Hell Freezes Over

[x_devil_in_me_x]

Syn would probably liken him to the Eagles' song 'Desperado'. He didn't have enough sense to come back from riding fences.

Dante smirked at the wayward thought, as he walked down yet another twisted path. His bike had run out of gas quite a ways back, which was ok with him, he was good on foot or bike.

He'd killed so many devils that he stopped counting, but yet he kept on walking. Something was out there, calling him. He was sure of it.

He didn't know how long he had been in Hell, since time moved differently.

He ducked an attack from two devils, Ebony and Ivory immediately in hand blazing away. It didn't take long until the two devils joined their comrades.

Still, he knew something was out there. And he'd keep searching until he found it.

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[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

The feeling drew him down more twisted paths, to the ruins of a large building. Some past- or present- war had reduced the Greco-Roman architecture to little more than rubble. It was unusual in the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere, and the insistent feeling that had drawn the Devil Hunter here was coming from somewhere inside.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

He stood outside the building, scanning the outside. Looks like only one entrance, which was all right with Dante. He vaguely wondered if it was a trap. But he wasn't worried. Hell, he got off on this sort of thing. Syn would say it's his version of foreplay.

With a chuckle and a shake of the head, Dante entered the building.

His guns were drawn, Rebellion strapped to his back, one amulet around his neck, the other in his inside coat pocket, right over his heart where it always was. Dante wandered through the room with his usual arrogance.

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

The building was unusually quiet and empty. Either something was very wrong, or Dante had already taken out all the inhabitants. Whatever the reason, the feeling was getting stronger, drawing him deeper into the building and down some stairs to what seemed to be a dungeon.

At first glance it seemed to be empty. But in the furthest cell, a familiar figure was huddled motionless in the corner.

Vergil?

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

He stopped walking, stopped breathing for a moment to. It seemed his heart stopped. If this was a joke, it was a cruel one. He didn't know what to believe.

Could it have been his sixth sense that had brought him here? Could this be Vergil? He didn't know, and that's what hurt.

He stepped forward, opening the door to the cell and walked in.

"Vergil? Is that you?"

He had to see his face, had to know for sure.

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

The figure flinched at his voice, letting out a faint whimper and curling up tighter. He was naked, pale flesh covered with badly healed scars, hair so dirty and matted with blood it was hard to say what the original color had once been.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

Whoever this was, he was what Dante had been seeking. His heart called out Vergil, but he had to know for sure.

He hunkered down on his haunches and reached a hand out to place on the being's arm. It wasn't his way to be careful and soft spoken, but he had seen Syn gentle animals by being both.

Obviously this man had been tortured, and he needed to be handled with finesse. Not for the first time he wished that Syn was with him, she'd know what to do.

Channeling as much of her gentleness as he could he rubbed the man's shoulder, "Hey, it's ok. You're safe now. Can you look at me? It's going to be ok."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

The man flinched away from the touch, looking up with wild, terrified eyes. There was no recognition in the familiar blue eyes, but there was no mistaking his identity.

It was definitely Vergil. Or what was left of him.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

"Son of a bitch." The curse was a whisper. He couldn't believe this was his brother.

He moved his hand back, holding up both hands, making sure that it was clear he meant no harm.

"Hey now, it's ok, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Vergil. It's me, Dante. Don't you remember me?"

He sat down cross legged, staring into those haunted blue eyes, he felt sick, physically ill.

"Can you sit up, Vergil? Are you hurt?"

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil remained silent, pressing as far into the corner as he could watching Dante with wide, frightened eyes. It was hard to say how long he'd been down here, but judging from their last encounter, it might have been long enough for him to forget how to speak.

And he didn't recognize Dante, not the name. But his appearance...the red one? The one who had defeated him? He vaguely remembered a longing, followed by extreme pain and Master's wrath. Master would be furious if he found the red one here. Master would take it out on him. At that, he whimpered and curled up tightly.

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil let out a panicked, wordless cry when he was grabbed, struggling briefly. He went still a moment later, tense and trembling.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

He rubbed Vergil's arms, trying to sooth him, "It's ok."

He stepped away from Vergil, slowly letting him go. "Don't run."

He turned to Nevan again, "Syn? Where is she?"

Nevan pointed towards the back, "Nexus. She should be back soon."

Dante sighed, "Vergil, turn around and look at me."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil whimpered, still tense and trembling. Reluctantly he turned to look at the red one, glancing briefly at the succubus. Every instinct was telling him to flee, he'd been ordered to hide if devils came near, and now he was being told not to with devil in the room with them? He was confused and frightened, and at a complete loss.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

He sighed, "Vergil, this is Nevan. She won't hurt you. She obeys me."

He hated the fact that his brother was this way, but none of that showed, "You are safe, do you understand me?"

He grinned, "I promise."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil was growing more distressed the longer he was in the room with the others. He was trembling so much he finally collapsed, almost sobbing as he scrambled into a corner.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

Dante cursed, if finally hit him. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid. He scrambled over to Vergil.

"Take my hand."

He'd get Vergil out of here and to a place that was calmer.

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil didn't respond for a long moment, then he slowly took the red one's hand. He was struggling not to shut down completely- Master hadn't been at all happy the last time he did- but it was hard.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

He pulled Vergil to his feet.

"Follow me."

He started walking down the hall way leading towards the bedrooms.

"Nevan, if you see Syn before I do, send her to me."

Nevan nodded.

He stopped at the extra bedroom and opened the door, and walked inside. Turning to look at Vergil.

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil remained silent, just relaxing with his eyes half-closed. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so comfortable and he wondered how long it would last before things went back to normal.

[x-devil-in-me-x.livejournal.com]

Dante closed his eyes, relaxing for a bit too, They had time before food arrived.

Nevan peeked her head in, and turned back to Syn who was in the office.

"They're relaxing."

Syn nodded, "That's good. I think we have our work cut out for us, Nevan. Vergil is in terrible condition. I'm not talking physical, I'm talking mental here. We have to do everything we can to help him. I'm worried about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as the differences in human and demon psyches."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil had perfected the art of resting without actually sleeping. It never paid to let his guard down. Thus he was instantly alert upon hearing something knocking in the distance. He sat up in alarm, then skittered off the far side of the bed, curling up out of sight of the door.

[deadly--whisper.livejournal.com]

Dante hadn't moved, he had fallen into a cat nap. His brain registered the movement of Vergil, but his eyes didn't open, "Vergil it's ok."

Pretty soon the sound of footsteps got closer, as well as the scent of a fresh pizza and fresh blood.

Syn returned to the room, carrying in one hand two pizza boxes and plates and in the other a container of blood.

She looked at Dante, "Where's Vergil?"

Dante motioned to where Vergil was curled up, "The knocking scared him."

Syn nodded and sat everything down on an end table, then she moved the table over to Dante, "Vergil, come here, I have your food."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil slowly peered out, then crept closer, watching them both warily. He was hungry, he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten, but he didn't dare look at the food even if his mouth was watering.

[deadly--whisper.livejournal.com]

She picked up the carton of blood and sat down beside Dante closest to Vergil, "Here, why don't you join us?"

She kept the carton outheld, not moving it, she'd know that look in his eye anywhere, he thought that she'd take his food. Ares had had that same look in his eye in the beginning.

Dante grinned, watching Syn work her magic, "Yea, Vergil, join us. We won't take your food, we have plenty for ourselves."

[bathed-in-shdw.livejournal.com]

Vergil glanced at the container, then looked from the red one to the female and back. He slowly reached for the container, hesitating halfway, then finally took it and backed away a little. Once assured it wasn't going to be taken away- and that he wasn't going to get punished- he started drinking the blood inside.

If nothing else, he still had enough manners not to eat like a pig and make a mess.

[deadly--whisper.livejournal.com]

Dante on the other hand, doesn't quite have those manners. He stacks his plate high with Pizza and begins to chow down, not caring if he gets sauce all over his chin.

Syn looked from one brother to the next, "Well I can see which of you got the table manners."

She smiled at Vergil, "Is that going to be enough? I ordered extra blood so we have plenty."