(no subject)

[thiefwithhonor]

The danger, it seemed, had passed. Stragglers remained after the giant bee's demise, but for the most part, they had done it. Robin could feel safe to return and assume the rest would be taken cared of by others.

Robin had been compelled to help simply because he knew there was little choice. Everyone had seen the beast making fire, and the sort of magic he found himself able to do would be an asset. In a city that they could not leave, there was no taking the people he cared for for safety. So he fought. And they won.

He had suffered a few injuries. He saw burns and blisters that dotted his arms. It was the exhaustion that truly was getting to him, a feeling deep within him that likely stemmed from how much magic he had used in his attempt to ward off what came at him and the people around him. As it turned out, the need to protect was a powerful emotion to focus on, but he still was a man not used to what he put his body through. Regardless, he did not take the help offered to him. He only wanted to return to the people he knew were waiting for him.

It was at least not a far journey from where the bulk of the fighting had been, especially so as he found he had little trouble with his magic any longer. He had not really let go of his fear until he knew he had to that day, and the difference was incredible. He certainly had no assumptions he could have the kind of control Elsa had over it, but he was starting to feel normal.

That it took fighting off a fire breathing insect whose height he would have assumed impossible until he saw it seemed...almost appropriate for this bizarre city.

Being able to use it really wasn't the victory, though. No, the victory came when he returned. He opened the door to the apartment, and for the first time was not worried if Roland would come running. And the boy did, in fact. He'd been playing on the floor of the main room, and within moments of seeing him, he was up and coming toward him.

He did not shrink away.

In fact, despite any sort of pain it caused, he scooped his son up as he always used to, injuries and pain be damned, hugging him tightly to him as he was overwhelmed with a feeling of relief. It did not take him long to see Regina approaching as well, and it was only then that Robin gently put his son down beside him.

"Everything's alright now," he said, and though he meant that the city was safe, it was a statement that rang true in general as well.

Comments

[gloriouscurse]

Regina, for her part, had been terrified. It was fear she was able to control on the surface at least; years of fearing her mother made her a wonderful actress. There was nothing she could do to stop fire, not when she was fire. So, she'd been relegated to babysitter which she didn't mind - she would do anything for Roland she was coming to realize - but to have to sit idly by while whatever magic was out there was unpredictable...she hated it. Hated knowing Robin was out there. She was as helpless as she'd been once in a stable.

When she heard him return to the apartment, she didn't move because she knew Roland deserved time alone with his father, to be embraced by him again. But after a beat, she stood and made her way toward him after attempting to clean up the toys a bit, blocks and toy cars to distract from the chaos outside.

Making eye contact with Robin, there was no tell save for her eyes as they looked him over, then came to rest on his face. They were bright, not with happiness, but with tears. One kneel down to pick up a stuffed animal though, and when she was up again the tears were gone. She smiled softly at him, walking forward and handing the toy to Roland before looking up at Robin.

"Thank you for coming back," she finally replied quietly.

[thiefwithhonor]

As much as he had known he had to help, it still was an awful feeling, knowing he worried both of them. Regina the most, as he was sure Roland had not really understood the extent of danger the city had been in. It was why he was already trying to downplay the fact his injuries, though not severe, still pained him.

Tending to them could wait. He ruffled his son's hair affectionately as Roland took the offered toy and held it against him, then looked back at Regina.

"When I make a promise, I keep it," he replied, earnest. He stepped forward then to embrace her, too, grateful beyond words both it was over and they were safe. After pressing a kiss to her jaw, he murmured, against her ear, "My apologies for worrying you, m'lady."

[gloriouscurse]

She hugged him tightly, eyes closing at his words, also trying to downplay something; her worry and fear. "I wasn't worried," she lied, and she knew he knew it was.

When Regina pulled back, she frowned deeply, forehead creasing. "You're hurt, and you need to rest." It was a fact that extensive use of magic was draining, and she pressed a kiss to his temple. "Go lie down. I'll get Roland fed and into bed." They'd spent the majority of their time together, Regina and Roland, and by now had a sort of routine. What she wanted was to see if she could use her light magic to heal Robin, but he didn't seem to be in distress at the moment.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin did not have to hear her say so to know she was. But it didn't matter, He was unsurprised, however, that she saw right through him as well. He had had a feeling his use of the magic had been the cause of why he felt a great fatigue weighing down on him. He nodded his head towards her, then felt a slight pull at his hand. Roland was looking at his arm when he looked down at him.

"Does it hurt, Papa?" he asked, looking a little scared. Robin eased himself down to his eye level, knowing he could not leave without reassuring him.

"Just a little. Nothing for you to worry about. Go on with Regina, I'll be fine," he promised. He offered the boy a smile. Roland's face brightened with a relieved smile of his own.

He was sure Roland would ask questions of the past week soon enough, but he seemed to understand the time wasn't then as he did as he was told and went to join Regina. Robin eased himself up, leaning a hand briefly on the wall for support when usually such movements were easy.

"Thank you," he murmured to Regina as he eased past the two of them, going toward the bedroom to do as he was told. He knew better than to try to push himself into doing what she offered himself.

[gloriouscurse]

It took Regina a couple of hours to situate Roland, making him chicken tenders and mashed potatoes. Taking care of him brought her back to her best days with Henry when it was just the two of them, making macaroni art and popsicle stick forts. If the circumstances had been different, she might have had it in her to enjoy it even more, but her mind was distracted.

Once he was in bed, tucked in and already dozing off, Regina turned out the lights after cleaning the kitchen and made her way back to the bedroom. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she reached out with her fingers to brush at a burn, Elsa's words about love tumbling through her mind. Someone had to believe in him, love him, and this would all be easier.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on how she felt for him, words that weren't said, and opened them again as soon as she felt the magic radiating from her hands. It was light, white and bright, and she smiled a little because she could do this. She could fix him.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin knew his injuries were the type that he would simply have to let heal. He was too tired to rummage for anything that might ease the ache, though honestly, he had a feeling his powers were offsetting some of the pain.

Something to be grateful for, to be sure. He eased himself into bed, his head spinning a bit, and it did not take long to let the exhaustion overtake him. It was probably the deepest sleep he had since everything began.

He wasn't sure how long he slept. When he did slowly awaken, he found himself blinking blearily against the gentle light of her white magic. It felt warm near his skin in a pleasant way, though he still wasn't awake enough to even begin to guess what she was doing.

"Regina?" he mumbled, still half-asleep and a little out of it.

[gloriouscurse]

She was already done with one arm, and to get to the other was sitting cross legged on the bed. When he woke, she paused what she was doing and reached out to cradle his face with one hand.

"How do you feel?" Regina's thumb moved over the apple of his cheek and she bent to kiss his forehead, healing on hold for a moment.

[thiefwithhonor]

It didn't take him long to realize something was different. The arm he'd felt the warmth of her magic on didn't hurt -any longer. After she pulled away, he lifted the arm to look. What had been covered with small burns and a few blisters had vanished. as if they hadn't been there.

It did not take him long to understand what had happened. What she had done.

"You healed me?" he asked, looking at her. The realization was enough to snap him awake, to say the least.

[gloriouscurse]

Regina smiled just a little, and then she moved to the last slight burn, white magic spilling from her fingertips. Once it healed, she let out a breath. "Light magic is capable of a lot of good things it would seem," she murmured.

"How do you feel? Anything I missed?" This was what she could do; it was all she could do.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin watched with quiet interest as she finished up. He hadn't been awake for most of her helping him, but he found himself glad he could watch her do it now. He even sat up enough to lean on his elbow to get a better look.

It felt pleasant, to say the least. The last of the pain in his arm seemed to lift all at once. Then the light from her hands was gone, and his arm was as healed up as the first.

"A bit tired, but I don't think even your impressive magic could fix that," he said with a slight smile. The fatigue he had felt was mostly gone, at least, and he found himself not struggling with the magic still. Elsa had said he needed to look at the power as just part of himself. He was starting to think he was hitting that point.

A lot of that was due in no small part because of the woman beside him. It was hard to imagine how bad things would have gotten without her.

"Thank you," he added, catching her gaze. He did not think words would ever truly suffice, but he offered them freely. "Not only for the aid in my injuries but - everything."

[gloriouscurse]

Taking one of his hands in hers, Regina let their fingers tangle, her palm sliding against his as she thought of her next words. She didn't want to dwell in how afraid she had been, but she'd spent her entire life hiding with no one. Perhaps now it could be different.

"I hope you know that I would have done a lot more than this if I needed to." Her eyes raised to meet his, taking in his features. It was an odd time to admire how handsome he was, but the thought struck her nonetheless before continuing on. "I told you that...Daniel died because of me. but it was magic. All that I could do was watch while my.." Her breath caught as she continued. "My mother ripped out his heart and crushed it. I was helpless, and I never will be again."

Regina's voice shook, her hand tight in his now as she reached out to push back his hair tenderly with her free hand.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin's eyebrows furrowed as he quietly listened, rubbing his thumb gently against the back of her hand as she spoke. He had never pushed her to tell him what had happened - it was little business of his. That she spoke it willingly and it was so gruesome a death - it was unfathomable. It was unfathomable, too, that she blamed herself for the action of another.

He could hear the tremble in her voice, and he lifted their hands to press a kiss to them. He ached to comfort her, honestly, and wished the chill around him was not there. He was not afraid of hurting her any longer, but he still wasn't himself.

"M'lady, it pains me to see you take so much blame onto yourself," he said, after a moment of thought. He worried he was speaking out of turn, but it felt important to say. "I cannot imagine any who loved you so dearly blaming you for something someone else caused. You should not have been put in such a position in the first place."

He knew, though, how it felt. To take the blame for the actions of another. It ate away at him still, what happened to Marian, and Roland had been the only thing that kept him afloat for a long time. Had he not had his son - he did not know what would have happened. What kind of man he would have become.

"But you won't lose me to what's happening, this strange magic," he promised, making sure he was looking her straight in the eyes as he said it. It was another promise he would not break. "And that's thanks to you. I fear what would have happened if you were not a constant presence. I could not have gotten through this without you, having trust in me when I did not think I could trust myself."

Her knowledge in magic had helped, but it wasn't truly what he thought of when he got to his worst points. No, it was her steady belief that he could control it that kept him from falling apart.

[gloriouscurse]

Regina's eyes were damp with tears, and she shifted so that she could lie beside him now, her head on his chest, listening for the steady beating of his heart. There was one wall, one that was crumbling, but one still there around her heart. Because she knew what her weakness was. She knew that when she didn't hold back, she eventually lost, and that terrified her. But she wanted to tell him what Elsa said would ultimately help.

"When I met with Elsa she...told me that love was the only thing that would truly help you," she murmured quietly, closing her eyes, her own heart slamming in her chest.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin shifted a little to allow her an easier time fitting herself against him. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. Elsa had spoken much the same to him, and how he had to trust in himself, so the news came to little surprise to him.

It had explained much, actually.

"I suppose that's why thoughts of you and Roland aided me the most," he murmured, kissing the top of her head with a small smile. He did not speak the words lightly, knowing full well the implication. His feelings for her were beginning to run deep, and the week had only served to make him more sure of that.

[gloriouscurse]

"I know Zelena wanted, well, needed my heart for its resiliency. But there's only so much a heart can take," Regina said with a soft frown. "A heart can only lose so much before it's irreparable." Her voice was soft, fingers toying with the fabric of his shirt.

"I got Daniel back once. It was a year and a half ago. His body was preserved, in my mausoleum, and Doctor Whale found a way to bring him back with a stolen heart. And for a second, for a brief moment I thought I had him. But the heart was wrong, it didn't fit Daniel, and he hurt Henry. Hurt me. He was in so much pain..." Regina trailed off, her eyes closing.

"His last words to me were to 'love again,' and then I killed him. My magic turned him to dust, and I let him go. And I couldn't take his advice because loving a person has never worked well for me. Even my own son who arguably likes me better now, was lost. I can't lose again, I can't lose you, or Roland. I can't let my heart give in to you, only to have to say goodbye to you."

The problem was, her heart was already his, and she knew it.

[thiefwithhonor]

The idea of such a thing being possible was chilling. Perhaps before Marian's death, he would have had a hard time understanding what would ever cause anyone to even attempt such a thing. He understood, though. He had said himself he held out on hope for far longer than he ever should have. He would have done much if someone told him Marian could be brought back. If he were in her place, with the same option -

He wasn't sure what he would have done. Desperation was a horrid thing.

"I cannot predict what this strange place will do," he admitted after collecting his thoughts, knowing the nature of this place did not allow for him to say otherwise. He would not promise outright what he could not control. "But I hope you can trust my words when I say you are the best thing to happen to me and my son in a long time, regardless of anything that happened in the past. It was not in jest when I offered my heart when yours was lost. After this week - I am now more sure than ever that this is something I wish to pursue, and I would never say that if I did not mean it. I'm not going anywhere, m'lady."

But he knew that wasn't his decision alone. He gently stroked the side of her cheek with his hand as he added, softly, "If you will have me."

[gloriouscurse]

Regina turned her head just enough to kiss his palm, her eyes closing for a moment before leaning forward and over him a bit to kiss him tenderly. Her kiss held her intent, to be just as present as he was in this. Then, she couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh. "Of course I'll have you. I should have been asking you that question. Though I think you just informed me of your plans."

Ducking now so that she could press her lips to his pulse she simply lingered, breathing him in. He'd quickly become her safety, the wrap of his arms a shield against everything she couldn't stomach alone. That scent of his, of forest and leather and now ocean and sun, wasn't one that did anything but bring comfort.

"I'm quite fond of you, thief," she said so affectionately, that the term was of endearment now. He was her thief. Her outlaw, and she wondered if it was dangerous to think that way. She did trust him though; she trusted every word to leave his lips.

[thiefwithhonor]

There was some relief she was not pulling away from him. Robin understood too well how easy it was to close off, but he was tired of running. Tired of not allowing himself the sort of happiness he had with Marian once.

He was sure he could feel that way again with her. And as they parted and she spoke again, he had a small smile on his face.

"Ah, but I am a magic user right now, not a thief," he reminded with smile. He shifted away just enough to prop himself up again. "I want to show you something."

It was, perhaps, unwise to use magic when he still found himself out of sorts from the fighting. He would never claim he was the type not to do something he wanted to do regardless of limitations, however. He paused for a moment before making a gentle motion upward. He smiled when the result was exactly as he expected - snowflakes flew from his hand, far more than he could have ever had in his hand. He smiled up as they cascaded down gently around them. They seemed to have an odd, ethereal glint to them in the low light of the room.

"I confess that I don't think I will miss this when it's all over, but I do like the tricks," he murmured with a small chuckle.

[gloriouscurse]

Regina smiled widely, proud of him for learning to control it. She watched as the snowflakes fell, and where they landed in her hair they glistened before melting. "That magic helped with something threatening this town. I would say that's a very big achievement, indeed."

Her fingers danced over his palm, and she murmured softly. "Do you feel cold? Everything about you changed to be...as if you are this element. When I use fire, nothing so permanent ever happens."

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin hoped he would never have to use the magic as he had again. He would always be far more adept at his weaponry, and hopefully, soon enough, he would be returning to only being able to do that. Still, it had felt good. He would never outright deny that.

"It feels as though I've just came in from cold weather, never worse than that. Even at my worst," he replied, feeling like it was a decent way of explaining it. His palm still up as he watched her, he added, "I think I notice warmth more than I usually do, however. It's a bit strange to put into words."

[gloriouscurse]

"Well," she started, with the distinct memory of speaking in the hallway at Granny's, "Use my warmth for the both of us." She pressed her hand to his, lacing their fingers together. Leaning in, her nose brushed against the side of his, her eyes closing as she nuzzled close.

She could only remember a time long ago when she felt such a sense of sweetness - with Daniel in the stables. It made her feel as if her heart were lightening on the spot, and she spoke quietly, now with her forehead against Robin's. "Do you think a black heart could change completely?"

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin's smiled broadened at her words, and he squeezed her hand gently as she leaned in. Honestly, her proximity felt even warmer than usual, like it was slowly spreading outward.

He didn't think much of it, though he probably ought to have, because something was happening to him without him even being aware of the slow restoration of his normal features as the clock struck midnight. His attention, however, was fully on her for the moment. The question was unexpected, but he understood its' importance.

"I think if the person truly wants to change and puts in the effort to change, they will," he replied, honestly, remaining close as he spoke. He would have said the same to anyone without hesitation. To think otherwise would be to assume redemption didn't exist and there was no point in trying to try to be a better person if you lose your way. He couldn't accept that for even a moment. "And when they do desire it, they can do some truly miraculous things as a result. My lack of injuries can attest to that, I think."

[gloriouscurse]

"I thought, for a long time, that changing for Henry was enough, when I needed to change for myself. Because when I did try, it was..." Regina trailed off, taking a deep breath and shifting into the safety of his arms. "It was always as if the entire town was holding its collective breath. Waiting for me to be what they knew. What I would always be." Those had been Emma's words, verbatim on her porch.

"I accepted that. Until someone refused to treat me the way everyone else did," she said with a small smile. "Even in the Enchanted Forest, when I was horrible to you."

[thiefwithhonor]

"I have survived far more than a couple of insults tossed at me," Robin replied, obviously still taking it all in stride still. He had never really considered being unkind to her. No one else had seen her in that tower, and he understood too well what it was like to be alone.

He never took what she said personally because of that, he supposed, along with the fact she had been so quick to protect a boy she hadn't even really known before. Actions had always spoken more to him than anything else.

He understood things weren't so simple with the others. He had not seen much of what happened. What he had seen, however, was the slow shift of people's opinions, whether she noticed it or not.

"Anyone else's opinions are all the more reason to prove them wrong - and you were. People were noticing," he added. Of course, that wasn't entirely a problem here any longer, which is why he pointed out, "And now we are here in this strange city where few know you, and you have the chance to decide the kind of person you want people to see you as."

[gloriouscurse]

After a moment of letting his words sink in, Regina held his gaze, thumb stroking across his wrist. "I know who I want to be," she realized, and it was the first time in a long while that the statement was true. She knew changing and being a better person had to be something she did for herself, but it was easier now with someone who cared for her.

Shifting to kiss him tenderly, Regina's free hand found the side of his face before drifting up to let her fingers glide through his hair. Humming against his lips, it was only when she pulled back that she realized something was different. "I think...Robin, I think something's changing."

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin was glad to hear it, to see her have that moment of confidence. He certainly would help her, where he could. And as she kissed him, the last bit of the change of his appearance - his hair, and then his eyes - returned to as they used to be. It was noticeable now too, like something had slipped away inside of him as well, but it didn't register - not until she mentioned it.

"What?" he asked, gently easing away a little more to look down at his arms. The paleness was completely gone, as if he hadn't looked different at all a few moments ago. He held his hand palm upward and tried to make even the smallest puff of snow, but it didn't work. Nothing was happening any longer, not on purpose or by accident.

"...I think the magic is gone," he realized, looking up at her with a surprised expression.

[gloriouscurse]

Relief flooded through her to see him look like himself again, and she ran her fingers through his hair again in wonder. "How do you feel?" she had to ask, hoping there were no after affects.

While it had been a new experience, and one she knew she had helped him through, she was glad for lives as normal as possible, for him not having to worry about what he may or may not do. It was simply bizarre though, how it had all come and gone so quickly.

[thiefwithhonor]

For the first time in a week, Robin didn't have to feel like he was a time bomb. Even when he was in control, there as always a small concern in the back of his mind that things could get bad again.

He didn't have to constantly be chased by that fear anymore.

"I feel...normal," he replied, finding no other word to describe it. He tried one more time to conjure anything and nothing happened. It really did feel well and truly gone. "Like myself again."

[gloriouscurse]

Letting out a happy sound of surprise, Regina took that hand and kissed his palm, glad that the chill around him was gone. "This place has an odd sense of timing," she decided.

She had learned something important during all of this though; she had the ability to soothe him, to be there for him, and that made her feel more prideful than almost anything had in years. "I do believe we have cause for celebration," she murmured before finding his lips with her own again.

[thiefwithhonor]

"It's a week to the day this started, isn't it?" he realized, and then suddenly he didn't much care about the details as she eased closer to him. She did tend to have that sort of effect on him.

And even in this, he had been holding himself back. Passion was as much an emotion as anything else. As much as he had tried, that need for restraint never really left him. The magic had felt as though it was a shackle around him, and it was gone now.

So he smiled against her mouth, wide and relieved, as his hand came up to curl around her neck to gently pull her closer.

[gloriouscurse]

He was right, it was, and yet she didn't bother to reply. She had missed this far too much, and Regina's smile matched Robin's for a moment before her hand moved to grip his arm. There was something about kissing him, something that drove every other thought from her mind, and she gave into it, into him.