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Vergil had always been both disgusted and fascinated by starfish. He remembered holding the one they had at home, a dried bright red spiny shell.
He was far from fascination now, as something soft yet resilient struck him from behind, and then he was hauled up in the air, crucified by the thing's jelly-like, insanely strong body wrapped tightly around him. Its touch burned the skin on his arms and shoulders, and he felt the demon quickly sip the energy out of him. Vergil growled, enraged, but all he could do was turn his head and see the shimmering, translucent creature sticking to his back. Yamato slipped out of his slacking grip and clanged on the dark marble floor.
And then the gunshots rang.
For a moment Dante just stood there, rooted to the spot, mesmerized by the sight in front of him. His invincible, all-powerful, perfect elder brother had fallen prey to some low-class flying starfish.
Vergil was hanging in the air, arms outstretched and tense, his legs like strings on the verge of breaking, his head thrown back baring the gentle, vulnerable skin on his throat. He was trembling uncontrollably as the demon feasted on his lifeforce greedily.
Never before had Dante seen Vergil like that. And before the fear for his twin clicked in, he found himself enraptured. And… all of Vergil's sadistic whims suddenly seemed understandable at the least, if not forgivable. After all, seeing him strung up and helpless like that was breathtaking.
The moment passed, both sweet and frightening, and Dante crouched to one knee to get a better aim. He wouldn't want hitting Vergil. Not now when another had done all the job.