Bonjour Ruffletes! This update to the '12 days of Outlaw Queen AU's' is for MoreThanWants! I couldn't be more thrilled to post it, however I shall give fair warning. It kind of took on a life of it's own! I was literally getting ready in the bathroom and it hit me and I sat on the cold floor and wrote it! I had originally planed it to be light and humorous but then these college versions of our beloved characters just came out in me and I had to write them like this! Remember, it is an AU! I do hope you enjoy! And a big THANK YOU to all of you that went over, faved, followed and commented on Warm Hearts! It's next update shall be on Wednesday to answer a few peoples questions all at once! If you haven't read it, take a gander but only if you like snow, the holidays, DimplesQueen and a whole lot of warm fuzzy feels!
prompt: Could you do a college AU? Like, I've seen them in my head sitting around a table in a coffee shop (them being OQ and various ensemble) and throwing quips and stuff back and forth at each other. I even have a little blurb, if you don't mind.
"'Yes, I thought so,' Robin hummed, rubbing his hand over his stubbled jaw.
'What are you, a psych major?' Regina snapped darkly, glowering over the rim of her cup of black Black Magic dark roast."
The Black Magic coffee house opened early and closed late.
It was small and secluded, located on the ground floor, hidden below the library, back behind the music buildings and far enough away from the football fields so that melodramatic musicians and literary thinkers had a place to go and think their own solitary thoughts without the interruption of annoying jocks or the soon-to-be dropout drunkards. And therefore it was coveted quite frequently.
It was a little oasis in the bustling and busy college town of S.B. University. And it had the somewhat sexy and glamorous feel of a speakeasy. Since it's location wasn't widely broadcaster, and guests only knew about it by word of mouth, it boasted the most eclectic group of students.
Within the first few steps of the door, that doubled as the backside of the wall of contemporary literature in the library above, guests were hit with the warmth from the fireplaces, a nice respite from the frigid temperatures of Storybrooke, and the smell of freshly baked goods. 'It's Only Good When It's Hot' was their motto.
It was the favorite spot of all of the older kids on campus for it was only open to those over 21 since it served alcohol as a part of their full day menu. And it had just enough of a following from the students that raved about it in the back of poetry classes, that it was constantly busy, even on week nights.
But the small gang of friends always seemed to make there way in every week without trouble. They made their way back, going through the maze of mismatching seats and newly refurbished chess tables, to inhabit their plush booth in the back, behind the pool tables and across from the dart board.
Tonight, like on every Wednesday night, the small group met. Each trickling in after finishing up with their last classes of the day, filing up the booth one by one. It was their unofficial midweek coffee and stress relief. What with all of the challenging courses at S.B. It was their was of relaxing and unwinding.
Some nights they would sit at the table for hours, chatting about nothing and everything, laughing greatly and sharing meaningless stories and funny anecdotes. Other night they talked about classes and the massive amounts of homework that they had accumulated before deciding to blow through it and get it all done in a heap. But tonight, the mood was different all together. It was fast, and witty. The conversation was electric. As each member of the diverse group came in, more and more comments were added to the discussion and the retorts were fired back faster and even better than before.
"No, I'm telling you," T began. The girl had short blonde hair and her ears were slightly pointed at the ends, quickly garnering her the famed faeries nickname of Tinkerbell. But being a bit of a hipster, she proclaimed that she despised the Disney version of Peter Pan, since it strayed so far from the original story line and was utterly revolted by the very idea of being compared to the small, green clad pixie. But her friends knew her well enough to know that she found the name slightly endearing so they just referred to her as T for short.
T continued in reference to the the politics of fairy tales as bed time stories and their effect on children, a paper that Regina had just written and gotten a lower than her average score on, "They expand kids imaginations. Regina I think Madame French is right, in retrospect, they're all around a good thing."
"Yes, I thought so," Robin hummed, rubbing his hand over his stubbled jaw.
"What are you, a psych major?" Regina snapped darkly, glowering over the rim of her cup of black Black Magic dark roast.
"Quite the opposite actually." He said.
"Yes, yes we know. The great Robin Locksley, writer extraordinaire. The man so talented at weaving words he even won the Belle French Young Writers Award his freshman year."
"Why I didn't know you knew so much about me." The man said, "Thank you Short Skirt for taking the time to read up on me."
Regina only scowled. Out of all the nicknames they had in their small group she hated his for her the most. There was T for Tink, Em's or Ma for Emma. They had Charming for David, because he somewhat resembled the Disney prince and had a moral code that was as impenetrable as brick wall. Then came Snow White for Mary Margret. Her's was in reference to the fact that she too was as much of a goody two shoes as David, and they were both dating. But Regina rarely ever saw her, due to the fact that she didn't go out on week nights, resorting to stay home and study. And last was Killian. They referred to him as his self proclaimed name of 'the Captain', though Regina liked to add Guyliner to the end to tease him since the man couldn't seem to get enough of the product. She was sure that the women behind the beauty counters at Macy's would never go out of business since he probably paid their way through school and first child by the excessive amounts that he bought.
But out of all of the group with nicknames, she had the most. There was Cheery, Short Skirt, TY for Too Young and EQ for Evil Queen. She knew how she had amassed the first few, the first in reference to her sport: cheer leading, the second to the uniform that she had to wear for such sports. The third was just a direct reference to her age, since out of the group, she was the youngest there. But the fourth stumped her. She was known on campus to be one of the nicest and most friendly of the freshman class, however she believed it was more a reference to her looks then anything else.
She had long dark hair that was usually up in a high ponytail to keep from swinging into her face as she jumped or flipped on the football field. Her features were sharp, the cheekbones she had been blessed with were high and she had a very prominent jaw line, but not so much to make her look manly. No, such was very much a woman and very much feminine.
What with all the stares that she received from boys and girls alike as she made her way through campus everyday, she knew she was at the very least, visually appealing.
She had naturally tan skin and supple lips. And her wide set brown eyes could pull anyone in if she opened them right, batting her naturally long eyelashes.
She didn't wear much makeup for her skin was basically blemish free and she only used a sparing amount of perfume as to not choke any of her girls up while they were out cheering on the field.
So she got used to the names and responded to each, however they only ever rubbed her wrong when they came from the man that was currently sitting across from her at the table.
He was tall and slender. His arms seemed to be the biggest part of them, for they stretched the thin white tee shirt and button up that he was usually in around their muscular form. Sometimes he wore a cap, but not a baseball cap like most of the male population at S.B., usually it was a twill one that a newsboy would wear. He stuck to the same kind of dark wash jeans and almost dress shoes, every once in a while throwing on a thick wool coat to shield himself from the wind.
He was the classic, sit in a coffee shop and write all day kind of guy.
There were splotches of black ink on his fingers from where he held his pen, and he always had an extra one or two in his breast pocket.
She referred to him as Bookie, or Teach, since it was his goal to become a literature professor at S.B. and take over Belle French's position and everyone knew it. He was most likely to be able to do it to. Madame French liked him like she had never liked any other one of her students. She prided his work and made examples of it in all of her classes. She even entered one of his pieces into a contest which he had won, ending him up with the nickname of the 'Outlaw' since his shot story series had been entitled, 'The Outlaw King'.
Everyone in their odd little group responded to the names, but Regina despised it when he called her by hers. It was like he was saying it as a put down, trying to make her feel like she some how shouldn't be part of the group of friends.
She had found them all at a game one day. They had been out, watching the Wolverines - S.B.'s mascot - play and she had seen them walking away after the game was over. She had gone up, recognizing the two blondes that sat in front of her in her Communications class and was invited to coffee with them after. That's when she had been introduced to Black Magic and to the group.
She hadn't left since.
She was the youngest out of all of them and it didn't take long for them to realize when they all ordered drinks and she kept to her modest dark roast. It quickly became her favorite and they all quickly stopped consuming alcohol when she was around.
They were an odd assortment of people. Each very different, with no real correlation to the next, but they were friends, and the best of them. And Regina had grown to love them throughout the weeks they had all spent together, huddled in what they referred to as 'their booth.'
She looked up, eyeing the light haired and stubbled man across from her. He however, was the one outlier that she couldn't really explain.
When all of the other friends laughed and joked, and only shared the lightest of things with another, he flung retorts and sarcastic comments and all sorts of sass at her like it were going out of style.
But she flung them right back.
She had actually come to enjoy some of their conversations. Especially the ones where she was able to get under his skin, but today it seemed to be him that was doing that to her.
"Wow, okay, the ice front has set in." Emma said, volleying her eyes back and forth between the duo that were staring off at each other like an old western movie.
"Yeah, let's leave the to love birds to talk it out."
"Where are the boys?" Emma said again.
With that T and Emma vacated the slightly ripping leather booth looking for Killian and David who had already gone, leaving the cheerleader and writer alone at the table.
Regina leaned over the table, anger clearly coloring her voice, "Why do you always have to do that?"
"Do what?" Robin replied.
"That! Make a fool of me, like I'm somehow not on you level of genius. Well newsflash Bookie, just because I wear a skirt does not make me lesser then you. The opposite in fact." She stated with a tone of finality.
"You think that's why I pick on you?'
"That's exactly why you pick on me!"
The writer smirked letting out an indignant huff which only seemed to rile the cheerleader further. Regina had had enough. She stood up with so much vigor it shook the small table violently.
"Hey!" Robin exclaimed, catching his 16oz black tea before it slid off the table and seared his pants to his legs. "What was that for?"
"I need a drink."
The cheerleader took off, heading in the general direction of the bar. Robin shoot out his hand, gripping her wrist before she could pass.
"Um, I do believe if I'm not mistaken that you can't have one. Technically m'lady, you aren't even supposed to be in here now are you Short Skirt?"
Regina huffed, rolling her eyes. She yanked her arm out of his grasp and turned, walking quickly the other way.
"Hey! Wait!"
But the cheerleader wasn't stopping. She was furious and Robin could see that clearly from the rigidity with which she walked, but he followed her, regardless.
He caught her in the back hall, just before she made the door of the women's bathroom.
"Hey, Cheery, wait."
Regina rounded on him, her long curls whipping around with such passion they could have broken glass. "What do you want?!"
Robin took a deep breath, subconsciously reaching for her hand again, realizing only to late that the entirety of her anger was directed completely at him, and was surprised momentarily when she whacked him away.
"Look," He began, "I was trying to say that I'm sorry. "
The fight she had been putting up as he tried to recapture her hands again stop instantly.
"You what?" She breathed.
Robin closed his eyes, preparing for the worst.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I-I never meant to degrade you or demean your chosen mode of sportsmen ship. You aren't dumb, you're not even half bad actually. Some of your literary work is incredible, I know, I've read over French's shoulder as she corrected a few of them. It's-it's just..." He paused, as if he weren't sure what to say next.
"Well don't let me stop you," Regina snarked. "What, cat got your tongue? Am I really witnessing the great Locksley stumped for words... figures it would be in the midst of an apology."
Robin took in yet another deep breath, "I'm not as great as you make me seem." He almost whispered.
"What?"
She could see that he was frustrated but she wasn't sure if it was more at her or at himself for not being able to find just the right words to express his thoughts accurately.
He began again, "Just like you don't fit in your cheerleader mold, I don't fit in the dark, methodical writer that sit's and broods in a coffee shop and never sees the light of day kind of mold,"
Regina arched her eyebrow.
"Don't say anything," he stated. She didn't.
"I-I struggle too." He admitted. "Maybe not when I put pen to paper, but when it comes to speaking, well at that I'm about as good as rubbish."
Regina tilted her head, intrigued at the constant flow of words that were currently coming out of his mouth that were not derogatory to her.
"And I only pick on you because- well..."
"Well?" She prompted.
"Ugh, it's so much harder to put into words when you do that."
"Do what?" She asked.
"Challenge me."
"Challenge you? You challenge me!"
"Yes, but only in retaliation!" Robin responded, louder this time. He moved closer, "I'm only a man, I've got to keep some shred of dignity, and with you, you seem to tear at every wall that I have built. You were the only that saw right through me the first time we met and have never let go of that. And for that I- I am grateful."
If she had thought she was before, now Regina was really confused. "Robin, I'm confused, what is that you wanted to say so badly that you followed me all the way over here?"
Robin sighed. He knew he was rubbish with words unless he had the proper amount of time to mold over. Scanning them, examine them, making sure the perfect choice to convey one emotion. But with her he knew there would never be enough time for him to find the right words. So he gave up trying to speak and he decided to do something completely unlike him.
He decided to let his actions speak instead of his words.
He shot in quickly, like a dart. Taking her by surprise when he connected his lips with hers roughly.
Regina let out a small gasp of surprise when his stubble ran over her cheek, but she quickly fell into the embrace when she felt his heart beating against hers.
His hands wound there way into her hair and she opened her mouth letting him in.
He was warm. There kiss was passionate, and quick, just like the words that they threw at each other. But it held so much more.
Through it he expressed the things that he couldn't seem to find the words to say.
He liked her. And from the moan she got when her hands accidentally ran over his sides, she guessed he liked her a lot too.
He kissed her like she was one of the women that he wrote about in his stories, and he were one of the men. The one's that were automatically hell bent against the other in their first meeting. Usually because there personalities were so much the same, that they could not stand each other. But then, in the last few chapters, after a turn of events or interference from a trusted friend, they both realized how much they truly felt for one another and then shared the most passionate of embraces before promising that they would belong to each other forever.
It felt like that, but sweeter.
He was sweeter. His taste surprised her. It wasn't that of dark coffee and sticky sweets, which she was sure she must taste like. No, he tasted like tea and honey and she was hooked.
When she couldn't breathe any more, and she was sure he must be feeling the same they both broke apart simultaneously, gasping for air.
This was the part Robin feared. The words after the fated kiss. The moment when the trains of thought that had momentary been derailed, came back full force and they discussed how they really felt.
He cast his eyes down, not daring to look at the look of disgust she was sure to wear on her face.
Who was he? A lowly writer? Someone who had no chance in hell to be with the university's most beautiful girl and head cheerleader. It was slim to none, like a candle in a snow storm.
He closed his eyes, he couldn't bare the words she was sure to fire at him.
But to his surprise, there were no words. He only lifted his head when he felt her cool fingers running through the stubble under his chin. Their eyes connected and he was genuinely stunned.
In hers there were no traces of hatred or disgust, in fact if he weren't going completely crazy, which he wouldn't be shocked to find out that he already had, it looked like she was trying to look deeply into his. Trying to see ito his soul.
And he let her.
A small smile broke out onto her face and then to his surprise again she moved her hand around his head, her fingers weaving into his hair.
His breath caught in his throat.
"So you're a third grader?"
"Huh?" Was all he could say.
She laughed, and Robin felt like he might get high off of the sound.
"You pick on me because you like me. Sounds pretty third grade to me." She said, still smiling and playing with his hair.
"Oh." He responded dumbly, "Well when you put it that way, yeah, I guess I am. A third grader that likes the most beautiful girl in school."
She only smiled wider. And then he felt her shift, her hands pulling him closer to her, his face level with hers.
"Prove it," was all she said.
She flicked her long eyelashes up and he could only make out just how beautiful she really was for a second before she connected her soft and slightly battered lips to his again in a soft, tender embrace.
xxx
"Are they kissing yet?"
"Oh yeah!" T replied.
"What? Really?!" Emma cried, running over to where her friend was spying through the crack in the coffee shop wall. "Move over, lemme see!"
"Who are you two spying on so unsubtly over there," Killian questioned as he and David returned to the two girls who were currently leaning against the old wall.
"Robin and Regina, mackin' in the corner." T responded.
"Wait! What?!" Both David and Killian cried in unison.
"Move over lass, let me see!" Killian bellowed.
T shot out of the way as he pushed her back, "Wow, hold your horses tiger!"
"No way!" Killian stated, "David, mate, you've got to see this! I can't believe it!"
David moved over to where his friend was currently smashed up against the slightly decaying wall. He didn't particularly agree with spying, but in this case even he had to admit he was intriguer. Robin and Regina, what an odd couple they would make!
He peered through the hole in the wall and nearly gasped.
There they were, kissing passionately in the dark hallway. The cheerleader and the writer locking lips.
A smile formed on his face. He backed away, turning around, blocking the peep hole from the crowd.
"Hey, move it Charming! Some of us haven't gotten to see," Emma gestured to herself.
"No no. Were done here."
"What?!" Came the unanimous cry from all of them.
"Yes, it looks like the Outlaw and the Queen finally admitted how they feel for each other, I think the least we can do is award them with some privacy."
There was a chorus of curses and profanities that showered over him like the most harmonious of melodies and then the small group of friends began to disperse.
xxx
"Well, it seems you like my short skirt." Regina said, slightly stuttered as her breathing was still irregularly fast.
"Huh?" Robin grunted.
"Since you can't seem to keep your hands off it, I think it's safe to say that you're quite fond of my cheer leading attire."
That brought a smirk to the writers face, and he grinned smugly, looking up at her.
She was smiling back. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. She looked like she had just had a hard make out session and he smiled to himself again because he knew that she had.
"What?" She asked.
"Hmm- oh nothing."
"No, you're staring. Don't you dare pull one of those, 'I'm a writer, therefore you couldn't possibly understand the very deep and complex thoughts that are going through my head,' kind of things." She stated. Robin only laughed at the deepened voice that she had used to mimic him.
"I have never said that, I don't sound like that at all."
Regina's smile was back again, and she chuckled, "Oh but you do."
"Oh really?"
The cheerleader only nodded her head, wiggling an eyebrow almost suggestively.
"Well, then I guess we shall just have to spend some more time together in order for you to know exactly what I sound like in every situation."
"Oh?" Regina questioned, raising a brow. "That was quite forward of you Mr. Locksley. What kind of girl do you take me for?"
Robin shook his head, "That's not what I meant."
"It isn't," Regina clarified more then question.
"No," Robin responded, wrapping his hand that was currently playing with a stray strand of her long hair, down and around her waist. "I was referring to something more gentlemen like. Like a date."
"Well you've already made it to second base." Regina responded. At the confused look on his face in regards to her sports reference, she shook her head, gesturing to him to continue.
"How about we go out together, and maybe to somewhere that doesn't only serve caffeine as their main food group."
"Well they serve beer here too," Regina replied.
"You know what I mean."
The cheerleader smiled at his frustration. She enjoyed the process of getting under his skin and wasn't ready to give up that small pleasure just yet.
"Well what did you have in mind?" She questioned.
"Dinner, at six, tomorrow, my place." The writer replied instantly and without pause.
Regina felt her eyebrows raise without her thinking them into doing so, "A man with a plan?"
"No, a man that knows how to cook and thought he would differentiate himself from all of your past suitors by wooing you correctly."
"Wooing me?"
"Yes," Robin said without question.
Regina laughed, "You know no one says that these days."
"I do," Robin replied.
"Mmm," Regina hummed, she couldn't help but feel warmth bubble up in her at the words he used when he spoke to her, "And that's why I like you."
Robin smiled, fully this time.
"Well, it seems were in agreement there." He said.
"On what?"
"That we both like each other."
"Oh," was all Regina could say. "Yes. Though you can be the most annoying prick I've ever met. I must say, you make up for it with those lips."
Robin only chuckled. Once their shared laughter died down they continued to stare at each other for a moment longer before he spoke again.
"Do you think it's about time we head back? Wouldn't want anyone to get suspicious." He stated.
"Well I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew."
"What?" Robin questioned, turning back to see her removing herself from where she had been pressed up against the wall. "Do you really think so?"
"Well it really isn't that hard to put two and two together." She responded, taking his hand as they walked down the dark hallway, "You should know. You're the writer."
"Yeah, but that's of characters on a page, not of people in the real world."
"Same difference." Regina said.
"You know, I think I just might have to write you." He stated, somewhat offhandedly.
"Oh?" She said.
A hum was his only response.
"Well as long as I get to wear cool gowns and rule over people."
"You do know your name means Queen right?"
"What?" She questioned.
Robin stopped, turning to face her, just before he spoke again, "Your name, Regina, it means Queen."
"Oh," was all she could say. She had yet to hear him speak her name without first prefacing it by some sarcastic comment. It sounded good.
Robin continued however. "That's why I call you Queen."
"Well where did the evil part come from?" She asked.
"Well that," he said, turning back to hide his smile, "That was just to bug you."
The cheerleader hit him playfully letting out a small huff.
"I think I have the name for your next series," she said. a moment later, just before they rounded the corner that led them back into the coffee house.
"Oh, and what is it?" Robin asked.
"The Outlaw Queen."
Robin smiled.
do leave your requests for the #12daysofOQ AU prompts in the comments! there are 10/12 more to go! x