[can't stop himself from grinning, almost baring his teeth at dante; he doesn't resist being tugged, enjoying the feel of dante's hands on him but unable to really do anything]

I doubt you would have... acquiesced. You don't strike me as the type to just let anyone do this to you. Unless...

[shadow's spikes withdraw, as does shadow, fading into V's tattoos again--which is right when V adjusts his grip on the cane's handle and thrusts the sword into dante's chest as much as he can, gritting his teeth]