Silent Hearts
Chapter 4- Silence Is Deadly
The sound of heavy thumps called be heard echoing around the silent apartment as Emma tried in vain to release some of her pent up energy. After returning home the night before, Emma had gone straight to bed in attempts to not have to deal with her emotions. However, to the blonde's dismay, they remained stubbornly with her the next morning.
Emma collapsed against the punch bag heavily, panting and covered in a sheen of sweat. She had been up since six and had been working out the whole time, desperate to avoid dealing with her emotions.
Isaac sat a metre or two away from her, his head resting a top one of the little chairs placed at the edge of the spare room. When she moved in, Emma had known she had no interest in having a roommate, and had quickly turned the small room into a home gym for herself.
Taking a deep breath in, the blonde slowly sank into the chair, Isaac immediately moving to put his head in her lap, big brown eyes peering up at her. She ran her hand through his fur as she thought over the night before.
Overall it had been fun. She had had a chance to see her department outside of work, and have an enjoyable time with them. However, the blonde felt her temper rising at the thought of Regina and the sleazy guy she had let grope her.
Why did she even care? Regina was a pain in her ass who treated her like a pet rather than person. But yet there was something about her the blonde wished to protect and serve, something delicate that could shatter if not handled correctly. There was more to Regina Mills than meets the eye, that much was certain, but Emma was conflicted on whether she wanted to discover what lay beneath the surface. Killian had encouraged her to seek it out, but yet Emma still felt something holding her back.
She sighed heavily, looking deeply into Isaac's eyes, as if hoping her answers may lie within the dreamy orbs. Emma glanced at the clock and heaved herself up, knowing she couldn't put off going to work forever.
After taking a long shower, the blonde dressed in smart trousers, a blue shirt with a black leather jacket to cover her. Emma looked herself over in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance.
Stepping out of her bedroom, the blonde made her way to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat before heading to work.
A light knock sounded at her door, making Emma frown. She wasn't expecting anyone and Elsa wouldn't drop by this early because of work. Placing the butter knife down, Emma went over to open the door, surprised to discover Ruby on the other side.
"Ruby?" Emma greeted, confusion laced in her voice.
"Morning chief." She greeted brightly, stepping past Emma and into the apartment. "Nice place."
"Thanks…" Emma watched her with a puzzled look.
"So you ready to go?" Ruby asked but Emma continued to look confused. "You don't remember our plans from last night I assume?"
"You may need to prompt me." Ruby chuckled softly.
"You offered to let me carpool with you since I only live a block away." A lightbulb went off in Emma's head and she smiled sheepishly.
"Right of course, let me just eat my toast." Emma scurried around the counter to grab her toast while doing her usual hunt for her keys and purse while Ruby was entertained by Isaac.
"Cute dog, what's his name?" Ruby asked while making various sounds at the Labrador.
"Isaac." The blonde said over her shoulder as she dug her hand down the side of the sofa. "Got ya!"
"You ready now?" Emma nodded.
"How do they even get down there?" She pondered out loud as she locked the door.
Once down stairs and safely in the car, Ruby immediately turned to Emma, an intense look on her face.
"You've got a thing for the devil." She said boldly, making Emma swerve dramatically.
"What?!"
"Don't play that with me, I saw how you reacted last night." Emma tightened her grip on the steering wheel, refusing to look at Ruby.
"I don't have a "thing" for her, I'm just concerned."
"Concerned?"
"Yes! No! I don't know." Emma whined. "It makes no sense. She is a pain in the ass and treats me like a pet! I feel like strangling her when I have to be with her."
"But yet you're prepared to be beaten up by anyone to protect her." Ruby said with a smirk making Emma frown.
"How-"
"-Mulan told me what you said to Robin. I think it's sweet." Emma sighed, her eyes spotting HQ in the distance.
"I don't think I know you well enough to talk about this." The blonde muttered making Ruby chuckle.
"But yet you're doing it anyway." Emma huffed loudly, the realisation that this was going to be a very long car ride becoming screamingly loud.
Eventually Emma managed to get Ruby off the subject of Regina and on the one about Belle, who she had met last night. Ruby was off excitedly talking about the other brunette, telling Emma all about her and how much she liked her.
"She's been there for about a year now." Ruby said making Emma frown.
"And you've liked her all this time?" Emma asked and Ruby nodded. "So what's taken you so long?"
"I really don't know, I just couldn't get the guts up to do it." Ruby mumbled as they pulled up in the staff car park.
"Well she seems great." Emma said lightly and Ruby let out a loud groan.
"Oh god she, isn't she?!" The blonde smirked at the other woman as they made their way into the huge building.
After a quick ride in the elevator, the two emerged on the security floor, Ruby still chatting away about Belle. Emma nodded along vaguely as they waltzed in the staffroom, the blonde making her way straight towards the box of donut on the coffee table.
"Morning Swan." Greeted Killian, as he slid into the seat next to her. "Last night was pretty great huh?"
"Yeah it actually was."
"That's because you two didn't get vodka tonic thrown over you." Grumbled August, who sunk into the seat across from them.
"I'll catch up with you all later." Ruby chimed before sprinting off.
"I bet you anything that the moment she gets upstairs, Regina will have her call me." Emma betted grumpily.
"You're on; maybe I can earn my money back after losing last night." Grinned Killian.
The various other members of the department drifted in and out of the staffroom, a few stopping to chat but most only came in for food and coffee. Mulan and Phillip had come crashing through, arguing over the proper pronunciation of the word "egg." Emma and Killian observed them bicker, somehow continuing to argue while eating and drinking. Emma chuckled at the two, an easy smile slipping onto her face. The smile however was short lived as she felt her ear piece turn on.
"Emma?" The blonde sighed, knowing what Ruby was about to say.
"Does she actually need me more for my job, or does she just need me?" She asked irritably, not wishing to see Regina at all.
"You won't like whatever answer I give you, suck it up Swan." Ruby said cheerily, making Emma groan in frustration.
"I'll be right up." Emma turned Killian who was digging into his pocket, an annoyed look on his face.
"I don't like this game." He grumbled, slapping the money into Emma's hand and sulking away.
"I do."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma tried to make the trip up to the top floor as slow as possible. She decided to pay a visit to one or two other floors on the way up, peering in and checking them out before heading all the way up. Once at the top, the blonde dragged her feet out of the elevator, occasionally stopping to look at one of the many odd pieces of art littering the wall. She groaned internally as her name was called loudly from the end of the corridor, and the blonde was forced walk the rest of the way to the office, an unimpressed Ruby sat watching her slow progress.
"It's like watching a child being forced to do something." Emma grinned.
"Well this is no place for children so-"
"Get your butt in there Swan!" Ruby raised an eyebrow as if challenging her to protest. Emma sighed and pushed open the office door, her eyes immediately falling on an irritated looking Regina, glaring at her from behind the desk.
"You took your time Miss Swan." She said icily.
"But yet I'm still here." Regina narrowed her eyes at the blonde before slowly standing from her chair.
"Well now that I have you, we can get started." Emma nodded and dropped her eyes onto the other woman in the room. Her eyebrows flew into hairline as she recognised familiar azure eyes staring right back at her.
"Emma, this is my lawyer-"
"Elsa?!" Emma blurted out in disbelief as the other blonde barrelled into her. "What are you doing here?"
"I was hired last minute, which you would know if you ever used your phone." Emma blushed and slipped her hand into her pocket to retrieve the device, several missed calls and messages flashing at her.
"Oh yeah." She said dumbly, making Elsa grin.
"I didn't realise you two already knew each other." Regina hissed, the bite in her voice making Emma snap her attention back to the unimpressed brunette. "I don't have all day, so let's get started."
"I'll stand outside and keep an eye on things." Emma muttered, spinning on her heel and quickly pacing towards the door only to recoil at the harsh tone spoken behind her.
"No Miss Swan I need you in here." There was a dangerous look in Regina's eyes, but Emma didn't back down.
"Elsa couldn't hurt a fly, and it's not from lack of trying. You're safe with her." The blonde uttered coldly.
"I think you'll find I am in charge of where you go." Regina snapped.
"Just like you are of everything else Miss Mills." Emma said in an under tone.
"Emma." Elsa whispered warningly.
"Call if you need me." The blonde grasped the door handle and yanked it open, quickly stepping out and loudly closing it, a satisfying snap could be heard around the floor. Emma stepped slightly to the left and took position, ignoring the looks Ruby was sending her.
The meeting lasted just under an hour and soon Elsa was flying out of the offices and grabbing Emma the second she got close enough. Emma kept her face expressionless as Elsa glared at her.
"What the hell was that? She is your boss and that kind of behaviour-"
"Is my normal behaviour. I will not change to suit her." Emma said coldly, making Elsa sigh heavily.
"Emma this isn't okay! If you push her to far she'll just fire your ass." Elsa harshly whispered, her eyes popping with rage.
"Worse things could happen to me." Emma muttered, receiving s rough shake from Elsa
"If I might just interrupt." Came the silky voice of Regina, who had appeared at the door way. Elsa let go of Emma's jacket, shooting her a warning look. "Miss Anderson I shall meet you in the conference room in an hour, my assistant shall take care of any needs you may have until then."
"Of course, thank you Miss Mills." Regina gave a curt nod to Elsa and watched her being escorted away by Ruby, before turning to look Emma dead in the eye.
"Come back in Emma." She purred, turning on her heel and strutting back inside. Emma hesitantly followed. Once back inside, Regina shut the door firmly before approaching Emma.
"I honestly thought we finally managed to get on the same page Emma." She sighed, running a finger along Emma's cheek before brushing past her and back towards her desk.
"We don't need to be on any page Miss Mills. I'm here to protect and serve, no more or less." Emma said shortly.
"But there is more Miss Swan." Regina sighed again. "I can't decide why you wish to keep fighting me…" Her voice was sweet and innocent, but Emma caught the deviant look in her eye.
"I'll fight anyone who tries to cage me." Emma said coldly, staring intently at the now pouting brunette.
"I merely wished to provide a safe environment where you felt included Emma; I did not intend to… cage you." She smirked at the last word making Emma's temper rise.
"I just wish to do my job, none of this," she gestured between them. "Is necessary."
"It's seems like you're trying shield yourself from something, tell me, what are you so afraid of?" Emma looked away, knowing she wouldn't be able to keep the emotion from her face. She forced painful memories away and moulded her face back into a hard expression before turning back.
"I'm not afraid of anything."
"No?" Regina gazed at her, moving her hand up to rest her head upon it. "Strange. You're the most interesting person to ever cross my path Emma."
"Really? I heard your interests lurked in dark bars rather than in me." A look of shock washed over Regina's face and Emma cursed herself for being so thoughtless. Emerald eyes nervously flicked around, knowing she had thrown herself down the rabbit hole now.
"Excuse me?" Regina practically whispered, the amused look in her eyes gone.
"Nothing, it's not my place to say anything."
"No, I want to know what it is that you know Miss Swan." She said dangerously. Emma thought over her words, knowing she was on thin ice.
"It isn't a safe place out there; you should be careful who you indulge yourself in. You could get hurt." A small smile tugged at Regina's mouth as she surveyed Emma.
"I didn't realise you cared so much."
"I don't!" Emma said harshly. "I just don't fancy having to come and save at some unknown hour, I like a full night's sleep." Regina was grinning fully now, and Emma was having a hard time not letting herself smile with her. There was something about the way Regina smiled, as if a whole other person was born. Emma couldn't help the longing in her chest to truly know that person.
"It isn't your job to save me out there Emma."
"Yes it is." The blonde replied stubbornly. "My duty to protect doesn't remain only in this office. I will protect you wherever you are. If that means I must retrieve you from some bar floor then so be it."
"I'll hold you to that Emma."
A/N: Things are clearly very conflicting for Emma, what might be holding her back still? Please review and tell me all your thoughts and feelings. Till next time Kids.