Another Universe 2023 Version

8.

Hours have gone by since Nero left the van. Y/n tried to catch up on sleep after waking up at 4 AM but there's no hope. Her mind worries about Nero even though she knows he will be okay.
But what if this isn't like the game? Kyrie doesn't exist in his life anymore so many things could change.

"Hey!" Y/n looks over to the mechanic. Nico is working on a new Devil Breaker for Nero after he managed to defeat Gilgamesh.

"What are you moping about over there", Nico asks as she puts down her hammer. "Nothing."
"Oh, come on, Y/n. Do you really think I don't know what's going on here?" Y/n sits up in confusion. "What?"
"You wanted to go after Urizen alone, right?" Being caught is not a good look on Y/n.

"So what? This has nothing to do with you."

With anger suddenly taking over her Y/n stomps out of the van to catch some fresh air.

All these questions are hurting her head. Why did everything have to be like this. She misses her home, F/n and even her mother. She even misses college.

A life without this kind of pressure.

"Y/n?"
"Just give me a minute, Nico." Suddenly Y/n feels a hand on her soldier. "What's really going on with you?"

They go back into the van and sit down onto the couch where Nico expects Y/n to finally tell her what's wrong. "So", She nudges Y/n. "It's all just too much."
"Being kidnapped into another dimension?"
"That too." Nico raises an eyebrow.
"What else?"

Y/n sighs before sitting up straight.
"I miss my home. My friend and my mother. I miss my old life. All these sudden changes make me fuzzy."
"What about your dad?"

Y/n's eyes widen. "My what?"
"Your dad?"

Nico senses that she touched a nerve.
"You never talk about your life back home, especially about your parents, why?"

Y/n clears her throat trying to ignore Nico's questions. She only became numb in the first place because she always had to talk about it. With therapists, friends, child services and random people.

"Don't tell Nero", Y/n mumbles just loud enough for Nico to hear. "Pinky promise."

After another deep breath Y/n finally starts talking.

"My dad left us when I was a kid. He cheated on my mother with multiple women. After he left I could see why. She used to take her anger out on him but then I became her scapegoat. She never beat me up or something like that. She began to ignore me. She saw his face in mine and wanted me gone."

Nico is almost shocked that Y/n shows absolutely no reaction while telling this story.

"As soon as I was old enough she gathered every penny she could find and sent me off to college."

Y/n looks over at Nico who still seems shocked. "That's it. That's me", Y/n says.
"Wow... I'm actually speechless."

She doesn't even know the half of it, keeping secrets is easy once you get the hang of it.
"Don't be. It's not that big a deal." Nico's eyes widen. "Not that big a deal! Your dad left!"
"Not as bad as an apocalypse."

Suddenly the phone rings. Nico grabs it immediately. "Yo... Alright, I'm coming."

She puts the phone down and turns to Y/n.
"That was Nero. It's go time."
Confused by how fast Nero reached the tree she looks at the time. It's 10 AM.

After a bumpy ride in the van they finally reach the foot of the Qliphoth where they also find Nero.

"No demons, suspicious", Y/n says as she exits the van.
"Took care of them", Nero says as he puts his sword onto his back. "How are you holding up?"
He shrugs. "Killed a lot of demons and I'm not stopping till that big thing is dead."