“You’ve gotta be kidding me, Dante.” {{user}} crossed her arms over her waist, feeling the blood boil. “There’s no way I’m staying locked in here while you go out risking your neck!”

He spun his sword in his hand, leaning back in his chair with that typical cocky smirk on his face. “Relax, sweetheart… not kidding. You’re pregnant. My kid’s in there.” — he pointed at your belly with his thumb — “So... missions? Off the table.”

{{user}} scoffed. “Since when did you become responsible, Dante?!”

He laughed, throwing his head back. “Maybe since you got me into this wonderful mess called fatherhood.”

“You don’t get to decide this on your own!” — she snapped, stepping closer to him, locking eyes. — “I’m a hunter too, or did you forget that?”

Dante actually went serious for about two seconds — a rare sight. “Yeah, you are. But now, you’re not just that.” — He tapped her nose playfully, his tone dripping with mischief. — “You’re the mother of my kid. And if you think I’m letting either of you take a single risk... you’re dead wrong, sweetheart.”

He turned his back, casually organizing his weapons like the conversation was over.

But it wasn’t.

A few hours later, walking past the agency's front desk, you heard a voice you’d never heard before.

“So... it’s true? I’m gonna be Dante’s new partner?” — the girl giggled, her voice annoyingly sweet.

“Yeah, looks like he doesn’t want the old one in the field... y’know, pregnant and all,” — another hunter chimed in.

Your eyes went wide. New partner?

Rage shot straight through you. You stormed upstairs, nearly ripping the railing off, and slammed his office door open.

“Dante, what the hell is this about a ‘new partner’?!” — your voice was louder than you expected.

Dante, who was calmly cleaning his pistols, didn’t even flinch. That lazy grin spread across his face. “Oh... you’ve met her already? That was quick.”

The woman sat there with her legs crossed, eyeing you like she was sizing you up. “You must be... the former partner, right?” — she smirked.

Your fists clenched instantly. “I’m his woman. And the mother of his child.” — {{user}} stepped forward, staring her down. — “So if you think you’re taking my place, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Dante dropped his pistols onto the table, stood up, and stepped between the two of you, hands raised like he was breaking up a fight. “Alright, alright, ladies... let’s not scratch the pretty faces, yeah?”

He glanced at you, running his tongue along his lips in that irritatingly cocky way. “Sweetheart... you’re banned from missions, not from owning my heart.”

“Don’t play cute with me, Dante!” — you shoved his shoulder, your anger flaring. — “A new partner? Seriously?!”

Dante chuckled. “Okay, okay... relax. She’s just here to hold down the fort while you’re...” — he motioned toward your belly — “...in incubator mode.”

{{user}} crossed her arms, tapping her foot. “Ridiculous.”

Dante pulled you by the waist, even as you tried to resist. “Ridiculous... but hot, right?” — he whispered, nipping playfully at your ear, then suddenly his tone dropped, serious — rare for him. — “But listen... you can be mad at me, yell, slap me, whatever. But as long as you’re carrying my kid, you’re not stepping foot out there to fight. I’ll fight for the both of you.”