Alright, guys. This is my next DMC fic. DantexNero, of course. I've actually been working on this one for a good while now. I was meaning to get this posted sooner, but my schedule has stayed hectic for awhile and will be even more hectic now that School has started back. I'm taking Medical classes now, too. So, yeah.
BTW! The winner of the poll I had was DxNxV as I already said. I will have that oneshot up within the next week. So, be on the lookout for DMC threesome goodness.
Now, I have approached this fic a little differently than the ones I've written before. As one of my dear readers pointed out, and something that I noticed too, I tend to write the relationship between Dante and Nero the same in every story. While it works that way, I should be trying for a different way to write it. Thanks for speaking up and saying something^_^ I appreciate it. So, this fic will be my attempt at something that is, hopefully, more interesting. This first chapter is sort of an introduction. Just read and let me know how you feel about it so far. Please read and enjoy^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own DMC, or Star Trek:TNG. I merely use the characters for my entertainment.
No Warning (Yet…).
Torture.
The inability to forget or forgive.
The inability to feel anything except disgust and hatred for the world around oneself.
He knew it well. He knew all about it. Years ago, as a member of the Order, he learned disgust for demons. Now, he knew disgust for anyone who had ever had deals with them. People like that had done nothing but take away from him. They had only given him grief.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forgive any of them. He couldn't bring himself to be the naive person he used to be. Not that being naïve was a good thing, it was just easier.
The boy sat, unmoving except for when he took gulps of coffee, staring at the wall ahead of him. The thoughts that ran through his head weren't the happy ones he'd enjoyed only months ago. Now, things were lackluster and dull. He felt as thought he had only one purpose.
And it was all because some fool thought he could become almighty with the power of a demon. It was all because of that.
"More coffee?" The waitress, who wore fantastically bright pink lipstick, topped off his mug without waiting for his response.
He didn't care. He was going to skip out on the bill, anyway. Besides…they'd just add it to his overwhelming tab, anyway. He didn't have any money. He didn't have a job. Despite the things he'd done for his community, he wasn't an outstanding member of society. He was just a guy with white hair and a freak arm. Oh yeah. He had a sword and a gun, too. He was a deviant as far as Fortuna was concerned. Still yet, nobody cares, nor did they ever care. They weren't thankful, they didn't see him as an equal, and they never, ever cared at all. Nobody ever cared except Kyrie.
As usual, the late night diner coffee tasted like shit and was, disappointingly, scorched to hell. It never changed. If he wanted to be all angsty and artsy about it, he could compare his life to the diner coffee: Both were predictable and full of disappointment. He shook his head at his own thoughts. Is this what he was now? Was he a misanthropist who sat around comparing his shitty life to coffee? Wasn't that a bit stupid? It was. It was fucking retarded. He wasn't in high school anymore. He was no Prufrock, or Eliot. He was just Nero.
And It was time to go. He'd had enough of the coffee and enough of his own bullshit.
Making sure nobody was looking, he quietly left. If they were upset about him not paying, they could go blow themselves for all he cared. He had business to attend to. It was the only thing that made him happy anymore. It gave him a sense of vengeance.
Killing demons.
"Look, pal", the voice echoed throughout the shop, "I'm closed tomorrow. Not taking any jobs. It's for personal reasons". The receiver was thrown back on its pedestal, clacking against the old metal. Not that he couldn't use the money, he just didn't feel like dealing with another job that required him to be out of bed before noon on a Friday. He damn well deserves his sleep after the ridiculous sloth infestation he took care of yesterday.
"If you keep refusing jobs, how are you ever going to pay me back?"
"You wanna talk debt, sweetheart, how about we remember that time I saved you from falling off that damn tower? Ya know…when you shot me in the head? You owe me for that. I'm still not accepting that bullet as payment ".
"I could have saved myself from that and you know it, Dante. As a matter of fact, I think you're forgetting that I did save myself from that. When you dropped me after I shot you?"
"Keyword: after. I saved your ass. Case closed".
His face was the definition of smug. It made Lady want to tear him a new one, but such things were pretty much pointless. He'd always be the same Dante regardless of tearing new ones, punching him, or shooting him in the head. He is who he is.
She pieced her gun back together, looking down the barrel to make sure she'd done a good job of cleaning it. As always, it was perfect. Looking at Dante, she sighed. Lately, he was more of an ass than he usually was. No, no. It wasn't that. He was trying hard to cover up something . "You just don't seem like yourself lately, bub. It's like you've lost a little bit of your spark".
"Come over here and I'll show you spark, babe", he laughed. In his mind, however, he was agreeing with her. In the days after his return from saving the world yet again, things just hadn't seemed right. He guessed that it was because he left the only thing of his brother's, that he would have liked to have, behind with that punk. He'd get over it…sooner of later. Maybe he just needed a break, or something. Or maybe he needed some company? He didn't know. He just knew that time would probably take care of it. He'd felt this way before, hadn't he? Yeah. Every other time he had saved the world, of course. He had let time take care of it then. He'd more than likely do the same now.
"I know you better than that, Dante", Lady's voice acquired that tone that, honestly, drove Dante insane. "What's a matter with my favorite demon?"
All he could think was how much he wanted to get a shower and go to bed. He was tired and slightly buzzed thanks to the bottle of whiskey that had been in the bottom drawer of his desk. He also couldn't give a shit what she was talking about. He tended to ignore her most of the time, anyway. It was funny how she never caught on. It made him sound like an ass, but it's not like Lady WASN'T a bitch. She got enjoyment out of mocking him, shooting him in the head, and stealing his money. He yawned, getting up from his seat and heading towards the stairs that led to his top floor apartment. "Going to bed, doll. Be a good girl and get out of here when you're finished". He was already in his apartment with the door closed when he heard her yell at him.
He smirked.
Red Queen was his only company. He rather liked it this way. No one to get in his way, no one to tell him he's doing this wrong, and no one to betray him.
That was right. Only living things out were demons…..and they wouldn't be living much longer. Revving his beauty's handle, he swept through the small group of Prides in no time. It almost made him sad that it was over so fast. After all, this was what kept him sane now. He didn't have anything else.
He had no good home, no more family. Worst of all, he didn't have Kyrie.
He wasn't sure whether it was a good thing, or a bad thing, that he didn't cry when he thought of her. It wasn't like her death didn't upset him. Au contraire; It did upset him. It really, really upset him. It was just the fact that she decided it better to end it all ,instead of persevering through the hard times, that made Nero have that guilty anger in his heart.
He un-holstered Blue Rose and quickly dispatched a lingering Pride.
"Guess you thought you got lucky, huh?" He twirled the gun, putting her back in her rightful place.
His feet carried him away from the city he'd grown to hate. They carried him away from the memories he wished he didn't have. He was a wanderer now. He'd been to, at least, five different cities now. While it didn't seem like much traveling, to him it was an accomplishment. Being sheltered in that religious city for years made everything he did from here on out an accomplishment.
It was better like this, anyway. He could be useful killing demons instead of sitting around somewhere and feeling sorry for himself.
"Here we go", he smiled. In front of him, where a cobblestone road started and the forest began to recede, was a sign marking the directions of the next cities and towns. He was familiar with one of the cities that laid to the south: Hopewell Springs. However, the cities to the North were still un-trekked territory. He was intent on going to at least one of the larger cities that way. He had two to choose from : Trinesville and Pristinia.
"Both of these towns sound exactly like Fortuna", he shook his head. He got the picture in his head of Fortuna, but with people who would treat him as even more of a freak. He contemplated which he'd go to next. Neither sounded inviting, but they both sounded better than Fortuna.
"Excuse me, young man".
Nero turned to see a man who looked to be in his late 40's walking toward him. Walking with him were two small children. The man looked like he'd been awake for days and he just seemed to look like he was down on his luck. It was rather odd that they'd be wandering around out here, but something told Nero that they had seen extremely rough times.
"Whaddya need?" Nero asked him, eyeing the man's children as they sat on the ground next to him.
The man hesitated for a minute, chewing on his bottom lip. "Could you spare some change? Anything will do. Since we left Pristinia, we've had hardly any food. I'd like to buy my children something when we get to Fortuna".
Nero felt sorry for the guy, but the second thing that ran through his mind was 'Why is this guy so raggedy looking and hiking away from his home?' Nero sighed. He really did want to help the guy out. In a way, he felt as though he could, at least, vaguely understand where he was coming from. Granted Nero didn't have children to attend to, but he did know heartache. He knew it all to well. He frowned, "I'm sorry. I don't have any money. I'm flat broke".
The man looked disappointed, but smiled anyway. "Thanks anyway. Come along, kids…"
"Wait", Nero halted the man, "If you don't mind me asking, what's going on?"
There was a saddened expression on the man's face. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking off in the direction he'd come from. "My home was destroyed, my wife was killed….", he paused to look at his children. They cuddled next to his leg and he continued. "We had just moved there in hopes of starting over after we hit bad luck. But, demons took that away from us."
Nero's heart thudded loudly in his chest. "Demons?"
The man nodded, "They've overrun Pristinia. It's like an infestation."
Nero's heat skipped beat. Looked like Lady Luck was smiling at him.
"Come Along, children", the man began to walk away again.
"Hey", Nero stopped him again, "One more thing. There's a diner at the edge of the city. Big blue lights on the top. Go in and put whatever you order on my tab".
The man smiled so graciously, "Thank you so much. You're an angel".
It made Nero laugh a little. "Not really. But, you're welcome".
"What's your name? For the tab?"
He smiled, "Nero". He turned from them, walking in the direction of Pristinia.
The tv was on, but he wasn't watching the program at all. He could hear Data say something about feline supplements, but that was it. He didn't actually see what was going on, or anything. What he was really focused on was what the hell his problem was.
Dante knew he had been in funks before. Hell, everybody goes through them. He'd had those times where he would get to thinking about Vergil and stay in a sort of melancholy for a while. A few days, maybe a week, and he'd be over it. This was different. He hadn't felt like himself in a good while now. It was just weird. How could he, Dante the mighty demon hunter, have a case of emo-ness?
He smiled to himself, scratching his bare chest as he sat on the couch in only his boxers. "Dante, Dante", he said to himself, "You're a piece of work".
In the end, he'd probably just waste some demons and feel better. As a matter of fact, there was a small part of him that wished he'd get a job to do. It was only a small part though. Tomorrow was his day to go to Love Planet and enjoy some drinks, and fine ladies. That would help tremendously as well.
It was then that his cell phone took the opportunity to annoy him with its loud ass ring. He regretted having let Trish and Lady talk him into getting it. Especially since every time it rang, he knew he'd be talking to one of them. Rolling his eyes, he opened it.
"Dante…" It was Trish on the other end.
"You're interrupting Star Trek. Did you know Data has well over 200 feline supplements for Spot?"
There was a pause before she said anything else, "I don't care, Dante. I have a job for you".
He raised his palm to his face. Of course she'd call him with a job. He had that one, miniscule hope and she answered it. He was convinced that she could read his mind. Convinced. He sighed, "What is it?"
"I'll be over around 6am. Be awake, okay?" The line went dead.
He snapped his phone shut, looking at it as though he could kill it with his gaze. Mother fucker…..
"Of course she found a job", he grunted, flicking off the t.v. after watching Data try to determine why his car didn't like supplement 274. He looked back down at the phone. It was ringing again. This time, it was Lady.
"Oh, fuck that". With one swoop, the phone made impact with the wall and shattered. Lady would be pissed, as would Trish, but he didn't even give a shit at the moment. He was going to bed.
"Score one for Dante", he smirked to himself. He laid down, his thoughts going directly to the mission.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He did feel like killing something, after all.
