A/N: Alright, so I have been super excited about this chapter and the next, as before I decided to accept the request in making these John Wick AU's into a set of fics with SQ included, I was already having the idea of giving Regina Sofia's part in the film. With changes of my own of course to fit their parts better. I do so hope you enjoy it! I am following the films accordingly, but just know that however part 4 ends, I will make it work so that our ladies will end up together. ;) I always do.
Chapter 4: The Queen of Morocco
A classic gray Mercedes pulled up front the Continental. A pair of boots stepped their way out as a redheaded woman walked her way up the stairs, all through the lobby. Her trench coat clapping with each step she took. Her blue eyes focused on Eugenia as she stood before her, placing down her small briefcase on top of the counter.
"Welcome to the Continental. How may I help you?" Eugenia asked.
The light clanking of metal sounded as Zelena placed down, not a gold coin, but an even bigger, almost black coin before the older woman. Slowly pushing it forward as she remained silent.
Eugenia's eyes looked down at the coin, taking it within her grasp as she studied the letter A that was engraved on it, with a snake wrapped around it in a circular motion. Knowing well, she worked and served the High Table. She was the one they sent to take care of their affairs.
The older woman placed the coin back on the counter top, picking up the phone as she dialed a number, "Sir." She spoke over the phone, her eyes focused on Zelena, "There is an Adjudicator here to see you. Very well, sir." She hung the call, her eyes looking towards the redhead woman again, "The manager is in the lounge."
Zelena moved on her way, knowing well where Gold was to be found.
"I presume you're here to discuss Emma Swan." Zelena's head turned to the sound of Gold's voice, walking her way towards him while Gold continued, "If that's so, we can make this short. I told her to walk away, she declined to do so. And that's the all of it."
"Ms. Swan broke the rules." Zelena simply replied. Straight to the point.
Gold nodded, his hands placed behind his back as he stood up straight, "Oh, yes. And I haven't got the slightest idea where she is-"
"You're mistaken." There was a smirk on the woman's lips, "I'm not here for Ms. Swan. I'm here because Ms. Swan broke the rules in this hotel. The blood was spilt on the grounds of the Continental. Was it not?"
"Oh, yes." Gold nodded, "As a matter of fact, the body gets colder within these very walls."
"I'd like to see it."
Gold pulled on the gates of the elevator as they came to stop once they reached the furnace room. Being a gentleman in all the extent of the word, he allowed Zelena to step out first. The woman walking out with a great deal of elegance, holding out her hand that held onto her pair of leather gloves as she walked on by. Her head slightly turned towards Gold, as the man walked slightly past her again, leading the way further into the room.
Bodies were being rolled by in black plastic bags.
Both Gold and Zelena stopped at the sight of Robin Lockley's now pale, dead body. He had a white sheet covering his nude state, all but his head.
Gold leaned in, inspecting the now dried up bullet hole that was in the middle of the corpse's forehead.
"Robin Locksley." Zelena's eyes looked from the body to Gold's own eyes, "A newly instated member of the High Table, slain by Ms. Swan while seeking sanctuary in the Continental." She leaned down, inches away from Robin's own face. Her eyes taking in the sight of the bullet hole branded on his forehead, "With a .45 ACP, it appears." Her head tilted, standing back up as her eyes looked to Gold.
"I had no control over Ms. Swan's actions." Replied Gold. His voice lightly echoing throughout the lit furnace room.
"And yet, she lives because you deemed it so, yes?" She asked him, a brow slightly raised.
"Yes." His reply was almost a whisper.
"You have known Ms. Swan for a great many years. It might even be fair to call you friends, yes?" She continued as Gold remained silent, "Instead of stopping her, instead of killing her, you stood by and let her walk away after she shot Robin Locksley in front of you."
"I made her Excommunicado." Gold replied.
"But not before you gave her an hour to escape." Zelena stated.
"She broke the rules in my hotel."
"This is exactly the problem, your hotel. Where is your fealty?" The redhead asked him.
Gold's brows furrowed, "I've been of service for over forty years."
"Under the Table. Serving the Table. Everything is under the Table." Zelena stated once again, "I understand that you have your loyalties, but this cannot be overlooked. Let me be clear. I'm here to adjudge you. You have one week to get your affairs in order."
Gold's brows raised, "Excuse me?"
Zelena's expression remained the same, blank and straight to the point. "At such time, your successor will be named." She continued as the man's brows furrowed, "There are rules. They are the only thing that separate us-"
"From the animals." Gold finished her sentence.
"Yes." She nodded, "You have seven days."
Gold's eyes took in Robin's cold corpse, listening to the redhead's boots as they clicked as she walked a few feet away from him.
Zelena turned back to face the man, "In the meantime, if you need any assistance with your transition, you may look for me in room 217."
"Enjoy your stay at the Continental." Gold smiled a sarcastic smile, which was soon gone as soon as the woman walked out of the room. His eyes falling on Robin's corpse again.
Leroy walked into a room, his pace quickened as he spotted Sidney. He stopped right by him, his voice low as he spoke, "There's an Adjudicator here to see you."
Sidney released a slow sigh, knowing well what was to come.
It wasn't long before Zelena was taken up to the rooftop of Sidney's domain. She nodded her head in thanks to the one who had accompanied her. Her eyes on Sidney now as he turned to look at her with a smile.
"Welcome to my Mission Control." He held onto his umbrella as it began to drizzle, "Brain stem of my operation. The information super flyway. From whence, I control the word on the street, the way of the world."
"With pigeons." Zelena replied, holding onto her own umbrella.
"Yes, you see rats with wings, but I see the internet." Sidney turned to face her again, his pigeons cooing around him, "No IP addresses. No digital footprint. Can't track it, can't hack it, can't trace it."
"Can you get disease from it?" The redhead asked with a lifted brow.
Sidney's brows furrowed, "Well, I wouldn't recommend that you eat one. What the hell do you want?"
"I wanted to see where it didn't happen."
"Where what didn't happen?" He asked.
"Where you didn't kill Emma Swan." Zelena quickly replied.
"I've always been under the impression that contracts and executing them was optional. I have no problem with Emma Swan." Sidney stated.
Zelena turned to face one of Sidney's men who had accompanied her up the rooftop, handing him her umbrella that he soon took. She faced Sidney again, taking a few steps towards him, "And yet, you gave Emma a seven-round Kimber 1911," She placed her briefcase down on top of a cage, "Knowing that she intended to use it to stand against the Table. Yes?"
Sidney looked at her in silence, a tiny smirk on his lips.
Zelena opened the flap to her briefcase, pulling out the same weapon he had given to Emma, holding it by its handle using her fingertips, "This Kimber 1911, to be exact." She placed the weapon back inside her case, standing before Sidney again, "You gave Emma Swan seven bullets, the High Table is giving you seven days."
"Seven days for what, exactly?" Asked Sidney, clearly not amused.
"To settle your affairs and find a new home for your birds. In seven days, you abdicate your throne." Zelena stated, quick and dry.
Low chuckles filled the air as Sidney coil no longer help but to start laughing. Even through Zelena's serious expression. "Oh, my dear." He placed his umbrella down, his eyes locked on hers, "Tell me, do you know what the Magic Lamp is, Adjudicator?" He waved his hand, "Do you know what happens when I wave my hand?" He chuckled, causing Leroy to crack a bit of a smile, "No, there will be no replacement for me on the throne. Because I am the throne. I am the Genie!" He shouted, quickly growing upset, "I am all that you deign not to look at when you walk down the street at night. The Lamp is mine. Mine alone."
"Do not make the mistake of thinking you exist outside the rules, no men do." Zelena stated, "You have seven days."
Morocco was always a beautiful country to Emma. She took in the sights of it as it was overflown by people. Everyone chattering among themselves as they walked in and out of small markets that were placed off to the sides. Food, jewelry and clothes markets. She walked along, holding a piece of paper in hand that contained the name of the new management of the Continental in Morocco. Or rather a nickname. The Queen.
Soon, she entered a sort of alleyway, turning to her right until she came to a complete stop at the sight of an assassin standing in her way. She turned back, not really caring to fight. Walking a few steps until another assassin appeared, blocking her other side. Her eyes looked at a third one that showed up. Their knives swishing as they withdrew them from within their robes.
She quickly turned to one side, as one of the three ran up to her, his knife swishing as he attempted to cut her. Emma dodged his first attack, ducking down from his attempted second attack, grabbing a hold of his arm as she swung him away. She looked to her right, blocking another assassin from coming at her using her forearm. Quickly striking him in the face with her fist, causing him to grunt in pain.
With all groaning in pain, Emma struck the first assassin's throat with an open hand. Spinning her body around, she held his arm underneath hers in a lock, striking his face again using her elbow this time. While performing a kick directly at another assassin's stomach.
She took the knife from the man's hand, spinning around him while still grabbing a hold of his arm. Yanking down hard onto it, the blonde caused him to flip over onto the ground. Landing with a hard felt thud.
She blocked an attempted strike from the other assassin, holding onto his arm, attempting to strike at him with the knife she had taken, only to be blocked by him, while he held onto her forearm, just as she did to his. Emma pushed him up against the wall, the tip of the knife she held only inches away from the man's face. Her hand trembled, while she fought for dominance.
"Enough!" A voice echoed through the darkness of the alley.
The blonde's head turned slowly to glance at the bud of a lit cigarette belonging to a younger man. Aladdin, she remembered his name being. The click of his lighter sounded as he closed the lid of it, placing it back inside his jacket pocket, walking his way towards the assassins.
"I'm afraid our friend here is off limits." Said Aladdin.
The assassin's eyes, who was still being held against the wall by the blonde spat, "But, she's Excommunicado."
Aladdin's eyes moved towards the man, "It seems the manager has granted her amnesty."
Emma's head slowly turned to look at Aladdin once again, unable to believe that someone she had never met before- due to this woman being the new manager- and already she was saving her life. Or theirs.
Aladdin nodded, his eyes on the blonde, "Ms. Emma, would you be so kind as to come with me?"
Both assassin's released each other from their grasp. Emma's head turned towards the other assassin who was just standing to his feet. She handed him his knife back, her eyes on Aladdin who motioned for her to walk alongside him. Which she did, without question.
Aladdin glanced their way before walking beside the blonde, leading the way to his boss.
At the sound of a swish that came from the knife of one of the assassin's, Aladdin quickly turned around, withdrawing his weapon in one quick motion, shooting him right in the head.
"Welcome to Casablanca, Ms. Swan." He calmly said, walking along again with the blonde.
"Thanks." Emma replied, listening to the man's amused laughter.
It wasn't long before the blonde's eyes fell on the Continental of Morocco as her and Aladdin walked their way up. Her mind wondering who this new manager could be and why Aladdin seemed so amused by the idea of her meeting the woman.
"Ms. Emma, it has been a long time since our fine city has been graced with your presence." Said Aladdin.
"I need to talk to-"
"Yes, her Majesty, The Queen, she's expecting you."
Emma was surprised. Not that word had traveled fast of her arrival, it always did, wherever she went. But, of the fact that this mystery woman not only went out of her way to help her out, but now she was just as eager to see her. She was raised with a lot of questions.
Music played throughout the establishment as the doors were held open for them. Carpets were laid out in welcome to whoever stepped foot inside the hotel. Food was being served.
"My, my, welcome to the Morrocan Continental. I hope you'll find it to your taste." Aladdin smiled, walking past a few belly dancers and other guests. "Right this way. Her Majesty waits for no man- or woman." He chuckled.
Aladdin pulled back a single curtain that led to the penthouse of the hotel, holding it for the blonde as she stepped in. "Best of luck, Ms. Emma. Best of luck." He exited the room, chuckling to himself.
Emma turned towards the room again as she heard the door being closed behind her. The room was quiet, but it felt very homey. Carpets were laid out, a fireplace lit, as well as a few candles here and there. The blonde's brows furrowed as she quickly picked up the scent of a familiar smell, a smell that used to be Regina's favorite. Apples and cinnamon. Her head turned to the right, looking down at a single picture of no other than her wife, smiling while she kneeled in between two grown Belgian Malinois. The same type of dog she had once gotten her. Her lips parted at the sight of another picture frame placed just behind that one. A picture of her, Regina and Henry included. Her eyes growing wide.
Her head slightly turned at the sound of growling just before her, followed by another one just behind her by the two dogs that she had seen in the picture with the brunette. It was clearer now. This was Regina's penthouse. She was the new manager. But, how?
Her eyes looked up to see a dark figure of a woman, hiding within the darkness of the room. "Regina?" She heard the sound of a gun cocking, holding her hands up as she saw her wife holding her weapon.
"Hi, Emma." Regina raised up her P365 handgun, aimed right at the blonde.
Emma grunted as a shot was fired her way, right on her suit jacket, which Regina knew held armor within its fabrics. Her body thudding to the floor with a grunt, surprised that her wife actually tried to kill her.
"Regina." Emma grunted, feeling the impact of the bullet, her eyes meeting her wife's, "Are you really going to kill your own wife?"
"I didn't kill you. I just shot you." Regina spat, walking a few steps towards her wife, "Nice suit."
Emma opened up her suit jacket, seeing the bullet clattering on the floor beside her. Her eyes looking up at Regina once again, "Good to see you too." She replied, not in her right to get angry as she could imagine why the brunette was angry herself.
Regina kept her weapon on aim, "Robin Locksley, Emma? Really?"
"I know." Emma replied, holding out her hand.
"I should shoot you in the head right now." Regina spat.
"I know." The blonde sat up with a low grunt until she stood to her feet, "You are in your right to kill me, if you so chose. I won't fight you." She sighed, her eyes stinging with unshed tears that hadn't built up in a long while, as she took in her wife's beautiful and healthy state. Never imagining seeing her this in control of a life within this crazy world that she thought only to be hers. "I killed Robin because he took away the most precious thing I had left. You. Regina, if anything, I think we both owe each a lot of explanations. Starting with you."
The brunette placed her weapon down, her jaw tightening as her eyes locked onto Emma's green ones. She had missed her, of course, but right now she wasn't about to show her that.
Although, it wasn't like she needed to. Emma could always see right through her. Even if she didn't know about her being an assassin all this time.
"Sit." Regina ordered.
Emma's eyes looked towards her two canines that immediately sat as they stood behind their owner.
"I was talking to you, Emma." She moved over to one of her couches, while Emma sat right across from her. Her dogs sitting right before the blonde. "I escaped, that night Robin paid you a visit and blew up our home. I kept tabs on you, knew your every move." She paused, her anger turning into sadness, "I always knew what you did for our son, and as much as I'm glad they suffered death by your hands- it was a stupid thing to do."
"I don't regret doing what I did. I would do it again, ten times over." Emma replied. Her eyes taking in her wife's beautiful presence as she released a much needed breath, "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Same reason you never told me." Replied Regina.
"But, you knew who I was all this time. You knew about my past."
"I wanted out, same as you. I got out long before you did, by completing a task. And, when you came into my life… and then, Henry…" She chuckled, shaking her head as she fought back tears.
Emma wanted to move, comfort her, hold her hand even. But, she wasn't sure how her dogs would react to it. Even if they seemed to like her. But, most importantly, she didn't know how the brunette would react. "Trust me." She whispered, "I know."
The brunette shook her thoughts away, "Why are you really here, Emma?"
"Someone said you could help me. That you'd be willing."
She chuckled, "Help you? As much as I'd love to help you- and believe me, I would- I can't. You're Excommunicado, Emma and that doesn't mean shit here or anywhere in the world. I'm management now, I'm not going to go on a killing spree with you-"
"Regina." Emma said her wife's name in a plea, "I'm not asking you to kill anyone. I'm just asking you to help me. Get me to a man named Berrada. I need to get to him, I know you can do that."
"You want to kill Berrada? My old boss."
"I'm not going to kill him, I just want to talk." Emma stated.
"What could he possibly give to you?" Asked Regina, her brows furrowed.
Emma released a much needed sigh, "Guidance."
Regina shook her head, "Look, I made a deal when I agreed to run this hotel. And that deal said that I had to follow the rules of the Table. If you're not going to kill him, he is going to kill you, and then probably me too for walking you up in there."
Emma nodded, "Consequences."
Regina nodded, "Yeah. Consequences." Her eyes stung with pools of built up tears, "I hate to think of your consequences, Emma. But, I can't go down the same road as you." Her voice broke, "I have missed Henry- missed you day in and day out, hoping that someday I would see you again. I was angry at you for what you did, not to Killian and Liam Jones, but to be stupid enough to kill a member of the High Table. And this right now, sitting before you, wanting to kill you myself is your consequence with me, Emma."
Emma swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting back her own tears. "For the love that you once had for me, I'm only asking you to try."
Regina wiped away at a single fallen tear. A tear that said everything to the blonde. Because she still loved her, just as Emma loved her. And she couldn't turn her own wife away when she needed her the most.
"We leave in ten minutes." She spat, standing up from the couch, leaving the blonde sitting there alone as she went to change.
Emma's head looked at one dog then the other, as both canine's stared right back at her in total silence.