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Dante’s gloved hand grabbed the crappy door handle of the old wooden door that gave into the sorcerer’s tiny shop.
The little bell above his head rang sharply, the sound almost cheerful as the legendary hunter entered, ducking to avoid smacking his head on the low doorframe.
As always, that little house with its endless shelves full of books, and the copious amount of dust lingering everywhere, made the legendary hunter grin.
This small hole in the wall, a minuscule boutique really, that was lost in one of Redgrave City’s crappiest neighborhoods, was a bit of a special place.
It was the home of a real medium.
The cream of the crop.
The real deal.
The infamous: Mentibus.
Dante wasn’t even joking, as much as he liked to annoy that particular demon by constantly expressing his doubts over her skills.
Menti, as he liked to call her even if it made her angry, was a demon and she was an extremely gifted sorcerer and medium.
The diminutive demoness liked to show up in her shop, disguised as a cartoonish fortune teller.
Purple shawls over her shoulders, long skirts that reached to the floor, fake golden jewelry, thick dark brown curly hair pinned underneath a vaporous veil that was faintly sparkling… the entire cliché.
It was really quite a show, but the tiny woman you could see wasn’t really Mentibus. No.
The real demon was hiding inside the crystal ball that stood on a velvety cushion in the middle of her consultation room, on a small ebony table.
Menti was a cat demon, her sometimes green, sometimes yellow, eyes swimming in the translucent depths of her crystal ball.
She hid them from her clients, the humans seeing nothing more than pretty volutes of rainbow floating inside the glass sphere.
Mentibus had a very successful business here in Redgrave, she was giving love advice and helping humans “find what your heart is really looking for.”
And she really did.
She was simply reading the minds of the people that came to see her, offering advice and honestly, top of the shelf therapy sessions.
Because… as you gazed into her crystal, she was gazing into your head, and so she knew exactly what you needed to hear. Terribly simple yet efficient.
She could have weaponized her gift and turned it into something lethal, but Menti was a greedy, playful, and most importantly peaceful, demon.
She wanted to have a trouble free and comfortable life in Redgrave, far from the Underworld and the constant power struggles there.
Dante had first tolerated her presence here in Redgrave, before they became business acquaintances. And then almost friends, sort of.
Today, the legendary hunter was coming to see her for two reasons.
Firstly as a business partner, almost as an employee in fact, because Menti had sent him on a mission.
Truth to be told, Dante wouldn’t refuse the cat’s help to get things a little less tense with his twin but… it wasn’t as if he could simply ask her. It was embarrassing.
And he was too broke to pay for an official appointment, so…
Secondly, because he liked to mess with the medium a lot.
Dante was feeling a little down and stressed out today, sadness clinging to his thoughts no matter what he tried, and he was in the mood for a little prank to lighten his day up.
Something harmless but that was sure to get this demonic-kitty’s fur all riled up.
The red half-devil smirked in anticipation as he was now inside the shop to tell the medium that they, he and Vergil, had just killed all the demons that they had been tasked with.
He was here to collect the payment and the money was badly needed.
Bills were piling up like mountains on his desk, and he was running night and day after cash to cover all the costs.
Vergil was helping out a lot even if the Human World was still a very strange place for him.
He hunted alongside Dante, and even took on smaller contracts like investigations or escort missions - which the red twin disliked with a passion.
Together they had managed to keep the power and water running at the shop, which was a neat start.
The blue twin should have been here with Dante to receive his cut of the reward, but that asshat had simply refused to tag along.
He was a complicated man to get a read on and now, the hunter didn’t know if his absence meant that Dante should keep the money to pay for more bills or if he was just being difficult.
The red twin sighed tiredly.
They had been back in the Human World for months and even if things were working out quite well… he sometimes wished that his brother would show him a little bit more warmth - dare he long for a show of affection…
Vergil was cold, always needing some room, always putting distance between himself and everyone.
He was on edge, probably feeling threatened by every new sensation tied to this new life, and that was hurting his younger twin.
The more Dante tried to stick around him, the more silent and expressionless the older twin became, rejecting him maybe without even meaning to.
The red twin knew he could be a little exuberant in day-to-day life, especially since he was so damn happy to have his brother back… He had missed him so much.
Still… It hurt him to feel that distance that his older brother was trying to keep. A distance that hadn’t been there when they had traveled in the Underworld.
Dante had trouble understanding Vergil now, and he didn’t know what to do to breach this gap that was growing larger day after day.
That wall of caution and silence, that impassible face and his too controlled motions.
It felt wrong.
Dante missed the old times when he could simply stay glued to his brother day and night… sure they weren’t kids anymore but Dante still felt that pull. That ache for contact.
Anyway, despite this little issue, Vergil had settled in better than expected and the hunter knew that he was probably just over-reacting and over-thinking things far too much.
His twin needed time and Dante was just impatient, that was all.
Vergil would come around eventually and warm up his family. At least Dante hoped so.
The half-devil focused back on the present.
He followed the empty path inside the shop, the rest of the floorboards being covered in piles of books that reached almost all the way up to the ceiling, and he called out to the demon.
“Menti, you there? Mission accomplished !”
“It’s Mentibus. Not Menti ! And you’re back much faster than I expected. ” A voice answered him, coming from absolutely nowhere.
The cat’s voice was floating into the empty shop, like she was absolutely everywhere at the same time. Like it was echoing inside Dante’s head.
In a puff of purple smoke, the tiny fake human appeared in all her fake-golden glory.
Mentibus’ human form was watching him, her curious eyes trying to take a peek behind Dante’s back. The hunter had brought her a… surprise, one he was keeping hidden for a few more seconds.
She kept trying to see, leaning left and right, and he chuckled eventually giving her what he had been hiding away.
He smirked and then his lips curled up into a full smile when he saw her eyes take in the object he was holding his hands.
A medium sized terracotta pot with a lush, pristine, plant growing inside it.
Fresh catnip.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise and then flatlined in annoyance.
After that, she was glaring at the hunter so hard that she could give Vergil a run for his money, and Dante was smiling from ear to ear.
“Those demons were weaklings and they’re all dead.” Dante told her and then he extended the little pot to the fortune-teller but she kept her arms crossed over her chest, not taking his gift.
“Don’t expect extra cash for the record time.” She snarled, looking at the plant with disdain.
“C’mon, Menti, don’t be such a killjoy ! I even brought you a gift, kitty-cat !” He exclaimed, delighted to see how annoyed she was once she had realised what type of plant this was.
“Ah-ah, very funny Dante. Premium stand-up comedy for sure. You should consider a career change.” She mumbled and the hunter chuckled, finding her reaction pretty hilarious.
“Oh, c’mon ! No biting, kitten! Look at this beautiful shade of green, it’s really pretty ! And it’ll allow you to be less… grumpy! Win-win situation !”
He pushed past the medium who was still refusing to take the plant and entered the back of the shop, putting the pot on the table next to the crystal ball, right next to the real Mentibus.
Dante looked down at the demon’s eyes inside the ball, the cat-eyes looking even more annoyed than her human projection.
“Oh, I know something that’s going to help my mood alright. Don’t worry.” The cat's eyes glowed inside the crystal for a second and Dante’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as a strange itchy feeling ran over his skin.
“What the fuck?” He mumbled as the sensation grew worse and all of the sudden his head spun and the room grew bigger. So much bigger.
No. The room didn't change. He did.
“Meow?”
He froze as his words couldn’t leave his lips anymore.
His heart skipped a bit as he looked down at himself and stared in disbelief.
Instead of his red coat and usual gear, there was an ocean of white fluff. Two small paws were visible in the mass of fur and Dante looked up to the sorcerer in shock.
“My, my, aren’t you cute like this ! It suits you far better than your usual style.” The fortune teller cooed, an amused spark in her eyes.
Menti ! What did you do ?!
“I turned you into a cat, birdbrain.” She chuckled, stating the obvious.
Yeah I noticed ! Now turn me back ! Right the fuck now !
“Ah I’m afraid I can’t do that. This spell lasts for a few hours, Dante, but don’t worry I’ll find you a litter box for your shop. I hope you kept some catnip for yourself there…” She mused, obviously enjoying her mischief a lot.
Menti ! I can’t get home like this !
“Sure you can, kitten. I’ll generously help you. Free of charge, darling.” The cat-eyes inside the crystal did a small flip, and the half-cat-half-devil was pretty sure that she was laughing her head off.
The demon’s human projection smirked at him and its eyes glowed blazing red before a tiny portal opened underneath Dante’s paws.
He hissed in reflex and froze at the sound he was making, looking up in confusion but the fortune teller was laughing hard now.
Menti !! Don’t you dare …
The medium grinned at him and snapped her fingers.
Poof !
The little shop vanished as Dante was sent through the portal and he landed, fur all ruffled in a darkened alley outside.
His ears laid flat against his head as he stared at his unfamiliar environment for a second, feeling stressed and scared.
His eyes darted left and right and he stumbled backwards as this tiny body felt unfamiliar.
Shit ! Where am I ?
He looked all around himself, lowering himself almost all the way to the ground as he tried to recognize the place.
What am I going to do ?! Staying “A few hours” like this? What the fuck ! That’s not even funny!
Dante was staring at the objects around him, there were trash bins everywhere and he spotted a dirty puddle of water on the asphalt. Everything felt so big and so menacing.
He slowly walked closer to the puddle, the ground feeling strangely cold and wet beneath his paws.
Yuk. Yuk, yuk, yuk ! That’s gross as fuck !
Dante arrived at the edge of the water and looked down at his reflection. He saw two big ears and a small pink nose inside an ocean of white hair.
Shit, he was really a cat.
His fur was all white, just like his hair, and he had two piercing pale blue eyes that matched his human ones. He was kinda pretty to be honest, but that didn’t change the fact that he was a fucking cat !
What am I supposed to do like this ?
He couldn’t feel his own demonic side at all, he felt like a regular cat. A fragile, normal, animal. That was bad, that was even terribly dangerous !
He needed to get home as fast as possible before a demon came to skin him.
I don’t wanna end up as a pair of fur-lined-demon gloves, thank you very much.
He looked up at the sky that was peeking between the tall buildings lining up the alley. Thick clouds were hovering menacingly above, the night slowly settling over the city.
Dante prudently followed the small street he had landed in, and he ended up spotting a large and very busy avenue.
At once he knew where he was. Menti had sent him to the right part of town. His shop wasn’t far from here, but he would still need to cross the entire neighborhood before he reached home.
Shouldn’t be that bad… let’s go.
Half an hour later, Dante was mentally cursing and feeling fed up with this entire situation.
The shop wasn't far by his normal-self standards… but now the legendary, fur-covered, hunter was already exhausted.
How could he have guessed that walking up a simple street would have turned out to be the most tasking experience he had gone through in eons ?
This felt far harder than it should be! The world seemed so gigantic ! Everything felt so far away !
And worse than that, Danre had had to run away from children trying to pet him, and jumping out of the way of people not minding their steps.
He just dodged another kid when a loud bark made him jump, and cat-Dante found himself needing to run away from a dog.
He fled the busy street and hid in a pile of trash somewhere near the sidewalk, but the tip of his tail stayed stuck under a trash bin and it tore a small patch of fur out.
Ouch, that hurts…
He looked at the small tuft of white falling down, the small wound sending pain through his tiny body.
This entire adventure wasn’t to the hunter’s liking at all, and he just wanted to go home…
He slowly made his way towards the Devil May Cry, and he walked for over an additional hour before he grew tangibly closer.
A cold gust of wind combed through his fur and all of the sudden, the sky opened above his head.
The hunter cursed as rain started to pour down on Redgrave.
Oh, for fuck’s sake ! This autumn had already been pretty rainy, but it still felt like a personal insult to be stuck under these fat drops in this particular form.
The half-devil-cat could feel the water soak his fur, the shiny white hair growing damp and then completely wet. It was plastered uncomfortably against his body.
He looked at his legs and saw that mud was starting to stick to him, his belly and legs looking already a dirty grey-brownish shade.
But the worst part was the cold. In this form he felt its bite with a vengeance now that he was wet, and he shivered.
Grumbling and feeling defeated, Dante pushed on for another hour under the rain, avoiding getting hit by a car right at the last second, and finally he saw the familiar red neon sign.
Finally ! Home sweet home !
He ran straight to the entrance door and felt discouraged anew when he found it closed.
Of course, the door is closed. It was never left open without a reason, but this wouldn’t be a problem in his normal form.
But now… there was no fucking way he could open it on his own !
He still tried, out of spite more than anything, standing on his hind-legs and putting his front paws against the wood.
He pushed but nothing happened. Yup, as expected, he was far too small and too light to push this heavy door…
Should he try to call for Vergil ? To get his attention? Would his brother even notice? Would he grow annoyed if a cat kept meowing on the doorstep ?
Would he chase it away without a second thought, just to be left in peace ? What if… he attacked ?
Dante had no way to defend himself in this state and that made him pause.
Sitting on the doorstep, the red twin pondered his options for a while, the tip of his tail tapping the ground pensively.
He couldn’t stay outside, it was still raining and if any demon, or hell even if another stray dog, came at him he was done…
Maybe he could sneak inside? Would the window of the bathroom be open, maybe ? Dante had opened it after showering this morning so there chances were high it would still be accessible.
But that room was on the first floor and so its window would be pretty high… but cats were supposed to be pretty good climbers, no?
Let’s see…
Dante made his way around the building, searching for the bathroom window and he found it indeed open. Jackpot !
There are even a few trash cans to jump on ! This is my chance !
There was one trashcan and a larger bin followed by another small metallic trashcan.
The middle container was far taller and it should allow him to reach the window sill with one big jump.
That last part was going to be tricky but… he had not many options at his disposal.
Let the show begin.
The hunter went to the first trash can, looked up and then he jumped, landing pretty neatly on the lid.
Not bad ! Now, the next one and then, up we go !
Dante aimed for the next surface, pushing on his unusually short legs.
He jumped and landed on the second bin, as planned, but its surface was all wet and slippery with rain. Dante slipped over the lid and tumbled down on the next trashcan in a cacophony of metallic and plastic noises.
Cat, trashcan, and waste landed into another puddle, adding insult to injury.
Ah, fuck this rain ! It’s not only so freaking cold, it makes climbing impossible !
Dante cursed and felt a wave of disappointment and sadness flood him as without the accessing second bin, there was no way he would reach the window…
That meant that he was stuck here, needing to wait outside his own home until the spell was over.
God, he hoped Vergil wouldn’t be around by the time he transformed back, he would never survive the humiliation…
The formerly white, now dirty, cat sighed softly as he realized that he had to wait for this awful day to be over.
He stepped out of the puddle and curled into a ball on the ground.
He was cold and tired, and worse he was starting to be hungry… What a shitty day.
Maybe he shouldn’t have pushed Menti’s buttons like this…. But it had been fun to see her face….
In any case, he’d get revenge on her later. Once he was back to himself.
Dante closed his eyes, his massive, fluffy but soaked, tail wrapped around him. Even like this he was still cold…
His ears perked up as he picked up a sound. A door opening and then… steps.
A chill ran down his spine, his damp fur coming to stand straight over his back.
Uh-oh…
He looked up and immediately saw Vergil, standing at the very edge of the dark alley.
The blue half-devil’s eyes went to the turned up trashcan.
Before Dante could consider making a run for it, his eyes landed on him, pinning him on the spot.
Oh shit. Can he recognize me ?
The older twin’s gaze was riveted on him and he slowly took a step closer.
Dante froze, fearing what his brother was going to do.
Please don’t stab me, I can’t recover from that in this form.
His brother came up all the way to him, his gaze as unreadable as always, his face impassible.
Dante was honestly scared shitless and his ears went lying flat on his head when the blue twin crouched and reached out.
Should he try to run ? Nah, it would be pointless… Vergil was impossibly fast.
His twin’s gloved hand paused before Dante, waiting for something. The cat looked at the limb and then up to his brother, unsure of what he was supposed to do and what Vergil was expecting from him.
Dante shifted slowly, shyly coming closer and raising his nose to give the hand a small sniff.
He was shocked out of his mind when his brother’s fingers curled up slowly and scratched him, right behind his right ear.
He froze again, not in fear but in pure bliss. His brain quivered in awe as the slow scratching was sending shivers down his spine.
Oh man, this is so good !
A purr escaped his throat before he could stop it. He greedily rubbed his head against the hand, wanting, needing, more.
He was startled again when he heard a soft huff escape his always stoic and icy brother.
Dante looked up and Vergil’s eyes were strange. Soft. Content.
It came as a massive shock again. His twin never looked at him like this, with such unhidden fondness and warmth. There was even the ghost of a smile on his lips.
It was painful to see that his brother wasn’t incapable of showing affection to anyone, he just never showed it towards Dante specifically...
But at the same time it was a facet of Vergil that the red twin didn’t know well yet, and he was deeply curious to see more of this.
Feeling bold, Dante snuck underneath the extended arm and he rubbed his head against his twin’s leg, his back arching.
Water trickled down his fur as he moved and… well, there was a little bit of satisfaction in the cat’s mind as he knew that he was staining his brother's clothes with mud.
Serves you well for always acting so cold, Verg’ !
“You are soaked through.” Vergil muttered and his hand kept scratching Dante’s back and the top of his head.
Yeah, I know but I can’t just change clothes while I am a fucking cat.
The petting was scrambling his little head up so hard. He felt like an addict, always in need for more and more.
Dante went abruptly stiff when his twin’s hand grabbed the skin at the base of his neck and pulled him up, his second arm coming to support his body.
“Mrow?” He yelped in surprise but a heavy hand came to caress his head and back again.
Held against the blue half-devil’s chest, Dante was stunned all over again.
He had yearned for a scrap of attention from his twin and now, he was being carried with great care inside the shop.
Relief bubbled up in his veins when Dante found himself inside the Devil May Cry.
Cat or not, he was safe there. Especially since his brother seemed to have a soft spot for cats!
Vergil brought him to the bathroom upstairs and he grabbed a towel. In a blink they were back downstairs and the red twin was dizzy from his twin’s impossible speed.
Too fast, far too fast ! Wow shit, I’m going to be sick….
Dante’s head was still spinning as Vergil carefully put him down on the floor.
He was barely holding himself upright on his four legs, the walls spinning lazily around him.
The cat-hunter stayed still while the blue twin patted him dry with the towel, his motions precise yet gentle.
As his older brother worked meticulously from head to tail, dabbing the soft fabric on his fur, Dante started to feel better.
In a few minutes, most of the water was out of his white coat but it was still damp. Still, it was already so much more comfortable!
Feeling warmer now, and tired, he let himself flop down on his side, stretching while watching his brother. He yawned and rolled onto his back, feeling himself more and more comfortable in this new form.
Dante waited to see what was going to happen now. Feeling deeply curious.
When they were kids they had never gotten a pet despite how much Dante had begged for it, and Vergil had never expressed his longing for one.
So it felt pretty shocking that he would allow a stray cat inside like this.
Well, V had kept a few familiars so… maybe his brother liked animals far more than he had ever let on.
Dante stayed sprawled on the floor like a small white fluffy rug, observing his mysterious twin.
Vergil vanished with the muddy towel and appeared back in a blink, going to the heaters lining up the walls and raising the temperature of the room.
Are you scared I’ll be cold ? Now that’s unexpectedly nice of you, Verg’.
The blue twin’s measured step soon came to a halt as he glanced up to the clock on the wall and a soft sigh escaped him, making Dante feeling even more curious.
Was he waiting for something ? Someone? But who could his twin be waiting for…. Wait ! Me? Is he waiting for me to come home?
It felt absurd but as Dante combed through his brain, there was only one person his brother could possibly be expecting…
Does that mean he has really no clue that this cat is me ?
The thought left him feeling all mushy inside.
So this cold dumbass did care, but he just never showed it ? He was waiting for Dante to come home ? No one had waited for him like this since they were kids…
Cat-Dante watched his brother come to sit down on the old couch and pick his current read up.
He was feeling rather fascinated to watch his sibling as he seemed unaware of who was staring at him.
The red twin sat up, stretched, and then he sneaked closer, trying not to disturb his older brother.
Vergil was reading, his eyes dancing from right to left as they followed the inky lines on the paper.
He looked so at peace, so focused, that Dante felt a tidal wave of mischief build inside his furry head.
He jumped on the couch and saw how his brother’s eyes shifted towards him.
Cat-Dante made his way over the cushion like he owned the place, which he technically did, and he slithered underneath his twin’s right arm, climbing on his lap.
One of Vergil’s eye brow shot upwards skeptically but he didn’t move nor shoo him away.
The younger twin snickered internally and he head-butted the blue half-devil right in the jaw, purring in sweet joy and playfulness as he rubbed his head against his face.
If I am stuck like this, I’m going to make the most of it.
It’s not like Verg’ will ever know it was me anyway.
Dante was going to indulge.
He basked in sweet warmth and in absolute bliss as his brother’s hand reached out and scratched him behind the ears again.
Oh god, this is heaven.
He closed his eyes and extended his chin towards his twin, expecting him to follow his line of thoughts which Vergil did.
Dante purred and he slowly felt drowsy as the scratching went on, turning into slow petting.
The yearning for a nap was becoming irresistible. This tiny body’s stamina was really laughable.
He curled in a ball on Vergil’s lap,his brother absentmindedly petting him while he started to read his book again.
The cat sighed in delight and went for a sweet nap, closing his eyes without falling deeply asleep. He stayed caught between rest and wakefulness, relaxing and taking advantage of his twin’s good disposition.
He could hear the soft sound of the pages turning, Vergil’s hand stopping its blessed work in his fur when he flipped a new page over.
Dante was deeply happy, but a part of him grew mischievous again and he found himself wanting to be the center of this brother’s attention.
He turned over, exposing his belly to his twin’s gaze but Vergil’s eyes went back to the book and Dante innerly smirked.
He waited until the blue twin turned a new page, and as soon as he spotted the sheet of paper moving, he swatted it with his paw.
The page wobbled and Vergil’s hand came to ruffle the fur on his belly in a soft reprimand.
“Your manners are terrible.” He muttered and Dante could only purr louder at his defeated tone.
It quickly became a game. The cat smacking the pages anytime they moved, or at least trying because soon his twin held the book higher, out of his reach.
Boring.
Dante stretched, letting his tail smack his twin right in the face for good measure, and jumped from his lap.
His paws met the floor and he took his time to explore his own home from this brand new perspective.
From so close to the ground, the legendary hunter had to admit that maybe… it was time to swipe the floor and clean this place up a bit.
He explored the kitchen, jumped onto the bar, looking at his twin from time to time.
His curiosity took him to his desk and he jumped up on it, turning around to see if Vergil was watching him. Sadly his brother seemed to be immersed in his book and ignoring him entirely…
What is always so fascinating about this book?
Dante grumbled inside his head and then he looked at the various items that were lying around on his desk.
There was the phone and the portrait of their mom of course, papers and bills that he should have taken care of long ago, and the cardboard box holding the last slices of his lunch.
They had been interrupted while they had been eating, Mentibus calling them for an emergency mission where they had gone to dispatch a few stray demons.
I didn’t even get to finish my pizza, what a shame !
His stomach growled as he picked the spicy smell of it. He was really hungry… maybe he could still eat it? It would be cold but… he had eaten worse things while he and Vergil had been stuck in Hell.
Dante sniffed at the box and scratched the side of it, trying to open the lid but without human hands it proved to be a really frustrating task.
The object kept moving as his claws attacked the cardboard, the box slowly inching closer to the edge of the desk.
That darn thing won’t stay still !
The red twin was cursing inside his head, focused on the stubborn item that was holding his dinner. His stomach was growling and rumbling, he wanted his pizza !
C’mon ! C’monnn !
Pissed, as he was rendered unable to open a simple box, he jumped on top of it and went for a more brutal method. He bit down hard on the corner, ripping a small piece of cardboard away.
He worked hard, fighting to access the food, and he was so focused on his task that he jumped in surprise when he felt fingers tangle in the fur on his back.
“Mrow!” He exclaimed, startled, and in his fear he tumbled down from the desk, taking the pizza box alongside him.
Faster than his cat eyes could follow, his twin caught the box and himself, bringing them both back down on the desk.
Vergil’s eyes were looking at the cat with a frown.
“Are you hungry ?” He muttered, his eyes pensive, and Dante went on to rub himself against him with a loud purr before he scratched at the pizza box again.
“Meow.” He mumbled, swatting the corner of that stupid thing in annoyance.
C’mon Verg’. Help me out here!
Vergil’s eyebrow shot up and he huffed sarcastically but his hands reached out to the white cardboard, pulling the lid wide open.
Dante dove on one of the two remaining slices, snatching a piece of pepperoni and chewing it with abandon.
Oh yeah, that’s exactly what I needed !
He bit off a few strips of chicken and licked at the cheese that had stayed glued to the box, and soon his tiny stomach was filled to the brim.
Oh man, that’s better !
Sadly, now that his hunger was gone, another discomfort made its appearance and he grew thirsty…
His eyes darted to the kitchen sink. How was he going to convince his brother to give him water ?
That was going to be complicated… But what else could he do ? Should he try to find something to drink elsewhere ? But where could he find water ? The bathroom?
Yuk. No.
He looked towards the stairs and then at the windows. It was still pouring outside but he had no intention of getting out again.
Dante jumped from the desk, his twin watching him, and he went to fumble around, looking for inspiration.
An idea struck him when he spotted one of his potted plants. He had watered them yesterday, maybe…
He walked closer and sure enough, there was water in the plant pot saucer.
He bent to lap the stale, muddy, water but a hand snatched him and pulled him away.
“Meow?” Dante was confused as he looked up and sure enough it was Vergil.
What the hell ? I’m thirsty!
His twin said nothing, carrying him into the kitchen where he snatched a bowl in the cupboard.
The blue half-devil put him down on the tiles and Cat-Dante watched with interest as his brother filled the bowl with water and put it down in front of him.
Hell yeah, good thinking bro’.
He lapped at the water greedily while Vergil left the kitchen, his steps clicking softly on the floor.
Once his thirst was quenched, Dante followed him hastily, too curious to see what he was going to do and where he was going now.
His twin hadn’t gone far, if anything he was looking at the clock on the wall again.
His arms were crossed and a deep frown was on his brow, he looked worried.
The legendary cat-demon-hunter head-butted his leg, asking for attention and hoping to divert his brother’s thoughts from his real self’s absence.
I don’t like to see you worried like that. Especially not for my sake.
Vergil’s eyes grew soft again and he knelt down to pet him, Dante shamelessly enjoying the scratches.
However, his twin’s eyes kept glancing back at the clock and Dante followed his stare. It was already 11:00 pm, he had been a cat for over four hours already.
He really hoped that Menti’s spell wouldn’t last too long.
As much as he liked seeing his brother in a new light, and being on the receiving end of his affection, he wanted to get his real body back as fast as possible.
He didn’t know how his brother would react to his prolonged absence. What if there was a portal opening somewhere ? What if people needed help and he was still so useless ?
He couldn’t leave things like this, it might be dangerous. He’d go back to Menti’s shop tomorrow if the spell wasn’t gone by morning.
Vergil ruffled his fur again and then he straightened back up, turning around and walking to the stairs before vanishing on the mezzanine.
Dante stayed on the ground-floor, listening closely to guess what his twin was doing.
He heard a door close and then water flow into the bathroom. He was taking a shower.
The cat waited, prudently climbing the stairs as well and he snuck into the blue twin’s room.
Vergil was always very private and his bedroom was a place where Dante was rarely allowed in.
He had helped his brother acquire furniture so that he could make use of the room; but he had then tried to leave him some space, hoping that he would feel at ease in at least his own bedroom.
But now that Dante wasn’t really Dante, the temptation to look at this particular place was impossible to resist. He was just too curious to see, to know what was inside.
Ears twisting atop his head as he was listening for any sign that his twin was coming out of the bathroom, Dante entered.
It was dark but it didn’t bother him too much, his cat-eyes not as sharp as his real ones but still good enough.
Just as he had expected, Vergil’s room was very minimalistic. A bed, a dressing, a desk with a chair and a book shelf.
There wasn’t much to explore and this was a bit disappointing …
Dante walked to the desk and hopped on top of it.
In the wall right beside the flat surface was a large window. It allowed anyone sitting at the desk to glimpse the street that was behind the building.
Dante watched the neon lights reflect in the water puddles and over the wet asphalt, glowing softly in red and green.
The view was pretty great, the sight far nicer than he had ever suspected. Who would have guessed that this room had something like this to offer?
It wasn’t as if Dante had never seen that window, but it had never caught his attention. Not like this.
He had always thought that his surroundings didn't matter, that what was outside of the Devil May Cry’s walls was of no concern to him, but now it felt different.
Maybe the world hadn’t changed but Dante had.
He was now capable of seeing the simple beauty of colorful lights flooding this room. It felt… beautiful. Peaceful.
He lost himself in contemplation of the neon lights and their soft glow, counting the passersby and watching the rain fall.
Vergil eventually exited the bathroom and he came to join him in silence, his twin surprisingly leaning on the edge of the desk and looking outside as well.
They stayed like this, side by side, watching the world outside their home. It was a surreal moment out of time, one of silence and peace, one that they shared in quiet wonder.
Dante’s thoughts were escaping his cat body, his mind walking down the street and chasing the lights, leaving his anxiety stranded somewhere far away.
This feels like… I’ve reached my destination. Where I was always meant to be.
This bubble out of time, this fleeting moment that would soon be gone, made him realise that despite his frustration, despite his fears and his longing for more… It was alright.
He was okay.
The cat’s eyes shifted from the lights to the silent man whose eyes were miles away, lost in memories and endless secrets that might or might not ever be shared.
I’m so damn glad you’re here, Verg’. I’ve never been okay without you by my side.
Free of the caution and the usual prudence that kept him from reaching out, mostly out of fear that it would drive the man away when he only wanted him to get closer, Dante rubbed his head against his arm.
I’ve missed you. So fucking much.
His brother’s hand reached out, the motion felt relaxed and natural, his fingers gliding in the long strands of his fur gently.
He petted him again and the white cat’s blood felt like it was sparkling.
Shit, it felt like his twin was feeling as uncharacteristically sentimental as he was.
They kept on looking at the rain for a moment, Dante’s soft purr filling the comfortable silence in the room.
Eventually, Vergil sighed softly and his fingers stopped massaging his skull, to the hunter’s greatest regret.
The blue twin turned away from the view, leaving the desk with the white cat and walking slowly to his bed.
Dante watched dumbstruck as his twin pulled the covers back and laid down, drawing them back over his body. He laid on his side, adjusting his position once and then stopping moving.
He’s going to sleep ?
Soft wonder was making the cat’s heart beat quickly. It was so rare for him to see his brother sleep.
Since they had come back from Hell, his twin would always sleep in his room and keep the hunter out of it. Never far, but never quite close either.
Vergil needed privacy and room to breathe, and Dante understood that quite well. Everything here was new to him, and it was a very taxing thing to relearn how to live like a human.
Every sound, every smell, every person outside the shop was something that felt like a distant threat. His twin was on edge and he didn’t have the energy to put up with his little brother’s bullshit.
Dante might not like it, but it was sort of fair at the same time.
After all, the situation had been the other way around in the Underworld, with Vergil leading the way and the red twin feeling out of his depth.
Still, it left the youngest of Sparda’s sons to feel a little bit lonely now that they were back.
Cat-Dante left the desk, jumping down and landing without a sound on the floor. He slowly made his way to the bed and sat down at the bottom of it, looking up at his brother’s sleeping form.
He doubted that Vergil was already deeply asleep.
Sleep was a complicated matter for both of them, it never came easy and it often didn’t last long, nightmares coming to crawl into their dreams.
He pondered for a moment if it was wise to… jump on the bed and join him.
Wise ? Wait, since when do I care about that ?
Still, he was hesitating, he didn’t want to disturb his brother’s rest… but at the same time this was the opportunity of a lifetime to invade his bed.
I haven’t stolen a piece of his bed since we were eight… Shit, it’s just too tempting !
Dante jumped on the edge of the bed, careful to stay as discreet as possible but he knew his twin’s instincts were razor sharp. It came as no surprise when he spotted pale blue eyes looking at him.
They stared at each other but… nothing happened. Vergil didn’t move, didn’t tell him to leave either and so… he felt bold again.
He stepped closer, his paws pushing on the thick blanket and he made his way slowly closer.
“Mrow?” He meowed softly, somewhat for asking for permission, testing the limits of what was alright and what was too much.
A tired sight was the only answer he got and he inwardly grinned brightly. Who would have guessed that his twin’s combative spirit would be so weak against a cat ?
Feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, he pushed his way right up to his brother’s mid-section, curling up against him. He couldn’t stop the need to knead the blanket, plunging his claws into it and pulling it closer.
He was feeling warm and cosy, safe and happy.
Thank God he doesn’t know I am the cat or he would surely stab me.
Dante closed his eyes and relaxed, sleep taking him under quickly as he listened to the sound of the rain clattering against the room outside.
It was only hours later, morning light flooding the room that he woke up again. He was still lying on Vergil’s bed but to his surprise, and to his relief, he was back to his normal body.
He had slept like a stone, not noticing that he had transformed back nor that his twin had left the room !
He just hoped that the spell had lifted after his twin had stood up because… he wasn’t sure how to explain what had happened to him. This would render this whole situation so desperately embarrassing !
He strained his earring to try to spot any sign of activity inside the Devil May Cry but everything was silent. Vergil must have left the shop.
Dante stretched and yawned, aiming straight for a nice cup of coffee.
This… adventure… as a cat had been …. Peculiar. Honestly, it hadn’t been that bad of an experience after all.
If anything, it had given him exactly what he had needed, some attention and a closer moment with his twin.
Wait a minute…
Could Menti have done this on purpose ? Not just to teach him a lesson because he had annoyed her, but because it had actually been what she had seen inside his head ?
Damn ! That sneaky cat !
Now it seemed so obvious !
Dante picked up the phone and called the fortune-teller. The call beeped a few times before Menti got on the line.
“I was wondering when you were going to call me.” She snarled in the receiver.
“I just woke up. You really did a number on me, Menti.” He chuckled, not even angry at the demon.
“I know. Your twin came by here to get the money for the mission, and he told me you’ve been sleeping like the dead.”
Dante’s stomach dropped at her words.
“Wait… Did he mention me ? Or cat-me ?” He asked, feeling a massive wave of dread inside his stomach.
“Dante, did you think that I was so cruel that I wouldn’t give you any way of communication with anyone ?” She sounded really amused and the hunter was left to fear the worst now.
“What… what do you mean?” He mumbled, not getting what she was talking about.
“The spell amplified the bond between the two of you, leaving you able to mentally speak to him.” She simply said and Dante felt like ground opened up beneath him.
Oh… oh shit !
“So he… he heard everything I was thinking?” Dante muttered in horror.
“Not everything, but the thoughts directly focused on him, yes.” She chuckled knowingly.
Did she read Vergil’s mind too ? Did she pick up his mood and his thoughts while he was there ?
Dante was feeling himself blush in embarrassment and shame.
God, he… he knew. He heard everything. How am I supposed to handle this now ?
“Don’t worry kitten. You did a marvelous job. After all, he missed you too.” Mentibus hung up on these last words.
Dante stared at the receiver in his hand blankly. He was stunned.
Vergil had been aware that the cat had been in reality Dante the whole time.
What the fuck, does that mean that… he let me act all clingy anyway ?
The realisation was another slap and the hunter’s heart felt like a hot air balloon.
Butterflies filled his stomach and he felt strangely light.
A shimmering purple cross tore through the empty space inside the shop, announcing the arrival of his twin.
Dante’s face still felt bright red. He had wanted to breach that gap between them. He had longed to be shown some affection after being deprived of it for so long.
He had ended up getting far more than he had bargained for…
The red half-devil grinned as his older brother appeared through the void.
"He missed you too."
There was no need to feel embarrassed. It wasn’t as if he had done anything wrong.
Nah, this was good. It was even better than that.
This was perfect