A relatively new pairing for me, but just go with it. For now. I tried. Word prompt of 'cigarette'.
smoke & mirrors
Mary Margaret paused when she opened the front door of her home and wrinkled her nose.
There was smoke.
A cursory look around was enough for her to see that nothing was on fire or had been (as far as she could tell) but the smell was too strong to be anything but recent. She moved through the apartment with ease, finding nothing, until there was only one more place to look.
Worry settled in her gut like a boulder as she gently pushed open the last door with a soft call of, "Emma?"
The blonde was lying back on her bed with a cigarette in one hand and a full ashtray as her companion. In the months since Emma's arrival smoking had never been an issue. Now that it was Mary Margaret was unsure of how to proceed.
"Is something wr-"
"It's Regina."
"Regina? Did something happen-"
"I hate her," Emma growled out, stamping the cigarette out in the ashtray with a sigh that was more like a pure exhale of smoke. Confusion broke out on the other woman's face as she stared at her roommate, eyebrows coming together as she tilted her head.
"You're smoking because you hate Regina?" Mary Margaret asked quietly.
There was a pause and then the sound of rustling plastic as another cigarette was picked up.
"No."
Now the teacher was even more confused as she stared at her friend. "No? Then-"
"I'm smoking because I love her."
Mary Margaret didn't have time to feel offended or confused beyond that point. Love was infuriating. Love was just as beautiful as it was damaging.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked in a quiet voice.
Her only response was a smile and the offered cigarette.