Chapter Text
Nero could see the warm puffs of his breath as he read quietly on the couch in the shop. The chilled December air had infiltrated every gap and crack in the old building and the ancient heating system couldn’t keep up. Nero wrapped himself in a thread barren sweatshirt he had found in Dante’s closet alongside some fluffy old blankets. His thick socks kept his feet warm as he rubbed them together absent mindedly under the blanket.
It was mid-morning and the sun burned through the open window luminating the foyer. The blinding light was magnified as it reflected off of every surface outside that was covered in pure white snow. Nero’s eyes danced over the pages of the worn book that his newly found father had thrown at him before plunging into hell nearly six months ago. He’d read this book many times since then; seeking some connection to the father and uncle he dearly missed.
“A Robin Redbreast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove house fill’d with doves and pigeons
Shudders Hell thro’ all its regions.
A Dog starv’d at his Master’s Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misus’d upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fiber from the Brain does tear.”
Blake’s poems were faded on each page. Clearly read a thousand times; each reading slowly fading the ink and paper fibers. The mention of hell and heaven again made Nero’s mind wander to his father and uncle. He had truly hoped they would have returned by now. Nero had been doing his best to take care of the shop and take jobs when he could that Morrison had funneled to him out of obligation or pity. Shortly after the qliphoth incident, Nero had tried to return to Fortuna to resume his life with Kyrie and the three boys that shared their home. Unfortunately, Nero couldn’t simply just go back to the way his life was before learning who he was.
He would always love Kyrie. She had been there for him when no one else was. But the events that had transpired last June played as an endless movie in Nero’s head. He could feel himself retreating within; unable to process what had happened. He was tormented by nightmares of his father and uncle killing each other before Nero could stop them or rotting in the underworld after they resumed their rivalry and killing each other there. Nero began to feel like he was drifting in the ocean, alone and unable reach the people who had previously been his rock. He knew it was hurting Kyrie, his distance. So, he decided the best thing to do was to leave Fortuna and try to work through was he was going through alone.
Kyrie and the boys had seen him off at the ferry doing their best to hide their sadness. Kyrie had hugged him and whispered in his ear, “We’ll be here if you need us.” Nero gave them a weak smile and nod and left. He felt numb. He had for a long time. Once he’d gotten to Capulet and to Devil May Cry, he called Morrison to make sure it was ok that he stayed there. Morrison had the deed for the place after all. Morrison seemed happy to hear from Nero and offered to start sending him work. Nero agreed and settled into a routine. Between jobs he would turn on the old jukebox (after a few good smacks) and set about cleaning the shop.
The first few months played out this way with Nero rarely speaking. He sent some of the money he earned back to Fortuna for Kyrie and the boys. Every day he would take on a new project from dusting and polishing the old wooden bookshelves behind Dante’s desk to scrubbing the windows until they were so clear they looked invisible. He found the silent cleaning as a therapeutic mediation that pushed the negative thoughts from his mind.
It was around the end of September when Trish and Lady came to visit him. They said they had heard from Morrison that Nero was taking care of the place. They tipped toed around the subject of Kyrie and Fortuna. Nero did his best to fain a smile and maintain a casual conversation. The elephant in the room soon spilled out of Lady’s mouth, “So no sign of them?” Nero averted his eyes, concentrating on the empty space behind Lady. “No nothing.” Nero stated. “I wonder if they even plan on coming back,” Lady hummed. Those words squeezed Nero’s guts. Lady realized that maybe that had not been the best thing to say. She put one of her hands gently on Nero’s right shoulder. “Dante has never been one to leave us hanging.” Nero looked up and met Lady’s heterochromatic eyes and gave a weak smile. “Let us know if you need anything, Nero.” Trish purred as she and Lady took their leave. The conversation left Nero alone again lost in his silent meditation.
It was that day he dug his father’s book out of his backpack that he had brought with him to Devil May Cry. Nero slowly open the book and began to read. Vergil’s childlike handwriting frame many of Blake’s poems. Nero ran his finger over each word as he read; imagining that doing so gave him better insight into his father’s mind. There were moments when V’s face would also flash to Nero’s head accompanied by a feeling of grief.
The scribbles that framed the current poem read, “enslavement equals suffering? Things should be as nature intended as heaven and hell intended.” Nero ran his chilled fingers over those words. He tried to put himself in his father’s child-like mind to understand his interpretation of Blake’s poem. He envisioned Vergil huddled under a blanket much like Nero was currently doing writing those words in the margins. Nero couldn’t help but smile at that.
Nero’s contemplation was soon interrupted with three loud knocks at the door. He uncurled him himself from his warm cocoon and slipped a bookmark into the book. The iron doorknob set a cold shock into Nero’s hands as he turned it and opened the door. “Long time no see dumbass!” Nico said in her southern drawl. She wore a red stocking cap and mittens and a long black coat. She danced from foot to foot in a futile effort to stay warm. “You gonna invite me in or let me freeze my ass off out here?” Nero smiled at that and moved aside to allow her in with an exaggerated bow. Nico quickly shuffled inside, and Nero shut the door.
Nero made them some hot chocolate and they sat together on the couch. Nico took off her hat but kept her coat and mittens. “How the hell to you stay warm in this place? It must be 40 degrees in here!” She exclaimed. “I’ve just gotten used to it. Most of the time I’m trying to clean this dump so the moving around keeps me warm. What are you doing here?” Nero asked. Nico took a drink of her hot chocolate. “Kyrie told me you were here. Damn Nero, you guys broke up? I leave you alone for five months and this happens? I never thought I’d see the day. What has been going on?”
Nero sighed and gave her the cliff note version of the last several months. He found himself telling her more than he had spoken to anyone. She was his closest friend after all. She listened intently. Surprisingly there were no sarcastic interruptions or obnoxious remarks. When Nero finished, She set her mug on the coffee table, “Woo whew, Nero. Never thought all of this would hit you so hard. Then again, you have a soft heart. Not that that’s a bad thing! Under that tough guy act is a kind person who would do anything for anyone he cares about. I can see why you miss them.” Nero stared at his feet feeling his cheeks heat up. “I shouldn’t give a shit. They left me without a second thought. They probably killed each other in Hell already anyway.” Nero wiggled his toes slightly.
Nico laughed, “Yeah family is a bitch sometimes. Well, get your shoes and boots. Were going out.” Nero looked up to meet her brown eyes. “What?” Nico stood up. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you got no decorations in his shit hole. You are not going to just sit here by yourself on Christmas brooding about Dante and Vergil. You and I are gonna have some fuckin’ fun!” Nero shook his head. “Nico I don’t need that. You don’t need-“ She cut him off. “Shut up and grab your shit. Let’s go!”
Nico drug Nero to a bunch of department stores all over the city. He hadn’t really been out in the real world in months so it was a bit of a surreal experience to see people hustling about getting ready for the holiday. They picked out lights and corny Santa decorations. Nico found a discount Halloween bin in one of the stores with decorations that were cents on the dollar. They grabbed those as well. They bought some booze and frozen pizzas and by the time they got back to the shop it was dark.
Nico found some cheesy Christmas music on her phone and played it while they set about decorating the shop. They strung the red and blue Christmas lights. Nero used his demonic wings to hang the lights through the rafters. Nico took the Halloween decorations and scattered them throughout the shop. Plastic spiders perch in the Christmas lights as if they were webs. Plastic ghosts hanging from the ceiling fan with silver garland necklaces. All the while they drank Jack and Coke and laughed at each other’s stupid jokes. When they were done, Nero sank back down on the couch with Nico. He took a moment to realize that he hadn’t had that much fun for six plus months.
They continued to drink and talk long into the night. Nero could feel the alcohol warming his face and relaxing his muscles. He was a notorious light weight so didn’t drink that often but when he did he made sure to do so in a relatively safe environment. Hanging out with Nico seemed to lift the weight he had been carrying on his shoulders for the last few months. Nico straighten up, “Hey I got an idea!” She stood up and wobbled over the heap of unused decorations on the floor near the jukebox. She pulled out a blow-up Frankenstein. “Nero blow this up! I will be right back!” She threw the deflated Frankenstein in Nero’s lap and climbed up the stairs. Nero did his best to blow up the deflated monster though with his buzz it wasn’t easy. The thing was around 3 feet tall so he had to do it with short bursts of breath. More than once he had to stop and burp out some alcohol from the effort.
Nico soon came back down the stairs with one of Dante’s old red coats. Nero finished blowing up the Frankenstein and put it on the chair at Dante’s desk. She wrapped the old coat around the inflatable and put a Santa hat on it’s head. Nero stood up and walked over Dante’s desk. Seeing the would-be Dante with his old coat, Santa hat, and scowling Frankenstein face was too much. Nero burst out laughing and Nico soon followed. Nero sat on the floor to steady himself as he continued laughing. It took about five minutes to get the laughs out before they both settled down. Nero wiped the tears from his eyes, “That is great Nico. Almost like the real thing.” She smiled and helped her friend to his feet. She ran over and turned off the overhead lights in the shop leaving only the red and blue Christmas lights to bathe the room in their soft light. It’s so peaceful, Nero thought.
He made his way back to the couch and took another drink from his glass on the coffee table. Nico’s phone began to buzz in her pocket. She appeared to be scanning a text message and quickly tapped back a response. “Shit.” She stated. “What is it?” Nero inquired. She let out a loud sigh and said, “My friend Sarah is wasted at a bar across town and is begging me for a ride.” Nero smiled, “Yeah, your ‘friend.’” He said using his hand to made air quotes when saying friend. “Hey! I can’t help that she is also hot as hell, ok? Shit Nero I’ve been working on her for months! I think I might actually have a chance.” Nero smiled and rolled his eyes. “Well you better go be her knight in shining armor.” Nico frowned, “What about you? Do you want to come with me to get her? I aint that drunk I can drive.” Nero waved his hand in front of his face, “Na I don’t wanna cock block you. I’ll be ok here.” Nico continued to frown but put her phone back into her pocket. “Ok. I’ll get her home and then come back alright?” Nero nodded and smiled. “I’ll be here with my good friends Jack and Coke.” Nico snorted and quickly ran to her car. As the door shut and Nero was left in Devil May Cry with the soft Christmas lights and his warm drink, he was again alone.
Nero continued to nurse his drink in silence for quite some time. His body was completely relaxed and he felt as if he would melt into the lumpy old couch. He thought about last Christmas on Fortuna when he and Kyrie had decorated the house and wrapped presents from Santa for the boys. He had thought then that he wanted to ask Kyrie to marry him. It is strange how time can be so unpredictable and transform reality so quickly, he thought. Where would he be next Christmas? With that he took one last long draw of his drink and laid on the couch. He stared at the Christmas lights for a long while before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.
Nero was woken up with a loud bang at the door followed by a muffled, “shit!” Nero nearly rolled off the couch before catching himself. He had some vertigo from the alcohol that was still swimming in his blood. He took a minute to collect himself before attempting to stand. Another bang came from the door accompanied by voices, “I never lock this place? Who the fuck would steal from me? I don’t know where the key is. Shut up!” Nero stumbled to the door very much intoxicated, “hold on a fucking second Jesus Christ it’s 3 in the morning!” He yelled as he opened the door.
The frozen night air poured into the shop but that was not what froze Nero in place. Before him stood his uncle and father, covered in what looked like rags that were once their clothes, demon blood, and likely demon shit. The three of them were silent for a moment before Nero snapped one of his hands to eyes rubbing them furiously. He stepped back and in doing so lost his balance. He began to fall backward before he felt to strong hand grab his wrists to steady him.
Dante walked Nero back into the shop. Vergil followed close behind and quickly shut the door. “Kid, you ok?” Dante asked.
Nero met his crystal grey eyes and again shook his head. “I must be REALLY drunk.” He slurred.
Dante laughed, “Yeah you smell like a bar. Been tying one on? Love what you’ve done with the place kid.”
Nero finally steadied himself and realized he was not having a drunk hallucination. His uncle and father were really standing in front of him. Dante let go of his wrists and Nero let them fall to his side. “You’re back.” Nero stated simply.
Dante smiled, “Yeah kid we are. Sorry it took so long.”
Nero rubbed the back of his neck. He could feel tears stinging his eyes. He was not going to drunk cry in front of his family. He shook his head again to hold back the tears. Dante smiled, “Vergil if you want the shower first, it’s all yours. I know you haven’t taken a real one in what like 25 years?” Vergil frowned but silently stepped past Nero and Dante and up the stairs. For a brief moment, his blue eyes met Nero’s. He gave Nero an almost imperceptible nod before heading to the bathroom.
Dante looked up and notice the Frankenstein sitting at his desk. He laughed, “Real nice, Nero.”
Nero couldn’t help but smile. “Nico and I did some decorating for Christmas.”
“Shit it’s already Christmas?”
Nero made his way back to the couch. “Well tomorrow is Christmas Eve, or I guess today is.” He stated.
“Damn,” is all Dante managed to say. He shucked off his smelly coat and boots before going to the kitchen to poor himself a Jack and Coke. He came back with two drinks and handed Nero one.
“How long have you been staying here?” Dante asked.
Nero, for the second time in 24 hours, recounted the last six months to Dante. The older devil hunter listened intently while sipping his drink.
When Nero finished, Dante set his drink on the table. “Sorry again that we took so long, kid. Obviously, it didn’t take long for your old man and I to cut down the roots. We got caught up in sparring with each other and no we weren’t trying to kill each other. More like mending our relationship.” Dante ran his hand through his long hair. “Between stabbing each other and demons, we tried to talk about a lot of things. Then we spent a few months trying to find a space in the underworld where we could use the Yamato to come home.” Dante looked at him and smiled. “Thank you for taking care of the place. I hope you’ll continue to stay here for a while, Nero. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for not telling you who you were sooner.”
Nero’s gaze shifted again to the floor. He hadn’t really thought about the fact that Dante had suspected he was Nero’s uncle for the past five years and never said again. While he was angry initially, that was soon washed away by the overwhelming feeling of awe and warmth that he had a family. He wasn’t some nobody orphan. “It doesn’t matter. We can’t change the past. Only the here and now. You and Vergil are here now. That is all that matters.” Nero stated flatly. “We don’t deserve you kid.” Dante hummed while putting his hand on Nero’s shoulder.
Their moment was interrupted by the soft pad of footsteps coming down the stairs. Nero and Dante turned their heads to see Vergil descending the stairs wearing some old sweatpants and sweatshirt of Dante’s. His hair was slicked back as usual. He had found some of Nero’s thick wool socks and was sporting them. “I hope you saved some hot water.” Dante stated while rising and heading up the stairs. “Maybe,” is all Vergil said with a half-smile. Dante disappeared up the stairs and Vergil came and sat in the recliner that faced the couch at a 90-degree angle.
They sat in silence for a moment before Vergil noticed his book on the coffee table. “You’ve been reading it?” He asked. Nero was caught off guard and stated, “Oh yeah…yeah I have.” Another moment of silence. “Did you like any of it?” Vergil asked patiently in his silky voice. Nero met his eyes again and noted a look of curiosity settling into Vergil’s expression. Nero, not really knowing what to say, took another small drink, set it down and grabbed the book. There was just enough light in the shop from the Christmas lights that he could still read the pages. He flipped to his favor poem in the book and began to read:
‘Nought loves another as itself,
Nor venerates another so,
Nor is it possible to thought
A greater than itself to know.
‘And, father, how can I love you
Or any of my brothers more?
I love you like the little bird
That picks up crumbs around the door.’
The Priest sat by and heard the child;
In trembling zeal he seized his hair,
He led him by his little coat,
And all admired his priestly care.
And standing on the altar high,
‘Lo, what a fiend is here!’ said he:
‘One who sets reason up for judge
Of our most holy mystery.’
The weeping child could not be heard,
The weeping parents wept in vain:
They stripped him to his little shirt,
And bound him in an iron chain,
And burned him in a holy place
Where many had been burned before;
The weeping parents wept in vain.
Are such things done on Albion’s shore?”
Nero looked up to see a pleased expression on his father’s face. “A Little Boy Lost. Interesting.” Vergil stated plainly. Nero felt his cheeks burn and he quickly closed the book and set it on the table. A sudden feeling of weariness fell over him. He couldn’t hold back the large yawn that escaped his lips. Vergil slowly leaned forward to pick up the book. He leaned back into the chair and opened the book to begin to read.
Nero couldn’t stay awake for much longer. He laid back on the coach and pulled the fluffy blanket back around him. He watched the twinkle of the Christmas lights before he heard his father begin to read from the book:
“I have no name
I am but two days old.—
What shall I call thee?
I happy am
Joy is my name,—
Sweet joy befall thee!
Pretty joy!
Sweet joy but two days old,
Sweet joy I call thee;
Thou dost smile.
I sing the while
Sweet joy befall thee.”
Nero fell asleep to the sound of his father’s voice. The last thought that Nero held onto before his dreams took him was that he hope that this too was not some cruel dream; that when he woke, he would no longer be alone.