Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT
Author's Notes: prompt- "someone left a comment card in the suggestions box that says "the reference librarian is super cute" and now all of the reference librarians are arguing over who it's for"
Notes
Wavy blonde locks bobbed as she reached for the white tube paint to squeeze onto her palette and mix with the blue already there. Her eyes took in the painting hung on the easel in front of her after mixing the paints. She frowned as she rested her brush against the sharp curve of her jaw, cursing when she felt the moist dab of red now crusted on her pale skin. "Ugh.." she groaned, setting the palette down and rubbing at the paint before making another splotch on her overalls. She chuckled before coating her paintbrush into the light blue shade and stroking at the canvas methodically, hardly hearing the sound of the apartment door opening and closing.
"I'm back from my test, Mal!" came the voice from the narrow hallway, drawing cerulean eyes to its location briefly before she continued her work.
"I'm in the studio," she called back, flattening the drop below her feet to protect the beautiful wood paneling below. Mal checked her hand of wet paint before pushing her hair over her shoulder to better view the project. The critical look she had been giving the canvas melted away when she felt small arms wrap around her middle. "How'd it go?" she hummed, closing her eyes and enjoying the attention.
"I finished before anyone else but I don't know if that's a good or bad sign..." she mumbled, burying her face in the crook of the taller woman's neck. She shifted to stand on her tiptoes momentarily and placed a kiss to her girlfriend's cheek. "I wish you had been there to cheer me on," she chuckled.
"I'm always there with you," came the response as Mal placed the brush in a cup of water and turned to face the petite brunette. "No matter what, Regina," she added, tilting the other's chin up to capture her lips in a chaste kiss. "Now...what do you think of my stupid piece?" she queried with a severe pout.
"It's lovely, Mal. Like everything you do," Regina replied adamantly. "It's a good mixture of Picasso and Rembrandt's styles," she elaborated, knowing detailed criticisms were preferred by the blonde so she could develop her own opinions and improve.
The artist nodded her head without really taking the compliment to heart, mind focused on studying the artwork's progress. "Thanks again for the books," Mal finally spoke after shaking her head and moving to their living room with Regina's hand in hers. They sat on the couch and the brunette immediately curled into her partner, sighing contently. "They were very helpful."
Regina smiled at the appreciation, slowly widening as she thought of the day's events. "So...apparently someone left a card in the suggestion box that says 'the reference librarian is super cute' and now all of the reference librarians are arguing over who it's for," she revealed, looking up at Mal through long lashes, watching her expression keenly.
The blonde's eyes widened. "You don't say. How fascinating..." she trailed off, receiving a light jab to her chest at her ignorance.
"It may have been disguised as not feminine, but I know you wrote the note, Mal," Regina spoke with a false chastising tone.
Mal gasped dramatically. "I haven't a clue what you mean," she exclaimed, holding a delicate hand to her mouth. The brunette's face twisted into a pout as she watched the older woman feign offense before she poked her stomach this time and leaned up for a dazzling kiss. Mal's hand slid into Regina's short brown hair as the kiss intensified, a soft moan escaping her girlfriend in response. In a failed attempt to throw the blonde off-guard, Regina groped Mal's side and rested upon the swell of one breast, but her grip faltered as their tongues met in a fiery struggle she couldn't win.
When they pulled apart to breathe, Regina was on her back, head rested against the sofa arm, with Mal looming over her body expertly. Gazing into chocolate irises with unrestrained lust, she murmured "Actually, I wrote the note for Belle." Regina gasped and swatted at the laughing woman then drew her in for another heated kiss.
