Limping up the stairs, Gold comes to a stop in front of the second door to the left and raps his knuckles against flaking wood lightly.
"Sheriff Swan..."
He blinks in momentary surprise, before a cruel smile touches his lips. The blonde regards him cooly, pretty sure she can guess what has caught the peculiar little man's attention. She raises a brow as his dark coals continue to roam about her face and attire; taking in the messy bun from which curls escape chaotically- a moderately sized section of hair to her left seemingly forgotten entirely- framing her bare face and drawing attention to the thick rimmed glasses that rest comfortably on her nose. Her hands are hidden within the fleece-lined pocket that adorns the front of the oversized navy hoodie she wears, and her legs are for the most part bare beneath what he eventually deduces to be boxer shorts, much to his amusement.
"Mr Gold... A little early to be making house calls, isn't it?"
"Well, I figured that ten o' clock was a suitable time pop by on a week day... Alas, I seem to have been mistaken. My deepest apologies that I have caught you quite so unprepared to receive company."
The Sheriff rolls her eyes at his silky, patronizing tone and steps aside in a silent bid that he come in. She pads lightly over to the coffee machine in the kitchen, turning to face Gold with her brow raised in question, before collecting two mugs from the drying rack after he offers her a curt nod.
"I suppose such luxuries are the benefit of, ah, 'working' from home?"
"Not that I can see how it's any of your business, but a pipe burst in the Station yesterday afternoon; the floor's flooded. I have my cell set up to take redirected calls, and I was keeping myself perfectly damn busy before you showed up."
She gestures over towards the large dining table where a stack of crumpled paper litters the desk. Gold smirks at her defensive tone and finds himself hungering to goad the blonde just a little more as she pokes her head into the fridge in search for milk.
"So busy, you haven't even had time to shower it would appear?"
She glares at him irritably- green eyes flashing behind glass- and sets his mug down upon the kitchen island with unnecessary force; causing the scalding liquid within to slop messily over the rim.
"Damn it!"
She continues to scowl- as though accusing her guest of the dark spillage staining the pitted wooden surface- while fetching some kitchen towel to mop up the mess.
"Thank you, Sheriff."
The pawnbroker glances curiously down at the blonde's bare leg, just visible from behind the counter- its twin hidden completely- as he notes the ugly grazes spattering the Sheriff's knee.
"Took a fall, did you, Miss Swan?"
He points to the injury with a long-nailed finger as confusion flickers across her face and she glances down, distracted, before shrugging dismisively.
"Henry and I were out in the woods. I scraped my knees."
Gold offers her a simple nod, negating to question her on the thin, red line at her temple.
The blonde suffers from many personality defects, but her merciless strive towards keeping her own business private is one to which he feels he can relate.
And it would just be cruel to shatter her delusion that she hides things well...
"Pity."
"I'll live. What do you want?"
"Well it's a little belated, but I've managed to locate those documents you wanted. I'm simply dropping them by."
He holds out a slim folder he had previously clutched unobtrusively to his side which she takes without so much as a second glance; walking over to the piles of paper strewn chaotically over her make-shift desk and placing it carelessly on top.
"I'll look over them when I have a moment."
"No rush, Sheriff...I do hope it's everything you need."
He drains the last of the coffee from his cup, the blonde's eyes widening in surprise at the way her slippery companion swallows the scorching liquid as though unaffected. Placing the mug promptly back on the kitchen island with a dull thunk, he offers Emma a thin-lipped smile and a nod of his head.
"I'll leave you to your work then, Miss Swan. And, if you'll accept some well-meaning advice, I'd keep an eye on those grazes to your knee; perhaps keep them plastered a little longer. Additionally, I'd recommend a little Arnica for that bruise at your throat..."
"My throat...?"
"Another injury from your fall in the woods... I'm sure."
Gold suppresses a grin as the blonde opens her mouth in surprise, a light blush finding her cheeks as he feigns ignorance.
Interesting. Now who could it be that our delightful little ice queen has allowed in to thaw her heart?... Or, at least, suck on her neck... Really, dearie... Perhaps next time don't allow them to brand you quite so obviously if you remain determined to delude yourself with whatever air of mystery you fathom you possess.
Predictably, the Sheriff counteracts her surprise with stone-cold defense and tosses unruly, escaped curls irritably; crossing her arms over her ridiculously large sweater and regarding him with ill-hidden contempt.
"Yeah... I guess. I'll be sure to do that."
Smiling pleasantly, Gold takes his leave, dark eyes twinkling as the Sheriff shows him gladly to the door.
"Take care of yourself, Miss Swan."
"... I'm sure I'll see you soon."
"For fuck's sake."
The blonde grumbles as she pushes herself up from the sofa on which she had been strewn- skimming through a mind-numbing complaint sent in by Miss Ginger- and making her way to the door. She briefly entertains the idea of requesting whomever waits on the other side to bear with her for a moment in an attempt to tidy herself up a little, but promptly disregards the notion.
I will wear my pajamas around my own fucking house if I damn well like.
"Yes?"
Emma pulls the door open aggressively, causing the brunette to take an involuntary step back before her dark eyes take in the image portrayed by the Sheriff and her painted lips form an amused sneer.
"Miss Swan... I hope you didn't go to all this effort just for me..."
Regina chuckles as the blonde lets out an audible sigh, slipping easily past Emma who has already moved aside to allow her into the cosy apartment.
"What can I say; I try... I appear to be unusually popular this morning. If I'd known I was going to be in such high demand I would have worn Calvin Klein's."
She fingers the fraying hem of her gray boxers thoughtfully and Regina offers her a superior sigh before helping herself to a seat at the large dining room table.
"I never knew you were in such demand, dear?"
Emma scowls at the cruel smirk lingering on the brunette's lips, but the Mayor catches the mischievous glint playing behind curious glass easily.
Hideous... But strangely endearing... Cute.
Cute?!
She pushes away such thoughts with abrupt force as Emma perches childishly up on the counter.
"Everyone wants a piece! Can you blame them?"
Dark eyes flash with warning, but when the blonde pouts her lips in an exaggerated display of provocativeness they flicker with ill-hidden amusement.
"Given your current... Outfit?... I somehow doubt that."
"Oh, really?"
The Sheriff raises an eyebrow as she parts her legs ever so slightly atop the high surface of the kitchen counter. Her position allows her to look down on the brunette; green eyes glittering over the top of her glasses in a way that is inexplicably sexy. Regina sniffs, brushing a speck of lint from her tantalizingly tight pencil skirt, and offers the blonde a bored shrug as though entirely disinterested by the whole situation.
The events of the previous afternoon play across the minds of both young women; both knowing that neither is innocent of indifference towards the other anymore, but each still clinging on to the familiar pretense.
"So what was it you wanted to see me for, Madame Mayor?
The title drips languidly from the pale lips; sweet and seductive like syrup. The brunette allows a small twitch to the corner of her mouth, studying the Sheriff levelly as the younger woman grins down at her impishly.
"...You even have to ask, Emma?"
The Mayor smirks as the blonde blinks in childlike surprise at the use of her given name, coupled with the blatant innuendo overshadowing the question.
"Well, I... I was working, but I mean... We could..."
Regina rolls her eyes as the Sheriff stumbles gracelessly through her response. She is torn between the enjoyment of goading and griping about the way the younger woman conducts herself-Emma's sometimes teenage mannerisms when faced with her lazy ridicule providing easy bait for further games- and the realization that, despite her snarky remarks to the contrary, her eyes continue to roam with appreciative intrigue over the blonde's bedraggled appearance.
"We could what, Sheriff?"
The brunette rises from her seat gracefully and makes her way over to where the Sheriff perches with a slow, seductive sway of her hips. Reaching the kitchen island, she places her hands on the exposed flesh of the blonde's thighs and leans forward, her weight supported easily by pleasant muscle. She hovers with her lips a mere inch from Emma's; her tailored jacket and mercilessly fitted skirt a stark contrast to the blonde's bed ready attire.
"What could we do?"
The Sheriff closes the gap forcefully, slender fingers slipping into chestnut waves as her thumbs brush the smooth skin at the Mayor's temples and her lips crash hotly against the brunette's. Regina smiles into the act, hands sweeping up the blonde's thighs until they rest at skinny hips.
"I'm open to suggestions..."
Emma grins mischieviously as she leans back to regard the brunette. Regina licks her bottom lip before catching the scarlet petal between pretty white teeth as she returns the blonde's gaze. Leaning slowly forward once more, she presses her mouth close to the Sheriff's ear and whispers seductively.
"Is that so, dear?... Then I suggest... You strip off those shapeless little shorts and that ridiculous sweater... Strip down to your underwear... Are you even wearing any?-"
Slim fingers creep beneath the elastic of the blonde's boxers teasingly.
"- It would appear not... Naughty girl... Strip down to nothing, then... And then..."
Emma nods impatiently; inwardly beseeching the brunette to continue as she plays her hands distractedly through silken hair.
"And then... And then I suggest you get yourself into the damn shower, and make yourself decent for the day like the rest of us."
"Oh, shut up!"
Emma hisses irritably as she pulls away with a scowl. Regina shrugs with an arrogant toss of her hair, but she pats at the blonde's thigh in a strangely amiable way.
The Sheriff jumps easily from her seat atop the kitchen island while grumbling sourly at the brunette, rolling her eyes for good measure.
"Whatever you say, Your Majesty!"
She offers a sarcastically low bow; completely oblivious to the sharp intake of breath her comment illicits from the brunette. Pulling herself back up to regard the slightly taken-aback Mayor, she offers a burlesque sigh before making her way quickly over the bathroom and closing the door.
Regina shakes her head in bemusement, reclaiming her seat at the table. She is a woman completely at home in her own skin, and as such finds no real discomfort at being left to her own devices within the living space of another. She throws casual glances about her, inwardly labeling the various crumbling and unfinished aspects to the interior with distaste.
Dark eyes flicker briefly over the chaotic mess of paperwork to her right and she pauses for a moment as she regards a slim, black file perched atop the countless sheets of paper. She recognizes the file instantly- or rather, she recognizes its owner- having received a fair few over the years herself. Curiosity mounting, she spares a brief glance towards the closed bathroom door before plucking it from the desk and peering at the documents within.
"What...?"
She drops the folder back onto the table; eyes darkening with murderous thunder as her complexion takes on a new, chalk-like pallor. Lips thinning bloodlessly, she remains where she is, her position rigid, listening to the careless drone of the shower as her stomach twists into a hateful knot and her mind threatens to simply break.