Chapter Text
Dante was in his normal place at his desk, then the door opened and a woman walked in. She had short hair and glasses, she was speaking before she was even fully in the building.
"So how do the powers work because I heard something about it activating. What exactly triggers it?"
Dante blinks for a moment before raising an eyebrow at the woman who matched forward until she was in front of his desk.
"You all run naturally hot from what Leon told me but how is that not affecting your brain?"
Ah so Leon related. Ok that made a touch more sense, but to be fair he was used to the weird and wacky walking into his shop. Though she didn't seem like one of his usual customers.
"Oh, also could I have a blood sample I want to compare it to a humans, and also possibly full demon blood if I can get some of that too.”
Dante if he was being honest was still processing the first thing she said when she walked in. It was all a jumble and he wasn't having much luck parsing any of her questions.
“Excuse me?” He asked, perhaps a touch overwhelmed.
Thankfully, the door opened once more and Chris sped walked inside, Leon close on his heels.
“This is Rebecca.” Chris, bless him, explained.
“Don't mind Dr. High Hopes she's always like this.” Leon chimed in.
Rebecca had a notepad in hand and was blinking at him with wide hopeful eyes.
“Sorry doc can we start from the top and this time go slower?” He asked.
“Oh of course! Sorry I'm just excited!”
She took a breath. “The powers, how do they work?”
Dante opened and closed his mouth a few times as he thought it over. He never really had to explain it before, it was something instinctual.
“It's innate, a part of me just like my hands and sight. I can tap into it whenever I want. Occasionally something else helps unlock more abilities, but again it's so much a part of me I wouldn't be able to explain it. It's like a door being opened and suddenly I understand it just the same.”
Rebecca frowned as she wrote stuff down.
“And the transformation?”
He shrugged. “Which one?”
Her eyes lit up, and he realized he perhaps had made a mistake.
“THERE'S MORE THAN ONE?!”
“....yes”
On the balcony Vergil watched amused, and Dante quickly threw him under the bus.
“Verge you're the smart one you'd know more than me.”
Rebecca looked up and locked eyes with the older twin, and Vergil shuddered slightly.
“What about your body temperature, how does it not cook your brains? What is your baseline body temperature anyway?”
“Uhhhh.” Dante looked to Leon for help, but his older brother just threw up his hands.
“We are simply more durable. I think it's nature alone that allows us to endear more. We are hybrids after all, it only makes sense our bodies would be able to function differently since we are not completely human.” Vergil speculated.
While Dante had never given it much thought, Vergil definitely had.
The two started to go back and forth and after asking nicely she got a few vials of their blood. Trish had joined in at some point as well as she made her way back into the shop. Out of everyone, Trish seemed the most interested.
Throughout the questions the twins quickly come to realize they didn't exactly know how they worked. Sure they knew some things, but the specifics and hows invaded them.
She had managed to pester them into also both triggering for her and an attempt was made to draw more blood. However, it quickly became apparent no needle would puncture. Vergil had taken it as an opportunity to stab him, and to Dante's annoyance it worked.
And in return, Dante perhaps found it a bit too satisfying to stab him back.
Rebecca had never blinked at their different forms, Chris however couldn't say the same as he baked openly. From there she then insisted on seeing their sin devil forms and the process repeated.
While Vergil didn't care terribly much about the wolves it was clear he had quickly grown to like Rebecca. Dante didn't have to guess why.
Eventually, once she was pleased she left but promised to be back. Neither of the twins doubted she would.
It was a few weeks but she did, in fact, come back. With blood reports and write-ups at that. She'd been thrilled to explain her findings and how they defied everything she knew. Nero had also been brought over, he'd actually insisted on it because he was just as curious as Rebecca.
He'd gotten the same treatment of questions and blood drawing as she rambled on about their bizarre genetic makeup and reality defying biology. It's perhaps the most straightforward and peaceful conversation the three of them have ever had.
Nero seemed to be soaking in that fact as much as he was to what Rebecca was saying.
oO0Oo
Working in the FBI with her new knowledge and perspective was something she'd never could have conceived of. The amount of cases she saw or overheard and immediately knew it was either demons or BOWs was astounding.
Yet she could say nothing because the BOW cases were quickly snatched up by the DSO. And the demon cases? Well, the problem seemed to vanish quickly. She had learned that there were many demon hunters all around. Though Devil May Cry was the most well-known, and any hunter worth anything knew about it.
She'd learned from Dante that the majority of the government didn't believe demons existed. And the ones that did were few and far between and most had his number.
So in the end she'd keep to herself with her head down. She didn't need to draw attention to herself and the things she now knew lurked in the dark.
However, other things she learned did come in handy. One time she'd overheard a coworker complaining about not being able to find a culprit. The paper trail was simply too muddy and went through too many people who wouldn't talk.
It also seemed it was different forms of currency, which made it impossible to trace even more so. Grace had asked if she could take a look and had gotten a hopeless shrug in return.
She had followed the notes and paperwork that had decrypted as much as it could be. She recognized some patterns, while others were harder to see. She'd listened to Dante ramble and complain about his payments not always being cash.
In fact, some hunters or brokers paid in red orbs, but considering people like Nico took it as payment. In their community it was considered all but as good as.
It wasn't exactly a leap and logic to assume it worked like that in other underground areas. And since she had been subjected to a lot of rants? Well, she had a better grasp than most on how it all worked.
While not being able to trace exactly who he went to. You could trace where it ended up. With well-known weapon and drug dealers sometimes you could trace what they bought and if it was more than usual. From there it was simple deduction and back tracking.
Grace explained as much as she went over the case and showed where it connected and how.
And when a semi well known gang banger was found with a new weapon? Well, it was pretty easy to explain how he got it. She'd simply been given a confused look and a befuddled thanks.
It was fair enough, she supposed none of these people probably had extensive knowledge of how the dissemination of funds with high-risk hits worked. And while her knowledge wasn't applicable for a one-to-one comparison, it was more similar than different.
And as the months went on she'd been able to help with numerous other cases that were previously beyond her. Though being thrown into the deep end of a world that was distinctly underground had many uses. Nero would regularly complain about shaky contacts and shady informants.
Most watching out for only themselves, though there were tools and tricks to have them more regularly and reliably help you. You just have to say the right words in the right order, and the Sparda boys knew that well.
While they never coached her on much beyond self-defense and basic survival knowledge. She was an FBI agent, and knowledge of the underground was exceedingly useful for her occupation.
She'd also noticed that Dempsy had left her alone after her return. Sometimes she'd even catch him looking at her with hesitation and fear. She never got a chance to ask him about it because every time she'd get close he'd clam up.
The only conclusion she could draw was that Leon or one of the twins had said something to him. How and when she didn’t have a clue. Hell, even who was beyond her, she'd thought Leon but…well she's pretty confident he would have said something by now.
Now he probably knew but, she was willing to bet it wasn't him. Which of course left the twins, or Nero but no way was it Nero. Dante didn't feel like the type, but she wasn't sure she knew him well enough to say they for sure. The guy was very protective of who he considered family after all.
Vergil also didn't feel like the type, much too reserved and seemed to only register those in the immediate circle. But he was intense and violently protective of what he considered his. Grace thought she might be considered that, but also wasn't confident enough to say she was.
Either way she wasn't complaining, and she was sure that at some point she would figure it out.
oO0Oo
Grace had spent a lot of time at Devil May Cry since the Ark disaster. It was a place where she felt safe and despite its less than clean state, it was cozy.
Emily had grown quite attached to it as well since it was the first place she got to know when she was getting her sight back. So in the end, it wasn't uncommon for them to spend quite a bit of time there. It didn't hurt that the twins and girls were quite fond of both of them.
Patty had taken to Emily, the two becoming thick as thieves and were inseparable when the young woman was around. All to say, when Grace was free or just needed someone to look after Emily, she was usually at the shop.
As consequence, Emily had adopted the same demonic behaviors Lady and Patty did. Grace found it quite funny, though it came with questions.
Some of her teachers had been perplexed by Emily's habit of grumbling and huffing. Or the almost hisses when she was annoyed. The girl was a sponge, and she absorbed what she was surrounded by. Luckily it was seen as nothing more than a fun quirk of a kid.
Of course to everyone on the Sparda side of the group it was as normal as anything else. Grace suspected the humans of the group barely registered they even did the same things. It was simply a form of communication like any other to them, the same as body language and actual words.
The analyst part of her found it fascinating, and she was close to writing a whole breakdown on it.
But that was her buisness, no the main point was she was around often. She'd just been walking around Capulet when she'd been pushed to the ground. Emily had screamed as she was pulled from Grace's grasp. Grace looked up alarmed and scared as what had to be a demon pulled Emily close. It held her with its barbed tail, and Grace snarled when she saw it break skin and draw blood.
The thing just tisked at her as it raised a clawed finger and held it under the girls chin.
“Now now we wouldn't want me to hurt the girl would we?”
“Let her go.” Grace snarled as she drew her gun
The demon? Devil? Probably a devil they were more intelligent, tisked at her again.
“If you shoot me I'll kill her. No no no, I want you to go tell that traitor spawn. I intend for him to watch me kill her.”
Grace took a steadying breath. So the thing was stupid she could work with that. She holstered her gun and took out her phone before calling the shop.
“Devil May Cry what's the password?”
“Dante…”
Dante paused before sounding more serious. “Grace? What's going on?”
The devil took that moment to speak.
“Bastard of the underworld. I have something precious to you.”
A beat of silence then a low chuckle. Grace had never heard that tone from Dante, it made her hair stand on end.
“Oh? And let me guess, you want me to watch you kill them? In order for me to do that I'd need to know where you are.”
“Of course.” The devil purred before telling Dante exactly that.
Grace almost laughed out loud at the stupidity. The creature was far too confident considering everyone knew how capable the descendants of Sparta were.
Dante never responded further the line just went dead, Grace just hoped he wouldn't take long.
Sure enough it wasn't long before they heard a roar of a motorcycle, and it was alarming at just how quickly it approached. She barely even registered it slamming into the devil. She couldn't see exactly what happened, only knew that the thing's tail was no longer attached and Emily was in Dante's arms.
Seconds later she was dropped at Grace's side by a growling Dante who had smoke pouring from his lips. His sword appeared in his hands as he walked back towards where the creature was scrambling up from the ground.
“You've got some nerve I'll give you that. But you're as dumb as the rest of your ilk.” He snarled, his voice reverberating over itself.
The devil just hissed back but before it could lunge Dante thrust his sword into his own chest and in a flash of red, suddenly something much more monstrous was in his place. Like the form Vergil had taken in The Ark, but instead of the glowing blue it was a burning orange. The horns made him look almost regal, instead of Vergil's looking more like exhaust pipes.
“This is to send a message to the rest of you fools. Grace and Emily are to me as Patty is. They are under my protection.”
He flapped his wings a few times flying up before reaching out a hand and reality seemed to warp pulling in on itself. Then a speck appeared before growing. It sucked in light, sound, and everything else. The air seemed to sizzle, and Grace could only watch in slight horror as the devil imploded in on itself. It was a black hole, an honest to God black hole.
It dissipated seconds later, and Dante dropped back to the ground. In another flash of red he was back to normal as he walked out of the small crater before crunching in front of Emily.
“You good kiddo?”
Emily just grinned widely before throwing her arms around his neck.
“Of course! You're so cool Dante I knew you'd keep us safe.”
Grace could only stare at the man. She'd known he was powerful, in fact the knowledge that he and Vergil were the only ones who could equal one another wasn't news. However, it was easy to forget how powerful he was when the man never hinted at his capabilities. Besides, knowing and seeing were two different things.
He looked back up at Grace and he gave her a small nod, she simply nodded back.
oO0Oo
Nero knocked on Sherry’s apartment door.
He'd not been to her apartment yet and he'd ironically been in the area for a job. It was rare he was called to DC. Usually one of the girls took the job but they'd been busy elsewhere, and Dante and Vergil were busy enough with Capulet and Redgrave.
Either way he was here and figured he may as well talk to her in person rather than call. They'd not seen each other in a month, and Dante was whining about missing everyone. He figured he may as well take it upon himself to gather everyone for a family night.
Hells only knows the twins wouldn't, Vergil was too proud and Dante…was Dante. So if he wanted to see everyone, it was up to him.
He knocked again and finally there was a grumble before the door was opened and a gun was pointed at him. He didn't even blink, just raised an eyebrow at the guy. He didn't recognize him though he was definitely unique. He had a scar that cut through the lower left side of his face and buzzed red hair.
“Hello to you too asshole.” Nero grunted.
“Who the fuck are you?” The other man asked, just as unphased.
“Sherry's brother. Who the hell are you?”
The man blinked at him in confusion. “Leon has another one?”
The hybrid rolled his eyes and finally grabbed the gun and pointed it away from him before shouldering past.
“No, ironically he's actually my uncle, but I like him more than everyone else. Probably because he's maimed me the least.”
“Wait, Leon has siblings?” The man asked after him.
“Ahh! Nope, you're answering my question first, who are you?”
The man rolled his eyes. “Jake, I'm Sherry’s fiancé.”
“Huh, yeah she's mentioned you now that I think about it.”
“Well she hasn't mentioned you.” He shot right back annoyed.
Nero just shrugged. “Honestly? Makes sense, it's pretty complicated.”
Jake wasn't amused. “I'm literally a merc.”
“Damn like father like daughter huh? Well I'm from a cult island if that makes you feel better.”
A beat of silence, then the other man finally relaxes. “You know surprisingly, it actually does.”
A beat then.
“So is that why it's complicated?”
“Nah, hell I didn't know either of my parents, I grew up in an orphanage. Just learned about my dad recently but that's a whole other story. See Leon's got two younger brothers that are twins.”
Jake raised an eyebrow at that and Nero frowned before fishing out his phone. “Hold on, I know but I got pictures.”
After a moment he handed over the phone. On it was a picture of the brothers all chilling at the office.
Jake blinked at it in shock before looking back up at Nero. “So the hair…”
The hybrid sighed, “Genetic, Leon took after their mom, the twins their father.”
“Ok cool so why exactly are you here?”
Nero huffed. “I've decided we're having a family get together because Dante is mopping. I was going to ask when Sherry and Leon were free, but since I was local I figured I'd stop in.”
“I'll relay the news I suppose.” Jake muttered.
Nero just gave him a grin. “You're invited too. My fiancé will also be there and our kids. Also don't worry about losing to Lady at pool and cards, we all do.”
“What?” Jake asked lost, but before Nero could explain more his phone range.
“Devil May Cry……yeah I'm local…..I could do that….. it'll cost you but yes…ok you have yourself a deal.”
He hung up. “Look, I'd love to stick around and talk but work calls. Hope to see you soon.”
With that Nero was out the door with Jake blinking after him.