Chapter Text
The thing about Wonderland was that anything could happen. Max knew this to be true, despite having grown up on the Isle. Even so, watching Chloe Charming’s perfect smile turn sadistic wasn’t something he thought possible. He did that, he planned it, executed it, but even as it happened a pit formed in his stomach.
It was wrong.
A fleeting thought, because the rage swirling in his chest quickly covered it up, but a concerning thought, nonetheless. It was the perfect plan, she felt the same rage in her own chest, and with the help of the gem in the cuff he made, she was ready to act on it. She would lead him right to the watch, and he could finally have the wonderful life he was meant for. This was necessary, even if a part of him felt horrible, the larger part was in awe.
She was beautiful. The magic matted down her curls and replaced her clothes, until the princess standing in front of him wasn’t a princess at all. She was a villain. Her smile, the pain in her eyes- the pain he had watched Red put there- was replaced with mischief. She was radiant. Free.
“And if you end up ruining my life too?” He frowned. No, she wasn’t supposed to question him, she was supposed to help him. “What if I’m stuck like this? What if my life is ruined by that watch the same way yours was?”
The mischief in her eyes turned to malice as she glared at him. She stepped towards him. He backed into the wall of shrubbery behind him. Crowding into his space, she tilted her head.
“You did this. You made me like this. Are you happy now?” She screamed.
He gasped, eyes flying open and darting around. Wonderland was gone. Chloe was gone. He stared up at the ceiling of his dorm room, breathing heavily. Her voice was still echoing in his ears. He glanced at the bed next to his, Felix was fast asleep. His roommate slept like the dead on the best of nights, no way he would stir from Max murmuring in his sleep. He sighed and pushed himself into a sitting position, grabbing his cell phone from the bedside table.
3:37AM
Fuck. He threw the comforter off and swung his legs off the side of the mattress. He didn’t bother dressing properly, just grabbed his coat and hat and slipped out the door. He crept down the hallway of the boys dorm building, barely breathing until he made it to the courtyard. He stopped at the fountain flowing in the middle of the courtyard, the blue light drawing him in like a spell.
Probably is a spell, he thought bitterly. Spells never go right. He sat heavily on the edge of the fountain, staring out at the enchanted forest.
He was never good at sleeping; on the Isle you had to have someone always watching your back. Someone from the Hat Trix was always awake while the rest of them slept, taking turns being on watch. Even now in Auradon, he couldn’t quite convince his mind he was safe enough to sleep. His father had warned him of the nightmares, said they were hereditary, like madness, and his every failure would haunt him. But his father was in a cell in Wonderland. Max wondered if he had nightmares of kidnaping the queen. Of leaving Max behind. Of corrupting Chessy. Maybe he didn’t see those things as failures at all.
He stiffened as a twig snapped behind him. Every instinct had him readying for a fight, he hadn’t brought any weapons with him, was too focused on getting out. Fuck, he would be killed by his own recklessness one day.
“Max?” He blew out a breath. Of course, the princess was probably the last person he wanted to see right now, but at least he wasn’t about to be beaten up.
“What are you doing?” He snapped, standing from his perch and whirling around to face her. She looked awful. She was wearing a white tank top and baby blue shorts, her boots untied, blue curls up in a messy bun.
She’s not wearing a jacket.
“Me?” She crossed her arms in front of her, like she was hiding. “What are you doing?”
“What do you care?” He scoffed.
“What do you?” She threw back.
“You aren’t wearing a jacket,” He blurted. She looked down at herself, as if she hadn’t noticed.
“So?”
“It’s November,”
“So?”
“What are you doing out here?” He repeated, softening his voice.
“I couldn’t sleep,” She whispered, looking away. “Your turn,”
“Me neither,” He admitted. She took a step forward and he instinctually took a step back. She paused for beat before continuing forward and sitting on the edge on the fountain. He looked around helplessly before taking off his coat and draping it over her shoulders. She looked up to protest, but he cut her off.
“I have sleeves. You don’t” He reasoned. She scoffed and looked away again. He sat beside her after a minute of watching her fidget.
“I’m sorry if I scared you,” She spoke up. “I didn’t think anyone would be out here.”
“It’s fine,” He thought for a moment before continuing. “I’m used to the Isle, where everyone wants to either fight or rob you,”
“Oh,” She tilted her head to the side, and for a second he could’ve sworn her hair was darker, straighter, her face contorted in a smirk. “I’m sorry,”
“No, no. It’s fine.” He looked away. Screwed his eyes shut. Any kindness he showed could be thrown in his face later, that much he knew. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Her voice was pitched higher than usual, Max narrowed his eyes. She shook her head a little. “I just, my mind likes to focus on the past at night.”
“Oh?”
“I remember running through that maze with you,” She continued, voice soft. “And I hate that I loved every minute.” Her voice cracked. “It felt so good. Like that bracelet had freed me somehow. And…how could I feel like that? How could I want to feel like that? I hurt people,”
“No, you didn’t.” He interrupted. “I did. I hurt people, I hurt you,” He took a deep breath, willing his voice to stay steady. “Chloe, I’m so sorry.”
“I know,” She met his eyes. “I know that. I forgive you.”
“You’re losing sleep,” He shook his head, trying rid himself of the anguish.
“That’s not your fault. I’ve never been able to sleep through the night, this isn’t new.”
They sat there in silence for a while, staring out at the forest with the fountain flowing quietly behind them. Max knew he should get up, walk away, try to get a few more hours of sleep before classes started. His body just wouldn’t listen to him. After what felt like hours, Chloe sagged a little, her head falling gently onto his shoulder. He stiffened for a heartbeat, before resting his head on hers.
What a ridiculous sight they must’ve made. The perfect Charming princess, resting against Wonderland’s greatest monster. Or just the monster’s son. He wasn’t sure yet. He was certain the longer they stayed like that the more he was corrupting her. The more of his evil leaks into her soul.
“Think maybe you should try and get some more sleep?”
“I’m good here,” She stated.
“Here? Outside in the middle of November, leaning on a VK?” His voice was teasing, but he couldn’t help but be concerned for her sanity.
“Mhm,” She sighed contently. Soon her body relaxed, breathing evening out. He quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders to keep her from falling.
“Oh god,” He breathed. What was he supposed to do with a sleeping princess? How long should he let her sleep? He did some quick calculations, deciding that they had two hours for her to sleep before he absolutely had to wake her so she could get ready for class. He carefully moved them off the ledge of the fountain, lowering them so they were sitting on the ground. He moved her so she lay back against his chest and settled in.
The situation wasn’t ideal, but after everything he’d done, everything she’d forgiven, he could do this. He could be a safe place for her to rest. Because Chloe Charming was the most precious person in the world. She was the best person, the most kind, forgiving, good person in the whole world. He prayed to gods he didn’t believe in that she would stay good. That he wouldn’t corrupt her, that Red wouldn’t corrupt her. Because the world needed Princess Chloe Charming, not “evil Chloe”, not corrupted Chloe. Just Chloe.
Hours later, when Chloe woke up, shyly thanking him for helping her sleep before running to get ready for class, Max would come to a terrifying realization.
He didn’t just want to keep her good. He wanted to keep her.