Trigger warning: This story references the aftermath of violence and assault. It also discusses past abuse and rape. No detailed depictions.
I do not own Once Upon a Time nor the original characters from the show.
It was a brief glance, barely registered, as she followed behind the irate sheriff. Catching her reflection in a car window gave her pause.
She could see the bruising on her skin.
A shaking hand reached up to touch the puffiness. Her skin was visibly swollen from Emma's assault. She stared at the sight in front of her until a cough broke her gaze.
"Are you coming?" Emma looked at anything but Regina, the blonde's face betraying an emotion Regina was unfamiliar with: guilt.
"Y-yes." Her mother's training kicked in and with a straightened spine, the former queen fell back in step with the blonde.
It was a few minutes before Emma's discomfort got the best of her. "Does it hurt?"
"Hardly," Regina scoffed, earning an eye roll in response from the sheriff.
"S'not what it looked like before," Emma quipped.
"I was merely surprised, is all." Regina waived her hand dismissively.
"Surprised?" Emma asked, confused. "By what?"
"The bruising." Regina responded before realizing she had. Groaning internally, she closed her mouth tightly as if to ward off any more inadvertent slips.
"That's generally what happens when you piss someone off enough for them to acost you." Emma laughed and shot the brunette a look that emphasized this should be obvious.
When Regina failed to respond and only hummed in response, Emma's senses triggered.
"I mean, that's what happens. You get hit, you get bruised." Emma pushed, watching the mayor's face in her periphery as they continued their walk.
Not getting the expected response, Emma stopped abruptly and gazed full on at Regina. Taking in her features, Emma felt her stomach turn. She'd never seen this expression on the mayor before, but she had seen it. More than she would ever want to admit. On the kids in foster care. The ones who held dark secrets about what they were forced to endure at the hands of those meant to help them.
"Regina…?" Emma was interrupted by the earth rolling beneath them, almost knocking the pair to the ground.
"I suggest we hurry Ms. Swan." Regina strode ahead once the world stopped shaking and Emma was forced to drop the question and chase after her. There were bigger fish to fry.