Authors note: New installment for you all, hope you like it. If you find the time, please review, they keep me going.
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Chapter 3
No guns allowed in this establishment, Gunslingers
I
The cut on the inside of her cheek was stinging. The flesh still tender, though the mark her mother's hand had left behind was now almost completely invisible under the layer of makeup (you could still make out the dark blue marks when she stood in the wrong lighting) especially here, in the dimmed light of the saloon, where her cheek looked as pale as ever, if a little red. But that could be excused by the warm weather and the fact that she had walked here, instead of riding her horse to cross the distance from Rockmountain Ranch to The Lone Wolf- the saloon she was now sitting in, drinking a bland ale, probably the thing being that was currently causing the wound inside her mouth to sting again. Maybe she should stop drinking it? No.
Regina was sitting by herself, occupying a table that was located in one of the darker corners of the establishment. It was still relatively early and so the saloon was mostly empty, except for of course Leroy, the Town Drunk. But he was harmless, so no one bothered him, it wasn't as if anyone blamed him from taking to the bottle after what had happened to his wife, Nova. The poor woman had been raped and killed two years ago. Regina had been fourteen at the time and sheltered from most of the gruesome details (not that she had wanted any, and truly, she still would rather not know the things she now knows), but mother had used the woman's death to yet hammer another lesson in Regina's head. That being that she should always marry someone from her own kind, it made Regina nauseous, thinking that mother had blamed the girl herself for marrying Leroy, that it had all been her fault, procreating with a Hispanic.
Her hand curled around the glass, lifting it to her lips and taking a generous gulp that caused tears to burn her eyes as the alcohol bled into the open flesh. If mother would find out she was here, drinking simple beer because according to mother it is a drink for simple people, she would jump out of her skin (was it wrong to say that Regina would enjoy that?). But mother wasn't here, mother was drinking tea with her friend Ilouisa and wouldn't be home until late this afternoon. So Regina took another gulp, just for good measure and beckoned the nice waitress to bring her another one. It was Regina's way of undermining Queen Cora's rule.
Ruby came back within two minutes, setting down the glass that was filled to the rim with the bland ale (still better ale than anywhere else, though) on the wooden surface of the table. The brunette was fifteen, almost sixteen, just a little less under a year younger than Regina herself and wearing a skirt that almost reached her groin. Mother would never let her leave the door wearing something like that and truly, Regina had no desire to do so. But... only maybe to get her mother worked up.
"Another one?" Ruby asked with a tight smile though there was worry etched around her dark brown eyes, wrinkling the young skin there. Worry that had Regina scowling. The young waitress reached for the empty glass with pale fingers and placed it on her tray to take back to the kitchen. "Having a bad day?"
Confusion started to slowly replace the scowl, narrowing her eyes Regina looked at the girl. She had no idea where this sudden interest or worry came from. Sure, she and Ruby had talked to each other from time to time, but it wasn't as if they were best friends, maybe not even friends. "Why would you care?" She asked, her hand circling the cool glass.
To her credit, Ruby looked somewhat hurt at the question, like she really thought they'd been friends and Regina had just ruined her fantasy. Because that was what it had been; a fantasy. Regina Mills didn't have any friends, her mother would never allow it because ' friends are just a distraction, Regina' . And maybe mother was right, maybe friendships were trifle things. Unnecessary. Useless.
Thin, dark eyebrows frowned with sympathy and the smallest hint of pity appeared in dark eyes as Ruby looked at her. "I know about the Harvest Festival." Her voice was low, kindness dripping off it, but Regina didn't want kindness, she didn't want pity. She just wanted to be left alone and drink away her sorrow, if only for just this one afternoon. "I thought you might appreciate a listening ear."
The tips of her mouth turned downwards as Regina trained her eyes on the still full glass in front of her. It wasn't hard to figure out how the girl had found out about the... arrangement (mother had been gloating, saying her daughter had been picked out of all the girls in Cal El Durgis), but it was embarrassing nonetheless. And the pity she was now spotting in Ruby's eyes didn't help one bit. She didn't want people to feel sorry for her. It made her feel weak, and if there was something Regina Mills hated; it was feeling weak. "Well you thought wrong." She snapped back between clenched teeth and it wasn't as if Regina wanted to wound the girl with her biting words, truly she didn't, but it was hard to reign in her infamous temper and truth be told the alcohol she'd consumed wasn't helping either.
Ruby actually flinched a little at the poison coated words, the glass that was standing on the wet tray, sliding dangerously to the left, tipping the tray over in its wake, but Ruby managed to keep it upright with her years worth of experience. "Of course." She muttered silently, her cheeks heating and her eyes turned downwards towards her heeled feet. "I don't know what I was thinking." And with those words she turned around, disappearing from view through the wooden doors and into the kitchen.
Regina was left with a full glass of ale, and an even worse feeling than before she stepped into The Lone Wolf.
II
She was just on her way to a numbing buzz when the doors to the saloon swung open and in walked a handsome stranger and three other people Regina had never seen before. She was still occupying the booth in the corner, on her way to her fourth glass of ale, the third only having a tiny layer on the bottom left, when her eyes got drawn to the doors. Her brown orbs seemed to glue themselves to his face, a warm spark igniting in the pit of her belly and goosebumps appeared on her heated skin. He was handsome, oh so handsome, with his stubble and his blue eyes that seemed to change every few seconds. His white shirt was sweat-drenched and his light brown hair was hid under his dark brown hat. His shoulders were broad, muscles flexing as he shifted his leather bag over his shoulder. Regina had the sudden desire to touch him, kiss him, wanting to hear his voice say her name and- god what was she doing?
She squeezed her hands in fists, forcing her eyes to look away from the handsome stranger. Only when she shook off the thoughts, did she notice the large revolvers that were hanging from his slim waist, a waist Regina would love to have between her thighs- stop it, Regina!
She had absolutely no idea what she was doing, she didn't normally have such a strong reaction to a complete stranger, even a handsome stranger.
Her dark eyes followed his form as he and his three companions made their way to the bar. Ruby was looking at them - or more specifically, at their guns with a fearful expression and only now did Regina notice how the saloon had suddenly gotten very quiet. Even Leroy wasn't angrily muttering curses anymore. Granny (her real name was Eugenia, but she'd been called Granny for as long as Regina has been alive) must have felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere as she stepped out of the kitchen and into the saloon itself. As opposed to her granddaughter, Granny didn't look afraid or even slightly fazed by the big revolvers strapped to their waists, in fact she even seemed to look annoyed. The older woman stepped in front of her granddaughter, her hands resting on the wooden surface of the bar as she narrowed her eyes, the wrinkles next to her gray eyes getting deeper and her stare shooting daggers.
"No guns allowed in this establishment, Gunslingers. I don't care how important you think you are."
Granny's voice was a mix between boredom and anger as she scanned the foursome who were apparently Gunslingers. Regina had heard of Gunslingers before, but she'd never actually met them, in fact she wasn't aware they still existed.
The handsome stranger pulled off his hat, holding it to his chest and making a small bow. "I'm sorry Ma'am." He said and his accent was thick. It was clear he came from the north and was of High Birth for he spoke in the High Language, a language only used in the upper class (mother had taught her the High Language, even though Regina wasn't of a high enough class). "We didn't mean to frighten anyone, we just wanted to rent a room." He put his hat back on his head and smiled a kind smile. Granny actually looked surprised at the kindness radiating from the man Regina still didn't know the name of. It seemed the old woman hadn't expected well-mannered Gunslingers to even exist.
She looked doubtful at first, not sure whether to allow Gunslingers in her saloon. But Granny wouldn't be Granny is she turned away paying customers, even if they carried massive revolvers on their hips.
"Four rooms then, I take it?" She grumbled, wiping her hands clean on her white apron as gave each individual Gunslinger a once-over. There were two other men and one woman, Regina didn't know why, but it caused a pang of jealousy to expand through her chest.
"Yeah, that's right, thank you Ma'am." The handsome Gunslinger said, and suddenly turned his head towards the exact corner she was sitting in.
III
He'd noticed her when he first stepped foot in The Lone Wolf saloon, his eyes had seemed drawn to her form even though she was sitting in once of the darkest corners. But though the light was dim, Robin just knew she was beautiful. It was strange, but he just... felt it. So, when the old woman had finally assigned them each a room, Robin sneaked another glance.
He had been so right. Her glossy dark hair that Robin would give anything for to run his hands through was tied back in a single, long braid that hung over her right shoulder and came to rest over her right breast. She was wearing what seemed to be a dark red blouse (though Robin couldn't be completely sure because of the darkness) with the first three buttons undone, that allowed him a peak at the generous swell of her breasts and a hint of black lace. And her face, God her face was perfect. Plump, red lips that he wanted to kiss so bad, a cute button nose, prominent cheekbones that weren't too sharp and dark eyes that seemed almost black in the dimmed lighting.
Their eyes locked for a small second, but it was enough for Robin to feel a sudden pull in his chest. He felt like he was meant to be with her, with this unknown beauty. Which was ridiculous because he literally just met her a minute ago and he didn't even meet meet her, he just saw her.
"Go get her, Cowboy."
It was Emma's sudden voice that brought him out of his train of dangerous and certainly embarrassing thoughts, forcing him to look at the blond. "What?" He said absentmindedly, flicking his eyes to the mysterious brunette again and finding himself disappointed that she was back to staring at her glass again. He wanted to look into those beautiful eyes again. He had once heard that you could see someone's soul through their eyes, and now he finally understood what they had meant by that. He also couldn't help but agree.
"I said go get her, you clearly have the hots for her." Emma repeated, still supporting that grin.
Sometimes he forgot Emma wasn't originally from Sherwood and it were moments like this that he was reminded of that fact. "What?" He asked with confusion, his eyes still trained on the beauty in the corner even though she wasn't looking anymore. "I have absolutely no idea what you are saying, Emma."
The blond chuckled, shaking her head slightly in amusement. "It means you like her." She said with a grin, her blue eyes smiling too somehow.
"I don't even know her name." Robin muttered in embarrassment. He must have really been staring if Emma caught it.
"That's not a 'no', Locksely." Killian chimed in before suggesting they sit down.
The Ka-Tet eventually sit down at a table not too far away from her, next to a man who seemed to have had enough ale for today. He's slurring as he beckons the young waitress for yet another drink, and Robin watches with confused eyes as the waitress refills his glass without question and with an Of course, Leroy. It seems the man is a regular, which isn't that hard to believe. After the Drunk's glass is filled to the rim again, the kind looking waitress is walking over to their table, smiling with still a hint fear in her eyes. It seemed her grandmother's reassurance wasn't enough to calm them. And so Robin shoots her his kindest smile, trying to soothe her worry.
When their drinks are ordered and written down on the notepad, Robin can't resist giving into his curiosity and so he asked the waitress he now knows as Ruby, if she knows who the brunette in the corner is.
Ruby smiled, but there is a strange kind of pain in her eyes. "That's Regina." She said softly, almost whispering, and it seemed that that is all she's willing to share about the mysterious beauty that was sitting all by herself in a corner. Ruby was just about to walk away to get their orders when Leroy suddenly spoke up, seemingly having snapped out of his drunken daze somewhat as he slammed his half-full glass down on the bar, the ale sloshing over the rim and spilling over his hand and soaking the border sleeve. He doesn't seem to mind in the slightest, or at least doesn't pay attention to it.
"You talkin' about Regina Mills?" His voice is loud, too loud, probably unaware how loud as he yelled through the saloon. There aren't many people yet, but the five or six that are there all look up, including Regina Mills herself, whose eyes are suddenly glazing over with anxiety and maybe even some fear.
Ruby flinched, already trying to get Leroy to stop talking, but it isn't helping, Leroy is too drunk to actually understand what he is doing or what he is saying. "You can't have her!" He yelled, slurring as he almost falls off his barstool and chuckling when he does so. "She's the Mayor's property!" Out of the corner of his eyes, Robin sees Regina flinch and the dim light reflects the tears that have appeared in her eyes. Regina scrambles out off the booth, grabbing her black shawl as she actually runs out of the saloon.
He almost yelled out to her, wanted to say Regina, wait!, which is ridiculous because she doesn't know him and he doesn't know her. He doesn't have any business meddling in her life. But God, he wants to be a part of her life so bad.
The double doors swing closed behind the brunette he now knows goes by Regina.
Regina... it was a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.
Robin can only hope this isn't the last time he will see her. He would even go as far as pray to the Jesus Man to make sure he would see Regina again.
