"Is there something I can help you with sir?" An elderly voice called out to him, pulling him out of the trance he was in.
Dante had been staring at the painting that lined the walls of this ancient orphanage. Sparda stood tall among the demon horde with his sword, the Force Edge swung above his head, ready to the strike the demons below him. Sparda was in his demon form too, it seemed they never saw what he looked like in his human form. The form that Dante could faintly remember as a child. He looked like the hero, the Savoir, which this city worshipped. Yeah…try having him as a father. Dante huffed softly at the painting, the bitterness set in.
He promised himself after his brother fell into the Demon world, he would stop thinking like that. However, the bitterness surfaced every now and again. Dante shook his head and then turned to see the nun standing there, staring at him.
"Yeah…I got sent this letter a week ago." Dante stuffed his hand into his pocket of his signature red coat, pulling out a white envelope with a broken seal. He held it out to the nun and she took it. The nun pulled the letter from the envelope and began to scan the contents.
When he had received the letter, he couldn't believe the contents. Right now, if Vergil was standing right here, he'd sucker punch him in the face. Everything made sense now. Why his brother summoned that damn tower, why he wanted his father's power. It wasn't just about mom…it was about him too. Dante thought, his teeth grinding at the thought of it. Damnit, why hadn't Vergil just told him what he was doing? Why he was trying to get Sparda's power? His brother was so damn elusive.
Vergil could've at least told Dante that he was expecting a son.
"I see…you're the boy's Uncle then…and you're taking him?" The nun peered over the letter to eye the demon hunter suspiciously.
Dante nodded. "His mother and my brother would've wanted it. And I…I want to meet the kid."
He truthfully did want to meet his nephew. The kid was still an infant though, it would be difficult to raise him on top of his jobs. Dante would do it though and Lady would be around to help. The moment he handed her the letter and she read it, she was in utter shock. Lady told him she would help, telling him that he would need all the help he could get. Hopefully, the nun wouldn't ask what his line of work was, though the broadsword on his back might be a big clue.
The nun studied him carefully and then nodded. She gestured for him to follow which he did. "Nero is three months old and is a healthy little boy, he has been to all of his check-ups. He behaves like any baby would…"
Dante nodded and flashed a smile. Nero huh? Not a bad name. Dante mused. Nero's mother had good taste in names it seemed. Hell, he was sure that Vergil would've approved of the name. The nun went on about other things, but Dante zoned out, thinking about his nephew. What did he look like? Did he inherit the Sparda family look or did he look more like his mother? Who would he behave more like as he grew up? When would his demonic powers surface? Would he like pizza?
Okay, all of those questions weren't exactly relevant, but he needed to know. Hopefully he won't be a chip off the old block and Nero will actually talk to me if something is bothering him. Dante thought, reaching up to brush his hair out of his face.
"Here we are. There. He's in the blue crib in the middle there." The nun pointed out in a soft voice, gesturing to the crib. "They're napping right now sir. You'll have to be quiet. In the meantime, I'll speak with the Mother Superior."
Dante nodded and stepped into the room, the nun shutting the door on her way out. The only noise that Dante could hear was the sound of sleeping infants and his own thoughts. He shut his eyes and took a long, deep breath before strolling over to the blue crib pointed out to him. Dante stepped over to the crib and looked down to see a white haired infant curled up in a dark blue blanket. The infant had a mobile hanging over his crib, it had blue bears on it.
"Hmp, lots of blue huh…sounds like big brother already." Dante mumbled with a smile. The infant cooed softly in his sleep and Dante watched him shift around in his sleep.
Dante reached down and gently scooped the blue bundled infant into his arms. It wasn't the first time he had held a kid thankfully. He held Nero and stared down at him. "Well, you seem like a good kid. The nun said you haven't caused too much trouble."
Then again, what kind of trouble can an infant get into?
Nero started to wiggle around in his arms and let out a yawn. His eyes fluttered open and Dante stared down into a pair of dark sapphire eyes. The infant gawked back up at him in confusion and then Dante saw tears start to enter his eyes. Dante stiffened at this and quickly scanned the room only to find a rocking chair.
He quickly made his way over to the rocking chair and plopped himself down. He started to rock around before Nero could start crying completely. "Now now little guy, don't cry…I know I look scary, but I'm not. It'll be alright Nero. I promise."
The infant stared up at him with those huge dark blue eyes with tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks. The rocking seemed to help though as Nero sniffled and whined a little. Dante continued as he reached down to wipe the tears from Nero's eyes. "I hear they call you Nero…my name's Dante. I'm your Uncle actually."
Nero blinked and stared up at him before grabbing hold of the demon hunter's finger. Dante grinned. "You have quite the grip little man. You're gonna make quite the fighter one day, you know?"
As Nero played with Dante's finger, Dante looked down at the child sadly. Nero was an innocent child…but if Dante knew his family legacy, Nero would become a fighter like his father before him. It seemed to be the vicious cycle that the Sparda family had to deal with. Fighting and fighting, no matter what. But also fighting alone. Dante looked down at Nero with a determined look. That wouldn't happen here.
Dante leaned down and pressed a kiss to Nero's forehead. "I promise you kid…you won't be alone. You have me now and forever. I'll never let anyone or anything hurt you. You may not be my kid Nero, but you are my blood and I'll take care of you."
Nero let out another yawn and reached up to rub his eyes. Dante chuckled softly and brushed the hair from Nero's face. He did look like him…his big brother. Nero snuggled against Dante's arm and cooed softly. The demon hunter bit his lower lip, feeling something wet roll down his cheeks. Dante mused aloud. "Damnit Verge…he looks so much like you…"