My eyes fluttered open, blonde hair filling my vision. There was an unusual weight on my legs, and, as the haze of sleep faded away, I saw the sleeping beauty only a few inches away from me.
I blinked, for a moment just lying there, admiring her peacefully asleep face, but that only made me keenly aware of the familiar tightness in my shorts and the smooth leg poking out of her covers, draped over my thighs.
I swallowed dryly, fighting back the sudden, nearly overpowering urge to grab Valerie and pull her flush against my chest. She was close enough that I could feel her soft breath on my face, and if it wasn't for that pillow I fell asleep hugging, she'd probably be snuggling into my side.
I felt torn between disappointment and relief at the thought.
As I lay there, my gaze trailed down her slender neck and collarbone, lingering on the black, nearly see-through nightdress that barely covered her slowly rising and falling chest. It had shifted enough in her sleep that I could see all the way down to the swell of her left breast and the small, pink nub brushing against the fabric.
A brief, uncomfortable twitch down south had my wandering eyes return to her face, lips drawn tightly.
Dangerous. Too dangerous. She needed some proper pajamas asap.
I pushed the covers down to my thighs, sighing contently as I looked at the ceiling.
I wasn't sure what time it was, I couldn't see the clock too well from this angle, but I felt good enough to fight another castle full of vampires, so I'd probably slept plenty. Nothing beat snoozing in a soft bed. I hoped I'd never smell a barn again for the rest of my life.
My eyes went back to the sleeping beauty at my side, a tiny smile coming to my lips. Best sleep of my life, actually.
A jaw-popping yawn escaped me as I stretched my arms a little. Part of me wanted to hop out of the bed and get ready for the day, but another glance at Valerie stopped that thought in its tracks. I couldn't find it in me to wake her up from such a peaceful rest, even though I could hardly move with her leg on top of mine like that.
As I debated what to do, Valerie stirred under her covers, eyes fluttering open. She stared at me quietly, and I flashed her a slightly awkward smile.
"Good morning."
"Good morning…" she answered softly, as if tasting the words for the first time.
"Slept well?" I said, immediately holding back a cringe. I was not exactly a wordsmith, especially in the morning.
"Mm-hmm." She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, snaking a hand under her pillow to prop her head and resting the other comfortably on her hip. Her gaze trailed down my frame, lingering on my shorts for a long, awkward moment.
"That looks painful."
A wooden smile twitched on my lips. "I can live with it." Or so I hoped, because it hasn't gone down the tiniest bit over the past few minutes, and I wasn't sure if I could take matters in my own hands anytime soon.
Valerie met my gaze, mouth curling ever so slightly. She didn't say anything, though. She stole another glance down south, before shifting a little under her covers, a jolt of pleasure shooting up my spine as she pulled her leg back, brushing it lightly along my stiff length.
For a moment, I couldn't help but imagine her dainty fingers wrapping around my—
I pushed that thought away with a sigh, giving Valerie a dry look. Maybe I'd underestimated her. This was DxD after all. Even a sheltered vampire princess could have a mischievous side.
"Let's get ready for breakfast."
I sat upright, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, only to pause as Valerie's pleasant voice reached my ears.
"If you don't mind, can I have some blood? I won't take much."
My stomach churned with excitement as I turned around with a smile, trying my best to act normal, because holy shit, this was really happening. A cute vampire girl was going to give me the succ. The truth was finally within reach.
"Sure, but it might not work. You can try, though." I really hoped it worked. I've always wanted to try this ever since I saw my first vampire hentai.
"Is your skin truly that tough?" Valerie pushed away her blanket, eyeing me curiously as she sat upright.
"One way to find out." I craned my head to the side invitingly, flashing her a smirk.
The bed creaked slightly as Valerie shifted to all fours, moving closer, like an animal on the prowl. A thrill shot up my spine as she reached my side, an oddly intense look in her eyes that made my heart race.
I expected her to just lean in and take a bite, but she got even closer, a sudden weight settling on my lap. I swallowed dryly as an earthy scent filled my nose, my gaze veering down on its own and taking a glimpse at the pale breasts hidden beneath that loosely hanging nightgown.
My rock-hard member throbbed painfully against the soft flesh pressing down on it, my thoughts grinding to a halt as I looked up. Those blood red eyes pinned me with a primal hunger, aglow in the dim light of the room as Valerie's lips curled with the tiniest hint of mischief.
My heart thundered like a drum as her hand rested on my shoulder, the other against my chest, her touch sparking pleasant jolts down my spine. She leaned in wordlessly, her warm breath tickling my neck as my arms twitched with the urge to wrap her into a hug.
I loosened my muscles, excitement and uncertainly both roiling in my gut as I waited. A sudden, sharp prick on my skin gave me pause, but the pain quickly got drowned by the pair of warm, velvety lips that gently latched onto my neck.
Wide-eyed, I sat there, mind awhirl as Valerie sipped greedily at my blood.
How the fuck—
Those magic swords barely scratched me back then. How could her teeth even pierce my skin? It made no fucking sen—
I pushed the thoughts away, simply letting myself enjoy the cute vamp sucking on my neck. A wry smile pulled at my lips as I watched her from the corner of my eye. She'd said only a sip, but she was draining me like a juice box.
She must've been really hungry.
As I kept breathing in her pleasant scent, my arms snaked around her slender waist on impulse, pulling her closer. A small part of me felt like I might have been too bold, but Valerie made no move to pull away and kept sipping at my neck like it was the tastiest drink in the world.
Her soft ass shifted a little in my lap, drawing another painful throb from my wooden stake. I grabbed her hips without thinking, squeezing lightly at the supple flesh as I fought back the urge to flip her over and impale her.
I wasn't sure how much blood she'd sucked so far, though it was weird how I still had enough to run both heads. I should've been getting dizzy by now, but I felt fine—
A sharp jolt pricked at my neck as her fangs slipped out of my flesh, her moist tongue gently brushing my skin. She pulled back after another moment, cheeks flushed red, hazy eyes meeting my gaze as she licked a smudge of blood from her lips.
I was going to treasure this memory forever.
"Thanks…" she spoke softly, gaze still lingering hungrily on my neck.
The warm liquid trailing down my skin finally pulled me out of my daze, and I flexed my muscles on instinct, stemming the flow of blood. With a flex of will, I brought out the Grail in a golden flash of light, the magic cup landing in my awaiting palm.
"Just ask whenever you feel thirsty." I rested my other hand gently on Valerie's shoulder, looking her firmly in the eye. "You can suck as much blood as you want."
Lifting the cup to my mouth, I took a quick sip, a pleasant warmth spreading through my body as I allowed my tense muscles to relax. Sighing in content, I sent the Grail back to its place, but then, Valerie suddenly dove in again, her warm tongue brushing along the blood trail on my skin.
I swallowed dryly, watching from the corner of my eye as she licked me clean.
"Is it really that tasty?"
She pulled back, tongue flicking over her lips as she tucked a bit of stray hair behind her ear. "Very. It's rich and sweet," she paused, a puzzled look crossing her face, brow creasing ever so slightly.
"Something wrong?"
"It's strange…"
"What's strange?"
She looked up, those intense eyes boring into mine, a beat of slightly awkward silence passing as she kept staring at my face.
"Drinking blood from a more powerful being also strengthens a vampire."
I blinked owlishly. Ah, right. The DxD vampires did this thing. Maybe I could power-level Valerie just by acting like a juice box for her?
"Did you get stronger from this?"
"I didn't."
Huh.
"Nothing at all?"
Valerie shook her head, much to my disappointment. A shame. I'd have to figure out another way to power-level my cute vampire princess.
"That's why I said it's strange. You're clearly powerful, yet your blood reflects none of it."
So, in other words, more bullshit.
I sucked on my teeth, mouth drawing a thoughtful line. "Maybe this is just like with my complete lack of magic and that Grail thing from yesterday?"
"So, it makes no sense?"
"Yep." I flashed her a smile, getting a flat look in return.
We lapsed into comfortable quiet as Valerie kept watching me for a while longer, before eventually scooting from my lap. I caught glimpse of a perfect, juicy side-boob as she moved to the edge of the bed, a cute noise escaping her as she stretched her arms above her head, back arching sensually.
Thankfully, she rose to her feet right after that, grabbing a change of clothes from her bag and heading straight to the bathroom.
Sighing in relief, I stretched my legs and laid back down on the bed, absentmindedly scratching at my neck. I had no idea how she managed to bite me, but maybe I could look into it later.
For now, though, I'd just laze here a little longer and enjoy the afterglow.
__________________________________________
Valerie shifted on the bed, gaze flicking to the clock, before propping her face with a hand as she kept watching the soft, golden light radiating from the chalice in Alex's hands.
She'd told him that getting started with the more complex Grail functions would take a while, but he was stubborn enough to see it through before noon—
"I think I got it." Alex looked up, a victorious gleam in his eyes. "Are you ready?"
Valerie took another glance at the clock, blinking in surprise. Less than half an hour? How did he manage it so quickly?
She sat upright, legs swinging over the edge of the bed. "You don't have to push yourself just to remove these weaknesses. Holy objects affect me little, compared to a full-blooded vampire," she said, mouth tight in concern, but those kind, brown eyes held an unwavering look.
"I promised you that I'd do my best to keep you safe. A man shouldn't go back on his word."
Valerie let out a soft sigh. So reckless and stubborn… but…
She looked at her lap, a spark of warmth suffusing her chest as a tiny smile tugged at her lips.
It felt nice…
Rising to his feet and stretching his back, Alex made his way to bed, taking a seat to her right. Grail in one hand, he held the other in front of her expectantly.
"Let's get started," he said, wiggling his fingers, the smile on her face growing a little wider at the silly gesture.
She grabbed his hand, warmth seeping into her skin as his fingers curled around hers, gently, protectively.
A strange feeling suddenly washed over her, pooling in her stomach and roiling like a swarm of butterflies, the intense look in his eyes only making it stronger. She averted her gaze, feeling the tips of her ears heat up as they sat like that in silence.
They were holding hands the same as lovers did in those stories.
Valerie swallowed, mouth running dry as her heart sped up, the heat quickly creeping up her cheeks, as if trying to set her face aflame.
The Grail suddenly lit up with an ethereal light, bathing the room in soft, golden hues like a tiny sun. Valerie breathed out a sigh of relief, daring a glance from the corner of her eye.
Alex was completely absorbed with the Grail, a look of focus etched into his face. He worked silently, eyes steady on the cup and not a single muscle twitching on his face. She kept searching for any signs of discomfort, brows furrowing as she found nothing at all.
A sudden, outlandish thought left her wide-eyed.
Could he… use the Grail without drawback? How was that even—
Alex suddenly winced, face twisting in pain. A spike of worry drove through her chest as she squeezed his hand softly. "Are you alright?"
The light spilling from the Grail dimmed as he met her gaze, a tight smile on his face. "Don't worry, it's just a headache."
Valerie blinked in confusion, lips pursing slightly. A headache? The Grail never gave her headaches. Did it work differently for him?
"I think you should stop. The headache could be the beginning. It's not worth risking it just for this. I'm fine even with those weaknesses—
"It doesn't matter," he said, a muscle jumping in his jaw as he bore through the pain. "It's the least I can do for you."
Stubborn, reckless man…
He'd done enough for her as it was. He didn't have to go this far.
Valerie sighed quietly to herself. "Alright. But I want you to stop if it gets worse."
"I will."
Golden light filled the room once again as he resumed his work, pain twisting his face soon enough. Her stomach tightened as she watched him fight through the headache, but she stayed quiet, squeezing his hand gently in comfort.
The tension left his jaw after a while, the light also fading with it as his grimace made way for a triumphant smile. Valerie finally relaxed, her shoulders drooping, the knot in her chest unwinding.
So stubborn and reckless…
"It's done. No more pesky weakness to light and holy power."
And so foolishly kind.
"Thank you…"
The words rang hollow in her ears as she spoke, but the way they lit up his face made her feel a little better. It wasn't enough to thank him, but what else could she do when he wasn't looking for any?
"Does anything feel different?"
"No." Valerie shook her head, gaze lowering to her hands. It was strange to be on the receiving end for once, though she wasn't particularly keen about testing the results.
That pleasant warmth suddenly vanished as Alex released her hand, Valerie staring longingly before she caught herself.
"I was thinking to drop by the church and take a look at the little nun's Twilight Healing," he said, the Grail disappearing in a flash of light. "You can come, too, if you want. That place shouldn't feel unpleasant to you anymore."
Valerie couldn't help the frown that came to her face as the image of that dark haired Fallen flashed in her mind.
"Some of the occupants are still unpleasant."
Alex smiled wanly, sharing a commiserating look. "Raynare didn't make the best impression, did she?"
That was putting it mildly. That stubborn arrogance would've fit perfectly back home. She'd rather not see that woman again. She'd rather he didn't have to go back there either…
"I won't take long. Half an hour, maybe. We can grab lunch and finish shopping after that."
She nodded, smiling briefly at the thought. Shopping was strangely fun. She'd seen so many new things when they bought food the previous day, she could only wonder what else she would find.
"I'll be waiting. Take care."
He might be able to easily best them in physical might, but those women did not fight with their fists. They were unscrupulous temptresses who used their supple flesh and honeyed words to sway their victims.
The bed shifted as Alex sat up, making his way across the room and slipping on his shoes. He grabbed his grey hoodie from the hanger, putting it on as he turned around with a thoughtful look.
"You should spread your mist around the room. If you feel anything odd coming, just turn into bats and fly out the window. Come to me as fast as you can."
"I'll be careful," she said, watching as he flashed her one last smile before leaving the room, door clicking shut behind him.
__________________________________________
It only took me about five minutes to get to the church without causing an incident in broad daylight, this time opening the doors like a normal person as I walked in.
I smiled as I spotted Mittelt lazing on a pew just like yesterday, her feet swinging idly over the edge. Her head swiveled up at the click of the doors, face lighting up with a grin.
"Oh? Missed me already?" she spoke, a playful lilt to her voice as she punctuated with a wink.
I gave her a lazy wave. "Yo, Millie, how's it going?"
"Millie?" An amused note entered her voice as her brows rose a fraction.
"You don't like it?"
"Oh, I do. I use it myself when mingling with the normies." She hopped off her pew, smiling teasingly as I stopped in front of her. "I just didn't think we were close enough for pet names."
"It rolls better off the tongue."
"You know what else rolls nicely off the tongue?" Her lips curled impishly as she looked up at me, one of her fangs poking out cutely. I stared back at her, brow raised slightly.
Yo, this shorty was thirsty.
"A candy?" I tried, mouth quirking in a lopsided smirk.
Her smile grew wider, a predatory glint flashing in her eyes. "Well, I'm partial to lollipops." An image suddenly flashed into mind as she said that, of a cute, blonde girl, down on her knees, mouth ope—
I shoved the distracting thought aside, taking a slow, centering breath.
"Say, can you make me a light spear?"
Mittelt puffed her cheeks with an exaggerated pout. "That's all you came here for?"
I flashed her a playful smirk. "Maybe?" Two could play at this game.
"Without your cute vampire girlfriend?" She arched a skeptical brow, and I shook my head.
"I don't think she likes Raynare."
A quiet snort escaped Mittelt. "Yeah, she's an acquired taste."
I couldn't hold back an amused huff, mouth twitching with a smile. That was one way to put it.
"Anyway, I'm only staying for half an hour, at most. Just came to check something."
"That's too bad." Mittelt sighed, shoulders sagging dejectedly. "We could've had fun hanging around."
Her words stirred a pang of disappointment in my chest, but I didn't give in. As tempting as it sounded, I could spend time with the brat another day. I already made a promise to Valerie.
"Tomorrow's a day, too," I said, holding out a hand expectantly. "So, the light spear?"
"Sure." Mittelt perked back up with a smile. "What'cha need it for?" Bright, pink light took shape in her hand, flowing into a long spear. "I doubt you need weapons to unalive people."
My brow rose in mirth. "Unalive?"
"I've been watching a podcast," she said, twirling that light spear around like a friggin lightsaber, before handing it over with a flourish. "They use lots of funny slang."
I palmed the spear, light as a feather and warm against my skin. "Nice moves," I said, giving the weapon a test swing, the air swishing in its wake.
"Thanks," she smirked, preening at the praise. "I'm pretty skilled with my hands. I could show you more next time~" Her smirk grew wider as another innuendo left her lips as easily as breathing.
I pretended not to hear, hand clenching around the spear as I wound my arm back as far as I could. My muscles tensed, and I ignored Mittelt's surprised shout—
"Wait! What the hell are you doing?!"
—stabbing the spear as hard as I could against my palm.
A painful jolt shot through my hand as the sharp tip shattered in a shower of pink sparks, the weapon dissolving into shards of light. A small, red bead swelled from the pinprick on my skin, slowly trailing down my palm.
A low whistle reached my ears as a frilly skirt and white stocking-clad feet entered the edge of my vision. "And here I thought Freed was nuts. You're crazy tough, ain't'cha?"
Mittelt's voice barely registered as I stared at my hand, brows furrowed. How the hell did Valerie manage to bite me? Was this like Saitama and that friggin' mosquito?
"It's a work in progress," I said, idly rubbing the blood off my palm with my thumb, a quiet snort escaping the blonde jailbait.
"Anything else you came here for?"
I blinked at the reminder, looking up from my hand. "Asia. Is she around here?"
Mittelt's delicate brows rose slightly, a teasing smile curling her lips. "Oh? Is cute and innocent your type?"
I fixed the cheeky brat with the flattest look I could muster. "No, I have business with her."
Mittelt leaned closer, arms behind her back and a curious glint in her eyes. "Business, you say?"
"Yes. I want to take a look at her Sacred Gear."
There was no point beating around the bush. She'd likely tag along to watch, and she wasn't dumb enough to not put two and two together.
"Her Sacred Gear?" She blinked in confusion. "What for—
Mittelt's eyes went wide, jaw falling slack. "No way… you can already do that with the Grail?"
"I haven't tried it yet." I shrugged nonchalantly, and she nodded sagely.
"Ah, makes sense. The Grail has a nasty drawback."
"Yeah, but just having the knowledge could be useful. And, who knows, maybe one day I'll start copying some Gears, too." That day could be tomorrow, but I didn't have to tell them that. Less headaches for me.
A beat of silence passed, Mittelt's intense gaze pinning me like a spear.
"Dibs."
"Dibs?" My brows shot up in amusement, but the blonde brat simply raised her nose imperiously, hands on her hips.
"Hey, a girl's gotta keep herself safe nowadays."
"Understandable, but aren't you guys in a cold war with the others?"
Mittelt lifted a dainty eyebrow. "You think the stray devils give a crap about anything like that?"
Ah, right. Those were a thing. I haven't seen any just yet, so it was easy to forget they existed.
"Fair."
"And there's plenty of nasties in the dark even without them." A haunted look briefly crossed her face. "I'm not stepping foot in South America again even if they pay me."
I blinked, studying her closely for a moment. Huh. That sounded like a fun story, but maybe another time. I came here on business.
"I'll let you know when I'm ready to make some shiny toys," I said, getting an excited smile from the jailbait, her fangs poking out cutely.
"Sweet~"
Mittelt spun around playfully on a foot, dress fluttering up with a teasing glimpse of milky, smooth thighs and frilly garter belt. "Let's go, she's upstairs," she said, looking over her shoulder, those blue eyes glittering with mischief. "Stick behind me, but don't get too distracted with the scenery. Wouldn't want you to trip~"
This brat…
I fell in step behind her, not deigning that with an answer as my fingers twitched with a suppressed urge.
The banter was fun, but a not-so-small part of me wanted to simply bend her over the nearest pew and administer some much-needed correction.
Sighing, I kept my eyes above her shoulders, idly studying her blonde, messy hair as she led me deeper inside the church. There, we climbed up a staircase, the aged wood creaking under each step.
Once upstairs, we crossed a small corridor lined with doors on one side and windows on the other, Mittelt walking with a skip in her step.
The brat stopped in front of the last door, sending me a cheeky, side-eyed glance. "Be gentle with our lost, little lamb, okay~?"
I pinned her with a flat look. "We're just going to talk. You're way more dangerous to her than me."
Mittelt pushed out an amused breath through her nose. "Nah, she's safe with me. I'm not much into corruption stuff."
Curiosity burned in me for a moment as I glanced down at her smirking face, though I reluctantly shelved that question for later.
"That's very informative."
Her smirk widened. "I can tell you more if you're curious."
I glanced between her and the door, face utterly flat, but she simply stuck her tongue out like the cheeky brat she was.
"Brat."
"You like it, though~"
Shaking my head, I could only sigh, mouth twitching with suppressed mirth as Mittelt knocked on the door.
"Hey, Asia~ You have a visitor~"
Huh. She was a lot more polite than I expected.
There was some quick shuffling inside, and then the door creaked open, revealing the blonde puppy dressed in her nun outfit.
"Ah!" She smiled brightly, stepping aside as the fully opened the door. "Signora Mittelt e il signore di ieri. Per favore, entra. Come posso aiutarla?" ("Ah! Lady Mittelt and the mister from yesterday. Please, come in. How can I help you?")
"Nothing much. Alex dropped by to look at your Twilight Healing."
The brat spoke back in English as we stepped inside, Asia seemingly understanding it without trouble as she closed the door. Having that supernatural language bullshit must be nice.
The room was rather small and mostly spartan, with just a single bed, a nightstand, a small, wooden chair, and a stacked drawer.
For a quiet moment, we stood there in the middle of the room, Asia looking around a little awkwardly.
"Do you happen to speak English?" I offered Asia a friendly smile as she walked up to us, but she shook her head, eyes turning downcast.
"I know few words, but no good for talk."
The broken English hurt my ears, but the kicked puppy look on her face hurt my soul.
"It's good. I can understand you. I'll keep it simple."
I gave Mittelt a side-eyed look, but all I got in return was a cheeky smile. She'd better translate if things got too tough, or she might get to experience some Serious Butt Slaps.
"Please, take sit." Asia gestured at the bed, but I shook my head with a polite smile.
"Your room. You sit on the bed; I'll take the chair."
I walked up to said chair and took a seat while Asia sat down on the bed.
"What about me?" Mittelt asked innocently, though the way her gaze briefly trailed to my lap was anything but.
Nice try, jailbait.
I wasn't going to have this sort of shenanigans in a church of all places. Knowing that good old Michael could be watching just made it hella weird.
"You can sit next to Asia if you want." I fixed the brat with a dry look, watching as she puffed her cheeks childishly and walked closer, her stocking-clad leg touching my thigh as she stood to my left.
She couldn't be more obvious if she tried, but maybe that was her angle to begin with.
I ignored Mittelt, holding out a hand, fingers splayed outwards as I looked at Asia. "Let's get started." With a flex of will and a flash of golden light, the Grail appeared in my awaiting hand, drawing a quiet gasp from the blonde puppy.
Asia went still, seemingly holding her breath as she stared at the ornate chalice in something akin to reverence. I pursed my lips, glancing to the side as the atmosphere turned a little awkward, but even Mittelt had her eyes glued to the Grail.
So dramatic. It was just a shitty cup that mind broke people and gave me headaches.
"And Raynare didn't even believe you at first."
"Well, you know what they say," I said with a smile, hoping to clear the awkward air. "Seeing is believing."
It got an amused sound from Mittelt, so I counted that as a success.
Asia, on the other hand… just sat there like a statue, hands clasped tightly in front of her chest and praying quietly in Italian.
I threw a curious glance at the jailbait, expecting a frown or something, only to see a lopsided smirk on her face. When she noticed my staring, she gave me a playful wink.
Huh.
With all those broken statues and crosses downstairs, you'd think all the Fallen had a bone to pick with Big G, but maybe this brat just didn't give a shit.
While Asia kept going at her prayer, Mittelt inched even closer, hip brushing my arm and eyes glittering impishly.
"Can I touch it~?"
I met her cheeky smile with a deadpan. Did she really have to make it sound so lewd?
"Go on."
I held the Grail in front of her, watching as she reached with a tentative hand, tracing a dainty digit along the rim. She stroked the patterned gold, her fingers suddenly brushing mine with a warm, playful caress that sent a thrill down my spine. They lingered there as she looked at me between her lashes, blue eyes shining with mischief.
This little tease…
My gaze went to her pink, glossy lips that looked so inviting and soft, and my free hand twitched with the sudden urge to just grab Mittelt and pull her close into a deep ki—
I shoved that thought aside, leveling the flattest stare I could muster at the brat. "You two are making this weird. It's just a cup."
Mittelt pulled her hand back, letting out an amused huff as she shook her head. "Only you would call the Holy Grail 'just a cup'."
Sighing, I glanced at Asia, smiling when I saw that she was done praying. Those wide, innocent, green eyes stared back as she tilted her head curiously, just like a puppy.
"Can you show me your Twilight Healing?"
"Sì." She nodded, holding out her hands as a pair of silver rings appeared in a flash of green light.
I sat up, Grail in one hand, and walked closer to take a good look. Hopefully, this shit wouldn't give me another headache…
__________________________________________
I covered a yawn, slipping my hand back in my hoodie as I made my way through the nave at a sedate pace. The business with Asia went smoothly, aside from the expected headache. I could probably make a copy now, but I might need to have Asia around, just in case I had to take another quick look.
For now, though, I had a cute vampire princess to take shopping and pamper—
"Leaving so soon?"
I paused at the familiar, smoky voice, turning around to see Kalawarna as she rounded the altar. She ran a hand through her long, silky hair, slowly making her way down the aisle, heels clicking on the floor with deliberate steps. Those smooth, mile-long legs captured my gaze for the briefest moment, the seductive sway of her hips nearly hypnotic, before I caught myself, steering my eyes to her face and meeting her knowing smirk with a flat look.
Great. What did she want?
"What is it?" My voice came out a little more clipped than I intended, but I've already had my fill of Fallen Angels for the day thanks to that little brat. I didn't need this sex on legs to start giving me blue balls, too, or I might do something unwise.
"You sound like you're in a hurry." She stopped an arm's length before me, glossy lips curled in amusement.
I held back a sigh, looking her dead in the eye. "That's because I am."
"Oh?" She arched a thin, sculpted brow, resting her left hand on her hip. "Can't make a bit of time to chat with me?"
"If you make it quick. I need to take Valerie shopping." Essentials aside, she needed a pair of pajamas asap—
"I prefer it slowly and thoroughly," Kalawarna purred, a smoldering look in her eyes, "but since you brought up shopping, could you take Asia, too? Poor girl didn't bring all the essentials with her."
I gave the shameless temptress a long, unimpressed look, mouth drawing a thin line. The fuck was her angle now? Too lazy? Was the chore beneath her?
Part of me wanted to decline, but… Valerie needed that kind of stuff, too.
Two birds, one stone, right? And this would be good for Asia and Valerie, too. Both of them could use a friend.
"And if I do, am I supposed to pay for her, too?"
I probably would, but free money was always welcome.
"Of course not," Kalawarna said, a playful lilt to her voice as she pulled out a fat stack of cash from her coat—Yen, this time—holding it out for me. "Here. This should be enough."
I quirked an amused brow as I caught the four zeroes on the topmost note. "Are we buying the whole shop?"
"No," Kalawarna smiled back, those rose, sultry lips curling seductively. "But I'm not expecting you to do this for free."
"Ah, I see," I said, her smirk growing the tiniest bit wider as I grabbed the money.
Bribing me, huh? I palmed the wad of cash, riffling through it idly. Definitely bribing me.
"Feel free to let me know if you need anything else," she purred, looking at me through her lashes, and I suppressed a snort.
"I'll keep it in mind."
Joke's on her, 'cause I wasn't looking for a sugar mommy. If this Fallen tart wanted a piece of the Grail, she'd better grab a ticket and get in line.
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I popped the last bite of a corndog in mouth, chewing idly as I made my way through the shopping center. Asia and Valerie walked to my left, a bag in hand each while nibbling on a sandwich.
A small smile pulled at the corner of my mouth as I listened to them chatting happily about food. Back home, I wasn't much of a shopping enthusiast, but the company did make the whole difference.
Still, I hoped we could wrap this up in another hour at most and get back to the hotel to do something more fun. Maybe introduce Valerie to movies? She'd probably like the high fantasy stuff—
I blinked, pausing mid-chewing. Shit. I had to buy us a laptop. And look for a charger that fit my phone. And Valerie could use a phone, too.
I swallowed absentmindedly, lips pursing in thought. Kalawarna's bribe would easily cover all expenses for today, and leave us with a nice windfall, but if we kept spending money like this, we'd probably run out of cash in about a month. I had that bag of gold and jewelry stashed back in our hotel room, but how the fuck was I supposed to exchange all of that?
I could try summoning Sona again, but she'd ask for payment…
Ugh. Maybe as a last resort.
The Fallen shmucks probably had some connections, but could I really trust them to handle the gold? These morons nearly got themselves killed in that dumb plot.
A sigh escaped me.
And I needed paperwork, too…
I had to figure out something soon.
As we navigated through the shopping center, a brown mop of messy hair caught my attention up ahead, my eyes widening in recognition.
Oh, wow. It was the Boob Dragon Man himself, dressed casually and carrying a large, plastic bag in hand.
Small world, huh?
My lips pursed as an idea sprang to mind. Yeah, this should work better than barging in uninvited like with the Fallen.
Valerie also had her eyes on him, but she was staring intently, brows furrowed. Could she sense that he was a Devil?
She gave me a sideways, uncertain glance, which I met with a reassuring smile. "He's harmless, don't worry." The worst he could do was stare and sperg about tits.
Valerie gave a slight nod, and, as we walked closer, I raised a hand in greeting with a friendly smile. "Yo! Got a minute? We're not from around here, so could you point us to a good electronics store?"
Issei paused, blinking in surprise. He looked at us, brow slightly creased, but then his eyes wandered to Asia and Valerie, and the suspicious look on his face made way for a dumb smile.
I held back a sigh. Typical.
"Whoa! Two blonde foreign beauties! And this one's super cute, too!" he said, eyes lingering on Asia as I did my best to keep the smile on my face, despite the sheer dose of cringe that hit me like a physical force.
"Haven't met many foreigners?"
I looked between Asia and Issei as he nodded absentmindedly, his eyes glued to Valerie's chest. My smile thinned, turning a little stilted.
Okay, maybe he was more annoying than I thought.
Snaking an arm around Valerie's waist, I pulled her closer, unable to hold back a chuckle at the way her eyes went wide and the cute, surprised noise escaping her.
"Valerie only needs a couple more things," I glanced back at Issei, meeting his jealous glare with a dry look, "so why don't you kids go over there and order some dessert?" I pointed at a nearby open-air café, pulling out a few notes from my pocket and holding them in front of Issei.
A beat of silence passed as he stared dumbly at the money, mouth opening a bit, only to close right back. He then glanced between Asia and I, brows furrowing. "Kids? You don't look that much older than me, Baldy."
I huffed in amusement at the sass, a cheeky smile stretching on my face as I released Valerie. "That's because I never skip gym day."
I took a step forward while flexing my lats, the baggy shirt molding tightly around my frame as I briefly turned into a Pillar-man and struck a basic JoJo pose.
A beat of silence passed as everyone stared, my sheer presence drawing strange looks even from some passers-by. Valerie was giving me her usual flat stare while Asia had a wide-eyed, if a little confused look on her face.
Issei, on the other hand, was just staring at me awkwardly. "Dude…" he trailed off, struck speechless by my quivering abs. I didn't blame him, though. Not many would be able to keep their cool when faced with the pinnacle of gains.
I stopped flexing, sparing my shirt an early grave as I held out my hand. "I'm Alex, by the way."
"Issei—um, Hyōdō Issei," he said, grabbing my hand and giving an awkward shake as I tried not to cringe at his sweaty palms. Why was he being so nervous?
He might be a little annoying, but maybe I could do him a solid this time. Everybody liked to cuck or kill him in the fandom, but he was just a kid. A dumb kid, granted, but such was the curse of teenage life.
"And this is Asia." I gestured at the blonde puppy, who smiled bashfully at the abrupt introduction while Issei ogled her a little more.
Yeah, this guy was cooked. I wasn't sure if anything short of marriage could help him, if even that.
"So, about that electronics store?"
Issei reluctantly tore his gaze away from Asia, pointing a finger up. "There's one upstairs, next to the food court."
Neat. That took care of one problem.
"Thanks, kid," I said, before thumbing my chin as I looked deliberately between Asia and Issei. "Say, Asia, would you like to get to know someone closer to your age?"
Eyes going wide, Issei stared at me as if he didn't believe his ears, while Asia's face lit up with a bright smile.
"Yes, I like to!"
I smiled back. Quite smooth, if I do say so myself.
"He's a nice guy, so don't worry."
"How do you even know that?" Issei spoke, eyeing me weirdly.
"You have a good boy vibe."
He blinked owlishly, brows furrowing. "A what?" he said, but I ignored him, turning to Asia.
"I'll pick you up when I'm done shopping with Valerie." I smiled as the blonde puppy nodded and—
"Oi, what even is going on here?" Issei spoke again, looking at me in confusion as I cocked an eyebrow at him.
It seemed that Raynare knocked some of that naivety out of him. Too bad it didn't do much about that severe lack of common sense.
"You're about to spend some time with a cute, foreign girl. What, you don't want to?"
Issei's eyes widened, jaw going slack as if struck. "That's not what I meant, of course I do!" he said, pumping a fist dramatically as I withstood another wave of secondhand cringe.
From the corner of my eye, I saw how Valerie was watching this byplay with a sort of strange fascination, while Asia didn't even seem to notice Issei's weirdness. She pinned the boy with her signature puppy-eyed look, Issei averting his gaze after a few moments, ears slightly red.
Oh, she'd got him. He was going to eat out of her palm by the end of this.
"It's settled, then." I gave Issei a stern look, snapping him out of his daze. "Be nice to her."
He nodded a little stiffly, and I couldn't help a quiet snort. "Loosen up, kid, I'm just pulling your leg. Here's the money." I gave the bills a little wave, looking at Asia as he finally snatched them. "We'll be back in an hour. You two have fun."
I gave the puzzled boy a friendly pat on the shoulder, slipping my hands in my hoodie as I walked away with my cute vampire princess.
After a few quiet moments, Valerie spoke up, "Should we be leaving them alone? He's a Devil and she used to be a Holy Maiden."
Eh, wouldn't be the first time she consorted with a Devil.
I met Valerie's uncertain look with a small, reassuring smile. "He won't do anything to her, trust me. That boy is one of Gremory's servants. We can ask him about a good time to visit when we pick Asia up."
Issei should have Rias' number, so maybe we'd even get an answer on the spot. And who knew, maybe the kid could finally have some character development if he locked in that monogamy route with Asia.
Well, I wouldn't cross my fingers, but a guy could dream.
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I propped my back against the wall, keeping a close eye on Valerie, arms crossed as I ignored the stares from half the women inside the shop.
A smile twitched on my face at the sight.
Valerie was busy walking among the shelves, grabbing whatever struck her fancy and stacking them up in her arms. Once she had a large enough pile, she headed to one of the empty fitting cabins and slipped inside, pulling the curtain behind her.
A relieved sigh escaped me.
This was as much for her comfort as it was for my sanity. I'd have too much of a hard time sharing the bed if she didn't at least wear some proper pajamas. As amazing as it'd been, today's morning was a trial for my self-control and discipline—
Valerie suddenly poked her head out from around the curtain and spoke, voice nearly a whisper, "Can you come here?"
The words echoed in my head as I stared at her bashful expression.
—and it seemed the trials had yet to end.
Shrugging inwardly, I calmly made my way to the booth, ignoring the stares burning at my back.
Fuck it. Destiny awaited.
As I reached the entrance, Valerie tugged a little at the curtain, flashing me an image that briefly left me speechless.
Smooth, fair skin that looked seemingly aglow in the bright overhead light. The long, blonde hair that cascaded over bare shoulders, flowing all the way to the small of her back. Slender, flaring hips and a perky bottom shaped like a juicy peach—
Swallowing dryly, I quickly stepped inside, pulling the curtain behind me.
Valerie stood quietly in the middle of the booth, her modesty covered only by a set of red, lacy underwear.
With a mind of their own, my eyes went to her ample bust, drinking in that luscious cleavage, before trailing down to her flat stomach and lingering on the junction of her shapely thighs—
I caught myself after another moment, feeling my mouth run dry as I pulled my gaze back to her face, those deep, carmine eyes watching me with an intensity that sent a thrill up my spine.
"How do I look?" Valerie broke the awkward silence, her voice a little uncertain, and a faint, red hue adorning her cheeks.
"Beautiful. It matches your eyes."
Valerie smiled, the dusting on her face deepening and creeping up to her ears as she averted her gaze.
Nailed it.
Her eyes shifted to the sizable pile of underwear on the front shelf, studying it briefly, before she reached behind her back to unhook her bra. I quickly stepped outside, her voice reaching my ears as the curtain fluttered in my wake.
"Do you prefer white or black?"
That question tickled a part of my brain that nearly had me barging back in. She was asking me?
I took a deep, centering breath and spoke, "Don't hold back on my account. Both are good."
She went quiet after that, the better part of a minute passing in silence as I ignored a few more odd looks, before Valerie's soft voice came again from within the cabin.
"You can come in."
I stepped back inside, only to forget my breath for a moment as I saw her lingerie-clad form.
Damn.
Black lace. The contrast with her pale skin was sinful.
Valerie stood there much more boldly than the first time, left hand resting on her hip. "How is it?" she asked, and I looked her in the eye, face as serious as I could muster.
"Sinful. The contrast with your skin is something else."
A beat of silence passed before she looked away, another blush adorning her face.
Nice.
Her hands once again snaked behind her back to undo her bra, and I quickly stepped outside, but not before catching the faintest twitch at the corner of her mouth. My gaze lingered on the black curtain, lips slightly pursed as the memory of this morning flashed through my mind.
Yeah, this vampire princess really had a mischievous side to her.
We repeated this song and dance for the white set, too, and then she tried a different lace pattern for the same colors. By the end of it, I was having a bit of trouble walking normally, and that's when I saw her curiously eyeing some string thongs in that pile of hers.
Thankfully, she passed up on those, but she ended up going for some high cut bikini panties that nearly had me acting unwise.
It was great, amazing even, but… I hoped she'd wrap this up soon.
Even my self-control had its limits.
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