Work Text:
Vergil hovered outside Nero's room to check on his son for the last time that night. He'd been peacefully asleep in his crib the past two times, but Vergil wanted to be certain. He pressed his ear against the door and was met with only the noise of even breaths.
Satisfied that Nero was well, Vergil switched off the passage light and turned towards his own bedroom. As if on cue, gentle whimpers began to sound from the direction of his son's room. The lights were on again in one instant, and the door open in another.
Nero stood up the second he spotted Vergil and his little hands began to reach between the crib bars for him. His pacifier hung like a pendant around his neck, clearly having been spat out in favour of clamouring for his father's attention.
"Ah, ah!" He intoned, bouncing on his heels a little as he extended his arms. It was the closest thing Nero had gotten to speech.
Nero's soft hair was sticking up from sleep, though his eyes were startled and alert.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Vergil asked as he hoisted Nero up from the crib. As if the child could answer. It was redundant and he always felt foolish having one-way conversations with his toddler. Perhaps Dante would've been a better father, he seemed to enjoy the sound of his own voice immensely.
Once Nero was in his arms, Vergil felt the telltale squish of a wet diaper against his sleeve and wrinkled his nose. As Vergil tried to draw away from him to deal with it, however, the child wailed in protest. Nero squirmed as his father set him on the changing table. He squirmed as Vergil began to unzip his onesie, and he squirmed when Vergil tried to unfasten his diaper. He sighed, more than a little annoyed. Clearly, his little tyrant intended to make this as difficult as possible.
How had his mother comforted them after a bad dream? Vergil unpacked dusty memories as he searched for the right actions to mirror. Shelving the change for the moment, Vergil picked his child back up again and secured him against his chest. Nero clung to him and whined, burying his head in the crook of his father's neck.
"I know, Little One, I know," he hushed. He stroked the silky strands of white hair back. It seemed to work almost immediately.
"Hmm, would you like me to stay with you, then?" Vergil asked.
Nero yawned, creating a halo of warmth against Vergil's chest. He had done so many terrible things in his life, but his toddler seemed to feel safe around him anyway.
"Very well, then. I'm here, Nero," he affirmed.
Vergil only hoped that one day he could be worthy of that trust.
Vergil hears a startled sound from Nero's room as his son snaps awake. Another nightmare, then. This is their nightly routine after the Fortuna fiasco. The sound of Nero's distress from yet another bad dream, followed by the noise of him splashing water onto his face in an effort to calm himself down. Then, Nero stands in Vergil's doorway to reassure himself that his father is there. It's been this way for months.
Nero looks awful, pale and almost gaunt in the low lighting. His dark sleeping shirt and grey boxer briefs only contrast his pale skin more harshly. It's easy not to miss the prominent dark circles under his eyes, too. Something in Vergil's chest growls protectively, he'd kill Agnus twice over if he could.
"Come here," Vergil prompts gently.
Nero looks a little embarrassed at being caught. "I didn't know you were awake," he murmurs. He stands stiffly in his father's doorway.
Vergil stands and comes to him, then. How could he sleep knowing that his boy is suffering? It hurts his heart to see. It's so easy to protect him from demons and attackers, but there's nothing he can do about the nightmares. He feels so hopelessly useless and it frustrates him. Vergil takes Nero into his arms and tucks his child's head under his chin.
"You're shivering," Vergil tuts with worry. He rubs Nero's back in what he hopes is a comforting motion.
Nero makes a choked noise and Vergil hushes him, bringing his other hand up to card through his son's hair. "I dreamt-" Nero starts.
"Shhh, you don't have to talk about it," Vergil reassures.
He shakes his head and nuzzles his face further into the crook of Vergil's neck. "I dreamt he got you too. When you came to rescue me, I mean. It was so real-" He makes another noise like a half sob.
"Hush, Nero. It's alright, I'm here. He's gone, you're safe." He presses his child as close to him as possible. It's not enough, but it's all he can do, really. "He's gone," he repeats. "He'll never hurt you again."
Nero doesn't answer, only clings to his father. There's the overwhelming smell of fear radiating from his boy and he's still shaking. Vergil's heart aches. He pulls back for a moment, but Nero grasps at his shirt tighter, shaking his head. "Don't go," he mumbles. A scared child.
"I only need a moment. I won't even leave the room, alright?" He reassures.
Nero lets him go quickly and wipes his nose, ducking his head in shame. "This is ridiculous."
"It's alright to be afraid, Nero. I'm here," Vergil says again. He wraps a thick, fluffy blanket securely around his child. He hopes that will be enough to at least get him to stop shivering. Then, he secures his arms around the bundle and presses it back to his chest.
"I don't know any other kid my age that still needs to crawl into their parent's room in the middle of the night for comfort," Nero mumbles.
Of course. Nero is so very proud, even now.
"I don't know any other children your age that has been through half as much as you have," he murmurs back. Then, "this can't be very comfortable. Here."
Nero lets out a startled yelp as Vergil picks him up bridal style and sets him down on the bed. Once he's settled down, though, Nero's eyes begin to droop with exhaustion.
"Would you like a glass of water?" Vergil asks.
Nero seems to consider it for a moment, clearly not wanting to be alone, but his thirst seems to win out in the end. He nods slowly.
"I won't be long," Vergil reassures him.
Nonetheless, Nero opens his eyes and watches his father leave. Vergil uses Air Trick to cut the distance between the kitchen and the bedroom, but it still feels like he's been away too long. Nero is still wide awake and watching as Vergil comes back with a cold glass of water. Nero immediately presses up against his father's side and Vergil wraps a protective arm around him as he downs its contents. Then, Nero slams the empty cup on the bedside table. He buries his face into Vergil's chest again.
"Before you fall asleep, I should get the light," he smiles.
Nero shakes his head. "Please don't."
"Alright, then. The light stays on."
He'd finally stopped his tremors, at the very least. There's silence for a bit, broken only by the sounds of crickets and a ringing in his ears. Just when he thinks Nero has finally fallen asleep, he speaks up: "Dad?"
"What is it, little one?"
"You can play the violin and piano. I was wondering if you could sing as well?"
He leans down to brush out a tangle in Nero's hair with his fingers. "Nothing phenomenal, but I can hold a tune. Would you like me to sing to you?"
"Please," Nero says. His voice is so little and afraid.
It's odd to hear his usually endearingly crass child to be so polite. A testament to how unlike himself Nero currently is.
"Alright, then. Any requests?"
"You know any Metallica?"
"That is a joke, isn't it?"
Nero laughs weakly, "It is."
It seems Nero has picked up his uncle's penchant for making jokes when he's upset, then. He coaxes Nero up to rest against his father's chest and then Vergil begins humming out a sonata. It's quiet and a bit marred by his over-reliance on falsetto and the somewhat nasal quality of his voice, but Nero doesn't seem to mind. Quite the opposite, in fact. Once Vergil pulls the other blankets over him and tucks him in, it's not long before he's lulled into a hopefully peaceful sleep. He's slack-jawed and even drooling a little against Vergil's shirt. He chuckles quietly to himself, thinking about how reminiscent it is of Nero's infant self: swaddled in a blanket, asleep in Vergil's arms, and drooling on his father. A comparison that Nero would no doubt detest. Vergil will keep that one to himself.
"I'm here," Vergil whispers again. "And I always will be, Nero."
He stays awake and alert for at least a few more hours, just in case Nero wakes up and needs him again. But with his more primal self so reassured to have his little one cuddled up safely next to him, and the combined warmth of Nero and his bundle of blankets, it's not long before Vergil drifts off as well. Not even the burning overhead light can disturb them as he joins his son in restful sleep.