𝓑𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓗𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻

When you open the door, you have no right to be disappointed or surprised.

You have no idea why you had hoped to see Max on the other side. He told you yesterday that he would meet you at the fountain.

So you shouldn’t be surprised to see one of your mother’s personal guards standing at the threshold instead.

It’s the Rook, fourth in rank of the unit. He is no older than you, standing just below six feet tall with shaggy brown hair. He is a wonderful soldier, albeit a reckless one. You notice a new scar slashing across his brow, making his already disheveled appearance even more noticeable. He kneels in proper greeting.

You quickly fix your expression, hiding your disappointment behind the neutral look you have made your norm within the castle.

“You may stand,” you say after a moment. “Has the Queen requested me?”

He stands, keeping his head lowered as he relays his orders.

“No, Your Grace. Her Majesty ordered that you have a guard constantly at your side.”

“A safety precaution, if you will.”

Or a watchful eye, you think to yourself.

Of course, you shouldn’t have trusted your mother to leave you here without supervision. Her trust in you is far less than the trust she places in herself.

You sigh and nod.

“So you will stand by my side, then? To keep an eye on me for… my safety.”

Your dissatisfaction with the decision drips heavily from your voice.

Rook notices.

“You sound upset.”

“Nonsense.” You offer him a small smile through the lie. “Whatever the Queen wishes shall be done.”

Rook nods.

It is obvious he doesn’t believe you, not with the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He glances down both ends of the hall. Seeing that no one is around, he drops the royal act entirely.

“You could at least be a little happy to see me.”

He walks past you into the room, all sense of royal custom left at the door.

This is the Rook you know.

You close the door behind him, watching as he looks around your room with a grimace.

“She really did a number on this place.” Rook fiddles with the curtains. “It looks just like the castle.”

You remain by the door, only moving when he notices the teacup Max gave you sitting on the desk.

He takes a step toward it. You move on instinct, stepping in front of him to block his path.

Rook is stunned for a moment.

You quickly avert your gaze.

“May I?” he asks after a moment.

You step aside, albeit reluctantly.

“Marvelous.” He picks up the piece, staring in awe at its intricate design. “Did you do this?”

“No.”

You can’t lie. You have never had a knack for art, and you doubt you could pull off a convincing cover story.

“It was a gift from…” You hesitate. “A friend.”

The word feels foreign on your tongue.

Besides the animals hidden within the gardens and the flowers scattered throughout the castle grounds, you had never really had anyone to talk to. No one who truly wanted to know you outside of your family’s influence. You would consider Rook a friend, but even your relationship with him began because of orders and vows.

He still answers to your mother, after all.

Rook notices your daydream.

“Will you be seeing this friend today?”

The question pulls you back to reality.

“You are asking a lot of questions, soldier.”

Rook immediately returns to attention, head dipping low.

“I meant nothing by it, Your Grace.” He takes a peek at you. “But I forgot something, so I must go.”

“I don’t understand.”

It is your mother’s orders for you to be followed. If he simply leaves, that would go against her wishes, and he could get into serious—

“If I am to play the part, I cannot look like this.”

He gestures toward his body, still wearing your mother’s royal guard uniform.

You stare at him, puzzled.

He smiles.

“It is true, Your Grace. I have direct orders from Her Majesty to protect you. But that doesn’t require me to be at your hip.” He gestures toward himself.

“I will pose as a student and blend in. I won’t be too close, but I won’t be too far away either. I have a job to do, but I won’t let that get in the way of you living your life.”

It is a shock to hear, and you aren’t entirely sure you believe him.

“But if my mother finds out, she’ll—”

“There are no other guards here. Your mother won’t know what I don’t tell her.” Rook raises a finger to his lips.

He has a death wish. That much is obvious.

Rook kneels again, staring at you with the same passion he had the day he was knighted.

“I swore an oath to the crown, and that includes you.”

Rook reaches into his pocket and pulls out his chess piece, offering it to you.

“You may do what you want. You may go where you please. But at the first sign of danger, you know how to get me there.”

His face shows nothing but earnestness, as though he were swearing his oath upon stone. You take the chess piece and clutch it tightly in your hands.

Then you hug him.

“Thank you.”

Rook is surprised, rightfully so, seeing as you are his superior. Still, he hugs you back.

You both break away after a moment. Rook clears his throat while you flatten your shirt.

“I won’t forget this.”

You offer him a small bow before moving toward the door.

Rook salutes you with a smile.

When you exit, you can see the dormitory is lively. Hero kids from all over are chatting and moving about as they start their mornings. You receive a few waves and even a couple of introductions as you go by.

It is a stark contrast to the palace servants who wouldn’t spare you the time of day.

You were like a shadow within those white halls. Here, you are free within the light.

It feels amazing.

It takes you a little while to find the front of the school again. The campus is far larger than you had first thought, and you are thankful Max is taking the time to show you around.

As you draw closer, you can see the fountain. Just beyond it, however, a growing crowd of students gathers. At first, you assume they are there to welcome new students, but then you remember that yesterday was the final day of convocation.

Someone of importance must be stopping by for the first day.

Lost in your thoughts, you fail to notice the approaching Hatter. Max creeps up behind you, moving as quietly as he can before placing his hands over your eyes.

You jump, stumbling backward until you bump into his chest.

He laughs.

“Guess who?”

You huff softly, turning around and removing his hands from your face.

“Morning, Max.”

“Your Majesty.”

Max tips his hat before taking your hand.

He pulls you along until you reach a group of students gathered around a rose bush. There are four of them: three boys playing what looks like a two-on-one card game and a girl sharpening a hook.

Students pass by them in a hurry, keeping their heads down as they go.

Max smiles as you both get closer.

“These are my friends!”

The girl with the hook notices you first. She kicks out her foot, knocking into one of the similarly dressed boys, and points in your direction.

All four suddenly straighten.

“Your Majesty,” Max begins, moving away from you and slinging an arm around the boy with the cards and the girl. “This is Felix Facilier, son of Dr. Facilier, and Hazel Hook, daughter of Captain Hook.”

They both give Max a look, but he ignores them.

He jumps backward, positioning himself between the two remaining boys.

“These are the Smee twins. Squeaky and Squirmy Smee.”

The smaller Smee gives you a wave, while the other lowers his hand halfway through.

Max returns to your side, offering you a gentle smile.

“Everyone, this is who I told you about. The one who saved me.”

You offer your name and bow.

It isn’t that you expected a particularly warm welcome, but it is clear that you aren’t exactly received with open arms.

They remain silent, sizing you up as you stand before them.

The Hook girl speaks first.

“You’re related to the Hearts.” She says it like a threat, her hook pointed in your direction.

Max immediately takes a step in front of you.

“Guys.”

“Can you blame us for being a little hostile, Max?” Felix crosses his arms. “Their family hasn’t exactly been the greatest royals lately.”

Max takes another step forward, but you gently pull him back by the shoulder.

He looks over his shoulder at you.

You shake your head.

It is clear there is history here that you are unaware of, but you can at least speak for yourself.

You take a step forward and offer another bow.

“I cannot speak for the Queen of Hearts. She has long since cut ties with my family. However, I can guarantee that those of us within the White Queen’s castle hold no hostility toward you or the people of the surface world.”

They remain unconvinced, but you offer another point.

“If we did, I would have turned Max in the day I met him.”

“See!” Max steps back to your side, looking far too pleased with himself.

The group exchanges a few passing looks before Hazel sighs.

“If you trust her, then I guess there’s no reason for us to worry.” Hazel extends a hand toward you.

You accept it with a polite smile and shake.

“Is it true that you guys turn your prisoners into white stone statues for your gardens?”

The smallest Smee — you assume it is Squirmy — suddenly asks the question with genuine curiosity.

Hazel swats his arm. Felix laughs.

It isn’t the wildest assumption you have ever heard. Whispers among the servants and from beyond the castle walls often assume the worst of what your mother has done.

There is some truth to those rumors, you will admit.

But that?

That is simply ridiculous.

“No, we don’t.”

The Smees visibly deflate.

“Oh.”

The group resumes whatever they had been doing before your arrival, apparently accepting you into their little circle.

You want to join them, but you cannot quite let the subject go.

“Has my family… done something to you?” You whisper the question.

Max’s expression fades for a moment.

You notice it immediately.

There is something he knows. Something all of them know.

But before anyone can answer, a series of loud cheers catches everyone's attention.

The crowd you noticed earlier has grown considerably larger. Two large carriages come into view, and the Villain Kids immediately roll their eyes.

Some even make exaggerated gagging noises.

“Here come the princesses,” Felix says, his words dripping with sarcasm.

He quickly scoops up his cards and heads toward the crowd. The other VKs follow.

You trail behind them.

The “princesses” they hate so much turn out to be none other than Chloe, Pink, and Red.

The crowd surrounds them with cheers and admiration. Some students even break out into spontaneous dances as the three girls make their way through the courtyard.

The VKs, meanwhile, look as though they would rather be anywhere else. When the hero kids come into view, Red catches your eye.

She offers you a cautious wave.

You hesitate before returning it.

It is… unexpected.

All your life, you have been told never to trust the children of the Red Queen. The last time you saw Red in Wonderland, she gave you the cold shoulder.

But ever since yesterday, it seems like she wants to be…

Friends?

Even Chloe looks at you as if something is off. Pink is the only normal one of the bunch, offering you a glare accompanied by her bright smile.

The crowd eventually disperses, but the VKs have cornered a few students by the King’s statue. Felix and Hazel scare a few students away with their antics, while Max invites more over, offering to show them a trick.

He spins his hat with practiced grace, and you start to question why he might even be considered a villain. That is, until your gaze drops and you catch sight of him stealing from their pockets.

It happens in the blink of an eye.

The students leave, completely unaware of what they've lost. Max holds up his newfound goods to the others in triumph, and the Smees give him a round of applause.

He shows his earnings to you, but you don't know how to feel about it.

You, too, are referred to as a Villain Kid, but you weren't born or have ever been to the Isle of the Lost. You never lived the lives they have, and suddenly, that realization makes you feel even worse.

Max plucks a coin from one of the wallets he stole, twirling it between his fingers before turning toward the Hero Kids.

“Hey, Robbie,” Max calls, tossing the coin his way. “For Sherwood’s collection.”

The heroes, however, want nothing to do with him.

“Give it up, Max. No one’s buying the act.”

Luis Madrigal steps forward.

The sudden hostility between the two groups is thick enough to cut through. They approach one another, insults being thrown back and forth. You don't know what to do as you stand between them, watching the situation escalate.

It feels like a fight could break out at any moment.

You fear for the worst.

But suddenly—

Crash!

Glass shatters overhead.

A magical playing card soars through the air, cutting through the courtyard. It crashes through buildings and plants, narrowly missing several students.

It isn't until Red catches the card that it finally comes to a stop, but it only shouts with panic:

“Maddox Hatter has captured the Queen. Come quickly!”

The group falls silent.

Your gaze slowly shifts toward Max.

Maddox Hatter?

You knew nothing about Max's family or what was happening in the outside world. You don't blame him for keeping this information hidden, but it feels as though everyone knows more about you than you know about anything else.

Slowly, you back away from the group as Felix snatches the card from Red.

You reach into your pocket and pull out the chess piece.

“Rook?” It takes only a moment before the connection responds.

“Did you hear that?” you whisper. “What is going on back home?”

Your answer comes quickly.

“I don't know, but I'll be heading back to find out.” Rook sounds as though he is already running. “Don't do anything reckless while I'm gone.”

The line cuts.

You stare down at the chess piece, trying not to let panic settle in your chest.

The Queen of Hearts has influence throughout Wonderland. Whatever Maddox is doing, you can only assume he'll go after the other royals as well.

And even with her cold demeanor, the White Queen is still your mother. You can't help but think about what could happen to her.

“C'mon, let's go.”

Max's voice pulls you from your thoughts.

He is obviously caught up in his own worries after overhearing the news. He bids farewell to the VKs before sneaking you and Hazel away, guiding you both into a quiet hallway.

“He cannot be serious,” Max mutters, frustration drawn across his face. “Kidnapping the Queen? What was he thinking?”

He paces as he explains his worries to the two of you. If Maddox gets caught, Max says, it will only fall back on him as another example of his father's chaos.

You don't know what to say.

This is all brand new to you, and you aren't sure how to help him.

Hazel, however, seems to know exactly what to say.

“If all you're going to do is sit here and complain, then you're no better.”

Her words come out like fire.

“Do something about it. Prove that you aren't the person everyone assumes you are.”

It is exactly what Max needs to hear.

You nod along with her.

Action speaks louder than anything else. If Max can find a way to help — or even stop his father — then perhaps he can prove that he isn't anything like Maddox.

“You're right, Hazel.” A smile slowly breaks across Max's face. “You're so right!”

“Of course I am.”

“Go get Felix and the Smees. Meet us at the Rabbit Hole.”

“Wait, what?”

Max doesn't offer her an explanation.

Instead, he grabs your hand and takes off down the hall.

He leads you all the way to his dorm room.

The moment he storms inside, he begins rummaging through his drawers, grabbing all sorts of tools and half-finished gadgets and stuffing them into a bag.

He moves at lightning speed, and you can do nothing but stand there awkwardly.

It is almost as if Max has forgotten that he brought you with him.

“Max…”

You finally call his name.

He stops immediately.

“Oh. I'm sorry.” He turns toward you, blinking as though he has only just remembered you were there. “I was just moving on autopilot.”

Max comes over to you quickly.

“I know this is a lot to ask, and I know you just got out of there, but…”

He hesitates.

For the first time since the news arrived, Max looks directly into your eyes.

It reminds you of the first day you met him.

That same fear.

That same uncertainty about what comes next.

“I can't do this alone,” he admits quietly. “And I don't want to put you in harm's way by asking you to come with me—”

“I'm going.”

You cut him off before he can finish.

If not for your mother, you would go to see your home for what it truly is.

Not the blank canvas you've been given.

Not the carefully controlled version you've been allowed to know.

You want to see your home as everyone else does.

Max stares at you for a moment before a grin slowly spreads across his face.

He reaches for his hat and places it on your head.

“Great.”

He turns back toward the pile of gadgets.

“Now help me find my screwdriver.”

You blink at him.

You look down at the assortment of strange objects scattered across his bed.

Then back at him.

“What is a screwdriver?”

Max freezes.

Slowly, he turns his head to you.

“You're kidding.”

You shake your head.

“I have never heard the word before.”

Max stares at you for another second before bursting into laughter. You can't help but smile.

Perhaps this is what freedom feels like.

And for the first time, you're ready to find out.

max tells us about this specific machine his dad cannot live without, the oraculum. i wasn’t necessarily listening when he said what it does but all max said is that we need to take to bargain with his dad for the pocket watch.

“are you sure this will work” i ask max. he nods and we all stay in a circle then something purple starts circling around us.

“pink it’s your moms ca-“ i immediately feel tired and fall asleep and i wake up on a big… chess board? everyone is here but where are we. everyone starts waking up and look just as confused as i am.

“where are we?” pink questions. “no clue but it seems maddox is playing some sort of game.” i reply while gesturing to the chess pieces on the other side of the board. “chloe you’re a princess you’re good at chess right?” i look directly at her after asking and she nods.

chloe starts leading us around and putting us in different positions and once we’re set up the game starts. “robbie go to f4 basic pawn move.” chloe instructs. robbie moves then all we see is the tile shooting up and robbie flying off and away from the board.

“this isn’t a regular game of chess chlo”red tells her. “we all have to think like villains to understand what is going through maddox’s mind, he’s not a hero so we can’t think like one.” chloe just nods

it’s time for maddox’s chess pieces to make a move now. his pieces start…dancing? what in the actual hell is this?

“everybody pair up with someone! it’s the only way we’ll win!” red commanded everyone. everyone is paired up with someone but me and max. great. i just over to him hesitantly.

“why are you so avoidant?” max whispers to me. “i don’t trust you.” my answer was plain and simple and he just nodded. i look at his face and i feel something in my stomach something that feels like fear and something im not sure of. my cheeks flush pink. i shouldn’t find him attractive, at all.

he looks at me and just snickers. god he’s insufferable. how can a person be this annoying but hot it’s unfair. as red goes over the routine with everyone there’s a part where he has to catch me. essentially a trust fall. is he strong enough for that? i doubt it. although i’ve never seen his arms under the jacket.

“if you don’t catch me i can hit you deal?” i tell him with really no room for questions. he grins then follows up with “whatever you say princess”. i want to hit him, slap him or just do whatever it takes to make him wipe that stupid grin off his face because it makes him look way to attractive. i hold my arms out and fall backwards and i feel him catch me.

his arms are firm and so is his grip. fuck. we continue the routine as pawns on the other side of the chess board get eliminated. they blow up into black smoke as they disappear.

and of all the things that can happen i choke on the smoke. greatgreatgreat. “you ok?” max puts his hand on my back. “i’m fine” i catch my breath and push his hand off me. seriously what is his deal? the “dance battle” between us and the stupid magical chess pieces seems to go on forever. my legs burn as if someone is taking a torch to the back of my calves.

red pushes chloe infront of a live plant and then pulls her away quickly to get a few of the chess pieces out. chloe looked at red as if she had just killed her entire bloodline. red climbs up a piece that went above us and pushes it off winning us the game. we all start cheering and smiling except chloe. red will talk to her. me and max hug and his warm arms embrace me. i immediately pull away after a good 5 seconds. i guess he isn’t to bad.

taglist!:

THINGS TO NOTE

MASTERLIST

i. just a bit of maddness

ii. maybe a little insane

please not that the above chapters were made before this became an official series

iii. downright crazy

iv. not so family reunions

v. down the rabbit hole

Trying to ignore his advances you ask, “So what do you know about Auradon History.” 

“I know that I would definitely remember if you were in that class with me” he grins, causing you to blush. 

“Flirting is not going to distract me from trying to help you” you state emotionlessly, trying to ignore his advances. 

“If you don't want me flirting with you maybe you should stop being so cute” Max ignores your attempts to get him to stop. 

Slamming your hands on the table, you look Max straight in the eyes. “Just because I’m the daughter of Dopey does not mean I’m going to take this bs. I’m here because I’m nice and want to help.” 

“Whatever you say beautiful” Max smiles, unable to help himself, he continues. “You know what I’ve been thinking if your dad’s called Dopey dwarf why didn’t he name you gorgeous dwarf instead of Y/N even though it’s a beautiful name.” 

“Okay that’s it” you say, grabbing your stuff. “We can try this again tomorrow, but I’m done. You better be ready to learn when we meet back up tomorrow” you add before leaving. 

Grinning to himself, Max knows that he is going to really enjoy these sessions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As if flirting with you during your lesson wasn't enough, Max sought you out during lunch the next day. You are sitting with your friends Chloe, Red, and Pink when you feel someone sit down next to you, throwing an arm around your shoulder. 

Looking over to see it's Max, you shrug his arm off your shoulder and with a glare say, “What do you think you’re doing?” 

“I just wanted to see you before our lesson later today” He smiles innocently. 

“I didn’t know Max was who you are supposed to be tutoring.” Red says, confused knowing that in the original timeline Max was super nerdy. 

“Unfortunately, I am” you sigh. 

“Don’t look so upset sweetheart, I’m a delight” he laughs. 

“You’d be more of a delight if you showed up to the library later actually prepared.” You roll your eyes. 

“Anything for you” Max winks. Having enough fun, he gets up and as he’s leaving says “See you at our session later, beautiful” 

Seeing how frustrated you are, Red can’t help but share “You know Max is actually smart. He just doesn’t like people to know.” 

“Are you serious?” You ask in disbelief. 

“Yeah, he’s like a secret nerd. Max just likes to hide it since he’s a big bad VK” Red laughs. 

“He seems like he just enjoys messing with you too,” adds Chloe. 

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen Max act like that before. Maybe he actually likes Y/N” Pink defends him. 

“Whatever it is, it needs to stop” you sigh. “I don’t know why I even agreed to still try and help him.” 

“Because you’re too nice for your own good,” Red says. “Maybe you just need to beat Max at his own game for him to stop.” 

“Hmm” you consider the idea. “That could work.” After all, with Evie as your sister in law you had picked up a thing or two. “I think I know what I'm going to have to do.” 

As you tell your friends goodbye and head back to your dorm to make a plan, Pink looks over to her friends worried “I don’t think this is going to go well. I’ve never seen her so determined.” 

“It’s about time that Max got a taste of his own medicine” Chloe laughs. 

“Besides it’s Y/N, she’s not going to take it too far.” Red says. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Making your way to the library, you are surprised to see that Max is there early. 

“What are you doing here? We aren’t supposed to meet for another 15 minutes,” you ask, confused. 

“I wanted to make a good impression for our date,” Max smiles. 

“It’s not a date” you huff. “I’m here to tutor you, nothing more.” 

“Well, you’re looking extra radiant today” he ignores everything you just said. 

Sitting down and pulling out your books you ask, “Did you read the chapters we were assigned in class yet?” 

“Nope” Max responds. 

“Well why don’t you read them now while I set up” you say. 

“No, I think I’d rather look at you than some book” Max smirks. 

“You know I heard from Red that you are actually really smart and are just hiding it.” You state, locking eye contact with Max. 

Caught off guard, he replies “Red is definitely wrong. Why else would I need tutoring.” 

“Because you want to be seen as less smart than you are to fit in” you say. 

“Or to hang out with the pretty tutor” Max mumbles to himself. 

“What was that?” You ask. 

“I said fine I’ll read the chapters” He responds, not wanting you to realize what he said and begins pretending to read. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The longer the lesson went on, the more Max seemed to flirt. After the 100th time of him calling you beautiful you were done. 

“What do I have to do to get you to focus” you exclaim, momentarily forgetting you are in the library. 

“Be less distracting. How am I supposed to focus when you are in front of me” Max grins. 

“Okay that’s it” you say getting up.  

Expecting you to leave, Max sighs in defeat knowing he must have really pissed you off. What he does not expect is for you to walk over to him, grab him by his jacket, and pull him in for a kiss. 

As you pull away you say, “Are you willing to pay attention now?” 

“Yeahhh” Max says, face flushed in embarrassment. 

“Okay, why don’t you read the chapters we were assigned then instead of just pretending you are” you gently ask, moving back to your seat. 

As Max begins to read, all he can think is how happy he is that he has you as a tutor.

A/N - Hi everyone my taglist is currently CLOSED and at capacity. Btw make sure to check out the rules for my taglist as there were updates made a couple of days ago.

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As a HK, your organized, rule-following, or classic fairytale upbringing directly clashes with Max Hatter's beautiful, chaotic Wonderland energy. Because you represent the structured world of Auradon, Max takes it as his personal mission to bring a little bit of magical nonsense into your life, treating you like absolute royalty while completely ignoring the Auradon Prep rulebook.

Curfew Crashing: When you're stuck in your dorm past curfew, Max uses his father’s clockwork inventions to safely scale the balcony or slip a miniature, self-assembling tea set right through your window crack.

The "Un-Polished" Picnic: He interrupts your highly scheduled, formal council meetings by turning the entire conference table into an impromptu tea party, complete with floating pastries and tea that changes flavors based on your stress levels.

Gramophone Serenades: Max sets up a massive, brass Wonderland gramophone right outside your dorm window to blast upbeat, chaotic jazz, completely unbothered by the school guards.

Dress Code Rebellion: When required to wear a formal suit for an Auradon gala, Max coordinates with your elegant gown but lines the inside of his suit jacket with a wildly vibrant, neon Wonderland pattern just for you to see.

Library Lock-Ins: He sneaks you into the restricted sections of the library after hours, using glowing pocket watches to light up the dark aisles so you can read fairytale histories together.

Royally Custom Top Hats: Max designs a pristine, elegant top hat for you that incorporates your royal family crest or kingdom colors, but he sneaks hidden clockwork gears and moving feathers into the brim to keep it properly "mad."

Fairytale Rewriting: He finds old storybooks about your fairytale lineage and uses magical ink to draw tiny, moving animations of the two of you inside the margins.

Imported Wonderland Treats: Knowing you are used to fine Auradon cuisine, Max goes out of his way to smuggle "Eat Me" cookies that make your hair temporarily change into pastel shades, just to watch you laugh.

Tourney Match Disruption: If you play a sport or cheer for Auradon, he shows up to the game in a massive, hand-painted hat that takes up three stadium seats, cheering louder than the entire student section combined.

The Royal Tea Blend: Max invents a custom tea blend named after you, mixing traditional Auradon chamomile with sparkling Wonderland sugar crystals that create miniature fireworks when they hit hot water.

The Stress-Pause: Whenever he sees you getting overwhelmed by your AK duties, royal etiquette classes, or homework, Max uses his pocket watch to freeze time around you so you can take a quiet, uninterrupted breath together.

Extending Perfect Moments: If the two of you are having an amazing date by the Enchanted Lake, Max subtly tweaks the gears of his watch to make the sunset last for three hours instead of thirty minutes.

Historical Trinket Hunting: He travels back into the timelines of old Auradon history just to retrieve a lost heirloom or a specific flower your ancestors loved, presenting it to you on a random Tuesday.

Catching the Morning: If you complain about being a morning person while he is a night owl, he will stay up all night tinkering just to build a mechanical rooster that plays a sweet melody to wake you up gently.

Riddle-Laced Love Notes: Max slides beautifully calligraphed letters into your locker, but the messages are written entirely backward, requiring you to use a hand mirror to read his sweet confessions.

Croquet Rematches: Max invites you to play a game of Wonderland croquet on the school lawn, using magical, completely uncooperative flamingo mallets that purposefully help you win because he rigged them to love you.

Chasing Rainbows: Max creates a pocket-sized weather machine that casts a miniature, private rainbow right over your head on rainy days so your royal hair never gets ruined.

The Nonsense Declaration: In front of the entire Auradon student body, Max will loudly declare his love for you using entirely made-up Wonderland slang, leaving the VKs snickering and the AKs thoroughly confused, while he just beams at you.

to these anon requests!: thank you so much for these fabulous ideas! I hope you like my interpretation of it and are fine with the combination of things! Reader being the white rabbit's daughter just made so much sense for this... hope you like it!!

You'd think growing up in Wonderland would be all fun and colourful but truth is, it's not.

Not always, at least.

Only when you were little you leaned such thing.

The random: Maddox Hatter turned mad. Like really mad.

Towards your father, the white rabbit. Even though he was always good to Maddox.

Eventually there was a time where your father was done with him. As he spoke up against him, Maddox turned all crazy. Even saying stuff about the fact you can turn into a human form and your father can not.

It got so bad that he was breaking things in your very own home just as thunder erupted on the outside. It was all loud and stormy and all you could do was hide.

Hide in your little rabbit hole of a room as you turned back into a bunny because of the loud noise.

Your father could make the Hatter leave eventually but damage was already done.

And you knew you'd never want to see or hear from any of the Hatters ever again.

Sadly eventually you couldn't avoid all of them.

His son, Max Hatter, went to Auradon prep just like you did.

Of course, you avoided him at all cost. Actually it almost seemed like you were scared of him too.

And honestly? You were. You just blindly believed he was just like his father.

Eventually he understood that you were scared of him. Or maybe hated him.

So he made sure to not get near you, unless he had to, like going the same way. But even then he avoided your gaze.

By the time you realised that he goes out of your way, you were sure he hated you. And you were glad about it.

But that wasn't the truth.

In fact Max didn't really know what Maddox has done to you. Or what effect loud noises had on you because of this.

Yes, he knew you were the white rabbits daughter. And his father told him once that the white rabbit was no one to be trusted. Max knows better to not blindly trust that though.

One school afternoon you found yourself at the Auradon garden.

You tended to spend your afternoons there. It was peaceful and no one was around to judge you if you ever decided to change into your bunny form or steal some carrots.

As strange as it sounds, you do shape shift to just feel a little bit closer to home.

Well, as you were just roaming in the garden to pick some carrots, in human form of course, it happened to get a little cloudy.

You thought nothing of it and just walked a bit further, since you knew the carrots there would be good to eat.

To your very unpleasant surprise thunder erupted and a loud noise could be heard.

The sudden loud noise made you jump in panic so much that, without being able to control it, you turned into a bunny and looked for shelter.

The garden was on school grounds and it was very neat and organised, so no natural shelter was given.

It made you panic even more as you looked around. Then it started raining making your head foggy even more.

To say you were a scared little bunny again was an understatement.

As another thunder erupted, you just started hopping back to school grounds. That was the only and safest option anyway. It was kind of a long walk, but hopping you should be fine.

Max was just at the beginning of the garden before it started thundering.

Sometimes he looks for the quiet places in school.

Even if it might be hard to believe to some students, he is nothing like his father and he hates being seen as a typical VK.

So yes, he looks for the quiet places to recharge his energy, or something.

As it started thundering he got up from the bench, in the garden, he was sitting on and walked back inside.

Before he could close the door behind him, something rushed past his feet.

He tried to look around, looking for the source, but found nothing close anymore. Shrugging it off he closed the door behind him, sighing deeply.

Once the noise was a little muffled by the strong doors, you turned back into a human. Sitting in the corner of the room, near the fire place, clothes all drenched by the rain.

Max heard the sudden shift in the room.

Turning to that noise he was quite surprised to see you there.

But then he remembered: "She can shape shift. So that must have been her rushing inside."

For a moment he just observed you.

You were shaking.

And not because of being wet from the rain, but because you were scared. He could see that. And as he carefully stepped closer, he could hear it.

"You're safe. Nothing's gonna happen to you. You're good," you kept telling yourself affirmations, because it's what you did back home. When Maddox attacked your family.

Max was sure it had something to do with a traumatic experience but he wanted to know.

You knew Max was here. But you were so occupied with yourself and not getting a panic attack that you totally ignored him. All you could do was hope for him to leave.

But he wouldn't. He was way too concerned about your well being, so he got closer.

Meanwhile the thunder outside got louder and more frequent. It got all your attention and that was bad.

All you could do was keep telling yourself that you were fine and safe, but you couldn't be so sure of it anymore.

Sitting there with your knees up to your chest and arms hung around them, holding them tight.

The noise got louder and you felt all helpless again. Memories of Maddox's mad face and shattering glass flashed before your eyes.

"No- no- stop!-," you suddenly started yelping and rocking back and forth.

It felt like a nightmare was rushing over you, but you were wide awake.

Max saw all of that and started to get really worried.

Your rocking got stronger and your mumbling got more serious.

Without thinking Max got closer as he called out your name, but it didn't help.

Eventually he kneeled down next to you, scared to make it worse, rather than helping you.

"Y/N, are you alright?," he asked a little helpless and worried.

All you could do is shake your head with a shaky and shuttering breath.

Another thunder erupted and you literally jumped as you hid your face on your knees.

Without another warning you started crying. Mumbling some negative stuff to yourself.

Max saw that as his cue. Without asking he sat down super closer to you, on the ground, and pulled you into his embrace. Slinging his arms around your shoulders, making the side of your head rest on his chest.

"No, no, no-," you tried your best to resist him at first. In your mind he wanted to hurt you, just like his dad wanted too.

"Shhhh," Max tried his best to soothe you, "I'm here."

And that was the probelm.

"I don't... want... you to," you tried to explain between sniffles.

Even though your words hardly got out, they still hit him.

He barely knew you. Interacted with you little to no times at all. So there possibly wasn't a thing he could have done.

Then it hit him.

One stormy night his father got back home all furious and angry.

"The- the white rabbit can't be trusted! Nothing he says is true!," Maddox mumbled to himself as he knocked something in his workshop over.

Max was just a little boy playing with some stuff in there at that time. Yes, he was scared of his father too sometimes. But he was kinda used to it.

As Maddox got closer to Max he looked serious, pointing a finger at him, "The white rabbit is no one to be trusted, you hear me? And his daughter- a shape shifter! Pfff..."

Maddox trailed off after that. Max couldn't bother to listen any more than that. It was a self-defencing mechanism honestly.

Just the day after that the Hatters got banned to the Isle of the lost. Related or not, Max wasn't sure.

His father must have done something terrible to her.

"Shit-," he mumbled as he looked at your dissociated and scared face.

Pulling you back in, he caressed over your hair and back.

"I don't know what my father has done to you or your father but-," he sighed, "I promise, I have nothing to do with that and I am not like him!"

He tried to make that as clear as possible.

Your crying started to get a little less, the shaking also getting soothed.

As much as you tried to hate him, you couldn't help but feel the pure comfort radiating off him.

The warmth of his body, his soothing strokes, his strong but soft voice.

He noticed how your shaky breathing got slower.

"That's right. In-," he decided to do breathing excersices with you and breathed in like he said. After holding that for a moment, together, "out- you're doing good."

You two did that for a while, until you were all calm again.

Moving your head up from your knees and slowly letting go of them. Letting him still hold you.

Still you couldn't dare to look at him yet. Which he understood completely.

"I'm sorry, for whatever my father has done. I know what he is capable off," he sighed at the mere thought of it. Without realising he held you closer.

"I remember... the night before we were sent to the Isle, he told me to not trust the white rabbit. Or you. Which I knew was bullshit," he clenched his jaw just imaging what could have went down that night.

"There was a thunderstorm that night. Similar to this one. Is that why you're scared?," Max eventually asked as he carefully tried to look at you.

You let him, even pulling yourself back a little. Nodding softly you tried to use your voice.

"Yes." It was very breathy and quiet. He didn't mind though.

"I'm sorry," Max said as he wiped a tear from your face.

"It's okay," you softly replied.

But he wouldn't have it, rapidly shaking his head, "No. It's not. My father has clearly hurt you and your family so much, that you were even scared of me!"

His tone had a little bite to it. With reason. All this time. He wanted to talk to you but you just ran. He understood now. Not completely what happened but that it must have been very bad.

"You don't have to tell me what he did but... I just want you to know that I am not the same. I would never hurt you," his voice was so sincere and warm.

Hearing him say all this stuff, face to face, made another tear run down your face. This time out of joy, purely.

"Thank you, Max," you said in a slightly broken tone, a crooked smile spread over your face.

"Don't-," he replied as he brushed yet another tear away.

Max was holding you close to his chest, one arm around your back and the other now lingering near your face. You didn't mind being held like that, looking up slightly. In fact it was quite comforting.

"I mean it though. I have been so scared of your father, that I've projected that on you, without giving you a chance. And all you showed me was care and comfort...," you started as you shifted to sit up now.

The hand that was resting on your back, now lingered on your lower back and the one near your face was on your shoulder now.

"So much that I've totally blended out the noise by now."

And that's basically when you two realised. The thunderstorm was still loud and sudden at times, but you? You were not affected whatsoever. Not shaking or scared. Just focused on the comfort given by the very son of the person that triggered this.

Max's eyes widen softly as he realised, "I- did that?"

His surprised and confused state somehow made you giggle.

"Yes, you did," you said with a nod, your ears softly getting a bit more pink.

"I'm sorry for-," you started but he shook his head as he locked your gaze.

"No. You don't got to be sorry. I understand. I would have done the same in your shoes," Max explained so understanding.

You almost felt dizzy by the overwhelming comfort. And whatever else you were feeling now.

"I still get to thank you," you said with a lopsided smirk.

He couldn't help but scoff, rolling his eyes, "Fine."

Dropping the banter he softly smiled at me, "I guess , I was at the right place at the right time."

His soft and sincere voice switched something in you. It was then you realised, this is the real Max.

"Yeah... you were," you said, before just going in for a big hug. Which Max gladly returned

Never did you thought you'd end up like this. But here you were. Hugging the Max Hatter. And somehow? You wouldn't wish to be anywhere else right now.

a/n: YAY!! Happy end!! I hope y'all love this as much as I do!

ps: I wanted to keep this pg but you could imagine them kissing after hehe

taglist: @8caracol8 @landryychampionn @apple3at3r @kiszlvnd @ilovedarlenemichel @noah-uhhh-what @kalkensworld @funkaoverwar @emminomm

Doors kept being opened to reveal new ones and you found yourself in a room that the walls were closing in. “Oh my hearts.” Pink squealed as everybody tried to pry the walls apart. You gasp in horror just as your wrist is grabbed and your drug out yet another door. 

This door led to the outside thankfully. The one who dragged you out was none other than Max Hatter who was now standing leaning over you, his gloved hand still firmly wrapped around your wrist. 

When you turned to look at the door you came out of you realized there were hundreds of doors and matching keys attached to vines on the beautiful looming trees. 

“What was that?” You spin around to face the purple haired boy. 

“You mean me saving you?” Max huffed, crossing his arms. 

The squint of your eyes made him feel strangely guilty even though he did nothing wrong. “Where is everyone else?” You let the anger come down knowing that he didn’t mean to separate you from your friends. 

“Maybe they're behind that door.” He pointed out a green door with chipped paint. “Or that one? Or perhaps the door behind you?” He grinned mercilessly, staring you down. 

You pluck a key off a vine and begin testing doors. “Well we need to find them.” You panic as the first few doors don't seem to lead anywhere. 

“Relax princess, the band of misfits can't be that far.” He smiled at you again, this time more sincere. 

“We never should have split up.” 

Max furrows his brows. “I wasn't gonna let you get smushed.” He hops down from the mushroom he was sitting on. “I didn't do it on purpose, I just wanted to help.” His hands raise in surrender.  

“I know.” You step toward him. “I’m just scared we've lost them forever.” You confess. 

“Hey.” He gently tucks your hair out of your face. “Nobody is lost forever, we're going to find them.” He stepped closer so close his breath was hitting your face. 

“Max.” You practically purr. 

“Hm?” The way he’s looking at you makes you weak in the knees. His eyes are full of care and empathy. Unusual to the mischief they normally hold. 

You stammer out for a moment before he puts a finger under your chin. “Can I?” His voice shakes and his jaw falls slack. His eyes were wide and pleading. A small nod from you has him breaking the distance. 

You feel as he pushes you back into one of the doors, his hands now on your waist. You place a hand on his jaw before groaning when his tongue swipes your bottom lip. 

Max's hands are shaking but the way he kisses deep and slow like it’s something he always wanted to do. Finally you pull away and gasp with a faint giggle. “Oh my god.” You mutter. 

He studies your face all red and breathless just as he is. “Something wrong princess?” He leans back in but the shouting in the distance breaks you guys apart. 

It was the group. A relief for some reasons a dread for others. “Please don’t say anything.” It wasn't that you were ashamed it was just something that you wanted to explore for yourself before others got an opinion. 

“It's our secret.” He smirks before walking towards the shouting you following close behind. Still trying to get the flusteredness off your face and the taste of him off your mind. 

A/n - shorter than normal but I still hope yall enjoy