Where My Demons Hide
Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Summary: She inherited all the power of the Evil Queen when she signed the Storybook. She did it to save Wonderland and stop Courtly. And now that she has her full powers, it's time for the Rebel Queen to have a little fun... but at what cost? Set after Way to Wonderland. Raven/Dexter.
A/N: Written 2015. Found 2018.- Licia
A Month and a Half Later
The power surged through her body; it sparked, making her fingertips tingle. She'd done it, signed her page in the Storybook, inherited her full powers, and stopped Courtly, breaking the curse her mother had cast on Wonderland and restoring the balance between the worlds.
In the time since they'd returned, she was trying to get used to having her full powers. Not to mention getting used to the adoration of the students who had learned of her sacrifice in Wonderland... she sighed. Sacrifice, right. If only everyone understood like her friends.
It was harder than it looked. Little things would blow up in her face- she could do small spells for good, but anything bigger and they'd literally blow up in her face. Not to mention the constant voice in her head that whispered sinister nothings in her hear. Her confidence had bounced back and forth, her popularity had risen, not that that mattered, but the one constant had been Dexter and her friends, through it all.
She sighed, studying herself in the mirror.
A moment passed, before she tugged her hair into a high ponytail; she'd added streaks of teal to her hair not long after returning from Wonderland, deciding she needed a change. Her bangs fell into her eyes and she brushed them to the side, before letting her gaze move to her dress. She made a face, before making her way to her closet and rummaging through it. Eventually, she pulled out a pair of black jeans and a purple top that clung to her body. Quickly changing, she slipped into a pair of heels and turned to the mirror.
Much better.
She met her reflection's gaze, and for the briefest of moments, she could have sworn her eyes darkened, before it faded. Shaking her head, she grabbed her book bag and her guitar case, making for the door.
Dexter looked up, in time to see Raven slip into the castleteria. "Raven! Over here!"
She nodded, making her way towards the table where her boyfriend and friends sat. Without a word, she set her book bag and guitar case down, before slipping off to get something to eat. She returned moments later, taking the spot Dexter had saved for her. "Thanks." She kissed him on the cheek, blushing as her friends giggled in response.
Her and Dexter's growing relationship had blossomed since her return from Wonderland. The confidence she'd gained had made her bolder than normal, and she and the second-born Charming prince had made it official not long after her return. To Raven's surprise, there hadn't been any of the scorn or bickering or anger like there'd been when Ashlynn and Hunter had announced their own relationship. If anything, they'd received congratulations and excitement from the other students at the school.
Clearly, being the Savior of Wonderland had its perks when you were fifteen and still in high school.
"You... you look nice." She blushed at Dexter's compliment, reaching out and gently squeezing his hand before biting into her sandwich. Apple and Briar chattered about the next shopping trip they were planning, and Hunter and Ashlynn were engaged in a conversation only they were interested in... Cedar and Cerise were in mild argument about something that Raven could honestly care less about, and so she turned to her boyfriend. He met her gaze, grinning. "So... I was wondering..."
She took a sip of her coffee, waiting eagerly. "About what, Dex?"
He swallowed, nervous. "Well, I... I was wondering..."
She scooted closer to him, until their hips were brushing. "Yeah?" She waited, propping elbows on the table and resting her chin on her hands as she stared at her boyfriend.
"I was wondering if you wanted to see a movie with me tomorrow night?"
She grinned, the special, lopsided smirk that was only reserved for her closest friends, and reached out, taking his hand. "I'd love to."
Their friends groaned in mock annoyance as the couple shared a soft kiss, before Raven's alarm on her phone began to go off. She sprang to her feet. "Oh, shoot! I completely forgot that I've got rehearsal with Professor Piper!" She grabbed her book bag and slung it over her shoulder before grabbing her guitar case and the apple off her tray. Raven had started private guitar lessons with Professor Piper the year before; the man had informed her that she had a fair amount of talent, and if she worked hard at it, she could very well look at a career in muse-ic if she so chose. They were her favorite part of the week, and if she missed one...
"I've got to go." She leaned down, catching Dexter's mouth in a firm kiss. "I love you, Dex. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her chastely, before letting her pull away. "I'll see you all later." And then, with a bite of her apple, she sprinted off out of the castleteria, towards the Muse-ic room.
Dexter watched her go until she disappeared from view, before turning back to the others, blushing. He and Raven had just started telling each other that they loved each other- well, she'd started tell him- a couple months before Wonderland was saved. He hadn't exactly gotten up the courage to tell her yet, fearing she'd reject him.
"Why haven't you told Raven that you love her, Dexter?" Ashlynn asked as he picked up his soda and took a sip. The prince swallowed his sip. "It's obvious that you love her, and she's told you-"
"I just... I haven't gathered up the courage, Ash." He whispered, meeting the future Cinderella's gaze. She reached out, laying a hand atop his.
"Maybe you should. Otherwise she might get the wrong idea."