A/N: Written in response to a Tumblr prompt I received – Evil.
Regina's presence was a shock as she walked into the tattoo parlor. The three burly artists gaped at her, wide eyed, as she sauntered toward the counter and flashed the receptionist a glimpse of her pearly whites. "I have an appointment at 5," she informed.
The woman at the counter gawked for a second, unable to believe that Mayor Regina Mills was getting a tattoo. She finally turned her gaze away from the brunette and fumbled with the planner spread open on the desk. "Oh yes, Sebastian will be taking care of you."
Regina lifted her chin in silent acknowledgement and followed the woman across the room to a chair tucked in the corner. "He'll be with you in a moment, Madame Mayor," the receptionist informed, scurrying away.
The brunette took a deep breath and situated herself in the chair, her arm on the armrest. She rested her head on the back of the seat and closed her eyes. Exhaling slowly through her nose, she could feel a sense of nervousness and excitement coursing through her blood. She couldn't believe she had let Emma coax her into this, assuring her that the tattoo Regina had chosen - drawn herself - would be cathartic, an impetus into her new life as Regina Mills, not The Evil Queen.
"Ms. Mills." The voice was deep, unfamiliar. Regina turned her head as a tall, thin man pulled up a chair and scooted close to her. "I'm Sebastian," he greeted, extending his hand. The brunette eyed it suspiciously. Taking the hint, the artist moved his hand to his side. "I received the scan of what you want to get. Where did you want it, exactly?"
Regina moved her right arm toward him and extended it, baring her wrist. "Here," she said, pointing to where her hand and arm met.
"Excellent," Sebastian said before turning in his chair to grab his supplies.
Regina held her breath as the soft buzzing noise of the pen began. A sharp jolt of pain assaulted her nerves as the metal met her skin. She ground her teeth roughly together before chewing on the inside of her cheek.
"You ok?" Sebastian asked, watching as Regina's normally collected demeanor had faltered into a grimace.
"Mmmhm," she grunted, closing her eyes.
A half an hour passed and the assault of pain had subsided into a dull throb. After a few finishing touches, Sebastian informed her that it was finished. Regina opened her eyes, a mixture of excitement and nervousness flickering in them as she caught glimpse of her tattoo for the first time.
It was a small feather with one single word beneath it: live.
Because, as Emma had informed her, you had to work your way backward and confront your pain before you could move forward with your life. And so Regina had decided to confront her past as The Evil Queen so she could live again.
Evil.
The four letter word that plagued her life was now turned backward into something beautiful, a constant reminder for her to work to find the person she once was.
Live.