Chapter 1: 'Match made in hell'

Today was his birthday, for months to fill the emptiness that his life was, he had been looking forward to it, even though he didn't actually plan anything for this day. It was just a stamp in the stretch of the time until he met his inevitable death. How old was he again? Yeah, today he is twenty-five. That is still young, he could re-start. The idea proposed itself every so often yet he would always push it to the 'let's think about it later'.

Stopping meant confronting.

He would never want to do that to himself. Even in this café, alone eating his birthday muffin and a cup of coffee, he felt like he didn't belong. He wanted to go back to his apartment, plan an escapade, feel the thrill and just feel like he was alive. No-No it was his day off. But why did he feel like he was being watched?

That was so unlikely.

He wouldn't say he was unattractive because he wasn't, the way he trained, he could probably serve as the example of a sculpture of lean muscle. His mother had passed her raven hair and blue eyes to him, which did charms on women when he wanted it to. But mostly he stayed out of the eye because that was favourable for what he did. Blend in, Blend in. That's the rule number one to not getting caught. Even as he watched the TV on display at the café, reporting the massive burglary that took place on Saturday at le Centre de la Reconnaissance museum. The security at that place had just been begging to be broken by him.

He had visited the place and viewed everything; he stole two pieces that were collectively valued at 15 million dollars. It was no Salvator Mundi but it did pretty well for now. His thrill was sated, his bags were full. He watched the television with a sense of pride. A smirk spreading across his lips at the thought of being untouchable, fooling everyone in his way so effortlessly. The news branding him as a mastermind, so brilliant that as if the thing didn't exist in the first place. The argument between the journalists was like a fuel for his narcissism tank.

"Sheryl I don't get why we are applauding this "Mastermind" when we should be doing the opposite and that is not treating him like he's supernatural creature out of reach." The old commentator spat on TV, "This is what the game is, it's happened in the 70s, it's an ego boost to – excuse my language- creeps like this,"

He mockingly made a mouth out of his fingers as if saying the guy is blabbing, from a side eye he could see someone continuously look at him. He looked over his shoulder for a quick second, yup. Someone was definitely looking at him. He placed his palms on the table and got up and turned around to look. There was a girl about four tables away, her long hair straight down, wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, thick framed glasses that covered half her face.

Her thick lashes were visible through the glasses that guarded coffee brown almond shaped eyes. The eyes that were looking at him in a calculated manner. Was he just imagining it? He was right about 99 percent of the time but what about that one percent? To check he just slowly started walking out of there. He went outside of the coffee shop. The morning air hit his half way wet dried hair. He had showered just before coming here before putting it back. Putting the top of his hood on. he started walking on the side walk ditching his car. He had to find out if he was being followed, reaching for his sunglasses in the back pocket of his jeans, he pulled them out and held them at eye level. Yup, the girl was following him. With a huff he turned into the alley. As if the girl was hypnotized because she followed him like an idiot there. He stood tall in the middle once she turned into the alley and gasped seeing him smirking with that "Got you!" expression on his face.

"Uh," she stammered.

He held up a hand as if telling her to not make excuses. He walked closer towards her as she shivered under his gaze for a second. He circled her, feigning to be impressed and then stood right in front of her, taking a lot of her personal space, looked at her in a compelling manner. Elena took a deep breath, 'It's okay- mastermind thieves like him are manipulative and act more confident than they are.' She told herself to calm herself down.

"What is so interesting about me that you drank about three skinny lattes- spying and stalking, watching a stranger enjoy his breakfast." His lips moved in a graceful way and how he spoke so eloquently made her think he belonged to such a wealthy and upper society background, if she didn't know better she'd say he was dangerously charismatic. But then all criminal minds were extraordinarily charismatic.

"You're not just anyone." She seemed to have found her confidence to strike back, he cocked his head to a side, narrowed eyes and confused. She smiled the way he was earlier. A cunning smile graced her lips. "You're 'DS'. The 'DS'. I know everything there is to know about you."

Wow, she wasn't as smart as he thought her to be. Why not release this information to the police and get him caught, she looked confident enough to know everything but stupid to come here and confess to him for what? A little money? Everyone knew he didn't leave any clues behind. She was lucky she was breathing.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He shrugged and began to walk away when she said something, "You stole from the museum DS. I know that. I saw you there. Even if the cameras didn't." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture throwing it on the floor. He looked over his shoulder to see a dark picture of him loading the paintings out of his car. He had done that at least four hours later, about 130 kilometres away from the site of the burglary. How did she-?

He stepped back and picked up the photo, "That could be anyone." He rolled his eyes, she smirked. That was really pissing him off now, "Except that's not, if you didn't love switching to that Camaro so consistently throughout your last three burglaries. It's even outside that coffee shop. They'll trace it to you. Don't deny it."

Last three. How long has she been following him for? How could he be so blind to not notice. He was so mad at himself. "Given that you're here and not at the police station claiming your reward, I assume you want something from me, how much money is it that you want?"

She laughed for a brief moment. So, it was a lot of money but maybe that's not what she was laughing about, she was laughing about how she was able to make him surrender. "What can you give me?"

"You really want me to put a price on you princess?" he said sarcastically. She bit her lower lip looking up as if thinking before taking a step towards him and pressing her finger into his chest, "Zero dollars."

He looked down at her finger, surprised at her audacity to speak this way to him, she was enjoying getting him nervous, he hated that, "You have three seconds."

She gasped, faking she was scared, she cupped her mouth before taking a step back and counting with her fingers, "3...2...1."

Nothing happened. Well he didn't want this on his day off, definitely not his favourite birthday. A nerdy looking teenager was trying to test him. "Okay, I am done." She put up her hands in surrender, "Now I am going to actually talk about why I've been stalking you for the last seven months."

"Seven months?" he raised a brow. She rolled her eyes, "Exactly, you didn't think you caught me spying on you right? Because I made it so super obvious earlier, I let you catch me." She shrugged, "Don't worry I didn't really watch you sleep, not that creepy."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, have I piqued the interests of the Poindexter community?" he said in a way that showed he couldn't wait to get done with the conversation. She chuckled, "Aww you're funny and cute, you're gonna have no time in getting yourself a boyfriend in prison." She said folding her arms across her chest, "Let's get another skinny latte and I'll tell you all about what the Poindexter community plans for you."

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He looked around, his fingers clicking against the desk, the girl took her sweet ass time sipping the coffee like she hadn't already drank enough, "What?" he spat, he could only behave for so long, how could human communication be so annoying? She looked up from her coffee, foam was on her lower lip and she passed the cookie plate to him, "Here DS, it's a cheat day no? Sunday?"

"What is your problem? At this point, I rather get death penalty than spend another second trying to-"

"Know what is going in my head?" she snickered, Damon gritted his teeth and moved forward, grabbing a tissue and handing it to her, "Wipe your mouth and tell me what you want."

She pouted and wiped her mouth, surprised at the amount of foam, "So I want to work with you." She said casually. Damon was drinking his coffee, he almost threw it back up, "What? I am counting down to the minute here and you want to work with me?"

She nodded, "Yeah, what can I say, I think we can make an amazing team."

"The only place you and I can be even mentioned together is tomorrow's news after I strangle you to death in this coffee shop." He bit out each word, she put her hand on her chest, "Ouch! You say that to all your fans?"

"Look you-"

"Ah ah ah! No bad words or I go to the police." She sighed, "I know you don't want that?"

"How much money do you want? 50k? 80k?" she laughed again, he was really beginning to detest a stranger, "Oh gimme a break, that's half of the reward money, you really think I am stupid aren't you?"

He bit his lip in frustration, "Stupid? No, annoying yeah. I'd pay you double to just never see you again."

"You're being mean. Come on DS, you've been alone like for six years now, this could be a good change, I can take your game to the next level, you know how it feels to unlock a new achievement on your X-box? We could be like batman and robin." She proposed. He looked at her with confusion, "Or you could tell me what you want and then leave me the fuck alone."

She sat back and huffed, "I already told you what I want. I am one of those annoying fan girls who just wants to be the part of the plan." She bumped her fist in the year, "It's so much better live than on TV." He got up his chair, "Okay, you are crazy pants and I am out of here."

"Wait." She said firmly, all humour gone from her face, her eyes fierce as she looked up at him, "Sit down."

He clenched his jaw for a second before sitting down. She turned to her small backpack and took out her iPad. Before he could say anything, she handed him the iPad there was a picture of shiny red diamonds on the screen, they looked like the most expensive pomegranate seeds he has ever seen, a red so pure it would make blood look pale. "They are the red diamonds from the Argyle mine of Australia. Exactly 42 diamonds, that would be put up for upper class bidding, up till that, they would be placed in the museum of art in New York under very high security. One carat is valued at 1 million dollars, you know what that means?"

"lots of millions." He said still mesmerized by the shine of the jewels, they looked like each was about seven to eight carats. Elena nodded, "they are the rarest ones."

"How do you know about this? I haven't seen it in the news?" he looked up at her. She pursed her lips, "I found you, you weren't in the news were you now?"

He looked at her for a moment before closing the i-pad and handing it to her, "Thanks for the information, but I work alone."

"You can't work alone, it's a security that's not the kiddie one you're use to." She muttered, fearing someone would over hear their conversation. He chuckled humourlessly, "Wait what? Do you even know who I am?" this was a huge slap to his ego, the one thing he didn't tolerate, he would kill her for that alone, she stayed calm, "You need me for this, we can split, you can keep more."

"okay listen." He said as walked across the table and leaned lower, tucking a strand of her hair that was in front of her eyes behind her ear and removing her big boxy glasses, "I don't need anyone, you are no use to me and judging by what you have been cooking all these months, you're record isn't clean so turning me in is out of question, I would suggest for you to go back home and do your history homework or whatever crap you geeks do on Sundays, chess games, I don't care, stay out of my way. You and I are never going to be a team." The cool blue of his eyes was blazing, she could easily compare it to fire. He put the glasses on the table. A verbal come back was lost from her mouth and before she could say anything, he stood up straight and walked out of there, she turned around to look at him as he was leaving.

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What could be a better birthday gift than a new challenge, a new purpose, a new way to occupy his time until nothingness prevailed his days again. To everyone else he was just an admirer of the art visiting the museum, while he was busy taking notice every camera, every passageway within the museum, if there was something he didn't notice now, he would later. A famous rule of the game was to never rush. Treat a job like a baby, study the site, know your weaknesses, know your strengths. There was nothing more disgraceful than a thief in rush. Surely the pretentious folks who were art fanatics understood that, theft is an art for him and to do it in a clean way was his way of doing it.

He went home and checked the small cameras in his pen and his belt for where the cameras weren't allowed. Putting the image on a projector in front of him, he then drew himself a map, with all the points he could use as an escape.

His apartment was minimal yet lavish in a way. He admired geometric designs so that was a theme in his furniture. He wouldn't call himself an alcoholic but he had a bar for himself. Over all he would never call it a home, it was everything built in one, a place to eat, sleep, plan and repeat. With the money he had, he could buy mansions but he didn't see the purpose of buying one right now. Plus, a huge part of the game was to not draw attention to yourself and surely a twenty-four-year-old living in a Mansion was not subtle, unless, of course, you're a vlogger with no talent. Oh, right he's twenty five. He thought shaking his head.

After doing his regular workout, he was in the bath, a weird feeling was all around him, like he was being watched. He didn't act too freaked out. He did the usual, enjoy a glass of champagne while the bath did its magic on his post workout sore muscles. He was lost in thoughts, imagining ways to break into the museum. The red diamonds were no where in sight and there was no protocol at the museum for it. It was a hit or miss that the concealed room on the third floor had them. It could be some shabby piece of artwork valued at five or six million, a good loot but he'd rather have the diamonds. He needed to stay calm and not get to wrapped up in the need for his thrill now. If he didn't control himself now, he might act on impulse and that was the biggest mistake a skilful thief can make.

He got out of the tub, shrugging the sick feeling that a geek girl was watching him with her boxy glasses and big eyes. She couldn't be here. Nope, he was just thinking way too much about it. Just go push the sick feeling, he put on a round neck white t-shirt, some jeans and a black leather jacket, a good way to not think about the weird girl or give in to the urge of breaking into the museum without planning would be to just go outside to a club, drink, find a girl to screw, preferably a blonde. Brunettes were creepy.

He left his Camaro and took his black Ducati bike instead. He really hated crowds. Clubs were an exception. Loud music and alcohol were a million-dollar idea, he'd say that. It distracted him pretty good and he was hard to distract. Once he set his eye on the curly hair blonde at the bar, he walked up to her, confident like he didn't know what 'turning down' meant, he sat next to her on the bar stool and called the bartender, "Bourbon for me, Vodka for the gorgeous lady here." He said not giving her a sideways glance but he knew he had her attention, "Excuse me? Do I know you?" she said over the loud music.

He looked at her, "Nope, but I sure as hell am going to offer to buy you a drink, why not just get that out of the way." He shrugged. Her lips parted before she smiled, her dimples coming on full display, "I am here with my girlfriends so if you want to buy a drink you better get five." She shouted over the music. He quirked up his lip, "I will if they will leave us alone after that."

She giggled, clearly his charm worked, when he offered to hold her hand, she placed it in his palm, "Rebekah."

"Tag." Of course, he wouldn't give his real name. She probably didn't care about names; he had already forgotten hers. He paid for the drinks with cash. An important rule was never to use credit cards. No matter faked or stolen, they can always trace it.

They finished their drinks before he offered her a dance, she took him on his offer, like he predicted, she wasn't too hard to take to bed. Although usually he loved a challenge but today, he would just take whatever he can to distract himself for a night and not think that he was being watched for seven months without him knowing, fuck! That made him want to hold someone responsible for it and punish them, kill them. His life and his work were not a fucking joke, how could he make such a big mistake. Though he acted like it didn't matter, she had a picture of him.

He pulled the blonde closer, he could tell it wouldn't take much longer for her panties to drop by the way she was grinding against his cock. Her hands moved up and down his chest, she was biting her lower lip with a hint of a seductive smile. The offer to 'Wanna get out of here' was on the tip of his tongue when he saw her. Her! The girl from the coffee shop. She was standing there looking like she didn't come here to party, so she was following him after all. Dressed a bit different than last time. She was wearing a leather miniskirt and a black and white striped shirt with tall boots. Her hair was still the same boring straight down and she was still wearing those boxy glasses. He could see her dire need to 'dress the part' to blend in but she was so easily recognisable. He stopped dancing with Rebekah, "I'll be back in a minute." He said loudly without giving her a chance to speak but instead of going towards the coffee shop girl, he turned around to go out, of course she was going to follow him.

Once he was out, he walked up to a somewhat quiet parking lot, waiting for her to follow. He leaned against the edge of the corner and if he could guess what a girl like her, who was less smart than she thought she was, she would wait for about four and a half minutes before following, not five because she was either anxious or she didn't want to let him get away. Right on the dot. When she turned around, she almost ran into him, "Oh small world." She said fixing her glasses and standing straight, never in his life before had he found someone so annoying. The way she did that little smirk, he had the biggest urge to wipe it off her face. "Stop following me." He bit out each word. She chuckled, putting her hands up in surrender, "Why? Are you gonna call the police if I don't?" she was mocking him. He was going way too easy on her. "So, you want me to team up with you? I have better things to do than plan a venture with a girl who should rather be in a straitjacket." He spat. She pouted, "That's a bit too much you know." She said taking a step back and folding her arms across her chest, "You went to the museum, did your cute little pre burglary plan, drew that map, you're so predictable." She said condescendingly, "Judging your one track mind, I think your bets are on the protocol that was at the third floor, it's a mistake DS."

He hissed, she really thought she was something just throwing out his planning of hours, "So what are your bets on? I didn't see any displays,"

She interrupted, "Of course you didn't, per diamond is 8-9 million, they won't hand it to you." She took a step ahead, "Of course you are going to figure it out, just in your standard time of eight days." She said as if she knew everything about him, he pursed his lips, "Fifth floor. It has the least security."

She gasped, "Ah, see I already made you better."

"So, the security is some alien crap, right? A normal laser sensor won't cut it?" he asked, she nodded, "Much more complicated than you think. You would have figured it out, I know, but just look at us, we are such a good team already."

He chuckled humourlessly, taking his hands out of his pockets, "I get it now."

"Get what?" she raised a brow.

"You haven't actually ever broken in, all your little adventures, you did in your geek laboratory." He leaned a bit lower to be on eye level with her, "You found out the biggest challenge of your life but you had to actually physically steal it. Do I look like a delivery boy to you?"

She was taken aback for a moment, she knew better than to hurt his ego but it was just so fun pissing him off, "I don't think of you like a delivery boy." She managed to smile, he began to walk past her but she held his arm, standing in front of him, "DS, I've wanted to work with you for the longest time- you're nothing short of an inspiration to me, you taught me the importance of patience and critical planning in a job." She said with a sudden sparkle of admiration in her eyes, "I just, give me a chance. Let me prove myself."

He took a step back and looked at her from her head to her toe and back up, "So you want me to take an audition, right?" he stepped ahead and leaned closer, "This is not a game to me. My life is constantly on the line and I sure as hell won't put it in the hands of a teenager."

She frowned, "I am twenty."

"How did you get into that club?" he asked a brow raised, she had a hint of a smile, "Really funny asking a professional criminal how she forged an ID, kiddie stuff."

"How professional are you?" he raised a brow, she looked like she was itching to answer this question, "Three years ago 'Cashup' payment transfer system was robbed off three million dollars, did that from the WIFI of a coffee shop, earlier this year MSH banks, you must have heard-"

"Six million, I did." He seemed a bit impressed, she shrugged like it was no big deal, "These are my top two jobs, others are just not a lot to brag about."

She waited for his approval yet surprisingly, it didn't come, he inspected her under his critical gaze, then shook his head, "Nah, I am good." He turned around to head back when she interrupted his path, confused and a bit offended, "Why? Just give me a chance, I can be as good as you."

He laughed at the statement, not a good way to impress him, no one could be as good as him. He depended on himself for that very reason, "You? Have you looked at you?" he said in a bitter tone, then reached for her boxy glasses, "You are near-sighted, right? A perfect thief needs an eye in the back of his head and you don't even have the two on your front working." He handed her the glasses and then held her arm, "And what is this? If you didn't speak, I'd mistake you for a skeleton! No muscle at all?" Her mouth hung open at the insult and she looked at her skinny arm, "I am not that bad, I am pretty athletic, I ran track in high school."

He huffed, "Really? What is this," he looked down at her, "You have no athletic build- just pair of breasts on a frame-" he said in the most brutal way possible and grabbed her waist, "The only purpose you can serve is be a good fuck, but of course I don't like brunettes since this morning. So, bye bye, now, happy hacking or whatever." He said letting her go and walking around to go get on his bike, his mood was ruined, he didn't want to fuck the blonde anymore and now he had to change his strategy for the job.

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When he entered his apartment, it finally didn't have that rotten feeling, good, whatever she had been doing was done, he had been a downright asshole to her so if she came back now, she'd actually have no self-respect. He took of his jacket and threw it on the seat and walked up to his bar, making himself a drink. It was almost twelve 'O'clock, his birthday was over. He poured himself a drink and reached into his pocket for his wallet. The transparent card pocket had that picture folded in, he bit his lip taking it out and putting it on the counter. This picture of Lily was probably the only reminder of his old life, he couldn't remove it, wiping away everything had been so easy but this was the hardest thing he had to do. "You leave no clues behind, Damon." He muttered and looked at it completely one last time but it never seemed enough. He clenched his fist and drank a gulp of the bourbon. "Okay, time to let go right?"

He said holding the picture and drinking a gulp, "Cheers, Mom."

And then there was this one quick flash, a kick to his neck, he was caught off guard and fell way back, the shattering of glass was loud, following by the spilling of the drink. He sat up and saw someone dressed in all black, covered head to toe like a ninja, as comical as it appeared the kick hurt like a bitch. "Motherfucker,"

The intruder didn't give him time to digest the moment and launched on him.

"What fresh hell is this?"

He was quick to move away and the intruder fell on the ground, quickly getting up and holding the greyish flowerpot he forgot he had and tossed it at him so fast that it broke colliding against his chest, he fell back for a moment and the intruder attacked him, pulling a wire out of the tights, coiling it across his neck in the blink of an eye, he looked up at the masked stranger with gritted teeth.

"This is a mistake." He warned before kneeing the person in the stomach, he heard no sounds, though the person fell off momentarily giving him enough time to free himself and get on top, he held the person down by putting his thigh on the person's stomach and gripping the shoulders, "Really? Still trying are we?" he said when he felt the person struggling, he fisted his hand and was about to launch a punch when the sneaky gloved hand reached into his hair and pulled, he hissed losing control for a moment, this was a new move and then before he could register what happened, he was punched in the throat so hard, he fell back. The intruder got up and walked towards the counter, picking up the discarded picture while he was coughing on the floor, "No,"

Before the person would tear it, he stood up and lunged forward, both him and the intruder fell to the ground with him on top, the audacity of the person to still stretch their arm, holding the picture away. He reached for it with gritted teeth, when he caught it from the person's hand, he let out a monetarily victory laugh, "Ha!" before the person kneed him and he rolled over with a groan, "Oh fuck." He probably needed a whole day off with ice packs for his balls now.

When he looked over his shoulder, he saw the intruder sit up and pull of their head mask, un-fucking believable, the nerdy girl. She didn't have any glasses on and her hair looked like a wavy mess as she pulled it out of a bun, arching a brow at him, "I assume that picture is special."

He looked up at the roof with a huff, "Oh brother."

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He poured her a drink, while she was running her fingers through her hair and fixing it, "So did I pass the test?"

He gave her 'What?' look and she smiled, "Am I athletic enough for you? I surely beat your ass."

"A) you snuck up on me and B) what I just said." He snarled. She chuckled, "Aw fragile masculinity is not a good look on you."

"Listen, you're in my apartment, I can kill you." He warned, "No one would find out and your little pulling hair and kick in the balls trick won't work."

"Is that suppose to be threatening? Because all I hear is 'I don't want a girl partner in the chemistry lab'" she imitated a crying voice, he rolled his eyes, she bit her lip, leaning forward and taking the drink, "Admit it, you're impressed. I am the cheese to your bread."

He cocked his head to a side, "Confidence is good, overconfidence on the other hand," she interrupted with a dramatic bow, "Learned from the best."

"I've made a monster." He said to himself but she heard it and chuckled, "So, am I on the team?"

"Where are your glasses?" he asked a bit curious, she smiled with a brow raised, "I put on contacts, whenever I have to beat ass, I come prepared." He gave her critical look, actually considering her, she would annoy him till he says yes anyways. "Fine, I'll think about it."

Elena gasped and pumped her fist into the air, "Yes! Now that's a good decision." She got ahead and pat his shoulder like he was her friend, "Now you'll truly see how amazing of an addition Elena Gilbert can be, you'll never think about going solo again." She said confidently, "Elena Gilbert? Such a small-town name." He shook his head.

"I am not just every small-town girl, if you doubt it, go look at your balls, my knee print on them would tell you otherwise." She said sitting back in her seat and drinking a big gulp if her bourbon whiskey, "So sweet, do you have some food lying around over here and not a fig salad please, I don't know how you eat that." She shivered at the thought. He gave her a disgusted look, "I have microwavable hot pockets."

She narrowed her eyes as if she couldn't believe him, he shrugged, she probably knew everything about him "It came free with the cauliflower wraps "

"Oh, yeah sure." She said clicking her fingers on the counter, "So I know for a fact your name isn't Tag."

He stopped and looked back for a second as he put two hot pockets in a plate, before he could ask, she clarified, "I can read lips."

He feigned being shocked, "Now I know why you didn't listen when I told you to leave me alone, you're deaf!" She sat back in her chair and giggled as if he had told her a joke, she saw him shake his head and mutter something like, "Probably was at deaf camp when her classmates were losing their virginities."

"Get them all out. I know my intelligence is intimidating." She said placing both her hands on the counter and resting her head on it, blinking her lashes dramatically. He narrowed his eyes, was she trying to piss him off? He took out the plate and kept it on the counter, "If you're so intelligent, I guess I don't need to tell you my name, you can figure it out like everything else."

She grinned at the challenge and nodded, "I guess I will, if this is another test."

"I didn't give you any test." He plainly said, she looked up, "DS, you never thought you'd have to be in this position because you're so smart." She said mockingly, "Thus if I am not wrong, DS are your real initials." She tilted her head to a side, "So probably D. Now from, experience I'd say Dick, but I know that's not your name, you just look like one."

He rolled his eyes as she picked up a hot pocket and took a bite, "Mmmm," she looked sideways thinking, "Dean, Derek, nope, Daniel, nope you'd change your name if it were that." She snickered. She looked at his reactions as she said each name, "Dylan, Dominic,"

"Is that your strategy, guessing names?"

"Damon,"

"What?" he just blurted out without realizing, a gasp left her mouth, she laughed, "You gotta give me some credit Damon." It was weird to hear his name after years, she snapped her fingers, "Less than a minute. I was a bit nervous about my abilities but now. I think I am pretty good."

He walked around the counter to her and leaned down a bit, "Not this easy, Elena Gilbert." He enjoyed saying that name, though infuriating, this game was starting to look a bit fun, "You want to be associated with DS, you gotta prove you're game."

"I am game." She said firmly without any humor on her face, her eyes directly staring into his, her chin upright, the tips of their nose almost touching, he tested if she'd have that little flicker of nervousness but it wasn't there. "Fine, I'll give you a task, you do it up to my standards, you're on the team for the red diamond heist. If you aren't, you'll never show me your face again, deal?"

Her face was expressionless for a moment, then a look crossed in her eyes, she looked naïve for a moment but he knew better than to pity her. Just on cue, her snarky grin came back in place, "If I lose. You won't even have to tell me to leave. I will on my own." Her hand went to shake his, "Deal."

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Hi everyone,

This is also a five chapter story. I wanted to do something in crime/heists, romance thing.

Your reviews are what writes these stories, so do review.

I'll be posting SHRM soon too.

As always be safe.