Pairing: Donna x Reader
Pronouns: She/They
Warning(s): Slight Angst(?)
Reader is a demi-panther!
"My Lady?" I called while knocking on her door. "Breakfast is ready! Would you-?"
"Leave."
'...Again?' My heart ached as I forced a smile. "My apologies, my Lady. I-I'll leave your plate in the lounge."
'Lady Beneviento's been so cold lately,' I sighed to myself as I began the walk down the stairs. 'Ever since we got back from her sister's castle, she won't even speak to me. All she does is tell me to leave... Maybe I should. Maybe she'd be happy again if I did... I miss hearing her laugh — I miss talking to her.' Tears stung my eyes as I picked up the plate I made for the Lady. 'I thought we were friends at the very least...' My body trembled with each step I took — my vision blurred from tears.
I flinched when my trembling caused me to drop the plate, a curse leaving me as I glared at the mess. 'This has to be a sign, right?' I shook the thought away and cleaned up, rushing to make her a new plate of food. 'I'm not hungry anymore anyway...' After taking her plate and setting it down, I glanced at the top of the stairs, noticing Lady Beneviento watching me. 'I guess I should leave and clean something now...'
One Week Later
"My Lady?" I knocked on her workshop door. "You have a letter from Mother Miranda."
"Slide it under the door and leave."
"...Yes, my Lady," I said through gritted teeth, doing as she said. "Don't worry, I'm leaving."
'I can't take this anymore. It's been a month now!' My heart shattered as I entered my room and grabbed the bag I had ready, trying not to claw anything on my way out. 'I don't care if it gets me killed, I'm leaving. I'd rather be dead than deal with this heartache any longer.' I made it to the entrance before I heard a doll move, making me pause with my hand over the handle.
"This is what you meant?" Angie asked.
"I'm pretty sure it's what she's meant for the last month," I hissed through my tears. "I thought we were at least friends, but now I see she was just pretending. She's tired of pretending, so I'll go."
"That's what you believe... I feared as much..."
"How could I not?!" I whirled around and froze when I saw Donna holding Angie. "...How else could I interpret how you've been acting toward me for the past month? I hardly see you and you never talk to me other than telling me to leave."
"...Please don't leave," Donna tightened her grip on Angie. "I-I'm so sorry. Al-Alcina said something an-and I didn't know how to accept it. I panicked and pushed you away. I'm sorry. Please- Please don't leave. Le-let me apologize and ma-make it up to yo-you somehow."
I tightened my grip on my bag, before sighing. "If things don't change in one week, I'm leaving."
"I-I'd understand," Donna promised, her body relaxing when I set my bag down. "Jo-join me for lu-lunch?"
"...I'm not hungry... I think I'll take a nap until it's time to start on dinner."
"...I understand. We head to Alcina's castle tomorrow — the girls wanted me to spend their birthday with them."
"I'll make sure we're up and leave on time," I bowed to Lady Beneviento before carrying my bag back to my room. 'What did Lady Dimitrescu say? I thought she loved me... Does that mean her daughters pretend to like me as well?'
Morning
"Lady Beneviento," I called while knocking on her door. "We need-"
"...Come in."
I froze slightly before twisting the handle and pushing the door open slightly, peeking into the room. "Is everything alright, my Lady?"
"Come. In."
After entering the room and stopping next to her bed, Lady Beneviento grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto her bed, making me raise an eyebrow. "My Lady-?"
"I... Had a nightmare that you left in the middle of the night... I needed to make sure that you were real."
"How often do you dream about me?"
"...Every night. These last two months, they've mostly been nightmares."
'Two months? She's only been acting cold for one month...'
"They started the night you scolded me for overworking and falling asleep in my office," The Lady whispered while nervously wringing her hands. "Yo-you sounded so upset and, ever since, my nightmares have varied... This is the tenth time you've left — but the first time you left without a word and in the middle of the night."
"...What were the dreams before that night then?"
The Lady's cheeks turned pink as she refused to look at me. "...We need to get ready and leave."
'Interesting,' I nodded with a smile before standing up. "Shall I gather your clothes while you bathe?"
"No, no... You need to get dressed too. The triplets won't be happy seeing you in a maid outfit."
"And here I thought you liked this outfit. I could wear my suit-"
"I do like seeing you in this and that suit... No, no work clothes!"
I blinked in shock and slowly nodded. "Okay, then I'll grab some clothes after my bath."
"Good girl," She muttered before walking to her bathroom, making me stare at the wall for a moment.
'Cute, but she doesn't strike me as the dominant type,' I smirked to myself while leaving her room. 'Whatever helps her feel comfortable. Although, it would be hot seeing her be dominant or possessive.'
After the trek off of her property, Lady Beneviento grabbed my arm the moment we entered the village. 'Right, people still insult her because of what the cadou did to her face...' Anger boiled in my blood while we passed some villagers who began whispering and pointing at us. When the Lady tightened her grip, I glared at the humans and growled, making them scream and scurry off. Lady Beneviento giggled as we slipped into Lady Dimitrescu's property.
"You rarely show that side of you," She muttered and moved a hand to where my ears were hidden. "I like it when you don't hide them."
I swallowed thickly before letting my ears stand up and my tail unwrap. "I thought showing my fangs or roaring would draw too much attention."
"And sending them screaming wouldn't?"
"They're the ones terrified of a demi-panther."
"...You realize the panther part is a predator, right?"
"I'm just a big cat," I shrugged, making her giggle as we stopped at the front door. "...What did she say that made you freak out and not talk to me?"
The door opened, revealing Lady Dimitrescu as she sighed. "How long did you avoid her and your feelings, Donna?"
"...It's cold," Donna muttered and let go of my arm, rushing into the castle.
'Feelings?' I smiled at the thought of Lady Beneviento returning my feelings before entering the castle. "A month."
"A mon-?! Donna."
Lady Beneviento lowered her gaze and fidgeted with her coat until I took it off of her. "...I-I'm hideous. There's-"
I lifted her veil before kissing the Lady's cheek, making her go silent. "I don't think you're hideous."
"Are you two dating finally?!" The triplets gasped and swarmed toward us, excitement in their eyes.
"...Uh..." I hung Lady Beneviento's coat up, not wanting to be the one to tell the triplets.
"...No, but it's my fault," The Lady frowned and glanced at me. "I pushed her away instead of embracing my feelings. Even though you all said it was clear [Y/N] had feelings for me."
"You said you wouldn't tell her!" I gasped at the triplets.
"She didn't believe us anyway!"
"M-maybe someday, though?" Lady Beneviento muttered and squeezed Angie.
"I'm sure all you have to do is ask," Lady Dimitrescu chuckled and guided everyone to the lounge. "After making up for ignoring and being cold to her for a month."
"A MONTH?!" The triplets gasped in shock. "AUNTIE!"
"Go easy on her," I giggled and wrapped my arms around Lady Beneviento's neck, smiling when she relaxed. "Now that she confirmed it was her insecurities that contributed to it, I'm not as upset."
"But you're still upset," Angie pointed out.
"[Y/N] has every right to be upset," Lady Beneviento muttered and leaned into me. "As long as I get a second chance, I'm happy."
"I normally don't give second chances, but for you?" I purred and nuzzled my cheek against hers. "For you, I'm a fool. I gave her one week to change how she was treating me."
"And I swear I'll never treat you like that again," Donna whispered and gently grabbed my arm, turning her head to kiss my cheek.