Unexpectedly

Getting paired

"Robin and Regina. Come to Mr. Gold's office." I hear over the intercom. I get up and roll my eyes as I watch Robin get in front of me and walk towards Mr. Gold's office.

"Go straight in." His little assistant states as if she runs the place. I walk in before Robin, I hold the door for a second, but let it go since he's not paying attention.

"Alright you two." Mr. Gold says, "I have had enough sophomoric behavior between you. You are going to be reprimanded."

"I'm sorry Mr. Gold if I have done anything to upset you, sir. Please forgive me." Robin says apologetically.

"Kiss ass." I mutter quietly.

"What was that?" Robin and Mr. Gold looks at me.

"Uh, I said me too." I smile nervously.

"Well, anyway, you two will be working together for the next issue's cover. I want something different out of the ordinary. No more lovey dovey shit. I want to cover something meaningful." He snaps.

"Yes sir." Robin and I say in unison.

"Good, you may have the boardroom for the rest of the afternoon and tomorrow morning. Now, get out. Your insufferable." He makes a face likes he disgusted with us. I leave and as soon as I am out I roll my eyes and turn towards Robin.

"I'm going to get my stuff I need. I'll meet you in the boardroom."

"Yes your majesty." He rolls his eyes and heads for his desk.

"What did you call me?" I put my hands on my hips and he turns around.

"I called you, your majesty."

"Okay, why would you call me that?" I say sternly.

"Because you act like a fucking queen. You act like you make all the decisions. What if I wanted to grab something to eat? You'd get mad that I wasn't there before you. You get upset and throw a hissy fit when something isn't done your way."

"You have no right to talk to me like that. I am well above you and have more respect. People are to follow my orders; if they're not done correctly I am the one to fix them." I say.

"You're a bitch. See you in the boardroom." He rolls his eyes and walks away.

"God, he's such a pain in my ass. Why did I get stuck with the arrogant bastard?" I roll my eyes and sit in my seat, gathering my belongings.

"Robin up your ass today?" Emma startles me.

"Not only that, but I get to construct the cover of the next issue with him. He's so lucky I'm not all the way up there and can fire his ass."

"You like it." Emma shorts.

"What makes you think that?" I look up at her clearly unamused.

"You feed into it. It changes the weather in here. It's not borning when Robin and Regina are around. You two are hysterical. Just admit it, you two have a thing for each other. You try to hide it by being asses, but deep down you two are head over heels." She explains.

"Are you smoking something? Last time I checked, I hated that man." I get up, "I gotta go, or he's gonna be a bigger ass."

"Have fun. But not too much fun." Emma walks back to her desk. I take my time to the boardroom to prepare myself for the next three hours of being in his childish presence.

"Looks like your set up, Mr. Locksley." I say sarcastically as he scrambles to get organized. He ignores me and finally finishes.

"What are your ideas for the cover?" Robin asks.

"He doesn't want lovey dovey, and I'm tired of that shit. Let's do the opposite. Let's make it about focusing on yourself. Make it about finding who you are, relationships are draining and not always what they seem to be." I say awaiting a remark.

"I like it. Maybe have a path going through the woods transitioning from a dark to a lighter atmosphere." He says. I am in shock, he has never agreed on any of my ideas before.

"Okay." I start making a rough sketch on my tablet. "What'd you think?"

"It could be a lot better." He says and looks down at his notes.

"I'm the best here. No one is better than me, that's why I am the head of our department." I grunt.

"Well, I don't like it." He simply states.

"You're a dick. Why don't you go out there. I'll do this myself." I say.

"Nope, I am to work with you, and so be it. Even if I want bang my head against the bloody wall."

"Please do, it would make improvements." I sass.

"I'm going for a walk. Keep sketching, come up with others. I'll look when I get back." He demands and walks out the door.

I follow him out and push him into a supply closet.

"You look here, Locksley, you don't speak to me like that. You need to learn how to respect people. You're an arrogant son of a bitch. Tone it down." I scold.

"I'll speak to you which ever way I want. Maybe if you weren't such a bitch, I wouldn't have to." He says.

"You piss me off." I laugh a little with anger beneath it.

"I know. It's funny watching you squirm when I say things. At least I have the balls to do so, you scare half of the department. They call you the Evil Queen behind your back." He whispers.

"It's funny?" I look at him sternly.

"Meh, sometimes. Only when you're not having a really shitty day." He says.

"You can tell when I'm having a bad day?" I cross my arms and lean against the door.

"Yeah, everything is different about you. You're more demanding and rude. But it's not that. I'm more silent on those days." He explains.

"We need to get back to work." I say and walk out heading toward the boardroom.

"As you wish, your majesty." He bows and smirks.

"Arrogant bastard." I roll my eyes.