Chapter Text
Lila sits across the table from me, her hands in front of her. I fiddle with the bracelet on my wrist, ignoring the energy filled child beside her. He's picking at his jacket, shifting in his seat and just going out of his way to be annoying. He's especially not helping with the already mental noise filled cafe. I fiddle with the ends of my hair as Lila smiles, "So Isabella, just to go over the plan one more time. You're going to start by convincing Diego that I'm your mum. Then, we're going to start with the story about Stan. We can just say that I adopted him. If I know absolutely anything about Diego, it's that he'll feel some sort of twisted parental responsibility. And then last but not least, I win."
"And you'll not make me call him dad."
I watch as Lila smiles, a little uncomfortable. She nods, and sighs, "You don't have to call him dad. I mean, it'd possibly help the story, but nothing has to be done if you don't want it."
I take a sip of my coffee, frowning a little. The boy- Stan- smiles up at me, and I scowl. He's going to be my brother? I don't particularly want to do this, but it's starting to get cold, and I don't want to be alone in the winter. Groaning, I rub a hand over my face, trying not to laugh. This isn't funny. It's not a great situation, but if I'm getting fed, guaranteed, it might just be worth it a little bit. I glance up at Lila, move my hand to my neck, and sigh, "I'll do it. I just want you to know that I'm not being nice to the kid, and if this Diego so much as breathes too loudly, I'm breaking his jaw, your jaw, the kids jaw, and bouncing. Okay?"
Lila looks at me, smiling, "A girl after my own heart. I'd love for you to do that. And now lets talk details. Your powers. I want you to describe it in full, incredible detail."
Slowly, I cross my arms, shifting in my seat. Stan seems to be paying more attention now, and the last thing I want is for him to start actually talking. I sigh, glancing round the cafe. I've already explained to her four million times what's happened, and I'm going to lose my mind. Finally, I sigh, "Well, I mean like I've already told you, I can like, do the knife thing."
"Like Diego."
I nod, "Right, like Diego, which is why it'll look believable. However, I just have one little thing. I look absolutely nothing like you, and from the picture you showed me, I somehow look less like Diego. So, I want to know why you think a grown man is going to fall for my little face."
Lila frowns, clearly not having thought of that. I stare at her, incredulous, and ask, "You were going to lie to a man about having his baby and... you didn't think about the fact that maybe I should look like him?"
"The knives!"
"Yes, I can throw knives round corners, but... Okay, whatever."
We arrive at some crappy hotel a few hours later, and I stand against the wall with my arms crossed. Lila talks a little to Diego, before stepping back and revealing us. I pick at my nails awkwardly, not knowing how this is going to work but it takes maybe a second for the back of my head to be slapped. I look up, surprised, as Lila snaps, "Say hello, Isabella."
"Hello, Isabella," I roll my eyes and rub the back of my head, watching as Lila walks into a lift and heads down. Stan looks up at Diego, smiling, while I glare. I regret doing this now. He's stood their, his eyes wide in fear. I scan him head to toe, taking in the knives on his belt. Immediately, I try reaching for them, and he panics, stopping my hand. I cross my arms again, and he rubs a hand over his face, "Oh my god, I'm a dad. And now what? So, sorry, your names? Ages? How this happened?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose, and exhale. Bored, I drop my hand from my face, and explain, "I'm Isabella, I'm fifteen. This is Stanley, he's twelve. I just want to know why it took you so long to be a man and remember the girl you got pregnant."
Diego holds up a hand, clearly nervous. He shakes his head, while opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish. I motion for him to speak, and he just holds his other hand up as well. Stanley shuffles beside me, and I take in the surrounding area. It's weirdly green. The walls are all a type of wallpaper that makes my skin crawl, and it's floral. Or at least, I think it's supposed to be floral. It's anyone's guess. Stan picks at his nails, and I hold his hand, not appreciating the bad habit. I'm not holding his hand because I like him, I'm holding his hand because I feel bad. He seems scared. I'm just being a good person. Finally, Diego asks, "And you swear that you're my kid- No, stupid question. I'm sorry, what?"
I'm getting so sick of having to explain myself over and over. I groan weakly, give Stan's hand a reassuring squeeze, and explain, "I'm Isabella, your daughter, and this is Stan. Li- mum's adopted Stan, so he's not your biological kid. Anyway, I kind of wanted to meet my dad and mum was sick of me. Said she needed a break so..."
"Balls," Diego groans. Stan laughs slightly, and with my free hand, I smack the back of his head. He frowns immediately, and Diego snaps, "Oi, don't hurt your brother!"
"I'll break your jaw!" I yell, dropping Stan's hand. Diego pauses, before nodding, "Amazing. Yeah, definitely mine. Let's get you both some food."