A/N: I'm still working on Queen of Thieves, but this idea came to my head and I had to get it out. So, here is a summer AU. Hope you like! :)
Her mother would kill her if she knew she was here. But, she supposed, Cora would never find out. So why was she worrying about that, when she was in the middle of an energetic, very drunk, crowd at a music festival? Well, maybe because her mother didn't let even small things slide with Regina, and this was certainly not a small thing. And even though Regina was basically an adult her mother kept tight reins on her.
If she caught wind that her daughter was attending some "hippie festival", Cora would certainly have much to say. Regina hoped beyond all hope that this little break from her stressful life, would not come back to bite her in the butt. And so far, it had not. She was having a blast and taking shots and dancing with people she didn't even know and she could care less.
And she would have to thank Emma for getting her free weekend passes and backstage access. Maybe one of those cool flowers-made-out-out-fruit bouquets. Yeah, Emma liked food. She'd take that over money or a card any day.
Just when she was thoughtfully finalizing her thank you gift to Emma, she felt something resembling the ice cold Atlantic splashing onto her tank top. The smell of beer quickly invading her senses as she inhaled sharply and looked down at the damage; soaked.
"So sorry, milady. Oh my God, I'm so sorry."
Regina looked up from her drenched shirt towards the heavy accented voice obviously acknowledging her.
"No, uh, it's fine. It's to be expected, right?" She said, gesturing to the crowd.
"It's certainly not fine. I feel terrible." He said.
She looked up at him, an expression of pure shock and mortification painted on his very roguishly handsome face.
"At least let me buy you a new shirt. I'm sure one of the vender's have something." He offered kindly.
But before she could protest, he added, "I insist."
She pressed her lips together and eventually nodded.
"Yeah. Okay." She agreed.
He smiled widely and shifted, taking her hand in his and weaving her through the mess of people.
"It will dry, you know. You don't have to buy me an overpriced shirt." Regina tried to reason.
"No, it would be against my code, milady," He smirked, looking her direction, "and we can't have that."
She smiled softly. He was...charming, to say the least. She was glad though that he spilled his beer on her and hadn't regurgitated it on her. There was really no coming back from that. Well, maybe there was, but she didn't really want to find out.
He had sandy blond hair and light brown stubble across his jawline. He wore a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off with a tropical background graphic on the back. The lack of sleeves giving her a good view of his toned muscles.
"And what is your code?" She asked, realizing she had been silent for too long.
"Well, that when I spill a drink on a beautiful woman, I should buy her a new shirt." He said, giving her a sheepish grin.
Dimples. He had dimples, too.
She smiled again despite herself, even felt herself blush. Who was she? Certainly not a teenage girl still in high school. Even if she did graduate two years ago, but that wasn't the point.
"Now," He said, gesturing to a booth full of all sorts of graphic band t-shirts and such, "which would the lady like?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know. You pick." She said looking to him.
His mouth fell open slightly before he answered her with an, "Alright, well, let's see."
He scanned the merchandise with scrutinizing eyes.
"Do you have a favorite band?" He asked.
She shook her head again.
"I don't really. I like all music, to be honest." She replied.
He hummed then pointed to a tank top hanging in the back wall of the booth.
"Red Hot Chilli Peppers?" He suggested. "I mean, you can't go wrong there."
She smiled.
"Sure. I love them." She said simply.
He smiled and reached for his back pocket, retrieving his wallet.
"You do, huh? Favorite song." He said while they stood in line.
Now it was her turn to let her mouth hang open slightly.
"Oh, uh, I don't know. I just like their sound, so I don't know how to choose." She began. "I can always jam to Dani California, though."
He nodded and said, "If you can't jam to that song, your life is sad."
She laughed.
"So you like them?" She asked while her laughter died off.
"Of course. I'm with you on their sound. I really enjoy covering them." He said.
"Covering them? Do you play?" She asked.
"Only at bars and small events. Nothing like this, though." He said, gesturing to the stage and the still very dense crowd.
She looked at him with soft eyes, him suddenly catching her gaze, so she looked away.
"Is that what you want to do? Play in a band for thousands of people?" She asked.
"Maybe. Also, guys in bands get all the girls." He smirked, then playfully winked at her.
She laughed again and nudged him in the arm.
"That isn't true." She said.
"It is. If a guy is in a band, boom! Girls." He said.
"And do you have all the girls?" She asked with a smirk.
He didn't answer right away, instead looked at her for a moment, Regina suddenly feeling very exposed under his gaze.
"No. I just need one." He said.
The air felt electric between them all of a sudden and Regina felt it was hard to breathe. She had made the mistake of gazing into perfectly blue eyes while he gazed into her dark pools of chocolate. She broke contact first, stepping forward in line.
"That's probably best. Too many and it gets messy." Regina said lightly.
He chuckled and nodded.
"That it does. I mean, not that I have experience in that." He said suddenly.
She quirked an eyebrow at him. He didn't have a chance to reply to her because she now noticed they were in front of a man and Robin pointed to the shirt they had picked out. Giving the man the size, he picked one from a box and exchanged the shirt for the money. And it suddenly hit her, she didn't know this man's name. He thanked the clerk and they moved out of the line, he, handing her her shirt.
"Milady." He mock bowed.
She snatched it from him playfully.
"I just realized I never caught you name." She said.
"Robin. Robin Locksley." He extended his hand.
"Regina Mills." She smiled. "Is this how you usually meet people?"
He laughed and shook his head.
"No, only the ones worth keeping." He smiled.
She knew a tint of red covered her skin now and she couldn't find it in herself to somehow hide it. She liked him. As a friend? A boyfriend? A lover? She didn't know. Maybe all three? She had just met him, but could it be possible she wanted to actually see this man again?
"So, let's have a look then. Put it on." He said.
She looked surprised.
"Now?" She asked.
"Yes, now. I'll wait here, you go change." He smirked.
She nodded and walked to the bathrooms. Thank God they had actually indoor facilities. Regina Mills did not do portable toilets. Ever.
She went into a stall and slipped off her still damp tank top and slipped on her new one. It fit snug and comfortably and she had to admit, she really liked it. It was certainly an interesting memento of her time here. And maybe, something, or rather, someone would be an interesting reminder of her time here?
She never usually thought this way. Probably should push away any thoughts of seeing this man again or even thinking this was anything more than chivalry on his part. Certainly he didn't feel anything about her. Could he?
She exited the bathroom, half expecting he'd be gone. If he was, she'd just bask in the glow of her new free shirt and possibly call it a night. She needed to get home and feed Pongo anyway (and to also come up with some excuse to why she wasn't home to Cora). She was glad she lived so close to this beach side festival now.
But, to her surprise, Robin was in the very spot she left him. Waiting. Her heart began racing and she didn't know why. She knew nothing of this man, only that his name was Robin and he was in a band and thought people's lives were sad if they didn't jam to Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But maybe that was all she needed to know right now. But she shouldn't rush herself.
She reached him and he pushed himself off the lamppost he was leaning on.
"Stunning." He said.
She smirked and tossed her beer soaked shirt at him. He chuckled and then his expression became somewhat serious.
"Would you like to go have drinks?" He asked.
It was blunt. Forward. Bold. And Regina felt herself nodding.
"Here?" she asked.
"I know a place much better than this." He said, extending his hand for her to take.
She met his gaze, something very strong laced in his eyes, like passion and excitement. Everything Regina craved right now. She sat still at first, but then slowly raised her hand to grasp his, lacing her fingers with his and feeling her stomach tumble with his pleased smile and light tug at her in his direction.