Title: Looks Can Be Deceiving
Rating: PG
Summary: "Sometimes, people aren't all they appear to be." Max had plans, plans that could never happen acting as his true self. It was better to act dumb.
A/N: My sisters came to me with this idea, "what if Max was playing dumb, he was actually an evil mastermind?" The idea was interesting, I figured I'd write this little drabble out before the ending of the series. Hope you enjoy!
Max Russo considered himself to be a fairly normal child growing up, with the minor detail of being a wizard in training. When his powers had finally kicked in with puberty like his siblings, he felt excited—it was his chance to prove himself and maybe even win the family wizard powers.
But when it became apparent to Max that he was the least-favored Russo child, he knew it would mean protecting himself. Ever since he was old enough to understand that only one of them would keep their powers, it was obvious Justin was the one everyone believed to win. Even Alex had a better chance than him, at least from what he heard his parents say.
It wasn't like they were quiet about their judgment of him. He hadn't had the best grades throughout elementary school, not studying when he was told.
When he had the idea to release all the monsters, he wasn't listening to Conscience. He had listened before, but now wasn't the time, he had to beat Justin. Alex wasn't helping, actually studying for once as he had tried to figure out how to stop Justin from winning the competition.
Alex had accused him of not being capable of something so stupid, but he had just smiled and replied, "We both know I'm capable of being this stupid." It was better for her to think that, not knowing he had wanted to make sure that Justin couldn't get anything done. And if he got hurt in the process… Well, there was always the "dumb" act to fall back on.
Something changed in him when Conscience left his body. Ever after they were joined together again, things were never the same. He had felt free of the obligations in his life, to do whatever he pleased and no one had stopped him, until the end. Max realized that Alex was set on becoming the family wizard at any cost. And it wasn't like Justin was any help, constantly craving the attention and power that would come by being a full wizard.
It soon dawned on Max the only one that he could trust was himself. There was no one else looking out for him, not even his parents who had already put their faith in the other kids.
So he studied, he worked hard and never let anyone know. Everyone thought he was stupid to begin with; it wasn't hard to pretend to be even dumber after the incident. It shocked him how easily they accepted his idiocy, and no one worried there might be something wrong with him.
He was going to win this wizard competition, no matter what Justin or Alex tried. Because idiocy was his armor, his disguise, his ticket to the Family Wizard powers. No one could stop him. He didn't appear menacing, or even worthy competition.
But as they say, looks can be deceiving.