The early sun rose, shining bright light into the tree house. Nero groaned as the light got in his eyes. He checked his phone and saw it was 6:04. He has 5 texts from yesterday, 4 from Vergil and 1 from Dante. He checked the texts, Vergil's said
"Where are you? Why aren't you home?"
"It's been 2 hours, where are you?"
"Are you in trouble? Do you need me to come get you?"
"Please, come home. If something is wrong we can work it out." Nero sighed at the last one, if they were to work it out, Vergil would be doing all the talking and afterwards, nothing is solved. He checked the text from Dante, the corners of his mouth turned upward into a slight smile.
"Meet me at Cafe S'more tomorrow at 6:30 and we'll talk."

Nero put his phone away and smiled more, Cafe S'more. Nero loves that place, they serve s'mores, of course, and other foods with the same ingredients as s'mores, even the coffee has the ingredients in them. But they serve other good food. For breakfast they have muffins, scones, croissants, stuffed croissants, french toast, stuffed french toast, pancakes, and waffles. For lunch they have assorted grilled cheeses and panini's, salads, assorted soups, and chili. They have other drinks besides coffee, Nero's favorite being the soda, the blackberry soda, to be specific.

Nero got dressed into a black t-shirt with a heart line on it, it went flat line for a second then started up again. Below it it said 'For a minute there you bored me to death." He kept on his pair of dark blue jeans and white and black converse and made sure his wallet was still in his pocket. Satisfied, he grabbed his phone and backpack and climbed down the branches and headed off towards the city. As he walked he hoped Vergil wouldn't be there, the last thing he wants is to see him.

~

Nero sighed as he walked in front of Cafe S'more, it's a long walk from the woods to the city and right now he wants nothing more than a nice, cold drink. He pulled out his phone and checked the time, 6:32. Nero quickly walked into the cafe, looking around for his uncle. He was in the part of the cafe that no one goes to, by the window overlooking the vegetable garden, everyone prefers the flower garden. He walked across the cafe and over to his uncle, sitting down across from him with a light smirk and saying "Hey, old man." Dante returned the smirk and said "Hey, kid." He handed his nephew a cold blackberry soda and called the waitress over.

A perky brunette came straight over and said "Hello, I'm Tamara, I'll be your waitress. Are you two ready to order?" Dante nodded and said "I'll have the stuffed croissant." Tamara smiled and said "Good choice! What would you like in it?"
"Strawberries and clotted cream."
"Okay, coming right up! What about you, sweetie?" Nero blushed at being called sweetie, he hasn't been called that in years, makes him feel like a child but he knew the waitress meant it in a loving term. She's only a year older than him. Nero looked at the menu for a second, not sure what to get, everything was pretty expensive and he didn't want to spend too much money this soon after leaving.
"Get whatever you want, my treat." Dante said. Nero smiled lightly at his kindness. He looked over the menu and said "Stuffed french toast."
"Ooh, that's a good one! Coming right up!" She bounded off to tell the cook their order.

Nero watched her until Dante cleared his throat, grabbing the teen's attention. He turned his head to face his uncle, he had a calm demeanor and spoke calmly.
"Care to tell me why you ran away?" Nero sighed, not really wanting to explain. But he is buying him breakfast, so he does have tell him.
"I'm fed up with everything. With school, with Kyrie, and with dad." Nero said and sipped his soda. Dante didn't sigh or do anything to show disapproval, instead he just cocked his head and said "What's wrong with school?"
"The teachers hate me because I'm a "punk". They are uptight bastards who think every kid has to be prim, proper, and perfect, which I am not. I had the smartest kid in my history class write my essay on the great depression, when I handed it in I got a D-. Because of this I'm failing all my classes. Can't leave 'cause dad won't let me go to any other school. All the asshole students want to fight me and never leave me alone. They can fight me but I can't fight back 'cause then I'm the one who get's in trouble. Every time I fight back I get suspended and if I get suspended one more time then I'm expelled."

The waitress came over and handed them their food, as well as another cup of coffee for Dante and a bottle of blackberry soda for Nero. She smiled and pointed across the store to a Black haired lady dressed in all red, saying "That nice lady paid for your guys' meal and an extra drink. She's Evangeline, she likes to come here and pay for people's food and drinks. She has lots of money and likes to spend it by doing kind deeds and helping people. She's also single." She said the last part with a sweet little tone and winked towards Dante. She walked off to another table, a little skip in her walk.

Dante smirked and finished his first cup of coffee. Nero grabbed the extra soda and put it in his backpack, causing Dante to stare for a bit before saying "Now, what's wrong with Kyrie." Nero sighed and said "She's a whore, she was cheating on me with two other guys. When I confronted her about it, she broke up with me and spread a rumor around the school that I was the one who cheated on her and left her. Now all the girls at school call me a man whore and throw paper balls at me, that part isn't nearly as bad though." Dante sighed and shook his head, he had a bad feeling about her. He picked up his stuffed croissant and took a bite. Nero realized his food is probably getting cold, so he started to eat.

Dante watched Nero eat, he was doing it quickly. Nero was starving, he didn't eat a proper dinner, only a few cherries. Dante was worried he doesn't have enough to eat with him. Nero quickly finished his food and took more sips from his soda.
"Do you have enough food with you?" Dante asked, Nero nodded and Dante said "What do you got?" worried he only has junk food.
"Chips, candy, and beef jerky. That stuff takes awhile to expire." Nero said and took one more sip. Dante didn't sigh despite wanting to, he didn't want to upset Nero.

"You can come stay with me, I won't tell Vergil." Dante said, causing Nero to shake his head and say "No. I'm on my own. I don't need to stay with someone, I'm not a kid." Dante raised his eyebrows and said "Is that part of the reason you ran away? Because Vergil treats you like a kid." Nero groaned and said "All the damn time. He still makes me have a babysitter."
"I'm pretty sure that's because last time he left you alone you tried to cook yourself dinner and you blew up part of the kitchen." Dante said and took another bite of his croissant.
"Doesn't matter, I'm 15, I don't need a babysitter. Especially when he treats me more like a kid than dad does." Nero said bitterly. Dante inwardly sighed, changing the subject and saying "Where are you staying now?"
"Someplace safe, a place I won't have to worry about anyone finding me." Nero said and finished his soda.

Dante was about to say something but then his phone vibrated, indicating he got a text. He checked his phone and saw it was Vergil. He checked and saw he was asking if he found Nero. Dante responded with a quick 'No, I'll keep searching." He looked up at Nero and said "Vergil really misses you, ya know." Nero sighed and said "I know." Even though he didn't say it, Dante could tell Nero misses his father, he could see it in his eyes. Dante stood up and had Nero stand, he led him over to the drink fridge. He grabbed two bottles of blackberry soda and a bottle of peach soda, paying for them and putting them in Nero's backpack. He quickly hugged him and said "If you decide you want to stay with me or just want something to eat other than junk food than you can always come to me." Nero smiled lightly and hugged back, saying "Thanks." Dante let go of Nero and tussled his hair, giving him a light smile before walking out the door of the cafe.

Nero stayed in the cafe a bit longer, enjoying the air conditioning. He walked outside and immediately felt a feeling of dread. There was gray clouds and a scent in the air indicating that rain was coming. Dante was still outside, he knew it was going to rain and didn't want Nero to be outside when it rains.
"Hey kid, want to come with me till the rain ends?" Dante called out to his nephew. Nero looked over and thought for a second, not sure. Vergil might show up or already be there. When a clap of thunder was heard, he made up his mind.

Nero rushed over and got on the back of Dante's motorcycle, thanking him as he revved it up. Dante sped down the street and headed for his house. Nero hoped Vergil wouldn't be there, he also hoped he could take a nap. Sleeping on a hard wooden floor is not comfortable. He held on and tried to enjoy the ride.