Shadow Games

Disclaimer: “Devil May Cry” belongs to Capcom, not us. We have no money, so don’t sue us. ^.^ Zithantharis “Zi” is an original character—please be considerate and do not borrow him without permission. This fic was written as a one-on-one RolePlay, so the POV switches just about every paragraph.

This is a continuation shortly after the first game.

Thanks for reading and please enjoy!


Shadow Games
Chapter Five:


Zi listened from the next room as the middle-aged couple spoke with Dante about their recent demon infestation. They were understandably worried--understandable for humans, anyway. After all, he certainly didn’t consider wraiths all that fearsome. Dante had even already tried to assure them every way he could that the beast wouldn’t be a problem for him to remove, but the couple, and their thirteen-year-old daughter, seemed adamant about giving him every single little detail. Finally he had enough. Shrinking down to the size of a large cat, Zi calmly pattered into the main office of Devil Never Cry.

The child spotted him first, and without hesitation she scooped him up in her thin arms. “Look mom! A kitty.”

“Honey now please,” the wearied woman entreated. “You really should ask the man before you do something like that.”

Zi didn’t protest the treatment, casting an amused glance at Dante.

Dante rolled his eyes as he slumped back in his desk chair. “It’s fine,” he muttered with a dismissive wave. “It’s just a damn stray that begs scraps from me.” He hid a smirk as he turned his attention back to the father. You just behave, Zi. The last thing I need is for them to get all worked up over their daughter petting a demon. “Now, Mr. Warren, unfortunately it’s time to talk about payment.”

Zi allowed the girl to carry him to her seat, crouching easily in her lap as the father nervously looked on. I wonder…. Maybe I’ll tease him a little. Purring softly, Zi turned and butted his head against the girl’s neck. She smiled and began stroking his back. Good…. Allowing his voice to grow a bit louder, he began to rub heavily against her young chest--she giggled.

Dante couldn’t help but stare for a moment, but when the father seemed to pick up on the direction he was looking at he quickly caught himself. Damnit, Zi, are you teasing me or her? “That’s not enough,” he said abruptly, though he hadn’t really heard the offer he’d been given. In any case, Mr. Warren and his wife seemed just terrified enough to pay him anything he wanted; might as well take advantage of that.

All too pleased with his success, Zi abandoned the girl for her mother, giving the elder woman similar treatment. He heard her mumble something about a “very friendly cat,” but as he sniffed her neck he suddenly drew back. Do humans really think that stuff makes them smell good? He didn’t hesitate to then test out the father’s lap, and the man actually made a startled grunt as Zi began to knead his paws into Mr. Warren’s thighs.

Having had quite enough Dante made a gesture to the man, who obediently handed the cat over. With a stern glare he dropped Zi ungracefully onto the floor at his feet. I’ll deal with you later. That accomplished he returned to his business dealings.

Undaunted, Zi started winding himself around Dante’s ankles, and when the man tried to kick him away he simply leapt into his lap. I’m not leaving. Just to be sure Dante got the picture, he flexed his claws against the other’s thighs in mild warning as he settled himself pressed to his stomach.

Little brat. Determined to have his paybacks later--after his income had left--he gave Zi a scratch behind his ears as he continued to argue figures with his client. Usually he wouldn’t insist on much for a job as simple as this, but it had been a while since he’d gotten any real paying employers, and he was in need of the money. My God, I can’t imagine what this is doing to my image. Dante, devil hunter--with a cat in his lap.

Eyes narrowing, Zi shifted until he was comfortably crouched across Dante’s lap. Much better…. Feeling all too pleased with himself, Zi started purring again. It has been a while since he wasn’t busy with jobs--I deserve time with my mate, after all. His eyes nearly closed with that thought, and he rubbed his ear against Dante’s hip as his purr deepened.

Dante frowned slightly. Now what is he up to? He set a hand over the cat to keep him still, and tried to ignore him, but…he was warm. And it felt kind of…nice. Trying not to let the embarrassment show in his face he did his best to look attentive. You…are gonna be in so much trouble, flea-bag. He pinched Zi’s tail in retaliation.

His tail whipped out of reach, though the action didn’t deter him in the least. He didn’t care about the whiny humans, especially the girl who was still trying to attract his attention. Instead his back arched faintly beneath the heavy, warm hand. You can’t pretend you don’t want me, he thought, shifting the little Dante would allow him. I can already feel it. I can smell the desire in you. Turning his head suddenly, Zi pressed his nose into the slight bulge of the man’s pants--softly, though, almost tenderly. Just so Dante would be able to recognize his feelings for himself.

Dante’s eyes went wide for a moment, and he almost swept Zi onto the floor right there. “2,500 is fine,” he heard himself say; he almost cursed immediately afterwards, having been about to push for three thousand. But he was suddenly very anxious to get the trio out of his store. Not that any of them would have figured it out or even noticed, but…. He reached across the desk to shake Mr. Warren’s hand. “I’ll be at your house in an hour--I’ll need some time to prepare. Take your family out for a nice dinner or something, and I’ll be done by the time you get back. You can pay me then.”

Zi groaned softly--he would be leaving after all. Seeing that the family would be leaving and that Dante would need to see them out, he leapt nimbly to the desk to sit pertly on top of the man’s paperwork. His tail twitched back and forth as the humans regarded him with mixed expressions. Glancing back at Dante, he licked his lips purposefully.

Dante tried not to notice as he ushered the family out the door with another round of assurances. When they had finally—thankfully--departed he closed the door purposefully and turned to face his feline companion. “Zi,” he said in a low, threatening tone, though he didn’t really mean anything by it. He was more embarrassed than anything else.

He blinked, slowly, and chose to remain in his smaller, shadowy form. Eyes narrowed in obvious pleasure, Zi resumed his innocent purring by way of an answer. I want to see what he does. Normally, he gets uncomfortable when I’m like this, so….

Dante set his hands on his hips, obviously annoyed, but what could he do? It wasn’t like there was much he could do to Zi when he looked so much like a harmless housecat. He sighed, and approached the desk to scratch Zi in his favorite spot, just behind his ears. “You nasty little fiend. I ought to have you fixed for that stunt. You could have gotten me in trouble.”

Zi purred happily at the touch, standing to better push his head against it. “I think the females rather enjoyed it,” he replied easily. Ooh…I like that. His tail whipped back and forth, and Zi turned his head to lick at the man’s exposed wrist.

Dante snorted. “Gee, I guess that makes you more successful with the ladies than I am.” He rolled his eyes and continued his scratching for a moment, before abruptly withdrawing his hand. “I gotta get dressed,” he said easily as he made his way towards the back stairs. “Got a date with some Wraiths tonight.” I know you want it just as much as I do--I’m not gonna let you play me.

Zi was quick to follow the Hunter, slowly growing until he was about as big as a good-sized dog. He trotted easily up the stairs behind him. “You should have tried to get more money from the man,” he stated suddenly. “Then you could take some time off for once.” He made a playful snap at Dante’s heels as they ascended.

“I would have, if you hadn’t been distracting me,” Dante retorted with a backward glance. At least Trish was out for the night…. At the top of the stairs he stripped out of his shirt and let it fall to the floor, already on the way to his closet. “Besides, 2,500 is more than this job deserves anyway. I couldn’t have charged much more without being indecent.”

Scooping up the shirt and draping it over his back, Zi continued after the man. “It never stopped you from over-charging before,” he pointed out as he tossed the shirt onto the bed. When Dante reached the closet, Zi silently slipped up behind him and butted his head against the small of his bare back.

Dante paused with his hand on the hanger he’d been about to select. I do have an hour, after all…. He reached back to scratch the top of Zi’s head. “Yeah, but only when I think they can afford it. You’ll learn business sense someday--I can’t make money if people think I’m a greedy little shit, after all.” He tossed his vest over the chair in the corner of his room.

“Hmm….” Zi slowly circled around Dante as he continued to select his outfit for the evening, rubbing the length of his body over his knees and thighs. “Demon’s don’t need business sense,” he pointed out. “If we are tired, we sleep. If we are hungry, we hunt.” If we are lusting…. He purred harder, purposefully bumping against Dante’s groin as he continued to circle, trusting his unspoken words would be heard.

Dante sucked a low breath through his teeth before he could help it. Damnit, I almost can’t stand that he can turn me on no matter what form he’s in. “This demon needs beer and hamburgers,” he replied pointedly as he picked a belt to go with the rest of his clothing. “Which means money, which means business sense. We’re not all as fortunate as you, you know.” He lowered a hand to spread his fingers through Zi’s warm, wisp-like coat as he circled.

Humming again, Zi paused, still tightly pressed to the man’s legs with his head directly behind him. “A pity, that,” he murmured. “Then I suppose that means I am trapped here another evening.” Alone, again. It is getting tiresome, especially now that my strength has been returning. I almost long to go hunting…. Shaking aside those thoughts, Zi turned to press his nose high between the backs of Dante’s thighs. “I must just wait here, then.”

Dante couldn’t help but chuckle. “You sound like an old girlfriend of mine,” he teased. He began to undo his belt; it sent a little shiver through him. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you. This job won’t take long, and Trish should be gone pretty late….” I wonder how much longer we can keep this a secret from her….

Zi sighed--it didn’t look like his tactics were working. Deciding on one last move, he slipped in front of Dante once more, though this time in his human form. He nudged aside the other’s hands and proceeded to undo the belt himself. “I suppose I could be patient,” he murmured. “For the sake of your burgers and beer.”

A bit surprised by the sudden change Dante blinked, then smiled slightly. Sorry, Zi, but welcome to the working world. “Well…I have plenty of time before I have to go….” He dragged a hand down Zi’s smooth, pale chest, not wanting to hamper the movements of his hands at all. If he could, he might have been purring, too.

“Not for what I have in mind,” he growled, leaning close to run his tongue up Dante’s neck. He continued to lick at the man’s collar, chest, and stomach as he gradually pulled down his pants. Zi couldn’t help a faint smile when he saw the effects of his treatment on the man. His fingers teased along the lines of Dante’s boxers. “Perhaps we should wait….”

“No, I don’t think so.” Dante stepped out of his pants and kicked them away. “Maybe you should remind me why I’m gonna want to hurry home….” He sifted one hand through Zi’s hair and pressed his thumb into the curve of his ear in encouragement.

A low, faint purr slipped from his throat. His fingers scratched lightly at the small of Dante’s back, urging him close against his hips. “When you come back,” he murmured, nibbling at the man’s ear, licking along his jaw with a rough tongue. “I am going to fill you, posses you, and you’ll never think about some ‘old girlfriend’ again.” Growling softly, Zi bit at the other’s ear just enough to draw blood. He sucked softly at the wound, his fingers tightening around curved flesh.

Dante hissed through his teeth again as he tilted his head back, allowing Zi’s touch closer. God, he feels good. This must be so wrong. He grinned to himself as he pawed strong hands down Zi’s chest, pressing his hips forward. “I’m looking forward to it already.” He met Zi’s lips in a proper kiss, sucking and biting at them hungrily.

Zi chuckled around the man’s lips, wiggling against him. “Then look forward to this.” He slid his fingers down into Dante’s boxers and began to stroke him slowly. “I am going to take you as a true demon. I will touch you--fill you--as a beast.” He grinned ferally and met his gaze with bright crimson eyes. “I will take all of you.”

Dante shuddered despite himself, his eyes going wide at…the image his brain devised. “As…are you sure?” But he was already biting back a groan, pressing into Zi’s warm fingers as heat spread through his limbs and groin. It was as if the simple thought of what Zi was proposing lit a fierce desire in him he hadn’t known before. It was a little intimidating.

He snorted lightly. “I am a demon,” he replied simply. He let his nails skate across the man’s heated flesh. “You have not known the pleasure of such a coupling, demi-human.” Zi’s tail snaked around, stretching just enough to press into the clothed cleft of his buttocks. “Perhaps I will find your demon,” he teased, moving the extra limb in time with his fingers.

This time Dante’s voice did escape him, dribbling from his lips in a long, low moan. There was no denying it--he would take whatever Zi had to offer him, and enjoy it…as a demon would. He had to admit that it had crossed his mind in the past, even before meeting Zi: the thrill of violence and lust his demon side reveled in. Sometimes…he wasn’t quite proud of that. In sudden want of air he eased Zi back, gathering his senses—gradually--back to him. He chuckled. “If you keep me here much longer, I won’t be able to get to my job,” he teased.

Pleased by the flush in Dante’s face, Zi allowed the distance, pulling back his hand and tail. “Of course--your burgers and beer are waiting.” Lifting the man’s wrist, he licked along the blue vein before turning to leave him to get dressed. “I’m getting a drink,” he informed the other. His tail swished through the air in an unconscious show of his amusement and excitement.

Dante rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the slight flutter in his hand as he swept his hair away from his face. Shit…I can’t let it freak me out now. It’s not as if we haven’t already slept together. But it felt a little different as he changed into his clothing for the night. Not that he ever resented his heritage, or anything of the sort, but...indulging in those kinds of fantasies felt dangerous somehow. I’m gonna need to figure this out fast, though. “You behave yourself while I’m gone, huh?”

Zi glanced up from the door and smiled. “I shall try to refrain from scratching the upholstery,” he joked, eyes dancing over the tight black and red outfit. He looks good. “Just…hurry.” He offered a brief kiss.

“I will.” Dante tapped him lightly on the rear and finished tightening the straps across his chest and thighs. “I’ll be back before ten, honey.” And with a laugh he trotted down the stairs to the main level, donning his coat as he slipped outside.

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