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Wait….please wait for me.
Vergil grasps his little brother, Dante's chest is heaving with failed attempts at a single breath. The attack was fast, too fast. Their mixed exhaustion caused them both to lag, yet the attack aimed for him was blocked by Dante’s own body. Royal Guard nonexistent in his weakness, yet effective all the same in such a damaging way.
The attack went right through Dante's chest, pricing his heart and lungs all at once- their demonic healing no longer available once again thanks to their exhaustion. Nearly a whole month of fighting with little to no rest will affect everyone, including half breeds like themselves. The result is clear, the same with the end, yet Vergil refuses to understand it.
“Dante…please, hold on,” Vergil begs for the first time in decades. What he's witnessing is straight out of one of Mundus's illusions, yet the biting and blaming words are never spoken. Dante is simply smiling…staring up at his older brother with painfully soft eyes.
Why is he so forgiving? Vergil wonders that very thing since they were children, being the oldest brings forth an overwhelming feeling of annoyance. Dante is very good at annoying him, almost born for it. However, no matter what Vergil did or said- Dante would always forgive him and come back to grace his big brother with his presence. The sun facing the moon. Yin and yang…but identical all the same.
Always called out for being a nuisance more than he ever was. The pleas and wants of having those simple annoyances after the fire that destroyed their childhood was all Vergil truly wanted. For everything to be painfully simple- for life to be as it was. Together. “Dante…you fool…why,” Vergil mutters, putting his free hand on Dante's cheek.
Asking anything was futile, Dante couldn't do anything but gasp for air. Choking on his own blood, something Vergil knows without a doubt that his twin has experience in. Yet, this time it won't go away. The red twin's shaking hand reaches up, making Vergil grab onto it to keep it from falling once more. ”Why won't you heal?” He whispers, his eyebrows drawing together. In response…that smile stretches.
They both know why.
All Vergil can do now is start to cry, tears racing down his face- dripping down the ridge of his jaw and dropping onto Dante's raised hand. It mixes in with his blood, further sharing like they were always made to do. An idea forms, the blue twin moves to grab Yamato but with a sudden burst of strength he is stopped. “Dante,” he breathed, witnessing the very strong look he only remembers in his broken memories.
“Don't deny me this…please…please,” Vergil sobs, choking on his own grief. He feels like a child he still desperately wanted to be. His very wish was taken away by the very look his little brother gives him- he couldn't give his blood…it would kill him. But he can't live without Dante, he didn't want to live without his brother. Why can't they both just rot together? Why must Dante always take things from him? Why?!
A rumble breaks Dante's breathless nature, his demonic side appearing if only for noise in an attempt to calm. Vergil just laughs brokenly, his own demonic side whimpering and whining- breaking past his strong hold…powerless to the effects of his own dying kin. Dante's thumb lightly caresses Vergil's knuckles, a silent request. A silent reminder.
Nero.
A child he didn’t even know he had…a son that is waiting for them both. He forgot about him…if only for a few breaking moments of this fragment of time. His little brother is reminding him of his son- that just causes Vergil to curl around his slowly breathing brother. His heart being repeatedly torn apart by the painful cries and shattered purrs of comfort he didn't deserve. “Damn you…Damn you, Dante,” he chokes, resting his forehead against his.
He feels the smile once again, just weaker. It was nearing the end…Dantes fleeing strength draining at every frantic rise of his chest. Slower and slower till it's barely felt against Vergil's own chest. “Dante…it's not your fault. What you believe you caused was merely a result of others in play…don't take that weight of what-ifs and guilt with you,” Vergil begins, stopping every now and then on a shaking breath.
Dante stares up at him, his slightly foggy eyes giving Vergil all he needs to know. “I love you, little brother. I don't hate you and I'll be there for your adoptive family,” he finishes, feeling and watching the weight drop from his twins’ shoulders.
“I…love you too, Verg,” Dante whispers, before he goes still. His eyes closed halfway, no longer focused on his big brother. Chest still and smile frozen in place. Vergil is still, eyes wide as his mind blanks in reaction. His very soul screams in tune with Yamato.
“Dante?” Vergil mutters, shock settling into his system. “Brother?” He tries again, pushing Dante's hair back softly- trying to get a reaction. Then, he breaks.
“Please no…please. Please,” Vergil sobs loud. “Dante, please don't leave me…please, I beg of you. I promise I'll stay,” he tries to bargain, bringing up everything he could to no avail. His little brother…his twin is gone.
And there is nothing he could do but hold onto his slowly cooling body and weep into dehydration as hell continues on like nothing ever happened. His baby brother continues to rot in his arms as he so wishes to follow in kind, yet he made a silent promise. With one last pitiful whimper, he rises with Dante in his arms with his jacket covering him.
The blue twin begins the trek out of hell like a walk to death row, doing what his little brother asked of him one last time.