A Mirror, Darkly

[madimpossibledreamer]

Olivier chosen from the name of a demon that “tempts men with cruelty and mercilessness to the poor”.

Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Lady's dealing with another client that didn't quite fill her in.
Word Count: 1730
Rating: Teen

 

        Lady, despite what this rich bastard CEO might think, isn’t oblivious to the fact that he’s trying to screw her over. For some reason, a lot of her clients seem to have gotten the idea that she’s gullible despite her reputation, somehow, when that same reputation had to have been how they’d gotten her name in the first place. If nothing else, she would have thought Dante’s pal Enzo would sing like a canary, warning any and all about messing with her if only in the vain hope that he’ll eventually run across a sympathetic ear. Maybe she needs to make another visit, much as she hates having to deal with the slimeball.
        This particular slimeball is definitely fishing for sympathy even as he answers her questions about how the demons look young enough in their human forms, enough to put his guards at ease shortly before they all get slaughtered. At least this one hadn’t tried to haggle on fee, but it seems more like he figures she won’t last long enough to collect.
        The only lie he tells outright is that he’d never heard of demons before now, desperately contacting everyone he knew to try to understand what was going on until someone had recommended an expert: Lady. He’s very good, but it doesn’t ring true, which probably means that he’s just omitting things that might get her killed. Like probably the fact that he’d brought this on himself, somehow. He’s worried, not scared. She won’t get tricked by that kind of thing again, but even a little pushing has him questioning whether she can handle it. She’s probably not getting paid without a little persuasion, but that wouldn’t be the first time either, and she’s gone into things with even less information. Nobody she calls knows too much about the town, which probably means they’re either from out of town or tend to keep a low profile, which is good for her. It means they’re less likely to try to come out swinging.
        As for the devils themselves, she’s keeping an open mind. She’s met two with a heart, but she also doesn’t plan on being demon chow. Finding them isn’t too much of a problem; given that today is a school day, three teenagers playing hooky stands out more than he otherwise would. Keeping on their trail, on the other hand, is more of a challenge. The guy is doing something as they walk, casually sticking his thumbs in his belt loops like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and her eyes keep drifting off of them, or she’ll keep taking a wrong turn and having to backtrack. Eventually, she just ends up going in the direction that feels wrong, and then she can keep up, no problem. She’s patient, and she’s good about her limits, and she’s definitely curious if the behavior of these devils will give her any clues. If nothing else, she’s completely convinced they’re not just your average teenagers, despite the fact that even your average teenager might hang out in an abandoned building.
        The average teenager doesn’t carry around a battle-axe longer than their own arms, though, or a sword and, interestingly enough, a pair of light and dark guns. Hopefully Dante hasn’t started a fashion trend, or he’ll be insufferable until the end of time. More than he already is, anyway. The only thing the redhead is carrying is some sort of jeweled amulet around her neck that is probably something magical. The other two are more confident, handling their weapons like they’re used to them, while the redhead hangs back a little.
        The clothes don’t tell her too much. The dark-haired one that looks like a teenage boy looks the most like a devil to her. Something about the way he moves isn’t quite human. The blonde is better about pretending to be human, but she’s still hefting that battle-axe like it weighs nothing. Maybe devils really are drawn to gothic-style clothing. Though she’s pretty sure she’s never seen Dante willingly wear a t-shirt with a pattern on it, or chains, or jewelry other than that necklace he keeps on him at all times. Nor, and she stifles a laugh as she spots it, would he paint his nails a dark blue that may or may not have sparkles when it catches the light. Demons and devils occasionally have a sense of whimsy, but it’s not too common—in fact, she’s only met two she could really describe that way. Dante would definitely wear those boots, though. Hell, if they’d fit, Lady would consider those—they look both stylish and actually properly padded so things like a stakeout wouldn’t be as much of a pain. Hopefully this particular devil at least changes his outfits once in a while, unlike some people she knows.
        The blonde has a nice stylish pair of jeans and a leather jacket and a similar pair of boots, only with a slightly higher heel, and she’s not allergic to actually tastefully mixing brighter colors. The redhead’s frankly adorable tennis shoes are kind of practical, but blood would definitely get in that sweater.
        Given her experience and stories she’d been told, Lady guesses two fairly young devils and a priestess or a witch. She’s not sure what they’re up to; normally they only go seeking out allies when they’re going for something big, but with nothing like Temen-ni-Gru around, at least not known to anyone she called around to ask, she’s short on clues.
        They’re in there long enough, a few hours, to make her grateful she’d actually bothered to bring snacks and a magazine for the stakeout. They’re probably searching for something, which already puts a hole in the ‘utterly random attack’ theory, not that she’d put much stock in that in the first place and she’s pretty sure Olivier hadn’t, either. He probably hadn’t known exactly, guessing that it was targeted either due to enemies made or something that he had or had done, and the actual assignment is that he wants Lady to find out for him, only he hadn’t asked.
        It’s roughly hours later that she hears movement by the front door again, a shape glancing out the broken window and then ducking back again. “She’s still out there,” a voice hisses. They definitely also sound like teenagers. “Are you sure you can’t just teleport us out?”
        “For the last time, yes I’m sure. Grabbing everybody is not as easy as I make it look, you know. I’m wiped.” He’s also whining like a teenager. Or like Dante. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
        “Or, um. Call your dad?” a third voice hesitantly speaks up. And he’s hanging out with two teenage women, which is also oddly familiar. Not that she’s putting her guard down, yet.
        Another quick glance, like she’s going to snipe for his head the second he shows himself. “She’s human! She’s really armed, but she’s human. And it’s not like I can just go whining to him every time I get in a tight spot.” This could be a ploy to get her to put down her guard. It sounds sincere, but demons and devils lie.
        “What, it’s not like he’d go after her. You wouldn’t let him stay in the hotel otherwise. He could get us out easy, no need for bloodshed,” the first voice points out, exasperated. Apparently the voice’s owner has gotten tired of waiting, too, because she spots the figure through the window this time, only from the sound of his protests, he’s getting pushed. “Fine, you go out there, then.”
        “Woah, woah, hey, I don’t want to fight her either!” This doesn’t seem to matter at all to the blond shoving him, though.
        “As much as I hate the thought of putting of you in harm’s way, you are Mister Durable,” the third teenager out of line of sight agrees.
        “...You do realize I can hear you, you know,” she calls out, and the three instantly silence.
        Then, cautiously, he responds. “Um. Yeah. We do now. While we're on speaking terms, can we just get something on record? What are you planning on doing, exactly? 'Cause I kinda like to remain un-perforated. It makes these two grumpy with me.”
        He’s making light of it, but there’s a tone like he’s genuinely scared. Not for himself, but for his friends. Trying to draw the attention to himself, despite his protests. “Well, I’m a devil hunter. The job description is in the name. But I’m also pretty sure Olivier isn’t telling me everything.”
        “I’ll say,” he mutters under his breath, glancing out just a little less cautiously. “Okay, ceasefire at least for the moment, I’m coming out.”
        And then, probably as a test, he teleports, which looks like oozing up out of the shadows she’s standing in, right next to her. She barely manages to avoid burying the bullet in his chest, aim changing at the last second when she realizes other than the teleport he’s not aiming an attack in her direction. It goes into his gut instead, and he winces, fishing out a knife and digging out the bullet so he can heal. He’s probably not as durable as Dante, then. That devil wouldn’t even bother. And neither are his clothes, because that's left a torn t-shirt in its wake. At least one of the teenagers inside screams, and the blonde runs out with a battle-axe in hand. Her steps slow as she takes in the fact that they’re not actually continuing to fight.
        “Here’s a tip for remaining un-perforated: maybe don’t startle the woman with the loaded gun,” Lady remarks dryly, and he grins sheepishly, hand not on the hilt of the sword at his side coming up to rub at the back of his hair.
        “Lucky for you I was letting Kryvi recharge at home for this one. Though he would’ve given your body back. Eventually,” he promises, like that’s a perfectly normal sentence. Somewhere in the background Lady sees a very familiar long-suffering sigh. And then his stomach rumbles, and Lady knows the perfect bait.
        “Do you kids like pizza?” They both light up, the guy more than the blonde, who’s still a little wary, and even the red-headed girl actually pokes her head out of the doorway cautiously at the question.