Hello my friends!
I am coming with good news. I know I am so incredibly late, but here are my prompts for the fourth OQ week! I've been working a long time on them, and here is the good news: you'll have one chapter every night for the next seven days!
There are as usual a lot of angst... but I hope you'll like it!
I love you all, thank you for your love & reviews & follows & everything. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. 3
DAY 1 BANDIT OQ
PRESENT
They were at the tavern and Robin was at the bar, looking over at where a beautiful woman was talking to a man he didn't know.
"How do you do it?"cut a voice and Robin looked to Will, the very new merry man of his camp.
"How do I do what?"he asked, eyes falling on the brunette again.
"How do you not get jealous?"
Robin laughed.
"Oh I was jealous, Will." he said, shaking his head. "Believe me, I was. How could I not be when somehow I had managed to steal the carefully guarded heart of the fairest woman of them all? "
A silence.
"You used the past tense." finally said Will.
"Huh?"
"You said was jealous. Aren't you anymore? "
Robin chuckled again.
"No. I don't think so, at least. Sure, I can't tell you that I enjoy seeing the woman that I love talking to someone else but It's not the same urge to instantly kill that man. "
Will frowned.
"How? "
"How, what?"
"How did you do it?"
Robin took a deep breath, seemingly lost in thoughts.
"I just realized my jealousy wasn't worth losing the love of my life... "his eyes met brown ones from the other side of the room.
TWO YEARS AGO
Robin hated it.
He hated it.
Hated that man.
Hated the way he looked at his Regina.
Hated the way he dared lay his hand on her.
Hated that she let him do it.
"Robin!" she shouted at him but he stormed off towards their tent.
Angry.
He was so, so angry.
Regina had joined the merry men soon after they had met on a job. He was an outlaw and she was a bandit, fleeing the Queen and her revenge.
She was strong, and stubborn and guarded and so very, very beautiful.
He had fallen for her right away.
And with time, had learned that his feelings were actually quite mutual and they had shared their first kiss right in front of the fire, after she had tended to one of his wounds, one battle he had saved her life instead of his own.
They had been inseparable ever since.
Two years ago, now.
He couldn't picture his life without her.
He loved her so much it was sometimes hard to breath.
But then
Then the Sheriff had developed quite an interest towards his lady
And when Regina suggested they should use that to get his attention off the numerous robbery, he agreed at first. Even thought it was a great plan which could maybe allowed them to breath.
Of course it was a horrible plan.
He threw his bow and arrows on the ground of their tent and started pacing, knew she would soon be there.
"Robin!"she said when she came in and she was pale too, with frustration he knew it.
They had had this talk over and over again.
"What?" he said harshly and her eyes widened.
"Please, can we not do this again?"
"Do what? "
She studied him and brown eyes looked hesitant suddenly as she walked towards him slowly, took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips in order to kiss it softly in one showing of affection that was still new to her.
"I don't care about him. "
Robin scoffed.
He was hurt.
He was stubborn.
And jealous.
All things alone were not good But combined?
They led to very bad decisions.
So Robin removed his hand and glared at her.
"Well, you didn't seem to mind his attentions earlier!"
Her eyes widened.
"I was only playing a role! "she exclaimed, "A role so that you could be safe, by the way."
"Oh, so now I should thank you?! "
She glared at him, this time.
"Don't be such a jerk, Robin. "
He was fuming.
"I'm starting to think jerks may actually be more of your type."
If looks could kill, he probably would be dead.
"Do you trust me so little?" she finally said in a small voice and he hated to see her sad, softened a little.
"I do trust you. With my life." She smiled sadly and finished his sentence for him
"It's him you don't trust."
"It's him I don't trust!" he said at the same time.
A silence.
"What do we do now, Robin?"
He took a deep breath.
"You do whatever the hell you want." he said,
"Robin-"
"I'm going to bed."
He was turning his back on her and knew that he was acting like a jerk. It was just that every time he tried to swallow his pride and turn to her, the image of the Sheriff's hand on her cheek and of her smile in answer burnt him.
It had hurt.
Not that he was about to admit that.
Regina may be stubborn and guarded.
But one wouldn't exactly call Robin warm and open either.
They both had their past, theirs scars and that was one of the reasons why they worked so well.
Until now, that was.
"Robin?" she called but he didn't answer and she sighed deeply. "Do we have to fight?"
He swallowed.
"I'm not mad."
She chuckled darkly.
"And that is exactly the reason why you're turning your back on me instead of holding me in your arms."
He froze at that.
He did hate falling asleep without her in his arms
He sighed.
"Talk to me, please." she whispered and he closed his eyes tightly, because she seemed so vulnerable.
He loved her so much.
Robin turned around and brown eyes instantly looked at him. She cupped his cheek, smiling sadly and he smiled back in return, a quiet apology she seemed to accept.
"I do trust you."
She took a deep breath.
"What was it about tonight that put you in such an anger?"
He froze.
Keith's hand on her cheek, stroking her soft skin-
"Robin?"
Her smile in return as she leant into his hand, her own hands finding their way to his chest-
"Please-"
Her eyes shining with that light that was supposed to be for him only.
Her laugh as she leant in until they shared the same breath-
Robin froze and removed her hand from his cheek gently.
"I need some air." he said, getting up and this time he heard her huff of frustration.
Its message clear.
She had been patient enough and he was no getting on her nerves.
Good.
He could fight.
Fight was good.
He didn't have to talk about his feelings if they fought.
"You're going nowhere, Robin Hood!" she said, getting up too and he shook his head.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me. You won't leave this tent until we have talked this through."
They were facing each other, breath loud and erratic and eyes fuming with anger.
"I'll do what I damn well please, m'lady."
She glared at him.
"No way, thief."
And great, now they were just tossing labels around like it couldn't do even more damages.
"If you're not happy then you should just go back to that damn Sheriff of yours!"
"WILL YOU STOP WITH THAT ALREADY!"
"WHY SHOULD I?" he screamed and he was pretty sure anyone could hear them but he didn't care.
She didn't seem to care either.
"I've been patient with you, but you're insufferable!"
"Again, why do you even bother with me when you seem to have so many better options?!"
She froze.
He froze.
"You're such a jerk."
He glared at her.
"I need air."
He was ready to leave but she stopped him, her voice low suddenly.
"You need to understand why you feel so threatened by that man Robin, when it is clear to everyone else but you that my heart is only yours to claim."
He couldn't hear the truth in her words.
He chose to run away.
Robin didn't come back all night and Regina was worried.
And if she was honest she did understand why he was so jealous because sometimes when a cute bartender only winked at him she felt this crazy urge to take her eyes off
So yes, she could try to understand.
But she didn't understand why Robin was mad at her.
It's not like she liked being touched by the Sheriff.
Because she didn't.
So she could understand him being mad at the Sheriff, but why her?
The young woman sat on their bed, set on waiting for her stubborn outlaw all night if it came to that.
She loved him entirely, and that meant with his flaws.
Robin didn't want to come back to his tent.
He knew Regina would be waiting for him and he wasn't ready to talk to her just yet
So he waited in front of his tent, thinking about what he would do.
And turned around.
Regina woke up in the same clothes she had worn the night before Then, she rise up and froze because their bed was left untouched which could only mean one thing:
Robin had not come back.
She hurried to get up and didn't even change before she ran out of the tent in search of the man she loved.
Now, she was worried.
What if he had drunk and got himself arrested?
Yes, the Sheriff wasn't sure it was them yet thank to her, but he was suspicious enough of Robin.
"John!" she shouted when the large man appeared and he smiled sadly at her,
"You're searching for Robin?"
"Have you seen him?"
"In my tent." she was ready to run to him but John caught her arm, something strange in his eyes. "I wouldn't do that, child. He is in a strange mood."
But she didn't care.
And she ran to him.
Always to him.
Robin was in a bad mood.
He hated to sleep without Regina in his arms, had not since that day they had both admitted their feelings a few weeks after she had chosen (he had convinced her) to stay with him and his Merry Men, that they could protect her from the Evil Queen and her uncharming bodyguard.
But now every time he wanted to be with her, there was this picture in his head of her smiling while the Sheriff was cupping her cheek, him almost kissing her and her letting him do it.
(And would have she kissed him, had Robin not managed to separate them?)
He was stupid and he knew it.
But he couldn't help it.
Robin was only a man, and a man in love at that.
Prone to stupidity.
And then the flap of the tent opened.
"Regina." he breathed.
She smiled shyly, seeing him and God if he loved her.
"You didn't come back." she said softly and only then did he notice that she wore the same clothed she did when he left.
He sighed and she sat by his sides.
"Sorry, I should have told you I wouldn't come home."
She shrugged,
"It's okay. You were angry, I get that."
She took his hand and he froze, taking it back and saw the look of pure rejection in her eyes.
"I still am, Regina."
Regina's heart stopped.
She looked at her hand, then back at him.
"What?"
"I still am angry with you."
"But why?"
"You know why..."
"It doesn't make any sense! You're being ridiculous!"
And now she could feel it, could feel the anger wining but only because otherwise she would have to think about the way her eyes were starting to sting.
"You don't understand..."
"No, I don't!"
"Well, I don't want to lose more time trying to explain it to you."
Her eyes widened.
"But- "
He couldn't hear more and got up, taking a deep breath.
"I just need some space."
And then he was out.
And she had trouble breathing properly.
24 hours later.
They had not talked.
Robin didn't even looked at her.
And at night she had waited for him in their tent
He never came.
Regina swallowed heavily and tried to remain calm.
They had fought before, but had never gone more than 12 hours without talking to each other.
24 hours.
He had not even looked at her.
38 hours later.
"Can we talk?" she tried so softly while he was at the fire and saw how he froze, before tired blue eyes finally locked onto brown ones.
"Regina..."
"Please, Robin." her voice broke and she cleared her throat.
He looked down and she saw him fidgeting,
"I don't-"
"I miss you." her voice broke and when he looked up in surprise, she was even more surprise to feel a tear rolling down her cheek.
Because she was afraid.
He got up and she tried to remain still but craved to lean into him and bury herself in his embrace.
Robin opened the mouth once, twice and then
"I am sorry, I have to do something."
And she was left alone, bracing herself against the cold and the fears swallowing her.
45 hours later.
She was in their bed, crying.
Crying because Robin refused to talk to her, to even look at her
She didn't understand why.
60 hours later.
It had been 60 hours.
She had counted.
And now she was ready to try and get every opportunity to talk to him so she did.
And he never answered.
She saw him and Will coming back from the hunt and hurried to get up and walk to them, her heart in knots in her chest.
"Caught something interesting?" she asked as he came back, and he only looked at her, nodded and walked past her like she wasn't even here.
Her heart broke.
Will walked to her and squeezed her hand tightly.
"He'll come around."
She tried to say something but the words stuck in her throat as she watched the man she loved desperately laughing with some of his men.
"And what if he doesn't?" she whispered this admission that was scaring her so much.
Will squeezed her hand tighter.
"Please, Regina." said John.
Her eyes were wide and frantic as she shook her head with violence, heart beating way too fast in her chest.
"No!"
"Just one last time."
Her eyes found her own archer and he was looking down, but his jaw was tight and he must be aware of how much she was trying to fight this!
"No! I won't get any closer to the Sheriff."
And she was pleading with John because he knew why she didn't want to.
How could he ask that of her?
Robin still refused to talk to her.
She couldn't do that.
"He is onto us." said the man again,
"Then we'll find another way!"
"Nothing is working as much as you."
Her hands started shaking.
"John, I won't do this. I won't. Not... "her voice broke." Not after what it already cost me."
Her happiness.
Again.
A heavy silence settled on the tent and John finally nodded, seeming to understand what she said.
"I am sorry, Regina. I had to ask."
"I know."
Then Tuck cleared his throat and gestured to Robin, who had still not looked up and then John, Tuck, Alan and Will were out of the tent, leaving only Regina inside.
And then nothing.
Regina didn't know what to say anymore.
"I wouldn't have done it." she said softly, "Not after-"
"I know. "he breathed and it was the first words in days.
She sat in front of him and then looked at him but he was still avoiding her eyes.
Robin knew what he had to do.
He just didn't know how.
He couldn't
He couldn't deal with it.
With all the things she made him feel.
He loved her more than his own life
And that made him vulnerable.
He couldn't do that.
So he looked up and saw how pale she was, how tired and how her eyes weren't shining the way they usually were.
It was about to get worse.
And he wasn't even sure he could take it.
"I can't do this anymore, Regina."
Her eyes widened in horror.
"What?"
"This. Us."
It was killing him to hurt her.
But it was the only way
He was an outlaw, he couldn't afford to be vulnerable.
She opened the mouth to speak but nothing came out and she took his hand in hers, put it on her lips and laid a small reverent kiss there.
"I am so sorry." she murmured, and he saw how her brown eyes were shining with tears and prayers not to break her heart again. "I am so sorry, Robin."
"Regina-"
"I can't lose you." her voice broke and she squeezed his hand against her cheek," I...When I found you I... I really thought..."
That she could be happy.
That she could have this: someone to love her and share her life with.
"I know. Me too."
She closed her eyes and a tear escaped it.
He felt horrible.
Like his heart was taken out of his chest and shredded to pieces.
"I love you." she whimpered and he couldn't take it.
"I am sorry."
He removed his hand from hers and instantly felt the void of her touch.
"Please." she begged and it was so unlike her but her eyes were so lost and frantic." I don't want what we have to end. It means the world to me. You know that."
He swallowed.
She meant the whole world to him, too.
And that was what was dangerous.
"You are a merry man, Regina." and his voice was so low, "And I will always consider you one of our finest members."
"I don't care about that... "she pleaded.
"But you and I are over."
She put a trembling hand on her face to wipe her tears and he felt like his world had stopped turning now that he had pushed her away from it.
"Don't you still love me?"
He scoffed.
"That's not relevant."
"But of course it is!" she said then, louder than she had all conversation. "Because if you do, we can find a way to work through this together. "
He stopped to look at her.
So beautiful.
So passionate.
So dangerous
"I can't. This is over, Regina." and then he added, cutting her. "You can go distract the Sheriff for all I care."
And then he left but not before he heard the sob escaping her.
What had he done?
The last part was awfully cruel to her.
She deserved better.
Regina felt like her whole world had stopped, once again.
She put her hands in her head and sobbed.
All night long.
A couple of days later
Regina was so heartbroken.
She had tried to get Robin to talk to her but nothing
He had refused to change his mind.
She now spent her days and nights by the fire, looking at the flames and thinking about the fact that she was a fool to think happiness was within reach.
Because it wasn't.
Not for her.
Never for her.
And then she had wondered why she couldn't just walk to Snow's castle and end all this.
She was so tired.
And she missed Robin so much
"You're a bloody fool." only said John and Robin couldn't even deny.
He missed her so much.
"I have my reasons."
"Bullshits."
He looked at his best friend.
"You wouldn't understand." then he added something he wished right away he could take back. "You never fell in love."
John's eyes became as cold as ice.
"And you are a jerk."
"John..."
But he had stormed off.
And Robin sighed, before resuming looking at Regina from afar.
He was in his tent unable to sleep when someone called out his name and he froze,
"Robin?" came her voice and he swallowed. "Can we talk, please?"
He couldn't answer.
"Go to sleep, Regina. We have a big operation tomorrow."
A silence.
"I would have wanted to I... "she cleared her throat. "Actually, that was why I wanted to talk to you..."
He knew why.
Before each operation, they would confess their love to each other in case things went wrong.
But the time for him to make up his mind about what to do
"Okay." she breathed, "Goodnight, then."
And when he closed his eyes, he was only mildly surprised to feel the tear falling down.
Everything that could have gone wrong, did.
The carriage they were supposed to rob came more prepared than they had planned and now, all the merry men were fighting with dozens of guards.
Robin didn't see how he could get them out.
And just when he thought things would be alright...
His heart stopped.
Regina was fighting with one of them, while another one ran at her from behind.
He lost it and quickly fired an arrow, which hit the man in the heart. Regina screamed and turned around, looking at the man then searching who did that and when her eyes found him, he tried a smile and she smiled back, so softly.
Then she started to walk to him, looking lost in him...
But everything crumbled around him.
The man she had knocked up got up and stabbed her in her side.
And it all happened in one second but it was like it lasted an eternity.
All he could think about that she didn't know he loved her so much.
"REGINA!" he screamed in agony and quickly fired another arrow before running to the love of his life.
He arrived just in time for her to fall into his arms,
"Robin... "
"No. You're gonna be alright."
And now he could feel it,
The panic.
They had lost so much time
Because of him.
She was laid down, in his arms and he cupped her cheek with one hand, forcing her to stay with him and brown eyes looked so relieved, he felt like dying.
"You... "she breathed, trying to speak. "You still… You still love me."
She smiled and it broke his heart so much a sob escaped him.
"Of course I do, you silly woman!"
"I ... I really thought..."
He cut her, leaning in and kissing her with all the love he could muster.
"Don't leave me." he breathed against her lips, begging and she frowned looking upset.
"I am sorry."
"No. You have nothing to be sorry for." and now he was crying with big, fat tears rolling down his cheeks because he couldn't lose her.
He couldn't.
Regina nuzzled weakly into his chest,
"I love you." he breathed and she smiled, eyes closing more and more.
"Thank you, Robin." she murmured and he had to lean in to hear her, "For making me so happy..."
"Regina?"
Her eyes were started to roll and he was starting to panic.
"I... ove you forvr... "
"NO!" he screamed and was barely aware of someone trying to push him away from her but no, no he wouldn't leave her.
Not again.
In the haze of his despair, he managed to recognize John and Tuck, begging him to see reason so that Tuck could heal Regina.
Heal.
Regina.
He finally moved and let their physician do his own magic.
But he never let go of her hand.
Never again.
Regina didn't know where she was, she woke up slowly and first an awful pain in her right side made her flinch as she opened her eyes.
She was in a tent.
Not any tent.
Robin's.
And then she remembered
Robin. The arrow. The stabbing. Robin.
She looked around and her heart was thumping in her chest as her eyes fall on her outlaw, asleep by her sides.
She smiled, knowing they would be alright.
All the pain of the last days was forgotten, because it wasn't worth losing the love of your life.
So she stroked his hair tenderly and at first he only moved but then he got up right away and the look on his eyes took her breath away.
So much fire.
So much love.
"You're here." she only breathed and his eyes closed hearing her, a tear escaping it.
"And you're alive." he answered in a voice quite hoarse.
She smiled and then he lost it, cupped her cheeks and crashed his mouth on hers.
"Regina.." he leant his forehead on hers. "If you can't take me back, I understand but-"
"Robin- "
"No." he cut her, and blue eyes met brown."You have to hear that. I love you. I love you and I have always loved you." he tilted his head, smiling tenderly." You're everything to me and when you were hurt... "he shivered. "All I could think about was that you would die not knowing all of that."
"I think I knew."
"It's not enough." his voice broke. "I have no excuses for my behaviour. I I was jealous and then I went mad and- "
"Please, I almost die." she leant into his hand and their eyes locked," I don't want to dwell on the past."
His smile was so bright and loving.
"How are you so resilient?" he leant in and kissed her again," How are you still mine? "
"Forever." she breathed passionately.
And then he seemed to study her once again, eyes so blue suddenly.
"You mean that? "
She smiled brightly,
"I do."
Then he looked shy suddenly as he cleared his throat,
"I had planned this a long, long time ago and despite the thousand times I imagined it, this scenario didn't even cross my mind..."
"What?" she frowned.
He took a deep breath,
"I ...I love you, Regina. So much. And... And all I want is for you to be happy. If you let me do it, I want to make you happy forever, with me." Her eyes widened and he chuckled, "I'm not very good at this, am I?"
Brown eyes were shining with tears as she didn't answer, only cupped his cheeks and kissed his with all the passion and love she had,
"It's perfect." he nodded, dazed by the kiss. "Please don't stop."
He smiled and took something out of his vest, a beautiful ring that had her gasping.
"I know I don't deserve you most of the time." and he knew he didn't." But I still love you more than anyone could ever love you. You were this bandit that ran into a camp of guarded thieves unannounced and stole the one thing I didn't know I could give so easily: my heart." she chuckled at that," It is yours, forever. As yours is mine, and I've been a fool for having doubt that even for one second." She seemed touched and he smiled." It's you and me, Regina. It's always been you and me."
"Always." she nodded, voice breaking.
He was shaking with emotion too, now.
"So," he took a deep breath." Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?
She nodded and cried at the same time.
"Yes! "
"Yes?"
"A thousand times yes!"
He laughed and put the ring on her finger, kissing it before she engulfed him in a huge hug, kissing him passionately.
They would be alright, indeed.
PRESENT
"Just like that? "asked Will and Robin chuckled,
"You know, when the love of your entire life crumbles in front of you, nothing else seems to matter. "
Will nodded, lost in thoughts.
"And with the Sheriff? "
"Nothing." Robin smirked, "And when after that day he came a little too close to her, she would subtly show him her ring and I loved her for it." then he smirked and pointed at the brunette, "Look, she is doing it right now. "
And indeed, Regina was showing her ring to the man she was talking to, but like she didn't mean it by tapping on her glass. The man's eyes widened and Robin laughed.
"So, it is that simple? "
"It is, when you realize love is worth everything."
Will nodded and was ready to speak again, but Regina was tired of the man (and she had stolen enough gold from him) and now walked to Robin with that elusive smile of hers he thought about every time he closed he closed his eyes.
"Hello stranger." he smirked and she smirked back before wrapping her arms around his neck, not even caring if Will was still there before kissing her husband passionately and he gave back just as much, hands on her waist.
They didn't even hear Will excuse himself, so lost in their own bubble.
"It's you and me, right?" she smiled and he nuzzled his nose with hers as he answered from the bottom of his heart
"Always."
A/N: So? Hope you liked it ! See you tomorrow for the second prompt: Stuck in Camelot or Missing Year. Love you all !