Prompt: Swan Queen, snuggles.
It's amazing, Emma thinks, how beautiful Regina Mills looks when her guard is down.
They sit in a darkened theater, Les Miserables playing on the large screen as music blares through the speakers, and Emma's interest has begun to wane. She turns her head to glance at Regina, who seems entranced by the scene, dark eyes twinkling with the reflection of the film and tears that threaten to spill over her eyes. The music crescendos and a gunshot sounds that causes Regina to jump in her seat; Emma bites the inside of her cheek and tries to stifle the giggle that creeps up her throat.
Emma looks back at the screen. A young woman lays dying in someone's arms, hand pressed to her heart as she bleeds and sings her last words, words of love. Sniffs and whimpers can be heard throughout the theater; beside Emma is no exception. She catches sight of Regina, who wipes daintily beneath her eyes with her middle fingers to save the remnants of her dark mascara.
A few strands of chestnut hair stick to wet cheeks and Emma's fingers itch to reach out and brush them away, but she decides against it. They've been on several dates but she's kept her distance, waiting, hoping Regina will make a move and alleviate the tension between them. Miss Prissy Pants keeps to herself during every date, though, and Emma begins to wonder if Regina's only here because Henry wants her to be. She sighs and slumps in her seat, chomping loudly on a handful of buttery popcorn.
The film continues and the sniffs from the crowd grow more prominent as it nears the end. Emma watches as Regina's chest heaves with silent sobs and the tears that merely tickled her eyes now fall freely. Her bottom lip, painted it's characteristic blood red, trembles as a result.
It's less of a want and more of a need now, Emma's arms aching to pull the brunette close in a comforting embrace. She sucks in a steadying breath and, with her Emma Swan super smooth moves, stretches and wraps an arm around Regina's shoulder. When the older woman doesn't immediately recoil, she relaxes and begins to draw soothing circles back and forth over Regina's forearm.
She holds her breath and prepares for the worst, waiting for the brunette to hiss angrily and pull away. Instead, Regina flashes a weak smile before inching closer to rest her head on Emma's shoulder, nuzzling her face against the red leather jacket in a makeshift snuggle.
Emma suddenly feels tears warm the corner of her eyes, and they have nothing to do with Les Miserables.