Bandit
As she jimmied open the window to her step-mother's apartment Mary-Margaret was grateful for her slender frame. A jade green hoodie and black leggings allowed her to slip through and slide the window down with ease.
In and out, taking some of her step-mother's priceless jewellery with her. That was the plan. She'd watched her for weeks. Regina thought nothing of spending her inheritance, burning her mother's clothes and throwing her out onto the streets before he was even cold.
In and out, she would work in the dark using her… Oh NO!
"Who are you?" A man her age, with piercing blues for eyes, sandy brown hair and twice her size asked. Her eyes squinted as he turned on the light.
"I said- who are you?" he emphasised angrily, chest rising up and down in a steady rhythm.
So this is what a regular Prince Charming looks like? Mary-Margaret quips internally.
"Nice briefs." she mutters, before turning around and beginning her escape out the window.
"Oh no, you don't!" Prince Charming barks before literally knocking the air out of her lungs and his by tackling her to the floor.
He's virtually straddling her as she struggles pinned under him. "Show your face you coward."
It's over. She's going to jail.
But, he is the one that is lost for words as he wrenches back the hood to reveal… the most gorgeous being he has ever laid his eyes on.
"You're a girl?" he gasps in surprise.
"Woman." Mary-Margaret breathes out, frustrated at how easily she has gotten lost in his eyes.
"Hi."
Of all the things she had thought she might hear from his lips: "Scum." Various swear words, but, "hi?"
"Hi." Mary-Margaret says almost laughing at the absurdity.
The moment is broken as he shifts himself and helps her up. "Don't worry, I won't try to run again. I'll stay here while you call them."
He is perplexed. "Call who?"
"Cops."
Prince Charming smiles again that breathtakingly soul-lighting smile. "It's three in the morning you're tired, probably hungry. You need a bed. Not a jail cell."
God help her!
"Thanks for the offer but…" she tries to shrug past him but, the words non-negotiable and final her keep there.
"Unless, you would rather I call them?"
Yes! Please take me away from this handsome man!
"No." "Thank you."
"David."
He extends a hand and as she sheepishly takes it she finally lets out a sob of apology. "Mary-Margaret."
"I'm so sorry." She says sincerely between mouthfuls of hot, vegetable soup and hasty bites of bread. "I didn't mean to- I just needed some of her things."
David listens intently. "Your step-mother."
"Yes," Taking a breath. "I've managed for nearly three years- going from place to place, meals if and when I could get them- that was- until, I met Ruby, she took me in, her and her grandmother."
"Then why come here?"
"The diamonds around her neck? Were courtesy of my father's death." "Their business is struggling. For once, I wanted to use what was intended for me to help other people."
"Stupid huh?"
It's not stupid to him. It's not stupid at all.
"No, no it's not stupid." David says surprised silently taking in every feature of this unlikely bandit from across wooden table as she finishes and pushes the empty bowl, plate and spoon to the side.
"But-"Mary-Margaret quirks, relaxing her body into the chair. "You wanna know what a girl like me is doing in a place like this. Why would I come back? Why?" she exaggerates playfully.
"Am I that transparent?" David states; chuckling.
"Yes, Charming. You are."
"Charming?"
But, she doesn't answer, those gorgeous hazel green eyes growing sad and melancholy. "You haven't changed the place."
"You- you lived here?"
"It was my apartment, until… my father died and then, then she took everything."
"Why would she be so callous?"
The beauty sighed, "She blames me for ruining her life." David isn't sure, but, he cannot help it. "Did you?"
"Yes."
God, he needs a drink
A few hours later, they are still chatting when she suddenly gets up and heads to the fridge. "I'm thirsty. May I?"
"Sure,"
That's all she needs to slip past him and head to the door taking a pretty little ring from the nightstand with her.
"Hey!"
No! NO! NO! His mother's ring.
"This isn't personal. After all, you're just her next victim."
She is out the door before he can grab her and kiss… get the ring back leaving him standing in his underwear shouting at the bandit running down the hallway.
"You can't hide from me! Wherever you are I will find you!"
Call it adrenaline, attraction or just plain curiosity but, she needs to see the look on his oh so handsome face.
She stops.
Still.
Turns and then…
Smiles before running off into the night, leaving him breathless.