Chapter 4 – Dwarven Enterprises

-:-:-:-:-:-

"Evie might be a hopeless cause for now," Audrey declared. "But the timing is right, so we're going to go ahead and make an advance on the Doug-front."

"Audrey," Chad whined, because he had been waiting for those words for a really long time, but the princess merely cut him off with a sharp shake of her hand.

"You are going to get exactly one shot at this," Audrey said, her voice entirely grave as she stared Chad in the eye. "Do not blow it. Don't be a gentleman, don't wuss out- I am arranging for you to get this one opportunity and you are going to fucking take it."

"Okay," Chad said, nodding nervously as the risk of his anxiety threatened to destroy him. He was grateful for Audrey's tough love in that moment because he knew he would waver without her instruction, would doubt himself because it was Doug, and Chad always doubted himself when it came to the dwarf-kin.

"Here's the plan," Audrey continued, watching him with a careful eye. "Jane rented out a private Lodge in Hanover for us to take Yule in so we could get away from the crowds and the Isle kids could all see what winter with nice snow is like. Due to a comedy of errors that I am going to arrange, you and Doug are going to drive there a day early. Despite just getting new tires, you're going to hit something on the road that makes you blow two wheels about five miles out from the lodge. Unfortunately, our collective luggage will have already been delivered ahead of time, meaning neither of you will have winter coats to don as you make the five-mile walk through the falling snow."

"We're walking through the snow?" Chad asked, distantly aware that Audrey must have already checked the weather forecasts.

She nodded. "You're walking through the snow. By the time you get to the lodge you'll be cold and soaked through." Especially Doug, whose dwarven temperament prepared him for the chill of deep mountain mining, but not for direct contact with snow. "You will take Doug to the bedroom with a fireplace, you will light the fire, and then you will strip Doug of his wet clothing and urge him into bed under a pile of fur blankets."

Chad blushed horribly just at the thought of it, already getting warm at the prospect of Doug naked, shivering under a mountain of blankets.

Audrey continued, "You will then strip down yourself and cuddle that naked guy, and hopefully at that point the tiny crush he's pretending not to have on you will act up, he'll get aroused, and you – the charming prince – will 'help' him with that situation. Got it?"

"What if he doesn't get aroused?" Chad asked, gripped with mild panic.

Audrey gave him a put-upon look. "He's going to get aroused," she said, her tone broking no room for arguments. "Now obviously you're going to have to play the situation by ear but I think your relationship has progressed enough that Doug will be willing to accept your affection, and if not… well, we'll try again later, but this is take one. Do not wuss out on take one. Do not draw him a bath and dote on him in there – cuddle him in the fucking bed. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Chad swallowed roughly. "I understand."

"Great." Audrey grinned. "Now start doing your ab workouts – you want Doug to be appropriately awed when those clothes come off."

Audrey really was the best sometimes.

-:-:-:-:-:-

The beginning of the plan went off without a hitch, leaving Chad driving through Hanover with a slightly awkward Doug, who occasionally fidgeted when Chad attempted to make small talk with him. Doug seemed wary of him, or perhaps he was worried because the woman he loved so much decidedly didn't like Chad. Still, Chad eventually managed to get him onto a topic he was passionate about, the dwarf-kin going on adorably about one of his classes until they hit five miles out from the lodge, and surprise of all surprises, two tires popped.

"I just replaced these," Chad huffed, viewing the handiwork with a skeptical eye while Doug shivered beside him. "We must have hit a rocky patch or something. We should warn the others before they come up."

"Should we call a tow truck?" Doug asked, his arms folded across his chest and snow gathering in his hair like some kind of winter angel.

"We're too far out," Chad sighed. "And the reception's not going to get better until we hit the Lodge. We can walk there, and then I'll call it in."

"W-Walk?" Doug shivered. "Could… one of the others-"

"They're coming up tomorrow," Chad said, rising to his feet with a sigh. "It's not so bad," he said, giving Doug's arm a comforting path. "Five miles and then I'll start us a fire, okay?"

"O-Okay," Doug said, giving in without nearly as much of a fight as Chad anticipated.

Being the dashing prince, Chad led the way, cutting a path through the snow to make it easier for Doug to walk through. One of the unanticipated bonuses of walking through the snow was Doug's lack of coordination, meaning he'd occasionally slip or trip and Chad would catch him, until it got to the point where he just kept an arm wrapped around Doug's waist, holding him close like he'd always wanted to while a brilliant flush spilled across the musician's cheeks – which was likely from the cold, but still, it was fun to pretend.

By the time they got to the Lodge they were soaked through, Doug's shivers progressing to full body quakes while Chad rushed to get them inside the lodge.

"Come on," Chad said, and it was a testament to how cold Doug was that he didn't argue, the other teen following Chad to the bedroom Audrey had told him about with the gas fireplace. He bustled Doug into a chair and turned up the heater, lighting the fire before throwing a bundle of blankets onto the bed closest to the fireplace.

Only then did he turn back to Doug, his heart beating hard in his throat.

"Okay, bud," Chad said, pulling Doug's soaked blazer off and tossing it to the side. "I'm going to get you out of this wet stuff, and then you're going to huddle under the blankets until your core temperature rises, okay?"

"C-Chad," Doug gasped, his teeth chattering as the prince pulled off his adorable loafers. "I c-can-"

"It's okay," Chad urged, pulling off Doug's socks and rubbing at his feet to provide some friction warmth. "This is a totally normal thing, okay? No need to make a big deal."

"B-But…" Doug's cheeks were flushed when Chad began unbuttoning his shirt, Chad only maintaining his composure through years of experience because it was happening. "Y-You don't h-have to-"

"Want to," Chad said, likely imagining Doug's shudder. "We're friends, right? Friends help each other."

"O-Okay," Doug panted, and then Chad was off.

It was a fight not to caress Doug's chest when he pulled off that soaked undershirt, a fight not to lean forward and start licking at that lean, pale skin. Chad urged Doug to stand so he could pull off his pants and the other teen braced his hands on Chad's shoulders, which did things to him he truly did not need.

Doug may have whimpered when Chad got him down to his soaked boxers, though that was likely due to embarrassment, and it took almost everything Chad had not to appear too eager when he pulled those wet boxers off Doug's body.

Fuck. Fuck. He was so pretty; he was so sweet and kind and goofy and Chad wanted all of him.

One thing at a time.

"Come on," he said, herding Doug into the bed and dutifully ignoring the semi Doug was sporting as he curled under the blankets. "There you go, just like that. You're doing great, Doug."

"C-Chad?" Doug asked when the prince began stripping off his clothes, because despite his feigned composure, he was actually freezing.

"Body heat," Chad told him, pretending to be distracted with his task and maybe also putting on a bit of a strip tease for Doug because he'd always wanted to. "The fastest way to get you warm-"

"T-That's not- necessary," Doug stuttered, looking hopelessly embarrassed.

"We don't have to tell the others if you don't want to," Chad sighed when he finally got his undershirt off, flexing for Doug's benefit while he kicked off his shoes. "But like I said, it isn't a big deal. I mean, if you don't want to, we don't have to- just- I'm worried about how-"

"It's f-fine," Doug said, making Chad's stomach drop while he continued to work his way out of his pants, at least until the other teen continued with, "I mean- thanks. You can- it's okay."

"Okay," Chad repeated, and then he was down to his boxer briefs, which had already been appropriately tight for Doug's enjoyment, if that was a thing he enjoyed, and Chad wasn't sure how he managed to make taking those off sexy but he was pretty sure he did, and then there was nothing to it but to slide under the covers, spooning close to Doug's back.

Okay, wow. Naked Doug. Chad was spooning naked Doug and he was naked and this was everything he had ever hoped for, minus the possibility for like- the flu.

"Here," Chad said, reaching around Doug to grab his hands and tuck them under the dwarf kin's armpits. "This should help raise their temperature faster."

"R-Right." Doug shivered. "Should- should have thought of that."

"You're cold," Chad offered with a shrug, wrapping an arm around Doug's waist. "It's fair that you didn't…"

He trailed off when Doug tensed, because there was definitely an erection brushing against his arm – that was- that was Doug's erection because he'd actually gotten hard watching Chad and don't panic- don't panic- he didn't have time for panic.

"Sorry," Doug said in a rush, shifting uneasily. "You can go-"

"Hey, it's fine," Chad assured him, rubbing a hand against Doug's stomach in a manner he hoped was platonically comforting because he fucking couldn't help himself. "That is a perfectly natural thing. You don't have to be ashamed of that."

Doug shivered. "Just. Um."

"Do you want help?" Chad asked, tone casual but chest feeling so tense he might break from it, because this was it. "I can… I'd be happy to help."

"You?" Doug inhaled sharply, like he hadn't considered it. "You want to?"

"Sure," Chad said, petting his stomach again and savoring the way Doug shivered. "I'd be honored to make my friend feel good."

"C-Chad," Doug groaned, just a little, and that was enough to build Chad's courage, to make him brush his hand lower until he could caress Doug's hardened member. The other teen shifted back against him with a moan. "Chad."

"I'm here," Chad told him, wrapping his hand around Doug fully and fuck, did he feel good, so very perfect in his hand – yes, just like this. "I'm here, Doug. I can stop, if you want-"

"Don't stop," Doug urged, rutting into Chad's palm.

And really, Chad needed nothing else besides that.

"That's it," Chad urged, feeling the wetness already spill from Doug's tip and using it to lubricate that pretty length. "You're doing great, Doug."

"Chad," he moaned, like he couldn't believe it, throbbing in his hand. "Chad, Chad."

"So good for me," Chad said, pressing a kiss to Doug's shoulder because he couldn't help himself. "You feel so good, Doug. You're doing such a good job."

"P-Please," Doug gasped, shifting back into Chad, brushing against his groin. "Just-"

"Do you like that?" Chad asked, incentivized by Doug's frantic nods because apparently he had a praise kink and Chad was all over that. "You're so sweet, Doug. So pretty and responsive. You feel so damn good in my hand, I wish I could taste you. Want to get my lips around you."

Doug moaned, long and drawn out, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the neediness of the response.

"Do you want that?" Chad asked, moving his hand a bit faster. "Could I taste you?"

"P-Please," Doug breathed. "Chad."

"I've got you," Chad said, heart pounding in his throat as he turned Doug onto his back, moving so that he was staring down at Doug in all his glory. "So fucking pretty," he said, making Doug shiver helplessly with want. "Can't say how excited I am to taste you," he continued, pausing to dote kisses on Doug's chest between words, working his way slowly down while the dwarf-kin whined.

Chad wasted entirely too much time licking and biting at Doug's hip, making him keen, but he just couldn't help it. Couldn't help but caress and dote on those legs, elusive territory he had only ever dreamed of.

Finally getting his mouth around Doug was like a dream, he moaned so wonderfully, and Chad was grateful for all the practice he'd put in with Jay because he was able to swallow Doug like a damn champ.

"Chad," Doug gasped, one hand fingering Chad's damp curls. "Chad, Chad- Fuck, I- you f-feel so good, it feels so- ah."

"That's it," Chad said when he pulled off of Doug. "Just like that. You sound so pretty like that. Like a damn treasure. And you taste so good-" Doug shuddered, his thighs twitching reflexively wider. "Such a pretty pink cock and I can't believe I get to have my lips around it."

"Chad." Doug writhed as Chad swallowed him in interest, bobbing and hollowing his cheeks just like Jay had taught him to, until he felt Doug get close to the edge. "Chad, I'm gonna- you've gotta p-pull off 'cuz I'm gonna- Chad. Chad!"

He came in a lovely burst, and Chad swallowed down all of it, greedy and desperate and lapping at Doug's spent length until he was a whining, oversensitive mess. Chad's own hand worked furiously between his legs until he found his own release, unable to hold on because it was Doug that was under him. Doug who was lovely and pure and good.

"C-Chad," Doug gasped when Chad kissed his way up the dwarf-kin's chest, Doug whining when the blond used a hand to toy between his legs just to see if that dwarven stamina would hold out. "T-That was…"

"Okay?" Chad asked, somewhat worried. "Was that alright?"

For whatever reason, the question made Doug relax. "Yeah," he sighed, running his fingers through Chad's hair. "That was alright."

"Good," Chad said, curling up beside him like he'd always envisioned, keeping his arms safely wrapped around Doug until he could cradle him close. "I'm glad."

"I…" Doug flushed, staring pointedly at the ceiling. "Do um- you need…?"

"Oh." It was Chad's turn to flush. "I um- I already… I mean, I got a little worked up when I was…"

Doug's blush darkened. "You- you liked that?"

"Oh yeah." Chad grinned. "I wasn't lying. You are very pretty."

"Don't say that," Doug said, seeming embarrassed when he averted his gaze. "I'm not special."

"I can think of a lot of people who would disagree with that," Chad said. "You know, including me."

"You don't-" Doug shook his head, pulling away from Chad with a determination that had the prince reluctantly letting him go. "You don't have to be nice to me Chad."

"What?" At least Chad's confusion was genuine. "I know that. I just- I want to be, though. Is that weird?" In a sudden stroke of vulnerability, he added, "Can I not do that?"

Doug sat up and looked at him. Really looked at him.

"You can do that," he allowed after a moment. "Just- maybe we shouldn't tell Evie about this."

"But…" Chad frowned. "I thought the whole basis of this thing was communication."

Doug flushed, ducking his head as though he hadn't expected Chad to call him on that. "It is, and I'm not saying we should keep it from her forever, just until you guys um- settle down."

"Okay," Chad said, pretending to see the point. "That makes sense."

Doug relaxed, reaching over to pet Chad's head. "Thanks, Chad," he said, looking substantially better. Looked like a little physical exercise was all he needed to get warmed up. "So um- want to take a shower?"

Chad sat up to join him, taking the plunge and pressing a kiss to Doug's cheek. "I would like that, Douglass. And hey, maybe we can have a bath afterwards."

After being the guy's roommate for so long, he knew how Doug liked his baths.

The other teen flushed. Horribly. It was sort of great. "Chad…"

"Let's shower," Chad said, pulling the blankets down so he could take another obvious look at Doug in all his glory. He wanted to let out a whistle but managed to restrain himself. "Hot damn," he offered instead.

Doug bat at his arm. "Knock it off," he grumbled, but may have also definitely pulled down the blanket to get a look at Chad, flush darkening when he saw the slick of his release smeared across his stomach. "Oh."

"Yeah," Chad grinned. "You're pretty great."

"Flatterer," Doug said, and then he pulled Chad into the bathroom, seeming not to care about their naked states anymore.

It was, without question, the greatest night of Chad's life.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Things changed after that, in that Chad finally got past the point where he pretended to be Doug's friend and was actually Doug's friend – texting him whenever Chad knew he wasn't with Evie about things he liked, calling him when he had downtime. Sending him emails with links to articles he might enjoy just because he could. They hung out more often – usually when Evie and Jane were busy with the others. Those had been Doug's go-to individuals before, and now he had Chad, who was happy to act as his sounding board when Doug was working on his college essays or his arguments for the debate team. And hey, if those sessions occasionally ended with them making out, what was the harm? What was the harm of spontaneous sleepovers when Jay was busy with Evie and Audrey was with Gil? What was the harm of pulling Doug into a tub of warm scented water and cradling the dwarf kin in his lap, teasing one hand between his legs until he came in a glorious mess?

Chad loved it. He loved being able to braid Doug's hair and kiss his lips and suck his dick – he'd already given Audrey his eternal servitude for arranging it, which she'd accepted with a roll of her eyes and a light chastisement for him to get going before he was late for Doug.

"Hey, um," Chad said shyly during one of their more frantic trysts, the two of them exchanging hot kisses before Doug had to go back to class after his lunch break. "Could you um- fuck me?"

"W-What?" Doug seemed entirely blindsided by this suggestion, but in a way that indicated he truly wanted it but had never had the courage to ask.

"Fuck me?" Chad repeated, allowing himself to blush. "I um- may have already prepared myself."

"You want me to – to you?" That seemed to be the part Doug was struggling with, thus confirming Chad's suspicion that Doug was normally on the bottom of his engagements, assuming he had sex with the other guys at all. It was getting to the point where Chad was pretty sure he didn't.

"Please?" Chad asked with big, pleading eyes, as though the problem were Doug's availability rather than his desire. "I really want you in me."

"Chad," Doug groaned, but then he was undoing the prince's belt, sneaking a hand down the back of his underwear to caress an entrance that was, in fact, well lubricated and wanting, Chad moaning into his mouth all the while.

"Holy fuck, holy fuck," Doug chanted, pulling Chad's pants and underwear down and gasping when the prince appropriately got on his hands and knees. "Fuck."

"Yes, please," Chad said, looking coyly over his shoulder, and it was a lovely sight to watch Doug fumble out of his clothes, grappling a condom onto himself and slathering his length with lube. It was an even better feeling when the blunt head of his length nudged against Chad's entrance.

"Fuck," Doug groaned, and then he was pushing inside, Chad moaning brokenly all the while because sure, it hurt a little but it was a negligible thing compared to the injuries he'd sustained before. Doug was in him and Doug felt so good and he had his hands on Chad's hips like he was claiming him and- "You feel so good, Chad."

"You t-too, big guy," Chad groaned. "You feel so fucking good, can't wait to get you entirely inside me."

"Chad," Doug whined, a familiar exchange, his breath catching as he eased himself the rest of the way in. "Ah- Ch-Chad."

"So big," Chad moaned, even though Jay was bigger, this was Doug, who felt amazing and was amazing. "Please. Please fuck me, Doug. Sweetheart. I need you to-"

"C-Chad." He fumbled through it slowly but surely, but Chad didn't mind. He'd waited a long time for Doug, he could wait a few minutes more while he eased himself through anal sex with a prince. "I'm gonna-"

"Do what you need to do," Chad said, hearing the warning in his tone. Fuck, that was hot. The idea of Doug lasting like, two seconds because of Chad.

"You feel so good- fuck, I-" He cut off with a choked sound, and Chad could feel him tumble over the edge, hot bursts unloading into the condom before they'd even really begun, but Chad certainly didn't care because that was Doug claiming him.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes," Chad was chanting. "That's perfect, Doug. J-Just like that."

"Sorry," Doug said, panting. "I'm so sorry."

"Hey, no." Chad looked over his shoulder, aiming a happy grin at the embarrassed dwarf-kin. "That was awesome, Doug."

"I barely did anything to you," Doug said, pulling out of Chad with a sigh. "You don't have to pretend that was good-"

"Doug," Chad interrupted. "Dougy. Douglass. That, my dude, was super fucking hot." He turned so he could crowd back into Doug's space, cutting off his retreat so he could press random kisses to his face. "Just feeling you- fuck, man." Chad sighed like it was all he ever wanted, and it wasn't even a lie because that was actually true. "Besides, you can only get better with practice."

Doug flushed. "You um- you want to do that again?"

"So many times," Chad whispered into his ear, nipping at his lobe just to make Doug shiver.

"F-First things first," Doug stuttered, curling Chad against his chest. "Let's um- take care of this problem," he said, wrapping a hand around Chad's very much still interested length and giving it a firm pump.

"Yes please, thank you," Chad groaned.

"I've got you," Doug said, sounding more in control. "I've got you."

"Yeah, you do," Chad murmured, and that was it, that was perfection.

-:-:-:-:-:-

"You're in a good mood," Jay noted when Chad cuddled in his lap later, the two of them trading enthusiastic kisses while Chad did his damnedest to test the limits of every turn on he knew Jay had.

"Things are going well," Chad answered with a grin, doing that thing with his teeth Jay seemed to like so much. "Hey, hey – do you wanna fuck me?"

"Just about always," Jay said, warming Chad down to his cold, broken bones, because he had two dudes that liked him for some reason (and Ben but that was- Chad still didn't get it) and also Audrey so his life was pretty much set.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Of course things came to a head at some point, because they were always going to come to a head at some point.

Chad wasn't even there for the confrontation, he just got the aftermath when he was helping Gil through his homework in the rec room, Uma keeping a lazy eye on things but mostly nodding in approval as she watched Carlos and Harry attempt to play video games and canoodle at the same time, and it was difficult to see which one was winning out.

It was actually a pretty nice evening for the mild majority of them, which was why Chad was not surprised when the door slammed open with a furious snarl, because these people loved their drama.

His amusement was short lived when he realized the instigator was Evie and that ire was directed at him, Doug hovering guiltily just over her shoulder.

"You motherfucker!" Evie snarled, abandoning her usual strategy of peaceful conflict resolution to fly across the room, fingers twitching like they itched to grab for a poison that could do away the problem that was Chad Charming for good. "How dare you!"

"Calm down," Uma ordered, motioning for Gil to intercept the princess which he did with an apologetic look, until Evie was flailing in his hold like a hissing cat. "What'd Charming do now?"

"He's having sex with Doug!" Evie snapped, effectively gaining the complete interest of Carlos and Harry from their position on the couch.

"Consensual sex," Chad clarified.

This did not seem to help his argument, because Uma shot him a dry look and Doug just sort of winced.

"Don't pretend to give a shit about Doug!" Evie hissed. "You're just doing this to fuck with me, I know you are."

"I like Doug," Chad said, not bothering to beat around the bush. "Why is that hard to believe? You also like Doug. You know how nice he is."

"Don't compare us!" she snapped, struggling in Gil's hold. This was- wow, this was a far cry from normal Evie. Chad did not know he'd hit a sore subject here. "You know Doug had a crush on you at Auradon Prep-"

"Um." Chad held up a hand just as a lovely blush spread across Doug's face. "What?"

"So don't play dumb-"

"What is she talking about?" Chad asked, aiming the question at Doug. "You didn't have a crush on me. I'm pretty sure you didn't even like me. Not that I really blame you, to be honest."

Chad had been, and still kind of was, a dick. That was just the name of the game.

"Um." Doug buried his face in his hands.

"Asshole!" Evie snapped. "Stop ignoring me!"

"Well, stop yelling," Chad shot back. "We're in a group… thing. I instigated consensual sexy times with Doug – that's allowed, as far as I know."

"Behind my back!"

"Well clearly that was a good idea!" Chad snapped. "Since you're being so calm about it."

"Everyone just take a step back," Uma said, and it was entirely adorable how Gil took that suggestion literally, stepping away with a frustrated Evie in tow. "Whose idea was it to keep it a secret?"

"Obviously Chad's," Evie spat. "So he could have more time to woo Doug away from me-"

"No one's wooing anyone away from you," Chad sighed. "Have you met you? Outside of this moment, you're pretty great."

"Save it."

"Someone answer my question," Uma snapped, her voice strong enough to send them into silence.

Doug cleared his throat. "It was my idea, because I knew Evie would freak out." His guilty look deepened. "I was- I was hoping they'd make up sooner rather than later but uh… as you can see, that did not happen."

That deflated Evie's anger somewhat, though she still managed to hold onto her frustration. "You only kept going back because he was giving you what you wanted," she said, turning an angry glare onto Chad. "You specifically catered to his kinks the way none of the rest of us did-"

"Holy shit," Chad sighed, rubbing a hand across his eyes. "Evie, this was not malicious. I like Doug, I enjoy having sexual intercourse with Doug, and he seems to enjoy having it with me. Which of those facts are you having an issue with?"

"The part where you keep calling him pretty and sweet and begging for his dick!" Evie snapped, while Doug went wide-eyed behind her. "We all know you don't care that much! You're making fun of him-"

"I am not-"

"Probably playing some kind of game with Audrey-"

"We wouldn't do that-"

"Doug isn't pretty!"

The words rang through the air like a horrible shockwave, knocking the wind completely out of the sails of Chad's fury. He could only look at Doug, who seemed entirely humiliated, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he backed away, eventually leaving the room altogether.

"Shit," Harry hissed from the couch.

Chad moved to follow after him but was intercepted by Uma. He almost broke her arm on reflex, but managed to restrain himself at the last second.

"Don't," she ordered, her tone cool. "Carlos will take care of him."

"Carlos also hates me," Chad snapped, pulling out of her hold in an easy movement that took her by surprise. "Send Harry."

She didn't say anything for a moment, then motioned Harry along, who never deferred an order from his captain.

Great. Perfect. Fine.

"Set her down, Gil," Uma ordered, and the second mate did just that, watching Evie with careful eyes until she was standing under her own will, her expression torn between sorrow and fury. "This," the captain said, motioning between them. "Has been going on for long enough. Sort you shit out, now." She motioned for the others to follow her. "I'm leaving Gil to guard the door, but you two aren't leaving until you come to some sort of agreement."

With that they left, until it was just Chad and Evie staring each other down, Gil's homework abandoned on the table beside them.

"How do you know Carlos hates you?" Evie asked, deciding to go with the easy question.

Chad sent her an unimpressed look. "He isn't exactly subtle."

The implication was that Evie also was not subtle, and she seemed to receive that message loud and clear, if the tension in her shoulders was any indication.

"Just be honest with me," she pressed, leveraging a finger at Chad. "Do you really like Doug?"

"Yes," Chad said, holding onto his annoyance to keep from gushing. "He's a good guy. Why wouldn't I like him?"

"You didn't talk to him in school," Evie pointed out. "Despite being his roommate."

"I didn't talk to most people in school," Chad snapped. "As per my grandfather's instructions. It did not mean I didn't want to."

At that Evie froze, because this had literally never come up before, despite having always been a facet of Dumb Chad's backstory.

"I thought most kings would want their heirs to network," Evie offered carefully.

Chad shrugged. "Sardinian inheritance laws are… complicated," he said. "There was always a chance I'd get replaced as king. As such, I wasn't allowed to build a substantial power base through additional friendships. Ben and Audrey were about the extent of what I could manage."

Evie just sort of stared at him.

Chad sniffed. "I know the laws of my own kingdom."

"I just… didn't think you cared about them," Evie admitted. "So what, you've liked Doug all this time?"

Chad shrugged. "He's smart and funny. What's not to like?"

She was quiet for another moment. "This is serious for Doug," she said. "You have to understand that. He doesn't do casual flings like some of us. He's only intimate with those he really cares about."

Throughout the course of her explanation, Chad felt his heart beating faster and faster until it threatened to choke him, to make him pass out from exacerbated nerves.

"That's me," Evie continued. "And Jane and sometimes Carlos. It doesn't mean he doesn't care about the rest of us, he's just shy, and then you…"

Chad swallowed; his heart thick in his throat. "I care about Doug," he said quietly. "I care about him a lot."

Evie gave him a hard look. "Will you promise to never hurt him?"

"I can promise to try," Chad said, because anything else would be unreasonable. "I can promise to do everything in my power to ensure he stays happy, and if that means not being with him, then that's what I'll do."

Evie didn't say anything, her gaze searching Chad's as though seeking out lies.

There were none, though. Not this time.

She let out a slow breath. "Okay," she said. "I want- if I can fix this mess with him, if we can make this right again, I want to um… be there for your first few sessions together."

Chad was struck with a brilliant idea, because here- here were two people who loved Doug almost more than anyone else in all of Auradon.

Chad smiled. "We should pleasure him together," he said, getting a shocked look from her. "Think about it, instead of arguing we could make him feel so damn good he forgets his own name."

Evie indeed thought about it, and she seemed to enjoy the conclusion she came to. "I do like the sound of that."

"Please," Chad said, crossing to her, falling to his knees. "I'll be good, I promise – and if you and Doug tell me to fuck off, I will, I just-"

"Okay," Evie said, petting her fingers through his hair with a small grin, because he'd finally won her over. "Okay, we can try that."

"Thank you," Chad said, and he think it helped that he meant it.

-:-:-:-:-:-

They found Doug curled against Harry's side, weepy eyed and sniffling, the dwarf-kin looking up at their apologetic entrance.

"Sorry," they gushed more or less about the same time, and it was amazing what they could do when they decided to work together because Harry was up and out of the picture in about five seconds, seeming confused as to how it had happened at all while Chad and Evie cuddled Doug between them on the couch.

"We were assholes," Chad said. "I should have actually made an effort to befriend Evie instead of just enjoying sexy friend time with you."

"And I should have trusted you," Evie continued. "Trusted your judgement and your heart. I'm sorry, Doug – you are very pretty."

"The prettiest," Chad added. "We are both sorry assholes, and if you want to be free of us for a bit we totally understand, but you should know that we have come to the conclusion that we are mightier when we work together."

"And we want to work together for you," Evie said, pressing a kiss to Doug's cheek. "Please, baby."

"Um," Doug said, seeming overwhelmed by this. "So um- are you friends now?"

"Getting there," Chad decided, sneaking a hand under Doug's shirt so he could pet his string-bean stomach. Chad loved it so much.

"We've decided to bond over the things we have in common," Evie hummed, squeezing Doug's thigh. "Which is you."

"Guys," Doug said, shifting uneasily as Evie began to kiss his neck. "You don't have to-"

"Get to," they said at the same time, Evie sharing a delighted look with Chad that pretty much guaranteed their joint attack on Doug.

Their joint sexy attack.

Turned out, Chad felt much less inclined to scratch out her eyeballs for loving Doug when he got to be a part of that process.

"Come on, pretty boy," Chad said, easing Doug's shirt up and off of him. "We need your lovin'."

"Please," Evie added, batting her eyes.

It was the start of very great things.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Endnotes:

Hey, guys! Thanks so much for the feedback! I'm glad you're enjoying this political/relationship strategizing/secret badasses business so much!

You probably thought that Chad would take like, way longer to get to Doug, but apparently I ran out of patience. Sharing Doug also proved to be the best means to allow Chad and Evie to bond, surprising a grand total of no one, lol.

Of course there was another member of the 'secretly has a crush on Chad' brigade. I love that thing. I will add to it constantly because I have no restraint and no beta reading telling me I shouldn't. Mwahaha! ;D

Until next time :)