"Princess, what are you working on?" Harry asked from behind her.
Mal turned her head to look at him. She smiled slightly, pushing her purple hair behind her ears.
Why was he calling her princess?
"A picture, Harry. And please don't call me that." Mal told him, her eyes refocusing on the piece of paper in her lap.
Harry walked around Mal's chair so he was standing right in front of her.
Mal gazed upwards. "Yes?"
"Mal, it would be quite unfitting for me to stop. Your plea only makes me continue. " He said.
"What does that even mean?" Mal questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"It means, princess, that I won't stop, even if you beg." Harry informed her, a suave smile creeping onto his face.
Mal reached into the front collar of her jacket. She grabbed the trinket hanging on her neck, and placed it so Harry could see it.
A piece of black wire, holding a small purple stone.
"You still have the necklace I gave you?" Harry smiled, his eyes widened in marvel.
"Uh...yes." Mal mumbled, not making eye contact with him.
The tiniest flush dusted her cheeks.
"Um, I should get going." Mal said quietly. She folded her paper in fours and slipped it in her legging pocket along with her pencil.
She got up out of her chair, kicked it back, and started to walk home.
She took a deep breath, overcome with various emotions.
She hadn't gotten very far, when a hand snatched her's.
Harry's hand.
Mal spun around to face him. She was about to say something, but the words died on her lips.
Harry was placing a kiss ontop of Mal's hand.
The kiss was cool and sweet. Mal had felt it, since while drawing she had slid up her glove so she could have more control with the pencil.
What was happening to her?
Mal Bertha, the daughter of Maleficent, the most feared villain on the Isle of the Lost, was blushing.
She was blushing profusely, the emotions tumbling over her like a tidal wave.
Was she smiling?
Heck yeah, smiling with the giddy glee she had never felt before.
She tried to get out of this, but was just frozen in place, staring at the pirate who was kissing her hand.
Thank evil itself that Uma isn't here.
Mal knew that once Uma would see this, she would probably throw a huge fit.
"Harry...?" Mal squeaked.
Her mind wasn't processing any of this.
The kiss went on for a couple more minutes, before Mal gently moved her hand away.
The two stared at each other, both blushing.
Mal had never seen Harry blush before.
"I'm sorry, I just-" Harry began.
"No, it's fine." Mal finished for him.
Harry bowed for Mal, which made her face glow even brighter.
"I should really get going. Bye." She added, turning on her heel.
"Bye." Harry called to her.
Mal clutched her necklace, inhaling and exhaling again.
She looked at her other hand, the one Harry kissed.
She kissed it two.
Now, if she was going to make it out alive in the marketplace, she would have to stop with all the lovey-dovey stuff.
No blushing.
No giddy smiles.
But a certain smell in the air stopped Mal in her tracks.
The smell of shrimp.
Uma!
Mal took a few steps back, and turned around.
Uma's dark eyes glared at Mal, blazing with anger.
Was she watching there that entire time?
"Good afternoon, Shrimpy." Mal seethed, using her favourite nickname for Uma.
Uma bristled with rage.
"Harry! What were you doing with the loser?!" Uma screamed at him.
Mal stood next to him. "Do you really need to know?" Mal spat, the fire in her eyes as deadly as Uma's.
Uma twirled one of her teal braids around her finger.
"Uma, let's talk. Don't put Mal into this." Harry said firmly.
He mouthed at Mal, "Get home, princess."
Mal nodded, and started to walk away.
Guilt sparked in her heart.
"Not so fast!" Uma screeched.
She pulled onto Mal's jacket collar, yanking her back.
Mal forced back her collar from Uma's grasp, scowling.
Mal walked right up to Uma, about to slam her fist into her jaw.
Uma caught Mal's clenched hand, twisting it backwards.
Mal moaned it pain.
Harry ran to Mal, prying her away from Uma.
He held her close, brandishing his hook at Uma.
Uma looked the least scared at Harry's threat.
Then she saw the necklace Mal was wearing.
In a quick minute, Uma had Mal in a choke hold, untying the wire of the necklace.
Mal was gasping for breath.
Uma let her go.
Mal landed on her knees, coughing.
Harry kneeled down beside her.
He was disgusted at Uma.
"What's this, Mal? A gift from a certain someone?" Uma snarled.
Mal touched her neck. She gasped. Uma had her necklace.
Uma dropped it on the ground.
Mal scrambled to get it, but was too late.
Uma had crushed the necklace with her boot.
Fragments of the stone and matted wire remained.
Mal collected the pieces, angered.
"What the hell!" Mal growled.
"You ass!" Harry yelled at Uma.
"Oops, sorry!" Uma replied in an unsympathetic tone.
She cackled and walked past the once beautiful necklace-
And the once happy Mal.
Harry, furious at how Uma was hurting his princess, reached over and cut a slit in Uma's leggings, digging into her skin.
Uma yelped in shock.
But she continued to walk, disappearing into the market, ignoring the blood trickling down her leg.
Mal stood up, leaning against Harry.
Mal felt the sadness steep within her.
Her favourite necklace, ruined, thanks to Uma.
"Harry, I'm sorry about the necklace. If I had been quicker-"
Harry hugged Mal.
"I should've been quicker, Mal." He whispered in her ear.
Mal smiled. She hugged him back.
Mal used her paper to hold the broken necklace, and carefully put it back in her pocket.
The two finally made it to the market.
They chatted, mostly about life.
Mal even revealed what she was drawing.
"I was drawing the alleyway. It was very detailed."
Harry was impressed. He knew that Mal was a talented artist.
When Mal got home, she threw a rock at the sign, and the gate opened.
"Bye." Mal said, ascending the staircase.
"Bye." Harry said, and walked away.
He was still around, watching Mal untill she got out of view.
He headed home, excited for the next opportunity to see her.
Mal opened the door, and walked in.
She closed it shut.
She was going to announce her arrival, but was cut off.
"Mal, where were you?"
It was Evie.