Prompt: Maleficent finds Regina in the bathroom; Regina tells her why she had kept her locked up as a dragon. (Turned out to be a little fluffy...)
Just a couple of days had passed since he had revived her from the ashes and Maleficent wasn't sure about his intentions. Not a single person, or villain for that matter, did anything without asking for something in return. She wanted to be angry but she knew she should be grateful to be alive after Swan had killed her for that stupid egg they had hidden inside of her. The only one she should truly be mad at was Rumple and yet he was the one who brought her back to life and she couldn't help but wonder. Soon Maleficent met the others and something told her that they were up to no good. Things could never end well with all three of them in one place.
There was only one thing missing, one person, she thought as she sat in the cottage in the woods, listening to Rumple's plan; the person who had taken her to this land in the first place.
Regina, Maleficent thought.
She had never had a chance to ask Regina why she had been taken to this land after all, trapped in her Dragon form in a dark, cold place. She could've left her to die before the curse turned their world upside down, but for some reason she hadn't.
Maleficent thought about the Evil Queen. She knew things had changed, since Regina had taken that curse from her. She heard that Regina had changed and she had always known that there was more to this woman, to the monster people preferred to see. She knew the young Regina; the scared and unhappy one, the tortured and betrayed person who had endured more pain than anyone she knew. She didn't know what she had expected.
That Regina would come running to welcome her with open arms?
Truth be told, a small part deep inside her heart had thought about that. She almost laughed at herself because it seemed ridiculous. It wasn't like they'd parted on friendly terms. Things had gone awfully wrong and although she'd never admit that to anyone, losing Regina had broken her heart back then. She had done more for Maleficent than she'll ever be aware of and the days she'd spent with Regina had been the most wonderful ones in her lonely life decades ago. There wasn't much going on in her life; she'd been miserable and lonely and Regina had saved her from that but somehow she had failed to look after the brunette as well.
Maleficent knew that she'd always have a soft spot for that woman. Despite everything that had happened, a part of her would always love Regina deeply. She knew Rumple and his two pets didn't trust Regina, that was the point in the conversation she'd finally paid attention to, because she'd gone 'soft' or so they said.
According to them she had spent so much time with all these heroes that she had started acting like them, believing in hope and happy endings which is why she couldn't be trusted.
That bit had Maleficent curious.
If, what they said about Regina, was true then something was wrong here. The Regina she had known, hero or villain, would've shown up at their doorstep the moment they entered this town to see what this was all about; to protect her loved ones. She wouldn't accept intruders without taking a proper look herself. And still, Regina was nowhere in sight and Maleficent was starting to wonder why.
It didn't take long for Rumple to fill them in on the missing details and the possible reason for Regina's absence. According to Rumple she had lost her one true love; sent him away so he could be with his family and she'd been hardly seen ever since.
Her one true love, Maleficent thought.
So she'd found him after all. She remembered how they'd talked about this one morning when the sun was just about to rise. Regina had confessed that there was a person out there who was supposed to be her true love and although she'd run away from him, she'd still thought about him from time to time. The'd been talking about this like it had been a real bad thing instead of taking it as a second chance.
They'd chosen revenge and solitude because it seemed foolish to believe in true love; only heroes did that. Maleficent shook her head to herself. They'd been so blind and ignorant. So full of hate that they couldn't accept the truth. They had loved each other physically and emotionally but they had both known that it wouldn't last forever. Their relationship had been destined to fail at some point and just the fact had hurt Maleficent.
She leaned back in her chair, lost in her thoughts. She crossed her legs and tried to listen but her thoughts drifted back to Regina and she had a sudden urge to find her. After all these years, she wanted to see her. She wasn't even sure if Regina wanted to; she probably had other things on her mind but Maleficent knew she wouldn't be able to rest if she didn't know the truth.
Later that night, when Ursula and Cruella had tended to drinking, Maleficent had remained unsettled and laid-back, acting along until her opposites were so wasted that they didn't notice her departure any longer.
She took her time, walking to Regina's house. The streets were calm and deserted and Maleficent had yet to get used to all of this though she had no problem finding the mayor's mansion. The air smelled rather sweet Maleficent noticed, it would rain sooner or later. She hadn't spoken much tonight, she'd been buried in thoughts. For just a second, she wondered whether she was nervous about facing Regina and then she smiled at herself; at the image of a much younger Regina who'd been fairly intimidated during their first encounter. She'd been a villain, a feared sorceress, and she didn't need to afraid of anyone. Certainly not of Regina she thought, but things were different when it came to this woman.
Things always got complicated when feelings were involved and she hadn't been a simple fling she'd forgotten about in the morning. Regina had always been more then that which was the reason why Maleficent was nervous all of a sudden. Regina knew her; could see behind her feared facade. She knew how to hurt Maleficent like no one else could.
From a distance, she saw a light flicker on the first floor. She was at home after all. Maleficent wondered whether Regina would open the door if she knocked or if she'll simply send her away. She walked to the doorstep and took a deep breath. She knocked on the door and waited; the minutes seemed to drag by but she wasn't ready to give up. She knew Regina had heard her, she just didn't know if Regina was ignoring her for her sake or if she just didn't want to see anyone because of all the things that had happened to her recently.
"Regina," Maleficent almost whispered and put a hand against the front door and closed her eyes. "I know you can hear me," she said quietly, she had no doubt that the Queen had heard her. For such a ruthless sorceress, her voice was incredibly gentle and soft and she knew she couldn't let anyone know about this, not now.
"Regina," she whispered again after minutes of silence, almost begging. She was just about to give up when she felt it. There was a sudden pain and the emotions rushing through her body made her gasp in surprise. She felt the physical pain, the emptiness that consumed her from within. The painful solitude that numbed her body. Maleficent took a deep breath, trying to control the pain which wasn't her own.
She knew that Regina was suffering and maybe that was her way of screaming for help. Something told her that she had acknowledged Maleficent; Regina knew she was here. Without hesitating, Maleficent let herself into the house. She could've done that before, she had done worse, but she'd wanted to show a little respect and do it politely. She felt her own heart hammering against her chest, sharing Regina's agonizing pain.
Maleficent quietly walked into the house, her heels echoing through the empty rooms. It was partially dark and still impressive.
So much space, Maleficent thought.
Suitable for a mayor, but not for Regina. All these big rooms and fancy decorations had never been what Regina had wanted. The person Maleficent had known preferred small and cosy rooms, places that made her feel save. She'd simply peter out in these grande rooms. She couldn't imagine that Regina felt much at home within these walls, it just didn't fit.
Slowly, she walked from one room to another but the house was deserted and quiet. She thought of the light she'd seen burning on the upper floor and climbed the stairs, wondering what she'd find. The pressure on her chest increased with every step she climbed and she knew Regina was close. Finally she found the light at the end of the floor; the door was slightly ajar.
Maleficent knew that this one must be Regina's bedroom. She closed her eyes before she pushed the door open softly. The room reminded her a little more of the brunette. It seemed friendlier, warm and cosy.
"Regina?" Maleficent asked again, praying that she wouldn't be hurt or worse. "Where are you?" She entered the room and waited. There was another door to her right side, leading to the adjoining bathroom. Maleficent approached carefully, not wanting to startle Regina and somehow she felt like she shouldn't be here but it seemed to late to turn back now.
Through the open door, she saw something that made her heart ache; it seemed like the saddest and most painful thing she had ever seen, taking her back to those years when it all had started. The bathroom was only dimly lit, casting everything in a soft and warm glow. There was a candle flickering in the far corner and there was a faint smell of lavender in the air and it melted her heart just a little. A beautiful and welcoming sight, a place to get lost in if it wasn't for the woman sitting on the edge of the bathtub that was framed by black stones. Classy but beautiful, giving Regina enough space to sit and dip her feet into the water.
Regina had her back to Maleficent and she didn't turn around although she already knew that she wasn't on her own any longer. Her body was wrapped in a towel and her hair, that she was wearing a lot shorter now, was tied back in a simple ponytail. Maleficent took a step into the bathroom, the soft steam and the warm air enwrapping her rather pleasantly.
You're still just as beautiful, Maleficent thought. Beautiful but broken.
And suddenly, Regina turned around. She looked at Maleficent from afar, their eyes finding each other's and the dull pain Maleficent had felt earlier increased with every heart beat. The light had vanished from Regina's eyes, there was nothing but emptiness inside of them. Everything about that woman's composure spoke of defeat and exhaustion, pain and betrayal. She had resigned and given up and there wasn't a single person in this town who would be kind enough to comfort her and that caused Maleficent the most pain. There was nothing more excruciating than solitude and the bitter truth that no one gave a damn about your fate, leaving you to suffer quietly on your own until the emptiness consumed you entirely from the inside.
She had been there and she didn't want Regina to return to this dark place. That was the one reason they'd all ended up in this mess in the first place and it was about time they all got a chance to catch their breath.
Regina looked at the blonde woman, entering the bathroom. She hadn't faced Maleficent in more then thirty years, not since she had taken that bloody curse away from her. She had been devastated when she'd found out that Emma had killed the Dragon about two years ago but there was nothing she could've done; no one to talk to because no one would have understood and she hadn't wanted to share that secret with any of them.
She had heard that he had brought her back and while a part of her was glad, the other one was wondering, scared even. She had trapped Maleficent for so long and never given her so much as an explanation. There hadn't been time for that when the curse had struck and she'd never expected to see her again until she'd heard of what Rumple had done.
She didn't have the strength to look for Maleficent, she didn't even know if she'd wanted to see her. Regina didn't have the strength to face anyone and she couldn't blame Maleficent for being furious and keen on revenge for all the years Regina had taken from her, or so she had thought. She had always had a special connection to that woman, something that had developed back in the Forbidden Fortress when they'd spent all those nights comforting each other. They had communicated and understood each other on levels Regina had never fully understood but that connection hadn't worn off over the years.
Maleficent could've walked in here like she owned the damn place and yet she had had the decency to knock and ask for her. The emotion in her voice had startled Regina at first, taken her by surprise. It had stirred long-lost memories and emotions that she didn't know she still had inside of her.
Regina had wanted to tell Maleficent to come in, tell her how sorry she was for everything that had happened and to give her a long-overdue explanation but in the end she didn't have the strength to leave this bathroom. She had wanted to take a bath what feels like hours ago, had wanted to ease her pain just a little but the exhaustion had washed over her before she could do anything about it. She'd been sitting on the edge, wondering what would happen next and how she was supposed to go through another day with all the betrayal she had felt, all the pain she felt inside. She couldn't bear sharing her pain with the rest of the town but the truth was that there wasn't anyone left who cared enough to make her feel better.
She had remained in the bathroom, knowing that Maleficent was here. She had expected her to yell at Regina, maybe even try to kill her or at least laugh at her and tell her that she deserved all of this but what Regina saw made her defences crumble, took her by surprise.
Maleficent looked at her with concern and longing in her eyes; wondering what was wrong but Regina wasn't sure if she had enough strength to tell her. This wasn't the woman who had robbed off her curse more then thirty years ago but the woman she had encountered in her own castle long before that first curse had happened.
The more aware she became of Maleficent's presence, the heavier the pressure on her chest got and all the tears she had held back for so long threatened to break free all at once. Regina fought against it with all her strength, she had refused to cry about this, she didn't want anyone to see her tears but she didn't stand a chance against Maleficent. She had seen Regina at her worst, had seen her tears and a lot more; she knew her weaknesses which was one of the reasons why she had trapped her in her dragon form.
Regina turned her head away from the blonde, warm tears running down her cheeks. Maleficent approached and Regina held her breath when she laid a hand on her bare shoulder. She had almost expected her hand to be cold when she remembered that Maleficent's hands had always been warm and soft.
There's still fire inside of her, Regina thought.
"I never thought I'd see you again," Regina almost whispered. Her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
"Neither have I," Maleficent said and Regina immediately missed the warmth of her hand when she took it away. She walked around the woman and sat down on the edge beside her, staring in the opposite direction.
"I didn't expect you to be so..." Regina tried to find the right word, wondering if this was simply a game she was playing so her revenge would be even more pleasant.
"Calm?" Maleficent offered and Regina nodded.
"You have any reason not to be," Regina whispered, still looking at her hands.
"True," the blonde said quietly and it made Regina turn her head. If she wasn't mistaken, Maleficent appeared tired herself. "I thought about revenge for a long, long time," she said. "I thought about all those things I would do to you when I saw you again because you had trapped me beneath this town," she said and the guilt weighed heavily on Regina's shoulders. "But with the years I had also thought about the good things that you had done to me. How you'd made me feel and how I had actually missed you," she said quietly and Regina was touched by her words.
That was the least thing she had expected. "When that woman was about to kill me, I thought about you and how I never got to see you again," she said quietly and took a deep breath. "Looks like I've gone soft after all," she said and laughed but it didn't reach her eyes.
She turned her head and finally faced Regina. For the first time, she was aware of how close they were sitting next to each other and that Regina was probably naked under that towel and it made her a little nervous.
She regarded the brunette for a few seconds. She had expected to see the Evil Queen in all her precious glory with everything in her life she had ever dreamed of; the happy ending that had started all of this. She hadn't expected to see Regina so... human. She was defeated and broken; she was suffering and in pain, exhausted and lonely. It was a sad sight and it almost made Maleficent wish she had fought her just a little harder when it came to that hideous curse.
"I'm so sorry," Regina whispered and she didn't find the slightest hint of anger in the dragon's eyes.
"I never understood," Maleficent suddenly said. "All these years I had wondered why you just didn't leave me to die instead of trapping me," she said and Regina bit her lip, tears falling from her eyes. "Have I been so horrible to you?"
"I never wanted you to die," Regina whispered, trying hard not to let her voice break while she spoke.
"Then tell me why," Maleficent begged.
"I... I couldn't leave you behind," Regina quietly told her. She didn't care about the tears any longer. "You were the only one I had," she admitted. "I was so scared when it all happened but it had been to late to go back but... I … I couldn't leave you behind," Regina said and her voice cracked at the end. Regina wrapped her arms around her stomach, turning her head away from Mal once again.
"But why trap me as a dragon?" she wanted to know. She wouldn't let it go and Regina didn't blame her, she deserved the answer.
"You were my weakness," she said and her voice was heavy with emotions. It wasn't an accusation or a plain justification but the truth, spoken from deep inside her heart. Maleficent took one of Regina's hands, tracing soft circles on her palm when Regina let her. "You have always been my weakness," Regina repeated and faced Maleficent, cupping her cheek with her free hand. "And you will always be," she whispered.
"You know me so well," Regina explained softly. "You've seen me at my worst, you've seen me when no one else did and you understood me," Regina whispered and leaned her forehead against Maleficent's, her breath hot on her face.
"I had known that I would've crumbled as soon as things got out of hand when you were around and I couldn't let that happen. I had to give it a try but I hadn't had the heart to leave you behind," she whispered and Maleficent couldn't even be mad; she understood.
"I've missed you," she whispered against Regina's lips and the brunette closed the distance between them without hesitation. She didn't think about possible consequences and the love she had just lost, the fact that she might regret this come morning; she just knew that she needed it right now. She needed to feel loved and kiss was soft and lingering, exploring familiar territory once more to see how far this would go. Regina's intentions had been clear from the moment their lips touched; she was vulnerable and lonely and there was hardly anything Maleficent would deny her. Not when her lips parted in silent pleasure, moaning softly against the sensitive skin of her throat. Regina kissed and sucked at her pulse, drawing the sweetest sounds from Maleficent. The blonde had her hand on Regina's bare thigh, slowly grazing the soft skin with her fingernails; sliding her fingertips over exposed skin until she shivered slightly.
Maleficent presses her lips onto Regina's again, pulling her into a messy kiss until she hummed approvingly, tilting her head back on a moan. She left Regina waiting and wondering when she rose and abandoned Regina for an instant.
"Don't look," Maleficent whispered into her ear, sending a shiver through her body. Regina gripped the edges of the bathtub with both hands, biting her lip. Her body tensed in anticipation, her heart hammering against her chest; her breath was uneven and every inch of her body trembled a little, waiting.
Maleficent watched her in silence; amazed.
"You're so beautiful," she whispered and watched Regina. It took all her strength to do what the blonde had asked of her; Maleficent knew that it would put Regina right at the edge. Her own fingers trembled a little when she took her clothes off, leaving her in nothing but her underwear. She discarded them and walked up to Regina, who was panting softly.
Maleficent had the overwhelming urge to kiss her breath away but placed feather-light kisses along her spine instead.
"I missed you," she whispered, letting her hands glide up and down the brunette's spine. "So much," she breathed against warm skin. She tugged at the towel, that was still wrapped around Regina, and let it fall down to her waist; she sat down behind Regina who sighed softly before she relaxed a little and leaned back into the blonde's arms. She felt her, skin on skin; laid her head on Maleficent's shoulder to pull her into a kiss.
Regina felt her nipples harden at the contact, aching for more. She put her hands on her knees to steady herself, bowing her head when Maleficent sucked the soft skin on her neck. Mal cupped her breasts from behind, squeezing gently at first; teasing the already sensitive nipples with two fingers, pinching them hard.
She parted her legs just a little, feeling the slick wetness that was starting to spread; Maleficent knew what Regina wanted and smiled against her shoulder. She was arching her back slightly, into the blonde's hands. She was getting impatient but Maleficent didn't want it to end just yet. She wanted to draw it out as long as possible, relish every sweet moment before it was over. She teased and squeezed her nipples until Regina whimpered softly, abandoning her breasts to find her wet and ready between her legs. Maleficent inhaled sharply against Regina's skin, her fingers slowly sliding through slick folds.
"Oh... yes," Regina whispered a little unsteady, squirming under her touch but Maleficent had no intention of giving her some sort of release, she was nothing but teasing at the moment while she ignored her own needs, throbbing relentlessly between her legs. She know she was soaked right through but that would have to wait. She let her fingers glide through the wetness slowly until her fingers are inside Regina. She feels the tension and the pleasure building but she only lingers for a few moments before she pauses her sensual assault, drawing a frustrated moan from Regina.
Maleficent has gone from boldly teasing to gently kissing her collarbone, sucking and nipping. There was a fine layer of sweat covering Regina's skin when Maleficent's fingers travelled along her belly and between her breasts; Regina slowly sucked her fingers, tasting herself and she wished that she could look at her while she did so. Maleficent was softly panting against her neck and Regina used the moment of distraction to slip from the embrace, slowly gliding into the water. She turned around with flushed cheeks and messy hair, looking up at Maleficent; she smirked Regina and moved a little closer to the edge. She parted her legs a little wider and Regina didn't waste a second, placing slow kisses along her inner thigh.
Kissing, sucking and biting her way to her aching clit, but that needed to wait. The blonde was panting and whispering under her raging breath and Regina smiled to herself because Maleficent had appeared a lot more composed then she truly was. She looked down at Regina with nothing but pleasure in her eyes, when she hooked her fingers under the waistband of her panties to get them out of the way. The blonde cried out in surprise, arching her back when Regina wasted no time and sucked her clit hard before she softly kissed it. She took her time running her tongue through slick and swollen folds, lingering at her entrance; Maleficent was whining and whimpering beneath her. She held on to her thighs, squeezing hard while she fucked her with her tongue.
"Oh God..." she hissed between heavy breaths, exhaling long and slow. Regina replaced her tongue with her fingers and Maleficent let out a frustrated, strangled moan at the loss of contact. Regina stroked her finger lightly over her swollen clit, looking up at the sorceress. Her light skin was glistening with sweat, her eyes closed and her face softly contorted with pleasure. She drew slow circles with her thumb, parting her, sinking two fingers inside again and again. She squeezed around her fingers and Regina grinned when Maleficent's hand combed through her hair, holding her hair off her face. She was encouraging her, silently pleading.
Regina lazily fucked her with her fingers while her tongue found its way to her clit, drawing the most wonderful sounds from her. Her breath was heaving, her voice low and raspy. Regina knew that she was close when her moans a cries had turned into soft whispers; things she couldn't understand but they seemed so familiar. Maleficent moved her hips even closer to Regina, trying to steady herself at the edge of the bathtub.
The blonde had stopped squirming and Regina felt the muscles around her fingers tighten in pleasure. She curled her fingers one last time, finding that soft spot that would push her over the edge. She pumped her fingers in and out, sucking her swollen clit.
"Gina... please," she begged; her breath was deep and slow. Regina sucked her clit one last time and Maleficent gasped and cried out. Her body tensed and her legs trembled. Regina kept sucking softly while Maleficent slowly came down from her orgasm.
"Oh God," Mal whispered, still a little unsteady. Without another word, she slid down into the bathtub, pulling Regina onto her lap. She pulled the brunette in a heated kiss, tasting herself on her lips; it was so overwhelming that she forgot where she was. For just a moment it felt like they were back at her Fortress before their little affair had ended. Maleficent had one hand wrapped around Regina's waist, keeping her close. The other one was stroking her cheek softly, resting at the base of her neck where her hair was slightly damp already.
She looked at the woman in front of her, too amazed to speak. For one secret moment they were nothing but long-lost lovers accidentally reunited. There was the lightest hint of a smile on the blonde's lips when she placed a soft, open-mouthed kiss on Regina's lips.
"What are you doing to me?" she asked quietly, more to herself then to Regina.
"Do you understand me now?" Regina whispered and leaned her head against the blonde's forehead.
"Yes, I do," she said softly but there was also a little bit of sadness in it. They both knew that it would be over soon; that it wouldn't last forever.
"The water is turning cold," Maleficent said after a few seconds. She sighed and looked at Regina. She knew exactly what to do and she didn't want to return to sad memories, what-ifs and things that would never happen.
"Is it?" Regina asked playfully. Maleficent had always preferred things a little... hotter. Literally. Regina watched as Maleficent moved her fingers slowly; suddenly Regina gasped in surprise, pressing her legs together. She whimpered at the sensation, squirming in Maleficent's arms. Her breath got a little deeper, heavier and Maleficent laughed. She cupped the brunette's face and pulled her into a kiss. Regina was still trying to get used to the water that had turned just a little bit too hot for her taste. Teasing though not enough to hurt her. Her nipples had hardened and the sudden changed and she had pressed her thighs together when the hot water had reached her already aroused clit, making her gasp. She felt the sweat tickle on her skin, slowly run down the sides of her face. There was steam everywhere, rising from the water. Her blood was rushing loudly in her ears, her heart beating furiously in her chest. She was so overwhelmed that she felt slightly dizzy.
She pulled away from the kiss, heavily panting. Her head tilted back on a soft moans that slowly turned into long and heady cries when Maleficent sucked and kissed her sensitive skin.
"Do you like it?" Maleficent whispered into her eyes, making her shiver.
"Yes..." Regina hissed when Mal's hand found its way between her legs. "Yes... right there."
She watched the beautiful woman squirm in her arms, biting her lip to keep her moans insight but Maleficent wanted to hear her. She wanted all of it, all these sweet sounds that she hadn't heard in such a long time. Whenever Regina hummed softly, keeping it inside, she moved her fingers a little harder and she would cry out in pleasure.
"That's it, love," Maleficent whispered when Regina held her tightly, her face buried in the crook of her neck. She was panting and whimpering, sucking and biting gently.
"Come for me," Maleficent whispered into her ear and that was all it took for Regina to fall apart. She cried out in pleasure, her moans echoing in the empty room. She was clinging to Maleficent, her nails digging into the soft flesh of her back. Maleficent knew she'd leave traces behind but she didn't mind. She held Regina, teasing a little until the shivers subsided her body was limp in her arms.
Regina wrapped her arms around Maleficent's neck, placing kisses on each corner of her mouth before she pressed a kiss on her soft lips.
"I missed you," Maleficent repeated once more, her arms wrapped around Regina. They both knew it would be over soon; they didn't want it to be but there's wasn't much they could do about it. Regina turned around in the blonde's arms, her back pressed against her. Maleficent wrapped her legs around Regina, keeping her firmly in place. Regina leaned back, her head resting on the dragon's shoulder. She was starting to get tired but she felt good were she was and she had no intention in changing that. For just the moment she didn't feel as lonely as she had before and she wanted it to last as long as possible. They didn't talk much, it didn't seem necessary and it reminded Regina of all those mornings that she had woken up like this; when they sun had just risen and Regina had relished in those moments before she'd been forced to go back to the life she had dreaded.
"You saved me," Regina whispered sleepily after moments of pure silence. "Back in the Enchanted Forest. You saved my life," Regina said, not expecting an answer. She was simply saying the truth out loud because she felt like she'd never told her so. "Thank you," Regina whispered and Maleficent laid her arms around Regina's shoulders, keeping her close. She placed a soft kiss on the crook of her neck and Regina knew she had understood.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this! This will be the last oneshot for a little while since I'll be away for the summer. I still have quite a few ideas and I'm sure I'll be back with plenty more! See you in August x