Hi guys! Sorry it took me so long to update, other than not having time and inspiration, I didn't know if to continue this fic. But I enjoyed writing this chapter so much that those doubts have completely disappeared!

I apologize for the many typos and other mistakes in the previous two chapters, which were actually posted in a rush during the OQ prompt party. On this regard, I am looking for a beta reader, so if anyone is interested, please dm me here or on twitter (@justwandering_), thank you! And enjoy!

naji

_

Robin never believed in things like destiny. Like many, he simply thought that "destiny" and "divine will" were excuses weak people made to justify their poor choices and their unhappy, unsatisfied lives. But having the woman who so drastically and, well, unconsciously changed his life as his co-star in a small theatrical company left him quite speechless. At first.

"Are you going to apologize or... ? "

He always took responsability for his actions and their consequences, a thing he believed every adult, mature person should do. So there he was, amusingly waiting for the woman who just bumped into him to apologize. After all, she was the one running up in the theater with the lights off. She even not-so-openly admitted it, when their director, a man his age, probably a year or two younger than him, was about to get alarmed with the physical condition of his lead actress and Robin's himself, as he was technically her co-star. Apparently, her ankle was doing just fine... Unlike herself. She kept staring at him, surprised by his presence and confused by what he said when their little accident occurred, just twenty minutes ago. God, she had no idea. How could she, after all? How could she knew that meeting her, six years ago, screwed up his entire life once and for all?

"Now that you all met Robin, I'd like everyone to sit down and start the first reading of the script" said August, their director, dragging Robin's attention to him and to the rest of the cast.

"Regina, are you with us or do we actually need to bring you to the hospital? If that ankle gets worse…"

"I said I'm fine", she fired back at August, taking her seat next to Robin and opening her copy of the script with a little annoyed sigh escaping her lips.

The other six actors gathered on the stage with their chairs, following August's suggestions and forming a circle, so everyone could easily face everyone while they read.

Robin crossed his legs, his script open on his lap, as he distractly smiled to the girl sitting on his left side. Her name was Belle, she was french, and she appeared to be one of the most nicest people he had ever met. Or at least that was his first impression… Which usually was always right.

While they were all busy sitting down and getting ready for that first read, Robin observed them, one by one, remembering their names from August's earlier introduction. Next to Belle, there were sitting Ruby and Lucille, two young girls, both about 26 or 27 years old, both average dreamers whose hopes weren't crashed by life. Yet.

Then came David, a man his age, maybe a bit older, who had a wide smile for everyone but who also seemed to be the only one with his feet glued to the ground, in this company. Next to him, Kilian, who seemed the emo frontman of one of those idol bands destined to flop as soon as their teenage fans abandoned them for someone more fashionable. Between Kilian and August, sat Mary Margaret, an apparently sweet woman whose eyes seemed settled to catch a sight of David at least once every two minutes.

And at last, there was Regina, sitting on his right side, between him and August. Unlike for the others, his impression of her wasn't first and most certainly wasn't wrong. He remembered their meeting quite well, even if it happened six years ago. How could he not, considering all the times he thought of that day, filled with bitterness and anger? The impression he first and still had of her wrapped around his thoughts for a while, pausing his sarcastic vein and making him wonder what kind of life she lead in the past six years. Questions which remained unanswered and which he shoved to the back of his head as soon as she lifted her gaze to catch him looking at her. Again, his lips curved purposely into a smile, which had her lips part, as if she was suddenly fighting back the urge to ask him something.

"It's your turn".

He smugly reminded her, hearing Lucille chuckle and a very concentrated August muttering "Let's go on, guys".

~

"I know you", Regina pronounced, following the man down the corridor that lead to the exit located behind the stage. She watched him slow down and then arrest his steps in order to turn back to her. His smug, hateful smile was there, putting on full display his dimples, which she ignored stepping ahead and stopping when she was right in front of him.

"We already met", she insisted, waiting for him to confirm it.

"Oh, did we?" he asked, raising his eyebrow as he leaned against the wall behind him in order to get some balance.

"Are you going to pretend we didn't? Because it's a bit late for that. What you said before…"

"What I said before was the truth. You ruined my life." Robin's eyes were firm, this time, not a sparkle of amusement or sarcasm lighting them as before. Instead, he clenched his jaw a little,before turning his head to the door. He turned back again, then, facing her, gluing his gaze to hers for a moment. She was still confused, looking at him with a sort of pout which in another life he would have found probably cute.

"Now if you'll please excuse me, I have places to be" he added, clearing his throat as he restarted stepping towards the exit.

"How the hell did I ruin your life? We barely met once!" she asked, stepping forward and getting in his way, determined to clear that point.

A wave of anger filled with frustration and regret washed over Robin, as he now stepped towards her, pointing his index to her chest.

"That's it! If I hadn't met you, my life would have been different!"

"You don't…"

"If I hadn't met you, my days would have other colours now! If I hadn't met you that damn morning, my pain would be..."

"Well if I hadn't met you that day I wouldn't have get married!" she interrupted him, regretting it the moment those words accidentally slipped out of her mouth. She instantly closed her eyes, and then, when she reopened them, she saw his annoying grin return back to curve his lips.

"Oh, you wouldn't have?" he asked, amused, bringing himself a step closer to her.

"I would!" she bit back, stepping away from him. But he was faster, and that annoyed her even more, considering he was, after all, a lame person.

"Is it a bad or a good thing, that you got married after our chat?"

"It's a good thing! Best decision I ever made! And it didn't happen thanks to you, if you are…"

"It's still there."

He was inches away from her, now. She could feel his breath tickle her lips, but she did not let her gaze fall. She looked him straight in the eyes as he did, with no hesitation, even if she felt her heart instantly skipping a beat.

"I can see it, it's still there. Your void, your loneliness. Cause that's what your life is, isn't it? Incomplete… That's what you are and will always be: incomplete and alone. Your eyes tell that… And I know it cause mine do the same…" he whispered the last three words, his smile faded but still there, finally stepping back from her and reaching for the door, leaving Regina with her eyes wide open, flushed cheeks and literally speechless. How was that bastard able to read her, when they barely knew each other?

As he opened the door, a cone of cold sunshine accompanied by the traffic rumours greeted him, reminding him that summer was about to bid its farewell and autumn was going to take over sooner than expected.

And, surprise of surprises, there was his wife, waiting for him on the edge of the sidewalk, her arms crossed on her chest, her face a mask of worry as she looked at him. Next to her, there was standing a man he never saw before.

"Your highness!" Robin greeted her, stepping down the stairs and reaching them, his eyebrow raising as his eyes went from his wife to this unknown man and then back to her.

"Don't tell me you're going to introduce me to your secret lover, darling" he added, smiling in amusement.

"Shut up, Robin. He is here for his wife."

"Oh, too bad…"

Theresa rolled her eyes, shaking her head, used as she was to her husband's endless sarcasm. Instead, she stepped towards him, resting a hand on his arm and looking at his leg.

"August called me to pick you up, saying you fell quite badly. What happened, are you okay?" she asked, looking up at him again.

Robin acted exaggeratedly shocked, hearing other steps rumour coming from the stairs he just left behind him. "Thank you for taking time for me from your busy schedule. You take such good care of me!"

"Will you shut up and answer my question? What happened? Did you engage again in a discussion? A fight?"

"It was just a little accident. Nothing happened, really. Don't worry, he's okay" Regina kindly assured her, Daniel's arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Your husband stumbled into his own steps, and made me fall, too. A grown up kid, they all are!", she added, giggling and resting her hand and her head on her husband's chest.

Robin raised an eyebrow, but before he could reply his wife preceded him with a sigh of relief and a little smile on her face.

"Thank you. I apologize for him if he has caused you troubles." she replied, grabbing Robin's arm and giving him a severe look, one of those she gave to their six years old son every now and then.

"Not at all, I'm totally fine, my ankle is a bit swollen but it's a matter of few hours. Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Regina, I'm an actress as well. And this is Daniel, my husband."

"Theresa, his wife. And me and Daniel had a little chat just few minutes ago. August called him as well!"

Robin chugged, watching the two women chuckling and shaking each other's hand, before the so called Daniel politely reached out his hand towards him, expecting for him to do the same.

"Nice to meet you, Robin".

Robin rolled his eyes, shaking his hand as he looked at him. He had nice features, a clean face, bright eyes and bright smile. Brown locks of medium length fell on his forehead, while he stepped back and turned to Regina.

"It was nice to meet you both, you two form a beautiful couple" Theresa complimented, causing Robin to smirk.

"Can we go now, your highness? Your time is precious, it shouldn't be wasted like this!" he added, interrupting them and stopping what otherwise would have been another round of compliments and nice words dectated by education and politeness. He couldn't stand social interactions for long time without feeling the urge to escape from them in a way or another.

So he headed to his wife's car, waving a hand to the three of them as they went on chatting despite his interruption.

Sitting on the front passenger seat of the black Mercedes, he rested his cheek on his fist, observing them until his gaze met Regina, who he kept staring at even after she clearly caught him looking at her. For some reason, a reason that went beyond his amusement and the sarcasm he showered her with all day, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

And, on the other side of the street, standing on the sidewalk next to her husband and in front of Robin's wife, Regina felt quite the same, his earlier, whispered words still echoing in her ears.