Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Been a while since we had a night in together,” Lady commented, lounging on the couch. The office was quiet without Jo and Nero. At least Jo was only at Patty’s birthday party, something Jo had almost begged them not to go to. As much as they loved Patty, not having to go out to a kid’s birthday party (Patty argued she wasn’t a kid anymore… but she had a themed party). “Wish we could enjoy it.”

Dante said nothing, but from his grim look, she figured he was thinking the same thing she was.

Nero and his arm.

“I still feel like Jo had a point that she did regrow that finger that one time. Maybe Nero could regrow his arm if he really tried,” Dante grumbled.

“How about I cut off your arm and see if you can regrow it!” Lady shouted.

She hated thinking about it. About how her baby boy had his arm ripped off by some monster. A monster that was highly likely to be…

“Lady, come here,” Dante said, pulling her out of her thoughts. Things were bad if he was about to comfort her. Without much reluctance, Lady sat in his lap and looped her arms around the back of his neck. He pulled her closer, burying his head in her short hair. He breathed out shakily.

“It might not be him,” Lady murmured, “It’s not like he’s the only one who can wield the Yamato.”

Dante didn’t say anything for a long while. Finally he said, “Lady… don’t…”

Lady conceded. She threaded her hands through his hair. It was getting a little long. She’d have to cut it soon. He made a pleased noise and Lady decided to at least try to take advantage of the office being empty. She moved one of Dante’s hands from her back to her rear.

He pulled away and raised a brow.

“I mean, I get if you don’t want to…” she muttered, “I just figured it’d be a way to get our minds off of…”

Nero. The demon that had stolen his arm. The Yamato.

His hand flexed, squeezing her rear a bit. The other guided her lips to his. They’d been married now for over twenty years, and Lady was still taken aback sometimes at how good at kissing he was. It would be more frustrating for him to be so good if she didn’t often reap the benefits.

She shifted, trying to open the buttons on her shirt, while Dante worked on kissing down her chin. Lady didn’t like getting completely naked in the office (anymore), but strategic clothing removal was fine for a situation like this. She tugged his shirt off, spreading her hands over his chest and shoulders, using the leverage to shift in his lap so she was straddling him.

A small moan left her and Dante chuckled. “Pent up are we?”

“Shut up,” she muttered, and rolled her hips so he made a noise of pleasure.

“Fair’s fair,” he replied in an almost gravelly tone, before kissing her again. Before he could get her shorts off, the door chimed as someone came in.

Dante froze and Lady glanced behind her to see Morrison standing awkwardly in the door. Dante closed Lady’s shirt, and Lady jumped off of his lap. Dante scooted his chair in and set his elbows on the desk. Lady tried to button up her shirt more, realizing belatedly that the buttons were not aligned.

Morrison coughed into his hand and Dante greeted him smoothly. “Good evening, something come up?”

“Sorry to interrupt your night in,” Morrison said.

“Do you have information on Nero’s situation?” Lady asked.

“I…” Morrison started, “Well, I might. I have someone who wants to speak with you.”

Another man entered the room. He was lean and dressed in black leather. His hair was long and dark, and he walked with a cane. He wasn’t a demon Lady thought… but there was something decidedly off about him.

“While you get acquainted, I’ll go find Trish,” Morrison said, making his way for the door.

“You think we’ll need Trish?” Lady asked.

Morrison glanced at her, and then to the man. “I think we’ll need everyone.”

On that ominous note, he left. The man snapped his book shut, and walked to the desk.

“I was surprised to hear the two of you were together still,” he said, glancing from the ring on Lady’s finger to the family portrait on the wall. Lady still couldn’t believe they’d actually gotten one, but it did fill the space nicely. Dante had insisted after Nero graduated and left the house.

“Yup,” Dante said, “twenty three years come November, how the time flies…”

Something mischievous glinted in his eye.

“You seem to know us… but I don’t think I’ve ever met you,” Dante continued.

“I do not have a name,” the man said, “I was born two days ago.” Then he smiled and added, “I’m kidding, you can call me V.”

“V?” Lady asked. He did look familiar, and yet she was sure she had never seen him before. “You know something about Nero?”

“About the demon who stole his arm?” V asked, “Why yes, that’s why I’m here. A powerful demon is going to resurrect soon, if it hasn’t already. And I need your help.”

“I cannot count the number of times someone has said that to me,” Dante said, “I’m sure I can handle it. So what are the details?”

Lady frowned. He was not leaving her out of this.

V seemed to have the same idea. “I don’t know… You’ll need all the help you can get. This isn’t like anything you’ve faced before.” V sauntered over to the desk and leaned over it. “He’s Urizen. Your reason for fighting.”

“So he’s…” Dante started, unable to finish his sentence.

The name V said was equal parts predictable and heartbreaking.

Chapter Text

Jo had been hiding in the cramped bathroom of the modified camper van for the past two hours, and she was starting to wonder if Nico had forgotten about her. 

Of course, she supposed Nico had more important things to be worrying about than the comfort of the girl she helped smuggle aboard, considering hell was being summoned to earth, and Jo and her brother were the only ones who could stop it. Also that Mom, Dad, and Trish had been, best case scenario, captured.

Well, Nero thought he was the only one, but Jo was just as much a quarter demon as he was. In fact, she might be stronger because she didn’t have a complex about it. To be fair to Nero, his complexes were probably less to do with the fact he was a quarter demon, and more to do with the fact his biological father— 

The van swerved and there was a loud thump under the wheels, throwing Jo into the ceiling. The following whoops implied the collision had been purposeful, but the swerving was not helping her stomach, which was in knots. She just had to wait until they were far enough in and then Nero couldn’t exactly send her back without stranding himself! It was a fool proof plan. 

Before she could breathe too easy, Nero said something to Nico that sounded like, “I gotta take a leak.”

To which Nico replied, “Mention my name and you’ll get a good seat.”

Nero muttered, “It doesn’t get any funnier the more you say it,” and had his hand on the door by the time Nico must’ve remembered who she’d stashed in there.

“Wait!”

Nero opened the door and stared at his sister for a moment, simply computing. Then he turned purple with emotion and said through gritted teeth, “Joann Virginia Alighieri—“

”Nero Evan Alighieri!” Jo attempted to parry, failing to match his height. Even with her last growth spurt putting her taller than their mother, she was still a head shorter than her brother. 

Jo’s charm did nothing to quell Nero’ anger and he slammed the door shut as hard as one could slam a camper van’s makeshift bathroom slidey-foldy-door, and asked Nico, “Nico! Why is my baby sister here when I distinctly told her and you she was staying with Kyrie!”

Jo pulled the door open and shouted, “Kyrie wanted me to come!”

“Liar!” Nero barked.

”Nero, Jo’s such a firecracker,” Nico said in defense, “Did you really expect me to come all this way with just your moody ass?”

”Language!” Jo and Nero exclaimed at the same time.

”Oh come on, ‘ass’ isn’t a swear,” Nico insisted, “And why shouldn’t she come along? We need all the fire power we can get to take on, you know, hell?”

Nero sat down moodily in the front seat, crossing his arms and looking out the window. Jo took that as capitulation and came out from the bathroom, stretching her limbs. There weren't any more car seats and so she sat on the bench-couch behind the driver’s seat. 

Nico swerved again, and this time Jo could see the demon making its way onto the road. 

The empulsa were ant-like and gross.

“Gottem!” Nico shouted as the demon rolled under the van’s reinforced wheels. She checked her mirrors to make sure it didn’t get up. 

Jo stood up and unsubtly flashed her learner’s permit in Nico’s eyeline. ”Can I drive?” she asked.

Nico seemed to think about it before Nero said, without looking up, “No.”

”Come on, but I have my permit!”

”We’re driving through a demon infested city,” Nero said, “I’ll take you to the church parking lot after this is all done to learn how to parallel park. We don’t need you trying to out-think one of those weird flesh pits that keep popping up because you don’t know your gas from your brake!”

”I already know that much,” Jo said, putting her permit back in her wallet. 

Nico snickered and that prompted Nero to ask, “What?”

”Just, wondering,” Nico started, “did you do that?”

”Do what?”

”Mix up your brake and gas?”

”Well, I was still learning, and—” he said and then saw her teasing glint and crossed his arms. After a moment he put his earphones on, looking back out the passenger window.

It was slightly amusing to see her brother, despite being all of twenty-two years old and married, still act like he did in high school at times. “You hurt his feelings, Nico,” Jo said.

”Oh, I forget he’s sensitive,” Nico responded, and told him loudly, “I’m sure you drive great now.”

He didn’t hear her over his music.

Jo shouted Nico’s compliment into his ear and he yelped in alarm. Comprehending the words, he smiled, saying, “I’m an amazing driver considering who taught me!”

That was true, Mom and Dad were not getting any safe driving insurance discounts… even if they had insurance. 

Before Jo could find something else to annoy Nero over, they reached a group of demons. Nico smirked at Nero who sighed and jumped out the window.

…

The military was in the process of being overrun by the time they arrived to the real start of the demonic plants. Nero wasted no time in jumping into action, not thinking about Jo. She assisted, jumping out of the van and firing on the demons.

One of the soldiers Nero saved could only stare in awe and confusion as the silver haired siblings fought off the demons. Jo, now a teenager, had her own sword, something Nico had helped cook up by studying Rebellion and Yamato. It wasn’t as powerful as an actual devil arm, but it certainly worked for their purposes. Nero’s own sword was an experimental prototype Credo had gifted him. 

Nero threw out his devil breaker, punching an empulsa in the face. On the return, the wire nearly clipped Jo, who shouted, “Watch it!”

“Sorry!” Nero said. Together they worked towards the end of the bridge, clearing the demons and the large root mass. Jo was clipped by one of the vines, her blood flashing red in the night. 

“No!” Nero exclaimed, ending the mass of demonic plants with an overdrive. 

“Great!” Nico exclaimed, “Be gentle with it!”

“I’m fine,” Jo claimed, getting up, her wound already healed.

Nico pulled up with the van, the siblings piling in. Nero crossed his arms as he sat down and announced. “Jo, you’re not coming with me.”

“Like hell I’m not!” Jo exclaimed.

“Let me finish,” Nero said, “Nico isn’t exactly a fighter. But obviously we need her because--” he gestured to his broken robotic limb. “So protect her.”

“I don’t need a babysitter Nero,” Nico reminded him. “I may not be even a little bit demon, but I can handle myself.”

“I can’t be out there and worrying about you,” Nero said plainly.

“Wait a second,” Nico started, “I got an idea. How did I not think of this sooner. Jo you can put demonic energy into your weapons right?”

“Better than Nero,” she said.

It was true, while Nero was the better swordsman, Jo had more of a grasp on her demonic power.

“Well, your momma was working on something that I was leaving alone, but I could finish it.”

“What is it?” Jo asked.

“Sniper rifle. Well, anti-material gun. It’s supposed to be mounted, but I figure you could handle it.”

Jo looked at Nero with wide pleading eyes. Nero sighed. “Fine,” he snapped. 

Jo picked up the weapon how  a normal girl might react to a new makeup pallet, with excitement. She pushed down her sunglasses to inspect it closer and then spotted a  qliphoth root and took aim. The rifle started to glow, and Nero had to admit, she was a bit better at that than he was. 

The shot lit up the dark with a swirl of red and blue, taking out the root in a flash of light. Jo smirked and looked at Nero knowingly. 

“Good shot,” he complimented, “Now try to keep up. I’m not babysitting you.”

“I’m not a baby any more,” Jo complained.

Nero tried not to worry. He flexed his robotic hand and thought about the demon that had stolen it. He hadn't been able to get a good look at the demon, but its energy had felt familiar. Nero didn't know what it felt familiar to, but figured it couldn't be good. Still, there was only one path now, and that was forward. 

Chapter Text

Nero fiddled with the radio in his ear. It was a bit of a pain, but Jo was weirdly good at radios, and it was more reliable than a cellphone when it came to demonic interference for whatever reason.

“You see me?” he asked, waving with Red Queen. He danced around the demons that were attacking, waiting for Jo to post up. With that happening, Nero turned to the demons and smiled.

“So, hope you don’t mind my baby sister, couldn’t find a babysitter.”

One of the Hell Caina lunged and Nero hit it point blank with a charged shot from Blue Rose. He used a burst of electricity to stun another, while swinging Red Queen in a powerful arc.

“Nero, this is Jo, One sec,” she said, and there was a rushing sound. “I’m on top of a building now. I see you. Over”

A bullet hit one of the demons in front, and Nero supposed there was one way of finding out if this was actually effective. To Jo’s credit, she didn’t hit him. 

Nero ran through the city, mowing down enemies, intent on the branch in the distance. Jo provided decent back up, sniping enemies that got too close. It was a bit frustrating how powerful she could make her bullets, but Nero supposed he was better at swordplay, especially after Credo started giving him lessons. Jo preferred marksman lessons with Mom.

Nero slashed and hacked, only wrecking his Devil Breaker a little. It started sparking, but he still had control over the snatch ability. 

When he reached the hotel, Jo said over the ear piece, “I’m going back to Nico. We'll find a way around. Over.”

“Sounds good.”

“By the way, you keep hot micing.”

“Why can’t you like boybands like a normal little sister.”

In defiance, Jo started playing Taylor Swift through the radio. Nero was relieved when he lost connection.

…

Once he left the hotel, he buzzed in. “Hey I’m on the other side, near a church, you nearby?”

“A church?” Nico asked, alarmed.

“Yeah, what’s the big deal?”

“There’s something, uh, big headed that way--”

A giant jumped down from the sky, a demon with a large toothed mouth on its stomach. It was headed in the direction of the Qliphoth, and Nero commented, “I see it. I got it.”

“Wait for me!” Jo demanded, but Nero removed the ear bud.

Nero took a moment to breathe and sighed as he readied his blade. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn’t help but throw a few barbs at the demon--Goliath--before the battle. 

With a satisfying slice, the demon’s reign of upset stomach was over, and it fell to the ground with a resonant thud. 

Nero stood over the demon, proud of his handiwork when an ominous presence arrived. From the direction of the hotel, V descended via Griffon to observe the battle ground and the felled demon. 

Nero narrowed his eyes, not trusting the strange man who had pulled him away from saving his parents and Trish from Urizen. 

“Pardon my delay, I was catching up on some reading,” V said.

Nero shook his head. Every second wasted was one where he might be too late to change his parents and Trish’s fate. At the very least, it delayed taking out Urizen. 

Before V could say more, a gun shot echoed through the empty buildings.

The bullet would have skimmed V had Griffon not pulled him out the way. Shadow snarled in the direction of the sniper, but Nero quickly shouted, “Down Jo!”

“Are you sure?” Jo shouted back.

“Yes!” Nero said, “Get down here!”

With a rattle and the screech of suspension, the van slammed onto the broken street. Jo jumped off of the roof and eyed V suspiciously. V seemed a little intimidated by her dual colored eyes, and leaned away. His demons remained summoned and on guard. “Hello… little girl.”

“Little girl?” she scoffed, “I’m fifteen, I’m hardly little. Nero, are you sure about this guy? He’s working with you know…” Jo used her rifle to point at Griffon and Shadow.

Griffon fluffed up in indignation.

“V is the one who got me out of there,” Nero said, not liking that he had to defend the man. “He’s the only one who knows anything about Urizen.”

“And that doesn’t make him more suspicious?” Jo asked.

“If I wanted to kill you I would have let Urizen kill Nero,” V said, “And let him take over the world.”

“Like I would just let that happen!” Jo exclaimed.

“Huh I thought…” V started, and then moved behind Nero. “She takes after her mother, doesn't she?”

“If you mean she can shoot the wings off a fly, you’re damn right,” Nico said.

Nero frowned and turned to look at V. “Do you know my mother?”

V had a far off look in his eyes before he replied, “No, I don’t suppose I do. Not well at least.”

“Where do we go from here?” Nico asked pragmatically.

“Onwards,” V said, vague as ever. They entered the van and Nico drove on. It was a bumpy ride, and rather tension filled with how Jo kept glaring at Shadow and Griffon.

“How come you got demons as pets?” she asked V directly.

V smiled as Griffon ran his mouth. “Pets?” the demon asked, “Do I look like a budgie to you?”

“What are you then?” Jo asked, “I’ve never heard of animalistic demons siding with humanity.”

“Who says we’re--” Griffon started but was shut off by V. 

“You’d be surprised what sort of allies will come your way when you’re in need. Demons do not forget debts as easily as humans can.”

“Forget debts?” Jo asked, “My mom has a special part of her brain just for that. To this day she knows how much money Dad has borrowed from her.”

“Lady was always an exceptional human,” V admitted.

“What are you?” Jo pressed.

“My mother groaned! my father wept.

Into the dangerous world I leapt:

Helpless, naked, piping loud; 

Like a fiend hid in a cloud.”

V quoted.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jo asked.

V looked at the girl with his mysterious gaze. In a far too neutral voice he said, “You are much like your father as well.”

Jo took that as a compliment as well.

“You keep saying you’re an infant and I might start believing you,” Nero quipped.

“You know it?” V asked.

“Nero loves to read poetry to Kyrie,” Nico butt in, and then felt the need to explain, “Kyrie is his wife.”

“Nico.” Nero didn’t need V hearing about his soft side.

“It’s true,” Jo chimed in, “I found his love poems under a floor board after he moved out.”

“Jo!” He couldn’t believe he forgot to grab those!

Instead of laughter, V merely seemed pleased at the concept. “Words are a difficult artform. Did you lady love appreciate yours?”

Nero couldn’t help the blush. It wasn’t embarrassing around Kyrie, but around others… Nero admitted, “She liked my effort.”

“Kyrie is too nice for her own good,” Jo agreed, “At least your proposal was better than Mom’s.”

“Your mother proposed to your father?” V asked.

Jo nodded. “She showed up with Nero and told Dad that they were getting married and he was faking a death in a car crash.”

“The car crash was a part of the proposal?”

“Dad tells it better,” Jo said, and then added, “Nero can tell my birth story, he was there.”

“I was more than there, I helped deliver you,” Nero reminded her.

“I was super cute, wasn’t I?” Jo hit a pose that was supposed to be cute or something.

“If you think wrinkly potatoes are cute,” Nero muttered.

“I’m adorable!” Jo proclaimed.

“Having seen both of your baby pictures,” Nico interjected, “Jo was cuter. Nero, you seemed like you were worrying about something even when you were a tyke. I still can’t get over that one Christmas picture. You were such a frowny gus. You got your dad’s eyes too which are a little intense.”

“You say that like Jo’s eyes aren’t freakier at night. Her eyes actually glow. The rest of ours don’t really.”

“Really?” V asked, and glanced at Jo as if to see if they were glowing. 

“I just needed better night vision,” Jo explained, “A little extra demonic power and it’s easy to see. Dad does it too.”

“Whatever, are we really just going to dive in against Urizen again?” Nero asked, “Do you think that my parents and Trish might be prisoner somewhere?”

“Mmm,” V started and looked out the window. “I expect Dante is Qliphoth pollen by now.”

“You take that back!” Jo shouted.

V held up his hands, an unapologetic smirk on his face. “I don’t mean to be macabre, but he was defeated by Urizen. There is no reason for Urizen to keep him alive. In fact, killing him would be in Urizen’s best interest.”

“My dad survived way tougher spots!” Jo exclaimed, “So has my mom, and Trish!”

“Regardless,” V said, “Our best bet is retrieving the Sparda. Nero, you should be able to wield it.”

Nero nodded. “Sounds fair. Do you know where it is?”

“We should be able to sense its power. In the meantime, heading towards the Qliphoth is the best bet.” 

They reached where the road fell into the bay. “We’ll need to find a way around,” Nico said. 

Nero and V exited the van. “I’ll meet you on the otherside,” V said, and let Griffon lift him away like if Miss Poppins and Edgar Allen Poe had a baby. 

“Right,” Nero said, waving goodbye to Nico and Jo.

Chapter Text

After working through the sewer and university, Nero finally came to a room that had signal. “Hey Jo, you hear me?”

On the other end came a static-y, “Nero, this is Jo, lima charlie, how me?”

Nero rolled his eyes, regretting getting those manuals for her. “Great, now I could use some help. You need my location?”

“Nero, this is Jo, Nico is following the tracking--”

A scuffle over the radio erupted until it cut. 

“Uh hey Nero, disregard any ideas about a tracking device that may or may not be on your arm.”

“Nico I don’t care if you put a tracking device on me. Just take it off once this is all over.”

“Right-O, be there in a jiffy.”

A few minutes later the van crashed through the ceiling of the building and Nero blinked. “I told you not to let Jo drive!” he exclaimed.

“Who you calling Jo?” Nico asked, taking a drag of her cigarette. 

“And don’t smoke around her!” Nero grumbled, going inside to get the devil breaker repaired. 

“Nero Nero,” Jo started, excitedly, “I shot so many demons. I was like wha-bam, and they were like--” she made her voice flat and robotic as she said, “deleted from existence."

“Wonderful,” Nero said, wondering why there was a pit in his stomach.

“I am making these as fast as I can, and you insist on treating them rough-like,” Nico complained, getting to work on the devil breaker.

Jo must have seen the look on his face, and glanced out the windshield at the door. “There’s something familiar in there,” she said. “You feel it too?”

He did. He didn’t like it. 

“I’m going too,” Jo declared.

“We don’t know what's in there,” Nero protested, “It’s too dangerous.”

“Nero,” Jo repeated and grabbed the antimaterial gun and left the van.  

Nero had no choice but to follow her. They entered the library, only for a flying demon to speed out of the sky. Nero narrowed his eyes, and was just able to dodge the lasers sent his way, cringing at the screaming. Jo was already trying to find an unnoticed spot to shoot from, and Nero swung his sword. 

Familiar or not, and not even in a demonic energy way, Nero faced down the demon. 

Its attacks consisted primarily of energy beams and bursts, which seriously hurt. 

“Nero!” Jo called out, “Dodge!”

Nero rolled out of the way of the next attack, muttering, “Helpful!” and used his devil breaker to grab onto the small starfish helpers and sling himself up to slash at the devil. It cried out as he hit it, but it was just a glancing blow to one of the wings. It healed from it almost automatically. 

Before he could try again, it reared up and spun in the screaming spiral at him. Nero rolled out of the way, charging up shots. He fired on it, Jo did as well, and the combination seemed to stun it. Nero attacked again with his sword, creating some superficial wounds on its tail. 

This pattern continued, of dodging, leaping, attacking, until a sword strike actually cut a significant portion of the demon open. But no guts slid out.

“Nero!” Jo exclaimed, and she didn’t need to see more, Nero saw it too. The demon was hollow. Thinking quickly, he sliced it open, revealing a naked woman. Nero caught her before she could hit the ground, cradling her head. 

“...Mom?” Nero asked, as it was indeed his mother. She groaned, but didn’t wake up. Jo ran up too, calling to Nico. 

“It was Mom?” she asked.

“How the hell did you guess it was Mom?” Nero asked.

“Is she okay?” Jo pressed, kneeling beside him.

“I… I think so. Here, you take her,” he said, and shoved their mom into her arms, taking her rifle. Jo didn’t complain, and brought her to the van. 

“It’s your momma?” Nico asked, “for real?” holding the door open for them. 

Jo laid her down on the bench, and Nico draped a blanket over her.

“If Lady was in a demon that means Trish and your dad--”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Nero interrupted. “We need to get moving.”

Nico frowned, and Jo started cleaning the gunk off of Mom. Nero sat in the passenger’s seat and tried not to hope. 

“You know, for birthing at least one kid, you would not be able to tell,” Nico commented.

“That’s my mom,” Nero snapped.

“And I’m giving her a compliment,” Nico said, “How old is she anyways?”

“Thirty,” Jo said.

“Mom’s not thirty,” Nero said, “You realize that would make it so she adopted me at like, eight. Right?”

“She would have had me at fifteen, which is possible,” Jo said.

“How old is Dad then?”

“I don’t know, like, forty?”

“Dad’s like a year older than her.”

“Man if your mom was this powerful as a demon, imagine how bad your dad and Trish will be,” Nico said.

“Not helping,” Nero burst.

“Because like, have you ever actually beat your dad? Or Trish for that matter?” Nico asked.

“I have,” Jo said.

“That doesn’t count,” Nero said, “Dad would actually kill himself if he hurt you in any way.”

“Easy, we use me as a shield and then free Dad,” Jo said.

Nero’s frown deepened. He wanted to have optimism, but the fact was if Dad was dead, things were bad. If Dad was mind controlled, things were worse. To face Urizen as well as a mind controlled Dad would be suicide. 

“Chin up,” Nico said, a little softer, “I don’t like seeing you all gloomy. For Jo’s sake at least.”

Nero supposed she was right. 

“Nero,” Jo said, “All of Mom’s scars have faded.”

“They have?” 

Jo nodded. “I always thought her stretch marks looked cool.”

Nico laughed. “You won’t feel that way when you get them.”

“I can’t scar,” Jo reminded her. 

“Rat bastard,” Nico cursed.

“Nico do NOT call my baby sister a rat bastard.”

“I won’t once she stops rubbing it in my face she hit the genetic jackpot.”

“Genetic jackpot?” Jo asked, “I can’t get a tattoo because it would fade too quickly, and I can’t get my ears pierced because it basically never heals! I have to wear clip on earrings like a child! And, I want curly hair!”

“I’ll take you to get a perm once this is all over,” Nico dismissed.

…

Gilgamesh put a road block in things, but with Jo’s help, was surprisingly easy to defeat. V running away was more annoying. 

By the time they got back to the van, Nico exclaimed, “your mom’s awake!”

Jo ran past Nero, pushing him out of the way. Nero frowned, but followed her. By the time he got in the van, Jo was already kneeling on the ground hugging Mom’s stomach. Mom pet Jo’s hair, comforting the crying girl with, “Oh… Joann, you shouldn't have come all this way.”

“I had to,” Jo said.

Nero held back, sure he was going to get scolded for not having a better control on his sister. Instead, Mom looked up at him and held out her arm. Nero let her pull him to her, holding back tears himself. 

“Have you found Trish or your dad?” she asked.

“Not yet,” Nero said, pulling away. “We were wondering if you knew anything more.”

She furrowed her brows, trying to remember. “Trish… was captured the same as me. Dante…” she shook her head, sadness washing over her. 

“Well, can’t drive any further,” Nico said, slamming on the brakes. In front of them was a pile of rubble. 

“Nero,” Mom started, holding his devil breaker.

Nico glanced back and smiled, “Ain’t it a piece of beauty Mrs Lady? I made that with some demon parts and other odds and ends. Almost better than his actual--” Nico stopped herself, “That is--it’s quite nice.”

“About the demon that stole your arm,” Mom said, running her hands over the metal devil breaker. Jo watched with wide eyes. “We suspected from the start, but… didn’t want to tell you until we were sure.”

“What is it?” Nero asked.

“Urizen is Vergil,” she said.

Nero froze. “That… That thing is my biological father?”

“He didn’t look like that back in the day,” Mom said, “we don’t completely know how he returned, but you can’t go on. Wait for Dante--”

“What do you mean?” Nero asked, then scoffed, “Who else can stop him? You?”

Mom’s brows furrowed. “Nero. I’m serious. It’s not right--”

“What does right or wrong matter when my uncle is trying to end the world! Beside, you killed your rat bastard of a dad, you know better than anyone--”

“It’s because I’m the sort of monster that killed my father that I don’t want that for you!” Mom burst. 

“So what? Dad should kill his brother? Again?” Nero asked, “You told me I was the only thing that got him out of that funk. Are you planning on having another baby? If he’s even alive still!”

“Don’t use that tone with me,” Mom snapped at Nero, but pet Jo’s head again. After a moment, she added reluctantly, “You should go find your father. Together you stand a better chance.”

“I would if I knew where Dad was,” Nero said, “Right now, if we don’t stop Urizen, the whole world is at stake!”

Mom leveled her gaze on him and said, “I suppose you are a man now. I can’t stop you, if that is what you think is right. And no matter what, I love you.”

“I love you too,” Nero grumbled.

With that, V opened the van door, “Finally done?” he asked.

Jo wheeled on him and said, “Were you eavesdropping?”

V smiled and said to Lady, “Glad you’re looking so well.”

“You too…” Mom said, “I guess.”

To Nero he said, “We need to get to the tree, time is running out.”

Nero nodded, and V left. Mom narrowed her eyes at the strange man. “Do you think we can trust him?”

“I don’t know,” Nero admitted, the same time Jo exclaimed, “I don’t trust him. Why does he look so much like Trish? Isn’t that weird?”

Nero blinked. V… did look a fair bit like Trish now that Jo said it. Could he be their relative on Grandma Eva’s side?

“Regardless of if we can trust him, he’s the only one who seems to be able to help,” Nero said, and then dipped his head to kiss his mom on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, Mom.” And then ruffled Jo’s hair. It was with the devil breaker, so some of her hair got caught in it. 

“Ow!” she exclaimed.

“You should cut it,” Nero said.

“No!” Jo exclaimed, and carefully untangled her hair from the robotic hand. 

“Take care of Mom,” he told her.

“Already on it,” Jo said.

Nero didn’t understand how his sister went from crying to such bravado so quickly, but now was not the time to unravel such a mystery. He left to follow V.