For ledem10 who requested fluffy Dark!Emma ficlet.
BTW, if you are twitter enabled, do me a solid and send a tweet to sqawards for fave writer with my name attached, please.
"I'm serious!" Emma raised her hands in exasperation. "I seriously have a new power as the Dark One, it's so weird. Help me figure it out, please. "
Regina clicked her tongue softly, debating if whether she should listen to the woman in front of her right now. Emma was managing her powers as the Dark One and resisting the darkness and all the shit that came along with the title so far, but Regina knew it was important for her to be there for her. Though, as this was the twentieth time the Sheriff had burst into her office breathless and frantic regarding a new 'power' she had supposedly pick up in her newfound evil state of being.
Truthfully, if Regina was being honest, these new powers weren't all that impressive. Sure, Emma had mastered sleeping potions, poofing, fireballs- things needed for everyday magical tasks, but now she was kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel. To be more exact: the Dark One was mastering parlor tricks.
She knew Emma's mind was racing with thoughts and it was difficult for her to sort out her normal emotions from the evil impulses that plagued her so Regina was exercising patience. It was helpful for her to act as a sounding board and mentor for all things dark, glittery and magical. Helping to sort things out was really the least she could do, that was the case…until Emma showed off her masterful magic power of being able to juggle really well. Unfortunately, no one in town was likely to hire the Dark One for a child's birthday party or comedy act so her new skill went unused.
Decidedly, Regina stood up from behind her desk and crossed the room to her hospitality station. "I stocked up on root beer. Care for a drink?"
"Thanks," Emma said in nervous acceptance and relaxed minimally as Regina motioned her to sit on the loveseat. She was fiddling her hands together when Regina sauntered over and handed over a nice cold bottle of root beer. "I could have got the bottle tops, I practiced."
"With your teeth?" Regina snickered.
"With magic," Emma informed her with a faux dourness that she had taken on when she became the Dark One. She would suddenly get all heavy and serious for no reason. Regina didn't approve of the woman's theatrics, but she recognized it came with the territory and could be much worse. She shivered lightly as she thought about Rumple's constant annoying flourishes.
Regina sat down with a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose, before Emma nudged her with her shoulder and held up her root beer. "Cheers," she clinked their bottles together lightly.
"Ah, a toast to your new magical power," Regina couldn't help but smile as she saw Emma's mood turn sheepish. She knew that look, it was Emma doubting herself. Constant self-doubt was yet another nasty side effect of the Dark One's curse. The Mayor wouldn't let it stand, even if she had to humor her. "What is it? I can't wait to see."
Emma took a long a drink of her soda. She tipped her head back farther than necessary and Regina watched her throat bob as she swallowed. When she finished her drink she wiped her mouth. "Okay, so I woke up with the power to interpret dreams."
After a moment of anticipation, Regina raised her eyebrows and said in a way she hoped was encouraging, "interesting."
"What did you dream about last night?" Emma asked eagerly. She put her soda bottle between her thighs and rubbed her hands together like she was preparing to do something magnificent.
After a long moment, Regina stuttered and blinked before she responded, "Uh, I think I dreamed about you actually, Emma."
Their eyes met and Emma looked hopeful. "What about me?"
Regina tucked a stray strand of hair behind her eye and hunched her shoulders as she thought about it. "It was raining. It was raining really hard actually. I was stuck out in the storm: soaked and cold. The thunder and lightning was getting closer and I remember feeling really…" Regina gestured with her hands, unable to put words to the feeling. She turned her head and looked at Emma. 'And then you appeared and offered me shelter under your umbrella."
That earned her a cute head tilt and wide warm smile from the blonde. "I'm nice like that."
"Yes, well, by all means let me just pin on a badge of honor for the kindness of your dream being as projected from my subconscious," Regina replied sarcastically, and gave a throaty chuckle. She sipped her root beer and turned an inquisitive gaze on Emma, who seemed to be lost in concentrated thought.
Her voice sounded vulnerable to her ears, "So. What does my dream mean?"
Regina leaned closer as Emma scooted in, and put her empty bottle on the coffee table. Then she put her palm on Regina's thigh; the gesture didn't go unnoticed.
"I think the rain symbolizes like bad feelings and emotions, and the umbrella is protection from that. So it means you trust the person offering you the umbrella."
"We know that already, of course I trust you…" Regina rolled her eyes, but only because she was trying to front against the intimacy she felt with Emma.
"You dream of me," Emma teased, but then her face fell and twisted into an expression of sadness. She sniffed and surged forward pressing her face against Regina's shoulder. "It's re-really sweet of you that you dreamed of me protecting you from ba-bad things."
Other hallmark side effects of the Dark One's curse manifested in low self-esteem and sudden mood swings. (Along with increased sexual urges, but Regina didn't like to dwell on that even as Emma's hot hand crept higher up her thigh.)
Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's body and hugged her tight. The Dark One needed more hugs than five year old Henry after his first day at school, but that was okay. And even if Regina loathed admitting it, she enjoyed being there to care for the woman and offer comfort…in any manner needed.
These falling tears and heaving shoulders weren't so much from sadness. The Dark One just felt things very deeply due to the evil hormones racing all around up in her. Regina understood it all too well.
"Of course I dream of you," Regina whispered against her ear as she Emma reached up and tugged on Regina's hips, practically pulling her onto her lap. She gave a little squeak at the unexpectedness, but couldn't help but react to the needy gesture. "Emma, I have to ask you something?"
Emma looked up ready to answer whatever question, and Regina wiped her eyes with the pads of her thumbs. She smiled and stroked her hair lovingly.
"Have you mastered the magic of tarot card readings yet?"