DMC: Family Pet AU – Adoption Process
The day you are adopted into the family and how everyone deals with the news of your joining.
Link to Master List
THE Set-Up
You awake from a dreamless sleep to your name being called in a whisper intended to be quiet enough to not wake the rest of your colony but the frantic way it was said disturbed some around you. Your arm was being tugged at carefully by one person while another smacked your leg repeatedly.
“Get up!”
“Now!”
“She’s on her way.”
“She’s coming just to see you.”
“You have to get ready.”
“Hurry, hurry.”
The voices belonged to two of your aunties. Not blood-related aunties though, as far as anyone knew. The frequency at which people were taken, returned, born, or abandoned on the colony by demon families that found the child too close to your species to be worth keeping was too high for anyone to track who actually birthed whom or who was born together. Anyone, of any gender, who was released, abandoned, and/or escaped from their family and made it back to the colony was referred to as ‘auntie’ or ‘uncle’. Such as the two above you, an abandoned and a released auntie respectively, who grew more violent the longer you pretended to ignore them.
“Just go.” Came a sleepy grumble from one of your siblings behind you as he gave you a decently strong kick to your lower back. Again, not your actual blood sibling, as far as anyone knows. It was just another person in your colony who was of age yet had not been taken in by a family yet, just like you. “Some of us still wanna sleep.” Your sibling adds, which was met by a small chorus of agreeing grumbles.
“Fine.” You grumble back, relenting to the pull on your arm trying to sit you up.
“Come on, you have to get cleaned up.” The auntie on your arm said as she continued to pull you up off the ground. The other auntie stopped smacking your leg to instead peel off the various tails, hands, and limbs that kept you tangled in the mass cuddle puddle.
“Why?” You whine, rubbing your tired eyes as you put up no fight in being dragged out of the den, out into the cool air not yet warmed by the rising sun.
“Because Ms. Matier is on her way.”
Ms. Matier? You knew her, the whole colony did actually. She was a Guardian of Vie de Marli, or Dumary Island as the humans called it, along with her daughter Lucia. The colony and the guardians were on friendly terms with each other, helping each other out on occasion but generally staying out of each other’s business. Ms. Matier and Lucia, though, seemed to have a soft spot for your people, having gone out of their way to track down and reunite lost/abandoned pets with their original colonies. Or, at the very least, helped put to rest those of your people who were killed by their demon family. The two women had shown far more kindness to your colony than most humans and demons, so it is no surprise that anything the mother and daughter pair asked for in return was gladly given, but…
“Why do only I have to get up?” You ask as you are led to the natural spring not too far from the den where a few other people, a mix of aunties, uncles, and siblings, are waiting.
“Because Ms. Matier has requested you specifically.” The auntie holding your arm finally releases you to motion you into the water.
“Why though?” You had expected to receive the usual cleaning, that being licks and bites from yourself and others to clean your body, including the hard-to-reach places like the large ears atop your head and the base of your tail. But it looks like you’re getting the royal package as once you step into the water the others quickly start lathering you up in the sparsely used body scrub and shampoo (including conditioner after) purchased from the human stores that your people rarely have the chance to enter. And off to the side, was that a sibling holding the lacy, bead-embroidered lingerie outfit and robe that an uncle stole when he fled his family? That’s the fanciest clothes your colony owned!
“We don’t have all the details yet,” An auntie started as she lifted your chin up to stop the shampoo suds from dripping into your eyes. “but Ms. Matier believes you would make the perfect Pet for a family she knows.”
“Is the entire family here?” Sparda asked as he finally entered the mansion dining room, calling all eyes to him.
“Yep, just waiting on you, pops.” Dante said, his usual joking tone having a twinge of annoyance laced in. “Nice of you to be the last to arrive when you’re the one who called the meeting.” Dante snarked, eyes closed so he missed the piercing glare he got from his older brother, though he could feel it.
“Show father some respect.” Vergil spat.
“Don’t worry about him Verg,” Lady hushed with a casual wave, seemingly unaffected by Vergil’s glare being directed at her next for the nickname. “Dante’s just grumpy because he had to wake up before noon.”
“It’s not just ‘before noon’. It’s six in the morning where I’m living!” Dante defended.
“Six is a perfectly reasonable time to wake up.” Credo informed matter-of-factly. “Training is done best in the early hours of the morning.”
“But you have to remember Credo, not all of us grew up with morning group training and prayers.” Kyrie said, voice calm and gentle, devoid of any judgment or annoyance.
“True…” Trish started, checking her nails nonchalantly. “But most of us also don’t sleep in so late that the sun is already going down by the time we wake up.” Her eyes jump up so she can watch the dramatic look of betrayal Dante put on.
“I’m not the only one who thinks it’s too early. Back me up on this Nico.” Dante said with a full arm gesture towards the mechanic who didn’t respond.
“You’re being talked to.” Nero informed, rolling his shoulder to get his best friend’s resting head off of him. “Wake up.”
“Wha…? Hu…?” Nico’s head popped up and she looked around, her tired brain confused at why she wasn’t in her van.
“See what I mean!” Dante proclaimed as if Nico’s inability to stay awake proved his point, which it kind of did.
“You ever hear the saying ‘the early bird gets the worm’?” Griffon asks in a mocking tone as he hovered around the tired half-breed.
“You would know about that, wouldn’t you feather face?” Dante shot back, pushing the avian away.
“Come back here.” V instructed, waving his cane in a beckoning motion. “Or will I have to call you back?”
“No no,” Griffon assured, flying back over to his master. “I wanna hear this.” He settles himself atop Shadow who is sitting proudly at the end of the dining table beside V. A giggle from the other end of the table brings all eyes to Eva whose chair was at the head of the table beside her husband’s.
“It’s so nice to have everyone in such high spirits.” She explains, her maternal instincts being put at ease by seeing her whole family so lively.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Sparda concurred, leaning down to give his wife a greeting kiss on the cheek before taking his seat beside her. “As the head of the Sparda family, I couldn’t be happier to have all of my kin together and safe, especially after all the years of hardship and stress we have endured.” The mood in the room dampened a bit as each family member thought back to their own personal struggles they have faced and overcome to get where they are now. “And for all of your efforts, and with us all now in stable situations,” All of the family, except Eva who had already discussed the idea with Sparda, looked up in interest. Even Nico woke up from her nap on Nero’s shoulder. “I think it’s about time this family adopted a Pet.”
Some of the family raised their brows in realization. Dante let out a whistle, Vergil nodded in understanding, and Lady let out a slightly annoyed huff.
“A pet?” Nico parroted back; brain not fully awake yet.
“Like a dog or something?” Nero questioned.
“Not quite-” Trish started with an amused chuckle at Nero’s naivety but was interrupted before she could explain further.
“They’ll have ears and a tail like a dog,” Griffon cut in, hoping off of Shadow’s head to start hobbling down the dining table, smug in his superior knowledge. “but instead of throwing them a bone you get to give them a bone, if you know what I-” Griffon was cut off by Shadow pouncing on him, pinning him to the table then grabbing his neck in her jaws with enough force to hold him but not hurt him.
“My apologies.” V said as Shadow carried Griffon out of the room despite the bird's squawks and cries to be released, tone polite but face showing his annoyance at his familiar’s crude words. “Please disregard him.”
“W-w-wait.” Kyrie stammered, a blush covering her face at the implication before all colour drained away in horror. “Don’t tell me… are you talking about a… a… sex slave?”
“Is that what you mean by ‘Pet’?” Nico asked, finally coming to full alert.
“Hell no.” Nero asserted, slamming his hand down on the dining table. “I’m not okay with this plan.”
“Calm down kid,” Dante jumped in, making Nero turn his determined glare onto the elder. “it’s not as bad as you’re thinking, trust me.”
“The kind of ‘Pet’ being referred to here is in reference to a certain species of demon.” Credo began explaining, having studied demon tradition through his work with The Order of the Sword and serving under Vergil. “They have been bred specifically to serve demon family units as a companion and, if the family so does wish, for more intimate care and as a carrier of children.”
“Dante and Credo are right dear.” Eva jumped in, unconsciously raising a hand to pat Nero’s shoulder calmingly but being too far from him to do so. Trish seemed to get the picture though as she stepped in and delivered the pats for her (kind of) twin. “And even compared to other demon families, we intend to treat our Pet better.”
“That’s correct dear.” Sparda laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder in solidarity before standing from his chair to assert some dominance over the situation. “Though many other demon families may treat their Pet cruelly, I trust this family to care for and treat our future Pet with all due respect, as any living creature deserves.” Sparda took a pause to gaze around the room. A sense of paternal and leadership pride washes over him as all his kin quickly and unanimously nod their heads, showing that they do intend to treat the supposed Pet well. “Now,” He continues. “this decision has been a long time coming. I had intended to adopt a Pet once Vergil and Dante became of age in human years, but then…” Sparda trailed off. His, and a few other family members’, eyes turned to Vergil, some with sympathy and others with anger.
Vergil couldn’t look at any of them, lowering his gaze in shame as he thought back to when, at only 19 years of age, he had gotten into such an intense argument with his family, and especially his brother, that he dived into the demon world alone to try to prove himself. He hadn’t been able to rejoin the family for over 20 years.
“circumstances changed.” Sparda continued, not wanting to dig up his eldest son’s bad decision and harsh punishment. “But now that we are all together and as an even bigger family than I could have ever imagined,” Again Sparda looked around the room at all of the people that had blessed his life by joining his unorthodox family unit. “I think it will be good for us to finally adopt a Pet. And I know just the woman to help us find the perfect one.”
“Ms. Matier,” You call out from the back seat of the car where you sit alone, Lucia currently driving while Ms. Matier took the front passenger seat. “who is this ‘family’ you’re taking me to?”
“It is the family of a dear friend of mine.” Ms. Matier answered in a wistful, far-off tone as if she were remembering a distant memory. “Tell me child, have you heard of a demon lord named Sparda?”
“I’ve heard of him, yes,” you say. Your eyes wander away from the front of the car as you try to remember what little you know of Sparda. “I know he is a powerful demon that helped you and the other guardians defeat Argosax the Chaos a long time ago.” Your hands mindlessly fiddle with beads of the sheer lingerie robe your colony had given you to wear before sending you off to your new life. “But that’s all I know.” The battle with Argosax was long before your time.
“Do you perhaps remember the battle with Arius several years ago?” Lucia jumped in, glancing back at you briefly through the rearview mirror to catch your nod before looking back to the road. You were around when Arius started to cause mayhem on the island. Many people of your colony were taken then, and almost none were seen again, not alive at least. “The man who helped defeat Arius and the resurrected Argosax, Dante, is the son of Sparda.”
A father defeating a chaos god and then his son coming back decades later to defeat the mad sorcerer and the same god that was resurrected? That’s either a crazy coincidence or this family has a thing for saving the world.
“Yes, they are a noble family.” Ms. Matier says, a calm smile on her face. “And though it took a while, the Sparda family has finally found peace in their lives and wish to continue this time of peace and joy with a Pet of their own.”
“We’re here.” Lucia announced as she brought that car to a stop. As all three of you step out of the vehicle you look around. You were at some sort of private dock where only one, awfully large, ship sat in the water. Even though the sun has fully risen at this point, you can’t help but shiver as the ocean wind whips at your barely covered body. Thankfully the lingerie outfit was not sheer like the robe, but it was still a thin, silky material that did not hold in any of your warmth.
“I’ll go tell them we are here.” Ms. Matier announced as she swiftly made her way down the dock and onto the ship, faster than one would think her old body was capable of.
“You know,” Lucia started, politely offering you an arm to take as the rough wood of the dock wasn’t exactly pleasant on your bare feet. “my mother and Sparda are very close. They still send letters to each other almost every month.” She begins walking you down the dock. “Sparda knew that my mother loved and watched over Pets, so when he and his wife decided they wanted a Pet for the family he came to her asking her to find the perfect match, and mother chose you.”
As you arrive at the ramp connecting the ship to the dock, Ms. Matier emerges from inside the ship, bringing with her two people. One was a woman, clearly in her later years yet still seeming healthy. Her blond hair with the occasional gray strands and her gentle smile which showed her laugh lines give an aura of a kind, mature, loving mother. The other was a man, standing tall and proud, looking far younger than the woman he was linking arms with. You would later learn that this seeming age gap was due to their different species’ lifespans. Still, he smiled gently down at the two women around him like he was speaking with old friends.
“I can promise you this,” Lucia continued. Her arm slips away from yours as the three finally turn to look at you. “you will be happy with them.”
