Disasters of Ever After: Chatfic

by Jess_Oh_My

Summary:

The Ever After High’s (main) student body have a groupchat - filled with laughter and late night tears. A group of semi-stable teenagers with a problem following their destiny.. what could go wrong?

Notes:

I hope you enjoy, it’s a bit angsty!

Chapter 1

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Rosabella: I’ve lost my boyfriend💔

Dexter: to a mirror?

Darling: forreal

Briar: I’ve never seen anyone else so self obsessed

Faybelle: even I’m agreeing

Rosabella: he’s not all about his looks

Ramona: guys a textbook narcissist yes he is

Cerise: agreeing for the first time

Ramona: FUCK YOU

Cerise: FUCK YOU ACTUALLY

Apple: don’t start this again please

Darling: what my princess said

Duchess: fucking gay people.

Faybelle: coming from you is crazy

Duchess: I DATED SPARROW

Sparrow: FOR A WEEK

Faybelle: BECAUSE OF CUPID??

Duchess: fuck you for that Cupid

Faybelle: it was mirror shattering watching.

Cupid: sorry guys I didn’t mean to!

Blondie: it’s not your fault:)

Briar: subtle..

Rosabella: WHERE IS MY FUCKING BOYFRIEND YOU ATTENTION DEFICIENT PRICKS

Lizzie: he’s probably just lost in his own eyes

Apple: I wouldn’t worry, he’s probably just lost track of time!☺️

Rosabella: he’s never late to our tutoring sessions

Ashlynn: you tutor him?

Faybelle: LMFAO YOU TUTOR HIM???

Duchess: HAHAHA

Ramona: LMFAO

Kitty: well he is a bit slow..

Faybelle: hexactly

Rosabella: fuck you guys

Apple: that was quite mean guys

Raven: I agree

Cedar: ^

Cupid: ^

Darling: ^

Bunny: ^

Maddie: ^

Alistair: ^

Ramona: no fun

Dexter: I didn’t know you tutored him?

Darling: I didn’t either actually

Rosabella: I do, 3 times a week

Faybelle: Grimm is he that bad..

Rosabella: I will fucking fight you

Briar: Faybelle.

Faybelle: sorry rosabella.

Duchess: WHIPPED

Sparrow: WHIPPED

Bunny: WHIPPED

Faybelle: KILL YOURSELVES

Rosabella: WHERE IS DARING

Raven: I’ll help you look..

Maddie: me too!!

Rosabella: thank you.

Cerise: you’re my bffa ofc I’ll help

Briar: I’ll help as well

 

Rosabella must’ve walked the halls at least 10 times, and she couldn’t find Daring anywhere. She had habitually checked her mirrorphone every few moments. She was starting to get worried, it was unusual of him to not answer his hexts. Especially from her.

 

[ Daring & Rosabella’s Private
Messages ]

Rosabella: daring where are you? you’re late

Rosabella: daring??

Rosabella: Dar?

Rosabella: sweetheart are you okay?

Rosabella: can you pick up your mirrorphone I’m worried

Rosabella: daring please

Rosabella: where are you?

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Ramona: no you stupid bitch that’s not how it works

Faybelle: as if you’d know

Faybelle: mutt.

Ramona: I will tear off your wings you fag

Faybelle: says the butch lesbian..

Ramona: and what fairy fuck

Faybelle: DIRTY DOG

Ramona: I’m a WOLF YOU DUMB BITCH

Kitty: fuck me shut up

Ramona: lizzies job

Maddie: lizzies job

Kitty: I’m stealing your tea pots and your track shoes get fucked

Daring: I can’t breathe?

Kitty: what??

Maddie: what’s the hatter?

Daring: I don’t know

Daring: I’m in the forest

Dexter: what the hex

Darling: are you okay?

Daring: my chest feels tight

Daring: what’s happening

Daring: where’s Rosa?

Dexter: can you try focusing on breathing?

Briar: shit I’ll tell Rosabella

Raven: she’s actually running

Cerise: I’d say sprinting

Rosabella: found him

Ramona: fuck me that was fast

 

Rosabella ran through the forest, letting out a relieved sigh when she heard him - albeit hyperventilating - that she instantly felt bad for. “Daring?” She whispered as she parted the trees and stepped towards him. His eyes glinted with soft and unshed tears as he looked up from the log he was sat at. “Hi, sweetheart.” She greeted softly, walking over to him, and crouching down in front of him. She tenderly took his hands in hers, “this okay?” she asked gently and he nodded silently. Odd. It was very rare for him to be quiet, let alone this quiet. He wasn’t struggling with air anymore, he was just staring through her.

“Daring?” She questioned, and felt perplexed by his actions. He’d never acted like this before, especially not in front of her. Or, by his own siblings’ reaction.. anyone. His shoulders were slumped, and his smile was completely gone. She frowned, her hand gently reaching for his cheek. She winced when he flinched away. He’d never done that. The growing pit of anxiety in her stomach grew with every second that passed, and it gnawed at her, spiralled inside of her like an untamed beast.

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Dexter: Is he okay?? It’s been forever after

Rosabella: I can’t tell?

Rosabella: Hunter and Ashlynn helped me get him back to my dorm

Darling: I can come back to our dorm if you want?

Rosabella: I don’t know he’s not talking

Faybelle: that is insanely out of character

Briar: I’ve never seen him be quiet

Poppy: no one has

Duchess: HAHAHA

Faybelle: …

Sparrow: real subtle swan

Duchess: JUMP

Apple: I hope he’s okay!!

Raven: he’s reminding me of dex

Dexter: huh??

Raven: the whole not talking thing

Dexter: oh yeah

Rosabella: any advice to share?

Raven: be patient and gentle?

Cerise: she’s always gentle

Raven: I know I know

Rosabella: thanks

Hunter: he didn’t say anything the whole walk back

Duchess: which is weird because he’s always talking..

Faybelle: fairy true

Sparrow: he talks forever after all the time

Melody: at my parties it’s hextra annoying

Briar: if you guys don’t stop she’s gonna flip her crown

Duchess: watching her get honked off is so funny

Ashlynn: have you lost your crowns? Don’t be so rude.

 

Rosabella put her mirrorphone down, not bothering to comment on the contents of the group’s hexts. He’d probably read it later. She sat down on her bed next to him and observed how he was staring at nothing in particular. “Daring,” she started - keeping her voice calm and low. “Can you.. look at me?” She requested, quietly. Daring’s eyes flicked to hers, turning his head. “Are you okay?” She asked quietly. He shrugged.

She frowned softly, and gently took his hands in hers, “I’m sorry.” he mumbled quietly, barely audible. She furrowed her brow further, somehow even more confused than she was before. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, mon chéri.” She told him, matter-of-factly and his head dropped, staring at their interlinked hands instead. She gently cupped his face, her fingers hooking under his chin and lifting his head up. He stared at her, a light shade of pink coating his cheeks. “It’s not your fault, sweetheart. What’s wrong?” She asked, her hand moving to cup his cheek.

He stared at her wordlessly, and those unshed tears burned back in his eyes, desperately begging to be released. He didn’t say anything - couldn’t - instead opting to collapse into her chest. He let out a gut-wrenching sob, it tore through his chest as he shook and she immediately enveloped him, her arms wrapping around him as softly as she could. This had never happened before. An ugly cry pulled from him as he sobbed into her dress; it wasn’t like his normal royalty-trained class cries with soft tears, it was violent, rough and raw.

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Ginger: me and maddie just finished baking cupcakes for everyone:)

Maddie: come to gingers dorm.. they’re hatastic!

Poppy: oh I love your guys baking

Holly: me too!

Lizzie: everyone loves their cooking

Briar: so true

Cerise: me and cedar are on the way

Ashlynn: me and Hunter are coming too

Sparrow: ofc we’re coming

Kitty: we?

Duchess: me, Faybelle, Melody & Sparrow

Briar: I’m coming too

Ashlynn: wonder why you agreed then..

Briar: STFU

Ramona: me and Justine are coming

Cerise: ofc you are

Ramona: what’s that supposed to mean?

Cerise: obviously you’d come w Justine

Ramona: obviously you’d come with cedar

Justine: what?

Cedar: I’m confused.

Cerise: don’t be

Ramona: yeah she’s being weird

Cerise: FUCK YOU

Ramona: FUXK YOI MOEE DICKHEAD

Apple: stop being so mean!!

Darling: yeah listen to my girlfriend

Faybelle: fucking lesbians

Duchess: says you..

Apple: anyway, me and darling are coming

Apple: Raven, are you?

Raven: yeah so is Dex

Lizzie: me and Kitty are coming too!!

Bunny: me and alistair couldn’t say no, we’re on our way!

Blondie: me and Cupid are coming!

Briar: is rosabella and daring coming?

Raven: I haven’t heard from either of them since earlier.

Darling: I’ll head back to my dorm to ask with Apple on the way to Ginger’s dorm.

 

Darling didn’t bother knocking, after all it was her dorm too. She pushed open the door, and froze. Her blood ran cold. Daring Charming, her self-absorbed and stubborn older brother shaking and honest-to-grimm crying in Rosabella’s arms. She stood frozen and unnoticed for another spell, before she gently stepped out and closed the door. She looked at Apple, sadness evident on her face. “I don’t think they’re coming.” She whispered, and walked away with her hand in Apple’s wordlessly.

On the walk, her mind spiralled. Why was Daring so upset? How hasn’t she noticed before? How was she supposed to approach him about this? Would he want her too? How could she help him?

She was pulled from her downward descent by Apple, “are you okay, Darling?” She asked with glistening, gorgeous eyes shining in concern. Darling nodded, it wasn’t her place to talk about - not yet, anyway. She took a deep breath, opening Ginger’s dorm room door for Apple and entering behind her with a smile.

Chapter 2

Notes:

I hope you enjoy, be mindful of warnings in the tags!

Rosabella didn’t know what to do, and she had less of a clue what was bothering her Prince. His silence was troubling, and abnormal. She missed their soft late night conversations whether in person or over a mirrorphone. She missed reading to him and receiving small comments and huffed out laughter in the quiet as he tried not to disturb her and leave her with peace. She wanted nothing more in the world than to be disturbed by him right now.

Rosabella had an idea that Darling had figured it out; maybe even seen it herself judging by how her cautious eyes bore into him when she assumed no one was watching. She wanted to confront Darling, maybe pry some information that Daring refused to let slip out of her.. but it just seemed unfair. Arguably, this whole situation was relatively unfair because her boyfriend was being plagued with some kind of worry and she just couldn’t figure it out.

“Darling?” She asked, rolling onto her side to look at her roommate. She couldn’t wait for answers to come to her any longer, it just wasn’t working and the wait was driving her mad. “Yeah?” Darling answered tiredly, sitting up in her bed and brushing her hair out of her face with a sleepy sigh. Rosabella swallowed - she was normally truly confident but this whole situation was effecting her hocus focus. “Daring’s being.. weird.” She said quietly, and looked up at her. She winced at the way she worded it, it felt dismissive.

“He’s always being weird.” Darling joked, but stopped her hushed giggles when she saw the seriousness on Rosabella’s face. “Oh, is it about..” Darling trailed off slowly, suddenly feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders that seeped through her. Darling took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a lot less tired and a lot more worried. “Look, he’s not exactly an open book when it comes to feelings.” Darling explained and Rosabella nodded, she’d figured that out herself, he wasn’t ever forthcoming with information.

“How am I supposed to help him if I can’t figure out what he’s so worried about?” She asked, rambling her feelings to someone who she knew would understand. Darling adjusted how she was sitting, and frowned sadly. “He’s never hexccepted help when we were kids.” She admitted, “it was.. annoying.” Darling continued, “but now I understand why.” She explained and Rosabella frowned. “All I can say is be there for him and eventually he’ll open up.” She said.

Rosabella nodded, she could do that. She was always there for people she cared for and she truly cared for Daring. “I can do that.” She told her blanchette roommate, who smiled and nodded.
“I know you can.” Darling reassured her, before laying back down and pulling her blanket up to her shoulders.

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Faybelle: someone send me their thronework answers

Duchess: do it yourself

Faybelle: fuck you swan send me your answers

Duchess: bitch as if I did it

Ramona: neither so don’t bother asking

Faybelle: wasn’t planning on it

Faybelle: mutt

Ramona: WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH ME

Faybelle: what isn’t

Raven: I’ll give you guys the answers if you want

Sparrow: help a girl out🙏🏻

Duchess: sparrow you are a man

Sparrow: and?

Duchess: fair enough

Melody: maddie dropped off some supply if you wanna skip with me sparrow

Sparrow: I’ll be right there

Duchess: eugh.

Faybelle: FAIRY GROSS

Faybelle: they’re gonna fuck

Sparrow: stfu

Duchess: didn’t deny it though..

Sparrow: KILL YOURSELVES YOU BOTH SUCK

Cedar: I didn’t know melody and sparrow are together?

Duchess: they’re not

Duchess: unfortunately

Faybelle: unfortunate for us because we have to hear about it

Apple: how are you doing that without being together?

Faybelle: surely we don’t need to explain sex ed to you

Apple: no you don’t

Apple: but they’re not together so how does that work?

Sparrow: nothing is happening between me and Melody.

Sparrow: they’re lying

Apple: oh okay

Apple: that’s a really odd thing to lie about guys

Dexter: I always check my mirrorphone at the worst times..

Lizzie: somethings wrong with kitty

Maddie: is she okay?

Bunny: what happened?

Alistair: what’s wrong with her?

Lizzie: she’s very giggly

Duchess: she’s from wonderland

Briar: I think that’s normal for you guys

Lizzie: but she’s throwing up too

Maddie: oh hats

Lizzie: what??

Maddie: I thought some of my mushrooms were missing..

Lizzie: WHAT

Apple: WHAT??

Apple: YOU’RE A DRUG DEALER?

Maddie: woopsies

Darling: yeah I knew

Briar: yeah a lot us did

Lizzie: someone help me with kitty

Maddie: I will

Lizzie: thank you

Duchess: THRONEWORK ANSWERS

Duchess: PLEASE

Faybelle: what she said

Raven: sending it now..

Raven: throneworkanswers.png

Duchess: life saver

Ginger: since when were you nice?

Blondie: I must report on this!

Duchess: I will dance on your grave

Blondie: nevermind..

Cupid: it’s okay Blondie! I’ll help you find a story

Blondie: thanks Cupid!

Briar: still so subtle

Ashlynn: says you

Briar: anyway

Briar: I haven’t seen Bella in forever after

Dexter: I haven’t seen Daring either

Ramona: maybe their having a sex marathon

Dexter: THATS MY BROTHER

Darling: gross

Darling: and I doubt it

Hopper: daring hasn’t left our dorm in 2 days

Dexter: what?

Dexter: open your door I’m coming over rn

Hopper: okay

Raven: odd..

[ Raven & Rosabella’s Private Messages ]

Raven: are you okay?

Rosabella: yeah

Rosabella: no

Rosabella: I don’t know

Raven: wanna talk about it?

Rosabella: Daring still isn’t talking much

Rosabella: it’s silence or a 2 word answer and I don’t know what’s going on because he won’t talk about it

Raven: dex does it too

Raven: all I can say is you have to be patient which I know sucks and doesn’t sound the best

Rosabella: they’re different though

Rosabella: Dex is a lot more open with you than Dar is with me

Raven: I guess that is true

Raven: have you talked to Darling?

Rosabella: yeah

Rosabella: she just said to be there for him and he’ll open up eventually

Rosabella: but what if he doesn’t? What if he keeps it to himself?

Raven: you can’t force him to talk to you

Rosabella: I know and I’m so worried about him

Raven: and that’s okay

Raven: dex is going to see him now

Rosabella: okay

Raven: I’ll keep you updated

Rosabella: thank you

 

Dexter gently pushed open Hopper and Daring’s dorm door, looking around the room. His brow furrowed as he saw Daring - or more accurately - a pile of blankets that was suspiciously prince-shaped. Hopper stood up and slinked out the dorm silently, leaving the Charming brothers alone. “Daring?” Dexter called out, casual and quiet as if he was trying to hold onto normalcy for as long as he could. A disinterested grunt came from the pile of protective comfort, a noncommittal sound that Dexter paused on. He took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Dexter looked at his hands, twiddling his thumbs as he waited for words to come to him, he wasn’t sure what to say, but he had to say something. He knew that. “Daring?” He started, quiet and ready to be met with silence but to his surprise, he was met with a soft mumble that he couldn’t make out. He stared at the heap of blankets, blinking slowly and absorbing the silence. “They’re coming.” Daring repeated, muffled in the blankets. Dexter furrowed his brows in confusion at the ominous confession. “Mother and father.” Daring muttered, and suddenly everything made sense.

The Charming Siblings had never gotten along with their parents. They’d put up fake smiles and forced public affections but it was all performative, and never felt just right. Dexter knew he was the forgotten child, casted to the side and treated like he’d been hit with an invisibility spell. It had its perks, though, being forgotten. It meant that his parents didn’t bother him, kept their expectations low and never persuaded him with manipulation and guilt tripping into classes he didn’t care for and a destiny he didn’t want.

Darling was their only daughter, and it meant that she was viewed with sparkling eyes, she was thrown into classes for damsels in distress that made her clench her fist in anger. She took fencing classes and aced them all - even if most of the time in secret. She wanted to be a hero, a knight. She was never a damsel or a princess needing a prince, and as much as her siblings understood her.. they feared her parents would never quite understand as they loaded expectations fit for a destiny following princess onto her by the tenfold; she took them all with no words of disapproval in reluctant fear.

Daring had been their golden child, though it never quite felt like it was all that golden for him, or for Darling and Dexter to witness. Weekly weighing sessions, so that he fit their ideals of just right. It was sickening, the fear on Daring’s face when a friend’s parent would offer them dinner and the worry that etched on him when he was told that he didn’t look good enough. His worth was based entirely on his looks, how his smile set, how his hair was laid across his face and what number flicked up at him when he balanced on a scale.

All three of the siblings hated it, the difference between their treatment was mirror-shattering and ever so troubling. The silent treatment was served with ease, and the threat of violence settled the children into silent obedience. Darling was always treated with silence, which she pretended she didn’t revel in when she got older - apparently it was unbecoming to hit a girl. She wished they would, though, she would’ve happily swung back. Dexter was far too forgotten to branch out of the near-constant silent treatment he was given to ever really get punished.

Daring, on the other wing, was not a girl that they crossed their arms and turned away from, nor his was he the second born son they could barely remember the name of. He was supposed to be their big break, and their most well known son. Their parents never bothered to work out Dexter or Darling’s true destiny as they simply only focused on Daring being Apple White’s future hero and then husband. They had a fit image fabricated ready for him; he wasn’t allowed to branch out of it and any attempt he made was met with a harsh strike to the face, or a threat of lashes that he still shuddered at.

The disenchantment in their voice over the mirrorphone was palpable when they’d discovered Daring’s true destiny. He wasn’t supposed to be a beast, and they made that fairy clear with a frown, followed by a “we’ll talk later.”

Dexter swallowed roughly, cleared his tightening throat and let out a deep breath. “Oh.” he whispered as his lips parted. “So, they’re.. visiting?” He asked, suddenly feeling hesitant himself. Daring nodded, shuffling under the blankets and popping up. Dexter let out a heavy sigh, and looked at Daring, “yeah.” he replied quietly and he sounded absolutely mirror-shattered. Dexter felt equal waves of his own pain and guilt for the toll on Daring’s mental wellbeing. Dexter looked around the room for a moment before turning back to his older brother. “We’ll be okay.” He reassured, to both of them.

 

[ Dexter & Raven’s Private Messages ]

 

Dexter: my parents are coming to visit

Dexter: that’s what’s been bothering him

Raven: is it bothering you too?

Dexter: yeah but

Dexter: they’re different to him than me and Darling

Raven: I know, and that’s okay

Raven: has he told rosabella?

Dexter: no and I doubt he will

Raven: should I?

Dexter: I don’t know..

Dexter: whatever you do I’ll support you

Raven: thank you

Raven: I’m here for you as well

Dexter: I know thank you

Dexter: I love you

Raven: i love you too

 

[ Raven & Rosabella’s Private Messages ]

Raven: it’s his parents

Rosabella: what?

Raven: from what I know

Raven: which honestly isn’t a lot

Raven: but their parents are very good to them

Rosabella: oh..

Raven: yeah..

Raven: so that’s what’s triggering him

Rosabella: how much do you know about that?

Raven: genuinely barely anything

Raven: all I know is Darling and Dexter don’t ever really talk to them.

Raven: and that their parents don’t particularly care either

Rosabella: oh

Rosabella: I’ll talk to daring

Raven: I think that’s for the best

Raven: dex is just leaving his dorm now

Rosabella: okay

Rosabella: thank you Raven

Raven: don’t mention it it’s okay

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Ramona: I can’t believe you tried to fight in Baba Yaga’s class

Faybelle: UOU STRTEDIT

Ramona: NO I DISNT

Faybelle: YES YOU DID

Ramona: KILL YOURSELF

Faybelle: YOU FIRST

Duchess: AHUT UP

Duchess: GEG YOIR ASSES TO BRIARS STUDY PARTY RN

Faybelle: whatever

Ramona: coming

Melody: me and sparrow are walking over now

Duchess: 👀

Faybelle: 👀

Sparrow: oh my Grimm

Duchess: we know you

Faybelle: fairy well

Sparrow: fucking hate you both

Poppy: how are you guys friends forever after when you act like this

Holly: hexactly

Briar: we tease eachother all the time

Poppy: true

Cedar: I can’t tell a lie so you guys should hurry up to the study party!

Ashlynn: it’s going really well

Hunter: I’m actually understanding crownculus

Darling: me and Apple are bringing snacks

Apple: I made them with Ginger in cooking classics today

Maddie: I’m bringing tea!!

Dexter: me and Raven are outside now

Cupid: me and Blondie are also just arriving

Ramona: icba to go

Cerise: get off your ass and go

Ramona: fight me

Cerise: When and where

Hopper: I’m coming

Hopper: been kicked out my dorm anyway

Farrah: by who?

Bunny: I don’t know who you room with

Alistair: me neither

Lizzie: me and Kitty probably can’t come

Lizzie: she’s still feeling rough

Lizzie: sorry

Briar: it’s okay don’t worry!!

Briar: and hopper shares with Daring

Ramona: bit of a dick move to kick out your roomie

Hopper: rosabella kicked me out

Ramona: so they ARE having a sex marathon

Darling: ew

Apple: I don’t think we should talk about other people’s sex lives

Faybelle: because of yours and Darlings?

Apple: no!

Apple: because it’s weird

Darling: and gross

Dexter: and disrespectful.

Ramona: you guys are no fun

Faybelle: fr

Ramona: agreeing with me now?

Faybelle: ew no

Faybelle: dog

Ramona: I’m gonna cut your wings out

Briar: stop it

Justine: just come to the study party

Ramona: okay

Cerise: …

Ramona: KILL YOURSELF

Briar: is rosabella coming?

Ashlynn: I haven’t seen her

Blondie: last I saw she was entering daring’s dorm

Blondie: she looked sad

Faybelle: break up time?

Darling: don’t joke about that.

Faybelle: it was a serious suggestion

Darling: I seriously suggest you stop talking

Faybelle: whatever after

Ashlynn: is everyone here or on their way

Hunter: I think so

Briar: good. Mirrorphones down

Briar: get partying

Apple: and studying!

 

Rosabella pushed Daring’s dorm room door open, worry seemingly plastered across her face. “Mon chéri?” She called out gently, noticing he’d enveloped himself into a nest of blankets. He didn’t reply - didn’t make a sound or move. She sighed gently, not from annoyance, from a mix of fear and bubbling concern. She sat herself down on his bed. “I heard about your parents..” She started, unsure of what to say. He made a pained sound, like the mere mention of them burnt him. She frowned, “I don’t know much about them,” she continued, “I just know they’re not hexcellent.”

Daring let her speak, not commenting as she expressed her concern. He pulled himself from the blankets he was drowning in, moving around to look at her. “They hate me.” He muttered, looking down and avoiding eye contact, this was too raw, too intense for him. It was easier to put a mask and avoid it all together and now he was facing it head on. “Because I’m not perfect.” He further explained, and the words felt like thorns to his pale skin. “I’m supposed to be perfect.” He whispered and she frowned, she shook her head and reached out for his hand, that she now saw was trembling. His hand twitched away from hers before settling and allowing her to hold onto it. He intertwined them in a desperate attempt for comfort.

“You aren’t supposed to be anything, Daring.” Rosabella whispered, keeping her voice low and tender, “you don’t need to be ‘perfect’ to deserve love, mon amour.” she explained and tears blossomed in his eyes. She couldn’t help but think of how pretty he looked like that. She shook her head, not the time for that.

She moved closer to him, kicking off her shoes and climbing into his king-sized bed, wrapping the blankets around herself as well. She laid down, guiding him to lay down alongside her. He shuffled for a beat, until his head rested on her chest. She moved a hand to his hair, carding her fingers through his blond locks absentmindedly. “Want me to read to you?” She asked softly and he simply nodded. She reached a hand to his bedside table, grabbing a fairytale that she left with him and opening it with newfound hocus focus. The words on the page tumbling from her mouth with ease and a soft, fond smile. He left his eyes fall closed as he listened to her gentle words, relaxing fully for the first time in forever after.

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!

Comments and Kudos are appreciated.

Chapter 3

Notes:

I hope you enjoy! be mindful of tags!

[ Disasters Of Ever After ]

Faybelle: fuck it im bored

Faybelle: @everyone

Duchess: you whore it’s 2am

Sparrow: as if anyone of us are asleep

Melody: so true bro

Duchess: ouch..

Faybelle: fr

Melody: what?

Sparrow: nothing

Faybelle: @everyone

Faybelle: we’re playing truth or drink

Dexter: you woke me up for this?

Cedar: I wanna play!

Daring: I don’t

Kitty: you are

Lizzie: everyone is

Alistair: this could be fun

Maddie: it’ll be Wonderlicious!!

Bunny: I agree

Ashlynn: sure I’ll play

Ramona: what if I just drink?

Justine: I won’t let you

Cerise: Lesbians..

Cupid: says you

Blondie: me and Cupid will play!

Raven: sure I’ll join you guys

Hunter: me and dex will too

Dexter: will I?

Darling: yes I have to

Rosabella: I’ll play too

Briar: I need my beauty sleep but whatever after

Hopper: I might fall asleep but I’ll try

Holly: count me and Poppy in

Apple: I’ll join if Darling does

Farrah: I would play but I need sleep

Farrah: sorry

Apple: it’s okay!! Sleep well☺️

Ginger: I’ll probably fall asleep

Faybelle: boring!

Ginger: I’ve done a lot of baking today

Duchess: Faybelle why don’t you start

Faybelle: okay.. Raven

Raven: oh grimm

Faybelle: we’ll start soft

Faybelle: who’s your spellebrity crush?

Raven: lady yaga…

Faybelle: how are you not a lesbian

Raven: I’m bi

Raven: anyway

Raven: Apple

Apple: yes?

Raven: what’s your most treasured memory

Apple: when darling woke me up with a kiss of course!

Darling: mine too I love you

Apple: I love you too!

Apple: Briar…

Apple: what is your guilty pleasure?

Briar: honestly junk food

Faybelle: boring you guys need to up it

Briar: not yet

Briar: Ashlynn what’s a bad habit you have

Ashlynn: hyper hocus focusing on one thing and forgetting about everything else I guess

Ashlynn: maddie?

Ashlynn: what was the last thing you searched on your mirrorphone

Maddie: “Could the fiddle fit in the middle with no hindering if it was not as little”

Kitty: MADDIE

Lizzie: oh my grimm! Off with your head

Bunny: WHAT

Alistair: HUH

Ashlynn: well I realise I don’t understand riddlish

Raven: no one but the wonderlandians do

Raven: because it’s not an exact language.

Maddie: my turn! This is hattastic!

Maddie: Blondie… fuck, marry, kill

Maddie: Raven, Cerise and Cupid

Blondie: oh grimm

Blondie: fuck Raven

Raven: thank you?

Dexter: I’m right here

Blondie: marry Cupid

Briar: subtle

Apple: such a hexellent job at subtly

Blondie: sorry cerise

Cerise: it’s okay..

Cupid: woah

Cupid: you’d want to marry me?

Blondie: I guess yeah

Cupid: that is hexciting

Blondie: yeah.. I need a scoop.

Blondie: daring?

Daring: no

Ramona: pussy

Blondie: are you a virgin

Darling: oh my grimm.

Dexter: taking off my glasses for this

Hunter: he did

Darling: putting my mirrorphone face down. Apple my dear tell me when it’s over

Apple: I don’t wanna see either but okay my love

Faybelle: ew

Daring: no

Daring: I’m not

Briar: DAMN GET IT ROSA

Rosabella: oh my grimm fuck off

Daring: ANYWAY

Daring: Darling what would you do if you switched genders for a day

Darling: the exact same that I’m doing with less shaming from headmaster grimm

Raven: Headmaster Grimm is so unfair

Sparrow: tell me abt it

Duchess: fr

Melody: facts

Ramona: fairy true

Faybelle: real

Kitty: on godmother

Lizzie: that may be because you don’t behave..

Sparrow: what’s the point

Duchess: he blames us anyway

Cupid: didn’t know you too were finishing each others sentences now

Duchess: we are best friends forever after

Cupid: hmm

Faybelle: NO arrows

Sparrow: I would kms

Duchess: am I that bad

Sparrow: I’m not in love with you

Duchess: I know

Duchess: and I don’t like you like that either

Sparrow: good..

Duchess: yeah.

Ramona: that was awkward

Briar: anyway

Briar: let’s continue

Briar: Darling please

Darling: ..uhm

Darling: Alistair?

[ Justine & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Melody: Justine?

Justine: yeah? It’s late.. are you okay?

Melody: I’m confused

Melody: and

Melody: I guess scared?

Justine: oh

Justine: do you wanna talk about it?

Melody: I thought I didn’t like Sparrow

Melody: I thought he was just a good friend yk

Justine: but..

Melody: but

Melody: him with duchess

Melody: do you think there’s something there?

Justine: are you asking me if I think Sparrow and Duchess like each other?

Melody: yeah I guess

Justine: okay

Justine: you and duchess are some of my closest friends and I can say that she hasn’t talked about sparrow like that for a while

Melody: but she has in the past?

Justine: a while ago

Melody: and has she moved on? Or is she..

Justine: she has

Justine: does she not talk about this with you?

Melody: not really

Melody: none of us talk about feelings all that much unless we’re high and we don’t remember much of that after tbh

Justine: oh..

Justine: you really like him don’t you?

Melody: no

Melody: maybe

Melody: I don’t know

Justine: if you didn’t like him you wouldn’t be asking me if he was single

Melody: that’s true I guess

Justine: so you like him

Melody: I don’t think he likes me

Melody: we started off really badly

Justine: I like Ramona and we started off as enemies?

Melody: but that’s you not me

Justine: he drops all his plans for you

Justine: including his band practice

Melody: but band practice is important to him

Justine: clearly not as important as you

Justine: whenever you buy from maddie you invite him over

Justine: and he agrees everytime without question

Melody: because he likes weed

Justine: because he likes YOU

Justine: and I’m sure weed is a bonus

Melody: maybe

Melody: we have done stuff while high and drunk

Justine: like?

Melody: we had sex

Justine: hexcuse me?

Melody: a couple times

Justine: and you think he doesn’t like you?

Melody: well we weren’t sober

Melody: and neither of us remember that much

Justine: so would you want to be with him while sober?

Melody: I think so

Justine: maybe you should talk to him

Melody: fuck no

Justine: not right now

Justine: but you should at some point

Melody: I should focus on muse-ic

Justine: you can’t avoid your feelings

Melody: maybe you’re right

Melody: I’ll think about it..

Justine: good

[ Hunter & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Sparrow: hpw did uou do it

Hunter: do what?

Sparrow: get with Ashlynn

Hunter: I asked her on a picnic with me because I know she likes nature and so do I

Sparrow: okay

Hunter: who’s the girl?

Hunter: or guy

Hunter: you’re bi right?

Sparrow: it’s Melody

Sparrow: yeah I am

Hunter: cool and cool

Hunter: you like melody!?

Sparrow: yeah

Sparrow: but I don’t know if she likes me back

Sparrow: like she asks me to get high and drunk all the time

Sparrow: and sometimes it leads to sex

Hunter: well that’s a lot

Hunter: if you two have gone that far she might want to be with you

Sparrow: but other times she’s cold and completely ignores me

Sparrow: and I don’t know what that means

Hunter: it means she’s giving you mixed signals

Hunter: and you need to talk to her to work out what’s going on

Sparrow: I can’t do that

Sparrow: what if she hates me?

Hunter: do you always overthink this much

Hunter: dude it’s late at night and she always calls you to get high, she’s had sex with you and you get along now

Hunter: just go for it

Sparrow: I’ll think about it..

Hunter: yeah

Hunter: night

Sparrow: thanks for the help

Sparrow: night dude

 

Daring turned off his mirrorphone, placing it face down on his bedside table. Rosabella had fallen asleep next to him during the game - her head against his chest and her hand clutching his nightshirt. He smiled gently, and brushed a stray hair from her face.

He felt lighter when he was with her, even with the world weighing down on his shoulder and crushing him. He’d kept his lips tight and his heart sealed about his family, his upbringing to Rosabella. He couldn’t have her knowing the horrible truths that screamed out from his family’s castle walls, he was sure it would put her off. He was sure that she truly had found him to be unpleasant to be around, to look at. His parents had muttered their disapproval as he’d whispered that he wasn’t Apple’s Prince Charming, his face burning with shame and his eyes watering with despair.

He was taught to be perfect, it was supposed to run deep through his veins. The harsh looks of his mother and disenchanted looks from his father was what steered him to be their ideals of perfect. The desire to be perfect was pulsating through his bones, and spiralling through him. Maybe he could just- he shook his head, he shouldn’t think about that right now. He shuffled slightly, careful not to jostle Rosabella awake. He needed to shut his brain off and hocus focus on sleeping, not descend into madness.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and relaxing against Rosabella’s gentle touch, huffing out a content sigh that felt a little too forced. Her soft breathing whistling in the air against his, filling him with a normally unattainable calm.

 

Sparrow tossed and turned, thankfully his mirrorphone had finally stopped buzzing from the never ending chatter of their school chat, sometimes those hexts drove him mad. Though, it wasn’t the only thing driving him mad this time, tonight.. it was Melody too. The thought of her was running rampant in his brain, and his mind couldn’t stop flashing back to soft glances and teasing jokes between them - or gentle talks and truthful conversations that kept them both up for far too long.

He wished away his feelings, but they just wouldn’t vacate. She swirled in his brain with no remorse. He groaned softly, shoving his pillow over his face. “What’s the hatter?” Alistair asked. Sparrow nearly fell out of bed with how hard he flinched and shot up, not expecting his roommate to be awake. “Fuck- nothing.” He answered, trying to steady his rapid heart that was now beating heavily for more than one reason. Alistair let out a sigh that sounded anything but convinced, which, fair enough - he had sounded hextremely unconvincing. “You’re with Bunny now, right?” Sparrow questioned, and Alistair nodded wirh faintly pink cheeks and a lopsided grin. “I like Melody.” He explained, “and I don’t know what to do.”

Alistair let out a small breath, in half surprise half hesitance. “Talk to her about it?” Alistair suggested and Sparrow suppressed a scream into his pillow. Everyone said that, and it was the exact opposite of easy. “I can’t.” He replied, sounding a lot less confident than usual. Alistair’s expression softened, and his brow furrowed. Sparrow was normally quite forward, an almost completely open book. “Why not?” Alistair asked quietly, careful not to startle Sparrow away from the conversation. This seemed more personal than normal, much more important.

Sparrow pushed the pillow away from near his face. “We used to hate eachother and then we suddenly start smoking together and then it leads to- complicated as fuck feelings and.. more complicated actions!” He ranted, burying his head in his hands. Alistair listened attentively, and then nodded in understanding - not relation, but simple understanding. “And why does that stop you from talking to her?” Alistair prompted, and Sparrow stared at the wall for a moment, trying to collect how he felt and morph it into words to spitball at the blond. “I’m just too.. nervous? I guess. I don’t want to ruin what we have.” He explained; his voice trembled through the words he quietly uttered.

“What do you have, exactly?” Alistair asked.
“Casual sex and a blunt rotation.” Sparrow replied quietly and Alistair honest-to-grimm snorted before quickly composing himself. “Well, that’s a lot and nothing at the same time,” Alistair thought aloud, “think of it like a riddle.” he suggested and Sparrow swallowed down a groan, he stared at Alistair for long enough - trying to gauge if he was serious. He was. “Riddles are your thing! Not mine.” Sparrow pointed out. Alistair nodded in consideration.. that was true.

“Think of it like creating a song, then.” Alistair started, and Sparrow’s eyes shot up. “Muse-ics your thing, right?” Alistair asked, gesturing to the posters and instruments that decorated Sparrow’s half of the room, Sparrow nodded. “Well, then.. to create a song you need to make the beats, instruments and vocals work together, right? Figure out how to make those parts harmonious and you’ll be just right.” Alistair explained and Sparrow’s eyes lit up, that made sense. He nodded. “Thank you,” he mumbled appreciatively and Alistair nodded in acknowledgment before rolling over and attempting to get his beauty sleep. Sparrow joined him in his attempt at slumber, suddenly feeling a lot more confident.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

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Chapter 4

Notes:

I hope you enjoy, please be mindful of the tags!

Sparrow woke with a start, sweat rushing through him as his heart dropped to beat in his stomach. He threw a glance at his clock. 5:27am. He took a shaky breath, reaching blindly for a glass of water he’d gotten before the truth or drink game had started and chugging it down desperately. It didn’t do much to silence the noise in his brain or the hammering in his heart but at least his throat wasn’t dry. He tipped his head back, drawing a break in through his nose and out through his mouth - just like Duchess had taught him.

His hands were trembling around the glass; he put it back before it could sustain damage. Melody’s voice was echoing in his head - all her rambles about her hobbies and her hopes for her future. She talked of marriage and her dreams of meeting the one.. meaning he wasn’t who she wanted. He could live with that. He just didn’t think he could live with that while being around her.

It felt wrong, and the thought made guilt boil inside of him but he had to do it, he couldn’t keep wishing and praying for someone who clearly didn’t want him back. It wasn’t fair. He knew it wasn’t fair on her but grimm was it unfair on him too - and their friends. Faybelle might curse him and Duchess would be so angry at him. Let alone Hunter and Alistair who’d stayed up late to understand his feelings. His stupid fucking complicated qfeelings.

He slumped back onto his bed, retracting his hand from its tight grip on his hair. He hadn’t remembered moving his hands to hair to begin with, but he couldn’t remember much of anything. He laid staring at the ceiling. Was he doing the right thing? Should he even ignore her? He didn’t think it mattered, she wouldn’t love him either way.

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Melody: @Sparrow

Melody: I got more weed

Apple: you really shouldn’t be smoking that

Melody: I know

Melody: come over later

Sparrow: I can’t

Sparrow: sorry

Melody: oh

Melody: no worries that’s fine

 

Alistair looked up from his phone and stared at Sparrow, “are you serious?” he asked. Sparrow nodded, pulling his blanket up further, and turning away. Alistair heaved out a sigh and stared at his roommate - his roommate who never says no to weed. “I don’t feel like it.” Sparrow excused; he wasn’t entirely lying. He wanted to get high, just not with Melody. Alistair stared at him for a moment longer, before deciding to come back to the topic later when he wasn’t so groggy or tired. He pulled himself up, making his way for their adjoining bathroom to freshen up.

Sparrow stared at the ceiling as he heard of the bustle of life from the bathroom. The sound of the shower faded like white noise in the background of his swirl of thoughts, he knew that he shouldn’t be so distant from the land over something that truly never was but he can’t help it. His chest is aching alongside its threatening constrictions, sending shivers laced with anxiety through him like blood. His mirrorphone had been buzzing throughout his unspoken spiel of self-hatred and anguish, and it had faded with the hissing of the shower.

When Alistair finally exited the bathroom with damp hair and fresh clothes, he attempted to ignore the growing cloud of despair growing above his roommate. “Are you going to answer that!?” Alistair asked finally, snapping at the incessant buzzing that was driving under Sparrow’s skin. He made no attempt to move, and Alistair sighed in frustration.

He took a steadying breath, “sorry,” he apologised after a moment. Sparrow didn’t respond, and Alistair frowned. “You should get ready, you have muse-ic today.” Alistair suggested, only to be met with silence. Alistair stood next to Sparrow’s bed, shifting his weight between his legs. “I’ll just.. charm you later.” Alistair said slowly, backing out the door and closing it behind him.

Sparrow let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. What was he going to do?

 

Rosabella always rose with the sun, the birds chirping with honest glee. She smiled softly at the sight before her, the soft calm washed over her prince’s face brought a fond smile to tug at her lips. She gently brushed his hair from his face, “mon chéri.” she whispered and Daring hummed sleepily, she beamed at the tender sound, moving to sit up. She pushed off the covers, “come on.”

Daring stood in front of his full-sized mirror, Rosabella was adjusting her dress silently, glancing his way. Her was staring - not abnormal by any means - but he wasn’t doing his regular poses or adjusting any flaws in his outfit. “You ready to go?” Rosabella asked lowly, and he flinched - it was small, barely noticeable but she noticed. He turned on his heel, “yeah.” he said with a forced smile.

 

[ Justine & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Melody: what the fuck

Melody: why did he say no?

Justine: maybe he’s busy

Melody: he’s never that busy

Melody: he loves smoking

Justine: something could’ve come up

Justine: I wouldn’t worry about it too much

Melody: yeah could’ve come up with duchess.

Justine: are you jealous?

Melody: I guess so

Justine: either way duchess doesn’t like him in that way anymore

Melody: you don’t know that

Justine: I do

Justine: trust me

Melody: okay..

Melody: thank you again

Justine: it’s no problem

 

[ Faybelle & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Faybelle: where the hex are you?

Faybelle: sparrow?

Faybelle: row??

Faybelle: are you okay?

[ Duchess & Faybelle’s Private Messages ]

Faybelle: have you seen sparrow?

Duchess: no

Duchess: why?

Faybelle: he didn’t turn up to muse-ic..

Duchess: oh that is worrying

Duchess: have you hexted him?

Faybelle: yeah

Faybelle: he isn’t replying

Duchess: I’ll try

Faybelle: report back?

Duchess: ofc fay

[ Duchess & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Duchess: sparrow are you okay??

Duchess: what’s the hatter?

Duchess: row?

Duchess: row is it happening again?

Duchess: please hext me back

Duchess: or fay

Duchess: talk to anyone

Duchess: I hope you’re okay

[ Duchess & Faybelle’s Private Messages ]

Duchess: he’s not replying

Duchess: I’m worried

Faybelle: don’t be such a worry flurry

Duchess: bitch I know you’re worried too

Faybelle: just a bit

Duchess: at least you acknowledge it..

 

Apple glanced at Darling, who seemed unusually distracted. “Are you just right, Darling?” Apple asked, nudging her knightly-girlfriend with practiced gentleness. Darling glanced back at her, reaching over their picnic blanket to hold onto her hand. “Yeah, just thinking about how lucky I am to be on a date with you..” Darling replied, only a half-lie. Apple frowned knowingly, and tightened her hold on Darling’s hand in a hopeful attempt at reassurance. “I know that’s not the only thing on your mind, my love.”

Darling didn’t answer for a prolonged moment, her eyes adverting away from her kind-hearted princess. “My parents,” She started, looking down at the blanket beneath them. Apple delicately peeled back the wrapper of a cupcake. “They’re coming to visit soon..” Darling explained, the words feeling like a weight on her chest. Apple looked at her, raising a brow in confusion. “What’s so bad about that? It sounds hexciting!”

Darling took a heavy breath, exhaling like it was crushing her. “It’s.. not.” Darling whispered, “they’ve never really been good to me, or my brothers.” Darling explained, “throughout childhood they weren’t.. accepting, really, of anything we did.” Darling confessed. “I was too.. boyish. I don’t fit into their views, I’m not traditional enough for them and I never was.” She mumbled, and Apple stared at her with wide, worried eyes. “Dexter wasn’t masculine enough for them, he was.. and is.. too dorky, too tender for them. Not to mention they hate that he’s with Raven.” She explained. “And Daring could never reach their ideals of perfect, no matter how much he did- does.”

Apple’s hand covered her mouth, her eyes wide and filled with tears. “I didn’t know..” Apple whispered, shocked and devastated. Darling smiled sadly, and took both of Apple’s hands in hers. “It’s not your fault, we don’t talk about it.” She reassured her, “but growing up.. all I was met with was disenchantment and silence. I’d be given the silent treatment if I didn’t conform.. and you know, I’ve never truly conformed.” She admitted, “I pretended to, and for a while I’m sure they believed me.. but eventually they realised that I just couldn’t stop myself from swordsmanship and fencing.” she laughed.

“You shouldn’t have to change who you are for people around you.” Apple whispered, “especially not those who love you, like your parents.” She added. Darling smiled appreciatively, wrapping her arms around her princess, pressing a loving kiss to her forehead. “I love you, my dear.” Darling whispered into Apple’s hair. Apple beamed, a grin plastered on her face that it almost broke her oath of elegance. Her cheeks were stained with a rosy pink, “I love you too, my love.” she whispered of a fond reply.

 

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Briar: where the hex is everyone

Cedar: I was wondering the same thing

Blondie: I can’t find a scoop because I can’t find anyone!

Blondie: this is not just right.

Cupid: I can’t find anyone either

Holly: me and poppy were walking through the halls and it was empty

Duchess: me and Faybelle were trying to find sparrow

Melody: he’s missing?

Alistair: he should be in our dorm still

Alistair: he ignored me this morning

Duchess: shit okay

Melody: is he okay?

Faybelle: hopefully.

Ramona: I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be

Faybelle: stfu

Duchess: stfu

Ramona: struck a nerve?

Cerise: Just ignore her

Cedar: yeah that wasn’t very nice

Maddie: visiting day is so soon! This is hatastic

Cedar: I’m so hexcited

Blondie: it’ll go so well for my mirrorcast

Lizzie: I hope Milton lets the wonderland parents come through this time

Bunny: the curse has been lifted so hopefully

Kitty: I miss my mom

Lizzie: you’ll see her soon

Alistair: can’t she travel between wonderland and ever after quite easily?

Kitty: she can but Headmaster Grimm banned her from coming to the school after the spring festival.

Cerise: that sucks

Lizzie: truly it does I’m so sorry

Raven: headmaster Grimm is a terrible person

Maddie: he did curse and banish his own brother

Blondie: WHAT?

Dexter: WHAT

Ashlynn: oh my godmother

Blondie: I must write a report about this!

Ramona: and I thought I was bad to my sister

Holly: you have a sister?

Ramona: oh uhm

Ramona: no..

 

Duchess and Faybelle stood outside of Sparrow and Alistair’s dorm, staring at each other with shaking nerves. Duchess’s hand traced the carvings in the door, “what if he’s bad again?” she whispered cautiously, her heart aching at the possibility. Faybelle looked away for a moment, worry racking through her. “Then we support him until it’s not.” She replied, with confident certainty. Duchess took a deep breath, and then pushed open the door.

Notes:

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are appreciated.

Chapter 5

Notes:

I hope you enjoy! be mindful of tags for warnings.

Sparrow’s dorm was dark, the lights off and curtains drawn. “Row?” Duchess called out quietly into the darkness. A huff of air was her response, and she smiled fondly, “what’s ruffled your feathers, Hood?” Duchess asked and gently sat down on his bed, Faybelle hovered by the door, opting to keep guard instead of joining in with the emotional conversation that was inevitably coming.

“It’s nothin’.” Sparrow dismissed and both girls couldn’t help but feel their hearts clench at the lack of enthusiasm and natural spark in his voice. “It’s Melody?” Duchess asked and Sparrow gaped at her. She honked out a laugh, “you’re not subtle, Row.” she joked, “and, don’t you think I know what you look like when you’re in love?” she teased. His face flushed red.

“But.. what’s wrong about you liking Melody?” Faybelle asked, her wings fluttering in confusion. Sparrow let out a defeated sigh, turning his head away. Duchess put her hand on his arm reassuringly with a comforting smile. “She’ll never like me back. It’s useless. Everything is useless.” He admitted and Duchess shook her head quickly, her face dropping with the gravity of his words. Her hand subconsciously squeezed around the sleeve of his shirt. “Don’t say that, it’s not. I mean, who’s to say she doesn’t like you back!” Duchess protested and Faybelle nodded in agreement, fluttering over.

Faybelle stood next to where Duchess sat, “if she didn’t like you she definitely wouldn’t of seemed so pathetic because you turned her down today.” Faybelle stated and Duchess shot her a pointed glare that silently screamed ‘why the hex would you word it like that?’. Faybelle shrugged with an awkward smirk in response. “She was upset?” Sparrow asked quietly, sounding equally hopeful and incredibly guilty. Duchess nodded simply, and Sparrow let out a breath. “Maybe you should hext her?” Faybelle told him and he nodded hesitantly.

“Actually do it.” Duchess instructed. “You’re not allowed to tell us you’ll do something and then just not do it. You can’t lie to us again. To me again. I can’t go through that again.” Duchess rambled, soft panicked honks breathing out with her tirade words. Faybelle put her hand on Duchess’s shoulder with a light squeeze that caused calmness to run through her. If any of them noticed the magical blue aura spilling from the tips of her finger they didn’t say anything. Faybelle had a reputation to uphold, after all.

“It was so much easier.” Sparrow breathed out, “before I caught feelings.” he whispered and Duchess honked out a laugh, her hand still resting on his arm. Sparrow and Faybelle shot her a displeased look. “Of course it was!” She exclaimed, “everything is.” she stated and the pair couldn’t help but nod along in agreement, they could hardly deny that. Sparrow with his obvious feelings for Melody that was actively declining his mental health (mostly because he was stubborn and a worry flurry) and Faybelle’s growing feelings for her ‘frenemy’ Briar Beauty.

Sparrow deflated onto his bed again, “I just don’t know what to do.” he whined, covering his face with his hands.
“Fucking talk to her!” Faybelle cried out, “she so obviously likes you back!”

Sparrow looked between the two, staring at Faybelle as she continued to flutter her wings and rise into the air in her angry, tired outburst. “If you think so.. I’ll send her a hext.” He said and both the girls pumped their fist in relived hexcitement.

[ Melody & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Sparrow: if the offers still open..

Sparrow: I could come round in a spell

Melody: of course! Come over and we can rock on

Sparrow: chill I’ll charm you later

Melody: back at you

Sparrow looked up from his phone and beamed brightly to the duo in front of him. They both cheered in unison, “we’re soooo getting you ready.” Faybelle said and Duchess grinned almost evilly. Sparrow blinked slowly and then frowned upon realising they were serious. “Oh hex.” He muttered, before the pair dragged him from his comfy confines.

 

Melody had replied her eyeliner more times than ever after, her hands trembling with newfound nerves. Nerves different from before a DJ-ing session or a muse-ical performance, these racked her ribs and prodded at her heart with anxiety so strong it pulsated through her. She’d hexted Justine in a panic - who’d told her to take it slow and relax. It did little to calm her fraying nerves but she swallowed it down and focused on putting herself together.

A knock at her door startled her, she took a final, fast glance into her mirror before she pulled the door open. “Mel.” Sparrow greeted, and she noticed his enthusiasm seemed forced, a fabricated facade that made her feel more anxious. “Hey, Sparrow.” She replied, and his heart swelled at the natural rasp in her voice. She stepped away from the door and he walked in. “Sharing?” She asked and he nodded wordlessly. She hummed a tune - he recognised it as a song she was working on - as she rolled for them both. “What were you up to earlier?” She asked casually as she lit the blunt. He didn’t answer for a moment, watching as she drew the spiff to her lips and took a hit. “I wasn’t feeling.. too hot.” He answered and she nodded, handing him the joint.

She looked at him, flopping back onto one of her beanbags, and Sparrow joined her, sitting on the one next to her. “You wanna talk about it?” She asked taking the blunt as he passed it to her, he took a deep breath and shook his head, “nah, it’s fine now.” he lied and she raised an eyebrow in disbelief but nodded understandingly, accepting that he would come to her if he needed to. “If you’re sure.” She replied with a nonchalant shrug.

An hour had passed, and they’d near finished. At some point, Melody had pulled a bottle of wonderland’s finest wonderjuice and they’d polished the bottle off in the hour. His face had been practically stained pink with how pretty Melody truly was in this light. In any light. “You’re staring.” Melody laughed, “if you want it, all you have to do is ask.” she mused and he flushed a darker shade, and she laughed. The sound made heat boil in his abdomen, and he leaned towards her, until their lips met and her hands flew to his neck, his hands meeting her waist instinctively. “Fuck, you’re pretty like this,” Melody laughed when they broke apart, “prefer you quiet.” she joked breathlessly, and locked their lips together again before he could process her words or muster a reply.

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Ginger: I hate it here.

Raven: what’s the hatter?

Blondie: are you feeling just right?

Cerise: what’s happened?

Ginger: i just walked in on melody and sparrow having sex.

Faybelle: LMFAO

Apple: oh grimm

Duchess: at least he’s getting some

Maddie: that is riddleiculous

Ramona: I’d flip my hood.

Ginger: maddie wanna come bake with me?

Maddie: that is a hatastic idea!

Maddie: I’ll be there in a spell

[ Duchess & Faybelle’s Private Messages ]

Duchess: do you think he talked to her about it?

Faybelle: probably not

Duchess: he’s being so self destructive

Duchess: it’s honking me off

Faybelle: i know

Faybelle: it’ll be okay

Duchess: eventually.

Faybelle: eventually.

 

Darling looked over at her calendar hanging above her desk, and sighed heavily. Her parents visit was fast approaching and she felt nothing more than dread. “You okay?” Rosabella asked softly and Darling peeled her eyes away from her calendar. She smiled up and her roommate, whose face fell. “I’m worried about, and your brothers.” Rosabella confessed and sat down beside Darling on her bed. “I don’t know.. anything.. about your parents, really,” She explained, “but seeing all of you so disenchanted is really hard.”

Darling nodded, “It’s hard for me too. I don’t want to have to grovel for their love just because my happiness isn’t the same as theirs.” She admitted, looking down at the floor. “I don’t want to have to watch two of the people I love the most do that, either.” She whispered and her voice cracked, fueled by the emotional turmoil she was being shot with. “They never come to visit, and now that all of us are somehow displeasing them, they’re coming? It makes no sense.”

Rosabella nodded along, taking in each word like it revealed the most precious secrets, because to her it did. It revealed the key to Daring’s guarded heart. “It doesn’t make sense. I’d hope they’re not coming to rub in their disapproval but from what I’ve heard.. it wouldn’t be hexactly unhexpected.” Rosabella said and Darling’s glance drifted towards her compassionate roommate with newfound intrigue and curiosity, “how much do you know about that?- Our childhood, I mean.” Darling asked quietly, and Rosabella shook her head almost immediately. She looked at Darling, a sad smile seemingly permanently stuck on her face, “not much,” Rosabella answered, “everything I really know is from Raven.. so I guess therefore Dex? I just know they’re not great by any sense of the word. Daring doesn’t ever mention it, and I don’t know if he will on his own.” Rosabella explained and Darling nodded knowingly. It was his fatal flaw, so to speak, in her opinion.

“He might, but he also might not. Circumstances play a huge role in talking about that chapter. He’s the least willing to talk about, which is fair. He got a lot of it worse than me and Dex.” Darling stated smoothly.
“Got a lot more of what?” Rosabella asked and Darling gasped and quickly covered her mouth with shock. Daring would flip his crown if he knew just how much she was confessing to his partner. “It’s not my place to say.” Darling recovered, hoping to salvage the last fragments of personal privacy she’d almost accidentally stripped from her older brother. Rosabella nodded in sympathetic understanding, and raised a gentle hand to Darling’s shoulder. “It’s okay to be nervous, I’m happy you felt that could talk to me.” She whispered and Darling couldn’t help but hug her in appreciation. Wordlessly, Rosabella returned the affection fondly.

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Chapter 6

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

‘♫✧’ marks the start and end of sexual content.

“You can talk to me, you know?” Raven reassured softly as she sat down next to Dexter on the bench, her eyes set on the balcony’s view. He hesitated, she put her hand on his knee. “I know,” He replied quietly, “it’s just hard.” he admitted and she frowned, her grip on his knee tightened slightly, he relaxed a bit. Out of habit. “Why’s that?” She promoted and he pushed his glasses up his nose, and dropped his hand to his lap, placing his other hand over Raven’s. “I’ve never been good enough for my parents. Honestly, none of us have,” He explained, “but they always gave the them more attention, which is fine I guess. But it still hurts.”

Raven took a deep breath, “I know.” She replied, “are you going to be okay? When they visit.” She asked and Dexter could do nothing but shrug, he didn’t know. Dexter took a deep breath and shook his head. “I don’t know.” He answered truthfully and she put her arm around him, placing a gently comforting kiss to his head. He smiled in adoration, and placed her hand on his cheek, “that’s okay, it’ll be okay..” she whispered. “I love you.”

And if he teared up at that, that’s no one’s business.

♫✧

“You belong to me, yeah?” Melody whispered against the sensitive skin of Sparrow’s neck, his breath hitched and he nodded. “Words, baby.” She demanded, amused and kissed along his neck as he squirmed. She bit down on his neck, drawing a sharp breath from him. “Yes.” He replied, and she smirked against his skin. She pulled away and he swallowed down a whine, looking at her as she sat above him, her face plastered with a teasing smile that he couldn’t help but find so attractive. “Mel, please.” He pleaded - he honestly didn’t know what he was asking for, but it was something. She just laughed. That sweet, rough sound that sent shocks through his spine.

“You want this?” She asked softly and he nodded eagerly. She shot him a look, he groaned in response, looking at her with mild annoyance mixed in with the embarrassment on his face. “Yes, please.” He begrudgingly replied and she laughed again; she pulled his shirt off of him. She leaned forward and placed a kiss to his chest. “Gloves?” She hinted softly as she pulled off her own shirt and threw her bracelets onto her nightstand. “Leave ‘em.” He replied. She cocked her head and frowned but nodded, “okay.”

♫✧

Sparrow had announced his departure with a soft smile, his cheeks still flushed pink. She waved him goodbye, closing her dorm room door behind him.

Sparrow walked to his dorm, a sobering sadness hitting him as he stumbled into his dorm. “How’d it go?” Alistair asked as he looked up from his bed, and Sparrow didn’t answer - instead throwing himself onto his bed. Alistair put his mirrorphone down on his own bed as he looked at the his deflated roommate, his brow furrowed in curious concern. “Shit.” Sparrow muttered, the sound muffled as his face was pressed against layers of fabric.

After a moment, Sparrow blindly reached for his mirrorphone, scrambling between his near excessive amount of pockets until he located it. He rolled over, wincing at the brightness of the screen and then again at the messages from his closest friends.

[ Winged & Dangerous (GC) ]

Fairy: please tell me you actually fucking did something

Swan: and told her how you feel

Fairy: and that was romantic sex and not casual drug induced fucking.

Birdy: ..I didn’t tell her

Fairy: HAVE YOU LOST YOUR CROWN??

Swan: Fay.

Swan: but seriously FFS SPARROW??

Birdy: I didn’t have time

Swan: you were gone for 3 hours.

Birdy: a lot of that was a bit too awkward to confess my feelings

Fairy: I’m cursing you.

Birdy: I’m sorry! I panicked

Fairy: you are riddleculous

Swan: maybe next time you should say how you feel first and get high after

Fairy: There wouldn’t be a next time if you’d accept that she does like you

Swan: I mean I do agree

Birdy: save the lecture you’re not my dad

Fairy: your dad doesn’t care

Birdy: neither does yours

Fairy: fairy fair

Swan: both of you are honking me off

Birdy: sorry

Fairy: sorry

Swan: row please stop hiding from your feelings and then getting sad about it

Fairy: we can’t cope

Birdy: I know I’m sorry

Birdy: I panicked

Faybelle: for 3 hours?

Birdy: YES

Swan: oh my grimm

Fairy: you’re impossible.

Birdy: it’s not my fault I like her

Fairy: ITS YOUR FAULT YOU FUCKED HER

Swan: instead of TALKING

Birdy: it happened so fast

Swan: 60 minutes isn’t FAST

Birdy: okay that might be true

Birdy: but..

Birdy: yeah I’ve got nothing

Swan: MIGHT

Fairy: MIGHT

Birdy: point is proven you don’t have to carry on

Swan: I won’t

Swan: because I’m going to bed to dream about how FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE YOU ARE

Birdy: noted..

Fairy: me too

Fairy: goodnight

Birdy: night

Swan: night

 

Hopper was growing concerned for his roommate. Daring had been staring into his full-sized mirror for a prolonged period.. and it wasn’t his usual vain staring. His face was blank, void of any emotion and his posture was sharp. He seemed unnaturally tense, and it was a matter of worry for the prince. The lights were off, and the only source of brightness came from a dimmed lamp of Daring’s bedside table. Hopper was supposed to be asleep, he’d wished his goodnight to his roommate and closed his eyes but the flick of a light and the click of a lamp pulled him from the calm before the sleep.

He was silently staring at the Prince before him, he glanced at his clock and wondered how Daring had managed to keep rigidly still for just under 15 minutes. The silence was making him feel uneasy, the hum of the outside world and quiet scuffles of the hallways was the only sounds he could hear and he was feeling himself grow tense as time dragged past.

“Hero up, Daring.” He heard the prince mutter to himself, turning towards the mirror and clenching his fist until his knuckles turned white against the fabric of his nightshirt. He turned, as though he was trying to see himself from every angle and perspective. Hopper would be lying if he denied that he felt it was odd, but considering he turned into an amphibian whenever his nerves spiked he didn’t have much room to judge - and he wouldn’t do that anyway. Daring was his friend, after all!

Daring abruptly pulled away from the mirror, discarding his crown to the side of his desk. He dropped into the chair, frantically searching through drawers until he pulled out a spiral scroll notebook and pen. He pushed back in his chair and pulled something from under his dresser. Hopper frowned, adjusting his position to see what the item was. He heard it slide across the floor, sounding almost heavy. Scales? Daring stood and stepped up, staring silently at the floor for a moment before letting out a stuttering breath and stepping back, he pushed them back and span on his feet, dropping into his desk chair with a huff. He wrote something into the spiral scroll notebook; his hand shook as he wrote and his grasp on the pen was tight as he rapidly wrote onto parchment. He put the pen back in the drawer, putting the spiral scroll notebook in with it.

When Daring finally crawled into bed and flicked off his lamp, Hopper had to force himself to hold back a sigh of relief.

Daring stared silently at the ceiling for longer than was deemed healthy unable to quieten the rampant noise blaring in his head and the gnawing hunger in his stomach. He let out a frustrated sigh, he was so upset with his parents from destroying his perception of himself but somehow angrier at himself for allowing them to. He knew, logically, that his weight didn’t need to drop or decrease but with the disapproving words that echoed in his parents voice through his skull. It reverberated through his mind endlessly, bouncing off every service of his skull with no remorse. He was a disenchantment. He wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t enough.

He wasn’t perfect.

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Chapter 7

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags, this one is HEAVY and comes with a recommendation of tissues on hand.

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Lizzie: it’s visiting day!

Raven: after last time I’m so unhexcited.

Apple: I’m sorry about that

Raven: I understand why you did it

Daring: did what?

Faybelle: you don’t know??

Darling: he was in the booking glass

Maddie: Apple released the evil queen

Daring: oh my grimm

Dexter: how did you not know that?

Daring: how would I of?

Ramona: because she was poisoned by the apple

Daring: well that was bound to happen

Darling: that was true

Apple: I released her because she promised me my happily ever after

Briar: and then you realised that you didn’t want that ending

Ashlynn: which is fair

Faybelle: can we switch the topic?

Duchess: is your mom coming?

Faybelle: doubt it

Duchess: me too

Duchess: we can go tea shop?

Faybelle: hex yeah

Sparrow: my dad isn’t coming

Duchess: what? He said he was

Faybelle: fuck Robin Hood.

Duchess: fuck him

Sparrow: it’s okay

Duchess: come with us

Sparrow: I will

Lizzie: are the wonderland parents allowed to come?

Alistair: Headmaster Grimm said yes as long as there’s no trickery

Raven: he’s so prejudice

Duchess: he really is

Ramona: he threats to send me back to my old reform school so much

Raven: he’s a dick

Apple: I have to agree

Cedar: I can’t think of any student who wouldn’t

 

“Daring?” Dexter started, walking next to him as the blond traced a pattern in the balcony fence. Daring didn’t look up, just continued his absentminded drawing into the barrier. “They’re coming soon, you know that, don’t you?” Dexter asked and his brother nodded, without looking at him. Without looking away from the shapes he was drawing. “It’s not hexactly ideal that they’re coming. Never bothered before, not sure why they are now.” Dexter rambled, “And we’re going to have to deal with them whether we like it or not- and they’re probably still upset about.. well, everything.” He continued, gesturing to the pair of them.

Apparently, Dexter didn’t seem to take the silence as anything more than an invitation to continue his speech. “They’re also not pleased that I gave up fencing or the fact I’m dating Raven. Not quite sure why that’s what they care about when they never bothered with me before. I mean, ‘Four-Eyes Charming’ over here wasn’t good enough for a destiny, apparently. I don’t think I was ever good enough for anything, y’know? Well, maybe you don’t know, actually. They did always put you on a pedestal; hexpected you to be the image of hexellence.”

Dexter took a deep breath, pausing his ranting for a moment to catch his breath. “Not to mention how they’re going to react about Darling, think it’ll be weirder in from of Ms White. Can’t tell if they’ll be happy that at least one of their offspring has the destiny they were so desperate to brag about. Though, she is a girl.. as is Apple, I doubt they’ll react well to that part. Not like they’d of preferred it to be me, if they remember they have three kids and not two, that is.” He vented, his face growing red as he shared his perplexed frustration, vocalising his thoughts for probably the first time.

Daring raised a hand, silencing the nervous rambling in his ear. He turned on his heel, and released a breath. Dexter paused, waiting. Waiting for nothing. Daring walked away without a word. Dexter stayed, stood in the quiet whistling of the wind, as he watched the silhouette of his brother retreat. Dexter frowned after a moment. That was odd; it was weird for Daring not to snap at him or plead for silence during a rant. He didn’t have time to dwell on it, he realised, and brushed it off. He’d confront that conversation at a later date.

 

Apple and Darling’s hands were interlinked, reassuring squeezes symbolic of their love towards one another. “Are you feeling just right?” Apple asked, despite herself. Darling let out a breath, and looked towards her lover. She considered lying, just for a moment, but shook her head. “I’m just nervous, really.” Darling assured her, “I’m fine with them judging everything about me but I’m not sure I could handle them doing that to you.” Darling explained and Apple nodded understandingly. She felt similarly, Snow White had a habit of passing judgment rather freely under the mask of being a good read of character and Apple didn’t want it to affect her and Darling.

Apple squeezed Darling’s hand gently and offered her a smile, which Darling returned. “It’ll be okay,” Apple replied and Darling hesitated in response, her eyebrow shooting up was a clear sign of her disagreement. “My mom’s the same.” She told her and Darling’s eyes widened in understanding, as those things were clicking together for her. She was pulled from her reply - which was at the tip of her tongue - by her eldest brother hastily walking past her. “Daring?” She called, but the greeting fell on deaf ears as she was met with silence. In fact, he hadn’t even slowed down at the sound of her voice.

She huffed out a breath of bewilderment and irritation, today surely wasn’t the day for ignorance. Apple smiled at her, though, and that beautifully soft smile seeped in her muscles immediately and instantaneously brought a wave of calm to wash over her. “I’m sorry about your mom.” Darling said, finally. Apple nodded in acknowledgment when she remembered their previous conversation. “I’m sorry about your parents.” Apple replied truthfully and Darling couldn’t help but smile humourlessly at the sick joke that was their family.

Her brother - her apparently much more talkative twin - was approaching her now, and he at least seemed to be noticing her presence. “Darling, hi.” He greeted with that dorky, awkward smile that was just so him that she couldn’t help but return it, with noticeably less nerves than his. “Hi, Dex.” She greeted back and she saw a small level of relief coat his features and glow in his eyes, which caused her to frown ever so slightly. “Daring completely blanked me earlier,” Dexter told her, “I was trying to talk about our parents actually bothering to visit and he didn’t even look at me.” Dexter explained.

Darling wasn’t shocked, but she was mildly surprised. It wasn’t like him to ignore them both, that hadn’t been a thing since their parents purposefully put them against eachother when they weird kids, and even then they’d refused at a certain point. When they were old enough to understand how much they all meant to eachother. She was rarely a part of their parents sick trail to favouritism; it was most likely because she was their only girl. They always seemed to route for Daring, which was saddening for her to witness.. even as a child. She’d always routed for her twin, until she decided (for the better, if you ask her) to remain impartial and stay out of the situation as a whole.

“He ignored me too.” Darling said finally, “I called his name when he walked past and he acted like I wasn’t in even there.” She informed him and Dexter frowned at the information he was receiving, it definitely wasn’t great. “That’s.. unusual.” He replied. She nodded in agreement. “He’s not done that since we were kids.” He pointed out.

 

Rosabella frowned as she saw her prince sitting alone in the castleteria. The castleteria and charmitorium had both been prepared to be used for Visiting Day, and a few of the students had happily agreed to help with preparation. Apple and Maddie had organised the visit as instructed (pleaded) by Headmaster Grimm. Rosabella had volunteered almost immediately, with a bright, warm smile.

She walked over, standing above him as he rested his head on his hand, glancing up as she blocked the window and casted a shadow above him. He stared for a moment, before looking back down. She frowned, he usually was rather happy to see her. Though, given the day, she couldn’t be too mad. “Are you okay?” She asked and sat opposite him, her hand reaching for his. He pulled his hand away, onto his lap. “Daring?” She questioned quietly with a hint of sadness laced between her words, and he rose from his sitting position and walked away.

She stood as well, but remained frozen. “What just happened?” Darling asked as she walked over. Rosabella hadn’t noticed her entering the castleteria but as she glanced towards the voice, she saw Apple setting something up and Dexter trailing behind Darling. “I’m not sure.” Rosabella replied, “is he okay?” She asked and Darling didn’t know what to say, so for a moment she said nothing and allowed the silence to lay thick between them, undisputed by those oblivious to the gravity of their situation in the castleteria.

Rosabella’s shoulders dropped and she let out a sad sigh. “Visiting day starts soon. I’ve got to get this place ready.” She told Darljng with a sad smile and Darling could only nod in response, the conversation vaporising between them as their concern held wordlessly strong. Darling settled on distracting her own thoughts and decided on joining Apple in her attempt to smooth over the plans for both major rooms preparing for visitors.

“Do you think it’ll go well?” Darling asked and Apple, who was adjusting a sign just sighed; it wasn’t malicious or bothered, just tired. “I don’t know, my love.” She answered softly, “but I would rather prepare than panic.” she added and Darling could tell she was throwing herself into tasks to avoid her feelings, but she couldn’t fault her for it. She let any protest die in her throat and decided to help Apple in her quest to perfection instead.

 

Duchess sipped on her tea, looking at the two sat in front of her, “is your mom coming, Row? She does work in ever after high, after all.” she asked and set her teacup on the rather wondrous saucer. Sparrow put his own coffee down on a coaster and let out a breath. “My dad scheduled a trip over today for them.” He answered and Duchess frowned, Faybelle’s wings fluttered in annoyance for Sparrow as she put down her cupcake wrapper. “On purpose?” Duchess asked and all Sparrow could do was nod.

Duchess felt her fist clench in anger, “your mom works here, though. Surely she knew what today is?” Faybelle questioned as she reached for another cupcake. She seemed to be the only one eating the share platter as the other two focused on rather depressing conversation. “She can’t say no to my dad.” Sparrow admitted, picking his coffee back up and attempting to drink away the tightness in his chest. Duchess let out a soft sigh, and watched her tea swirl in its cup.

“My mom chose not to come, said being back here was too stressful.” Duchess confessed, “I understand.” she added and the two nodded, and Faybelle pushed a cupcake towards her. She smiled at the gesture and picked it up. “My mom isn’t really allowed here.” Faybelle told them, “apparently it’d be too dangerous to allow me and her together.” she muttered bitterly. Duchess sighed.

Sparrow looked down at his coffee as Duchess started to speak again, “how are you feeling?” She asked and he hesitated, not sure how to answer. He sipped his coffee in a weak attempt to stall, but the stare Duchess was shooting him was starting to burn through his skull. “About Melody?” He asked, trying to buy time from answer the overarching question that he felt was inevitably coming. Duchess sighed; she’d be doing that a lot lately. “Partly. I meant in general.”

He put the quickly depleting coffee back on the coaster, rather thankful that The Mad Hatter’s Tea Shop came with a riddleculous amount of free refills. “I’m not sure,” he replied - close to truthful but not quite vulnerable enough. “I feel like Mel sees me as a friend.. with benefits, but the benefits are drugs, alcohol and sex.” He muttered, “we’re just friends and I don’t want to be.” he confessed and washed down the openness with freshly refilled coffee. “It’s so casual but when we’re actually together it feels like so real.”

The rawness in his voice made Duchess’s heart ache, and Faybelle - through her bravado of cupcakes - looked like she felt similarly. “I think it’s taking a toll on you mentally.” Duchess said, and Sparrow smiled - but it was forced. She frowned at the strain in his normally bright smile, before everything seemed to crumble around him. “Look, Row, what I’m really asking is..” She started, “is it getting bad again?” She asked and he choked on his coffee, on her words on his truth.

He cleared his throat and places his coffee back down on the coaster, Faybelle reached for her own drink and sipped it slowly, her gaze on him. “I don’t think so.” He replied, “well, it’s not great.. but I’m not doing.. it. Anymore.” he explained, further expanding in hopes to clear her mind and wipe the worry from her face. It didn’t work. She didn’t seem convinced, but nodded along regardless. “I’m not saying I don’t believe you..” Duchess started.
“I am.” Faybelle butted in as she placed her drink down again. Duchess closed her eyes closed in annoyance, and took a deep, calming breath.

“I’m sorry-,” Faybelle apologised, and she sounded at least half apologetic which they counted as a win. “But it’s not like we don’t know you, and it’s certainly not like we can’t tell.” Faybelle pointed out and Sparrow couldn’t fault her, a defensive anger rose in his chest but he forcibly squashed it. She wasn’t wrong, he knew that. “Okay, maybe I am. What’s the difference?” He admitted and Duchess’s face dropped; she thought if possible they would’ve heard her heart shatter.

She looked at her tea, forcing the tears that dwelled in her eyes to retreat. She closed her eyes, willing them away, and then opened her eyes again. She looked back up, and picked up her tea. She sipped it slowly. “You told me- you promised me that you’d tell me.” She said, and her voice cracked through the words. Faybelle reached her hand to Duchess’s, the faint blue aura of magic pulsating on her fingertips in an attempt to lessen the pain grasping at the swan. Sparrow didn’t reply, his eyes equally burning, “I’m sorry.”

 

Headmaster Grimm stood straight, his posture tight as Giles pulled open the doors, and then resumed position next to him. “Welcome.” Giles greeted to every parent who entered the doors, while Milton stood sharply with his lips tightly sealed, only offering micro-nods as greetings. He (in a haze of bias) offered his hand to Snow White, who gladly took his hand with a firm shake, before heading towards the castleteria. The Grimm Brothers stood post until everyone who had signed up had (mostly) gracefully entered with performative or genuine smiles.

Snow White made a beeline for Apple. She pulled Apple into a hug, “Apple-pie, how have you been?” she asked with a smile, and it seemed real enough. Apple looked up to her as they broke apart, an apprehensive smile on her face. “Good, mom.” Apple replied, “you remember Darling, right? From the danger games.” Apple asked and Snow White nodded. Apple shot a glance to Darling, who immediately walked over. “Well, we’re.. uhm, we’re dating.” She announced and her mom froze, staring at the two girls in silence, her eyes flickering between the two. “Did she wake you up when you were poisoned?” Snow White asked, finally. Apple nodded slowly, looking significantly more worried than she had earlier.

Snow White beamed, pulling Apple into another hug. Apple froze in surprise, but hugged her back. When they pulled away (for the second time), she looked down to her daughter and her newly-introduced lover. “It’s not what I hexpected.” Snow White confessed, “but, my little dove, you’re following your destiny.. and that’s all that matters.” Snow said and Apple could do nothing but nod. Snow then turned her attention to Darling, she extended a hand to her, and Darling took it immediately. “Thank you, for saving my daughter.” Snow thanked and Darling couldn’t help but smile brightly in response.

“It’s a pleasure, Ms White.” Darling replied, a charismatic charm tinting her voice. Snow’s smile seemed to grow at the polite formalities, and she let their hands drop, “oh, aren’t you just the dearest thing!” Snow cooed with a gleeful grin. Darling smiled in response, and took Apple’s hand in hers.

“Darling?” A voice called from behind them. Darling tensed, and her smile fell from genuine to forced. She squeezed Apple’s hand, and Apple squeezed back until Darling gently dropped her hand and turned on her heel, Apple and Snow both turning simultaneously. “Darling, what’s going on?” A woman with a soft voice asked. Darling remained frozen for a moment, and cleared her throat. “Mother.” She greeted, her voice strained.

“What are you doing? Holding hands with Apple. She’s your brother’s princess.” King Charming asked and the trio in front of him all seemed to wince. Snow White looked between himself and his wife. “Darling woke her when she was poisoned, Mr Charming.” Snow told him, with a smile, “that means that Darling is her true love.” she pointed out and King Charming shook his head in disbelief - or disgust. Queen Charming glanced towards her husband in attempt to silently communicate, which seemed to be ignored.

“No. No daughter of mine will attempt a relationship with another woman.” King Charming argued, keeping his voice quiet as to not arise any spectators in the crowd around them. “It’s their destiny.” Snow White stated, and King Charming let out a sigh filled with anger and frustration. He looked to his wife, who seemed to have started the silent treatment towards their disenchantment of a daughter early. “I suppose you’re correct.” King Charming agreed, but the edge in his voice told Darling he was displeased.

King and Queen Charming wasted no more time with conversation, knowing that they’d share their displeasure in multiple forms. They migrated across the hall upon seeing their younger son, and their frustrations bubbled as they saw their son talking to Raven Queen. “Dexter.” King Charming called, stopping in front of his son and his dastardly friend. “Dexterous, please tell me that you aren’t still entertaining the delusion of becoming Raven Queen’s lover.” King Charming whispered harshly, and Dexter crossed his arms, and had to hold back his surprise that they’d even noticed him. “I love her.” Dexter replied, and King Charming’s face morphed from frustration to be red with anger.

“You don’t know what love is, boy.” He said, “not when you’re dabbling with evil.” he spat with disgusted venom, and Dexter tensed. He took a deep breath, he knew not to talk back, but how dare his father insult the only girl he’d ever loved. “I’m not like my mother.” Raven disputed, feeling the nerves radiate off of her prince. King Charming scoffed, and turned to his son, “you’re not worth it.” he sneered, taking his wife’s hand and walking away.

Raven put her hand on Dexter’s shoulder, “I’m so sorry.” she whispered and he looked at her with a sad smile, his head shaking at the apology she’d offered him. “You don’t need to be, it’s okay.” He replied, “nothing I’m not used to.” he muttered and she pulled him into a hug, placing a gentle kiss to his cheek and placing her hand in his.

 

Raven had taken Dexter’s hand, and had led him up to the tour her mother’s mirror was kept in. “Raven, are you sure I should be here?” He asked quietly and she nodded, offering a soft squeeze to his hand in an attempt to calm his growing anxiety. She pulled up and looked at the mirror in front of them. “Mother.” She greeted, and a purple swirl glimmered in the mirror until her mother blossomed into view. “Hello, Birdy.” She returned with a brightly evil smile. “Oh, you’ve brought a friend?” She questioned.

Raven took Dexter’s hand in hers, “boyfriend.” she corrected and The Evil Queen beamed in happiness. She shuffled closer to her mirror to see better. “I see you’ve found your Good King, blackbird.” She announced with a happy clap, “oh, I am so proud of you!” she called out joyously. Raven flushed pink, but smiled nonetheless; her heart swelled with the warm acceptance. “I- uhm- nice to meet you again, ma’am.” Dexter greeted with a shaky voice.

The Evil Queen cocked her head, a frown forming on her brow. “What’s wrong with you, corvidae?” She asked Dexter, who nervously picked at the skin on his hands, glancing between his girlfriend and her devious mother. “His parents don’t accept our relationship.” Raven answered, gently putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it. The Evil Queen shook her head in disbelief, the frown on her face deepening as the seconds ticked by. “Well, that just won’t be.” She muttered, “as much as I wish for my little blackbird to fulfill her destiny and became like me, I know that it just won’t happen.”

Raven looked surprised, unaware that her mother’s time in her mirror prison apparently led to her reflecting on the previous events. “Your parents should be accepting of you, no matter what path you choose to wander down.” She explained and Raven let out a small laugh, causing both people in the room (or, mirror) to look towards her. “Were you given a parenting manual when you were captured?” She joked, laughing with a grain of seriousness in her voice. Her mother simply laughed, before shaking her head, “no, no. Just remember, Birdy.. I see everything from my mirrorscape.” she informed her, “and I’m just so proud of you for finding your Good King.”

Dexter smiled awkwardly in response, but his heart warmed at the acceptance and support, as well as the gentle attention. “Thank you for accepting me, ma’am.” He whispered and she shook her head as though it was nothing - the easiest thing in the world to do. “I knew you were the corvidae for my Raven when I overtook the school.” She cooed, “Milton may not be able to tell his students destinies, but my magic allows for it, and I knew then that you were destined for my little raven.”

Raven and Dexter stood, in a mix of shock and gratitude for a moment, “thank you, mom.” Raven whispered and her mother smiled in response, as though she was waiting for them to announce their relationship - which, in hindsight, she was.

 

Rosabella lit up when she saw her parents, immediately being enveloped into a tight hug by her father, her mother quickly joining with a delicate smile. “Mom! Dad!” She beamed with a bright, happy smile. “I’ve missed you so much.” She confessed heartily, and they both beamed back at her with fondness twinkling in their soft eyes. “We’ve missed you greatly, flower.” Her father whispered against her soft, brown curls.

Once they’d separated, Rosabella couldn’t keep the grin off of her face, and she was smiling so hard it was starting to ache. “How are your classes going, petal?” Belle asked with a tender curiosity that Rosabella had inherited. She smiled at the question, a proudness radiating off of her, “straight As, mom.” she announced and both parents cooed in pride, feeling their own pride radiate off of them.

“You’re just doing so well, sunshine.” Her father cooed joyously, “now.. we remember you mentioning a boy? Is he still on the scene?” he asked - suddenly sounding a lot more serious. She could tell it was protectiveness; she’d definitely inherited that trait as well. “Daring Charming.” She told them, and both of their eyes widened at the realisation that she’d found love in the eldest of the Charming Siblings. “Is he around?” Belle asked kindly, “we’d just love to meet him.”

Rosabella hesitated, clearing her throat nervously; both of her parents titled their heads at the sudden shift in mood. “I’m not too sure, we can look for him.” She told them, “though.. he’s not best pleased with today, so he might be a bit.. quiet.” she warned and they both smiled reassuringly, causing her nerves to calm as the tenseness slowly drained from her shoulders. “That’s quite alright, we’ll be on our best behaviour.” Her father answered and she nodded with a hopeful smile.

 

Daring had found himself alone in the hallway, his mind spiralling as he halted to a stop. His hands clutched hair to stop the trembling possessing his hands, as he focused on breathing deeply. “Ah, they you are.” King Charming called out, and Daring froze, his hands dropped to his sides immediately. “We’ve been looking for you all over, son.” He continued and Daring straightened, holding his breath. “We’ve just found out that your brother is holding onto delusion and that your sister is destroying tradition while calling it love.” He spat, talking about the pair as if they were nothing to him. Daring didn’t react; kept his mouth sealed shut.

King Charming scoffed, “of course you’d keep this up. This act of silence, like it’s some kind of defiance.” he sneered, “it’s not. It’s unbecoming, an utter disenchantment.” he jeered and Daring could do nothing but stare, his heart pounding against his ribs with such intensity it made his vision swarm with black spots. “Your grades are improving, I’ll give you that. At least you’ve understood pretending you can’t read doesn’t score you any attention.” He complimented, though Daring felt the back-handed snark like a punch to the gut. Queen Charming cleared her throat, breaking her near constant vow of silence. “You’ve gained weight.” She commented and Daring could feel the walls of defence collapsing around of him.

His father let out a humourless and cold laugh, a cruel and unforgiving taunt. “Of course, you’re given such little tasks, and can never complete them. It’s embarrassing.” He complained, “Have you no words?” He asked, “this must be down to that lowly rebel you’ve fallen for, this is pathetic, Daring. She’s nothing but the offspring a vile beast.” He mocked, a laugh bellowing from his stomach, a callous and bitter sound of little more than disgust and mockery.

Daring’s fist clenched, his knuckles turning white with the pressure against them. His heart hammered so violently his ears had started to ring, but not allowed enough to drown out the man in front of him. A surge of adrenaline poured into his veins as the insults were hurled towards him. Insults about Rosabella, his lover. “Don’t speak about her like that.” He replied, his voice quiet in fear but strong in anger, and his father’s laughed slowed, and swiftly stopped. “What was that, boy?” His dad asked. A warning.

Everything in Daring begged him to back down, to apologise, to grovel and whisper and meek “I’m sorry, sir.” in hopes of lessen his father’s growing anger. But.. he couldn’t, he couldn’t allow for anyone to speak of Rosabella - his lover, his beauty - in such a demeaning manner. “Don’t speak about her like that.” He repeated, his voice firmer, though he couldn’t entirely eradicate the fraying of his nerves.

A harsh slap came to his face, before he was gripped by the chin and pulled forward. “You do not speak back to me.” His father demanded, and Daring couldn’t hide the tremble of his hands any longer, he let out a small, terrified whimper. “Am I clear?” He asked, his voice hot with anger. Daring nodded shakily, swallowing roughly. His back collided with the lockers behind him, a gasp falling from his mouth as he hit the floor. “Pathetic.” King Charming spat, “we’re leaving. I can’t stand these disenchantments any longer.” he told his wife, grabbing her hand and storming off.

Daring stumbled to his feet, his entire body trembling like he’d been hit with a high voltage of electricity. He staggered against the lockers, glancing at the scene he was left in, his breath coming out in small, shaky gasps.

 

King and Queen Charming rounded the corner, their faces darkened with their displeasure; disapproval seemingly swimming through their blood stream with practiced ease. A sound cleared them from their thoughts, “Hexcuse me?” Someone asked, and they looked over with elegantly prepared welcoming smile, ready to answer to any question thrown their way. “Who do you think you are?”

Well, that was unhexpected.

King Charming snapped his eyes to see.. Rosabella Beauty? Now, what was she doing here. He scoffed, his eyes already rolling in displeasure, praying away from the conversation. “What is it that you want?” King Charming asked snappily. Rosabella’s jaw clenched, but she stepped forward. King Charming was taller than her, but not he didn’t scare her.

“If anything I heard is the way it sounded then..” She started, and the blond’s pupils quickly blew wide. “I swear to Grimm, I will make you hexperience a new world of torture.” She threatened, and the deep-rooted darkness in her tone sent a shiver down the spines of the married Charmings, “Am I clear?” she asked, repeating the words she’d faintly heard and they felt like bullets against King Charming’s skin. He stiffly nodded, and she pushed past him without any hesitation; he parents following behind.

She looked down the corridor, her expression now soft and concerned, running through what she could possibly say to her Prince if the scene she’d thought that she heard was remotely truthful. The hallway was empty.

He was gone.

Daring was gone.

Notes:

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Chapter 8

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

This is a shorter chapter that is one perspective. I thought it’d be fun to put more focus on darabella while I plan the integration of a new (major) plot.

Rosabella had looked throughout the entire school, panic etched onto her face so deeply she feared it would never fade. “Darling, Apple, Dex, Raven? Have you seen him?” She asked as she bumped into the group she’d recruited and the wave of shakes of the head made her heart plummet. “He’s not in the school.” Raven told her, and brought her hand to Rosabella’s shoulder.

Visiting hours had long ended, and yet her prince was still nowhere to be found. “Where could he be?” Apple asked, thinking aloud or prompting someone else, it didn’t matter. The group looked towards each other. “Oh, I think I know.” Darling said.

Darling pushed open the door to the dragon stables, and the others paused outside. “I think it just be Rosabella?” Dexter suggested and Darling nodded, stepping away from the opening of the door and allowing Rosabella to take lead of the situation. She closed the door behind her, gathering that it would be in Daring’s best interest. “ Daring?” She called out, her voice bouncing off the walls around her. She was greeted with the crackling of silence, and then a small yip. She rounded a corner, and her lips curved into a smile at the sight.

It was dark, the light dimmed by closed shutters but she could make out her prince with Deejay’s head resting against his knee purring softly. “Daring?” She repeated, crouching down near to him and reaching her hand toward the dragon and scratching his scales softly. He looked up at her, and she smiled softly in response; he didn’t return it but he seemed to lighten at her presence. Deejay purred louder, rubbing her head against his leg.

The dragon chooses their owner, and Deejay had initially jumped towards Daring in a jovial leap. Daring had his hocus focus set on nursing Legend back to her full capacity, and knew he couldn’t do his best while taking care of Deejay and so Melody offered to ‘split custody’ due to her muse-ic related abilities and Daring had happily agreed. When he’d told Rosabella about the agreement with such a beautifully bright smile and she couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

Daring’s hand was rested against the back of Deejay’s neck, repeatedly stroking the top of her head to the base of her nape. “I.. heard something earlier,” She started and he looked down on the impact of her words, wincing at the memory. “when you were in the hallway with your parents.” She continued and he clenched his free hand in a ball against the fabric of his trousers. “You can stop me whenever you want, mon chéri, you know that, right?” She whispered. He hesitated, then nodded.

She moved closer to him, her warm smile dropping as her vision cleared in on his face. On the bruise growing on his chin. On the red mark covering his cheek. The panic that was deep-set into his eyes. “Oh, baby.” She whispered, her hand reaching for him.
Deejay climbed over his knee, resting on his lap. Her previous conversation died on her tongue, she pulled him into a hug, and he returned it. His breath hitched against the crook of her neck, pulling a sharp sound from his lungs.

She held him, her hands wrapped around him tightly. The neck was wet, and her hand was caressing his back in a soothing motion. She kissed his head repeatedly, whispering soft reassurances against his hair. They stayed like that - for what could’ve been hours and she wouldn’t have cared, “I’m here for you, mon amour, you’re safe with me.” She assured him.

He moved away, his eyes red and his cheeks puffy with tracks of tears running down them. She moved her hand to his cheek, making a point not to touch his bruises. “Did your dad..?” She asked, not able to finish the question as bile burned in her throat. He nodded, exhaling shakily. She closed her eyes, squeezed her eyes shut. An anger was brewing inside of her, a monster of rage swirling through her like a tsunami on the seek for vengeance. Her hands balled into fists, she’d never felt protectiveness fill her bloodstream and flush her veins so fast, so hard.

“Rosa?” He asked quietly, and she snapped her eyes open, staring at him with dilated pupils filled with nothing but pure, cold anger. “I’m- I’m sorry, for putting this on you.” He whispered, and the fearful tremble in his voice made hot rage flush through her alongside the tenderness of a promise of protection. “No, sweetheart, never. You don’t ever need to apologise to me for your problems. Or your issues. Anything. I love you, okay? That means everything that happens.. we tackle it together.” She told him and he nodded, gratitude coating his cheeks with a gentle pink.

She cleared her throat, “I only really heard the end.” She admitted, “The sound of something cashing with forceful impact, and then him speaking to you as if you were a mindless puppet he controlled..” she whispered and he looked away; didn’t dare to tell her how normal that truly was for him. She took a deep breath, “are you hurt anywhere else?” she asked and he nodded with a pained expression. His eyes flickered up to look at her - the soft, unconditional concern on her face. “He pushed me into the lockers. I imagine my back is.. royally bruised.”

Her fists clenched, she swallowed down her anger and focused on him. “Okay.” She replied. “Darling and Dex are worried about you.” She told him and he let out a laugh, before erupting into a fit of rough coughs. She frowned, taking his hand in hers. He cleared his throat, “tell them not to be such worry flurries.” he replied, his voice sounding more hoarse than usual but she was grateful for the humorous edge to his words. She smiled softly. At least he was okay - safe.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

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Chapter 9

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

This chapter is dedicated to my dear friend Ava. I see you, and I hope I did you justice.

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Faybelle: visiting day is over!!

Briar: you sound happy

Faybelle: I am

Faybelle: it’s not exactly fun when your mom isn’t allowed near you

Sparrow: fuck Headmaster Grimm

Duchess: fuck head master Grimm

Ramona: FUCK HIM !!

Apple: I appreciate the sentiment guys but I think there’s other ways to express frustration

Darling: I love you but he deserves a lot more than a fuck him

Apple: I suppose that’s true

Raven: fuck him

Maddie: it’s riddleculous that he still has his job

Dexter: Giles for headmaster

Cupid: I would love that

Blondie: I’ll write a petition!

Cedar: I’ll sign it

Rosabella: me too

Hunter: send it my way

Hopper: he’s such a bad headmaster

Ashlynn: he doesn’t care about anything other than destinies

Cerise: he couldn’t care less about our well being

Melody: he knows I smoke weed but told me as long as I didn’t speak out against him he would let me continue

Ramona: again this man threatens to send me back to my reform school when I so much as arrive to a class 30 seconds late

Sparrow: he refused to introduce a mental health plan for the students when my mom and Giles suggested it

Raven: he’s so bad at his job

Alistair: it makes me miss wonderland so much more

Bunny: exactly

Lizzie: yeah and our school got overturned by an evil, treasonous wild card

Kitty: he banned my mom from seeing me after the spring faire for months

Faybelle: I’ve never been allowed to see my mom

Ginger: he didn’t even notice when I got lost in wonderland

Poppy: he doesn’t notice when all his students leave the school to go partying

Melody: I’ve snuck out so much

Ramona: me too

Holly: he has to know

Dexter: is it better that he doesn’t care?

Justine: not hexactly

Maddie: I asked for accommodations and he told me that wonderland had ruined me

Raven: I remember that

Raven: I also turned him into a slug

Faybelle: sounding like someone..

Raven: STFU

Blondie: what accommodations, maddie?

Maddie: I’m dyslexic! I asked for extra time

Raven: and he refused to believe she was actually dyslexic

Darling: trying to get learning disability accommodations from him is like sword fighting a wall. Utterly useless

Hopper: but maddie you can write?

Daring: so can I..

Faybelle: there’s no way you’re dyslexic

Daring: I am?

Ramona: I’m pretty sure you’re just stupid

Daring: oh

Rosabella: he’s not fucking stupid.

Hopper: he can’t write so probably is

Duchess: or read

Hopper: or spell

Maddie: hexcuse me?

Alistair: I’m assuming you’re all just hextremely uneducated

Cerise: Ramona you’re dyslexic stfu

Ramona: whatever after

Maddie: narrator and/or writer if you can hear me give her a redemption arc

Briar: what.

Ashlynn: huh

Raven: she thinks she can talk to narrators..

Kitty: ah

Lizzie: …

Alistair: yeah..

Bunny: wow..

Maddie: just because he’s dyslexic doesn’t mean he can’t read.

Dexter: hexactly!

Duchess: so what? You just got all the smart genes

Ramona: thought he was supposed to be ‘perfect’..

Rosabella: I will rip your ears off

Rosabella: furry wannabe.

Ramona: oh?

Ramona: Princess come to play

Rosabella: fuck you

Rosabella: he’s very much so is able and capable it just takes him more time than others. sometimes he struggles and messes up on words and sometimes he reads words wrong

Rosabella: there’s nothing with that

Darling: and it’s OKAY

Darling: everyone makes mistakes

Rosabella: and everyone’s human and the fact that he’s dyslexic doesn’t take away from that

Rosabella: in fact it adds to it.

Dexter: worded hexcellently

Rosabella: thank you

Maddie: awh that was perfect Rosabella!!

Rosabella: thanks maddie

Daring: thank you Rosa

Rosabella: always mon chéri

Raven: I hope everyone actually fucking listened to that

Dexter: you do not get to complain about Headmaster Grimm being prejudice if you’re gonna act the hexact same way.

Faybelle: Dexter crashout?

Dexter: no actually

Dexter: I’m just sick and tired of everyone putting my brother down for every little thing about himself when none of you actually know anything about him or what he’s been through and all you can do is make mindless assumptions and preposterous characters assassinations when none of you have made any attempt to make anything past surface level conversation with him with no intention of learning a damn thing about him. Every single one of you preach about how desperate for Grimm’s acceptance you are but how could you hexpect such a thing when you’ve never been able to give it out to anyone yourself? Hopper, you’re quite literally his roommate and considered one of his best friends ever after, therefore you should more than capable of understanding him and acknowledging his personal struggles without downplaying them or spouting inaccuracies because you’ve failed to educate yourself on a condition someone you claim is your friend struggles with. Every individual person I’m addressing right now is unable to give me a description of my older brother that surpasses the words ‘selfish’, ‘self-absorbed’ and ‘dramatic’ when none of you could even comprehend what has caused him to act in such a way. I may not serve you with mountains of threats that I can’t go through with, but a much more capable person would happily do so, so think twice before you talk about things or people you’ll never fucking understand.

Darling: I’m that person. Fuck all of you.

Daring: holy visual stress

Daring: guys it’s fine.

Dexter: everything always is.

Daring: what?

Dexter: we’ll talk about it later

Rosabella: guys.

Rosabella: not the time

Raven: I agree

Apple: me too.

Apple: let’s all just focus on calming down and not revealing personal information in a public format

Darling: right

Darling: of course. I’m sorry, my dear

Apple: it’s okay, my love

Darling: breathe a word of this to your blog, Blondie, and I will show you how I became the white knight.

Apple: Darling!

Blondie: got it.

Raven: yeah me and Dex are going on a walk..

Apple: good idea

Rosabella: I’ll take Daring to the stables

Apple: also a really good idea!

Apple: Darling, wanna go fence?

Darling: always.

Sparrow: that was intense

Melody: shut up

Sparrow: woah what did I do?

Melody: you know what you did.

Duchess: oh Grimm

Faybelle: oh my badness..

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

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Chapter 10

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Duchess pushed open the doors of a barely known coffee shop in the deep of the dark forest. A small bell rang as she stepped inside, and the woman at her counter looked up at her. “Regular?” She asked and Duchess nodded quickly, placing the coins on the counter. She pushed her hood down now that she was the security of the coffee shop and wasn’t at a high risk of being recognised. The woman pushed a coffee over the counter, and Duchess nodded a thank you as she took it.

She sat down at her regular seat in the far back corner, sipping periodically at the coffee in her hand. The bell rung. Duchess looked up. An older woman in a dark, black cloak walked in, glanced around the room and then walked over to Duchess and sat in front of her. “Duchess.” She greeted, her voice smooth. Duchess nodded in response, and put her coffee down on a coaster and adjusted how she sat. “You’ve gotten what you wanted,” The woman continued, “I hope you’re satisfied.”

Duchess slipped an envelope across the table, and picked up her coffee. “Thank you for your help.” Duchess replied, and punctuated it with a sip. She looked towards the envelope, “that’s what you wanted. It’s all in there, you can check.” she told her and the woman nodded, taking the envelope in her hand and placing it into her handbag silently. “I trust you.” The woman responded, “I have no reason not to.”

Duchess stood, pulled her hood back up befor picking up her cup and walked out of the shop, the bell above the door ringing a goodbye. She finished her coffee and threw the cup into a bin, walking through the dark forest without looking back.

 

Melody sat with her back against her wall, her head in her hands. “I can’t believe him!” She groaned and Justine nodded in understanding, placing her hand on Melody’s shoulder. Melody heaved out a frustrated sigh, “it’s not.. a hexcellent situation but maybe there’s other stuff going on in his life, Mel.” Justine suggested. Melody shook her head in irritation and stood up. Justine stood up alongside her, moving to sit at Melody’s desk, spinning on the chair to watch the girl pace in frustration and confusion.

“It’s not the end of the story, Melody.” Justine said and Melody shot her a glare, “No, not like that. I mean, you can’t expect much from him when the basis of your ‘relationship’ - if you can even call it that - is that you get high, drunk together and then fuck.” Justine pointed out. Melody deflated onto her bed, flopping backwards onto the sheets with a frustrated groan and a huff of annoyed air. “It’s so unfair!”

Justine sighed, “talk to him about it?” she suggested. Melody rolled her eyes unenthusiastically and crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance. “I have!” She exclaimed and Justine shook her head in bubbling frustration at the situation unfolding before her. “Not a cryptic angry text message late at night.” Justine deadpanned, and Melody huffed with a begrudged nod of reluctant understanding.

 

Darling sat down on the balcony fence, her arms crossed. “Get down, you’ll fall.” Daring muttered under his breath and she rolled her arms, and pushed herself off of the fence, instead leaning against in. “You’re bruised.” She pointed out and he nodded slowly, not a fan of her stating the obvious but allowed her to continue nonetheless. “Was it dad?” She asked and he nodded - no point in denying what she definitely already knew. She sucked in a harsh breath, and nodded.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. He flinched. She pulled away quickly. “Sorry,” She whispered apologetically and he shook his head immediately. “You know you can talk to me, Daring?” she asked and looked at him with a soft expression, and he couldn’t tell the difference between pity and sympathy anymore. “Is that not that not what we’re doing?” He asked with a hint of sarcasm seeping into his voice, she raised an eyebrow and looked at him with an unimpressed glare. “I meant talk about how you feel. Or the stuff we’ve- you’ve been through.”

Daring let out a breathless laugh, his arms folding over into a crossed position. “Don’t worry about that, Darling.” He replied and her warm smile dropped, a frown forming on her face. He looked away, focusing on the view in front of him instead of the upset on her face. “Daring, I care about you. I want you to talk to me.. I need you to talk to me.” She pleaded, her eyes glistening with a desperate hope.

He took a deep breath, and shook his head. “I’m fine.” He muttered and turned away, he was done with this conversation and the topic surrounding it. Darling caught his wrist with a speech dancing on her tongue in preparation, “Darling.” he said, pulling his arm away. “We’re not talking about this.” He stated and she could do nothing but agree. She couldn’t pry into the past; he clearly seemed uncomfortable and she knew better than to try to force him into speaking about anything. It would only serve to push him further way.

She put her hands up, and let him go. She watched as he retreated inside silently, an overwhelming sense of dread humming through her. She pulled out her mirrorphone with a soft, yet nervous exhale.

[ Darling & Dexter’s Private Messages ]

Darling: Daring won’t talk to me about it

Dexter: dad?

Darling: yeah

Darling: completely iced me out

Dexter: we can’t force him to talk

Darling: I know

Darling: but I’m scared that not talking will kill him

Dexter: he’ll come to us when he’s ready

Darling: what if he’s never ready?

Dexter: well it was just resurfaced so it’s not a big surprise that he’s not ready now

Dexter: and he will be eventually

Dexter: we just have to be there

Darling: I guess..

Dexter: he’ll go to someone

Dexter: eventually..

Darling: I hope so

 

[ Melody & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Melody: we need to talk

Sparrow: now?

Melody: just come over.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

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Chapter 11

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Sparrow looked at his mirrorphone, Melody had told him to meet her at Hocus Latte. He wasn’t complaining - it was his favourite coffee shop after all. It was late but the shop closed later than every other coffee shop in ever after so he didn’t have to worry about time too much. He shivered in the cool air of the night, a breeze rushing through him as he walked to the meeting point.

It was dark, the sun setting with the evening as it ticked by and the street lights flickered with the whistle of the wind as he hocus focused on getting to the location. He’d told Alistair he was meeting Melody and was met with a lot more hope from the blond man than he thought he’d ever have in his own heart. He’d have to thank his dad for that - if only the man bothered to have a conversation with him past a stiff nod and an offering of crumpled money.

He’d be lying if he said that he wasn’t nervous, his hands were shaking from a mix between the cold evening air and the nerves coursing through him. Every meeting with Melody he’d ever had was in her dorm or in the music room. He’d invited her back to his practise room once or twice, but that was normally when they were both too high while late at night with an itch for musical hexellence. He hesitated outside of the door, looking into the window to see her sat down in a corner booth with tethered brown leather seats.

He pushed open the door with an all too familiar anxiety. She smiled as she saw him and he closed the door behind him, being embraced by the warmth of the coffee shop. She beckoned him to come over and he walked towards her without much apprehension despite his increasing levels of anxiety that were pounding violently against his chest. “Hi.” She greeted, and her voice sounded unnaturally strained as she pushed a coffee towards him. He sat down opposite her, gratefully accepting the offering and clutching it in his cold hands. “Hey.”

She shuffled, and he could see nervousness radiating off of her. It made him worried; not just for her but also himself. “Are you alright?” He asked, surprising himself with the steadiness of his voice. She smiled, and nodded with semi-confidence. It was partially convincing. “I am, thanks.” She replied and he nodded, feeling more convinced that she was at least mostly okay. “Look, uhm.. I know I probably sounded a bit.. cryptic.” She told him, and he nodded. He’d spent the best past of the night and then the day wracking his brain trying to figure out what he’d done to ruin one of the best things he’d ever had.

“Well, I was upset.” She stated. His heart dropped - he knew he’d done something.. he always does something. His face fell, visibly and she wasn’t entirely surprised. “Because you didn’t.. hext me. After you left.” She said and his eyes widened, he hadn’t expected that. They’d never kept a conversation over the mirrorphone after a night together, and he didn’t know she’d hexpected him to start. “I didn’t know you wanted me to.” He replied, it sounded like a weak hexcuse but he was at least being honest; not to mention the depressive drop of mood the second he’d left the hallway her dorm was in.

He pointedly decided against mentioning how he’d returned from their night together and immediately deflated into a somber pit of depleting sadness that felt like an all-encompassing void forcing him into a paralysed state of devastation that Alistair couldn’t retrieve him from. Duchess and Faybelle had to coach him through like they were glorified therapists who thankfully had magical abilities and a (what he believed to be) far too much faith and hope in his very messy recovery that he honestly was doing nothing towards besides staring at his ceiling and glancing wishfully at his drawer with a will to move he couldn’t quite match. This wasn’t about him, though, it was about Melody; he wouldn’t strip her of that.

She sipped her coffee, contemplating silently with eyes piercing into him like she could spy all his secrets. “I know.” She responded and his grip of his cup tightened slightly in surprise. His mouth forming into the shape of a small circle. “Oh,” He muttered, “so why were you upset?” he asked and secretly prayed that he didn’t sound like a raging dick for asking a hopefully not obvious question with a hopefully less obvious answer. “I don’t know.” She answered, “well, I kind of know.”

He stared at her for a moment, and she sighed heavily. She slipped off her jacket instead of expanding, deciding the temperature of the room was a better conversational topic than how she was feeling. “It’s hot in here.” She said, blankly, as she pushed her jacket off and bundled it up next to her. He nodded slowly in response, mindlessly agreeing with her to save from any awkwardness. “You not going to take off your jacket?” She asked, trying to clear any tension from the air with small, casual conversation that felt rather futile. He shook his head in a silent reply, pushing the coffee cup to his lips in favour of answering any questions - no matter how small. “Isn’t it hot? And you’re wearing gloves.” She pointed out and he swallowed thickly.

His hand instinctively moved to cover the top of his glove, hovering overtop its location through his leather jacket. He snapped back to reality and pushed his hand onto the tap, loosely wrapping around the base of the coffee cup.

He shrugged absentmindedly but tightened his hold on the cup in his hand as her stare intensified against him, “I’m fine.” he said, and the words sounded harsher than he’d intended. She frowned, and cocked her head to the side in what he could only imagine was disbelief. “You sure you’re not hot?.. heat does make people irritable.” She pointed out and he gritted his teeth, inhaling sharper than usual and swallowing down more coffee like it would eradicate the conversation and erase her memory on a whim for him. “I’m fine, Mel. Drop it.” He warned.

She furrowed her brows, and looked at him with concern bleeding into her face. He’d never spoken to her like that, never raised his voice past his regular softness with her - minus.. other sounds.. during certain activities. “What’s going on with you?” She asked and he shook his head quickly, as if the question made his brain ache abnormally. He stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Nothing.” He answered, and she could tell it was a complete lie - utter fabrication. She didn’t push, thought best not to pry when he was so clearly against the topic that had become the cover-up for her true feelings.

She’d had a plan, deciphered one with the help of Justine when she’d finally agreed to talk to Sparrow after a fair amount of denial and an annoying pushback of her true feelings. The plan had died in her fingertips when Sparrow had started acting off, and arguably she knew it was probably nothing but it was irritating to her - anger management classes be damned. Sure, she could hold her tongue and focus on breathing exercises that she’d never cared for and attempt to ‘centre her emotions’, whatever the fuck that meant.

Anger was building inside of her, spurred further by the lack of attempt he was making - had been making. All because she’d tried to encourage an unrelated conversation to the thoughts plaguing her mind and distancing herself from the fucked up thoughts and desires that had got them into this situation in the first place. He never seemed to bother with her, snapping about conversations and creating distance even when they were quite literally having sex and she was certain that he thought she wasn’t noticing. Too dumb to pick up on it, or whatever he probably joked about with Duchess and Faybelle.

He was so close to Duchess, her hand was never not on his arm and it was sickening. She was starting to think the whole meeting that she’d planned was worth nothing - he was ever so clearly interested in a different girl. The girl who loved to get under people’s skin and lived her life with a purpose of causing harm to those around her. What could Sparrow possibly like about that? What could Duchess possibly have that she didn’t? She knew she was jealous and further more, she knew it was feeding into the bubbling storm of anger that thundered inside of her and boomed like a speaker against her bones and reverberated through her skull until she was pushed to snapping.

“I don’t get what you’re overreacting about.” She said, “acting like me asking a simple question is a world-ending scenario.” She snapped, “I’m sorry for caring and I’m sorry for not wanting you to overheat because you refuse to take off your fucking jacket.” She continued, before pausing and realising that the words tumbling from her lips sounded royally insensitive. He tensed. Visibly. Not the regular tenseness he tried to hide and play off with nervous drugs and offerings of another joint - no, this was different.

“I should go.” He announced, getting up without biting back at her remark, leaving the cup of coffee he’d treated as a life line, and left without a word.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 12

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be (very) mindful of the tags.

Sparrow stumbled, grabbing onto a wall beside him as the drink in his hand splashed against the glass. He pulled the bottle to his lips, chugging the liquid as the street lights flickered above him, illuminating his face in the darkness surrounding him. He staggered aimlessly through the streets with nothing but the sound of the wind crying out and the sloshing of wonderland juice against the thick glass he was clinging onto.

His vision was clouding as the contents of the bottle depleted with high speeds, he could barely walk straight in his alcohol-induced stupor. His body felt weightless and numbingly heavy in a way that felt like a twisted joke. His hands ached with the cold as his fingerless gloves proved useless; his hand numbly clutching the neck of the bottle. His stomach pooled with nausea as he continued to mindlessly sip. He coughed roughly against the rim of the glass; he couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or the sharp burn plaguing the back of his throat with every drink.

He paused in his travel, leaning against the wall connecting to a shop he couldn’t read the name of. He kept drinking, his hand unsteady with a ruthless tremble. His throat burned and all he could focus on was the biting cold beating against him as the wind spiralled around him.

He pushed himself off of the wall, legs shaking with the effort and the cold as he continued in his uneven journey. His feet felt uncoordinated as he struggled to walk straight, unable to keep his balance and running his hand along a wall. “Are you alright?” He heard someone ask, and all he could muster was a pathetic nod, he attempted to answer but it was ineligible, a slurred jumble of nonsensical nothingness.

The alleyway was pitch black, the street lights no where in sight and he begged his eyes to hocus focus on the spinning world around him, he could feel coldness running throughout his body, but it was too dark to identify the source. A crushing weight was weighing down on him as he breath stuttered, reaching around for nothing in particular. His wrist was caught, he wasn’t sure what by, but he pulled it away and pressed it against his chest. He could feel the floor beneath his fingertips, but when had he fallen? The bottle was gone - as though it’d vanished from between his fingers.

He couldn’t see anything, barely visible washed out silhouettes of nothing blocked his vision as he tried to search frantically for a clue about his whereabouts. His vision swam and everything was spinning so violently the nausea hit him like a tidal wave, the rest of his body feeling numb against the consumption and the cold. He was rigid, like he was forcibly held in place as he laid - not even able to shiver. It must’ve been raining or spitting, because something wet was hitting the back of his neck, followed by spraying across his back. He was shocked he could feel it through the thick leather of his jacket.

 

Daring was tired, his vision swimming with numbers and notes he’d written that he just couldn’t process anymore, he couldn’t ask for help either with reading it, no. They wouldn’t understand, no one would. He could guess, as his finger traced the parchment of the spiral scroll notebook on his desk, it’d only be the whispers of his mother that still echoed through his mind with practiced ease.

His hand ached with the frantic scrawl of writing words he could barely make out, and he couldn’t tell if it was from the dim lighting, his lack of effort in his handwriting, his impairment around reading or his bone-deep exhaustion invading through him. He leaned forward, his head resting against his hands as he attempted to clear his vision onto the parchment in front of him. He kept his eyes trained on the parchment, only being able to vaguely make out the growing list of numbers.

He looked towards the scale to the side of him, staring at the saved number flashing at him with a warning of deletion. He’d already logged it, he didn’t need to make an attempt at saving it but watching the number fade out felt like a loss of some description. He pushed the scale back under his dresser with a swift movement that felt too much like muscle memory. He closed the spiral scroll notebook with a huff of annoyance and placed it back into its place in his drawer, lining it up against the inner wall with practiced efficiency.

He stood, and the chair creaked into the quiet. He stepped towards the mirror, bunching his nightshirt in his hand to see himself in the mirror from the side, as he sucked in his stomach and then relaxed. He tied the shirt with one motion, and stood directly straight on to the mirror, his hands tracing his sides and pinching the skin on his sides. He repeated the movement until he felt somewhat satisfied, releasing his shirt and repeating the process in a similar manner.

He eventually relented, huffing out a displeased breath as he climbed into his bed and turned off his lamp as he laid down, turning on his side. Hopper resumed staring at the point his roommate had stood for a dangerously long time for the third night in a row - that he’d witnessed. It was a growing concern that he was unable to address without feeling guilty for spying (even though he reasoned to himself that it was his dorm as well).

 

Alistair was starting to worry. Sparrow hadn’t returned back to their dorm yet and his clock had just struck 3:30am.. normally, he wouldn’t worry about his roommate staying out late because he’d somehow always end up back at Melody’s. However, when he saw Melody trudging back to her dorm with an upset expression painted on her face without the rockstar in tow, his concern grew a tenfold.

He fell asleep - at some point. Only to be awoken by a crash, he shot up in alarm, blindly reaching for the cord for his lamp and flicking it on. Sparrow was holding onto the wall, his shirt was ripped in a couple places, his cargos were strained with dirt with his leather jacket looked like it’d been bathed in dirt. “What the fuck happened to you?” Alistair asked, throwing the covers off of himself and standing up. Sparrow shrugged, stumbling over to his dresser with a shocking imbalance. “Don’t remember.” He replied, his words slurring together.

Alistair walked over to him, and the scent of alcohol and grime hit his nose immediately, “Are you drunk?” he questioned and Sparrow nodded wordlessly, pulling clothes out of his dresser drawers without much care - which was odd because Alistair knew how much Sparrow cared about fashion. “Are you sure you don’t remember?” Alistair asked and Sparrow nodded again, with a lot less care than before. He shuffled past Alistair, his hands trembling around the doorknob of their adjoining bathroom as he struggled to push it open.

Alistair watched as he disappeared shakily into their bathroom, the sound of the shower running filling the quiet. Sparrow showering while that drunk sounded like a horrific idea, but he didn’t hexactly have a say in it, so he focused on getting his clothes ready for the day. After all, he was supposed to be going on a date with Bunny at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Shop and didn’t have time for distractions.

He reached for his mirrorphone, taking it off of charge as he sent Bunny a hext announcing he was awake and would meet with her in roughly an hour. She sent back a white heart emoji, and he left it at that.

Sparrow eventually stumbled out the bathroom, muttering something incoherent under his breath as he dropped down onto his bed. Alistair stared at him, “I can bring you back breakfast from the tea shop?” Alistair offered as he continued to take in the (cleaner) state of his wasted roommate, who threw him a thumbs down and unintelligible muttering. “I’m.. gonna hext Duchess, okay?” He said and sparrow groaned, rolled over and stayed silent.

[ Alistair & Duchess’s Private Messages ]

Alistair: sparrow is drunk & I have a date w bunny

Alistair: can you come watch him?

Duchess: omw w fay

Duchess: how’s he already drunk it’s 9am.

Alistair: he stayed out last night and got drunk

Duchess: with Melody?

Alistair: alone

Duchess: wtf why didn’t you TELL ME

Alistair: I didn’t know I was meant to

Duchess: whatever after it’s fine

 

Duchess: me & Fay are outside

Alistair: doors unlocked

 

Duchess pushed open the door and looked between the wonderlandian and her best friend. “Oh, he looks rough.” Faybelle muttered, crossing her arms as she stood by the door. Duchess glared at her, and Alistair nodded along because he agreed. “He’s feeling it, too.” Alistair replied and he quickly exited the dorm.

Duchess sat on Sparrow’s bed, “what happened?” she asked softly - a softness reserved for only her closest friends. Faybelle fluttered over without a word and Sparrow took a deep breath, attempting to ward off growing nausea. “I don’t remember.” He replied, and her concern grew. She looked towards Faybelle, who shrugged in response and equal concerned confusion. “You don’t remember?” She repeated back and he nodded like it was the most obvious, simple thing in the whole of ever after. Duchess took a deep breath to simmer her growing emotions, “what do you remember, then?” she prompted quietly.

He pushed himself into a sitting position, which looked much more difficult than it should’ve been. “Mel hates me.” He admitted and the girls eyes widened, focusing on him now that he’d emerged from a cocoon of blankets. The back of his neck was bruised, barely visible from shadows dancing across him and how his hair hung. “What happened to your neck?” Duchess asked, her pupils blown wide in a flurry of panicked care; she reached towards his neck. He pulled away, “I probably fell.” he replied, shrugging it off. “Was pretty drunk.” He explained. The girls in front of him looked unsure, but nodded along.

Faybelle looked at him, “anyway- why do you think Melody hates you, hexactly?” she asked curiously and he crumbled, his head dropping into his heads in an futile attempt to disappear. Duchess put her hand on his shoulder in a hopeful attempt at being comforting.

“We were.. making progress, I think.” He told them and they both nodded in anticipation, “and then she told me she was upset- with me, but wouldn’t really tell me why. She got so defensive about it, which, maybe is fair enough. But she changed the topic and I guess I wasn’t good enough.” He rambled, “and then she said shit and I can’t even remember but it hurt and I think I left without saying much- got drunk, clearly. I ruined it with her. I ruin everything.” He ranted, with increasing frustration and upset that he couldn’t shake.

Duchess cleared her throat, “first of all, you’re good enough, Row. We’ve talked about this enough. You tried engaging in the conversation with her, didn’t you?” She asked and he nodded. “Good, and she shouldn’t be saying shit that upsets you! Obviously probably heat of the moment or something, I don’t know but she should apologise to you nonetheless.” She continued, watching as he absorbed the information with widening eyes. “And you don’t ruin everything, that’s just not true. You haven’t ruined us.” She pointed out and he exhaled shakily.

Faybelle put her hand on his other shoulder, his hissed in pain. “Are you okay?” Faybelle asked, whipping her hand away like it physically burnt her to unintentionally harm him and Sparrow nodded quickly. “I’m fine, I probably fell..” He explained, and they nodded at his conviction - he seemed to believe what he was saying, so why wouldn’t they?

 

Rosabella looked at her roommate, who was currently polishing one of her swords from her extensive collection. “You’ve been quiet. It’s unusual.” Rosabella pointed out and Darling hummed in acknowledgment but remained hocus focused on the metal before her. “Hocus focusing.” She replied blankly and Rosabella crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow and looking at her with an unimpressed look. “You are just like your brother.” Rosabella laughed, with a small laugh, Darling’s nose scrunched up in mild offence.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Darling asked and Rosabella smiled fondly, Darling put the sword in her hand down on her bed and dropped the towel she was cleaning with. “That you both go quiet when you’re thinking and want it to be unnoticed.” Rosabella told her and Darling huffed out a breath, crossing her own arms in displeasure or the comparison. “So, what’s bothering you?” She asked and Darling cursed her upbringing, likeliness to her older brother and Rosabella’s natural attentiveness.

Darling hung her sword back up, before settling down on her bed. “I’m worried about Daring.” She said and Rosabella gave her a soft look, which, figures. “I tried talking to him but he brushed me off. I expected that, but I’m worried he won’t.. ever.. talk.” She explained and Rosabella nodded in understanding. She related, that was undeniable but it felt best not to blatantly state that. Darling needed reassurance, not a verbal punch down. “He will, eventually.” Rosabella reassured her.

“He admitted dad did it to him, so that’s.. improvement.” Darling confessed and Rosabella nodded. “And you know about it now.. so he’s at least able to be more open now.” Darling suggested hopefully, Rosabella smiled. That was true, he hadn’t denied it was his father (arguably he physically couldn’t have). “Maybe he’s getting better, then.” Darling conspired quietly, and maybe he was.

Just maybe.. he was.

Or, maybe he wasn’t.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 13

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

remember, a = d
(that’ll make sense later)

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling. Apple’s is a WIP)

[ Justine & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Melody: I royally fucked up didn’t I?

Melody: I don’t know what to do

Justine: I think you should talk to him Mel

Melody: because that went so well last time

Justine: well maybe if you actually told him how you feel..

Melody: it’s harder than I thought!

Melody: I started and I panicked

Justine: we need to get you a therapist.

Melody: maybe I should just pretend I don’t have feelings for him until I’m able to talk about it with him

Justine: maybe

Justine: but that doesn’t sound healthy.

Melody: that’s not a problem

Justine: isn’t it?

Melody: I’ll invite him over and we’ll get high and it’ll be like old times

Justine: where you repress your feelings while fucking?

Melody: hexactly!

Justine: there’s so many flaws in that plan Mel.

Melody: maybe there is

Melody: but I don’t know how else to deal with it

Justine: Therapy. Communication. Vulnerability

Melody: come back to me when you tell Ramona how you feel

Justine: I’m not having casual sex and a spliff with her every other night.

Melody: okay true

Justine: whatever after you decided to do I’ll support you

Justine: but I do think you should talk to him.

Melody: I’d say I’ll try but we both know I probably won’t

Justine: just be careful

Melody: I always am

Justine: sure..

[ Melody & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Melody: I’m sorry about last night

Melody: I don’t know what I was thinking

Melody: that wasn’t fair of me

Sparrow: it’s okay

Melody: it isn’t

Melody: I upset you

Sparrow: it’s fine I’ll get over it

Melody: are you sure?

Sparrow: yeah

Melody: wanna come over later?

Sparrow: is that part of the apology?

Melody: yes

Sparrow: okay then

Sparrow: I’ll charm you later

Melody: thank you

 

Duchess pushed open the door, the bell ringing her in her wake. She exchanged coins for her regular drink and slinked into her usual corner seat without a word. She slipped her hood off as she silently sipped her coffee, looking up at the door over the rim of her cup expectantly. The bell rang out as the door opened and she straightened, moving forward to the edge of her seat. She placed her coffee cup down on the coaster, as the woman sat before her yet again.

Duchess stared forward, her eyes not leaving the face of the lady before her. “I need you to help me.” She said quietly, keeping her voice barely audible despite the near emptiness of the coffee shop around her. The woman nodded in response, “care to expand?” she asked, crossing her legs and leaning back in an elegantly casual way that mesmerised the swan. Duchess cleared her throat, and attempted to mirror a similar position to the lady. “I want you to find something out for me.” Duchess elaborated.

The woman stayed silent, not interrupting as Duchess reeled off her desires with a strained expression as if she didn’t want to be here, to need help. Her speech veered off into rambling, frantic and desperate in a plead attempt to convince the woman to assist her in her journey - her plan.

The woman let her ramble for another moment, before raising a hand and requesting silence. “I’ll help.” She said, and Duchess’s eyes lit up, like fireworks were erupting from her irises. “For a price.” She added, and Duchess deflated slightly in disenchantment, but nodded in agreement nonetheless.

 

Dexter walked into Daring’s dorm, Hopper taking in the seriousness on Dexter’s face quickly exited with a nervous expression - as if he was hiding something - he closed the door quickly. “We need to talk.” Dexter announced when they were alone, and Daring placed his mirrorphone down with a heavy sigh. He looked up, shuffling back against the headboard of his bed.

Dexter sat down on Daring’s bed, taking a deep breath. “I said to myself on visiting day we needed to talk about this later. I meant it.” Dexter started, already nervously picking at the skin on his fingers. Daring’s hands ached to offer him a form of comfort, a habit engrained into him from childhood - psychological condition he assumed. “Why’d you walk away?” He asked; Daring looked away for a prolonged moment with an unreadable expression. Dexter waited patiently, a soft wave of understanding radiating off of him.

Daring looked up, inhaling and exhaling calm his fraying nerves, “I was already stressed, Dex. I wasn’t in the headspace for such a conversation. I’m sorry for my lack of communication in that regard, however I found myself feeling unable to respond.” Daring explained, gently expressing his side of the story in an attempt to reassure his brother. “I’m fine now, little brother, you don’t have to worry about me.” He reassured and Dexter’s brow furrowed at the dismissive attempt of reassurance.

Dexter nodded along, deciding it was in Daring’s best interest to at least pretend he was convinced by his conditioned attempt at soothing. “It’s okay.” Dexter replied, realising he let the silence settle for far too long. He scanned the room awkwardly, attempting to find something that’d be an effortless topic of conversation. His eyes landed on Daring’s nightstand, staring for a short moment at a copy of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson left open and faced page-down on the surface. “How’s reading going?” Dexter asked, and Daring’s eyes flickered between his brother and the book.

“Good.” He replied, suddenly tense, and it only served to further push Dexter’s curiously blossoming concern but he nodded in acknowledgment nonetheless. “What’s it about?” He asked and Daring shrugged in response, a twinkle of something akin to fear shining in his eyes, even if only barely noticeable. “not much.” He replied dryly, and alarm bells fired up loudly in Dexter’s head, piercing through his ears. “Rosa gave it to me.” He added, and Dexter nodded simply as he cataloged the name of the book into his memory to mention to Raven later - she’d probably read it.

Dexter stood up, “I promised Hunter I’d help with something for Ash, so I’ll charm you later,” he excused and shifted on his feet in near anxiousness as he looked at his older brother who was attempting to conceal his subtle worry knitting between his brows. “Charm you later, Dex.” Daring replied with a semi-forced smile. Dexter nodded in acknowledgment and slipped out the door, waving as he left.

 

[ Soon To Be Sisters (Charming Protection Squad) (GC) ]

Bisexual Goth: Rosa I didn’t know you’d read wintergirls?

Pansexual Princess: I haven’t?

Royal Lesbian: what’s that?

Bisexual Goth: daring told dex you recommended it to him

Pansexual Princess: i definitely didn’t

Pansexual Princess: and it’s about eating disorders, apple

Royal Lesbian: oh..

Pansexual Princess: why would he say I recommended it to him?

Royal Lesbian: well you are tutoring him?

Royal Lesbian: maybe he just misheard you

Pansexual Princess: I doubt it but maybe

Bisexual Goth: he wouldn’t tell Dex what it was about

Pansexual Princess: that’s weird

Royal Lesbian: he might just be.. educating himself?

Bisexual Goth: Dex said he seemed really tense about it?

Pansexual Princess: but that doesn’t make sense

Pansexual Princess: unless..

Notes:

Gxfkhvv Lv Qrw Zkr Vkh Vhhpv

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 14

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

[ Soon To Be Sisters (Charming Protection Squad) (GC) ]

Pansexual Princess: what do I do?

Pansexual Princess: if it’s true

Royal Lesbian: I mean I noticed stuff when me and him were together all the time

Pansexual Princess: like?

Royal Lesbian: well you already know how obsessive he is about his appearance

Pansexual Princess: he is

Pansexual Princess: I’m trying to help him work through it but he’s not very receptive

Bisexual Goth: do you blame him?

Pansexual Princess: what?

Bisexual Goth: well all the charmings are raised to be ‘perfect’

Bisexual Goth: Dex never cared for it

Royal Lesbian: darling gave up after a while

Bisexual Goth: but Dex and Darling both said Daring took it to heart a lot more

Pansexual Princess: okay, so he possibly has problems with eating

Pansexual Princess: that’s okay I can work with him

Bisexual Goth: if he does have issues with eating it’s not like you can’t support him

Royal Lesbian: yeah! You’ll be okay

Pansexual Princess: will he?

Pansexual Princess: we don’t even know how long this has been going on for

Bisexual Goth: I hate to say it but probably a while..

Pansexual Princess: I’m scared

Royal Lesbian: it’ll be okay

Pansexual Princess: you don’t know that, Apple

Bisexual Goth: we don’t

Bisexual Goth: we’ll just have to make sure of it

 

Sparrow knocked on Melody’s door with a tight fist, his knuckles going white with his attempt to limit the seemingly permanent tremble of his hands. Melody opened the door, a sheepish smile on her face that seemed almost unnatural in comparison to her usual sparkling confidence. “Hey.” She greeted, stepping aside to let him in, closing the door behind him as he entered. He looked around the room, seeing the contrasting styles between Melody and Ginger as he remained silent.

Melody sat on her bed, spine straight and her posture screamed guarded as he lowered himself next to her with a pained wince. “Are you okay?” She asked and he nodded quickly, looking at her in the soft purple hue of her side of the room. “What happened to your neck?” She questioned, turning around to face his bruises so quickly he thought she’d gotten whiplash. He shrugged, “I don’t remember. I think I fell over.” he replied and the answer only further pushed her panic, a thousand questions swarming her head faster than she could process them, let alone ask them.

He noticed the concern and confusion on her face, “oh, I got drunk last night.” He told her, “after everything I just.. yeah, you know.” he trailed off, the words dying in his mouth as he gave up on the explanation, nothing he could’ve said would’ve made her feel any better about the guilt already eating away at her. “Oh.” She replied, adverting her eyes quickly.

He rubbed his neck and immediately pulled his hand away at the dull throb. Melody offered a comforting half-smile before leaning forward and reaching under her bed, pulling out a bottle of wonderland juice with a hopeful smile, which Sparrow returned. She stood, pulling a bottle open off of her desk and popping open the bottle wordlessly, before offering it to him, “I think you deserve the first drink.” she said and he happily took it.

At some point in the night, she’d offered a blunt to him in return for the bottle. He happily took it, taking a hit with a relaxed smile; she swapped the items again before her hand moved to rest on his cheek. He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with hope and something more. She looked down at his lips for a moment, and his cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink. She leaned in.

She moved her hand from his cheek, placing it on his nape and deepening the kiss, the alcohol and joint were disregarded as they moved in tandem, only pulling away for air. “Mel.” He whispered, his breath hot against her skin. Her lips curved into a smile; she tightened her clasp on his hair as their lips crashed together. The bottle abandoned on the floor and the joint left on her ashtray as she pushed him down onto the mattress, his back hitting it with a light thud.

A hand on his shoulder. Pinning him down.

A hand on his neck. Pinning him down.

Someone above him. Pinning him down.

His heart raced, adrenaline pumping through his veins as his ears rang loudly. He choked on air, “stop- stop.” he muttered, pushing Melody off of him as he pushed himself up, his back hitting her headboard with a pained grunt. Melody stepped way, her hands shooting up in a surrendering position. His lungs constricted, cutting off oxygen and suffocating him as gasped out. His hands trembled violently as he pulled his knees up to his chest in a defeated, protective position.

Melody stood, frozen with wide eyes - wider than they’d ever been. She didn’t know what to do, anxiety and shock gluing her in place as she stared with her own rapidly racing heart.

She snapped out of her anxiety induced state and quickly rushed to his side, “Sparrow, look at me.” she instructed, her voice low. His breathing stuttered as he looked up, his fist clenching around the opening of his leather jacket. “Hey, you’re okay, dude. You’re safe, you just need to hocus focus on breathing.” She told him, “in for four,” she instructed and he wordlessly complied. “There you go, hold for four. You’re doing so well, and release for four.”

She rested her hand on his as he slowly calmed down, his breathing steadying and his heart rate decreasing. “What happened there?” She asked, after letting the silence grow comforting. He looked down, his eyes trained on the studs of his jacket; then he shrugged. She didn’t buy it, didn’t believe that he didn’t know but decided this wasn’t a time to push for answers. “Okay.” She replied, keeping her voice abnormally quiet.

She let them fall into another spell of silence, keeping her eyes on him with flurrying concern. “Do you.. want me to hext Duchess?” She asked and he pulled his knees closer with a small nod. She returned the gesture, reaching for her mirrorphone. She realised how sober she felt now, but it seemed as through he’d sobered up similarly.

[ Duchess & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Melody: help

Duchess: are you okay?

Duchess: is Row okay?

Melody: idk

Melody: he had a panic attack I think

Melody: he calmed down but he’s quiet

Melody: help

Duchess: ofc, is your door unlocked?

Melody: I think so

Duchess: I’ll be over in a sec

Melody: thank you

Duchess: no problem

Duchess: thanks for telling me

Melody: ofc

Duchess, if it was any less unladylike, would’ve ran. She settled for speed walking and blessed her destined genetics for the agility as she found her way to Melody’s door in record speed. She pushed the door open.

Her heart shattered.

She stared at the pair, her best friend curled up on himself with a residual tremble racking through him. She approached him, “what happened, Row?” she asked quietly, and he looked away. She hesitated. Melody looked at her with near-pleading eyes, begging for a form of guidance that Duchess wasn’t even sure she’d mastered herself yet. Sparrow - for all his loudness and hexccentricity - relished in the quiet, calmness of the night; Duchess let a comfortable silence wash over them as she sat down next to Sparrow. Melody joined with a warmed ease, and Sparrow dropped his head wordlessly onto her shoulder. Improvement on multiple fronts, Duchess gathered.

 

Rosabella knew she had to do something, and the worried nerves were gnawing away at her as she sat on her bed, staring at her wall like it held all the answers. She wished it did. “You’ve been staring at the wall for forever after, are you alright?” Darling asked, looking up from her mirrorphone, dropping it onto her bed as she sat up. Rosabella hesitated, she didn’t know what Raven had told Dexter. On the other wing, she’d told Apple and most importantly.. Darling deserved to know.

“Does Daring have problems eating?” She asked, abrupt and straightforward. She couldn’t put it off or sugarcoat it, it seemed too important to. Darling looked surprised, but recovered quickly. “Has he told you?” Darling questioned; Rosabella shook her head. “He’s not told me, either.” Darling told her, “Me and Dex just figured it out.”

Rosabella remained silent, a sad yet contemplating kind of silence that sticks to your lungs and lumps in your throat. “How long?” She choked out, and Darling’s expression turned sympathetic. Pained. She hesitated, as though she was working it out in her head. “I remember him not taking food from people when we were kids. I remember him not eating a lot, actually.” Darling admitted and the walls seemed to close in, crushing Rosabella with the gravity of the situation with blaring alarms as a million questions circled through her head. But one stuck out, repeating over and over again.

How didn’t I notice?

 

Duchess slipped out of Melody’s dorm, muttering an hexcuse about informing Faybelle - which, in all fairness, she did do.

In the quiet of the empty hallway, with nothing but the familiar sounds of the night, she dialled a number on her mirrorphone, pressing it to her ear as it rang out; tapping her foot against the floor impatiently. The call went through, she sucked in a shaky breath. “I need that help. Now.” She whispered.

Notes:

Grq’w Jr Edfn Wr Wkh Doohbzdb

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
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Chapter 15

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Hopper: I need a new dorm

Hunter: why?

Hopper: every night daring keeps me up for so long

Ramona: from whispering sweet nothings to himself in the mirror?

Hopper: He keeps his lamp on and it’s so bright

Daring: I didn’t know that kept you up.

Dexter: for reading?

Daring: yes

Hopper: no

Hopper: so he can stand and stare at mirror for 20 minutes on the dot, weigh himself like 5 times and write the numbers down in a spiral scroll notebook while muttering to himself

Faybelle: oh uhm..

Ramona: I won’t say anything about that.

Hopper: because it’s fucking annoying

Hopper: every night! like why are you so obsessed w your appearance you look fine

Hopper: supposed to be the most handsome guy in the school and you’re out here doing this at 12am?

Faybelle: hopper that’s not

Duchess: Okay

Ramona: at all

Hopper: what? He’s fine

Darling: hexcuse me?

Hopper: I don’t wanna hear abt it

Hopper: I’m the one missing out on my beauty sleep

Rosabella: Hopper. Delete everything rn

Hopper: wtf? Why

Apple: just do it.

Hopper: that’s not like you Apple

Darling: fucking listen to her then and delete it

Darling: now

Hopper: I don’t see what the problem is

Raven: are you fr?

Hopper: yes

Dexter: I had a whole rant about how you don’t fucking educate yourself do not make me do it again

Darling: fucking delete it

Hopper: i don’t understand why

Dexter: delete it before daring sees it

Rosabella: please

Daring: I already have

Hopper: see not a problem

Darling: I’m gonna use you for fencing practice oh my Grimm

Apple: no threats please my love

Apple: though I do agree

[ Surviving The Charmings (GC) ]

Invisible Nerd: are you okay?

Swords&Scissors: daring?

Parentified Slut: im fine

Swords&Scissors: are you sure?

Invisible Nerd: I wouldn’t be

Parentified Slut: I’m not you

Parentified Slut: im fine

Invisible Nerd: you know you can talk to us

Swords&Scissors: we’re always here for you

Parentified Slut: I know but I’m fine

[ Charming Parents’ Hate Club (GC) ]

Princess Destiny: are you alright, daring?

Brains & Beauty: mon chéri?

Goth Therapist: daring?

Poet: we already tried

Soldier: he’s fine apparently

King: I am fine

Brains & Beauty: you can talk to us

King: I’m fine

Goth Therapist: hate to use my name against you but my therapist senses are tingling

King: for everyone else maybe

King: I don’t need help

Solider: do you know how bad that sounds..

King: darling I’m fine

Poet: I think you should talk to someone..

Poet: just to make sure!

Princess Destiny: I agree

King: if it makes you leave me alone

King: fine

[ Daring & Rosabella’s Private Messages ]

Daring: I am fine

Daring: nothing is going on

Daring: hoppers just reading things wrong

Rosabella: mon amour I already knew

Daring: what?

Rosabella: wintergirls

Rosabella: dex asked Raven, Raven told me

Rosabella: then darling expanded on it

Rosabella: how long

Rosabella: daring?

Rosabella: it’s okay you can talk to me

Rosabella: please

Daring: sorry

Daring: it’s hard to

Rosabella: I understand that

Rosabella: it’s okay

Rosabella: I’m not going anywhere

Daring: not yet

Rosabella: not ever.

Daring: it started when I was a kid

Daring: my parents always wanted me to be perfect and then it became one the only ways they viewed me as perfect

Daring: and I needed to be perfect

Daring: need to be perfect

Rosabella: you still feel like that?

Daring: it’s the only thing i can hocus focus on

Daring: it’s constantly on my mind

Rosabella: perfect is unattainable

Rosabella: nothing and nobody is perfect

Daring: I need to be

Rosabella: I know mon amour but you can’t be

Rosabella: your parents expectations are unrealistic

Rosabella: probably entirely unachievable

Daring: it’s not just their expectations

Daring: they’re mine too

Rosabella: it’s from your parents

Daring: I guess

Rosabella: you need to eat

Daring: I can’t

Rosabella: why not?

Daring: without my looks I’m nothing

Rosabella: you’re worth so much more than just your appearance

Rosabella: yes you’re absolutely gorgeous, the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen but you’re kind, you’re so thoughtful and selfless and you’re such a good brother, boyfriend and friend to everyone

Rosabella: eating won’t change that

Daring: but what if I quit and then you don’t want me anymore

Rosabella: I’ll always want you

Daring: you don’t know that.

Rosabella: I do

Daring: you can’t

Rosabella: I love you now that won’t change

Daring: that’s not true

Daring: if I’m not perfect no one will love me

Daring: no one’s supposed to love me when I’m not good enough for it

Daring: and I’ll never been good enough

Notes:

Wkh Kxqjhu Inhov Jrrg, Krz Gr L Txlw Wklv - Gdulwj’v Gldub

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
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Chapter 16

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

Breakfast in the castleteria was a chore. Breakfast in general, was a chore. Breakfast in the castleteria with half of your classmates staring you down like the cherry yogurt you were choking down was a golden miracle needing to be memorialised, was also, In Daring’s mind, a chore. It was supposed to be him proving something - proving he ate. It wasn’t working, and his skin was prickling with the nauseating effort. He’d scanned the calories before picking it up like he was processing classified government documents, and he still felt unsure.

Darling had joined him with a plate of fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon and prolonged it was fit for a knight; he’d cracked a genuine smile. Dexter had joined shortly after with scrambled eggs and toast, claiming it was the best meal for a clever mind; he’d huffed out a laugh. Raven had joined after Dexter with a dragon egg omelette and a claim of power-boosting; he’d nodded along in acknowledgment. Rosabella had joined with a couple of waffles and an array of fruits with the admission of it being a healthy alternative to sugary breakfasts; he’d smiled at the comment while absorbing the information. Apple had joined at last with airy pancakes and fruit while claiming the healthiness of a balanced and filling meal; Daring was getting annoyed by it.

He could tell what they were doing, and it was sickeningly obvious and more sickening that they shared ‘secret’ looks like it was miraculously healing him. It was prickling at his skin like thousands of thorn bushes, the desire to push away the bowl in front of him and call out their plans. He ignored it, pushed it down - like a lot of things. They were shooting not-so-subtle glances at him everytime his hand so much as graced the metal handle of the spoon, and it was infuriating. Their eyes on him was bad enough, but doubled with the intense stare burning into him from all angles by everyone he’d ever conversed with was starting to royally bother him.

Every bite of the food before him was tasteless and hexcruciating; he couldn’t stop without more worried looks. They wanted him to be better, fixed with the click of their hopeful fingers. It didn’t work like that. The silence at the table. Everyone staring at him half expectant and half filled with faith was racking his lungs and squeezing them, this wasn’t what he wanted. Nor what he needed. He was silently begging them to engage in their own conversations, and actually eat their food without staring him down like predators analysing their prey.

His free hand - that wasn’t gripping the spoon so tightly he feared the metal would bend - was drumming into his thigh in an attempt to calm the nerves rushing through him. Five taps, a pause, repeat. It wasn’t working very well, his head was swarming with the stress, and the eyes piercing him was making his vision swim. His chest was growing tight, a heavy weight of anxiety beating alongside his heart. His attempts at centring his breathing failed miserably (no doubt something to do with the eyes that hadn’t once left him).

He picked up the tray, walking away from the table and throwing the remains of his meal away, then leaving the castleteria. No one at the table made any attempt to move, eyes that were once tracking him now snapping back to eachother in the uncomfortable silence that surrounded them. “What was that?” Raven asked, finally, the silence cracking and fizzing out. Apple looked equally confused, mixed together with undeniable worry. No one had an answer, so they settled into a concerned quiet.

 

Sparrow was - without a doubt - exhausted, it ran deep into his bones and bled into the marrow like it belonged there. Maybe it did. His body ached, but something else laid thick on his mind. Memories had come back in unclear flashes that he struggled to piece together. It was fuzzy, bouncing around in his head like it couldn’t make sense of itself. A distinct feeling, something that hadn’t ceased or relented in the hours since his encounter with Melody, was the pressure of a hand on his throat; it clutched like it didn’t matter what the outcome could’ve been.

It was intense, the waves of memories that kept piling onto him in a way that he could understand but in a way that he also couldn’t understand. It was painful, and staring in front of his bathroom mirror, at the scrapes on his chest and the marks on his back, everything clicked into place in a bitter way. He had scrubbed at his skin like his life depended on it - maybe it did. It felt wrong. He felt wrong.

He felt the most wrong for wishing he’d pushed past it, remade a situation with someone he wanted to love him back. He felt bad for still wanting her, wanting her in anyway he could have her. He wondered, for a moment, if she’d accept him if he turned up at her dorm room door and begged in the way he knew she liked. He wanted to rework a situation he hadn’t even fully seen clearly, he wanted pretty bruises from her instead of harsh ones from foreign hands.

Maybe it was just how he’d viewed himself, his worth, his value. He wanted to redo what was plaguing his skin with something he wanted - he’d always wanted. Arguably, he knew that logically he needed to confront of the issue and the extent it had affected him mentally, as well as having a conversation about it with Melody that he definitely didn’t want to. Though, when had he ever listened to logic?

It wouldn’t hurt to hext her, and if she showed any form of hesitance or concern, he would reassure her, and if she wasn’t sure still then he could leave it. Do it himself. Well, not entirely, but enough.

 

Rosabella had practiced every possible thing she could say to Daring, staring at the door of his dorm like it held all the answers she was desperately searching for. Eventually, she knocked as quickly as she could - not allowing herself a second to pull away. He opened the door, his eyes sparkling with a shine reserved only for her. He stepped to the side quickly, allowing her to enter. He closed the door behind her, a soft smile on his lips.

She sat down on his bed, and he followed her. “Are you okay?” She asked, a straight-forward start, but the question was overwhelming her. He nodded, seemingly convinced in himself. For a second, she thought she’d read the earlier situation in the castleteria wrong. “I’m fine.” He replied, but the edge in his voice hanging onto his tone like he was desperate to tell her something. She looked at him; it read a thousand things but most distinctively you don’t have to lie to me.

He shifted under her gaze, “I don’t like people watching me.. while I’m eating.” he admitted and her hand reached for his on instinct, nodding along like the words he spilled were the most important in the world - they were, in hers. “Or, in general.” He added, and all she could do was nod along while silently thanking the universe for him opening up without force. “That makes sense.” She replied, and he smiled at the warm understanding.

She squeezed his hand, “you know I love you no matter what, right?” Rosabella asked and Daring hesitated, staring into her eyes for a beat; then nodded. “No matter what.” She repeated. “I’m not going to leave you for.. eating, mon chéri, I’d never.” She told him, and he squeezed her hand in response, his eyes burning with unshed tears. Her words didn’t undo everything, they never would, but at least he felt a little safer in her arms.

He cleared his throat, like the words caused a blockage. “I don’t know how to stop, I’ve never.. not focused on it.” He confessed, “I’ve always avoided food I didn’t need as.. the bare minimum to survive. I wasn’t allowed anything past that, anyway. Not when my destiny was supposed to be.. Darling’s. I was born with the purpose of marrying Apple and looking perfect while doing so.” He explained, and he inwardly cringed at the topic of ‘his’ destiny. “My mom - and my dad - but mostly my mom believe that.. doing this was the best way to be perfect, to present perfect, to be perceived as perfect.” He whispered, unable to hold eye contact. “I need that.” He admitted, and like the words held up a wall, it crumbled. The tears spilled down his cheeks and shined in his eyes.

She rubbed his back, letting him stop if he wanted. He didn’t. “I was raised to believe if I did indulge.. be gluttonous, as they’d say, I’d be undesirable. I’d be undeserving of the destiny I was promised and I believed- believe them, of course I do, they’re my parents. They know what’s best for me and my lineage better than anyone.” He defended, sensing the words she’d already spoken aloud to Darling in the confines of their own dorm. “They didn’t do it with Darling or Dex. They didn’t because I’m special, I’m supposed to be special.” He explained, voice cracking. “and now it’s all I can think about- it consumes me. I have the same routine every night and I have to do it, Rosa, I have to.”

She took in the words, the intensity, the gravity, the desperation for understanding. “Why?” She asked, finally, “why do you have to?”

He didn’t reply for a while, collecting the spiral of thoughts and internal cries of not being understood. She was trying to understand, that was enough. “if I don’t- it’s so.. loud.” He admitted, her brow raised. “My head, all the thoughts that are normally relatively quiet - easy to ignore for the most part. The anxiety when I don’t do it gets worse, and it gets louder and it’s all I can think about but doing it too late or too early feels so wrong. I need to do it, but only at the right time.” He explained, and she nodded along; she absolutely couldn’t relate, but she could show empathetic and compassionate understanding, and that was all he needed.

She let the comfortable quiet surround them, before she gently asked, “is it compulsive?” and he could do nothing more than nod. She nodded in acknowledgment, and suddenly a lot about him made a lot more sense.

Compulsive.

Notes:

Ila Lw, Sohdvh. Ila Ph. - Gdulqj’v Gldub

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 17

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

[ Duchess & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Sparrow: dude I am so high rn

Sparrow: ily man yk

Duchess: ilyt row

Duchess: are you alone?

Sparrow: ya:D

Duchess: oh okay

Duchess: is your door unlocked

Sparrow: maybeeee

Duchess: okay.. where’s Alistair

Sparrow: with bunny

Duchess: okay I’m gonna come over

Duchess: want Fay?

Sparrow: ya!!

Duchess: okay we’re on our way

Sparrow: yayyy

 

Duchess pushed open his dorm room door, Faybelle following behind her in silence. “Row?” She called out, and he was stood by the door with a grin, immediately pulling her into a hug. Faybelle shot her a look, and Duchess lightheartedly glared in response. He pulled away, a smile still on his face. “Are you.. okay? You’re being weird.” She asked, and his smile faltered.

“I’m fine! I’ve never felt better, actually.” He replied, his smile back. “Like everything in my heads just lifted!” He explained, “which is weird, right? Everything is normally so much and now I’m hexstatic!” he told them, and both the girls nodded along as he spoke. Faybelle stared at Duchess for a moment, and she stared back with a blank expression. Sparrow was explaining something, and neither of them could keep up with the changes of his hocus focus. “Slow down, Row.” Faybelle finally said, and he paused for a moment, staring at her for a beat.

“I can’t slow down! If I slow down I forgot where I’m at; I can’t lose my place!” He cried out, “I was thinking of a song, I forgot it now. I’ll have to talk to Melody, should I talk to her? I mean, she might be busy? Is she busy? What if she’s too busy for me?” He asked and Faybelle looked at Duchess again, a look that pleased with her to do something. Duchess took a deep breath, and turned to face Sparrow. “She might be busy, she might not. Hold off on hexting her.” Duchess instructed, firm and calm. “Sit down.” She commanded and he listened, dropping onto his bed.

He crossed his arms, “I don’t know why I’m listening to you, I don’t have to.” he grumbled, his face sour and his nose scrunched. Duchess shrugged, “you’re right. You don’t have to.” she replied, matching his crossed arms equally. He rolled his eyes and let out a soft scoff. “I don’t have to listen to you, I’m a music god.” He murmured, and stood up. She instinctively stepped back, Faybelle’s eyes widened.

“What is wrong with you?” Faybelle asked, unable to stop herself. Duchess’s head whipped around, her eyes wide and her expression - at the very least - incredibly annoyed. “Nothings wrong with me.” Sparrow snapped back, his small remaining smile instantly fading. “What’s wrong with you?” He spat back, “you’re nothing. Not compared to me.” he hissed and Faybelle’s brow furrowed, and her face momentarily fell before she swiftly recovered. “Whatever after.” Faybelle muttered under her breath, and Duchess squeezed her eyes shut.

“What happened Sparrow? Something’s bothering you.” Duchess questioned, peeling her eyes open like it was a taxing task. He looked away, his eyes darting anywhere but her face. “I don’t know.” He replied, “nothings bothering me.” he added, an afterthought - a defence. Her eyebrow shot up, concern flooding her expression within the second. “No, something definitely is.” Faybelle pushed, clearly expressing anger in a way she’d call subtle (Duchess would disagree).

Sparrow couldn’t make eye contact, “everything’s so loud.” he whispered, staring at the floor like it protected him from the truth. “I feel crazy, am I crazy? I don’t want to be insane. I feel so worthless, I don’t want to be so useless, Duch, I don’t want to ruin everything again.” He confessed, his eyes burning and his throat aching. She frowned, pain gripping at her heart like his words physically hurt her. “You don’t ruin everything, Row. You’re not crazy, nor useless and definitely not worthless.” Duchess whispered back, her hand resting on his shoulder.

His breath stuttered and he took a shaky breath, followed by a dry sob. “What’s wrong with me?” He asked quietly; she pulled him into a hug. It felt different from the one earlier - more desperate. “I just want it to stop, Duchess. He ruined everything.” He cried out and she froze.

He?

“Who’s he?” Duchess asked, looking at Faybelle and squeezing Sparrow tighter. Sparrow let out a pained cry, and shook his head. “No, Row, who’s he?” Duchess repeated, and he choked. She rubbed his back, and his knees buckled. She moved him onto his bed, her eyes wet with unshed tears. Under different circumstances, the fearfully awkward look that was plastered onto Faybelle’s face would’ve made her honk with laughter.

Sparrow wouldn’t- couldn’t look at the pair, tears freely falling as he sniffled quietly. “That night.. when I met with Mel.” He started, and both Faybelle and Duchess stayed silent, attentive. “I got drunk, remember?” He asked, like he was stalling. Like he was scared. Duchess nodded. “Something.. happened. That night, in the alleyway. I can’t remember much.” He confessed, “but it- I-.” he paused, forcing himself to look at her. The concern, the empathy, the kindness on her face made something snap. He crumbled, dissolving into heavy, relentless sobs as memories flooded through him with harsh malice.

Duchess pulled him into a tight hug, muttering soft reassurances to him. Faybelle put a hand on his shoulder; her hands shone with a blue aura. “It’s okay, Row.” Duchess whispered against his hair, and Faybelle nodded in agreement.

 

Duchess waited for her best friend to fall asleep; her eyes hadn’t once left Faybelle’s equally growing - bubbling - anger. “What do we do?” Duchess asked, pure rage brewing inside of her. Faybelle didn’t respond for a moment, her own immense, bone-deep rage simmering inside of her. “Support him.” She replied, her voice strained and shaky. Duchess nodded, that much was obvious. She agreed. But her mind swan with something else.

Someone else.

Notes:

Grq’w Wuxvw Khu

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 18

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

I’m sorry that this is a short chapter, my life’s been a bit hectic at the minute.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

[ Disasters of Ever After ]

Sparrow: I ran out of melatonin

Sparrow: I’m bored

Duchess: I hate you

Sparrow: you said you loved me earlier!!

Duchess: you were having a breakdown

Sparrow: die

Faybelle: SHUT THE FUCK UP

Sparrow: no

Faybelle: fuck me im getting your prescription tmrw

Sparrow: thank you ily

Briar: it is so obvious you’re only friends forever after w girls

Sparrow: Alistair and Hunter are my friends?

Sparrow: and my band

Briar: and how often do you hang out with them

Sparrow: ..

Sparrow: okay fair point

Faybelle: he’s one of the girls

Sparrow: literally

Hunter: I don’t quite know about literally

Faybelle: oh my grimm😭

Melody: okay apparently I listen more than I thought

Hopper: what?

Alistair: this is not a level of riddlish I wanted to decipher after waking up

Bunny: go back to sleep it’s almost 2am

Alistair: I can’t

Alistair: I have a high asf roommate who won’t shut up

Sparrow: damn tough luck

Alistair: row please shut up

Sparrow: fuck you

Sparrow: no

Apple: are you guys aware that sparrow comes to like every girls night or day out?

Hunter: not fair

Alistair: what the hex

Hopper: how’s that work

Daring: I new

Dexter: knew* and same

Daring: nerd

Darling: nerd

Dexter: what the hex

Raven: they’re not exactly wrong dex

Dexter: I know

Hunter: how’s sparrow going to girls night but I’m not allowed

Ashlynn: sweetie you’re not a girl

Hunter: neither is he?

Sparrow: not always

Hopper: wth does that mean

Dexter: I believe in you

Maddie: do you?

Darling: royally?

Dexter: let me be nice

Darling: so no..

Hopper: I’m so confused

Hunter: ^ same

Alistair: yeah no I’ve clocked on

Hunter: what

Hunter: am I being dumb

Ashlynn: a little

Sparrow: this is entertainment

Faybelle: he’s genderfluid guys💔

Sparrow: kinda

Sparrow: I might be I just don’t care enough

Duchess: mood

Hopper: so what you think you’re a girl?

Sparrow: sometimes.. I guess??

Darling: if that’s how you’d word it..

Sparrow: I think he’s a lost cause

Hopper: rude

Faybelle: not wrong

Hopper: whatever after I’m going to bed

Ashlynn: we all should

Briar: I agree

Notes:

No code/cipher today. It will continue on from next chapter.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 19

Notes:

I hope enjoy the very first flashback chapter! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

“Sparrow!” Duchess called out, running after him, careful not to slip into the creek, her grandmother would surely kill her for ruining her new white dress. Sparrow laughed, stopping as he waited for her to catch up. “You’re soooo slow, swan.” Sparrow teased, and she kicked his shin when she reached him, shooting him a half-glare. “And you’re not, birdy?” She replied, a smirk on her face. He puffed out his cheeks, and turned away, facing the dark forest. “Come on.” He said, grabbing her hand; she took his hand with a softer smile.

Sparrow knocked on the door of a victorian mansion hidden deep inside the dark forest, as far away from the glowing beauty of ever after’s main towns. The door opened. “Oh, Duchess and Sparrow, how cute!” The woman cooed, and the two beamed up at her. “Faybelle! Your friends are here!” She called out, and rapid fluttering echoed through the walls of their home. Faybelle rushed out the door, flying at the pair with a grin. “Hi!” She called out, and enveloped them both in hugs once she landed. They hugged her back with bright smiles and sparkling eyes filled with childish delight and innocence. “Be back for dinner, Faybelle.” Her mom said with a soft smile and a ruffle of her hair. She nodded obediently, “and if you cause mischief.. don’t get caught.” she instructed and Faybelle nodded again, this time the other two joined in. She smiled and shooed them away.

 

“So, your mom isn’t mad about last time?” Sparrow asked as the retreated from the property and Faybelle shook her head quickly, looking at Duchess who seemed equally curious. “No, she likes when I cause chaos!” Faybelle replied, her eyes flickering between her two best friends. “Was your mom mad?” She asked Sparrow and he shrugged, “or your grandma?” she then questioned Duchess who simply shook her head in response.

Sparrow sat down by the river, watching it flow quietly. “you’re not normally quiet, birdy, what’s up?” Faybelle asked as she dropped down next to him with a thud. He looked up at her, and Duchess carefully perched on a log she spent far too long brushing off. “My dad was mad.” He answered, “it’s whatever after, though.” he added and smiled forcefully to her to prove his point. Faybelle nodded, picking up a stone and flicking it over the river, watching it bounce across the water. “We don’t have to be ‘mischievous’ everytime we go out, Row.” Faybelle told him, and he nodded - solemnly.

Duchess eventually joined in on the rock skipping, when they promised she wouldn’t experience any splash-back from where she was sat. “What do you wanna be when you grow up?” Faybelle asked suddenly and the silence that followed was a pondering one. “If you didn’t have to follow your destiny.” She clarified, a hint of sadness in her voice. Sparrow looked at her, a genuine twinkle in his eyes - like he’d thought about it a lot. “A rockstar.” He replied, and the look of yearning on his face, the dedication he already had that was blazing through him made her feel sad. “A ballet dancer.” Duchess responded, “what about you, fairy?” she questioned and Faybelle thought for a moment, tapping her chin hexaggeratedly. It was comical, and overly-dramatic; they hexpected nothing less. “cheerhexer! and a really super powerful villain, duh.” She answered and the other two nodded along like it was the most obvious thing in the world - and to them, it was.

The trees swayed with the wind as the three settled into a familiar silence, just watching the water bob up and down. “I bet I could beat you both in a race to the big tree.” Sparrow announced, suddenly. Faybelle smirked, a competitive drive gripped the three of them as they stood quickly, preparing their stances. “No flying, Fay.” Duchess demanded, and Faybelle crossed her arms in discontent but agreed begrudgingly.

Duchess counted down, calling for them to set off and they ran, Sparrow ran ahead, sprinting with determination. Faybelle ran ahead too, falling just short of Sparrow and she internally complained at her lack of speed from not using her wings. Duchess was agile, equally competitive as the other two yet cautious - prioritised the state of her clothing. She watched, her eyes widening in shock and worry as her best friend tumbled, rolling forward and hitting the rocks. He made a shocked cry as he hit the ground. Faybelle turned quickly, running to reach him with newfound speed; Duchess joined her in her resolve.

He clutched his knee with a crimson stained hand, his eyes filled with tears. “Are you okay!?” Faybelle asked loudly, dropping to the floor beside him. Duchess caught him, and hesitantly crouched down in front of him. “I’m okay, jus’ hurts.” Sparrow replied, his voice wet and crackly. Duchess frowned, and she pat his shoulder - her hand resting on his arm. Faybelle looked upset by her friend’s hurt, it engraved her face deeply as she stared at the blood covering his hand and coating his knee. She seemed detached, separated by her fear. Duchess opened her mouth to speak - desperate to ask if her best friend forever after was okay - but quickly clamped it shut when she noticed an unfamiliar blue aura brightly bursting from Faybelle’s fingertips; enveloping her palms in a thick cloud of cyan.

The aura enveloped her hands, creeping along her wrists and consuming her arms in the haze of flaming power. “Faybelle?” Duchess whispered, staring at her best friend forever after in panic. The blue surged around her, bursting outwards and erupting into relentless flame raining down around them like crisped embers. Sparrow looked around, the blood from his hands had evaporated into nothing but a memory and the stinging cut spread deep into his knee fleeted rapidly. The tears dried in his eyes within an instant and the panic racking through Duchess seemed to seep out of her.

“What was that?” Duchess asked, her eyes widened in a newfound shock mixed with glowing admiration. Faybelle looked around, pausing to stare at her hands with disbelief dilating her pupils. “I.. don’t know.” Faybelle answered, spinning the wrists like they held answers. “I’ve never done like that before, mom’s only just started teaching me magic.” She explained, whispering the words like she couldn’t believe the truth they held.

 

They found themselves deep in the dark forest, the light blocked off almost completely by overshadowing trees. “Do you think we’ve gone too far?” Duchess asked quietly, watching the floor to avoid tripping on the treacherous amount of stones and rocks. “We always go too far.” Faybelle answered, “we shouldn’t let Sparrow lead.” she added and Duchess honked out an agreeing laugh. Sparrow puffed his cheeks and span around, pointedly pouting at them. “Move it, birdy.” Faybelle said, swatting him until he turned around - grumbling about how unfair she was.

Sparrow pushed back the vines hanging in front of a colony of collapsed trees, “woah, this looks so cool.” he whispered with bright eyes, Faybelle helped him hold up the vines as Duchess ducked under with a slight frown and a scrunched up nose. “And dirty.” She added, her hands scrunching at the hem of her dress. Faybelle ducked in, and Sparrow followed behind her - dropping the vines to cover the entrance. “Don’t be such a worry flurry, swan.” Faybelle replied flatly. Duchess honked in annoyance, but stayed quiet.

Sparrow explored between the thick branches, “this is sooo cool!” he called out, looking through the dimly lit treetopia. Faybelle’s wings fluttered in hexcitement, as she joined him on his exploration, Duchess begrudgingly joined in. “This has to be our new spot.” Faybelle told them, and Sparrow quickly nodded, agreeing in an instant. Duchess rolled her eyes, “good thinking, fairy.” Sparrow replied and Duchess let out a scoff. He turned around, “Do you not like it?” he asked; his eyes filled with a nervous sadness that made Duchess’s heart clench with an overwhelming urge to make him happier, “I do.” she replied with strong conviction. “Needs a clean, though.”

 

They’d stayed out past curfew - unintentionally of course. “My dad’s gonna be so mad at me.” Sparrow whispered as they walked back through the dark forest, the sun had set on their journey towards their homes. “My grandmother will be too..” Duchess confessed, and Faybelle looked at them both sympathetically, her eyes filled with guilt. “My mom might be a bit mad, mostly cos I missed dinner..” Faybelle confessed, “if your dads mean again you can stay with me.” She told Sparrow and he shook his head quickly, appreciative of the offer but unable to take it - he knew the rules. “No, I can’t leave my mom with him.” He told her, and he missed the glance the girls shared.

Faybelle was the first to arrive home, they cautiously stood behind her as she knocked on her door. Her mom opened it quickly, quickly pulling Faybelle into a hug. “Where have you been, my poison ivy?” She asked, crouching down in front of the young fairy. Faybelle looked at her guiltily, her eyes reading apologetic. “We lost track of time, mom.” She told her, “I’m sorry.”

Madame Thorn ruffled her hair, “it’s alright, firefly.” she told her with a soft smile reserved only for her daughter. “You two should be headed home, your family shall be worried.” She told the two hiding behind her daughter, “I’ll cast you a protection spell; it should keep you safe until you return home.” she informed them, green power flooding from her fingertips and embracing them, leaving small green orbs to flutter around them.

 

Duchess pushed open her door, “grandmother?” she called out, and she heard the muffled sounds of relief from the kitchen, followed by footsteps rushing to the front door. “Oh, my little dancer! Where have you been? Are you hurt?” Her grandmother asked, panicked questions spilling off of her tongue faster than her brain could offload them. “I’m okay! We just lost track of time.” She admitted, and her grandmother nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder. She had annoyance sparkling against the worry in her eyes. “I was worried sick!” She honked, “you must stay weary of time, my darling.” she instructed and Duchess nodded and promised under her breath.

 

Sparrow pushed open his door quietly, the smell of whisky hitting his nose upon arrival. He heard snoring - his dad’s, no doubt. He crept past, ignoring his dad’s sleeping form on the sofa, and quickly climbed the stairs. A throat cleared in front of him. “Where have you been, my songbird?” Maid Marian asked, and Sparrow silently latched onto her leg, hugging her tightly. She cooed, lifting him up with a huff about how big he was getting. “Lost track of time, momma. I’m sorry.” Sparrow whispered, his head dropping sleepily to her shoulder.

She hummed, rubbing his back softly and gently taking him to his bedroom. His pyjamas were laid out on his bed, as she plopped him down. “I’ll go get you a story, songbird.” She told him, quickly going to her bookshelf in the hallway.

When she returned he was curled up under the blankets, holding on tightly to a green stuffed chameleon. She sat on his bed, one hand stroking through his hair as she read him a story. “Goodnight, baby.” She whispered as his eyes fell shut, tucking him in with a kiss to the forehead; turning on his nature-themed nightlight before she slowly backed out his room, closing the door quietly.

Notes:

Zkhq Hyhubwklqj Zdv Vlpsohu, Bhw Vhfuhwv Vwloo Fuhhs.

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 20

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

This is shorter than I would’ve liked, but at least melrow blossoms? kinda.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

“I’ve known you for too long, this won’t work on me.” Duchess said, leaning against the pillar of Sparrow’s bed. He pulled his blanket up further, covering him almost entirely. “I will make Faybelle curse you into telling the truth.” She threatened, folding her arms. He grumbled, turning away from her. “Sparrow, please.” She pleaded - she wasn’t one to beg, normally. “You can’t ice us out, ice me out.” She told him; her hands had a subtle tremble to them.

He huffed, “I’m not.” he replied, his voice hoarse. She frowned, staring at the blankets he was cocooned in with a growing pit of concern. He pulled the blanket closer to him again, entirely burying himself in their comfy confines. She tilted her head back, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before returning to her original stance. “You’re ignoring Melody, you’re not answering any of our hexts.” She pointed out, listing off his abnormal behaviours like they’d fix the problem. He hummed in acknowledgment, but otherwise stayed silent. She sighed, “I’m calling Faybelle.” she stated, “we need to get you out of this room.”

 

Faybelle had arrived swiftly, fully dressed and looking as though she’d cooked up a devious plan. “c’mon, Row.” Faybelle said, “get dressed.” she instructed and he popped his head out from behind his thick wall of blankets. “We’re going to Hocus Latte.” She told him, and he groaned softly in protest, attempting to roll away. She grabbed the blanket, and stared at him with a demanding look that screamed get up. He obeyed, begrudgingly, and pushed the blankets off of him. He trudged over to his dresser. “I need a shower, first.” He informed them and they shrugged - sitting down on his bed with the intention to wait at least semi-patiently.

He pulled out a bundle of his clothes, padding to the bathroom without a word. “You always feel better when you look good!” Faybelle called out, the bathroom door slammed in response and Duchess nudged her with her elbow. “I’m not wrong.” Faybelle grumbled quietly, grumpily crossing her arms. Duchess honked out a dry laugh and nodded. “I know you’re not.” She replied, the shower loudly started, and she let out a sigh of relief.

 

Sparrow took his time in the shower, and when he finally pushed open the bathroom door, Faybelle had genuinely thought she’d come close to dying of boredom while waiting. “Can we go now?” Faybelle asked impatiently, her wings fluttering in annoyance. The other two laughed fondly, agreeing to finally leave.

 

“Don’t be a hypocrite.” Melody spat, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed, her face contorted in anger. Justine looked down, her eyes filled with something akin to sadness. “I’m not,” She replied, “because I’m not having sex with Ramona while claiming to not love her.” Justine explained calmly. Melody stared at her - her stance seeping with irritation. She looked distrusting, as though she’d let thoughts spiral for too long unchecked. “You have no idea what it’s like.” Melody told her, breaking her silence. Her jaw was set tight; clenched.

Justine nodded, sat down rather elegantly on Melody’s bed and looked up at her best friend forever after’s tense frame. “Then tell me.” She responded, crossing her arms calmly into her lap and waiting patiently with a reassuring smile and a soft expression of hope. Melody nodded, rushed and frantic. “We’d never work out.” She started, blunt and straight to the point - yet, she sounded sad. “I’m- fucking crazy, Jus, he’d never understand that.” She confessed, and her eyes glistened with long overdue tears. “I’ll ruin it.” She whispered wetly.

Justine’s expression softened, “Mel, no,” she corrected sadly. Melody’s overarching self-doubt and devastating turmoil of depression put a damper on most things she enjoyed, chaining her up and holding her back from what she wanted. “You can’t decide for him.” Justine protested gently, as Melody attempted to look everywhere but her face. “You’re not crazy, you’re just wired differently.” Justine told her, standing up and placing a firm, reassuring hand on Melody’s trembling shoulder. “You take your medication everyday, you work through your hardships and when you struggle you talk to me- or you use music.” Justine told her, matter-of-factly.

Melody’s breath hitched, a shudder running through her body as she willed herself to finally look up. She looked at Justine - the sympathetic and gentle look on her face. She knew Justine had faith, more than she ever did; it comforted her. “I don’t want to mess it up. Mess him up.” Melody confessed, but she didn’t peel her eyes away in shame, she let her eyes settle on Justine’s. She felt Justine’s hand flex against her shoulder. “If he likes you, he likes it messy.” Justine pointed out humorously and Melody laughed. It was true, she couldn’t deny that. “I agreed to watch Ramona practise track.” Justine said, pulling her hand away. “You do what feels right.”

 

[ Melody & Sparrow’s Private Messages ]

Melody: [playlistlink]

Sparrow: making playlists for eachother?

Melody: if you want to

Sparrow: I think I do

Melody: okay then

Melody: maybe we could use them as a backing track

Sparrow: oh yeah?

Melody: only if you want

Sparrow: yes

Melody: yes?

Sparrow: please

Melody: good boy

Sparrow: fuck

Sparrow: Mel I’m out

Melody: and?

Melody: what if I want the world to see you’re mine

Sparrow: I’m not

Melody: you could be

Sparrow: I should be

Sparrow: make me yours

Melody: are you sober?

Sparrow: yes

Sparrow: are you?

Melody: yeah

Sparrow: I’m coming over

Melody: good

Melody: I’m waiting

Notes:

Wkrvh Sdudoohov

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 21

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

Duchess had vacated Hocus Latte quickly after Sparrow spat out a poor excuse about needing to help Alistair with something; even though both girls opposite him knew by the grin on his lips and the flush of his face that his urgent exit was almost certainly Melody-themed. Duchess stayed for a while after, before rattling out an excuse about needing to meet up with someone - Faybelle didn’t bother prying. Instead, after a short while, she picked up her coffee cup and left.

She decided, while she had time and shrivel of energy fluttering inside her to stay true to her word. She found herself at the glass doors of Ever After’s local pharmacy, she pushed the door open and sipped her coffee as she arrived. “Oh, Faybelle!” Briar called out, a smile on her face. Faybelle flushed a light shade of pink and returned the smile, clearing her throat harshly. “Hi, Briar.” She greeted, looking at her incredibly - and effortlessly - gorgeous crush who was stood directly in front of her and trying not to outwardly panic. “What are you doing here?” Briar asked, genuine interest twinkling in her beautiful brown eyes. Faybelle felt as though her brain needed a full reboot.

Her eyes snapped into hocus focus, realising she’d let the silence between them carry on for longer than would appear normal. Casual. “Picking up Sparrow’s meds.. you?” Faybelle asked, keeping the flustered shake out of her voice and silently praying doing one of her magical charms to erase her crackling nerves wouldn’t be visually obvious. “Picking up my modafinil.” Briar answered, with a smile on her face. She giggled at the confused expression that grew on Faybelle’s face. “Medication for my narcolepsy.” Briar explained and Faybelle’s lips formed to the shape of a circle and she quickly nodded.

The pharmacist beckoned Briar over, passing her a small brown bag which she took with an elegantly graceful smile and a whispered of appreciation. He called Faybelle over as well, handing her Sparrow’s prescription with a tired smile. Faybelle nodded in thankful acknowledgment towards him, and turned away. “Do you wanna walk back to school together?” Briar asked and Faybelle would be lying if she said it didn’t feel like a marriage proposal. She smiled impossibly bigger and brighter, nodding immediately like a lovesick puppy.

They walked together, muttering in hushed conversation with soft laughter. “We should hang out more often.” Briar told her, a beautiful smile on her pretty pink lips. Faybelle short-circuited - the words sounding far more romantic in a desperate distortion in her head. “Yeah.” She agreed, breathing out the words like the statement punctured her lungs. “We should.” She agreed, swaying on her feet like she’d been starstruck.

Briar let out a breath, like she’d was holding back. Faybelle glanced at her with a haze of pink gracing her cheeks, pleading silently for a confession she knew would never come. Briar looked away, pointing out a fountain’s intricate architecture with a quiver to her angelic voice. Faybelle was interested - in everything Briar had to say - but something pounded in her chest, pained silently by words unsaid.

 

Rosabella flicked through the pages of her spiral scroll notebook that she shared with Daring, filled with notes he’d written on the book she’d read with (to) him. “So you liked it?” She asked, looking up from the pages, the book closing overtop her thumb. He nodded, a soft smile on his lips. “Easier to read than last time?” She questioned, and he nodded again. She hummed, putting the book down on her desk. She sat down on her bed next to him; looking at him with a fondness reserved for only those who truly kept her heart.

She stared at him, taking in every inch of his beauty with a lovingly soft smile. “I love you.” She said, like it was the easiest thing in the world; it was, to her, it always was. He beamed, his face turning a fancy shade of pink in an instant. “I love you too.” He replied in a whisper, and she leaned closer, connecting their lips with a soft, tender kiss. Her hand cupped his cheek, his hand dropped to her waist on instinct - holding onto her like she’d disappear if he let go.

Her hands hesitated over the buttons of his shirt, and she pulled away, looking up at him. She searched his face for consent, and she paused. “Are you okay?” She asked, quietly and he nodded, gently kissing her forehead with his usual charismatic smile. “Yeah.” He replied, “just.. the eating thing.” he vaguely gestured. She frowned, her brow raised. “Body image issues.” He expanded, seeming more guarded and tense than before. She nodded, and gently kissed him again.

 

Melody liked to think she was quite practised in her field, her lips teasing every inch of Sparrow’s - in her opinion - very sensitive skin. Every move she made drew out light gasps and shaky breaths, “you’re mine.” she whispered against the soft skin of his neck. His breath stuttered, his hand twitching above his head, “‘m not.” he replied quietly, voice shaking. She smirked, her teeth sinking into his neck and feeling him squirm beneath her. “I want you to be.” She responded - like it was the easiest thing she’d ever confessed. She was definitely bolder than she usual was (which was already quite a lot).

He didn’t say anything for a moment, and she was so distracted by grazing her lips over his neck that she barely noticed; instead hocus focusing on pleasuring him. “I want to be.” He whispered, and she paused, sitting back. He looked up at her, staring at her through fluttering eyelashes and she can’t help but focus on how pretty he was. In general. For her. Always. She loved how he’d always do his eyeliner and dress up to see her. It made her giddy in a way she’d never felt before, and especially not regarding someone else.

She kissed him - more passionately, more meaningfully than ever before. He returned the kiss, desperate and fervent. “I want you.” Melody stated when they separated, “I want to be with you.” she admitted, her face so close to his, she could feel the hitch of his breath and the sound of surprised delight. “I want you too.” He replied, yearning. She smirked, her vision swam in feverish attraction and unparalleled joy as she kissed him again, blindly searching for the zip of his jacket. “Think we should celebrate.” She whispered against his swollen lips, and he smiled with flushed cheeks and hunger in his eyes. He nodded quickly as best as he could with the pillow beneath his head, “please.” he whispered, pleading like he was aching for it, for her.

 

Faybelle stopped outside of Briar’s dorm, a lovestruck smile plastered on her face with no intention of leaving. Briar had a soft, graceful smile on her plump lips, as she turned to look at the fairy who’d walked her home. “Thank you.” She said, her nails tapping the bag from the pharmacist nervously. Faybelle nodded, still smiling, and shrugged in the most nonchalant way she could. “It’s no problem.” She admitted, brushing her hair out of her face; perhaps in order to see the beauty before her better.

Silence settled between them, Briar’s hand balancing above her dorm’s doorknob. Faybelle gave her one last smile, before turning away to exit. “Wait.” Briar called out quicker than her brain could process, and Faybelle span 180 degrees so fast it could’ve given her whiplash. “I.. I think I like you.” Briar blurted, her cheeks heating up faster than they had ever before, and Faybelle matched her shade. “I know it’s quick. I want to go slow, if you want me- if you’d want to.” Briar rambled, her face painted in an anxiety that made Faybelle’s heart clench.

Faybelle nodded, “I think I like you too.” she replied; she knew it was definitely a fact, but she kept that close to her heart. She had a reputation to uphold, sue her. “We can go as slow as you want, Bri. I want to.” Faybelle confessed, and Briar’s lips blossomed into a beautiful smile, causing Faybelle to (yet again) short-circuit.

Before Briar could think, she leaned forward. She pressed a gentle kiss to Faybelle’s cheek. Faybelle froze, her mind erupting into a thousand fireworks as she stared at her crush with wide eyes. Briar smiled nervously, awkwardly, and quickly rushed into her dorm in a flurry of bashful embarrassment.

And if Faybelle jumped for joy, that’s no one’s business.

Notes:

Grxeoh Oryh Frqihvvlrqv.. Zkdw Frxog Jr Zurqj?

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world

Chapter 22

Notes:

I’m sorry.

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

The sun drifted through the cracks in Melody’s curtains, and her eyes peeked open at the light shining near directly into her eyes. She turned to look at Sparrow - her boyfriend, her brain cheerfully supplies - and she can’t help but smile, at both the realisation and the enchantment of how pretty she finds him. The mascara and eyeliner staining his cheeks and smudged under his eyes makes her smile in a different way; it wasn’t her fault he was a crier, and a pretty one at that.

She leans forward to place a soft kiss on his forehead, and he makes a small, fond sound in response. “Are you awake?” She asked quietly and he hummed, with a small smile. She leaned over to grab her mirrorphone, seeing a flood of hexts from Justine.

[ Justine & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Justine: have you talked to him?

Justine: about being with him

Justine: and about your mental health.

Justine: you can’t get with him

Justine: or attempt to

Justine: without telling him you’ve got bipolar

Justine: especially when you’re worried about it not working because of it

Justine: please talk to him

Justine: reminder that you’re not crazy but having bipolar is a condition your partner should be aware of

Melody: morning

Justine: good morning Mel

Melody: we’re dating

Justine: that’s so good!! I’m so happy for you

Justine: did you talk

Melody: no

Justine: Melody.

Melody: I will

Melody: when he wakes up properly

Justine: oh grimm tell me you didn’t

Melody: I didn’t

Justine: Melody..

Melody: I did

Justine: just talk to him

Justine: please

Melody: I will

 

Sparrow was a slow riser, seemingly preferring to sink and drown in a mattress than push himself up and roll out of bed. “Row, we need to get up.” Melody whispered, he groaned, rolling away from her. She huffed, “Ginger spent the night with Maddie, I don’t know when she’s coming back.” she explained, clambering out of bed. “And I need to talk to you.” She added, pulling the blanket away from him. He grumbled, glaring at her half-heartedly before begrudgingly getting up. “Shower?” He asked with a growing smile, and she raised an eyebrow, staring at him for a moment. “Is that an offer?” She asked, with a smile; when he nodded brightly she laughed, biting back a comment about his lovesick enthusiasm.

 

“What the fuck, Duchess; she kissed me!” Faybelle ranted, pacing back and forth with fluttering wings and clenched, confused fists. “Hardly.” Duchess replied with a humorous honk, and Faybelle shot her a pointed glare. She shook out her wings in growing frustration, “better than you and Poppy.” Faybelle retorted, and Duchess rolled her eyes with an irritated honk. “And she confessed her feelings! To me! She likes me!” Faybelle rambled, punctuating each word with a rather extra hand movement and a look of pure, undiluted shock. “She said think.” Duchess pointed out, ignoring the crude hand gesture she received in reply.

“Which means instead of panicking to me, maybe you should hext her?” Duchess suggested, and Faybelle stared at her like she’d cursed a puppy. “I’m being serious.” Duchess said, and picked up Faybelle’s mirrorphone, passing it to her. “I’m shocked your passcode isn’t her birthday.” She deadpanned, and Faybelle rolled her eyes before snatching her phone. She typed in her passcode, glancing at Duchess. “It’s the day we met.” She corrected; Duchess’s heart melted at the softness in both the confession and Faybelle’s voice.

“What am I supposed to say!?” Faybelle asked in a panic. Duchess stared at her for a moment, slowly blinking. She raised an eyebrow when she realised Faybelle was serious - seriously asking her, of all people. “Why are you asking me? My track record of ‘love’ is our best friend and I’m a lesbian.” Duchess pointed out and Faybelle laughed, “maybe just tell her good morning?” Duchess suggested, and who was Faybelle to disobey.

[ Briar & Faybelle’s Private Messages ]

Faybelle: good morning

Briar: good morning fay

Briar: I was wondering if

Briar: you wanted to go the village mall with me?

Faybelle: hex yeah

Faybelle: when?

Briar: later today?

Faybelle: okay

Briar: I’ll charm you later

Faybelle span to face Duchess, her cheeks pink and her wings fluttering hexcitedly. “It’s a date!” She cheerfully announced; Duchess beamed proudly. “Maybe you should shoot your arrow with Poppy?” Faybelle suggested as with a small, hopeful smile. Duchess honked in laughter, and upon realising for the second time in a spell that Faybelle was serious, she clamped her mouth shut. “No, not happening.” She dismissed quickly, standing up. “You should get ready.” She deflected, quickly.

 

Melody sighed heavily, and Sparrow could feel how nervous she was. He sat down on her bed, looking up at her with a soft smile in hopes of easing her mind. “We need to talk.” She said, and he shifted anxiously. She noticed - of course did it - and her expression softened. “About me.” She expanded and he nodded, relaxing slightly. She took a deep, steadying breath.

“I have bipolar.” She stated, unable to sugarcoat the conversation. His eyes widened, but he nodded nonetheless. She scanned his face, opening her mouth to explain. “I know what bipolar is.” He told her, quickly. “My dad’s bipolar.” He admitted. “And Faybelle has cyclothymia.” He added, she nodded, she didn’t know that; her mouth morphed into an ‘o’. She felt relieved - knowing she didn’t have to explain or shy away in shame. “I’m type 1.” She stated, “I’ve been on medication since I got diagnosed, and I take it everyday.” she continued and he nodded along, taking in every word she said and storing it for later.

She cleared her throat. “I have anger issues, too. I had anger management classes for them - they’re better now.” She explained, deciding it’d be in both of their best interests for her to express everything now instead of keeping it buried deep down and erupting later. “You probably already knew that, though.” She added with a small laugh and he smiled faintly; then nodded. “I’m sorry for being so rude to you in hocus latte.” She mumbled, for what felt like the hundredth time. His hand twitched against his leg, and he reached for hers, a smile stuck to his lips. “I know, it’s okay.” He repeated, standing up to pull her into a soft kiss.

When she pulled away, the fondness in her eyes was mixed with someone else, as if something was still weighing on her mind and tipping on her tongue. “I struggle with jealousy a lot.” She confessed, looking away from him shamefully as the words tumbled from her lips. He frowned, his hand instinctively tightening around hers. She cleared her throat nervously, pulling her hand away and stepping away from the warmth and comfort of his closeness, and she chose to ignore the hurt that flashed across his face. “I have to ask you something.” She started, struggling to keep her eyes on him. He nodded, his fingers flicking through taps against his thumb.

“Duchess.” She said, and he frowned - curious and concerned. She took in his facial expression, sucking in a shaky breath. “Do you love her?” She asked, and he hesitated. She could feel the defensive anger rising inside her, bubbling in her stomach at the first sign of rejection but something else blossomed inside of her. Fear. Desperation. Anxiety. “Tell me you love me and not her. Please, I need you to tell me.” She pleaded. It was unusual, she never grovelled or begged for affections - always did the running, never the chasing. She stared at him desperate and helpless, unsure of when her jealousy and insecurity had consumed her. Her bones felt heavy with anxiety and her muscles ached at the thought. He cleared his throat, exhaling shakily.

“I can’t.”

Notes:

Oryh Ru Lq Oryh?

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
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Chapter 23

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

Melody stared at him, her eyes wide and rapidly filling with tears. “You’re in love with her?” She asked; her voice cracking and breaking as she spoke. His eyebrow raised, and the confusion on his face was numbingly frustrating. “No?” He replied, sounding genuinely perplexed. She froze. Her eyes glistened wetly with unshed tears, but a new emotion dawned on her. Pure, undiluted bewilderment. “You said you were.” She stated, feeling as though he was playing a sick joke on her. He shook his head quickly, searching her face like he didn’t think she was serious. “No, I said I loved her.” He replied, sounding so confused it was almost amusing; she had to push away that train of thought - she was upset, damn it.

“Is that.. not the same?” She questioned, her mind boggled with the clear difference in definitions between the pair. He looked at her as though she’d grown a second head. “No, of course it’s not.” He answered, his pupils dilating to display his growing shock. “She’s my best friend, I love her, but I’m not in love with her.” He explained, and it was her turn to be genuinely perplexed. “I don’t have romantic feelings for her, Mel.” He told her, truthfully. She believed it, conviction carried far too strongly in his voice to be a lie. “You’re the only person I want.” He confessed, with an awkward smile.

She smiled at that, her face flushed uncharacteristically and she had to swallow down annoyance at the way he was able to fluster her in a way that wasn’t embarrassment. “Prove it.” She challenged - competitive by nature, as her father always said. He grinned, as if a plan had furrowed into his mind and hexcitement suddenly sparked in eyes like a match had been lit.

“Let’s go on a date!” He suggested, and godmother did he sound proud. Her lips quirked, unable to maintain her deadpan expression at the tender joy on his face. “Okay.” She agreed, “you’re planning it, though.” She instructed and he nodded sharply, as though he couldn’t think of anything better. He was still smiling so attractively, it would’ve annoyed her if she didn’t have the right to kiss him, which she did; it was a right she’d use.

Melody smiled in amusement as he scurried off, his eyes shining brightly at the ideas floating through his mind - it was unbelievably sweet and Grimm was it attractive. She hexted Justine immediately, hoping and praying the girl was either immediately able to respond or finally confessing her undying affections to Ramona.

[ Justine & Melody’s Private Messages ]

Melody: he’s planning a date?

Justine: that’s sweet

Melody: because he said he loves duchess

Justine: love or in love?

Melody: love

Justine: well they have been best friends forever after for years

Justine: I’d assume he feels the same about Faybelle

Melody: yeah

Melody: I’m scared for his idea of a date

Justine: hocus latte

Melody: what?

Justine: it’s his favourite place in book end

Melody: I didn’t know that

Justine: now you do

Melody: I have to get ready

Melody: I’ll charm you later

Justine: good luck!

 

Sparrow beamed at her, she couldn’t help but smile back when he pushed open the door to Hocus Latte for her without a word, following behind her. “I’ll order, go sit.” He told her and she affectionately rolled her eyes and sat in the corner booth, turning around so she could stare at him as he awkwardly shuffled over to the counter and ordered for them both. She smiled fondly at the subtle awkwardness he possessed no matter how hard he tried to repress it and keep it hidden. He walked over hurriedly, placing her exact order in front of her with a slice of chocolate and raspberry cake as he slid into the booth and sat opposite her. She smiled appreciatively and muttered a small thanks.

They settled into small, soft conversation with gentle smiles and tender glances as they discussed everything and nothing all at once while sipping coffee and consuming cake. “I’m sorry for upsetting you.” Sparrow mumbled, it was sudden - random and unusually quiet. She looked at him, searching his face for something she couldn’t identify. “I know.” She replied, tapping his foot gently with her own. “I’m sorry for being jealous to begin with, I know I should trust you.” She told him, and he smiled softly and nodded.

Melody sipped at her coffee, “This is good.” She said, gesturing to the cake he’d brought her, twiddling a piece on her fork in a circular motion. “Huh?” He asked, adverting his eyes before looking back at her. She frowned, putting the fork down. “The cake.” She expanded, “it’s good.” she repeated. He nodded. “Are you okay?” She asked, and his hand twitched around the base of his coffee cup before taking a long, stalling sip. He stared at the table as he placed it back down. “Forgot my meds this morning.” He excused, the words tumbling from his mouth sounding rushed. That made sense, he had woken up with her, after all.

It was the third time that he’d zoned out, staring over her shoulder - or worse, right through her - that she’d started to worry. She knew he’d forgotten his medication, and that it definitely affected his focus but this was hextreme, even for him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” She questioned, cutting off the conversation she’d previously been having (seemingly with herself). His eyes snapped past hers as though he was tracking something; she noticed how dilated his pupils had become, and how pale his skin had gone.

She frowned, “Row?” she asked, her voice low with concern. He didn’t say anything, but his knuckles were whitening around the coffee cup in his hand. She turned to follow his eyes, and all she could see was an older gentleman placing his coffee on the counter in the window and sliding onto a stool. She looked back at Sparrow, worry deeply etched onto her face. She sipped her own coffee, hoping that whatever was bothering him would pass sooner rather than later.

Sparrow looked at her, his eyes wide and frantic. She was starting to wonder if he’d taken something in his own questionable form of Dutch courage. “Mel, please, we need to go.” He said, and her brow furrowed impossibly further. “Please, we need to go, please.” He repeated, and normally she loved when he’d beg but this felt indescribably different. A deep pit of anxiety pooled in her stomach, “okay.” she agreed because, what else could she do? His hand was still gripping his coffee cup as he stood, and the second she stood up herself, he practically bolted out the door. She followed, slower. She took her own cup of coffee, and met him outside.

She paused when she saw him attempting to catch his breath - she knew he wasn’t that unfit, he loved bookball. Eventually, she willed her feet to move and she walked over to him. “Row, what’s going on?” She asked, and she attempted to place a soothing hand on his shoulder, but he quickly backed away from her approaching gesture of comfort. She dropped her hand - point taken. “Nothing.” He replied, still sounding breathless as he tilted his head back and shuffled between feet, as though he was trying to shake away bad energy. “Was just stuffy.” He added, and it was so unbelievably unconvincing she couldn’t believe she’d ever regarded him as able to lie.

She frowned, the cold bite of the autumn air biting at her face and settling deep into her cheeks. “Sure.” She muttered, sipping her coffee with a hope of warming up. He was (finally) prioritising taking deep breaths, and had mostly calmed down. She still wasn’t sure what had rattled him so much. “What was that?” She asked, hoping for a better answer the second time. Apparently, he didn’t think a better answer was necessary. “Nothing.” He repeated. She stared at him, both of her hands cupping the cup in a scrounging attempt at warmth. “Nothing?” She questioned, parroting back to him in hopes he’d realise how unbelievable he sounded.

She didn’t prove so lucky.

“Nothing.” He repeated, yet again, and she was getting tired of the roundabout game he was playing - in autumn, no less. She sighed, heavy and mildly annoyed. “Okay, then we’re going back inside.” She said, finally and span on her heel, craving a warmth that the coffee cup was not giving her. “Wait, don’t!” He called out as she approached the door. Her hand dropped;
she looked at him. “What?” She bit back - she knew she sounded harsh but she was fucking freezing. He froze. Hesitated. She sighed. He stayed silent, and she couldn’t tell if he was swallowing back an explanation or his pride - or both.

She held back a frustrated groan that bubbled in her throat. She was still worried but she could feel her fingertips growing numb and was relatively sure she’d transformed into a red nosed reindeer. “I- uhm.. why don’t we go back to yours?” He suggested, and she would’ve found it at least somewhat romantic if he didn’t sound so pained. She raised an eyebrow, awaiting some kind of explanation. She noticed his eyes flickering between her and the glass windows of the coffee shop. She sighed heavily. “Fine.” She agreed, her voice laced with annoyance.

She missed the remorse on his face.

She missed the reticence on his face.

She missed the relief on his face.

Notes:

“Zkb Duh Brx Vr Vfduhg, Vsduurz?”

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

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For similar content relating to this fic:
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Chapter 24

Notes:

I hope enjoy! be mindful of the tags.

Character Playlists on Spotify at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/31lhoorgu3il3is2it3mpw3n7zt4?si=9YYd84WeS9avzdtXFWfrJw

(Finished = daring, rosabella, sparrow, darling & apple)

Real men don’t eat.

That’s what he was taught.

Real men don’t indulge.

That’s what he knows.

Real men don’t flinch.

That’s how he was raised.

Real men don’t cry.

That’s what he was told.

Real men don’t ask for help.

That’s how he was trained.

Daring, the brave eldest sibling of the Charming family pitched in ever after. Daring, the worthy ruler destined for greatness and promised eternal serenity. Daring, the apple of his parent’s eyes with a bright future and the epitome of perfection.

The pressure was heavy, large, loud. It was intense, weighing motion crushing him with every waking moment and every exhale he made with a success to brag about. He had goals, expectations to meet and burdens to shoulder until he couldn’t anymore; then some more.

Love was an earning. A conditional clause signed in a bloody contract before he could so much as lift his head. He had to be perfect, control everything even when it felt like it controlled him. He had to work until his muscles spasmed and his body ached to be thrown scraps of affection like a kicked puppy that couldn’t help but crawl back in a desperate attempt at receiving a sliver of love.

Standards grew high, an unachievable wave of pressure washing over him like a tsunami repeatedly, attempting to knock him from his feet and drown him. He lay tempted, pondering succumbing to the sweet silence and endless tranquility of the calm he’d never reach while alive - not at this rate.

A real man wouldn’t be tempted.

A real man wouldn’t play with fate.

A real man wouldn’t attempt to break free of destiny.

A real man wouldn’t want to be free.

A real man wouldn’t be willing the cold, gentle hand of death to take him.

Daring was a strong heir to the family with a practised display of perfection radiating through his reputation. He blossomed in crowds and shone to an audience, he waved his hand and flashed his charisma in the form of a smile and a perfectly-timed wink.

Daring was the poster boy for public reception, posing for photos and glimmering with a bright aura of wonder. He was highly regarded. He was desirable. He was a pawn in his family’s game, a means to win over hearts and make listeners swoon over the words they uttered.

Daring was the vicarious life his father dreamed of upholding, and pushed onto him carelessly. He was the puppet, pulled alone by strings and orchestrated by a harsh puppeteer; he was met with disciplinary violence that felt as though it breached the bounds of too far and pushed passed the barriers into something sardonic.

Daring was malleable, shaped into something made for perfection. He was created, invented. He was an ideal for those who blindly followed something that could never be complete, something that would never feel complete. He never felt complete. He’d never feel complete.

A real man strives for charisma.

A real man strives for strength.

A real man strives for bravery.

A real man strives for popularity.

A real man strives for perfection.

Daring wasn’t a real man. He didn’t feel real. He didn’t feel like a man. He didn’t fit the expectations he’d devoted his life to. He didn’t fit.

He didn’t fit.

He wasn’t worthy.

He wasn’t good enough.

He wasn’t desirable.

He wasn’t useful.

He wasn’t perfect.

Notes:

Zkdw Lv Shuihfwlrq?

( a = d )

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Comments and Kudos are also appreciated.

For similar content relating to this fic:
Tumblr - jessohmy
TikTok - weevers.world
Instagram - raven.everafter

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Comments and Kudos are appreciated.