A/N - So I figured I'd post the next chapter up now since the 3rd one will take a few days to finish. If you're wondering, no, the entire story won't take place just in the elevator. I don't usually post much FF, so let me know what you think. I'm sure there's a few mistakes, those are on me.
Chapter 2 - Bless This Busted Elevator
A week and a half goes by of Emma trying to make conversation with the brunette and learn more about her. Some days she seems to get more out of Regina than others, but she's nothing if not patient and determined.
She's learned Regina only knows one person in the city, a lawyer friend named Kathryn, who had been the one to encourage her to move to Boston for her fresh start. A fresh start from what, Emma has yet to find out. That seems to be a touchy subject, so she leaves it alone for now.
She's also well on her way to earning her Starbucks Gold Card, and the Baristas on the morning shift now know her by name. A small price to pay if it helps Regina open up to her she thinks. One day last week she decided to step it up and include a doughnut with the latte, of which earned her a response of "I sincerely hope this isn't an insight into the rest of your eating habits, Miss Swan." She didn't repeat that particular gesture again.
It's Friday morning and Emma is feeling in a particularly good mood. The weekend is almost upon her and she's about to see Regina on their daily morning routine to work. She thinks this is a good time to move onto step four of her plan - give her sincere compliments. She knows it won't be hard, she could write a book about all the compliments she could give that magnificent creature. So coming up with the compliments isn't what made her hesitate thus far. It's the reception of those compliments she really isn't sure about. Regina can be very hot and cold with her, so she hopes today her efforts will be received well.
The elevator dings and the door opens. Regina is unsurprisingly inside, wearing an outfit very similar to the one she had on the day Emma first laid eyes on her. Her hair looks different today, like she's recently had a cut. The ends are slightly curled outwards and sit just below her shoulders. Easy Emma thinks.
"Morning Regina. Your hair looks amazing, did you get it done recently?" Emma says as she steps onto the elevator and hands the brunette her latte.
"I had a cut yesterday, yes. Kathryn referred me to her stylist here." Regina replied, taking a sip of her latte afterwards.
"Well shout out to her stylist for doing a bangin' job. I mean, you always look good, like really good, the outfits and the hair, the face, and all that" Emma gestures her free hand in an up and down motion in front of Regina's body. Shit she thinks to herself. That was a slip. She's nervous. The way the brunette is staring at her as if she's contemplating what exactly Emma is trying to say and Emma's Foot in Mouth disease is back. She doubts Regina appreciates such less than formal compliments, but it's out there now, and all Emma can do is wait for the wrath.
Emma thinks she sees a hint of a smirk on the brunettes face, but before she can reassess to confirm, theres a loud noise and then the elevator shakes and stops between floors. Oh god, we're stuck in here.
Emma looks over to Regina, who's face changes into one of slight panic. "Are you alright?"
The brunette starts pacing back and forth and looks pissed. "No, this is hardly alright. Do they not service these elevators properly? This is unacceptable. Who knows how long we're going to be trapped in this hell contraption now. I'm going to be late for work. Regina Mills is never late for anything."
Before Emma can respond and try to calm her down, Regina pulls out her cell phone to make a phone call. In the meantime, Emma pushes the elevator service button.
"Hello, this is Regina Mills. There's been a bit of an issue with the elevators in my building and I'm afraid I'm going to be in a bit later this morning. Please reschedule my morning clients and give them my sincere apologies. Thank you. I'll be in as soon as I can."
She hangs up the phone and resumes her pacing.
Emma decides she needs to try and lighten the mood and distract Regina from the apparent stress she's experiencing.
"Good thing we have these deliciously caffeinated lattes in here while we wait, or this might have turned into the 76th Hunger Games in here" she says, a slight chuckle follows her last words.
Regina doesn't laugh. In fact, she glares daggers in Emma's direction. "This is hardly the time for bad jokes, Miss Swan. Don't you also have somewhere to be that you will now be late to? Or do you just ride the elevator daily on a schedule for fun?"
Right, work. Emma thinks to herself. She takes out her cell and dials her friend and coworker, Ruby.
"Hey Ruby, it's Emma. So I'm kinda stuck in the elevator of my building, and I have no idea how long it's going to take for someone to get here and fix it, so I'm going to be late today. Can you let everyone know?"
"Sure, I'll let...wait. Are you stuck in the elevator with Lady Hot Pants? Please tell me you are. Oh my God this is amazing."
Emma subtly glances quickly over to Regina, who she prays to the lesbian Gods didn't just hear any of that part of this conversation. For good measure, she turns the volume down on her cell, just in case.
"Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can Ruby."
"You ARE stuck in there with her! Oh my God you have to tell me everything when you get here. You guys are totally going to suck face in there aren't you?"
"BYE Ruby." Emma quickly dismisses and hangs up her phone. She looks over to Regina again, searching her face for any indication she heard the conversation. She's standing still now, straight expression on her face. Ok I'm safe.
Since she figures they're going to be waiting in the elevator at least a little while, Emma decides to sit down, legs sprawled out straight in front of her and thinks of a way to pass the time and distract Regina from her clear discomfort at the situation.
"I have an idea, let's play a game while we wait" she offers, waiting for Regina to look over at her.
"You'll have to excuse me Miss Swan, I didn't bring my tennis shoes with me." the brunette retorts. She resumes her pacing, stilettos clicking on the elevator floor with each step.
Emma lets out a laugh. "Well well, look at you miss funny pants. Where have you been hiding that sense of humor? I love a good snark fest. What I meant was, let's play a game, like 20 questions."
"I don't know what that game you're referring to is" the brunette replies, stopping her pacing to look down at Emma.
"Well, since we might be here a while, why don't you first sit down and try and relax a little. Those stilettos, while hot as hell, don't exactly scream sensible comfort shoes." the blonde offers, playful smirk plastered on her face.
"If the lack of servicing this elevator receives is any indication, I'm willing to bet the cleaning of this elevator is equally atrocious. Do you seriously expect me to sit on this floor?"
Emma, still looking up towards Regina with a smirk on her face, pats her hand on the floor beside her. "A little dust won't kill you, Regina."
The brunette lets out a huff and rolls her eyes. A moment later, she caves and has a seat on the floor, though instead of sitting next to Emma, she sits directly across, legs to her side in what Emma will call a classy lady pose. "So, what is this silly game you are proposing exactly?"
"Well," Emma starts, "Basically I will pick an object, person or place, and you will have 20 questions you can ask that have yes or no answers, to try and figure out what I've picked."
"I see." Regina pauses for a moment and Emma thinks the next words out of her mouth are going to be that this game is as dumb as Emma for suggesting it. "So what do I get if I win, Miss Swan?"
Is that a smirk? Emma is internally trying to assess the situation before her. She could answer Regina playfully and flirt, but if she's reading this wrong it will be a first class ticket to her death. She still hasn't written that Will, so she decides to let Regina play this one out.
"That depends, what do you want?" she's practically on edge waiting for a response, praying to the gods this goes the way she's hoping.
"I have a proposal." Regina responds, a look of fire in her eyes. Maybe even desire, Emma thinks. Maybe. Hopefully.
She's nervous again, her whole body feels like it's rigid, tense. Naturally, her cheesy humour ramble comes out as a result.
"Woah, proposal? I didn't peg you for a U-Hauler, Regina. I usually like to take ladies out on a date first before I reserve the U-Haul and go ring shoppi..." she's cut off from all train of thought and lost all ability to speak in that moment. Because in that moment, a vision from her wildest dreams is unfolding.
Regina Mills is smirking at her, a devilish grin, staring into Emma's very soul and starting a slow crawl on all fours towards Emma. Regina fucking Mills is crawling on all fours towards Emma like she's a lioness and Emma is her next meal. Everything about the look on her face and her movements drips pure sex. She's not exactly sure what's happening, her entire body is now on fire and her spine feels like it might break from the shivers coursing up and down. She momentarily wonders if the elevator actually crashed down in a fiery blaze and she's actually dead, and this is actually heaven. If it is, she thinks she will be sure to find the lesbian god who answered her prayers and take her out for several drinks to thank her.
Before she can think anymore about it, Regina is inches from her face, swinging a leg over Emma's outstretched ones to straddle her waist. Theres a hand on her side, directly under her bra and another reaching up to burry itself in her blonde hair.
Regina leans in so her lips are touching Emma's ear and whispers.
"I'm proposing a game involving far less talking."
Dead. Emma is dead. From beyond the grave, her hands reach around Regina's back just in time to pull her into a kiss. Emma is pretty certain a loud moan escaped her throat, but that's neither here nor there, because Regina's teeth are now biting at her bottom lip, tongue teasing entrance.
It turns into a frenzy, tongues and teeth, clothes being pulled askew by desperate hands seeking skin. Emma thinks that this elevator will have to remain intact forever in a museum as the most magical elevator ever to exist. Bless it's broken, shitty construction. She'll break every elevator she ever sees with her bare hands if this is what happens every time. That much she's certain of.
Just as Regina's hands move up under the fabric of the blondes shirt up to start teasing their way under her bra (which Emma thinks is the worst all of a sudden. Who wears bras? Why did I wear one today? Never again. Useless contraptions.) theres a beep and a voice over the speaker of the elevator.
"This is the superintendent, the elevator should be back up in a moment, sorry about that. Shouldn't happen again."
Regina pulls away from the kiss, taking a few seconds to stare at Emma, slightly out of breath, hair and shirt a mess. She starts to stand, fixing her hair and shirt as she does. She pulls out a mirror and lipstick from her purse and reapplies.
Emma is still sitting on the floor, mouth agape, breathing heavily, unable to formulate any words in the english language. Instead she just stares at Regina. The elevator stirs, and they're moving again.
Regina doesn't say a word. She just stands by the elevator doors, tucking her shirt back in. Before Emma can speak again, the elevator dings and the door opens. Regina starts to walk towards the exit door but pauses to look back at Emma, who is still frozen on the floor.
"Be sure to tell Ruby that Lady Hot Pants says hello." a devilish smirk plastered on her hot, hot face (That face should be illegal Emma decides) as she turns back around and keeps walking.
The doors of the elevator start closing before Emma can regain composure enough to stand up and leave.
"Best. Friday. Ever." She says to herself, head resting on the wall behind her as the elevator start moving back up towards her floor.
