Nero gained a habit of waking up early in his life since he was a knight for the Order of the Sword. From the protocols, etiquette, and training, being an early riser was one of the first things he had to adapt to.

He was used to rousing himself awake without an alarm or anyone's help, but this time he woke from a lack of warmth he expected from his tattooed lover's body.

It was just yesterday when Nero met Vitale again, after months of no news from Trish or Lady about Dante or his father's whereabouts. He would be damned and frantic that he hallucinated the meeting yesterday, if the first sight from opening his eyes wasn't one of the most arousing things in his eventful life.

Vitale was lounging on his chair next to his window, clad in navy boxers, his features engrossed on the familiar collection of William Blake's poems in his hand. His once frail, lanky body was notably toned with athletic muscle and sinew, the pale but healthy glow of his skin a canvas of demonic contracts still loyal and true to him after his revival. But what really brought the sight together was the notable bite by his love's right shoulder, his mating mark.

"Good morning." Whether Nero muttered it for himself or for Vitale wasn't clear, but the greeting still reached the full demon's hearing range.

Vitale chuckled and turned his focus onto his white haired lover, which startled Nero somewhat, "I'm sure it is. Good morning to you too, my love." He greeted and closed the book.

Nero deciding that he was caught awake and leering, propped himself up by an arm, their covers barely concealing any sense of modesty. Though to be fair, any semblance of shyness or decency was far from either of their minds the night prior, "Well a man can't help but admire the nice view from the bed." Nero teased, taking everything in without shame while brushing his morning hair back.

Vitale leered over Nero's strongly built frame in return, "Then I'm at the mercy of your hithering gaze." he flirted back, he set aside the book and walked back to bed. He rested at it's edge where Nero held him from behind, but what Nero said, or more recited, genuinely surprised him.

"To Mercy Pity Peace and Love, all pray in their distress," Nero said as if it's an actual prayer, "And to these virtues of delight, return their thankfulness." he then placed a lingering kiss on Vitale's mating mark.

'Seems someone caught up in their reading.' Vitale mused, he smiled and continued the verses, "For Mercy Pity Peace and Love, Is God our father dear." He shifted to meet Nero's gaze, "And Mercy Pity Peace and Love, is Man his child and care."

Nero chuckled and decided to continue the poem, his hand rested above Vitale's left breast. "For Mercy has a human heart," his hand trailed and reached to caress his love's cheek, "Pity a human face."

Vitale leaned into the caress before holding Nero's wrist and kissing it, "And Love, the human form divine," he then directed Nero's other arm to hold him closer, "And Peace, the human dress."

Nero closed his eyes to take it the feeling, "Then every man, of every clime, That prays in his distress."

"Prays to the human form divine, Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace." Vitale finished the second to last stanza.

The two of them lingered in the silence after the poetic exchange, Nero chuckled to the whole occurrence, "It's a bit weird to use Blake to thank my dad about this. Referring to him as God? Sounds like an ego boost on his account."

"Oh I would know," Vitale didn't deny the comedy of the situation, "and as a demonic creation of said father, I've forgotten to give you something of mine."

Before Nero asked what, he witnessed Vitale glow a strong demonic aura and shortly, a black bound tome with foreign looking symbols (an alphabet?) manifested in Vitale's hands, Vitale turned himself to give Nero his full attention.

"This is my namesake Devil Arm, Veritus. In a sense, it's a book of summoning contracts that you can access as a means for utility or combat. As I personally subdue and bind any notable demons, you have personal use of their minions to aid you whenever you need them. But you can also summon me if you really need to. Try it." And presented it over to him.

When Nero held it in his hands, a feeling of his lover's demonic energy wove into his being. Even without reading the scripts, he called out a command ringing in his head, "Pdee Barma."

From his Devil Arm's call, it readied Vitale to fight by activating his Devil Trigger. Vitale closed his eyes as his body immediately transformed into a more demonic one. His body became dark grey and scaled, with defined contours of crimson energy. His horns similar to a ram's curled out, ebony hair slicked back, prominent red bat-like spectral wings resting claws on his shoulders, and emanating on his back. He opened his eyes to reveal gold irises with lizard-like slit pupils, black sclera, and black markings surrounding his eyes.

He had an air of authority in this form, an Archdemon in all but title, and as odd as it sounded, Nero couldn't be anymore blessed that this demon was all his.

"Is my form to your liking my love?" Vitale asked, his voice echoing an alluring baritone, teasing him.

And by hell, Nero was completely enamoured, "You look gorgeous." Nero activated his own Devil Trigger for the occasion, the blue scales, long snowy hair, and spectral angelic wings made him beautifully contrast to his other half, "We look like a perfect match don't we?" he claiming as he leaned in.

Vitale met him halfway, "Our brand of Mercy will be the dread of Hell and Heaven if crossed." he agreed. "And all must love the human form, In heathen, Turk, or Jew;" Vitale let his wings' crimson claws reach and interlace with Nero's azure ones, "where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell, there God is dwelling too." He finished the poem like vow on behalf of humanity and their unyielding devotion.

The both of them gave into their first kiss of the new dawn. Both devils parted lips, teasing the other's through brief prodding of tongues. A pleased purr resounded in both devils' chest, the sweet bliss and affection of their mate's desire and love for one another true. The internal urge for another passionate round of the night prior tempted both of them, but they knew it would difficult to get out of bed if they did.

Reluctantly, they returned to their human forms after pulling away. "Although I can't stop you now, I hope you use one of my Devil Arms with some...restraint my love." Vitale requested, slightly winded from the kiss.

Nero smiled and nodded, "I'll be responsible, I wouldn't like misusing such a gift from you." he assured, grasping the book. "Again, thanks for being with me Vitale." his voice holding warmth.

Vitale returned it in fold, "Always Nero." Vitale then slipped his arms into an embrace and rested his face against his mate's shoulder, placing a kiss on his own mating mark on Nero.

It was a pleasant morning to say the least.

AN: Yeah, I have a problem with updating unexpectedly. So more fan service with Nero x V.

The poem I used in italic dialogue is "The Divine Image" by William Blake's Songs of Innocence series.

"Pdee Barma" is the Enochian praise the Umbra Witches from Bayonetta use to call their main demon familiars like Madama Butterfly for Bayonetta. (From Bayonetta wiki).