does not change. She continues to smile, gentle and relaxed. But Rituska feels a chill down her spine, feels her heartbeat pick up its pace, and a strange pressure fill the room. "What a pleasure it is, to meet another woman who has taken the Bodhisattva Vow for the sake of all living beings. Master, shall we go?"

"Awww, are you busy? Sorry for taking up your time! But we should totally have tea later! I think I would learn a lot from talking with a like-minded follower of the Buddha!"

"Like-minded, hmm? I wouldn't say that."

-

[honeydew-mel0n]

Idk if you like take requests but i just wanted a quick little thing on how Nero would react to being called dead weight (even jokingly) by his S/O, even better if S/O is like near Dante level Devil Hunter. ❤️

Hi, oh my god I now love you. I didnt know how I felt about taking requests, but I guess I'm open now. I hope this is good enough, sorry if its not!

Nero being called "Deadweight" by his Stronger S/O

• Even if you're just joking and no matter how good of a hunter you are, his reaction is completely dependent on how many times you say it.

• The first time you say it, you'll just get an eye roll, maybe a "whatever." A joke is a joke, and he's a big boy. He can take it. He also knows you don't mean it.

• After initially being referred to as dead weight by his uncle, then dwelling on it for weeks. He did, eventually, get over it.

• Actually, he'll probably tease you back. Whatever sickeningly sweet, embarrassing nickname he calls you at home will now be your name for the next few hours or days. Depending on how he feels.

• If you are to say it repeatedly, he will start getting annoyed. It might not cause huge fights, but it will spark arguments.

• It's not that he feels insecure, it's just a very unpleasant reminder.

• Depending on how long you've been together, he will have no problem asking you to stop. You'll eventually sit down together, and have a conversation about it.

• Now on the other hand, if it's not a joke. If you two are working and something triggers you to call him deadweight, especially to his face, he will lash out eventually.

• Whatever you two were just occupied with is now shoved into the back seat.

• This isn't like when Dante called him that, he didnt get to resolve that immediately. This, he will try to.

• It'll honestly feel like someone threw a fucking brick at his chest. And this is where the insecurities come in.

• He knows that, compared to you and his uncle, he's relatively weak. He looks like a fucking damsel in destress next to you two.

• You being as good as you are doesn't bother him normally, in fact, he's so fucking proud to be your boyfriend. He loves watching you kick ass.

• But after this, he actually starts to wonder if you look down on him because of it.

• The fight you have over it is intense, and a lot of things that weren't ment, will be said. Be prepared.

"God damn it Nero, stay out of the way! You're just deadweight!"

You'd been trying to fight off this queen for way too long now, but having to dodge stray bullets from blue rose was the biggest fucking distraction. Shooting at it wasnt doing anything. You appreciate the help, really, but after some time it just gets annoying.

The blade from your weapon of choice slices through the things neck, the head lopping completely off as its body spirts blood and wriggles as it shrivels up. You smooth down your hair that's been clotted by blood and look over at Nero. His eyes are distant and he's almost completely frozen in place, still trying to process what had just left your mouth.

You get close to him, waving your hand in front of his face. "Hello? Baby? Earth to Nero." He jerks back to reality, taking a single step back, a hurt look floods his face. "Really?" He says, frustration obvious in his voice. "What? C'mon, I cant just leave you here. We have to keep moving, were supposed to meet Dante at the bridge in an hour." You turn to try and walk out of the building.

"Nah, I think I'll stay behind, leave it to you two." You stop, turning back around. "That'll make it easier, since I'm such deadweight. Right?" Your shoulders slump with a sigh, getting ready to grab the back of his shirt and pull him with you, like scuffing a cat. "Nero, that's not what I-" "then what did you mean?" Your eyes bounce around, looking for anything to prevent a fight.

"Look, I fucked up. I was annoyed and in the heat of the moment I said something that I didnt-" There's a scoff from your boyfriend as he puts blue rose back in it's holster. "Really? Because that's all you and Dante treat me like. I'm always fucking up and weighing you two down." Dante called him that once, and when he got back from hell, apologized.... Somewhat. You've only ever said it once before to poke fun at both of them.

"This is the only the second time I've called you that. I'm sorry if I upset you then and now." "Its not about just saying it. You two always leave me behind, always telling me I cant handle shit." Okay, now you're staring to get riled up too. Shit. "Yeah, have you ever thought that there are just somethings you wont be able to handle? And what If i just let you go? So I can loose you too?" He takes a deep breath, obviously more upset then you are.

"If I'm so weak, why are you with me. Huh? Why dont you just go..." he waves his arm, trying to come up with something. "...fuck Dante or something." You visibly cringe in disgust. Sure, Dante is easy on the eyes but he's around 20+ years your senior. And you aren't half of twitter, you will not be sexualizing the senior citizen. "Because I love you, Nero. And i'm not Vergil, I have never said that you're weak. You aren't!"

He scoffs again, turning away. Guess you're just too funny to him. He starts mumbling to himself, you can't quite catch everything he's saying but one thing slips out. "...shouldn't have left Kyrie for you..." Immediately your entire body feels like it's been set on fire, you choke down a sob and settle yourself.

He doesnt actually mean that, you know he doesn't. Your hands clench into fists, nails digging into your palms to the point you can feel blood. "You know what? Fine. If you want to stay behind, then by all means, go right ahead. You can handle everything down here without me, you're a big boy. I'll just head to meet Dante early." Finally, finally, you leave.

You keep yourself from crying, you're bigger then that.

Both of you know the other didnt mean the hurtful things that had been said, and you will end up making up back at home. But for now, just keeping your distance.

[mooshs-crack-headcanons]

Hello if the request is still open. Could I get headcanons that if dante has a daughter how would she get along with dante, vergil and nero (post dmc5)? Thanks!

Hello! Just a heads up for the future! This was a very different type of request for me to write and next time I get a request like this in the future I'm not going to accept it! But I really hope you liked this one anyway!

Well, it's kind of a given that either way that she's going to be one; be a devil hybrid and going with the tread I'd say that she would hold the family trait silver hair, and two; have Sparda's blood through her veins which in turn makes her a dignified badass. 

I would say that most likely that her mother would be a human making her a quarter demon just like Nero, and for the sake of this request I'm going to have her age be around Nero's. 

His daughter would most likely work at the office, since you know 'family business' and all and would work on phone duty while her father's out on jobs and take in small jobs on her own just to try and keep the electric and water from getting shit off (dad just has a talent for not paying bills after all) 

I'd say despite being the overgrown man child Dante is, he'd be a good dad. He's fun and super easy to hang around, but he can get awkward as hell when certain topics come up; ex dating/love advice, and if his s/o, Lady, or Trish is around he'll most likely push it off on them to deal with. 

He does go on quite a few jobs that last him over a few days quite often, so I can see him taking her to Fredi's out to eat and have some quality father-daughter time. He also likes to take her on jobs (that he knows for a fact aren't world saving) with him and hunting together is another bonding exercise. 

All of the awkward bad dad jokes. All of them. 

He likes telling her stories about her grandmother and all of her teachings she taught him and Vergil, because he knows she would've been proud of the fine woman his daughters become like he knows he is. 

Dante has told his daughter quite a few stories about Vergil over the years, nothing too specific in his death or ever mentioning his corruption at Mallet Island, but enough for her to know that her uncle was a stubborn asshole who lost himself in lust for power. So when it came time to meet him after he and her father returned from hell was...weird. She knew that her father and him were twins but seeing it in person was off putting, even if a normal person couldn't tell by just glancing at them, she can tell that even if one has clearly aged more than the other that they're still if fact identical deep down. 

Vergil deep down feels really guilty after every he'd down up to the ending of 5 and he's made an attempt (keyword: attempt) to get a connection going with his family again, he made amends with his brother (though still sharing the rivalry) and is trying to get into his son's life, so of course he's going to try his best to at least get to know his niece but given this is Vergil and communication isn't exactly his strongest suit so it's going to take quite some time. 

Vergil himself originally thought as V that Nero was Dante's son, so seeing his daughter for the first time isn't that shocking to him. What is shocking to him is how...nice she treats him. With her being Dante's spawn he would've expected her to be more - how would he put it? More like Dante's spawn? (Vergil please stop calling children spawn) But no, she's more calm and collective and even brings up a conversation about Blake's work with him from time to time and it completely baffles him to no end but deep down he really appreciates it.

Like most things, Vergil finds hunting to be where he feels his best so it's no surprise that in his 'connection attempts' that he goes on jobs with his niece. Going on jobs with Vergil is very different then going on jobs with Dante, she quickly comes to realize. On jobs with her father, they'd tend to stick together as a team and he'd show off all of his stylish skills just to show her that: "Her old man still got it." Vergil on the other hand tends to like going on jobs alone, and even the first few times when he has 'agreed' to let his niece tag along at first he always keeps his distance to do his own thing but he doesn't travel far enough so that he can still see what she's doing, she has the blood of Sparda after all so she should be able to impress him. But after they've bonding for a bit Vergil doesn't travel off as far, far enough so that both of them have their own proper battle space but close to where if need be he can quickly trick over if the chance if she is about to have a fatal call with a demon and he can come to her rescue. But from what he's learned about his niece is that she's learned what Dante has taught her by heart and is very skillful at what she does so instead they can have friendly banter with one another during these missions. Vergil is very proud of his niece. 

Even though the thought confused the ever loving hell out of him that the old man somehow, Nero and Dante's daughter were friends before they found out they were cousins, they knew they were somehow related with Sanctus' confirmation to Nero during 4 but they never knew how far it went. At that time no one but Dante knew, and Lady would joke about Nero just being a kid that Dante forgot about or something but of course with Dante being Dante he chilled it out saying if he had another kid he would know about it and saying nothing about it further. 

Nero would hang around the shop for a good while after the events of 4, still feeling lost and confused about how his whole life was a lie with the Order and wanting to get stronger with his inner demon to protect the most important person left in his life at that point; Kyrie. Speaking of which, Kyrie would also tag along to the shop feeling confused and lost as the brainwashing of the Order slowly would fade away as she grieved for her brother's life. I'd say this is where Dante's daughter would pitch in and try to help out the both of them the best that she can whether it be by training for hours with Nero or being a big emotional support and a shoulder to cry on first Kyrie, which all earns Nero's respect. 

Because of that respect, during 5 she actually spent the whole game in Fortuna with Kyrie and the kids. Deep down she was so upset and angry at herself that her father's somewhere lost in that fucking tree Redgrave after seeing his defeat first hand when she went with Nero (who at the time she was visiting after Kyrie called her about Nero's lost arm) and that 'mysterious bastard' V. For the whole month she spent beating herself up over it, she knew her father wasn't dead; he defeated three demon overlords in his lifetime! Three! But seeing him actually fall to an enemy...terrified her. She'd wished to go back to Redgrave the agreed time but Nero asked her to watch Kyrie and the kids in his place and she just...couldn't refuse. 

Nero's easy to make flustered and embarrassed and it's hilarious if you just make simple jokes about how dorky he gets around Kyrie like how he does that scratch/rubbing at his nose thing with a big dumbass grin on his face. Both Dante's daughter and Nico both enjoy flustering the shit out of him, and because of that Nico and her are good friends (and once she leaves Nico makes it very clear to Nero that his cousin is hot, which again gets Nero's goat) 

Nero and Vergil of course still have a very rocky relationship even after 5 (which again understandable when your parent yanks off your arm and all) so since him and his cousin have a good relationship, he tends to go to her for advice, after all she's had her entire life with her dad and he's only had a dad for the last few months tops. 

Either way this family might be hella dysfunctional, but I'd say she'd wouldn't rather have it any other way. 

If you like what you read please consider reblogging! It means the world for writers and artists!

[lostsonofsparda]

@crows-dance​ || [x]

Vergil paused for a moment as he tried to recall certain moments of his past, shifting through memories that he would rather forget. Then, a smile appeared on his lips, following his son’s gaze toward the distance.

“Your mother... She was the kindest person I ever met,” he finally managed to reply. “In a way, she reminded me of my own mother - compassionate and always loving unconditionally. She always sought out the good in people... Some would consider it a weakness, but for her, it was her greatest strength.”

He gently placed a hand on Nero’s shoulder. “You have her fighting spirit, that much I am certain. She would be so proud of you...”

[space-helen]

Depart

Words: 380

Pairing: Chekov x Reader

A/N: First Chekov x Reader so I hope I’ve written him well enough!

Request: Since you asked, can we possibly get a cute imagine of being the proud older sibling of AOS Chekov and wishing him luck on his first assignment please? <3 - @humaninventorysystem​

_____________________

Families hugged their loved ones and there were plenty of tears flowing around you. You walked towards the shuttle with your brother. The two of you stopped a short distance away. “Well I guess this is goodbye for now.”

“It would seem that way.” You turned to look at your little brother Pavel. This was technically his first official assignment on a ship. You both knew that his journey to fight Nero after the distress call counted as an assignment but this one was different, you both knew he was leaving and that he’d be gone for a while.

Pavel turned to look at you, his eyes looking into yours, he could see that you were trying to hide your emotions but he was doing the exact same. “Y/N I’m going to miss you.”

You nudged him “C’mon it’s not like you haven’t done this before.” you could feel the sadness bubbling within you.

“You are correct but I’ll still miss you.” 

You quickly wrapped the man into your arms and held him close, a tear trickling down your cheek as you did “I love you.”

“I love you too.” he pulled away and smiled before turning to leave.

“Pavel wait.” you rummaged through your bag and produced a small flat wrapped package before holding it out to him.

He stepped back towards you and took the gift before hurling himself at you and wrapping you in his arms. He pushed back the tears the best he could but there was a pain in his throat from the sadness. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m settled.”

You nodded as he pulled away, wiping your tears from your cheeks. “Alright. Now get on that shuttle before I cry even more and make a scene.” 

He kissed you on the cheek before nodding to himself as he walked away, taking deep steadying breaths as he did. 

The shuttlepod was cramped but he quickly found a seat. Remembering the gift you’d given him he swiftly unwrapped it to reveal a photo frame of the two of you. His façade was broken and his walls crumbled tears rolling down his face and his nose running. He pressed the frame to his chest as the shuttle took off to his new home. 

Tag List: (open)

AOS and Disco: @spaskaalekha @wallows-spring​ 

All Star Trek: @morganofthecoves1​ @sophiasescape​ @livenerdyandprosper​ @allthetrek​ @deeppandanerdbatty​

[headoverjojo]

A story on Ghiaccio first joining La Squadra after getting his stand? You can make it any tone you want as long as it's not as sad as the last Prosciutto and Pesci death post

Hello hello, darling!! Thank you for your ask :3 I liked so much to write this scenario!! And HHHNNN that scenario’s still haunting me nvdjvnsd- anyway, here we go! I hope you’ll like it :3

Ghiaccio joins the Squadra after obtaining his stand

(Under the cut for length!)

Ghiaccio hated his nickname, or “code name”, as his new leader, Risotto Nero -oh c’mon, what kind of ridiculous code name was that?! What were they, a team of assassins or a freaking menu?!- had defined it. One of his new teammates, a gangly young man with too many ponytails, seeing his fiery temperament had ironically called him “ghiaccio” and, from that moment on, he never managed to shrug it off his back. And now he was Ghiaccio. What the hell.

Well, seeing his stand -he still couldn’t believe that things like stands existed for real; was that the real life or were they in a comic book?- he had to admit that “Ghiaccio” was a code name that suited it pretty well. Ghiaccio had always been fast, way faster than his peers, than his opponents, both in his daily life and during ice skating competitions; he had always loved ice and cold, it was his element. So, he had been really satisfied to see that his stand reflected both these characteristics; his White Album, as he had called his stand -and it seemed that calling the stand after a music reference was an unspoken rule- allowed him to skate fast, faster than anything he had ever done, and it froze everything around him. It made him feel invulnerable and invincible. He liked it a lot.

He grumbled, trying to tame his wild azure curls. Well, one of the side effects of awakening a stand was that, apparently, sometimes it changed the user’s appearance. It had happened to Risotto, and now to him too; his hair, once a light brown, now was light blue, like a serene sky. While he didn’t dislike light blue, he disliked it on his hair; it made him seem a damn freak… he sighed, resigning to put on a hat, and he did his best to hide every curl. At least no one would have turned around or laughed of him… he wasn’t sure he could guarantee his cool, in that case.

Following the directions Risotto had given him few days before, Ghiaccio managed to find the right way without asking for directions, not even once. He was pretty proud of himself; he wasn’t from Neapolis, and the city was big and chaotic, yet he had managed to do it all alone. Not bad for a nineteen years old boy. He looked around, to be sure he hadn’t been followed, and lightly knocked to the slightly chapped wooden door. It really didn’t seem the hideout of an élite team…

After few seconds, the door was opened, and Ghiaccio faced a young man, no more than a teenager, with blonde hair and an annoyed look on his face. The boy stared at him for a couple of moments, before huffing a little.

“So you’re the new one… come in. Meet the others.” he invited, closing the door the moment he was inside. Ghiaccio blinked, still used to the outside light. It was so dark inside… however, after a little, his eyes finally got used to it, and he started to see the hideout. His new home, basically, since his parents had kicked him out. At least they had had the decency to wait for his eighteenth birthday to do it.

He was in a dark hallway and, at the end of it, he saw a dim light. He marched toward it, noticing that the boy that had opened the door was in that room, and he finally made his entrance. The room, which had at its centre a small coffee table surrounded by two couches and a couple of armchairs, was filled with people. His new teammates, Ghiaccio thought, feeling a new wave of anxiety rising in his chest. He had never been good at approaching new people…

“It’s him?” a boy who would have been not so older than him, with short red hair, tilted his head, staring at him. Ghiaccio instinctively frowned, resisting the urgence to press even more down the hat on his curls. He didn’t like that smug face…

“Him has a name. Ghiaccio.” he replied, staring at him. The redhead coughed on his water, surprised, and another one, who seemed older than the others, laughed soundly at Ghiaccio’s reply.

“The rookie’s got iron guts! I like that.” he said, making Ghiaccio feel proud, for the first time since he had stepped in that safehouse. The other man who was sitting on his knees -oh, so people in the team could have relationships with each other? It was good- nodded, while the other brought a blonde curl behind his ear, taking advantage of it to brush his fingertips on his jaw.

“He indeed has guts. Risotto, you’ve chosen well.” he said, in a quiet voice, nodding at the leader, who closed his eyes for a second, acknowledging the older man’s compliment. Ghiaccio’s eyes jumped from the couple to Risotto for a couple of times; so, Risotto had been -maybe was still?- the two’s pupil…

“Ghiaccio, don’t stay there! Come sit with us!” Ghiaccio arched an eyebrow, laying his eyes on the only member he still hadn’t checked: a young man with an asymmetric haircut and an eyepatch on his right eye. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the circumstances that had led him to eventually lose his eye.

Ghiaccio nodded a little, finally moving from his spot and sat on the couch, at a polite distance from the boy with the eyepatch. The silence grew, a little uncomfortable, and Ghiaccio just wanted to bury himself forever. He hated that kind of situations so much…

“Er… oh, I’ve not introduced myself! I’m known as Melone.” Ghiaccio looked for a second at the hand that Eyepatch was holding out and shook it, nodding at him.

“It’s a pleasure.” he mumbled, crossing his arms. Melone didn’t seem to be bothered by his lack of manners, and proceeded with the presentations.

“The one you’ve wrecked before is Formaggio; Risotto, our leader, you already know him; Prosciutto, he trains the rookies, do not anger him -don’t look at me like that, Prosciutto-; uhm, I think you’ve already known Illuso…” Ghiaccio’s eye twitched at hearing Illuso’s name and Melone, wisely, didn’t said anything more about him.

“Then they’re Sorbetto and Gelato! They’re the elders, here, so don’t talk shit to them.” the lightly feral smiles that bent the two’s lips made Ghiaccio shiver. Ok… maybe he won’t have tried to fight with them. Maybe.

Risotto remained silent, looking at the first interactions between the new member and the others. He hid a small, amused smile when Melone snatched his hat, revealing the azure curls, and listened quietly to the colorful curses that were flowing from the boy’s mouth. He indeed had a fire in his heart…

And he was glad he had it. He would have needed it, in their world, in order to survive.

He was sure that Ghiaccio would have been a proud and valid member for his team. He had no doubts about that.

But, for now, he would have let him and the others enjoy that unusual day off. They were boys, after all.

They all were.

[etlunainmorte]

“As she comes to the city, hollow hands empty,

Eyes open to what lies in wait for her,”

She does not weep nor wail,

In her eyes, home has always been burning.”

***

🌙 To You Who Rejected Me 🌙

***

II

***

"Now, where could that thing be?" Griffon mused to himself as he flew high above the shores of Delphi, looking for that vital something that his master lost when he dived into the ocean to escape those fire - wielding Elves attacking him. The demonic bird has been searching for almost an hour but, with no such luck. "Honestly, it could turn up just about anywhere!" He complained in utter frustration. "This is hopeless!" 

The bird was about to give up on his search when he noticed something gleaming at the corner of his eye. He looked down and squinted those golden eyes of his until he finally saw the thing. Indeed, it was right there, washed up on the shore and almost covered with sand and sea weeds.

There it was, V's antique metal cane!

"There ya are!" Griffon flew down to fetch the thing, at the same time shooing the sea gulls that were trying to claim it as their own like it was some kind of a rare sea artifact, almost fighting over it. "HEY, I SAID, SHOO!" The familiar screeched once more as he let out a weak electrical current to scare the noisy birds away, and it worked to perfection.

"Hoho! Thought I'd never see ya again!" Griffon opened his talons wide, ready to pick up V's cane,...

"What in the - ?!" The bird muttered the moment his talons came into contact with the metal cane. It felt somehow hot, and not just warm. He was not sure whether his eyes were playing tricks on him but, the thing did seem to glow. And finally, the metal cane seemed to tremble a bit against his talons, like it was alive. Sentient.

Still hovering above the sand with V's metal cane in his talons, the demonic bird squinted his eyes in suspicion. Master and familiar alike knew that the cane was nothing but an old piece of metal, and not a source of any kind of power, demonic or not. An aid for V's,... disability. Nothing more.

However, despite that, Griffon could feel something coming from the cane. Like it was emanating some form of unknown power. He just knew it deep within his core.

But, being unimaginably tired after what happened last night, Griffon ignored the cane, ruffled his feathers, and flew back to where Dante and his master were.

"I'm heckin’ tired." Griffon uttered as his wings took him to his destination - the ruins of Apollo's temple. "I'll let Shakespeare deal with ya."

"Your foot seem fine to me, V." Dante said for the third time since morning. 

"I could've sworn I felt this,... excruciating pain when I was attacked,... "

"Well, your foot seem,... fine to me!" And that was the fourth time since morning. "Look, V: you're a son of Sparda. Maybe the Demon blood's finally kickin' in and healed your wounds?"

And to this, V only shook his head. It's impossible for him, after all.

No matter how much or how intense Dante stared at his brother's allegedly injured left foot, he just couldn't find anything wrong with it, save for the missing pair of the poet's old gladiator sandals, and the frayed, almost tattered end of his pants, like something burned it. If anything, to Dante's eyes, V only seemed to have lost the other pair of his unspeakably tacky footwear. And a good riddance to it, if he may add! To the legendary Devil Hunter, it seemed so difficult to move and fight Demons with such footwear. And he would never deny that fact, despite knowing that he could hurt his brother's feelings for having such a questionable taste in fashion.

On the other hand, to V, it was an entirely different story. For, only last night, he swore his foot got burned badly due to the attack. So badly and so painful, he was actually scared to look at it.

And now, as he looked, no, stared, at his foot with disbelief, he couldn't help but feel utterly mystified. First, there was this strange presence that saved him from the enemies, and now this.

It's as if nothing happened to his foot, at all!

And honestly? V could not believe his sheer, dumb luck.

Or, was it even luck?

After all, since those Elves, and her, entered their lives, V and his brother experienced nothing but the unusual. The unknown. And he felt that he must learn to accept such things. Get used to them, so to speak.

V pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes and knitting his eyebrows as a helpless sigh escaped his parched lips. Well, there's no use raking up the past. They must focus on the present. They must focus on the now. And for now, they must focus on getting to the Elven world in one piece. The portal led them to Delphi of all places, and V knew it meant something. They were getting really close to their destination. And he knew they would face an even greater danger when they get there. Well, it's not like the Elves would give them a warm welcome or anything. They're still wanted persons, after all.

Opening his eyes once more, he noticed Griffon flying towards them, finally carrying his lost metal cane. He gave a weak smile as the loyal familiar gave the cane back to him and landed on his waiting arm.

Then, V noticed something strange. So did Dante.

"No wisecracks or something?" Dante asked the demonic bird as he crossed his arms and tapped his boot on the ground.

"You do seem a bit quiet." V added, raising his eyebrow as he looked at his familiar.

"Ahh, V," Griffon stuttered, unsure how to begin. " ... didn't ya notice anythin',... weird?"

"Pardon?" The poet asked as Griffon's eyes wandered to the metal cane in his right hand.

"That thing!" The demonic bird squawked.

"Ugh, now what - ?" Dante began when a woman approached them, getting their attention and making them drop their conversation, much to Griffon's frustration.

"Can we help you, lady?" With a flashy grin, the younger brother graciously asked the woman, who was smiling nervously as her eyes went back and forth from him, to V, to the strange avian on the poet's arm.

"I, ahh,... " The lady stuttered, not sure how to address the situation.

"Yes?" And Dante didn't seem to help with the situation, at all. The woman became somewhat more nervous than before she approached them.

Inhaling through her nose and clearing her throat, she began. “Yes, well," She said, pointing at Griffon with a trembling finger.  “The other guests are getting anxious of your,… ahh,… pet bird."

"Is that so?" Dante answered with a boisterous voice. "Don't you worry a thing about our pet bird! You see, he's a rare - "

“I see. Don’t worry.”

All of a sudden, V heard a clear and distinct voice, overlapping with the woman and his brother's voices.

“These are my loyal,… companions. They would bring no harm to any of the innocent people here. That,…”

V's hands went up to his temples as he tried to distinguish and trace where the voice was actually coming from, when the voice itself took over his hearing, drowning out the other voices, and all the other noises going on around him.

“I can assure you.”

The lady let out a helpless laugh, then nodded. “Okay. Whatever you say.” She hastily moved away from Dante to give herself a safe distance from him and Griffon and clumsily pointed at the breathtaking horizon. “Well, now, enjoy your stay here at Delphi!”

The woman, being proud of herself for handling the difficult situation, walked away with a huge smile on her face. And Dante, being a huge flirt, started following the woman.

However, when his brother stepped away, V noticed something taking his place where he stood.

V's eyes narrowed for a second for what he saw. He closed his eyes, rubbed the tiredness and fatigue off them, and opened them once more. However, despite that, the strange figure was still there.

V saw,... himself.

And he, the other him, was drinking in the beautiful sight of Delphi's ruins around him.

“So, V,…” He heard Griffon ask all of a sudden. “Are we going to look for that thing there?”

"I'm sorry - ?" V turned to his left to look at Griffon but, the demonic bird was nowhere to be found.

“Not this time.” V turned towards his other self at the sound of his voice and noticed Griffon, himself, flying towards him. “For now, I need to take a rest and reflect upon our journey, so far.”

V almost fell off the old bench he was sitting on.

That voice,...

... it really was him.

But,... how?!

“The Yamato really does wonders, huh?” the Griffon who was with the other V said, then chuckled, ruffling his own feathers in delight with tiny shakes. “Who knew it would go directly to you and not to that kid Nero?”

"The Yamato?" His other self whispered as V followed him and his familiar on their way towards the ruins of Apollo's temple. What has the Yamato got to do with all this?

“For one thing, I’ am the rightful owner of the Yamato, not the boy Nero.” The other V answered as he skipped some rocks along the pathway that led to the ruins of the temple. “I think it was fitting that it answered to me. But, as grateful as I’ am that it was returned to me,” he said, stopping at what looked like the remains of an altar. “I must not abuse my fragile body by using it over and over to transport us. You see,” He began tracing the remains with the tip of his cane. “It consumes way too much of my,… demonic power. I must be wary of that fact.”

Of course, V thought as he observed what the other V was doing. I don't have,... that much demonic power.

“Aha, so that’s why we had to hitch that stinkin’ bus ride with that awful bitch! Didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut!” And the other Griffon sounded less rude, either.

“Now, be nice to our little human.” V reprimanded the demonic bird. “We will ’hitch’ on the same vehicle on the way back.”

“Ugh! Not again,…”

V watched in amusement how this other Griffon threw tantrums. However, his other self drew V's attention back. He was looking at the altar with an unreadable expression, tracing the edges of the marble altar with his cane.

Then, all of a sudden, he started reciting the few lines of a poem that was very dear to him. It was,...

“As she comes to the city, hollow hands empty,

Eyes open to what lies in wait for her,”

His mother's favorite poem,...

V closed his eyes and recited the old poem along with his other self.

“She does not weep nor wail,

In her eyes, home has always been burning.”

His eyes closed, his senses surrendered to the vision before him, he allowed nostalgia to take over his entire being. Of his mother reading this same poem to him, of her tales about a Princess named Cassandra who was gifted by the God Apollo with the curse of predicting the future,...

... of this hidden gateway of Delphi where she went to after being rejected and stoned by her own people,...

V opened his eyes, feeling something pulling him back from his reverie to the present, like a powerful force.

It was then when he was greeted by the sight of a morphing demonic entity right before his other self, who he assumed was one of his familiars.

He watched in awe as the familiar morphed into multiple pulsing dark vines that filled the entire altar. Him and his other self took a step back as roses of all shapes and sizes sprouted from the dark vines, and when his other self pulled something from the largest rose, his eyes grew wide with shock.

It was the Yamato, only it was glowing in a very unusual way.

V wanted to listen more, to know more, to watch what happens next but, the vision itself began getting blurry as their voices became more and more warped, like a disrupted signal of an old television. The vision, and the voices, warped and warped, until only a distorted and blurry version was left. And before the vision entirely vanished, V saw his other self raising the sword,...

... and slicing the air before him, creating a portal that led him somewhere,...

"V!" He heard Dante's voice from afar, like he was being called by him from the other end of a long tunnel. "V!" He felt a strong hand go down on his shoulder, making him turn around. "What are you doing? I was looking all over for you!"

The poet could barely believe what just happened. He was back, and he felt like he just woke up from a very long dream.

"I, ahh,... " V stuttered, turning back to the altar and seeing nothing there.

"Hey, V," Griffon, who just landed on his waiting arm, asked. " ... are you okay?"

"The gateway,... " The poet uttered, the vision he saw still crystal clear on his mind.

"What gateway?" Dante questioned.

"There's a gateway here." V reiterated as he walked closer towards the altar where his other self vanished. "It was opened using the Yamato."

"How did you know that?" With a raised eyebrow, Dante asked in confusion. "And besides, even if that's true, we can't really use the Yamato. I mean, it's with its owner on the other side of the globe right now."

"We can't rely on Vergil this time, I know." V answered as thoughts and ideas ran through his head like an unstoppable drill. "But, what if the gate,... was left open? What if it was never closed?"

Dante's mouth fell open at the possibility. Only a slight drawback made him close it again and shake his head in disapproval. "But, I see no gate here! All I see in this place are rocks and statues and ruins and tourists everywhere."

V turned to Griffon, who drew back at the intensity in his master's facial features. "Do it."

"Do what?" The familiar questioned.

"Distract the people while I look for the portal."

"How could I do that?! How am I - ?!"

"Alright! I'll do it!" Dante offered, turning away from them and walking away from the altar as he began singing something. And it's working. The tourists, especially the ladies, started listening to him and flocking before him. "I'm lying alone with my head on the phone, thinking of you 'till it hurts,... "

V grabbed this opportunity to look for the portal. He can't be wrong, the vision can't be wrong! They must get to the Elven world and he would do whatever it takes to get there.

He will do whatever it takes to get to her and fix this huge mess that was messing with their lives,...

It was then when he noticed something small and gleaming right before him. He reached out a single finger to touch it, and lo and behold, the small gleam made a tiny ripple that reflected so many bright colors. Like a prism. Another touch of his finger produced a huge ripple, revealing its true nature in all its entirety. Indeed, it was a gate. In the form of a curtain that was seemingly made of glass that reflected light like numerous precious gems.

"Whoa! That looks so unreal!" Griffon, who watched the entire thing with curious eyes, said in awe. "How did you know all this, V?!"

"I'll explain later." The poet answered. "For now, we should press on."

"I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you - " Dante sang with much gusto, wowing his audience, when he suddenly heard a familiar whistle. He stopped singing and turned around to see V beckoning for him to come join him and Griffon. The Devil Hunter turned back to his audience, made an incredibly believable shocked expression, and pointed at the sky. "Thunderstorm! Incoming thunderstorm! Run and hide for your lives!"

The people instantly believed him, scrambling and running all over the place to shield themselves from Dante's imaginary thunderstorm. The younger brother took this opportunity to join V.

"How in the world - ?!" Dante began questioning at the sight of the translucent gateway but, he was cut short as Griffon went behind him and started pushing him towards the gate.

"I'll explain later! We must hurry!" V ordered, then went through the curtain, looking as if he just vanished into thin air.

"Let's get goin', lover boy!" Griffon squawked, grabbing onto Dante's shoulders with his talons.

"I swear I need to go to therapy after all this." The Devil Hunter said as he, too, went through the curtain and vanished.

***

🌙 Finally! And this one took longer than expected. Enjoy!😁😁😁❤❤❤ 🌙

🌙 Thank you so much to these lovelies, @dreaming-gamer , @la-vita and @thottyonmainsquid .❤❤❤ 🌙

***

A few moments later, Dante arrived at the other side. But, his path was blocked by V, himself, who was standing still, his back turned away from him.

"You alright there, V?" Dante asked as he scratched his temple in confusion. "Aren't we - ?"

"Yes, we are." V cut him off, raising his metal cane and using it to point at something before the two of them. "We have finally arrived."

The younger brother followed V's line of sight, and what he saw before him simply took his breath away.

"Holy mama - !" Dante breathed in awe at the marvelous sight.

***

🌙

***

[leviathan-dee]

DMC Week 2020: Day 6: You Belong Here

(Here’s another small wholesome piece. I really wish we had more interactions with the entire crew in DMC, but the community provides enough to sate that need for wholesomeness). (All prompts were used for day 6). (Alcohol mention, and one use of a curse word lmao).

Family was never a word that Dante had to use too often in his vocabulary. Decades of separation and neglect seemed to stretch, until he finally found where he belonged; in this drunken celebration with his slightly dysfunctional family.

Word Count: 1,755

Characters: Dante, Vergil, Nero, Kyrie, Trish, Lady, Nico

Read On AO3

The scorching July sun seemed to boil every living being which dared step foot outside, merciless rays beating down upon the Earth. Whoever escaped the confines of their four walls were bound to become crispy at the sheer thought of the sun. There were, however, some fools who tempted fate, and proceeded to have an entire barbeque outside.

The Spardas, alongside the Devil May Cry crew, were said fools.

Of course, no one could deny Kyrie, the kindest, most gentle creature to ever grace the planet, a day outside. Especially during a celebration. Especially on a pregnant Kyrie’s birthday.

It was July tenth, the weather being arid and overly vacant of any breezes. This only made the heat far more excruciating. Kyrie didn’t seem to feel the blazes, her skin absorbing the rays to form a honeyed tan which complimented the amber glimmer in her eyes. Whereas Nero, unfortunately, panted like a rabid dog. His skin seemed to turn scarlet at the mere thought of summer. Evidently, the situation turned even worse for the boy since he had to man the barbeque, grilling burgers, as well as sausages, meanwhile being inevitably covered in helix coils of smoke. His beloved watched him apologetically, whilst he continued to sweat up a storm, beckoning the children to pick up their mouthwatering meals.

Dante sat beside an orchard, the apple trees being a godsend for shade in his time of need. Although the Sparda twin could withstand blazing temperatures, it was only for a short period of time; Not an entire day. Brushing his white, sweat-soaked locks away from his brow, Dante grabbed the neck of the beer bottle, letting the bubbles gently glide down his throat. He basked in the sensation for what seemed a whole eternity, whilst the sound of bickering and giggling children filled his ears. It was blissful, to say the least. To feel like he belonged. To have family.

He had hoped Verge felt the same about this reunion.

Thinking about his twin brother, Dante turned to the blue devil, noting that Vergil’s usual scowl was wiped clean off of his visage. Instead, his face was soft, bereft of any tension. He seemed… happy. Relaxed. It was refreshing to see. Albeit his quiet nature, the elder twin continued to lift the corners of his lips, reacting to the children, as well as Nico’s vulgar comments and Kyrie’s deathly glares at the gunsmith. Trish and Lady were the other pair to cause a ruckus, making Vergil smirk anytime they were told off by Nero for using non-family friendly language at the dinner table.

“Aww shit, we’re out of ketchup.” As a slightly intoxicated Lady let the curse word slip, she squeezed the condiment bottle harder, making it spurt out a less-than elegant bowel movement noise, and a pathetic dollop of tomato sauce. The children fell into hysterics, Nero and Kyrie unsure of whether to reprimand the woman, or giggle alongside the kids.

Dante continued to watch the spectacle, a warmth blooming in his chest.

Vergil was happy. In turn, so was his younger brother.

“So, Verge, enjoying yourself?” Sipping on liquid courage, Dante turned his head to his twin.

“Hmm. It appears as though I am.” The blue devil assumed a somewhat distant stare, turning his gaze towards his busy son at the grill. His eyes softened at the sight of Nero. If there was a trace of bittersweetness in Vergil’s expression, it came and went almost instantly. However, Dante knew him better than anyone, and could recognise his elder brother’s ghosts of guilt and regret quickly.

As a sudden breeze eased the tension of blanketing heat, Dante sighed, and recalled a nostalgia fueled memory.

“Remember when mum and dad brought all of their friends to the manor for a barbeque? We ended up playing with the other kids, whilst the grown-ups got drunk?” The scarlet devil sucked air in through his teeth, the memory almost too painful to relive. Vergil recoiled at the sudden recollection.

“I reminisce about those days often.”

“You were a damn sprightly kid, Verge. Always running off and hiding to read. Me and the others had to search for you, only to find you up on that gnarly tree, chomping on some apple.”

Dante continued with the mental memoir, his lips curling upwards. He could almost hear the voices of the children and Vergil’s adamant refusal to climb down. He could smell the delectable cuisine of his father's famous burnt burgers and his mother’s soft laughter. Even the gentle grass lapping at his ankles was as vivid of a memory as the display of giggling children before him.

“And now…” Dante inhaled deeply, a ghost of a bittersweet smile gracing his lips, “now we’re the ones sitting, getting wasted, whilst the kiddos play.”

“What are you getting at, Dante?” Vergil uncrossed his arms, running his fingers through his hair, a tell-tale sign of either annoyance or discomfort. Dante simply waited to collect his thoughts, the image of past times being too much. In retaliation to the thoughts, he inhaled the scent of sweetened smoke, inching himself to the empty seat beside Vergil. He let out an almost elderly sigh as he landed in the chair before continuing earnestly.

“We made it, Verge. We've come full circle.”

Vergil's reforming thoughtful brow wrinkle made its famous comeback, his mind processing Dante's statement.

So they did come full circle.

Dante was so adamant on having something dear to hold onto, he was finally rewarded with a family. Finally rewarded with what he longed for since he was eight years old. Though it was a screwed up little group with issues that would take a few more decades to sort out, it was his family. Vergil was very much a part of that family. It warmed every cold crevice of the blue devil’s beating heart, the melodic rhythm becoming even prouder.

"Christ, Vergil. You have a son, can you believe it? In fact, you're going to have a grandkid. You're going to be the youngest looking gramps to have ever lived." Dante attempted to pinch his brother’s cheek, earning him an irked scoff, alongside a hearty slap to the back of the head. It seemed as though they returned to their youthful selves, ignoring the wrinkle lines that arose with age, and the exhaustion inflicted violet splodges beneath their eyes.

They were kids again, trying their best to catch up on the lost years of brotherly bickering.

...

The air began to cool off as the evening drifted. Nero was unchained from his duties, sipping a chilled beer, pleased hums and sighs resounding from his chest. Kyrie cuddled into Nero’s side, the both of them entangled behind the table. Viewing the spectacle, Dante turned to Vergil once more.

"I think mum and pops would be proud." The statement came out of the blue, yet did not startle the blue devil. Instead, his visage was graced with a saccharine smile, the type that Dante had rarely seen in the man. In fact, it was only witnessed during their eventful, albeit brief, childhood.

"Hmm… I hope so." Sighing, contentment written all over Vergil’s features, he craned his neck up to the trees, breathing in the tender breeze of the summer evening.

Dante continued to reminisce about his nephew, and the love of Nero’s life. Seeing the shy ‘couple’ back in Fortuna, he never anticipated to witness this decade-long result; A great-nephew. Kyrie seemed to glow as she nuzzled into her beloved’s side, with a five month bump becoming a prominent addition to her frame. It was a wondrous thing to Dante, knowing that their little dysfunctional family was ever-expanding. The fuzzy feelings appeared to bloom at an exponential rate, which the scarlet devil attempted to gulp down with bubbling alcohol.

He was proud of them. Proud of the tiny group. His family.

A boisterous Nico interrupted any thoughts, eclipsing the view of the couple with her presence.

"So, 'nother beer for ya, gents?" She offered to provide more drinks, with Dante gladly accepting and Vergil politely declining. Whilst the Spardas’ intoxication was low, Lady and Trish were completely sloshed. Their joyous dancing was evidence of the fact.

Nico turned to the middle of the garden where the pair were swaying their arms about as if they were attempting to fend off mosquitos.

“Lady is gonna regret all that booze in the morning. Not sure ‘bout Trish though.” As the young gunsmith twirled on her heels to approach Nero and Kyrie, the dancing pair of intoxicated women began to beckon Dante.

“Hey! Give us your iconic MJ dance!” Trish slurred not a single word, Dante noting that she was playing the drunk to accompany Lady.

“C’moooon Mr. Sparda. Please?” Lady, however, slurred every word. It wasn’t often she had the time or the energy to let loose, so the evening was some well deserved alleviation of pent up stress and frustration. In the distance, Kyrie giggled at Lady’s tipsiness, earning the birthday girl an amorous peck on her button nose from Nero.

The scarlet devil stood from his seat whilst giving Nico an impish smirk, before summoning Dr. Faust into his palm. It appeared as though the cowboy hat materialised from countless twinkling coils of demonic energy. Nico returned his mischievous smile with her own, silently fist bumping the air. Nero simply sighed and clicked his tongue, mirroring his father’s own mannerisms of annoyance and exasperation.

“Not again…”

“YES AGAIN! HIT IT, DANTE!” Nico joined in on the two buzzed women on the garden dancefloor. As a natural performer, Dante swished the headpiece upon his crown, assuming a pose that could wow the crowd.

For hours, the party continued, each member of the crew joining in on the song and dance. Even Vergil pranced into the centre, grabbing a wasted Lady to waltz with him. Toasts were made, followed by treasured tears trailing alongside the speeches, each word weighing the world. Their love for each other, and this little makeshift family, could not be altered or demolished in any way possible. For each of these members lost someone close to them. Whether it was a father, a mother, a brother, or their entire livelihood. They ultimately found a group of like-minded individuals to fill the void. Nothing could separate them.

‘You belong here’ a tiny cherished voice uttered in the back of Dante’s mind. For the first time in decades, he was happy. He felt like he belonged.

Hell, he did belong. 

And nothing could change the fact.