Title: A Beneficial Guise Part 4
Author: Mina Robins
Fandom: Once Upon A Time
Pairing: SwanQueen
Rating: T One-Shot
Summary: Emma is a hunter, a cold blooded survivor, and she's acquired a taste for a certain Mayor. Tonight is the night she has decided to enact on her desires to feast, though maybe she'll entertain these human dreams… At least until she bores of it.
…
-3rd Month-
She was a Vampire at a super market. Not a bloodslave market that bigger cities populated with willing and sometimes glamoured humans. Where you could buy whatever taste you desired, be it young, old, or by race. She never indulged in such a thing because she enjoyed the hunt, the deadly approach towards her prey, the game.
As long as you had the funds you would never have to dirty your hands in this age of technology and bribery, though this was not a proper market, it was not a glorified slaughter house but a legitimate human one. A human scented, human employed and human built fucking Food Mart.
What was she doing with her unlife?
Henry kept skirting in and out of her vision and she was loath to call for him since she could clearly still hear his distinct running stride and monitor his heartbeat. Regina was walking next to her with her BlackBerry opened on a grocery list.
The phone was just there for show since Regina always knew exactly what her pantry needed; the small piece of plastic was a shield against Emma's sometimes unnerving gaze. It was always odd to bring something novel up with Emma, a glass like sheen blanked the other woman's stare while her lips jumped into an indulgent smile. Whatever the issue, Emma would always meet it with a steady unperturbed air and a tad too much caution. If Emma had dealt with a scene in their lives before then the accustomed cheerfulness would be present. It's not like Regina expected Emma to be always enthusiastic but it still felt like a balancing act between the two of them, Regina would read the lines and Emma would respond to their domestic play with the suitable response. If it was something different then Emma required a period of stilted conversations before she acclimatized to the new.
It wasn't difficult living with Emma, if anything it was easy and that was what frightened Regina the most. Emma was punctual, silent and never left a mess in the house. She had taken to filling their pantry with health snacks, and after being asked by Regina once, the laundry was folded in the way a department store would display their wares. Even the dishes were all clean and all shined to perfection and it wasn't like Emma was the one that used any of their fine China. Other than the canvas duffle bag in Regina's guest room and sudden disappearance of Henry's stash of hidden junk food it was like Emma wasn't even there.
Regina was accustomed to fighting tooth and nail for her happiness either by subtle plots or by spilled blood. This relationship was surreally functioning and normal if you ignored the fact that her other half was a Vampire from lore. Emma was always invested in their conversations and an attentive lover. Regina scoffed at the idea that Emma was just attentive, her lover was passionate, the touch always needy and never failing to make Regina feel wanted. It was definitely elicited more out of her than Leopold's clammy fumbling and even Graham's obedient roughness. Emma was focused and the supernatural stamina occasionally made Regina too sated to wrestle for dominance in their bed.
She never failed to be supportive when Regina felt the toll of the now moving days. Her child's mother was a hard working citizen, sociable and kind to a fault. There wasn't anyone against their union, some of the more dimwitted individuals even thought her… Personable. The word was associated with harsh memories of relationships with peasants her mother discouraged, the taste of social propinquity made her uneasy. The other day Ruby had packaged her ordered meal with a smile and said that it was nice to see Emma had 'loosened her up'. The ease which they were slowly beginning to interact with her caused her thoughts to tighten with old tensions; nothing she valued was meant to last. She was waiting for her current situation to hit the denouement and then splinter the way the mirror had when the relationship with her mother had been ended by her own two hands.
"Is everything alright?" Emma questioned as she rubbed the pads of her cool digits over Regina's furrowed brows.
"Of course, dear." Regina was accustomed to the casual way Emma offered touch to comfort her.
Emma hmmmed and then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Is it Gold?"
"No, he hasn't said anything to me in quite some time." Regina made sure that no one was focused on them and then lightly tapped Emma on the nose with her index finger. It was puerile but Emma was looking positively livid at the sheer speculation of Gold's involvement. "I can see malicious intent in your eyes."
"I told you I wouldn't just attack him." Emma moved in and stole a chaste kiss, she could feel the pulse of blood under Regina's skin, and it almost made her fangs slide out. She had better feed soon. "I would hate to disappoint you."
"Perish the thought that a human life could be worth more than my opinion of you." Regina's voice lightened, a teasing smile on her lips.
"Nothing is worth more than you." Emma replied with swift conviction, Regina's opinion of her was the only reason she feigned the guise of humanity.
Regina felt her cheeks warm at the devote notion, a little embarrassed that she reacted like such a bashful teenager whenever Emma said such things. She shifted the conversation, not wanting to be caught so smitten out in public viewing. "I was thinking of inviting Kathryn and David over for dinner, now that he's had his priorities straightened."
Regina wanted to build a better relationship with both of Emma's parents to give back at least some of what she had stolen. Maybe a bit of family time for Emma would ease her own guilty conscience. She had no intention of bringing up the past for the obliviously mismatched couple and Emma deemed the truth irrelevant. Regina could stand the naïve country bumpkin and even encourage Emma to spend more time with Snow but at the end of the day, Regina would rather Snow and David remained forever separated, a selfish part of her unable to allow the bane of her youth to gain real happiness.
At some point Kathryn had somehow maneuvered into the small spectrum of people she gave a care for and it made it difficult for her to intentionally harm the unknowing woman. It was an odd sensation, this nonsense of being friends and actually caring about the wellbeing of people that if given the truth would want nothing more but her head.
"That's… nice?" Emma was unsure of how she should feel about having her Prince of a father over for dinner but she supposed it was an occasion she should look forward to? Or be weary off? She couldn't care less but decided to go for the excitedly weary route. Regina must be trying to show her the importance of family or some other nonsensical bond that human's valued. While she didn't actually mind when Regina had sat with her after she came back to the den after work- god she had a fucking steady job instead of using mesmer when she was in need of income- and unexpectedly shared a bit about her childhood, Emma was more reluctant in delving into her own past.
The memories were filled with fear and loathing, of cold scratchy beds and screaming children. Of father and mother figures that cared less for her wellbeing and more for the cash that came with her head count. Of never quite being full on days when school wasn't in session because there were no warm meals at lunch time provided for the lower income families when left alone in her foster homes. She was a meal ticket for her keepers and not much else if she was lucky. If she wasn't enough to just be a piggy bank then she would be another kind of entertainment. How many cigarette burns could be brushed off as coincidental?
But it wasn't always bad; there was a short period, when she had been chosen by a perfect couple that had expensive toys and a plush bed meant only for her. They had all the book smarts on child rearing and certainly could provide the best in the world. But they looked at her expectantly, like she was a car, and they had yet had time to figure out all its features. As if all their marriage and relationship required to regain worth was for them to play house with their new doll. When she wasn't able to catalyze a change in their marriage they had gotten an annulment and Emma had been returned to foster care like a defective piece of merchandise. She hadn't lived up to what they had hoped of her and was thrown back in the pile of rejects.
She stood up for herself and wouldn't let weaker kids get bullied in her proximity. She was labeled a proper trouble maker, meaning she got pushed to lower levels of the system that came free of charge with degrading living conditions.
Then on a coincident neither lucky nor unfortunate, one of those places had a pair of siblings that were well-meaning dealers, giving a cap or two of ecstasy to Emma and provided her with an escape into a world where everyone wanted and loved her for just being her. They didn't expect her to fix marriages and never replaced her with biological siblings. She was important and the people around her actually cared. Then when she got out of the system her dabblings in drugs turned into a full out indulgence. Life after that was hardly a life worth living.
She was happy for a short moment but she knew it was pathetic. She was never beaten, never really physically or sexually abused. At least not to the point comparable to some of the more horrific cases. She had always just been at the bar median, never above and never below. She had a childhood that many others had survived through to become upstanding citizens.
And then there was her, a score in the statistics, what a disappointment.
How the fuck was she supposed to tell all of that shit to Regina when her past only made her laugh now, she was just so detached from the suffering, and pathetic insecurities. She supposed she could just dead pan her history out like a long monologue and chalk it up to closing oneself off to painful experiences? She really would rather not have to cry again, leaking precious fluids was not a good practice to get into
She just wasn't able to start, not even with Regina's focus on the memories of her own past and away from Emma's hesitant pause. This normally occurred when they were leaning against the headboard of their bed. Regina would open up a folder from her office and neither pry nor bully, her eyes would be tolerant and undemanding as her warm hand pressed lightly onto Emma's knee. Regina would stroke her delicate fingers over the veins that flowed underneath Emma's pale skin and calmly turn a page in her documents. Regina would share and yet never ask for reciprocation. Emma could guess what she was supposed to do but Regina had yet to outright ask her to comply so now they were at a standstill. Though Emma never felt like she was obligated to share her life history, she just felt oddly comforted in knowing that someone else cared and would listen.
"Oooff." Henry bounced off her hip when he turned a corner too quick and she had been too lazy to dodge him. "Sorry, Emma."
"It's alright, kid." Emma gave him a wink as she ruffled his hair. "Though I might have to give you a speeding ticket, I think you broke some by-laws during that last race down the aisle."
Regina turned her focus onto the pair, she would normally chastise Henry for running indoors but he was finally not outright declaring his hatred for her. It made her a little unsure how to equal out discipline while staying on her child's good side and lying about being an Evil Queen.
Henry blinked up at Emma and then to Regina, scowling expectantly for the reprimand from his adoptive mother. "It's not like anything I do could compare to the things she's done." When Regina's eyes sparked in pain at the weary resentfulness in her son's voice, Emma shot the child a displeased frown.
When a youngling dissatisfied their maker they were physically punished; the amount of damage sustained by the childe depended upon the level of disobedience. Vampires were sturdy creatures with little emotional capability, but suffering and pain was still part of their existence. Pain receptors were handy in notifying any creature of its eminent danger. Pain was quick and easy to remind one's young on how to properly act. Chains of pure silver would sear out any delinquent thought. Though, if Emma recalled correctly, humanity tended to deal with their young's insolence with in a more gentle method.
"Henry, a moment, now." She pulled the kid off to the side, giving the other woman a nod before she motioned away.
Friendly demeanor be damned, why was he being so intentionally cruel to someone as sweet as Regina? Emma's eyebrows creased together in disbelief at her own thought pattern and glowered. What she meant was if the kid kept causing Regina such anguish what would that do to the quality of the blood? Rejection or heartbreak tended to have a more bittersweet burning taste. No, thank you.
Dropping down to one knee before her human child Emma placed a consoling hand onto his shoulder much like the one Gold had tried on her earlier. "You know that was rude, don't you." She tried to keep her voice firm but not to let too much of her displeasure through.
Henry reminded her of how she had been, all woe is me and self-adsorbed. The whole world owed him everything since he had endured those 'terrible' years of Regina's nurturing care. He took no pleasure from having a warm house with a roof over his head and a full belly. He did not appreciate the nightlight in his room, or the new clothing and always fresh linen. Or even have the least bit of consideration for the eternal depth of patience Regina always had at the ready and hopingly offered.
"You keep telling me it's okay but it isn't, she's still, she has to be evil." If she wasn't classified as a villain in his mind then what could justified his horrid behaviour these last months since even before Emma's arrival? Henry wasn't a spiteful child just one that truly believed in right and wrong and his mother was molded in the roles as black as coal in his understanding and thus all she did was caste in a dire shade of evil.
"Even if your mother was The Evil Queen," at the eagerness in the child's eyes for being believed in, Emma quickly continued, "in a past life, she has reformed now."
"Then why won't she just lift the curse and send everyone home?" Henry quizzically grilled. He may have agreed to the idea that perhaps Emma was supposed to save Regina too but it didn't mean that his adoptive mother deserved it.
"Because she can't and let's not forget she actually provided a bunch of Disney characters in the rural ages with a life of luxuries they could never have dreamed off." Emma tilted her head and hoped she appeared understanding and a little bit teasing. She better lighten her grip on the kid's shoulder. "C'mon, indoor plumbing and showers, all they had were streams and kettle warmed waters and don't even get me started on the candies and pizza you so love, all you'll be getting in that land would be apples and some kind of pastry." That would be so good for his blood.
Henry giggled at the enthusiasm which Emma had for fresh fruit and vegetables and shook his head at her attempt. Sometimes his birthmother was odd like that, her voice inflecting at the wrong times and she was unusually joyous with him and never mad. Today was the first time he had even seen her scowl. "Yeah, I guess."
"And let's not forget the most important thing." She waited for him to look up and make eye contact. "Your mother may be The Evil Queen, but somehow she still loves you."
There was a long pause as Henry rapidly blinked his eyes. His mother was a lot of things but she certainly couldn't love him, if she did she wouldn't have sent him to get help like he was crazy. He wasn't crazy, he couldn't be wrong. But images of each deteriorating encounter with his mom seemed to prove exactly the opposite. He should expect manipulation but the tears that gleam just at the corners of his mother's eyes were real enough. How many times had he made his mom almost cry, the tears pooling together to reflect the evening lamplight from outside of his bedroom window. He wouldn't turn away from her, wouldn't trust her with his back until he became too exhausted of the quiet heartbreak that she strained to stop from crossing her face. She was always trying, but unable to shield him from the anguish that crushed into her heart at every rejection from her only son.
"She doesn't really, though," Henry countered; his hands stuck into his jean pockets, back crunched, a classic picture of a delinquent reluctantly close to admitting wrong. His voice was a little quieter than before. "Not really."
"She raised you and loved you every single one of those days, you know how I can tell when people lie? Well, your mother was telling the truth, she loves you a lot and that's why every time you say something cruel she never does anything wicked back, you push and punch and she just takes it all in the hopes you'll grace her with what a normal child should give their parents, respect."
The memories continue, of the times he had acted out and yet Regina only seemed to watch him in desperation instead of unleashing the nastiness he's seen her drench to all others but himself and as of late, Emma. When had he started treating his mother like this? When had returning to the mansion stopped representing safety, of hugs in the hallway that made him feel cherished, of a home and a mother. When did his cruel words cease making his mother cringe and only blink dejectedly back at him. Henry dropped his own gaze when he felt hot shame blister on his cheeks. He scuffed his shoes against the linoleum floors; he supposed he had been taking advantage of Regina's leniency as of late. But didn't her crimes before allow him to invoke such treatment? When did it all begin though, this jump from love to blind hatred and temper? Of everything Henry could recall, this was one issue he had never debated with. There was no reason to question the unequalled fury in his actions, in the shiver of fear that wrecked his body at the approach of his mother. But when… When had it all begun, something had shocked him, shot right through his body and expanded in his chest cavity, a monster in its own right. It was hard to picture the exact moment this anger grew but there was the notion that it may had started the very first day his book was given to him.
"You're not a cruel child, kid, so stop acting like one." Emma added.
She had grown up with despicable foster siblings and thankfully this child was of no sort, he was just confused and frustrated but something shifted, just slightly enough that the lectured gradually eased his expression into one of contriteness. This talk should have happened months ago but she had no clue how to approach it and had to watch a dozen intensively boring parenting videos before even managing to pull off this discussion. Ugh, the things she does for her games.
When they returned, Regina pretended to reread the shopping list but was pleasantly startled when Henry wrapped his arms around her waist. Their embraces had gotten cold and robotic since the day he began reading that horrid book. Though even if his arms were light around her body, they were there willingly and not coerced.
Henry watched in silence as absolute joy caressed his mother's sometimes haunted features and felt his lips timidly match hers. He felt his stomach twist and turn into knots and imagined the points of the spiny hatred lessen and dissolve. It was like something murky inside his chest popped and wheezed as it deflated. The intense annoyance he had felt since the moment the book had been in his hands lightened.
He gave a tight squeeze with his arms and bent so that that top of his head of pressed against his mom's stomach; he was a bit too tall for the maneuver but only released his hold when Regina had shifted her fingers through his hair like she did in a happier time before the discovery of the Enchanted Forest. He self-consciously let go after realizing that they were in a supermarket with other occupants in the store. He worried that if Mary Margaret saw him hugging his mom and woke up as Snow White she might be angry with him for siding with his mom. Would it count as a betrayal?
He shuffled contemplatively to the side and then moved to walk in front of the pair while placing one hand at the edge of the shopping cart in a show of camaraderie, Regina turned and gave Emma a watery smile and mouthed, 'thank you.'
Emma nodded and simply placed her hand on her lover's cheek for a moment before turning her attention to the miscellaneous sets of merchandise. Regina's pure delight was severely problematic considering how the display caused Emma to experience an unexpected flutter of pleasure in her cold heart.