Work Text:
The clock kept on ticking, the sixth Sinner's turn was fast approaching, the Middle lingered nearby and Dante could not sleep. They kept tossing and turning in their bed, trying to force their brain to go blank, for once, and drift into nothingness for just a couple of hours, at the very least.
They loved their Sinners, Charon and Vergilius as they are. They loved this unusual family they had formed more than anything and they'd do everything to keep them all safe, no matter the pain it caused them. Their dream, from when they had passed out earlier today, had freaked them out and left a lingering sense of anxiety on them throughout the day. That, paired with all the thoughts of the dangers looming on the horizon... It was no wonder they couldn't sleep. And so, they got off of bed and made their way to the room of the only person who could truly understand and help them.
Peaking out their door, they turned left and right, checking for prying eyes. When they confirmed no one could see them, they made way to the door on the very end of the hallway and knocked twice.
Vergilius opened his door slowly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and stifling a yawn. Their guide did not usually get the sleep that he needed, because of that he would sometimes doze off at the front of the bus during their quiet drives or whenever the Sinners would go out to hunt more bus fuel. Memories of his past mistakes tended to keep him wide awake. Dante felt a pang of guilt at the thought that they had woken him up. They hadn't even checked the time before they left their room, how could they have been so inconsiderate?
"Executive Manager," he whispered and threw a quick glance behind them. Most likely checking if any Sinners or Charon were up, just like they themself had done before. "What brings you here? It is quite late to be knocking on your coworker's doors."
<I don't feel very well and I, uh... I can't sleep. Is it okay if I->
"If you're asking if you can stay here for tonight, Manager, you know my answer already. Come in," he said and stepped aside for them to pass. He probably didn't know they hadn't finished their sentence yet, or maybe he knew but correctly assumed what they were going to say. Who knows? Dante couldn't comprehend how Vergilius understood them so well, but they were eternally grateful.
Embarrassingly, they realized, as they walked in and left their shoes by the door, they were still wearing their work clothes. The entire time they were writhing in their bed they were wearing the same clothes that had been covered in grime and blood earlier that day, sans the coat, gross. They'd have to change their sheets now, another task to be added in their seemingly endless list.
Vergilius gently turned them to face him and began to take off their tie, which he simply dropped on his desk. He went on to unbutton every button of their shirt, slowly opening them one by one, until he reached their chest. The Guide paused, looking up at the Manager and patiently waiting for them to... give him permission? Probably?
Dante wasn't the most comfortable with their skin showing most often. Scars and marks littered the dark skin that used to belong to someone else. It felt wrong to have them and to be in this body in the first place. They didn't want to show off, to parade around with someone else's body without their consent, they just couldn't do that. And that aside, it wasn't a particularly... pleasant sight.
It was a different story when they were with Vergilius. He made them feel like their body belonged to them, he gave them pleasure and made sure they understood every feeling they experienced was their own. He made them feel attractive, wanted, desired... He did not need their permission to undress them, it was obvious he'd always have it. At least they thought so. Regardless, they gave him a nod.
With their shirt now off, Dante absentmindedly traced the twin scars on their chest, proof they had taken a sort of surgery in the past. Another trace left behind by a person who was no longer here. Would they themself had taken that same surgery now if they had the choice to? Were they and their past self similar at all?
Vergilius looked up at them again, oblivious to their thoughts, and his hands reached their belt. This time Dante just tilted their head, as if saying 'Do you really need to ask again?'
"Just making sure," he answered to their unspoken question. When Dante was left in just their boxers and socks, Vergilius took all their clothes and began to fold them.
<I'm sorry for waking you up. I'm just really worried for Hong Lu and the dream I had messed with my head even more,> they said. Quicker, higher pitched and snappier ticks and tocks, as well as the slight tension in their shoulders made their anxiety much too obvious.
"Those ticks of yours sound awfully apologetic Dante, there's no need for that. Just relax for now." He smiled sympathetically at them.
In one of their last night time visits, Vergilius had suggested that Dante left a few comfortable clothes in his room, just in case they were ever needed. As he handed them one of their spare sweatshirts and sleep pants and carefully helped them put them on, they felt glad to have listened to him.
The Manager was almost overwhelmed by the constant care their dearest Guide would provide them. He always allowed them to rest with him, always took care of them when they were physically ill, always praised them and gave them valuable counsel whenever they needed it. His affection towards Charon was endearing too. He took care of this girl, who had no relation to him, like she was his own flesh and blood. He got her candy to please her and he went out shopping with her while reassuringly holding her hand and paid for everything, despite the fact that the girl had a paying job.
Vergil was the nicest person they knew. He had such compassion hidden away deep in his soul that he never allowed anyone to see, lest they broke him further than the City already had. They wanted to grasp it, pull it out of whatever dark pit of his mind it has fallen into and allow it to see the sun once again. To allow him to see the sun once again and bask in the warmth that he deserved.
<Thank you so much, you're so sweet. I love y-> Affection overtook them and their words ran rampart, their mind slowly lagging behind. When it caught up with their metaphorical tongue, they feared it may have been too late.
Vergil looked back at them, his gaze not entirely focused on them. His mouth opened just a little bit like he was about to speak, but it closed as soon as it opened and the man never shared his thoughts. He looked uncertain, confused, a little anxious, it made Dante realize they had never seen him speechless before.
They didn't get to stew in their worry for long, because he spoke up and said; "...I didn't quite catch what you said. Could you repeat that?"
<I... Don't worry about it.>
The clockheaded manager tried not to breathe out a sigh of relief, at least not an obvious one and move on. They threw themself onto the bed, trying to hide their face behind the sheets lest they had to deal with their embarrassment any longer. Why did they say that? What were they thinking?!
They felt a weight dip the mattress beside them. Turning to look for their Guide's beautiful deep red eyes, they were instead greeted by a red fuzzy surface instead, two black beads, meant to resemble eyes, stared at them. Dante jumped up, nearly falling off the bed and let out a scream, that sounded more like a train horn, at the sight of the all too familiar plushie.
"Hah, no need to be so scared Dante," Vergilius said as he let out a low laugh at their reaction. "It's just Kkomi. Charon left it here earlier."
<Just Kkomi. Haah...> Despite their fatigue, they got up without a second thought, threw Kkomi into the closet and shut it closed. If they were in their own room, they'd probably place a chair in front of the closet door for good measure.
They walked back to bed and saw Vergil looking at them from his place on the bed. His face remained neutral as usual, but the corner of his lips would twitch, ever so slightly, the longer Dante stared at him, until it stopped and turned up for good. He fake coughed in his fist in a vain attempt to hide his smile.
<Don't laugh at me...>
"My apologies," he said, not looking apologetic at all. He opened his arms, inviting the Manager onto his bed and into his embrace. And Dante, of course, accepted the invitation without a hint of hesitation.
The two of them lied together on Vergil's bed, which was not big enough for two middle aged adults to sleep on. They were crammed and Vergil had to hold on to them to make sure they did not accidentally fall off but Dante wouldn't have it any other way. Why care about space when they get to have the privilege to be so close to this man? The privilege to be allowed to see him bare, peel the layers of his skin and see the real that lies within. As well as the privilege to caress and hold him and be caressed and held by him in return.
They nudged and nuzzled their clock head on his cheek, the closest thing they could do to a kiss. <Goodnight Vergil.>
"Goodnight Dante."
With their lover's hand gently caressing their back, it was not long before they finally relaxed and fell asleep.