Collect of Short Stories

Seperation from Beloved

"Stay for me." Maven paused for a second, fiddling with a loose strand of hair that kept edging towards his vision. He frowned into the mirror, already beginning to feel rising anxiety as outside the kingdom, the streets practically boomed with victory.
     Felix Ackroyd of the Ackroyd bloodline was engaged to him. They shared a total of two weeks getting to know one another before he was sent off to war. It's been a little over three years since then with only occasional letters. Letters that came in twice a year in worry they'll get intercepted. He was brought back to the kingdom with great glory as if this morning and Maven, despite being engaged to him, made no effort to greet.
     It's been three years. Three whole years of on and off thinking he died out in battle. Sure they didn't get to know one another for that long but but there was still that basic lingering thought: was he still alive?
     He would zone out in meetings and he would scolded by his parents afterwards for his unseemly behavior. What started off as an arranged marriage turned into possibly real love. Maven doubted Felix felt the same way. He was male, Felix was a male. Traditionally it would be a female but Maven's parents could no longer reproduce and Felix's were too old to do so.
     They were desperate to call a truce and to end a war and so they did just that. The wedding was fleeting and rushed and what usually was a week-long celebration for shortened down to two days.
     "That was the last thing you said to him?" Questioned Maddison, a childhood friend of his. She was sprawled on his bed, ignoring the mess of the sheets she caused. She was showing an excessive amount of skin, especially with her cleavage but Maven didn't mind. He was beginning to think she was allergic to clothing.
     He sighed warily and turned to face his large balcony. He was only wearing a loose jacket with a snake intertwined with a crow. It was a new symbol made up to represent the joining of two kingdoms and he found it fitting to wear it.
     He knew, somehow below him, Felix was probably making his way up here. The war was finished. He was the savior. There is no other reason to remain married to him. He will find a beautiful lady such as Maddison and they'll make children and live long happy lives. He will be forgotten in the shadow that was Felix's chains. He chained him down. And he was fine to be remembered that way.
     "Ugh..." groaned Maddison. "You're so sappy..."
     "My husband was going out to war." He answered in an authoritative voice. He dug his nails into the palm of his hands, a habit that was nourished by his anxiety.
     "A husband you only got to know for two weeks and two days. What happened on your wedding again? Oh, didn't you accidentally throw cake at him. It—like, landed all over his suit and stuff and you were apologizing like crazy?"
     The memory floated into his mind and he cringed at how much royal rules and expectations he skipped when he profusely apologized. He couldn't read his expression then but he had to guess now, it was embarrassment and humiliation.
     "Why weren't you there to greet him when he first showed up here? I haven't had more than two conversations with him and I was there!"
     "That was because your family dragged you."
     "You didn't answer my question, love~"
     Honestly, Maven had no answer for her question. There were so many possible lines that he thought of but none seemed quite right. He wasn't embarrassed and there was nothing to be worried about. He was alive and well from what he gathered. He wasn't even nervous about Felix getting with another person because that was to be expected. So what was the big issue?
     He was doing his job terribly as a partner, a loved one, a husband.
     "I don't know," he answered honestly, "It's been three years. I don't even think he remembers me."
    She smiled sharply, and caressed her left cheeks. "Ah, I won't disagree about that one. You were always forgettable despite being Prince."
    "Do you think he did?"
     She sat upright and scooted herself to the edge of the bed. "What do you mean?"
     "Do you think he honestly forgot about me?"
     Maddison shrugged at the question, indifferent to his worries and concern. It didn't effect her, so why should she worry?
     "He has other important people to care about, Maven. And he only knew you for a couple of days. It's obvious who he prioritizes. You are nothing but a shadow compared to him. Take it as a wife that does nothing while the husband does everything."
     Maddison was practically born with fluid, catlike motions and once again, Maven was unsurprised to see her standing by the door already without ever being alerted she moved from his bed.
     "You're a good friend." He chimed in with forced laughter. His mouth has gone dry.
     She winked pleasantly and shot him a thumbs-up. "I know! Let me know anytime if you want a second opinion." And with a final smirk, she left the room with a slow, methodic thud of the door. Maven was left in agonizing silence besides the muffled cheers outside. Confetti of black and blue, their kingdom colors mixed rained from the sky, like it became a new weather. Like even the gods above knew of such a tremendous win.
      He tore his eyes away from the glass window and stared at his now messy bed. Half his blanket was dipped on the ground and pillows were strewn everywhere. To think someone like Maddison, whose been in court all her life would show some form of decency by cleaning after herself.
     It was beginning to turn to dusk and the only light that filled the room was reflected off of the light shown outside. Purple, pink, blue and yellow meshed itself together and he would briefly stop to admire it if not for his impending confrontation.
     He stared down at his ring. It was silver with tiny, embedded blue sapphires that was equally spaced in between. Emblazoned on it we're tiny, delicate lines that looked like water. Waves from an ocean. A current.
     He took it off a few times but never for too long. Maven still doesn't know why where, in the loneliest, quiets moments of his life, he would slip it off his finger and examine it. Roll it around his index finger and run his thumb through the carefully carved images.
     "I wonder if you do the same..." he murmured, only to himself.
     Just then, the handle to the door twitched and spinned. His heart leapt to his throat and he quickly adjusted his collar but it was already adjusted. There was imperfections littered throughout his exterior, but he didn't have time to locate any of them before—
     "Maven?"
     His husky voice echoed throughout the room even though it shouldn't have been possible. He had that effect sometimes. Where his voice would carry out to its intended destination without blinking in eye to breaking sound barriers.
     His hand was still on the door handle and what was once clear skinned and healthy was now littered in scars.
     His face remained the same though arguably more rugged. Stubble appeared and bits of confetti was stuck to his fur on his attire. His hair was swooped back and eyes, like before, was still painted in vivid green.
     Maven shouldn't have been surprised. Shouldn't have been surprised he came to him for at least the last time. He will find someone else soon. The two only got together by the means of ending the war and now that the war has already ended...
     He dug his chipped fingernails in his arms and fought the urge to frown. Despite working up many lines to greet him again ("Hi again! I'm glad you're not dead!"), all his backups ceased to exist the moment his eyes landed on his husband. For a second, he turned bitter at old, fond memories he had as a child, where lines were fed to him. Where he didn't have to think because someone else did it.
     But now he has to. Now his own words were tied to him and if he misspoken, the blame wouldn't be placed on someone else.
     A part of him wanted to come running into his arms but another, horror-induced part of him wanted to sink into the darkest corner of the world. He chose neither and stayed rooted in his position, his limbs drawn close to himself.
    "Felix! It's...it—it's good to—Uhm..." he angrily stumbled over his own words and despite the situation, a steady red glow appeared on his cheeks. He forced his steely silver eyes to stare at him, intent on maintaining eye-contact. At least say what you want to say with dignity.
      "How...how have you been?"
     At first, he seemed at a lost of words as well and it was obvious war has changed him. He was more tense and despite wearing heavy clothing, Maven could still see quite well how battle-ready his figure as became. But slowly, his old charming smile returned and warmth filled his eyes.
     He chuckled loudly and shut the door behind him and subconsciously, Maven walked towards his spouse. It was as if there was an invisible string tying them together and though Maven knew it wouldn't last, he wanted to enjoy it while he can.
     Felix's embrace was almost urgent. Like he was waiting for the day to hug his beloved husband. It was secure, it was safe and Maven inhaled the familiar scent of citrus that always plagued Felix.
     Unbeknownst to Maven, Felix was doing the same. It was a short period where they got to know one another but it was enough of a time for him to understand Maven was sincere and trustworthy. Not like other greedy citizens of the royal cabinet, he saw right from wrong. And that aspect only added the foundation of respect of admiration. Once he opened his eyes to his personality, a rush of gratitude and longing swept him away even more.
     There wasn't a single day in the war where he hadn't thought of Maven. How he was or what he was doing. Occasionally he'll inspect his Obsidian ring emblazoned with multiple layers designed as wings with red rubies embedded into them.
     He closed his eyes and hung onto his loved one for dear life.
     And just as fast as relief came, the weight of the matter finally settled in. Maven slightly pushed the taller male away and stared deeply into his eyes, his lips set into a straight line.
     "The war is over, Felix. You will be known as a hero..."
     Felix glanced towards the window and grimaced. The cheering gave him a migraine earlier...
     "And the whole point we got together was to end the war. Well it ended. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that this," he gestured between them, "can end."
      "I'm sorry, what?"
     "Oh, don't play dumb with me. I'm sure you have your eye on another girl, am I wrong? I will only get in the way..."
     Felix frowned like a lost puppy, abandoned by its owner. He slowly reached out and cupped Maven's cold hands in his warm ones. "Didn't you miss me?"
     "Of course I missed you! I missed you every single day! And I wonder if you died or if you lived every single night! I care for you. And that's why I want you to be happy. And you won't get that by being with me. You deserve a chance with someone else."
      "But, I don't want to be with anyone else."
     Maven nearly had a spasm with such a response with no hesitation. He wanted to let go, to break off whatever dangerous game this was but he couldn't. He couldn't stop loving him. He couldn't turn it off no matter how many times he tried. And if he did, he knows somewhere in the back of his head, he'll live to regret it forever.
     He shook his head, almost adamant on proving himself right, that Felix didn't deserved to be chained down with him. "No, you don't get it. I want you to be happy—"
     "But I am. I thought of seeing you again every time I was out there and when I fought, I wondered if I'll ever get to see you again. And you know what, it's a damn miracle I made it back here and right now, I'm the happiest man alive because you're in front of me. I'm not looking at some sort of picture or news broadcast. I'm looking at my husband that I waited for so long to see again,"
     His grip tightened and a hard tug pulled at his heart.
     "Maven, I love you."