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Diavolo wouldn’t be at this party if it weren’t for the fact, it was at his house. There wouldn’t be a party if weren’t for his siblings Doppio and Trish. They lived in a cabinet in the woods and were perfectly away from society. Of course, those two had to ruin it with their parties. Sure, give people your address you only have yourself to blame when a knife finds its way in you. Seriously, all of Doppio’s friends look like they committed murder.
Right now, Diavolo was leaning against the side of the house staring at the woods. He was also freezing. It was cold enough that only a drunk person would go outside. It would be a person drunk enough that they wouldn’t remember Diavolo if they saw him. More importantly easy to take in a fight. Ultimately freezing was the price he was willing to pay if he didn’t have to interact
That price became too expensive as soon as a person walked to Diavolo. He has to be drunk. The man was tall and muscular. He was lean enough to get stabbed though, that’s always a good thing. It would be awful two fight him, but Diavolo had the element of surprise he could stab him and escape into the woods. If only he had a secret bunker. He had white hair that would be easy to pull if a fight did break out. Which reminded Diavolo he needed to cut his hair.
“Is this spot taken?” asked the man clearly showing he was not drunk.
Shit! Diavolo needed to act as unsuspicious as possible. “No.”
“Thanks,” he sat down next to him.
Somehow Diavolo would have to collect as much information as possible to blackmail if things go south. Or kill him, he had a knife in his boot. Though killing might lead to screaming and there were too many witnesses in the house. No, he needed information then he could decide the next step.
Right now, the best way to get information was to have a conversation. Despite what Trish says Diavolo knew how to socialize.
“Do you have a name?”
“Leone, you?”
Fuck! He forgot he was going to have to give up information. God fucking damn it. And he was giving up a name at that.
“Diavolo.”
He could have given a fake name. Why didn’t he have a fake name. Wait, if he gave a fake name Leone could find out he was a liar. Diavolo would have to kill him, and he didn’t have a bunker ready. Giving his real name was the smart choice. Besides Leone didn’t know his full name.
“You’re sibling with Trish?”
How much information did this man have?
“Yes, do you have siblings?”
“No.”
“How do you know Trish?” He didn’t like the idea of his baby sister hanging out with someone this old looking.
“She’s friends with Narancia who’s basically my brother.” Oh, good potential blackmail.
“How long have you known Narancia?”
“I don’t know, at least ten years.”
“Ten years, that’s a long time.”
“Well, we’re neighbors.”
“Is he the reason you’re at this party?”
“Yeah, I’m the designated driver.”
“And that’s why you’re outside?” More importantly sober. Could he be sober inside.
“Parties aren’t my scene.”
“And you chose freezing?”
Leone shrugged, “I like the stars.”
That was fair, the night sky was a sea of diamonds. It was one of the reasons Diavolo love this cabinet.
“What about you?”
“Also, stars.”
Leone nodded in understanding.
***************
The next morning Diavolo was cleaning up the mess his younger siblings made. Thankfully, no stranger stayed the night. God how did Trish and Doppio take a huge risk like that. He was going to have to check on their mental health.
He heard a groan and look over to see Trish coming down the stairs.
“Are you depressed?”
“No, I have a hangover.”
“Good.”
“That’s not how you asked someone if they’re depressed.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, do you have depression?” Diavolo asked sarcastically.
“Oh my god.”
“How else would you ask?”
“Are you feeling alright.”
“Trish we’re family there is no reason to beat around the bush.”
Doppio came down, “Sorry that we left you to clean up.”
“Thank you, are you depressed?”
“No?” that wasn’t a strong no.
“Are you lying?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“You’re such a weirdo,” said Trish.
Unfortunately for Diavolo, Trish and Doppio threw another party this week. Maybe he should of beat around the bush. Too late for that, he was now sitting outside in the cold again. Just like before Leone sat down, this time slightly closer. He was not in stabbing distance which is good.
“Didn’t even ask.”
“Can I sit here?”
“Yes.”
They sat in silence. Two hours passed and Leone got up. He should have left sooner given that Diavolo came up with twelve ways to kill him and hide the body. Each gorier than the last.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Huh?”
“For letting me sit here.”
“No problem.”
Leone nodded and left.
********************
His siblings needed to start helping with the cleaning. Or maybe he should sleep in. Then again, a huge part of Diavolo believes that the more one slept the more likely one was killed. On the other hand, if one didn’t get enough sleep they would pass out in a ditch. The point being Diavolo strictly slept six to eight hours. He randomizes his alarums each month so nobody could find out his sleep patterns.
Trish was the first up, “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Some of us don’t want to live in a pigs’ stall.”
“Sorry about that.”
“You can make it up to me.”
“By helping you clean,” she said somewhat sarcastically.
“Tell me everything you know about Leone.”
“You mean Abbacchio?”
“The tall guy with white hair.”
“Risotto or Abbacchio?”
“There’s two?”
“Yes.”
“The one with violet eyes.”
“Ooo, do you have a crush on Abbacchio?”
“Trish, information now.”
She sighed at him, “You’re no fun. Abbacchio is cool those we shop for makeup together.”
“That’s why his lips are black,” said Diavolo like it was all coming together.
“You didn’t know!”
So, Leone felt the need to hide his face. What else could he be hiding? Diavolo grabbed a notepad and pen, “Continued.”
“Please tell me you have a crush on him.”
“Trish!”
“This is the only way it’s not weird.”
“Information.”
“He likes operas, is sarcastic, really good at bargaining.”
“That’s it?”
“I don’t spend a lot of time with him.”
“You shop with him.”
“That’s how I know he’s good at bargaining.”
Great, that was useful. Hopefully, he’ll never have to encounter the man again.
“We’re throwing another party next week.”
“Trish.”
“Come on, you get to talk to your crush.”
***************
The world seemed to hate him because Trish threw another party. It was becoming predictable that Leone would show up.
“May I?”
“Go ahead,” Diavolo turned to look at Leone. He really did wear makeup. Black lipstick.
“What brand is your lipstick?” Diavolo asked.
“Didn’t think you care about makeup.”
“I don’t?”
“Why do you care?” asked Leone sounding tired.
“Did you check the ingredients?”
“No.”
“Lead could be in it.”
“I’m going to be bold and say there’s no lead in my lipstick.”
“You would be surprised, also it freezing why are you wearing one layer? Do you want to die?”
Leone shrugged, “Sometimes.”
And suddenly Diavolo felt more comfortable around him.
“Hypothermia isn’t a fun death,” said Diavolo.
“Speaking from experience.”
“Just stating the obvious.”
“The cold doesn’t bother me.”
“I can tell.”
“Matte.”
Diavolo gave him a confused look.
“It’s the brand.”
“Thank you.”
*************
This time Diavolo came down to a clean downstairs. He saw Trish at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
“You finally helped.”
“That is no way to thank your sister.”
“You made this mess.”
“How was your date?”
“There was no date.”
“Come on.”
“And what exactly makes you think I hang out with Leone.”
“I see him go outside and you asked about him.”
“We sat in silence.”
“Was your arm around him?”
“Not that close.”
“Oh my god, you didn’t make a single move did you.”
“Not in a million years.”
“Look at yourself, you can’t play hard to get.”
“Thanks, Trish.”
Diavolo was starting to suspect that Trish wanted him dead because she threw another party. God, he hated her. She only told him about it yesterday giving him no time to prepare. So here he was sitting in the cold at this point waiting for Leone. Since when did he wait for people?
“Is this spot taken?”
“It’s practically yours at this point,” Diavolo said annoyed.
“I can leave.”
“Don’t,” said Diavolo handing Leone black lipstick, “I didn’t have time to check your brands.”
“Thanks?”
“Has no toxic chemicals.”
“Thank you, you didn’t have to do this.”
“I have too, you were risking poison.”
“Bit extreme.”
“Caution never hurt anyone.”
“Orpheus begs to differ.”
“I never like that story.”
“Why is that?” A man’s downfall is his lack of trust. The story felt like a middle finger to Diavolo’s existence.
“It’s cruel. How is a mortal supposed to trust a god.”
“It’s Hades, I would trust him.”
“Seriously.”
“If it was Zeus, I would turn around but with Hades, I would trust him.”
“You would trust the god of death to give back life.”
“More than Zeus.”
“I have a slight feeling you like this story.”
“I do but I’m biased.”
“Are you?”
“My favorite opera is based on that story.”
“You like operas?”
“Love them, they’re so grand sounding that I just get lost in it.”
The rest of the night was spent talking about operas. While Leone could get lost in the music, Diavolo was getting lost in his eyes.
*******************
Diavolo was cleaning up his sibling’s mess again and questioning their sanity. He heard a groan and saw Trish coming down the stair.
“Are you insane?”
“No.”
“Good, now help me clean.”
“You can’t just ask that.”
“Of course, I can it’s your mess.”
“I meant if I’m insane or not.”
“Trish, help me clean.”
“Let me get coffee first.”
“I swear if you don’t help me-”
“God, you’re grumpy,” interrupted Trish, “Did your date go bad?”
“There was no date.”
“Please tell me you didn’t just sit in silence.”
“Maybe we did and maybe we didn’t, now help me clean.”
It’s official Trish was evil and there was nothing Diavolo could do about it. He was outside again sitting in a spot that was starting to become more his home than his house.
“May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Leone sat down. He was close. It occurred to Diavolo that Leone was sitting closer and closer with each party. He was now in stabbing distance. Hell, they were so close that Diavolo could kiss him. He could kiss him.
“Matte is not a bad brand but there are safer brands out there.”
“If you have a list, I’ll look at it.”
“Not on me.”
“I can give you my phone number, you can send it to me.”
Diavolo stared at him for a bit. He only had his parents and siblings on his phone. He slowly handed Leone his phone. “Sure.”
Leone typed in his number and handed back the phone.
“I’ll send it.”
Leone nodded and turned to the stars, that sea of diamonds. But how was Diavolo supposed to look at the sky when a man with hackmanites for eyes was sitting next to him?
“Hey.”
“Yeah,” Leone turned to look at him.
Diavolo leaned in to kiss him. It was him abandoning caution and it felt so good. Leone’s lips were softer than expected. He felt Leone’s hands on his back. Leone leaned into the kiss chasing this feeling of passion. Diavolo was the first to break. He looked at Leone’s red face, this was a sight worth all the diamonds in the world.
“Do you still want to die?”
“Not really.”
“Good,” and he meant it. Diavolo was going to make sure both of them lived, even if the world burned for it.
“Do you ask that every time you kiss someone?”
“So far yes.”