Chapter Text
MAX HATTER
Something was bothering Max.
That statement in itself wasn’t exactly unusual given how irritable he got on a regular basis, but this was different.
It was like there was something missing, and knowing that made his skin crawl. Something kept scratching at the back of his mind, and it had something to do with that pocket watch.
That damn pocket watch.
Even after being thrown down a well, that pocket watch was still causing him trouble. Or irritating him at the very least.
But this was good.
Worrying about whatever it was that he couldn’t figure out was a lot better than thinking about how his father had been put under house arrest in the palace. Palace arrest?
He didn’t want to think about it. The disappointed look his father cast at him as Queen Ella and Queen Bridget hugged their daughters was enough to make Max leave the room.
He didn’t watch while the card guards transferred Maddox from the grasps of the chandelier to whatever room in the most isolated wing of the palace that he’d be staying in.
The tea party they held after was also a great distraction.
For once, actually spending time with HKs didn’t feel so revolting. The smiles and the laughter didn’t feel as suffocating as they initially had in Auradon. Even the dancing seemed to be enjoyable to watch.
And watch was what he did.
The Smees had gladly taken the center of the floor most of the night, impressing almost everyone with their coordination as they danced the night away.
Felix and Robbie stood by each other all night thanks to whatever adventure it is that trauma bonded them.
Even Hazel was all smiles as she jokingly tried to convince Chloe to show her the evil side that she had so unfortunately missed.
Red and Luis seemed to get even more stupidly infatuated with each other the more they spent time together.
Then there was Pink.
Pink was a whirl of excitement, acting as proxy hostess as the two queens watched from their seats at the head of the main table. Not one guest had come in that hadn't been greeted by her. Not one had she not offered a biscuit or a pastry to. Not once did she forget the name of anyone present. Not once did she let her smile fall. And, even more strange to Max, not once did it seem like she was simply trying to be polite.
She was genuinely enjoying every moment with every person, animal, card, and plant as if they were all her friends.
It was impressive, not that he’d ever say that to her face.
To her, everyone was a friend.
Everyone except him during that one night under the Lumoria tree. For the first time in his life, he’d witnessed Pink be distrusting. And, sure, that wasn’t saying much since he hadn’t seen her in a decade at that point, but it still made him feel like the time Hazel had run tackled him so hard that he had to lay on the ground for a minute to recover.
“Pink, you coming?”
Red’s voice cut through his thoughts as he walked towards one of the cars that would bring the teens back to Auradon.
“One sec!”
Max looked towards Red, who had her arms crossed and lips pressed together, waiting for her sister to come out but also glancing at the car that held Luis, Hazel, and Chloe. She so obviously wanted to be with her best friend and… whatever Luis was to her, but she didn’t want to leave her sister behind.
Without thinking, Max walked up to her.
“You go ahead,” he nodded in the direction of the second to the last car. “I can take the last car.”
“You don’t have to,” Red told him.
“I insist. There isn’t enough air in there anyway with Luis and Hazel’s egos in the same small compartment.”
That brought a small laugh out of Red, but her eyes drew back to the courtyard’s entrance, where Pink was yet to emerge.
“I promise I’ll let her yap as much as she wants on the way back,” Max promised.
“And you’ll engage and actually look like you’re participating?”
He raised his arms in false surrender then placed a fist over his heart and bowed at a 45 degree angle.
This was a gesture he hadn’t done in a while, the Pledge to the Hearts, which was essentially the highest form of agreement in Wonderland that didn’t involve legalities.
A flash of nostalgia appeared in Red’s eyes, which didn’t go unnoticed by Max. That meant either he or his father did this a lot to her in the other timeline.
“Go, get to your boyfriend,” he rolled his eyes as he straightened out.
“Not my boyfriend.” Red scoffed but headed towards the car anyway.
“Not yet!”
She flipped him off.
Max shook his head as he leaned against the last car, arms crossed while waiting for Pink.
Just him. And Pink.
Hats, he didn’t think this through.
What if she still didn’t trust him after what his father did?
What if he was the one to ruin her good mood for the first time today?
What if—
“Max!” Pink skipped towards him, a smile on her face. “I thought I heard Red call me?”
“I told her to go ahead.” He pushed nonchalance through his voice, shrugging but avoiding her eyes for a moment before gathering his senses and looking right at her. “Didn’t exactly want to be stuck with all brawns and no brain while he complains about not being with your sister for half an hour.”
She giggled. She actually giggled at that, at something he said.
He’d never admit to the corner of his lips twitching upwards.
“He’s not that bad,” Pink said as he opened the car door and stepped to the side. “Oh, how chivalrous!”
“You just beat me to the seat.” Never mind the fact neither of them had even taken a step forward.
Pink simply rolled her eyes and made her way in while he waited until she was settled before shutting the door and moving to the other side of the car.
Then it was just the two of them in the car.
For a moment, Max thought it would be quiet the whole ride.
Sure, he had ended up not helping his father, but something about the whole situation made him feel off.
That specific moment was strange, too.
In the car sat the son of a man who kidnapped a queen and tried once again to stage a coup. Beside him sat the daughter of the aforementioned queen.
In theory, they should be at odds, but Pink was far too kind and forgiving, and… Max couldn’t stand it.
In fact, he wanted to apologize for everything. And that was what he was going to do. He wouldn’t let this car ride end without telling her—
“I’m sorry.”
The words came from her mouth rather than his.