So... yep, it's offical! It has become a multi chaptered story. I have a few things in mind that I want to write about but other than that, I'm also open to suggestions and ideas! :)
They were standing on the beach for a while, looking at the waves of the sea, hand in hand, enjoying the sounds of nature and early morning.
After a few minutes, Zelena finally broke the silence.
"Are you really going to help me?"
"Of course I am. I already said that," Ruby smiled at her and squeezed her hand in assurance.
"Alright. But… I'm not really sure how you can help me. Or what you can help me with."
"Let's take a walk and we can talk about it, okay?" Ruby started to walk and pulled Zelena behind her by her hand.
They walked a few feet in silence. Ruby was thinking about what to ask, how to ask it and how to approach the whole problem. And also, most importantly, what the real problem was?
"So…," she trailed of, still not sure how to start this conversation.
"So what? I never had you for the shy one," Zelena smirked at her.
"I'm not! And I'm glad you're in a better mood!" She poked her with her elbow and laughed. "Is it because of me?" She leaned closer and smirked.
"Don't think too highly of yourself, Miss Lucas."
"Now you sound like Regina. How much time do you spend together? Or is it a Mills thing?" Ruby laughed and narrowed her eyes at the other woman.
"Not much. And I don't know." Her mood sank again with the mention of her sister.
"Okay. So… What exactly do you need me to help you with? I mean, obviously, with getting your magic under control. But why is your magic going so crazy lately? You were such a good witch, how did this happen?"
"Were, yeah, thanks." She grimaced.
"Sorry. You still are, just, you know…" Ruby tried apologetically.
"Yes, I do. As you probably noticed, and as you know, magic is emotion. And when I get upset or angry, I sometimes lose control of it. Unfortunately, it happens more and more often lately."
"Okay… when did it happen for the first time? You had gotten pretty emotional before and you had no troubles with it."
"Are you hitting on that one evening when I threw Regina through the clock tower?" Zelena laughed, it was probably the first time in a long time.
"Yeah… "
"That was pretty awesome, wasn't it?" She smirked
"Zelena!" Ruby smacked her across her arm in pretended shock. "You are supposed to be good!"
"I know," she sighed, "but I still enjoy a little bit of badness here and there. Besides, it's just a memory, I'm not going to do that again."
"That's very nice of you. So, when did you lose control of you magic for the first time?"
"About two weeks after I promised Regina and Emma that I won't use magic and will be on my best behaviour." Zelena pulled a face when she remembered that silly promise.
"And you haven't used magic since then?" Ruby asked, frowning as she was trying to think.
"I made a promise, remember."
"That was not my question."
"I – tried not to. I didn't the first two weeks. Then that accident happened and it felt so good, God!" Zelena groaned. She let go of Ruby's hand and run both of her hands over her arms. She could feel her magic tickling just underneath her skin.
"That sounds almost dirty," Ruby smirked and poked the other woman with her shoulder.
"Why, I heard you are the one with a dirty mind," Zelena smirked back at her, her eyes flashed with something that almost looked like lust.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Ruby made a serious face. "Besides, I thought we're talking about you, not me."
"Of course, darling. So after that incident I realized I can't manage not to use magic because it feels so good. It's been a part of me for so long and I can't just give it up. It is like giving up a liver! So I use magic every now and then for simple things, like making the water boil, starting fire in a fireplace. But only when I'm alone. If someone would see me, they would immediately tell Regina or Emma and I'd be screwed." She sighed and stuck her hands in her jeans pockets.
"Why don't they want you to use magic?"
"Because they think I can only be good if I don't use it. They think my magic is bad and as long as I'm not good, my magic won't be good."
"Okay…" Ruby prolonged the one word as she was trying to think. "When the first curse broke and everyone found out who Regina really was, they were afraid of her and her magic, obviously. So Henry made her promise she wouldn't use it as a proof that she's good."
"So she is doing the same with me…." Zelena grunted in realization.
"Yeah. But a lot of things has changed since then. I'm no expert for magic but I think it depends on what you use it for."
"Maybe. Maybe my magic is really bad and I shouldn't use it. You saw the sand storm…"
"Zelena, listen to me," Ruby stopped and pulled the other woman's arm to do the same. When they were finally facing each other, she continued. "Your magic is not bad. You are not bad. You just have to use it for the good things, that's all."
"How can I use it for the good things when I'm not allowed to use it at all." Zelena snapped and anger appeared in her eyes for a moment.
"I think we're gonna start with that. I think that is what causes all the problems." Ruby said confidently.
"I don't think I understand." Zelena seemed confused.
"It's simple. As you said, magic is a part of you, it's like giving up a liver. You can't just do it. If you don't use it, it's gonna pile up and then it bursts out. So you should use it, from time to time, for good things only!" Ruby emphasized the last part but made sure she said it teasingly.
"Tell that to Regina." Zelena mumbled, kicking the tip of her shoe in the sand.
"I'll. Or you will."
"She is never going to agree to that!"
"She will, I promise. We'll explain it to her and I'll use my puppy eyes and she's gonna let you."
"Puppy eyes? Is there something between you and the mayor we don't know about?" Zelena smirked at her.
"No, why? Have you seen me in my wolf form? My eyes are pretty irresistible." Ruby grinned.
Zelena rolled her eyes and started to walk again.
"Don't expect to use magic as you had before. There are probably gonna be some rules, which I think is okay." Ruby continued to plan their strategy. "We should probably suggest some ourselves, to show that we mean well."
"Like?" Zelena raised her eyebrow.
"Like that you won't use it alone, only when there's someone there with you."
"You mean yourself?" It wasn't really a question, it almost sounded like Zelena wanted to make sure.
"If you let me," Ruby smiled at her.
Zelena allowed herself a small smile but didn't say anything.
They walked for a while before she asked the next question.
"Ruby?"
"Hm?"
"When did you and me become us?"
Ruby frowned but stayed silent for a while. When? But also, how?
"I- don't know. I'm sorry, I just want to help you and I'm so glad and relieved that I finally told you how I feel about you and I'm kinda excited about it that I could just kiss you and never stop." Ruby widened her eyes when she realized what she said. "Oops." She grinned and looked up at the other woman from under her long lashes.
Zelena certainly didn't expect this.
"That… is a very nice compliment." She didn't look at the brunette, just kept walking forward.
"Zelena, wait! I'm sorry, okay! I had no idea that you're such a prude! I just said I want to kiss you!"
Zelena stopped fiercely and turned around.
"Not everyone is like you, Miss Lucas! You found me sitting here alone just about a half an hour ago. You told me you liked me. Do you expect me to fuck you here on the beach?" There was dangerous fire in her eyes. They were standing just inches apart, breathing heavily. The wind arose again, running angrily along the beach, chasing the sand.
"No, you're right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that and I didn't mean to imply anything." Ruby was talking loudly, making sure Zelena can hear her over the wind. She took a small step closer, "Please, stop it," she reached out her hand, touching the other woman's arm gently.
"Don't touch me!" Zelena cried out and the wind got stronger.
"Okay, I won't!" Ruby took a step back. "Can you stop it, please?" She was trying to talk softly but with the urgency in her voice.
Zelena looked around helplessly.
"I can't!"
"Yes, you can! You did it before." Ruby wished she could hug her and hold her tight and swing her like before. But she doesn't want to be touched so she had to come up with something else.
"Come on, look at me. Look at me, sweetie." She waited for her to look at her before she continued. She had to yell, otherwise her words would get lost in the wind. "Look me in the eyes. Good. And now just breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. That's good. Just focus on my eyes, don't look at anything else. And breathe. Slowly. In and out. In and out." Slowly, the wind started to calm down. It took another minute or two before it was calm again.
"You did it," Zelena breathed out with a surprise.
"No," Ruby smiled at her, "you did. I just helped a little bit." She had almost tears in her eyes. She just spent a few minutes looking into the blue orbs and was surprised with all the emotions she saw there. Fear. Desperation. But also determination and a quick flick of hope.
"Come on, we should go. And maybe we can stop by at Regina's and talk to her." Ruby poked her cheerfully and started to walk back.
"Ruby? Would you like to try?." Zelena said quietly.
"Try what?" The brunette looked at her confused.
"You… said you liked me."
"I do."
"And you also said you would like to kiss me."
"Also true," Ruby grinned at her, still not really sure what this was about.
"I would like to kiss you too. But… I want to do things right, for once. So, I want to try… us. Do you think that's possible?" Her voice was hopeful, she wasn't really sure if this was what the brunette wanted or if she just wanted to… kiss her and more.
"I'd love that," Ruby pushed the disobedient red curl away from Zelena's face in a gentle gesture. "And I promise I'll take it slowly. Despite what you heard about me, I can behave." She smirked and winked at her.