This is my first shot at a Regal Cricket (Archie/Regina) fic, so please, be very gentle and bear with me! It is about four chapters long, all of the other chapters are already written, and will be posted every few days. Enjoy! Let me know your thoughts, hmm?
This is for my Robin Hood.
Archie sat at his desk, flipping through some of the files of his patients. He sighed at the empty folder he found with Regina's name on it. He really wanted to help her, he needed to help her. While everyone else in town was busy judging her for what she'd done in the past and how they could get back at her, he was focusing on the bits that nobody else saw.
Archie knew hurt and pain when he saw it; 28 years of being a therapist didn't even help in identifying it; he'd seen it enough in their land. He knew well the look of despair behind the glassy, coldness in her eyes. The tall brick wall she hid behind because she was just as fragile as the rest of them. Now if only she would open up to him…
The knock on his door made his eyebrows furrow because he was not expecting anyone until the next day. Nonetheless, he walked to the door and found Regina on the other side, looking beyond distraught. Archie didn't hide the surprise in his tone, "Regina? You're back…"
Regina looked up at him with wide, tear-filled, brown eyes, "I used magic…" She whispered her voice cracking as she fought for composure.
Archie swallowed because the low, small tone of her voice tugged at the strings of his heart and he wasn't sure why. But, the former cricket didn't care as he waved her in gently, "Come in, Regina…" He walked her over to the couch, after closing the door behind her.
Regina nearly crashed into the couch, leaning forward and dropping her head into her hands. Archie took a seat in his usual armchair across from her and he allowed her a moment to compose herself and got a box of tissues ready. He took a chance and asked tenderly a few moments later, "Regina? What happened? Why did you use magic?" His tone wasn't accusatory or demanding. Quite the opposite, it was soft and gentle as if talking to a small child.
The brunette shook where she sat. She fought for reign over her emotions, however they were winning. She managed to get a few words out, "I… Killed Daniel," and just as she said it, the reality of the day came crashing into her as if a giant wave.
She gasped and choked out a sob at the thought. Daniel.. She'd just killed the one man – the only man who ever loved her fully. The one man who ever cared about her and cared about what she wanted. He was selfless and loving and… She, the monster, the most selfish woman to ever exist… The Evil Queen killed her true love. She killed her one true love. She was truly incapable of loving and she would never love again.
Regina tightly gripped her hair in frustration as a loud sob broke out of her lips. Archie reached out to her and gently squeezed her forearm, "How, Regina? Why… What... Happened?" He looked at her with bafflement.
Regina felt that she didn't deserve to be comforted. She'd just killed the man she loved, the man who loved her! She didn't deserve to be treated with kid-gloves. He didn't have to treat her with such…
She shook her head slowly, her mouth clamping shut as she whispered, "I…I don't want to talk about it…" She turned to the side as another sob left her lips.
Archie decided that it would be best not to push her, knowing that she would eventually come around. He got up and walked over to the coffee machine he kept in his office for long nights and brought Regina a hot cup of brew, hoping that it would console her in ways that he couldn't. Shakily, Regina took the cup and thanked him. She couldn't even look him in the eye. Sure, she knew she was a killer, anyone could've told her that, but those lives she'd taken meant nothing to her compared to the life of her love that she'd just taken. That's what was killing her now.
The former cricket lost track of how long she spent there crying, he didn't mind though. He much rather her crying his office couch than her being at home alone with nobody there for her. She would then more easily give in to her sadness and doing something she'd regret later on; for example, using magic for the wrong reasons again. He moved over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Perhaps we should get you home, Regina. You should rest."
She didn't protest at all, he was right. Besides, at this point, she was all cried out and all that was coming out were dry sobs. So, Archie drove her home, seeing as she was in no condition to drive herself. He walked her up to her door to make sure she was alright. Silently, Regina walked into her house and just as she was about to close her door, Archie stopped her and said, "I'll schedule you for an appointment in two days, Regina. So we can discuss what's happened, alright?"
Though his tone told her he wouldn't be taking 'no' for an answer. She nodded slowly, "Goodnight, Dr. Hopper," she said lowly and closed the door.
