Strange & Beautiful
Outlaw Queen, AU.
Henry is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and is accused of vandalism by his school’s principal, Mr. Gold, who assigns him to assist the art teacher, Mr. Locksley, in his summer course.
Regina is a free spirited artist and single mother to Henry and believes Henry’s past infractions have been simply misplaced on him, but she agrees to Henry assisting Mr. Locksley during the summer, mostly because she fears he’s pulling away from her.
So I did this little drabble a while back, read it again tonight and thought I’d post here. Let me know what you all think and if you’d like it continued!
Henry was not a bad kid. He was a wonderful child, but here she was, once again, sitting in the school's front office, her ten year old swinging his legs, looking down at his lap, waiting for the principal. She wasn't mad at Henry, rarely ever was. The past several trips to Principal Gold's office were technicalities.
She thought back to their previous visits, thinking that girl who told on him for looking up her skirt probably wanted him to and that Henry was more than likely in the wrong place at the wrong time whenever that window was broken. But then she sounded like one of those parents whom never found fault in their children. She knew Henry could have his moments, he was a ten year old boy, but the things she was getting calls for did not sound like her son.
But something had her on edge. Principal Gold said he would specify what Henry did when she got there. Which worried her to her core.
She was broken from her racing mind by the receptionist telling her he'd see her now. She told Henry to stay in his seat, that she'd be back in a few minutes.
He stood from behind his desk once she entered.
"Mr. Gold." She returned, taking a seat in front of his desk like it was second nature. By now, it was.
"I suppose I should cut to the chase about Henry." He began.
Regina sat patient, unsure and hands clasped, tapping her pointer finger on top of her other hand.
"He's had one too many infractions I'm afraid, today's being the last straw, Ms. Mills." He said, handing her the paperwork.
She took it, scanning over the paper quickly and confused.
"Vandalism is a serious offense, Ms. Mills. We do not tolerate it here at H. C. Anderson Middle School and I'm sure no one else does, either."
"Do you have proof?" She asked, speaking for the firs time.
"His named was spelled out on the wall." Mr. Gold said flatly.
"And what makes you think whoever vandalized the wall would write their own name? Henry isn't that bone headed. He's a smart boy." Regina argued.
"Yes, that may be, but Henry was in Mr. Locksley's room at the time and has a rather long rap sheet." Mr. Gold pointed out.
"So that's your evidence? There were no witnesses?" Regina asked, irritation lacing her tone.
"No, Henry broke into Mr. Locksley's room during the lunch period."
Regina sat back into her chair and exhaled.
"We don't have any solid proof, but no one has come to claim otherwise, so we have to place blame on your son." Mr. Gold began. "Now, I'd rather not lose a bright child like Henry, so instead of sending him to another school, his punishment is to not only clean Mr. Locksley's wall, but to assist him with his class this summer if he loves to draw so much."
"I can understand him cleaning it up, but why assist in a summer class?" Regina asked.
"Maybe it will teach him that art belongs on paper and not walls." Mr. Gold said. "Now, if that is all, I have a meeting to get to."
Regina nodded, muttered a thank you she really didn't mean, and walked out of his office. She looked at Henry, who was still looking down at his lap. She told him they were going and her eyes were met with sadness and guilt. It wasn't the kind of guilt you saw in someone who had committed the crime, though. He looked tired. She recognized the look all too well. She looked at it everyday in the mirror. And she knew Henry's "I did it. You caught me" face and his current features, were not it. She knew her son did not do it, but everyone else believed otherwise and it made her blood boil.
"I'm in trouble, aren't I." He said, more of a statement than a question.
"Not with me." Regina said. And maybe it was the wrong thing to say, the wrong thing to display for her son that he could get away with things, but she knew he wasn't responsible for this.
She squeezed his hand and began to lead him out of the front office when she collided with something sturdy and slightly pine scented.
"I'm so sorry." She said, meeting two bright blue eyes.
"It's my fault, milady. I shouldn't have been looking down." He smirked, then looking down at Henry then back to Regina.
"You must be Henry's mother." He said.
"Robin. Robin Locksley." He said extending his hand.
She didn't take it, returning a glare instead.
"So it was your classroom Henry vandalized?" She asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Well, for the record, I don't believe Henry would do that." He said.
Her eyes softened and then her brows furrowed in question.
"So, why punish him?" She asked.
"Oh, I didn't catch him or whomever did it. Another teacher did, but I can assure you, I don't believe Henry is capable of such a bone headed act." He said.
A slight smirk crossed her lips and she looked down at Henry.
"Henry, why don't you go to wait outside for me. I'll be right out." She said.
He nodded and walked out to sit on one of the benches just outside the door.
"It seems Principal Gold thinks the best way to teach Henry a lesson is by making him assist you with your summer class. And help you clean your wall, of course." Regina said.
"Yes, as it turns out, forcing students to attend my summer art program is the only way I'd have students at all." He chuckled.
She smiled wider, then looked around him to see Henry sitting patiently for her.
"When do your classes start?" She asked.
"The following Monday after school is out. So, a week from now." He said.
"Well, whether or not Henry did this, I suppose helping out with a summer art class wouldn't hurt him." Regina said honestly.
"Certainly not, milady." He said, staring holes into her own eyes, causing her to look away.
"We must be going. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Locksley." She said, brushing past him.
She walked outside and gathered Henry up as they walked off school campus and down the road. She didn't own a car, couldn't afford one, but she was glad the little island of Mist Haven they lived on made traveling by foot so easy. They didn't live too far from his school, so it wasn't too much of a hassle, anyway.
Once she unlocked the door to the house, Henry darted up the stairs and she heard his door slam instantly behind him. She leaned against the front door and sighed, closing her eyes and wondering when and how Henry got this way.
