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Cupids been acting weird lately.
She’s been aloof, evasive, distant.
Raven knows Cupid doesn’t have to tell her everything. It just feels like Cupid is specifically avoiding her. She cancels plans, avoids Raven in the halls, and barely speaks why they’re partnered up for chemythstry. And honestly…it was starting to get Raven down.
It wasn’t a secret that Raven had a crush on Cupid. They’re pretty sure the only person who doesn’t know is Cupid. They’d given up on it a long time ago, but it didn’t make the goddess avoiding her hurt less.
She’s pulled out of her thoughts when Dexter plops down next to her “Hi R-Raven!” He says awkwardly, face red. He must be warm. “Hi Dexter” she says suddenly distracted by Cupid entering the cafeteria. Her heart begins to pound and she gives a shy wave from across the room.
Cupid averts her eyes, quickly making her way across the cafeteria to Blondie’s table. Raven’s heart shatters. “Are you okay?” Raven focuses back on Dexter, feeling bad for ignoring him. “Yeah….I’m…” she pursed her lips considering asking Dexter about Cupid. They were best friends, surely he’d know what’s wrong. It felt wrong though, like an invasion of privacy. She shook her head “I’m fine.”
Dexter didn’t seem to believe it, but he left the topic alone. Continuing on with what he was talking about before.
Raven tries to pay attention but the ever growing pit in her stomach grows.
——
Raven arrives at chemythstry early, and is thrilled when she sees Cupid there too. She quickly takes a seat next to her. “Hi Cupid!” They say as they sit down. Cupid looks up from the table shy smile on her face “h-hey Raven” she responds, and Ravens heart soars.
“So did you understand any of the homework?”
“Not really, luckily love potions are a big thing back home so I was able to figure it out”
Raven groans “lucky, I swear I was doing fine in this class but Rumplestiskins rambles have gotten so off the wall I can’t decipher it anymore”
Cupid giggles and it’s the most beautiful thing Ravens heard. “If you want I can give you my notes?”
Raven sighs, in relief that her and Cupid were still friends, and that she might be able to do her homework “yeah that’d be great”
Kids begin piling into class and her and Cupid continue chatting, until Dexter walks in. Cupid suddenly goes silent eyes zeroing in on the boy “yknow I think you should partner up with Dexter!” She exclaims
“What?” Raven says, but before they can ask anymore questions Cupids grabbing her bags “I uh…promised Sparrow id help him!! Sorry…” she says pushing Dexter toward them “anyway see you later bye!”
Raven frowns.
Something was definitely wrong.
——
Raven flops on their bed with a dramatic groan.
“What’s got you in upset?” Apple asks turning from her vanity to look at her roommate. “Is it about Cupid?” She says and Raven shoves their head in their pillow with a sigh.
Apple frowned making her way to Ravens bed and sitting next to her “what happened?” She asks gently. Raven looks up from her pillow “Cupids been avoiding me” she mumbles. “Do you know why?” Apple asks
“That’s the issue! I don’t!” Raven exclaims “I’m worried it’s because she knows I like her and doesn’t want to her my feelings!” Apple clicks her tongue “Raven, let’s not jump to the worst conclusion”
“But what else can I do?”
“Maybe she’s not avoiding you, maybe she’s just busy”
“She made eye contact with me and ran off!”
“Maybe she didn’t mean to”
“Ugh!” Raven rolls over away from Apple. The princess sighs “You should text her” she says and Raven turns incredulous “How would that help me”
Apple shrugs “Maybe if you’re the one to reach out she won’t have an excuse to ignore you”
Raven rolls her eyes, annoyed by Apples constant optimism. Apple runs a hand on her back comfortingly. Suddenly her phone rings. Raven looks up from her pillow, seeing Apple staring down at her phone with a frown. “Is everything okay?” Their roommate snaps her head up “Yeah, just a student council thing” Raven sighed, she knew how important school was to their roommate. She sighed “it’s okay, I’ll figure it out. You go help with the emergency”
There was a visible relief in Apples posture as she got up from the bed “Thank you, this is just a really big-“
“Yeah, yeah” Raven said rolling her eyes slightly endeared by how seriously Apple took this. Quickly Apple gathered her things and opened the door, not before peaking her head in and saying “talk to her!” Before leaving
——
It takes Raven awhile to actually talk to her. Spending what feels like hours trying to write the perfect text. Would she come off as pushy?
She held her breath and pushed send
Raven: hey! Do you think I could have your notes from chemythstry?
She thinks about backing out, deleting the message and running away, but before she can Cupid replies
Cupid: sure!
Cupid: Do you want me to come over to your place?
Raven takes a deep breath
Raven: actually could we meet for coffee?
It takes Cupid longer to respond to that one, and Raven fears they’ve scared her off.
Cupid: yeah. That sounds nice.
Raven thanks the gods. Quickly texting Cupid the time to meet up. Over zealous she quickly grabs a sweater and begins heading down to the coffee shop.
By the time she’s outside though a slow drizzle has began falling and Raven realizes she doesn’t have an umbrella. Resigning to her walk in the rain, Raven makes her way towards Hocus Pocus.
When she gets there the place is surprisingly crowded, students sitting and talking or studying, sheltered away from the rain.
Raven wonders what she does now. Does she go ahead and order and find a seat? Just she just stand awkwardly until Cupid gets there?
They decide to go wait in line, hoping Cupid will get there soon. Looking down at her feet she runs straight into the back of someone.
“Hey Raven!” They snap their head up, realizing they’re standing behind Dexter Charming “Sorry Dex!” They exclaim “I was distracted…” she says embarrassed blush appearing on her cheeks.
Dexter is blushing too, must be embarrassing for both of them. “O-oh it’s okay Raven!” He says rubbing the back of his neck.
They flow into a comfortable conversation, but Raven can’t control the pit in her stomach. Cupid wasn’t at the shop yet, was she not coming?
Then out of the corner of her eye Raven sees a bit of pink outside the shop. Quickly she turns around and waves so Cupid knows she’s inside.
The goddess looks almost hesitant, eyes darting around. Finally she waves back shutting her umbrella and taking a step inside. She reaches Dexter and Raven in the line, she seems nervous about something.
“Hey guys” she says with a smile that looks just a little too wide. “How are you?” She asks, and she seems pained while doing it.
Raven narrows her eyes, concern rising “We’re good are you-“
“Hey Dexter! Why don’t you join me and Raven?” Cupid cuts them off. Dexter has hope in his eyes but there’s a scream that stops him before he can respond “DEEEEXTEER” it’s shrill and loud and everyone knows who it is.
Sparrow makes his way through the crowd towards the group in line, “Wassup man!” He says patting Dexter on the back. The prince slumps “Sorry guys, I agreed to help Sparrow study for crownculus” Raven purses her lips to hide a chuckle. “It’s okay Dex” she responds slightly relieved, because now she gets more time alone with Cupid.
Dexter and Sparrow go into their own conversation turning away from the girls in line.
After awhile of waiting Raven and Cupid finally get to the front “I’ll just have a small iced coffee” Raven says, she knows a hot drink would be more fitting given the cold, but she’s always preferred iced things. Cupid orders next “I’ll just have a hot chocolate please” she says softly. “You like hot chocolate?” Raven asks and she feels stupid because of course she does, she just ordered it.
Cupid smiles though and it makes Raven all gooey “Yeah, I get pretty worked up on caffeine so I try to avoid it”
Ravens eyes widened “oh jeez! I shouldn’t of invited you to a coffee shop I’m so-“
Cupid shakes her head “oh no it’s fine! The hot chocolate here is great anyway”
The sorceress feels relief flood over her “okay…uh cool”
They get their drinks and sit down, the conversation flowing naturally. It’s nice, talking to her like this again.
——
By the time they’re done most of the crowd has fizzled out. They’d finished actually studying awhile ago, but had just kept on talking.
Cupid looks out the window, it’s fully pouring now “I guess we should get going” she says beginning to grab her stuff. Raven stares at the downpour outside with a gulp “uh yeah” they say also beginning to pack up. By the time they’re all done and Cupids out the door Raven stops, still not super into the idea of walking in the rain without any protection.
Cupid turns back “is everything okay?”
Raven sighs “yeah uh, just don’t have an umbrella” she says quietly. Cupid quirks her head for a moment before holding out her umbrella “you can use mine! We’re heading to the same place anyway”
Raven feels her heart quicken “o-oh okay!” She says reaching out and taking Cupids umbrella with her. They’re so close together. Cupid grips the umbrella with her and they start walking down the road side by side. Raven preys that Cupid can’t hear their heart right now.
The only issue is Cupids gotten quiet again, staring at the ground. Raven tries to make conversation but only gets one word answers.
Honestly? They’re starting to get pretty annoyed by it. They don’t understand why Cupid is playing this game of hot and cold with her. She just wanted to know if Cupid even liked her anymore.
“Cupid” Raven says finally, turning to the goddess. Their faces inches apart. “Yeah?” Cupid says breathlessly, and Raven thinks they might be going crazy because they swear she’s blushing.
“Is-“ she starts with a gulp “is there something wrong?”
Cupids eyes widen like saucers and dart around “Um-what-what’d you mean”
Raven frowns “I just feel like you’ve been avoiding me recently” their stomach flips, almost not believing they finally confronted her about it.
Cupids breathing quickens “Um I haven’t been I’ve just-I’ve just been busy”
“Cupid I know that’s not what’s happening-“
Before Raven can finish Cupid let’s go of the umbrella “Um yknow what?? You can have the umbrella! We’re only a little ways from the school a-and I probably need a jog anyway!” and she turns and starts running.
Raven takes a minute to recoup and by that point Cupid is already halfway down the street.
“Cupid!!” She shouts helplessly, and surprisingly Cupid stops, not turning around.
“Please” Raven begs “j-just tell me what’s wrong”
“N-nothing! I told you that” Cupid responds back still facing Raven.
Raven doesn’t stop “If I-it’s something I did or said please tell me so I can fix it!”
Cupids shoulders slump visibly and she finally says “Its nothing you did Raven”
Raven almost feels a sense of relief except she still doesn’t know what it is “then what is it? Because if it’s-“
“It’s because you have a crush on Dexter!!”
Raven is left awestruck. Out of all the responses she hadn’t expected that one.
Dexter?? Where did she get that from??
It’s not that she disliked Dexter. He was sweet, but she didn’t like him in that way.
Had Cupid really not noticed her feelings? They’d be proud if the situation weren’t so dire.
“E-even if I did like Dexter why would that make you avoid me??” They finally responded
“Because I’m a matchmaker Raven!”
Ravens still very very confused “Why does that matter”
Cupid finally turns and Raven realizes she’s been crying “B-because-“ she whispers “because I can’t let my feelings get in the way.”
Feelings?
Oh
Oh.
The hand holding the umbrella falls limp next to her side. Raven is immediately drenched, but is honestly to shocked to care.
“Raven I-“ Cupid starts “I’ve liked you for a very long time. But my purpose is to match people and I can’t let my feelings get in the way of that” she takes a deep breath “and, you deserve all the happiness in the world Raven, I can’t take that away from you”
Ravens moving before she even knows it. Cupids still talking but Raven isn’t even sure they know what she’s saying. And before they can think they’re pulling her in and-
The kiss is wonderful. Cupid tastes like strawberries and chocolate, and Raven never thought she’d have this.
Cupid pulls away eyes wide “W-what b-but you like-“
Raven laughs and Cupids still staring at her “I don’t understand”
Raven shakes her head “Cupid, I have a crush on you too”
It’s Cupids turn to be awestruck “you don’t have feelings for Dexter? But you always got so flustered around him?”
“I was flustered around him because you were around him”
Cupids still staring, and then she laughs. And Raven laughs too because all of this could’ve been avoided if they had talked again. And then Cupid kisses her again, and Raven doesn’t know how things could be more wonderful.
Cupid leans away for a moment “Raven Queen, will you be my girlfriend?”
Raven tries to hide her giddy smile “Of course”
(They get sick after standing in the rain for so long, but neither regret a thing)