Outlaw Queen Shorts

For Little John

Outlaw!Bandit AU

Her new found partner in crime had become quite an asset when it came to pilfering the queen's carriages. He didn't ask questions, which she liked, but she could tell he was nonetheless intrigued by her personal vendetta against her royal highness. Not to mention she refused to steal from anyone else. The queen has more than enough to spare was all she offered in the form of explanation. He accepted that and didn't push the topic - another thing she liked.

It was crisp in the mornings now, clouds grey with the looming threat of snowfall. Ironic Regina thought, sighing as she walked to the tree which had become their meeting point. He was already stood there, back to her, when she arrived, bow and quiver slung across his back like it belonged there as a permanent extension of his body. She stopped and soaked in the sight of him for a moment, his strong shoulders moving the fabric atop them as he shifted his stance, hand lifting up to readjust the string of his bow.

Although she'd never admit it, Regina had fallen for her fellow outlaw. Hard. She'd grown accustomed to his elbow brushing hers as they walked, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed and the dimples indenting his cheeks which she often had to stop herself from poking.

There weren't many people Regina trusted in this life, but Robin Hood was one of them. So as she tapped him on the shoulder and he turned slowly, his eyes not filled with their usual spark, her face fell.

"What happened?" She rested a hand on his forearm instinctively, her eyes scanning his face and seeing only sorrow. He took a deep breath before attempting to speak, his exhale a little shaky as his eyes glossed over.

"Black Knights attacked our camp last night," he was struggling not to cry, she could tell, and she fought the urge to pull him close to her and hold on until the pain went away. "Little John, he...they..." All of a sudden, the tears were falling down his cheeks and he hated himself for being so weak, but he'll be damned if he can't show weakness when his best friend was bludgeoned to death before his very eyes and he was too bloody late to stop it.

"Oh, Robin," she was pulling him to her and then he was in her arms, shoulders shaking and sobs rattling out of him into the forest air. Her hand coasted up and down his spine as she told him it was alright, even though they both knew it wasn't. He squeezed her a little tighter as he said he hates the queen and she told him she knows, trust her, she knows and he didn't want to move, just wanted to stay wrapped up with her for as long as he could. For a while he thought maybe she did too, but then she was pulling back, lifting a hand to his cheek to wipe a stray tear rolling down it. She was looking into his eyes and he was staring right back. He hadn't realised quite how thankful he was to have her by his side until that moment.

"She won't win," Regina said with some force, holding onto his bicep, determination set firmly behind her eyes. "You know that, right?"

"What if she already has?" He was defeated and she wouldn't let that happen, wouldn't allow him to be another victim of the queen's hatred.

"Don't do this. Don't declare the battle over before it's even started." She refused to let him drop her gaze as she spoke. Robin was leaning against the trunk behind them, he could feel the bark scratching his arm through his shirt. Regina took a sharp breath and grabbed his hand. "For Little John."

Robin was staggered. How could she be so strong? From the little he'd grasped of her past, he knew her life hadn't escaped the unforgiving claws of death and heartache. She was just like him, damaged and broken, but he found himself wanting to put his pieces back together the way she had hers. It wasn't the same pattern as before but that didn't matter, she'd made herself stronger and now he thinks about it, she'd made him stronger too.

He looked down at their connected fingers and lifted them into the air, both hands forming an unbreakable bond, stronger and more resilient as a pair than apart. Their eyes met and she smiled at him, a small smile meant to encourage. He took it, so proud to call himself her friend.

"For Little John."

Authors note:
This is for OQ week on tumblr, I don't know if any of you have seen/heard of it?
It's under the tag #oqweek - there will be loads of fanfics and stuff so have a look.
Ps my tumblr is theonewithoutaclue (: