[ He was expecting two things: either Nero decides not to open the door, understandably so, or when he did he would be ready and rearing to throw accusations Dante's way. Either of those would have been easier to face than just a simple clipped
What?
There's a pang in his chest, not because Nero isn't filled to the brim with his usual fiery indignation, but that it just sounds all too much like Vergil. Simple annoyance. Simple disappointment. A question and a dismissal all in one little word.
Dante has to fight the urge to smile at it. Not because it makes him happy, oh no. It's a force of habit to force a smile when smiling is the last thing you feel like doing.
The pause between them is awkward as all hell. Dante had come prepared, or so he thought, but he's finding himself feeling very on the spot all of a sudden.
"Just wanted to see how the old van was holding up."
"Nice sign you got there, kid."
"Hadn't been to your domain yet and I've gotta say--"
All the casual quips that build up in his throat. It's so easy to fall into them, to write anything serious off as anything but because reality kind of sucks ass sometimes. Because he doesn't want to admit to Nero that he fucked up when Nero had, in his own way, asked for help. That he'd chosen silence not because it's what Nero needed, but because it's what Dante knew.
His brows push together as Dante returns a simple question with another, ]
no subject
What?
There's a pang in his chest, not because Nero isn't filled to the brim with his usual fiery indignation, but that it just sounds all too much like Vergil. Simple annoyance. Simple disappointment. A question and a dismissal all in one little word.
Dante has to fight the urge to smile at it. Not because it makes him happy, oh no. It's a force of habit to force a smile when smiling is the last thing you feel like doing.
The pause between them is awkward as all hell. Dante had come prepared, or so he thought, but he's finding himself feeling very on the spot all of a sudden.
"Just wanted to see how the old van was holding up."
"Nice sign you got there, kid."
"Hadn't been to your domain yet and I've gotta say--"
All the casual quips that build up in his throat. It's so easy to fall into them, to write anything serious off as anything but because reality kind of sucks ass sometimes. Because he doesn't want to admit to Nero that he fucked up when Nero had, in his own way, asked for help. That he'd chosen silence not because it's what Nero needed, but because it's what Dante knew.
His brows push together as Dante returns a simple question with another, ]
How are you?