Fire and Ice

Chapitre 10

No warning for this really short chapter but the next one il a long one.

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(V's POV)

The way back to the shop had been a living hell, the silence between them felt terrible. He wouldn't have minded if they hadn't argued.... He had lost his cool, blamed her for his own feelings, his fears... Even her harsh words had not hurt more than the look on her face.

And Dante's face when Lilith walked to her room..... The questions in his eyes, anger burning behind those light colored irises when the poet shook his head. "Not now, too tired" was all he could indicate as he headed to his room.

He wished her good night, wishing to do something else. He felt terrible, the distress on her face, her red and puffy eyes, that faint sad smile...

V couldn't understand why he felt so miserable knowing it was his fault, seeing her cry made him ache, seeing her in danger made him even more reckless.... He hated feeling weak, not knowing what to do, how to help her...

'You got it bad, that's it.' Griffon stirred, his thoughts brushing on v's own, hovering on the edges of his conscious mind. 'That interest of yours is more than curiosity and that teasing game.'

He ignored the bird's words when he heard her crumble behind her door, sobbing quietly. And her words..... It somehow broke his heart even more just hearing her say that.

Loneliness... He knew that to well. In another lifetime, as his past self. Surviving alone, fighting without anyone to rely on, at least that girl had had a family.

"The girl hates contact..."

He remembered Dante's words, maybe it was worse to have a family and not being able to be hug or hold. The feeling was maybe stronger.... That brought others questions and thoughts but he couldn't think of it now, he needed to rest.

He took off his clothes, changed into a simple pajama, laid down on his bed and tried to rest but he simply couldn't, tossing and tossing under the bedsheets. He stood up after a few hours and went downstair, glancing at her room for a second, the shop was silent now that everyone was asleep, even her sobbing had stopped and the poet wished she had fell asleep in her bed and not behind the door.

"Can't sleep ? I wonder why." The sudden voice startled him.

V was so tired he didn't even bother looking around, so sure everyone was asleep that he hadn't see Dante's form, leaning on his chair, feets on the desk. He was grumpy, tossing the magazine away from his face and turned the lights on. From the look on his face, the legendary devil hunter was ready to shove him out at anytime.

Dante had been protecting her in the shadow since she crossed the entrance of the shop, keeping an eye on her behaviour to distract her from the possible pain or discomfort. The sons of sparda knew each other or at least, Dante knew him from how he acted in the past and was really cautious whenever the poet was too close to the little hunter.

"I warned you." His tone was heavy, dark and dangerous. "I told you, the day before she came to not mess with her. She cried and you clearly looked guilty. What happened ?"

"....We argued..." V confessed.

"You argued ?" Dante seemed puzzled "The two of you just argued ?"

"Yes, as I said." The poet scolded. How could his brother managed to be so annoying.

"Ok, ok. What did you say then ? I doubt you did something to her, she can easily send you fly away or worse and you might look like shit right now, it's not her work."

V sighed, hearing how weak he could be was not what he needed. He manage to explain what happened, the mission in general, the almost non-stop battles, the sign on the floor and the giant riot but kept the vision for him as Lilith wouldn't like it.

'See, you really care 'bout what Girlie like or not.' Griffon's voice whispered through his skull.

V heard the older hunter sighed, "At least, you didn't call her useless, pathetic, helpless or... what was it again ? Ah yes ! Powerless !" The legendary hunter laughed after some times, relieved. "She scolded you pretty well. I knew you would make a good team. But don't do that again, I have to keep an eye on her, she's a good girl with a not happy past at all, she deserve a break."

"If you know that much about her, why keeping it secret ?" The poet tried, looking at the other man in the eyes.

"I can return the question." Dante's was grinning but his eyes showed V that he was way more serious. "You're omitting something, V. Something happened during that mission, and more precisely during the riot's battle."

"How presumptuous of you, what make you think of that ?" He struggled to keep his composure, being exhausted didn't help at all.

"You, right now."

Bastard

The summoner's eyes narrowed, he shouldn't have started this, not in his state, nor should he continue. To his surprise, Dante raised his hands and finished the bantler.

"I'm only hiding what she asked for. Want some answers, go find her. And if she doesn't give it, back off. Don't push her. Her past is.... Messy and full of trauma." His brother closed his eyes, leaning on his chair again, "The only things I can say is that the girl hide a lot behind her happy face, she cares more about people than she shows it, even more than herself, and sometimes it makes her do stupid things. Stupid choices. She wants to protect everyone, even if it cost her pain and sorrow, even if she end up alone and broken...." He put back his magazine on his face before adding "Now go back to sleep, Mr Poetry. We'll talk tomorrow, the three of us."

V sighed, got back to his room after a few more word with the other man who stayed at his desk instead of his room. The summoner assumed he was waiting for the girl too....

Why is she hiding things? What can it be ?

'That little obsession of yours is going to put ya in trouble ! Maybe it's personal stuff, ya know.... She never talks 'bout her mother or father....' The birds stated, stirring slowly 'But now's not the time to rack your brain, Shakespeare, get some rest.'

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I should have make that bird talk more XD I really like him.