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The scent of midnight rain hits Dante’s senses, a comforting tune of drops hitting the cheap glass of what little window was left in his bedroom. The kids next door had broken it a while back whilst playing, but he didn’t give enough of a fuck to demand any kind of repairs from their parents. He’s just lying in bed, waiting for the sandman to come, and tugging at the shirt clinging to his chest. Despite the rain, the summer heat never let up in Redgrave city and Dante was half tempted to whip out Cerberus just to cool off until he heard clattering downstairs.
His inner demon sensed who it was right away, making him trill involuntarily as he exited the bed’s comfortable yet dangerous embrace. Dante stepped out into the hall, eyes adjusting from the pitch darkness of his bedroom to the dim light coming from downstairs. Vergil came home from the late night grocery run, evident by the sound of crunching plastic bags being moved around. The younger twin’s heart swelled and he smiled to himself as he came down to the kitchen, witnessing his big brother and their baby in the kitchen. Nero gnawed at his hands, covered by socks to keep him from injuring himself as he teethed.
“How was the store? Empty like always?” Dante inquired as he approached their infant son, cooing at the little baby while picking him up for a cuddle. Vergil’s face was nonchalant as always, glancing over to the other two with a curt nod. “Correct. There were barely any cash registers open… but we found the peace and quiet to be worth it.” Swift hands put away different canned goods and snack items, a sense of urgency to Vergil’s movements as he finishes putting everything away. He ties the bags and stores them away, saving them as trash bags for later dates. Finally, he sauntered over to his lover and their firstborn, holding Dante by the waist as he properly greets him with a forehead kiss.
“Did you get any sleep while we were out?” He whispers, facing Dante as he still keeps baby Nero clutched to his chest lovingly. “Unfortunately for the both of us… no.” He sighs, giving a weak smile as Vergil’s brows furrow. “Is that so? Well… I’m absolutely positive that I will find something to help you, dear.” The elder twin states firmly, pulling away to head to the office portion of the building. “Ever the optimist when it comes to our health, huh… We’re lucky to have him, aren't we, bud?” Nero looks up at Dante with a purr, just happy to be there with his mama. “...Yeah, you ain’t much of a talker either.” He snickers and heads back upstairs, opening the door to Nero’s nursery and playroom.
The space was lovingly decorated, revolving around a mural of the forest painted on the wall that Vergil did himself, though all the silly wall stickers were Dante’s doing. His personal favorite sticker was of a mother duck with two ducklings following behind, a simple image that reminded him of his own childhood. He settled Nero into his crib, switching on the baby monitor and adjusting it closer to the crib. “If you need me and papa, just scream really loudly, okay bud?” He smirked playfully and Nero giggled in response. Nero wasn’t much of a screamer or cryer, but it was still something Dante prepared to hear one day knowing how fickle children could be at such young ages. Regardless of his teasing, it only took a few minutes of rocking the crib while he read a bedtime story to lull Nero to sleep, tucking his little sweetheart to bed before sneaking away.
“Whew… So glad he didn’t get my crybaby antics…” “Yeah, you really did cry so much as a toddler.” Dante whipped his head at Vergil, standing across him in the hall at the doorway of their bedroom. Before he could even give a witty quip in return, he remembered Nero had just been put to sleep and kept his mouth shut. He pouted at Vergil as the elder made space for him to enter the bedroom. Dante nudged Vergil to the bed with a little wave of his hand and closed the door behind them, sighing to himself as he returned to the killer grasp of the weighted blanket and soft duvet combo. “Can’t believe you think I’m a crybaby… hmph, so much for the Golden Rule..!” He huffed whilst snuggling under the sheets, watching as his lover removed his clothes for bed. “I am merely agreeing with you, dear. Plus, when did I ever say that your sensitive nature was a bad thing, hm? I’ve always liked your expressiveness, Dante.” He smiles at him, a gentle bandaid on the fragile ego of Dante’s diva attitude. “Yeah yeah, you just say that because you know I would leave you otherwise.” He rolls his eyes playfully before dropping his act at the sound of the sheets being pulled back.
Vergil enters the sanctuary of their bed covers, reaching out to pull Dante in for the night, “You’re so foolish… too bad I can't get enough of it.” He smirks and Dante leans towards him to share a sweet kiss. “Love you too, nerd~” His inner demon purrs as he speaks, bringing out Vergil’s as well, creating a soft symphony of sinfully affectionate demon talk. Sadly, even as Dante shares cuddles with one of his favorite people ever, second only to their child, the sandman refuses to grace him with sleep.
It’s another sleepless night in Redgrave city for the Legendary Devil Hunter, but at least he’s got Vergil here with him.