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"Are you sure this is what you want?"
He can feel Mal staring at him, even without looking up at her. Those ice blue eyes will likely be narrowed in contemplation of what he's just said, those perfectly penciled brows furrowed, and those decadently flirty lips pursed. She makes for a stunning tableau, to be sure, but the image detracts from his own thoughts.
"Yes," he finally says, still not meeting her gaze. He's not sure what else she's going to say about this, and he doesn't want to lose his nerve. "I've thought long and hard about this, Maleficent. I think it's something that needs to be done."
The whisper of movement in the air is the only warning he gets before her warm hand cups his chin in a snug grip, and he knows better than to deny her unspoken request. She is, after all, the one who taught him everything he knows about all of this. Pride and concern war in icy eyes gone stormy, and he finds himself ensnared in them as he tries to decipher the message there. The realization of just how easily Regina had fallen for this enigmatic woman hasn't escaped him in all the time he's known her.
"Robin, what you're doing is serious. You may not think so, but Regina will." She licks her lips. "Please tell me you're not doing this for sport or curiosity. It would devastate her."
Robin sighs and offers her a soft smile. "I swear it on my son's life that I am absolutely serious about this, Mal. I feel this is something that Regina and I both need. You are more than welcome to join us in this. I want you to be involved, and I'm sure she does, too. You're important to both of us; you guide us both through this part of our lives."
Mal chuckles and leans in to brush her lips against his, hand shifting to pat his cheek. "You are adorable, Locksley, to think that she and I don't already have one. We just haven't pulled it out in some time. It hasn't been needed in years because…" Her eyes go distant for a long minute, and Robin realizes he could watch her like this for days and not be bored. "Well, I think it's a level of trust she feels she hasn't earned again yet, but we're working on that."
"So why don't you join me in this gifting that signifies this new phase of our life together? Wouldn't that prove to her that she's earned back that trust?"
He watches Mal's vision turn inward again, her fingers twitching briefly. When her gaze returns to his, her eyes flash golden, reminding him of the Dragon that she is. Her power is awe-inspiring, and Robin finds he wants to prostrate himself before her and declare his loyalty to her once again, just as he did when she taught him the ways of dealing with their haunted love. When she speaks, her voice is rough with emotion. "Have you spoken to her at all about this yet, Robin?"
"Not in so many words, no," he admits, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I'd wanted to talk to you first, make sure I'm approaching it correctly with her."
Mal nods slowly, but he doesn't turn away from her steady gaze. "What did you have in mind for her?"
At her question, Robin holds up a hand for her to wait, then jogs upstairs to the bedroom to dig in the closet to the box he hid away two weeks ago. He's grateful neither of his lovers are prone to snooping. Heading back downstairs, he returns to the kitchen and sets the box on the table in front of Mal. She pulls it closer and opens it, lifting out the small pile of folded papers before seeing the item inside.
"Oh, Robin, this is beautiful. Simple and understated in an elegant way. She could wear this in public and no one would be the wiser."
"That was kind of what I was going for. I did a lot of research into the whole thing and I know there are other, more obvious ones, but none of those feel right for Regina. But those papers are other ones I found that might be more appealing to her. This is ultimately her choice, after all." He pauses and licks his lips. "What did you have for her? Was it anything like this? Can you at least tell me something about it, even if you won't show it to me?"
A small dark cloud swirls on the table in front of him. When it dissipates, there is a small wooden chest. At her soft Open it, Robin does just that and sees a flash of gold that leaves him speechless for a long moment. When he can finally speak, he touches it briefly before looking up at her. "Maleficent, this is breathtaking. Please tell me you'll keep this as an option for her to choose from?"
Mal is quiet for the span of several heartbeats before nodding. "All right. We'll put it in the running, but don't be surprised if she rejects it outright."
"You don't know that's going to happen, love," he says, closing the chest. "She didn't expect to be in this type of relationship again either, and yet, here we are."
Mal just chuckles and shakes her head, but before either of them can speak, they hear the front door open and close more loudly than it should for this time of day. Robin knows the boys are spending the weekend with Snow White and David, but perhaps Henry has forgotten something. He starts to get up to greet the lad when Regina stalks into the kitchen, drops her briefcase, purse, and blazer on the island, then moves to kneel before them with her head bowed and her hands clasped together at the small of her back. Robin stares at her, then glances at Mal with a quirked brow before returning his gaze to their lover.
"Regina?" When she doesn't answer him, he lets out a soft sigh. "You have permission to speak."
"Thank you, Sir," she says softly, and he can hear the emotions thrumming in her tight voice. "S-Since the boys are gone for the weekend, I would request some time spent in the blindfold and ropes again."
"May I ask why? What has brought on this sudden need?" When Regina mumbles something, Robin clears his throat. "I'm sorry, love, I didn't hear that."
She squirms briefly and he can see the tremors racing down her arms. "I let insignificant people get to me and make me reconsider being a better person. I gave in to darker thoughts that the situation warranted. And…"
When she doesn't say anything for a moment or so, Mal asks, "And what, Kitten?"
"And I don't want to have to make any decisions for a while. I don't want to be the one in charge. I just want to be Regina, to be taken care of instead of taking care of everyone. Please…"
Robin watches her for a moment before turning to look at Mal again, who shrugs and nods. "All right then, love, your request is granted. Go upstairs, take a quick shower, and slip into something more comfortable, then assume this same position at the foot of the bed. Mal and I will be up in a bit."
"Yes, Sir," she murmurs, the words barely more than the breath that carries them, but he can feel her relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Sir. Thank you, Mistress."
"You're welcome, Kitten," Mal says warmly. "Now go on."
They watch Regina get up and start to grab her things. "Leave those there for now, love," Robin says. "We've the whole weekend to worry about putting them away." Once Regina nods and leaves the room, he waits a bit longer before turning to Mal. "I want to ask her about these before we get started with the Shibari work. Are you all right with that?"
She lets out a soft laugh. "Surprisingly enough, I am. I didn't think I would be, but given what she just said, perhaps it's time to broach this subject again. And if it's something like what you chose, she could have it at all times and know she's not alone, that she'll be okay."
Robin smiles at that. "Good. Let's take these upstairs then and wait for our girl."
*****
When Regina finally steps out of the bathroom after her shower, Robin and Mal are sitting side by side on the chaise before the fireplace, the chest and box between them. Regina's wide-eyed stare nearly makes Robin laugh, but he schools his expression appropriately. She pauses long enough to slip into a matching thong and sports bra set before moving to kneel before them in the same pose as down in the kitchen. Robin can see that her still damp hair is starting to curl in the way that he and Mal both like.
"You took longer in your ablutions than agreed upon, Regina," he finally says, just a hint of steel in his tone, smirking now when he sees her spine straighten ever so slightly. "That has earned you a punishment tonight. Do you understand?" When she nods, he does the same. "But before we get into your punishment or your binding, there is something we'd like to ask you, and we expect absolute honesty, no matter what your decision is. Am I clear? You may speak."
"Y-Yes, Sir, I understand." Her voice is low, a faint quaver to her tone, but he can tell she's curious by her body language.
He glances at Mal, who gestures for him to proceed. "I've been doing a bit of research in this past month or so since you had that bad episode that left you non-verbal and requiring the binding." He can see her tense at the reminder, but continues anyway, knowing the end result will be more important. "You feel safer when you're bound by the ropes, when you know we're taking care of you, yes?" When she nods, he smiles. "How would you feel if you could have that same sense of feeling safe and taken care of all the time, even when we're not with you? You may look up and speak if you wish."
She looks up at them, curiosity burning in her dark eyes, and licks her lips. "I don't understand the question, Sir."
"What if you had a tangible reminder of us, of how you feel when you're in this vulnerable, but very safe place? Something you could always wear, feel against your skin, and know we are with you in spirit when we can't be with you in person? Maleficent says you had one with her all those years ago…" He sees it when realization dawns on her, her eyes growing glassy as she turns to stare at Mal.
"I know you keep refusing to wear it, Kitten, that you feel you haven't earned it, but you have. I wish you'd accept that."
"But--"
"Let us offer you options, Regina," Robin says, cutting off the argument he knows she's about to give. "You still retain the right to accept or refuse, but I request that you give the options serious thought."
"O-Okay," she whispers.
"First is the collar you wore for Maleficent," he says as he opens the chest and sets it on the floor in front of Regina. The way she stares at it longingly is all he needs to see to know that she will consider this seriously. "Beautiful, shiny, and blatant in its golden presence, befitting a gift from a Dragon." He opens the box with his offering this time and sets it next to the other one, leaving the papers tucked in the lid. "And now the collar I offer. Simple velvet cording with a brushed brass infinity symbol to remind you of the love shared between us. If you like neither of these, I included some other options I found online, or you can pick out what you prefer." He watches her eyes fill with tears, feels his own prick with the hotness of moisture. "You may move to pick them up and examine them, love."
Regina immediately picks up the velvet and brass choker he'd found and fell in love with on first sight. She strokes it gently before setting it aside to pick up the golden collar from Mal. Next, she picks up the folded pages, opening them to look at the images on them. Folding them up again, she picks up the two collars, one in each hand, and stares intently at both for a long moment or two. Finally, she presses a tender kiss to each and looks up at them with a tentative smile.
"If it pleases you both, I would like to keep both of these."
Robin hears the soft gasp from Mal, feels his own heartbeat speed up at those words. "Please explain your decision, love."
"I want to feel like I have truly earned the right to wear Mal's collar again, but it's too much to wear in public. I wish to wear this at home, when we're alone in our room like this. But this collar of Robin's is one that I could wear in public and people would just think it's somehow a statement piece or symbolizing the love between the three of us. They would never know that it means so much more than that unless I choose to share that knowledge. It allows me to keep both of you with me, no matter where I am. And when I feel I've earned the right, perhaps I can find a scenario where I wear Mal's collar in public. There are always the balls that Snow keeps pestering me to hold, right?"
"Oh, Kitten, that's a beautiful idea," Mal says, slipping to her knees to pull Regina into a hug. "I am so proud of you and how far you've come."
Robin joins his loves on the floor, wrapping his arms around both of them. "As am I, love. Your explanation was beautifully said, and I am honored that you chose both of our collars." He presses kisses to both of their temples.
"Since I'll be wearing your collar most of the time, Robin, do you mind if I wear Mal's tonight while I'm bound and punished?"
"I think that's an excellent idea, love. In fact, why don't we have Mal put it on you?"
There are tears in both of their eyes as Mal picks up the wide golden collar and settles it around Regina's neck. She strokes Regina's cheek, then kisses her sweetly, whispering, "I love you so much, Kitten."
"I love you, too, Mal." Regina glances over Mal's shoulder to Robin. "And I love you, too, Robin, so very much."
"And I, you, love." He leans in offer her a tender kiss. "Why don't we pause your punishment for a little cuddle first? We have all weekend for ropes and punishments. Right now, I'd just like to show my girls how much they mean to me."
