A/N: I know it's been a while. This one is a little unconventional. It's a stand alone but it goes with the whole color theme of Black, White (my other SQ stories), and Grey. This is post curse, but I have ignored the convoluted story line of this season for something of my own. This means there is no Cora, Hook and no visit to FTL. Regina is in a form you've never seen her in before, but then again so is Emma. I do keep the irritating Charmings and Henry makes a strong appearance. I hope you enjoy. P.S thanks for the feedback so far and all the follows it's keeping this story going.
Leaning back in her chair, Emma peered at her best friend, picturing her in wolf form. She could practically see the fur standing up and hear the accompanying snarl. The object of Red's ire sat in oblivion. Regina's eyes were downcast and her demeanor somewhat meek. Emma still held out hope. When these two got together in the past, it was always fire to kindling, with Regina emerging the solid victor every time.
The noises of the other patrons of The Rabbit Hole buzzed around them. Some still stared at the spectacle that was the Evil Queen and White Knight while others seemed to not give a damn. Emma ignored them all in favor for the potential fireworks in front of her. She wanted this…needed this.
So, Emma watched and waited as if she were a spectator at a tennis match or the fish in a barrel that was Nascar. Regina had not been herself for some time despite Emma's best attempts to yank her from her self-imposed shell.
"Why did you invite me here if she was coming?!" Red hissed.
Emma raised a brow and held up a finger as she downed her second tequila shot for the night. It trickled down her throat, scorching her insides before settling in her belly warmly. "I sleep with her every night. Why wouldn't I want her with me?"
Dark eyes narrowed. It was common knowledge that there were those who thought their pairing was ludicrous or just another strategic move by a woman who would never change her spots no matter what she presented to the world. Red was one of those people.
"Uhh, I need to wash that image out of my brain!" Red exclaimed as she guzzled her own drink. "She's like a fucking praying mantis! I don't see how you do it."
Emma's eyes tracked from one brunette to the other. Red had made the first move, but it was time for Regina to obliterate her from the game completely. In a few seconds, she would have her Regina back. A better plan would have been to using her mother, but there was an ocean under that bridge. Emma knew she had no right to tinker with it. This was the alternative. A tingle started low in Emma's stomach and she licked her lips…waiting. Waiting.
Emma held her breath as Regina rose from her chair and flicked dark tresses from her eyes, revealing a near blank expression. The only tell was the clenching of her jaw. "My drink needs refilling. Would anyone else like one?"
Unable to stop it, Emma's jaw dropped. She blinked, hoping that when she opened her eyes things would be back to normal…Regina would be back to normal.
Regina glanced at her, but the gaze was fleeting and almost unreadable.
"Yeah," Emma answered. "Bring me the damn bottle."
Regina's only reply was a brisk nod.
Emma sighed and slumped into her chair.
"Okay, I know she's been hiding out in her mansion on the hill, but, what the fuck was that?" Red asked. "She usually takes my head off for looking at her funny."
Emma shrugged. "She hasn't been the same since the curse was lifted. I thought it would change when we finally-"
"Uck, don't say it." Red interrupted. "But she did get her ass handed to her. Must suck being on the losing side." She added with glee.
Emma looked at her friend slyly. "It might help knock something loose if you turned up the snark a bit."
Red snorted. "Me?! The fights between you used to be epic."
"Tried that. Besides my mother, you seem to have a special place in her heart. She loves cutting you off at the knees."
"Please, her heart? The tin man couldn't help that bitch even if he wanted to." Red added.
Emma winced but pushed forward. "Come on, please. It's not like I'm asking you to go out of your way here."
Brown eyes rolled then stared as if contemplating. "You like her mean. Don't you?"
"No! I like her being herself. Right now, she seems so defeated-"
"She was!" Red hissed.
"I know that! But I've never seen Regina give up on anything. Hell, even in your world, after all that shit happened to her, she kicked ass and took names."
"Hey!"
Emma waved her hand in supplication. "I'm not excusing what happened. I'm just saying that's what she does."
"So…you want her to come back and curse us all over again?!"
Emma rubbed the bridge of her nose then skimmed the lines in her forehead. They stared at each other. Red was the first to look away.
"Okay…that was stupid. I totally thought it was my inside voice."
"I feel like shit, okay? Asking you to do this. I should be patient and wait for her to snap out of it, but I'm not a patient person. She won't really talk to me. She's in there somewhere, and I need her to come out bitch and all so we can deal with this. Other than giving her an ultimatum, I don't know what to do."
Red glared. "I can't believe I'm saying this because it is Regina. You're right this is kind of a shitty thing to do. What about going to see The Cricket?"
Emma glared right back.
"Oh yeah, because it's Regina."
"So, are you going to do this?" Emma asked.
"I guess but only because you asked so nicely." Red grinned.
Emma felt some of the tension leave her body. This was a convoluted plan, but it was a convoluted situation. She looked up in time to see Regina weaving her way back toward them. The crowd parted as if by magic. This time was no different than all the others just the sight of the brunette was enough to take her breath despite the circumstances.
Their eyes met, and Emma could feel the slow boil that had always been between them. It twisted her belly and showered her with electric tendrils of awareness. The link was abruptly broken as Regina looked down and away.
An exasperated sigh whisked passed Emma's lips and she was resigned to the knowledge that this could blow up in her face either one way or the other. A few seconds later, a bottle of tequila appeared in front of her. She was tempted to just start swigging straight from it.
Red studied her new drink and then glanced at Regina. "Maybe I should have you test it."
The pulse in Regina's jaw continued to tick but her forehead scrunched in what could only be mock confusion. "I assure you—"
Red laughed. "I wouldn't even trust you with my shoes."
Regina's face reddened.
Emma felt like slinking under the table but held her ground. Eyes that usually held such fire peered at her dull as dishwater. There wasn't even a spark. "Regina, I—" Emma started.
Regina removed her gaze. "I guess I deserved that."
Emma could see Regina's hands fisting in her lap. Her knuckles were white.
"What you deserve? Please. We could start on a list right now since you seem to be feeling generous."
Emma gasped. She didn't expect Red to go there.
Regina stood once more, but somehow, she seemed smaller. "I-I need to use the facilities."
Then, she was gone again, leaving behind the scent of defeat and expensive perfume.
Emma slammed her hand against the table hard enough to make it rattle. "Fuck!" She glared at Red accusingly even though she didn't have the right to. "You had to go there?!"
"Hell yes! You're my best friend. I love you, but I hate her Emma. I'm going to show it every chance I get."
"Even if it hurts me?"
Red scoffed. "You're a fucking hypocrite." She downed her drink before getting up and walking away.
Emma pushed her hands through thick curls. It had all been so easy, saving everyone in this town. She had stumbled into it. The hardest thing had been slaying the dragon, and even that was achieved by pure luck with no actual skill whatsoever. She never wanted the job as The Savior, but she wanted Regina.
This…this was work, saving Regina…loving Regina. Emma sucked down another shot before rising. Doubt permeated her very core. Maybe the former Evil Queen was too broken to be fixed. Hell, maybe they both were. Anger bubbled with each step. It turned inward as she was reminded once more that she didn't really know how to love…not anymore. A normal woman would be patient. A normal woman would respect Regina's pain, but Emma knew she was far from normal.
Emma pushed the door of the bathroom open. Her eyes zeroed in on Regina just as they always did. She stood near the sink, looking down at her hands as she washed them vigorously. There were a few stragglers peering at the woman's back in disgust. "Get out. Now!" The sheriff growled.
Emma got a certain satisfaction at seeing them scurry away like flies. She locked the door.
In the mirror, green met brown.
"I'm sorry….about Red. She went too far."
Regina switched off the faucet and turned. "It doesn't matter."
Rage gushed forward. "It doesn't-" Emma sputtered. "She was tearing you another asshole in there, and you barely bat an eyelash."
"Neither did you." Regina countered.
"You're the Evil fucking Queen. You can take care of yourself. Hell, you could probably make her piss herself with a look if you wanted to! I know a lot has happened, but what the actual fuck, Regina!" Emma closed the distance between them, needing to be closer despite her discontent.
"Miss Swan, what would be the point?" Regina asked, but it lacked the vitriol she was capable of spewing. She stood there shoulders slumped and completely lacking the regal bearing that had been her trademark.
As irrational as it was, the question cranked Emma's anger up another notch. "Don't you Miss Swan me! It doesn't even have the same bite anymore. You won't talk to me. You won't let me touch you. Who the hell are you?!"
Regina's eyes flashed briefly. "So you thought playing games like a petulant child would return normalcy?"
Emma's mouth fell open. She should have known Regina would figure it out. Was she being childish? "If that's what it takes, yeah."
Without another word, Regina headed toward the door. Moving quickly, Emma blocked it. She reached out grasping Regina's forearm. The air around them became heavy. "You're not leaving."
"I can't do this."
"No, I can't do THIS anymore." The words tumbled out of her mouth, and Emma let them. Weariness seeped into her bones.
Dark eyes widened and filled with devastation. "Emma—"
"No." Emma shook her head. "I don't know what I'm doing, and you're not doing anything to help, Regina. The woman I know…the woman I love doesn't give up. So you lost, but do you even see what you got in return?"
Emma laughed at the confusion that chased across Regina's features. "You got a family! Isn't that what you always wanted? Someone to love you? We're right in front of you and it's like we're invisible. Henry is hurting. I'm hurting too!"
Regina gasped.
Emma released her hold. "I'm going to stay at my parents for a little while until this…hell I don't know just until." Turning away, she swiped at the tears that she could feel coming and left the bathroom surrounded in stunned silence.
