@stylunt said ‘ Fuck Whitney in particular ’ : " I couldn't have done it, y'know. " It comes out of nowhere; an admission Vergil likely didn't ask for but Dante offers anyway. ( I couldn't have killed you, brother. / Like I couldn't kill Urizen? Dante pushes the thought aside. ) " Or maybe I could've -- probably after cussin' you to hell and back. But I'd killed you twice already by that point. Figured I'd at least let you even the score, y'know? "
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 , 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍’𝐓 𝐈𝐓 ? Blood splattering over Yamato’s hilt & coating his hand as blade shoves further into the younger twin . MUSCLES SPASMING , TWIN’S FEATURES CONTORTING HORRIBLY .
Just like old times .
𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐘 , 𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐘 , 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃 . This time is different than the ones before . Words readily set to lash in typical taunt , dying before it can even reach the end of his tongue . A RIPPING OF MUSCLE , SICKENING SQUELCH OF BLOOD POOLING , SPURTING , whereas before there lacked any sort of weight , here instead he feels it crashing down upon him ( THREATENING TO CRUSH HIM BENEATH ) . His features remain blank in spite of it all , inhaling deeply at the silent grunt released by twin , CARRYING WEIGHT THAT HEAVILY SLOUCHES AGAINST HIM . It’s different this time .
It’s different .
𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 , 𝐀 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑 , 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐄 . Easily could he tear Yamato from her place embedded into twin , but something keeps him from following through ( INSTINCTIVELY KNOWING THE RESULT THAT WOULD SUCCEED THE ACT ) . The hollowness within his chest only seem to gape open in the following seconds . Similar times in the past , he’s known the little impact that such a strike could cause on the another ( LOVINGLY IMPALED , TO AWAKEN DEVIL WITHIN ) . Their powers evenly matched only with each other , THUS THEY COULD ONLY EVER WHITTLE DOWN AT ONE ANOTHER’S STAMINA & STRENGTH UNTIL ONE FELL . Piece by piece , year after year , they found each other , & one always came out on top . Boiling rage , rushing through his veins upon each & every defeat , SERVING TO FUEL FURTHER THE ALL - CONSUMING CONFLAGRATION BURNING WITHIN HIM . If there had ever been hope to revive the shadow of humanity within him , then it was lost the moment when obsession overshadowed it .
𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐀 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 , 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 ? Where wrath & fury long stamps out the possibility of human compassion ? It would seem so , where iridescent gaze stares out into the darkening stratosphere , VACANT , BURNING FIRE WITHIN THEM SHOCKINGLY QUENCHED . All he feels is the twitching muscle , hears the labored breathes gradually devolving into watery struggling , body further slumping against the elder for support .
IS THIS WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE ?
𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐘𝐀𝐖𝐍𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐓 , 𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐌 . Heavy clatter of sword against the rocky surface of the demonic tree loudly ringing within his ears & returning him to the present . PICK IT UP . PICK IT UP .
❛ Pick it up . ❜
𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍 , 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐈𝐑 , the spilled ink of ever blooming regret staining the pages of their history . It seeps between the words , STAINING & DESTROYING WHAT ONCE WAS . Perhaps it can be saved ( THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO SAVE IT . THERE MUST ) . A hair’s breadth longer , before he tries to pull away with Yamato , only to find himself anchored in place BY THE ARMS WRAPPING AROUND HIM . Prying them off wouldn’t have proved difficult , he’s blatantly aware of this fact , but something keeps him rooted in that very position , FROZEN ENTIRELY .
❛ I couldn’t have done it , y’know . ❜
𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 & 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐒 . Yamato’s end lowering to the ground , releasing her target with what Vergil could only imagine to be hesitancy on her part . SHE SINGS , THE MOURNFUL DIRGE HUMMING IN THE AIR as boiling blood cools upon once pristine surface . Setting his jaw , Vergil finds himself faced with a growing fury within his chest instead ( HIS HAND IS RIGHT THERE , IT’S RIGHT BESIDE HIS SWORD . HE COULD PICK IT UP AGAIN , STAND & FIGHT AGAIN ) , This is what he’s always wanted , wasn't it ? TO PROVE HIS WORTH , TO DEFEAT HIS YOUNGER BROTHER . This is where he would gain all that he’s ever wanted .
THEN WHY DOESN’T IT FEEL THAT WAY ?
𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 , 𝐒𝐎 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇 . Waves of uncertainty washing over him , MEMORIES FRACTURING FLOODGATE , SPILLING INTO MEGALOMANIC THOUGHTS . What was before a brief recollection of memories & precious moments locked away , now floods entire thoughts . HE’S A LITTLE BOY AGAIN , telling his brother to get on his feet & try again . He’s the little boy that reaches out towards twin ( INSEPARABLE , THEY ONCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN INSEPARABLE ) , to help him back onto his feet in order for them to continue , up until frantic cry put a stop to their mock battles in preventative measure .
❛ Get back on your feet . ❜
𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐘 . He watches as younger remains unresponsive to him , as if he hadn’t heard him . He watches as the blood flows freely from where Yamato was once embedded ( MORE THAN IT’S EVER BLED BEFORE ) , slicking hands in dark crimson . He watches as form struggles to remain upright , FOREARMS LIMPLY RESTING UPON THIGHS & HEAD BOWED . He can’t tell if he even hears him , if he even knows what’s happening anymore . Body swaying with the soft wind , blood pooling on the ground between his legs . WHY HASN’T IT HEALED YET ?
𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 as Dante continues , form further hunched over in pain . Even in finding himself faced with his words , HIS WILL OF EXPLANATION , shadows valley across the bridge of his nose , before instantaneously smoothing out . Brows slanting downwards as he stares at his younger brother ( THE ONE HE HAD SOUGHT TO PROTECT AT ONE POINT ) , life blood steadily bleeding through & saturating the front of shirt . Is this truly what he had wanted all along ? To put an end to their constant battles ( THOUGH THIS WENT FAR BEYOND A PETTY SQUABBLE NOW ) . Taking a step backwards , heel of boot sending a pebble skittering across the ground to be as quickly forgotten as much as his ability to speak .
𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐄 . 𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐋𝐘 , the mind painting each one as a masterpiece of ultimate defeat . YET UNBEKNOWNST TO THE TWIN , HE HAD DIED MORE TIMES THAN HE THOUGHT . Rise , O Lazarus , more powerful each & every time , with only one objective on the forefront of his mind . HE HAD TO PROVE HIS WORTH . TO HIMSELF . TO HIS BROTHER . TO THEIR FATHER .
TO THEIR MOTHER .
❛ Dante—————— ❜ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 , 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 , 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 . The wretched twist of fates setting him upon that treacherous path , STEELING RESOLVE & WILL , TENFOLD . Hours , days , YEARS , spent imagining the swelling sense of victory upon younger’s defeat . To come out victor , like he once so often did when they were younger . IT ALL FALLS GUT - WRENCHINGLY FLAT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW SECONDS . In the back of his mind , he hears that despairing plea for them to stop , rendered to complete silence .
𝐉𝐀𝐖 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒 𝐊𝐍𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐎 , he begins to wonder here if he should have allowed it to end here . ❛ You are just as naive as when we were children . ❜ His own voice echoes in his ears , staring at the failing body before him . THIS IS WHAT HUMANITY LED TO , DIDN’T IT ? ❛ But I will not allow it to end here . Retrieve your sword , Dante . Stand & fight . ❜ It cannot be ended here . Not with that confession . ❛ DON’T TELL ME YOU HELD BACK ON MY ACCOUNT . ❜
BUT HE KNOWS HIS LITTLE BROTHER .
𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐓 , 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 . He had known from the beginning , & had long since accepted it . A TRUE FOOL , RISKING ALL OF HUMANITY IN HOPES OF SAVING HIS BROTHER . Who was to save him now ? Who was to save the crooked grin that finds itself stretching across dirt - stained face ? Who was to save that mischievous chuckle & gleeful glitter winking up from pale blue eyes NOW DULLING AS THEY TURN TOWARDS THE SKY ? Who was to save that final breath from rattling within his chest with burning stars twinkling down upon him from the dark velvet sky ? WHO WOULD SAVE THE SAVIOR ?
Following silence pervades , & as such , the question would remain unanswered .
𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 . 𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐑 . This is all they knew , now to stand above him , STARING DOWN AT THE BODY , HIS BROTHER’S BODY , he feels that cold dread set within his bones . It feels nothing as he had imagined , for whatever sense of victory he could have felt , IS NOW INSTEAD TAINTED WITH BURGEONING REMORSE . He could have further goaded Dante , mocking him for failing to rise to his feet , BUT THEY WOULD HAVE FELT EMPTY . He’s no fool , he knows what death looks like . It looks like the fading of memories , the absence of laughter ( THE EMPTINESS OF A VAST SILENCE AS RESPONSE TO TAUNTS ) . It is the souring of purpose , the loss of reason through some twist of fate’s string , PROMPTLY SEVERED . He knows what death is , FOR HE IS DEATH , HE IS THE JUDGE , HOLDING & MANIPULATING LIFE WITHIN HIS THE PALM OF HIS HAND .
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 . 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐃 . What more is left now , if testament of his weakness ( IN TANDEM WITH HIS HUMANITY ) , now lays at his feet ? He finds himself questioning where to go from here , as opalescent frost drifts from a familiar face , to the gleam of crimson at the pommel of sword nearby . Breath catching in his throat , fist curling inwards before lifting a mournful blade to rip the blood from her surface , HER HOLLOW CLICK RESOUNDING IN THE PALPABLE SILENCE . Staring at the familiar stone embedded within fiery clutches . He staring at it , & the longer he does , the more he realizes what he’s done . Form lowering , hand extending with fingers brushing over its smooth surface ( IT’S AS BEAUTIFUL AS HE REMEMBERS IT ) . Her voice pushes into his mind , lovingly warm , bestowing upon them the one item symbolizing that they were to always be two halves of one whole . POWERFUL ON THEIR OWN , UNSTOPPABLE WHEN ONE .
𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 . Breath coming in a little more than a shudder , realizing the irreversible , reprehensible mistake committed . What more is there , now that one of the flames has been snuffed out ? MONSTER , HE’S BEEN CALLED . BEFITTING OF HIS TRANSGRESSIONS AGAINST HUMANITY . Even now , as he drags his hand away from that precious stone ( UNWORTHY . HE’S UNWORTHY OF POSSESSING IT ) , he accepts that there is no turning back , that he’s far past the point of no return . Deep rumblings of the Qliphoth drawing him from his thoughts , reminding him of what he had set about to do , & THAT NOW THERE STANDS NOTHING BETWEEN HIM & ———————-
𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 , 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 & 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 . But pieces of him lost each time , further & further straying from what he was , MORE DEVIL , MORE MONSTER THAN HUMAN NOW . Death to his humanity , wrought by his own hands & blind ambitions ( DESPITE ALL THAT ONCE WAS PRECIOUS , WHAT STILL WAS PRECIOUS , ONCE STOOD BEFORE HIM ) . Ironic , that where once it was crumbling body , it now infiltrates beyond surface , spreading within ( PIECES OF HIM FALLING AWAY , SCATTERING ACROSS GROUND WITH EVERY PROGRESSING STEP HE TAKES . ASHES TO ASHES & DUST TO DUST ) . Approaching what once had served as his tether to this world , NOW RESTING PEACEFULLY AS EMPTY GAZE STARES TOWARDS THE HEAVENS . He stands above him for a time , slowly lowering himself to take in the face of a twin he viciously sought to defeat . Slowly , slowly do his fingers glide over his brow , sliding down over his eyes to lay him to rest . IS THIS WHAT DANTE HIMSELF HAD WANTED ? Something about the faint smile touching upon his lips tells him so . Perhaps there is some measure of comfort to be found in that .
𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐍𝐎𝐖 , 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 . Dante had followed him to where he could , but where he goes now , HE COULD NO LONGER FOLLOW . Weighted sigh coming more of a hiss from his lips , briefly turning head as if to look back at where he lay , BUT THOUGHT BETTER OF IT . Opting instead for softer words ( DESPONDENT IN THEIR NATURE , DEVOID OF USUAL CRUELTY ) , serving as a bitter farewell to his dear brother , along with the humanity lain to rest beside him .
❛ ———————- Farewell , little brother . ❜
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 , along with being the final resting place of one . The other will forge onward in divergent path , set in his resolve & renouncing heart in doing so . May the savior find peace , FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD , WOULD NOT .
FOR HE IS THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA .
HE IS THE BEGINNING & THE END .
& THE BEGINNING OF THE END HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN .
