Chapter 9 : Needles
Ben didn't expect to walk in the boys' room and see what he saw: four little villains, all curled up in Carlos' bed, sleeping soundly. Jay and Mal were on the edges, while Evie and Carlos slept in the middle, hugging the blankets that covered them. A smile tugged at the corner's of his lips, trying to stop himself from taking a picture of them.
He had knocked several times with no answer, and after quietly letting himself in, this was the sight he saw. Audrey came running him, fumbling her words as she tried to explain that Mal and Evie were missing from their room. But Ben pointed out the bed, and watching as her panic-stricken face faded into a smile only a princess could wear.
"Aww..." She whispered, stepping closer to the bundle of villains.
"I guess they wanted to protect Carlos," Ben smiled, while Audrey nodded.
"Okay, just one picture."
"Audrey, no, they're sleeping-"
"Just one?"
"Fine."
Ben watched as his girlfriend took almost twenty pictures with her phone. He's gotta love her for her tenacity. "Wanna wake them up, now?" He asked her. She nodded, taking one final picture before bending down and gently shaking Mal.
Maybe not the best choice in waking Mal up first...
The soon-to-be King watched as Mal (purely out of reflex; he hopes) sends the back of her hand at Audrey's cheek. He cringed at the loud smacking sound, followed by the yelp of his girlfriend.
"Ouch." Audrey bit down on her lip, rubbing her red cheek. Mal was lucky she was cute enough to forgive.
The daughter of Maleficent blinked open her eyes, "Sorry. I thought you were someone after Carlos." Audrey nodded, giving her a half-smile.
Mal nudged Evie's shoulder next to her, tugging at her blue locks, "E, rise and shine."
She yawned into the pillow, blinking her eyes up at the purple-haired girl, "It's too early."
"Tell that to Prince Ben," Mal snickered, climbing out of bed.
Evie darted her eyes at the prince, nearly shrieking like a banshee. She couldn't have bed-head in front of the soon-to-be King! With no make-up! And dry-drool! She bolted out of the bed (climbing over Carlos and Jay to do it), and disappeared inside the bathroom.
Carlos huffed as he stirred awake, Evie's knee did a number on his stomach. Jay was quick to follow.
"Hey, Carlos..." Ben gave him a smile, "Are you feeling okay?"
The younger boy rubbed his eyes, "I h-had nightmares."
"Is that why Jay, Evie, and Mal got in bed with you?" Ben lowered down so he was eye-level with him. He nodded sheepishly, with Jay nodding from behind him as well.
"We were protecting him," The green-eyed girl swallowed hard, muttering another apology to the daughter of Sleeping Beauty. Her hand was still tingling from the smack, so she could only imagine what the receiving end must feel like. But, with years living with her mother, she'd think she had a pretty good idea.
Ben nodded, "Well, you don't have to go to class today, if you don't want to."
"I want to," Carlos pulled off his sheets, and pushed past Jay. "I-I don't want to miss anything! Hurry up guys!"
Mal rolled her eyes while Jay sluggishly climbed out of bed. Carlos was steadily beating on the bathroom door, "Evie! Ben doesn't care about your hair! We're gonna be late!"
"HE DOES TO! PRINCESSES HAVE TO LOOK THEIR BEST EVERY TIME THEY'RE IN FRONT OF A PRINCE!"
Audrey had since walked over to the door, gently knocking on it. "Evie, that's not true."
"Yes it is! My mother said so!" Evie hollered through the door. Ben was watching curiously at how his girlfriend would handle the situation.
"Evie, you do not and should not ever have to change the way you look for a guy. You're beautiful, with or without make-up."
There was a moment of silence, "B-Ben...?" Evie's voice was low, but Ben came to door anyways, locking hands with Audrey.
"I'm here, Evie."
Another moment, "D-do you care if I h-have make-up on or not?"
Ben smiled, "I don't care one bit if you're wearing make-up or not, you're beautiful no matter what you decide. It's up to you."
Carlos had returned to Mal and Jay's side, waiting to see if their other friend would finally show her face make-up free. They heard the door unlock, followed by the slow turn of the handle. And that's when they saw the radiant blue-haired beauty that claimed to be a princess. But right now, this was her becoming a Queen.
"You look gorgeous, Evie."
The girl blushed at the prince's comment, "T-thanks, Ben."
"Now can we leave already?" Carlos straightened out his jacket he'd slept in, "We're gonna be late for class!"
Ben and Audrey smiled, "Sure, Carlos. We're just about ready to leave."
Mal let out a unamused groan, while Jay rolled his eyes. School was even more evil than they were...
The villains were pulled out of class (much to the dismay of Carlos) and immediately brought to the infirmary. It had been a few hours since they had woken up, and Ben mentioned something to Mal on the way to class that they would be getting blood drawn. To her, it sounded like they would have to fight and see who got the bloodiest. Like any other day on the Isle...
They were not prepared to be greeted by needles.
Carlos prompted to cry in the corner, begging the school nurse not to kill him; while Jay cowered next to him, threatening and cursing at her. Mal and Evie nursed their arms, having already gotten the blood drawn (much to the boys' horror) and were poking at these fancy little sticky-things, referred to as "band-aids" by some of the Auradon-folk.
The Isler's had never heard of such a thing. At least the children didn't.
"Jay, I promise I'm not trying to hurt you or Carlos. Mal and Evie had already gotten their shots-"
"YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT US, TOO?!" Jay hollered, Carlos sank his head into his knees, sobbing for Ben. Mal rolled her eyes from where she was sitting.
Boys were such drama-queens...
The nurse sighed loudly, "No, Jay. It only stings for a second, ask Mal or Evie."
Jay turned to the girls, Mal shrugged, "We've dealt with way worse."
"It looks like a torture device!" Jay shouted, "Maybe it only works on boys!"
He started hissing at the woman. Hissing.
"P-please don't hurt us!" Carlos begged from his fetal-position in the corner, "I-I'm scared! I want B-Ben!" The nurse finally caved in.
"FINE! I'll get Ben out of class, I'll just have to call Fairy Godmother."
Mal winked at her, "You do that, hun."
Ben rushed into the infirmary, expecting a bloodbath by the time he arrived (his class was at the other side of the school), but luckily the nurse was alive, and Fairy Godmother was there. Mal and Evie had been shipped off to class (much to Mal's protests).
Fairy Godmother had managed to get Carlos in a chair, while Jay stayed close to the exit (just in case this woman had the audacity to come at them with that needle again).
"Is everything alright?" Ben was wheezing like a madman.
Jay shook his head, "That bitch is trying to kill us!" He pointed his finger at the nurse, who was sitting in her chair, sipping her coffee. She's given up at this point.
Fairy Godmother nearly fainted at such fowl language, but she let it slide. This time.
"Jay, Nurse Laminski is very good at her job, and it's just a little needle?" Ben bent down so he was eye level, "You'll get a cool band-aid as a reward."
The beanie-wearing boy looked down at the ground, "I want a red one..."
"You want a red band-aid?"
Jay nodded slowly, "So does Carlos."
Ben smiled, relieved. Carlos had even shown his face (dry tears and all).
"Then we'll get you both red band-aids. But you've gotta listen to Nurse Laminski, okay?" Ben stated, "I promise, she's not trying to kill you. Want me to hold your hand when you get the shot?"
Carlos immediately nodded, outstretching his hand for Ben to take hold of. Jay merely shrugged, "If you're so adamant about it..."
Ben took both of their hands, feeling their fists clench as each got their respective shot. Carlos didn't like seeing his blood (an all-too familiar sight), and begged for a freaking band-aid already.
Both had one on their arms a minute later, poking at the weird sensation that stuck to their skin.
"C-can we go back to class now?" Carlos asked the headmistress, who gave a smile to the small boy as she wiped his teary-cheeks, before nodding. She took Jay and Carlos back to their classes and mouthed a 'thank you' to Prince Ben.
Once he was sure they were out of hearing-range, he turned to the nurse, "Any matching results?"
She had already started scanning them. "Mal's just uploaded, and Evie's should in a minute or so, for Carlos and Jay probably ten more minutes."
"Who's Mal's father?"
Nurse Laminski looked up at the soon-to-be King, "I don't think you'll like this..."
"Why? Who is it?" Ben turned the screen, and observed it for himself. His jaw dropped.
Mal's Biological Mother: Maleficent
Mal's Biological Father: Gaston
Dun Dun Dun! Now you know who Mal's father is, none other than Gaston! The villain from The Beauty & The Beast who was majorly obsessed over marrying Belle. But it seems to me he's far-less obsessed with her these days... especially if he has twin sons (Gaston Jr. & Gaston the Third), as well as Mal!
Just wait until next chapter, where you'll learn Carlos, Evie, and Jay's other parent!
Oh, and today was my first day back at school (I'm not gonna cry...), so updates will probably be a little more stretched out now. But don't worry! I'm still here and still writing!
Thanks for reading, and I hope I get to see your thoughts in the reviews! Bye!
