Chapter Text
It was Christmas Eve. Eva had sent the twins off to bed, but their excitement made it difficult for them to fall asleep. "What do you think Santa got us?" Dante asked Vergil.
"You still believe in him? Grow up, Dante," Vergil said.
"I hope he gives you a big lump of coal!" Dante shot back. Vergil just rolled his eyes in response.
"What presents did you ask for?" Dante asked.
"I'd like some new books. Mom knows what kind of books I like, so I'm sure she'll pick out something good," Vergil said. "What about you?"
"I think I'd like a cool coat, like Dad used to wear. Vergil, do you ever wish Dad could be with us on Christmas too?" Dante asked.
"I don't know. I don't remember him very well, so it's hard for me to really miss him," Vergil said with a shrug.
"Yeah, I guess it's the same for me, but Mom seems sad during holidays and our birthdays. I think she misses him. Why did he leave us? Did he even really love us?" Dante questioned with a frown.
"Maybe he didn't want to leave us. Maybe he had something really important he had to do," Vergil said. Or maybe he's dead Vergil thought to himself, though he didn't say it aloud.
"What could be more important than his family?"
"Maybe he's out there somewhere saving the world from demons again," Vergil said.
"Maybe..." Dante muttered quietly, though he didn't sound convinced.
"Hey, let's not worry about that right now. If you don't go to sleep, Santa won't deliver the presents, right?" Vergil said with a teasing grin.
"Don't make fun of me!" Dante said with a scowl. The two of them fell silent and eventually drifted off to sleep.
The Next Morning
Vergil opened his eyes as he felt someone pull his covers off and start poking him. "Vergil, wake up! It's Christmas!" Dante shouted.
"Fine, just give me a moment," Vergil groaned. He dragged himself out of bed and followed a hyper Dante into the living room.
"Merry Christmas!" Eva said with a smile.
"Can we open them now, Mom? Pleeeeease?" Dante begged.
"Yes, you can open the presents," Eva said. Dante dove under the tree and started tearing into his presents. Vergil sighed and crouched next to him, carefully pulling out his own presents.
"I got everything I put on my Christmas list that Mom sent to Santa! I told you he was real!" Dante exclaimed as he stuck his tongue out at Vergil. Vergil just shook his head and ignored Dante.
"I have two more presents for both of you. I'll go get them now," Eva said as she stood up. Dante and Vergil exchanged curious glances as she left the room. She quickly returned, carrying a long wooden chest. She placed it on the floor and opened it, revealing the two swords inside. She lifted one of the swords from the chest. "This katana is called the Yamato. It was once your father's, now it belongs to you," Eva said as she held the sword out to Vergil. He carefully took it from her and gazed at it in silent awe.
"What's this one called?" Dante asked while reaching for the other sword.
"That is the Rebellion. It also belonged to Sparda. I'm sure he would have wanted both of you to inherit these," Eva said. Dante lifted the sword out of the chest with some difficulty.
"Mine's way bigger than yours," Dante said with a grin.
"Mine's more practical. I bet you can't even swing yours," Vergil said with a sneer.
"We'll see about that!" Dante shouted as he started to lift the Rebellion.
"Don't start swinging around those swords in the house!" Eva scolded.
"Sorry," Dante apologized.
"If you want to practice with your new swords, take them outside."
"Okay!" Dante and Vergil said in unison.
Eva was relaxing in the living room drinking hot chocolate when she suddenly heard a thud followed by a shout. "Mom!"
Oh no... she thought with a feeling of dread. She ran in the direction she'd heard the noises. The scene before her would have made many moms faint. Vergil was standing over Dante with a mixed expression of amusement and concern. Dante was laying on the ground in a pool of blood with the Rebellion rammed all the way through his gut. He was crying and trying to pull it out. Eva quickly ran over and very gently pulled it out for him. She held him to her and petted his head until his crying was reduced to sobs. She turned to look at Vergil. "What happened?" she asked.
"He tripped and fell," Vergil replied.
"Are you okay?" she asked Dante.
"I think so, it's only a little sore now," Dante said shakily. She smiled and wiped the tears off his face.
"Be careful from now on, okay?" she said.
"I promise," Dante said with a smile. Then he bounced back up. "Wanna go back outside? We can build snowmen then test our new swords on them!"
"I think you tested your sword pretty well," Vergil commented.
"Well I hope you give yours the same test!" Dante retorted. The twins dashed outside while still arguing. Eva smiled and shook her head.
I wish Sparda were here to teach them how to use those swords properly. Maybe I should have waited until they were a little older before I gave them weapons... Eva thought. But when she looked at the twins' smiles, she couldn't bring herself to regret her decision.