"long story short: i survived"
Taylor Swift
"Out of all the places here, you had to choose the seat next to mine," Regina snapped. She gave Robin of Locksley a quick once over before turning back to her drink and scone.
"I don't know, you seemed like you could use the company." Robin gave her a toothy smile before waving over Ruby and ordering a coffee and bagel for himself.
"Well, I don't." Regina didn't even bother to look back at him, instead she tried to refocus her attention back on the task at hand which was trying to figure out some potion or spell that could help to return the year of missing memories. Robin ignored Regina's veiled attempts to shake him and filled the silence.
"Well, this place sure is interesting. I'm not used to coffee machines or toasters, it's much nicer here, wouldn't you agree?" Regina physically turned her own body away from him and took a sip of coffee. Finally it seemed Robin took the hint and when Ruby returned with his bagel he asked for it to be bagged up so he could take it to go along with the coffee which was poured from the ceramic mug into a to-go cup.
"Well, I'll see you around Regina," He said, hopping off the stool and heading for the door. Meanwhile, Regina sat there alone and as much as she wanted to figure out the big picture problem, she couldn't help feeling dejected. While she wasn't used to others sitting with her, she realized perhaps she had been a little cold to Robin. He was only trying to be friendly. As her mind wandered, she realized quickly it was more than just being friendly. She couldn't explain the feeling, but somewhere in the pit of her stomach she felt an inexplicable draw to the bandit. While she continuously reminded herself everything was off because of her memories, something odd continued to gnaw at the back of her mind.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Emma Swan took the empty seat next to Regina where Robin had been sitting and Regina, realizing she had been spacing out, was suddenly made aware the depth of thought the whole incident sent her into.
"Oh, nothing." Regina replied quickly before taking a sip of her coffee which was much cooler than she anticipated.
"Nothing, eh? You had a strange look on your face when I sat down." Emma gave Regina a puzzled look.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." Regina said with a sharpness she didn't intend.
"Alright then." Emma was still confused and a little hurt that Regina was being so cold with her. Regina, realizing her frustration was misplaced, felt guilty.
"Emma, I'm sorry. It's been a rough few days and life seems to just be getting messier and messier these days."
"Messy's one way to put it," Emma replied.
"There's just so much to deal with, but first things first: our memories."
"Are you sure there's nothing you remember?"
"Nothing, it's like no time has passed." Emma was perplexed, not having your memories was one thing, but knowing you don't have them is an entirely different and she could only imagine how frustrated she would be if she had known her memories had gaps. As Regina and Emma continued to mull over possible solutions, Robin Hood returned, standing behind Emma. He seemed to debate whether or not to acknowledge Regina who had stiffened but upon realizing Ruby was helping another guest, he realized it would be awkward if he ignored her.
"Hey, fancy seeing you here." He said with good-humored sarcasm. Regina wasn't sure why she was nervous all of a sudden nor why this moment was different than earlier. Anazlyzing the situation, she realized she hadn't responded and he let out an awkward chuckle as Ruby came over. He just asked for another bagel, claiming the first was delicious and he had to get another for Roland.
Robin turned to leave, tipping his head to Regina before heading out the door again. Regina sat frozen a few seconds after.
"Was that the nothing?" Emma asked with a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips and a playful gleam in the corners of her eyes. Regina snapping out of yet again another spell of confusion just made a face at Emma.
"He was! Regina, come on, what's the story?"
"Emma, we have so many other, more important things to worry about right now."
"If you just tell me, I won't bring it up again." Emma sounded like a little kid and knew it too, but she also knew all of the signs Regina just gave and her curiosity got the better of her. It was clear Regina was trying hard to avoid Robin, but not in a way that Emma thought she should warn Robin about. Instead, she thought beneath all of the stiffness there was a hint of a smile. Something in Regina's own eyes that spoke of possibility.
"There's nothing to tell. He was here along with the rest of us when we woke from the second curse."
"And?" Emma was not about to let Regina get off that easy.
"And what? I somehow keep running into him, or more likely, he keeps finding ways to run into me and I don't know why." Regina feigned annoyance, but couldn't help herself from smiling at the idea that Robin was intentionally seeking her out. No sooner had this nice thought crossed her mind that others, less lovely thoughts sought to tamp it out. He must want something and if he thought he could get on Regina's good side to get it, he would have another thing coming for him.
"Well, sounds and looks to me that something's going on," Emma replied, nodding to the blush that Regina despised she couldn't control.
"What are you? Two. Robin Hood is nothing more than a thief who thinks if he cozy's up to me he can get what he wants. Well it'll take more than a handsome face before I take orders from a thief."
Emma, ignoring most of what she said, just smiled secretively.
"What now?" Regina huffed, ready for the conversation to be over, swiveled her stool away from Emma and was met with a bewildered Robin.
"Robin? What are you doing back here?"
"So you do think I'm handsome." Robin said, ignoring Regina's question.
"I also said you're crazy," Regina snapped.
"I believe what you said was 'I won't be getting what I want' which is a shame," Robin said calmly.
"Ha! I knew you wanted something." Regina gave Emma an 'I told you so' grin and turned back to Robin. "Well, glad we cleared all that up. Although I am curious, what exactly did you want?" Regina looked at Robin expectantly and he only looked back at her. His blue eyes seemed to catch the sunlight streaming through the diner windows and Regina felt her mind beginning to muddle.
The silence between them grew but both refused to break eye contact. Regina wanted to repeat her question but her throat was dry, her voice caught by the peculiar feeling Robin's stare seemed to bore into her. Regina's mind, though seemingly overwhelmed, began to intensely focus not only on the blue eyes searching her own, but the curve of his nose and the sharpness of his jaw. Her eyes wandered and stopped on his lips and she realized as much as she hated to admit it, she was curious what they'd be like to have pressed up against her own.
Realizing she had been staring, she figured she had two options. Either brush off the entire incident and leave with her dignity, or, give into her impulses and do something she might regret later. In a split second she made her choice and grabbed the lapels on Robin's jacket, pulling him down to her and pressing her lips against his own. She could sense a slight resistance, but when he realized what was happening, there was no longer any hesitation. She found her grip tightening on his jacket as his own hands came to bury themselves in her hair. What was meant to be a small give into temptation, something to satisfy an itch, turned into a moment she would have seared into her mind for the next few decades.
Regina heard a small cough behind her and was snapped back to the diner stool. She pulled away to Robin's displeasure. His face remained centimeters from her own, a goofy smile spread across his lips. Regina couldn't suppress the teasing smile that played at the edges of her own. She could feel eyes on her as she peeked up to find that several of the patrons had turned their attention to the couple, even Ruby was standing with her mouth agape.
"Well," Robin whispered. "Looks like you gave me exactly what I wanted Miss Mayor." Regina rolled her eyes and pulled herself upright, and turned back toward the counter, trying desperately to avoid Emma's reaction.
"Huh, nothing to tell," Was all the haughty blonde said before taking a sip from her coffee.