Regina jumped the moment the voice cut through what had otherwise been near silence.The bauble in her hand tumbled down, striking the dresser’s top with a deafening crack, and she quickly grabbed at it and tried to place it back before her clumsiness could be noticed. Clearing her throat, she fought back the apprehension pounding in her chest, and pushed open the doors enough to be properly seen. She’d looked away while Maleficent had undressed, in no way eager to violate the woman’s privacy, and much more so she — certainly should not be interested in seeing her in such a state. However, now the water served to obscure any indecencies, though Regina’s cheeks still were tinged with a blush.
“I —- I suppose it does, yes.” She said lightly, a small smile forming in place of her uncertainty. “After all, staying here to avoid either of us being alone is hardly helped by separation.” She attempted a small laugh, trying not to think about how awkward she felt, standing here watching while her friend bathed. But perhaps it didn’t need to be so. Just because Maleficent had… made her offer, and Regina had refused it, didn’t mean she need now treat the woman as something to be feared.
Moving into the room more, Regina glanced around again, having a better view, until at last her feet had carried her near the water’s edge. Smiling yet again at Maleficent, Regina hoisted her skirts enough to allow herself to comfortably sit there on the stone floor, so as not to sit atop the fine fabrics. Once she was comfortable she reached out to splash her fingers through the water, withdrawing them nearly instantly with a small hiss.
“It’s so hot!” she exclaimed, looking surprised, as if she’d been bitten by something. Clutching her hand into a fist, she furrowed her brow as she gawked at her friend. “Aren’t you burning?”
The water warmed her far deeper than just to her skin. She sighed faintly as she sunk a little lower, not at all phased when she heard the telltale sound of a trinket clattering from the young queen’s hand. Her eyes shut for a moment, allowing herself to focus on only the scorching temperature she stayed submerged in. To anyone else it would be enough to burn irreparably, but Maleficent had grown accustomed to fire long ago, and her magic withstood most heat with ease. The blisters on her hand had healed, and now she could easily sit here until the water ran cold only to be warmed again at her wish, and come out with a mere pink tinge across her skin. She needed the heat. It made things simpler, more clear. It was like it righted what laid wrong inside her, funneling all her focus and power into one thing; protecting herself. There was more threat to fear inside these walls, inside her head than any man could pose. Or any woman.
Her gaze was drawn when she heard the doors open further, eyes springing open out of their reverie to take in the state of the timid girl tiptoeing her way in to the room. She didn’t speak yet as she watched her come close and take a seat by the tub, instead of on the chaise just across the room. Before she could warn her she’d already dipped a hand in to the water, withdrawing it quickly and fortunately no worse for the wear, though her expression had crumpled from one of her prettiest smiles into something concerned. Maleficent was not a woman she need be concerned for, and yet she never seemed to stop.
“I can take the heat,” she replied offhandedly, more concerned herself with the state of the girl’s hand. “Are you alright?” She asked as she turned in the water just enough to lean an arm over the side of the tub, water dripping down just off her fingers before they reached out to tenderly brush the back of the girl’s hand, her expression turning uncommonly kind as she looked to her for a sign that no real damage had been done. She was all but desensitized to the heat the water offered, unaware of how badly it could harm such young and delicate skin.