It had started off as casual meetings as friends. Leon meeting up with Dante in front of Devil May Cry before going to the local diner for dinner and sundaes or Dante stopping by to take Leon out to lunch during Leon’s breaks. How they met was another story entirely, but the one chance encounter in Spain as well as a promise for dates followed them for months to come.
It was just hang-outs between two friends...but it slowly started becoming something more than that. The hang-outs started becoming a bit more...romantic. Either Leon or Dante would stop after saying something or recalling an event, seemingly staring at the other, admiring them. Or Dante would stray from the conversation and ask about “Ada”. Leon would blush and quickly explain that there wasn’t much between them. The tension was starting to build. There was something more between them.
It got to the point that they dreaded the ends of their dates, but were relieved when the other scheduled more in the future. And boy, did they look forward to each and every one.
The texting and phone calls even got a bit more flirtatious than before, texting one another either late at night or early in the morning and sometime in between. Dante and Leon anticipated, or well, more like hoped for, an “I love you” from the other one of these days.
Like right now, they had done something a bit different for this date. They had gone to an aquarium that was located in the riverside region of “Bumblefuck”, as Dante jokingly put it, but it was somewhere Dante had never been before. So to Leon, that made it all worth it. It was new, and he had a feeling Dante had never been here before.
“It’s not so bad.” Leon chuckled, “A bit of a drive, but the view is worth it.”
“True, the miles of cities and the view of the rivers does make the long drive a bit better,” Dante mused, turning his nose at the overwhelming scent of tobacco and the hint of alcohol on the other people around them, “Though, I can’t say the same about the crowd. All this plaid is hurting my eyes.”
Leon nodded with an amused smile, “True, but not everyone can pull off leather like we do.” He said in a playful manner, motioning to his black and white leather jacket and then to Dante’s long red-jacket, black and red pants and boots, “That and they’re most likely here for the concert at the stadium nearby. It’s supposedly some sort of “Country Music” thing.”
“Well, I was never one for country music.” Dante admitted, “But I’m hoping we didn’t drive all the way up to New Jersey just so you could torture me with bad music and badly dressed red-necks.”
That made the agent laugh out loud, “Technically, up this way they would be considered “HillBillies”, but they’re most likely not at all red-necks or hillbillies. Most of them are college kids on Spring Break and some older people here for good music. We’re actually going to the aquarium.”
Leon offered a hooked arm to Dante as they got off of the ferry, Dante accepting it as they stepped off onto the dock before walking over to the big white building with the domed roof. The crowd that they had boarded the ferry with went in the opposite direction, confirming Leon’s theory that they were here for the Country Music Concert. He felt the taller man relax slightly, guessing that it wasn’t the plaid that unnerved his companion, but most likely the size of the crowd itself. He would have to get the elder a strawberry sundae as an apology later on.
They got their tickets and went inside, a girl in a bright colored staff t-shirt stopping them and offered to take their picture. Dante and Leon exchanged looks before Dante shrugged and Leon nodded. They stood close to one another and gave small smiles, the girl snapping a photo of them before handing Leon another ticket.
“You can stop by Guest Services on the way out, or any time really, and pick up your photo! Have a nice visit and welcome to Adventure Aquarium!” She beamed before handing them a map and letting them on the escalator.
They stepped on and Dante leaned into Leon’s ear, “So, do they pay them to be that happy and cheery or are they genuinely like that?”
“Maybe a bit of both?” Leon suggested with a chuckle, “Though I would be ecstatic if I was working at an aquarium. Beats working as a government agent.”
“You telling me working for the dude in the White House and kicking ass isn’t the best damn job in the world?” Dante asked as they made their way into the first exhibit.
Leon shook his head, “Not really. Kicking ass isn’t as fun as it used to be...and being the President’s Lapdog isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. ‘Specially since I really didn’t get a choice in the manner.”
Dante gave Leon a concerned looked as they traveled into a wide corridor filled wall to wall with tanks that were huge. Glass ran from floor to ceiling, and even higher and deeper than that. Inside, fish of all shape and variety swam around through the caves and the fake shipwreck. There were even some Nurse Sharks in the bigger section of the exhibit. Dante got in close, looking at the various creatures with what seemed like disinterest...but Leon had known him long enough to know that his eyes were what gave away his true feelings at times.
For example, right now, the half-demon’s eyes were alight with interest and curiosity. Although he tried not to show his excitement, Leon could tell Dante was genuinely interested in what he was seeing. Leon let go of his arm, watching with a smile as Dante pressed his hands on to the glass and looked up, watching as sea turtles and stingrays swam overhead.
Leon moved in closer to his companion, looking up with him, “It’s pretty cool, dontcha think?” He asked, “And this is just one small section of the aquarium.”
Dante turned to look at Leon as he showed him the map, “It is, actually. Never really got to do a lot of this when I was a kid...how big is this place anyway?”
Leon smiled as he gently took Dante by the hand, traversing through the rest of “Shipwreck Cove” before leading him to another area. “Sea Turtle Cove” was printed in big yellow letters above the entrance, Leon leading Dante over to some windows that looked like portholes in a ship or a submarine.
Dante went to lean in and get a better look, placing his hand on what he thought was a flat surface. The devil hunter made a “Whoa!” noise as his hand kept going, the window actually curved outward and for an inside look into the tank.
Leon narrowly caught him around the waist as he sat beside him, giving a small chuckle, “Probably should have warned you that the surfaces weren’t very flat.”
Dante couldn’t help but chuckle as well, fixing himself and sitting upright, “It’s alright. I probably could have been more careful.”
Leon held on to him as they both leaned forward to look up at the various sea creatures. They could hear the tour guide for a bigger group telling everyone facts about the turtles and fish in this section. Leon was only partly listening and watching the fish, his gaze mostly on Dante. Eventually, Dante let his emotions show on the outside, and Leon couldn’t get enough.
It wasn’t long until Dante was the one leading the way, the devil hunter wanting to see more of the wonderous exhibits. Leon chuckled as Dante held his hand and pulled him along, his own heart fluttering as they went to the various exhibits. Watching Dante genuinely enjoy himself made him feel good.
“I just...stick my hand in?” Dante asked, looking up at the guide as they stood by the stingray tank.
“You can pet them with two fingers.” The guide chuckled, the little old man sticking his hand in as a stingray swam by, “See? They like it! It is like petting a cat or a dog.”
“But slimy.” Leon added with a wink, his hand already in the tank as he pet another stingray.
Dante looked between the two of them before doing the same. The little stingray by the guide’s hand swam over to Dante, little beady eyes looking up at him before swimming just out of reach. Dante pouted at the little creature, but stayed nonetheless, watching as the ray swam back around. A startled noise left the white haired man as the stingray rushed at the side, splashing him. Dante jumped back before he could get soaked, Leon and the guide laughing, but not at him.
“That means she likes you!” The guide reassured, the little ray circling where Dante had been, “She is a very playful girl.”
“She’s playing hard to get.” Leon chuckled, looking down at her.
Dante inched back toward the tank, looking down at the little stingray, who pushed herself up against the side of the tank. He tentatively reached down and tried to pet her again. She pulled away and swam around the tank, but when Dante went to pet a different stingray, she would swim up at full speed and splash him again.
“She’s a brat.” Dante replied with a smile, “How do you get them not to swim away?”
The guide laughed, “I sometimes have to bribe them. Other times, they just want to be petted. They are very friendly.”
Leon chuckled as the one he was petting circled around his hand a couple of times before swimming under his fingers again. Dante gave a determined look, reaching in, but not moving or looking directly at her. The stingray swam back and forth before circling his hand once more. At long last, she finally let him pet her.
“There you go!” The guide cheered.
Leon smiled as he watched Dante, the elder looking very proud and excited all at the same time as he pet the sea creature. After they were finished here, they thanked the guide and Dante promised to see the little stingray later before going to the handwashing station.
“Alright, ready to go pet sharks?” Leon asked, now carrying his jacket.
Dante froze, looking at Leon with confused eyes, “...You can pet sharks?”
Leon gave a smile and a nod, “They even have a bridge here where you can walk over a tank full of big ones.”
“...Take me to this magical place.” Dante said, making the brunette laugh, taking Leon’s hand in his as Leon led the way. ___________“Okay, so...this is a lot scarier than I thought it was going to be.” Dante said, looking over the few people in front of them in line at the netted bridge, “And I fight demons.”
Leon squeezed his hand in reassurance, his own heart thudding in excitement as they watched the group in front of them walk across. He wasn’t scared at all, just excited. Dante squeezed his hand back in anticipation as they watched the netting and the bars supporting it move slightly. Leon gave his hand another reassuring squeeze as they inched closer and closer to the bridge before they stopped right in front of it, waiting until the people in front of them were all the way across.
“These sharks were fed already, right?” Dante asked the guide, still holding on to Leon’s hand.
The girl with the black hair exchanged a knowing smile with her coworker, looking back to Dante, “Maybe.” she replied, “At least I think so. They were fed this morning, right?”
Her coworker, a petite red-head tapped her chin, “...I think so...I hope so.” she said with a wink, “Alright! Y’all are next!”
Dante took a deep breath as he and Leon listened to the instructions, following the red-head as she led the way. Dante let Leon walk in front of him, staying close to his back as they walked across. Leon could see out of the corner of his eye that Dante was looking down through the holes of the net, most likely to see where the sharks were.
“We’ll be fine.” Leon said, “They don’t eat much.”
Dante raised a brow, but chuckled, “How do you know?”
Leon glanced back at him, playfully bouncing and making Dante holding on tighter to the netting. The half-demon begged the younger to stop bouncing, saying that they could fall through and into the tank. Leon chuckled, saying that they would be okay and that the bridge wasn’t moving, which meant it was structurally sound. He then asked Dante if he could imagine if they did fall in though.
Dante followed, still holding on, “Forget what I said about the stingray. She is a sweetheart. YOU are the brat.” ________Once they had gone through the whole aquarium before heading to the gift shop. They picked up their photo at the Guest Services, Leon excitedly showing Dante the photo. The white-haired male asked the people behind the counter if they could get another copy of their photo, surprising Leon. Dante said it would liven up Devil May Cry a little bit, though secretly he was going to keep it on his bedside table. Leon had also gotten Dante a t-shirt that said “I Survived the Shark Bridge” while Dante got Leon a stingray plush.
“Because you’re both brats.” Dante said with a smile, playfully bopping Leon on the head with the stuffed animal before handing it to him.
Leon gave a playful pout, “I resent that!” He said, holding Dante’s hand as they waited for the Ferry, both eating Strawberry Ice Cream Cones from the food court.
Dante chuckled, “Well, lucky for you, I like brats.”
“Yeah, but unlike Miss Stingray, I don’t play hard to get.” Leon said, looking up at Dante with loving eyes.
“...really?” Dante asked. Leon nodded, “Not if I really like the person and love spending all of my free time with them.” He admitted.
Dante raised his brow, “Even if they live a million miles away?” He asked.
Once again, Leon nodded, “I would travel a million miles just to be with them because they’re worth it and I hope me being with them makes them very happy.”
“You do.” Dante admitted, looking down at the agent, “Hey, you got something...here, let me get it.”
Leon leaned up while Dante leaned down, both of them meeting halfway for a sweet kiss. Leon felt like there were butterflies in his stomach and Dante felt something electric between them. The odd “firework” feeling Patty had read to him from her fairy tale books finally made sense to Dante. He felt like fireworks were going off while he was kissing Leon. After a few moments, they had pulled away, both blushing and smiling, looking off at the riverfront. The ferry arrived and they got on board, but a tragedy had occurred, Dante getting nudged by an overly eager group of teens who had knocked his ice cream out of his hands and sent it into the river. Dante cursed as his ice cream fell, giving a sigh of defeat as he sat next to Leon on the bench.
Leon leaned into him, offering his ice cream, “I don’t mind sharing.”
Dante gave a small smile, leaning in and licking the ice cream cone while Leon held it for him. The brunette kissed him on the cheek before wiping the corner of the man’s mouth, licking his ice cream while they watched the sun set.
