#ravchess

The setting sun danced across the water, reflecting on the leaves of a nearby willow, turning the ordinary tree into a glittering cove. Duchess swam to the waters edge under the tree and transformed back into her human self, not even waiting to reach the shore. She lugged herself onto the plush grass, soaked and softly sniffling. She held her knees to her chest trying to warm herself and watched the water ripple out from where she had just vacated. She had just been in a terrible fight with Sparrow, he seemed to find it amusing to taunt her about her destiny whenever he was losing an argument. Knowing how sensitive Duchess is about the subject and how it drives her insane to be reminded of what's to become of her. She choked back a sob throwing her head back on the bark of the willow, she heard footsteps, her eyes widened.

“Is someone there?” it was Raven, just what she needed.

“Please don’t come any closer,” Duchess called out, her voice strained, she quickly wiped her face trying to get rid of any evidence of her vulnerability. She looked down at her hands, covered in mascara, she cursed under her breath. She could hear Raven's footsteps hesitantly approaching, they seemed to stop on the other side of the tree. A soft plop, she had sat down, “Do you want to talk about it?” came her voice in a much softer tone. Damn it, Duchess thought, she knew she had been crying. She took a deep breath in. 

“Sparrow and I had a fight,” This obviously wasn’t a big revelation as this happened quite often, everyone knew how Sparrow and Duchess were. She was comfortable sharing that much at least, knowing it was common knowledge. She didn’t have to go into much detail then. 

“Did he bring up your destiny again?” Duchess held her breath, that was a yes. She heard shuffling and opened her eyes to see Raven in front of her. Duchess stood up abruptly, Raven didn’t move, her eyes trained on Duchess’s own. “You don’t have to stay with him, you know, there are other people at this school who could appreciate you much more.” This caused her to scoff, as if someone would want the bird girl with a shitty destiny and no future. In Ravens eyes she could see what looked like pity and another emotion she couldn’t quite pinpoint. 

“Do not mock me, Raven, not when you have the perfect life lined up for you and you deny it.” 

“You know that was not my intention,”

“Then what was your intention Raven Queen? You know you are so lucky and you don’t even appreciate it. Always parading around that you chose not to follow your destiny when others would kill for it. When I would kill for it.” Raven looked up at her, that other emotion swirling in her irises, she reached up and softly grasped Duchess’s hand. Duchess wanted to pull away but couldn’t bring herself to, a blush crept up her cheeks as she remembered their conversation after she “sabotaged” Raven's general villainy assignment. 

“Then you can have it,” Duchess stumbled back into the trunk of the tree. Her heart rate picked up speed until it was galloping, so loud and overcoming she could feel it in her ears.

“E- Excuse me?”