Chapter 8

Dante and Vergil was just finishing off the last of the Empusas in the warehouse they were called to. Just few and they were all gone. The twins made their rendezvous out front.

"They're all gone?" Vergil asked as he sheathed Yamato in its scabbard. Dante nodded.

"Yep. Let's go." Dante and Vergil walked on over to Vergil's little sedan and they left the area. The two was quiet on their drive back to Devil May Cry. Dante scratched at his beard and grunted before speaking.

"It seems Nero wasn't too happy 'bout babysitting earlier." Dante said breaking the silence. Vergil said nothing, keeping his eyes on the road. Dante figured he'd continue on rambling.

"Hey, somebody had to watch her 'cuz we can't leave her alone. But, then again...maybe we can call someone to watch her but they might freak out 'bout the shop and—"

"Stop talking." Vergil grumbles as he grips the leather wheel a tad tighter for a second. Dante's voice was so annoying right now. Even when they were children his voice was infuriating.

As they came to a red light, Dante looked out the window in time to see a middle-aged black woman turn to see and smile at him. Dante returned the smile briefly before looking ahead in embarrassment. Vergil was too absorbed in the road to notice and pulled off the moment the light turned green. Vergil wordlessly drove until he pulled into a convenience store much like the real-life 7-Eleven and exited the car with Dante.

"I'm sure you're famished from the job. Some simple snacks from this store should suffice." Vergil said and Dante smiled at him.

"Can I get a XXL drink?" Dante asked playfully and Vergil eyes him.

"As long as it's not expensive." Vergil answered as he walked through the door with Dante behind him.

They went to the soda machine and got two XXL cups and filled them with their drink choices. Then they each got a slice of pizza from the glass-barrier and Vergil paid for everything before they left.

XXXX

Upon arriving at Devil May Cry, the twins were welcomed by Nico who was sitting on the couch with Nero whom had Angel in his lap. He growled as Dante approached him with a smile on his face as he extended his crusty hands out to take Angel from him and quietly took her to his desk. Vergil nodded at the two as he went to his room quietly.

"How's the job?" Nico asked.

"Simple." Dante answered. "I told ya it wouldn't take long." Dante looked over his shoulder at Nero who remained silent as he watched the TV. "Dunno why Nero's being a total mood kill though."

That comment made the younger male snap as he abruptly stood up.

"Hey! I took care of Angel while your ass was gone!" Nero argued as he pointed. Dante slammed his hands with Angel between them as she sat on the desk. He angrily turns around and glared at the young man intently.

"Yes you did." Dante said lowly. "You're not gonna talk to me like that or around Angel again."

"You're old and mean." Nero continued. Dante walks towards him. Nico, knowing something crazy was about to happen, gets up and rushes to Angel at the desk as Nero and Dante begin arguing loud enough for Vergil to emerge with anger of his own. He eyes Nico and Angel before glaring at the males.

"Not every job needs your ass slowing things down!" Dante barks.

"Am I deadweight like few years ago?" Nero countered. That's when Dante had enough and shoved Nero making him stumble back. Nero catches himself and tackles Dante to the ground and the two go at it with one another on the hardwood floor of the shop, knocking things over and cursing loudly.

"Enough!" Vergil shouts as he went to break them up. Nico shakes her head and takes Angel to her room when she started crying at the violence in the room. Nico rushes back to help Vergil.

Nero managed to roll him and Dante so he was on top of him and he began punching him with his spiritual hand on his wing. Dante was taking hits like he was a punching dummy but it barely hurt him before Nico forcefully yanked Nero off him and Vergil restrained his brother by holding down his shoulder.

"Both y'all stop! No need for all this." Nico scolded.

"Nico is right." Vergil said as he stepped back to allow Dante to get up. "Both if you are acting like children."

"Nero. No need to be upset over not taggin' along for a job. I'm sure you can go next time, right Dante?" Nico said.

"Maybe. But until then, he's definitely babysittin' til he grows balls and grow up." Dante grumbles as he sits up. Nero growls but Nico holds him back.

"Stop it. C'mon let's go to the room then." Nico offer as she helped Nero up and led him to the back room. His glare was casted downwards on the ground.

"Clean this mess up." Vergil grumbles as he side-eyed his brother. "It looks like a twister hit this place, not that it didn't look like it before."

Dante's face dropped to a neutral one as he watched his twin return to the back room as well. His old, grizzled face stared at the wooden door for a moment before the phone rang a second time. Dante went to the desk and answers it.

"Devil May Cry." He said.

"What's up, Dante?" It was Lady's voice on the other line and Dante smiled tiredly.

"Lady. How's the cruise with Trish?" Dante asked. The two women left on vacation five days prior to Angel's arrival after Dante lost a bet and had to pay for their month-long cruise.

The old man had to bite his tongue from cursing when he realized how much more debt he was drowned in because of it.

"It's beautiful. Wish you were here—not." Lady chuckled and Dante scoffed.

"Hey, the least you can do is think of me and how damn expensive that cruise was!" Dante says.

"You know you're in so much debt that you shouldn't even be in business, right? It's the law." Lady said.

"So? Everyone needs a demon hunting business in their town 'cuz if they don't see what'll happen like few years ago here?" Dante said.

"Whatever." Lady said. "Hey, I'll talk to you later, they're having a show on inside."

"Alright. Bye." Dante said as he hung up only to be startled by Vergil standing in the doorway of the back room.

"Jesus Vergil!" Dante said as he nearly jumped out his pants.

"No mention of how I'm doing, huh? Typical." Vergil said as he folded his arms. Dante smiled nervously.

"H-Hey Lady and Trish like you. It's just...you come off intimidating and...angry." Dante tried to say but Vergil didn't fall for it.

"Like hell I am. Those women don't know a real man when they see one. I am no toy for their pleasure, Dante." Vergil grumbles as he walks away to his Tom before his brother could say something stupid.

XXXX

Nero was lying in his side facing Nico as she gently rubbed his head, his spiky white hair felt like soft silk. He's since calmed down, but the thought of him and his uncle on the floor fighting still bothered him. With a frustrated sigh he shifts so his back faced Nico. She continued stroking his hair affectionately before speaking.

"Don't work yaself up now, Nero. Dante's just tryin to keep the lil' un safe. He knew she'd be in good hands with ya and me." Nico said.

"To him, I'm still deadweight." Nero grumbles into the pillow. Nico lightly chuckled as she pat his shoulder.

"Don't say that. You're not deadweight with that demon bubblin' inside ya. You're awesome, Nero." Nico tried complimenting and Nero smiled a bit.

"I'm glad you think that 'bout me." Nero mumbles and Nico pats his shoulder again.

A knock at the door reveals Dante with a tired expression. He watched Nero turn his body to lay on his belly with his head facing Nico and grumble incoherently. Dante's brows furrowed.

"Nero." Dante said sternly. "Nero, look at me."

The younger refused and Dante motions his head and Vergil appeared behind him.

"Look at me, Nero." Dante said once more and after a moment, Nero shifts to sit up and look at Dante, his own eyes full of seriousness.

"I'm sorry for what I said and did earlier." Dante said solemnly. "All I was doing was trying to protect Angel."

Nero listened to his uncle and apologized himself, though he still had some resentment towards him. Dante and Vergil left the younger ones in the room and Nero laid back down. Nico looked at him before smiling softly. She gently patted his head and he lets out a grumble but nonetheless allows her to continue touching him.

XXXX

Later that day, Dante had just finished changing Angel's diaper when Nico knocked on the door behind him.

"What's up Nico?" Dante said as he gave her a smile.

"Nothin' much. Say you orderin' pizza again tonight right? How bout some chicken wings to go with that?" Nico asked.

"You want chicken wings too?" Dante asked and Nico nodded. He chuckles before answering, turning his attention to her as he walked up to her.

"I guess I'll add that to the menu." Dante smiles down at Nico and she looks up at him with a creeping blush on her cheeks before a sudden clearing of the throat interrupted them.

"Nero." Dante grins. Nero just knitted his brows together in annoyance.

"Can we just have Buffalo wings and fries by itself?" It was clear that the younger male had overheard his uncle and partner speak and Nico found herself blushing even more as Dante's faint scent filled her nose.

"You want that? Fine. I'll call the place that sells only that." With those words, Dante gently squeezed by Nico and went to call in for dinner tonight. Nero turned his attention to Nico.

"Please tell me his pits smelt like ass." Nero asked and Nico snorted in confusion.

"W-What?" She chuckled. Nero went red in the face. Nico chuckled and went over to Nero.

"Don't worry yaself." Nico said as she playfully pinched his cheek. "I'm always here for ya like y'all are for me." Nico returns to the guest room leaving Nero flustered in the dimly lit hallway.

XXXX

Vergil coughed as the sauce of his wing went down wrong. Once he was better, he resumed eating. Everyone else was scoffing down their food without choking surprisingly. Dante tore his wings up like some violent caveman. Nico looked equally crazy while Nero tore up his food one-handed as the other fed Angel.

Dante leaned back and burped loudly grossing out his twin who stopped eating to glare at him.

"Excuse you." Vergil grumbles. Dante chuckled.

"'Scuse me, bro." Dante grinned and his teeth was stained orange from the sauce on his food. Vergil looked away in mutual disgust but still ate normally. Nero turned his attention to feed Angel her food, his greasy fingers dirtied her spoon's handle.

There were still plenty of wings and fries left so whatever was lucky enough not to land into Dante, Nero or Nico's belly would be saved for tomorrow. Vergil stood up and cleaned his plate, retreating to his room without a word.

Dante cleaned the rest of the dishes and joined Nero, Angel and Nico to watch TV. Nico smiled as she nudged Nero, whispering how she was happy he and Dante were getting along again after their fight earlier. Grumbling, Nero couldn't help the smile and blush creeping on his lip as he rubbed where he was elbowed.

"Ouch!" Nero and Nico turned their attention to Dante who just got his pulled by Angel who was giggling as she had some of his hair in her little fist. Nero and Nico laughed as Dante laughed too.

"You pulled out daddy's hair." Dante said to Angel in a feign hurtful tone. "Why?"

Angel continued giggling and Dante smirked.

"I'mma be bald in a minute if she keeps this up." Dante set her down and she waddles straight towards Nero. He takes her hands and gently squeezes them.

"Don't pull out my hair too." He says.

"Ya know, since she's been here we haven't taught her how to talk." Nico said as she stood up and the two males look at her.

"You're not gonna teach her to say 'butter my biscuits' are ya?" Nero dryly jokes and Nico glared at him.

"No! She needs to learn the basics." Nico takes Angel from Nero and hands her back to Dante.

"Tell her 'I love you'. Go on, say it." Nico said encouragingly. Dante looks down at Angel and smirks.

"I love you." He tells her. Angel smiled up at him.

"Keep saying it." Nico urges.

"I love you." Dante repeats.

"'Ey Vergil come on out here!" Nico suddenly shouts.

"Shut up Nico!" Nero reprimanded but it was too late, the elder twin burst through the door with Yamato, hand on the handle ready to draw out and slice whatever was supposedly in the shop.

"What's wrong?" Vergil asked seriously as he walks over to the three with Yamato still in tow. "Is Angel alright?"

"Ya man she's fine it's just—" Dante was about to finish when Nico cut him off.

"We teaching lil' Angel how to talk! C'mon come sit and teach her with us!" Nico went around the couch and practically dragged Vergil on over, roughy setting him down where she sat previously between Dante and Nero.

"Now, where were we." Nico said with her hands on her hips. "Keep on tellin' her you love her Dante!"

"Uh-uh—" Dante looked at Angel and back at Vergil who was visibly irate right now. White brows furrowed and a frown etched on his smooth face. He had no want on whatever Nico was doing.

"I love you." Dante said in a foolish voice that irked Vergil even more. Nero just shook his head.

"The more you tell that, the more she'll be able to say it back. Alright, Vergil, it's your turn." Nico said.

Dante happily handed Vergil's niece into his lap much to his chagrin. Yamato was on the ground as he held her.

"Tell her you love her." Nico said.

"Ya Verge, tell her you love her." Dante added. Nero didn't say anything but sighed, still shaking his head.

Vergil looked at Angel and grumbled out:

"I love you."

Nico and Dante cheered happily like they were silly. Nero couldn't help but laugh a bit. He was coaxed into repeating it.

"I love you."

After the third time Vergil handed Angel to Nero and left to return to his room but was stopped by Nero who used a spectral claw to grab his torn coattails. Vergil froze in place, not turning around. He felt eyes on him, and his irritation only grew as he sighed.

"Let me guess, she wants me to stay?" Vergil grumbled.

"Yeah man. C'mere and sit 'own and help us teach your niece some words!" Dante says. Everyone pretends to be excited and cheered as the elder twin was then pulled backwards until he was close enough to spin on his heel and go around to sit back down on the couch. Vergil sets Yamato between his legs and looks visibly exhausted.

"Go ahead Nero." Nico says.

"I love you." Nero tells Angel with a smile. She smiled back, cooing at him sweetly. Dante grinned, his yellowed teeth from all the greasy foods he's devoured glistened in the luminescent light of the shop. Vergil side glances at his son's interaction with his niece to avoid looking at his twin's teeth. He looked over Nico's head to avoid her gaze. He felt trapped; surrounded by idiots he'd say. Oh how he wished he'd be reading William Blake right now in the comfort of his bedroom and not out in the living room with Dante of all people.

After an hour of taking turns telling Angel "I love you" Vergil stood up, took Yamato and left. He avoided Nero's spectral grab and went to the back room to his room without another word. Nico placed her hands on her hips as she smiled triumphantly.

"Well. That's enough teachin' for today." She said. Dante chuckled and Nero smiled.

A/N: I got sidetracked and took forever to write this chapter. Well Happy New Year and I hope this update starts your day with a smile.