Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Manon was tired.

She had been dating Rody for years, hoping that he would eventually start to understand that she wanted him to pay attention to his needs, not just hers. She had been hoping, almost pleading to whatever deity out there, that he would get the hint.

He didn’t.

So now, here she is, in front of him, just waiting for him to finish talking about the ‘awesome’ date he has planned for them at a place he almost certainly can’t afford without forgoing one of his essential needs for the next month, to tell him that she wanted a break. She eventually realized that he wasn’t going to stop talking, so she cut him off.

“I really think you’ll love it, Manon, it’s-”

“I’m done”

“What? Is something wrong?” He looked at her with his eyes, the eyes she won’t be able to get out of her mind for the rest of her life.

“Yeah, there is. Us.” She hated how her own voice sounded, so devoid of love, something she didn’t think would be possible.

For a moment she thought he didn’t hear her, he just stared at her, non-responsive, almost catatonic. It scared her. He had never looked so…

Lost.

It didn’t suit him. Rody was a golden retriever of a man. Bright, bubbly, almost sickly sweet, and worst of all, he was so self-sacrificing. If she told him to anything, he would, even at his expense. It was why she had to do this. Someone had to care for him.

After a good minute had passed, she spoke again. “I can’t be with you anymore.”

He just kept staring, no movement. If someone walk in, they would think he was a wax statue, until he spoke. “...What..?”

“You keep sacrificing what you need to make me happy! That’s not what a boyfriend should do!”

He finally got out of his daze and looked in her eyes. “I can change! Please, don’t leave!”

She tried to keep calm, to express her words in a way that wouldn’t hurt anyone, just like her parents had taught, but she couldn’t let him get away with that. “That’s why I have to leave! I don’t want you to change for me! I want you to care about what you want, not change your whole life for the sake of my happiness! It can’t be healthy for you, and it certainly isn’t for me! It’s so draining, making sure you don’t end up killing yourself just to take me out on dates.”

He looked so hurt at that, so much that Manon just couldn’t look at him anymore. “I just can’t be with you anymore. Please, learn to take care of yourself, ok?”

Before he could utter another word, she walked out of his apartment, which was so unkempt that she was sure that the actual owner was a cockroach. She hated leaving him, but it was the best option for the both of them. As she started walking away, she couldn’t help but reflect on their relationship. When they first met, they were both just out of college. Rody was a drop out, Manon was a graduate. He hadn’t told her about it, but it was pretty obvious. He was grimey, messy, and clearly didn’t care much for his hygiene. As gross as he was, Manon was in love the moment he first spoke. It wasn’t clear back then, but he had the same feeling.

As the years went by, she was slowly realizing that, as much as she wanted it, Rody wasn’t going to be the one she married. She loved him, don’t get her wrong, but he would kill himself before they could even get to the alter. He barely had any money to his name and any job he had wouldn’t last because he would quit once he had enough money to go on dates. He mentioned his passion for solving mysteries, but said that it wouldn’t pay enough to ‘treat her right’, as he put it. She can’t help but think that was an opportunity missed.

Before long, she walked past her favorite restaurant, La Gueule de Saturne, a fancy place were only the rich can dine. Rody took her once, (with him almost losing his apartment because of it) and ever since she has been in love. The atmosphere was beautiful and scenic, the waiters were the most polite and professional, and she even met the owner! After they met, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. He had sleek, black hair, a slender build (that said he probably didn’t eat as much as he should), and eyes that were so dark she was sure they could rival black holes! She kept talking about him even after the date, with Rody muttering about his food not being as good as hers (though he couldn’t hide the bright blush after the chef had spoke to him in a tone that was almost like that of one you would use for a lover.)

His name was Vincent Charbonneau, one of the youngest men to have ever created a restaurant that was recognized as one of the best in the world. He was professional, charismatic, handsome, and almost perfect. At least, thats how Manon would describe him. She wasn’t quite as in love with him as she was with Rody when they first met, but she was okay with that. She wasn’t ready for something like that so soon after the break up anyways.

She started walking up to the doors of the restaurant, knowing that it was most likely closed. She just wanted to know if he was still there. The door was, surprisingly, not locked. That was the first sign of something wrong. The second was the strong smell of blood as soon as she walked in. The third was the knife in her chest the moment she walked into the kitchen. She felt the burning pain and cried out, but a hand was quickly placed over her mouth. She didn’t realize she closed her eyes until she opened them to her laying on the ground, feeling the blood pool around her, and seeing Vincent. He was covered in blood, his white chefs coat now stained red.

She looked in his eyes, expecting to see pure malice, only to find terror. His eyes wide and unblinking, his mouth slightly agape, and his hands were shaking so bad, she almost felt bad for him. She would have, if she didn’t see the naked corpse on the kitchen counter. It had already been cut in certain places, dotted line resembling what a butcher would do to a pig. Its stomach sliced, organs out on display.

She couldn’t help but wonder what Rody was doing right now.

Chapter Text

Manon was missing and Rody was a mess.

After their break up, he wasn’t really sure what to do. Every little thing he did was for her and now she was gone. He kept calling her, but she never picked up. He was panicked, but thought she was just mad. He kept calling for a week before calling her parents. He knows it wasn’t his best moment, but he was desperate to hear her voice, even if she was pissed.

He chose not to mention their break up (thinking they wouldn’t say anything to him besides telling him to leave her alone), and they said they hadn’t heard from her either. He tried to stay calm, but that was not normal. She always called her parents at least once a week, saying that it was more to make sure they hadn’t died of worry. They thought she was just busy with him and the three of them decided to file a missing persons report after they checked with her other friends.

Rody asked anyone, even those who hadn’t talked to her in years, desperate for something. He couldn’t stand not knowing if she was okay. He even made missing posters and went out every day, asking anyone if they had seen her. He tried to ask for updates on her case from the police, but they just said “It’s classified” or “We can’t say anything.” He knew it was because they weren’t working on it, so eventually he stopped asking all together. He just said to tell him if they found anything. He decided he would do the investigating on his own.

He hadn’t done much in the way of investigating until now, being too focused on Manon, but now he felt he would be just as bad as the person who took her if he didn’t do something. One day, as he was showing people her missing poster, he finally got something. A woman said she saw her go into La Gueule de Saturne. He nearly punched himself for not thinking of that sooner, it was her favorite place, after all.

As soon as he heard the name, he ran as fast as he could to it. Luckily, the place was still open, despite it being nearly eleven at night. He silently prayed the people inside didn’t skewer him for ruining the rich atmosphere. He almost rushed straight in, but realized the people inside probably wouldn’t respond well to a poorly dressed man barging in and yelling about a woman they don’t know. He smoothed his hair with shaky hands, patted down his clothes, and tried to prepare himself for disappointment.

He took a deep breath, and walked in. His eyes were immediately assaulted with the bland decor that he still didn’t like from when he first came here. He scanned the place, looking for the owner, as he had been around the last time. He saw the dark-haired man talking to an elderly couple with a smile on his face so wide that Rody could feel it in his own cheeks. He was about to speak up when the man looked over at him, seemingly wanting to tell him to wait, before a strange look fell on his face. He seemed puzzled, like he was waiting for a memory to hit him.

Rody waited for a moment before speaking, “Excuse me, sir, but I wanted to speak with you, if thats okay?” He wasn’t sure why, but he felt anxious to get out and avoid Vincent’s gaze.

Vincent seemed to snap out of whatever he was thinking and put on his clearly fake smile. “Of course. Let’s speak in my office, yes?”

Vincent started to walk, even before Rody could say that he just wanted to ask one question. Rody sheepishly followed him, feeling the scrutinizing stares from the customers. He hated the kinds of people these places attracted. Selfish snobs with no care for what others were going through, only if they had money. The only exception to that was Manon. She was an angel he was blessed to have met. The thought of her steeled his resolve, he couldn’t care about what they thought about him, only finding the love of his life.

He felt uncomfortable walking into the kitchen, thinking how he doesn’t belong, but also because of the chefs. They seemed focused, but lively until Vincent walked in. When he did, the stopped talking and seemed to zone into the food, precise with every cut, almost like they would be fired if it was even a millimeter off. With how methodic the owner seemed, Rody wasn’t sure if that was too far off.

His discomfort wasn’t soothed as he walked into the tall man’s office, the scent of cigarette smoke nearly knocking him back. Vincent wasn’t bothered as he walked to the desk and sat down in the seat. He gestured to the seat on the other side of the desk. Rody was hesitant, his gut saying that something was wrong, but he caved at the thought of this helping to find Manon. He felt like something was trying to warn him.

Vincent’s smile dropped when he stepped into the office, eyes hollow and heavy with lack of sleep. “What can I help you with?” His voice laced with irritation

“I’m looking for my girlfriend, Marianne Vacher, she’s missing.” He shows the poster, “She was last seen here, do you know anything? Please, tell me.”

To the untrained eye, Vincent was as casual as he was before, but to Rody, he was shocked. The slight widen of his eyes, the subtle shake of his hands that wasn’t there before, and most damning: he looked away from him, something Rody knew the man wouldn’t do before. Rody thought Vincent was an arrogant prick, thinking he was better than the other people around him, so he had no reason to shy away from eye contact. Rody knew Vincent was hiding something about Manon.

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about this, I’m sorry she’s missing. I was not aware she had come here, her face is not familiar.” Vincent spoke, his voice calm and level.

Rody thought about confronting him, but he knew better. He had to think of a way to make Vincent talk. He thought back to when he came here earlier, looking for anything to get him closer to finding the truth. Rody searched and noticed the lack of a waiter, seeing Vincent walking around. He knew that was his ticket in.

“Is there an opening for a waiter here?”