Chapter 3 – Setbacks
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"You have the best ideas sometimes," Chad laughed as he and Audrey slid out of the secret passageway that led to Carlos' rec room.
"Sometimes?" Audrey challenged, motioning for him to keep his voice low as they set down their crates of provisions. "How about always, Chadwick?"
"Don't get a big head," Chad cautioned, sneaking to the front of the room and confirming that the door was, in fact, locked. He got to work setting up the noise cancelers that would cover what Carlos' own insulation wouldn't mask. "Okay, we've got about four hours to get this done. You ready?"
"I was born ready," Audrey pledged, eyeing the mess that was the gaming station with a determined twinkle in her eye that meant woe for any clutter that dared get in her way.
Chad and Audrey were doing a nice thing.
Due to the unique nature of their relationship, there were some extraneous members who were not entirely onboard the Chad/Audrey love train. Which was fine. Understandable, even, but not entirely ideal. At the very least, Chad and Audrey needed friendship to get what they wanted, which led them to do a very nice thing.
Carlos was one of their (many) doubters, and Carlos unfortunately was Jay's best friend, meaning that Chad needed to win the young De Ville over ASAP. He'd been studying the other teen for weeks now, looking for any demands that he might be able to satisfy to gain some sort of fondness with the tech, and come to the conclusion that Carlos' den – his tech retreat and lounge – needed a major overhaul.
Which was difficult, because Carlos was picky. He had things he wanted organized in specific places and was very territorial over his space after not being allowed it on the Isle. Because of his busy schedule, the lounge was only half set up and kept accumulating messes, but since no one but Carlos could put it to order, it had just been getting steadily worse.
Chad, fortunately, came up with a solution that he dropped via an email that was supposedly from Jane that was sent to Doug, who'd mentioned it in a conversation to Carlos, about how designing his perfect space on paper would help him make it a reality.
Thus, Carlos' blueprints were born.
And it was with these blueprints that Chad lovingly collected from Carlos' computer that Audrey and Chad were able to collect the necessary supplies, would be able to clean and put everything in order for the young De Ville while leaving them to Carlos' specifications, thus ensuring everyone won.
Chad and Audrey planned to leave it as a surprise for Carlos to return to (everyone was out of Auradon Castle for the afternoon, including Chad and Audrey, supposedly), so they had a limited timeframe in which they could operate. Luckily, both of them were pretty handy with power tools and had already acquired the blueprints to the room from the castle archives in case they needed to get an eye on any studs or electrical wiring underneath the walls.
They got to work.
Audrey was in charge of clean up and organization, every last spool of wire and every tool having a place in Carlos' meticulous notes. It was Chad's job to assemble the custom furniture Carlos had designed, to run wiring through it and tie cables in appropriately hidden positions, to install lights and under cabinet lighting and anything electrical Carlos could possibly dream of.
Audrey was the one who painted the accent wall, a solid red with Mal's dragon painted in the middle in black and white. Carlos had likely intended for Ben's fiancé to do the work herself, but Audrey also happened to be a super talented artist, and relished in painting the emblem, in designing the fabric for the couch pillows and curtains.
They threw in touches of all the others too, Evie's hearts and Jay's snakes. Audrey framed a pastel drawing she did of Ben's beast sigil and put it on the wall with an array of other artwork to represent the pirates, Doug, and Jane (it helped that his notes just said misc. artwork, so misc. artwork was what he got). Audrey also threw in some framed photos, including Jay's first Tourney win, where he and Carlos were holding up the championship trophy, Chad and Ben smiling from each side. There was the day the barrier fell, the day Ben proposed to Mal. There was Jane with a clipboard in full party planning mode and Evie cuddling Doug after a design binge Gil and Jay being adorable rock climbers. There was Uma and Mal laughing at something just out of view (likely Harry), and Audrey and Jane as cheerleaders, and there was Ben in his full regalia giving a speech, wearing that perfect smile of his, which was a photo both Chad and Audrey had unanimously decided was their favorite.
It was a good room by the time they were done. Chad even pulled a few strings and managed to get Carlos early copies of a few of the games he'd had his eye on, which Audrey left displayed across the new and improved coffee table, complete with secret compartments, USB charging stations, and underlighting.
"Fucking beautiful," Audrey said when they were all done, Chad recollecting the noise muffling devices just as he heard footsteps starting down the private hallway.
"Cheese it," he hissed, and then they both dove into the secret passageway with their crates, waiting just behind the door so they could hear Carlos' reaction.
It did not take long.
"Holy shit," Carlos breathed, followed by a short pause where he must have wandered deeper into the room. "Fucking – wow."
"That's one way to put it," Harry, who was apparently with Carlos, said, loosing an impressed whistle when he looked at the renovated room. "Someone dared to touch your stuff."
"But it's just how I want it," Carlos said, and by the sound of it, he was at the workbench Chad and Audrey had spent two hours perfecting. "The blueprints – Doug and Jane must have planned this."
"Sweet buggers," Harry drawled, his voice trailing over towards the couch. "And would ye look at that. Thought those games weren't supposed to come out for another month."
"What are you talking about?" Carlos asked, and then he must have crossed to Harry because he let out a triumphant 'woop!'. "Fucking shit, Jay's gonna be so jealous! We should start playing this right now."
"Ye don't have to twist my arm," Harry assured him. "But do ye wanna finish looking around the place?"
"Yes, of course, it's just- it's a lot," Carlos said, sounding overwhelmed with how happy he was, making Chad and Audrey grin at each other like helpless lunatics. "I can't believe they did this. No wonder Doug wanted me to make those blueprints."
"Ye are rather touchy about your things," Harry hummed, the words seeming to come from experience.
"I know, but they- they did this anyway, knowing it was a risk. They did it for me. I love it."
"Damn right, ye do." They could hear the grin in Harry's voice. "It was made by your sweetie. And look, she even set up a photo collage." There was a pause, then – "Might want to get rid of this one, though."
"Jane's too nice," Carlos said, his tone unreadable. "And it's not beyond saving, I'll just-" There was the sound of some fumbling, and then a minute later the distinct echo of paper being ripped.
It made something hard settle in Chad's stomach.
"There," Carlos said, putting the picture frame back together. "Audrey never comes in here anyway."
"Too messy for her tastes, I imagine," Harry laughed, and Chad would focus on that but he caught Audrey tensing, the princess realizing the same time he did that Carlos had just ripped the cheerleading photo in half. "Ye gonna tear Charming out of the other one?"
"No," Carlos said, a distinct pout in his tone. "Jay would give me shit about it."
"Don't know what he sees in that guy, to be honest," Harry sighed. "Gilly and the princess I understand – 'cuz who doesn't love Gilly? And Gil will love just about anyone who treats him decently – but Jay always seemed like a smart one, for all that he's a shit."
"He just wants to fuck him," Carlos said, his voice bitter. "I know that Chad's just a passing fancy, that Jay will fuck him and laugh at him until he's bored and then we'll be free of him, it's just irritating that we have to pretend he matters as much as the rest of us. That they matter."
"Mal seems to like him," Harry noted noncommittally.
Chad could practically see Carlos make a face. "Mal doesn't want anyone to have something she can't. She's the boss, and she wants to support Jay, so of course she pretends to give a shit. That doesn't mean it's not stupid."
"I dunno," Harry drawled. "They don't seem all bad. They turned down Gil and Jay for us."
"Bet anything that was Audrey's doing," Carlos griped. "That wasn't some kind of generosity, she knew Ben would hunt them down, and if they appeared sad enough over it that they'd get invited in. She had to. And Chad followed along, because that's all Chad does."
"The tears didn't seem fake to me," Harry noted.
"Well, maybe they weren't," Carlos allowed with an annoyed huff. "But that doesn't mean they actually love Gil and Jay. They're just as much passing fancies to Chad and Audrey as those royal losers are to Gil and Jay. Just- I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm gonna call Jane and thank her for the present."
"Don't be surprised if she plays coy," Harry said, willing to let the issue drop. "She's a clever one, that duckling."
"I know," Carlos said, sounding closer to his usual self. "Thanks for listening to me rant."
"Everyone needs a sounding board," Harry hummed. "I'm always happy to lend an ear, De Ville."
"In exchange for early access video games?"
"Eh, that's one perk," Harry said, and then there was a heated silence where the first mate likely started kissing Carlos, the conversation markedly done.
Beside him, Audrey trembled from restrained anger, her fingers twitching as though remembering the phantom lure of Maleficent's scepter to go forth and cause pain to those who had wronged her. Chad pulled her away, urged her back down the secret passage. For him, there was no anger, only resignation. He knew, after all, how little most of them liked him. This wasn't exactly a surprise, it just… hurt, in a dumb, human way.
Audrey was panting by the time Chad guided her back to theirsuite, though most of that was from restrained fury.
"You should have let me scratch his eyes out," she hissed. "You should have let me break his nose. You should have let me choke him." In a rush of frustration, she grabbed up one of the couch pillows and hurled it across the room, the soft cushion bouncing harmlessly off the wall. "I can't believe I wasted half a day catering to that shitbag."
"We both knew Carlos held grudges," Chad said, feeling empty. "Attacking him wouldn't have improved things, you know that."
"He called you a whore!" Audrey snapped. "You're not a whore. You're not a passing amusement, you're not… Chad," she said, her tone changing from furious to pained, and it was then that Chad realized he must be crying, because his cheeks were wet and his face felt hot.
"Sorry," he whispered, collapsing into her hug when she crossed to him, the tiny princess helping to ease him down onto the couch. "I just- sorry."
He didn't know why he was worked up. Light knew worse stuff had happened to him.
"You're not a whore," Audrey simply repeated. "You're not a whore, Chad, no matter what anyone says…" she trailed off when he shuddered, unable to help himself. "What my grandmothers did-"
"I made my choices," Chad said, throat tight as he valiantly pushed away the memories that threatened to drag him under. "I don't regret them. It's just hard, sometimes."
Audrey was tense when she comforted him, likely blaming herself just like she had back then, but Chad meant what he said. He had made his own choices, he didn't regret them, it just- it wasn't always easy to live with them, was all.
"What did we say we were doing today?" Chad asked, desperate for a change of subject.
Audrey froze, but recovered quickly, because that was the way of their relationship. "Going for some dumb store opening or something. Lunch at some food fad place and then off to school and work."
"Cool," Chad said, the word absolutely meaningless. "Want to go to the Enchanted Lake instead?"
"Yes," Audrey replied, squeezing him tight. "Let's do that."
"Cool," Chad repeated, wondering if he'd sound any more lively.
He did not.
But that was just the way of things.
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By the time Chad drove them to the Enchanted Lake they were both substantially more collected, and by the time they settled in for a lazy afternoon of nothing, they were back to their apathetic selves. One of the boons of the Enchanted Lake was that it was only accessible by the truest elite and their hangers on, which was what made it such a prime dating spot or place of celebration. It was open and lovely without the risk of paparazzi, which meant Audrey and Chad could laze around in their swimsuits without fear of anyone dropping in to harass them.
At least, any of the common rabble.
"If I had a last meal," Audrey said from her position reclining against the steps, the bottom half of her legs dipped into the clear waters of the lake. "I think I'd have steak. Just steak. And I would eat it with my hands – bite right into it, like an animal."
"Would you have side dishes?" Chad asked, playing along with the masochistic game they had invented years ago, because their food intake had always been restricted to only the blandest and smallest of portions. "For your last meal?"
"Fuck yes, I would," Audrey said, taking a sip of her carbonated water like a true queen. "Macaroni with every kind of cheese you could imagine. So many cheeses that they couldn't possibly go together, all in a gooey, horrible abomination that I would also eat with my hands."
"I'd have mashed potatoes," Chad offered, floating aimlessly in the clear water of the lake. He loved it here – it was very peaceful.
"A mountain of mashed potatoes," Audrey decided. "And gravy. Useless, useless gravy. I'd mix it with the macaroni and cheese until it was a disgusting pile of slop and then I'd just dive into it and eat my way out."
"Pausing for steak along the way," Chad hummed. "I'd have cheese rolls."
"Those little popover thingies?" Audrey asked, grinning at Chad's nodded confirmation. "Fuck, I could eat a barrel of those."
"Or just one," Chad said sadly. "Just one would be nice."
"We'll have them at our last meal," Audrey declared. "With ice cream. Hot apple crumble with cinnamon and sugar, loaded down with ice cream on top."
"Potato soup," Chad hummed. "Lobster bisque."
"The chocolate chip cookies they make at Auradon Prep that we never got to have," Audrey said, making Chad groan. "All gooey and soft. Fucking have a sundae of those."
"A bucket," Chad said. "They sell them in buckets at the carnivals."
"Fuck normal people who get to eat cookies," Audrey huffed. "Why can't there be any fat princesses? I wanna be a fat princess."
"A fluffy princess," Chad corrected. "A curvy princess."
"I wanna eat cookies and not be starving all the time," Audrey continued, a familiar rant between them. "Oh! Blueberry cobbler."
"Fuck yes, blueberry cobbler," Chad agreed, his mouth watering just at the thought of it. "And Mrs. Potts' gray stuff."
"I think it's a pâté," Audrey offered. "Unless you're talking about the dessert mouse."
"Both," Chad said. "Yes. We can make a sandwich with the cookies."
"Yes," Audrey hummed. "Why not? It's our last meal."
"Yep," Chad sighed, thinking of that far off mystical day fondly. "You know we could also have…"
He trailed off when he heard movement further down the path, both of them turning in time to see Ben and Mal come around the bend dressed in their own casual clothing, seeming to have the same idea as Chad and Audrey. There was a very awkward standoff where Ben and Mal tried to comprehend a world where other people also liked to be at the Enchanted Lake, and then Chad cleared his throat.
"Hey," Chad offered with a small wave. "You guys playing hooky?"
"Didn't you have some restaurant opening or something?" Mal asked, defensive to cover up her confusion.
"We lied," Chad said with a shrug. "So our assistants couldn't find us."
"They're wily," Audrey offered in a drawl. "But I suppose we've had enough sun for one day."
They had only been there about thirty minutes, but the difference it made on their dispositions was noticeable.
"Yep." Chad stood up with a stretch, feeling the water drip off him in steady streams as he moved to climb out of the lake. "I've got some company meetings to attend to anyway. And you've got… what, an econ project?"
Audrey made a show of restraining her frustration. "Some Duke's son thinks I don't understand basic supply and demand. He's going to run our fake food corporation into the ground if I don't set him straight."
"Poor Duke's son," Chad drawled with a grin. "Meanwhile I have to make sure my upper management doesn't try to skirt around fun employment laws by underpaying Isle refugees like the classy piece of shits they are."
"You firing them?" Audrey asked.
"Yep." Chad sighed, rubbing himself down with a towel. "Gotta retrain and promote a whole slew of people. It'll be great."
"What about the Isle refugees?" Mal asked, who had been listening out of obligation but was now engaged at the mention of something she cared about.
"Nothing to worry about," Chad said. "I'm taking care of it."
"And getting rid of some bad seeds in the process," Audrey hummed. "Hey, you should hire Dizzy to design a line for you."
"I made the offer, but she turned me down," Chad explained sadly. "I told her I didn't care if she stayed on with Evie, but it seems like Evie cares if she works with me, so-" He shrugged. "The option's always there if she wants it."
"Speaking of Evie," Mal said as Chad and Audrey packed away their things, slipping back into their sun clothes. "You ever going to apologize to her?"
"About getting her in trouble with the Chemistry teacher?" Chad asked, giving the appearance of clarification, but really just needing to lead Mal down a specific road.
When he looked back at Ben's fiancé, her face was tense and unreadable. "About calling her a gold digger and making her do your homework."
"Yeah," Chad said, watching Mal relax ever so slightly before he added – "No, I'm not. Not for that, at least. Evie was gold digging, just like every other eligible female in Sardinia."
Just over Mal's shoulder, Ben got a conflicted look. "Chad-"
"Save it, Ben," Chad said, waving him off. "You know how many girls wanted me to date them because of my position? Or because of my brand? The answer is a lot of them, and like Evie, not a single one of them gave a shit about me, specifically. Wanna know how I know that?" He allowed one moment of frustration to build the tension, then continued. "Because I fell for the first three or so of them, and then I had this idea, because if all of these people were trying to use me, maybe I should get something out of it. Like a test, you know. So I'd ask them to do my homework, because if they really cared about me, they would tell me to fuck off. They'd realize I wasn't the charming human they thought I was and move on, and maybe then I could try to win them back, but at least I'd know, right? Except…" He allowed this information to sink in, Ben getting a sad look on his face. "Except of all those girls I asked to do my homework, do you know how many of them turned me down? None of them. Because none of them gave a shit about me, they just wanted me to like them because I was prince charming. Just like Evie did, because she wanted to be a princess."
Which was a joke because Evie was already a princess, it just hadn't been made official yet.
"So no," Chad continued. "I'm not going to apologize to Evie for using her before she had a chance to use me. And I'm not going to apologize for calling her a gold digger." A pause, then. "But I will apologize for Parents' Day, and I'll apologize for getting her trouble with the teacher, because I'd never bothered to do that with the other girls."
"Kind of you," Mal said, her voice tight.
"We're all just people, Mal," Chad said with a helpless shrug. "Yeah, I'm dumb. People like to take advantage of me, I know that – but Evie isn't perfect. She can make mistakes too, just like me."
They didn't say anything else as they shouldered their bags, walking back up the path to get to Chad's car.
Ben stopped him just as he passed, looking at Chad with an expression of conflict. "Chad, how… how many girls-?"
"I stopped counting," Chad replied honestly before shrugging his hand off. "You guys have a good time, okay? We'll see you tonight."
Audrey didn't say anything as they left, but he knew she was too angry too – not at Mal, just at the world. A world where Carlos De Ville could casually dismiss them and it mattered, a world where Chad was constantly harassed as an easy target.
It was the hand they were dealt, but that didn't make it less shitty.
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It didn't take long for that conversation to make its way to Evie's ears, and Chad knew this because the princess approached him herself, her jaw tense with restrained anger as she watched him appear to take selfies.
Really, he was just trying to get an angle on the sniper outside the castle so his hummingbird could poison them but yeah, selfies were good.
"I can't believe you," she hissed, bustling into his line of sight with a scowl. "Trying to play the victim now that you've got an in with Ben."
"I'm not saying I was a victim," Chad said, casually closing the curtains in what appeared to be a silent fuck you, but really just blocking them off from the sniper. "I'm saying that you were going after me for less than noble reasons, and now you're mad about it because you didn't think I was smart enough to notice."
It was a common theme with Dumb Chad, but even he had his moments. They were not great moments, but they were his.
Evie stood there for a moment, flabbergasted at the accuracy of his statement, then scowled. "So maybe part of that is true," she allowed. "But you don't understand the pressure I was under."
"Evie," Chad held a hand out, and while he recognized this was like, prime man-splaining position, he really couldn't let her continue. "I'm heir to one of the most powerful kingdoms in all of Auradon. I have some idea of the pressure you're under."
It was, of course, the exact wrong thing to say.
"The fuck you do," Evie snapped. "You're never stressed or worried about anything."
"Yeah," Chad drawled. "Because it isn't nearly as impressive if you let them see you sweat."
"I don't know what Ben sees in you," Evie huffed, crossing her arms. "Or Jay. You really are just a brat."
"Hey," Chad pushed past his offense (this was not new information for him) and focused on something more important. "I really am sorry for Parents' Day, Evie. I shouldn't have yelled at you in front of all those people. Audrey was really hurt by everything that had happened and I wanted to help, even though that ultimately-"
"Save it," Evie snapped, and then she was stomping away.
It was a less-than-successful interaction, but thankfully Chad's hummingbird informed him that the sniper had been dealt with, and his Auradon-based body removal team was already in-route.
So at least it wasn't a complete failure.
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"Yeah, that's less than ideal," Audrey agreed later when they were sprawled out on her bed. "Even if Ben's motivations are supposedly based in emotions, this is definitely going to make it seem like he's only in it for your sweet bod. Or at least that's how Evie's going to spin it, which isn't going to help you out with Carlos any." She made a face. "Not that you should want Carlos, the shit. We just-"
"We need basic acceptance," Chad sighed, tilting his head against her arm. "We need to not have enemies from within, and then we can freely operate without interference."
"Ugh," Audrey let out a dramatic sigh, her head flopping back against the pillow for no other reason than it could. "This is so tedious. Now Evie's likely getting consoled by Mal, which means Ben's free and you could go to him, but if Evie hears about it she'll probably think you're just sucking up."
"So I'll let him come to me," Chad said. "If he wants. Hang out in my suite so I'm available for anyone who feels like comforting me."
And if that number was zero, then no one would know but Chad.
"Order something from the kitchens," Audrey advised. "Like fruit flavored water or whatever. That way they'll know you're there."
"Cool," Chad said. "And in the meantime…"
"I've got a date with Uma," Audrey boasted. "Well, Harry wanted alone time with Gil so she offered so show me the ropes on her ship."
"Get some," Chad laughed, and it just proved what a good mood Audrey was in because she graciously accepted his high five.
"I will indeed," she offered sagely, and Chad allowed himself to feel a bit of hope after all.
-:-:-:-:-:-
For all his confidence, Chad hadn't actually expected to receive any company that night. He was the master of talking a good talk, but in reality, his walk was comfy clothing and a mess of computers as he kept track of his spy network, his latest shipments of supplies, the economic status of Sardinia, the Isle refugees, and the next batch of charity events.
He was knee-deep in work, wearing the glasses that allowed him to see the special coded messages fluttering in the background of his monitor when he caught sight of Ben lingering in the doorway. The king must have just gotten there, but he seemed hopelessly fond, staring at Chad with an open look of affection that really wasn't warranted.
"Hey," Ben greeted once he saw that he had Chad's attention. "Long day?"
"Always," Chad grinned, pulling off his glasses and running a hand through his curls so they looked closer to 'sexy' rather than 'frazzled'.
"Hey, no- keep those on," Ben said in a rush, crossing so he could slide the spectacles back onto Chad's face for him. He was flushing by the time he was done. "Didn't realize you needed these."
"They're to alleviate eye strain from blue lights," Chad said, motioning to his laptops. "You only get one set of eyes, you know."
"Maybe I should get some of those," Ben said, leaning down so he could wrap an arm around Chad's shoulders. "Though I don't think I would look nearly as cute as you."
Chad allowed his cheeks to fill with warmth. "Ben…"
It probably shouldn't be surprising that the king leaned forward to kiss him, and Chad melted into it, confused but eager. It seemed Ben really didn't think these things through at all, just deciding to commit to Chad without even really knowing him.
Then again, Jay had too.
"Come on," Ben said, pulling Chad up from his desk and tugging the blond over towards his couch. He settled down with his back against the arm of the couch, letting Chad cuddle in the V of his legs so they were more or less spooned together. "That actually wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about, however much I enjoy the subject."
Chad sighed. "I tried to apologize to Evie."
"I heard," Ben said, wrapping a comforting arm around Chad's waist and nuzzling the side of his neck that still bore Ben's teeth marks. Mal had said there was a good chance they wouldn't go away – something that had to do with Ben's beast blood, which Chad supposed was one way of guaranteeing his place in their relationship. "Jay's trying to talk to her with Mal and Doug right now."
"Ugh," Chad groaned, letting his head flop back against Ben's shoulder. "I don't want to come between him and his friends."
"I know," Ben soothed, running a hand down Chad's side. "We all know that, it's just hard for Evie. You hurt her, and she was able to get over that when you were merely an enthusiastic acquaintance, but now that you're part of her relationship, it's bringing back some old wounds."
"I didn't mean to hurt her so bad," Chad said, appropriately admonished. "I just…"
"Chad," Ben squeezed him close, kissing the bitemark on his neck. "She didn't- we didn't know about all those other girls. Do lots of people try to use you?"
"Sure," Chad said, keeping his voice light, disinterested. "I mean, I'm kind of dumb and pretty good looking, and a lot of girls want to be queen so they'd try to suck up to me and…" He swallowed. "I… the first few times were the worst, because I thought they actually liked me, but they really just cared about the clothes I could get them or the parties I could take them too, and I- I'd hear them talking to their friends about me behind my back and-"
He squeezed his eyes shut, because that part wasn't entirely false. The best lies were the ones gleaned from truth, but he didn't really have to lie, here. He had truly only fallen for the ruse once. For everyone else, he had guarded his heart.
"They were laughing about me," he said.
"Chad," Ben said, appropriately sorrowful like the big empathetic lug he was. "I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault," Chad sniffed. "It just hurt. And then you brought kids over from the Isle, and they were just like the Auradon kids."
Ben tensed. "It's not-"
"I know she was just looking for stability," Chad said. "I know that now. I know she was probably scared. I know it wasn't the same. But that- that doesn't make it right."
"No," Ben agreed, and somehow despite being the one who was a major asshole in the past, Chad was coming off as the most sympathetic. "Evie will see that, in time. She'll see the version of you that I see, that Jay sees, and she'll come to love you just as much."
"Ben." Chad's chest hurt from the thought of it, because the king seemed so genuine, so foolish.
"But until that day, I'm here for you," Ben said, pressing kisses against Chad's shoulder. "To um- be here for all your needs. Your emotional needs," Ben rushed to explain, flushing with embarrassment. "I mean- I'm also here for your sexual needs, but that wasn't-"
"Ben," Chad laughed, turning to get a better look at the king. "Any chance you've got another one of those fantasies you want to act out?"
Ben looked towards the ceiling with an embarrassed sigh. "I never should have told you about those."
"Come on, your majesty," Chad said, turning so that his legs were folded under him as he eagerly stared Ben down. "Is there anything I – your loyal servant – can do for you?"
"Chad," Ben groaned, but Chad could already see him giving in, could see his interest stirring beneath his tailored slacks.
"Oh, um-" Chad made a show of being all frazzled. "It looks like you've got a mess here," he said, palming Ben's groin. "But I don't have any towels to clean it up with. Is it okay if I use my mouth?"
"Chad." Ben released a noise Chad had not thought him capable of, sounding wounded by the possibility, which made it easy for Chad to slide off the couch, pulling Ben's legs off so he could kneel between them properly.
"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience," Chad rushed to explain. "I hope this satisfies-"
"Actually," Ben cut him off, seeming to steady himself with a cool sort of hunger. "I must say that your attire is completely unacceptable for a member of my staff."
"Oh?" Chad said, looking down at his soft pajama pants and overlarge shirt. "I'm so sorry, your majesty, is there anything I could do to make up for it?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to get rid of them," Ben growled, pulling Chad up from the ground and guiding him back against the bed. "I can't have such offensive things in my sight."
"I'm so sorry," Chad rushed to offer, appearing apologetic while inside he was practically keening from how stupidly fun this was. "I'll take whatever punishment you give me."
That made Ben inhale sharply, the king hesitating for a moment before he was pulling off Chad's shirt, letting his fingers have as much contact with his sides as possible.
"As you should," Ben said, looking Chad over as though he had not already seen him like this before. "I don't like punishing you. You have to understand that, but I can't allow such lapses in etiquette pass."
"It was my fault," Chad swallowed as Ben tugged his pants off, the king running his hands along the outside of his legs before he came back up to toy with the waist of Chad's boxer briefs. "I forgot myself – got in a rush-"
"Even these won't do," Ben tutted, flush darkening across his cheeks. "I'm sorry-"
"Your majesty," Chad gasped, feigning embarrassment while Ben eased his underwear down, revealing Chad's growing interest. "I'm so sorry-"
"And you're all tense," Ben tsked, reaching forward to give Chad's length a firm pump. "You have to take better care of yourself, Chad. You can't keep running yourself into the ground."
"I'm- I'm sorry," Chad gasped as Ben kept shifting his hand, making Chad's hips rut into the contact. "I- this isn't n-necessary, your majesty."
"What kind of king would I be if I didn't take care of my subjects?" Ben hummed, eyes half-lidded and predatory. "I should make you call me once a night to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. You can explain it to me while you work your way through it."
"Your majesty," Chad pressed, scandalized. "I can't- I can't bother you with-"
"I need to know that my most treasured employee is being taken care of," Ben said, his voice low and all-consuming. "If you won't call me, I'll just have to come here and do it myself."
"Ben," Chad whined, boggled by the thought of it, and Ben tutted again.
"Don't forget your place, Chad," Ben growled.
"Your- your majesty," Chad gasped. "I'm sorry."
"All is forgiven," Ben hummed, hand moving in earnest. "But look," he sighed, watching Chad spill new beads of clear slick. "You're making a mess."
"S-Sorry."
"We can't let that spread," Ben decided, and then he was leaning down, taking Chad into his mouth.
"Y-You're majesty!" Chad whined. "Oh- oh, I'm- I'm gonna- Ben, please."
"Chad," Ben gasped when he pulled off, his lips flushed and wet from Chad's dick. "Your pushing the limits of my patience."
"I'm so sorry," Chad repeated. "I forgot myself."
"You forget many things," Ben hummed, fumbling for something in his pocket. "Like how to take care of yourself."
He pulled his hand out to reveal a tube of lube, something he liberally squeezed onto his fingers before reaching behind Chad to-
"This is tense too," he tutted, nudging at Chad's entrance with a dark flush. "Shall I take care of his as well?"
"Please," Chad said, nudging into his fingers. "I get so embarrassed, your majesty."
"You shouldn't," Ben soothed, massaging that ring of muscle carefully while he toyed with Chad's length. "I should have you report to my room once a night so I can guide you through this."
"I can't waste that much of your time," Chad protested.
"It wouldn't be a waste," Ben growled, his eyes dark with want. "Not if I was taking care of you, Chad."
"Your majesty." Chad's breaths came in quick pants as Ben slowly urged a finger into his heat, further boggling Chad's mind because that was Ben's finger – the king's, and for whatever reason he wanted it in Chad. "Don't say such things, please."
"Why?" Ben challenged as he probed that finger deeper. "I'm tired of hiding my feelings for you."
"Your majesty," Chad crooned. "We can't- we can't be together."
"I'm the king," Ben declared in a way he wouldn't normally, throwing his weight around in an equally un-Ben fashion. "If I want to have you then I shall."
"Even if I'm just a lowly servant?" Chad asked, arching into Ben's attentions.
"There's nothing lowly about you," Ben growled. "You are mine."
"Ben-"
"Yes," the king breathed, nuzzling Chad's thigh. "Just like that. Keep saying my name, my sweet."
"Ben," Chad gasped. "Ben. Ben."
It was a different way to spend the evening, but it was definitely a good one. Eventually, Ben worked his way up to fucking Chad, professing his love with a poetic lilt that would have made Chad snicker under normal circumstances. In the moment, though, it was very sweet, and by the time they collapsed next to each other on the bed, they were both naked and sated, their breaths coming in light pants.
"So, um…" Chad swallowed. "How would preteen you have ranked that?"
"Preteen me would have lost his mind," Ben hummed, curling close to Chad's back so he could spoon him. "Thanks for doing that."
"Believe me." Chad grinned. "It was my absolute pleasure."
-:-:-:-:-:-
Endnotes:
Thanks for all the feedback, guys! It always warms my heart when people stick up for Chad, and I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! This chapter was definitely a 'two steps back, one half shuffle forward towards damage control', but it will get better going forwards. Slowly but surely :)
Story notes:
So I wouldn't necessarily classify this as Not Carlos friendly. If anything, Carlos is set in his ways and exhibits an abundance of caution. He is over the moon happy with what he has now and he doesn't want to jinx it, and Chad and Audrey are a very real threat to the balance they've achieved. He sees them as interlopers, which is why he's wary of them. Like, he'll come around eventually, but he's not being a dick just for the sake of it. He's legitimately worried.
There is an amusement park somewhere that sells chocolate chip cookies by the bucket, and man do I want to visit that place.
So Disney World serves 'the gray stuff' as a dessert, I think, but Binging with Babbish did an episode where he broke that platter down, and he determined it was an appetizer of some kind, so I just listed both.
If Mal seems a bit weird in that second scene, it's because I wrote it before I'd finished chapter 1 where all the Mal/Chad bonding happened and I couldn't really figure out how to fix the tone so… minor suspicious Mal, but it'll be better going forward :)
There really are glasses that exist to alleviate eyestrain from staring at computer monitors for hours on end and boy, are they not cheap.
Until next time :)