The Alpha and Omega

"The man who has come back from the dead three times is worried about a little reckless driving?" She teased, eyes back on the road as she leaned back. "Please, we both know if anyone is dying in that scenario, it would be me." The words were almost flippant, but after being around Dante and Trish for so long, she had come to accept that her humanity was the main contributing factor of her fragility.

That wasn't to say she wouldn't go down fighting. She had no illusion that she would die any other way than some unfortunate job gone sideways. The fact that she could still even keep up with Trish at her age sometimes surprised her, though she also hid her recovery from the other two well enough. At least that is what she liked to tell herself.

The silence engulfed the cab then, gnawing away at the gulf between the two before Lady spoke up once more.

"Did you know I found Nero first?" Random, offhanded comment. Not meant to take him by surprise but just something to stave off the silence.

"Brought Dante the Job in Fortuna after I found him. Figured he was related somehow. Looked like the spitting image of Dante I honestly thought Nero was his at first. " Not bothering to glance Vergil's way now, she continued.

He was content to remain in the silence despite the growing tension in the air. Yet, she was the first to cut through it when she brought up Nero, something he had anticipated for a while. The swordsman remained stoic, his gaze shifting slightly in thought. He had briefly heard about Dante's foray into Fortuna, but he failed to mention Lady's involvement in discovering Nero. Even after fighting alongside his own son, he failed to recognize him as his own.

"He does seem to take more after my brother," he admitted. "I thought it was simply his influence... As I told Dante, it happened a long time ago."

Well before the Temen-ni-gru, the hunt for Sparda led him to Fortuna only to find yet another dead end. Brief flashes of her face entered his mind, quickly pushing them away as he reigned in his focus.

Fated not to be tamed.

"So, to brief you," She started, eyes forward on the road as she sped up, "It's a den of Fury's in the sewers. Your job will be to go into the sewers and flush them out into the opening where I can take care of them. The map should be in the mission folder." Lips curled into a wry smile, and she couldn't help but spare a quick glance - just to see his reaction at being told he was on literal shit duty.

Wonderful... No wonder she and Dante work so well together.

He didn't say a word as he opened the folder, finding the aforementioned map and taking a moment to study it. The job seemed simple enough, though he had no doubt that she was using this as an excuse to test him. Why else would she have him do must of the heavy lifting?

He then felt the car swerve and he instantly braced himself, one hand gripping onto the seat while the other latched onto the door. A huff escaped him, sounding almost like a growl.

It's no secrets that demons don't exactly have the highest emotional compacity. Her own is rather LACKING. This whole FORGIVENESS thing is a foreign concept. After all, any failure is punishable by death by her Creator. It was only when Dante looked past her crimes against him did she realize that it even EXISTS. Nails now tap against the wooden table before she lifts that finger and points it in the other's direction.

❝We're alike in some ways. Sometimes . . . you can't HELP your nature until someone opens your eyes.❞

Although, he has an ADVANTAGE over her: Vergil actually IS part human. It makes her almost RESENTFUL that he was born with the privilege; yet not appreciating that this side of the universe is FAR better than anything the Underworld could ever offer. Still . . . it seems he had to find that out for himself.

Trish finds herself feeling slight pity with knowing how Mundas controlled him much like a puppet, too. Where she followed Dante to the world of the living where hopes and dreams prosper, he went down the path of hell to only be met with pain. If only they could have gotten to Vergil SOONER. Who knows, maybe it could have made a world of difference.

❝Next time you want to use my power, I request you let me stay CLOTHED for it. Pft, naughty boy.❞

Indeed, they are alike in many aspects, and Dante seems to be common denominator between them.

Another smile graces his lips, a soft laugh slipping through. "I shall keep that in mind."

The timer goes off, signaling that the tea is done steeping. He turns to pluck the tea bags from the mugs and discard them before picking them up, the warmth a welcome sensation in his hands. He holds out one for Trish to take before settling down in a seat across from her.

❝  don’t be ridiculous,  there’s enough room on this bed for both of us. ❞ 

❝  please stay.  i don’t think i can be alone tonight.  ❞

❝  i’m staying,  okay?  you don’t have to be alone tonight. ❞

❝  you shouldn’t be alone right now.  i’ll take the couch,  it’ll be fine.  ❞

❝  will you sleep with me?  i know how that sounds i just mean—  i feel safe when you’re there.  ❞

❝  i’ll be here the whole night okay?  nothing will get to you while i’m here.  ❞

❝  wait— have you been here all night?  ❞

❝  i thought you went home after i went to bed.  you didn’t have to do that— you could’ve at least joined me in bed that couch is shit for sleeping on.  ❞

❝  can i stay with you tonight?  i don’t wanna go home yet.  ❞

❝  it’s late,  you might as well just stay here.  ❞

❝  can you just…stay here?  and hold me.  ❞

❝  i know this might sound weird but,  do you wanna stay over?  i guess ‘sleepover’ sounds kind of childish but.  i think it’d be nice.  ❞

❝  i’m not expecting anything,  i just,  thought it’d be nice to keep you company tonight. ❞

❝  i don’t have nightmares when you’re there.  ❞

❝  i get you’re doing the whole protective thing— and i appreciate it.  i do,  but there’s no reason for you to stay awake all night.  might as well come to bed.  ❞

❝  thank you for staying.  it just gets so lonely at night sometimes.  ❞

❝  i don’t want you to be alone tonight and honestly,  i don’t really wanna be alone either.  ❞

❝  do you wanna stay with me tonight?  ❞

❝  stay,  please.  ❞

❝  i’ll stay.  ❞

❝  i’m staying.  ❞

❝  i’m staying.  end of discussion.  you gotta learn to let people take care of you.  ❞

❝  i’m not ready to say goodbye yet.  ❞

❝  i don’t wanna have to say goodnight.  ❞

❝  honestly i can’t sleep,  so if you wanna stay up with me?  ❞

❝  i don’t sleep a lot either these days.  we can be insomniacs together.  ❞

❝  well,  i can think of some ways to wear you out.  ❞

❝  if you can’t sleep,  there are other things we could do.  ❞

❝  i’d rather fuck than stare at the ceiling counting sheep to be honest.  ❞

❝  it doesn’t have to mean anything,  i just don’t wanna feel lonely tonight.  and i want to feel good for once.  ❞

❝  please don’t go—  i need.  i need someone—  i need you.  ❞

❝  the night doesn’t have to end here,  you know.  ❞

❝  i like it when you’re here.  so stay.  please?  ❞

❝  you’re just as lonely as i am.  might as well be lonely together.  ❞

❝  you can stay but i’m not letting you sleep on that couch.  ❞

❝  chivalry is overrated,  get in my bed.  ❞

❝  you’re clearly exhausted.  you can go in the morning.  ❞

❝  you don’t have to pretend to be fine,  if you need me to stay i will.  ❞

❝  when i said i wanted everyone to leave me alone i didn’t mean you.  i can’t handle everyone else right now but you…you’re different.  ❞

❝  you need someone right now.  and i’m the one that’s here.  let me be what you need.  ❞

SCENARIOS

[ GUARDED ]  sender insists on staying the night to keep watch over receiver who has been in some kind of danger. 

[ GUARDING ]  receiver insists on staying the night to keep watch over sender who has been in some kind of danger. 

[ UNEXPECTED ]  one muse stays the night to keep an eye on the other after something traumatic and they end up having comfort sex.

[ CONSOLE ]  sender asks receiver to stay the night because they don’t want to be alone and they end up cuddling.  

[ CONSOLED ]  receiver asks sender to stay the night because they don’t want to be alone and they end up cuddling. 

[ ACCIDENT ]  sender winds up staying at receiver’s house all night because receiver fell asleep against them/in their lap and they didn’t have the heart to wake them. 

[ UNPLANNED ]  receiver winds up staying at sender’s house all night because sender fell asleep against them/in their lap and they didn’t have the heart to wake them. 

[ STAY ]  sender is carrying receiver to bed because they fell asleep somewhere else but when they start to walk away,  receiver grabs their hand so sender joins them in bed. 

[ STAYING ]  receiver is carrying sender to bed because they fell asleep somewhere else but when they start to walk away,  sender grabs their hand so receiver joins them in bed. 

[ APPROACHED ]  sender is staying with receiver for safety and asks if they can sleep in their bed with them. 

[ APPROACH ]  receiver is staying with sender for safety and asks if they can sleep in their bed with them. 

[ SHARE ]  sender is unexpectedly staying with receiver overnight,  receiver insisted sender sleep on the bed while they take the floor but sender winds up insisting they join them in bed. 

[ SHARED ]  receiver is unexpectedly staying with sender overnight,  sender insisted receiver sleep on the bed while they take the floor but receiver winds up insisting they join them in bed. 

[ FOUND ]  sender is staying with receiver who had them take the bed while receiver takes the couch.  in the middle of the night,  sender goes out to join receiver on the couch because they don’t want to sleep alone. 

[ FIND ]  receiver is staying with sender who had them take the bed while sender takes the couch.  in the middle of the night,  receiver goes out to join sender on the couch because they don’t want to sleep alone. 

[ DISCOVERED ]  receiver wakes up in the morning to find sender asleep on their couch because sender was watching over them. 

[ HAVEN ]  receiver wakes up in the morning to find sender asleep on their couch because sender felt safer with them. 

[ WEARY ]  sender cries themselves to sleep in receiver’s arms. 

[ TIRED ]  receiver cries themselves to sleep in sender’s arms. 

[ PROPOSITION ]  one or both muse(s) are having trouble sleeping so they have sex to pass the time. 

[ PURPOSE ]  one muse can’t sleep so the other initiates sex to wear them out. 

[ TRAPPED ]  one muse ends up staying the night with the other due to a storm. 

"Do you even know how to drive?" she asked curiously, lifting a brow and sauntering over to pluck the keys from his finger. She hardly knew him outside of... traumatic events, so something so normal had never crossed her mind to consider.

Unlocking the driver's side, she rolled down the window before moving to the backseat. Loading in her gear meticulously, she huffed.

"Should be good to run. I didn't see any dry rot in the tires. A little stale in the cab, but it'll air out fairly quickly." Glancing back over her shoulder, she stood.

"Now I doubt Dante has insurance, so if we get pulled over, you're Dante alright? I'll drive since I have my ID." Sliding into the driver's seat, she adjusted it to her height and turned the key, letting it roar to life.

Memories flashed of the moments spent with Nero and Nico in their van, all of the close calls as Nico navigated through hazardous terrain and all of the conversations that never made it past those doors.

A small sigh escaped the swordsman, pushing those thoughts away as he approached the passenger's side. He was never really one to question his brother's taste in things, but at the suggestion of having to pretend to be Dante should the need arise, he couldn't help scrunching his nose a bit as he crawled in and closed the door.

"I refuse to die."

"I long to be alright."

"Is your heart alive?"

"I'll be a perfect lover."

"Don't let your spirit die."

"Why can't you love me?"

"You still go in for the kill."

"I got used to the torture."

"We're being strong, now."

"You're not born just to die."

"Will you forget I was here?"

"I was human, like yourself."

"All this fear, it's contagious."

"You always envied mortals."

"How do you find it so easy?"

"Are you dust? You are dust."

"In your soul, I found a thirst."

"Hit me hard where I am soft."

"The past feels like another life."

"I'll crawl where everybody runs."

"Maybe, maybe it will be alright."

"Why speak of right and wrong?"

"You cannot make me feel a thing."

"I bleed no blood and I'll never die."

"I built my walls, so it's safe to hide."

"Fall into my arms like you trust me."

"If you can't rise for us, do it for love."

"This Earth, whoever was it made for?"

"But whatever you say, it's never right."

"Your blood, what matter is it made of?"

"The truth can lie in the arms of a fight."

"You eventually will be eaten by yourself."

"You prepared for battle as you fell apart."

"How could you say that I love too much?"

"Don't be scared of your heart's intuition."

"Drink me up, there is wine in every word."

"Your voice is drowning in the white noise."

"Stay right here, stay in the light, my dear."

"When everything dies, will you be lonely?"

"I know you know me, and you always will."

"Don't lie to yourself. Don't lie to the world."

"In my dreams, everything I feel disappears."

"Nobody can make me feel something more."

"Do you hear the echo begging you to let go?"

"I miss the touch of human hands on my skin."

"Maybe I've spent too much time with myself."

"Nothing will ever change, no guilt, no shame."

"Do I need to be torn just to see who will care?"

"There is no God in here without me, my dear."

"Why do we have to die for us to see the light?"

"When everything dies, can you stay with me?"

"You can give up on me. Never give up on love."

"You were always frightened and it left a mark."

"You speak of the devil like he's not your friend."

"I'll keep my bloodstained hands off your body."

"They see too much when they look in my eyes."

"If I stay here any longer, I will stay here forever."

"We're good people. And we both deserve peace."

"I know your mind moves like a wave sometimes."

"It's a complicated story that we never talk about."

"My life is just a moment and this world is ancient."

"Just wait until tomorrow, you might not be as cold."

"However much it feels to bleed, it's only temporary."

"I've mourned you, now, longer than I've known you."

"Young mountains, old rivers, I let them become me."

"Will the edge of my sorrow be gone in the morning?"

"Make amends, there's so much you still don't know."

"If you know who I am, why won't you call my name?"

"I know I belong here on Earth, but I long to be lifted up."

"What is life worth living if you can't dance to anything?"

"What is life worth living if you don't bleed for anything?"

"We find proof of love is hiddеn in the conflict of the mind."

"It fills my heart up and it breaks me at the very same time."

"Wouldn't it be tragic if there is no light in me, not any magic?"

"Guess I shouldn't have kept the knife in my heart for so long."

"I don't want you to be worried that we're running out of time."

"In our bodies and in our bones, we both sing in deeper tones."

"Guess I shouldn't have held back when I needed you to know."

"It doesn't matter where we're going... We can leave it all behind."

"Watch out, watch what you say… Your truth becomes your grave."

"Learn my body and my poems, and repeat them like you own them."

"Were you digging something up? Or did you bury something down?"

"How do we learn to tend to these invisible wounds our homes gave us?"

"I travelled through the darknеss so my path would be impossible to track."

"The biggest gift I ever knew was to love you, knowing that you love me, too."

"And maybe if you called out for help, then I could help you outrun yourself."

"When all inside you burns like a star, it's after you burn out that you are reborn, again."

She snatches what's left of the sweet treat from between his fingers and pops it into her mouth, chewing without a single care in the world.

As he fusses over the kettle, Trish places her hands to her hips while observing his careful movements. Not a single drop of water is spilled. Instead, they'll both be enjoying a full cup a tea in a few moments once it's all ready. The demoness ends up giving a nod to show she can be PATIENT when it's required. At the gratitude, she ends up smiling. The blonde gives his shoulder a light slap to show that this isn't a chore whatsoever for her.

After everything, indeed. He was very much aware of everyone's feelings about his return, and much is still left unsaid. There is a part of him - the human part - that still feels guilty about the destruction he caused and the lives he destroyed. He is resigned to spending the rest of his days atoning for his sins, starting with speaking to those with unresolved grievances.

Some are clearly more willing than others.

"No, we haven't had much of a chance to talk," he replies, shifting his gaze to the other pastries on the table. "I was hoping that this would help ease the tensions a little, perhaps make you a bit more open to what I have to say..."

A soft sigh escapes him, eyebrows furrowed together in thought as blue eyes shift back toward Trish.

"Huh." Was the simple reaction it garnered as she watched with her arms crossed, brow inclined as she tried to decipher if there was some hidden motive. Unable to find one she simply shrugged a shoulder, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

"Well... I only really ride my motorcycle so unless you are keen on riding back seat, we should probably find Dante's keys to his car. Not sure how well it'll run, it's been sitting since you've both been gone." While the thought of Vergil having to hold on was comical, she would rather not put herself in that close of proximity to the half-demon who had ensnared her in an artifical demon carapace for the better part of a month.

He slightly raised a brow as he watched her walk out, but made no comment as he stood up once more and began searching for the aforementioned keys. It took a little bit of rummaging around Dante's desk, but he eventually found them in a little hidden compartment underneath. Typical. He made a mental note to tell his idiot brother to find a better hiding spot next time.

He picked up the keys and took a few steps, pausing a moment to glance up at Dante's room. His snores continued to reverberate around the shop, so it was clear that he was deep asleep. Vergil sighed and walked back to the desk, finding a note pad and a pen to write a quick note.

Out on a job. Be back soon.