Capcom (c) Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry: Restitution

Chapter Six - Negotiation

The image staring back at them from the Foci's projection caused the Sparda twins to become rooted in place. This was Lucifer?

Since learning of his existence, the Sparda brothers had imagined all sorts of possible traits that Son of Mundus could have had. Perhaps he was a vile ugly creature, twisted by some sort of deformity by the King of Hell's design. Or maybe a horrendously scarred appearance that brought to mind the likes of Arkham as a result of his extensive time in his sire's care. Dante even jokingly suggested in private that perhaps he had a third central eye on his forehead, cleverly disguised as a bizarre choice in cosmetics or hidden by a hair cut.

The last thing either of them expected - though they should have likely known better - was that he looked completely human. Although neither were in a position to remark on the disturbingly uncanny physical resemblance between the three of them. Save for the unnaturally gold hued eyes, this man could very well have been a long-lost brother. He was possessed of the same physical build that suggested some level of relation between them. He wore the same pasty skin that would burn at the barest hint of sun and the same white hair. Though his was more alabaster than Sparda silver.

Were they in a clearer head space, Vergil would have theorize that abnormal colour traits were common to all first and second generation devil-human hybrids, but that was not the main concern governing their attention. The son of their enemy, the demon who made their lives mortal hell indirectly or otherwise since they were eight years old, stood before them and accosted them like that blood drenched history meant nothing.

Orobas had remained bowed low behind them despite the immeasurable pain he quite clearly suffered from the action. A halfhearted gesture from Lucifer caused the crippled demonkin to rise slowly, his gnarled claws clinging to his staff like a lifeline.

The other Devil Hybrid remained silent, patiently awaiting a response from the twins to his brief introduction.

Vergil felt his grip around the Spear of Longinus tighten painfully as he grit his teeth, unconsciously his demonic energies elongated his fangs in sheer anger. Dante was equally as furious, but unlike Vergil almost managed to hide it under his facade of irreverence. Almost.

He planted his hand on his hip, and vaguely gestured to the imagine of Lucifer. "So you're this Son of Mundus we've been hearin' about? Gotta say bud, you don't look like much."

"And the Sons of Sparda look like they've both been chewed up and spat out, but you don't hear me drawing attention to that do you?" Lucifer shot back with good humour, crossing his arms behind his back.

"Hey, its been hell tryin' to find a good Inn down here. We've been all over the place and there isn't any five-star hotels anyway. Talk about cheap, huh?"

"Hard to disagree with the sentiment. Personally, I'd of headed to the Realm of Light. May be full of schemers and backstabbers, but the realm itself vaguely resembles the human world. Helps ease the home sickness." Lucifer replied casually, clearly aware of the tension and trying his best to keep it under wraps.

"Is that the only reason you've called upon us like a couple of measly servants? To trade tourist tips?" Vergil snapped, his voice as cold as ice.

"I'm simply trying to make some lighthearted conversation. I'm exceedingly aware that this situation is... awkward."

"Yeah, buddy. That ain't exactly the word I would have used, but sure let's go with that." Dante interjected.

"Then we'll dispense with the pleasantries. There are more important issues to discuss. Chief among them being your safe passage from the Underworld."

"We don't need help. Least of all from a spawn of Mundus." Vergil growled, a subtle demonic echo underlying his tone.

"Well stay there and rot, you stuck up prick!" A woman's caustic tone declared as she shoved the image of Lucifer out of the Foci's projection with her right gauntlet clad hand thrust out.

"Whoa - HEY! WAIT!" Another voice joined them, a young man's that was far more familiar to the Sparda brothers.

The twins hadn't the chance to properly place the voice before the woman wearing blue robes straight out of some fantasy epic started to chant in tongues. Purple magics dancing around her outstretched hand but Lucifer clasped it in his own pushing it away from the Foci. Doubtlessly interrupting the spell that would have broken the communication link. Faint vapor trails of purple smoke rose from his palm as the power sizzled into his flesh.

Despite the searing pain against his skin, Lucifer gave no impression of feeling it. Simply composing himself to speak to the woman who looked up at him, her distressed hazel eyes glanced down at his burning hand.

"Mara, please calm yourself. I am a big boy and I can handle a few harsh words thrown my way." Lucifer told her quietly, muttering something only she can glanced back at the Sons of Sparda, "As I explained before they have more reason than anyone in either world to distrust my word, I don't blame them but please save your ire for when its needed."

The woman Mara snatched her hand away then jabbed a threatening finger towards Vergil. "Fine. A'right, listen up ass clown. You see this outfit?" She spread her arms wide to reveal her blue and white robes, intricately detailed and edged with browns and golds. The elaborate clawed gauntlet sheathed her right hand to the elbow. Her hair was white with a presumably dyed streak of blonde and braided over her shoulder. Maritime symbols accented the entire ensemble. Unlike the hybrids present, her skin was baked bronze and her eyes were hazel-green. "I spent months working on this stupid thing, making sure details and seems fit just right. Made sure that -"

"I don't-" Vergil hissed and was shut down immediately.

"- Shut your damn mouth and don't interrupt me." Mara shoved a finger at him.

"Mara-?" Lucifer went to stop her but she raised her hand to halt it. The elder demon hybrid simply folded his arms and rolled his eyes in a petulant huff.

"As I was saying: I spent months pouring my heart and soul into this cosplay. And then Dad dragged me away from my birthday present - the convention I've been waiting all damned year for - to wrangle up this bit of telemancy. So I advise you actually start acting your age, listen to what Dad has to say, come to a consensus like adults, and then you can all resume bickering like the five year olds you so desperately pretend to be."

A brief pause followed. Vergil glared at the young woman while Dante stared, quite taken aback by the steel in the young woman. His lip curled up in a grin. "... she's sassy as hell. Holy shit I like her."

"Her mother's daughter..." Lucifer remarked with exasperation before offering an apologetic look. "My apologies on her behalf - Arcanists are vainglorious creatures."

"You two gonna calm down...?" Mara demanded, hand on her hip and ignoring Lucifer's comment. "Okay then. As long as we're clear on that - Tag out."

Mara turned to someone on her left and gave them a high-five as she moved from the projection's field of focus. Her image was replaced by that of a precious familiar face. One that they had left atop the Qliphoth weeks ago... or was it months? The young Devil Hunter Nero stood before them with his arms crossed. Red Queen and Blue Rose were present and accounted for on his person. They could still see the inactive devil breakers hanging from a bandolier around his waist. "Now if you two dumbasses could cool it for five freakin' minutes, then we might be able to get your sorry asses out of the Underworld!"

"Nero." Vergil breathed, momentarily taken off guard by his son's appearance. The twins shared the same prang of fear in that moment.

"Kid, you okay?! Is he forcing you into this?! Blink twice if he's holding you prisoner! Do something!" Dante frantically shot off his rapid-fire questions, causing Nero to groan and roll his eyes.

To the side of the projection, the twins saw Lucifer drawing circles around his temple with his finger. Making the gesture to someone off to the side, presumably Mara, to indicate a measure of insanity. It earned stifled chuckle in response.

"Why must you people always jump to the worst possible conclusion? First Trish and now you two. I just cannot win." Lucifer sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "No, I'm not holding him hostage! Has the concept of simply asking for help fallen off the realm of possibility for your people? Creator presume me from that stupidity..."

"That, and - ya know, he's paying me a lot..." Nero chimed in with a shrug. "As in: 'I can afford to pay off my entire montage ten times over' a lot."

Dante blinked, staring between his nephew and Lucifer incredulously. His eyes landed on Lucifer. "... Can I get in on that? What?! A man's gotta eat!"

His objection was leveled at Vergil who growled threateningly at his younger twin.

"That-" Vergil hissed, pointing the Spear of Longinus towards the image. The Son of Mundus caught a glimpse of the spear and stared at it with barely disguised hunger. "-is the son of our enemy. How could you possibly have forgotten that?"

Before Dante could answer Lucifer interjected. "There is no conversation we can have that would erase the decades of bitter blood between our two families. What my father has done to yours is unforgivable. The resultant calamity that sundered your brotherhood even more so. But please believe me when I say that had I shared my father's inclination towards the destruction of mankind then we wouldn't be here. Nor would I have chosen to remain silent all these years. In fact, I wish to tear him down just as much as you do, perhaps even more so."

"Ya know, like the old saying 'the enemy of my enemy-'" Nero tried to put in but Vergil cut him off.

"Is still my enemy."

"How about you listen to him or I pry open a gate of hell and kick your ass again, father?" Nero growled, his own fangs showing.

"Hah! I'd pay money to see that!" Mara's voice chimed in off the side.

Lucifer took that as his cue to bring himself to the fore of the conversation once more. "Believe what you want to believe, but all I can do is offer you my truth: Like you, I am a child of both worlds. My father may be the Great Destroyer but my mother is of humanity, and in inheriting her heart I choose to fight for the world she was born to. In that same vein, I wish to atone for the horrors he has committed against your family and do whatever I can to make up for those past misdeeds. But to do that I require your help... and a measure of trust."

Vergil glowered while Dante scratched his scruffy chin. "Hey bud. Just clear something up for me, will you?"

"Of course."

"You were controlled... weren't you? I mean when you were still talking paychecks from that ugly blob." Dante inquired.

Lucifer shrugged with a noncommittal sound from his throat. "Perhaps. Perhaps it was a mix of control and literally knowing nothing else in my life. I suppose you could say I didn't awaken to my own humanity until I was much older, perhaps half way through my life. And in doing so, I ended up scheming and plotting rebellion against the monstrosities my demon half reveled in."

"Does this even matter?" Mara cut in angrily. "Do you want my old man to lay his sins before you for judgement? He ain't here for that. He's here to get you outta Hell. He doesn't have to do it. He doesn't need to do it. He wants to do it because its the right damned thing to do. So how about you assholes stop looking a gift horse in the mouth and just throw the guy a goddamn bone!"

"And why should-" Vergil growled but Nero had finally become fed up with his paternal relations.

"He wants to bring back Sparda."

All conversation stopped cold as the worlds hung in the air like a guillotine above their heads. Surely, they must have misheard the younger Sparda. There is no way their sire could be alive.

"As the lad said, that's the prize for winning this challenge of mine." Lucifer declared, moving to play with his cuffs.

"Sparda is dead." Dante declared distantly, "He died years ago."

"He was to be eternally imprisoned. And was, at least as far as Mundus was concerned."

"Stop talking riddles and start speaking sense. Now!" Vergil demanded with anger colder than the arctic north.

"Do you remember much of your time as Nelo Angelo, Cousin?" Lucifer asked,

Vergil's lips set in a grim line. He despised the familial term but when he said nothing Lucifer seemed to take that as an acknowledgement. "Do you remember the place Mundus referred to as the Nexus?"

The older Sparda glanced at his younger brother who waited expectantly like the rest of them and offered a grudging answer. "Yes, at centre of his domain. He had me guard it for extended periods of time on end and seemed to revel in the idea."

As the words came tumbling out, the Sparda twins both intuitively began to put the pieces together and reached an inescapable conclusion long before Lucifer had explained the reason for his bringing it up.

"That is the seal to the prison my father constructed for to contain yours. To contain the Dark Knight Sparda."

The elder son of Sparda turned away from the projection, Dante watched him from the corner of his eye and watched the unrestrained horrific realization dawn over his features. Dante felt his guts twist into knots of hatred.

"This entire time... he's been alive this entire fucking time?" Dante's tone was a low threatening hiss, his anger dug into his demonic reserves and he couldn't keep his eyes shifting red nor his teeth warping into fangs. He gave a humourless bark of laughter. "Ya know, I feel like every time I think Mundus has hit rock bottom, he just picks up a shovel and keeps on diggin'. Oh man, Luce - can I call you Luce?"

"Cifer."

"Cifer," Dante clasped his hands together, "Lets just say if you wanna beat your old man in oblivious, I don't mind holding him down if you do."

"How do we break the seal around our father's - around Sparda's prison?" Vergil interjected, managing to regain some composure and turning back to the Foci projection.

Lucifer nodded, and held up his open palm demonstratively. "The blood Mundus used to seal the prison was that of a mortal human woman. That same blood that flows through my own veins. If you help me slay Mundus, we can safely break open the Nexus and I can return your father to you. What do you say, cousins? Do you want to help me slay a god?"

"To slay a god you say. Before I even consider answering that question I have one of my own; Is this some quest for power?" Vergil asked and Dante resisted the urge to roll his eyes. But cautioned himself that he shouldn't be surprised. Old habits die hard as the saying goes.

"Yes." Lucifer answered bluntly. "Specifically, that spear you're holding. It is mine and I want it back."

Dante glanced at the ugly thing and frowned. "And say we decide not to give it back? What happens then?"

Lucifer exhaled heavily and put his hands into his pockets. "Then I remain a shriveled wretch of a half-demon monstrosity until the end of my days before the rest of my soul spends eternity in torment."

Vergil seemed to be seriously considering the possibility. "You have to admit, after everything Mundus has done to the Blood of Sparda it certainly would be a fitting way to pay him back."

"It certainly would if Mundus had a shred of patriarchal instinct." Lucifer walked forward, "The Spear of Souls - or Longinus if you prefer - was itself made by cleaving a soul into pieces. That weapon was forged from a piece of me, and I'd very much like those returned."

"I'm tempted to destroy it just to spite you." Vergil declared, considering the spear's haft.

"God damn it, stop being an ass." They could hear Nero groan.

"Might as well ask Verge to stop breathing, Kid - Ow!" Dante snarked back and winced when Vergil thumped his shoulder with a hard punch. Lucifer took all of it in stride.

"Then that'd be well within your right. I won't pretend that I didn't do… horrific things in service to Mundus and acting as your jailer. If destroying that weapon feels like the appropriate retaliation for all the suffering I caused, then I can't exactly fault you. Hell, I'd likely be more than happy to do the same thing if I were in your position." Lucifer sighed, visibly deflating at the prospect of losing his powers forever.

In the back of his mind, Dante feared for Nero's safety but he couldn't shake the notion that everything being said was genuine. Mundus had a fierce temper and was easily provoked by slights, by comparison Lucifer remained dejected but resigned. "The truth of the matter is that I find it completely irrelevant if I regain my full demonic power, its my mother's blood you need for Sparda's prison and I have that in ample supply. However, if you are set on its destruction then I beg of you to do one thing first."

"And that is?" Dante asked.

"Use that Spear on Prince Mundus."

"Why?" Vergil growled.

Lucifer's yellow eyes met Vergil's ice-blue eyes wearing a knowing sympathetic expression. "Because that's the only way the ache will stop."

Author's note:

And we have another on the stage: Mara the Arcanist. Yes, she is cosplaying as basically Warcraft's Jaina Proudmoure and no she is not a devil hybrid. As I said in the previous chapter, a devil cannot use the Arcane, even one with human blood. She's completely human.

Cifer refers to Dante and Vergil as 'cousin' because he seems them as kindred spirits as they are fellow half-bloods.

If I may make another note: I plan to revise Hell Hath No Fury. Was case of 'good concept, shitty execution' and I would like to refine the idea a bit more before I resume it. Thanks. :D

I welcome criticism and feedback.

Thanks and regards,

Aurora313