Maven X Reader One Shots (2)

Songfic: Let Me Stay

(Goth music for the wind teehee)

Here I am, as lonely as can be

Ruffles itch your bare knees, keeping your feet shifting from under your skirts. You turn and twist yourself through the invisible crowd with light feet. The gold coloring of your shoes glares onto the walls, dazzling the area around them.

You dance alone in the light.

Here I stay, the place promised to me

The light pressed against your skin during the queenstrial so long ago. What's with little girls fighting over a prince. Seems cheesy. The experience hangs over your head like a mistletoe playing solitaire. Why are you staying here? The halls are vague, darkening over time. You see the wearing seams of the castle, hoping to come undone. 

You gaze up at the chandelier, hoping it would come falling into your grasps. Or swallow you hole.

This place longs for me

to let me sleep

"(Y/N)?" Maven questions, sticking his head through the door. His shined shoes soak into the light, vibrating with highlight. You turn to him. The bounce of his curls twists over your gaze. With one foot crossing the other with gracefulness, you dip your hand out to him.

"Not even to dance? Where did you learn, Mr. Maven?"

He drags himself into the empty, lit up ballroom.

"Here."

"Ooh, must I be jealous!"

It takes him a few strides to place his hand within yours. You feel his wool fingers. Icy. Covered in snow. He has ventured off again. 

His eyes meet yours. You can see the goofy smile he tries to repress.

There he goes melting everything in his path.

I won't look back to

The prison of my past,

Maven takes control of the situation as he grabs your hips, moving you alongside him as his heels crunch against the floor. The music is as invisible as your affection. It's silent. You can hear his breath, feel the vibrations of his clicking mind.

"Mr. Maven has been venturing outside, has he?"

Maven hums, removing his hand that was intertwined with yours. "I suppose you can say that. Am I too cold for you, I apologize." He slips the wool between his teeth and pulls the material loose, letting it float onto the silver tiles. His warmth returns to you. His fingers brush against yours gently, palm to palm, light shining against your fingernails as he glides his fingers in between yours.

He tightens his grip, but only for a moment. A thousand thoughts must be going through his head. "I miss this."

At last I'm alone, at last I am on my own so

You hum out to him, stepping back to release yourself from his internalized melody. He watches as you swiftly curtsy out to him. He stands still, never knowing what to expect when it came from you. Would you jump out and kiss him? Would you wait for his next move, say something cunning? Say something cooky?

You stand up tall before giving another, smaller, curtsy.

"Shall we return to bed, it is almost night, my dear?"

Maven bends down and picks up his glove before following you out the door. 

You walk with a purpose. You walk with warm steps, taking in your surroundings. You follow no one. You act like you are alone.

Let me stay, I'm sleeping well

You can only look at yourself in the mirror as Maven removes his clothes. You look at your collarbone, your neck. You seem to have gotten thinner. Only slightly. Have you not been eating? Been walking too much? Or maybe it is all the dancing. The alone time you get with your thoughts that leave you both sore and exhausted. But now, you hold yourself tall even though your eyes are drooping. 

"Maven, can we sleep yet?"

He laughs at the unusual ask of permission and waves you in the direction of the bed. When you don't move he puts a soft hand on your back, placing you down on the sheets. You can see he has gotten thinner too. He has stress lines, bags under his eyes. His face is hollow. He is stressed. Are you not easing him at all. Through all the hours you have been in deep sleep, did he get none at all?"

You wrap your arms around his neck and bring him into your grasp, bending his long body downward.

"Will you join me to sleep?"

"Of course I will. I would not miss it for the world."

Let me dream, I'm all alone

His words cradle you more than his touch. He speaks of success and devotion but sleeps on his side, turned away from you. He sleeps alone, even with you by his side. Should you apologize? Hold him tight.

You turn to face him tonight. His shoulder blades poke at his skin, threatening to reveal themselves. You put your finger to them, tracing the outline of his bone. He shivers. How is he? You want to ask so many questions. You want to put the words to your mouth and say how you feel. But something is stopping you. Whether it's the girl in the basement or the mother without her head. You can never find the time to be the perfect spouse. You only find the time to be the one who puts a hand on his shoulder but will never graze his fingers in public.

Maven doesn't turn around.

I'm all too happy to leave this dream

In your sleep there are lights. There are chandeliers and there are gold and silver. There are mirrors, bright candles with flames of passion. And it's just you and Maven, holding each other close and dancing throughout the floor. He smiles at you, not scared for you to see his tears. And you feel the same. You are happy in his arms here.

You can rest your head on his shoulders, not being scared of what would happen. You have no worries. No faults. And he's happy with you.

It doesn't feel real. It doesn't seem real. And he doesn't taste well. But the pace changes, quickening like you two dance for the underground. The color drains. You are draped in a gown of black. How spectacular it looks. How beautiful everything looks, even as dull as it may seem. Maven is still the one shining for you.

I've just realized 

This place is shining

You wake up to the morning sun coming from the window. It shines onto the floor, falling into the yellow carpet and the white flooring. You fight the urge to reach out to it, feel the sun grab your hand and tell you everything is okay.

It's always quiet in the mornings. The birds the only thing awake as the sun beings to rest in place. But you lay still. You can feel the warmth next to you shift. You dare not move.

"I love you, (Y/N)." It's a whisper. Does he talk in his sleep? 

Looking up at the ceiling, you find yourself smiling. How your family back home would be proud. How happy you are to be here. What would you ever worry about?

Maven lays alone, alone with you, as you close your eyes and fall back into the golden dream.

Here I am, so here is where I stay