Con Heartist - first published fanfiction ever!
*Not my characters obviously... (not smart enough to come up with them, but not stupid enough to screw them or maybe not...)
*Not my concept... the idea is drawn through a French Movie called "Arnacoeur" or in English "The Heartbreaker"
Chapter One: Modus Operandi
« Relationship » is a word used to define a strong, deep and close bond or a romantic and passionate attachment between two or more people. But sometimes these kind of connection aren't what they seem. While it is a truth well acknowledged that romantic relationships bring generally happiness to the people sharing it, sometimes people stay willingly unhappy and others don't want to admit that the relationship they are in, make them miserable.
" Victor we are going to be late ! "
The tall man was dragging his feet. His fiancée was so full of life sometimes it was annoying. A woman with long blonde hair gave him a flyer «Miss Beauty Contest in the first arrondissement». Perfect ! It was near their hotel. If the contestants were as tantalizing as the woman who gave him the flyer, it was ice on the cake. He put the paper in his pocket.
" I am tired, I don't feel like going walking anymore… " Victor whined " You go there and we'll meet later at the hotel. "
He gave his fiancée a peck and left. As Mary Margaret watched him disappeared, she felt that familiar yet annoying pang of disappointment. She sighed. They were in Paris for holidays. They should visit together, eat to the restaurant together or even walk around together, not just lie around or getting drunk all day in the city of love. The pixie- haired brunette turned around, willing to enjoy the rest of her day. Alone if necessary. She checked the train. 3pm, track 10. Leaving her 5 minutes. She ran between the other travellers. She didn't see a woman running towards the same direction who jostled her. The tiny woman fell over, all her papers flying around them. The blonde woman wearing a red jacket and tight jeans vanished as soon as she appeared, not even excusing herself.
" ça va ? " a deep voice said.
She looked up. A brown haired man gathered all the flyers that fell on the ground and then offered to help her stand.
" Are you going to the Château de Versailles ? " the man asked when he gave her back all the papers.
" Yes, I am " But Mary Margaret wasn't so sure anymore.
A continuous high pitched alarm sounded.
" Your train is going to leave ! "
The tall man took her hand and ran to the train. They barely entered when the doors closed behind them. As she catched her breath, she listened to the recorded high pitched voice. It was only French so she didn't understand anything. They both stumbled as the train started up.
" I am sorry " she said apologetically.
His throated laugh caught her by surprise.
" Why is that ? I was taking this train anyway. Don't worry about it. I am Quincy, Quincy Harle. Nice to meet you "
" Mary Margaret. My friends call me Mary "
For the first time she took a close look at the mischievously smiling man. He had piercing blue eyes sparking with a playful twinkle. He had a dark stubble on his cheeks and chin. He was wearing a white shirt with a leather jacket and black pants. The only thing missing to his gear was a bike. And a helmet.
" Well Mary " he rose his left hand, inviting her to take a sit.
A gentlemanly biker. Pleasant surprise. She climbed the stairs and sat near a window. They were leaving Montparnasse station.
" What are you doing here ? " asked Quincy.
" I spend my holidays in Paris with my fiancé "
" I see. Paris,the city of love. There is so much to do. Have you been to the Marais ? There is a crazy atmosphere and it is so lively at night. It's incredible. "
They looked at the buildings passing before their eyes.
" You aren't french, are you ? " she asked.
He met her light blue eyes.
" No I am not. But I am working here, I am a english teacher "
" I am a teacher myself ! I love kids ! "
He laughed warmly
" I love kids too ! "
" Why teaching in France ? "
" Teaching children make me feel useful. They are so eager to learn and they are so open to the world. And well… " he looked at Mary who was listening his every words " I was with a French girl when I began to work… "
When she didn't say anything, he added :
" When I first came to Paris, she prefered to stay at her place. So I decided to visit by myself. I felt kind of lonely. I don't understand these people. They are into one of the most beautiful city but they just… They are so centered on themselves and they don't want to open their eyes ! It's infuriating ! " he said with an angry tone before getting a grip of himself.
" I am sorry. I got carried away. " he apologized.
" I understand " Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
If Quincy felt her sadness, he didn't say kept talking until they arrived to the train station Versailles Chantiers. Speaking with him felt like a cool breeze after the hottest day of the year. It was welcoming. When they were exited the station, a young woman called Quincy. Her feral smile revealed her white teeth that stood out with her bright red lipstick. One strand of her long black hair were the same color. Up to Mary Margaret, her dark leather clothes were a little too short.
" Cerise ! How are you? " he said while glancing around him " where are the kids ? "
" Les garçons ! Regardez qui est là ! " she shouted to a group of children playing soccer.
The kids waved their hands and passed Quincy an old ball. He performed keepie-uppie before joining the children. The two women stood watching them.
" These kids were insufferable before Quincy came to the youth centre. He has some gift with children. They love him " Cerise said with a cute french accent.
The kids shouted. One of them had just scored a goal.
" Bien joué ! Nick ! " Quincy said when they high fived.
" Je m'appelle pas Nick ! " the kid mumbled.
" Tu veux un nouveau ballon ? Alors tu t'appelles Nick " Quincy laughed out loud.
" I am so happy Quincy found someone he deserves ! " Cerise whispered.
Mary margaret was caught by surprise.
" You are mistaking "
" Oh, I thought…Well, it has been a while since I saw him laugh this heartedly " she whispered as she was sharing a secret.
" What do you mean ? "
" He didn't tell you ? "
" It so beautiful " Quincy and Mary Margaret were walking around the lake behind the Château de Versailles.
" Yeah, it is " he said while watching her smile.
" I am happy you agreed I come with you. "
At the other side of the lake, a hooded Cerise was walking towards the bordering woods.
" Emma ! They are coming ! "
A blonde woman startled and almost fell. She was crouched behind some bushes. Her head whipped so fast, the brunette was surprised she didn't hurt her neck.
" Ruby ! You scared me ! Everything is ready. " She sighed " Remind me why we bought so many of them ? "
" Stop complaining ! "
Emma glared at her.
" We're doing this for the greater good ! "
Emma mumbled something when she sat down. A flyer fell from her pocket on the ground.
" Miss Beauty contest ? Smart chick ! " Emma and Ruby shared a conspirational smile like they were doing the best prank on earth.
The brunette crouched near the other woman. Emma's phone vibrated in her pocket. She took the phone and checked the ID. It was a text message from Killian, her current boyfriend.
" August is coming. " She turned off the device.
The two friends were hiding behind the bushes near August and Mary Margaret. She opened the cages, freeing the blue parakeets.
" Mary, look ! So many chikadees ! It is rare nowadays ! "
While Mary Margaret was watching the birds fly, he turned back. He pulled a face giving the impression he was crying. When he sniffed, Mary Margaret's attention returned to him.
" I am sorry, it is just… I am remembering a lot of things… " a lonely tear fell down.
He was cut by Mary Margaret's lips on his. Ruby swatted Emma.
" Awesome ! Shedding tears works everytime " she whispered enthusiastically as they were watching the new relationship blossomed.
" I am sorry, I wasn't myself " apologied Mary Margaret.
" Don't. It has been a while since I fell alive like this. Thanks to you. "
She tried to kiss him again but he grabbed her shoulders and stopped her.
" But I can't. It is too late for me. "
" I know : Cerise told me everything. The adoption that didn't work, your divorce and your depression… "
" I can't fall in love again… but you, Mary Margaret… " He took her hands and hold them, smiling warmly. " You deserve the best. "
" Thank you, Quincy, thank you " a bright smile adorning her face.
She gave him a gentle kiss and they left together.
" It is over ! Mission accomplie ! " They smiled. Ruby high fived Emma and stood up.
" Let's pack up ! " Emma stretched.
She had spent all day running to get everything ready for their job. She wiped the dirt off her clothes and removed the leaves stuck in her hair.
" It was easy today. " Like always, she thought inwardly. But, good thing it was over.
" My daughter won't ever know my involvement in her break up " the bald man said.
" Yeah, we agreed to this. That 's our rules. " August answered counting the banknotes.
" And if she jumps into his worthless arms again ?
" We'll refund you every dime "
He put the cash into his inside pocket.
" Has it happened before ? " the anxious old man asked.
August watched Mary Margaret on the other side of the road, leaving the hotel with a luggage and without her fiancé, a toothy grin on her face. He smirked.
" Until now ? Never "
Ruby, August and Emma had decided to stay in Paris for a while, waiting for a new mission meaning breaking an unhealthy relationship. Well, just relationships where women weren't happy, Emma corrected herself. Unfortunately, they were too many of them up to Emma. The three friends were just helping them to open their eyes. August was the Dom Juan. Ruby was doing an amazing job as a supporting actress and Emma was the small hands behind. She also gathered information on their targets. Thanks to that job, they were travelling a lot, never staying long at the same place. It was a win-win for Emma. She was walking on the sidewalk watching absentedly her phone. When she was going to bite the shiny apple she had just bought, a short-haired brunette jostled her. The fruit fell on the ground at her feet.
" Watch where you are going! " a deep angry feminine voice shouted.
Emma was so astonished she lost her footing and shoved someone else. She turned back. The coffee of the auburn woman fell all over her red jacket.
" I am so sorry " she answered with a australian accent.
" Don't worry about it. I am the one who should apologize. Someone pushed me."
Remembering the brunette, she pulled herself together ready to give her a tough time. But when she looked around, the other woman had disappeared. She jumped out of her skin when her phone rang cutting Emma from her search.
" Someone's just called. We have a new as soon as you can. "
She was going to say something when August had already hung up. He seemed a little stressed. It was so unusual, Emma wasn't willing to make him wait any longer. She excused herself once again to the petite woman before leaving, the fruit on the ground forgotten.
" What a lovedy day. " she mumbled ironically under her breath.
She entered their large pickup sprayed with graffitis that also served as an office. There was a small table and some goods they used for their tricks. Ruby was already here waiting for her and August was checking the new camera. Before they said anything, Emma's phone rang. She checked the ID before turning her phone off.
" Who was that ? "
" Nobody. "
" Nobody can't call. " Ruby retorted.
Emma gave her a pointed look.
" That's… what was his name… " Ruby tapped her lips curled up into a mischievous smile with her forefinger " Killian right ? ".
" How did you know ? "
" Well and it was the last guy you were with, right ? And when I was playing with your phone, he sent some messages. " she shrugged.
" I still am " Emma said on a defensive tone.
" Don't feel like it " Ruby mumbled.
" We are working right know. I'll call him later. "
August and Ruby shared a look.
" That's one of your longest relationship ! or the longest… " August commented swtiching on the device he was checking.
" Can we talked about something else than my love life ? "
" If that 's how you call it " Ruby whispered under her breath.
" What did you say ? " Emma asked with an irritated tone.
" Nothing " She raised her hands as a sign of mock surrender. She changed the topic before Emma got even more worked up. " So who are we supposed to save now ? "
" Well, our client wants us to break up her sister's relationship. But I didn't accept it yet. " he explained waving a paper.
" Why that ? "
" Well, first, we don't know if she is really unhappy. " he said as he was stating the obvious.
" What do you mean ? "
" You want the good news or the bad news ? " he asked with a mysterious tone. He has always had a thing for being dramatic at the worst time.
" August ! " Ruby and Emma cried.
" The good news is we don't have to travel. Our target is in Paris. "
" And the bad one ? " Emma asked, anxious. That wasn't really good news for her.
" We have 10 days to break them up "
" Well, that's too short ! " Ruby said bewildered.
" Why 10 days ? "
" Because they will be wife and husband after this period of time. "
Ruby choked. Emma's eyebrows rose to her hairline. She shared an intrigued look with Ruby. Emma took the paper from August's hands. A brief description of their next target. The accompanying picture attracted Emma's eyes. It provided a 3/4 frontal photograph of their target. Her hair were as black as coal. It was shoulder length and perfectly coiffed. She was smiling warmly to someone off camera. Beautiful would be an euphemism to describe her.
Ruby snatched the description from Emma's hand. Emma felt a pang of frustration but it vanished as soon as it appeared.
" C'est mission impossible ! " she added enthusiastically like she was receiving the best christmas gift she ever wanted " It's exactly what we need! "
Emma had just the time to read one thing.
Her name.
Regina Mills.