Anonymous requested: Poison Apple dancing
One of the best moments of Raven's life was the first time she saw Apple in her wedding dress. This, of course, wasn't until the wedding day itself because that's tradition, Apple insisted. Raven didn't have the heart to remind her that everything about their love flew in the face of tradition. So when Raven saw Apple standing at the top of the marbled staircase in a traditionally white dress, she couldn't say she was surprised, but maybe she was. It was hard to tell with all the other emotions thumping around in her chest.
The dress shimmered softly in the light as she walked, crystals dripping from fine fabric, and for once Raven understood the reason Apple struggled so much to let go of her destiny all those years ago. It was clear to her because, in that moment, Apple reminded her of a fairy tale, a queen straight from the storybook's page.
It was a memory she would cherish for her entire life, she knew, but it wasn't the only one from that day. There was another and it started with Raven taking hold of Apple's hand and leading her to the ballroom floor.
They stopped beneath the chandelier, beams of rainbow light reflecting through its pendants, and Apple regarded Raven with questions in her pale blue eyes.
"What are you doing? We already performed our waltz and now everyone is supposed to sit," she whispered, just quietly enough that the hundreds of subjects now watching them couldn't hear.
"You know how you love me because I don't always follow the script?"
Apple furrowed her brows at the question, but otherwise smiled. "Of course?"
"Hold onto that thought."
Just as Raven spoke, a loud beat resounded throughout the ballroom and, in a moment of realization, Apple buried her blushing face into her hands.
"Pop music?" she yelled over the sudden noise of people rushing the floor. "You got pop music to play at our court wedding? Raven Queen!"
"Actually, that's Raven White-Queen now," she corrected, though the scrutinizing look Apple wore told her that was very much beside the point. "C'mon! Don't act like you don't love this song. You want to dance to something other than orchestra music, I know you do."
The set of Apple's red lips hardened and, sensing her stubbornness, Raven softened in contrast. She stepped forward, deft fingers smoothing lovingly over Apple's cheek.
"You have a lifetime to prove to your people that you're every bit worthy of being their queen," she said gently, and Apple appeared surprised by her perceptiveness. "As of right now, forget about them. It's just me and you, always, but tonight especially." Raven stepped back, a faint smile playing on her lips. She held out a hand. "So, what do you say, Your Majesty? May I have this dance?"
Apple glanced from Raven's hand to her eyes, then with little more reluctance she acquiesced, placing her hand into Raven's only to be yanked forward. She stumbled into the dark-haired woman, smiling in earnest, as Raven twisted and swayed against her and in harmony with the rhythm. Raven lifted the hand that clutched Apple's and twirled her, showing her off to the room of smiling guests. Apple giggled, the color of her cheeks warming, and it was then that Raven realized this would be her most cherished memory of all. Not the memory of seeing Apple in her wedding dress and thinking of a fair and beautiful queen, but this, the memory of her laughing, foolishly dancing wife.