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"The Mona Lisa?" Diego asked. He stared at Misa like she'd grown a second head.
"Yeah, the Mona Lisa." She smirked. "C'mon red, you in?"
"Of course I'm not," Diego shot her down almost instantly. "And don't call me red." Misa's smirk grew and she poked his cheek.
"Don't be like that, red," she said while exaggerating the last word. "It'll be fun."
"What part of stealing the most valuable painting on the planet is fun?" Diego said. Misa just kept smirking. She grabbed his arm and started dragging him towards the exhibit of the very painting they were talking about.
"You ready?" Misa asked.
"Ready for what?" Diego hesitantly said.
"This." With that, Misa grabbed Diego's arm and pressed it on her boob. Diego's cheeks turned bright red and before he could react, she let out a scream. "Somebody help! This man is harassing me!" All heads turned towards them and when they saw Diego in this compromising position.
"You little—" Diego pulled his hand back quickly but Misa dived onto the ground like a struck damsel in distress.
"H-he hit me," Misa sobbed and held her cheek. A crowd quickly surrounded them with a few men and women trying to comfort Misa while she sobbed like she just got traumatised. A few armed security guards stepped forward and surrounded Diego.
"Look, this is all just a big misunderstanding," Diego tried to reason but the men looked like they were having none of it. The crowd grew bigger and louder around Diego with men and women all booing and yelling profane curses at him.
"You'll be coming with us," one of the guards said and reached to grab Diego's arm when the sound of six consecutive gunshots rang out. The crowd panicked and scattered but a voice from within the chaos yelled, "He's shooting at us too!" The voice was painfully similar to Misa's. For a moment, Diego expected loud alarms and flashing lights but there was nothing. When the security guards finally caught their bearings, more of them joined and soon, over 20 of them surrounded Diego. At this point, everyone that was there, including Misa, had seemingly disappeared. Diego put his hands up in surrender instinctively.
"SIR! PUT THE GUN DOWN!" one yelled at Diego.
"Gun? I don't have a—" Diego froze instantly. In his right hand was a small pistol?! Diego looked back at the guards in shock and before he knew it, BANG! BANG! BANG! The guards opened fire on him. The first two shots were like a rude awakening for Diego. He dropped the gun and shoved his way past the guards in front of him and within seconds, he was out of sight. The guards gave chase but Diego was faster than they expected. The sounds of police sirens could be heard in the distance and Diego knew even if he didn't get caught, he'd become an international fugitive.
Diego eventually found a wing of the museum with the name 'Richelieu Wing' written on one of the walls but the thing that caught his attention was a glass window. He stopped a few feet away from it and looked around. He saw multiple sculptures and the wing was relatively peaceful. The sound of sirens soon began surrounding the museum and the guards were just a few corners away from finding him again.
Without a second thought, Diego ran and smashed right through the glass and was in free fall for a solid second. He landed on the ground with a thud, dusted the glass off his body and started running again before any of the surprised onlookers could realise what was happening. A fall like that would be fatal to any normal person but Diego brushed it off like it was nothing... probably because it really was nothing. Diego slowed down whenever a police car passed by him and he eventually found a dark alleyway to hide in until the heat died down.
"That was fun wasn't it, red?" Diego looked up and scowled almost instantly. Misa stood in front of him, leaning on the alley wall with a cigarette between her lips.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Diego yelled, barely containing his frustration at her. "Do you know what kind of trouble you just got me into?!"
Misa blew smoke tauntingly right into his face and leaned forward. "Relax. AXE will make sure nothing about you goes out to the public and even if they don't, I made sure to shoot out the cameras in there." She took in another long drag and said, "I even gave you that same gun to defend yourself."
"So you're the one that—" Diego shut himself up with a groan of pure frustration.
"Don't be so mad, Red." She exhaled smoke calmly and lifted a full pack of cigarettes. "I got my babies back~"
"What happened to stealing the Mona Lisa?" Diego glared and folded his arms. "Don't tell me I got shot at and went through all that just for a pack of cigarettes." Misa's smirk grew impossibly wider and she reached into the back of her black jacket and pulled out the very thing Diego was talking about. THE MONA LISA?!
She watched Diego stare at her with awe, respect and pure horror and just because she could, Misa pulled out a lighter and set the Mona Lisa on fire right on the spot. Diego could do nothing but just watch in pure horror as the most valuable painting the world had ever known burnt right in front of him just because Misa felt like it.
When it crumbled to ashes, Misa sighed loudly and said, "Now then, let's go have some fun." She grabbed Diego's arm and dragged him out of the alley and back into the streets where countless police cars were packed and driving around. The whole time, Diego was completely out of it like he finally realised just how insane the girl was. Misa eventually found an arcade named 'La Tête dans les Nuages'. She dragged Diego in and tossed her half-burnt cigarette onto the ground in front. They roamed the arcade with Diego following her like a dazed zombie.
Misa found a bowling alley and her eyes lit up with excitement. She brought Diego to the counter and started listing out all the stuff she wanted to the young man behind the desk. The young man started writing her registration down and Misa took it as the go-ahead to take a seat. Diego shuffled beside her and sat down across from her.
"You're... you're a psycho..." Diego whispered with quiet realisation.
"That's one way to put it," Misa shrugged. She suddenly went quiet, long enough for Diego to notice. "There's something bothering you. What is it?"
Diego's eyes snapped back to hers in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"You seem dead," Misa pointed out. "From the first time I saw you, you just seemed... lost."
"You just made me go through hell," Diego grumbled and leaned into the chair. "Don't act all clueless." Misa didn't reply with a witty comeback this time. She just kept staring at him.
"You're fake," Misa said.
"Fake?" Diego asked.
"Everything about you is fake."
"I don't know what you're talking about—"
"Don't lie to me," Misa said loudly enough for some of the people around them to turn their heads. "My trait allows me to see when people lie to me." Diego flinched but then his face fell.
"Guess there's no hiding it..." Diego sighed. Misa snickered for a moment and Diego's glare grew back with more intensity. "You lied about your trait, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did," Misa grinned smugly. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"Growing up, I met a girl," Diego started with a defeated tone. "She had the name Misa. She was charming and sweet, always got me out of trouble and honestly, I loved her... She died in my arms a few months ago." Diego sighed subtly and brought his palms to his face. "A few days later, I met another girl named Misa. She was just like the girl before her but she also died just like her..."
Diego couldn't bring himself to meet Misa's eyes but when he finally did, he smiled weakly. "I've had nightmares since then but I just keep smiling... what else can I do? Tell everyone I'm not okay? Hiding everything feels easier than just—"
A loud buzzer rang out, cutting Diego off. Misa stood up and stretched with an obnoxious yawn. "I regret asking already," she said and grabbed Diego's arm, pulling him off the chair and right to the bowling ball rack. "Life's short and we don't have time to think about the past."
She took a blue bowling ball from the rack and placed it in his hands. "Now tell me, do you want to be as reckless as possible, have fun and make tons of bad decisions?" She said and brought him to the bowling lane.
"Do you want to live without regrets?" She grinned and wrapped her arms around his while leaning onto his back. "Or do you want to keep yourself in the past. Choose now."
Diego's cheeks turned red and his chest tightened. For a moment, he didn't see her as a psycho but rather... just a girl. "You're a bad influence on me," Diego smirked.
"Now you're talking!" Misa yelled back.
The rest of the day turned into a crazy mess full of bad decisions. They'd race through the city on a stolen motorcycle, duck into places they weren't supposed to be, dare each other into stupid decisions, and laugh through every near-miss. Lunch would be whatever they stole glances at and decided was free enough. By evening they'd be somewhere they had no business being. Rooftops, closed parks, empty train cars. They even explored the Eiffel Tower and every time anyone looked at them funny, Diego had to hold Misa back as he soon found out she had an incredibly unstable temper.
The night kept growing old and the pair was still creating trouble wherever they went, still chasing the next rush, still pretending consequences didn't exist. By the time it was 12:00 am, they were wandering the quiet streets of Paris. Misa lit up a cigarette, took a long puff and offered it to Diego.
"Smoke with me," she said but Diego rejected the offer which made Misa frown. For a breath, she just looked down at him, her eyes narrowed. "Do I have to order you around?" she said.
"I'm not really a fan of smoking," Diego said and dodged the cigarette when she tried to shove it into his mouth.
"Open your mouth." Misa demanded and leaned in just enough that Diego could feel her breath against his lips. She smelled like smoke and something a little wilder.
When Diego didn't respond, she grabbed his chin and forced it open. "Say 'ah'." Misa said almost like she was talking to a misbehaving child.
"I'm not going to fall for—" Misa smirked, quick and triumphant, before pressing her lips to Diego's in a harsh, biting kiss. The taste of tobacco flooded his mouth as she exhaled directly into his lungs, forcing Diego to take it in.
She pulled back just far enough to watch Diego cough it out in disgust, her thumb swiping at his bottom lip with a proud look on her face.
"See?" she rasped. "Not so bad." Then she took another drag just to prove she could and blew the smoke at his face.
"Shut up," Diego shot back with a bright blush on his face.
"Embrasse ma belle bite rose~" Misa said and took another long drag as they kept walking down the quiet streets.
"What the hell does that mean?" Diego asked.
"It means I like you," Misa shrugged casually.
"I feel like you're lying," Diego said skeptically.
"Suit yourself," Misa said, blowing smoke into the cold night's air when she nearly tripped over a cardboard box tall enough to reach her knee. She flung the cigarette onto the ground and crouched in front of the box. "Something feels off about this. Let's open it."
"We can't just—" Misa cut Diego off with an annoyed frown.
"You stole a bike today Diego. Don't tell me you wanna chicken out just for a box," Misa argued.
"Fine," Diego groaned and crouched down beside her. "Let's just get this over with." Misa smirked and opened up the box but once she did, they both froze.
"Oh... shit..." Misa muttered and stood up.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Diego muttered back without standing up.
"Let's take it with us," Misa said and Diego's eyes snapped up at her with a dumbfounded look of shock.
"What?" He whispered in disbelief.
"Let's take it with us. All the Hunters here were given a penthouse to live in while on the mission," Misa said like that justified everything. She blinked up at him with wide puppy dog eyes. "Please," Misa said and Diego was obviously shocked someone so reckless could also look this innocent.
"No. We can't," Diego said.
"Please~" Misa whispered like she was about to cry.
"No."
"Pretty please~"
"I'm not changing my mind."
"I'll blow you~"
"Wait what?"
"I said I'll be really happy."
"You're lying."
"Pretty pretty please with cherry on top~"
"Fine..." Diego finally groaned in defeat. "Just stop talking like that."
"You're such a damn pushover," Misa smirked and pet Diego on the head like he was her pet.
"You're not going to take responsibility for this are you?" Diego said and stood up.
"You're the responsible one," Misa said. "I can't be put in charge of something like this and you know it."
Diego didn't say anything after that. He just picked up the box and followed Misa's lead. She was the only one between them who knew where this supposed penthouse was. Maybe if he hadn't been dragged out of Connor Daxton's meeting, he would know more about the mission. Maybe he wouldn't be a possible wanted man right now. Maybe he wouldn't be carrying this box right now.
Misa lit up another cigarette and smoked as they kept walking. Being an angel and all, getting any sort of health issues from smoke wasn't a risk but that didn't justify how much she smoked. Her pack which was full just this morning was almost empty and every time she intentionally blew smoke into his face, a noticeable vein would grow. At some point, they hailed a cab and drove off into the night. Misa had a casual conversation with the driver and she clearly knew how to speak fluent French. The ride ended and the taxi parked in front of a secluded penthouse.
The penthouse sat high above the city, the last floor of a quiet residential tower that most people never noticed. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped three sides, showing only distant rooftops and sky. Thick curtains could seal the place off completely when needed. Inside, the open living space felt deliberate and spare — low furniture, dark wood, soft lighting that never quite reached the corners.
A private elevator opened straight into the entry hall. A few young Hunters walked past them as they made their way to the elevator. Some glanced at the box Diego was carrying but they didn't seem to care much. Once they got to the elevator, Misa yawned and pulled Diego's phone out of his pocket.
"Your room's on the fourth floor," she said, tilting the screen enough for Diego to see his room number.
"Room 61," Diego muttered and just then, the elevator came to a stop and Misa walked out.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Red," she taunted and blew a cocky kiss at him. Diego's glare returned and he took a step forward, ready to confront her when the elevator door closed once more. The fourth floor was the one right above him. He held the box and leaned back on the elevator's wall. He closed his eyes just for a moment and when it stopped, Diego opened them but instantly wished he didn't.
"Where the hell have you been?" Romeo's voice cut through Diego's little moment of peace. He stood right in front of the elevator and he looked pissed off.
"I've just been out exploring Paris," Diego said vaguely. It was a half-truth but it was still better than telling his younger brother what he had gone through today. Romeo studied his brother intensely until his eyes landed on the box.
"What's in that box?" Romeo asked and reached forward to open it.
"Nothing," Diego said and lifted it out of reach while getting out of the elevator. Conveniently enough, Diego's room was a few feet away from the elevator. He made a beeline for it but Romeo grabbed his jacket and pulled him back.
"Open it," Romeo demanded.
"Why do I have to?" Diego shot back.
"You said nothing's inside... so open it..." Romeo growled and lunged for the box.
The two brothers fought over the cardboard box for what seemed like forever until Romeo managed to grab one edge of it. RRIPP! The box tore open and fell to the ground revealing...
"THERE'S NOTHING INSIDE IT?!" Both brothers yelled in honest surprise but then Romeo's head snapped to Diego.
"Why do you seem so surprised?" Romeo growled and tossed the remains of the box to the ground.
"No reason," Diego said, trying to act clueless but Romeo wasn't buying it. He watched Diego laugh awkwardly while shuffling to his room. Romeo never shifted his attention off Diego, not even when he got into the elevator. Once Romeo was out of sight, Diego ran right into his room and locked the door. It wasn't too big. Just a bed in one corner and a TV set in front of it.
"Can I come out now?" A childish voice said... a bit too childish.
"Yeah," Diego said with an unusually soft tone. "He's gone."
There was a long stretch of silence until a small child popped out from behind Diego's back and sat on his head. She looked small, like she was five or six years old. Long, dirty black hair and eyes, a rag for clothes and a face that could melt even the toughest hearts.
"How'd you hide like that?" Diego asked and made his way towards the bed.
"I'm really good at hiding!" the girl yelled proudly and hopped off Diego's head and right onto the bed.
"Did your parents teach you that?" Diego asked and took off his jacket. The girl blinked with that clueless innocence only children could have.
"Pa...rents?" she repeated like it was the first time hearing the word. Diego cringed when he saw her reaction and decided to shift to something else.
"Never mind," Diego said and rather asked, "What's your name?" Again, the girl looked at him with that clueless face.
Two questions gnawed at him from that point on. The first being, how did she survive this long with no one taking care of her. She didn't even have a name or any family. The second question was, how did she understand English???
"I'm Diego," he said and reached out to take her hand.
"Are you... my daddy?" she asked with suddenly hopeful eyes. Diego wanted to say no but with that look, it would feel like stabbing her if he did.
"Yes... I'm your daddy," Diego sighed. The small girl's eyes grew wide as saucers and she jumped right into his arms, hugging him so tightly he felt his bones creaking. This girl was a demon. He could feel it the second she held him with such abnormal strength.
"Daddy! I wanna know my name!" she yelled excitedly while bouncing on the bed with anticipation. Diego tapped his chin with his shoulder, lost in thought but then he came up with a name.
"Hmm... I think I'll name you... Jessie."
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END OF CHAPTER 26
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