Chapter Text
It was a bad day, that much was clear when Dante woke up in a cold sweat, body shivering despite the heatwave Redgrave was currently under. Nightmares and visions infested his brain, phantom touches ghosting his body and fight or flight thrumming under his skin. Despite how much Dante just wanted to lay back down and let sleep reclaim him he knew it wouldn't happen. Pressure was ramping in his chest, his heart hammering as he watched the shadows that danced in his room from the moonlight. Letting his body slam against his headboard, the world blurred.
At some point Vergil was in front of him, worry etched into his features. Strange, Vergil was never worried. "Dante, are you feeling okay?" His palm was hot and cold and rough yet soft and so so much. Was that good or bad? His brain reeled trying to claw up from the fog but the touch made him want to rip his skin off too and delve further into the fog. So he stilled and let the world blur.
Nero was now with Vergil. When did Nero get here? "Hey, are you with us?" Nero reached out but Vergil quickly grabbed his arm. Chatter seemed to commence and Dante tried to follow but their voices were so loud but so quiet and his brain was screaming at him. He can't keep losing track, last time it happened it was bad. "It's okay, come back when you can bring yourself up."
The lights were bright now, a keen whine ripped itself from someones throat it ached. "You're okay, Nero is fixing it." Vergil adjusted his legs and it jostled Dante oh, he's on top of him. Why is he in his lap? Vergil's arms gently wrapped around him as he read over his brothers shoulder, letting Dante lean as far into his chest as he wanted. "It's okay, we're here for you. I'm unsure of what's happening, but I'm still here." Dante let himself dip further into Vergil's body. Dark lights, chest to chest, heat.
Whatever hit his tongue was gross, it was tangy yet watery and made his throat ache and chest constrict. "You're just coughing, deep breaths. Drank that one a little too fast, huh?" Nero clasped onto Dante's forearms as he doubled over, his entire body was shaking and it felt too familiar too much too much too-.
"I know brother, I know." Vergil's voice was quiet forcing Dante to strain to hear him. Warmth pressed at his face and Dante tilted trying to follow it. "I know it's been a really hard day for you," Pressure was planted against the back of his head and it was dizzying, "I got you, don't worry." A whine ripped itself from Dante, his body trying to meld with his brain and disperse the fog. The weight was helping - wait, why is he so heavy? Dante let his gaze flick down to his body, noticing his jacket was gone but the rest of his outfit was still on and absolutely soaked.
"You freaked out when I tried to take them off," Dante couldn't remember this happening, they day was just flashes behind his eyes. His head tipped and suddenly it was gently cradled. Gentle. Vergil was never gentle he was always careful and calculated, yet now? His hands were gentle on Dante's scalp as he washed his hair, his voice was gentle as he spoke, his movements as he settled Dante's body were gentle. It all screamed of care, a care Dante couldn't handle without his heart screaming that he didn't deserve all this, he was a burden, a mistake, his brother should just lea-.
Dante's head ached from the constant blurring; featherlight fingers tipped his head backwards a little. Touch, why so much touch. Dante tried to reach up and bat at the hand. "Hey, welcome back. It's almost time for bed, just giv'me one second." Vergil appeared in front of Dante - were did he even come from? His brother held a comfort that soothed every ache in the cracks of Dante's brain. Vergil brushed back Dante's bangs making Nero grumble about his 'hard work'. "My task is done Nero, whenever you're done let me know." What tasks? Why was he walking away? Dante whined, his gaze lazily tracking Vergils movements, panic thrumming in his body every time Vergil disappeared from his line of sight.
"Verge?" Dante was almost sure his voice would die before it even reached the air. It didn't though, his voice cracked and wavered but it made it and Vergil was in front of him before Dante could even process it.
"What is the matter?" Vergils hands cupped Dante's cheeks and he was so warm. It wasn't a burning warmth, it made Dante want to meld with Vergil to feel the comfort it drove into his heart. Words were lost once again, his brain just wanting the comfort of Vergil. It made him feel whole again. "I'm right here brother, it's okay."
Dante's brain was molding itself back together, edges blurring slightly but he was finally somewhat there. Vergil lifted him off the chair, Nero's hand running down his back and he was gone for a few steps until he was on his bed. Vergil laying him down and pulling a sheet over his body, mumbling a poem that his brain couldn't recall the name of. "Get some sleep brother, we'll be here when you wake."
Warmth bloomed in Dante's chest as his brother sat down beside him, letting Dante bury his face against his hip bone to maintain contact. "We're never going to leave you Dante, especially when you're not doing well." Nero flopped against a pillow, keeping his distance but exaggerating his motions so Dante knew he was there. Dante wished he could pull Nero in, let the boy throw himself against his uncle but the blurring threatened him in the recesses of his mind.
Vergil's hand landed on Dante's head, mindlessly playing with his hair as a poem quietly fell from his lips. The words were muddled in Dante's brain but the intention landed - comfort, rest, quiet your body and mind.