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It was another dull start to the day at Merlin Academy, but at least breakfast was always good, plates containing fresh, healthy fruit, clean water, various types of juice, and at least one type of chocolate chipped treat.
Hades swung his leg over a bench, sitting between Uliana and Morgie, with James Hook sitting opposite and a little further down the table.
Hades started piling his plate full of food
“Where’s Maleficent?”
Hook shrugged, mouth full, and Uliana paused in eating her yogurt
“Figured she was with you, she usually is”
Hook wasn’t being bitter, nor did he sound it, he simply stating fact; being in a long term relationship, Maleficent and Hades were each others’ constant shadows at practically all times.
So it wasn’t strange that Hades’ near permanent frown deepened further
“I knocked on her dorm but she didn’t answer, I figured she’d already come down with you guys”
That was odd, they spent practically all of their time together whenever possible; either creating trouble and drama or plotting it. But when they did split off, at least one of the Ulianas' crew usually knew where another member was; they might have been the schools ‘bad kids’ but they stuck together, looked out for each other.
So being a person short, and with that person being Maleficent, Hades’ long term girlfriend, it didn't sit well with the blue haired god.
Uliana got to her feet without finishing her food
“Come on guys, if I get any more demerits on my record the school is going to start contacting my mom, then I gotta hear ‘ooh Uli why can’t you be more like Ursula, Ursula never got caught when she skipped class…”
She continued complaining about her family, all things Hades had heard more than enough times before, and as he and the rest the crew stood, Hades snagged the back of Morgies sludge green polo shirt
“Going to look for Mal, cover for me ”
Morgie nodded
“Got it!”
Hades released Morgie who scurried after Hook and Uliana while Hades navigated the halls of the school back to the dorms. Several times a week, he would sneak out of his dorm in the middle of the night to go to hers so Hades knew the easy like the back of his hand.,
Knocking, a little louder than he had earlier, thinking she had overslept, by a lot Hades called out
“Babe, it’s me, you awake?”
This time there was a response
“Go away Hades!”
A subtle tightness uncurled from within his chest and Hades; she was in there, and talking at least.
Leaning on one well toned arm, he ignored her request
“you mad?” he questioned casually
After a pause, Maleficent shouted back
“Yes, now leave!"
Hades smirked to himself
“Oh no, not now that you've told me you're mad, come on babe what i do this time?”
His voice remained loud but calm, off hand even
“What, did I cheat on you with Hook in your dream again?” He joked.
No reply. But there was a sound, a sound that made Hades’ smirk falter and drop; that sounded like…no way it couldn’t be!
He rapped the knuckle of his index finger on the door more urgently
“Mal, I'm coming in” he announced.
If she was going to protest, he didn’t give her time to, opening the door and going inside. It took a moment for him to adjust from the hallways, which were well lit by the many windows that let in the sunlight, to the dimness of his girlfriends dorm room, which she kept in almost perpetual gloom with black drapes across the window and pieces of dark coloured but sheer material hanging, for aesthetic purposes, from the ceiling and the walls to minimise the amount of visible cream and white..
Once his eyes had focused, aided by his enhanced vision, he saw Maleficent lying on her bed, atop the blankets and covers, and had pushed herself up to lean on both hands upon his entering.
The next thing he noticed was that she wasn’t even dressed, nor did it look like she’d even attempted it, there were no layers upon layers of fabric ranging from the flowing purple silk that cascaded down from her shoulder or soft purple sweater material layered beneath sleek leather. There was not a single metallic necklace hanging around her neck. Instead her slender body was adorned with just the simple, knee length black silk nightdress she favoured so much.
Hades kicked the door closed with his heel, without even a courteous look back and approached the bed, scowling. Even in the dull light, once he was stood just inches from the bed, Hades could see that her skin was pale, more so than usual, and her skin looked clammy, there was also the undeniable hints of pain in her features, the tightness in her jaw, as she laid back down, he saw that her movements, usually so effortless were now weighted, like it took all the strength and energy in the world to do so.
And, as he'd suspected, but wasn't sure whether to believe, we're traces of tear tracks on her cheeks.
“You sick?”
Maleficent attempted to glare at him, her eyes flashing bright green, but it didn’t last; she was severely lacking the energy or conviction to keep it up, instead she laid back against the pillows propped under her head, she usually only slept with just one, which Hades always complained about when he snuck into bed with her, but this was her dorm, her bed, her rules.
Today she wanted the elevation a second pillow offered, it helped
“Stomach ache.” she pouted, averting her eyes.
“Don't be surprised if it lasts 7 or 8 days.”
Water eyes met his, and a look of realisation drained upon Hades
Oh…
OH
With his hands in his pockets, Hades leant back slightly, an unconscious shift of his body rather one of conscious disgust or revulsion
“Oh, um, you're…OK...Right, you, you wanted me to leave right? I'll do that…”
He turned, but his hand was snatched by Maleficent's smaller, delicate one
“Stay”
She was too tired to put any true firmness into her tone, so, to her frustration, it sounded more like a request…maybe it was, since she didn’t want him here if he was going to be uncomfortable and awkward.
Yet the god obeyed as though being commanded by a higher being even than himself, and Hades removed his black leather jacket and boots before, with an uncharacteristic amount of care and caution, eased himself down onto the bed, not wanting to jolt his significant other in her state of…discomfort.
Maleficent was lying with an arm raised to rest on the pillow beside her head so he arranged his body around her so that his arm was stretched above her head to thread his fingers between hers.
Maleficent shifted closer to him with a sigh
“You're warm” she said simply, but softly.
Hades smirked
“Always”
His quip was punctuated by Hades kissing her head, a little behind her horn, grunting when his girlfriend jabbed a pointed elbow into his rib
“Not now” she scolded, rebuffing the offer of additional physical affection.
After a moment however she sought out his free hand, which had been resting along the length of his side, with her own to bring his palm to her aching stomach and Hades felt a tiny fraction of tension in her body.
Hades’ thumb started to rub soothing, unintelligible patterns over the fabric of her nightdress
“Does...does it help?” he questioned with genuine curiosity
"Heat I mean"
With their other hands still linked with hers above their heads on the pillow, Maleficent nodded, adjusting his hand over her stomach and traced perfectly pointed nails over the back of his hand and knuckles. Hades focused for a few moments, adjusting his body heat and Maleficent seemed to melt against him, unable to help the quiet moan of relief that passed her lips.
The warmth of Hades’ touch radiated across her sore abdomen and the pain started to subside a little, but she wasn’t about to tell him that, not just yet at least as she was far too comfortable now.
After a short spell of silence, Hades spoke again
"I mean at least you not pregnant" he quipped.
Maleficent didn't laugh, didn't move to smack him playfully on the shoulder or even the hand, she just turned her head sharply, eyes flashing green
"Do not joke about that" she snarled coldly before turning away again, shifting her head to rediscover the comfortable position she had moved it from
"I never want kids as long as I live, dreadful little creatures" she sighed dramatically, relaxing into him again.
Hades didn't reply, he just laid there, his hand partially cover by her own, resting over her flat stomach, though there was a slight curve to it, uncomfortably bloated in her current state of discomfort.
Just as she started to doze off, the room seemed to darken even more, and moments later the sound of rain pattering against the window, still concealed by the thick drapes, and with a contented smile, Maleficent shifted closer to him.
Hades kissed her pale temple, his next words a rumbling whisper for her ears alone.
“Go to sleep, I’ll stay however long you need”
And he did exactly as he’d promised and remained by her side as she slept, resolving to stay the entire day; classes be damned, she was more important.
Sure their relationship could be…volatile sometimes, they were both as unyielding in conflict as the other; battling it out between each other with wits and words that stung or cut like a blade before their opponent either submitted or stormed off, and when that happened a period of ‘cold shouldering’ would follow.
But any villain would much rather hold onto that passionate, tug of war style of relationship they shared, getting into trouble and causing mischief. The periods of boredom between such activities were made more bearable because he had someone to fill those spaces with an unpredictable exchange of electrified touches and heated quarrels that sent his adrenaline pumping and his blood racing.
Hades loved sharing that with someone who relied on him for the same things, almost as much as they relied on oxygen to breathe.
He knew Maleficent felt the same, why would he give that up for the type of perfect, sappy, happy-ever-after mush that was fed to people practically from infancy, where would be thrill, where would be the fun in that? Why would he want some preppy pink princess who wanted nothing more than to cook, clean and please him when he could have her; his Mal, the bright green flame that engulfed his black heart.