Chapter 2 – Feeding the Beast
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Because Chad was, you know, naked, he ducked into the secret passageways Ben probably thought he didn't know about and made a beeline for his and Audrey's suite. He tried to take stock of his body in a clinical way, looking over the bruises and registering the dull throb in his neck and steadily ignoring the tightness in his chest and the tears rolling down his cheeks.
It was a relief to finally stumble into the lounge area of their suite, at least until he registered Audrey and all of the pirates cuddling on the couch, likely watching a movie that Chad had just ruined because that was how his afternoon was going.
"What the hell?" Audrey snapped, grabbing one of the blankets off the couch and rushing to throw it over Chad's shoulders. "What the fuck happened?" She stared at his neck, which was still bleeding. "Did Mal do this?"
"That was actually Ben," Chad sniffed, ducking his head because he was still damn crying.
"Fuck," she said eloquently, dragging Chad off towards the bathroom, leaving the pirates surprised on the couch. Well, leaving Harry and Gil surprised because Uma was following them with a determined look, watching Audrey settle Chad on the edge of the tub so she could start digging for their first aid kit.
While she did that, Uma leaned in, getting a better look at Chad's neck. "He go all beast on you?"
"Yes," Chad said, curling the blanket closer to him. "I um- Mal and I were uh…"
"So Bertha was taking you for a ride?" Uma prompted, one brow lifted. "Yeah, that'd be enough to set him off."
Chad flinched. "She wanted- she- I asked."
"Not saying you did anything wrong, blondie," Uma soothed, and now Gil and Harry were coming into the bathroom too, Harry lingering near the door while Gil settled down beside Chad, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "If anything, this is on Mal for not giving Ben sufficient warning. She knows how he gets."
"He was so m-mad," Chad gasped, scrubbing at his cheeks. "I thought- I thought we were friends."
"You are," Audrey said, her tone allowing no room for argument as she returned with an alcohol wipe, Chad remaining impassive as she cleaned the wound. "Ben's just being stupid. He does that on occasion. Don't let it throw you off just because he showed you that he's human and fallible."
"Speaking from experience, princess?" Uma asked, quirking a brow at her.
"I've known Ben a long time," Audrey settled on with a scowl, then went back to work.
"Please don't cry," Gil urged, nuzzling Chad's shoulder with imploring eyes. "I'm sure he didn't mean it."
"He meant it," Chad said, knowing that much was true. "He kept going on about how I was a player in high school, and something about people looking to me with hope, whatever the fuck that meant."
Audrey paused her work, didn't say anything and stared off in thought, then let out a low string of curses in French. "That explains so much," she said finally, dabbing Chad's bites with an antiseptic cream before motioning for Harry to give her a bandage.
"That explains what?" Uma asked, though the question was interrupted by Mal and fucking Ben crowding in the doorway, Mal still mostly damp and wearing clothes she must have just thrown on, Ben looking horribly guilty behind her.
"Ben, you lousy asshole," Audrey snapped, not at all the words that should be used by a person who was attempting to woo her sweetie back. "Come to terms with your shit or I will do it for you."
"Now's not the time, Audrey," Mal said, sending the princess an irritated look.
"Chad," Ben cut in, hovering near the entrance to the bathroom. "I'm so sorry."
"You'd better be," Audrey hissed. "You don't get to slut shame Chad for having consensual interactions with people who understood they were casual flings. That is not a thing you get to hold over his head."
"I know," Ben said, looking pained.
"And you don't get to bite the shit out of him," she continued, ripping the bandage open with her teeth and carefully applying it to the wounded area. "And you don't get to yell at him without actually discussing what you're mad about, you schmuck."
"Audrey," Chad said, keeping his voice low because this was not helping her cause at all, even if it seemed to be helping him.
"I know!" Ben said, his focus on the princess. "I just- when that happens-"
"You get real stupid," Uma deduced. "Yeah, we all know."
"It's my fault," Mal said, Uma giving her an appreciative look. "I know how you get when you're blindsided."
"There's no excuse for it," Ben said, and then he was moving forward, falling to his knees before Chad. "I'm so sorry, Chad. I don't have words for how mad I am at myself, but please, I wasn't- I wasn't entirely mad at you. Or, I was, but mostly I was just um… frustrated. And jealous."
There was a tense pause.
"Mal is your fiancé, Ben," Chad pointed out carefully. "You can literally sex her up anytime she feels down for it."
A brilliant flush spread across the bridge of Ben's nose, and behind him, Audrey was pressing a despairing hand against her face.
"I was um- jealous of her," Ben admitted, nuzzling his face against Chad's knee. "Because she was there – of course she was there – with the first guy I ever had a crush on, who I had all but given up on and then he was naked in my bathtub and the beast just rejected that as a possibility so I ended up yelling at you instead of processing the fact that it was actually happening."
Chad stared at Ben dumbly, knowing he had dried tear tracks on his face, struggling to understand the king's explanation and almost sure he was lying despite that not being a thing Ben did.
"What?"
"I like you," Ben said, like they were middle schoolers or some shit.
"Which was why he kept inviting you on our dates," Audrey said, sighing with exasperation.
"…what?"
Chad had genuinely thought it was because they wanted a chaperone or whatever, and Chad was the only person Audrey regularly hung out with so Ben had to settle for him.
"Holy fuck," Audrey groaned. "You were trying for polygamy before you even knew what it was."
Ben flushed, but did not deny this. "Maybe," he allowed. "The important thing to understand here is that I am so, so sorry for how I acted and I- I really want to make it up to you."
Chad just sort of stared at him, his mind feeling detached from the situation. "What?"
"Just cuddle him," Audrey huffed, poking Ben's shoulder. "Cuddle him and dote on him and I swear if you make him cry again I will break your damn legs."
"I'll help," Uma said, casually looking at her nails.
Ben shuddered, but like, it seemed to be a happy shudder of someone who reveled in the casual threats of vindictive women.
That probably did not say the best things for Auradon.
Ben got up slowly, watching Chad's expression the entire time, and leaned forward, capturing the prince's lips in a soft kiss.
Um. So that was- okay, Chad could- he'd do this. He could do this. It was, after all, the goal.
He let out a soft sound when Ben pulled away, something that seemed to feed into the beast because Ben let out a low rumble, one hand carding through Chad's damp curls.
"Easy," Audrey said, nudging Ben's shoulder. "You take it nice and easy, asshole."
"For once," Mal began, sharing a look with Harry. "I agree with Audrey."
"Me too," Gil chirped. "Except I agree with her lots of times."
That was enough to make Audrey blush, not that Chad got to see it, because Ben was kissing him again.
"Bedroom," Audrey ordered, and Ben rushed to do just that, tugging Chad forward with careful hands and a genuine smile and what the hell was happening?
Chad swore his dumb persona appealed to everyone. So weird. He didn't understand it, but if it secured his place-
He'd spread his legs for Ben. For Doug, he'd do it.
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There was no doubt in Chad's mind that Ben's evening was scheduled to the brim with duties he needed to attend to – the least of which being his own substantially lighter college course load (one of the perks of being king of everything was having the professors come to you) – but he acted like he had all the time in the world when he led Chad into the blond's bedroom, because he knew where that was for some reason.
He spent a moment just wrapping himself around Chad's back, nuzzling into his neck and holding him close. Chad shivered, confused and still unaccustomed to the contact, especially from Ben, and the king let out a soft sound.
"Could I um… make it up to you?" Ben asked, his hand sneaking through the folds of Chad's blanket to caress his stomach. "We could cuddle on the bed or um… share a bath, if you're up for it."
Chad could see Ben flush in his peripherals, and while he wanted to ask for clarification, ask if the king really wanted that, a part of him needed to cater to these weird, insecure whims.
But they probably wouldn't have gotten this far if Ben wasn't interested, so Chad shoved the thought aside and moved on.
"Okay," he whispered, an electric sort of intensity palpable in the air. "I mean, if that's what- you don't have to-"
Ben silenced him with a kiss, letting out a deep rumble that shook Chad to his bones. "Want to," he said when he pulled back, and then he was tugging Chad into the bathroom.
His tub, of course, was considerably smaller than Ben's, but the king didn't seem to mind, filling the bath in quick, efficient movements before he turned his attention back to Chad. His flush darkened at the sight of him, like he was buoyed by the knowledge that Chad was naked under the blanket and moved forward so they could lazily make out again. It was getting steadily less weird.
It was cute, the way Ben would pause every once and a while to press a kiss against Chad's bandage, and by the time the tub was ready, Chad was back on his way to being steadily interested, worked up by how Ben would occasionally grind Chad against his thigh.
"You can- um- get in," Ben murmured between kisses, because for whatever reason he couldn't seem to get enough. "I'll just-"
"Okay," Chad said, and he guessed his compliance was worth it for the way Ben froze, seemingly mesmerized by how Chad slowly eased the blanket off of his shoulders, letting it drop harmlessly to the ground.
"Um." Ben was obviously trying not to stare while also staring and that was sort of a very nice thing for Chad's ego. He was almost reluctant to slide into the warm water, but he was afraid that if he didn't, Ben would never move.
His action seemed to prompt the king into removing his clothes, and Chad averted his gaze out of habit until he remembered what they were doing and turned to look, Ben preening when he realized he had Chad's attention and taking his time to strip with an almost bashful tease.
"Ben," Chad murmured when the king was down to his underwear, Chad's face feeling incredibly hot.
"I'm coming," Ben said, and then that was just the naked king there, and it seemed entirely wrong that Chad got to see Ben naked before Audrey did.
Chad was so thrown by it that he didn't register Ben slipping behind him until he was wrapping an arm around Chad's waist, dragging the blond back until Chad was resting against his chest, Chad more or less in his lap the way Mal had been in Chad's earlier.
Okay, so he was the girl, and that was okay. Chad was pretty much the girl for all of his interactions with Jay too. This was fine.
"Good?" Ben asked, nuzzling Chad's cheek with a fond smile.
"Y-Yeah," Chad said, his throat feeling thick and clumsy. He was nestled in the lap of the naked king of Auradon. His grandfather would be pitching a fit right now.
"I'm glad," Ben said, burying his face in the uninjured curve of Chad's neck. "Fuck, when Jay told us about what you did for them in Mowgli's village – tracking them through the underbrush, carrying Gil for hours… it was almost like having my old friend back," Ben said, because Chad hadn't always feigned self-absorption, it had just been the persona that allowed him the most flexibility. "And I'd read articles about your charity functions, or see clips of you hosting online, and you were so brilliant."
"Ben…" Chad murmured, shifting uneasily.
"You are," Ben insisted, stroking a hand down Chad's stomach. "I know you did all this for Audrey but you two wanted to make a difference, to make something good from something bad, and you worked really hard for it." His hand moved upwards towards Chad's chest, making his breath catch in his throat. "I know you put up a front to try and protect yourself, but you dropped that for Jay. For Gil and… I'm hoping you'll drop that for me, too."
"Ben." Chad didn't know what else to say, could only whine when Ben turned his head and pulled him into another kiss. "I'm not- I promise I'm not that good. I really am dumb-"
A low growl echoed from Ben's throat. "Please don't say that," he rumbled. "Please. I like you like this. I like you smiling and funny and goofy. I want…" His hand trailed lower, petting against the sensitive skin of Chad's inner thigh, making his breath catch. "I want you to be a part of this, Chad. And it's hard, because the majority were so determined to let you go and I didn't fight for you. I should have fought for you, but I didn't. And then Jay told us what you'd said-"
"And you went all beast," Chad deduced, swallowing a whine when Ben continued to caress him.
"It was like every horrible thing they thought was true," Ben sighed. "Like that person I saw in all those videos was a lie, and I hated that. I felt so betrayed, and then I ripped that door open, and both of you were crying."
Ben shifted his arms so they were both wrapped around Chad's waist, holding him close.
"And you were scared," he continued. "But resigned, because you'd done a bad thing and you knew what that could lead to, even if was a bad thing you hadn't wanted to do in the first place."
"I… we couldn't-"
"I know," Ben said. "Despite the dumb stuff I said earlier, I know. You did the best thing you could, and in that moment, I was pretty sure I was done."
"You didn't really talk to us," Chad pointed out.
"It's… complicated," Ben settled on. "With my history with Audrey – and I didn't know if Mal would be okay with it – I haven't really had a chance to talk to her about it and then you were in my bathtub-"
"And you're probably overworked," Chad said. "And stressed and tired and that led to not-so-good things." He paused for a moment, then decided to go for broke, "And, Audrey…"
"It's complicated," Ben repeated. "But I- I know Audrey has her own mask. I know she seems rough around the edges but she cares. I can't ignore that. It's just harder."
"Because you used to date."
"Yes." Ben nodded against his shoulder. "I don't doubt that we could- that something could happen again one day; I just want to make sure it's- I don't want to set her back."
Chad nodded, understanding Ben's concern. Mental health was a delicate thing, and Audrey had already proven to be fragile after her rampage through Auradon. No one, least of all Ben, wanted to risk a relapse, which was frustrating on one hand, but on the other, sort of sweet.
"She's doing pretty well with Gil," Chad offered.
Ben let out a fond chuckle. "I'm glad," he said, sounding like he meant it. "They seem good for each other."
"They are."
"And um- you're pretty good for Jay," Ben said, brushing a kiss against Chad's ear. "I think you have actually managed to beat the idea of exercising caution through his head."
"Well now you've gone and jinxed it," Chad sighed dramatically, and they both shared a laugh over the sometimes mess that was Jay.
They passed a few moments in companionable silence, Chad curling back against Ben and managing to bypass how strange it was to have this easy confidence once more.
"So um- not to ruin the moment," Ben said, making Chad tense. "But could I touch you?"
"You're already touching me," Chad pointed out, looking down to confirm this fact.
He felt Ben tense. "I meant…" he motioned downwards, between Chad's legs.
Chad was pretty sure he blushed all the way down to his toes. "Ben."
"We don't have to," Ben assured him, petting Chad's stomach in comforting movements. "Sorry, after what I did you probably don't want to- I wasn't thinking-"
"No, just-" Chad shook his head. "You took me by surprise, that's all. I mean you can- if you want."
Ben did not need much encouragement, and Chad got to live with the knowledge of how the King of Auradon's hand felt around his dick.
"Um…" Chad felt hot as Ben explored him, careful to drag his hand up and down Chad's length with deliberate slowness, feeling every curve and plane and driving Chad slowly bonkers. "B-Ben," he groaned. "I know you've seen a dick before."
"This is yours, though," Ben said, sounding awed for whatever reason. "It may have been the first one I ever imagined touching."
"Ben," Chad gasped, the king slowly working him up and down now.
"I had this um- fantasy," Ben continued. "We'd shower in the locker room after practice – you and me – only when we'd get out, someone had stolen your clothes from your locker. And you'd turn to me, all imploring and sad, and your um- towel would catch on something, and then you'd just-"
"Ben," Chad moaned, low and broken, because the king of Auradon had sexual fantasies about him, apparently.
"You'd be so embarrassed," Ben continued. "And I'd- I'd um- say that it was okay, that you didn't have to cover yourself and um- maybe take off my towel in solidarity."
"Solidarity," Chad whispered, the idea silly even for Ben.
"And I'd- I'd say 'Look', and I'd- I'd take our lengths in one hand so you could compare them, and I'd tell you how pretty yours was-"
"You'd never even seen it."
"We have showered together, Chad," Ben reminded him. "I um- definitely looked."
"Benjamin," Chad said, feeling scandalized. "You broke the code."
"I couldn't help it," Ben whined, pumping Chad faster. "I sort of lost the trail of things after that, but one thing would lead to another and you'd let me kiss you while I jerked you off until you came all over both of us, and then I'd lick you clean and lend you my spare set of clothes that would be too big for you, and I'd watch you walk away with the knowledge that you were wearing my underwear."
"Holy shit," Chad breathed.
"I was young," Ben pressed, embarrassed. "Young and hormonal and you were like, friends with me and Audrey and that was it. I was part of the exclusive club of people that were friends with you and it was killing me."
"Please tell me you had other fantasies," Chad gasped, greedy for the knowledge. "Please."
"There were a lot," Ben said, sounding embarrassed. "We don't really need to go through them, though."
"I think we the fuck do," Chad said, back arching as Ben's hand began to move with vigor. "Ben. Benjamin. Benny."
"I both hate and love when you do that," Ben admitted. "You're the only person to call me Bennifer."
Because it was stupid and Chad was stupid, but Ben seemed to like that a lot.
"I'm a unique personality," Chad offered instead. "And um- if you tell me the secret wild fantasies you've apparently been harboring, maybe we can recreate a few."
"Fuck," Ben groaned, and it was then and only then that Chad felt the king's erection pressing against his backside. "Chad."
"Let's start with that one where you jerk us off together," Chad offered, and he turned, Ben surging onto his knees to meet him, and they both sort of smooshed together with messy kisses, Ben pumping them together all the while.
Okay then. Seemed like even the king was susceptible to a pretty face. Looked like Chad had nostalgia on his side, but he could work with that. And this was pretty nice. Strange, sort of worrying for Auradon, but nice.
"You're going to be the death of me," Ben whispered, but then he kept shifting them together and Chad kept kissing him so Chad guessed it was fine.
-:-:-:-:-:-
"Wow," Audrey said later when they were cuddled in her bed because Chad could not handle having a clear view to his bathroom right now. Audrey told him it was shock, and he felt like that was accurate. "Auradon is doomed."
"Would be doomed," Chad corrected.
"Exactly," Audrey hummed. "If we hadn't become a part of this relationship, Ben's dumb crush on you could have been totally distracting."
"The point is that we are part of the relationship now," Chad said, poking Audrey's shoulder to pull her from the chaos that was her mind reviewing worst case scenarios. "And Ben thinks you guys could be together again someday. That's good news."
"It's fucking guaranteed news, is what it is," Audrey clarified with a sniff. "Ben knows we're a package deal. He can't keep cuddling you forever without expecting to get me on the side."
"Are you mad?" Chad asked, because while Audrey had been the one to prompt him and Ben into cuddling, that very well could have been for the sake of appearances.
Audrey dismissed this with a lazy wave of her hand. "Of course not," she said. "This solidifies your position in the group relationship. If you've got Ben, you've got Mal, and Mal guarantees everyone."
"An unexpected boon," Chad noted. "But you-"
"I've got Gil," Audrey insisted. "And I think things are going well with Uma and Harry. And you might get Ben, but Evie doesn't hate me nearly as much as she hates you, so I might be able to win her and Doug over."
"Something to focus on when they get back," Chad decided. "Maybe I'll focus on Uma and Harry next, since they saw that little moment in the bathroom."
"Vulnerability indicates hidden depth," Audrey agreed. "Thus making you a more enjoyable prospect for them. Also, Harry stares at your ass a lot. Uma thinks it's hilarious, but don't make it easy for him." Audrey reached over and gave Chad's arm a pat. "She says he likes the chase."
"Well, seeing as I'm going to be busy satisfying Ben's childhood fantasies, I think I can manage to play hard to get," Chad drawled. "These people are lucky to have us around."
"Without question," Audrey agreed, and that was that.
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Chad – because he was a polite beau – waited patiently beside Ben and Mal in the private receiving area of the castle, Audrey standing with Uma and her crew while the others returned from their romantic getaway.
"I'm sure they had fun," Mal was saying, tapping her fingers rhythmically against her forearms. "But we I cannot lose Evie, Doug, and Jane for another week, this has been crazy."
"And you missed Jay and Carlos too," Ben said, his voice full of mirth.
"Yeah, yeah," Mal assured him with a lazy wave that had most of them laughing.
It was a relief when the others finally trudged into view – because hey, there was Doug again, and also Jay who lit up like a lightning bug, the tall teen sprinting to Chad so he could scoop him up in a hug.
"'Sup, blondie?" He grinned, pulling Chad into a deep kiss. "Miss me?"
"What? Were you gone?" Chad asked, wide eyed and innocent, earning a bright laugh from Jay that spread over to Ben and Mal, who were greeting Evie and Doug in turn. Looked like Jane and Carlos were being doted on by the pirates, though the young De Ville kept throwing considering looks towards Chad and Jay.
Jay finally set Chad down, but he seemed content to hold him close, which Chad was fine with. "I missed you too, blondie."
"Hope you had fun, though," Chad said, knowing he was flushing, which was good because Jay liked it when he did that, and it was nice to run his hands through those silky tresses again.
"Tons," Jay informed him with a grin. "And you? Anything exciting happen here?"
"Oh, you know." Chad shrugged. "A little this, a little that."
"Mmm-hmm," Jay hummed, then leaned forward so that their foreheads were tilted together. "You have a hickey on your jaw, my dude. So which enthusiastic person gave you that? Was it Gil? Could I have a repeat performance?"
"Oh um- that was Ben," Chad said with a smile, pretending not to feel the way Jay tensed. "He likes me, apparently. So."
Jay blinked at him, then pulled Chad against his chest so he could blink at Ben. "Benjamin, you getting frisky with Chad?"
Mal was the one who answered, not seeming to notice the way Doug and Evie froze in shock. "Suck it up, Jay – you have to share now."
"You should let me watch, though," Jay whined. "I can't believe you waited for me to be gone before you made a move."
Ben lit up in a brilliant blush. "It just sort of happened."
"Yes," Audrey deadpanned, leaning her head against Gil's shoulder. "The crush you've had on Chad for years 'just sort of happened'."
"Ben," Jay groaned. "Why didn't you tell me? We could have suffered together."
"Suffered," Chad echoed, trying not to pout.
"You know what I meant," Jay said, making a nuisance of himself by nuzzling his nose against Chad's until Chad could legally no longer be mad at him. It was a law. This boy was too damn cute. "Suffered tragically from heartsickness together."
"Let's not oversell things," Carlos grumbled, but Jay and Ben didn't seem to hear him, even if Uma and Harry did.
"I can't believe you just got back and the first thing you're going to do is whine," Mal said, rolling her eyes. "Actually, I can believe that, but whatever." Mal deftly looped her arm through Evie's. "Want to go 'catch up'?" she asked with an exaggerated wag of her brows.
Evie stifled her giggles behind an elegant palm, but it didn't seem as easy as it normally was – likely shaken by the Ben/Chad development. "I would be delighted, Miss Bertha."
Mal turned to Doug expectantly. "You interested in joining us?"
"Um." That seemed to startle the dwarf kin from his stupor. "No, I'm good."
He turned, seeming to beat a hasty retreat.
"Hey," Chad spoke up, unable to help himself because it was Doug. When the other teen turned to give him a startled look, Chad continued, "Are you okay?"
"Um." A flush spread across Doug's cheeks, but he was likely embarrassed by Chad's need to ask more than anything else. "Yeah, I just… I need to catch up on my schoolwork."
With that he left, making Chad feel slightly adrift.
Jay squeezed him, seeming to sense this. "Don't worry about it," he said. "He gets like that when he's been around people too much."
"Right," Chad said, remembering Doug's need for solitude with sudden clarity. He had been Doug's roommate for six years, through junior high and high school, he knew the other teen's quirks. More than once Chad had vacated their room just to give Doug some peace and quiet without making the musician resort to hiding in his closet.
"But let's refocus," Jay said, dragging Chad over to Ben. "You know what would be a great coming home present?"
"Ben has meetings, Jay," Chad groaned, a blush spreading across his cheeks.
"Ben can postpone his meetings thirty minutes," Ben offered shyly, making Mal cackle and Evie's smile just a bit more strained. "What did you have in mind?"
"You two making out while I watch," Jay said, the epitome of unapologetic.
"I'll call my assistant," Ben said.
"On second thought, let me call your assistant," Chad said, relieving Ben of his phone. "She likes me better."
"That's because you keep sending her presents."
"Huh," Jay said. "Maybe I should try that."
"I'll give you a list," Chad said. "Monique is very particular."
"Guys," Ben said, just that, but it-
Yeah, it was good. This seemed to be good.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Endnotes:
Because Ben having secret crushes on Chad will forever and always be my lifeblood.
Thanks so much for the feedback, guys! Your support is greatly appreciated, and really makes my day ^_^ Next chapter we take a step forward and another step back, then kind of shuffle around to get to a happy sort of medium. Chad and Audrey are playing it by ear, really :)
Also, shoutout to DragonLady211 for guessing the beginning of this chapter with perfect accuracy. Just like- it makes my heart so happy ^_^
Until next time :)