Vanitas x OC : The Moon's curse

The catacombs part 2

"Our agreement as you said only concerns my questions about my past. I can do whatever I wish to do.
You. Don't. Own. Me. Especially not when I am the one who marked you." I stated.

We kept staring at each other, having a battle that neither of us wanted to back down from.

"Vanitas. Cyndelle." We heard Noé call out so Vanitas distanced himself from me before turning around to look at Noé, his face completely neutral as if nothing happened.

"Is everything alright ?" Noé asked in my direction with a concerned look.

I closed my eyes, smiling at him. "Yes, we were just discussing something. Don't worry about it."

When I opened my eyes, Noé's gaze was going on between Vanitas and me before stopping on me and nodding. "If you say so. But don't hesitate to come to me if something is troubling you Cyndelle." He offered.

I smiled genuinely at his kindness. "Thank you."

"So, what did you want Noé ?" Vanitas asked the tanned vampire with a harsh tone, beginning to walk away.

We went to walk with him, Noé seeming a little flustered at the sudden question.

"Well I was just wondering... Are there really Chasseurs somewhere in this underground maze ?" He said looking around.

"I dunno." Vanitas answered. "That said... When vampires ran rampant under Paris during the war, the Chasseurs are the ones who wiped them out... ...And people often say they're still based underground." The vampire doctor started explaining. "That's probably why Dante's looking for a secret passage that leads to the Chasseurs down here."

"If the Chasseurs really are the ones behind the disappearances, wouldn't it be better to ask Count Orlok for help ?" Noé inquired.

"Hm ?"

"Oh, dear me, no. You really can't do that. ♡" The cheery voice of Johann spoke behind us, making me jump in surprise.

I felt him ruffling my hair. "Sorry about that, little one." He apologized. "But..." He turned to Noé and began to nuzzle against his cat. Murr didn't seem to like that.

"To modern humans, both vampires and chasseurs are merely beings that "do exist, somewhere apparently." However...
One false step, and... ...There could even be another war." He informed.

"You mean... The Count can't make any careless moves either." The white-haired boy concluded.

"Precisely." Johann answered, poking him on the cheek before turning towards Dante who was shaking some metal bars, making a lot of unnecessary noise. "So. Listen, Dante, I'd really prefer we didn't make this bigger than we can handle..."

"Shaddup !! I can't step down until I give 'em as good as I got !!" Dante complained.

"Hey ! You, there ! What are you doing !?"

'Looks like the staff isn't too happy with the ruckus he's doing...' I thought, looking at Dante being taken away by an employee, Vanitas laughing happily at his situation.

"Aaaaaargh, Dammit !! Where the hell is that cloaked bastard from yesterday !?" Dante yelled when we were outside.

"Just let it go, Dante. There's no way we'd find a clue about the Chasseurs in a place that's open to the public like that." Riche reasoned, trying to calm him down.

"Actually... If you want to search the tunnels, it would be faster to make contact with a cataphile. Why would you go straight to the tourist area ?" Vanitas asked.

"Dante may not look it, but he doesn't like the scary things. I think he was probably trying to accustom himself to the fear in a place that was less threatening first." Riche explained with a teasing look.

"Ah. So that's how it is." Vanitas said in understanding, definitely wanting to tease Dante too.

"Like hell it is !! Unexpected clues Turn up in places like that !! Right under your nose !!" The dham exclaimed in anger, refuting the teasing words thrown at him.

Vanitas and Dante proceed to fight by calling each other "Baldy" and "Moron". I watched them alongside Noé and Johann, Noé tilted his head to the side as he watched the two men bickering like usual.

"What's this, hmm ? Worried about Vanitas, are we ?" Johann asked us, giggling.

"Yes. He's acting perfectly normal." Noé answered to which I nodded in agreement.

Johann hummed curiously as he put his chin on Noé's shoulder, not understanding the answer.

"And so... ...I'm curious about why that might be."

'Vanitas sure had quite the mood swings today...' I was internally pouting angrily when I remembered the lastest interactions I had with the vampire doctor. 'To think I just want to help and understand... Is that too much to ask ?'

I got out of my reverie when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to look at Noé.

"Sorry if I startled you." He immediately apologised. "But we're going back to the Hotel so..." He trailed off looking over his shoulder to Vanitas waiting for us.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Let's go back." I said, starting to walk away, Noé following soon after me.

I joined the boys in their room, Vanitas immediately went to the rooftop and Noé went to sleep. I sat on the chair near the desk and went through my notebook, though it was more a recollection of what I deemed important about the astermite, the World's Formula and anything related to its creation I guess.

I sighed, not focusing on the notes in my notebook but more on Vanitas' actions these past hours. A hand on my chin and my eyes closed since it helped me to focus better on my thoughts.

'Why is he acting like that, since we know it might have a link to the Chasseurs... He's been awfully closed off... Almost distancing me from this case, but why ?!' I screamed in my mind not understanding his behaviour towards me.

I put my head on my open book, cheek facing the pages, sighing deeply once again.

'This is all so confusing...'

~~~

Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Vanitas was staring at the back of the button Dante gave him earlier, in his thoughts.

'This is for the best that Iona doesn't go to this place...'

When the sky darkened, Vanitas took a look at his watch. Deciding it was time to go, he sat up before making his way out of the Hotel.