Chapter Text
Maya’s eyes were nearly popping out of her head as she witnessed the exchange in front of her. Franziska bowed smugly, a smug look on her face as she talked in a smug voice to her smug father and smugly eyed Morgan with her smug eyes.
Maya was so focused on looking at her stupidly smug lips and the way they curved around consonants that highlighted her German accent that she forgot to properly listen in on their conversation. Her eyes were narrowed so hard, trying to engulf all her vision in Franziska’s smug smirk, and, before she knew it, she was letting out a growl due to the pure hatred she felt for this smugly smug princess.
She quickly clasped her hand over her mouth, hoping no one had heard that, but it was already too late. Maya could basically hear the furrow in her aunt’s brows and the frown on her lips as she yelled for her, beckoning her to sit at the table with them with an annoyed ‘Maya Fey, we know you’re eavesdropping.’
Maya sighed, accepting her fate. Maybe if she played nice this entire time, she would have some extra leeway afterwards to discreetly kill herself before that stupid princess started following her around.
That was a joke.
Sorta.
Of course, she had wished for her guard to be a female her age, but she’s pretty sure she would rather settle with a creepy old man than FRANZISKA VON KARMA. She needs to be careful what she wishes for sometimes.
As Maya sat down on a cold chair that made her wince as she pressed her thighs against it, Franziska eyed her curiously, her iconic and infuriating smirk never prancing away from her glossed-up lips.
She looked so mature for being only 17, she looked far wiser and more accomplished than anyone at that table, she looked like she knew everything in the entire world and everybody else to set their foot on earth was doing so because she commanded them to, because they were pawns who existed only to build her up to this very moment.
Like anyone who locked eyes with her was lucky to ever catch her gaze, to ever be in her presence. Like anyone who could bask in her green irises was only truly alive in that moment.
Of course, if Franziska even thought that at all, she would be wrong. Super wrong. She was just a smug princess who thought she could topple people over like dominoes at the flick of a wrist.
Whether she was actually able to do that is besides the point.
Soon after her internal monologue about the woman across from her ended, Maya became acutely aware of how many non-green eyes were also resting on her, all varying levels of harshness.
“So…uh…” Maya crosses her legs, intertwining her fingers together as she places them on the table. Like a true businesswoman. “Howzit goin’?”
Maya is right next to Aunt Morgan, so the blow is slightly softened when she can only hear the sound of an exasperated face palm from her left.
Franziska, being the stupidly smug idiot she is, just laughed condescendingly and waggled her finger at Maya like she just got caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar.
“Its clear a wild princess like that needs guarding, making such dangerous choices. Do you have any idea what could’ve happened to you if me and my papa had owed you ill will? You wouldn't be sitting there looking like you were about to burst, surely.”
Maya hadn't realized how clenched her fists were, and how puffed out her cheeks were as well.
“Ah-hem.” Manfred Von Karma seemed to be disappointed at the sudden change of topic, wanting to bring sole attention to himself once again.
“Assuming you heard everything from your spot at the door, I can assure you will know what to do as I send you off to escort my daughter.”
This surprised Maya. Manfred seemed to treat Franziska like a prize, like some sort of groomed cat he would take to pet shows, showing her off to old people and sparking their admiration for her feminine beauty and snarky attitude.
She didn’t expect him to drop her off at a completely new palace like he was dropping a toddler off at daycare.
The comparison made her choke back a laugh, one she thought she hid rather well through a minor coughing fit, but still earned her a glare from her aunt.
“Wait- Papa- y-you’re not just going to leave me here, right?”
Maya managed to muster up a tiny bit of sympathy for the other girl at those words, she knew what it felt like to not feel wanted, after all.
[this is probably her first time feeling like that, though.] Maya thinks. [Spoiled brat. Some people would give anything to be treated like she is.]
Maya shakes her head quickly, trying to ward away all the bad thoughts. If this is what she’s stuck with, then she’s gonna make the most of it. See the bright side, in true Maya fashion.
There was another bout of awkward silence as Manfred got up and dismissively pushed his chair into the table, leaving his daughter clearly clenching her teeth behind the barrier of her smooth lips, a singular brick of her old emotional walls quickly ripped out, leaving nothing to peep at but her eyes, a familiar sadness lingered in them that was probably already there, but Manfred's comment was salt in the gaping, bleeding wound that hasn’t been treated in 17 years and likely never will be.
Ok, Maya’s really starting to feel bad for her now.
Maybe if she showed her kindness, became her friend, helped her, then she would allow her walls to fall down, if even just for a moment.
Yes, that's what Maya will do. She was given what she wanted, in a roundabout way, and she was going to make the most out of it.
***
Franziska chomped on the inside of her cheeks over and over again until they bled as she awkwardly sat there, waiting for her father to walk off completely.
When he finally did, she huffed out an exhale, trying to preserve what little left she had of her image. She regally raised her head high and opened her eyes, expecting to see the same childish hatred radiating from the Fey princess to Franziska, using it as her fuel to keep going.
But instead, as she raised her head, she saw nothing but pure sympathy and determination in the other girl's eyes.
But before Franziska could properly address that without making a fool of herself, she was interrupted by Morgan Fey.
“AHEM. well. That was…..interesting.” Morgan was clearly searching her brain for the appropriate word to use in that sentence. “Maya, could you please be so kind as to show our guest around? She must be rather frightened right now.”
No. She wasn't frightened. Von Karmas don't get frightened.
She was just about to correct Morgan Fey’s grave mistake when she was aggressively yanked off her chair by the arm.
She looks down to see smooth, warm hands wrapped around the base of her wrist, pulling her forwards so fast she couldn't find it in herself to stop it.
She couldn't see Maya Fey’s face, meaning she doesn't know what she’s planning. A terrifying realization. She spaced out as she was dragged excitedly throughout their palace, her hand going numb.
The Fey castle wasn't nearly as big as the one the Von Karma’s owned in Germany, but it was filled with twists and turns and nooks and crannies, and Franziska doesn't think she’ll ever be able to fully navigate for herself around here.
Eventually, after what felt like 3 years of dragging, the girl in front of Franziska comes to an abrupt stop, almost toppling both of them over.
Maya turns around, and Franziska can't help but be caught off guard by the smile on her face. She looks so innocent. Like she had never experienced a single wrong or impure thought in her life. She looked like an angel, with rays of sunlight shining across her face.
“Okay, Franziska, this is going to be your room!”
Franziska is pulled out of her thoughts, slightly startled. She glances at the walls around her, they’re bare, and even more depressing than the room she had at her old house. There was a somewhat luxurious -But still not up to par with Von Karma standards- bed placed in the middle of the wall.
“You see, you actually came at a perfect time because I was looking for a personal guard and BAM you showed up! I’m so so exited and I REALLY hope we can live up to your fancy-schmancy Von Karma standards but our palace isn't as cool as others since we’re like spirit channelling people or whatever so I just had to assign you our best guest room which was going to be decorated but you came in on such short notice so sorry if its like super depressing you might be into that though because I haven't seen you genuinely smile since you got here and-”
“Wait,” Franziska interrupts her rambling mid sentence, “I smiled, you saw me smile, fool.”
Maya snorts like it's the most hilarious thing in the world, as if there’s anything funny about this situation. The noise of strangled laughter she’s making is strange, but Franziska can’t help but find it……..Charming, for lack of a better word.
“You smirked, dude. You didn't smile. Not a real one.”
Franziska is about to reply, but she thinks against it, as arguing with someone as clearly stubborn as Maya Fey is just a waste of time.
She briefly considers whipping the girl, but she can't bring herself to do so as she watches Maya nearly topple over in giggles at Franziska’s confused face.
***
Later that night, Franziska was getting ready for bed. She used the makeup remover that was tossed to her by her dad mid-afternoon that day to almost ungracefully remove the foundation from her face. She didn’t like wearing a full face of makeup, the only thing she would willingly keep would be her iconic pink lip gloss and maybe some mascara. But for her entire life the one thing she would be able to control was how she was perceived physically. Without attention from men, a woman was nothing.
She had never really liked men, she quite detested them, actually. But knowing when a man is attracted to her, knowing that male eyes were laid on her, them finally being desperate for her and at her will rather than the other way around, that was the only way she could feel that sense of power she craved so much.
After she was finished with her nighttime routine, she cozily tucks herself into her new bed, being careful not to miss up the sheets so as not to attract their strange maids in the morning when she would try to make the bed herself.
She closes her eyes and waits for her dreams to come, for her subconscious to imagine a world where she had just as much power as any man, where she could dominate, whip anyone she wanted, a world where she could be king.
She waits.
She’s waiting….
She keeps waiting…
Any minute now….
Franziska suddenly sits up in her bed, angry. She had been waiting for at least half an hour to finally fall asleep and NOTHING had worked. She had counted sheep in her head, ran through her favorite play, she even counted every slash of her whip she’s ever done. And even after all that she couldn't get a wink of sleep.
It MUST be some time in the morning, correct? It felt like she had spent eternity laying down so maybe she actually did go to sleep and just…..Didnt remember it? Yes. That was it. A true Von Karma never misses sleep, what little of it they’re allowed to have, at least.
Franziska rushes -Gracefully- to the nearest clock, trying to tiptoe as to not wake up any guards or whatnot while still going somewhat fast.
The second she gets to it, her face drops.
It's 11:00pm.
Nowhere close to the morning.
Franzsika doesn't feel sad at all about this, instead she just feels angry. She feels angry that she has to deal with this and that she doesn't have anybody to blame it on but her own foolish brain. She cracks her whip in the air, -making sure she doesn't hit anything so it’s completely silent and nobody wakes to judge or chastise her- taking all her anger out on the invisible culprit of her insomnia who’s guilty of not existing.
After she’s satisfied, she tries to brainstorm ideas to get herself to sleep, sitting on the edge of her bed and lightly bouncing her leg up and down.
After what felt like 5 hours but was actually 5 minutes of contemplation, Franziska forcefully falls back on her bed. Her entire reality felt like a dream right now, maybe she’s already dreaming. Maybe she’s been dreaming this whole time. This was just one, horrifying, silly dream that she’ll be able to wake up in an entirely different world.
A world where Franziska could exist however she wanted to exist, live however she wanted to live.
This was her last thought before she came back to her senses, pulled from her daydream of a normal life.
She is suddenly exploded with awareness, she can feel every part of her body touching everything she’s touching at the moment. She hates the sensation so much, she rolls back and forth and shifts positions constantly but none of it works. The back and sides of her neck are so uncomfortable that she has the urge to just chop them off right then and there.
She’s so confused, this has never happened before. She just needs to sleep. WHY can’t she sleep?
She lays down like that for the rest of the night, allowing herself that one moment to think about Maya without questioning herself, as ever since she was young and she started having interest in the Fey kingdom and their culture it was the only thing that comforted her.
That’s all her thoughts were.
An embarrassing interest.
And nothing more.
***
Maya wakes up with a yawn, stretching her arms to the ceiling and cracking her knuckles. She had a really good sleep, like she had been getting lately.
Yesterday had been filled with drama, but showing Franziska around was the highlight. She always acted so stoic, so cool, like her brain was a lot older than her body. But Maya had caught a glimpse behind the mask yesterday as her dad left her in their palace. She had seen the real Franziska, and Maya’ll be damned if she doesn't at least try to inch that mask off more, more, and more until the full thing is willingly taken off of Franziska’s bare face.
Maya skips through the twisty halls and comes to a quick stop right at Franziska’s door, almost like a cartoon character.
She knocks, but gets no answer. [that’s strange,] she thinks, [the Von Karmas don't seem like the type to sleep in.]
Maya busts the door open despite the lack of response she had gotten from the other girl. She expects to find her sleeping sweetly, laying on her side with her mouth parted and donning unnecessarily uncomfortable pajamas.
Instead, she finds the girl belly-up on the bed, spread out in a starfish position, eyes wide open.
Maya slowly approaches Franziska, slightly worried the girl is going to jump out at her and attack her or something.
She waves a hand over her face.
“Uh, hey?”
The words seem to knock Franziska out of some sort of trance, as she snaps up and nearly bangs her head on Maya’s hand, which was still suspended out in the air.
Franziska seems confused about where she is for a few moments, but then she locks eyes with Maya and her eyes almost seem to relax while her shoulders tense up.
“Miss Fey, my sincere apologies. I didn't sleep last night and my brain isn't working quite the way it should.”
Maya shudders a bit, she had thought Franziska was being cold and formal yesterday, but this was a whole new level. She was acting so….Below Maya. Was this how the knights in Germany were expected to act? Maya felt grateful once again, for the unconventional way her kingdom was run.
“Oooookaaayyy,” Maya tries to lighten the mood, speaking in a drawn out way while still trying to hide her confusion. “Well, I thought I’d kinda guide you around since it's your first full day on the job, y’know?”
Franziska stands up from a bow that Maya hadn’t even noticed was happening and nods politely, but Maya can tell by the way her body was almost trembling with contained emotion that she was trying so hard to obey someone. “If you wish, Miss Fey.”
“You really don't have to call me that.” Maya is a mix of confused and concerned. “I can tell you’re just as uncomfortable as I am. No other guards here address royalty like that.”
“Well maybe you have yet to consider that maybe your kingdom just doesn't have proper knight etiquette! -ahem.”
Maya smiles at seeing the real Franziska pop out for a moment. “That’s the Franziska we all know and love.”
Fraznziska, who’s clearly starting to give up on acting well, closes her eyes and huffs.
“You’ve only known me for 2 days.”
Maya chuckles, extending her hand outwards.
“Get over here, you’re acting even more ridiculous than normal.”
Maya yanks up the other girl before she can protest.
***
Franziska yelps then tries and fails to cover it up with a faux coughing fit as she’s dragged along by Maya Fey for probably the 20th time since she’d arrived in Japanifornia.
She tries to say no every time it happens, she tries to remind the girl who’s supposed to lead here, who’s supposed to be in charge.
But every time Maya Fey glances back at her, every time she sees that warm, excited smile on her face, it’s like her body follows her herself, it’s like if Maya Fey’s smile could more than metaphorically light up a room, and Franziska was a moth, drawn to it like it’s the only light source she had ever seen, like no other flames existed in the world and this one was the only one deserving of Franziska’s attention.
So she couldn't help but follow, it’s nature, after all.
For a moth to be drawn to a flame.