popcornxgif | Complicated homecoming...

Entry tags:

alastor,
lady

Complicated homecoming...

It had been years since Alastor had last seen this town, bustling with humans and reeking of demons. It was almost comforting...if not for the fact that he knew his master was here. The master he'd abandoned without a word, who would be fully justified in striking him down for his insubordination. But it wasn't in Alastor's nature to run. He'd had his taste of freedom, now it was time to face the consequences. If he was lucky, maybe he could come out on top this time and be truly free.

But that would be once he entered Devil May Cry, something he would wait until daytime for. He didn't want to catch his master just returning from a demon hunt and ready to shoot anything that had fangs and claws. So in the darkness of the desert night, he stood atop a building across from the Devil Hunter's shop. His senses were attuned for any hint of magic approaching him, but he might not register an ordinary human right away.

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She shifts on the bench, facing him now. Curiosity written all over her face. "Do I want to know?"

"I'm expecting it to get pretty ugly, I don't plan on making this clean. And I might use my true form to send a message...they aren't gonna want to see what I look like when I'm not limiting myself to avoid looking like a monster."

His eyes fall to the ground as the tone in his face and his expression shift from anger to something akin to hurt.

"I'll do what I can to help keep you from traumatizing them. Though I think they'd find the wings, tail, and horns cool."

She tilts her head, her hand coming up to- she doesn't know what. Comfort him? Would he even let her? Instead, she lets her hand drop with a soft thump onto the bench between them.

"I'm not talking about that form. You've never seen my actual true form...nobody has in a couple thousand years."

He kicks his feet lightly against the ground. Even now, having proper feet still feels strange. Especially having five toes, he spent so much of his life with cloven hooves.

"I look a lot more monstrous like that."

"Oh. I think you're overestimating you're terrifying nature for anyone over the age of nine. Half these kids have probably seen far worse in the movies." She shrugs worrying her lower lip a moment, "Besides I'm pretty sure I've personally seen far more terrifying things than what your true form is at this point."

"Pretty sure you wouldn't bat an eye at it, my natural form's pretty tame as demons go."

At least he didn't have extra mouths or eyes in places they didn't belong. He didn't look disturbing, just entirely too big and sharp.

"But there's a difference between watching a movie and seeing a twelve foot tall devil with thick claws and teeth to put a shark to shame standing right there."

"Good to know."

Not that tamer necessarily meant she would be less likely to shoot him. And after that little show with the children...she wouldn't want to do that. It wasn't like he hadn't been on his best behavior or anything so far.

"Given that, you'll need to show me sometime so I don't accidentally shoot you. You've been too kind to deserve that."

He blinked at that, cheeks flushing a violet color.

"I'll...uh. I'll show you after this job is over, then."

He cleared his throat, trying to force down the blush. At least he'd managed to take that complement pretty gracefully, comparatively.

"So, um...does that mean you've, you know. Changed your mind about me?"

She blinks, taken by surprise at his question. She only had a moment or so to really process that a. he was blushing, and b. he didn't blush red. And how it made her grin to know that demons could blush.

Her brows furrow, "Changed my mind about you?"

"About keeping me at arm's length because I'm a demon."

He glanced away from her, uncertainty obvious in his voice.

"I mean, you refused to eat with me on those grounds alone. Doesn't exactly indicate a willingness to entirely judge me on my actions."

"I keep everyone at arm's length."

It was just more obvious with him, Trish, and Dante. Not that she didn't keep Patty at a distance. Getting attached wasn't exactly sure she could afford with her line of work. She sighs, rubbing her palm against her thigh as opposed to fingering her concealed pistols.

"I don't exactly make a lot of effort to leave that door open no."

"But especially if they're not human, apparently."

He stands up, looking over at where some of the kids are playing on the swings.

"So that's it, huh? No matter what I do, I'll never be able to earn the same treatment as a human?"

"I didn't say that. The fact that you would do something horrible to protect children...that says a lot."

Her hands still, her fingers curling under to dig into her palms. Why couldn't he just be somewhat like Dante and avoid serious conversation like the plague 95 percent of the time?

"Then which is it? Are you willing to offer me that chance, or is any supposed friendship we have going to be conditional, on the assumption that I don't mind watching you and your human friends have lunch and whatever else it is you don't do with demons and knowing I shouldn't even bother asking to join?"

He still doesn't face her, but the frustration in his voice is clear. He's never really wished he was a human...but sometimes his envy of them hurt.

"I don't have human friends." There's an edge there, regret lined as she all but spat the words at him. Morrison was Dante's associate more than her's. Useful, but generally they only crossed paths when they both had jobs for Dante or his insight was necessary. And Patty was more sister than a friend...and she would give anything for her not to be in the middle of her world. "It's akin to putting a target on their back and I can't be there to protect them nearly as easily as you or Dante."

She's quiet save for a sniffle then. She wasn't supposed to get emotional over this. She had work to do and she needed a clear head for that.

"So you don't have to worry about watching me do anything with anyone. Besides benevolent demons are the closest thing I have to family anymore. So unless you've been faking the benevolent part, you'll fit right in."

At that, he does turn to face her. His expression softens somewhat in sympathy that he can't help despite his hurt.

"I'm not. You can ask anyone who knows me, I'm lousy at faking unless it's for a camera."

He sighs, crouching down to be closer to eye level with her.

"But if we're the ones you feel safest getting close to, why keep the door locked? I can tell you from experience, it's a good way to make sure you stay alone and risk driving off anyone you might have actually had a meaningful friendship with."

It might not have been his intention, but it does make her smile a little that he can't fake it. Her eyes finally no longer boring holes into her knees as she tilts head up.

"Because... the last time someone was beyond the door they hurt me." She sounds small, her eyes far away with the memory. She sniffles again and shakes her head. "And we have work to do, so can we put this conversation on hold for a while? It isn't exactly one I like to linger on for very long."

"Alright."

He puts a hand on her shoulder with a soft smile of his own, still crouched down.

"Just try to remember I'm not the kind of guy who uses deception to hurt people, alright? I prefer to make it very well known who my enemies are and when someone's just my ally because I don't have much choice. And I hope you already know you can trust me to have your back out here."

She nods as much in thanks as in understanding. Though she does make a point of brushing her cheek against his hand in appreciation. She really didn't know how she would have handled it if he'd pressed to continue the conversation in that vein. Worse he's hitting a little too close to home with his understanding.

"I'll try to keep that in mind." And she lets her cheek brush a second time. "I do."

He gives her hair a light brush and stands up, dusting his pants off before straightening.

"Good."

As he turns to sit down, he finds a small girl tugging at his jacket, wanting "Mr. Allisor" to help her onto the swings. He blinks, then smiles and pats her on the head as he looks back to Lady.

"I'll be right back."

Her eyes slide closed, that takes her back, the last time someone brushed her hair back like that her mother had been alive.The nostalgia didn't last long. The little girl reminding her that they were in the park as she tugged on Alastor's jacket. The way she says his name making her smile.

"I'm not going anywhere." She murmurs watching the little girl wait impatiently by the swings. Her smile widening as Alastor helps her up and the swing drifts forward under her weight. She dabs at her eyes, wiping away the few tears their conversation had brought up.

He gives the girl a few light pushes on the swing to get her going, then steps back as she insists she can do it on her own. After watching for a little while to make sure she's not about to change her mind, he makes his way back to the bench and sits down, this time directly next to Lady.

"I'm starting to think this job is babysitting as much as guard duty."

His tone is amused more than annoyed, even edging into fond.

When he comes back there's doubt that the same dopey smile from before is back. Her head tilting as she watches the girl leap from the swing shortly after he walks away, giggling all the while.

"You're good at it. And I think it's cute." The admission turns her cheeks a light shade of pink as she keeps her eyes on the playing children; alert for any sign of the demon they were hunting.

His own cheeks shade into violet and he scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

"Yeah, I, um, usually tend to get along pretty well with kids. Like I said, I've always been kind of fond of them."

"That's not a bad thing." There's something almost soft to the way she says it. The way her whole expression seemed to go entirely soft as she watches the children play. It was a shame to think that there could have been more children out playing in the afternoon sun.

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