Chapter 15: Demon Dynamics 101

"Nero, listen to me, your father and I will not hurt you. We love you. You're safe here, kiddo." Mira encouraged as she held their son. Nero was looking at his father with fear in his eyes. Vergil looked at him with calm, patient eyes.

"Nero, your mother is right. You should not fear us. We are your family, you can tell us anything, even if we may not like it." Mira looked at the elder and Vergil blinked. "Allow me to rephrase, you can speak freely, no matter what."

"All my life, all I wanted was normalcy like the other children in Fortuna. But I always knew that I would never be normal. I also wanted a family. That wish came true and I'm so happy that it did. I have kick ass parents and an awesome grandfather and a sweet grandmother." Mira grinned.

"You're right about that kiddo, we are pretty kick ass and we look awesome for our age."

"So what ails you?"

"I've always loved Kyrie, but I feel like I'm cheating on her."

"What does your heart want?" Mira asked as she held Vergil's hand in hers. She smiled when he raised their hands and kissed her hand tenderly. Nero smiled.

"Son, what do you know of Demon Dynamics?" Vergil asked. Nero blinked. He had been trained that demons were trouble, he believed it all until he became one when his devil was awakened.

"Close to nothing," He admitted. Vergil nodded. He expected that. Mira was almost in the same boat. Vergil on the other had decades of knowledge.

"Very well, so here's the next course, you will be schooled by me on the subject. Your mother knows some as well, we were schooled by your grandfather after all."

"I mean, Father is it normal for…demons to love other demons?"

"It can happen, yes." Vergil said and this surprised Nero. "There are three types of Demon, the males of course, females and Submissive, which are those who carry both."

"Oh, that's right." Mira said, "Daddy did mention that…where was I?"

"I believe you found butterflies more interesting that day." Vergil said with a chuckle. "Father had to bring your attention back a few times."

"They were so pretty…Ah, you remembered that!"

"I remember plenty my love. Even though I said I have no recollection. I remember almost everything."

"When can't you remember?"

"I can't remember the exact moment I fell in love with you." Vergil admitted. Mira and Nero smiled warmly. It was nice that they were able to speak like this.

"So Father um, how can you tell which is what?"

"Ah, well you mean aside from the obvious signs? Well take your mother and I for instance. We are a rarity. Yes we were born fraternal twins but we are also a mated pair. Pairings such as ours are very rare in the Demon World, twins even rarer. Alphas are obvious, they're quite big and powerful. I am an Alpha Male, your mother, is an Alpha Female. The hierarchy is similar to that of wolves. The Alphas are the first to eat, first to mate, first on anything." Nero nodded in understanding. The example was easier to follow. But he did have more questions.

"I've seen both of your Sin forms, they are big, but I'm smaller but still able to hold you two back. How is that?"

"That is because you are still in first phase. We were slight as well when we were young."

"As I said kiddo, the older we get the bigger we get. We also go through stages, sort of like a butterfly…" At this Vergil chuckled and Mira lightly slapped his thigh, causing him to yelp a bit. "Hush you wicked fuck. You used wolves but I can't use butterflies?" Nero snickered at their play fighting. It was adorable.

"Couldn't you use frogs? Or some other insect?"

"No, I found this to be easier."

"Fair enough." Vergil said as he smiled. "Continue my love."

"A butterfly goes through stages, just as we do. Our human stage is similar to the egg stage, our awakening is similar to the caterpillar."

"Oh great I'm a bug." Nero said and Vergil chuckled.

"I knew that would happen." He said in amusement. "As your mother stated, we go through stages, passing each as we age. When we are killed, we awaken. You experienced that in Fortuna when that Chief Alchemist killed you. You awakened and not only restored Yamato but summoned it to you."

"How did you…." Nero asked then it hit him. Yamato told him…."Yamato told you?" At this Vergil nodded.

"Very perceptive and correct." Vergil praised. "But before your arm was injured, you believed yourself human did you not? Your powers were dormant. When you got injured it triggered a change, but not a complete one until you died. I triggered early, we were 8 years old. I died, stabbed by my own sword."

"And Mother?"

"I killed your mother, but she was concealed at the time and I wasn't in my right mind as I am now. I used my own sword first, then I used your mother's first blade, Rebellion." Nero remembered that sword. "But the others, such as Asmodeus, are an enigma…"

"Babe, he's a pretty boy!" Mira said and Nero sighed. And he's so dreamy…..Oh crap….

"Pretty boy has nothing on me my love and you know that." Vergil said wickedly. Mira giggled and blushed a bit. Yea pretty boy's got nothing on Wickedly Sexy….Oh damn!

"So is he an Alpha?" Nero asked and his parents tried not to snicker.

"Ah no, Asmodeus is a Beta Male. He served our father. An Alpha doesn't serve…" Mira cleared her throat. "An Alpha who has his mind intact and able to see clearly, doesn't serve." Vergil corrected himself. Mira nodded and Nero laughed. Both his grandfather and father served Mundus and both of them broke free. When he yawned, Mira pulled back his bed covers and Nero chuckled.

"Mother, I'm a grown up."

"Oh hush, I saw you yawn, in you go kiddo." Mira ordered gently. Nero slipped into bed and his mother tucked him into bed. She kissed him on the forehead and smiled. "Goodnight kiddo. We will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Mother, good night Father. Thank you for the lesson."

"Goodnight son, and you're welcome. Your lessons will continue tomorrow." Mira turned off the lights and walked out. Vergil closed the door behind him and escorted Mira to their room.

"So, what do we do about this, Babe?" Mira asked as she brushed her hair for bed. "I don't trust Asmodeus."

"Well, the man did toss his brother into the cavern," Vergil said as he looked himself over. "He blasted him in."

"And you saw Baul go in?"

"With my own eyes. Do you think he's still at large?" He asked as he watched his intended slip into bed, her long hair in an elegant braid and dressed in a scarlet red set. He himself had chosen blue black.

"I suppose paranoia but its always good to know for sure. Question is how do we check without having to go down there?" Vergil smiled and looked at the tall mirror near the window. "Look there my love." She did and the glass shimmered and the cavern appeared, there was Asmodeus still kneeling by the mouth of it, his grief clear on his face. She also heard the echoing screams. She covered her ears and Vergil waved his hand, dismissing the image and hugged her. Mira held him tight but she was convinced. "Fine, but I still don't trust him. Not near Nero. Crush or not, he comes before me or Nero I'm kicking his ass."

"And I'll destroy him. I made that perfectly clear to him my love. He knows I am not our father, I am not so kind on these matters."

"You'd rip his heart out and eat it raw."

"True, but I'd share the bounty with you if you wished it."

"You know, I never ate one." Mira said as she thought back. Vergil was astounded.

"Not once? From all the demons you have killed?"

"Not one." She said. Vergil was impressed and a bit concerned.

"Well my love, not to pressure you, but someday you may have to."

"Why is that?"

"A demoness in delicate condition will require to eat them to strengthen not only herself but the nestling. Usually. Nero came out strong which is impressive since you haven't touched a demon heart."

"No, I just read on prenatal care and followed a menu."

"Which is why he came forth more human, just as we did. Mother was human. We are half devil my love, different course and measures will need to be abided." Mira nodded and hugged him, kissing him softly and lovingly.

"We can look more on it. Goodnight Babe." She curled up, allowing Vergil to hold her close.

"Goodnight my love." He said softly as sleep took him over as well.

Nero waited for his parents to be completely asleep before slipping out of bed, slipped his gear on and sneaking out the window. He needed to kick ass. He ran for the sparring area and began to spar. He thought of the lesson and he was shocked at how much he didn't know. In the Order they didn't touch on demographics of demons, they just preached that Sparda did what he did for humankind and that the demons had to be eradicated. The highest honor was to become an 'Angel' (What they didn't know was that they were becoming demons) Nero embraced his demon heritage to rescue Kyrie, but he also helped others as his grandfather and mother did. His father had caused a heap of trouble but is now fixing what he was able.

"I had a feeling you would come here." Nero heard a deep voice from the shadows causing him to stop. He saw his father's glowing green eyes.

"Father, I thought you were asleep."

"I was until a certain devil child snuck out." Vergil said as he walked out the shadows, battle-ready. "Your mother is fast asleep though. If she woke up and saw you gone, we both know she would worry."

"And what if she finds out you're up?"

"She knows I can handle myself. I always have." Vergil took a stance. "When you're ready, let's begin." Nero revved up Red Queen and lunged. Father and son began to spar. As they sparred, Vergil pointed out the areas that needed to be improved upon. Nero listened and tried to land his father on his rear but Vergil had learned from their last battle and he was not giving Nero leeway or an opening. He kept it tight.

"Aw, you two suck!" They heard Mira's voice from above them. " Sparring without me?!" Father and son looked at each other in mid battle. Uh oh!

"Mother, Father said you were asleep…"

"I was until the Wicked Fuck left our bed." Mira grinned. "I froze!"

Nero laughed as his father blushed and grinned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry my love, next time I'll use pillows."

"Nah, not as good as the real thing. Now, one quick spar then back to bed!" The men nodded and the family sparred with Mira winning. She walked on while Nero rubbed his arm and Vergil winced as he rubbed his neck.

"Ow, mother whupped us, how?"

"Her fury knows no bounds. I still can't believe she got me with a leg lock."

"Yea she could've broken your neck Father."

"Yes she could've…My, such strong legs…" Vergil thought with a chuckle and a devilish grin.

"FATHER!" Nero shouted and Vergil laughed darkly.

For the second time the family wished each other goodnight after freshening up. Nero fell asleep fast while his parents settled down in their room. Vergil kept his eyes on his intended and growled lowly. He couldn't wait until Spring, a bit before Nero's birthday. As soon as we say I do, I'm making her scream! Mira came over and slipped into bed next to him.

"Hm, wicked thoughts again?" She teased. Vergil smirked and held her close.

"My love, that's not even half of it." He whispered heatedly, savoring in the soft moan and shiver of pleasure from his Mira. Yes, by demon law they were already wedded, had been since that night they met in Fortuna and he claimed her, but his father was right, it was worth their engagement period. "Rest, for tomorrow, we have much to do." Mira nodded and after one more kiss, the couple settled down for the night.

So much to do, so little time. More to come!