"I know there are stories about me…" she began timidly, still not facing him. Robin started to say something but she cut him off, turning around and beginning again with more conviction, "I know there are stories about me, and most of them are true, but you have to understand something, Robin." Regina looked up at him, and in her eyes he saw a frightened young girl buried under years of pain and hate. "I don't know how to do this. Not really."
He stepped forward, drawing her gently into his arms so she rested against his chest. Still standing on her own two feet, but with him just the same. "I've noticed," he said dryly, but smiled reassuringly. "But I think I could teach you." He leaned down a little, close enough to brush the tip of his nose against hers, smile widening at her quiet intake of breath. "If you'll let me," he whispered, and kissed her.
Her hands found his upper arms, not pushing away, but not letting him come any closer. As if he needed to. She sighed into his mouth, and felt him smile in return. One hand came to rest in her hair, just over her ear, and she let him tip her head gently to the left. Their noses brushed again as they parted.
"Well?" he said after a moment.
"Well what?" she replied, brow furrowing. The kiss left her breathless and her thoughts felt sluggish and half-formed. She couldn't focus on his words, only the vibration of them in his chest.
Robin chuckled, and Regina felt her knees weaken. "Will you let me teach you?"
At her blank—and still slightly dazed—stare, he continued, "A scholar I once knew said that the key to love was knowing how to argue. You—"
"A scholar who knows of love?" she interrupted incredulously with an arch of her eyebrow.
He raised his in return and continued, "You have to find someone who will tell you if they think you're wrong, but not rub your face in it or hold it against you for eons down the road. And who won't get offended if and when you do the same. I think we have that bit down," he added as a smile inched its hesitant way across her lips.
"You can't let it turn into a fight," she said, and he nodded.
"It can't be two people battling against one another, but with two different points of view trying to understand each other."
She nodded along with him and thought for a moment. When she looked at him again, Robin saw some of the fear fade away, only to be replaced by worry. "I can't make any promises," she said quietly.
"I don't expect you to. In fact, I might be a little worried if you did." He squeezed her arms gently, stroking the ball of her shoulder with his thumb. "We have quite the tempers, you and I."
I know it cut off really quick, but honestly that's the way most of them are. I get snippets of conversation to write down, not entire scenes. This is one of the longer ones, actually. Hope you liked it!