A/N: Well, I'm back with another fic. I got this idea from a tumblr prompt that I tweaked just enough to make the idea work for me. I don't know how long this one will end up being, as I only have a handful of chapters plotted out.

Chapter 1

The groan Aurora let out was the fifth one she counted that day. Her phone buzzed insistently, reminding her that she still hadn't answered his texts. She let out a sigh and leaned back in her office chair.

After years of trying to avoid Phillip's persistent advances, she had finally agreed to go on a date with him. Her father was so happy with this turn of events that she agreed to more dates, and eventually, things grew more serious between them. She tolerated his presence, but that was about it.

She knew that her relationship with Phillip was a convenience, nothing more. Part of her pitied him for that. All her friends told her that it was obvious that he was head over heals for her. At the same time, she wished that he would understand that his affections were mostly one sided.

She pushed her thoughts of him aside and tried to focus on her schoolwork. Midterms were fast approaching, and she depended on getting good grades to keep her scholarship funds coming in. She was just getting into her work and got her rhythm down when her phone buzzed again.

Flustered, she picked it up. "Phillip, I'm busy," she said, trying to keep the venom from her voice. The one thing that got on her nerves more than anything was getting interrupted when she was studying, and Phillip seemed to have a talent for doing just that.

"You weren't answering your texts. I was getting worried."

Same excuse he always used. Typical, Aurora thought as she rolled her eyes. She was glad that he couldn't see her facial expressions. She didn't need that argument right then.

She let out a sigh, thinking that perhaps she was being a little too harsh on him. "I'm sorry, Phillip," she said without really meaning it. The words were automatic, and they were there to shut him up. "I got caught up trying to study for my midterms. I'll try and call you when I'm done." If I'm not too exhausted, she added mentally. She knew she would be; she always was after a study session. That was just the way things were. She made the decision when she started at the university that she would put her schoolwork first and relationships second. She had even told Phillip as much when they started dating. Whether or not that sunk in, or if he forgot was another matter entirely.

"I miss you, babe," he said in what she imagined was supposed to be a sweet voice.

"I miss you too," she replied.

"Don't study too hard."

Don't study too hard…really? She nearly slapped her face with her palm at his words; they were that ridiculous, even by his standards.

"I won't. But I really need to go. I'll talk to you as soon as I can."

"Oh. Ok. I love you." He sounded dejected, but that wasn't her problem.

She felt a shiver run down her spine, and not the pleasant sort. "I love you too," she responded automatically. It was easier that way. If she played along to his desires, he would remain happy.

Once she hung up on him, she spent a couple minutes collecting herself. She really didn't know why she wasted her time on him, other than it kept the rest of the boys from pursuing her.

She spent the next few hours reading over her notes for her upcoming exams. Every few minutes, she came across a section where she wondered what she had scribbled down in a rush. She was able to decipher a few of them, but she had to abandon the rest and hoped whatever they were wouldn't be on her exams.

Exhaustion eventually drove her to giving up, at least for the night. She rubbed at her eyes as she leaned back. She glanced at her watch and cursed the fact that it was half past midnight. She scrambled to gather her belongings in her bag and scurried out the library.

The brisk air hit her face as she exited the building. She mentally kicked herself for forgetting to bring a coat with her. While the days were steadily warming up, the nights were still cold, and she really should've known better.

She walked with a hurried pace, gripping her bag strap tightly. Every few steps she took, she looked over her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat every time she saw movement in the shadows, and each time she felt stupid for letting her eyes play tricks on her, as they tended to do when she walked back to her dorm alone at night.

As she walked, she slowly retreated into her thoughts. She thought of a great deal many things when she walked. Walking provided an outlet for her to go down the rabbit hole that was her thoughts; it was one of the few times she could actually think, and she used it quite liberally when she could.

She thought mostly about what she was going to do with her life once she graduated. She would have to find a job to support herself, despite what Phillip or her father said. She wasn't going to be one of those women who were dependent on the men in her life to provide for her; that wasn't the sort of person she was. If things went south with Phillip, as she suspected they would eventually, she wanted the ability to take care of herself in the fallout. She knew deep down that Phillip wasn't right for her; he never had been. But she could bear staying with him until something better came along. And it wasn't like she saw him much anyway. She went home once a month to see him, as she was obligated to do.

When she felt hands grip around her waist, she tensed up. The only thought that went through her mind was no on repeat. She wasn't going to be one of those statistics she kept reading about; she couldn't.

The panic was short lived. As soon as the hands were there, they were suddenly ripped away. She tumbled to the ground, and when she looked up, she saw someone beating up who she assumed was her attacker. The tall woman was still easily half his size, and she was making short work of him. It wasn't long before he was on the ground with his face in a pool of blood.

In the dim light, she could make out that the woman was lithe, with long auburn hair. The light was enough to reflect deep green eyes that were wide and feral. The woman had an aura of danger that Aurora couldn't explain, and yet she felt somehow drawn to her like a moth to flame. The woman just saved her after all.

"Are you hurt?" Aurora was slightly taken aback by such a deep purr that was the woman's voice. She shook her head dumbly.

The woman walked up to her and offered her hand, which Aurora hesitantly took. "Are you comfortable with me walking you home?"

"Uh…thanks," Aurora said, feeling stupid.

The woman's lips, which were sinfully red, quirked into a smile; it was enough to make Aurora's knees suddenly very weak. The woman caught her before she could fall again.

"You're in shock."

Aurora blushed as she leaned into her. She wondered who this woman was, a professor who stayed late and lost track of time perhaps. Regardless, she was grateful for this woman's presence.

"Name's Aurora," she said, not sure why she willingly gave a complete stranger her name.

"Maleficent."

"Huh?"

"My name is Maleficent."

Aurora thought on that for a while. Maleficent…such a strange name. But the way it rolled off her tongue as she mouthed it a few times sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

"Where do you live?"

"Dorm 59, stack 19," Aurora answered automatically.

She was amazed by how at ease she felt next to Maleficent, especially without getting to know her first. It was strange, but it was on an instinctual level, something she had never really felt before. She wondered on that until they were standing outside her dorm.

"Try not to walk alone at night again," Maleficent said, pulling away.

Aurora didn't know what possessed her to do it, but she took Maleficent's hand and tugged on it gently. "Stay, please?"

"Is that what you wish?"

She nodded, and was put at ease when Maleficent acquiesced to her wish. She led Maleficent inside before turning around and locking her door. Part of her felt embarrassed by the state of her dorm, but it was nearly midterms and she occupied the dorm by herself, her previous dorm mate having just dropped out and a new dorm mate not having been found for her.

"Thank you, for saving me," Aurora said after a few moments of both of them standing in silence. She blushed and stared at her floor.

"It was my pleasure. I could not sit idly by while that man could have had his way with you."

"Not many would've stepped in."

She felt Maleficent studying her. Rather than shift her feet, she dared to meet her gaze. Maleficent simply nodded, and her lips pursed into a disappointed frown.

"You need to rest, if you can," Maleficent said after a long moment of silence. She took Aurora's hand and gently led her to the bed in the corner. She helped Aurora change into a pair of pajamas, but only after Aurora gave the nod of approval.

Aurora's heart raced with excitement as Maleficent removed her clothes. She licked her lips, hoping Maleficent wouldn't notice, or if she did, that she wouldn't think anything of it. Her reaction confused her. Even though her feelings for Phillip were pretty much nonexistent, she had never entertained the idea of women being attractive. She quickly attributed it to the adrenaline that was probably still pumping through her system. Yes, that had to be it. Maleficent had just saved her life, and she was grateful. That was all.

As soon as Aurora was changed, Maleficent sat on the bed with Aurora's head resting in her lap. Aurora relaxed as soon as she felt long fingers running through her hair, and it wasn't long before she fell into a comfortable slumber. It was the most restful sleep, and the quickest, she had fallen into in a very long time, and she had a stranger to thank for it.