In Two Minds

The Femme Fatal

Paris, France, November 2nd, 1917.

The band barked loudly in her ears, causing the headache to intensify like a jackhammer to the head. Cigarette smoke filled the air around her making visibility a problem as she narrowed her eyes to make out the band, maybe if she made them stop playing, she could do it, she just had to think.

The long slim hand that appeared at her back made her tense up, shrugging to remove the unwanted limb from her.

"Come on, don't be mad at me I miss you." The silky accented voice purred in her ear, a soft lip strayed to softly caress her earlobe, once upon a time it had affected her it failed to do anything now but fill her with disgust.

Downing the last remnants of her glass in front of her, rising to her feet she smoothed down the wrinkles in her pants suit and walked away.

Her job here was done. Done successfully as always.

The sound of heels desperately trailing behind her, trying to catch her made Quinn smile arrogantly the role of Femme Fatal worked a little too well sometimes.

"Giselle, just go home, we're done."

"But why with my husband in prison we can have all the time we want together."

Quinn sighed, pulling out a cigarette from a slim golden cigarette case secreted in her top suit pocket, lighting it up and taking the first deep breath inhaling the nicotine nectar she savored it, took strength from it.

She had to change her role slightly this time, her target one French businessman who was suspected of selling arms to the German army had no interest in women, so Quinn had turned on the charm to his love-starved wife.

In retrospect, it had been all too easy.

"Just go home I leave tonight." A frantic look appeared in the other woman's eyes, grasping at her arms she flung herself at the unaffected Quinn who rolled her eyes at the display of over drama more at home on the stage than in front of her.

"But you said you loved me, and I love you."

"Giselle you must learn that not all words are true, most are lies and the biggest one in life is I love you."

Taking a puff of her cigarette she detached herself from the disbelieving woman, happy to escape the scene.

"You only wanted me to get to Antoine!" It was an accusation, a sudden realization that hurt, cut deep with the woman.

Quinn blocked out any emotion that was building, sympathy for the woman brushed aside as she stared her cold in the eyes. It would be easy to use her ability on her now but that would be the easy way out, she deserved the punishment.

"Yes."

Quinn knew it was coming, she didn't try to prevent it when the woman hit her in the face, her cheek burning red as it stung intensely, touching it slightly with her fingers she smiled at the woman, winked and walked away.

"Don't worry Giselle you will be just fine, I know I've seen your future." she chuckled silently to herself as she walked down the hallway, leaving Giselle to stare after her, red tear stained eyes marking her otherwise perfect face.

She wasn't lying at least that was something she told herself, Giselle would get the love she craved she just had to wait a little bit.

                                                                                        xxxx

Paris in winter was cold, the city for lovers turned into an ice town, Cupping her hands to her mouth she blew hot air into them in an attempt to warm up. Why can't one of my superpowers be breathing fire?

The moon was low in the sky, casting the only light to the streets below.

The sound of footsteps behind her met her ears, she didn't turn she knew who it was she was expecting him.

When a tall figure stood in front of her, face shrouded by a black mask blocking his face from her eyes, this was how he always looked when he appeared before her. The same scent of almonds filled her nose as she nodded a greeting.

"You did well agent Wilson." The accent she could never quite place, maybe two joined together? It was a mystery to her that she was no nearer solving than when she first heard it.

"I have a much tougher mission this time, it's dangerous."

Quinn shrugged her shoulders as she watched his black mask covered face, his eyes were the only thing showing, brown and almost evil looking. They always are. 

"It's in the future, we have some Nazis who need to be watched."

Quinn rolled her eyes. "More Nazis, come on you made me do them already." She sighed. "You wouldn't let me help the Communists."

"That kind of changing history has ramifications Agent Wilson as you know full well."

"Yeah, yeah so you've said."

"This is different, there are superhumans involved."

Quinn stared at him blankly. "Really, interesting well then Mr mysterious I accept, tell me the location, time etc."

Removing a file from his coat the man in black handed it to Quinn. "I have said this is a dangerous mission but your our best spy if anyone can do it, it's you."

With those words, the man disappeared into thin air. "Having a boss who can teleport is cool and alarming." Quinn chuckled as she moved her fingers across the file cover.

Nazis on Earth X.