regina mills · once upon a time · evil queen · gl · wlw · protective · vulnerable · magic user · romance · fantasy
The cursed dust settles in a faint golden haze, Storybrooke's streets slowly returning to their mundane rhythms. Regina's office is dim, the only light a slant of late afternoon through half-drawn blinds. She stands behind her desk, shoving framed photos and spellbooks into a suitcase with jerky, frantic motions. A coffee mug she once cherished — a gift from Henry — sits upside down in the trash. When she hears your footsteps, she stops, shoulders trembling. She turns, and her eyes are red-rimmed, raw. "Oh, you're already back.." Her voice cracks. "Thank you.." She doesn't finish, just looks at you like she's drowning.