Tick Tock CHAPTER 1

Hey everyone! I am here and I come bearing a new DantexNero story! :D I got the idea from reading the first Devil May Cry 3 magna and it demanded to be written! I have chapter 2 finished and I'm working on chapter 3 as I type here. :3

Oh-and I was wondering I'm sorta looking for a beta from this community my other beta didn't really know anything about DMC so she could only help so much. Anyway if any of you would like the position mention it in your review or PM me. My only requirement is that you can get back to me fast. I'm not very well known to be patient when I want to post XD

I do not own Dante or Nero they belong to Capcom. Enjoy!

Nero trudged through the wooded area heading for a castle that was just outside of Fortuna. He'd been coming down the path to the building quite a bit recently. The Order had sent him down this way almost three times in one week claiming that there was demonic activity, though the young hunter had seen nothing thus far. He was glad to have the trek however, things at home after the last year or so hadn't been progressing like he-and obviously Kyrie, thought they should. The two were on a 'break' thinking that maybe some time apart would rekindle the spark they thought they'd seen together.

The slayer sighed as he plucked a red apple off a low hanging branch, tossing it in his devil bringer once before snapping a bite. He had stopped wearing the sling while on missions, though he wore it almost any other waking moment.

Nero walked up to the towering, gray, brick building. 'Hello again.' he thought to himself. 'Just going to search you from top to bottom like I've done three other times this week…' he stalked forward, not paying much attention to his surroundings.

He felt as if a ton of demonic aura dropped in on him the moment he came within arm's length of the door. 'This is what I'm talking about. Finally!' a smirk played on his lips as he ripped the door open. Across the room, perched on a rotting wooden chair was a black owl with large red eyes. For a second he stared at it contemplating the likelihood that it was a coincidence that it was there.

He took a step forward and blinked harshly when the creature totally disappeared from his sight. Just 'poof' without a trace. He heard a screech to his right and grabbed Red Queen, intending to slash in that direction. He was out cold before the blade was unholstered.

When Nero awoke he had no idea how much time had passed or even what the hell had happened to him. His cheek was pressed against something smooth and cold, his right arm twisted under his body, hiding it from sight his left was bent slightly above his head.

His eyes opened to slits and he immediately snapped them shut again, the light of the setting sun stinging his throbbing head. He pulled his right arm out from under him and used it to shield his eyes as he opened them again.

He carefully looked around. Cracked sidewalks with weeds popping out, old rundown buildings painted with layers of graffiti, the sound of a police car in the distance…wherever he was it sure wasn't Fortuna. He had no idea where he was. He very carefully stood up and brushed off his clothes. He turned then realizing he was standing next to a set of steps leading up a doorway above which glowed a neon sign proclaiming Devil May Cry.

The name snagged in his memory. Dante…he'd seen him once since the Sanctus incident. The older slayer had said, after some prodding and alcohol, that the kid could look him up under the name Devil May Cry if he ever 'got into some shit.'

Well…he had no idea how he'd gotten here, but he figured at least Dante could give him some directions on how to get home. He made his way up the stairs and looked at the door for a moment wondering if he should knock, or just walk in. He figured the place was a business and opened the door. What he saw…well, surprised him. The place smelled like Dante, pizza and beer, but who he saw was not the Dante he remembered, it had to be his son, but he hadn't really thought the man in red was old enough to have a son his age.

The other male's silver hair was slightly longer than Dante's, with the same frosty blue eyes, and face structure, he was a little more lithe than Dante but his taste in clothes seemed to mirror his father. He was dressed in a red trench, but he wasn't wearing a shirt underneath, showing off his flat stomach. He was wearing green pants and had his black, unzipped combat boots resting on the desk.

Nero must've been staring longer than he thought because the other male cleared his throat and asked: "What do you want?" his eyes raked down Nero's frame, sizing him up and pausing on his devil bringer.

Nero self-consciously pulled his arm behind him and tugged the sleeve of his jacket down over it.

"Yeah, sorry."

"If you need help with that arm I'm not sure if there's much I can do about it. It looks pretty attached." he said in an aloof manner, grabbing a slice of pizza from a box laying on the desk.

"No, that's not it. Is Dante here?"

The other male looked at him like he'd just jumped off the loony train. "Yeah, that'd be me, the one and only. Weren't you the one passed out in front of my shop?"

"Uhm, yeah." he said, needing a moment to process the other part of that sentence. Would Dante have named his son Dante? Seemed a little confusing, and he said the one and only…

"Did you drink a little too much or somethin'?"

"No-I don't drink." he said, rubbing his forehead with his human hand. What was going on?

Dante started to snack on his pizza waiting for the kid to explain what the hell he was doing here.

"I'm here for a job." he blurted. He had been toying with the idea of looking up Devil May Cry and working with the older slayer. The Order was running out of missions for him and the ones it did send him on were starting to become like wild goose chases.

Dante's eyebrows raised, as this had not been the answer he'd been expecting. He swallowed the mouthful of pizza he'd been chewing and licked his lips, leaning back in his chair to think. Jobs had been coming a little more smoothly since the whole Temen-ni-Gru incident, but money was by no means easy to come by with that bitch Lady taking all his profits.

He looked over at the other boy again. He could take missions away from Lady and get back at the ungrateful shrew for him. Unfortunately he had no idea if the kid was any good.

"I would kid, but I think you're just that, a kid."

Nero's eyes narrowed dangerously. Dante even called him a kid when they were the same age! (1)

"You think I pack these things for show? Come on, I bet I'll give you a run for your money." he smirked, revving Red Queen over his shoulder.

(1) Okay the time frame they're in now is about 10 months after Temen-ni-gru so Dante is 19 and Nero is 18.

Hopefully you guys aren't too confused, this isn't quite like I usually start my stories so I hope it doesn't put you off. I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of Tick Tock ;3 review please! Until next time!

Ja ne!

~Bitbyboth March 18, 2010