Fake Out (Polnareff x Reader)

Chapter One

You were two years into studying for a degree in cultural anthropology, a passion of yours long before you even realized there was a name for it. You had been working your butt off these past two years, saving up as much as you could for a grand trip you'd been planning since your early teens.

It was an ambitious, multi-country vacation that you had researched and planned for years leading up to this point, and the fruits of your labor were just finally coming to be. It was so strange, realizing this fantasy would finally be within your grasp.

Things hadn't really been easy for you, up until this point. You had a particular difference that made you stand out, a unique ability all your own.
You had an imaginary friend, that wasn't quite so imaginary. To others, yes, but to you she was as real as anything else.

Despite considering her your best friend, she had caused many problems for you over the course of your life.

Most kids have imaginary friends, as the brain develops and imagination starts to blossom. It's not a cause for concern for any parent really. But as the child grows up, aging into the early pre-teen years, and still insisting that their invisible friend is still very much alive and kicking, it starts to become worrying.

The longer it goes on, the more you fight, the worse it gets. It bleeds into the doctors visits, the child psychiatrists, the medications, the tests. Eventually, you'll start to question if maybe you really are just crazy. But no, you know the truth. She really is real. You know this, because her actions have an effect on the world around you.

But at some point, you'll realize you actually just need to lie. Slowly, at first. You don't want to give it away too quickly, can't let them catch on. Just start to mention it less and less. Stop fighting about it. Let the waters calm, until finally, you'll mention it for the very last time.

When your parents realize, they'll be so happy. Their precious daughter is finally normal again. The doctors will chalk it up to the result of an overactive imagination and a way to cope with a lack of friends in real life.

Life will go on. But you'll always know. I mean, you'll always have your best friend obviously.
Always there to stand by your side.
As a little kid, still figuring things out, you named her Vampire Money, because of her sharp fangs and expensive looking clothes. It was cheesy to be sure, but you were just a kid. And somehow it stuck.

You seemed to have a knack for attracting some of the worst people, and you always had a sneaking suspicion it was due to your strange ability. You could never quite prove it, but your luck seemed to worsen with every passing day since you discovered her. Always getting entangled with the worst of the worst. It seemed like the two things were intertwined.

Little did you know this sentiment would ring truer than it ever had before in the coming weeks, as you would embark on the most thrilling and emotional journey of your life.

-

You had just arrived in Egypt, the very first stop on the trip of a lifetime. You were to stay there for five days, with a packed itinerary and practically bursting at the seams with excitement.

Your very first day was uneventful, not wanting to overwhelm yourself right off the jump. You spent the day relaxing, exploring the areas around your hotel, eating good food and just settling in. You were still in disbelief that your plans had finally come to fruition.

After a long but pleasant day, you lay in bed that night, feeling the warm summer air on your skin as it drifted through the open window. You replayed the days events in your head, pondering what tomorrow would bring, until you suddenly got an overpowering feeling.
Something had shifted, something in the air was different. Things would be changing for you, and very soon.

As you drifted off to sleep, you felt so strangely peaceful, eagerly awaiting the next day.

-

The following day, you found yourself hopelessly lost on the streets of Cairo. It was so ridiculous. Despite your meticulous planning and even your numerous prayers that things would go smoothly, you had gotten completely turned around.

The sun had long since set, and you were struggling to read your map as you wandered the dimly lit and nearly empty streets. You silently hoped for something or someone to guide you back to your hotels safely, but you knew it was futile.

You started to feel the fear and unease creeping into your mind. Although you had Vampire Money there to protect you, a young woman alone on the streets at night in a foreign country was an embarrassingly easy target. And given your track record, you felt especially ripe for the picking.

You kept your head low, tucking your map away when you spotted someone near by, not wanting to appear obviously lost or vulnerable. You were growing increasingly stressed, beginning to wonder if you actually would make it back to your destination that night.

You paused under a streetlight, leaning against the pole and letting out a sigh, trying to fight back the tears beginning to prick at your eyes. As you peered at your map again, you noticed the surrounding area grow dark. You glanced up, and realized every streetlight nearby had gone out, the lone light of the lamp you stood under illuminating a small space around you.
You felt your heart drop to your stomach, and turned your head to see a tall, blonde man had appeared next to you.
You jumped back, feeling your hands begin to tremble as you looked the mysterious man up and down.

"Greetings, (Y/N)." He purred, voice deep and silky smooth. "I'm so pleased to have finally found you." It was strange, even though you were terrified, your fears and anxieties seemed to melt away with every word that came from his mouth.

"Who are you?" You managed to squeak out, voice barely above a whisper.
He flashed you a grin, and your eyes drifted over the pearly white fangs peeking from behind his lips.

"I... am DIO." He stated, leaning down to your level and looking into your eyes, or perhaps your soul. "What is it that you desire, (Y/N)?" He questioned, reaching for your hand and cradling it in his own. "Riches? Great power? Admiration? Loyal subjects to wait on your every need?" He placed a tender kiss on the back of your hand before meeting your gaze again, his piercing red eyes looking through your very essence. He dropped your hand, and moved his to hold your face. "Tell me what your deepest desire is." You were frozen in place, unable to move or speak, as the mysterious man gently caressed your cheek. "Tell me what your heart yearns for."

"Love." You proclaimed, your lips moving on their own, as if your body was on autopilot. "I want true, unconditional love." The man, Dio, flashed you a devilish smirk, and let out a soft laugh, his hand moving towards your forehead.

"I can provide that for you. If you join me. If you swear your undying loyalty to me, if you promise to sacrifice your life for me." He was inches from your face, and your heart was pounding. You started feeling a pressure on your forehead, and you winced. "I can give you everything beyond your wildest dreams..." You couldn't bring yourself to say anything this time, simply holding his gaze and giving a meek nod, causing him to flash you that smirk again.

From that moment on, you were sworn to the man named Dio. You would have done anything he asked of you, without a second thought. He occupied your mind in a way you couldn't explain. And because of him, your trip to Egypt was cut short, and you would set off to your next destination, India, the following morning. Now tasked with hunting down and eradicating a group of men seeking to destroy lord Dio.