Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT
Author's Notes: I'm not sure about this one, especially the way it ended but I hope you enjoy.
Run Away
People forget how young the queen really is until things like this crop up. And when they do she always steals away on her beloved horse and hides at her friend's home, no matter the time of day, no matter how suspicious it may seem. She would rather be in bemused company than indignant and presumptuous company. Despite the initial embarrassment that followed the greeting of her friend, it was a safer and kinder environment when she truly needed it. All the same, the chuckle that bubbled out of the usually prim woman was both surprising and considerate. The queen blushed severely and looked down at the carpeted floor, wringing her hands behind her back. She sees a ruffle of gown cloth enter her view and starts to look up only to feel the soft pale skin of finger drawing her chin up carefully.
"It's only a small blemish. Nothing to be embarrassed about, dear."
"It's mortifying, Mal!" she exclaims, pulling from the blonde's caress to stalk near the fireplace, unable to remain still any longer. She pauses for a second to rub furiously at the mark on her cheek, groaning when she didn't feel the small nub recede. The blonde grins to herself before coming over and clasping their hands together to lead the girl onto one of the chaises by the roaring fire.
"Humans are too tied up with vanity and how perfect things should be. It is a natural process of growing up and nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it should remind those bastards in his castle—himself included—just how young and inexperienced you. How wrong that marriage is. Regina..." she trailed off, brushing aside an errant strand of brunette hair, as her blue eyes gaze affectionately at her. "You are still as radiant as the first day you barged into my home. More so when you allow this side of yourself to see the light of day," she finishes, running a single finger along the line of Regina's jaw before leaning forward to kiss the offending mark.
The young girl felt herself blushing again, but for an entirely different reason. One far more pleasurable. When Maleficent pulled back to look at her again, she proffered a wide smile in thanks, one of her hands twitching to itch at the blemish once more, silently glad that hand was entwined with her friend's. "I know it will pass, but it's degrading when they avoid me like the plague when this happens, as though I'm unclean or unworthy, like when my monthly blood comes," she glanced down, distracting herself with the intricacies of the blonde's dress. "I suppose it's a good thing because the king lets me be..."
"And now you're here," Maleficent interjected before her young friend could get sad about her circumstances outside the fortress. Regina nodded slightly before raising her gaze and smiling half-heartedly.
"Yes. And I always enjoy my time with you," she murmured as she adjusted herself on the chaise to lean against Maleficent with her legs curled to her left. Regina snuggled into the dragon's side, head against shoulder and left arm curling around her thin waist. Accommodating her guest, Maleficent wrapped her left arm around the smaller body and nuzzled the brown hair for a moment before resting her chin on the surface, eyes drawn to the flames in front of them. Moments like these were simple but meant so much to them. It let them escape the worlds in which they resided and gave them a breather to pretend for a single pure moment that perhaps this is what their life was like. Close enough to the other to hear heartbeats and enjoying the silent company and peace that came with the embrace.