Hi everybody! Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I have no excuse. A big shout out to my beta reader Sofia for reminding me to continue writing when I'm wasting time. She's the bestest!
It's Friday, and Robin cannot wait for it to be Saturday so he can explore the town with Roland. Unfortunately it's still just the morning of school, and he's stuck in chemistry. Regina's sitting beside him, but instead of relieving his boredom, she's taking copious notes and ignoring him. So Robin counts the seconds that tic by, trying and failing to listen to Doctor Whale's lecture, and glancing at the clock on the wall so often his eyes are practically glued there.
"Stop shaking the table." Regina mutters.
"What?"
"Your legs are shaking the table."
"Oh, sorry."
"What's got you so fidgety today?"
"I'm just ready to get on to the weekend, I'm spending Saturday with Roland. We're going exploring." Robin says. Regina almost smiles.
"That sounds nice."
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"Nope. No questions." She says, shaking her head slightly.
"Fine." Robin says, his hands lifting slightly in submission.
"Where are you going to explore?" She asks. He quirks an eyebrow.
"What about no questions?"
"I just meant no questions for me."
"I don't think that's quite fair." He says, a smile dimpling his cheeks. She smiles in reaction, though it's quickly covered with a frown. Doctor Whale clears his throat, they quickly pretend they've been paying attention the whole time.
"You should explore the Frozen shop, it's got the best rocky road ice cream in town." Regina whispers from the corner of her mouth.
"Why rocky road?" Robin whispers back.
"Roland told me it's his favorite flavor."
"Of course he did. That boy could eat ice cream for the rest of his days and still ask for it in heaven." She smiles at that, then focuses on her notebook. The clock ticks. Doctor Whale talks on, taking sips from his ever present thermos.
"Since you mentioned it," Robin says quietly. "Would you like to come with us for ice cream?" Regina winces slightly.
"I can't. Sorry."
"Oh, ok." He says. He's wonders her reason why, but he doesn't ask for an explanation. The class bell rings. Class is over. He stands up and stretches his restless muscles.
"Well, if you change your mind, just know the offer still stands."
He walks out of the class, not feeling or noticing her lingering glance at his retreating form.
"So what's going on with you and Regina?" Ruby asks Robin at lunch. It's just them and Wolf at the table, as Marian is sitting with Emma and Killian, Belle and Gold are at a different table, and Snow is still getting lunch. He's grateful it's just him and Ruby, so no one hears him choke on his water.
"What? There's nothing going on."
"You talk and wonder about her all the time. And yeah, she turns every guys' head in school, but her icy demeanor usually chases them away. But to you, she's not some passing fancy, I can tell. So what's going on?"
"You sound like Belle." He says wryly.
"She was reading to me from her favorite dictionary/thesaurus this morning, but that's beside the point and you're avoiding the question. What's going on with you and Regina?"
"Hi guys!" Snow's cheery voice says as she walks to the table. Robin nearly sighs in relief.
"Hey Robin, this is my boyfriend, David." Snow says, her free hand waving in her boyfriend's direction. He's tall, with short blond hair and baby blue eyes. He shakes Robin's hand tightly.
"Nice to meet you. I'm surprised I haven't seen you around yet." David says.
"It's only the third day of school." Robin says genially. David nods before Snow starts a new conversation.
"So will you try out for any sports this year?" David asks later.
"I hadn't really thought about it, I'm not exactly into school sports." Robin says. David's eyes narrow in judgement the slightest bit, but then he smiles.
"To each his own, I guess. So what do you like to do?"
"I like spending time with my little brother, being outdoors, adventuring. That sort of thing." Robin says.
"Cool. I have a brother too, my twin, James."
"That's quite interesting, what's it like having a twin?"
"We don't spend much time together. My parents are divorced, he lives with my dad and I live with my mom. We switch parents for the weekends, but we don't see each other a lot."
"Oh. Sorry." Robin says, not quite sure how to respond, David keeps talking.
"Sure, it's a little tiring, switching houses all the time, but I get to see both parents, so I'm grateful." Snow sighs, her hand moving to rest on David's bicep.
"You're so strong, dealing with this so maturely." She says sweetly, David nods.
"It can be hard at times, but it's best to see this as a good thing."
"You're my hero." Snow says, David smiles.
"My hero too." Ruby says, a layer of sarcasm lacing her words. It flies straight over David's head.
"I'm no hero, I just try my best to do what's right, and see the good in everything." He says seriously.
"How noble." Ruby says, sarcasm again. David just beams.
The bell rings. More classes.
"Robin wake up!" A blurred streak of curls hurtles himself onto the form of a snoring Robin.
"Oof! Who's that standing on my ribs?" Robin's voice says sleepily.
"It's me, Roland. It's morning! Time to get up!" A giggling Roland says, hopping off Robin to bounce on the bed.
"Are you sure?" Robin says, trying to push the covers off him, only half succeeding.
"'Course I'm sure. It's time for 'ventures!" Roland says, his green and blue spaceship pajamas finally focusing in Robin's bleary-eyed gaze.
"Right. Adventures." He says, rubbing his stiff neck as he gets out of bed.
"Here's our beginning adventure, first bathroom. Then breakfast."
Marian is in the kitchen when Robin comes stumbling in, Roland bounding behind him, a toothbrush still clutched in his little hand.
"Morning boys." She says, a real smile brightening her face. Roland beams back at her, his little teeth still slightly blue from toothpaste.
"Did you forget to rinse, Roland?" She says, ruffling his hair and pushing him gently back in the direction of the bathroom. She shares a smile with Robin, laughing at Roland's morning cuteness.
"I'll be right back." Robin says. She starts pulling out Roland's cereal and a bowl, she laughs to herself as she catches snippets of Roland and Robin's conversation.
"You don't need anymore toothpaste buddy." She hears Robin say.
"But I need to brush my teeth."
"You already did, remember? You just need to rinse."
"Rinsing isn't as fun."
"But still necessary." She hears the sink running, a cup sloppily placed on the sink counter.
"Good job. Now breakfast. Wait, you need to put your toothbrush back."
"But it's my sword, I need it to save the kingdom."
"How about we find a new sword in the kitchen?"
"I like this one."
"We'll find an even better one."
"Like a spoon?"
"Sure."
The conversation stops as Roland comes bouncing into the kitchen.
"Hello princess." He says merrily, he opens the drawers but he's not tall enough to see what's in them.
"Princess," He whispers, his hand reaching up and patting the silverware in the drawer.
"Can you hand me a big wooden spoon?" Marian giggles as she grabs the spoon, lightly touching Roland's shoulders with it before handing it to him.
"I dub thee Sir Roland, my gallant knight." She says, he giggles and charges into the living room, smacking the cardboard boxes with the back of his spoon.
"I'll protect you princess!" He cries, a ball of energy and noble intentions. Robin laughs, standing in the hallway and looking much more awake.
"I'm working till five," Marian says. "What are you and Roland doing today?"
"Exploring around town. You have tomorrow off?" He asks, she nods.
"I work at a later time tomorrow, so I can take Roland out to give you some alone time if you want."
"That would be nice, thanks." She says, he smiles at her.
"You seem happy today." He observes.
"I think I'm getting used to this place. It's nice here."
"It is indeed." Roland tires of running around the living room and joins the two in the kitchen. He chomps happily on his cereal, talking in between bites. And then he's done and it's time to get dressed and go.
They first drop Marian off at Granny's Diner. Ruby's there, not in uniform, and Roland is beyond ecstatic to meet Wolf. Regina's there as well.
"Hi." Robin says, sitting next to her at the counter, still keeping an eye out for the excited Roland.
"Good morning stalker." She says, the hint of a smile covered up as she sips from her mug.
"I didn't know you were going to be here." He says in defense.
"I'm just here to meet someone and get hot chocolate." She says.
"Who are you meeting?" She gives him a look. He grins in remembrance.
"Right, no questions." She nods, grinning as well. Marian walks past them to wait on a booth, Robin stops smiling.
"Well, I should go, let you meet your someone. Nice to bump into you." He says, standing up and beckoning Roland over.
"Hi Miss Gina!" Roland squeals excitedly, giving her a flappy handed wave. "Why are you here?" He asks bluntly, Regina chuckles.
"For the hot chocolate." He gasps and gazes up at Robin imploringly.
"Can we get some too?"
"Not if we're going to get rocky road ice cream later, my boy." Roland smiles at that and starts pulling on Robin's hand.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going!" He says excitedly. "Bye Miss Gina." He says as an afterthought.
"Bye Roland. Have fun today." Regina says, ruffling the boy's hair and giving a small smile to Robin.
"See you around." He says, winking jovially. She rolls her eyes, but there's the slightest hint of red tinging her cheeks. She turns her head so it's covered by her shoulder length hair.
"See you."
The two brothers visit the library, running into Belle, who volunteers there. Roland finds four books about dragons that he insists must come home with them that day, they accidentally bump into Regina again as she's walking in and they're walking out.
"Hello again." Robin says, amused.
"Stalker." Is all she says, her smile to Roland somehow softens the word.
Then Robin and Roland take a hike in the forest surrounding the town and end up fighting wood monsters with hiking stick swords. They discover a playground near a lake, and eat a sandwich lunch on the swings. Roland feeds the ducks his crust, Robin tries to teach him how to skip rocks. It turns into just throwing the rocks as far into the lake as they possibly can. Robin wins, Roland declares him the greatest, but Robin swears it was almost a tie.
They're walking down the street to get ice cream when they bump into Regina again.
"This is just getting weird." Robin says.
"At least it's you saying it this time." Regina says.
"Wanna come with us for ice cream?" Roland asks hopefully, Regina bites her bottom lip in a wince. Robin tries to ignore it, tries to not focus on her very pretty lips.
"Sorry sweetie," he tries to ignore how her affection for his brother stirs something in his chest.
"But I can't. Thank you very much for the offer." She says.
"You're welcome." Roland says politely, then adds, "But you're missing out."
She laughs. "I most definitely am." She gives them both a wave and walks away.
They get their rocky road from a nice lady named Ingrid and sit by the tables outside the shop.
"I really like Miss Gina." Roland states, his mouth ringed with the sticky sweet.
"Me too." Robin muses, his spoon halfway to his mouth when he freezes, realizing he'd said that out loud. Roland is completely oblivious to his big brother's slip of tongue and confusion.
"Someday I'm gonna marry her." He says, Robin coughs, trying to suppress his surprised laugh.
"I think you're a little too young, my boy." He manages.
"I said someday." Roland says, a stubborn set in his jaw. "When I'm older. Like, ten."
"There still might be a few problems."
"Hmph. She's just so pretty!" Roland thinks hard for a moment, then his entire face brightens in revelation.
"I've got it! You can marry her!"
Robin tries valiantly to suppress the uncomfortable laughter rising from his chest, he fails. Fortunately, Roland laughs along with him, though not quite understanding why.
Only little brothers, Robin thinks to himself. Only little brothers.