My head clunks on my desk loudly, my breath leaves my lungs in a long sigh. Three tickets, one arrest, and a few noise complaints later, and my week has finally come to an end. For a town with a little over a few hundred people, they sure do seem to have a lot of problems, especially problems that end up involving me. Luckily for them, a former criminal can't really judge their petty crimes. I had done much worse in my so-called prime with Neal, and even now the urge to take a spare donut hits me hard when I least expect it. The years growing up on the streets had made stealing necessary, and even now those urges still come up. So nevertheless, my right to judge other people never really comes up. Meanwhile, David, who despite his best intentions, can never really quite relate to the townspeople like I can. If only my only problem could be to be too righteous. What a concept.
Just as I am about to leave and return home, a loud and shrill phone call rings through the silent station. I answer it and hope for my own sake that it is a prank call coming from a pre-pubescent child. Of course, it is not. My head reels as I listen to a long complaint about Grumpy apparently causing a scene at the local dive bar. I listen to this woman complain patiently, resigning myself to going down to the bar, and after a few minutes of this woman's loud screeching, she finishes with a whiny "thank you" and hangs up.
The only word that comes to mind is why. This word repeats and repeats in my mind as I zip-up my boots and throw on my red jacket. It's freezing out, it's eight o'clock, and I'm tired. I just want to go home and cuddle up on my couch. But no, the life of the savior is never that simple. Grumpy can't hold his liquor for one bloody night. Jefferson can't hold his temper. It never ends. For once, I half-heartedly wish a big bad would come alone. At least they're consistent and don't make me go down to a bar on a friday night.
Opening the door to the station, a gust of wind hits my whole body, causing me to shiver. Turning around, I pull the keys out of my back pocket and lock the door, effectively locking the heat inside, with me retaining none of it. My legs haven't warmed up enough to run, but nonetheless, I shuffle my feet, barely lifting my heels off the ground and make my way to my car. I feel like a small child, dragging their feet in protest. But alas, I'm an adult and I have a job to keep.
Closing the door to my bug, I dial up the heat, and press my fingers against the screen. For such an old car, the heat does come on sooner than expected and I heave a sigh of relief as my fingers find a source of warmth. Feeling warmth begin to return to my body, I start the car, and head on my way to the bar. Luckily for me, the bar rests on the outside of the town, close to the town line, and I have a few minutes until I get there.
In a few moments, I arrive at the bar, making my way quickly to the entrance. As soon as I open the doors to the bar, all the noise stops. I understand, I really do. I'm the buzzkill. I remember a time when I would be the one sitting at the bar, trying to enjoy a drink, and the police would come in investigating. It was at the time when I was with Neal, and we both didn't have legal ID's. Me, because I was only seventeen and couldn't legally drink. And Neal, because technically, he didn't exists in this world. Luckily for them, I could care less if some nineteen year old was drinking his first drink in the bar. I'm only here to deal with a drunken idiot, who is harassing other people in the bar.
Wasting no time, I make my way straight over to where Grumpy resides. Unlike everyone else, the dwarf hasn't noticed me yet. He is still very much enjoying the leisures of his drink, clueless to his pending arrest for public indecency. Just as I am about to approach the dwarves, a rough hand suddenly pulls my arm aggressively back.
Not wanting to deal with another unruly drunk, I turn around quickly, bracing myself to both scold the person for grabbing my arm so hard and to potentially grab them water to sober them up.
What I lay my eyes upon when I turn momentarily shocks me. A 6'4 man towers over me, wiggling his black eyebrows seductively at me. I guess this is his attempt at flirting? The urge to vomit hits me fiercely and my stomach feels queasy at this man's flirtations. But before I can politely, but vehemently dismiss his attraction, the man speaks. As if I could hate him any more.
"So, can I get you a drink beautiful? I mean, I saw you checking me out on your way through this place, and I figured, why not indulge a pretty thing like you" he smirks.
A loud laugh sounds in the room, drawing a few turned heads. It isn't until a second later that I realize that the laugh is coming from me.
Apparently I can't control my brain to mouth function. The whole reason I am laughing in the first place is because of how ridiculous his statement is. Here I was just doing my sheriffing business, and I get accused of checking out a man. As if I would check out anyone other then Killian.
"Look I'm not interested Mr...?" It suddenly strikes me that I don't even know this man's name.
"Gaston" he says with a rather exaggerated puffing of his chest.
My eyes go wide at the realization. Handsome, gruff looking man with an unbearable personality and a pea sized brain. I can't believe I hadn't noticed right away.
"Ya, I'm defiantly not interested" I say in an authoritative voice, hoping Gaston will get the hint and flirt with the next walking girl with a vagina and a pretty face.
Gaston, to my surprise, simply shrugs and opens his arms to let me pass through. Huh, I think. Maybe some people are better than their reputations? Just as I'm about to leave and walk towards the corner of the bar, I hear one word. Bitch.
Turning around ready to rep remand him not only for his terrible manners, but also for his lack of tact, I am beat to the punch. Literally.
I turn in horror to see Killian punch Gaston straight in his jaw. The man, in turn, falls to the floor knocked out cold.
Who knew for such a large man, that he could be knocked out cold by a single punch? I couldn't count the amount of times I had remained steal eyed and steadfast after being attached, often by men twice my age or girls twice my height in my youth.
The first thing I register is shock. The second emotion I register is gratitude. Gratitude that someone, especially an ex, would defend my honor. But I suppose Killian has as always been different. Even now it was hard for me to consider him an ex when I was still so deeply and passionately in love with him.
Laying eyes on him in the first time in weeks is a relief. He looks the same in his black leather jacket and tight ripped jeans, and similarly he acts the same way as well; always with passion, and often in fury.
Becoming the dark one had simply deepened and pushed forward all of his anger and hatred. I can't blame him really, I know how it feels.
Just now I am registering, once again, all the eyes looking at me. Or us rather, since Killian is standing in front of me and on top of Gaston's still unconscious form.
Snapping into sheriff mode and trying to remain in control of the situation, I grab on to Killian's arm and tug him through the bar and lead him outside.
"What is wrong with you?!" I say in the loudest voice I've ever used with him.
"What Is wrong with me, what is wrong with you?" He retorts, his fingers balling up in fists.
I walk over to the brick wall that covers the outside of the building, resting my head against the concrete, all the fight rushing out of my body at once.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" I sat quietly, trying to hold back the tears.
He lets out a long sigh, the fight leaving him too apparently. He comes slowly to my back and rests his hands softly on my shoulders, coaxing me to turn. He lifts two fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up and look him in his eyes.
"What" I ask in a quite voice, trying not to betray all my feelings at once.
"I'm still mad at you, you know" he says in a tone that doesn't match his words as he twirls "You make it so difficult sometimes".
I let out a small laugh, which he echoes, leaning in further and resting his forehead against mine. Suddenly, the air between us almost becomes tangible. The energy floating between us like it always had, and I suspect always will. He is leaning forward, his eyes closing and his lips seeking mine. I can't help but lean in, his kisses like an anecdote to my sadness.
Just as our lips are about to meet, a loud voice screeches through the air.
"Baby!" Mila calls loudly, searching for Killian no doubt.
This breaks our spell, reminding me of just how broken up we really are. He's moved on. He has someone new, or old, I guess, If you want to think about it. Still the shock of going from hot to cold, from hope to hopelessness, hasn't quite hit me, and i still feel shocked.
"Baby?" I let out, mostly to myself.
"Baby" he whispers softly, shaking his head, and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. That one word, no matter how trivial and overused, meant something to us. At least it used to. Anger and shame flood through my system, and suddenly the ability to breathe becomes lost on me, and I can tell that a panic attack is about to assume.
I can only say one word, as I push my hands against my chest, realising myself from his embrace, from him. I practically growl out the word in disgust. Baby.
I don't look back as I start to run. Literally and figuratively running away from my problems. I hit someone sharply as I run by, tears clouding up my vision. I realize now, seconds after it happens, that I just hit Milah. Normally, I would apologize, but honestly, I can't get myself to even look at the woman who is in effect stealing the affections of my one true love, even if it was my fault in the first place.
Making my way past her, I break out into a full on sprint. Forgetting about my duty's as a cop, excusing my crazy appearance to the other people walking in the street, I get into my car, locking the doors and in effect, locking everyone else out.
At last, I have a chance to actually breathe. I know I shouldn't be driving with blurred vision, so I manage to take a few deep breaths and dab my eyes with a tissue. Finally, I am ready to drive, and I put the keys in and turn on my car.