A/n: this chapter will be mostly highlights from the years before Devil May Cry.

"Hey there hot stuff wanna spend a night with me~?" A random woman who had what barely could be called cloths on asked Y/n.

"No I'm good I got my kid with me."

"Oh I love me a responsible DILF~"

"What's a dilf?" Asked Nero.

"I.. don't entirely know I think it involves frogs." Y/n said. "We should hurry though it's getting late."

"So when are you going to tell me where exactly we're going?" Nero asked.

"We're almost there don't worry." Y/n said keeping Nero close while trying to avoid the attention of the late night company keepers. "Here we are! Now hurry up."

"What is here?"

"Read the sign kid." Said a voice behind them. Turning around to see a man dressed mostly in red with white hair and a nearly identical amulet to Nero's. "It's hard to miss eh," he looks at the boy. "Nero I presume."

"Correct."

"Long time no see Dante." Y/n said as the now identified man walked up to the shop doors and opened them.

"Well welcome to Devil May Cry."

-time skip brought to you by Nero trying Chicha-

"So your telling me you just barely were getting to know the kid, and you thought 'oh I'm gonna make him a sword mixed with a motorcycle'!" Dante burst out laughing. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WORSE! MY SISTER LEAVING HER KID IN THE CARE OF OUR DADS CULT OR YOU ARMING THE LITTLE RUGRAT! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAGA!!" Dante started choking. Nero spit out the corn juice.

"YOUR FATHERS WHAAATTT??!!!!!!"

The room fell silent.

"You didn't tell him?!"

"Sorry you didn't cross my mind to bring up that there's a descent of Sparda in the middle of a Sparda worshipping cult!"

"IM RELATED TO SPARDA?! WAIT SPARDA'S REAL!!!!!"

"Well he's your kid explain it to him." Dante said leaning back taking a swig from his beer.

"Dad?" Nero looked at Y/n.

"Alright well you know what I am now you need to know what your mother was."

"But you said she was half Devil." Nero said. "Was that not true?"

"No she's half Devil it simply how she got her devil half. You see she and Dante are twins," he gestures towards Dante. "And their mother was human and their father. He was Sparda."

Nero was quiet his mind racing a million miles a minute. "So when you were saying that the amulet was part of the key to the underworld..."

"The other parts are right over there," Y/n points at Dante. More specifically his amulet and the Force Edge.

"But thank goodness the lock to these keys won't be bothering us anytime soon." Y/n said.

"So Sparda's my grandpa and your my uncle?" Nero asked more towards Dante this time.

"Correctamundo kid. Welcome to the family!"

-time skip brought to you by Nero struggling to comprehend what happened-

A fews weeks pass Nero getting used to his new family and even meeting Lady, a business partner of Dante and Y/n. The first time Lady saw little Nero she adored him. Lady would stop by more often just to see the 6 year old Hunter in training, oftentimes she would help him train. Nero would often accompany Y/n on his jobs but when they were too dangerous Lady would jump at the chance to watch him. Nero wouldn't entirely object because she would help him get better aim and shoot her guns. 

As months went by Y/n took his son on more tougher missions. Nero made it a habit to take a souvenir from the strongest demons they would fight for each job. Nero had really helped Lady become closer to Devil May Cry. Over the time Nero got comfortable enough to have his right arm in the open. Speaking of his arm everyone noticed it slowly changing. Nero himself finding it easier to channel energy through his right arm, but Y/n still made him work on circulating Demonic/Angelic energy throughout his entire body.

Before anyone else knew it Nero's 7th birthday rolled around. Y/n was baking the red velvet cake Nero asked for with cream cheese frosting. Lady was at the table chatting with Dante about random things from work to what he got Nero.

"I got him something he'll love." Stated Lady.

"I bet he'd like mine more." Combatted Dante.

"Stop being childish," Y/n said as he frosted the cake.

"Look whose talking mister 'kiss the cook'." Lady snarked.

"Well I'll have you know without this apron, we wouldn't be celebrating Nero's birthday." Y/n said as he finished icing.

"Wait that can't be true. Dante don't tell me it's true."

"Worst part is, it might actually be true. My sister had a weird taste."

"Oi!" Y/n smacked Dante over the head with a wooden spoon.

"What was that for?" Dante asked while rubbing his head. Y/n didn't respond, he simply smirked as he left to get Nero. "You know it's still kinda hard to thank that he's a dad."

"What do you mean?" Lady asked intrigued.

"Well when we were younger me and him were a lot alike being brash, loud, and a whole lotta other things that most would label us as trouble children. The difference was Y/n was a goofball with a wide lopsided smile and terrible jokes when he's nervous. That and when I was around my sister I got stabbed with him, I'd wager she enjoyed his company."

"Well it would be a losing bet to go against that considering what's sitting on the table." Lady said as she took a swig of Malta Goya. "Gah what is this?"

"I have no clue the taste is so weird."

"But you wanna take another swig. Exactly." Both said in unison.

"So what exactly is on the cake," Lady asked as they both looked over to see Y/n's handy work. Looking at the cake there was a chibi version of Lady, Dante, Y/n, and Nero surrounded by dead demons who were also adorable. "....... I almost don't wanna eat it."

"Alright here we are." Y/n brought Nero into the room. As he sat Nero down that began to sing happy birthday soon followed by cutting the cake. Y/n made sure that everyone got to eat themselves.

"I'll be right back I got a gift for you little man." Dante said while getting up and going to another room.

"I got one for you too!" Lady said as she did the same as Dante.

"Hah amateurs. I happen to have your gift on hand." Y/n said as he placed a case infront of Nero. "Now go on open it."

Nero reluctantly set his half eaten slice of cake to the side as he took the case and set it on its side. He undid the clasps as he opened it up, as he saw the contents he got exited. A Smith and Wesson Model 500 double-action revolver was inside the case, the metal contained intricate almost vine like engravings and a wooden handle.

(Just to get you an idea of the gun style)

"Bullshit!" Lady said from the door. "I already got him a gun!" She said as she set a case down and slid it over to Nero. The case popping open just as it got infront of the Tribrid. Lady flopped down in her chair being considerably upset, she started to begrudgingly eat her slice that even though she didn't wanna admit it. The cake was like heaven.

Nero looked inside the case from Lady and saw a gun similar to his dad's. It was a silver chiappa rhino 60ds and at the base of the barrel by the cylinder was an engraving of a rose.

"Hahahaha! Jeesh you both got him a gun, I on the other hand got him a kickass coat. Because you can't be a part of Devil May Cry and not own a kickass coat." Dante said as he holds out a blue coat with a red interior. When Nero put it on it went to his knees.

"What are you talking about? Having a cool coat doesn't make you a part of Devil May Cry." Y/n said.

"It's an unofficial guideline. You have one, Lady had one, and I especially have one. And now Nero too." Dante said ruffling Nero's hair. Nero pushes Dante's hand away as he went back over to the cases and staring at the guns inside.

"Nero I just want you to know that having a gun doesn't mean you can slack in your astral sword training." Y/n said. "You mother would kick my ass just for entertaining the thought of you having a gun, but would kill me if she found out you never learned one of our trade mark skills."

"Don't worry I won't." Nero said seemingly lost in thought. "Hey dad, mind if I use your shop?"

"Sure." Y/n said. "But may I ask why?"

"It's a surprise." Nero said.

"Remember what I taught you?"

"Of course." Nero took both cases closing them, and then grabbing his cake. Before hobbling off to Y/n's workshop.

"Don't mess with my own project!" Quickly shouts Y/n.

"I ront!" (I won't) Responded Nero with his plate being held by his teeth.

"Nero's a smart kid, he's probably top of his class at school isn't he?" Lady asked Y/n. Just cause she was around more didn't mean she was around all the time. It was mostly in the afternoons and she took long missions.

"School?" Y/n responded.

-time skip brought to you by Lady forcing Y/n to sign Nero up for school-

Over the next few months Nero was going to school, being the new kid. At home Nero trained with Y/n on controlling his angelic and demonic energies along with sword training. Lady and Dante helped him train with guns. On weekends Y/n would take Nero on a few jobs. And in his free time Nero worked in the workshop crafting his own hand cannon.
This leads us to the most recent events.

"I demand this cretin be expelled at once!!" a plump man red in the face shouts at another who was in a suit that sat at a desk. Said man was wearing a suit with a thick gold watch and a gold ring in his left ring finger. His index was pointed at Nero who had dirt on his face and grass stains on his pants. "This delinquent is unfit for an academic facility such as this one!!" 

Another woman who had a matching ring to the man. She was coddling a boy who had a black eye a bruised cheek and a bloody nose. The boy had red puffy eyes and tears on his face.

"Mr. Lawrence please sit down we request that the parents of both students be here before we begin." The headmistress said in a stern voice.

"If this kids parents can't show up it's just proof he got bad habits from them!!"

Nero was getting upset at the slander. "OI DONT YOU DARE! NEXT TIME YOU TALK LIKE THAT ILL-" just then Y/n came bursting through the door nearly tripping as he entered. His boots squeaking on the tile floor.

"Sorry I'm late- OH CRAP!!" Y/n started but got cut off by Dante running into him tackling them both to the ground. "Oww what the shizznick Dante!"

"Sorry I tried stopping but I tripped." Dante defended as they both got up. The others in the room catching a look at them noticing that they're drenched from the storm and their boots were caked with mud. The headmistress looked at them both before looking at Nero.

"I uh take it your Nero's um parents?" She said looking between the two. Both seemed to pick up the que she was making, and almost immediately gagged.

"No oh gods no. Dante is Nero's Uncle from his mom's side! Besides even if I did swing that way I wouldn't go for this grease guzzler!" Y/n said.

"Yeah same goes here! I wouldn't be caught dead with this corn juice lover!"

"He eats so much pizza I bet if you cut him open tomato sauce and pepperoni would spill out!"

"This guy drinks so much of this yellow cola crap that I bet his pis-"

"Enough! I get it. But uh Mr.Dante was it I'd like to kindly ask you to step out. This is between the children and their parents." The headmistress intervened.

"No problem I'll just go back out to the van." Dante said slipping out the door before Y/n could interject. Disappearing in the halls with the squeak of his boots.

"Uh as I was saying sorry for being late we just got the call. Got held up at work and all you know how it gets, right?" Y/n said.

"Yes I do indeed. Now if you'd kindly take a seat and we can get started."

Y/n took a seat next to Nero as the headmistress started speaking.

"I assumed you know why you have been called to attend because it was talked over in the voice mail."

"Actually it just said behavior issues on my box thing so-"

"It's because your brat beat up my son for no reason!" The pudgy man spoke.

"Oh wow that's quite the accusation you made there mister uh..."

"Otonimer Lawrence." The man said as though it was common knowledge but loved to boast it.

"Pfft that's your name?" Y/n laughed out but quickly corrected himself. " Uh but I know Nero wouldn't to that for no good reason."

"Oliver told me everything. About how he and his friends were playing on the field when your 'son' came up and attacked them!"

"BULL SHIT!" Nero out bursted jumping up from his chair. "They were picking on Noah! So I stepped in, and I even followed the rule of one!"

"Rule of one?" Asked the head mistress.

"The rule of one you know, Mrs.Vlondike? Kick ass name, eh uh sorry got distracted but the rule of one is simple." Started Y/n. "There's one chance, a single chance after words are spoken before fists are thrown. And in that chance is when you both are wise and walk away with you dignity, or the fool throws a punch and well you get it."

"Hmm I see." States Mrs.Vlondike. "Nero continue."

"Well we were out side and they were picking on Noah so I stepped in. I grabbed Noah and was leaving then that turd muncher threw a rock at the back of my head!"

"That's a lie!" Shouts Oliver. "there's no mark on his head at all!"

"Well we have remarkable thick skulls." Added in Y/n. "Once I fell from a tree hit head first and was fine. And another time Nero... Uh probably better I don't finish that one." Y/n thought back to the first time Nero lost a tooth after being thrown the length of a football field and face planted into a rock. "Anyhow this kid invoked so he got the snozzle beat off him. Don't you have uh whatchamacallits eh they take pictures but they move."

"Video cameras?" Said Mrs.V

"Yeah! Check those."

"There is no need! You must be one terrible father to believe in such a blatant lie! And judging from your age I'd dare say that this boy here is as much of an unplanned bastard as on could get!" O.Lawrence said.

"Well you got one thing right Nero here wasn't really planned. But I wouldn't trade him for anything else in the world." Y/n said with a smile as though nothing bothered him. "And I know I'm not the best dad but I do try."

Nero wasn't as cool headed as his father.

"How can you just sit back and take it from this pudgy oaf! He insulted us to you to your face and not going to defend yourself!!" Shouts Nero furious. Nero gets in the man's face even though he only reaches the man's chest. "I swear I've seen gluttons smaller than this pig!"

"You insolent brat! No wonder you have no mother! The whore probably left you at his doorstep the first chance she got! You should learn son respect," he raises his hand to strike Nero across the face. Nero was fully prepared to retaliate, with no mercy. Right before Lawrence swung his hand was caught in a iron clasp. Looking up Lawrence sees Y/n, long gone was the wide smile it being replaced by a cold glare. "What do you think your doing unhand me!"

"Mr. DeAngelo please-" the head of the school started before Nero gave her a look saying 'let it be.' looking back at Y/n she decided it was better to stay out. Least she was the center of his wrath.

"You can talk down to me all you want. But you EVER raise a hand to my son or talk about his mother in such a way. You better pray to whatever god you believe in for a quick death, because if I get you, you'll wish you were. You screams will be added to my fudging playlist. Your very soul will cry out in anguish wishing for a death that will never come." Energy crackled around his hand subconsciously. "And before you squeal like the swine you are I'll tell you this. What I'm saying isn't a threat it's a promise."

If Lawrence wasn't scared before he was basically shitting himself now, as he was let go and ran off. "This isn't over!" He shouted as he and his family left.

Y/n turned towards the principal.

"Sooo the tapes?"

"Will be checked thoroughly."

"Alright now I say we go home, I gotta take a nice warm shower."

"Wait Mr.DeAngelo before you leave I'd like to speak with you about your son."

"What about Nero?" Y/n stopped and Nero practically froze.

"About home life. Considering he got into a fight with 6 kids all at least a year his senior while in a sling with the only marks were from the grass. Aside from the scrabble he has trouble in class paying attention but gets excellent marks."

"Whoa there was 6?"

"Yeah" Nero said.

"Awesome"

"Please stay focused."

"Oh sorry."

"Anyhow tell me what it's like at home. Starting with your area of work." The principal directed.

"Well eheh me and Dante, his uncle, usually work doing odd jobs. You know painting, a bit of plumbing, and a bunch of others. And it's just me and Dante. Dante is his uncle from his mom's side."

"And his mother?"

"Well that's the tough one. She's not here right now and the hard part is I genuinely don't know if she's ever coming back." Y/n said solemnly. "And as for his intelligence I swear he got that from her. He got her ability to absorb knowledge like a sponge, but he also got my inability to stay focused." He gave a nervous chuckle. "I've only had Nero for around two years and I'm trying."

"Hmm that is all you may go and good luck Devil hunting." Mrs.Vlondike said.

"What how'd you know?"

"It's a small world, you once helped my sister. Now leave I have lots of paper work."

And that wasn't the last time they were at the office of Mrs. Vlondike. Usually it was issues involving Mr. Lawrence but others it was teachers. But they couldn't say much, Nero was after all a really smart kid.

-time skip brought to you by chibi Y/n and Nero falling asleep at their work bench-

"I DID IT!! HAHA I FINALLY DID IT!!" Nero's shouts rang throughout the shop. Dante was startled awake at his desk as a magazine fell from his face. Y/n shot up from the couch smacking his head on the staircase over head.

"Gaaahhh ooww what was that?" Y/n asked as he got up rubbing his head as Nero came running into the room.

"I have made something AWESOME!!" Nero spoke with a wide smile and a sparkle in his eyes. "Behold, I present to you to you, Blue Rose." Nero held out a silver revolver it had a wooden grip, intricate vine like engravings, coupled with the engraving of a blue rose a the base of the second barrel.

'wait second barrel' thought Y/n as he took a double take. And yes there was a second barrel.

"Wait is that-?" Y/n started.

"Yup it's a combination of both yours and Auntie Lady's guns." He spoke full of pride in his handy work.

"Well damn kid you really got a gift." Dante said while ruffling his hair.

"So Nero, Blue Rose eh as a nice ring to it." Y/n said.

-time skip brought to you by Nero and Y/n at the shooting range-

Nero has been with Devil May Cry almost four years now. He was 10, well versed in the art of combat, and could easily take smaller jobs alone. So why weren't they taking him with them. "What do you mean I can't go?!"

"I mean it's too dangerous." Y/n said as he was making sure he had everything before throwing on his coat. "Lady will be staying with you. Don't worry she'll help with the bigger jobs while we're gone."

"But I wanna go with! You know my capabilities!"

"And you have still yet to even scratch the surface of your power. So stay here. If your good I'll bring you back a souvenir."

"Where are you even going? And why?"

"We're going to stop a demon out break. On Mallet Island."

A/n: that's all hope you enjoyed. Next chapter will be the start of Devil May Cry.