Notes: The rating for this chapter is actually M (in other words, it's smut-ish, and also involves short descriptions of physical pain, so be warned).

The chapter is set in 1x21; it begins at the precise moment Snow White takes a bite from the poison apple and falls under the Sleeping Curse.

Inspired by Depeche Mode, "Corrupt" ("I could corrupt you/In a heartbeat/You think you're so special/Think you're so sweet/What are you trying, don't even tempt me/Soon you'll be crying, and wishing you'd dreamt me/You'll be calling out my name/When you need someone to blame").

"I wonder if you'll be quite so incorruptible after your precious Snow is gone?" - Regina to Charming, 1x21

Enjoy! :)


"What have you done to her? What have you done?"

Charming was screaming at the top of his lungs, but all he could hear was the sound of his own fury. Then the visions started and he fell to his knees, his hands shooting up to his head in a desperate attempt to shut them out. Images appeared in his mind for fractions of a second and then they were gone before he could make any sense of them. A spectrum of emotions passed through him like a storm and threatened to pull him further away from reality and sanity. Euphoria was followed by a profound sense of loss and sorrow. Red-hot anger replaced sympathy. Then it was all over the way it had begun, abruptly.

Charming tried to get up, but he immediately passed out, and he was still unconscious when they took him to the queen. She spun around on her heels and watched the guards place him in a chair right next to her bed.

Magic comes at a price, dearie… The warning echoed in her head, reminding her of her plan and of the reasons she had the prince brought to her bedchamber. The true purpose of the potion Charming had drank without hesitation, was to give him a glimpse into Snow White's past, let him witness her mistakes and experience her regrets. A fortunate side effect, as Rumplestiltskin had explained to her, was that if the person taking it became overwhelmed by strong emotions for a day, he'd be completely unable to feel anything the next. Magic required balance, and now that balance had to be restored.

Her lips curled into a small smile. If the prince was truly stripped of his feelings, his actions wouldn't be guided by love or concern, or anger… She glanced at his face which was now devoid of emotion. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he was sleeping peacefully, his eyelashes fluttering lightly. It was almost endearing, seeing him look so child-like.

But then her sight grew dim as Regina recalled their first encounter in the dungeon, the way he had arrogantly rejected her and offered to die in Snow's place. He thought he was so noble, so special… Was he really? Or was he just as fallible as any ordinary man? She had the chance to test him now. She had the perfect opportunity to corrupt Prince Charming.

Some time passed before he came to. At first, he couldn't tell where he was or why he was there, but soon the haze started to fade.

"Now tell me, Charming, how did it feel?"

It was strange to be able to hear again after the prolonged silence. Her voice was pleasant in his ears, rotund and warm. He strained his eyes to focus and recognized her features. She stood out on the small balcony, lit by the moonlight, in anticipation of his answer.

"Regina?"

Her brow went up. "Why so surprised? You're here to keep your end of the bargain. So, tell me about Snow White's dreams. About her regrets."

It would have been natural for the prince to feel rage, or hatred, or at least frustration. Instead, he was dead-calm.

"I felt her pain", Charming heard himself say before he could decide if he should. "At first, it was just the physical torment, but when the visions came, the experience was all the more dreadful," he said in an even voice as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"What did you see?" , the Queen urged him to elaborate.

He shrugged. "I told you all there is to tell."

Charming sat still and impassive as Regina glared at him. Her plan seemed to be working: his behaviour was uncharacteristic of his hot temper. Her features eased into a sly smile: it was time to make her next move.

"We don't have to be enemies, dear. You've had a close glimpse of what Snow White is like on the inside. I can tell your infatuation with her is now gone, look deep into your heart and you'll know I'm right." She paused, waiting for his reaction.

How could the Queen even suggest that?! He had put his life in danger in order to save Snow from darkening her soul, of course he cared about her. But…was he really in love? How could he have feelings for a girl he barely knew, a stranger he'd spent just a few hours with? In a few moments, the apathetic look on his face turned to confusion.

"Tell me the truth, Charming, do you still think you love her?"

David didn't voice his surprise at finding that Regina was right. Her Majesty crossed the room in a few long strides and came to a halt just in front of him.

"What you thought you felt…It was just an illusion which has now started to fade. And you'll soon realize she was not worth all that trouble."

She raised his chin up with her index finger and bent forward, putting her face closer to his.

"I could order your execution right now." Her lips were brushing his and they shared a breath as she whispered, „But it would be such a waste."

She cautiously slid her hand down, over his shoulder, and rested it on his chest. He didn't slap it away.

"You deserve so much better than that girl…"

Unexpectedly, Charming grabbed her arm, stood up and spun around her in one smooth swift movement, making her lose her balance and fall onto the bed. Before she realized it, he had pinned her down, pressing her body down with his, and squeezing her wrists tightly at her sides so she couldn't so much as flinch. He had noticed that she could conjure magic with the wave of her hands, so he tried with all his might to keep even her fingers stone-still to prevent her from using her powers.

"And what makes you think that I want you?", he hissed through his teeth.

Her throaty laugh filled the room.

"Why else would you be lying on top of me, in my bed, dear?"

She locked her eyes on his in a silent challenge, a provocation.

The realization that she was trying to seduce him slowly started to sink in. The idea that Regina was attracted to him was both flattering and disarming; it began to creep into his mind, finding its way to the darkest corners of his subconscious. He couldn't deny he thought her a ravishing creature, as stunning as she was dangerous. His imagination ran wild, unrestrained by feelings or morals, playing scenes in his head that he'd normally be too ashamed to dream of.

David took a sharp breath, inhaling her intoxicating scent. He considered only briefly if there was any good reason that could make him try to fight his lust. His feelings for Snow seemed like a distant memory, so inexplicable and irrational that they seemed surreal. Nothing in the world outside the room meant enough to him at that moment to make him turn away. He was only dimly aware that he might later regret his actions, and somehow that was even better: it was all the more liberating, all the more enticing, to be able to reach and taste the forbidden fruit without the immediate pang of remorse. Charming finally yielded to the overwhelming temptation: he dove down to her lips, and started kissing Regina feverishly. His grip on her hands loosened gradually, until he let go of them completely.

Free of his control, the brunette hooked a foot around his waist and pushed him on his back. She climbed on top of him and placed her hands on his abdomen for support. His body tensed instinctively, his muscles hard under her palms. She purred like a cat pleased with catching its prey after an exhausting pursuit.

He tried to push himself up on his elbow, but the sudden sharp twinge in his shoulder made him cry out in pain. He had completely forgotten about the damage Snow's arrow had caused a couple of days before that. The wound had opened again because of the exertion and warm blood was gushing from it. Gasping against the racking agony of the attempted movement, he dropped back before he had managed to lift his shoulder an inch off the bed. He shut his eyes and waited for the throbbing ache to go away.

When he finally looked up, he saw a wide-eyed Regina staring back at him, flustered and alarmed. David tried to force an apologetic smile.

"I'll be fine, it's not as bad as it seems."

She shot him a scolding frown as she made quick work of the buttons of his black leather jacket and slowly helped him take it off. The white shirt underneath was still stained with blood, some of it already dried, some of it fresh. When it was off, too, she took a closer look at the flesh torn by the arrow. Her dark eyes came back up to meet his. Still holding his gaze, she planted a soft kiss on the wound. The crimson dense liquid painted her lips as they brushed against the broken skin. Charming followed her actions with unbridled curiosity and increasing raw excitement. Her sharp white teeth slowly sunk in the injured shoulder, just deep enough to bite into his flesh, causing him to grimace with pain, but he made no sound or effort to stop her. He seemed captivated by her every move, ready to obey her every whim, play along in every fantasy. She pulled back and paused to savour the sweet taste of her complete control over him. Her eyes hovered over his bare chest hungrily.

Regina brought her fingertips to the place where her teeth had just been. The wound began to heal rapidly and after a few brief moments there was no trace of it.

"All better now," she said in a husky voice.

She leaned closer to his face and gave Charming a warm, ardent kiss, letting him taste his own blood on her tongue. It was a curious experience, sharing the salty flavour with her: he had been injured while saving her life, and she in turn had closed his wound and relieved his pain. His flesh still tingled with the wondrous sensation of the touch of magic. What a paradox that was, having both the ability to cause suffering, and the precious gift of healing. He pulled back, smiling his appreciation of the way she'd shown him both those talents. "You're truly full of surprises."

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet." She bit her lower lip, wetting it with the tip of her tongue as he watched her.

"Let's do something about it then…" His hands started roaming over the curves of her body hastily and insistently, his fingers undoing laces and buttons, tugging at red velvet and gliding over slippery silk, until finally he had removed every piece of clothing on her. Naked and exposed to the cool night air filling the spacious room, she pressed harder against his hot body, as if to seek shelter from the cold. He felt her grab the tongue of his belt and yank the buckle open. Just before she managed to pull his trousers all the way down, he decided to take charge. He slid one arm around her waist, using his other one to roll over and push her on her back. He pulled back, kicked the trousers on the floor and crouched at the end of the bed, then planted a feather light kiss on the inside of her thigh. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out while he traced a line of kisses up and down her leg. Each time he pressed his lips against her skin, she felt a wave of heat go through her body, until she could barely stay in control of her own reactions. Then suddenly, he drew back, remaining still for a moment just to look at her.

Immediately missing the contact, she squealed impatiently at the teasing and pulled a bed sheet over herself in pretend discontent. "So you're an expert in torture now?"

With a devious smirk on his face, David lazily dragged his fingers along the side of her thigh. He sat up and folded his legs beneath himself, then he pulled her up and drew her nearer. Without protest, she sat in his lap, facing him, and rested her arms on his shoulders.

Her eyes closed as she felt him inside at last. He silenced her sigh in a wet kiss. Still holding her tightly in his embrace, he grazed the supple skin of her shoulder with his teeth. She arched her back, allowing him to trace a path of blazing hot kisses over her exposed neck and breasts. He felt so good, moving inside her rhythmically, making her forget all about reality, and the hurt and danger it brought every day. All that mattered was pleasure, and enjoying the intimacy of the contact. Dark tresses fell freely in front of his face when she leaned forward. Feeling closer and closer to a climax, he grabbed her hips to hasten their pace, and she dug her nails in his back in response. His thrusts were getting more erratic and shallow, and it wasn't long before both felt ecstasy ripple through their flesh. Finally spent, he lay back on the bed, gasping to catch his breath, and she huddled up next to him, resting on his chest. She tilted her head to plant a soft kiss close to his heart.

"I told you it's better to be on my side, Charming."


A few hours later, near dawn, David woke up. He was still dazed, trying to get his bearings in the twilight of the room, when he slipped away from the bed and started picking up his clothes from the polished floor and putting them on. The sudden movement startled Regina and she raised her head with annoyance at the rude awakening.

"What am I doing here?!" Horror was creeping into his voice as he started recalling the events from the night. "You must have done something to me! I…"

Her Majesty shot him a cold look of indifference. She pursed her lips in a smile, mocking his appalled and bewildered expression.

He understood. He didn't know how, but he knew why.

The Queen had proved to him how easily she could corrupt him. He was merely a man, a man like any other. Underneath the armour of defiant bravery and romantic ideals lay dark desires and insatiable lust, just as she had assumed.

When the guards had taken him away again and the room was empty, she put her head back on the pillows. Strange sadness took the place in her heart where triumph was supposed to reside now. She had managed to seduce him, but without the aid of magic, could she have accomplished her plan? Could she ever have attracted his attention, his affection, if they had met under different circumstances? She reached to touch the pendant hanging around her neck. In any case, it mattered little now. In this world, in this life, Prince Charming was bound to hate Regina more than anything, more than ever. Besides, he had outlived his usefulness.

It was time for him to die.