Chapter Text
You remember the last time you saw him, he seemed weak. In need of rest. But he pressed on- forced himself to see things through. That was the last memory you had of V.
That’s all you could think about as Nico drove you guys back to your place of stay. The van jostled some as Nico drove recklessly through the streets. Finally the familiar building comes into view as she jerks the steer wheel to the left. It skids to a stop, while you rock forward some. Eyes peeking up just a fraction.
Devil May Cry.
the neon red sign glowed brightly in the night sky, it lights up their part of where the shop stood. It was the place you called home, only now was it devoid of life. The key turns in the hole with a soft click, you push the one door open and step inside. Gently you swipe a finger over a shelf that’s collected dust over time. It felt good to be back- for the apocalypse in a sense to have been put to a stop.
You glance over your shoulder to look outside the double doors, there Lady and Trish are unloading Nico’s van of their things they’d bought or collected from this gig. You had to go grab your own things, so you stuff the keys to the place in your back pocket stepping out into the cold air. It bites at the exposed parts of your body irritatingly, though it’s a form of comfort to you.
Everything felt odd without Dante. Stale. He was family.
As you accept your suitcase from Nero at the car door, eyes cast low he gives you a pat on top of your head. It makes you look up to see what he wanted, at the same time swatting him away.
”If you ever need. You’re more than welcome to come by and stay with me, Kyrie and Nico for a few.” He offers graciously and you smile.
”I wish but someone’s gotta make sure those two and Morrison don’t tear the place down.” You respond dragging a finger across the top of your suitcase absentmindedly.
”Now you sound just like him.” Nero chuckles.
The laughter causes you to look up flashing a knowing smile. You spent most of your time with Dante- helping him with whatever he needed. And Lady it was spent sparring, training, growing stronger. Pushing your limits. While with Trish it was a quiet company of sorts, girl talk here and there.
Dante was your favorite he was lively, next to him was Nero with all his spunky energy. And of course Nico who rubbed off on you in no time. It’s hard saying goodbye but it’s not forever not like how it seemed to be with V.
”He’ll be back right?” The questions out your mouth before you can take it back, eyes glazing over. You don't even know who it's directed at more. Dante or V. You just wanted them both back home. Safe.
”Maybe.” Nero says head raised to stare at the darkened sky, “Get some rest Y/n. And if you ever need to just call.”
You sit your suitcase aside, stepping up the steps and hug Nero. He freezes at the sudden contact and then wraps one arm over your shoulder. The other ruffles your hair as his chest rumbles with a hearty laugh.
”Y/n you’ve never been emotional in all my life growing up with you! Don’t start now! Besides I don’t do hugs remember.”
”Right, unless it’s Kyrie.”
”Unless it’s Kyrie.” He repeats and you pull away with a smile.
”This is why I like Dante better. He gives hugs.”
”As far as I know. Only to you, they aren’t huggers at all.” He jokes nodding to Lady and Trish who are talking inside the building now.
”You’re right. It just means I’m special.” You shrug letting go, you poke your head in further to see Nico stretching as she yawns.
”Catch ya later, Nico!” Your eyes narrow as you smile big, she returns the smile through her review mirror.
She turns in her seat arm prompted up on the headrest. Still sporting that winning smile, then she points to the suitcase that’s in your arms once more. You glance down at the case with a fondness wondering what she's done to your trusted weapon of choice to kick demon ass.
”You take care of that beauty! And if you ever need a fixer up just call!”
”I got it just call. Meaning don’t be a stranger. Drive safe guys!”
”Her? Drive safe?” Nero scoffs finding his seat in the passengers, you shut the door rounding the van up to the window Nero’s arm hangs out of now that he’s seated in the spot.
”I drive perfectly well!” Nico counters shoving him.
”According to who?” Nero rejects swiping a hand into the air as she lights a cigarette up.
”Guys come on. I’m serious, I’ve lost enough tonight so just.... be careful.” Their playful banter sobers up at your words, they share a knowing look before nodding in understanding at you. Nero didn’t want to crush your hope, or tell you what had become of V.
“Gotcha! See ya Y/n!” The van revs to life and is carting down the street leaving a puff of smoke behind. You wave until they’re a microscopic dot you can no longer make out.
You head back inside shutting the heavy double doors and set the suitcase aside. You don’t know where to start, you just know you want to clean the place up. Make it nice and presentable for Dante- only for the shit head to ruin it with his messy habits.
Lady and Trish call it a night heading upstairs into their perspective rooms. You on the other hand, roll up the sleeves to your simple button up shirt. Determined to set to work in silence, you pull out ear buds and attach em to your cell phone. Letting a mixed rock & roll playlist play, you sway to the beat. Rocking out every so often, even playing some air guitar while on top of Dante’s desk.
This was how you spent your time awaiting his return. With each passing day your hopes would drain a little more, becoming weary. No one popped by for a visit, no one called. Everything was so… lifeless.
-A Few Weeks Later-
24th, July pm09:24
You sat outside expelling a sigh. Your knees were brought towards your chest so your elbows rested atop them, while your hands cupped your chin. Cradling it as you stare blankly at the sky, you were at a lost. Without a clue of what to do, the front door was wide open.
As if waiting for Dante to return.
“Wow. No sign of him. Nothing.” Lady starts to speak and your ears perk up at that. She was lounging on the leather couch, eating pizza they’d just had delivered.
“Hmm…. yeah.” Trish agrees licking her fingers clean, she was perched on Dante’s very own desk. You complained nonstop for them to stop acting as if the place was there’s but no one listened to you.
So you did what you could and salvaged the things he cherished that sat on his desk. By storing it in the dresser drawers, away from Lady or Trish’s sticky, noisy fingers. You let your hands hang over your knees outstretched, another sigh escapes your lips.
“Then, can I have this office?” You whip your head to look inside seeing Lady looking around the place with a reinvigorated fire, “Because I’ve been thinking it’s almost time for me to settle down somewhere.” She concludes.
This has you hoping to your feet, carefully stepping inside of the place and shutting the door. Trish looks at you then marches over to Lady snatching her unfinished pizza from her.
“No. I don’t think so. I rather quite like it.” The blonde saunters away as if she’s called dibs on the place. They both ignore your presence ready to call shots over who would be taking over the shop.
When the front door opens again, the hinges squeaking then seal with a click. You all turn around to face Morrison as he walks in without so much as a greeting.
“Oh, I hate to spoil your dreams, ladies, but that shit ain’t gonna happen.” He points a finger at Lady walking around to sit at the main desk.
“Whattaya mean, Morrison?” Lady in turn places her hands on her hips intrigued by his statement.
“See there’s this deed to this place and I happen to have it!” He holds it out before snatching it away when Lady makes a mad grab for it.
Trish moves around cornering the man a hand balanced on her hip, “Why do you-?” She starts ready to drill him when she’s cut off.
“Clever little devil came to see me right before his last job.”
That strikes a cord in you, ‘last job’ meaning he wasn’t going to come back. Almost light headed you ease down into the leather couch. You didn’t have it in you to continue listening to them bicker on as if Dante hardly mattered… yet you found you also couldn’t leave the room, you needed to hear this. And find a way to carry on. It would get easier you try to tell yourself.. with time the wound would lessen. Maybe you'd finally find a way to live a normal life? Forget all about the demons living among humans. A whole other world, demonology, portals to the underworld, half demons, half human, The Sparda Bloodline- but could you? Could you? Wipe clean everything you knew, were raised up on.
“Said something like, “My dearest friend, I know you’ll look after this place, ‘cause them crazy bitches—“
You look up briefly to see Lady and Trish pointing fingers on who Dante was referring to. That makes you smile briefly, they were a handful. But they were your families handful, and you wouldn't trade it for anyone else.
“Anyways he’s left the dead in Y/n’s hands.” You blink stunned as Morrison walks past you holding the deed out to your grasps.
“What?!” Trish exclaims from the desks hands slamming onto it, it rattles from the force.
“That’s unexpected.” Lady concludes as you accept the paper staring at it like it would swallow you whole, you hear Trish tsk her tongue before leaning back on the desk. You mildly think she's disgusted with Dante's choice of leaving the place to you. But then you realize it's got nothing to do with you at all, they just wanted to snatch the place from him from up under his nose. You'd made a mild joke to Nero a couple weeks back, even more so to Dante as a lighthearted one months ago. You never expected he'd take it to heart, think this far ahead. The more you linger on it, the more your heart hurts.
“You got the gist of it.” Morrison concludes and your eye lids flutter not knowing how to react.
“I wonder if he even plans on coming back.” Lady adds now looking over at Trish while she leans back onto the desk too.
“Got me.”
“What is important is I have a job for you two” You watch as they stand up ready to follow Morrison out the door, when the power cuts off, “… cause the rent ain’t free.”
They both groan grabbing their weapons, Morrison stands to the side letting the ladies head out first like a gentleman. You stand up suddenly rushing over to head out the door too when Morrison stops you.
“Dante had to of known something like this would happen. You stay put those were his words he told me to tell you. ‘Maybe stop by at Nero’s for a spell?’ Was also his last message.” You blink muddled by all of this.
“Just do what he says, till we have the rent paid for then you can head on back here. Deal?”
“O-okay..” You agree now, swiping your cell phone and call Nico’s van. You barely turn around to have some privacy when you hear them rushing off into the night to do god knows what. You wanted in on the action anything to distract yourself from the mind numbing pain.
“Devil May Cry.” Nero’s voice answers strong and clear through the line.
“Uh… hello?” You’re silent for too long, “Hello?” He tries again.
“Nero…” You finally answer, tongue slipping out to wet your lips as your teeth catch your bottom lip. You’re filled with nerves- puzzled by everything that’s happened.
“Did something happen?!” He sounds alarmed already.
“I need to stay at yours for a couple of days.” You conclude softly into the cool air