Yes. Hell froze over and I have an update. Apologies for the wait.
Here's the next chapter
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Bane of Existence
Chapter 3: Enough Chit Chat
Vergil stared at his brother in almost utter disbelief. He was so close to the point of openly gawking that he found it a strain to keep the usual scowl in place. It just wasn't humanly possible that Dante could be moving even slower than he was before. Not after all the yelling and all the threats and the minor beatings he had endured. It just wasn't right. And Vergil found himself cursing his parents yet again for giving him a brother so incredibly infuriating to be around. Vergil decided that he must have done something pretty devastating in a past life to be saddled with a sibling such as Dante. Either that, or he was already paying for his misdeeds in this life because nobody deserved this kind of torture.
An eternity would pass before Dante had gotten his sword and joined him outside. And Vergil wasn't sure if he hadn't already watched a few lifetimes go by just waiting for his brother.
Speed was obviously a term lost on the devil hunter. Even with Vergil's final order, Dante had only managed to master the first of his commands—Up. And even saying that was a stretch considering Dante was currently on his knees, moving papers around, and not standing as Vergil had intended by his words.
Vergil found himself blinking in hopes that he was imagining it all and he was more annoyed than relieved to find out that he wasn't. Dante was proving to have an even thicker head than Vergil had originally given him credit for. And it was a trait he had the misfortune of admitting they both shared.
Dante clearly wasn't worried by his brother's anger. Vergil could see that immediately. The cocky sonuvabitch actually had the gall to turn his back on him as he very pointedly ignored him. And the innocent whistling was driving Vergil nuts. His fists tightened unconsciously as if he were wringing Dante's neck.
Oh. How he wished he could wring Dante's neck. But he wouldn't show it. He wouldn't let Dante get under his skin this time. He wouldn't crack this time. He would not give Dante the satisfaction of knowing that he was getting to him. Not THIS time.
Vergil shifted to the edge of at the doorway and leaned on the frame, trying to act casual while he folded his arms and waited. He would have been a vision of patience had it not been for the steadfast glare he couldn't seem to dissolve. But at least he wasn't lashing out. And Dante would think he was trying too hard to stay calm if he wasn't glowering up a storm.
"Brother," Vergil began, waiting a moment to make sure Dante was listening. The devil hunter didn't turn around but he seemed attentive so Vergil went on. "You do realize that when I told you to get out here NOW I meant immediately, right?"
"Yup." Dante reached forward and stacked some more papers. Vergil's eyes narrowed at him.
"So you heard me."
Dante glanced back at the door. "Kinda hard not to when you're all up in my face, there Bro. I'm not deaf"
"Shame." Vergil snarled, almost wishing his brother was hard of hearing. At least he could blame Dante's lack of cooperation on the fact that he couldn't hear his commands.
"What?" Dante raised an eyebrow, not sure what thoughts had followed Vergil's comment, but Vergil pretended not to have heard him. Instead he pushed away from the door and glowered down at his twin.
"You heard me and yet you're still inside," Vergil said steadily, proud of how well he was doing at keeping his calm.
Dante smiled and turned back to cleaning. "Uh huh," he answered lightly, unperturbed as usual by his looming brother.
"And you're still unarmed." Vergil finished pointing out the obvious.
Dante nodded. "You got it. Unless you're afraid of a few dozen paper cuts." He waved the papers he'd collected at Vergil. "I'd be. They sure sting like hell."
"…I see..." Vergil glared at the wad of papers like he could burn them up with his gaze as he took a moment to compose himself, then he fixed his steely eyes on the back of the devil hunter. "You heard me. And you're ignoring me." Somehow hearing it out loud was more maddening than just thinking it and seeing it.
Dante snorted. "Trying to Verg. But it's kinda hard when you keep talking. Why don't you shut up so I can pretend that you don't exist. You ruin the illusion when you talk."
Normally that comment would have been the last straw but Vergil was determined not to lose to his brother, so he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to clear his mind of everything relating to his brother and the last little while; things such as the fact that Dante had discovered a pace to rival slow motion and the way he somehow managed to make an eternity pass quicker than the time it should take to grab a sword and walk the few paces to the door; his whistling; his paper stacking. It was all driving Vergil closer to the point of cracking. There was only so much calm he could fake and so many imaginary necks he could wring before his resolve crumbled.
"Tell me you're not sleeping," Dante observed loudly, jolting Vergil away from his calming thoughts. "We haven't even started fighting yet and you're already tired? That underworld has seriously fucked up your stamina."
"I wasn't sleeping," Vergil growled, "But I am still waiting, Brother."
"Really?" Dante rolled his eyes, "Cause I thought you were just standing on my doorstep for the hell of it."
"Oh believe me. There are far better things to do than stand out here and wait for you to get your sword."
"Good. Then why don't you do them?"
A sigh. "Dante?" Vergil said in a strained voice, pinching the bridge of his nose to stave off his fast approaching headache. "I am very close to hurting you right now. I just thought that I would warn you so it isn't so much of a surprise when I finally snap."
Dante grinned broadly. "Yeah. Congrats on that. I'm surprised you haven't blown up yet. You're doing well." He deposited a stack of papers on his desk and Vergil watched him do so with narrowed eyes.
"…for the time being," he uttered levelly. "Now. Your sword?"
"What about it?"
Vergil gawped, absolutely speechless. He took a step back, waving a hand and clenching the other because he honestly couldn't think of anything else to show his surprise and frustration. Eyes bugging, he blinked madly like there was something irritating them. His brother was still playing the clueless idiot.
Dante furrowed his brow as he watched his brother struggling with himself. "You okay Bro? You look like you're short circuiting."
Close enough to the truth; Vergil was racing at light speed to the point of no return. He had gone well past livid and was searching desperately for a way to define his current feelings; so-insanely-pissed-off-that-I'm-going-to-spontaneously-combust-in-a-moment-and-I'll-melt-you-with-a-flaming-death-glare-if-you-so-much-as-breathe-in-my-general-direction seemed to work pretty nicely for him. He pointed to the wall; unable to trust his voice which he was afraid would come out as a strained squeak if he tried to use it. Dante followed the motion of his hand and looked where his brother was pointing.
"What about the wall Bud? Admiring my trophies?"
That was it. Vergil eyes flared and he gave up. Stalking to the wall, he roughly grabbed his brother's sleeve on the way and yanked him with him. "Sword…now," he breathed out, staring wildly at the floor and panting like he'd just run a marathon. "Out…Now…"
Amused beyond belief by his brother's state, Dante bit his lip to keep from snickering. He mentally patted himself on the back for finally making his brother crack, though he was still curious as to whether or not he could push it further. "Sorry? Out when?" he asked with a poorly concealed smirk.
Vergil's eyes snapped up and there was nothing but psychotic fury written in them. He snatched Alastor off the wall, twisted it around and rammed it through Dante's chest "NOW!" he roared as his brother yelped in surprise and collapsed. The fiery twin stomped to the door, dragging the injured devil hunter out with him by the collar.
"Heal yourself and stand the fuck up," Vergil raged, dropping Dante on the doorstep, "I have had it with your procrastinating. Do you honestly think you're being cute?" he kicked Dante and wrenched the sword out of his body. He let it clatter to the ground and glowered like there was no tomorrow when Dante whimpered quietly because of the rough action and made no move to stand.
Dante had never been much good at listening to the little voice in his head that told him to quit while he was ahead. He was even beginning to believe that he hadn't been blessed with one. And it was blatantly obvious that he'd pushed things too far. He should have at least armed himself before poking at his brother so much. But it was impossible to be cocky and smart at the same time, or so he'd learned.
Dante grimaced and fumbled a hand around for his sword. He'd forgotten what having Alastor rammed through his chest felt like and he quickly concluded that he still didn't enjoy it.
"Stand UP!" Vergil yelled and kicked out again, but Dante caught his ankle and pushed him back harshly. He looked up at his twin with shadowed eyes, his gaze nearly matching Vergil's fury. He'd been kicked around enough for the time being due to his mouth and his inability to shut it. Now it was time to return the favour.
In an instant Dante was on his feet with Alastor slung over his shoulder, looking like he was finally ready to get down to business. The warmth in his chest was a sure sign that his new wounds were healing themselves, so at least he wouldn't be held back by them for long.
"Where we doing this Sweetheart?" he asked flatly, eyeing Vergil as he steadied himself from the push.
Vergil almost sighed in relief at Dante's words and brought out his own weapon. "Here's as good a place as any, wouldn't you say?"
"I guess," Dante dropped his sword from his shoulder and pointed it out menacingly. "Ladies first then."
Vergil snorted and lunged. Dante countered the assault and crossed his blade in front of him to block. Metal clashed loudly as the twins swung their blades again and again, trying to catch the other fighter unawares and hopefully hit flesh. After ten minutes of tirelessly dueling, they separated and came together again with more force. This time they did not move their swords but instead leaned forward with their weight, pushing to gain some ground on the other. It was always a contest of strength more than a battle between them. When Vergil's foot slipped back an inch, Dante smirked.
"Yup. I knew you were losing your touch, Bro." He pushed again and Vergil gritted his teeth as he fought to stay in place.
"Losing my touch?" Vergil managed to scoff. "Then how's this?" He dropped his shoulder and ducked below their blades, launching his fist into Dante's stomach. The devil hunter clenched his muscles just in time to absorb most of the blow. He was used to his brother's underhanded moves by now.
"Sneaky," Dante commented, pulling back and scowling. "But predictable."
Vergil rolled his eyes. "Perhaps. But I still made contact," he observed and Dante grunted.
"Well I didn't think there was a need to run away from someone who punches as hard as a three-year-old girl."
"Fuck you." Vergil scowled and swiped his sword at Dante's face, hoping to finally remove that cocky grin of his brother's for good.
Dante was too fast of course and easily dodged the blade. "Ooh. That hurt Verg. You cut me real deep that time."
"No." Vergil hissed. "But I will."
"Someone's confident." Dante smiled fearlessly and continued to meet Vergil's sword with his own, "Think you've been spending too much time around me."
"You have no idea." Vergil growled and became increasingly annoyed as his attacks amounted to nothing more than sparks as Dante persistently blocked his sword. Eventually his desperation took over his sense and he thrust his sword forward as if joisting. Dante simply sidestepped him, grabbed his brother's wrist and jerked his arm down over his bent knee. Vergil howled in agony and dropped his sword as his elbow snapped and bent in an unnatural direction. Dante pushed his twin's sword across the street with his foot and delivered a high roundhouse kick to his head, launching him backwards and into a parked car.
"You were saying?" Dante muttered and approached his brother's splayed form on the hood of a beat-up old Buick. Vergil panted and gasped as he tried to move his broken arm. He gave up quickly as sharp jolts of pain erupted up his arm. Lying quiet seemed like the best solution at the moment.
And then cold, sharp steel was pressed to his throat and his eyes snapped open. He hadn't been aware that he'd even shut them. He gazed up at the face of his unhappy brother and bared his teeth in a show of pain and anger.
Dante frowned down at him and Vergil noted disappointment in his eyes. "That was short," the devil hunter said tonelessly. "You were so itching to fight before. I thought you'd be more of a challenge than this. Looks like you're still just all talk." Vergil growled as Dante retracted his sword and turned his back on him. "I got some paperwork to do so I'll see you around Bro. Maybe next time you won't be such a waste of my time…but I'm not holding my breath."
'These are the famous Spardas?' The violet-haired man thought incredulously as he watched Dante walk off, leaving Vergil lying injured on a parked car. It was rather pathetic really, the scene, and the figure found himself sharing the devil hunter's disappointment with how the battle had turned out. It had been a wretched display, nothing even remotely close to the battle he had been hoping for. Bickering children would have been more entertaining, though when it came down to it, that was essentially what the Sparda twins were. They were not the fierce fighters that he had been told they were and had been hoping to see.
"Pathetic," he told himself quietly for the umpteenth time.
Is something the matter, Bane? An amused voice sounded in his head and he cringed.
"You tell me. Why am I wasting my time with these boys, Glyph? Devils or no, they're nothing special. Even the brother who won didn't stir me in any way. You're banking on the wrong boys."
Oh am I? Glyph laughed again in his mind. We'll see about that. You've only witnessed Round 1. Don't make up your mind just yet about them. They're exactly what I'm looking for—and more.
A snort. "Somehow I doubt that."
Well if you feel that strongly about them, then you are welcome to return. You'll just have to wait another millennium for a chance to be free. I know how much you like it here.
Bane growled and turned his glare for Glyph on the unmoving Sparda below. Vergil had only managed to sit up and was now nursing his arm. "I still don't see it."
You remember their father, don't you?
Bane shook his head. "They're nothing like him," he grumbled. "They bark more than they bite. I swear that devil hunter talks almost as much as you do."
Another chuckle Well that's quite a feat. I like him already.
"And I don't."
Glyph sighed dramatically So difficult to please you, Bane-boy. And what about the other one. How do you feel about him?
"He's a moody prick."
Then you have much in common.
"Save it Glyph," Bane growled, "I'm packing it in. You're not convincing anyone. These guys are nothing."
You didn't think that yesterday. You were so excited for this battle. It's rare I see a smile on your face and you were positively beaming. Are they really that much of a disappointment? You had such high hopes for them.
"No," Bane countered. "You did. And you made me believe it as well. What I saw yesterday was promise. What I got today was a giant temper tantrum. I didn't honestly expect that all the twins would do is bicker and slap each other around a bit. Where is the power we saw in their father? It obviously wasn't passed down to his kids."
So you believe that the devil hunting one defeated the Dark One with a few well-placed insults and a couple bitch slaps?
"…no…but he didn't show any of that power today. What does it take for them to let it all loose?"
Well that's our job to find out, now isn't it? We've never had trouble before. Just bring them in. You won't have much difficulty if they're as weak as you seem to think they are.
"I still think it's a waste of t-…" Bane drifted off as he watched a dark aura surround Vergil and charge up to a brilliant blue. No longer was his power masked and Bane was nearly astounded by the strong energy he felt. The power of Sparda definitely flowed through at least this twin's veins.
Vergil stood tall in his devil form, his wings outstretched. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders before testing the strength in his formerly injured arm by swinging out his blade a few times. Pleased that he had regained his fighting form, he stalked back towards DMC with great authority. Bane held his breath. Things were finally going to get interesting.
It's a waste of what Bane-boy? Glyph piped up, sensing the sudden anticipation Bane felt.
"Never mind," the violet-haired man snapped. "Round 2 is about to begin. I'll see you in a bit."
I look forward to it. Bane could picture Glyph's pleased grin as he said it Hurry home and don't forget to bring home both our new friends.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Well you guys are lucky. I nearly ended it at nearly half this length, and at a cliff ending to boot, but decided since I haven't updating in a long long time, I'd give you guys a break.
Let me know what you think.
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