Authors Note
Hey guys! I really want to apologize for the delay. I won't lie, I procrastinated a lot, but that was becuase I had major, and I nean MAJOR writer's block. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was a lot of work honestly, but it was fun.
Dante looked down at Nero's arm with a blank expression, wondering how this could have possibly happened. He picked up the limb with both hands and looked it over. There was no damage that Dante could see. The arm was just slightly paler and more muscular than the other. The fingernails on this hand were also much longer, overgrown even. Dante then turned his head towatds the wall, but something silver shimmered in the afternoon light and caught his attention.
Yamato's thin and dangerous blade shined on the hardwood floor, just mere feet away from the silver haired teenager. Dante then turned his head towards his sleeping brother with a deep frown. You did this, didn't you? He thought angrily. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours, and he was already causing trouble. What had he expected anyway, that Vergil had changed? It had seemed so from what Dante had seen so far, but apparently he was wrong.
He returned his gaze to the wall and noted a distinctive dent. Flakes of beige paint decorated his floor and parts of Nero's body. From these observations, Dante quickly pieced together that Nero had hit the wall. Suddenly, the faint smell of blood tickled his nose again, and he returned his gaze to the sword. There was no blood on it (thank God), so he glanced back at Nero's bare form. There was no blood on him from behind, so Dante carefully turned him over and quickly looked at him from head to toe. The only speck of blood came from a busted lip that was already healed. Dante also noted that he was breathing normally, which was another good thing, but his face was contorted in a pained expression.
Dante retrieved Nero's forgotten towel and covered him up. He sat there for a few moments glancing around the room in deep thought before his eyes fell on his brother. Dante then stood up and swiftly walked over to him. He too wore a pained expression and lied perfectly still. Dante noted that there was no blood on him , before it finally hit him. He's not breathing! He quickly placed two fingers on his neck and felt a slow, weak pulse.
The situation just went from not so bad to horrible. He glanced at Nero as he started CPR. His mind started racing again. This doesn't make any sense! He thought as he performed several chest compressions. He fixed his gaze back on his brother. What happened? He tilted Vergil's head back and gave him two breaths. He pulled his lips away and began the second cycle. "Come on Verge. Come on" , he demanded through gritted teeth.
Things were definitely complicated. From first glance, one would've probably guessed that the hot head and the ice prince had fought each other for Yamato. It would've made sense since Vergil loved that sword to no end. It would've also made sense for him to have been defeated, seeing how he had no weapon, and he hadn't exactly been in tip-top condition. However Nero was also unconscious, and his demonic arm was gone. Why? And why was Nero in here in the first place?
Dante closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. This isn't helping. Just concentrate on this. He told himself. He administered two more breaths and then started cycle three. After about two more compressions Vergil took in a deep breath and began to cough. Dante sighed and wiped his forehead in relief. His breathing returned to normal, and a quick check of his pulse confirmed that his heart beat had too. To his slight dismay, Vergil didn't wake up, but he decided that he wanted to hear what had happened from Nero first. Besides, Dante figured his brother could use the rest.
Dante sighed again and decided to get dressed. When he was fully clothed he heard a soft groan. He quickly turned his head in the direction of the sound and let his silver-blue eyes fall on Nero. Dante made his way over to the young man without a word and knelt. Nero groaned again before his ocean blues slowly fluttered open. He blinked a few times then looked up at Dante from underneath his lashes and smiled. "Hey", he said.
"Hey kid. What are you doing in here?" That was the first question that needed to be answered. Nero never entered his room without permission, or a good reason at least.
Nero looked around the room before answering. "I was looking for you", he replied, after some thought.
"Why?" This one actually seemed to stump Nero, so Dante concluded that his memory was a little fuzzy right now. "Come on. We'll talk in your room", he said, offering him a hand. Nero reached out his left hand, and Dante couldn't help but feel a tad relieved. Apparently, he hadn't noticed his right arm yet. Knowing him, Dante could only speculate his possible reaction. Nero had come a long way with it, and though it was ugly, annoying, and sometimes even brought him deep emotuonal pain, it was an important part of him.
Dante pulled him up and let him exit the room first. He then picked up Yamato and followed after. Nero would notice his arm soon enough, and Dante thought it'd be best for the teen to breakdown (or whatever he'd do) in his own room, away from his brother. When he entered Nero's room he found him rummaging through his dresser. He pulled on a pair of dark boxers underneath his towel before pulling the towel off.
"You could've at least let me get dressed first, ya'know?"
"I've seen you in worse conditions, kid. Besides I didn't tell ya to get dressed. I said we'd talk."
"About what exactly?" Nero pulled on a thin plain white tee.
"Why you were in my room and what happened in there."
Nero turned around to respond but spotted Yamato in Dante's hand. "Where'd you get that?" He asked, dumfounded.
"It was on the floor next to your unconscious body." Nero made a confused face before Dante continued. "You said you were looking for me. Do you know what happened to you...and your arm?" Here it comes. Dante thought.
Nero looked down at his right arm and gasped. His eyes surely would have popped out of his head if it were physically possible. The room fell silent for a long time as Nero absentmindedly blinked at the sight of a perfectly normal human arm. Nero stood there staring at his arm, until Dante said something. He turned his head towards the older man but didn't respond. He hadn't even heard a word of what he'd said.
"Kid? You okay?" He repeated himself. This certainly wasn't the reaction he had expected.
"What happened to my arm?" He asked quietly.
Dante sighed. "I was hopin' you could tell me, kid. Before I could get back to my room, I heard a scream and a thud and felt a wave of demonic energy. Were you fighting or somethin'?" Nero took in a deep, shaky breath and shook his head. "Do you remember anything?" Nero just stood there, breathing heavily and lowered his head. Dante sighed again and made his way over to him, placing the sword atop the dark wooden dresser.
The young man shook his head again as Dante wrapped his strong arms around him. They stod like that for a long time before Dante spoke again. "It'll be okay. You've gone through worse things before, right kid?" Nero slowly nodded his head against his shoulder. "We'll figure this one out together, just like last time. Okay?"
"I guess", Nero whispered, trying to fight back the unpleasant memories that his friend's words brought forth. They had been in embraces similar to this one several times since Nero had moved here. Sometimes, though he was afraid to admit it, he saw Dante as much more than just a friend and rival. He almost considered him family.
"And look at the bright side." Nero lifted his head and made eye contact. "You don't have to wear those hot , sticky gloves anymore." A small smile curled his thin lips as a single tear fell from his left eye. Nero turned his face away before rubbing his eyes viciously, and Dante chuckled. He pulled his arms away and ruffled the teen's hair a bit.
Nero pursed his lips in protest. "Now what?" He asked, turning around. He returned to his dresser and opened another drawer.
"Take a rest and try to remember what happened, I guess."
He pulled out a pair of blue jeans and pulled them on. "But I'm not tired." He pushed the drawer closed and peered into the opened one underneath. Wait that's it!
"Well then just try and remember." Dante said and turned around to leave. He wanted to give him some time alone to digest everything. Knowing him, it could take a while. Before he could take one step though, his arm was grabbed.
"Wait, I remember now." Nero practically exclaimed.
