Chapter 7: Hidden Peacock

Nevan's red eyes widened as she looked over the prone figure on the couch. There was no mistaking the Demon Knight. She didn't deal with him personally as Nelo Angelo but she heard the stories….She remembered who he was…..

"Is that who I think it is….." She began. Dante nodded but jumped when Agni and Rudra spoke.

"We have heard the stories…." Rudra began.

"Of the Son of Sparda who became…" Agni continued.

"The Commander of Hell's Legion…" They said together. Nero giggled as his father groaned.

"I know you two are not yammering… "

"Daddy no! Let them speak please?"

"But Nero, they won't shut up!"

"Please Daddy, they're interesting." Nero pleaded. Dante sighed then nodded.

"You two are so lucky I love my son." Dante said. "First migraine I get, will be the last time you speak ever! Got that?"

"Understood," Agni said

"As you wish." Rudra agreed. Dante nodded and went to check on Vergil. The other hadn't moved an inch. Nero looked at the talking swords then at Nevan.

"Nev, what's wrong with Nelo? Will he be ok?"

"He is very weak, Little Master." Rudra explained. "That is not his natural demon form so his powers are reversing it."

"Think of the armor as an egg," Agni continued. "The more he recovers, the more the egg will hatch." Dante had to bite back a laugh. They just called his twin a hatchling! Vergil would definitely be pissed. Oh I am so ranking on him! He blinked when gold eyes opened and looked at him.

D…Dante? Nelo signed. Where am I? Where is Nero?

"Easy there Verge," Dante as he helped him to sit up. "You're in our home. Nero is fine, see?" He pointed to where Nero was sitting with Nevan while Agni and Rudra were telling Nero stories. Nelo nodded.

"Verge, what happened?" Dante asked.

I managed to get out of there before Mallet sank into the waves. I was knocked out from the blast's impact. Thankfully the armor took the majority of the impact. Before you found me I managed to get out of the water but no further.

"Wow that was quite a swim."

It was exhausting.

"I….." Dante began but turned when the door opened and eyes widened when he saw Lady battle ready and looking at Vergil.

"Dante, what's the matter with you?! You have demons in the house! And around Nero…."

"Lady take it easy. Nevan, Agni and Rudra you should know them, I won them in the Tower."

"Oh, right, but that one you didn't!" She aimed her guns at Nelo.

Are you out of your mind?! Nelo signed. There is a child in the house! Lady's eyes widened.

"He can sign?!" She asked. Dante grinned.

"Yea he can. He can't speak. At least, not yet…"

"Dante, who is he?"

"Lady, don't flip your wig, but…it's Vergil." Lady's eyes widened further then glared.

"Vergil? As in your twin brother?!" Nero's eyes widened before scampering over.

"Daddy, I have an uncle?" He asked wistfully. Dante hugged his son and allowed the boy to go to Nelo, who gently picked Nero up and set him down on the couch next to him. Lady wasn't for it.

"Nero sweetie, what do you say to our going to the zoo? That way Daddy can do his mission?" Nero nodded and hugged and kissed his father on the cheek and whispered "Love you Daddy!" Before Dante set him down and Nero scampered off to Lady.

"Can Nelo come too?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Lady said with a glare at the demon. Nero looked sad. What surprised her was the tender look the demon gave and the gentle hand that ran through Nero's hair. The child looked at the Demon Knight who signed.

Nero, Child, it's alright. She is right, it's not the best idea that I accompany you. But you can tell me about it when you return and show me anything you may acquire. This idea made Nero smile.

"Deal." Nero said and signed. Nelo nodded and with another ruffle to the child's hair, Nelo watched them prepare to leave. Nevan hugged and kissed Nero goodbye before regarding the Demon Knight with a look. Dante looked at the Demon Knight and crossed his arms.

"Verge, are you going to be all right here?"

I'll be fine Dante, go handle your mission. Just be sure to return in one piece and alive. Dante nodded but mouthed to Nevan 'watch him.' Nevan nodded and Dante left with a wave for Verde De Marli. Nevan noticed that the Demon Knight felt similar to her Master. She knew that Sparda had two sons.

"Son of Sparda," She said, testing her theory. The Demon Knight looked at her. It is the elder…. "I see you're slowly remembering who you are."

More like 'who I was.' Nelo signed. I'm broken….

"That's what you were led to believe Sugar." Nevan said. "Yes you faced defeat but the choice on how you wish to proceed from this is entirely up to you. Who knows, maybe you were meant for something more." She left the Demon Knight alone with his thoughts.

"Aunt Lady look at that bird with the colorful tail. He poses like Daddy." Nero giggled. Lady had to laugh.

"You're right! That's a peacock Sweetie. They have beautiful tails to attract a mate."

"Where are the girls?" Nero asked and Lady pointed to a pea hen with chicks. Nero was concerned.

"Where's her coloring?"

"Her beauty is inside. See how she's taking care of her babies?"

"Like Nelo!" Nero said. Lady blinked. "Nelo took care of me when we were on that creepy island. He even protected me, and fought for me until that bad man knocked him out." Lady blinked in surprise. This was not the Vergil she remembered. Wow he changed….

"Well come on Sweetie, let's grab a bite, buy some gifts, and then home."

"Ok Aunt Lady."

"We're back!" Nero called as Lady opened the door to the office. Nelo looked up from his book and waved Nero over. Nero grinned and held his presents close. He was helped onto the couch before Nelo signed.

Welcome home little one. Did you have fun?

"Yes I did! We saw a lot of animals at the zoo some reminded me of Daddy. Like the Tiger that was sleeping in the sun after his big lunch." He heard Nelo chuckle. "But two animals reminded me of you Nelo."

Me?

"Uh huh." Nero said shyly, showing his presents. One was a tiger plush. "That's for Daddy." He showed a panther plush. "This is one of three for you." He handed it over before showing a pendant of a peacock and a peacock feather. Nelo blinked.

A panther and a peacock? Nelo signed. Why these two animals little one?

"Well the panther is all sleek, powerful and shadowy, like you. And the peacock is pretty, and your colors are the feather, see?" Nero showed the blue, black and purple on the feather. Nelo ruffled Nero's hair as the child cuddled up to him and fell asleep holding the pendant. He lightly tapped the child awake.

Nero? Are you all right? What of the pendant?

"Oh, I almost forgot! Can I put it on you?"

Yes you may. Nelo signed. Nero unclasped it as Lady showed him and put it on the Demon Knight before yawning sleepily.

Rest little one, I'm right here. Nelo signed. Nero smiled sleepily and curled up as the Demon Knight held him and read silently.

"Nero?" Lady called as she looked for him. She couldn't help but smile when she saw the two asleep on the couch. She grinned and took a picture, sending it to Dante. Too cute…

Dante's phone dinged as soon as he holstered his guns from battling the Puja and goats in the village. He pulled it out and chuckled softly at the picture. It was of Nero in Nelo's arms and in Nero's were two plush animals. But what made Dante smile was the peacock necklace around Nelo's neck . It was the perfect touch for the demon knight. Like the bird, the Demon Knight was proud, beautiful and regal. He grinned as he remembered how many times he had to kick the door just to get his turn in the bathroom.

"Yo Verge! Get out the bathroom man! It's my turn!!!"

"Dante I'm not done!"

"I got to pee damn it!"

"WELL USE FATHER AND MOTHER'S BATHROOM!"

"GRRR YOU ARE SUCH A PEACOCK! ALWAYS PREENING!"

"SO, I LOOK BETTER THAN YOU!"

"VERGE I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM I DON'T GIVE A FUCK I WILL COME IN!"

"DANTE NO!" Vergil cried. Dante growled and opened the door and sauntered in while Vergil was in the shower! Dante peeked in, cackling at Vergil's girlish squeal. "Oh, you look good cutie! Muah!" Dante winked and grinned before using the bathroom. Vergil blushed and looked away as he heard his brother peeing. Oh god….. Vergil nodded when he heard the flush and the sink being used. He screamed when the water became too hot!

"DANTE!!!!" Vergil screamed while the younger cackled.

"Say my name Baby!" Dante teased but dodged when Vergil threw a bottle of shampoo at him. "Miss me, miss me, now you gotta…" Dante didn't finish for Vergil ran after him in nothing but a towel! Dante yelped and ran away laughing. Eva and Sparda blinked as the boys ran by.

"Um shouldn't we tell them about the….."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!" The guests shouted and Vergil screamed, running back upstairs and Dante following behind.

Damn, I forgot about that… Dante thought with a chuckle. But that was hilarious! He couldn't wait to go home!