(Mal)

Bracing her hands beside her, Mal attempted to lift herself into a sitting position, but with every inch she rose her arms shook uncontrollably, unsteady under her weight, until she gave in and let her body find the ground again. She was weak, and her strength only left her more and more as each second passed, wiping the amusement of the situation from her body. She knew exactly what was causing it, but couldn't do anything about it; she had never been this powerless before. Her vision began moving as she slid her fingers to the metal closed around her neck, no doubt in her mind that the skin obscured underneath was completely raw as if it had been scraped off.

Delicate fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulling her hand away from the iron collar shredding her skin, and she looked up to find worry glazing over red-brown eyes. Of course, an idea slowly made its appearance, and she closed her fingers around Evie's; there's nothing I can do about it. But maybe... maybe Evie can do something. Iron only siphoned from fairies, not human sorceresses.

"Evie... can you...?" She gestured weakly at the collar, her hand falling into the girl's lap shortly afterwards. "Please..."

Evie nodded, eyes watering as she lifted her hands to hover over the metal. Hesitating, Evie looked at Mal for reassurance, both of them knowing that she would have to hurt her in order to ease her suffering. Mal nodded, and Evie released a breath. Closing her eyes, Mal prepared herself for the increased bite of the metal, gritting her teeth when she felt slender fingers pull the collar until they could slip underneath to create a relentless grip. The metal dug further into the back of her neck, and she did her best to keep any sound of agony from breaking through her, but it only took half of a second for the pain to overwhelm her. Her fingers dug into the girl's thigh and her eyes squeezed shut as the sound found its way out of her body, the sizzling of her skin sickeningly familiar.

However, the burning ended as quickly as it had begun, and she soon found herself wrapped tightly in slim arms as the pain living in her neck slowly dissipated, the sound of metal connecting with a concrete ground relieving her. A tingling sensation sank down into her skin, creeping its way into her body and spreading until it could settle into every inch, every crevice. I bet she doesn't even know she's doing it, Mal thought, reaching up to rest her hand against the girl's arm as her strength returned to her.

There was one thing that astounded her beyond belief. Despite having always known that Evie had the potential to become the most powerful sorceress to ever live, she couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the idea that nothing weakened the girl, that no spell could drain her. Mal had lived her entire life fearing finding the edge to her powers, afraid of killing herself by draining her magic, yet that constant threat that haunted her every step didn't loom over Evie even the smallest bit. And it was because it wasn't about potential or controlling her powers, it wasn't about managing her supply or knowledge, not for Evie, not when what the girl possessed wasn't a talent earned; it was a gift. There was no potential of becoming the most powerful sorceress because she always had been, even when she hadn't known about her magic. Looks like she never needed the protection after all. Evie could have survived without Mal's aid, and everything probably would have turned out easier for the girl.

"Promise me something, Evie," Mal spoke, her voice quiet but steady.

She reached up to caress a tan cheek, encouraging the girl to look at her.

"If you ask me to leave you, I will hurt you," Evie replied as an acknowledgment that she had heard her words, fingers tightening around the back of a leather jacket. "It won't be a joke anymore, I will murder you."

A laugh escaped Mal's throat. "I wouldn't dream of telling you to leave me."

"Good," Evie's lips curved into a small smile, her gaze flickering to Mal's lips briefly. "Then what do I need to promise?"

"Promise me that you won't ever depend on my help," Mal continued, dropping her hand down to play with the buttons on the girl's shirt. "Promise that, from now on, you'll believe in yourself and your powers, because you don't need anyone teaching you how to use your powers. You don't need anyone protecting you." Sea-green eyes flickered to stare into the depths of the curiosity in red-brown. "You can do anything, anything. And you shouldn't need me to show you that."

"I don't und..."

Mal shook her head, dragging her finger over the girl's bottom lip. "You're amazing, you know that, right?"

"I promise to not underestimate myself, but that doesn't change the fact that I will always need you, Mal," Evie whispered, reaching up to grab her hand and lace their fingers together, bringing them to rest on Mal's chest. "We're a package deal, you and I."

That we are, Mal thought, recalling how – recently – they always seemed to get into trouble together. The idea of being tied to Evie by the universe wasn't a terrible one, not through Mal's perspective, and she found the corners of her lips curving until a full-blown smile was taking over. Getting lost in uniquely colored eyes, she squeezed Evie's hand.

"Then let's go cause mischief together."

A mesmerizing smile appeared to grace Evie's features. "We should probably stay away from mischief for a while, don't you think?"

"Maybe you're right," Mal shrugged, allowing her gaze to scan over the rest of the room, over the bodies. "Maybe we should lay low for a bit."

"Maybe we should find a way out of here," Evie suggested with a light laugh, reaching up to push a loose strand of hair from Mal's face. "I really don't understand how you can make jokes after everything."

"It's a talent."

"It's annoying."

Shaking her head in amusement, Mal pushed off Evie and got to her feet, watching as the girl followed her actions until they were standing with only a few inches between them, their gazes locked.

Evie's gaze flickered over the room. "There's a door over there. It's a start."

"Who needs doors?" Mal questioned with raised eyebrows and a smirk. Holding out her hands, Mal waited for Evie to take them, watching the slight hesitation in her movements due to the confusion tangling around her. "Trust me."

After that, Evie didn't hesitate to slip her hands into Mal's, squeezing them reassuringly. "I do."

With a small smile gracing her features – and knowing it would weaken her again due to the lack of magic coursing through her veins – Mal closed her eyes and inhaled heavily, picturing Auradon's excessive beauty in her mind and reaching out toward its presence when it appeared. She had promised herself the last time she had traveled this way that it would be the last, however, she was well aware that it was the quickest way to get them back to Auradon safely, so she pushed passed her dislike for it and finished the spell. Her grasp of the world disappeared as soon as everything blurred around her, but she kept her grip on Evie's hands tight, refusing to let go of the girl until they had both made it to their destination. After a minute of the world twisting and spinning nauseatingly, she felt a softer surface beneath her feet seconds before everything returned to normal.

Immediately, Mal's legs buckled underneath her and she stumbled, the only thing keeping her from hitting the ground the same way she had the last time being the body she crashed into and the arms snaking around her to keep her upright. First time traveling this way and she's already better at it, Mal laughed lightly, regaining her balance and finding her way back to her feet.

"You are a wonder to this world," Mal breathed out, the nausea dissipating slowly.

"Why?" Evie questioned, clearly baffled by her announcement.

"Because..." Mal trailed off, taking a moment to return her breathing to normal. "That should have been terrible. You should be throwing up."

"I'm sorry?" Evie raised the last word in a question, her eyebrows lifting in curiosity as she studied Mal intently. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just give me a moment," Mal muttered, keeping hold of Evie's shoulder as she turned to take in their surroundings. "Looks like we're near the dorms."

"Looks like it's early morning," Evie stated as she scanned the skies. "How long were we gone?"

Mal shrugged. "Hopefully not long enough for people to be worried."

"I think that's highly unlikely."

Turning to look at the girl she noticed her pointing in front of them, and she shifted her gaze to find several people watching them with widened eyes. Usually, Mal would argue that they were shocked because of their sudden appearance, however, the look in their eyes screamed worry and relief, not the surprise and confusion that would result from witnessing an apparition. Well, Mal thought with a sigh; so much for that hope. It was only a matter of time before they were being relentlessly questioned, and so she slid her hand into Evie's and began the journey to the dorm building.

"Let's try to get as much rest as we can before the interrogations begin," Mal whispered in Evie's ear, the way the girl giggled not slipping her notice. Her eyebrow quirked. "Something funny, Princess?"

Evie shook her head. "No."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you," Mal sighed, maneuvering their joined hands until her arm was draped around Evie's shoulders, their fingers still locked.

"Good," Evie replied, leaning over to nuzzle the area of her cheek where her dimple rested. "It's better that way."

As they made their way to the dorm building, everyone watched them closely, whether they were judging them for how close they were or wondering if they were alright didn't matter; their gazes still disturbed Mal. Can't anyone leave us alone? Even for just a day. That almost seemed too good to be true, but she would wait for that day eagerly. The dorm lobby wasn't any better, in fact it was almost worse, everyone staring at them in surprise and stepping out of their way as they headed for the stairs.

A smirk playing on her lips, Mal leaned over to whisper in Evie's ear again. "See, I told you you're a princess. Everyone's making room for you."

An elbow met her ribcage and she grunted with the force, but laughed when she saw the girl roll her eyes. Ignoring everyone around them, Mal gazed at Evie, studying every feature as they made their way up the stairs, however, when she failed to look away Evie slipped from their current embrace and grabbed hold of both her hands, pulling her up the stairs more quickly. The beautiful princess was a perfect distraction from letting the staring get under her skin, and so she let the girl do whatever she wanted in that moment, not caring even in the slightest when the door to their room was opened and she was shoved through.

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I not fast enough for you?"

"Shut up," Evie breathed out as she slid her hands over Mal's cheeks.

Her laugh was silenced by Evie's lips demanding her attention, and she easily allowed herself to melt into the girl, bringing her arms to circle Evie's waist until her hands could rest on her lower-back. She recalled how she had called the princess insistent when she had been described as difficult, and she found herself wondering if they were one and the same. Well, she's definitely insistent.

Mal couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like right now if she hadn't been assigned this mission, and her chest constricted at the thought of never getting to know Evie. She didn't know where she would be in life if she hadn't been sent to Auradon, didn't know if she would have stayed with the agency and continued praying she would get a mission, or if she would have broken out and lived the rest of her life alone on the streets, but she knew it was a life she was grateful she didn't have to live anymore.

And having to deal with Evie's insistence for the rest of her life was the best life Mal could possibly think of.

"Why is it that, whenever we're alone, you always attack me?" Mal questioned with honest curiosity, tilting her head back when Evie trailed her lips down her jawbone.

"Because we're always interrupted," Evie answered, closing her teeth around the skin stretched over a strong jawbone before bringing her gaze to meet Mal's, their foreheads pressed together. "And I'm not giving up until we get to finish what was started."

With that answer, Evie flattened her hands against Mal's ribs and pushed into her until she was forced to move backward, something coming to press into the middle of her back to stop her, allowing the taller girl to press their bodies together. Glancing subtly over her shoulder, Mal recognized the bedpost of Evie's bed.

One corner of Mal's lips curved into a smirk as she brought her gaze back to Evie's. "You're feisty."

"Are you complaining?" Evie questioned, not denying the statement.

Mal opened her mouth to answer, but found herself unable to when Evie reached down to the hem of her shirt and pulled the dark-blue material over her head. Sea-green eyes dropped to admire the skin recently bared as the clothing item fell to the ground at their feet, the flawless tan skin making Mal wish she could see more. She was brought back to reality when she was pulled from the bedpost, and she managed to regain control of herself when she felt her leather jacket being pushed from her shoulders. No, she released the breath she had been holding; I am definitely not complaining.

"Are you trying to kill me?" The words slipped passed Mal's lips before she even knew she was thinking them, and her cheeks heated in embarrassment.

"You say the weirdest things," Evie whispered as she pressed their bodies back together and leaned their foreheads together.

"Well... I..." but Mal couldn't finish anything she wanted to say because Evie's hands were sliding under her shirt and finding their way to her ribcage.

However, the hands disappeared from underneath her shirt almost immediately, and before Mal could ask if she had done something wrong fingertips were ghosting over the area of her neck that had been marred by the iron collar. She figured her first instinct would be to pull away, but that didn't cross her mind at all, and she instead reached up to close her own fingers around Evie's wrist delicately.

"I should have stopped him from hurting you," Evie's voice was barely audible, and Mal found her eyebrows knitting in confusion by the next words that came from her lips. "It didn't scar."

Reaching up, Mal slid her own fingers over the skin only to find it completely smooth. How can that be? However, as soon as she allowed her gaze to meet Evie's again, she almost felt stupid for having not thought of the possibility.

"You healed me," she announced, deciding to explain further when Evie's eyes flickered with surprise and confusion. "After you removed the collar you hugged me and your magic healed me. It seems you're always healing me, and I can never thank you enough."

Despite this reveal, Evie still looked as though she were filled with regret. "I still should have stopped him."

"It's not your fault, E," Mal reassured softly, sliding her hand down the girl's arm until her fingers grazed her chest where the necklace had rested every day until now. "I could have gone through with the mission if I wanted to avoid upsetting him."

"Why didn't you?" Evie questioned, red-brown eyes showing how serious she was being. "Why did you give up everything you knew for me?"

Mal took a deep breath, keeping her gaze locked with Evie's as she caressed the girl's collarbone. "Because everything I knew was wrong. I wasn't really living, I was only surviving. With you, it's different," she slid her hand up so she could grip Evie's neck. "It's probably the most storybook thing in the world, but it's the truth. I fell in love with you, Evie, and I learned that we always have a choice in the way our lives turn out. Two people I truly admire told me that."

She could recall both moments with perfect clarity, and it wasn't only because they were both recent events. Carlos had been right that everyone got to choose their own direction no matter who their parents were, and Evie had been right that there was always a choice even in the moments where all hope seemed to be lost. Those were both lessons Mal would cherish for the rest of her life, lessons that she would keep in mind whenever she was faced with a difficult obstacle in her future; and they both made her feel as though she could make it through anything.

"I love you, too," Evie whispered, her lips curving into a radiant smile.

The fingers that had been caressing her throat slid until they were tangled in purple hair, and a smile formed on Mal's lips as she pushed forward to claim Evie's lips with her own another time. Her hands flattened against Evie's collarbone, hesitant to lower any further but desperate to. A familiar tugging on the back of her belt alerted the rest of her senses, and she slid her hands up to grip the nape of the girl's neck as she slipped from the bedpost so that she fell onto the bed, bringing Evie down with her. However, just as a groan vibrated through her throat due to the tongue prodding at her lips, the sound of the door bursting open startled both of them, causing them to pull apart.

"Of course," Evie huffed in annoyance.

Mal's widened eyes shot toward the door to find Jay and Carlos, the tan boy with a knowing smirk spreading across his face while the younger boy began shifting awkwardly. With a sigh, Evie lifted herself off Mal and sat on the edge of the bed while the smaller girl quickly got to her feet, her cheeks tinted the deepest shade of red they had ever been. The smirk playing on Jay's lips didn't help, and thankfully, it faded quickly.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Jay questioned angrily, eyebrows furrowing to darken his eyes. "We were searching for you all night!"

It was obvious that Jay was furious and Carlos was simply worried about them – well, until he had seen them perfectly fine – and Mal searched her brain for something to say. Looking to her left, sea-green met red-brown, a silent conversation occurring between them with just a single look. Finally, Mal brought her gaze from Evie and toward the boys again.

And she simply shrugged. "It's a long story."