A/N: Just a little bit of silliness that wouldn't leave me alone. No specific time frame (aside from it being some point during the movie) and my apologies for the unimaginative title - hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Knots
"Not that I'm complaining," Diaval began as he watched Maleficent remove her head covering, "but couldn't you just use your magic to fix this?" he asked, eyeing the knots in her hair dubiously.
"You said 'anything I need,'" she reminded him as she shook her hair out and sat down.
"If I'd known you'd be such an exacting mistress I would have chosen my words more carefully," he retorted and Maleficent rolled her eyes to cover her amusement.
"If I'd known you'd be so difficult maybe I'd have let you die," she commented idly as she looked at him over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
Obediently, albeit a shade reluctantly, he came to join her.
"I will be forever grateful that you didn't, Mistress," he assured her as he sat down behind her and tentatively reached out to touch her hair.
He hesitated, "What if I hurt you?"
"You won't," she replied calmly, surprising them both with the conviction in her tone. She cleared her throat, "It's just a few knots," she added after a moment.
Diaval made no further comment as he reached out to touch her hair, trying not to think about any possible implications of grooming his mistress.
Eventually he relaxed and started humming absently to himself as he concentrated on his task. Lulled into a peaceful state by his humming and surprisingly gentle ministrations – and completely against her better judgement – Maleficent allowed her eyes to drift shut.
The next thing she knew she woke up leaning against something warm and oddly comforting, it took her a moment to realise that something was Diaval. Her eyes snapped open, the last time she'd fallen asleep in the presence of a man he'd stolen her wings and left her.
In contrast, Diaval had stayed.
She peeped up at his face from where he was cradling her protectively in his arms and was surprised to find that, despite his relaxed attitude, he was keeping a sharp watch on their surroundings.
He glanced down and caught her watching him.
"Welcome back," he grinned, "I never realised you found my company so tiresome or do I possess some magic of my own?" he teased.
She sat up and shot him a dark look. "Don't flatter yourself," she muttered as she busied herself with collecting her staff and head covering to hide her embarrassment at showing weakness and her annoyance at missing the comfort of his arms.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he assured her as he stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants.
"I was tired," she informed him, avoiding his eyes and ignoring the hand he offered as she stood up.
"I know."
"And I was finally able to relax," she continued as though he hadn't spoken.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me," he told her and she looked at him sharply, narrowing her eyes as she assessed his innocent expression.
"Very well then," she said finally, deciding to let it pass and leading the way back to the tree that had somehow become 'theirs.'
"I'm just grateful you let me stay as a man and didn't turn me into a pillow," he commented after a moment, suddenly ceasing to be so innocent.
Maleficent flicked her wrist, turning him back into a raven, "Vain bird," she grumbled, hiding a smile.
He gave her a knowing look as he came to perch on the top of her staff and she resisted the urge to poke her tongue out at him as she continued on her way.