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Maleficent put a hand to the trunk of a large tree to steady herself, hearing the crunch of stones and twigs under foot, and she could smell the thick musky, wood and grass smell of the forest that surrounded the school
“Where are we going?”
Hades used one arm to move a pesky branch out of his way, keeping it there as he turned back, taking Maleficents’ pale hand
“You’ll see. Come on, step” he pointed out.
She did so with his guidance, not having much choice given the fact that she was in fact blindfolded by a piece of black cloth.
“Hades, I swear, if this is a prank…”
He chuckled, now that they were clear of the thick brushes and tree branches he was able to take both her hands to guided her
“After our last prank war, babe, never again. At least..not tonight” he joked.
Their last prank war, Hades and Morgie vs Maleficent and James Hook, had lasted for over a month with many casualties of the student body being caught in the cross-fire and Merlin had ordered several sessions of detention upon all four of them. Worth it? Absolutely. But Hades, as the declared loser, had sworn revenge. But that wasn’t what tonight was about.
It wasn’t long before they reached their destination and Hades had Maleficent come to stop. She waited and listened to the faint rustling sound that followed.
Hades then moved to stand behind her
“Ok.” he whispered and began taking the blindfold from her eyes, smirking when her lips curled into a small smile and she shivered at their close proximity.
Once the blindfold was removed, Maleficent smoothed back her hair and glanced at her boyfriend questioningly, they stood directly before the drooping branches of a large, thick willow tree and, without saying anything, Hades slipped his arm through to create a parting in the pliable branches to allow Maleficent to peer through, and her lips parted with a small gasp of genuine surprise.
Multiple lengths of string lights had been wound around in the drooping branches of the willow tree, and allowed to hang down in a similar manner creating a soft glow in the dome-like space beneath the tree; the tips of the lowest branches brushing the grass beneath their feet. A flat, three legged stool stood near the base of the tree with a glass punch bowl, albeit a smallish one, placed on it, along with two glasses.
With his hand on her lower back, Hades urged Maleficent forward, letting the branches he had been holding out of their way fall back into place. He watched Maleficent look around, gazing into the branches above them, mouth slightly agape before her eyes landed on him once more
“Figured, you know, the…lights were a better idea than candles. Don’t want to start a forest fire or something”
Hades, looking rather more…sheepish than she remembered ever seeing him, shuffled over to her, hands in his pockets put two fingers of his right hand to the corners of his mouth, giving a sharp whistle, only confusing Maleficent further.
Seconds later the sound of music could be heard, and Hades offered a hand to Maleficent
“Do me the honor?” he asked playfully.
Maleficent took his hand, gasping in surprise when he began to lead he into a slow waltz
Pride can stand a thousand trials
The strong will never fall
But watching stars without you
My soul cried
Heaving heart is full of pain
“Where did you get the punch?” She asked, with a sly smile.
Hades shrugged
“I didn’t ask too many questions; let’s just say now I owe Hook a favour”
Maleficent rolled her eyes with a fond smile
“And…the music?”
Her boyfriend laughed
“I might have promised the first years I’d keep Uliana off their backs for a week if they did me a favor” he mumbled.
Maleficent chuckled in response but was cut off when Hades spun her under his arm until their arms were stretched toward each other, hands still linked, and with Maleficent's intense gaze fixed on his, Hades brought their bodies closer together again
“So, what is all of this?”
Hades looked at his feet briefly, not wanting to stumble on a tree root or an errant rock, he was also somewhat reluctant to look at Maleficent's face when he said this next part
“Well…Merlin didn’t unfreeze us until after Cast-Coming, and I know you were looking forward to it” he told her.
Maleficent tensed and opened her mouth to protest but Hades met her gaze with a smirk
“You don’t have to pretend with me Mali” he insisted quietly.
“Anyway, I thought…We could have our own. Without anyone else around to get on our nerves or annoy us, and no Uliana, Hook or Morgie to interrupt with stupid revenge ideas.”
'Cause I'm kissing you, oh
I'm kissing you, oh
Yeah, hey, yeah
Maleficent pulled back just enough to look at his face and frowned slightly
“All of this…because you didn’t want me to miss out on Castle-coming; because you knew how much I was looking forward to it?”
Hades shoulders lifted and then sagged again
“I mean, sure? If you want to put it that way” he grumbled as they danced.
Maleficent snorted
“Is there any other way to put it?” she quipped.
Hades suddenly dipped her back, the midnight tresses of her ponytail tickled the grass as he did so
“I’m sure I can think of something” he retorted, straightening again, bringing Maleficent with him, making her laugh, such a beautiful sound that he’d give his soul to have be the last thing he heard in this life, if that day should ever come
I'm kissing you
Touch me deep
Pure and true
Gift to me forever
Hades pulled Maleficent close enough that she was able to rest her chin on his shoulder as they continued to sway
“Happy Castle-coming Mali” he muttered.
With her hands back to resting on his shoulders, Maleficent flexed her fingers, digging manicured fingernails into the thick leather of his jacket.
“You too. Thank you, Hades” she whispered back sincerely.
Her hands rested on his shoulders as they slowly swayed, chest to chest; it felt as though they were the only two people in the entire world.
Where are you now? Where are you now?
'Cause I'm kissing you
I'm kissing you, oh
Even as the music slowly stopped, it seemed that couple didn’t even notice as they continued to sway, the chirp of nearby crickets, the subtle crack of twigs underfoot and the whisper of a warm breeze rustling through the willow branches being the only source of sound around them and the only music they needed.