Mixtape

by IShipItLikeUPS

A collection of vignettes centering around the songs on a mixtape. These are not songfics. Set at an indeterminate time after Neverland but before Pan's curse and spanning until the end of current canon. Once I reach that point, I might continue it if there's enough interest/I feel inspired enough to write.

1. I Know I'm a Wolf--The Young Heretics

A/N: 'Sup?

Like the summary says, these aren't songfics, although I did write each chapter with a different song in mind. I recommend reading each chapter while listening to the corresponding song for the most fulfilling reading experience. The song for this chapter is "I Know I'm a Wolf," by The Young Heretics. You can listen to it on YouTube. Just add /watch?v=8kTMB2UqQs4 after the YouTube URL.

This first chapter is hella short because it's more of an introductory type thing than anything else. It's just meant to get the mixtape into the story in the first place. Following chapters will be significantly longer.

It's a Sunday.

It's a Sunday, and Emma wonders what the hell she thinks she's doing on a goddamn Sunday at fuck off o'clock in the morning standing on Regina's porch. Because they're not friends, not really, not even close. And she doesn't know how to explain to her why she made her a mixtape filled with music she's probably never heard before (and not just because Storybrooke was perpetually stuck in the eighties for 28 years) when they don't really even talk. Hey, Regina. These songs remind me of you. When should I be by to pick up Henry?

In the end, she decides to leave it on the doormat. Not cowardice, she tells herself. She almost believes it. Because Regina's been known to bite, but she's left that behind, hasn't she? She hasn't been anything but Regina in a long, long time. So it's not fear of Regina that has Emma hurrying across the street as fast as she can. It's fear of something else, and she tries very hard not to think too much on what that something else might be while she looks both ways as she crosses the street.

When Emma stops by later that week to pick up Henry and hears the strains of obscure musicians playing softly behind Regina's voice, she pretends not to smile.

A/N: Although I've been writing fanfiction for several years now, this is my very first OUaT fic, so feel free to let me know if the characterizations I've got going on are wrong or if there was something you didn't like. I'll never improve without your help.

Also, obligatory comment about how the version of this story on AO3 is more complete because it contains the song lyrics I drew on. It's under the same username.

Thanks for reading!