When Gale Dekarios realized the implications of the Netherese orb that lodged itself in his chest, he had sat in silence at his desk for a long time, stroking his tressym while she cried in his lap. When his goddess withdrew her favor, he had lain in bed for days on end, refusing everything but the occasional glass of water to keep him alive so he didn’t decimate the neighborhood. When his wife left him, he’d gone straight to the nearest tavern and drank so much he lost a couple of days.
Now, though, he weeps. He hugs his knees to his chest, buries his face in his arms, and sobs, the fine silt ash of his former love slipping through his clenched fists like sand.
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A possible future fic. An AU where Vergil falls to hell, encounters Mundus, but manages to escape using Yamato before being captured. He ends up on Fortuna, and meets his son, a five year old Nero. For three years, they’re both on the run from a very angry Mundus.
Nero wakes up that morning, hoping that his father will be in the other bed beside him, but unfortunately, it's still perfectly made. This is his third morning he’s woken up alone. His dad has never been away this long before. Once or twice, he would assure the eight year old that he had to go out during the night, and to stay put in whatever motel room they were staying at. And Nero would obey. He would always obey.
But now, as he opened the little fridge to pick out the final yogurt cup, and the last bottle of orange juice, the eight year old is starting to really worry.
Ever since his dad showed up out of nowhere when he was stuck in that horrible orphanage, on that terrible island, Nero’s life finally has stability. Sure, he and his dad have to stay on the run, because of someone called Mundus chasing him, but for the first time, he’s not anxious, not worried that his misbehaviour will send him back to the scary building. His dad had assured him of that.
“No matter what, Nero, I will never abandon you.”
But then, three days ago, he’d been in the park, playing on the playground while his dad read a book. Just when he had climbed to the top of the jungle gym, his father had barked at him to come down. Nero obeyed, he would always obey.
He’d never seen his dad look so...scared, which was silly, because his dad wasn’t scared of anyone or anything. Nero had seen him cutting down demons like they were weeds. But this time, it was a blonde woman, sitting on a motorcycle, watching them with uncommon interest that had his dad so nervous. So nervous, that he did that thing that he never did in public, used his sword to cut the air, ushering Nero through, and quickly striding after him.
“Nero,” he said as he peeked through a curtain, like he did whenever they came to a new motel room, to check to see if they were being watched. “I must take care of something. Stay here, and do not leave until I return, understood?”
Nero had nodded. His dad sometimes did this, to keep them both safe. But still, Nero ran and gave him a hug, before his dad created another hole, and vanished through it. That was the last time Nero saw him.
The rest of the day was fine. Nero read his books, played with his action figures, ate a sandwich and went to bed at 8:30 PM sharp, as he always did. His dad didn’t show up the next day, so he’d repeated his activities, but had a little more trouble paying attention to the words on the page.
The second morning, he kept getting distracted, his head perking up each time he heard footsteps outside the room. But still nothing.
The third day, Nero didn’t play or read, he just sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for his dad’s return. He had to be coming back, he promised! Even though he went to bed at the same time as always, he didn’t fall asleep until late at night.
And now, with the fridge out of food, and no sign of his dad, Nero is panicking. His dad told him that he’d never leave him, but what if Nero had made him mad? Did his dad think he was a bad kid, and didn’t want him anymore, just like those other foster families? The thought of being abandoned yet again makes him want to cry. But he can’t, nobody wants a kid that cries, that’s what the matrons always told him.
Nero makes a decision, he needs to go out to find him. Sure, his dad told him to stay here, but if he can beg him to give Nero another chance, his dad might forgive Nero and let him stay with him. So, grabbing a backpack with his stuff, and a little bit of money his father had given him to buy ‘whatever he’d like’ (Nero couldn’t decide what we wanted, he didn’t want to disappoint his dad by buying something silly), he leaves a note, just in case.
Dear Dad
I am looking for you
I am sorry!
Nero.
And as quietly as his dad, he leaves the room.
*****
Several hours later, Nero realizes he’s lost. Everyone walks around him, as if he doesn’t exist, and he’s scared and hungry. But there’s something, a feeling that guides his feet. He doesn’t know what or why, but he trusts it, it kinda reminds him of his dad.
It leads to a diner, the smell of charcoal grilled burgers making his mouth water. He has enough money left, hopefully his dad won’t be angry that he’s spending it on food. But, just like his dad, he looks through the window, to see who’s in there, if there’s any danger inside.
There’s nearly no one there. Just a waitress at the bar, and only two customers, a woman with short dark hair, sitting on a stool beside a taller guy with...white hair!
His dad! The man turns to the lady to say something, so Nero can see his face and yup, it has to be his dad! Forgetting about the grumbling in his stomach, he rushes in, opening the door with such for, the door chime is ripped off the little string it is hanging on,
“DAD!” He yells, and before his father can turn, he rushes and hugs his leg.
“I’m sorry dad, I’m sorry! Please don’t leave me!” he babbles, trying not to cry, “I promise I’ll be good, I’ll eat all my vegetables, I’ll brush my teeth as many times as you want me to, I won’t play with toys under the covers when I’m supposed to be sleeping. Please let me stay with you!”
He half expects to be pushed away, to be rejected again. But instead, as he looks up, he just sees three pairs of eyes, shocked. The waitress looks at him sympathetically, the lady with two different coloured eyes looks at him with surprise, and his dad? His blue eyes are filled with alarm, but there’s no recognition in them. And the more Nero looks at him, the more he realizes the man, while looking a lot like his dad….isn’t. He’s wearing red instead of blue, carries a gun, and his sword is a lot bigger.
And now he’s terrified. His dad told him that Mundus sometimes uses people that look like other people to trick him, and Nero now understands. He makes a frightened squeak, and runs out of the diner. He barely hears the not-dad call out ‘Kid!’
He runs, to where? He doesn’t know. He pushes people out of the way as he sprints as fast as his legs can take him, running across busy streets, ignoring the angry honks of cars. He needs to get away from the man that looks, but doesn’t look like his dad.
Unfortunately, he runs into an alleyway that’s blocked by construction equipment. As he pauses to figure out how to climb over it, a pair of gloves grab him, and he struggles against him.
“LEMEGO LEMEGO!” he screams, but the grip is unyielding.
“Kid...calm down..calm down..” the man who’s pretending to be his dad holds him tightly. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”
Nero knows his father isn’t nearby, but he still can’t help it. “DAD! DAD! COME BACK! DON’T LEAVE ME!” And as his struggles weaken, his resolve does too, and he starts sobbing. “I’m sorry dad...I didn’t mean to be bad.”
“Shhhh…” the man says softly as he starts carrying him out of the dank alleyway “I promise I’m not going to hurt you…” And for some reason… even if the man is not his dad, his voice is just as soothing.
Morning was here and a quiet groan escaped the ex gym leader as his eyes slowly opened. He shifted and hissed softly as his lower back ached. Memories of the night before hit him and he flushed softly before a faint smile crossed his face. That’s right... he had his first time last night. Victor had been so gentle... so loving... He glanced around, growing confused as he didn’t see the brunette.
Where was he...? His clothes from last night weren’t anywhere either... A sharp pain entered his heart. No... no no no no...! Not again! Was that all he wanted? Was that all he was good for? Just a one night stand?! He thought... he thought it was different! He thought the other actually cared for him, actually loved him! But he was... just a toy... why did he think he was actually worth something to someone?
He fell back on the bed and curled up, shaking silently as tears spilled unashamedly down his flushed cheeks. Why... why... why...
You know what I think I'm done with this. Like I think it's time for me to move on and just let go of my hopes for something to happen out of this. You don't make me happy at all and I feel like there are so many other things out there that I can focus on instead of this.
Whale makes me feel like a million bucks and it's not just a feeling, it's just that relaxed atmosphere with him. Honestly, why can't I just fall madly in love with Whale it's not fucking fair at all. tbh I don't think I've actually been in love before, just like and lust I guess. I think Porcupine really affected my ability to trust people and to not want to break heart or whatever. Like, because of him I just like flirting with guys and then just leaving them once I get bored. And I know that's really shitty of me but I can't let what happened with Porcupine happen again, y'know?
But honestly, Whale is so fantastic. He's always here ot just cheer me up, especially during exams. Like he tells me these jokes and stuff and he's so fucking flirty and it's great because we both aren't looking for a relationship right now. In the future though, maybe something will come out of this maybe not. It would be nice to see what would happen if we were together.
Same with Shanghai (who really shouldn't be called that anymore since he's not from Shanghai... oops). Like before he left, we had a weird relationship where we weren't together but we were more than friends. I'm glad that we didn't date though because of just the age difference and locations and stuff. Whenever he comes back, we always have fun together and it's not awkward at all, which is great.
tl;dr I need to stop basing my happiness on you and focus on other things. Whale is fucking amazing and I should fall in lvoe with him.
These past few weeks have been probably the most peaceful ones in a long while. I feel as if I'm alive. I can't explain it. It's like I'm finally living the life that I was meant to live. A depressing thought, but that's how I feel. His parents welcomed me into their family. They were happy, in fact. His mother is very supportive. I'm grateful for her. And his father... oh, even if he's a bit intimidating... I can tell he worries for me as well.
Kingsley has been also been playing a supportive role since I've came here to Kagoshima. Which was surprising. A man taking in a woman who is carrying another man's child under his care without hesitation. Only these moments seem like they can only happen in movies or fairy tales. But, he did.
I've also met an interesting character. An heiress. She is acquainted to Kingsley. She's a bit out there, but she doesn't intend any harm. Maybe she's the type who likes to mess around a bit. Not like I've dealt people like her before. Heh.
Anyways, the baby. Yes. Three months and a week. Even without an ultrasound... I can feel a heartbeat. It's faint but when I'm alone in a quiet place... the small heartbeat is all I can hear. It always gives me chills. The life I am carrying is growing more and more each passing day. I'm excited to see this child.
