[Vergil raises an eyebrow because this is undoubtedly one of the most juvenile, foolish things he's been party to in a while, but absolutely at all with Nero. It's possibly enough to make Nero think he isn't going to do it. Deem it beneath him both in being challenged like this and the general use of the word.]
[While Nero busts a gut laughing, Vergil suppresses any wider smile from forming at his son's laughter by taking a calm sip of water. It is a nice sound though, and it is certainly a much better sight than the hot, angry tears before they departed for the noodle shop.]
[Okay, fair enough... He's got quite a bit more of the bowl to go and Vergil probably has better things to do than pat his ass and watch him eat all afternoon. Nero shakes his head again and looks like he's going to make some sassy retort to that, but doesn't.
Instead, he tucks back into his noodles and hesitates a moment before coming up with something else to say.]
[Although Vergil says nothing to it, only acknowledging it with a slight nod to allow Nero to return to his noodles in relative peace, it still remains no small thing to hear Nero call him Dad. There had been a bit of a gap from when Nero said it the first time to when he heard it again afterward, and still gaps between that and the time after. But little by little, the gaps are closing. Nero does not seem to be awkwardly debating which name to call Vergil by, or building himself up to say it confidently, or whatever it was going through his head before he says it, and Vergil cannot think the last time he heard his name from Nero. So, by now, it's perhaps not an entirely novel thing to have Nero call him Dad. But Vergil's heart feels all the fuller for it regardless, warmed by such simple affection in a single word that Vergil once thought would be nearly impossible for him to possess.]
[He feels...good about today, he reflects.]
[For as little as he (hopefully) displayed to Nero, Vergil had some nerves going into this training session with him. Vergil knew their fight atop the Qliphoth was not reflective of his own skill and strength, for one. The potential for such inaccurate expectations easily set the stage for something precarious all on its own. Factor in that it was the first time the pair were to clash with one another physically since agreeing to put off sparring with one another until there was a degree of comfort... Well, it was hard for Vergil not to feel a degree of nerves about the whole affair. And, of course, Vergil did not like witnessing Nero's breakdown when it finally erupted. What parent could watch their child tear themselves apart the way Nero had and do so without their own heart aching as well? It was only an additional layer in knowing that Nero was afflicted with a similar anxiety that had hounded Vergil for most of his life, and still does in moments when he's allowed his guard to lower or unwanted reminders arise.]
[But Vergil felt... Well, it may be an oversimplification all that happened today and what Vergil did, and it feels a bit foolish to think of it this way, but he's felt like a dad today. Like he earned it this time when Nero says it. Even with the anticipatory anxiety and the moments of uncertainty and the discomfort of vulnerability, he was able to guide Nero through today and helped him through hot, angry tears to full belly laughter. So, he felt like a dad. Feels like one even now while Nero focuses on eating and Vergil sits in companionable silent with his water. He feels so oddly grateful to Nero not just for giving him the word to describe how it feels in this moment, but for allowing him to help in the first place. For trusting him enough to make it better, not make it worse.]
[Once Nero is done eating, there is nothing else to do in the shop, but leave the dishes behind for the staff to bus. They leave behind the warmth of the noodle shop and step back out onto the chilly street. With home so close, there's no sense in using the Yamato, and so they walk instead.]
[They are only a few paces away from the noodle shop before Vergil reaches over and ruffles Nero's hair. It's brief—and nothing too rough given the soreness throughout most of his body still—but it's a silent gesture of affectionate gratitude. There will not always be days like today, but it is these sorts of days that Vergil can easily understand why they are what make the harder ones worth it.]
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[But then...!]
Fuck.
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[Too bad Dante is never going to believe this... Nero shakes his head and works out the last few snorts before taking a sip of water.]
Amazing. I think it works for you.
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Finish your noodles, child.
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Instead, he tucks back into his noodles and hesitates a moment before coming up with something else to say.]
Thanks. Dad.
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[He feels...good about today, he reflects.]
[For as little as he (hopefully) displayed to Nero, Vergil had some nerves going into this training session with him. Vergil knew their fight atop the Qliphoth was not reflective of his own skill and strength, for one. The potential for such inaccurate expectations easily set the stage for something precarious all on its own. Factor in that it was the first time the pair were to clash with one another physically since agreeing to put off sparring with one another until there was a degree of comfort... Well, it was hard for Vergil not to feel a degree of nerves about the whole affair. And, of course, Vergil did not like witnessing Nero's breakdown when it finally erupted. What parent could watch their child tear themselves apart the way Nero had and do so without their own heart aching as well? It was only an additional layer in knowing that Nero was afflicted with a similar anxiety that had hounded Vergil for most of his life, and still does in moments when he's allowed his guard to lower or unwanted reminders arise.]
[But Vergil felt... Well, it may be an oversimplification all that happened today and what Vergil did, and it feels a bit foolish to think of it this way, but he's felt like a dad today. Like he earned it this time when Nero says it. Even with the anticipatory anxiety and the moments of uncertainty and the discomfort of vulnerability, he was able to guide Nero through today and helped him through hot, angry tears to full belly laughter. So, he felt like a dad. Feels like one even now while Nero focuses on eating and Vergil sits in companionable silent with his water. He feels so oddly grateful to Nero not just for giving him the word to describe how it feels in this moment, but for allowing him to help in the first place. For trusting him enough to make it better, not make it worse.]
[Once Nero is done eating, there is nothing else to do in the shop, but leave the dishes behind for the staff to bus. They leave behind the warmth of the noodle shop and step back out onto the chilly street. With home so close, there's no sense in using the Yamato, and so they walk instead.]
[They are only a few paces away from the noodle shop before Vergil reaches over and ruffles Nero's hair. It's brief—and nothing too rough given the soreness throughout most of his body still—but it's a silent gesture of affectionate gratitude. There will not always be days like today, but it is these sorts of days that Vergil can easily understand why they are what make the harder ones worth it.]