"I've figured it out: You're insane, aren't you?" Luan couldn't help the candidness that slipped from his mouth. But Mira really had to be insane.
"What does insane mean?" she asked, not seeming to understand his incredulity at all.
"It means crazy."
She gasped, spinning her head towards him like a lightning strike.
"I am NOT crazy!" she shrieked. Tiny hands went to hips as she glared up at him. Mira really looked like an angry princess right now. She rolled her eyes, pointing one of her small fingers at him imperiously.
"I'm just saying. Who buys milk just to drink it? That's disgusting." He asked, rolling his eyes at the display.
"I like drinking milk. Papa said it'll make me grow bigger, so I'll be stronger than all the other princesses!"
Luan felt his eyelid twitching. Always with the princesses.
"Fine, we'll get milk. But I demand you put cereal or cocoa in it. You get your milk, and I don't have to watch you drink it plain. Seem fair?"
"Yay!" She met his hand in a handshake, smiling brightly.
The tiny hand felt so small compared to his. Luan made sure to keep his grip soft, not wanting to crush the small thing. She was smiling again, so at least he didn't have to worry about her tiny ire anymore.
"What kind of cereal do you want?" he asked, leading her towards the correct aisle.
"Princess Charming!!" She yelled, giggling gleefully as they walked. She still held his hand, swinging them back and forth like her own personal pendulum.
Luan didn't mind, as long as it kept her close, she could keep his hand.
And what would you know, that weird cereal actually existed. It had marshmallows in it. They looked like princesses. Perfect.
Luan rolled his eyes the entire time Mira was picking out a box of it, only stopping when she turned to smile up at him.
"Come on, let's go get the milk." At least he didn't have to worry about being a father that went to get milk and never came back. In this case, she thought of him as a mother.
Another eye roll followed that thought, and Luan grabbed a couple packs of cocoa as they passed. May as well have something to do with the milk.
"What's that?" Mira asked, eyeing the packets with curiosity.
"Hot chocolate. You mix it with milk to make a chocolate drink." Luan was having that feeling again, where he'd have to give Mira a better family. What father doesn't give their kid hot cocoa?
"Does it have mallos? Papa makes a drink that has mallos, and it looks like dirt, but he said it's choco."
Maybe he was getting ahead of himself. But still, Dante Jin couldn't possibly be a good dad with the kind of life he has. Still, Luan needed to go through with the deal. If he finds out Dante isn't qualified, he could always try and kidnap Mira again later. They definitely wouldn't see that coming.
Luan stopped short when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Mira pointing her tiny finger at something.
"Can I get those?" It was a plush shark and tiger, hanging from the side of the shelves. This was a food store, so it was unexpected to see such things here. Then again, stores liked to sell as much as they could. Looking at their price tags, they were five bucks for two, so he didn't see the harm. Not like he had to cater to the princess for much longer, anyway."
"Fine. But that's the last thing we're buying in here. I'm not made of enough money to fund your princess lifestyle."
"Ok!" She laughed, trying to jump up and grab the plushies. Of course they were out of her reach. Luan made his sigh known, loud and overdramatic, as he reached above her jumping hands and grabbed them. As they were lowered into the hands of the tiny princess, she let out a squeal of delight, hugging them tightly and laughing.
"Your majesty." Luan made a little bow, bequeathing some plush servants to her.
She lowered her head to giggle into them, tilting her head up at him. Her sunglasses came a little loose, some gold peeking out between the pink frame and black hair that surrounded them. He bent down, ruffling her hair and straightening the glasses.
"Come on. Let's pay for all this so we can make some cocoa with mallows in it."
"Mallows?! Ok!" She happily started following him toward the checkout, the prospect of sticky sweet sugar clouds keeping her focus.
Armed with the ingredients for breakfast, finally, they marched to the end of the line.
Ahead was a woman surrounded by four boys all scampering around, her cart stacked close to overflowing with food.
A man was before her with a dark cloak, a wide brim hat sitting on top of his head. He was only buying a pack of cigarettes and a pack of marshmallows. Weirdo.
As though he'd summoned his gaze, the man looked back. Luan couldn't see his eyes behind the shades, but his jaw was sharp, lips set in a slight smirk. Handsome and creepy. Very nice.
"That'll be $11.73 will you be paying with cash, or card?" the cashier asked, and the man was forced to turn back to her.
Luan couldn't really hear the response. The man spoke low, but he felt the deep voice as it practically vibrated through him. A shiver went down his spine, senses going on high alert. Something was off about that guy.
Even as the man made his way to the door, never once looking back, Luan kept an eye on him. He barely registered as they checked out, half watching the door as he calculated where all the exits were. Walking back to their car, he made sure Mira kept her hand in his the entire way. As he drove them back to his hideout, he took the long route, skidding through back streets, and driving mildly insane, just to be sure they weren't being followed. Not without a few complaints from Mira, though. Even with her little haul, she still found time to criticize his driving as being very un-prince-like.
When they got back to the place, a small apartment he was using to keep his kidnapping hidden, Luan situated Mira with some breakfast before going straight for the shower. He felt grimy after the creepy encounter in the store, not to mention how long that whole ordeal took. Shopping with women, even undeveloped ones, was exhausting. He lathered up the soap, sighing as hot water hit his skin. It always felt good to get clean. Something Luan was a little obsessed with. He'd even put the temperature a bit too hot sometimes, just to feel the sharp sting as it coarse over his body. Not this time, though. He didn't need Mira to question why he came out of the bathroom looking like a red balloon.
Speaking of Mira, Luan found her sitting at the counter, devouring her cereal in a very unprincess-like manner. He stifled a laugh, turning to hide the slightest smile. She turned towards the sound, small though it was. Her chin was covered in milk, pieces of marshmallow sliding down the sides. Her cheeks bulged with the slop, so she was unable to level a very threatening glare his way. Mira looked like an angry fish protecting her stash of food. And it was adorable.
"Having fun?" He asked, taking a seat right next to her.
"Mhmhmh" she gobbled out, munching through the rations she'd saved up inside her own mouth.
"Good. With any luck, you'll be going home tomorrow." He patted her tiny shoulder softly.
It took forever for her to get through that mouthful, but once she did, he was thrown another blinding smile.
"I'll get to see papa tomorrow?" She still had milk all over her face when she asked.
Reaching across the counter, Luan pulled a paper towel off the roll. He folded it a bit, and used it to dab up the white ocean she'd smeared all over herself.
"Yep. If papa agree's to the deal, I'll take you to him tomorrow. So, you have to behave tonight, understood?"
"Ok, I'll be good" She gave two thumbs up, small little fingers practically disappearing within her fists as she held them.
"Perfect. Now, what movie do you want to watch?"
"Princess Sparkle Dawn!!!!" Was the unfortunate reply, and Luan realized he'd have to deal with princesses forever with Mira around.
Boy, he almost couldn't wait for this to be over. Even if it meant he might not see her again. Unless he needed to stage another kidnapping, that is.