Happy Friday Descendants!
Hope you all are having a good week. Twisted and I are certainly happy with the way our writing has progressed this week. We got soo much work done on Book three... And we plotted out a great deal of Books four, five, six, and we're lining up our ideas for seven. Just in case you thought we weren't taking this seriously.
But back to the current story.
David and Hiro have taken charge of Jay and Carlos while Nani and Lilo take Evie back to her room start working on the mess left behind after the investigation, leaving Ben and Mal to try and salvage the situation created on the school lawn.
Enjoy :D
-Dark-
Jay frowns as he walks into David's familiar office.
Without thought, he walks over to the large, heavy wooden table near the window before he braces his fists on the edge of it, cracking his knuckles in the process.
It was a familiar routine when he was this upset. When the pain in his chest throbbed like it had its own pulse.
He takes a deep breath, or at least that was what he was telling his body to do.
But it wasn't working. The room was wavering in and out of focus as he pressed his knuckles harder into the edge of the table. But it felt different this time.
What was going on?
He had no idea how things worked here, but on the isle, pissing someone that loud and proud off was sure to bite them in the ass. He wasn't so sure it was any different here if Ben and Mal had been forced to stay out there and deal with it.
What had Hiro been thinking? He had been so happy at first to see one of the adults defend them so publically and then…
And then Hiro had gone and pulled a T.
He was kicking himself for being amused by it. Carlos looked like he could have passed out at any moment. And for good fucking reason. Who taunted a queen like that? Who would be that fucking bold? That stupidly reckless?
Usually, those questions ended with a single name.
T.
But no, this time it was Hiro. Carlos had an interesting type when it came to the people who ended up wanting to protect him. It would be endearing if they weren't all fucking idiots.
Because that was exactly what they'd gathered since coming to Auradon. Idiots. The tightness in his chest lessons slightly at the humorless chuckle that escapes his lips.
Ben might be the only possible exception to that. And even then, the way he reminded him of Deez so often- No, he was also clearly an idiot. He just hadn't done anything truly stupid... yet.
Still. It just felt so strange… It felt natural. Protect the stupid brat from being an idiot.
Ugh. He didn't have a word for whatever it was. But it reminded him of all the times he had to step in front of T to protect him from himself when they were with Mal.
Maybe it was useful. Or, maybe it was the homesick David warned him he could be feeling.
Watching Hiro made him think of T, made him think of both good and bad times. It made him as sad as it made him happy. It was confusing, and the confusion clouded his mind. Made the tightness come and go.
What the fuck? He closes his eyes as he grinds his knuckles further into the table. Why? What had they done? He struggles to pull in a deep breath again, but chokes as a tear betrays him.
And then there was what the queen said. That they could do something about the threats against the school. Something useful.
"That's one serious looking face, brah." David points out as he squeezes his upper arm. "And after that scene, I doubt I'll like where your thoughts are at."
He looks down at David's hand on his arm before he wipes his face with his shoulder and turns away, not caring that David easily followed the movement, "I'm fine."
"Fine, eh?" David eyes him over carefully before he sighs with a small nod of his head. "Ya sure bout that brah?"
Jay nods, "Yep, more worried about our pup right now." He struggles to pull in a breath as he grabs the table behind him. He leans back as he eyes Hiro leaning against the door with Carlos still hanging onto him.
Hiro hesitantly unwraps his arms from around Carlos, watching him as he waits for the smaller boy to separate from him. When Carlos doesn't respond the man shrugs.
With ease, he secures Carlos to his chest before walking over to the couch to carefully fall back into it, "Whatta bigoted bitch. Sorry, chibi-chan." He settles, resting his head against the arm of the couch as he absently rubs Carlos's back.
"She said she was going to send you away," Carlos blinks as he stares blankly at Hiro, "She's a Queen!" His voice becomes thin, "She said she's sending us all away."
"She doesn't have the power to do that." Hiro shrugs. "She just wanted to intimidate and scare you guys. They're nothing but empty threats."
Jay takes a slow, deep breath as he shakes his head. It didn't sound like an empty threat.
His eyes narrow. It sounded like a warning. Like she was warning them to do the right thing. Warning him. She'd look right at him when she said it.
He hadn't thought about the fact that anyone wanting to get to them could hurt others. On the isle, no one would have been stupid enough to get in the way. Well, no one except fucking T. He sighs. But here? In Auradon? He bites his lip as he taps his fists against the edge of the table. Here, he'd already seen people throw themselves in the way of trouble. Roy, Doug. Fuck even Lonnie was stupid reckless. His knuckles whiten even more. Could they really get people killed just because they stayed?
"You okay pup?" That was more important to him right now. He was honestly surprised Carlos wasn't rubbing his skin raw or attempting to clean Hiro's jacket. Carlos needed help right now. He needed the attention and care. He shrugs David's hand off his arm as he crosses them in front of his chest.
Carlos blinks a couple of times as his brow furrows. After a moment he looks around before blushing, "Sorry." He quickly pulls back, practically throwing himself to the other side of the couch.
Hiro chuckles with a lazy shrug, "It's no big, chibi-chan." He sits up and hangs his head over the back of the couch. "Sorry for rising to the bait." He breathes out heavily as he rubs his neck, "But I am not sorry for what I said."
"You-" Carlos pulls his knees to his chest and wraps his arms around them tightly, "You're not from here-
Hiro holds up his hand, "Chill chibi-chan, she can't kick me out." He grins as he twists on the couch, crossing his legs before he leans closer and holds up a finger, "One. I am way too rich for that."
You could be too rich to fear getting thrown out? Jay furrows his brow, unsure if Hiro was simply placating them, or was telling the truth.
He grins before he holds up a second finger, "Two. My company is at least seventy-five percent of the tech trade for the entire UKA. They're not throwing that away over her pettiness."
That made a little more sense. Carlos raved about this man for the past few days they'd been together. He was a top scientist, head of the top tech school in the world. He knew what the next big breakthrough would be before the people inventing it even had their concepts fully formed.
"Three," he dramatically throws up a third finger, "I'm an ambassador from my country to five of the kingdoms within the UKA."
That one shocked him. How could anyone like T be trusted with keeping the peace between countries and kingdoms?
He adds the fourth finger with a shit-eating grin, "And Four. I provide over ninety percent of the research and development contracts for tech within their military-" He shrugs as he drops his hand onto Carlos's head to ruffle his curls, "Which is probably what I should have started with."
Jay furrows his brow as he watches Hiro. "So you're a big power too?" Maybe that was their biggest problem. They had no idea who held power and how that power could be used against them.
"Eh," Hiro shrugs, "Pretty much."
"But that doesn't mean you're safe." Jay swallows before he looks up at David, only to quickly look away again. The guy had a Deez-like ability to connect dots sometimes, and he didn't want his dots connected right now.
"No, they're protected too." Hiro assures, "They were invited here by not only the big FG, but they're under Queen Belle's protection. And before either of you spaz again, Lilo is here under mine."
"So, she can't force any of you out?" Jay asks, hating how uncertain his voice sounded.
"Honestly brah, I don't think she knows who Hiro is." David rubs his neck, "And it's not like Belle or Fairy Godmother announced us coming. And, speaking of that there's something we need to talk about..." He sighs, "Because we-" He chuckles, "Well, Hiro, figured out how to do something by Auradon's books."
"Do what?" Jay looks Hiro over.
Hiro smiles as he turns to Carlos. "Legally adopt you."
Jay looks to Carlos, but sighs when the other boy doesn't look up, "Okay? So, what does that mean?"
"Oh." David shakes his head, "Sorry, that's my bad brah. In this case, adoption would mean your parents' rights over you are severed, so someone else can come and look out for your well being."
"It would be the easiest solution to keeping you guys from getting sent back."
"You said you'd adopt Carlos in front of Queen what the fuck ever and she didn't even flinch."
"That's how I know she has no idea who the fuck I am." Hiro shoots him another shit-eating grin, "Old people and idiots never do."
Carlos peeks his head up, "Wait, I um, I don't think I understand," He furrows his brow, "How? Like, my uh, my," He shivers as he presses his back further into the couch, "She's, you know-"
"Well, that's where David and Nani come in." Hiro grins as he scoots closer to Carlos and wraps an arm around the hunched boy's shoulders.
"As your counselors, we can attest your parents aren't fit to raise children and will swear it in the eyes of the court." David volunteers.
Jay folds his arms over his chest, "So, if you do that, Carlos would be safe because Hiro and Lilo agree to look out for him?"
David grins as he nods his head, "Yeah," He agrees. "If you guys were into it, we were gonna find guardians for the girls."
"I'd feel better if they were safe." Jay shrugs, "So yeah. I mean, other people volunteered, so why not ask." He drops his arms to grip the table behind him, "Nothing changes right?"
"Not quite, you'd have to spend some time with us, though we'll have to make sure the people we find for the girls don't mind round-robining the bunch of you sleepover style," David adds with a grin.
"But that would only really be during the summer and holidays. Think of it more as we're trying to guide you guys to be successful here. Or even where we're from, eventually."
"Like, I'd get to visit you?" Carlos looks up at Hiro.
"Like, you'd have your own room and shit." Hiro nods.
Carlos blinks, "My own room? Like a real room? Like the ones we have here in the dorms?"
Hiro blinks, his eyes narrowing before he nods. "Except better."
"How?" Carlos's eyes widen, "How can something be better?"
"Oh, Chibi-chan, you have no idea." Hiro chuckles, "But I don't want to bribe you into it."
"He has to agree?" Jay asks as he watches Carlos pull out his phone.
"Of course brah, enough has been taken away from you guys without your consent."
"Wait!" Carlos blinks before he jumps up off the couch with his phone excitedly grasped in his hand as he points at it, "You want us to be like a fam-" he turns the phone back, his eyes scanning the screen as if he couldn't believe what he was reading, "like you'd be my dad? And, and Lilo would be like a mmm- a mom?"
"I mean if you're cool with that type of relationship, that's what-"
Jay chuckles as Carlos flings himself back at Hiro with a loud thump and wraps his arms around him again, "I don't understand why, but yeah." He nods against Hiro's side, "Yeah, I think I want that."
Hiro's eyes light up as he gives Carlos a toothy grin, "Us too, Chibi-chan." He rubs the back of his neck nervously as the other pulls the boy close. "But uh, can you react like this again for Lilo? When she asks? Cause she's going to be so mad she missed this."
David chuckles as he turns back to Jay, "So, what do you think? Wanna join our ohana?"
"Me?" Jay furrows his brow, "Hiro said Carlos."
"You never said it," Hiro snorts. "Baka!"
Jay tilts his head to the side before he looks up at David, "Baka?"
"Idiot." Hiro offers.
"Tch." Jay snorts. The irony.
"Sometimes," David rubs his neck sheepishly before he turns to face Jay, "I know it might suck losing me as your counselor, but Cobra is awesome, and we would love to have you as part of our ohana."
"You?" Jay questions, not entirely sure he understood what was happening. "Wait. You- You and Nani? Want to adopt me?"
"Yeah brah," David smiles lazily. "If you want us," he puts a hand over his heart before he gestures with it to Jay, "we want you." His eyes brighten, "You'd make an excellent addition to our ohana."
Jay furrows his brow, "But I wouldn't be able to talk to you anymore?"
"Well, not officially as your counselor, but as your guardian or your dad, whatever you decide, I can always listen and offer advice."
"Oh." Jay drops his eyes to his feet. He wasn't even sure what to say. Why would anyone want to include him in their already awesome family? Carlos and Hiro? He totally saw that; could see them taking things apart and putting them back together for the rest of forever. But him?
David and Nani thought he'd make a good addition to their family? How? David had seen him at his weakest. Had seen him scream and cry through it. Why would he want him? Why? It baffled him. Why would anyone want him? "Why would you want me?" He asks without conscious thought.
"Oh, Iki brah." David slowly reaches out and rests a hand on his shoulder, "For so many reasons. We want you because you're an amazing kid. You're resourceful. You're open-minded. You're the most protective, caring person I think I've ever met. You're a good fit for us and our interest in sports. You're on par with me on video games. You're constantly hyper-aware of how those you care about are feeling, and do your best to correct it when it's anything less than happy, healthy and safe. You were willing to dive into our counseling sessions head first to show the rest of your family it was okay. Because you're incredibly selfless. You're always making sure you're doing the right thing, even when it's not the easiest path to choose. You're constantly challenging-"
"My dude, I can see you blushing." Hiro chuckles, "You want him to stop you should stop him because I promise he can, and will, keep going."
Jay bites his lip as he looks up to David, "If you're sure," He sighs before he looks away, "and you don't care that I'm a wreck-"
"You're not a wreck brah, you're just letting yourself feel your emotions for the first time. It's overwhelming. That and the responsibility you place on your shoulders." David grins as he looks Jay over, "Your spirit reminds me of Nani."
Jay pulls in a deep breath. After everything. After all the things he'd said while they'd been at the beach house. After fighting him in the grip of nightmares. After all the fucking times he'd cried on him. After all that, David- David and Nani- still wanted him.
And he wanted it too. Without even fully understanding it, he wanted it. Wanted to be part of their family. Wanted his family to be a part of theirs.
He grimaces as he looks back up, "Seriously?" Was this too good to be true?
"Seriously." David grips his upper arms with both hands, forcing them face to face, "Jay, Nani and I have talked about it at length, and we really want you in our ohana."
"And Mal? Evie?" Jay shakes his head, "What about them? I can't-" He drops his eyes again, "They have to be safe first."
"That's completely understandable." David grins, "And I figured you were gonna say that. At the moment, we're still searching for the best matches for the girls. But, we just needed to know if you guys would even be interested in it."
Jay looks back up, "You wanted to know if we were interested?"
"Of course brah, after everything you guys have been through, I wouldn't have proceeded with this without you saying you want it too. It's your choice," David rubs his thumbs over Jay's arm encouragingly, "you're in charge here."
"I need to say I want to be part of your family?" Jay blinks before he looks down, the colorful patterns on David's shirt swirling as the last of the tension in his chest vanishes.
"You don't have to say shit, just nod or shake your head muscles." Hiro chuckles.
"I-" Jay pulls David into a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around him as he nods against his chest, "Who the fuck would be lolo enough to not want that?"
David laughs as he hugs him back. "Mahalo Jay, mahalo."
"Ooh, that's a good picture of Stitch." Lilo grins as she taps on her phone and passes it to Evie.
"Stitch is such a wonderful name for-" Evie pauses as she stares at a six-legged small ball of blue fluff and huge eyes holding a car over its head with one arm. "That's not a dog." She blinks. What an odd-looking creature. "But I love his coloring."
"Well, no. He's not a dog." Lilo laughs as she tucks a long length of her multi-colored streaked hair behind her ear, "But then again, I've never been very normal, so when Nani said we could get a dog..." She trails off with a smile.
"You ended up with- Oh." Evie blinks in surprise. Nani had been being serious when she said her family was different and alien. Like for real outer space aliens. Like she got that they'd arrived in a rocket ship, but aliens existed? What was their fashion like? Did they use leather? What was the shade of their color schemes? Did they wear clothes? This one certainly wasn't. Were there more advanced stitching patterns? Sewing machines? Needles?
She wanted so badly to ask.
"A Stitch." Lilo shrugs before she rolls her eyes, "And then a whole lotta crazy additions to our ohana."
"Normal is boring you lolo." Nani chuckles warmly as she finishes folding a length of fabric around its bolt before she sets it back on Evie's sewing shelf. "What picture is she showing you?" She continues to chuckle as she peers over Evie's shoulder, "Oh, I remember when you took this one. It was when we told David that Stitch was an alien. I bet the next one is of David spewing his drink out of his nose."
"Yep!" Lilo leans in closer to Evie and taps the edge of the screen until a picture of David, looking not much older than she was, pops up. A very surprised younger David who did indeed have some kind of liquid spurting from his nose. It also looked like Lilo captured him in the middle of a laugh.
Nani sighs, "You've always had a talent for ill-timed photos."
"I think it captures his fun side." Lilo shrugs as she muses over the image, "He laughed about it. He didn't freak out or get scared. He said it explained everything."
Evie chuckles as she looks the photo over. "I've only seen one person do that before," Her eyes sparkle. T, the day Mal accused him of sabotaging her mother's bonds with the goblins and was covertly ordering them to do his bidding after she found him talking with one. The emotions that had slid over his face had been priceless. Amusement that shifted to surprise to pain and confusion. It was the only reason she'd joined in with the laughter herself. It had even stopped Mal short.
"Anyone we know?" Nani asks as she plops down on the bed with her and Lilo.
"Unfortunately, no." She smiles, "Though if you ask Mal she would probably say you're lucky you don't." She chuckles daintily into her hand.
"Sounds like exactly the kind of person I want to know." Lilo smirks, "Anyone who makes that girl uncomfortable and lives seems interesting."
"You're not wrong," Evie's eyes brighten with the memories of T waltzing into their hangout unannounced. The exasperation and look of frustration on Mal's face as she cussed him out. She knew Mal though, and the fact she never kicked the boy out spoke volumes. "Their relationship was tenuous, at best."
"Ah." Nani pats Evie gently on the shoulder, "I look forward to meeting him one day."
Evie's smile slips from her face, "After this setup, I wouldn't be surprised if we never see them again, at least not on this side of the barrier." She sighs as her eyes drop to her lap. "That Queen doesn't like the thought of us being here. And what if she's right? What if what she said is true? I don't want to put other people at risk."
Nani's hand on her shoulder squeezes, "Evie-"
"That's completely lolo." Lilo shakes her head as she slides from the bed to kneel in front of her, "You listen to me. You are not putting people at risk. You are doing nothing to hurt anyone. The moment you start thinking that is the moment they, whoever they are, win." She shakes her head before she leans closer and tucks a perfectly coiled curl behind Evie's ear, "You are just a girl, a remarkably talented and beautiful girl, but just a girl trying to go to school and learn. You've come from a hard life, I know I don't even know the half of it, but I can see the steel in your spine. Still, your past doesn't have to be the end-all definition of you." She takes one of Evie's hands, "Don't let them define who you are, what you are, and what you want."
Nani smiles down at her sister, "Well said."
Evie's nose crinkles. She wasn't as competitive as some of her friends. She didn't mind losing if it meant not having to work up a sweat and ruin her make-up. But the conviction in Lilo's tone was poignant. What type of VK would she be if she didn't step up to a challenge?
She didn't want to go back to the isle. She just knew her mother would starve her for days if she saw how much weight she'd put on since coming here. She wasn't sure T or Deez would be willing to help her anymore after being left to fend for themselves.
No. She didn't want things to go back to the way they had been. She wanted her friends to come here. She wanted them to have fresh food. She wanted them to see how green nature was, and feel the sun on their skin. To swim in clean water. To not worry about their OVs.
She'd rather face the unknown any day if it meant that. Meant them being safe, well safer than they were on the isle.
Besides, she just knew if T was here there wouldn't be a threat. He'd skip school and hunt down the people that were threatening them. That's just the type of person he was. He'd probably even find a gun of his own. She'd bet her sewing machine on it. No. Her make-up, that's how confident she was.
T had really taken to his monikers of 'Shadow' and 'Ghost'. She couldn't count the number of times she'd called out for him randomly in the dark when she felt uncomfortable. More than half the time he did pop out of nowhere and walked her home. She knew it always made him upset that she 'knew' he was there, but she was always too embarrassed to correct him.
She sits up straighter. "I don't want to be sent back. And I don't want to ruin other people's chances of joining us." She sits up straighter, "And, I know I'm a wicked seamstress and designer. And I am a princess, even if it's just of the isle. I know that I don't want my friends to live in such a harsh environment, and I know I will eventually become the number one designer in Auradon."
A warm smile spreads over Nani's lips, "All good things to know, wouldn't you say?"
The three jump and turn towards the sound of the bedroom door slamming.
"Mal?" Nani's brow furrows as she releases Evie's shoulder and stands.
"Dammit! Why are you here? I thought you were with the boys?" Mal groans as her eyes flicker from her normal green to glowing neon back several times.
"M!" Evie jumps up from the edge of her bed, narrowly avoiding Lilo as she rushes to Mal's side. She'd never seen Mal's eyes flicker so much. What had happened? Did the impromptu interview go that bad?
Lilo and Nani exchange a look before Lilo sighs, "Hey Evie," She wipes her hands on her jeans as she stands, "you wanna help me dispatch C.A.B in the boy's room and then grab some grub?" She grins as she snatches her phone up from the bed, "I can show you my Lolo Voodoo doll line, talk about my first sewing projects and how bad they are compared to your craft."
"Oh, sure." Evie hesitantly nods at Lilo before she turns back to Mal, "Are you okay? What happened?"
Mal closes her hands into tight fists at her sides, "Fan-fucking-tastic. I'm not sure why the hell my eyes are flickering so fucking much, and always at the worst fucking time! I lost my fucking temper in the fucking cafeteria in front of Jane and Audrey, and I don't fucking know where Ben was, but with my fucking shitty ass luck, he saw it too. And now I look like even more of a fucking villain than I did before. When all I did was take my spell off Jane! But I'm fine. Fan-fucking-tasticly fine." She huffs haughtily before she groans.
"Oh." Evie sighs before she hugs her tightly. "I'm so sorry."
"Mal," Nani steps forward. "Your eyes are just part of who you are, there's nothing wrong with them or you. They don't make you evil."
"Tell that to all the people screaming because I'm obviously casting curses." Mal growls as she carefully separates herself from Evie, "Thanks E," she holds her hand up sternly, "maybe later I'll even appreciate it." She snaps.
Nani waves her hand aside, "But you weren't, and that's what matters."
"Is it? Because I'm pretty fucking sure the image is all that fucking matters here, just like it was all that mattered on the isle." Mal breathes heavily as she puffs her cheeks, "It's all that ever matters. We were idiots to think otherwise! Because now my image is that I'm a fucking monster that goes around spelling princes to make them fucking fall in love with me and cursing the rest of the school into being idiots. Which they seemed to have already been idiots, so I'm not sure how that's my fucking fault!" She shakes her head, "But I see you're all busy, sorry for barging in, I'll go to the boy's room."
"We were actually just leaving-" Evie holds up her hands as she inches to stand closer to the door, "To activate C.A.B. in the boy's room."
"Yep. Little bot did a good job in here." Lilo nods as she surveys the room, "Pack it up CAB, we're heading out."
The little robot nods before it condenses into a small cube again.
Mal growls before she walks over to her bed and flops onto it, hiding her face in her pillow. Damn it.
She was doing so fucking well keeping her temper in check. Then she'd gone and snapped under the pressure making her look every bit as evil as they said.
What if her actions got them sent them back to the isle? She'd never be able to forgive herself. Not that she'd survive her mother's wrath. If they got sent back with no way of getting their OVs out they were all going to be as good as dead.
Fucking Diablo. Why? Why did it have to be Queen Leah out of all the Royals that could have confronted them? Anyone else and she would have been more composed.
Damn her shit fucking luck. Jay was going to be so fucking pissed at her for fucking this up. She groans.
Fuck! She groans again.
What if Ben witnessed that? What the fuck was he going to think? Why the fuck had she unspelled Jane's stupid fucking hair. Damn her pettiness to fucking hell.
Nani nods towards Evie and Lilo and gestures towards the door and shoos them.
Once they leave Nani turns back to the girl hiding her face in her bed, "Mal-"
"I don't want to talk about this." Mal huffs.
"That's okay. I just wanted to let you know I'm staying in the room with you." Nani walks over to Evie's bed, her eyes lingering on Mal as she begins to smooth the plush comforter and organize the small pile of pillows, "And if you do decide you want to talk, I'm here for you."
So who saw that coming?
David and Nani wanting to adopt Jay.
Hiro and Lilo wanting to adopt Carlos.
*nudges shoulder* Huh, huh? *nudges shoulder* Did that put a smile on any of your beautiful faces?
What about E's introspection?
I mean don't get me wrong the scene with the boys was pretty heavy, but what did you think of Hiro and David explaining their intentions?
Expect the next three or so to be just as short.
That being said… Jay and Carlos are going to be cousins! Ain't that exciting?
Any guesses as to who's going to end up adopting Mal and E? We'd love to hear your guesses.
Much love and appreciation
-Twisted