Chapter Forty Two
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else either belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
*rises from the ashes* I LIVE! Sorry about all the confusion with the last chapter you all...apparently there was a glitch on the site that was preventing it from showing up. Thankfully it looks to be fixed now. Just don't expect any updates from me around the first of the month since that seems to be when the glitches start up for the site.
I have a Wattpad and I also have an Ao3 account now-all with the same username that I'm crossposting my stuff to in the event a glitch like this happens again, I'll update those so you can see the latest chapter.
As always, special thanks to AmethystDragon14-I don't know how I would have gotten through the glitch without you!
Hope ya'll enjoy! :D
Mal made her way over to Ben's office, hoping beyond hope that he hadn't gotten changed back into his suits. Inwardly cursing her newfound attraction to Ben, Mal couldn't help but smile slightly as she saw that Ben was in fact in his office.
Of course, she wasn't sure where else she'd expect him to be what with the Tourney season over but that was neither here nor there.
"Hey Mal," Ben said as he looked up at her with a small smile.
"Hey," Mal said as she walked in and closed the door. Don't stare, dear gods don't stare, she thought. It didn't help that Ben's pectoral muscles were much more defined in that short sleeved shirt than they ever were in the suits.
"You okay?" Ben asked gently.
"What are you working on?" Mal asked, leaning against the desk to see.
Ben smiled. "I'm trying to figure out the best way to sneak onto the Isle," he joked before shaking his head. "Nah, it's just more coronation paperwork. The fun never stops."
"You know, the best way to sneak onto the Isle would be for Jay and I to take you," Mal said matter of fact as she looked at the paperwork, not noticing Ben stop and stare at her.
"Really?"
"Well yeah I mean it's still risky but as long as you stayed away from Angel or Caster territory, you shouldn't have a problem," Mal told him, still looking at the paperwork. "Oh and of course stay out of Maleficent's territory but that's half the Isle so you shouldn't have an issue there."
If she kept her eyes on the paperwork then she wouldn't be staring openly at Ben. After all, Tourney had definitely been kind in terms of Ben's muscle definition. He wasn't bulky like Jay or Harry but at the same time, that honestly wasn't a problem. He looked good.
Honestly I think I prefer this to the 'bulky' definition of Jerkules or Jay or Harry, Mal thought. Just enough muscle definition to know it's there.
Okay I really don't need to think about my cousin going gooey over a guy!
Uma! Honestly, do you lurk on the mental link?!
Well yeah, there's nothing good on TV. Now, who's got the muscle definition that seemed to finally catch my cousin's eye?
…Ben
I'm sorry, Beastie Jr?!
Shut up!
"Mal? You okay?" Ben asked softly, bringing Mal back to the present.
"I'm fine, just studying," Mal told him, making sure the connection to the mental link was disconnected. The last thing she needed was for Uma to randomly appear again…or worse her mother.
"Studying? My paperwork?"
"It seems fascinating," Mal shrugged, finally looking away from the document that seemed to be all about the security measures at coronation. "Hey, why do you guys need security measures anyway? Aren't you all good?"
"It's being insisted on," Ben sighed.
"Because of Jay, me, Evie and Carlos?"
"No—"
"Ben, you're many things but you're not a good liar," Mal said gently as she hopped onto his desk, sitting beside him.
Ben sighed. "Some members of dad's council believe security measures would be a good idea. Dad argued that they'd have to pay for them."
"Really?" Mal asked, slightly impressed by King Beastie.
"Yeah," Ben nodded, "especially since these measures are such last minute. I was almost done with my paperwork before these were added."
Mal looked at the mountain of paperwork still on Ben's desk and turned back to Ben, raising an eyebrow. "You and I have a different definition of the word 'done'."
"Done for the day," Ben chuckled. "I wasn't going to spend my entire day in here."
"Didn't you used to?"
"I figured you'd be dragging me out of here anyway," Ben teased. "You have no qualms about barging into my office after all."
Mal smirked. "You'll find, Benny, that I have no qualms about a lot of things. But…are you serious? About wanting to sneak onto the Isle?"
"Well yeah," Ben nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "Mal, I meant what I said on our date. The Isle is a part of Auradon and I should get a sense of how my citizens are living on the Isle before I take the throne. That way I can jump into solving any problems on my first day."
Mal stared at him for a moment, still stunned at how eager he was to see the Isle.
"Plus…and this'll sound corny but I'd like to see where you're from," Ben said softly. "It'll be a good way to see what makes Mal well…Mal."
"You're right. It does sound corny," Mal nodded. "But corny suits you. Well, come on then."
"Wait, where are we going?"
"If we're sneaking you onto the Isle, you'll need Isle clothes," Mal said. "Akiho's shirt is a nice departure from the suits but it still makes you look too put together. We need something that'll make you blend in, make you look like a ruffian. We'll need Jay."
Ben nodded. "How'd you know this shirt was Akiho's?"
"The giant reindeer on the front was a nice clue."
"Ah," Ben nodded as they made their way to Jay's dorm. "Hey, I wanted to let you know, I got into a small argument with Audrey earlier today. She brought your name up."
"So you talked about me with your ex? Big whoop," Mal shrugged and Ben sighed.
"I wanted to let you know because there's a newspaper around here that likes to report on royals," he told her. "Since Audrey brought your name up, they might consider that something to write about. Future king gets a new girlfriend or something like that."
"Who besides our classmates would consider that news?" Mal asked and then paused. "Does this newspaper go to the Isle?"
"Did you ever get a copy when you lived on the Isle?"
"Well no…"
"Well there you go," Ben said with a small chuckle and Mal shook her head in amusement.
Good. Maleficent won't find out that I'm dating Ben, she thought. If she doesn't know, sneaking him onto the Isle will be still incredibly risky but it won't be the suicide mission it would be otherwise.
"Thanks for the warning I guess," Mal shrugged. "I doubt they'll do much. After all, mom's here right now. You lot really don't like to risk angering the Gods and I'll be seeing mom this weekend."
"This weekend?"
"Family Day?"
Ben nodded. "Oh right. I completely forgot it was this weekend. Hard to believe coronation's the day after."
"Time has a way of creeping up on us," Mal nodded as she barged into Jay and Carlos' room. "Boys! You decent?"
"We're VKs Mal," Jay called from his bed. "Are we ever decent?"
"Are you at least dressed? I got company."
"Go make out with Ben in your own room!"
"Ben wants to visit the Isle," Mal said after whacking Jay with a pillow. "We're helping him sneak in and out."
Jay sat up. "He wants to what?"
"Did I stutter?"
"No cap'n," Jay shook his head and got up. "Carlos, you don't breathe a word to anyone about this."
"Oh no, you've foiled my dastardly plan," Carlos said, rolling his eyes from his spot in front of the video game console. "Because I definitely wanted my mother to find out Ben was going to the Isle."
"Sarcasm is not a good look on you," Mal chuckled. "Jay, you got any clean clothes his highness here can borrow?"
"I should have something," Jay nodded, going over to his dresser. Mal walked over and started to pretend to help.
"I'm going to sneak down to the kitchen," she muttered. "If we're going to the Isle, I'm going to get some Auradon food for Uma, Harry, Hadie and maybe something for dad to use in his restaurant."
"There's no way you'll be able to carry all that by yourself."
"I've got magic," Mal smirked. "I'll be fine."
Straightening up, Mal turned to Ben. "Speaking of roommates, I should let mine know I'm doing something with you so she doesn't worry her little blue head. I'll be right back. Listen to Jay—unless he tells you something that goes against what I'll tell you later."
"Okay Mal," Ben nodded and Mal smirked before walking out of the room. She decided to make her room the first stop so Evie wouldn't ask questions about the food bags.
"Hey Blue—Evie?" Mal asked, sticking her head in. "I'm going to spend time with Ben. Don't wait up."
"Oh," Evie said with a nod. Mal tilted her head as it was clear that Evie was hard at work on something.
"Please tell me you're not doing Charming Jr.'s homework again?" Mal asked despite working hard not to care.
Evie shook her head. "No, no. Some of the girls asked me to design their gowns for coronation. I already did their fashion makeovers so they trusted me enough to ask for this as well. I'll be up late making them but once I get them done I'll be able to meet with them for a final fitting. It's just three girls so it should be fine."
"Ah," Mal nodded and paused. She wasn't the closest with Evie but she was closer than she had been on the Isle. Plus she knew she'd need a dress for coronation—and the royal tailor Ben offered for her to use would be more likely to lean toward Auradon fashion.
"Evie? I can't believe I'm even asking this," Mal sighed, "but can you make my dress?"
Evie paused. "You..you want me to make your dress for coronation?"
"I know, shocking," Mal said. "But I've put it off for too long, and I'll need one unfortunately since I'm riding with Ben."
"Of course!" Evie nodded. "Oh I'll get right to work on it! But—oh you've got your thing with Ben. I'll get your measurements when you get back. I'll work on the design—purple right?"
"Is there anything about me that indicated the answer to that question would be no?"
"I wasn't sure if you wanted to wear Ben's colors, considering it's his coronation and all," Evie explained, a megawatt grin still on her face. "But go on Mal. You don't want to keep Ben waiting."
Mal nodded slowly and ducked back out, making her way toward the kitchen. It was weird but she felt a small bit of warmth fill her at seeing how happy Evie was at the idea of making Mal's dress. At the same time though, Mal felt a bit of dread.
What was to stop Evie from making a stunning gown but something that didn't suit Mal at all? What if she made something that looked like a prissy princess and made it so she could never show her face on the Isle again?
One thing was for sure: Evie wouldn't make a bad dress. Even if she wanted to use the opportunity to get back at all the hell Mal and Uma put her through on the Isle, Mal assumed Evie wouldn't want her name attached to something that was less than perfect. The same way Mal wouldn't want her rep attached to a less than perfect tag or Harry wouldn't want his name attached to less than perfect sword work.
If there was one thing Mal could confirm, there wasn't a risk of her having a wardrobe malfunction during coronation.
Slipping into the kitchens, Mal grabbed a nearby basket and started filling it with things she knew Uma, Harry and the Warf Rats might like before moving on to things her brother and father might like as well.
"Huh," Mal said after about fifteen minutes. "This basket's not going to work."
"You sneaking food?"
Mal nearly jumped out of her skin as one of the kitchen aids broke the silence.
"For a study group," he added, looking at the basket as Mal stared at him in silence. "Students normally do that so we look the other way. It's why we have the baskets there."
"Oh yeah," Mal nodded, going along with the lie. "But the basket filled up faster than I thought."
The aid chuckled. "Here. This might work better if you used two bags," he said, tossing Mal a duffle bag. Why he had one on him, Mal would never know. "I know you're one of the new students but like I said, all the kids here sneak food from time to time."
"All those perfect princes and prissy princesses?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep," the aid nodded. "Name's Steven by the way if you ever need anything else. I just came in to make sure all the food's set for Family Day and then I'll be out of your hair."
Mal chuckled. "You're fine Steven. I won't be a minute."
She quickly got to work loading the stuff for Uma, Harry and the Rats into the duffle bag. She would have loved to bring food for all the kids but it would have to do for now. Hopefully there'd be more trips to the Isle to bring food…and to take kids off the Isle.
Satisfied at how the duffle was packed, Mal grabbed both the basket and the duffle and made her way back to Jay's room.
"Everyone better be decent!"
"Mal, you say that every time you walk in here. Pick a new saying," Jay said as Mal walked in.
"Where's the fun in that?" Mal asked with a smirk. "Where's Ben?"
"Bathroom," Carlos told her.
Mal didn't have long to wait before Ben stepped out of the bathroom. Between the brown shirt that seemed to make his hazel green eyes pop more and the jeans that he thankfully already had on, Mal was honestly impressed that she wasn't drooling.
"Well?" Ben asked and Mal had to give her self a small kick to talk.
"Beanie."
"Huh?" Jay asked and Mal rolled her eyes.
"Give Ben one of your beanies. Then it'll be good," she elaborated and Jay nodded, tossing Ben one of the aforementioned hats. Ben quickly put it on and Mal once again cursed the day she noticed boys. How did anyone get anything done like this?
"Pull that beanie down a bit."
"Mal, we're not going to the Isle today," Jay chuckled before pausing, tilting his head in thought. "Are we?"
Mal sighed. "Family Day's this weekend and Saturday's tomorrow Jay. When else can we go? Especially with coronation right after Family Day?"
Jay nodded. "Thankfully I'm already dressed. Let's go."
"Carlos, if anyone asks—"
"I have no idea where you three are," Carlos stated.
Mal smirked. "Good boy."
"Woof."
"There was a time where you would have jumped in fear if anyone did that around you."
"There was a time when I didn't know you were the daughter of the Lord of the Underworld, Mal," Carlos told her. "Times change."
Mal and Jay chuckled as the three of them walked off to the garage for Ben to snag the remote to open the barrier.
"Can you guys ride bikes?" Ben asked.
"No," Jay and Mal shook their heads.
Ben nodded. "Okay, looks like it's a limo. We can take bikes next time."
Mal smiled as they all piled into the limo. It was time to see her home…at least for a bit.
Though she wasn't going to lie, Auradon was slowly growing on her. Like a fungus. Maybe it was the food. Maybe it was the people.
Looking over at Ben as he drove, Mal could say for certainty…the people had no small part in her new fondness for Auradon. But the Isle would always be her home.
