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Dante knew they were in another mirror world, yet they couldn't get used to the strange sensations that came with being thrown from one to another.
They shook their head and looked around, trying to figure out what was going on now.
“Dante”. A very familiar voice called out. Dante knew it was a Vergilius of this world.
They carefully turned and looked at this Vergilius to try to figure out what was going on. Immediately they knew that this Vergilius was a woman. They thanked whatever force or something for that.
Vergilius as a woman might be the least strange thing they have encountered in a mirror world. Dante recalled the more memorable ones.
A Vergilius that called Dante “Teacher” was a little strange with that near constant smile of his and his attitude, like he was looking down on them. The constant slight glow of his red eyes unnerved Dante a little at the time. They weren't quite sure if he was a teacher like Dante supposedly was.
A Vergilius that called Dante “Doctor” was, well Dante had to admit that the rabbit ears he had on his head made Vergilius look quite cute. They still remembered Vergilius' tone of voice, worried. This might've been the first time Dante held Vergilius' hand, even if it wasn't their body at the time, still remembering the grip the man had on their hand. That might've been the most emotion they've heard of him at that time too.
A Vergilius that was a horse might've been the strangest Vergilius they've ever seen. He called them “Chief Trainer”. Dante was glad to leave that mirror world, Vergilius as a horse looked ridiculous if not a bit scary. They didn't want to see that Vergilius ever again.
After that Dante only heard a few protagonistic labels in Vergilius' voice, Producer, Leader, Commander, Master and Professor.
That was also the first time Dante called their Vergilius, “Vergil”, it was also the last time. At that time Dante thought that they liked their Vergilius the best, his glacial gaze and all.
“Dante.” Vergilius' voice snapped them out of their thoughts. The woman smiled at them ever so gently, the sun making her earring glint softly. Dante's heart might've skipped a beat.
“You've gotta stop daydreaming like that.” She chuckled.
<Sorry…> They replied sheepishly. Dante couldn't look away from Vergilius, despite the fact that she looked not much different from their own or other Vergiliuses they could see that she was beautiful. Of course Dante thought their own Vergilius looked handsome but this Vergilius seemed much warmer and softer too.
Vergilius hummed and grabbed Dante's hand into her own. That was when they realized that both of them wore rings. They tried to think why but they couldn't come up with anything that made sense to them.
She pressed the back of Dante's hand to her lips and with a smile she left a kiss there. Maybe Dante liked this Vergilius too? She didn't use any strange labels. That might be the case, after all all the other Vergiliuses made Dante feel strange. From the ones Dante actually saw they liked the one that called them “Doctor” the most. This Vergilius reminded Dante of that Vergilius.
Dante wriggled next to Vergilius, not quite sure if they liked their hand kissed, even if it wasn't quite theirs. Vergilius wrapped her other hand around Dante's waist making them shudder. “Dante.” Vergilius shifted closer to Dante, her lips now on Dante's neck. She left soft featherlight kisses, pausing from time to time to look at Dante with a smile.
The look Vergilius had on her face was so soft that Dante felt like they were melting under her soft red gaze. “My Dante. My dear Dante.” Vergilius said as she went back to kissing Dante's neck gently. “My–”
Then Dante woke up.
They knew they were back. Maybe? They saw the familiar ceiling of Mephistopheles.
Dante laid there for a moment, trying to gather their thoughts but that mirror world was so strange. Well not as strange as the other ones but still strange. As Dante laid they realized their head was on someone's lap and one of their hands was held, a thumb brushing over the back of it.
Dante turned their head a little to look at the person's face. Vergilius was looking out the window with a slight frown. Dante wasn't quite sure that they were back yet, the situation seemed weird.
<Vergil?> They called out. If it was their Vergilius he would say that he can't understand them. That would reassure them that they were back.
Dante saw a twitch of Vergilius' brow. They reached out with their free hand and poked Vergilius on the cheek. The man's eyes snapped to Dante, momentarily glowing then fading as he sighed. “Dante…”
The way he said their name made them shiver a little. Dante tried getting up but they were pushed to lay back down. “Don't move.” Vergilius looked at Dante's face, still frowning. Dante reached out with their left hand and cupped Vergilius' cheek, brushing their thumb over his scar.
For a second Vergilius looked surprised but then leaned into Dante's touch, closing his eyes. He looked sad, as if he'd cry if he'd let himself do that. It felt strangely intimate.
<Vergilius?> Dante ticked. Vergilius sighed. “Everyone was worried about you.” He seemed vulnerable right now.
<I'm sorry…>
“You know I can't understand you Dante.” Vergilius opened his eyes and looked at Dante, his gaze strangely soft. Despite that Dante knew they were back, it was their Vergilius, their world.
Dante let out a happy chime. They let go of Vergilius' face, sat up and hugged him. “What?” For a moment Vergilius sat there, his arms hovering over Dante. He sighed and hugged them back. “You're so strange, Dante.” Vergilius whispered. He buried his face in Dante's shoulder.
Dante never had that much human contact or at least they didn't remember. At least they now knew they liked being hugged by Vergilius. They let out another happy chime. Vergilius chuckled. “What you're so happy about?” His voice muffled by Dante's shoulder.
A whistle. “Wow~ Didn't know you two had a thing.” Rodion chuckled. Dante let go of Vergilius and tried to move but the man gripped them tighter, not letting them go. He raised his head and looked at Rodion. “Is everyone else dead?”
Rodion blew a raspberry. “No? Only Yi Sang and Heathcliff.”
Vergilius' behavior reminded Dante of a clingy cat. Vergilius' brows furrow as he pauses to think. He lets go of Dante. “Make it quick.” Dante got up and followed Rodion off Mephistopheles.
As soon as both of them were far enough Rodion spoke up. “You know I'd never think I'd see Vergilius pout.” She smiled. <Huh? When did he?> Dante paused to think. Rodion slung her arm over Dante's shoulder. “When he was holding you, his brows were furrowed and he pouted, like that.” Rodion demonstrated, her brows furrowed and she was pouting. Dante chuckled. <Well you look cute when you pout but I don't think Vergilius looks quite like that when he does that.>
Rodion sighed. “So? What's between you and Vergilius, huh? How long?” She wriggled her brows. <There's nothing between me and Vergilius.> Dante denied. Though they now wondered how would it be to be kissed by Vergilius. “Uhuh, sure. I notice that you stare at Vergilius all the time.”
Dante's shoulders rose up and the fire on top of their head rose. <I-I don't stare at him!>
“Don't stare at who?” Gregor asked, cigarette in his mouth. Dante crossed their arms. Gregor raised his arm. “I said nothing.”
Dante sighed and looked around. Like Rodion said Yi Sang and Heathcliff were dead. What she didn't mention is that Don Quixote was missing her legs, Meursault his arms and the rest of the Sinners had various wounds on them.
Dante rewound the clock, instantly feeling the pain, nearly staggering. Rodion caught Dante and held them until everyone injured was healed up. <Thanks Rodya.> She nodded with a smile. “No problem.”
As Dante and the Sinners were going back they wondered if they should tell Vergilius about the last Mirror World. Well that could wait.
Everyone boarded Mephistopheles, Dante stayed at the front and stared at the back of Vergilius' head. They stared for a moment, if they had their head they would be grinning. <I like you, Vergilius.> As soon as these words left Dante everyone on Mephistopheles went silent.
Vergilius turned his head, brows furrowed. He looked at Dante then at the Sinners. “What did they say?” Dante turned to look at the Sinners and none of them even had their mouths open, some of them were looking at their nails and some of them looked outside the window, pretending they didn't hear anything.
Dante turned back to Vergilius, pulled out their PDA and typed. [Do you like me?] They showed the message to Vergilius. They noticed a faint blush on his face. He nodded slightly. The fire on top of their head crackled a little louder.
Oh, Vergilius looked quite cute like that. Dante went to his seat and sat next to him. Vergilius looked at Dante for a moment before smiling slightly. He grabbed Dante's hand and held it gently, his thumb brushing over the back of Dante's hand.
Dante rested their head on Vergilius' shoulder with a happy chime.