Outlaw Queen Shorts

What About Us / Part 1

A green scarf hung round his shoulders as usual, a matching colour to his corduroy trousers. The faint shadow of a smile was playing on his lips as Regina came closer, nerves clear in his clenched fists. She looked at the ground, with a smile plastered across her face, not wanting to get caught in his gaze just yet. Robin chuckled like he read her thoughts and pulled her arm to bring her closer. He brought up his hand and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes.

The wind ran it's slender fingers through the trees at the side of the road and weaved through Regina's hair, pushing it back elegantly from her cheeks. Her eyes were soft, no worry or anger was there to disturb the still surface. Robin moved his hand to her cheek and began to rub small circles with his thumb. Her breath hitched and she grabbed his free hand, locking their fingers together. Regina closed her eyes, touching her forehead to his, and stroked the back of his hand with her thumb.

"Regina," she lifted her head and looked lazily from his lips to his eyes. There was something there, an emotion she couldn't decipher but it worried her. She stood up straighter now, pulling out of his arms, her brows knitting together in fret.

"What is it?" Regina tried to keep her voice calm, to cover up the anxious knot tying itself firmly in her stomach.

"I just...I don't know what to do." Robin sighed, pressing his thumb and index finger along his forehead. The smile had disappeared from both of their lips and they stood, Robin looking at the ground and Regina looking at him.

"About what?" She asked, looking down at his bowed head. "Us." The word left her lips as a statement rather than a question as realisation hit her like a ton of bricks. The knot in her stomach had just shattered into a thousand pieces, splaying out all over her body.

"No! No. Well not in the way you think anyway," Robin tried to meet her gaze but she was distant, almost like she'd stopped listening.

"Regina, please," he held her cheek in his hand and searched for her eyes to meet his. "I love you, you know I do-"

"But what?" The words were strained, her voice cracking from exhaustion or pain, he didn't know which. She pulled back, twisting her face out of his hand to get away.

"Marian..." Robin began to speak and Regina let out a sigh, she closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly back. "What is she to do on her own?"

"I don't know Robin." Her words were sharp like a knife, his face contorting with the quick change of character. "Haven't I done enough to save this woman for you?" She opened her mouth to speak again but shut it, shaking her head. Turning on her heel, she began to walk away, the bottom of her eyes pricking. It's just the wind she told herself, trying to fight back the river that threatened to overflow down her cheeks.

"Wait, Regina!" He ran after her, reaching out for her arm but she jerked away. She stood and looked at him, a coldness behind her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"No, I'm sorry. Sorry for wanting to be happy for once." She lifted her arms and purple smoke began to rise from the ground. It engulfed her and she was gone, the shimmer of a tear running down her cheek the last thing he saw.

Robin was left stood alone on the road. He threw his hands to his face and fell to his knees, letting out a breath he was unaware he held. He loved Regina more than anything, but every time words flew out of his mouth it was the wrong thing. Of course he didn't want to leave Regina for Marian, why didn't he just say that?

A cold wind was rustling the leaves still and Robin could see the top of her house from where he was. A light switched on in the room he'd found out was hers. He stood up and pulled the edges of his coat around him, starting towards town.

His boots were heavy on the ground but his paces were fast. Words raced around his head as he tried to plan what to say. He couldn't ruin this again, he'd caused her too much pain as it was already.

Before he knew it, he was treading up to the white front door, almost unaware he was there already. He took a breath, reaching out to push the doorbell. There was a pause before the door swung open and Regina stood with puffy eyes and bare feet. She gasped, pushing the door back against him but he put his foot in the way.

"Please, just let me speak." He sounded certain, determined, and held the door ajar with his hand. She hesitated but stepped back, holding the door open for him to come in.

(**Authors Note**
Thank you for 1k reads!! I hope you all enjoy the stories and carry on reading/voting :D
Feel free to message me if you have any ideas you want me to write or anything!
I wanted to do a more sad story for a change with this one because up to now they've all been happy - let me know what you think.)