Angels May Cry

Fixing It

***Warning***

Chapter may contain graphic violence, depictions of explicit sexual scenes, nudity, and vulgar language. Please be advised.

Chapter 13: Fixing It

16, April 2014

Noelle

Everything hurt. My wings were barely holding up off the ground. My body was soaked in sweat, lean muscles defined in the sun. I felt like I had been hit by a bus as I held my sword up, panting as my stance faltered. Dante shook his head as his great blade disappeared. He had broken a sweat today in the midday sun, losing his Henley as we trained.

I had trained with Nero for about a week. Once he had to take a job, Dante stepped in. He had promised to be more merciful than Vergil would be. I still cringed at the thought of training with him. I was right to be worried. Where Nero had been easing me into working out and training again, Dante had been ruthlessly unsympathetic. We worked daily, no matter the weather. Dante tested everything I had. He was faster, stronger, and fitter than I was.

My current state, trembling legs and screaming muscles, was enough to make the devil hunter stop. I gritted my teeth and tried to lift my wings higher in defiance.

"Come on. One more round." I said.

"Sweetheart, one more round will kill you. You're barely healing from the scratches and scrapes." Dante sighed.

"I have to keep getting better." I panted.

"You also need rest. Those wings need rest. Please babe..." Dante said, walking over to me.

I felt my knees give out as he reached me. The thunder clouds that had been rolling in throughout the day finally let go as the heavens opened up and rain fell, cooling our sweaty bodies. Dante's arms enclosed around my waist, holding me up as my wings disappeared and my sword fell to the ground. I leaned into the feeling of his thumb on my cheek, wiping away the hot tears I had begun to cry.

"Hey. You've improved a lot, sweetheart. But you need to rest... Before you hurt yourself." Dante said, his tone soft in the way it used to be for me.

"I can't. I have to get better. I have to train harder." I said as black spots circled my vision.

"Noelle. Babe look at me." Dante tilted my face up, looking into my glassy green eyes as I tried to focus on him. "Babe you need to take a deep breath. Let's get you inside."

I don't remember Dante carrying me into the shop or how I got cleaned up and changed. But when I woke up, I was laying on Dante's bed, yoga pants and a hoodie on, my hair damp and put up in a messy bun, and a stiffness in my body that made me groan as I tried to stretch. A voice beside me, laced with sleep, spoke up as I tried to turn my head.

"Babe. You feelin' better?" my red devil asked from his spot on the chair beside his bed.

"I feel like I got hit by a truck. Come lay down if you're tired. This is your bed." I grumbled.

"Nah. Lex cleaned you up and changed your clothes. I wanted you to sleep." He said as he stretched and stood up. "I'll go get ya some water and something to eat."

"Dante... Wait... Please." I said. "Just... come lay beside me for a minute."

Dante looked over his shoulder and sighed, leaning on the door frame. He seemed conflicted with himself as he looked at me then stared down at the floor. I heard him softly say 'Fuck it' and push himself off the door frame as he walked across the room to the bed. His weight made the bed dip and then he had pulled me closer. I curled into his chest, taking in his aftershave and cologne. A soft breath escaped my lips.