Chapter Text
"With all the noise you're making, brother," Vergil grumbled as they trudged through the undergrowth, "the target is going to hear us from a mile away."
That morning, they'd set off for a job together to fulfil a hit on a spellcaster. In all likelihood, it'd end up being a Baphomet or two. Three if they were feeling festive. Dante doubted that he'd need Vergil's help, but he'd taken it anyway. It was nice to have his brother back and Spardas bonded best in battle. Not that Dante's permission really mattered anyway. Vergil would've come regardless of Dante's opinion on the company. His older brother was at best a stubborn bastard and at worst an incorrigible old git.
"Sounds like a plus to me," Dante said. He paused as he cradled the back of his head with interlocked fingers and stretched his elbows out lazily. "Here's hoping they hear us coming and decide to skedaddle."
"And how, pray tell," Vergil scolded," do you intend to cash in the payment for a job you haven't actually completed?"
"Hadn't thought of that," he replied.
Dante pushed a branch out of the way and let it go at the exact moment Vergil stepped behind it. His twin caught it with a gloved hand before it could hit him in the face, much to Dante's disappointment.
"That's because you don't think at all," Vergil scowled at him.
"Not a big fan of the whole process. It hurts my brain too much."
"That tends to happen when a muscle goes too long without use, yes."
Stray leaves and twigs crunched loudly under their feet but Dante made no effort to soften the sound. So far, this gig had been a fat lot of nothing and there was a strawberry sundae at home with his name on it. The two walked in comfortable silence for a few moments until they came to a clearing.
Everything happened so quickly. Dante heard the muttering of a spell and reached for his gun, but Vergil reacted before he could even draw it. He threw himself in front of Dante and took the brunt of whatever curse had been meant for him. The witch was clearly startled by this turn of events, but Dante didn't have time to take advantage of this. He only had one thought: Vergil.
He scanned his immediate vicinity but couldn't make out where his brother had gone. All he could see was a pile of clothes where his twin had once been. Dante immediately began hyperventilating, his breath coming out in painful gasps because he'd just gotten his brother back and he couldn't lose him again.
"Vergil?" He called desperately. "Come on, Vergil, don't do this to me again."
The pile of clothes shifted. The coat fell away to reveal a familiar tone of silver-grey hair. Something was definitely wrong, though. Where before had been his 6"5 brother, now stood a figure half that height. The round face regarding Dante was familiar but wrong. It didn't belong in this time period.
The boy frowned at him a little and then uttered out a confused "father?"
Dante knew that voice, it belonged to the Vergil of his childhood.
"Nah, fraid not. A little weirded out that I could pass for pops, actually." He tried to sound casual as he said it.
Vergil's three-tailed coat, leather pants, and boots lay as a puddle at his feet. His vest now drooped down to his thighs, but it was a close cut and Dante didn't want to know what would happen when he tried to take a step. Dante began shucking off his coat under Vergil's wary gaze.
"Then how do you know my name? Who are you?" His brother frowned, his hand glued to the hilt of Yamato.
Dante clutched his hand to his chest in mock offence. "You're killing me. You really forgot about your little brother so easily?" He peeled off his Henley shirt and threw it in Vergil's general direction. "Here, cover up."
Vergil caught it but didn't otherwise move. "That's not funny. Dante is younger than me."
The abject disgust in this little Vergil's face as he scanned Dante's bare chest was certainly familiar.
"I was. Up until a few minutes ago when you shielded me from that spell and lost a couple years. Real dumbass thing to do, by the way, you had no idea what would happen. If you die again I'll kick your ass," Dante said.
Dante took in his brother's incredulous face and sighed. "You don't remember?" He half-heartedly searched for the witch but she had long since fled.
Vergil seemed to relax a little and finally slipped on the shirt. Dante pulled his coat back on in solidarity. Vergil didn't release his grip from the Yamato, but at least his dignity was preserved now. Dante's Henley looked like a nightdress on his twin and he was reminded of his brief stint of being the taller brother. Before Vergil's growth spurt had kicked in, Dante'd had a couple of inches on him and Vergil had not been pleased about it.
"Look, Verge, you can feel my energy can't you? The Yamato knows it too. I know it's a bit hard to believe, but it really is me."
Vergil paused to think over Dante's words, then hesitantly pulled out the Yamato a little from its sheathe. She must have still held some affectionate feelings from having Dante as her wielder during the Fortuna fiasco because Vergil's frown softened. Atta girl. Whatever she'd said must've eased his brother's doubts a little.
Vergil's face reminded Dante that they still weren't assuaged completely. "How do I know you're not just copying his energy?"
Dante sighed. His brother was nothing if not paranoid, but it wasn't like he could blame him. The shit they'd been through would leave anyone constantly checking over their shoulder.
"How could I prove it?" He scratched his head a little. "For our sixth birthday, you wrote me a poem. You had to ask mom for help writing it and then you had to explain it to me afterwards, you always were the brainy one, but it meant so much to me. I carried it with me everywhere and I cried when it accidentally got put through the wash. There, that satisfactory?"
Vergil nodded tentatively. "You're always such a crybaby. And I suppose only Dante would know that. "
"You're killing me, kid," Dante grumbled.
Vergil's mouth pursed with offence. "I'm not a kid. I'm almost seven."
"I've got more than twenty years on you at the moment, cut me some slack."
Dante scanned the kid and finally took in everything. Vergil's face was round and his eyes were wider. They weren't quite used to his constant scowling yet. He barely scraped Dante's hip at the moment by the looks of things. The mini-Vergil was clearly trying hard to look intimidating but he was awfully cute. His hair was much shorter now and stuck up whenever he tried to smooth it back. Dante's face softened.
"Let's go back to my shop and we'll figure things out there, huh?"
For once, Vergil didn't argue, he only nodded and followed his brother. Dante scooped up Vergil's coat, gloves, boots, and pants from their pile on the floor and the two made off for home.
"I'll be honest," Dante directed at Vergil as the kid sat on his leather couch. "I have no idea how to look after a kid- seven-year-old, sorry. Do you need a nap or something?"
"I'm not a baby," mini-Vergil scowled. "I don't need a nap."
"How about a book, then? I think you should have some kicking about in the spare room. You mind reading while I finish up a few things with work?"
"I can entertain myself," Vergil replied sulkily.
"Humour me."
Dante managed to collect a few poetry books from what had formerly been the adult Vergil's habitat. Mini-Vergil accepted the books quietly and kept himself busy while Dante tied up some loose ends. When he finally re-emerged to check on the kid, he discovered him fast asleep on the couch. The book was still open in his hand and his head lolled was lolled back.
" 'Don't need a nap', my ass," Dante grumbled to himself.
He delicately lifted Vergil's sleeping form and carried him upstairs. He'd always been a light sleeper, but clearly, he was pretty tuckered out by the whole transformation process. He didn't even stir as he was deposited on his bed and tucked in.