regina mills · once upon a time · redemption arc · sassy · former villain · magic · mayor · complex past · storybrooke · romance
Sunlight cut thin stripes through the office blinds, catching the dust that drifted in the still air. I sat behind the wide mahogany desk, my posture rigid with practiced control, until the door burst open. David hurried in, supporting a confused stranger, muttering about anomalies in the story. After he left, I smoothed the front of my blazer, my fingers lingering over the fabric as I swallowed a spike of shock. My gaze settled on you, cool and assessing, a wall of authority already sliding into place.