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“So how'd the mission go?”
Dante looked up from the magazine he was reading, he saw Trish sitting on the couch, looking at him expectantly.
“Went just fine, why do you ask?”
“Just wanted to know, did you have fun?”
He put the magazine down, he's read it a thousand times already, he really needs to buy new ones.
“Not really, killing demons is always fun, but these ones were weak as hell, they died immediately.”
Trish laughed a little at that.
“So that's all? You came here just to ask about my mission?”
“Hm? What? Can't I just visit because I want to?”
She said it so sarcastically it made him roll his eyes, of course she wouldn't come all the way here just to talk about trivial things.
“Well usually there's a reason you'd want to come here, so stop acting and just tell me.”
They stared at each other, as if they had somehow telepathically agreed to a staring contest. Thankfully, Trish broke the silence before I could get awkward.
“Yeah, there is another reason I came here.”
She stood up from the couch and approached him with a hand in her pocket, Dante was expecting her to pull out a bill. But what she pulled out wasn't a bill, receipt or even an eviction notice, instead, it was a small red box.
“Happy birthday, Dante, sorry I couldn't get you a better gift, didn't have the funds.”
She placed the box on his table right next to his feet.
He took his feet off the table and picked up the box, it was a box of chocolate.
“Heh, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten, though y'know, today isn't Valentine's day.”
“Don't get me wrong, that was the cheapest one I could find. You know I wouldn't waste my money on you.”
They shared a good laugh, like they enjoyed disrespecting each other.
“Well, I better get going now.”
Dante stopped laughing and gave her the same look as he would give Patty whenever she ate his strawberry sundaes.
“Youre leaving now?”
“Yup, I've got stuff to do, just dropped by to say ‘Happy Birthday’.
She walked over to the door and opened it, putting on her sunglasses.
“Welp, it was nice chatting with you, see ya next time, birthday boy.”
And with that, she walked out and closed the door behind her. Dante could faintly hear the sound of a motorcycle being revved, then driving away.
After she left, he looked at the box of chocolate, on it was a little birthday card.
‘Holy shit, I totally forgot my own birthday.”
—
Dante was reading another magazine, at least he's only read this one about a hundred times. He isn't actually reading it though, just looking at the pictures.
He was eating the chocolates Trish gave him, they were very delicious, tasted just like chocolate.
He then hears the phone ring.
‘Yeah, I could use a job right about now.’
But when he answered the phone, it turned out to not be the job he was hoping for.
“Hey Dante, happy birthday.”
“Hey Lady, got me any gifts?”
“Hell no, you owe me too much money, I ain't getting you a gift until you pay me back.”
“Could you at least lower my debt? It's my birthday isn't it?”
“No Dante.”
Before he could say anything else, she hung up.
“Not even a goodbye.”
—
When night came, he decided to close up shop early, right after receiving his pizza.
He sat on his chair, staring at the pizza box with a messy ‘Happy Birthday!’ scrawled on it.
He then looked up, finding that there was no one there, just like last year, and the year before, and the year before that as well.
Why did Lady and Trish never celebrate with him? Heck, he was lucky if he got a gift at all. Everyone is always so busy, they never have time for their own lives, only for demons.
Come to think of it, neither of them told him when their birthdays were, hopefully he'll remember to ask when they meet again.
He was also wondering where Patty was, before realizing that he never told her his birthday.
At least he gets the pizza all to himself.
He opened the box, inside of it was an extra large pizza, along with an assortment of snacks and condiments and sauces. It was obviously meant to be shared but he disregarded that thought, he doesn't want to feel even worse than he already is.
He takes a slice and puts it in his mouth. It was delicious, it was his favorite restaurant for a reason.
He ate the slice, savouring every bite until it was finished.
When he looked back at the pizza, he suddenly had an idea. He started rummaging through his drawers, seemingly looking for something.
“Aha!”
He pulled out a small table mirror, it had a little crank on the side but it was largely in good condition.
He looked at his own reflection, turning his head in different angles to get his good side, before placing it in front of his pizza.
He used both hands to slick back his hair, though Vergil would only use one, then pat it down so it stays.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror, he looked exactly like Vergil, just older. The last time he saw Vergil, well how could he describe it? He was blue and cracked, he didn't even seem to recognize him, he was like a zombie, just following orders.
He spent many sleepless nights just regretting everything, wishing that Vergil was still alive.
But since he isn't, this is good enough.
“Happy Birthday, Vergil.”
He took another slice of pizza and hovered it in front of his reflection, before eating it. Does Vergil even like pizza? Well no use asking now.
Despite his best attempts, he was still lonely. While he did like having a pizza all for himself, he felt like this special day should be shared with his friends.
He'll invite Lady and Trish for Christmas, maybe Patty and her mom as well, he thinks, even though he doesn't celebrate Christmas.
Maybe he could change the sign outside to ‘Devil May Christmas’, yeah, that'll do it.
Also buy extra pizzas, because they will absolutely finish it before he even gets a slice.