He woke up in a cold sweat, jerking up from his bed. The nightmares were always a blur to him, a man speaking in a calm tone, the sound of a blade rippling through flesh, and the smell of dusty old books. It had been the same nightmares for months, since that incident. Since that creature appeared, hovering above him protectively, with a voice calling out to him occasionally. The voice had wanted power, that's what it wanted at first. After that, it called for him, over and over again; "Nero" and "Nero" ringing in his head. The voice was calm and almost…fatherly, but sometimes stern as well. Nero reached up and brushed the sweat from his forehead, some of it caught in his wild white hair.
He looked to his glowing, red demonic arm and examined it carefully. This was proof of his demonic blood, that's what the old man had said anyway. This monstrous arm that had caused so much trouble for him during that incident. It almost caused a rift between him and Kyrie. This Devil Arm brought that creature, that Devil Trigger, to him. Nero shut his eyes and snarled, tossing the blanket from the lower half of his body. He moved his legs from the bed and rested his feet on the ground as he hunched over, his elbows on his upper legs.
Nero's eyes immediately fell on the katana that Dante had dubbed Yamato. The katana, alongside Red Queen, rested against his clothes drawer, ready for him if the need arose. Dante let him keep Yamato, he wasn't sure why though. When the Son of Sparda visited him again, more like he spied on him, Nero attempted to pry the answer from him. Dante just stared at him in silence, or rather, just stared past him, there was a distinct look in his eyes. There was a fondness too, which to Nero was weird, Dante's answer always seemed to ruffle his hair and would always walk away from him. Nero's irritation with the red clad Devil bubbled at the thought of his unanswered questions.
Speaking of, why did the Son of Sparda seem to spy on him? Didn't the old man have jobs to do? Why the hell was he always showing up out of nowhere? Nero could handle himself damnit! He clenched and unclenched his Devil Arm then he sighed resignedly, tossing himself back onto the bed. His eyes gawked angrily up at the ceiling. It always felt like Dante was holding something back. What the hell was it?!
"Nero…"
A sharp pain stabbed into his head and Nero let out a strangle cry. His hands flew up to his head, clenching it tightly. Shit! Nero cursed in his head. What the hell was going on?!
The throbbing continued through his head, making him twitch uncontrollably and he felt his Devil Arm start to pulse in reaction. Nero cried out in agony, the pain growing and he twisted around on the bed. Why…? Why was this voice causing him so much pain?!
"Nero…you wish for answers…"
Yes…Nero replied weakly to the voice.
"Nero?! What's going on?! What's wrong?!" Kyrie's panicked voice cried out. He could hardly hear her run into the room, but he could feel her warm hands delicately touching him. Nero looked up to her, her expression was twisted in concern. Seeing Kyrie there beside him did dull the pain a little, he slipped his normal hand from his head to take hold of her's.
Nero bit his lip in agony, shaking. Damnit, he didn't want her to get hurt. The pulsing of his Devil Arm increased and sweat trailed down his face. "Ky-Kyrie…I-I'll be fine…just need to…"
He could see Kyrie trembling in fear, not of him, but of what was going on. Her hand was firmly holding his despite the quaking in her body.
Suddenly, his power and blood began to sing within his body. His eyes flashed blood red as the protective blue, demonic figure emerged from his body and he heard Kyrie gasp. Her hand stayed where it was though, her fingers even laced with his. Kyrie was brave even in dangerous situations, too brave for her own good sometimes. Nero let out a shaky sigh as the pain began to die down a little. His red eyes met the eyes of the Devil Trigger who stared down at his host.
"My blood…my son…"
He felt himself being lulled into sleep, the darkness of sleep starting to take him. Kyrie called out to Nero in concern, calling his name out. Her voice seemed to fade in and out as his eyes began to close. He tried to move his arm, but his brain failed to connect to the nerve to move it. His brain was shutting down, heading into sleep mode like the rest of his body.
"Nero…do you finally wish to know the truth…?"
Next, he was consumed by darkness as his eye lids shut. "Father…"
A gently hand reached out and brushed their fingers against his face. A flash of two men fighting in the rain appeared in Nero's mind, clashing swords mercilessly. The raindrops around them were destroyed along the way. The two men…silver hair matted to their heads by the train, one carried a katana and the other a broadsword. The katana…Yamato.
A blue clad man held Yamato, clutching it tightly as he struck at the red clad man. The man in red…he resembled Dante. No, it was Dante. Yamato was thrust into Dante's chest and Dante fell to the ground with a thud. The man in blue reached down and wrapped his fingers around a pendant with a red jewel on it then ripped it from Dante's neck. Nero wasn't too worried for the old man, he had impaled the old man with his sword and he got right back up. Apparently, the bastard got a long history being impaled.
Then, the blue clad man reached up with his free hand and brushed his hair out of his face. A face that looked similar to his own and exactly like Dante's. He pulled Yamato from Dante's body and flung it, sending the remaining blood on it flinging off to the side before sheathing the katana into its scabbard. The man's blue eyes suddenly landed on him and Nero tensed up at the man's gaze.
"Foolishness, Dante, foolishness. Might controls everything, and without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself."
Nero's eyes widened a little, it was the same voice Nero had heard earlier. The man stepped forward towards Nero and Nero took a step back from him. Nero felt some intimidation from the man, but he bit his lip. This damn hallucination or whatever he was seeing wasn't going to intimidate him. Nero flexed his Demonic Arm and he felt it pulse, the man stopped mid-step. His blue eyes studied the arm with interest, his hands nowhere near his sword though.
"I see a devil inside you has awakened as well."
"Yeah, something I didn't exactly wish for," Nero responded in turn, suddenly, he had Yamato in his Demonic hand. His own Yamato. He drew the katana and his Yamato began to sing. "Now who the hell are you?"
The man just gawked at him in silence then unsheathed his own Yamato. The man began to circle around Nero, watching his every move. "I am a Son of Sparda…"
Nero huffed and clutched his Yamato tightly as he shifts around to watch his enemy. Never lose sight of your enemy. "Sparda, Sparda, Sparda. Damnit, I'm tired of hearing his name!"
In a flash, the man flickered up to him, his Yamato ready to strike Nero. Quickly, Nero held up his Yamato and blocked the incoming attack with his. The two katana blades collided with a loud clank and the two silver haired man faced each other. Calm, ice blue eyes met stormy, dark blue orbs. Nero stared into the man's eyes, he could see a hint of…regret it appeared. Sparks flew off the clashing blades and Nero growled at the man before him, breaking out the clash. He jumped back from the blue clad devil and rushed back towards him with Yamato swinging.
The man spokeagain. "I am Vergil, son of Sparda."
Nero froze mid-step at the name. He stumbled forward and pushed himself back up to get himself back onto proper footing. His head began to ache again and he felt his power start to overwhelm him again, his eyes flashed red. His arm starts to pulse again. No, no, not this again!
Nero dropped to his knees, his Yamato hitting the ground with a clang as he clutched his head. Another flash in his mind appeared, a woman with long blonde hair being hacked to pieces by demons. She stood over a little boy, protectively even as she was killed. Nero's heart clenched at that. A little boy who resembled this Vergil guy and Dante screaming, being dragged away by other demons. The emotions flew through him; agony, grief, and more importantly a quiet rage. The greed for power.
Then, the scene changed to Dante and Vergil clashing in the rain again then it changed to an unknown area. They were fighting in a river, slashing at each other with Yamato and Rebellion. They ran at each other for one more attack, swinging their blades. Vergil was wounded and Nero felt his Devil Trigger activate fully.
He reawaken to face Vergil again, his protective Devil Trigger hovering over him and Yamato back in his left hand. Nero stood up and stared at the man right in the eyes, who was now gaping back with a sad expression. Nero spoke through his Devil Trigger, the other voice echoing behind him.
"From that day forth... my arm changed... and a voice echoed "Power! Give me more power!" You were the voice…father."
Vergil nodded and in a blink of an eye, his body became reptilian-like, his devil form. Nero could spot one similarity between Vergil's Devil Trigger and his own, a sheath along the reptilian's arm. A sheath to put Yamato in.
"I gave you the strength…the power to protect yourself. And you used it to protect her."
Nero nodded and clutched Yamato tightly. He felt the pain lessen in his head and he let out a soft sigh. "Because you couldn't protect her. You wanted to kill the bastard for taking your mother's life so you went to get dear old Granddaddy's power. But you unleashed demon hell on earth in the process."
"Language Nero." Vergil chastised him sternly. Nero frowned slightly at his father, it felt odd being scolded like this. Vergil then started to walk towards him, his Devil Trigger wearing off as he strolled over to his son.
Nero watched him and his deactivated on its own as Vergil halted beside him. Nero looked up at the taller man and scowled slightly, looking down at Yamato in his hands. "The old man gave me this to me, said it was his brother's and he said he wanted to keep it in the family. He should have just told me, goddamn idiot."
His father's lips twisted into a smirk. "Sounds like my twin hasn't changed a bit."
"Yeah, dear old Uncle Dante won't stop harassing me either. Now I get why," Nero looked up at him. "I'm his family, probably his only family left. I'm the only thing left of his beloved older brother."
Vergil nodded slowly and reached out, set his hand on Nero's head. Nero blinked and looked up at Vergil with wide eyes. Nero looked down and smirked as well. "Don't worry Father, I'll take care of Uncle Dante and Yamato."
The Son of Sparda grunted and then grabbed the boy, pulling him into his arms. Nero blinked in surprise at the embrace and followed suit, holding onto him. "Take care of yourself first. Protect yourself, Nero. Because I'm not able to."
Nero rested his head against his father's shoulder. "Okay Father…"
"I love you Nero…" His father's voice began to fade away. Nero blinked and saw him start to fade away, his body blinking out of existence. "I will always be watching over you and protecting you…"
"Father…wait…" Nero called out as his father was close to disappearing. He felt his heart start to shatter as he reached up with his Demonic Arm to his father. Vergil gave him a gentle smile before blinking out of existence and Nero trembled. He was gone. Nero had just met the bastard who fathered him and now he was gone away again.
Nero bit his trembling lower lip and dropped to his knees. "Father…please…come back."
"Nero…? Nero…? Nero…?!" Kyrie's voice hollered, she sounded so desperate. Nero felt himself being awoken in the real world again.
"Nero!"
He had powered down from his Devil Trigger and Kyrie had her arms around his neck. Nero looked down at her, sweat and tears rolling down his face. Her face was against his chest, she felt so warm against him. He reached up with his demonic arm and brushed at her reddish-brown hair. Kyrie was always there for him and she loved him just as much as he loved her.
Kyrie lifted her head from his chest and her expression changed to one of relief. She leaned in and showered his face with soft kisses. "Nero! You woke up, thank God! I-I was so afraid yo-you were in a coma…you-you wouldn't wake up. I-I called Dante…"
"I'll be okay Kyrie…I'm sorry that I worried you." Nero mumbled to her. He buried his face into her hair and held her close. The tears trickled down his cheeks as he held onto her. "I-I…I met my father Kyrie."
"Met him…? How…? Nero…" She whispered, cupping his cheeks and lifting his face from her hair to look at her. She reached up and brushed his tears away gently. The priestess hadn't needed to ask, the incident prior to this moment had made Kyrie realize there was a lot to this world now. Kyrie smiled weakly at him as she stroked his face. "Tell me about him…"
"His name is Vergil…he's the son of Sparda and a human woman, Eva. He's calm, he wanted power to avenge his mother and he's a master swordsman. He wore this blue coat, like Dante's red one. He's the old man's older twin brother. Yamato was his blade," Nero gestured over to the katana lying beside Red Queen. Nero then looked down at the ground and then he took hold of her hand and continued quietly. "He's…dead…kind of, I don't know. I know a part of him is living inside of me. My Devil Trigger resembles his…"
Nero groaned and buried his face into his hands. "It's so damn complicated Kyrie..."
"I think our lives have become very complicated lately Nero…" Kyrie responded, reaching out and playing with his hair. "Dante is on his way, maybe we can ask about him."
Nero groaned softly and nodded. "Well, gotta face the old man eventually."
Then, he heard a knock on the window to his bedroom and the window was pushed open from the outside. Dante slipped through and Nero noticed that his newly discovered Uncle wasn't carrying his giant broadsword, Rebellion, with him. Dante looked over to the couple and grinned at them. Nero glared at him a little while Kyrie watched Dante.
"Looks like you woke up kid. Woulda gotten here sooner, but the traffic was terrible." Dante announced as he walked over to Nero and Kyrie.
Before either could respond, Dante kneeled down and looked over Nero carefully. Dante took a hold of Nero's Demonic arm and examined it thoroughly before releasing his arm. Nero couldn't get a good read on Dante's expression as he checked over him. The younger demon hunter scowled though when Dante reached up to feel his forehead. Dante frowned softly.
"You're a bit warm kid, you're sweating like crazy too. Can't say if it's human or demonic disease though. Kyrie said your arm was pulsing and your head was hurting, that right?"
Nero nodded, brushing the other's hand away with a scowl. "I feel kind of better…but you and I need to talk old man."
Dante stood up, straightened up at this and gave him a serious look. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Alright…you have the floor kid. Talk."
Nero bit his lip as he watched his uncle. He felt his anger arise in him again, anger toward the red clad Devil, but he took a long, deep breath before speaking up. "Three months ago, you appeared in Fortuna and started this whole mess. I find your brother's sword and you let me keep, you just forgot to let me know that I'm your nephew?"
There was no reaction from the older man. Dante just continued to look at Nero, studying him carefully and Nero clenched his fists tightly. Damnit, why wasn't the old man saying anything? Kyrie's hand on his arm kept him from going over the edge at the moment, he turned to look to her. Kyrie nodded, as if telling him would be alright. Nero took another deep breath before looking away from Dante.
"I grew up in an orphanage, I never knew who my parents were. Everyone said I was the son of some prostitute who died giving birth, I never wanted to believe it of course. I asked the sisters in charge of the orphanage, "who was my mother? Where was my father"? No one knew. No one could give me answer. I got adopted though…by the parents two of the best people I know." Nero's hand found Kyrie's and he gave her a bright smile. He then looked down at the demonic arm. "This thing awoke when I saved Kyrie from some demons. I thought I was cursed, that God was punishing me. Punishing me again because I was born."
Nero paused and looked to Dante again. "Then you showed up, you showing up helped me figure out what I was. I'm a devil, like you, Father, and Grandfather, even if it's only half or a fourth or whatever. But there was still something missing, who my father and mother were. Today, I learned who my father was your brother, Vergil Sparda. So tell me, when in the hell were you going to tell me that I'm your nephew Dante? And why didn't my mother try to find you to give me to?"
That got Dante. Nero could see the red clad devil shift around at that last bit. His head drooped forward and he reached up to rub his head. Nero shut his eyes and felt tears sting his eyes as he reached up to brush his own tears from his eyes. He wished the old man would just say something already. Dante was just as sarcastic as him, but also eccentric and reckless.
Then, Dante appeared in front of him, sitting down on the ground. Nero looked down at him as Dante spoke. "If I had known about you kid, I would have come and taken you right out of that orphanage. I would have made sure that you had a good life with me. I would've taken you to school every day, taught you how to drive, and tell you about Vergil. But fate is a bitch and wouldn't let me meet you until you were already grown. Life hasn't exactly been fair for any of us kid."
Dante reached up and patted the top of Nero's head affectionately. "I had a feeling you were Vergil's the first moment I saw you. You resemble my brother, you both liked to keep your distance from people, and the way Yamato reacted to you just added to my case. That and you both have a tendency to want impale me through the chest."
Through his tears, Nero responded with a smirk. "You deserved it jackass. Sides, you weren't even trying to kill me."
Dante gave him a playful hit to the shoulder. "Cocky little punk. Verg would've had enjoyed raising you."
