True Colours

The Tourist one-shot revealing Frank's initial thoughts when first seeing Elise for the first time on the train. WARNING: If you have not seen the film yet, then don't read till you have it contains huge spoilers! I do not own anything to do with The Tourist unfortunately, in my mind, I do!

Alexander sat on the train, engrossed in the spy novel he was reading to pass the time while travelling to Venice. He wondered whether she would appear or not. He sent her the note in hopes that she would finally be reunited with him, maybe not right at this moment, but in time. Even if he only got a glimpse of the most beautiful woman in the world, it would settle his mood, his curiosity, his thoughts...or so he thought. The guilt for leaving her for so long was eating away at him, but the past couldn't be changed; he had to do it otherwise he may as well have signed his own death warrant and handed it over to Shaw, his once father-like figure.

Who would she choose, he pondered, the man he asked her to pick to pretend to be himself? Would he look anything like him, well the old him? Would he act like him? Would he replace him and she would end up running away with this...imposter instead? Jealousy soon took over the guilt; he didn't want anyone else to even touch his Elise. It couldn't be helped though, he had to throw the police off course so he could escape, her alongside him. That's why he devised the whole plan and even a new identity for himself, in every way possible. Perhaps there was the small chance that it would be he that she came across, but would she recognise him, even under the expensive face-lift?

He waited for what seemed like an eternity, but at the sound of elegant footsteps approaching, he tore his eyes away from the page he was reading and there she was. She was even more beautiful than he remembered; her perfect figure, curves hitting all the right places; long, slender legs; long, chestnut coloured hair down to her waist; mysterious, grey eyes; and full, pouty lips. She was the vision of perfection and she was looking straight in his direction. Oh God. What now? Should he speak to her? Should he look away and ignore her? But how would he do that, she was heading right for him...and taking a seat opposite him. Bugger!

"I'm sorry!" was his initial reaction. She was bound to recognise his disguise. She gave him an amused but confused expression. So she didn't know who he was, brilliant, now he'd really put his foot in it.

"What for?" Great, what was he going to say? He didn't know, so he kept silent. "I'm Elise." Her voice, oh how he'd missed it, missed her. So he was the man that she had chosen to play the part of Alexander Pearce, such a coincidence. If only she knew that he was Alexander Pearce. But he'd have to play his part well, at least for now, he knew the police were situated just seats away from them, watching their every move and probably communicating with the Metropolitan Police back in England right this minute. Luckily he faked the identity of Frank Tupelo beforehand, he knew it would come in useful.

"I'm Frank."

"That's a terrible name." Trust her to criticise his fake name, he should have known.

"It's the only one I got." Or so she thinks.

"Maybe we could find you another." You actually read my mind, he thought, I have a suggestion. Not yet though, all in good time.

"OK." He wanted to take her in his arms so bad, but he knew he couldn't blow his cover, he had to carry on. The true colours of his identity would be revealed when the moment jumped out at him. This could get very interesting!