Chapter theme: Big River Man /cqSSMRqzuhU
Terminology:
SDT: SUBTERRANEAN DEMON TRIBE, often used to describe sentient and non-aggressive demons.
USF: UNITED SUBTERRANEAN FRONT, the recognized sovereign citizens of the Ebott. Valley demon association.
NNH: New New Home, the town's name. The only city located in the USF.
Central: Central Government, central city, main human settlement where the Grand Senate is instated.
WG: World Government, The coalition of governments, cities and island states, headed the Grand Senate.
WM: World Military, the standing widespread military for the entire world bar a few states and countries.
OTS: Order Of The Sword, a religious faction mainly situated in the city of fortuna, radical Sparda worshippers.
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this story are based on a loosely fictional and exaggerated version of reality, of what is possible, of what could be, to understand this is to understand that there is no agenda… Make your own conclusions, what you think is right.
I own nothing.
Sin Trigger
Men could be broken, it was possible. No doubt about it. If you struck a man hard enough, consistently enough, broke down his walls in a calculated attack after dozens of hours… He would and could always break, it was only a matter of time before any man broke after all.
But Vergil was no man; to break a son of Sparda… Only the most vile of beings could imagine it.
'And yet here we are… I'm the one being broken by the attempt of breaking another…'
No amount of blazing blue swords or hasty threats would get through to the young man, this knight of the order, he just won't break. It was frustrating the hell out of him, and the half-devil was hardly angry by any meaning of the word, he was stern, focused, brutally efficient, and anger was anything but efficient. A core philosophy of his fighting style was no wasted movements, every step every twist every thing he did had a purpose.
And yet… Nothing. The young man claimed to know nothing else than the useless drivel he'd already told them.
Vergil levies a heavy glare towards the bar owner, "Bianca, how long have we been this fools babysitter? He clearly has no intention of letting his tongue loose any more than he has already." The green eyed woman merely groans in response, exiting from the room the knight was being held in.
Bianca places her hands against her hips, "Dammit Vergil, can you stop pestering me for one second? He's the only lead we have on my son!"
Meeting her glare with a relaxed gaze, Vergil crossed his arms. "Maybe not… But that damnable diva Mettaton isn't responding to any calls."
It wasn't uncommon for Mettaton to do this, calls could be traced… Vergil knew that. But outside of the irrelevant tidbits of information he'd given Ifalna, their prisoner was useless.
An uncharacteristically cruel glare, "Exactly, maybe I should waterboard his ass…" She tapped her arm impatiently, drilling holes in the door.
Raising a brow, "And you're supposed to be the kind one…"
Bianca whirls around and meets his gaze, "When my son is in danger? Fat chance." She says with a dangerous expression, not one he's used to seeing on her rounder face.
Still, there had to be a reason. "Right, yet we still don't know their intentions with Credo… You're sure they would not abduct him for just any reason?"
Shaking her head, Bianca deflates and sinks to the floor with a sigh. "I've been in the order my entire life, everyone who worships Sparda has! And never have they kidnapped children before… Dammit, it hurts to even think about… My poor baby Credo… I still can't believe they did this." She then strolls over to a desk with a shotgun hanging over it, a picture of Credo and Crono arm wrestling.
Taking the photo in her hand, she holds it against her chest. "He must feel so alone…"
Vergil tries his best to be reassuring, "He's a strong boy, with a good head on his shoulders."
"I know but… I can't lose him too." She says, setting the photo down.
"You've said that before, what do you mean?"
Bianca leans on the wall next to him, thinking, for a moment he considered dropping the subject but- "When I was younger and still living on the streets… My brother and I were all each other had, he was older than me but he was… He was the most gentle man I've ever known… He couldn't speak well, but his actions more than made up for that…"
'Sounds like a certain King I know…' But he was very good with words, almost shockingly so.
But he knew what she meant, "And? I suppose I know where this is going but…"
Bianca smiles emptily, waving her arms in the air. "He disappeared one day, vanished into thin air when I was at school… It was our graduation and I didn't see him there, I never saw him again actually."
"... My apologies."
The story of one losing their loved ones, it pervaded this world didn't it?
"But if it's any reconciliation, I know how it feels to lose a loved one… My brother was taken from me as well."
Mirth laces her voice, an empty laugh. "... Isn't that just the thing? This world loves taking, doesn't it?" Vergil nodded, everyone in this world has had something or someone taken from them… Whether it be by man, or by devil.
Bianca sighs, shaking her head. "But I suppose without the bad… Good wouldn't really mean a damn thing huh?"
"Ever the optimist, aren't we Bianca?"
She gives him a playful grin, "I am a green soul, we are a lot of the time optimistic y'know." Placing a hand over her heart in an almost vein way, Vergil scoffed.
"Prone to at least, traits are no end all be all after all." Crono for example.
Bianca shrugs. "World would be a lot simpler if they were."
"Yes, but then our individuality would be boiled down to the color of our soul…"
"As if people ain't judging like that already."
Vergil slams a fist against his flat palm, "But we can't allow those who hate to make us hate in turn, to fear others is the source of hate."
Bianca crosses her arms, "Then what's the antidote, Mister philosopher?"
"Growth, self reflection, accountability. Hatred is irrational." A reflection of his past, Vergil spoke from experience. To see another without seeing their meaning, their struggles…
It wasn't a virtue.
Bianca shakes her head at his wisdom, "... Y'know, you should open up more."
"Am I not open?"
Bianca shrugs, "More like, stoic as all hell… Seriously, I can't tell what the hell you're thinking half the time."
His face is rather unexpressive, he supposed. Dante was always more expressive than him, even as a child. "It is merely my nature, my brother was always the more… Fun of us two, I suppose."
Bianca raises a hand to his height, "Was he also as tall…?"
Vergil chuckled, "Our father was much taller than I, so perhaps Dante is even taller." A small tinge of competitiveness filled his heart.
Bianca's jaw drops, "Really, that's insane to think about, I didn't even think anyone could be taller than Crono, and then you came into the picture and now your daddy… Sheesh."
"What can I say? It's in our blood."
'Among other things…'
A comfortable silence followed afterwards, and Vergil felt a sort of kinship with this woman… Her experiences much mirrored his own, her life, and yet to see her remain kind even now… There was more to her than what appeared at first glance, she was strong in a way that most people weren't… Strong enough to remain kind even in the face of her tragedy.
It was a testament to the goodwill humanity was capable of, that she'd serve the innocent people of Fortuna for being ignorant to the crimes of their leaders.
'All of her spite… Directed towards one instead.'
Any moment they'd have to return to their typically scheduled 'attempts' at 'torture' to find out where Credo was being kept. But unfortunately for the two of them, not even Vergil had the guts to torture a man through violence…
'It's too dishonorable and dishonest…'
Perhaps age has mellowed him out, but it was more likely his time with the Dreemurr's that warmed his freezing and brutal methods, their kindness made him go soft long ago. Vergil quickly forced the unwanted thoughts out of his head…
'Not the time…'
Bianca stood up fully again from the wall, "Well, thanks for getting my mind off Credo, Vergil… You can be very intro… Intro… Introspective, yeah." Just four years ago… Someone, a girl with the same colored hair but red colored eyes had told him the exact same thing.
"So I've been told."
It was at that moment Crono decided to step out, a clear and visible stress along his face. "Impossible, that bastard is impossible… I even roughed him up some." Bianca stepped towards Crono and embraced the much taller man, shocking him from his musings in a sudden display of affection.
It seemed their conversation made her sentimental. "Oh… I'm still just glad you're alright Cronie, I… I can't lose either of you okay?" She openly admitted to the sharp-eyed man, his frown contorting into a small smile as he wrapped his own arms around her… The two embraced.
Vergil could only watch them come together like this, she was only tall enough to come up to his upper chest. Their relationship at first seemed almost… Friendly, they could make jokes towards another and neither felt any offense and yet when it came time for compassion...
The son of Sparda didn't have the best impression of Crono when he first met him in this bar, but the man was… He was a case. A hard, steady father who was quick to temper, yet deathly loyal to his family… It was almost admirable.
But now wasn't the time for sentiments, "I think it is time we take more direct action." Vergil blurted out suddenly, awkwardly interrupting their intimacy and causing Crono to jump.
Crono growled before chuckling at Vergil's stoic demeanor, "Damn you V, standing there all menacingly, lord." Shaking his head, the tall and gaunt man gave his lover a small kiss on the top of her head before letting her pass.
Leaning up against the wall, Vergil and Crono seemed to be almost related with their almost permanent frowns and tall stature. Of course Vergil was much more built than Crono, having been a warrior all his life and also half-demon. But they both held a certain aura, one that neither could dismiss as kinship of intimidation.
Crono shoves his hands in his pockets, whistling. "So, any news from that sex bot?"
"You keep calling him that, Mettaton is not the type of devil to even consider such a thing." Vergil says, frowning.
Rolling his eyes, "Ahh whatever, answer my question." He says, waving the half-devil off.
Crossing his arms with a scowl, "No, I have my suspicions as to why… But regardless, I'm growing quite tired of waiting for him." A small smirk appears on his face, "I might storm Andrei's little superstructure myself at this rate."
It wouldn't be hard, no human could pose a threat to him anymore. And with Yamato? He could challenge Gods. Of course he didn't have the devil blade on him, but his power was of his own spirit… Now.
Crono smirks at the idea, "Boy that'd be the day, but what about his splicers?" What about them?
Vergil gives him a flat stare,"I took down an entire OTS stronghold with my bare fists, I'm sure his splicers will not be much of an issue." He spoke as if the confrontation was inevitable.
Crono huffs and makes a bemused eye raise, "Hey, they got guns… You ain't invincible brother V."
"Do you truly think that?"
That seemed to spook him a little, "I get you're stronger than most men, but invincible? Bullshit." Vergil could only chuckle.
"Ye of little faith."
Crono elbows the son of Sparda, "But I do have faith that I could kick your ass with a good sword, at least."
Vergil found that ironic, considering Yamato. Crono was a certain character, that was for sure. A man at odds with himself, but at the same a man who tried to do good…
The half-devil shrugged, "Feel free to believe that all you want, but what happens if I have a sword too?"
Crono was silent for a moment.
"Fuck you."
"I would not let your spouse hear that."
"Dammit… You little bitch!" Crono was laughing now, shaking his head with his eyes closed and a hand over his heart.
Vergil smiled at his own joke for once, a rare sight. "You seem a lot different when you smile, interesting."
His fellow man gave him an incredulous look, "Speak for yourself Mr. Stoic and brooding, you look like a weird ass librarian with that tiny ass smile." He gestured to Vergil's everything.
"I do not follow the logic there."
Crono gave him the most serious expression Vergil has ever seen from him, "Well, librarians are quiet and shit right? So their smiles gotta be quiet too." He finished, satisfied with his explanation.
"... I'm sure their smiles aren't very loud to begin with."
A tick appeared on his forehead, "Not literally you asshole…"
"Did you make the distinction? You didn't make the distinction."
Crono leaned back with a sigh, "Psst, whatever jackass. Tell me when you get your own girl and then you can trash talk my 'distinction'."
'Your own girl? What?'
Vergil frowned, the only person he could think of… "There was this… One friend I had, but it has been quite some time…"
"I meant a girlfriend, a lover, a squeeze?" Vergil blank faces.
"I see, no." He crosses his arms, "I have never had a lover.'
Crono squinted at him with his m,outh open in that conniving way of his, "Man don't give me that shit, you're taller than me, have this natural white ass hair… And you can punch through solid metal." And yet for all these accolades, it reminded him of something far more important.
His strength… Was it truly enough? He could face Gods, but would that be enough? No… Certainly not. Vergil felt something tight grip his heart.
A shadow draped over his features, "When I have to face my destiny… I'll have to do it alone, no mere man can face the horrors ahead."
"Destiny? You're no Sparda, kid, what great destiny do you have? No offense."
"If only you knew, there's a heavy weight on my family's shoulders…"
"One I must bear alone." Crono didn't respond.
Vergil was silent moment before turning away, "But I'd not worry you. You have your own troubles."
Yellow eyes soften, sympathy. "Y'know, I never apologized for my actions… So I am sorry about what I did that night, I ain't like to get angry around Bianca. I'm just tryna focus on just finding my son now I don't care about anything else." He says with a relieving sigh.
'An apology? I wasn't expecting one so suddenly…'
Still, he was glad that Crono was trying to turn over a new leaf, at least, he was trying…
Vergil waved him off, "It's under the bridge, the fact that you're capable of self reflection is enough. However I'm not the one who must apologize to."
"Hey… What's that supposed to mean?"
"For a while, I'd assumed you wouldn't be able to give up your hate for SDT's."
"Dammit… You think it's easy?"
"No."
"Then what are you asking?"
"Like I said, introspection… You will see." Crono wanted to say something else but hit his tongue, apprehensive.
"Whatever." Crono stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away for a moment. "Those two are some of the good ones I guess." He replies after a minute or two, "I still… I don't know, every time I look at those two I…" Vergil saw into his soul from the two eyes he witnessed.
That night back then when Crono
was consumed with hatred, Vergil recalled it especially…
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Vergil shocked the man out of his reminiscing. Staring him down, the two men stared one another down. Letting him settle, Vergil finally spoke. "Do not be a slave to your beliefs, let them grow." He says with a softer tone than usual.
"Even if it means letting go of your justifications."
…
Crono pursed his lips, turning away from the half-devil and waiting for Vergil to remove his hand. Sighing, he turned towards the bar and cracked his knuckles.
"Hey." The half-devil glanced towards him and met the back of his head.
"When you go, I'm going with you."
Vergil was quick to reply, "No."
Crono reeled around and glared at him, his angular jaw grinding. "No? Fuck you mean no?"
"You'd only slow me down, Wingbuster." Vergil responded simply, not reacting as Crono stormed down the hall.
The shorter man grabbed him by the hem of his shirt, pulling him upwards. "Listen here fucker, I get you're stronger than me but that's my fucking son! And that bastard might know where he is!" Vergil merely took his wrist and slowly pried away his grip, as if he was an adult dealing with a child.
He didn't react outwardly, "I understand, but set aside your foolishness for a moment… Do you truly think you can keep up?" Crono snarled in response.
"Does it matter? That's my son, I have to help him, I have to save him, what the hell is my purpose if I can't?"
Vergil sighs, shaking his head. "Again, I understand your plight-"
"Like hell you do." Crono turned and refused to speak any more, his soles tapping against the ground. The conversation was over, for now.
'I can't risk it, they'd only get in my way… And I can't lose any of them, I'll get all of them out alive…' Crono was weak, he should understand... It was safer this way
Vergil took the elongated silence as his sign to attend the bar, with Bianca and Crono occupied in the backrooms, he'd be the bartender tonight… And so he had to prepare. It was something he volunteered to do after all, and surely bartending wouldn't be much of an issue for a son of Sparda.
Ifalna was cleaning the tables, humming a beautiful melody in his ears… She had gotten accustomed to her new life quickly, and her presence was a bright light on all their days…
With the sun setting more and more as the golden vibrance over Fortuna finally ebbing from the world, the rain once again hammered down upon Fortuna. Vergil quickly finished cleaning and scrubbing the various glasses in record time, and at the strike of nine thirty, the door branched open and released a gust of wind from the storm outside as several men filtered in.
That was their customer base now, young men from all over Fortuna, especially the slums; they came to see Ifalna sing, to talk with her like old times sake he supposed. It was some strange sense of sex appeal and down to Earth kindness she wielded that allowed her to have any man eat out of her hands like a mule, such a thing Vergil could not comprehend.
'It is effective.' He couldn't deny that.
Vergil faced away from the front entrance, he wore a white Tee with his sleeves rolled up to give him that 'bartender look' Bianca was mentioning prior. It wasn't his typical cloak, or his more human disguise… But it was acceptable.
'I should take her word, she's more experienced in the matter after all.'
Placing another glass down, Vergil snatches another and begins scrubbing it clean. "Welcome, can I get anything started for you?" Nasal monotone, not exactly welcoming. But the attendee didn't seem to respond yet.
Vergil heard a familiar shuffle of metallic soles, his posture straightening before he turned to meet his robotic friend. "Blooke-" Silenced before he could utter a single word, the son of Sparda narrowed his eyes and gently set the glass he was cleaning down.
Standing there in heavy disguise and layers of clothing was the diva himself, his purple eyes glowing above an even brighter grin. "Hello again darling, I see you've adjusted well to the locals." Mettaton flashed his famous lopsided grin, fluttering his eyelashes before chuckling.
Vergil rolled his eyes and went back to cleaning, "There you are… I suppose I'm not surprised you've been absent, he has a reign on the phone lines yes?" He asked with a small sense of amusement to his voice.
Mettaton merely sprawled over the counter, melodramatically of course. "Exactly, I can't risk jeopardization… If that man knew I'm funding RISE personally, it would not be glamorous, let's just say that." Vergil hmphed at that, preparing to serve his first order.
Speaking just low enough that Mettaton's sensors could hear, "Your scores would go down, that's a given." the reputable android frowned and zapped him in response, a small display.
It did hardly anything, but it was enough. "Alright, cut to the chase Metta-" The diva in question shushed him quickly, glancing throughout the room for any eavesdropping attendees before sitting back down on the bar stool.
Mettaton practically whispered the next part out, "Just call me M for now darling, can't have any… Eavesdropping." Vergil merely shrugged and nodded his head.
Suddenly he recalled Credo, "Hm, before you ask anything of me, M, I need you to do something."
"Can it wait?"
"Not likely."
Mettaton rolled his eyes, "Fine, but make it quick, we are on a time crunch, darling… Can't have anyone suspecting my connection-"
Vergil waved him off. "To RISE, yes… Please, I would not be one to joke about importance."
"Alright, hit me dear."
Vergil blinked twice. "Okay, I need you to find out the whereabouts of any hidden OTS hideout or headquarters… The son of the bar owner, Bianca, was stolen by them."
Mettaton seemed disturbed… "Stolen you say? Like kidnapped, darling?"
"Yes." The SDT seemed troubled.
Mettaton crosses his legs over each other, leaning back. "Hmm… This isn't the first time someone has reported this… But it happens only every so often in this city. Allegedly." He says, cupping his chin.
"The OTS kidnapping people? Truly, color me surprised…"
"But the reason is unknown to me, sorry dear. The OTS have been remarkably secretive lately."
"No matter, but if you can help… I'm sure it would make our efforts much more fruitful."
"It's a tall order my darling V, but I'll see what I can do…" Mettaton clasped his robotic hand around Vergil's,, smiling warmly.
His eyes darkened suddenly, "Now… Where is that good for nothing Burger-pants and my darling Blooke? Are they at the apartment I afforded you all for this operation?" Vergil frowned suddenly, looking around the bar.
Nothing, nobody was here. "Not sure, I haven't seen either in quite some time actually… Now that I recall." Vergil frowned at the realization, he was much more perceptive usually.
Then again. Blooke wasn't one to draw attention.
Vergil opened his mouth to speak only for the entrance door to slam open suddenly, two figures barreling through and tripping over one another trying to stand up. They desperately tried to catch their breath and clawed the air. Their mere presence is enough to unsettle many of the attendees.
And yet that look in their eyes, "Vergil/Brother V!" It could only mean one thing.
'Where is Blooke…'
Hopping over the counter, Vergil jogged over Reno and Brandon, the two were using each other as support… They seemed roughed up? Vergil felt his skin run cold, a scalding fire burning beneath his skin at the realization.
"They, they took him. They took him Brother V, they t-took him!" Reno cried out with his face red, shame etched across his face. "I couldn't stop them?"
"The OTS?"
Brandon dragged himself away from the outside world, "He's coming… The Captain, he's trying to kill us… Oh shit man you gotta help us…" Murmurs begin to spread throughout the bar, murmurs that bleed into Vergil's hearing and cause him a distraction.
'Shut up…' His will unto them, their rambling and fearful babbling was of no use.
Mettaton stood as well before rushing towards his employee, bringing the feline to his feet. "Burger-pants, are you okay? Where's Blooky!?"
The feline began to cry, "I'm sorry boss… I'm sorry, I asked him to grab some snacks from Travis' and… And he never came back, those fuckers took him!"
Vergil felt his breath quicken, the air in the bar chilling as small traces of lightning cackled around his being. "What. Happened?"
Reno catches his breath before replying, "I found him at Babel for some reason, we left after the busy bodies got out of the way and t-then S-Sanctus was there… I tried to buy Blooke some time but that that man, Andrei… He put some collar around Blooke?"
"A collar?" Mettaton choked, his teeth grinded against another as steam rose from beneath his cloak.
Reno nods, "Y-yeah, and he handed him to Sanctus like like some fucking trophy! I couldn't stop them…"
Vergil releases a heavy breath and rolls his shoulders back, the burning infernal breath visible even in this warm bar air. "Andrei… That welp, he is the source… One must cut off the head." He took only a single step forward before being stopped by Mettaton himself.
His voice is strained, "Don't do anything stupid Vergil!" He barely holds back the heat inside his machinery.
Vergil scowls and stares forward, unwavering. "Release me, he knows where they sent Blooke."
Mettaton gave him a desperate look even through the painful rage on his face, "You… You can't just fight Andrei! He's not something you can just punch my dear! As much as I want to, we can't do it alone, you need to stop and think darling. I want to save Blooke even more-"
"I've thought about this enough, I'm going." He says, walking forward, unstoppable.
Vergil brushes Mettaton off, heading towards the exit unfettered. Reaching for the doorknob only for it to be opened once more, revealing a knight of the order with his poorly made sword and uncouth expression. He was dressed in a higher class dress than any knight before him, and yet?
He looks up to see Vergil's shadowed visage, lightning dancing in both eyes. For the first time in his life, he feels overshadowed.
"Oh."
"Oh hell."
Before he can even react, Vergil shatters the sword into a dozen pieces with a single blow, crushes his flat palm against the man's chest. And then with a rageful cry, he takes the man by the hem of his shirt and throws him through the door-frame and into a table inside.
Staring up towards the Tower of Babel, a glimpse of lightning flashes the superstructure in the night sky into his vision only for lightning of his own essence to coil around his being-
"Stop!" The son of Sparda does, if only for a moment.
Ifalna grabs onto his hand, pulling him back. "You need to think this through Vergil, you are… You are the strongest man, you are the son of Sparda…" Fear etched in those eyes of her, the droplets of rain running down her face and soaking her dress once more…
Vergil lowers his glare, feeling Ifalna hold him down with both arms. "Ifalna… Don't try and stop me with sentiments, I've gone long enough allowing the snakes and rats of this city their due." There was no other alternative, no diplomacy you could employ with men like them.
Those who would harm a child or a dear friend of his… They deserved no pity.
Her hands are shaking, her body is freezing. "Please… It's not you I'm worried about." Vergil frowned.
If you lose yourself to violence, if you let the call consume you… It will end in nothing but sorrow, Vergil knew this… Yet he still could not stand by and let this go on any longer.
"I am going to save this city." He says, disappearing from sight in a flash of blue.
Ifalna falls to her hands in a puddle, drenching herself in the rain. Tears ran down her face, "It's not that… You're not going to help anyone…"
She slams a fist against the puddle, "Everyone is already plagued, killing patient zero won't do anything at all!" Crying out into the sky, Ifalna wishes she was strong enough to stop him.
This wasn't the path he needed to take, an albatross is perched on the overhead, looking down upon the world below as the harlot curses herself.
After the door shut, Crono and Bianca quickly rushed to the front of the bar. "Another one? Perfect timing!" Crono smirked and struggled to overpower the other man while he was on the floor. He glanced towards Reno off to the side and gestured for him to come help, his friend automatically got up with a small smirk on his face as well.
"Payback!"
Crono forced the knight to his feet as he and Reno began pushing him towards the back room, "You boys tryna get your asses kic-" Crono responded by slamming a fist into the hooded man's mask and pushing him onwards.
He recognized that voice, Crono smirked a devilish smirk. "You're my bitch now, you messed with my family and now you pay the price!" He says, dragging the man away as Ifalna reentered the bar, soaked.
'I failed…' She thinks, sitting on a chair and hugging herself.
A towel was draped over her shoulders after Bianca chided her for getting wet again. Ifalna could only watch them go towards the back room, her mind elsewhere. Vergil already disappeared into the air and was far gone, she wasn't able to stop him… Her green eyes were burning with worry.
Thankfully the knight was quickly dealt with and tossed back with Nico, tied up and the door locked by Crono and Reno. She hoped that the new knight wouldn't be too much a hassle, that Nico would be okay.
But Ifalna had greater worries, "Vergil…" Mettaton sighed and leaned against the entrance, shaking his head.
The robot cursed in response, "He knows better, damn! That boy should know not to rush, he's no island!…" The diva seemed to recall the past. Ifalna wondered just what the history was between Vergil and this new demon… Mettaton was it?
Ifalna had heard about him from Mother Diana, only a little.
Crono and Reno then both rushed to the front of the bar, both their eyes scathing as the sound of a heavy door being slammed against reverberated throughout the bar. Bianca was scanning throughout the room after the commotion ended, her eyes furrowing in confusion at the site of the new hooded figure.
But without Vergil? She'd save her questions.
"Where did Vergil go?" Bianca asked.
Crono sneered and recalled something, "He's going to pick a fight Andrei isn't he, bastard left without me huh?" Bianca glared at her lover in response, shaking her head.
"You were planning to go with him?"
The former Order member gave her a non-surplussed glance, clenching his fists. "Don't you remember what the man did to me when he first arrived here? Blew my ribs out with a single kick! He could've handled the big guys." Stronger than any normal man he was, Crono had full confidence in him…
Ifalna knew just as well, Vergil was far stronger than any man. For he… He was… A being that held power with his very accolade alone, and with a dazed expression, with a panicked guile… Ifalna opened her mouth;
"He is the son of Sparda, isn't he?" She meant it as assurance for not only them, but herself.
…
An audible pin drop reverberated throughout the room, Ifalna felt her cheeks heat in warmth at the sudden attention. The humans in the room looked at her like she grew a second head, the two SDT's… They caught each other's gaze.
The hooded robot grabbed her shoulder roughly, "Who told you that darling?" She didn't even have time to respond before Crono strutted over with his famous glare.
"And who the fuck are you exactly?" Mettaton was a hooded and ominous figure to him.
Ifalna flinched at his voice and tried to make herself appear smaller, and then his eyes turned to her. "And what the hell are you talking about? Brother V? I get he's a freak of nature but the son of Sparda? What the hell does that even mean?" Could God have a son? Crono's eyes became less and less focused as the statement rang through the air, his face turning white and a sweat running down his back.
"I… I can't…" He fell to the his knees, laughing at something unseen. "I can't compete with that!" He chuckles weakly, muttering about something…
Ifalna places a hand over her mouth, 'I did not know…'
Had she revealed something private? Ifalna flushed deeply at the idea that she had revealed his secrets… She'd assumed they knew just like did. Why did Vergil tell her but not them? And the way the two SDT's were looking at her…
Mettaton stepped forward and dragged his hood away, "What are you playing at hussy!" His robotic voice suddenly was familiar to the humans, "Do you realize who these people are? They worship the dark knight!" Bianca stepped between them with her eyes wide open, still processing what she just heard.
The air weighed down on the devotees like a weighted blanket, pressing down on them entirely with the realization that they had been holding the very son of Sparda himself… A son of God. Bianca recalled the last Twenty one years of her life flash by as the memories of worship fill her mind, the memories of Sparda being heralded as a God with no equal.
The realization shocked her as well, when Vergil spoke those words to her just last week.
Bianca finally broke out of her muted trance, lips trembling "What the hell…" She breathed heavily, "You… You mean? He really is the son of Sparda?" Bianca whispered with a trembling voice, the very idea of her lord having a child… A child who just moments ago was speaking like any other man, who was speaking to her.
It was enough to make them all sick.
Reno stepped up, a slight flush on his face. "A son of Sparda? Mettaton? Blooke? This is too much." He shook his head before directing his vision towards Crono, "What are we doing about this?"
The man simply shook his head slowly before grunting and raising his voice. "I-I-I don't fucking know Reno we are in a tough place right now, I need to think. We have a new perp and Vergil just up and left, and now he's the son of motherfucking Sparda! Dammit!"
Brandon spoke up next, "Hold on, Vergil is the least of our worries pal. He's a tough cookie."
Mettaton slapped him on the top the head, "Do not be stupid Burgerpants, and don't underestimate that man… Andrei." The robot spoke as if he knew from experience. His teeth grinding, "That bastard touched my darling Blooke, but still… Fighting Andrei now is a mistake."
Mettaton glanced towards Bianca, "Bianca, you are the bar owner right?" The short woman was snapped out of her shock, blinking a few times before nodding.
Mettaton hummed and directed the bar attendees, "You darlings need to prepare for the worst then." He waited a moment before speaking again, the SDT took the lead naturally and spoke with authority.
He peered out of the window and scanned the street outside, "The order might see this as an opportunity…" She eyed an escaping bar attende who was shooting them a horrific glare as he left the premises.
'For example…'
Just as quickly as the day started for them, it ended. All the bar attendees rushed out and were apologized to. Ifalna could only empathize with them, now they had to run all the way back home in the beating rain. All because of her.
'I'm sorry.'
Ifalna heard the robot trail off as she evacuated from the situation, trying to suppress her panic. Bianca placed a hand on her shoulder suddenly, "Can you check on our prisoners?" She knew that Ifalna was on good terms with Nico, but the other… They needed to
make sure he would cooperate.
And she needed to be useful, for Vergil's sake.
Ifalna retreated to the back of the bar, the shotgun held on the wall jostling with every bang, the desk below shaking as well. The knight was screaming for them to let him out. But the hinges were enforced even if he managed to untie himself, he wouldn't get out so easily. Still, it was nerve-racking.
And she really wanted to talk to Nico. The knight was a pleasant surprise, he'd been forthcoming enough as young and impressionable as he was. Only a few years younger than her.
But this new knight… She could hear a heated argument behind the door sounding off between each bang.
Her voice silenced the argument, "Are you there, Nico?" Ifalna placed her cheek against the door and sighed a breath of relief as the banging stopped. She heard shuffling and smiled.
She felt another person press up against the door, "Ifalna?" The voice seemed odd; his voice was louder than she remembered… Nico always whispered.
These humans were exhausting, Crono was a case all by himself. Yelling and jabbering about every little thing, borderline angry with every word. The other shorter male was just standing there in support, while Bianca herself paced throughout the room.
Catching the gaze of the yellow eyed sailor, Mettaton groaned as he felt the familiar glare on him.
"Mettaton huh?"
"That's me, darling."
"Don't call me that."
Bianca ceases her pacing and storms over to her lover, tugging on his arm. "We aren't getting anywhere with this!" She says as Reno stepped up and took center stage.
He grimaced as he spoke, "Sanctus took Blooke, but Vergil is going after Andrei. And we are just standing here arguing over nothing!"
"And what are we supposed to do about it Reno? You know how strong he is, apparently the son of God." Crono mockingly waved his hands.
Talking over each other as the rain peppered against the window, Bianca felt her cheeks run red as the jumbled back and forth would not end. They had bigger things to worry about than if Sparda truly had a son or not. Credo was still gone, still alone.
Bianca took a step back, "We don't have time for this!" She says, wondering why the world got so quiet all of the sudden.
And then, a cold barrel of steel pressed up against her back.
SuperSaiyijin4Vegeta: At first I did it subconsciously, but eventually I realized what I was referencing. Take that as you will.
Mr Haziq: That he is, he makes it too easy for others to target him, someone like him who spent the majority of his life alone and as an incorporeal ghost doesn't really have the skills to survive alone in a place like Fortuna.
KDlink17: I'm a sucker for references and tributes to other works of fiction. A small bit of trivia for how I portrayed Asgore in Devil may fall, his devil trigger was a reference to Mohg from Elden Ring.
A/n: I'm going to try and interact more with the few reviews I get, so please, if you have anything to share including criticism, let me hear it.