Unknown (Diego Hargreeves x Reader)

12

Diego, Allison and Vanya all stared at Luther as he realised what had happened. He held eye contact with Allison, silent. He stepped slowly away from the chandelier and then pushed passed Diego running up the stairs. Allison paused for a moment then walked over to Vanya.

"Did you know?" Vanya asked still stunned.
"No." Allison responded as she glanced back in the direction Luther ran off.

Diego heard a distant humming and quickly realised there was a family member that they hadn't checked on.

"Shit. Mom."

He raced up the stairs towards his mother, glancing over her quickly to check for any injuries.

"Mom," he called to her, "You okay?"
"Of course I am" Grace smiled.
"You didn't hear the noises?" Diego asked hesitantly, "The guys in the masks that just shot up the house?"
Grace chuckled softly, "What are you talking about, silly?"

It was then that Diego sat beside her and noticed that she had pushed her needle and thread through her own hand. Diego looked at her desperately realising what he needed to do as she hummed quietly. He knelt in front of her, breathing shakily as they looked at each other. He cut into her arm, his hand lightly shaking as he did so.

"Diego?" Grace asked, "What are you doing?"

He looked down at her arm, lifting up the wires that were enclosed in her skin and then returned his gaze to hers. He tried to speak but the words just wouldn't come.

"I-it's gonna be o-" he cried softly.
"Remember what we worked on. Just picture the word in your mind." Grace advised.
"It's gonna be okay- m-m-mom." he said as he removed the wires.

Grace beeped quietly and cogs whirred in a useless attempt to keep working. Her eyes soon fluttered shut as she spoke slowly.

"Di-e-go...Re...mem...ber."

Her head fell to the side and Diego sat there crying silently as he stared at his mother's face. He took a second to regain his composure and then made his way down stairs to where his two sisters were, pacing once he'd entered.

"Diego?" Allison asked.
"What are you still doing here?" he directed his question to Vanya.
"I'm just trying to help."
"No, you could've been killed." he raised his voice, "Or gotten any of us killed. She is a liability."
"Allison?" Vanya asked, hoping for a positive response.
"I think what he's trying to say is that this kind of stuff is dangerous." she paused, "You're just-"
"Not like you." Vanya cut her off, waiting for a response then leaving.
"No, that's not what I- Vanya wait" Allison asked as she followed her sister.
"Let her go. It's for the best." Diego told her.
They watched their sister rush out of the house and Diego then directed his gaze to one of his blades.

"Imma head out."
"Wh- Diego. What about mom?"
"I'm sure she's fine" Diego bit back.
"But-"
"I'm going... I'm gone." Diego drew out as he made his way out of the academy.

Diego now turned his attention towards the missed messages on his phone, frantically typing that he'd be making a surprise visit. He hurriedly walked through the streets coming quickly to the apartment building  he'd visited earlier this week. Rushing up the stairs, he texted the woman in the apartment that he was there.

"Hey what are you-" the woman was cut off by Diego grabbing her in a quick embrace.
"Sorry," Diego said as he let go, "Just tonight was a bit rough"
"Wanna talk about it? I mean I know we've known each other less than a week so you probably think I'm weird for caring so much but-"
"Y/N. Breathe"
"Sorry" the woman laughed bashfully as she glanced at the ground.
Diego hesitated and then said, "My mom died."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's fine, just... Sudden." Diego choked on his words.
"I don't know how much this is going to help but... My mum died too-"
Diego laughed, "The way you say mom is cute."
"Not the point," Y/N smiled and then continued, "She died during childbirth so..."
"My mom did everything for us. She did all the normal mom things and even more. She helped me... So much" Diego reminisced.
"She sounds amazing."
"She was."

Both adults went quiet as they sat on the couch, staring at their hands. Hours sped by, neither of them really moving just sat in comfortable silence until Diego spoke.

"I gotta go somewhere, wanna come?"
"Sure but I've got work today so, as long as I can get there on time"
"That's fine, I'll just go a little faster than usual" Diego smirked.
"I don't know if I trust you, I'll drive."
"Ok but let's go"

They drove down narrow streets, Diego directing Y/N through the city towards the house of a certain detective. Y/N parked in front of their destination and Diego jumped out and laid down at the top of the steps, leaving Y/N just standing awkwardly.

A woman walked out of the house, noticing Diego laying on the porch, "What the hell? Who'd you piss off this time?
"I gave it as good as I got" Diego sighed.
The woman chuckled, "You didn't answer my question."
"Oh, yes." Diego took the coffee cup from her, "How's all that paperwork coming along?"
"It's a real page-turner" she joked, "I've got two guys in children's masks, rare bullet casings, a random fingerprint from a 1930s cold case, and... I just learned that the tow truck driver from the doughnut shop didn't have any family."
"The boy." Diego interjected.
"Not his, apparently. Kid's our only possible witness and he's a complete mystery. Okay, what's going on? And who's she?" she asked pointing to Y/N.
"What?"
"You could have called me for an update. So why are you really here?"
"Nothin', I just, uh... My mom. She died last night."
"Shit. Diego, I'm so sorry. I remember how close you were. Is there anything I can-"

Y/N leant against her car, watching the pair with a pit in her stomach as she saw Diego slowly break and the woman try to patch him back together. She wanted to go over and help as well as she noticed a tear roll down his cheek. She felt herself go numb as she watched the woman comfort Diego and Diego start telling her about what happened the night before.

The woman then stood, "I can't"
"No wonder we didn't last."
"Yep." she walks to the end of the driveway, "I'm sorry about your mom, Diego. Really I am."

She walked past Y/N and made her way to work, leaving Diego staring at the ground.

"Let's go." Diego said, getting up and into the car.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"You've got to get to work. Let's just go."

A/N- Long time no see. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Now I can't promise regular updates because school is hectic but I do want to at least get to the end of season 1 so even with my fleeting updates I aim to get there. Also, thank you for 10k reads! I'll see you whenever I update next!
- Dani