Chapter Text
Vergil looked up the monstrosity. Its name was the Qliphoth Mother had said. He tightened his grip on the Yamato's tsuka. He need to keep himself calm. Dante. Dante was in there somewhere. What was he doing? He had professed himself as king. And the tree… The monstrosity felt achingly familiar. But that didn't matter. He would cut it down.
But as Vergil made his way closer the Qliphoth, the sense of familiarity had only grown bigger. And with it the sense of… wrongness. He was himself but he was not himself. He was close but he was far away. Vergil grimaced. Why was he feeling like this?
Vergil kept walking. He couldn't let this bother him. The hordes of demons upon demons thought they were a problem but really they were less than an annoyance. He didn't even have to think when he cut them down.
He stopped. What was that? He frowned. The demon looked familiar. It was an Angelo. He thumbed the Yamato's tsuba and jumped. He landed in front of the Angelo without a sound. It hissed at him, electricity crackling around it. Vergil narrowed his eyes. The Angelo fought well. As well as something like it can fight. But it was no match for him.
He drove Yamato through its chest-Rebellion sliced easily through his armor. Dante's face cold in its determination. He stared down at him. Dante stared defiantly back. With a heave Dante drew Rebellion back. He feel on his knees. As the sparks flew around him, he kept his eyes on Dante's face. He had failed his master.
Vergil turned away quickly. He gagged. Mundus? As his master?! How disgusting. But those feelings… The loyalty. The anger. The disappointment in himself. They felt real? Vergil scowled. How sickening.
He looked at his hand. But that armor… It looked like-no, it couldn't be. Was it? The armor had looked like what that thing wore, looked like what Dante had worn. Mundus gloated about how he deserved Dante's service. That wretch had used Dante's empty shell. His fingers were shaking. Vergil curled his hands into fists. He kept walking.
But he had killed him at least. He had struck Mundus down in fury. It was regrettable that he killed that pathetic king so quickly. He could have kept him alive enough to make him suffer everything Dante had suffered. He had killed him didn’t he? He did. But he had also set Dante free.
He couldn't keep thinking about it. He had to keep walking. Vergil kept moving. But as he climbed higher and higher the strange feeling came back. He was himself but he was not himself. He was near but was too far. But it had grown bigger. He felt… more. He was where he needed to be but he was not where he needed to be. The Qliphoth was a monstrosity but it was something he needed. The fruit was not allowed to be born but the fruit had to be born.
What was happening to him?
Vergil closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing. He couldn't keep going like this but he couldn't stop. He had to keep going.
There was strange growth up ahead. It looked like doors? Was he near the "throne room"? He pushed them open and walked in. All breath left him. Amongst the vines sat Dante. His clothes were filthy and tattered, hair long, and face with strange, unnerving cracks on it. Dante smiled. Beautiful beyond compare.
'Vergil,' he greeted.
'Dante,' Vergil said softly, reverently.
He spread out his arms. 'Welcome to my crib,' Dante said casually, 'sorry about the mess, I just moved in.' He gave a Vergil questioning look. 'I don't suppose you could just stand there could ya? I can't really do anything right now.' He waved at himself. 'I'm all wiped out.'
Vergil had shifted his gaze to Dante's hands. Strange dust had fallen from his fingertips. Horror pooled in Vergil's gut. Strange dust was falling from Dante. Dante was falling apart.
'You're dying,' Vergil said quietly.
'Yep,' Dante agreed easily. Vergil's grip on the Yamato's tsuka tightened. Why was he talking so casually? 'But if you want a fight,' Dante started, 'I can give you one.' He made a face. 'It won't be a good one but it'll still be a fight.'
'I won't fight you,' Vergil answered.
Dante looked surprised. 'Oh that's new.'
'Why?' Vergil asked.
'You don't turn down a fight. The one time you did was because you wanted me to fight better.'
'What are you talking about,' Vergil said.
Dane shook his head. 'Don't think about it!' he said cheerfully.
'Stop this, Dante,' Vergil pleaded.
Dante looked at Vergil in amazement. 'Never thought I'd hear that from you but the change really did you better huh Vergil?' he asked. 'But as much as we want to, I can't.' He sighed. He looked tired. 'I have to see this through to the end.'
Vergil stared at him dumbfounded. What? What did he just say? Why did it sound so familiar? As he kept staring at Dante a thought came to him unbidden. What if he knelt at Dante's feet? Swear fealty and swear to follow him wherever he would go, the world be damned.
Vergil stepped forward but before he could take another step, the ground shook.
'It's finished,' Dante announced, 'the fruit is here.' He smiled and gave a jaunty wave. 'Later!' He disappeared into the rising tide of blood. Vergil jumped in but he was nowhere to be found. Damn it!
Vergil walked out of the throne room and made his way up. He clenched his jaw. For how long would Dante do this? For how long would Dante keep up this foolishness? He kept walking.
There was a strange light up ahead. Vergil narrowed his eyes but he had to keep walking. When he walked into the light, his eyes widened. It was his childhood home, unburnt and gleaming in the light. And there was Dante standing by a tree.
'Dante!' Vergil called out. Dante didn't turn around. 'Stop this foolishness.' Dante laughed. A bright and clear sound. Vergil didn't think he would ever hear again in his lifetime. He didn't think he would hear it here.
'Dante,' Vergil said softly. 'Leave it!'
Dante stopped laughing. 'Oh!' he gasped, 'that's new too!'
'Why do you keep saying that?' Vergil asked.
'I don't know,' Dante answered. He stepped forward, he picked the fruit off the branch and took a bite. In front of Vergil's eyes Dante healed. The cracks grew smaller and smaller till they disappeared and his hair gained a luster. Energy swirled around him. It erupted outwards and standing there was a… beautiful demon. Carved from stone, wrought from iron, star-bright and wreathed in flame.
'Vergil,' it said, 'go back.' It spread its enormous and radiant in red wings. And flew away.
Vergil tried to run after him but sticky sweetness filled his mouth. He gagged, turning away to dry heave. He didn't know how long he spent standing there. He stuck his fingers into his mouth, trying to scrape his tongue with his nails. The taste of blood and dirt was preferable to that nauseating sweetness. But he couldn't spend the day away like this. He had to keep going.
The trek was long. He felt tired. What was happening? Why wouldn't Dante stop? Why was Dante doing this? As he walked towards the branches Vergil thoughtlessly glanced down. As Temen-Ni-Gru rose the ground grew farther and farther away. He looked out to city underneath his feet. It was nothing. They were all nothing. The beings in the tower were nothing. All the power of his father mattered. Dante would come. Arkham would make sure.
Vergil breathed in shakily. What was that? Arkham? Arkham? He had never met that man. Mary had killed him. And Dante… Dante hadn't come. He didn't need to come. Dante was already at the top of the tower. He greeted him like he wasn't gone for years.
Dante had acted like he was nobody. Vergil closed his eyes. He had told him that Mother had been looking for him, he had told him that he had been looking for him. But all Dante did was smile. He seemed amused by it, he had said: "Mother is dead." He had said: "I know."
He had told him he had missed him. Dante seemed surprised by that. He had said: "I missed you too." There was no greater relief than what those words had brought him. Vergil touched the part of shirt that held the amulet under it. But Dante had taken advantage. Dante had snatched his amulet. All these years Vergil still did not understand why Dante had done it.
Dante had fallen into hell. No. Dante went to hell. With a laugh. Why had he done that?
He reached the top at last. Dante was sitting on a seat made of vines.
'Dante,' Vergil said.
'Vergil,' Dante said easily.
'Stop this,' Vergil pleaded, 'stop this and come with me. Come home.'
Dante turned his head. 'I can't.'
'Why?' Vergil asked distraught.
'You already know.'
'"See it through to the end,"' Vergil recited. 'But why?'
'Because,' Dante answered. He stood up, the vines retracting. He turned to Vergil. 'Come on, Verge,' he said calmly, 'will you fight me?'
'I can't,' Vergil said intently.
Dante raised an eyebrow. 'Why not? Isn't fighting our only constant?'
'Since when?'
'Since always.' He ran forward but Vergil met him head on. Dante smiled. They fought. Their swords screeched and sparked against each other. They danced. When Dante went to move away, Vergil's hands shot forward to grab him by the front of his coat. Vergil dragged Dante forward.
'Stop,' he managed to say through gritted teeth.
'Alright,' Dante agreed. Easily! Easily. He dropped Rebellion and curled his hands around Vergil's arm.
Vergil looked into Dante's eyes. Dante's eyes were empty. The surface of an undisturbed lake reflecting everything. Something inside him shuddered. Something in Vergil howled. Before Vergil understood what happened, Dante was in his arms. He had an arm around Dante's waist, hand gripping Dante's coat with white knuckles and his other hand cradling Dante's head.
'You're here,' Vergil murmured in amazement.
'I am,' Dante agreed into the crook of Vergil's shoulder, 'but don't celebrate just yet.' He sighed. 'I still have to go.' Everything around Vergil went quiet. No sound of his breath, no sound of the beating of his heart. He snarled. 'Come on, Vergil, don't be like that,' Dante said calmly.
'Why,' Vergil whispered.
'I have to cut down the roots.'
'Not yet,' Vergil murmured, 'please, not yet.' Vergil closed his eyes, taking it all in. His coat was dirty, scent covered by blood but Dante was warm and real in his arms. He opened his eyes. He stared out into the prussian blue of the upper atmosphere. 'Why,' he asked, 'why are you doing this.'
Dante kept his arms beside his sides. 'I have to play my part.'
'Why?'
Dante sighed. 'I can't answer that.'
Vergil swallowed. 'I want the answer.'
'You won't like it.'
'I want it.'
'You can't unlearn it, Vergil,' Dante said gently.
Vergil turned his head to press his face onto Dante's hair. He sighed. 'Please.'
'You can't make me say this, Vergil. This will ruin you.'
'I don't care.'
'It will. I know it will.'
'Dante,' Vergil pleaded.
Dante breathed in shakily. 'That day, if our positions were switched…' It sounded like he was reciting from memory.
'Would our fates be different? Would I have your life, and you mine?' Vergil finished. He frowned. How did he know that? Vergil hissed, hiding his face in Dante's shoulder as pain raced through his head.
Mother wasn't coming. He wasn't far but why did Mother not come? He had to be faster. He had to be stronger. Like father. Fortuna was a beautiful town but uninteresting in the end. He rammed Rebellion through his chest. The devil would awaken. He stared up at his face, his hand around the pendant. Pain, darkness, nothingness. He cannot speak. He stumbled forward, hating the creak of his bones. He rammed Yamato through his chest. His mouth spoke orders, spoke poetry, spoke orders, spoke poetry. He had found him. He had found him. He brought the cane down. Splitting flesh and merging flesh. A flash of bright blue light and a demon stood in his place. Golden eyes glittering, mouthful of sharp teeth bared. Here again but with him at his side.
Vergil stared at his hands uncomprehending. Child's hands, dirty hands, hand wet from the rain and blood, hands in gloves, dust falling from hands, dirty hands wet with blood. 'Hey,' someone said. Vergil gasped. 'Hey,' Dante said. He was kneeling in front of Vergil, arms around him.
'Why,' Vergil rasped.
'Because I love you,' Dante answered simply. It was words he wanted to hear. Words he never thought he's hear again. Words that thought he would ever hear again in his lifetime. Why wasn't he happy.
'Take it back,' Vergil wheezed. He coughed and panted. He inhaled. 'Take it back!!' Vergil screamed.
Dante was looking at him. No. He was watching him, looking for something. 'Do you want that?'
Yes! Yes, that was what he wanted! For Dante as he was. No emptiness in his eyes. No loneliness, no desperate scramble for survival. No suffering under a wretch who called itself god, voiceless. No cracking of bones with dust falling from fingertips.
'No,' Vergil answered. Why did he say that. Dante smiled, small and soft and violently gentle. He curled a hand around Vergil's nape and drew him in. Vergil let himself be dragged closer.
'I'm sorry,' Vergil whispered into Dante's shoulder.
'About what? About not wanting it back? Eh,' Dante said dismissively, 'it’s alright.' His thumb stroked Vergil's nape. 'If you said yes I would have been pissed.'
'Why?' Vergil asked.
'You got a lot of that today,' Dante commented.
'I'm trying to understand you.' And Vergil meant it. With all of his heart.
Dante's thumb stilled. 'That's new,' he said.
Vergil thought about it. Of the life before. 'Yes,' he agreed.
Vergil wrapped his arms around Dante's waist. He hid his face in the crook of Dante's neck. They held each other in silence. But eventually Dante let go of Vergil's neck. He let go of Vergil but Vergil didn't let go. He gripped Dante's coat tighter, knuckles turning white.
'Let go,' Dante said.
'I can't.' And Vergil really couldn't.
'You have to. I have to cut down the roots.' Dante reached back to hold Vergil's wrist. He squeezed them. Vergil let go. Dante stood up and stepped back.
'Can you tell Nero something?' He asked. 'Tell him that I sent him a package. I was gonna send it sooner but y'know,' he waved his arm, 'busy.'
How can Dante speak so casually?
Vergil looked up at him. All the years he had spent without him, before and now were long and unbearable. To be left behind again… 'Will I see you again?' Vergil asked urgently.
''Course,' Dante answered. He looked wistful. 'I miss the human world.'
Vergil stood up. He took it in, he took it all in trying to commit this in his memory. 'I missed you,' Vergil blurted out. Dante looked surprised. Vergil looked at him, trying to find the words. 'I loved you.' Dante looked stunned. 'I love you,' Vergil said desperately. He breathed in. Dante shook his head with a crooked smiled. 'And I'll say it as many times as it takes,' Vergil promised.
Dante's crooked smile widened, eyes light and unseeing. 'Take care, brother.' He turned around and walked away.
'I'll wait for you,' Vergil told his retreating back.
'You shouldn't,' Dante said over his shoulder. He turned to look at Vergil. 'You have a good life, brother, don't waste it.' He smiled. 'Buenos tardes,' he said happily. And let himself fall.
Vergil stared at the space Dante left. He could not listen to Dante and jump after him. But he didn't. He didn't know how long he stared at the empty space but eventually he turned away. It was agony but he couldn't make himself turn back. Why was he like this? He picked up the Yamato and walked away. Why didn't he jump after him?