The Permutation

Breakthrough (Part 8) Vergil

"Talking dog huh? You're worse off than I thought," a silvery voice said behind him.

It can't be.

Vergil spun around to see the woman in the scarf and thick sunglasses. She stood about eight inches below Vergil's 5'10", but height didn't mean a thing against her. She'd changed her hair again. When Vergil had known her, she was a fan of cerulean blue, but now, she wore shade of royal purple that ran down to her shoulders. Even with the changes to her appearance, Vergil didn't know how he hadn't recognized her cheeks. He'd always loved those cheeks. They looked like nothing more than a chipmunk storing acorns, and they gave her face a cherubic quality that didn't prepare people for the tiger within.

Lisa Baker, the love of his life.

"Lisa," he breathed.

"The one and only," she said with a flourish and a mock curtsy.

"Why are you here?" Vergil asked trying to conceal any visible reaction. A cauldron of roiling emotions bubbled beneath the surface and one slip would blow the lid sky high.

"My mom told me about Saul. I was worried about you." she replied.

She sought to make eye contact with him to convey her pity, but Vergil decided to look at the sun instead.

"I'm supposed to believe that?" He asked, a painful, bitter laugh scraped against his throat.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't worry about you Vergil," she said reaching out to touch his shoulder.

Vergil took a step backward, "For someone so worried about me, you've done a bang up job showing it. When my mom died, you couldn't have been bothered to show up at the funeral. Sorry if I seem a bit skeptical."

Lisa's cheeks reddened when Vergil mentioned his mother, "I loved her too ya know? I just..." Lisa trailed off.

"Just what? Just too busy for us country folk now that you're a hotshot doctor in training? You couldn't spare a moment for a woman who thought the world of you? I get it. You traded up lives, and we're all just the hand-me-downs."

"Just couldn't see her like that, and I still wasn't over you," Lisa finished.

Wait, she still had feelings for me? Does that mean she doesn't now? Either way, it's not relevant.

"Well all that's water under the bridge now. As you can see, I'm just great. Sorry you wasted your time. You can stop pretending you care," Vergil said.

"I hate to rain on your pity parade Vergil, but the only person who doesn't care about you is you," Lisa said.

"I'm afraid the boy is immune to all common sense my dear, but maybe you'll have better luck getting into that thick skull of his," Albert interjected.

"You just couldn't keep your mouth shut could you?" Vergil asked shaking his head.

"Do you have any earthly idea how exhausting you are? I leapt at the chance to converse with someone that is not a complete reprobate," Albert said before padding up to Vergil and sitting at his feet.

Lisa stared at the two of them, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Is she aware of how unconscionably rude it is to stare?" Albert asked.

"I think she is probably still hung up on the talking dog thing," Vergil replied.

Lisa's mouth worked up and down a few times before she was able to form words.