[ He wishes there were a bit more fire in that accusation--well, not so much accusation as accurate description of exactly what's been going on. Hearing it come from someone else makes it seem like a much less sound argument even if at the heart Dante knew it was stupid. It's avoidance--avoiding what could potentially go worse because he was afraid to lose it.
For being a guy so bent on having a family, Dante is really shit at knowing what to do with it when it's actually presented to him.
He doesn't regret keeping the secret of Vergil from Nero if only for his own safety. But he does regret not doing more about...everything else. Here. In this world. This world where they only obligations they have are the ones they choose, Summoned status be damned. Dante barely does anything about it.
Dante sighs, brows furrowing for a moment. His voice is also devoid of his usual humor, but he still manages: ]
Got it in one.
[ He isn't going to hide it. The entire point of coming here was to check in on Nero and to come clean.
It would be easy to let Nero shoulder some of the blame, sure, but Dante knows the burden is really on him. Nero has reached out. He reached out when he needed Dante the most. ]
Nah...wouldn't have mattered.
[ He made the concerted choice to keep his distance, once again figuring it was the best for Nero, but also because he felt bad. Guilty.
Dante finally lowers gaze and levels it out on Nero, still holding the cup of hot coffee, barely touched. ]
You asked for help and I couldn't deliver.
[ No jokes, no games. Just one failed uncle and a nephew who deserves better than the cards he's been dealt. ]
no subject
For being a guy so bent on having a family, Dante is really shit at knowing what to do with it when it's actually presented to him.
He doesn't regret keeping the secret of Vergil from Nero if only for his own safety. But he does regret not doing more about...everything else. Here. In this world. This world where they only obligations they have are the ones they choose, Summoned status be damned. Dante barely does anything about it.
Dante sighs, brows furrowing for a moment. His voice is also devoid of his usual humor, but he still manages: ]
Got it in one.
[ He isn't going to hide it. The entire point of coming here was to check in on Nero and to come clean.
It would be easy to let Nero shoulder some of the blame, sure, but Dante knows the burden is really on him. Nero has reached out. He reached out when he needed Dante the most. ]
Nah...wouldn't have mattered.
[ He made the concerted choice to keep his distance, once again figuring it was the best for Nero, but also because he felt bad. Guilty.
Dante finally lowers gaze and levels it out on Nero, still holding the cup of hot coffee, barely touched. ]
You asked for help and I couldn't deliver.
[ No jokes, no games. Just one failed uncle and a nephew who deserves better than the cards he's been dealt. ]
I'm sorry. Nero.