Trigger warning - abuse
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Chapter 16 You Just Have to Fight
Emma burst through the double doors of city hall, determined to make her statement to the mayor in front of the entire town committee. Thanks to Regina's advice, she knew he would have no choice but to approve a town election for the next sheriff's deputy. He had no right to fire her on the grounds of a sealed juvenile record. This was her fighting back and showing him she wasn't afraid of him. This was her showing him he had no power over her. This had to work, her first step into resistance, before she would eventually overthrow him.
"Miss Swan!" Leopold was sitting in the center of the committee panel with members seated on each side. The townspeople filled up the seats behind the wooden dividers. Emma walked through the aisle, ignoring the shocked whispers of the townspeople as she confidently approached the panel. "This isn't an open forum!"
"I'm making a statement!" she announced, ignoring the dark gleaming eyes. His face was cool and calculating, but the hardness in his eyes indicated he was silently seething. "This man fired me as a deputy on a juvenile record. A record that was sealed, and besides that, the sheriff knew of my past when he hired me. Your mayor decided to fire me anyway. I'm here to propose an election and let the town decide whether they want me as deputy or not."
The volume in the room increased with shocked murmurs. Even the committee panel was shocked, and Emma smugly held Leopold's gaze through the chaos, challenging him to deny it.
He raised his hand, and everyone started quieting down.
"Miss Swan is right," he admitted. "I did fire her on concerns of her being a threat to the safety of this town, but if the committee votes for an election, then it will be approved. And if it is approved, I will be nominating a worthy opponent."
To Emma, that sounded like a threat. A promise that even if she got what she wanted, he was still in control. She'll just have to fight fire with fire.
"Well then, shall we take a vote?" one of the committee members asked, looking at the mayor expectantly. Leopold nodded, and then started off the vote.
"All in favor of an election?" he asked.
More than half the committee raised their hand. Emma was actually surprised, her heart felt like a skipped beat out of excitement. It was going exactly the way she hoped it would. Leopold looked at her, and the excitement died as he fixed his gaze on her. For a moment, cold dread washed over her, and she wondered if this was how Regina felt when he looked at her and was silently livid.
"Congratulations Miss Swan. There will be an election, and I will also be nominating Sydney Glass to run against you. Good luck."
Of course he was nominating one of his puppets so that he could still control the station. She glared at him, not backing down from him for even a second. He smirked and then turned his gaze to continue the meeting. She walked away with her victory in her hands while she still could.
She didn't realize Mr. Gold followed her out of city hall until she was outside and unlocking her bug.
"That was very impressive, Miss Swan. How on earth did you know you could request a town election?" He was slimy as a snake, and for a moment she really did see why Henry described him as Rumplestiltskin. Something about the creepy little man gave her a sense of dread.
She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, and his eyes fell to it as if he knew exactly who it was.
Regina.
"What do you want?" she asked, not about to give him any information. She wasn't going to risk Leopold finding out that it was Regina who advised her to challenge him with an election.
"You're gonna need a benefactor. The mayor fights dirty."
"And you're proposing to be my benefactor?" she scoffed, not trusting him for even a second.
"I just want to help you win," he shrugged. "At a price of course. I would love to see the mayor lose power over the station, and the only way for that to happen is if you win the election."
"What's the price?"
"You let me take care of the competition."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
"Work with me, and you'll find out."
"What do you even get out of this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. He was known to be involved in the darker side of the political field. He even sometimes managed to get his hands on illegal or hard to find possessions. There was always a price to pay with him. He never did anything unless it benefited him in some way.
"Let's just say when one has a common enemy, joining forces is often the key to overthrowing that enemy."
"Enemy?" she asked. "What do you have against him?"
"I'm afraid I should be asking you that," he said. "I don't think it's a coincidence that you suddenly know the town charter. Perhaps you've been spending a lot of time with a certain brunette?"
"What do you know?" she asked defensively, not wanting to put Regina in danger in any way by giving him any information about her involvement. She had the sense that he knew something; Perhaps about what really went on behind the doors of the mayoral mansion.
He only smirked.
"Wouldn't you like to know. You know where to find me when you change your mind."
Emma watched him go. He knew something that could help her and the only way of getting information was to work with him. She shook her head, dismissing that thought, because to work with him was selling her soul. A second vibration in her jacket pocket shook her from her musings. She pulled out her phone, and all thoughts of Gold evaporated as she saw it was a text from Regina. She lit up, unable to stop the smile on her lips as she opened the message.
Meet me at the campus coffee house the minute you're done crashing the committee.
On my way.
The minute Emma walked into the coffee house, the smell of coffee beans and pastries hit her senses. It wasn't as crowded as the last time she was here with Regina. She right away spotted the brunette in her usual booth at the back. She was immersed in her laptop and opened portfolio and was surprised that she didn't look up to see who walked in. She placed her order at the counter and then headed over to the distracted brunette.
"What are you working on?" she asked, plopping down in the booth across from her. Regina looked up at her, removing her reading glasses which Emma couldn't help but think how adorable she looked in them.
"Lesson plans for next week. I like to get ahead when I can," she said, shutting her laptop and portfolio and putting them away into her bag before setting it on the booth beside her. She took a sip of her coffee, and Emma noticed she hadn't taken a bite of her sandwich yet. She wondered if she was waiting for her. "So tell me, how did it go?"
"He wasn't happy, that's for sure, but he challenged me. An election was approved so he appointed Sydney Glass to run against me. He just can't relinquish his power over the station, can he?"
"Of course not," Regina said, her eyes growing dark for a moment. They both knew that if Leopold ever lost control over the sheriff's station, then he wouldn't be able to keep covering up the abuse. "Sydney will do anything Leopold asks. If he wins, he'll just have another puppet in the station right beside Sheriff Graham."
"Why are they allowing him to control them?"
"They're afraid of him and he knows that so he exploits their fear."
"You know who's not afraid of him? Mr. Gold."
Regina's eyes widened and Emma shrunk back at the intensity of her shocked gaze. She glanced around as if making sure no one was over hearing them and leaned in close as if telling a secret.
"He's an imp who deals in the black market to obtain items for people who are stupid enough to make a deal with him," she said in a hushed tone. "Stay away from him."
"Actually, he approached me after the meeting. He wants to be my benefactor."
"You declined him, right?"
"Yes, but… What if he could help? Regina, I have no chance of beating Leopold and his croney. I'm still new to this town, so why would they vote for me over someone the mayor appointed?"
"Find a trustworthy benefactor," she urged. "Make a deal with Gold and you'll regret it."
"You're right," she sighed, leaning back against the booth just as a young waiter brought over her coffee and bearclaw she had ordered. She thanked the young man and then took an eager bite of the pastry. She swallowed and then chuckled at the look of disgust the brunette regarded her with.
"You like those things?"
"Of course! Nothing like a good steak out with hot chocolate and a couple bear claws."
"You eat like Henry," she murmured, her eyes flickering with a fond amusement, a look Emma has never seen on her.
"Have you ever tried one?" she asked, taking another bite. Regina shook her head, and took a sip of her coffee before placing the mug down beside whatever healthy sandwich she had ordered. She had a side salad as well. Come to think of it, she's never seen her indulge in any surgery treats unless it was her own apple pie. She wondered if she was just a naturally healthy eater or if she was pressured into watching her weight by Cora or even Leopold.
"Of course not, it's loaded with sugar."
"Try it?" she asked, holding it out and turning it to a side that wasn't bitten.
"No, thank you," she shook her head.
"You don't know what you're missing," she shrugged, taking a bite instead. She put it back on the plate and took a sip of her coffee.
"Emma?" Regina asked after a few moments of them silently eating their lunch. Emma looked at her, seeing a hesitance in her eyes at whatever she was about to ask.
"What happens if you win?" she asked seriously.
"Leopold loses control."
"But what does that mean? For me?"
Her eyes softened, and she reached out across the table to squeeze her hand and was surprised when Regina didn't pull away.
"I want to help you… I know you're afraid, but you need to trust me that I won't do anything rash that will get you into trouble…"
She pulled her hands away and fear was suddenly clouding her face.
"Emma… Don't get involved," she pleaded, her voice shaking and her hands trembling as she buried them into her lap.
"Listen to me," Emma said gently, not wanting to scare her away after all the progress they had made towards trust. "You will not get hurt because of me. I wasn't going to tell you just yet until I had a more solid plan, but I'm working on a way to help you and Henry."
"What?!" she exclaimed, her eyes widened in shock and then flickered across the diner as if making sure no one overheard them. She grabbed her bag and then stood. "Come with me."
Confused, Emma followed her into the bathroom.
"I told you I don't need help!" Regina cried, the minute she locked the door and turned to face her. Her dark eyes were brimming with anger.
"You don't need help? Or are you too afraid to get help? Regina, you can't keep living like this. Henry can't keep growing up like this. He's hardly aware of the abuse, but look how much it's already affecting his mind. I can't just walk away from this."
"Who else is helping you?" she asked.
"Mary Margaret, Ruby… Katherine."
"Katherine," she shook her head in disbelief, her lower lip actually trembling for a moment as she held back tears. "I haven't talked to her since the dinner party."
"He threatened her to stay away. Is that what he does when people start to find out about what he's doing to you? He isolates you? Is that why he doesn't want us speaking?"
She nodded, the anger dying out and leaving fear in its place. She averted her gaze as if trying to hide it and moved over to the mirror as if making sure her makeup was still in place. The fluorescent lights only made the bruise on her chin stand out beneath the concealer.
"She wants me to document the bruises. If this thing goes to court, she offered to defend you, but we have to start gathering the evidence now. I pulled your records from the station before I was fired."
She turned, facing her in shock.
"You have my records!" Anger once more clouded her face but this time fear was driving it. Like she was afraid of what Emma had found. "You had no right to do that! I trusted you, and you're going behind my back and digging up personal files? What did you read!"
Shit! This was going bad. Emma hadn't intended for her to get this upset.
"Regina… I'm just trying to help you," she said, desperately wanting to reach out and offer any kind of comfort, but she was too afraid, too angry, and Emma was afraid of her bolting out the door.
"What did you read!" she yelled again.
"That you were in a car accident when you were 17 and then you were arrested again a few years later for money theft."
She sneered, her eyes dark and cold, and she had fallen behind the hostile mask that Emma had seen during her first days in Storybrooke. She was shutting her out.
"You don't know what really happened," she said. "You can't help me, Miss Swan. No one can." She picked up her bag and stormed out of the bathroom, leaving Emma in shock for what just happened.
Regina knew Emma was only trying to help her, but she couldn't help but feel betrayed. She couldn't believe she had pulled her files from the station after she made it clear that she did not need any help. She assumed the files were vague about what had happened the night of the incident and the night she ran to Atlantic City with the money Mary Margaret had given her, but she was still afraid of Emma finding out about her past. She didn't want her to know the details, and she was sure reading her police reports would only raise questions.
She made it back to class, relieved that Emma didn't follow her. She locked the door to keep anyone from coming in. Her heart was beating like a drum in her chest and it was hard to breathe. Her hands shook as she dropped her bag and sank to the floor with her back to the door. She brought her knees up and buried her face into her lap, trying to calm her breaths before she fell into a panic attack.
Why was she so afraid of Emma Swan finding out about her past?
Why was she so afraid to accept her help?
Because Leopold showed her exactly what would happen if she ever tried to leave again. The last time she tried to run away, she lost her baby. He's threatened to send away Henry as a way to remind her of the consequences. She was too afraid of losing her son. She was afraid of Emma finding out about what happened and judging her for it like everyone else did. She had been assumed guilty for drunk driving and being responsible for the death of her boyfriend. She had been called a monster by angry Storybrooke parents. She had been sold to an older man to keep her from going to prison. She would have preferred going to prison instead of being married to a man who beats her.
"Regina?"
There was a knock on the door and she jumped, startled for a moment at the sudden intrusion. She wanted to be left alone. She didn't want to face Emma knowing she read her police reports.
There was silence for a moment, and Regina thought maybe she might have given up and left, but after a moment she was shocked when she spoke up once more.
"I know you're in there. Please, let me in so we could talk."
More silence.
"I know this is all complicated. I know you're afraid, but you don't deserve to keep living like this. Despite what happened in the past, you can have happiness. I know it doesn't seem like it but you just have to fight."
Regina couldn't say anything. She could only sit there and let the tears stream down her cheeks. Her bruised chin started to throb, a reminder of what she needed saving from. How could she deserve happiness after everything she had been through? After Daniel had lost his life? After her baby…
"Ok, if you won't, I will. Henry brought me to Storybrooke to bring back all the happy endings, and that includes yours. He may think you're the Evil Queen, but what he doesn't realize is that the Evil Queen deserves happiness too. I'm not giving up on you."
She heard her footsteps descend down the hall, indicating she had left. Regina took a moment to let her words sink in. How could Emma believe she deserves happiness? She wondered if she would still believe that once she found out the true events from the night of the incident. A rational part of her deep down inside knew she didn't deserve the abuse she was suffering through, but after years of living under Leopold's hand, she started to believe the lies he told her. That she was responsible for getting his daughter hurt. That she had killed Daniel. Emma said she wouldn't give up on her, but she was afraid she might, once she found out the truth.
She got through the day with the events from the coffee shop still whirling in her mind. She was distracted even through her last two classes. If her students noticed, they didn't say anything. Just after she dismissed her last class, her eyes fell on the young woman with red streaked hair sitting in the front row and packing up her things.
"Ruby, can we talk?" she asked as everyone started filing out of the room. Once they were alone, Ruby approached her desk.
"I had a talk with Miss Swan today, and I know you're involved in her plans to help me escape my husband."
"Oh…" she responded, shocked that Regina was confronting her. "She asked me if I wanted to join her, and I couldn't say no. You know I've witnessed multiple occasions of him being violent with you at the diner. You walk into class sometimes with bruises…"
She raised her hand. She didn't want to hear about the bruises or injuries she often walked into class with, especially when Leopold fell into a drinking binge the night before and would bruise up her face.
"I just want you to be careful," she warned her. "Leopold isn't the kind mayor everyone thinks he is. He will ruin your life the minute he finds out you're involved, especially if you're interested in the political field. You're one of my best students, and I don't want you risking your future for me."
"Dr. Mills… I can choose another profession. I could even move far away from here if I need to, but you only have one life, right? Don't you deserve better than a husband that hurts you? Don't you deserve your own justice? To live peacefully and unafraid? Emma wants to fight for your happiness, and so do I."
She was stunned at the words that fell easily from her student's mouth. Why would she risk everything for her? Why would Emma risk everything when they've barely known each other, and considering their rocky start? She couldn't understand it. Along the way people always tried to help, but then backed off when Leopold threatened them. Emma said she wasn't giving up on her, and for the first time she was starting to believe in someone.
"Why?" she whispered, the tough professor persona falling from her face, and she looked at her student with vulnerability in her eyes. Ruby must have been caught off guard, because she had never let her defenses fall for anyone before.
"People care about you," she said. "And I think they are tired of sitting on the sidelines not being able to do anything to help you. Emma made us realize we needed to take a stand against him."
"Emma…" she whispered, realizing how harsh she had been at the cafe. "She told me she wasn't giving up on me."
"And I think you better believe her."
Leopold was in a bad mood when Regina got home. She guessed Emma's statement at the committee meeting this morning is what set him off. He didn't say a word to her or Henry. He just shut himself away in his office. She hoped he wasn't drinking, but had a strong feeling he was most likely indulging in his whiskey. He didn't even join them for dinner. After what happened the last time she intervened, she was too afraid to confront him so she left him alone.
She kept thinking about Emma all evening, even after sending Henry to bed. She kept thinking about her words and the determination in her voice. She knew she was harsh at the cafe. Maybe she shouldn't have yelled, but she was afraid, and fear drove her anger. She couldn't help but lash out, but now she was feeling guilty. She wished it was easy to just let herself trust her, but it wasn't easy when she was so afraid.
She cleaned up the kitchen and then got ready for bed, changing into some silk pajamas and a warm robe. She washed her face clean of any make up and looked into the mirror to see the full extent of the bruising on her lower chin and lip. It was healing, but the skin was still so dark and angry. The swelling went down at least, and her lip didn't seem to need stitches. It looked terrible, and she was embarrassed for walking around like this despite how much of it was covered in makeup. Tears welled up in her eyes, hot angry tears and she hastily wiped them away. She avoided her gaze in the mirror, unable to even look at herself.
She was too anxious to sleep, especially when Leopold was locked in his study drinking, and could come into the bedroom at any moment in a drunken rage, so she went back down stairs, making sure he was still in his study, before heading over to the kitchen. She slipped outside through the back door and into the chilly night air. She stood underneath her apple tree, staring up at the leaves and feeling more lost than she ever did in her life.
She was always so angry at people for trying to help and then abandoning her when they got too scared. Maybe it was time she stopped being scared and allowed Emma and her friends to help her. Maybe it was time she stopped pushing everyone away. She was so unsure and lost in her thoughts she didn't even realize Leopold stepped outside, decanter in hand.
"You're still up," he stated, his words a bit slurred. She realized with a sinking disappointment that he had been drinking this entire time just as she suspected. She didn't even look at him, her gaze fixated up into the branches. Her hands started shaking and she folded her arms in an attempt to stop them. Fear as familiar as an old friend bloomed inside her and she could only stand there frozen as he stood behind her.
She didn't answer him. She was so scared she couldn't even speak.
"I'm sure you must have heard by now, but Emma Swan proposed an election for the next sheriff's deputy in front of the committee panel."
"I… heard murmurs of it through town," she managed to utter out, her voice shaking.
"It's a bit strange how she knew she could propose for an election. Any idea on who could have tipped her off?"
Did he know? She couldn't help but wonder. There was no way he could have found out that she was the one to warn her. No, he was fishing for information. She turned to face him, his cold obsidian eyes locked on her through the moonlit night. The smell of whiskey seeped from his pores and she tried not to let her gaze fall to the half empty glass in his hand.
"You have a lot of enemies," she said coldly. "It could have been anyone."
He held her gaze, his eyes flickered with suspicion and for a moment she thought he was going to call her out. Instead, he lifted her chin in a bruising grip and leaned in close. She could smell the sour alcohol on his breath and she wanted to vomit.
"If I find out you had any involvement in this, I will beat you so bad you won't be able to leave this mansion for months," he hissed, and she swallowed fearfully at the threat, because she knew he wouldn't hesitate to follow through.
"I don't," she insisted.
He narrowed his eyes at her, as if trying to catch the lie and when he couldn't seem to find any reason that she would, he finally let go of her and stepped back.
"Sydney's campaigning will start tomorrow and I expect you in my office during your lunch hour. Understood?"
That was the last thing she wanted to do, prepare a campaign for someone she absolutely despised. Disappointment that she wouldn't be able to have lunch with Emma sunk low in her belly despite how it had ended today. It was something she was starting to look forward to and she had hoped with a clearer head, she'd be able to talk to Emma about how she had reacted to today. Talking with Ruby helped her realize that Emma was only trying to help her as safely as possible, and that meant covering all the bases by pulling up old police records. Emma wasn't going to give up on her, and that meant she needed to trust her. She needed to push down her fears and finally let someone in.
She looked at him, watching him down the last of his whiskey and suddenly gaining a deep spurt of anger from within. The kind of fire that she had lost long ago and had gained back for just a moment because she knew there was someone fighting for her now.
"You've been drinking since you got home," she growled, her eyes dark with hatred. "You're supposed to be a recovering addict. You'll lose your job, you fool."
She saw it before it even happened. He viciously slapped her so hard she went down on her knees. She held her cheek in her hand, her hair shielding her face like a curtain. She felt so helpless as she kneeled beneath the old apple tree, afraid he'd hit her again.
He knelt down to her level and grabbed a fistful of her hair, painfully pulling her face up to force her to look at him. Her breaths were heavy from the pain.
"Don't you ever talk to me with such disrespect ever again," he said, the threat clear in his hushed tone. He tightened his fist, wrapping her hair tighter between his fingers and she couldn't help the cry of pain from escaping her lips. "Shut up!" he hissed, looking around at the neighboring houses and making sure no one was watching.
The night was silent, and when he was sure no one had heard her cry of pain, he pulled her up by her hair and forced her inside. He practically shoved her in, before shutting the back door and instantly slamming her against it. He pinned her with his body, his face close to her own and the smell of the whiskey once again made her nauseous.
"What will it take for you to stop running your stupid mouth?" he asked. "Do I need to bash your head against the wall again? Or do I need to permanently make you shut up?" he asked, his hand suddenly wrapping around her throat. She squirmed, suddenly panicking that he was going to strangle her. He tightened his grip just a bit, not enough to choke her, but enough to pass as a warning.
"Why do you think I drink?" he continued, practically spitting in her face. "My wife is gone, my daughter doesn't speak to me and I'm left with you! An ungrateful brat!"
"What is there to be grateful for?" she whispered, unsure where this sudden bravery was coming from.
"I kept you from going to prison!" he drunkenly spat.
"I would rather go to prison than be your wife!" she snapped, struggling beneath his weight and pulling free from his grip around her throat. She tried to shoving him off of her, but he had the upper hand, and before she knew it he was pushing her down and kicking her hard in the stomach until she was coughing and dry heaving and unable to breathe. She curled up on herself, trying to protect her face.
When he finally stopped, he knelt down to her level and pulled her face up once again. She hated him touching her face. It was a way he exerted power over her by forcing her to look at him.
"You better watch yourself," he threatened, before letting her go and finally backing off of her.
She sat up against the door, burying her face in her arms like she had done earlier today in her classroom and Emma was standing on the other side. He had started grumbling as he left the kitchen, drunkenly throwing obscene names at her. She hoped he would go to bed and pass out, that way she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. She was afraid to move; Afraid to provoke him further than she already had. She was sure she had sat there for at least an hour until she finally decided it was safe enough to get up.
She slowly uncurled herself, her limbs aching from the stiff position she had been in. Her belly and ribs were throbbing with pain and it took everything she had to not cry out when she stood. She felt dizzy from the exertion and had to remember to breathe so she wouldn't faint.
All she could think about was Emma.
Emma's words in the cafe bathroom. Her words outside her classroom door. She said she wasn't wasn't giving up on her, and for some reason, Regina was starting to slowly believe her. As afraid as she was, Emma was right about one thing. She couldn't keep living like this. She needed to give herself a chance.
She headed up to the bedroom, and after checking on Henry to see him fast asleep, she headed over to the partially open bedroom door. Her hand shook as she turned the knob. She hoped he was asleep… He had already kicked her down enough both physically and verbally as it was. She wasn't sure she could go another round.
But for what she was about to do, she needed to make sure he was out.
With a breath of confidence, she pushed open the door and was relieved to see him on his back in the middle of the bed. Just to be sure, she approached him, coming up to the side of the bed and grimacing in disgust as he loudly snored.
"Leopold?"
No answer. He just kept snoring. Maybe she should put him on his side, in case he vomits all the alcohol he consumed tonight?
She shoved him hard enough to roll over half way and then watched him fall right back on his back again. There was still no response. She could care less if he choked on his vomit. She shoved him again, but this time a little more violently and she was sure he might just wake up this time. She stepped back immediately, expecting him to suddenly sit up and start yelling at her.
Nothing…
The loud snores became louder if anything, and the same anger that she had felt downstairs surged through her like a hot flame once more. This time she shoved his chest and he was so out of it, he didn't stir, so she kept shoving him and shoving him until angry silent sobs racked her body. She lost control and slapped him hard across the face and she gasped when he suddenly stirred and she stepped back so far, her back hit the wall as he suddenly rolled over to his side, giving her his back.
She had been petrified that he had felt her slapping him. For a moment she had stopped breathing, the room dark and silent as she watched with bated breath to see if he would get up and punish her. Her blood was pumping so hard she could hear her heartbeat in her ears.
A loud snore cut through the silence like a crack of lighting and she let out a sob of relief. She nearly collapsed from her suddenly shaking legs. She forced herself to breathe and when she was sure she wasn't going to pass out from the pure terror that had washed over her, she stumbled from the room and rushed down the stairs to the foyer closet. Henry was asleep and safe in his room. Leopold was too far gone in his drunken induced coma. No one would miss her if she stepped out for an hour, or so she hoped.
She grabbed her jacket and the keys to the benz, slipped her boots on and rushed out into the cold dark night.
