AN: OMG Thank you so much to everyone who has followed, favorited and reviewed this fic! It's my first one so it means a lot that there are people enjoying it. Sorry I haven't updated in a little while, life has been a tiny bit chaotic, but hopefully will be writing a chapter every few days. I have no idea how long this will turn out and if anyone has any suggestions for the plot I'll see what I can do. Thank you again! (WARNING SHORT CHAPTER- another one will be posted VERY soon)
Diaval watched her all evening. This was nothing new, though he was usually more subtle. Tonight she needed him so he stayed by her side. She circled the room out of obligation, trying her hardest to be sociable and Diaval would buy her drinks, fill in gaps in conversation with a joke and lightened the mood considerably. Maleficent began to notice that as she spoke he was watching her closely, hanging off her every word. Which was unusual as what she was saying was never particularly stimulating, just the usual excruciating small talk she felt was necessary such as;
"So how are the kids?"
"It's a shame it isn't going to be a white Christmas!"
"How are you finding the new office?"
But the way Diaval was watching her you'd think that she had him under a spell and when she would glance back nervously he would smile with encouragement and Maleficent would smile back, thankful but confused. It dawned on her that perhaps her secret feelings for Diaval were in fact reciprocated.
There were many beautiful women in the room that were eyeing her assistant, 'accidentally' brushing against him and he wouldn't even give them a second glance. Yet here he was with Maleficent a broken dragon of a woman, a woman who didn't know how to love, a woman that didn't deserve love acting as if she were the most interesting person on the planet. Fear began to twist inside of her, pushing through her veins until sliding between the cracks of her broken heart. Maleficent was not equipped to deal with love again, but this time it wasn't out of concern for herself, but rather for him. She had known Diaval now for over 18 years and he was fragile despite appearance, with such an innocent, beautiful soul. He deserved somebody secure, that wouldn't hurt him, as she knew she was capable of. She hadn't realized how much she yearned for him; she had been too distracted looking after Aurora, but now she was almost old enough to not need her Godmother and Maleficent would be left on her own.
When Aurora flew the nest, would she be expected to focus on Diaval instead? Without thinking mid-conversation with some boring photographer, Maleficent walked away, ignoring the bewildered glances from her colleagues, ignoring Diaval calling her name.
When she reached the door she ran.