The Monster in my Bed
Chapter Five: What's Vile can Stay a While
When I see you
Vision's kinda fuzzy/Feeling like I'm drowning
So why do I wanna dive in? Poison in my veins again- Poison Taylor Grey
It's a ship. No, it's more than that. It's a fandom, a hope, a dream, a desperate call for reality. Emma scrolls through Tumblr feeds and google images and sees pictures and gifs of scenes of her and Regina. They're all the ones where they've gotten too close to each other, it captioned 'can't you see the love in their eyes?', but all Emma can see is anger and desperation; a frightened girl reflected in a monster's eyes. And then there's the scene with the punch. It's been re blogged a dizzying amount of times. 'They hate each other so much that they can't keep their hands off of each other.'
Emma doesn't know what to say on this, or what to even think of it. How did this happen? How? She knows Regina can look ridiculously seductive when in costume but every time they've gotten up close and personal its never had anything to do with that. It's been about riling each other up- Emma's lips pull into a frown. Now she understands the phrase more. Regina's the nasty one in the relationship, Emma's the one always under trial because of having to live up to her legacy, and they always rile the shit out of each other. But apparently if they were together it would make the fans 'smile?'
Still frowning, Emma rolls out of her king sized bed and pads barefoot to find Regina who is up, reading the news. Her reading glasses are on and Emma can't get over how human and domestic she looks in them. "Regina, did you know?" Emma shoves the phone open to the offending webpage into her face.
Regina doesn't look up at it. "Of course I knew," she drawls in a bored voice. Then her lips quirk up in a mirth. "I was the one who started it."
"Are you serious?" Emma couldn't sound more exasperated if she tried. "Why would you do that?"
"You wanted me to act on the screen with you, and it seems that people cannot resist my charms and have started insinuating that there must be something between us, especially since you cannot resist getting so close to me," at this Regina flicked her eyes up.
"That's because you did it first! You were like all up in my grill. What was I supposed to do? Back down? Amelia doesn't do that."
Regina only curled her lips up more in amusement and turned back to her paper.
Emma stomped her foot. "I want you to stop this Vile nonsense right this minute."
"I can't do that. It's not on my shoulders. The fans have taken it and given it life."
Emma let out a frustrated growl and stalked back off to her room, grumbling about conniving demons and useless contracts under her breath.
Emma vowed to herself she wouldn't get close to Regina while filming their scenes. And she would have been able to uphold that promise if Regina hadn't been so adamant about breaking it. The woman took every chance she could to slip a touch in, or to draw her face closer to Emma's while yelling at her. Emma was resorted to backing up to avoid this and it made her look weak. Made her look scared. And the fans picked up on this, as seen when Emma went to go check the Vile tags.
'What's up with Amelia? She's looking scared' a picture was up of Emma practically sitting on her desk in an effort to avoid the brunette, as Regina towered over her.
'Falling to the mayor's dastardly good looks' was the answer and Emma grit her teeth in annoyance.
Emma would be damned if that was how it would be picked up on. She would be the one to make Regina cower in front of her. So next time they filmed, Emma set out to do just that. She violently pushed her way into the mayor's space and had her crowded against walls and other fixtures, hand fisted in the front of her shirt. But Regina only seemed to enjoy that more.
And so did the tags.
'Did you see how their lips almost touched in that one moment?' a commentator said.
'Here, now they are touching lips,' another poster added a clearly edited photo of the two of them in liplock.
Emma's face flushed at the image even as her annoyance grew. Regina was hot, but that didn't mean Emma was in love with her, even if their characters got a bit too handsy ever so often on screen. Regina was just baiting Emma into doing these things and in the process baiting the entire community of Vile.
So Emma rounded up on Regina while they had lunch break in between scenes. She had been talking to two of her co-workers- or flirting with them, as Emma realized a second later.
"Date, this Thursday?"
"Get out of here, Robin. She's not going on a date with you, but me-"
"Excuse me, I need her," Emma shoved in between them rudely and pulled Regina away before pushing her towards the brick wall in a side alley. The brunette was still wearing her evil queen costume (Regina had gotten the producers to call her alter ego the Evil Queen which was a sly reference to her demonic name (Emma still didn't know the story behind that name, but she was planning to) ) and Emma had to remember to force her eyes up so as not to stare down the wonderfully exposed cleavage.
"You need to stop what you're doing."
"Doing?" Regina blinked slowly, owlishly. It was faux ignorance. "Stop flirting with men?"
"No-yes- I mean, that's not what I came to pull you away for."
"Jealous?" Regina's eyes were alive with mirth.
"No, I'm not. Although, you did say I was the only one you'd be loyal to," Emma jerked back a thumb at herself.
"And I am. I was going to turn them down. Wouldn't want the fans to get upset."
Why did Emma have a feeling Regina was hinting at something? With an unhealthy amount of smirking (God, did Regina look so good when she smirked in her Evil Queen costume) Regina pulled out her phone and indicated to a tabloid article for Emma to read. The blonde's eyes bulged out when she saw what was written there.
"Are Regina And Emma Lovers?" There was a picture of them heading to their apartment together. Two recent and upcoming stars of the Once Upon a Crime Series were seen entering and exiting this apartment several times over the month. Sources have cause to believe that these two women live together. Emma Swan and Regina Mills claim to be friends, but given their huge age gap, is there something they're not telling us? Are they perhaps carrying out a sordid love affair?
"What-how-" she turned a glare onto Regina, unable to read further. "You did this. I thought you were supposed to be keeping our identities and personal lives secret!"
"I didn't do this," Regina sighed heavily. "You're a celebrity. You can't expect privacy. People are going to print stories like this all the time."
Emma didn't believe that the demon didn't have at least some involvement with this article. "I swear, sometimes you work against me instead of for me. Is this all because I refused to listen to you about being a star?"
Regina didn't even attempt to hide that fact. "Yes. And I didn't refuse out of spite, but concern. Do you want to fight another master and demon? You could get hurt worse than a fall from a-"
Emma threw her hands up in the air. "Are you still on this? You are unbelievable. It's been half a year. Relax. Nothing is going to happen."
Regina crossed her arms stubbornly and threw Emma a dark look before she turned on her heel and stormed out.
"Demon woman," Emma mumbled out under her breath.
Season one drew to a finish without Regina making anymore attempts to push the boundaries of Emma's comfort levels. They were able to act without getting up in each other's faces, or without touching. The fandom was growing restless.
'Anyone notice they cooled off?'
'Trouble on the set?'
'Nah, haven't heard anything. Maybe the producers decided to tone it down a bit?'
'No, but they said they loved their energy. It has to be something with them.'
Emma let out a sigh of relief. She was glad Regina wasn't encouraging this anymore, because it was making Emma uncomfortably aware of how attractive Regina was. She had known the woman was, but now it was just...more out there. Emma saw her as not just a friend, but a woman. And she couldn't have that.
Regina was mature yet funny and more accomplished and successful than any other person Emma had meet. And her body had all the right curves, and her lips were so tantalizing to watch as they went to work chewing thoughtfully on chocolate, or in stretching wide in a delicious smirk.
Damn that fandom, for putting all those stupid ideas in Emma's head!
And damn Regina for it too.
The cast had a celebration to commensurate the ending of the season and the soon to be filming of the second one. There was a possibility that a third season and a fourth season would be installed, and Emma was only too pleased about that. It would mean a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. And she was certain this Vile ship would die out by the end of season two completely because she was going to get a love interest soon. All she knew was that he went by the name of Hook. As for Regina, she had a bit of a redemption arc to go through first before she could get her happy ending.
The party was held at a high end hotel and Emma had sort of dressed up for this, only because she wanted to schmooze with some men. She had never before flirted with other guys or so much as kissed anyone, but she was approaching the age where she decided it was about time. Her early teen years had been fraught with too much inconsistency for a settled relationship or even a love interest, but now she had a settled life and she was sure she could do something about it.
All she had to do was ditch Regina first. She didn't want the woman cock blocking her. But it was hard to detach herself from the woman when so many people kept coming up to them to congratulate them on their work in the season so far. And it was even harder to escape and go in search of some young men she could flirt with. She was getting increasingly annoyed and was this close to ordering Regina to do some hocus pocus shit to make people leave her alone.
"Excuse us, but all this talking has made us parched. Emma, would you like to accompany me to the punch bowl?" Regina stopped the conversation short and shot Emma a look. She had noticed the blonde was looking increasingly agitated and it wouldn't do to have her erupt in the middle of the party.
"Yes, thank you!" Emma breathed out and trying hard not to run, walked away from the two camera men they had been previously conversing with. "I thought I was going to explode if I had to listen to them talk about how many cats and dogs they had for one more second." Emma said to Regina once they were out of ear shot.
She grabbed a glass and chugged the champagne in it. Already she could feel herself relaxing a bit more, but her eyes were scanning the crowd wildly from her position. Come on, were there no cute boys here? Like at all?
"What has you agitated?" Regina asked softly, tapping a slender finger on her own glass. It was still full. There was no rush for her to drink. It's not like it would get her drunk. Human alcohol was weak in comparison to demonic ones. If a human ever drank it, they would die of intoxication within three sips.
"Nothing, nothing," Emma muttered into her glass. She didn't want to reveal the truth of her current state because it was embarrassing. "I think I just need to walk around a bit. Get some fresh air. Avoid people." She stressed the last part, hoping Regina would get the message.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight. It's too dangerous-"
Emma has heard this a thousand times by now, and she's sick and tired of it.
"Too bad." A movement caught Emma's eye; a flash of someone familiar. "I order you to go talk to Robin over there."
Regina's shoulders tense as the order hits her, and she gives Emma a glare that promises death and destruction. For anyone else, no doubt it would have meant just that. But Emma's safe. She watches the brunette take angry steps towards the man who is wearing a neatly pressed shirt and black slacks, helping himself to some crackers and cheese. His face lights up when he sees whose approaching him and he puffs out his chest. "Regina, my, you look amazing tonight." And she does. She's wearing this navy blue dress that just hugs her in all the right places, making Emma a bit jealous that her own body lacks such sultry curves. Maybe when she's older, and puberty will stop hitting her like a dump truck, she'll look nice too.
"Thank you Robin," Regina coos and making sure they are deep in conversation- Emma's sure Robin won't turn away Regina from conversation no matter how inane or boring it could be- goes off to find some peace.
After an hour of wandering the party, she gives up on finding someone her age and goes outside on the balcony. The air is cool, and the night has set in, stars glimmering faintly in the sky. She looks up at them, snagging a drink from a passing by server and sipping on the champagne slowly, cradling the glass in her hand contemplatively.
She wonders and wonders about many things. About what her future holds, about the inevitable end of the friendship and contract between her and Regina, about her rising stardom, about her inability to connect with the world and other people around her. She feels disconnected at times. Like she is in a separate bubble from them, hovering up in the sky and looking down on them.
Power has to do with that. It creates distance the more one has, and it is very lonely at the top of the world. And she's used a lot of power to get around in the world, to turn her life right side up.
Maybe it's because no one has shown her love, that she doesn't know how to quite feel human. Love is a huge emotion. It's a scary one, and perhaps she isn't meant for it. Meant to be forever doomed to be alone and unloved.
"Penny for your thoughts?" a masculine voice behind her interrupts her thoughts. She doesn't look back, thinking it's some old dude come to bother her again.
"Only a penny? I'm not cheap." She snorts back, and takes a sip from her cup.
There is chuckle, not the response she was expecting at her abrasive tone. "Then can I interest you with some expensive wine?"
At this she finally turns around and her eyes go a bit wide. In front of her, wearing the black clothing of a caterer, is a young boy, a tray of carefully balanced wine in his hand. He is maybe in his early twenties, late teens, just barely passing the cusp of childhood into adulthood. He has a charming grin on his face and his eyes twinkle.
"I don't mean to disrupt you," his voice is smooth and it sends shivers down Emma's spine. "But I couldn't help wondering what a lovely young lady like you was doing out here, all alone without some company." He sweeps his eyes over her, and it isn't in a dirty way, but in a way that makes her feel like she is art, like she can be appreciated. She's in a simple white flowing dress, and her hair lies in curls around her shoulders. There is only a pink lip gloss on her mouth; it's certainly not the most outstanding of looks for there are others more impressive, but it has an impact on him.
"I was merely looking at the sky. Enjoying some quiet away from the party."
"Do you mind if I join you?" His request is shocking and to cover up her surprise she shoots back, "but aren't you working right now?"
"I don't have to be." There is a sort of mischievous allure to him, a hint of arrogance but not too much. She likes confidence; she's been surrounded by it most of her life because that's just who Regina is. And he is good looking. Not too overly muscled but not too scrawny either.
She smiles back. Decides maybe she might not be as alone as she thinks she is. "What's your name?" she asks, picking up one of the wine glasses from the tray. It smells rich and deep and she doesn't take her eyes off of him as he smiles back at her.
"Neal. Nice to make your acquaintance."
He gives her his cell phone number and at the end of the night, Emma makes her way over to Regina, smiling dumbly. Talking to Neal had been so effortless and relaxing. She wanted to meet with him, wanted to see him again, to talk more; it had been so long since she'd had such a connection with another human being. And he didn't care she was a celebrity. He hadn't even known she was, or heard of the show that he was catering the party for. He just genuinely liked her for who she was.
The party had dwindled down now. It was somewhere like four in the morning- and had she really talked to him for three hours straight? It had all seemed to pass by in a blur.
Regina and Robin had migrated somewhere during the course of the party. They were in the couches and Robin had his arm slung around the back, body angled too closely to her. Regina was laughing at something he had said, paying him the utmost attention, and was touching his leg lightly. Poor Robin was going to so get the wrong idea from all this. Emma shrugged. It wouldn't be her having to clean up the aftermath.
"Regina, it's time to go."
It was amusing to see how fast Regina bolted up to her feet. "Looks like it is time to go." Her facial expression had lost it's spark and she looked on at him in disinterest now.
"Do you have to go?" he whined, the drink in him making his inhibitions lower and he made no move to cover his displeasure at her departure.
"I'm afraid I must."
"Is it because you two live together? You know, you're adults, you don't have a curfew for bed time."
Damn it, Emma swore. Did everyone know about that? It was making weird rumors crop up around her and Regina's relationship. They were only friends! So what if they lived together and were several years apart, making their shared relationship a bit odd. It was completely innocent. Already there had been several posts about it on Tumblr, shorts fics of what the two of them got up to in their house, making Emma's lips curl in displeasure while her stomach curled in pleasure. No, she did not let Regina push her up against walls while they roleplayed scenes from their show before indulging in their 'uncontrollable desires'. Still, it was like a sick addiction and Emma found herself on the look out for more of these short written pieces, hoping to 'accidentally stumble' across them. In the moment she found some of the imagery there enthralling, and all too well written. But afterwards, she felt guilty and slightly sick when she would look at Regina. The demon was oblivious to Emma's new reading habits and the blonde felt bad for hiding this from her; for doing it behind her back.
Regina was Emma's trusted friend. She did not deserve Emma perving on her. She'd stop reading them. She swore she would.
Eventually.
"Some of us aren't eighteen yet," Regina snapped out. "And I have to make sure she makes it home safe."
He could see he had upset her so he relented. "I'll see you sometime soon?"
"Don't count on it."
Robin looked confused and deflated by her sudden coldness.
"On set?"
"Most likely," Regina turned on her heel, ending the discussion, and grabbed Emma none too gently by her upper arm, pulling her away to the doors so they could poof away.
"Ouch, could you ease up?" Emma complained at the tight hold.
"How dare you leave me with him?!" Regina's snarl was muffled by the sound of teleportation and the two woman found themselves in the living room, Regina angrily glaring down at Emma, towering on her heels.
"I wanted to be alone," Emma started softly.
"Do you have no idea how dangerous it is-"
"Are we seriously starting this again?" Emma asked in exasperation as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Regina's diatribe was seriously going to dampen the high of meeting Neal.
"Yes, we are. Because it seems you don't have a clear understanding of how precarious our situation is!"
"No, I guess I don't. I don't understand why you're acting like a little pansy! You keep ranting about other demons coming to find us, but if the situation really was so dire, than I'm not seeing it, because everything is fine! Nothing has attacked us, and we've been out in the open for six months now. I've had terrible accidents before-ones that literally killed me and it was all fine then. You would revive me without so much as batting an eye. I don't know what changed all that but it needs to stop. So would you take a chill pill and get off my back!" Emma's voice was going up.
Regina growled and took three steps forward, backing Emma up into the wall, face dangerously close. "I'm not going to take a 'chill pill'! I happen to take my job very seriously and I will not have your stupidity getting in the way of it. I've been lenient enough times with it in the past that I can't afford you being reckless like that again. There also is a difference between accidents and being hunted down by a demon which is an entity on a whole other scale! I happen to be concerned about your safety; I don't want to see you ripped apart by another demon. I'm the only one who cares! And you wouldn't want me to stop." Emma didn't realize the magnitude of the situation. If another demon got it's hands on her...if the angels found out about her...than it would put a wretch into Regina's plans.
You're not the only one who cares, Emma thought to herself, thinking of Neal. "Is that a threat?" She kept her gaze level on Regina. She wasn't going to back down from this demon.
"Maybe it is." Regina's voice was low and her eyes were dark. Orbs that swallowed up light and reflected nothing. They were so close Emma could make out the scar on Regina's upper lip. She wondered, how had that gotten there? Weren't demons invulnerable?
Suddenly Emma's face flushed. They were entirely too close. In a way that they usually reserved for only Amelia and Raina. Thoughts about the latest fic she had read involving Amelia against the wall and Raina on top of her filled her thoughts and she needed to leave.
Now.
"Whatever," she mumbled out, averting her gaze and awkwardly shuffling out of the tight spot between Regina and the wall. "I'm going to bed."
Regina doesn't say anything but Emma can feel her gaze on her back, making her warm all over.
She really needs to stop reading those fics.
A/N: Had to introduce Neal into the story for reasons.