Little Devil Bringer

Arms wrapped around his form as she secured him, eyes remained fixated down at the boy. “Maybe you should see if Natalia will make you some with some crafts things?”

He nestled into her, glad for the secure warmth she provided. "Nuh uh, I want real ones... Daddy's are real warm an' soft.."

"You’ll see him soon, any day, I bet.. I want to see him, too. " She assured. "What is your Daddy doing?"

Nero shrugged, climbing into his grandmother's lap, where he belonged. "I dunno. Workin' I guess. I want wings like Daddy."

"He has.. Your Grandfather’s attitude, surely.." She whispered, leaning down to see him eye to eye.

His smile faded, until it was a pout. "I wanna see Poppop... But I wanna sit with you, Nanna. Til Daddy comes to get me."

"I’m sure she’ll stay, Nero. No one can say no to your little face."

That made him smile bright. "Daddy tells me no a lot. Is it 'cause he's got a face like me?"

"Did she? That was awfully nice of her, wasn’t it? Are you and your Daddy enjoying her company?"

He nodded vigorously. "Mhm! She said she's gonna leave but I want her to stay an' play with me."

hidetheglow:

"I see! Where did you get that horsey?"

"Miss Nat got him for me. We went to Walmart an' Mcdonalds, then we went home an' Daddy made s'mores for us!"

A gentle laugh came from the brunette, reaching over and patting Nero on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah I did. Usually I would heal, but this time I need these bandages, but only for a little while. It’s my job to take hits after all. You don’t need to worry about me.”

He was careful of her, being sure not to move around too much or bounce and possibly hurt her. "Ohhh... Did you get in a big fight?"

"I don’t know. I can’t really say." Billows of brunette hair spread out in the water, darkened by it’s dampness as her fingers ran through his own wispy, white locks. She’d like to. But that may prove to be difficult.

"You should ask Daddy then. I bet he'd let you stay." After all, Dante usually let him have things if he said please, so did Mama-Rina and Nanna. So why would this time be any different?

“I’ll always play with you, unless I’m really busy with adult stuff that can’t wait.” Closing her eyes, she was content holding the toddler and basking in this sunlight.

Nero smiled at that, curling up against her chest. She was a lot cooler than either him or his father, but it felt nice this time. "Okay... But will you stay?"

Rubbing his back slowly with her hand, she gave a tiny hum before speaking. “I don’t know.. Your Daddy’s house is kind of full, now..”

Nero yawned a bit. Dumb adults and always knowing how to make him sleepy. "I like it full. Means there's more people to play with."

"Nero, I love it here." She was quick to insist, pulling her sunglasses up to sweep her bangs back as she looked at him. "But I don’t think your Daddy would like it."

Pouting a little, he laid back on her with a huff. "But I want you to stay... Daddy likes you, you're his friend right? Please stay?"

"Alastor is a good guy, I promise. He’s just different, but it doesn’t disqualify his good qualities." Pausing, she gave a tiny laugh. "I know you’ll keep me safe.. I’m looking for a place to live, now."

He just wrinkled up his nose in distaste. "He was mean to me. So I hit 'im. I don' think Daddy likes 'im much either." Nero splashed his feet in the water, still sitting in her lap. "How come you're leavin'? Don't you like it here?"

"I don't know. Alastor brought me here. The purple man you saw? He picked me up in his arms, and brought me here. Knew I was safe here." Tapping his nose with her finger, she gave a tiny smile.

He blinked, wrinkling his nose at the tap, then smiled up at her. "'Course you're safe here! Me an' Daddy gonna protect you. I don' like the purple man though, he's mean. I punched him real good, made 'im fall down." He grinned at the memory. His first victory in combat.

Panting dramatically, Nat rolled over and laid her head back against the inflatable side, legs hanging out the other end. Grabbing his hands as he climbed onto her. Natalia waved her legs over the edge. “I’m almost too big. A big pool would be nice, wouldn’t it? Maybe we’ll save up money one day and your Daddy can put one together for us. Or we can go to a big pool somewhere in town.”

"I dunno where one is. Daddy never took me to one." He didn't mind the little kiddy pool though, it was a good foot or so of water and that was plenty for him to play in. And it was even better with a lap to sit in. "Miss Nat, how come you got a pool for me? Are you livin' here too, or just visitin' Daddy?" She was awful nice to him, but he didn't understand why. It wasn't like she was his mom or anything.

"I’m too big to get in!" She protested, but it was too late. Crawling in, green and brown bathing suit darkened under the water as the adult sat in the kiddy pool. To the sure best of her abilities.

He grinned at her, he splashed her, trying to get her as wet as he was. "Not too big, see you fit! I wish we had a big pool though, so we could all swim." Nero splashed again, climbing into her lap.

Waiting patiently, Natalia sat on her knees by the pool and ran her hand through the water. “There you aaaare!” She cheered, yelping when the splashes came.

Nero had a blast in the water, even splashing at her to try and get her in on the fun. After all, it wasn't any fun doing all this alone. He was already an only child with no friends his age, he should at least have fun adult figures.

"You might not get wings, but you sure might be strong." Of course he would be, Dante had already met older versions of the boy. Best to not mention the Devil Bringer yet. He’d deal with that when the time came.

Despite the early hour, He clothed Nero in pajamas, to save another load of laundry, mostly. To keep Nero from complaining about wearing pajamas, he thrust the child into his cow boy boots and gave him a bandanna to wear around his neck. “Go n’ shoot up some criminals.”

Well, as long as he could still be strong enough to protect everyone, he supposed not having wings would be okay. Eventually it wouldn't matter. He'd grow up to be exactly who he's meant to be.

Cowboy pajamas get, bandana get, and cowboy boots get. He was one happy toddler, and immediately ran off to get his toy pistol, shooting suction cup darts at everyone he could find. Including shooting one at Dante. "Gotcha Daddy!"