Tethered
Chapter 7
A/N: Well this is sooner than expected but sorry it took so long. Pretty much just going to let this chapter write itself.
A/N 2: I'm quite pleased at how this turned out. Probably going to skip forward about a week in the next chapter. If you like it please leave a review so I can update it more often. :)
Chapter 7
She should have stopped it sooner, she knew that but she was still reveling somewhat in the feeling that perhaps Emma might have done this to make a point with her and she cleared her throat quietly before she verbally directed Emma to desist once again.
The blonde immediately stopped, withdrawing her teeth from his swarthy neck and backed away dutifully, her hands in the air like she had a gun pointed at her.
"And just when I was starting to have fun," Emma whined almost petulantly.
"Enough," Regina sighed, dark and emerald orbs connected for a moment and she couldn't help the twitch of full lips as she tried to disguise the amusement she felt at the blonde's actions; even though she shouldn't condone such behaviour.
"What the hell..." The pirate's shock seemed to dissipate followed by mild anger, "What was that?"
"I tried to tell you," Regina started only to receive a glare from Hook, she gestured gracefully with the knife, an unspoken command telling The Dark One to be seated at the bar stool as they both watched him press two fingers carefully to his neck and the crimson droplets that came away as he did so.
"You didn't warn me about that," He snapped, looking at The Charming's, almost as if he was looking for backup and they shrugged in confusion, both frowning.
"Regina?" Snow questioned quietly, slowly the older brunette turned to her step daughter with a raised brow and the shorter woman simply beckoned her closer.
She wasn't expecting the whispered tones and she wondered if they thought their daughter couldn't hear them? The thought itself left her wondering with how foolish they were how they possibly survived in The Enchanting Forest.
"That's new right? You didn't know she could do that did you?"
"Somewhat new..." It wasn't a lie, it was new, especially as a Dark One but they didn't specifically ask how long she had known about the current Dark One's desire for blood.
"What do we do?" Charming asked, just as they all watched Hook attempt to stealthily move towards the blonde as if she was a bomb that was about to go off.
"Right now, like I told you already, I have a plan I want to work on and I would really rather you leave me to..."
"Not on your life," Hook threw over his shoulder, this time in front of the blonde, his one hand pressed firmly into her arm and he frowned at the coiled strength he could feel beneath his hand, "Emma, listen to me love..."
She tilted her head, staring intently into his dark brown eyes as he spoke, wondering how long it would take him to figure out that she wasn't going to be who he wanted her to be and one of the good things about becoming the Dark One, she didn't have to fear being alone again.
"Emma, I know you're in there, everything is going to be okay," his hand moved then, his thumb caressed her planed cheek and she watched as he leaned in briefly, his whiskers tickled her face and his lips pressed almost forcefully against her mouth.
Her hand snaked up his back, her finger tips walked a path to the hairs at the nape of his neck, she heard Regina's sharp intake of breath and her stomach dropped, knowing that this would dig at the woman's resolve, part of her delighted in the response but the other half of her felt guilty.
She knew he was expecting something also and satisfaction filled her core knowing the shock she would see when he realized it hadn't work, that it wouldn't work or at least not with them it would never happen with him.
She tugged sharply then pulling his head backwards, he cried out in pain briefly as he pulled pale fingers from his hair and backed up slowly.
"That should have worked," He whispered almost with disbelief, shock started to set in and he looked at the blonde incredulously as it dawned on him but instead of saying another word, he turned and rushed from the kitchen, a few moments later the sound of the front door closing came back to meet them.
A slow, almost predatory smile graced sharp features.
"Oh," Snow mumbled.
They all just stood there mutely, an awkward silence filled the room making the air between them all almost palpable and after a moment, Emma simply made a thoughtful noise.
Regina lifted dark eyes then, glancing at the blonde across the room, she sat almost regally and ethereal in the chair as if it were a throne and the brunette had to swallow. The look itself brought a new aura to the blonde, something more poised and delicate and she realized the Dark One was more in control than Emma was right now.
Arousal spread through her but on the outside she was the picture of stern perfection and she turned to the Charming's again.
"As you see, I have made some progress, this little... test of yours, for lack of better words, may have set me back a little... but I think I can still work on it," She tried to paint her expression as irritated but a part of her was amused at how quickly they knelt to her now she was good, maybe she should have joined forces a long time ago.
"We're sorry, we didn't mean to step on any toes, whatever you think is best to get our daughter back," Charming said swiftly, grabbing Snow gently by the elbow as he looked one last time at the blonde in question and back to the former Queen.
"It's okay," Regina acquiesced, "Now, I will contact you. Do you understand?"
"Do you think that's wise though, Regina?" Snow questioned, her cherub features creasing into concern, "Shouldn't we check in with you just to make sure that everything is going okay and that she hasn't... escaped or something."
"Fine, I'll check in daily if that will make you feel better," She conceded.
"Yes, thank you," Snow smiled then and nodded before she rushed to take her daughter's hands in her own, forcing Regina to be on the ready in case Emma tried something once again. Instead of taking any chances she waved the dagger at her as a reminder, "We'll see you soon."
A moment later and she was back beside her husband, they nodded their thanks once again and muttered something about going to check on Hook.
She waited until they were gone completely before she said anything and instead of actually saying anything, a dark eyebrow hiked upwards in question.
"What? I was bored," Emma shrugged and then smiled teasingly at the brunette, "Would you rather I save the rough stuff for you?"
"Emma," Regina sighed in exasperation and tried valiantly to suppress her bodily reaction to the blonde's word, "Please behave."
They both knew it was more a request than it was a command and the blonde stood then, inching closer and she could see the brunette's hand waver as she warred with herself in terms whether she was going to direct the former savior to stop in her tracks or not.
She hesitated a moment longer, waiting as the slim figure moved and towered over her, she instinctively moved the dagger behind her back and looked up, challenge glistening defiantly in dark sepia.
Nothing was said but the heat between them was magnetic, it took every ounce of her strength to not use her free hand to reach out and touch the blonde. She didn't have to, there was a slight blink as Emma leaned in inches from her face, so close she could feel her breath on her own full lips but they both knew she wasn't going to kiss her. That was too much of a risk for The Dark One right now and they both knew she had not got through to her that quickly.
"Emma..."
"Regina," Emma responded lowly and it was the brunette that turned away this time, squeezing the dagger tighter within olive palms.
She simply exited the kitchen, not quite sure what else to do other than will the blonde to follow and they ended up in the living room.
She was slightly amused when she saw Henry's gaming console controller sat pointedly on the coffee table and wondered if he knew what she had been planning. She tilted her head towards it wondering what the blonde would do now that she was The Dark One.
Emma's eyes twinkled briefly but she did not move and she looked directly at Regina then, green orbs lighter than usual causing the brunette to smile softly.
"Have you ever played Borderlands?" Emma asked, as the corners of petite pink drew up into a sly smile.
"No, I'm not very good at video games," Regina responded and then paused, "But... If you show me... I'm willing to give it a try."
They played for longer than either of them anticipated. Regina was loathe to admit it but she had certainly quite enjoyed herself, by the time she figured out how to use her controller and where her shots were going off, she finally ended up just reviving Emma repeatedly until the blonde stated she was bored.
"I fear I'm not very much fun when it comes to this," The brunette murmured, somewhat embarrassed that she would not be able to stand toe to toe with the blonde in something and worse, fearful that the blonde would not want to do such an activity again. Even though, she would not say no to another invite if received.
"Nah, you weren't that bad," Emma teased, nudging a leather clad shoulder into the other woman's, the smoothness of both materials made the contact slicker than expected and they ended up closer than anticipated.
Regina swallowed visibly, wetting dry lips with her tongue and there was a brief flicker between petite pink and emerald orbs before mumbling, lowering her head immediately and inching further away.
"We'll have to do this again," Regina muttered, clearing her throat and stood gracefully, dusting off her clothing as she did so, "I definitely enjoyed that more than I expected but I would understand if you did not, considering you had to carry my lack of game console expertise."
"You'll get better," Emma replied standing but making sure she kept her distance, she felt a strange pull but only allowed herself to think of the dagger's hold on her, "But to get better we'll need to practice more."
"I'd very much enjoy that," Regina smiled, warmth stirred in her stomach and she allowed herself, if only for a moment, to live as if a future like this with Emma was possible. For the first time, in a long time, she felt genuinely happy at the prospect rather than a deep dread.
That was until Emma broke the silence and reminded her that her dreams were not feasible to imagine at this present time, she needed all her wits about her.
"We should totally make it a thing though that you have to sit in my lap to play, oh wait," A salcious grin graced The Dark Swan's face and she suggestively purred the rest, "That's not video games."
