Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You know what you are about to do is extremely dangerous and stupid?" Trish knew that asking that question itself was a bit stupid considering she was saying it to the Son of Vergil and nephew of Dante.
Nero turned from the table he was packing his things on, "of course I know how dangerous it is, but those two haven't come back yet it’s been too long, I'll drag 'em back if I have to." Trish sighed heavily and leaned back into Dante's office chair, kicking her feet up on the desk, careful not to knock off the picture of Dante's mother.
Nero turned around with a small huff to place the rest of his things into a small backpack.

Nine months ago the Qliphoth's roots were destroyed and the portal had closed, however as the days passed the twins had not made their return to the human world. Nero wanted to go find them when they didn't return after the first month but decided against it assuming that they were just trying to "catch up", after all, it had been years since they last saw each other. When month six arrived it took Kyrie and the kids to convince him that the twins were fine, which took hours' worth of convincing for Nero to stay.

As time continued Nero got more agitated and not even Kyrie's kindness and love could make him feel any better about his uncle and father's absence.
When it came to the ninth-month mark Kyrie had asked Nero to sit down at their little dining table while she grabbed something. Once she returned she held out his old blue coat, the one that he wore when Urizen first made his appearance, its sleeve was fixed and no longer looked torn and a few other patches had been added to cover the stab-like holes. As Nero inspected the jacket Kyrie gently cupped his face in her hands and turned him to look at her.
"If you do this, I know you won't be able to promise me your safety and yet I know that if I don't let you go now you'll leave without telling me." Her voice cracked and her usual happy facade was broken to show how scared and worried she was, Nero didn't want to leave her like this but he knew if he didn't leave now he would never leave and that could mean he would lose the family he just gained.
He breathed in deeply and spoke softly, as if trying to make Kyrie feel any better, "I may not be able to promise you my safety but I will try my best to get home to you, to the kids." Nero was sure there was a better way to say that but for now, it would have to do.

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Nero had no idea how long he had been walking in the forest just past the walls of Fortuna but he could only assume that it was over an hour since he could see the sun about to rise over the castle walls. Trish was walking in front of him leading the way to the nearest HellGate that would take him into Hell. Nero would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, he would be going by himself while Trish stayed protecting the portal.
What would he even say when he saw his uncle and father? He couldn't tell if he would punch them for being away for so long or hug them, maybe he'll do both yeah definitely bo- "oi we're here" Trish called out, knocking himself out of his thoughts he realised that not only did they stop, but he was also standing directly in the middle of a large clearing where the ground below had become overgrown and covered in weeds.

Trish stood against a large stone gate to his left, its height tripled Trish's. The gate was covered in moss and very small red flowers were blooming in the ground around it. If Nero didn't know any better he would say it looked just like an old stone gate but he knows better and he knows he shouldn't underestimate what's on the other side.

Nero turned to look at Trish "I won't lie this isn't exactly what I expected" Trish looked at him and quirked an eyebrow up as if asking to elaborate on what he meant.

"I just mean I thought it would be more mystical looking than this I guess, it doesn’t look like the other gates I saw." He may not be underestimating it but that doesn't mean he isn't a little disappointed. Trish stepped forward, clearing her throat before starting to speak "It’s an old gate made by humans who worshiped demons, so it’s not as strong as the HellGate that opened here, fortunately for humanity it only reacts with demonic blood.”
She walked in front of Nero her back turned towards him, "it may not look like it's active but once you step through the portal will react to your blood and transport you, there are a few things that you need to know first, one: Since you have demon blood your stamina and abilities will increase immensely.
Secondly: It is incredibly easy to get lost so *try* not to, you should be able to sense the portal anyway. Lastly.." Trish's eyes went dark "DO. NOT. FIGHT. MUNDUS." Those four words sent the hair on the back of his neck to stand on its ends, the surrounding air felt so tense he could probably cut the air with a knife. He had no plans to go after Mundus, he was only planning to get Vergil and Dante back but a chance to take down the King of Hell? It was hard not to take that chance, Nero looked back at Trish who closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.

Her eyes open to see him looking at her, the anger has left her eyes and has been replaced by a certain type of sadness, worry and fear almost like how a mother would look at her child when they go climb a tree that's just a little too unsafe. Trish is worried about him just like how Lady and Kyrie are, Lady and Trish both wanted to go with him but once he refused and said that they had to stay to protect the human realm they stopped asking, although the disappointment of not being able to help was visible in both of them that day.
Trish places a hand on his shoulder tentatively "please, don't fight Mundus." He tries to interject, if she thinks he's not strong enough- "it's not because you're not strong enough” She cuts him off, “but because he has ways of mentally torturing you and it's nothing I or anyone else wishes upon you" she sighs heavily and her grip tightens on his shoulder. She means this, it's important to her that he doesn't get hurt or manipulated and a part of him wants to hug her and tell her he'll be okay, so he does, it’s slightly awkward. "I won't go fight him" it’s the best he can offer, he’s not sure if it helps ease her worry but he hopes silently that it does. The hug ends and Trish steps to the side to let Nero see the space he'll walk through, her gaze isn’t as worryful now.

Nero won't lie he's excited and terrified at the same time, he's one step away from walking into the gate before Trish says "be careful" which he returns with a wave of his hand and a "will try.” He steps into the HellGate, his body tingles with a rise of power in his blood.

He’s falling. It takes him far too long of a moment to activate his Devil Trigger, barely avoiding falling onto his face. He opens his eyes to see that he's landed in a patch of white grass, the same that had taken over most of Red Grave city. He expected everything to be on fire or something like those books in Fortuna depict but it’s a lot more…calm and empty.
Too empty.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Hell is too quiet and then it’s not. A shattering scream from above practically bursts Nero’s eardrums, covering them with his hands as he dodges out of the way of the Empusa Queen that lands in the spot he was previously standing in. Nero reacts quickly, swinging at the Queen with his own Red queen, slicing the demon down in seconds, but others swarm quickly, green and red empusa’s swarming the area, it’s going to be a long day.

It’s been hours, fighting demons and moving through the forest of blood sucking trees. Nero sits on top of a thick branch, sighing as he opens his bag for one of those protein bars Kyrie helped pack for him. Hell is not as fiery as he expected, other than the demons constantly swarming…it’s weirdly calm, as long as he doesn’t look too closely at anything, some of the trees have distorted faces in the bark, red flowers on the ground have mouths that attempt to nip at his ankles, it’s not pleasant but it’s not as bad as he thought it would be at least for now.
Nero inhales his protein bar as he slings his bag back over his shoulders. Grabbing the branch above his head, he hoists himself all the way up to the top of the tree, scanning the area around him. There is little around, just more trees and demons ripping each other to pieces, Nero sighs, Trish said something about “sensing” Yamato as a way to find his father and uncle, Nero shakes his head clearing his mind and closing his eyes, trying to focus on that familiar power from the katana.

It feels like warmth, overbearing warmth in his chest, just like the first time he interacted with the blade, something pinged in his chest and he turned his head to follow, opening his eyes to see what his power is telling him to follow. A large tower that seemed to reach the “sky”, that wasn’t there before, was it? He questioned himself, but it was undeniable that Yamato was in there, that his father and uncle were in there. Hopefully.

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Nero stood at the foot of the tower, having gone through a few easy demons to get there, it felt like he was in a destroyed city. Everything looked and felt old too, maybe 15-20 years old. He stood over some rubble and made his way to the entrance, one of those golden statues he sees everywhere in Fortuna sat crookedly against the wall of the tower, a plaque is covered in blood and dust below the statue. Nero kneels down and wipes the dust and blood away using his hand, it reads; “A statue of the omniscient god of time and space” “So that’s who you are, huh?” Nero says to himself, he stands back up and he feels like the goddess is watching him, her gaze going straight through his soul, he shivers as he turns away back to the entrance and walks through the entrance another shiver going through him.

“The fuck is it so cold in here?” Nero says to himself as he wraps his coat more around himself. The floor is covered in ice and snow but there’s nothing in here…just ice, snow and a large red door in front of him. Oh and the big ass hole in the roof, where did that come from? Nero huffed as he walked to the red door that was already slightly open, this whole place was so weird. Entering the tower, Nero is met with gothic and demonic architecture, a spiral staircase on either side of him going to the next level, a large skeletal angel statue in front of him too, this place was insane in size. There was a loud crash and the sound of yelling a few levels above Nero, it sounded almost familiar? “Who else could be here?” Nero mutters to himself.