The Company CHAPTER 7
surrendertome: Yeah, all the changes ff is making are crazy! Yes, the Order low jacked Nero XD In the original storyline Nero is related to Sparda, however for this I decided to change it so that he's descended from a less well-known and less powerful demon :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Blood of Dusk: The plot is certainly thickening, though it's going to be a little slow going, I gotta do some character building in the next few chapters :3 The interaction between the guys is fun to write, really :3 Credo and Agnus just seem uptight around each other to me. Agnus seems to be screaming for attention and Credo just seems to ignore him unless he's up in his face XD I'm not sure where Credo and Agnus are going in this story, so we'll see about future dialogue :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
SirenaLoreley: Nero is a TINY bit more comfortable with Tony XD The Order suspect that it's Tony that took Nero, they've done their homework to the best of their ability :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
L. K. Heinrich: Maybe Sparda did betray his whole kind for the love of Eva, but I don't think he met her until AFTER the whole demon world was closed. Don't quote me on that ;3 Yeah, Tony is definitely going to have some problems with his superiors about adopting poor, forlorn Nero XD Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Nefarious Seraph 13: Their getting along isn't going to last too long XD Definitely got burgers because it worked better in this story than ordering in a pizza. I'll make sure Dante gets a pizza later on ;3 Not sure when Nero is going to find out about the tracker, but it sure will be interesting when he does! XD Yeah, I decided there was no way in this universe to give Nero Sparda's blood :3 He also doesn't have his DT yet because he hasn't encountered Yamato or another devil arm yet. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Lotus Butterfly: I don't know what fan fiction is doing, is crazy! I'm glad you like where I'm taking the plot seeing as I only have it half-fleshed out in my mind right now XD I love the banter, too much fun :3 Also, they won't be getting along for long ;3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Neko Chan the Dark: The two are definitely on some better terms, but Nero is still pretty wary! Things aren't going to be quite as smooth sailing as one might think though ;3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Devil Fan: Yeah the changes are kinda annoying, right? Yeah, Tony made the right move by giving it to Nero straight, it builds up his rapport a little. Credo has been Nero's brother for a long while :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Yeah, I guess that I'm not the only one getting annoyed with all the sudden changes by fan fiction. They haven't done any major changes in like years and suddenly they're changing everything right! The color scheme, the way the text is laid out and the review and alert systems :/ I can't figure it out.
Anywho, hope you guys enjoy this chapter :3
Nero couldn't help dozing for most of the rest of the ride, he was full and his body was just begging him to sleep. The highways didn't invite him to take interest in much of anything except the occasional sign trying to figure out where he was being taken. He was roused fully when they started off the highway into a city. He figured that they must be close to wherever it was they were going.
"Tony?" he asked as though something had just occurred to him.
"You awake back there kid?" the agent teased.
"Yeah, yeah. Who is it that you're working for? What did they send you after me for?"
"Well...I guess someone got tipped off about that arm of yours and called me in. I handle all the demon cases, I have sort of a leg up on the competition."
Nero looked perplexed at this fact. "Tipped off? So like…someone told them."
"Well, that's my best guess. I can't tell you who I'm working for, but they're kinda hushy types. I doubt someone would have just found you out there on that island without some real good reason. Why? Who knows about your arm?"
The young male didn't answer, and decided to change the subject. "So you're the one who takes care of the demon problems?"
"I'm the top source," he replied letting the switch in topic stand. "I'm the best at what I do, but I have a partner."
"That woman who was in the car with you."
"You saw her, eh?" he smirked. "Yeah, she's my partner, she was good even without my help. Better at some things than me too."
"So you're a demon hunter too…and that's what you want me to do?"
"If you get down to the nitty-gritty of it, yeah."
Nero nodded in assent and Tony pulled the car over to the side of the road in front of an old brick building. The area they were in didn't appear to be the greatest part of town and it sort of worried the kid, he'd never really been to a place like this. The agent killed the engine with a yawn and got out of the car, looping around to open the door for Nero seeing that the back doors didn't open from the inside.
The young devil quirked an eyebrow. "So…what is this place?" he asked as he followed the older man up to the building.
"A safe house," he answered simply.
"…In the middle of the ghetto?" he said doubtfully.
"You wouldn't guess it would you?" he said cheerfully, unlocking the large double doors and flicking on the lights.
The room was fairly spacious with two large windows that would usually let in light but seeing the time of day all they did was filter in dirty streetlamps. There was an old pool table off to the left side near the stairs, under the stairs were a couple of worn looking sofas, a coffee table and television. On the right side of the room there were a few old, but seemingly taken care of instruments including a guitar and drum set. There was a bar tucked away in the back corner, and a damaged jukebox near the front window. It appeared to the young man that there was probably a kitchen and bathroom in the back, and a couple of bedrooms upstairs-at most. The strangest thing about the place however was that there were weapons lining the walls of all sorts of different shapes, sizes and types. Duel blades, nunchaku, and a few huge double-edged swords, as well as some guns in a case on the back wall.
Nero frowned as he took the place in, it wasn't very clean either, a few old pizza boxes were dumped here and there as well as old papers and beer bottles. "Who did you have staying here before? A bunch of frat boys?"
Tony laughed, "Sure, close enough." It was funny because this was Dante's place, but he couldn't let Nero know this was where he lived off duty, another 'no-no' with the CIA, but he didn't really have anywhere he could safely take the kid. Thinking about it he really chafed under those damn rules. He hated keeping his identity secret, hated not living by his own rules, but…how else was he suppose to draw in income? Sure he did some jobs on the side-sometimes he even made some cash but he really only did it to help people that needed help.
Nero was shaking his head a little and still looking around, obviously this hadn't been what he expected, but that was okay. The kid had probably never been off that island, what was he suppose to be expecting anyway?
"Come on kid, let's check out that leg of yours," he suggested, clapping a hand on the young man's shoulder.
Nero looked over swiftly at the touch and gave a stiff nod in agreement. Tony gave a reassuring smile.
"Let me find you something to wear that might be easier to reach your knee through," he suggested, heading up the stairs.
Nero took a few steps further into the large room, running his hand along the edge of the pool table as he passed it. He was really interested in the weapons. Why would they need so many? Then again if this was a safe house whoever was here might need protecting…but the weapons…man, it was almost as if they were calling to him. He strode over to a pair of duel swords one red and one blue the edges serrated. He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure Tony wasn't coming. When he assured himself the agent was still upstairs he licked his lips and lightly touched the strange little face on the red sword.
"Hey!" The sword protested, it's little mouth even moving!
Nero let out a short scream of surprise and jumped back.
"This one is quick brother," the blue one chimed in.
"What the hell?" Nero breathed.
"You seem surprised for one who is not human," the red one again.
"I am human," he was still clinging to that idea even if the opposite had been flung in his face all day.
"Very-oh!" he blue one quickly cut off and was silent making Nero frown in confusion.
"Hey-"
"Yeah they talk."
Nero whipped around in surprise at Tony's voice.
"Oh-I-um," he stuttered trying to figure out what to say or ask. "How is it that they talk?"
"They're devil arms-demons that have agreed to work with me," he answered holding out a pair of black sweatpants. "Here, go change," he suggested and Nero noticed in his other hand he had something like a medical kit.
"I don't think that's gonna be necessary-that kit thing. My knee stopped hurting hours ago, thanks for asking by the way," he snorted taking the clothes.
"Ah, I figured you were a big boy and could handle it, my bad kid." he taunted him, getting a sneer in response from the young man as he walked to the back to the bathroom to change. Tony turned his attention to his weapons on the wall. "I thought I told you two not to talk."
"We are sorry, we were confused by the young man."
"Yeah alright, just keep a lid on it, alright? The kid is kinda new to all this stuff."
The swords seemed to agree in their silence.
Tony looked over as Nero reappeared, he had his coat and jeans draped over one arm but was wearing the rest of his clothes, his hoodie, undershirt, sweats and boots.
The older half-devil couldn't help his laugh. "Take your shoes off, stay awhile-or are you hiding something there too?"
The knight felt his face flush. "No, I just don't want to step on a needle and get AIDS or something."
"Alright, alright, let's see that knee of yours." he said gesturing over to the couches on one side of the room.
Nero made his way over and plunked himself down before rolling up his pant leg showing a smear of blood crusted on his knee and calf. Tony crouched in front of him and wiped his thumb across the stain, as he did he felt more of it on the back of his leg.
"Oh, I got a clean through and through, no wonder you were able to start running again."
"Yeah-you thought there was still a bullet in me?"
"Not anymore obviously, your healing would have pushed it out."
"…Really?" he wondered, surprised.
"Yeah…you haven't been shot before?"
"Not before today. No one else in Fortuna uses guns, I guess they think they're too volatile or something," he shrugged.
"Or just not honorable," Tony mumbled, his eyes looking kind of distant for a moment.
"Yeah, maybe…are you okay?"
"Sure I am kid!" he chirped, once again chipper, as he rolled back up to his feet. "Stay put, I'll be right back."
Nero watched him disappear into the back again with a frown. He still wasn't sure what to think about this. Was Tony trying to convince him that being a demon was a good thing? It didn't add up in his mind. Demons were evil, mindless destroyers. What good could possibly come from that? And what about whoever this guy was working for? What did they want from him?
Tony reappeared and tossed a wet washcloth at his face, the fabric making a 'splat' sound as he grabbed it out of the air.
"Thanks," he muttered, cleaning the sanguine off his leg, a little bit surprised that there wasn't even a mark from the wound that had been there. The older male took it back when he was finished and threw it in the general direction of the bathroom.
"Alright kid, let's get you set up and go to bed. I got some things to do tomorrow so I need to hit the hay."
"Will you stop calling me kid already? My name is Nero," he said hotly, as he got up to follow.
"I'll stop calling you kid when you prove to me you're not a kid." he smirked over his shoulder as he headed up the stairs. The knight glared and grasped at his left hip for his gun-only to remember that it wasn't there. Tony stopped and turned around, he held his hands up and curled them in a 'come on' gesture. "If you got something to prove then do it. Sooner we sort this out the better."
"Sort what out?" Nero asked.
"This whole dominance game. No trigger, no drugs, no weapons, if you want to go then let's do it."
Nero took a few steps back, and gave a mock bow. "Shall we dance?"
The older man smirked. "Trying to bait me to action? I suggest you take that glove off first, you're going to want that thing if you're going to stand a chance against me," he stated, swaggering back down the stairs.
Nero threw down the clothes on his arm and rolled the glove off his bringer giving the man his first real good look at it. It was mostly covered in red scales with some blue and a bright blue light emanating from the back of his forearm and hand, as well as glowing from his entire palm.
"That thing is so cool," Tony grinned.
Nero faltered. Did he really believe that? He thought the freakish arm was cool? "Don't try to distract me-it's not gonna stop me from kicking your ass."
He chuckled. "Whatever you say, kid, whatever you say."
Oh, boys will be boys! :3 The guys are going to duke it out next chapter, so leave me a review! Also, hope you enjoyed the banter and the appearance of Agni and Rudra! :3 Until next time!
Ja ne!
~Bitbyboth July 4, 2012
P.S. To all my American peeps, Happy Independence Day!