Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness (One Shot)

So I saw this prompt on Tumblr and decided to give it a try. I would love to hear your thoughts on it! | Post 5X21

Prompt: "Regina splits her heart and gives half to Robin. Since her heart is dark, he gets to struggle with all of the darkness Regina's lived with before and since he never learned how to do it, he just goes to the dark side very easily seeking revenge on the people who ruined his life"

Regina's mouth fades into a thin set line as she remembers the feeling of lost hope, the feeling of numbness that had taken over her body the minute she heard Robin's limp body hit the hard floor of her office.

She remembers the immediate sense of shock that had engulfed her body, her mind, and made her weak at the knees when Robin's blue aura had disappeared into dust.

It's then that she registers the shaking of her hands; the feeling of suffocation as if she is choking on thin air, and the tears that well in her eyes.

She falls next to Robin's body, kneecaps colliding with the floor with a resounding crack! as she leans over him, gathering his limp body in her arms, unintentionally tasting the salt of the tears running down her cheeks as she sobs.
How did this happen?

She looks to the pile of ash that sits only feet away from her, and she thinks that she's glad that Hades is dead -- that it's what he deserves for killing the love of her life. But she also has her sister to think about.

Zelena has just lost her true love, and so has she.
Villains don't get happy endings, Regina thinks to herself, with a sad smile pulling at her lips.
Zelena left with the baby just hours ago, not able to stay in that room any longer knowing that her true love was dead and that she killed him. Zelena didn't want her daughter seeing her father's dead body at such a young age, even if she wouldn't remember the incident when she was older.

So Regina is left with Robin's body.
Alone.
She wasn't even able to say goodbye.

She thinks of how his funeral would occur -- thinks of how Snow of all people, would probably coordinate the ceremony.
Yes, Snow would coordinate it, Regina reassures herself.
She wiped a tear from under her eye.

Her mind depicts the different shades of black, the wave of sorrow that would drown her in it's wake. She calls to mind the speeches, how she wouldn't be able to get through her's without bursting into hysterics.
She thinks of Robin's tombstone.
He wouldn't want anything extravagant -- something simple, yet meaningful.
Something of honor.

In Loving Memory of Robin Locksley
Father, Friend, Lover, and Hero

Yes, he'd like that, Regina reassures herself.

After what seems like hours on that cursed black and white marble floor, Regina thinks she sees someone coming into the office out of her periphery, but thinks nothing of it as she has her eyes glued to Robin's face, her mind willing itself to remember his smile as he looked down at his daughter, or the dark blue of his eyes turning to a pale blue as the sun hit his face.

No one has touched her in hours save the hug Zelena had given her along with the supportive squeeze of her hand as she walked out of the office with the baby, a sobbing mess.
She's surprised that she isn't as far gone as her sister seems to be.
Regina supposes it's the shock.
Regina has no idea how long she's been gone inside her head, how long she's been submerged into the blackness. She moves a hand to her cheek and pulls it back.
It's wet with tears.
She's been crying, and she hasn't even noticed.
It's then, a few seconds later, that she hears the sound of her son's voice from a few feet away.
"Mom, I'm so sorry"
It's that that she feels a sudden pressure at her shoulder- her son's hand- that she is sucked back into reality.
Regina sets a gentle hand on her son's arm.
"It's okay Henry, he died a hero. I thinks that's all he's ever wanted," Regina swallowed back her tears, "granted not this soon," Regina let out a sad laugh, "but he saved my life, and I will be eternally grateful for that. For him. He made me stronger, better -- he chased away the darkness and brought light into my life. He knew me better than I know myself."
Regina sniffs, wiping more tears from her eyes.
"Robin sacrificed his life for mine, and I hope in the future," Regina gave Henry a look of love and light hearted warning, "that you find a nice girl that loves you enough that she would do the same if it called for it. Because I know I would do the same for you, in a heartbeat," Regina let's a small smile appear on her face as she places a light kiss on her son's cheek.
Henry hugs his mother close, resting his head against on her shoulder, his cheek flat against the fur of her jacket, facing the body of his mother's lover.
They both look to the thief's limp body in earnest. No sound save the constant sniffs of his mother, and the crickets outside sound in their ears.
Henry sighs, "I love you Mom"
"I love you too, my Little Prince," a quiet whisper filled with affection, as she drags the back of hand down Robin's cheek.
A quick intake of breath.
"I can't believe he's gone," Regina chokes out.