Inspired by the lovely drawings of young Gru by the talented AnnaK1332 on Tumblr. Please review, feedback is most welcome!

Paris, France. 1978.

Reemember to breathe. Don't rush. Take your time. You have all de time in de wurld. She's just hanging there, waiting for you.

Gru bit his lip. The glass had made a slight hiss, as his knife began to cut a semi-circle into the translucent barrier. There was something creepy about the Louvre at night. Gru didn't mind the dark so much as the quiet...the slightest sound from his tiny knife was already setting him on edge. It echoed throughout the vast hallways of the museum, and Gru could only hope that the guards were far enough away on their rounds…

Stop worrying. It'll be fine. Just focus.

To regain his nerve, Gru decided to steal another glance at his potential prize. But, instead of the Mona Lisa's small smile and stare, icy blue eyes gazed back at him. The rest of his face was covered in black, lightweight fabric that concealed him from head to toe. For his biggest heist yet, Gru would leave no room for mistakes…and no chance of getting caught.

With a final squeak, the glass gave in, and Gru gently moved it aside, laying it on the dark, tile floor as the Mona Lisa finally offered her stoic smile his way. She was in his reach at last. Soundlessly, he reached out to touch the frame with his bare fingertips. He shuddered as the chilly, metallic material brushed his skin. The cold sensation made his heart race, and he reminded himself to hurry. He was so close.

Without wasting another second, Gru hastily removed the painting from its position on the wall and securely placed it inside the black bag that was slung over his shoulder. Out of the same bag, he then produced his pride and joy: an exact replica of the Mona Lisa, which he quickly situated onto the wall. With his heart pounding, he slid the circular cut-out of the glass back into place and melded it into one with the wall, courtesy of a special pen from Dr. Nefario.

The hollow click of distant footsteps stopped the blood in his veins. Frozen in place, Gru held his breath and tried to stay calm.

Relax. No one knows you're here. Stay steell and wait.

About a minute passed, and the footsteps finally faded into the faraway hallways of the Louvre. Gru was amazed: a whole five minutes had gone by, yet not one guard passed by the museum's most prized painting. Who'd ever think the job would be so easy?

In a series of short, catlike movements, Gru stepped away from the imposter-Mona Lisa and leaped up the colossal wall of the museum, until he found himself perched by one of the windows. A second later, he was gone.

I did eet.

Gru could feel himself smiling…it was something he rarely did. And, soon, the smiling broke into laughter. As he sped through the narrow streets of Paris on his motorcycle, with the Mona Lisa slung over casually over his back, he laughed like a maniac. What wasn't funny about a seventeen year-old singlehandedly stealing the world's most beloved piece of art history…in the matter of five minutes?

He was racing away from the city of lights - the sights, sounds, and smells of French urban life faded away as his motorbike gained speed. With the flick a switch, a fiery jet was activated and metallic wings sprouted from the sides of the bike, rocketing him from the ground. Now airborne, Gru began his surprisingly quick journey home. Thanks to some guidance from Nefario, his newest motorbike - flying motorbike - could take him from Paris to Pasadena in a few short hours.

Shedding his helmet and his mask, while running a hand through his jet-black hair, he trudged up the stairs to his room, the satisfied smirk still stuck on his face. No Mrs. Gru in this house to nag him – Gru had moved out of his mother's place months ago, finally fed up with it all. Dr. Nefario, an old friend of his father's, was tolerable enough – he gave him his own room, his privacy, his space. And the freedom to go where he pleased.

Gru entered his immaculate bedroom, which was too tidy to belong to your average teenage boy. It wasn't a large room…just a twin bed, some maps on the walls, and book cases filled to the brim with almanacs, dictionaries, and textbooks. And, of course, there was a telescope for stargazing parked by his window. Exhausted but still high from the heist, he flopped facedown on the bed, chuckling into the covers. He still couldn't believe what he just did. Rolling onto his back, he reached into the black bag that was still tightly gripped in his right hand. He yanked the bag away to reveal the painting, and he stared into the modest lady's dark eyes.

He had been committing crimes since he was fourteen…shoplifting, pick-pocketing, even mugging a guy or two on a late Saturday night…but he always wanted more. His father had been more: a supervillain, who apparently always dreamed of stealing the Mona Lisa in a single, flawless heist. In just one try, this teenage boy had already accomplished the lifetime goal of one of the world's most ambitious villains. If only he was around to see it.

Nefario had warned Gru that he was too young and inexperienced to take on such a task. Gru smirked…stupid, old man. It was Nefario's mistake to help him build a jet/motorcycle hybrid…but this all proved one significant point. As long as he had the money and the technology he needed, Gru knew he was unstoppable. As long as he kept Nefario around, Gru knew he could accomplish even more wonders. He just needed to stay on his good side, at least for a little while longer. At least until he had the lab. At least until he was the boss.

There was a soft knock at the door. Gru laughed. Right on cue…

Nefario stepped in the room, hands behind his back and a firm frown on his wrinkled, old face.

"You were gone awhile."

Gru sat up, smirking, "Deed I break curfew again?"

"Where were you, Gru."

The pale, black-haired teenager stood on his bed and dangled the painting, smiling mischievously at his mentor like a spoiled child. Nefario groaned and shook his head.

"Idiot!"

Gru frowned, red seeping into his cheeks. "Excuse me?"

Nefario stepped forward and snatched the painting out of Gru's hands, leaving the boy stunned and angry. "Do you know how stupid you are?!" he snarled in his British accent, suddenly raising his voice.

"What? I got away with eet. No one saw me!" Gru snapped back.

"What are you going to do with this?" Nefario huffed, holding up the Mona Lisa.

"Well, I was theenking of giving eet back, just to be nice," Gru retorted, with a sarcastic roll of his eyes.

"Did you leave a ransom note? Anything to let them know it was you?" the doctor pressed.

"Of course not. I'm no eediot."

"That's the point of being a supervillain, Gru! Your father wanted to go down in history as the man who stole the Mona Lisa! Now what? What's your next move, hmm? Keep it forever and never get caught?"

Gru blinked, registering the old man's words. Wasn't that the point? Not getting caught?

"I thought no one was supposed to know…"

"You're a stupid boy who has much to learn about this way of life! I promised your father when you were ready…"

"I am ready! Look what I just deed!" the teenager protested, jumping off the bed and moving to stand nose-to-nose with the doctor. Gru narrowed his eyes as he stared into the older man's opaque, protective goggles. Neither man moved a muscle.

"Your job for now is to finish school," Nefario stated, finally turning around to exit the room, "I'm not giving another inch until then."

"I'll be eighteen soon," Gru continued, not quite finished. He stormed after the doctor, following him into the hallway, "I can take whatever I want. Eet's my father's lab!"

"Actually, it's my lab." Nefario grunted, turning around to face the teenager once more, "Your father said your inheritance goes into effect when you graduate. Speaking of which…" The doctor nodded towards a nearby window, where the pale morning light was just beginning to creep in, "Your first class starts in…what, two hours?"

Gru rolled his eyes. "Nefario, I just spent the weeekend in Paris. I theenk that's a fair substitution for AP French."

Nefario took a step forward, firmly placing a gloved hand on the boy's shoulder. "You know, you may be an idiot, Gru…but you're a smart lad."

"Dat makes no sense," the dark-haired boy deadpanned.

"I mean you get the highest marks of anyone in that high school of yours. Enjoy being young for a moment. Your father's way of life – my way of life – that can all wait, at least for another year."

Gru stared at the older man, blinking his blue eyes in frustration. Nefario smirked and trudged away with the Mona Lisa in hand, leaving the younger man steaming.

Gru hated George Washington Prep. He hated everything about it – from his classmates, to his teachers, to the maroon and gray uniform he had to wear every single day. What was the point of finishing school when everything he wanted was just below the floorboards of his home?

He sighed. The teenager stormed back into his room and collapsed on the bed once more, peering bitterly at the rosy sunlight filling the bedroom. It was only the beginning of his senior year. Maybe if he closed his eyes and pretended high school was a dream, it would all end that much faster…